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EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGYa09-37125_1ex31d2.htm
EX-10.15 - EX-10.15 - GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGYa09-37125_1ex10d15.htm

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009

 

o

Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Commission file number 000-51177

 

GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Iowa

 

02-0575361

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1822 43rd Street SW, Mason City, Iowa

 

50401

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(641) 423-8525

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Class A Membership Units

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o  Yes   x  No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. o  Yes   x  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  x  Yes   o  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  o  Yes   o  No

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller Reporting Company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  o  Yes   x  No

 

As of April 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the Class A membership units held by non-affiliates (computed by reference to the most recent offering price of Class A membership units) was $17,677,500.  As of April 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the Class B membership units held by non-affiliates (computed by reference to the most recent offering price of the Class B membership units) was $342,500.

 

As of December 31, 2009, there were 27,840,000 Class A membership units outstanding.  As of December 31, 2009 there were 920,000 Class B membership units outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The registrant has incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K portions of its definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

INDEX

 

 

Page No.

 

 

PART I

4

 

 

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

4

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

13

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

18

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

18

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

18

 

 

 

PART II

18

 

 

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

18

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

21

 

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

22

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

36

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

37

 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

55

 

ITEM 9A(T). CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

55

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

56

 

 

 

PART III

56

 

 

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

56

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

56

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

56

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

56

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

56

 

 

 

PART IV

57

 

 

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

57

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

59

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This annual report contains historical information, as well as forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and relate to future events, our future financial performance, or our expected future operations and actions.  In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “future,” “intend,” “could,” “hope,” “predict,” “target,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are only our predictions based on current information and involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties.  Our actual results or actions may differ materially from these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the reasons described in this report.  While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us include:

 

·

Changes in the availability and price volatility of corn and natural gas;

 

 

·

Decreases in the market prices of ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil;

 

 

·

Our ability to comply with the financial covenants contained in our credit agreements with our lender;

 

 

·

Our ability to profitably operate the ethanol plant and maintain a positive spread between the selling price of our products and our raw material costs;

 

 

·

Negative impacts that our hedging activities may have on our operations;

 

 

·

Ethanol supply exceeding demand; and corresponding ethanol price reductions;

 

 

·

Our ability to generate free cash flow to invest in our business and service our debt;

 

 

·

Changes in the environmental regulations that apply to our plant operations;

 

 

·

Changes in our business strategy, capital improvements or development plans;

 

 

·

Changes in plant production capacity or technical difficulties in operating the plant;

 

 

·

Changes in general economic conditions or the occurrence of certain events causing an economic impact in the agriculture, oil or automobile industries;

 

 

·

Lack of transport, storage and blending infrastructure preventing ethanol from reaching high demand markets;

 

 

·

Changes in federal and/or state laws or policies impacting the ethanol industry (including the elimination of any federal and/or state ethanol tax incentives);

 

 

·

Changes and advances in ethanol production technology;

 

 

·

Competition from alternative fuel additives;

 

 

·

Changes in interest rates and lending conditions; and

 

 

·

Our ability to retain key employees and maintain labor relations.

 

The cautionary statements referred to in this section also should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by us or any persons acting on our behalf.  We undertake no duty to update these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.  We caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  You should read this report and the documents that we reference in this report and have filed as exhibits, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect.  We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

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AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

Information about us is also available at our website at www.ggecorn.com, under “SEC Compliance,” which includes links to reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

PART I.

 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.

 

Business Development

 

Golden Grain Energy, LLC was formed as an Iowa limited liability company on March 18, 2002, for the purpose of constructing, owning and operating a fuel-grade ethanol plant in Mason City in north central Iowa.  References to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Golden Grain Energy, LLC.   Since December 2004, we have been engaged in the production of ethanol and distiller’s grains at the plant.

 

In February 2009, we completed installation of equipment which allows us to separate some of the corn oil contained in our distiller’s grains.  This allows us to market the corn oil separately from our distiller’s grains.  Management believes this process allows the ethanol plant to operate more efficiently and provides us with a new revenue source.  The total cost of this equipment was approximately $3,900,000.

 

On June 20, 2008, Corn Oil Bio-Solutions, LLC (COBS) was organized as an Iowa limited liability company by filing articles of organization with the Iowa Secretary of State.  The purpose of COBS was to develop a biodiesel refinery utilizing corn oil as the feedstock to produce biodiesel.  Prior to July 31, 2009, we had a 75% ownership interest in COBS.  However, due to uncertainty regarding the future of COBS, the subsidiary being dormant, and the project’s feasibility, an impairment loss of $2,400,000 has been taken which eliminates all net assets of COBS and includes the $600,000 related to the non-controlling interest in the assets of COBS.

 

On December 15, 2008, we entered into a Management Services Agreement with Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC (HES), a 100 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located approximately 60 miles east of our ethanol plant.  Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, we agreed to share the costs of certain management employees with HES in an effort to reduce our administrative overhead costs and recognize economies of scale.  Under the Management Services Agreement, we agreed to provide HES with a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Plant Manager and other middle manager positions.  HES agreed to provide us with certain middle manager positions.  The Management Services Agreement is strictly for the sharing of management services and does not grant either party the authority to act on behalf of or make management decisions for the other.  We agreed to split the compensation costs associated with each of the employees covered by the Management Services Agreement with HES.  However, starting on January 1, 2010, we do not anticipate continuing to share our CFO with HES pursuant to the Management Services Agreement.

 

The initial term of the Management Services Agreement ends on December 15, 2011.  Following the initial term, the Management Services Agreement automatically renews for additional one year terms unless either party gives notice of termination at least ninety days before the end of the initial or any renewal term.  The Management Services Agreement may also be terminated for cause by giving thirty days notice.  Additionally, HES may cease using our CEO by giving us at least ninety days notice, but HES has agreed to utilize such services through December 2010.

 

Financial Information

 

Please refer toItem 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for information about our revenue, profit and loss measurements and total assets and liabilities and “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for our financial statements and supplementary data.

 

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Principal Products

 

The principal products we produce are ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil.

 

Ethanol

 

Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, a fuel component made primarily from corn and various other grains, which can be used as: (i) an octane enhancer in fuels; (ii) an oxygenated fuel additive for the purpose of reducing ozone and carbon monoxide vehicle emissions; and (iii) a non-petroleum-based gasoline substitute.  Ethanol produced in the United States is primarily used for blending with unleaded gasoline and other fuel products.  The principal purchasers of ethanol are generally wholesale gasoline marketers or blenders.  The principal markets for our ethanol are petroleum terminals in the continental United States.

 

Approximately 83% of our total revenue was derived from the sale of ethanol during our fiscal year ended October 31, 2009.  Ethanol sales accounted for approximately 84% and 89% of our total revenue for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

 

Distiller’s Grains

 

The principal co-product of the ethanol production process is distiller’s grains, a high protein, high-energy animal feed supplement primarily marketed to the dairy and beef industry.  Distiller’s grains contain by-pass protein that is superior to other protein supplements such as cottonseed meal and soybean meal.  By-pass proteins are more digestible to the animal, thus generating greater lactation in milk cows and greater weight gain in beef cattle.  We produce two forms of distiller’s grains:  Modified Wet Distiller’s Grains (“MWDG”) and Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (“DDGS”).  MWDG is processed corn mash that has been dried to approximately 50% moisture.  MWDG has a shelf life of approximately seven days and is often sold to nearby markets.  DDGS is processed corn mash that has been dried to approximately 10% moisture.  It has a longer shelf life and may be sold and shipped to any market regardless of its vicinity to our ethanol plant.

 

Approximately 17% of our total revenue was derived from the sale of distiller’s grains during our fiscal year ended October 31, 2009.  Distiller’s grains sales accounted for approximately 16% and 11% of our total revenue for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

 

Corn Oil

 

In February 2009, we commenced operating our corn oil extraction equipment which allows us to separate some of the corn oil contained in our distiller’s grains.  We started selling the corn oil separately from the distiller’s grains.  This is a new revenue source for our operations.  Corn oil sales represented less than 1% of our revenues for our 2009 fiscal year.  Management anticipates continuing to fine tune the operation of our corn oil extraction equipment and we anticipate that it will operate more efficiently in the future.  The corn oil that we produce is not food grade corn oil and therefore cannot be used for human consumption without further refining.  However, corn oil can be used as the feedstock to produce biodiesel and has other industrial and feed uses.  Originally we planned to use the corn oil that we extract from our distiller’s grains to produce biodiesel through the COBS project.  However, due to concerns regarding the viability of the project because of unfavorable conditions in the biodiesel market, unproven technology and the current tight credit markets, this project has been dormant.  As a result, we have been selling our corn oil through a third party marketer.  Currently, a tax credit that supports the biodiesel industry is set to expire as of December 31, 2009.  Several United States Senators are working to renew this biodiesel tax credit, however, their efforts may not be successful.  If this tax credit is not renewed, it may reduce the amount of biodiesel that is produced in the United States.  We anticipate that a reduction in the amount of biodiesel produced in the United States will reduce demand for the corn oil we produce which could have a negative impact on the market price of corn oil.

 

Principal Product Markets

 

As described below in “Distribution Methods”, we market and distribute all of our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil through professional third party marketers.  Our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil marketers make

 

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all decisions with regard to where our products are marketed.  Our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil are primarily sold in the domestic market, however, as domestic production of ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil continue to expand, we anticipate increased international sales of our products.  Currently, approximately 25% of our DDGS are exported to Mexico.  Management anticipates that demand for distiller’s grains in the Asian market may increase in the future.  As distiller’s grains become more accepted as an animal feed substitute throughout the world, distiller’s grains exporting may increase.

 

We expect our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil marketers to explore all markets for our products, including export markets.  However, due to high transportation costs, and the fact that we are not located near a major international shipping port, we expect a majority of our products to continue to be marketed and sold domestically.

 

Distribution Methods

 

We entered into a marketing agreement with Renewable Products Marketing Group, LLC (“RPMG”) in April 2004 for the purposes of marketing and distributing our ethanol.  We have an exclusive marketing arrangement with RPMG where all of the ethanol we produce is marketed by RPMG.  Under this agreement, we had the option of using a pooled or non-pooled marketing arrangement.  We elected to use a pooled marketing arrangement which means that the ethanol we produce is pooled with ethanol produced by other ethanol producers and marketed by RPMG.  We pay RPMG a pooling fee for ethanol delivered to the pool and RPMG pays us a netback price per gallon that is based on the difference between the pooled average delivered ethanol selling price and the pooled average distribution expense.  These averages are calculated based on each pool participant’s selling price and expense averaged in direct proportion to the volume of ethanol supplied by each participant to the pool.  Effective as of December 1, 2005, we entered into a Member Control Agreement with RPMG whereby we made a capital contribution and became a 10% owner of RPMG.  Currently, we own approximately 9% of RPMG due to the fact that new members have become owners of RPMG.  We anticipate our ownership interest in RPMG to continue to change in the future as RPMG admits new members and other members exit.  We became an owner of RPMG in order to secure more favorable marketing fees offered by RPMG to its owners as well as in order to share in profits generated by RPMG.

 

On February 2, 2009, we executed a Corn Oil Marketing Agreement with RPMG.  Pursuant to the agreement, RPMG agreed to market all of the corn oil we produce, except for certain corn oil we anticipate selling to corn oil customers we identified before we executed the agreement.  Currently, all of our corn oil is being sold through RPMG.  The initial term of the agreement is for one year.  The agreement automatically renews for additional one year terms unless either party gives 180 days notice that the agreement will not be renewed.  We agreed to pay RPMG a commission based on each pound of our corn oil that is sold by RPMG.

 

On November 13, 2007, we entered into a distiller’s grains marketing agreement with Hawkeye Gold, LLC (Hawkeye Gold) to market all of our distiller’s grains.  We receive a percentage of the price actually received by Hawkeye Gold in selling our distiller’s grains to its customers.  Hawkeye Gold makes all decisions regarding where our distiller’s grains are marketed and is responsible for the logistics of transporting our distiller’s grains to market.  The initial term of our distiller’s grains marketing agreement with Hawkeye Gold was for a period of seven months.  The agreement was renewed for an additional one year term in July 2008 pursuant to the automatic renewal provision of the agreement.  The agreement was also automatically renewed in July 2009.  The Hawkeye Gold marketing agreement will continue to renew annually in July unless we give at least 90 days notice to Hawkeye Gold that we are terminating the agreement.  Hawkeye Gold is a subsidiary of Hawkeye Energy Holdings LLC.  Another subsidiary of Hawkeye Energy Holdings LLC, Hawkeye Renewables LLC, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Management does not anticipate that this bankruptcy filing will negatively impact our agreement with Hawkeye Gold.

 

New Products and Services

 

In February 2009, we completed the installation of equipment which allows us to extract corn oil from the distiller’s grains we produce.  Since that time we have been marketing our corn oil separately from our distiller’s grains which represents a new revenue source for us.

 

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Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

 

Corn

 

Our plant currently uses approximately 40 million bushels of corn per year, or approximately 115,000 bushels per day, as the feedstock for its dry milling process.  In October 2008, we received our Iowa grain dealer license which allows us to purchase corn directly from local producers instead of using local grain elevators as intermediaries.  Our commodity manager is responsible for purchasing corn for our operations, scheduling corn deliveries and establishing hedging positions to protect the price we pay for corn.

 

Although the area surrounding the plant produces a significant amount of corn and we do not anticipate encountering problems sourcing corn, a shortage of corn could develop, particularly if there were an extended drought or other production problem.  We recently experienced increased corn prices due in part to poor weather conditions that significantly delayed the harvest in the Midwest.  Poor weather can be a major factor in increasing corn prices.  If the United States were to endure an entire growing season with poor weather conditions, it could result in significant and prolonged high corn prices.  Corn prices depend on several factors, including world supply and demand and the price of other commodities.  United States production of corn can be volatile as a result of a number of factors, the most important of which are weather, current and anticipated stocks, domestic and export prices and supports and the government’s current and anticipated agricultural policy.  The price of corn was volatile during our 2009 fiscal year and we anticipate that it will continue to be volatile in the future.  Increases in the price of corn significantly increase our cost of goods sold.  If these increases in cost of goods sold are not offset by corresponding increases in the prices we receive from the sale of our products, these increases in cost of goods sold can have a significant negative impact on our financial performance.

 

Natural Gas

 

Natural gas is an important input to our manufacturing process.  We use natural gas to dry our distiller’s grains products to moisture contents at which they can be stored for longer periods of time.  This allows the distillers grains we produce to be transported greater distances to serve broader livestock markets.  We entered into an agreement with Interstate Power and Light Company to deliver all of the natural gas required by the plant.  The agreement commenced in December 2004 and continues for a period of 10 years.

 

Electricity

 

We entered into an agreement with Interstate Power and Light Company to supply all electrical energy required by the plant.  The agreement commenced on June 2004 and continued through May 2007.  After the expiration of the initial term, the agreement continues on a month-to-month basis and may be terminated by either party by giving 60 days prior written notice.  We have elected to continue this contract on a month-to-month basis and have not given or received notice of termination of this agreement.

 

Water

 

The primary water supply for our plant is generated by one 800 gallon-per-minute pump at the well drilled at the plant site.  We have a second high capacity well that has capacity to produce 600 gallons of water per minute.  These two wells provide adequate water capacity to operate the plant under normal circumstances.  In addition, we are connected to the City of Mason City’s water supply for fire protection and in the event the water supplied by our well is not sufficient.  We have installed an underground distribution system for potable water, process water, fire protection and sanitary sewer lines.  We will pay a special fixed user fee of $3,333 per month to Mason City for our back-up water supply until February 2015.  In addition, we pay Mason City for any potable water usage at the plant based on our actual usage times the current rate ordinance.

 

Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Franchises and Concessions

 

We do not currently hold any patents, trademarks, franchises or concessions.  We were granted a license by ICM to use certain ethanol production technology necessary to operate our ethanol plant.  The cost of the license granted by ICM was included in the amount we paid to Fagen to design and built our ethanol plant and expansion.

 

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Seasonality of Ethanol Sales

 

We experience some seasonality of demand for our ethanol.  Since ethanol is predominantly blended with conventional gasoline for use in automobiles, ethanol demand tends to shift in relation to gasoline demand.  As a result, we experience some seasonality of demand for ethanol in the summer months related to increased driving.  In addition, we experience some increased ethanol demand during holiday seasons related to increased gasoline demand.

 

Working Capital

 

We primarily use our working capital for purchases of raw materials necessary to operate the ethanol plant.  Our primary source of working capital is income from our operations as well as our $20 million revolving line of credit with our primary lender Home Federal.  As a result of unfavorable conditions in the ethanol industry during the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year, we had a significant amount outstanding on our line of credit and very little available to borrow.  Since our first quarter of 2009, our financial performance has improved.  This allowed us to reduce the amount we have outstanding on our line of credit as of October 31, 2009 to $6,900,000.  Management anticipates continuing to reduce our reliance on our line of credit.

 

Dependence on One or a Few Major Customers

 

As discussed above, we have marketing agreements with RPMG and Hawkeye Gold for the purposes of marketing and distributing our principal products.  We rely on RPMG and Hawkeye Gold for the sale and distribution of all of our products and are highly dependent on these companies for the successful marketing of our products.  We do not currently have the ability to market our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil internally should RPMG or Hawkeye Gold be unable to market these products for us at acceptable prices.  We anticipate that we would be able to secure alternate marketers should RPMG or Hawkeye Gold fail, however, a loss of either marketer could significantly harm our financial performance.

 

Competition

 

We are in direct competition with numerous ethanol producers, many of whom have greater resources than we do.  Following the significant growth in the ethanol industry during 2005 and 2006, the ethanol industry has grown at a much slower pace.  Management attributes the rapid growth during 2005 and 2006 with a very favorable spread between the price of ethanol and the cost of the raw materials to produce ethanol during that time period.  Management believes that currently, ethanol supply capacity exceeds ethanol demand.  This has resulted in some ethanol producers reducing production of ethanol or ceasing operations altogether.  As of December 10, 2009, the Renewable Fuels Association estimated that approximately 9% of the ethanol production capacity in the United States was idled.  This is down from earlier in 2009 when the idled capacity may have been as high as 20%.  As a result of this overcapacity, the ethanol industry has become increasingly competitive.  Since ethanol is a commodity product, competition in the industry is predominantly based on price.  Larger ethanol producers may be able to realize economies of scale in their operations that we are unable to realize.  This could put us at a competitive disadvantage to other ethanol producers.  Management anticipates that without an increase in the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline for use in conventional automobiles, ethanol demand may not significantly increase which may result in ethanol supply capacity exceeding ethanol demand for the foreseeable future.

 

Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has been researching increasing the amount of ethanol that can be blended for use in conventional automobiles from 10% to 15%.  However, the EPA has delayed a decision until 2010 with respect to a 15% blend.  Management believes that increasing ethanol blends to 15% for use in conventional automobiles will increase demand for ethanol and would likely positively impact ethanol prices.  However, this will also likely result in companies building new ethanol plants or expanding their current ethanol plants.  This could lead to further overcapacity in the ethanol industry if supply capacity continues to eclipse demand.  In addition, based on comments made by the EPA, some in the ethanol industry believe the EPA is considering allowing the use of a 15% ethanol blend only for vehicles produced in the model year 2001 and later.  Many believe that such a restriction would lead to gasoline retailers deciding not to carry

 

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a 15% ethanol blend because many of their customers would not be permitted to use the 15% blend.  If this were to occur, it would significantly reduce any ethanol demand increases that could result from such a 15% blend.

 

We also anticipate increased competition from renewable fuels that do not use corn as the feedstock.  Many of the current ethanol production incentives are designed to encourage the production of renewable fuels using raw materials other than corn.  One type of ethanol production feedstock that is being explored is cellulose.  Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls and is the most common organic compound on earth.  Cellulose is found in wood chips, corn stalks, rice straw, amongst other common plants.  Cellulosic ethanol is ethanol produced from cellulose.  Currently, cellulosic ethanol production technology is not sufficiently advanced to produce cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale.  However, due to these new government incentives, we anticipate that commercially viable cellulosic ethanol technology will be developed in the future.  Several companies and researchers have commenced pilot projects to study the feasibility of commercially producing cellulosic ethanol.  If this technology can be profitably employed on a commercial scale, it could potentially lead to ethanol that is less expensive to produce than corn based ethanol, especially if corn prices remain high.  Cellulosic ethanol may also capture more government subsidies and assistance than corn based ethanol.  This could decrease demand for our product or result in competitive disadvantages for our ethanol production process.

 

We may also face competition from larger ethanol producers which may be able to compete more effectively than us.  At the end of 2008, VeraSun Energy, one of the largest ethanol producers in the United States at the time, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy due in part to significant losses it experienced on raw material derivative positions it had in place.  VeraSun’s ethanol plants were auctioned during the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy process and a significant number of these plants were purchased by Valero Renewable Fuels which is a subsidiary of a major gasoline refining company.  The purchase by Valero represents the first major oil company that has taken a large stake in ethanol production infrastructure.  Valero now controls its own supply of ethanol that can be blended at its gasoline refineries.  Should other oil companies become involved in the ethanol industry, it may be increasingly difficult for us to compete.  While we believe that we are a lower cost producer of ethanol, increased competition in the ethanol industry may make it more difficult to operate the ethanol plant profitably.

 

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, as of December 10, 2009, the most recent data available, the ethanol industry has grown to 200 production facilities in the United States. There are approximately 9 new plants currently under construction along with approximately 5 plant expansions.  The Renewable Fuels Association currently estimates that the United States ethanol industry has capacity to produce more than 13 billion gallons of ethanol per year.  The new ethanol plants under construction along with the plant expansions under construction could push domestic production of fuel ethanol in the near future to nearly 14.5 billion gallons per year.  The largest ethanol producers include Archer Daniels Midland, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Hawkeye Energy Holdings, POET, and Valero Renewable Fuels each of which are capable of producing significantly more ethanol than we produce.  However, Hawkeye Renewables LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 21, 2009.  Hawkeye Renewables owns two ethanol plants and is a subsidiary of Hawkeye Energy Holdings.  While Hawkeye Renewables plans to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 60 to 90 days and does not anticipate ceasing its operations, this plan may not be realized.  If the ethanol plants owned by Hawkeye Renewables are sold, it may lead to further consolidation of the ethanol industry.

 

The following table identifies the majority of the largest ethanol producers in the United States along with their production capacities.

 

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U.S. FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCTION CAPACITY

BY TOP PRODUCERS

Producers of Approximately 400
million gallons per year (mmgy) or more

 

Company

 

Current Capacity
(mmgy)

 

Under Construction/
Expansions
(mmgy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POET Biorefining

 

1,537.0

 

10.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archer Daniels Midland

 

1,070.0

 

550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valero Renewable Fuels

 

780.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawkeye Energy Holdings, LLC

 

420.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Plains Renewable Energy

 

480.0

 

 

 

 

Updated: December 10, 2009

 

Ethanol production is also expanding internationally.  Ethanol produced or processed in certain countries in Central America and the Caribbean region is eligible for tariff reduction or elimination on importation to the United States under a program known as the Caribbean Basin Initiative.  Some ethanol producers, including Cargill, have started taking advantage of this situation by building dehydration plants in participating Caribbean Basin countries which convert ethanol into fuel-grade ethanol for shipment to the United States.  Ethanol imported from Caribbean Basin countries may be a less expensive alternative to domestically produced ethanol and may affect our ability to sell our ethanol profitably.  Further, despite the fact that there is a significant amount of ethanol produced in the United States, ethanol produced abroad and shipped by sea may be a more favorable alternative to supply coastal cities that are located on international shipping ports.

 

Our ethanol plant also competes with producers of other gasoline additives having similar octane and oxygenate values as ethanol.  Alternative fuels, gasoline oxygenates and alternative ethanol production methods are also continually under development.  The major oil companies have significantly greater resources than we have to market other additives, to develop alternative products, and to influence legislation and public perception of ethanol.  These companies also have sufficient resources to begin production of ethanol should they choose to do so.

 

A number of automotive, industrial and power generation manufacturers are developing alternative clean power systems using fuel cells, plug-in hybrids or clean burning gaseous fuels.  Like ethanol, the emerging fuel cell industry offers a technological option to address worldwide energy costs, the long-term availability of petroleum reserves and environmental concerns.  Fuel cells have emerged as a potential alternative to certain existing power sources because of their higher efficiency, reduced noise and lower emissions. Fuel cell industry participants are currently targeting the transportation, stationary power and portable power markets in order to decrease fuel costs, lessen dependence on crude oil and reduce harmful emissions.  If the fuel cell industry continues to expand and gain broad acceptance and becomes readily available to consumers for motor vehicle use, we may not be able to compete effectively.  This additional competition could reduce the demand for ethanol, which would negatively impact our profitability.

 

Demand for ethanol may increase as a result of increased consumption of E85 fuel. E85 fuel is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.  According to United States Department of Energy estimates, there are currently nearly 8 million flexible fuel vehicles capable of operating on E85 in the United States.  Further, the United States Department of Energy reports that there are currently more than 1,900 retail gasoline stations supplying E85.  The number of retail E85 suppliers increases significantly each year, however, this remains a relatively small percentage

 

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of the total number of U.S. retail gasoline stations, which is approximately 170,000.  In order for E85 fuel to increase demand for ethanol, it must be available for consumers to purchase it.  As public awareness of ethanol and E85 increases along with E85’s increased availability, management anticipates some growth in demand for ethanol associated with increased E85 consumption.

 

Many in the ethanol industry believe that while in the future higher percentage blends of ethanol such as E85 for use in flexible fuel vehicles will positively impact demand for ethanol, in the near term increasing the amount of ethanol that can be blended for use in conventional automobiles will have a greater effect on ethanol demand.  A proposal has been made to increase the amount of ethanol that can legally be blended in gasoline from 10% to 15% for use in conventional automobiles.  Management believes that this could increase annual ethanol demand by as much as 7 billion gallons per year.  However, as discussed above, there are obstacles to the full implementation of a 15% ethanol blend that need to be overcome before these demand increases can be realized.

 

Research and Development

 

We are continually working to develop new methods of operating the ethanol plant more efficiently.  We continue to conduct research and development activities in order to realize these efficiency improvements.

 

Governmental Regulation and Federal Ethanol Supports

 

Federal Ethanol Supports

 

The ethanol industry is dependent on several economic incentives to produce ethanol, including federal ethanol supports.  One significant federal ethanol support is the Renewable Fuels Standard (the “RFS”).  The RFS requires that in each year, a certain amount of renewable fuels be utilized in the United States.  The RFS was increased in December 2007.  Currently, the RFS requires the use of approximately 11 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2009 and approximately 13 billion gallons of renewable fuels for 2010, increasing to 36 billion gallons in 2022.  The new RFS also has a provision that requires the use of “advanced” renewable fuels.  These advanced renewable fuels include ethanol that is not made from corn, such as cellulosic ethanol.  The RFS is a national program that does not require that any renewable fuels be used in any particular area or state, allowing refiners to use renewable fuel blends in those areas where it is most cost-effective.

 

Recently the RFS has come under scrutiny.  Many in the ethanol industry believe that it is not possible to reach the RFS requirement in coming years without allowing higher percentage blends of ethanol to be used in conventional automobiles.  Currently, ethanol is blended with conventional gasoline for use in standard vehicles to create a blend which is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.  Estimates indicate that approximately 135 billion gallons of gasoline are sold in the United States each year.  Assuming that all gasoline in the United States is blended at a rate of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, the maximum demand for ethanol is 13.5 billion gallons per year.  This is commonly referred to as the “blending wall,” which represents a theoretical limit where more ethanol cannot be blended into the national gasoline pool.  This is a theoretical limit because it is believed that it would not be possible to blend ethanol into every gallon of gasoline that is being used in the United States and it discounts the possibility of additional ethanol used in higher percentage blends such as E85 used in flex fuel vehicles.  Many in the ethanol industry believe that we will reach this blending wall in 2010.  The RFS mandate requires that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be used each year by 2022 which equates to approximately 27% renewable fuels used per gallon of gasoline sold.  In order to meet the RFS mandate and expand demand for ethanol, management believes higher percentage blends of ethanol must be utilized in conventional automobiles.  Such higher percentage blends of ethanol have continued to be a contentious issue.  The EPA is currently considering allowing a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline for use in standard automobiles but the EPA has delayed making a decision on this issue until 2010.  Further, as discussed above, there may be additional restrictions on what vehicles may use a 15% ethanol blend which may lead to gasoline retailers refusing to carry such a blend.  Automobile manufacturers and environmental groups are lobbying against higher percentage ethanol blends.  State and federal regulations prohibit the use of higher percentage ethanol blends in conventional automobiles and vehicle manufacturers have indicated that using higher percentage blends of ethanol in conventional automobiles would void the manufacturer’s warranty.  Without increases in the allowable percentage blends of ethanol, demand for ethanol may not continue to increase and it may not be possible to meet the RFS in coming years.  This could negatively impact demand for ethanol.

 

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In April 2007, the EPA adopted a final rule that fully implemented the RFS requirement.  In addition to fully implementing the RFS requirement, the rule created a credit trading program that is designed to allow the fuel refining industry as a whole to meet the RFS requirement in the most cost effective manner possible.  The credit trading program allows refiners who blend more renewable fuels than they are required to sell credits to refiners who blend less renewable fuels than they are required.  This credit trading program was designed to decrease any potential burden the RFS might place on small fuel refiners.

 

In 2006, Iowa passed legislation promoting the use of renewable fuels in Iowa.  One of the most significant provisions of the Iowa renewable fuels legislation is a renewable fuels standard encouraging 10% of the gasoline sold in Iowa to be renewable fuels by 2009.  This is expected to be achieved through the use of tax credits that are designed to encourage the further utilization of renewable fuels in Iowa.  This renewable fuels standard increases incrementally to 25% of the gasoline sold in Iowa by 2019.  This could increase local demand for ethanol significantly and may increase the local price for ethanol.  However, this will also likely lead to additional ethanol production in Iowa and corresponding increased competition for raw materials in Iowa.

 

The use of ethanol as an alternative fuel source has been aided by federal tax policy.  On October 22, 2004, President Bush signed H.R. 4520, which contained the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (“VEETC”) and amended the federal excise tax structure effective as of January 1, 2005.  Prior to VEETC, ethanol-blended fuel was taxed at a lower rate than regular gasoline (13.2 cents on a 10% blend).  Under VEETC, the ethanol excise tax exemption has been eliminated, thereby allowing the full federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline to be collected on all gasoline and allocated to the highway trust fund.  In place of the exemption, the bill created a new volumetric ethanol excise tax credit of 5.1 cents per gallon of ethanol blended at 10%.  The VEETC is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010.  If this tax credit is not renewed, it likely would have a negative impact on the price of ethanol.

 

On June 18, 2008, the United States Congress overrode a presidential veto to approve the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the “2008 Farm Bill”) and to ensure that all parts of the 2008 Farm Bill were enacted into law.  Passage of the 2008 Farm Bill reauthorizes the 2002 farm bill and adds new provisions regarding energy, conservation, rural development, crop insurance as well as other subjects.   The energy title continues the energy programs contained in the 2002 farm bill but refocuses certain provisions on the development of cellulosic ethanol technology.  The new legislation provides assistance for the production, storage and transport of cellulosic feedstocks and provides support for ethanol production from such feedstocks in the form of grants, loans and loan guarantees.  The 2008 Farm Bill also modifies the ethanol fuels credit from 51 cents per gallon to 45 cents per gallon beginning in 2009.  Further, the bill extends the 54 cent per gallon ethanol tariff on imported ethanol for two years, to January 2011.

 

Effect of Governmental Regulation

 

The government’s regulation of the environment changes constantly.  We are subject to extensive air, water and other environmental regulations and we have been required to obtain a number of environmental permits to construct, expand and operate the plant.  It is possible that more stringent federal or state environmental rules or regulations could be adopted, which could increase our operating costs and expenses.  It also is possible that federal or state environmental rules or regulations could be adopted that could have an adverse effect on the use of ethanol.  For example, changes in the environmental regulations regarding the required oxygen content of automobile emissions could have an adverse effect on the ethanol industry.  Furthermore, plant operations are governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”).  OSHA regulations may change such that the costs of operating the plant may increase.  Any of these regulatory factors may result in higher costs or other adverse conditions effecting our operations, cash flows and financial performance.

 

We have obtained all of the necessary permits to operate the plant including, air pollution construction permits, a pollutant discharge elimination system general permit, storm water discharge permits, a water withdrawal permit, an alcohol fuel producer’s permit and a Title V emissions permit.  A third party consulting company has completed the preparation of our spill prevention control and countermeasures plan.   In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, we incurred costs and expenses of approximately $321,000 complying with environmental laws, including the cost of obtaining permits.  Although we have been successful in obtaining all of the permits currently

 

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required, any retroactive change in environmental regulations, either at the federal or state level, could require us to obtain additional or new permits or spend considerable resources in complying with such regulations.

 

Employees

 

As of October 31, 2009, we had 45 full-time employees and 1 part time employee.

 

Financial Information about Geographic Areas

 

All of our operations are domiciled in the United States.  All of the products sold to our customers for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 were produced in the United States and all of our long-lived assets are domiciled in the United States.  We have engaged third-party professional marketers who decide where our products are marketed and we have no control over the marketing decisions made by our third-party professional marketers.  These third-party marketers may decide to sell our products in countries other than the United States.  Currently, approximately 25% of our dried distiller’s grains are exported to Mexico.  However, we anticipate that our products will primarily be marketed and sold in the United States.

 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

 

You should carefully read and consider the risks and uncertainties below and the other information contained in this report.  The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we may face.  The following risks, together with additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial could impair our financial condition and results of operation.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Increases in the price of corn or natural gas would reduce our profitability.  Our primary source of revenue is from the sale of ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil. Our results of operations and financial condition are significantly affected by the cost and supply of corn and natural gas. Changes in the price and supply of corn and natural gas are subject to and determined by market forces over which we have no control including weather and general economic factors.

 

Ethanol production requires substantial amounts of corn. Generally, higher corn prices will produce lower profit margins and, therefore, negatively affect our financial performance.  While our corn prices have decreased significantly from highs we experienced during the middle of our 2008 fiscal year, corn prices could significantly increase again in a short period of time.  If a period of high corn prices were to be sustained for some time, such pricing may reduce our ability to operate profitably because of the higher cost of operating our plant.  We may not be able to offset any increase in the price of corn by increasing the price of our products.  If we cannot offset increases in the price of corn, our financial performance may be negatively affected.

 

The prices for and availability of natural gas are subject to volatile market conditions.  These market conditions often are affected by factors beyond our control such as higher prices as a result of colder than average weather conditions or natural disasters, overall economic conditions and foreign and domestic governmental regulations and relations.  Significant disruptions in the supply of natural gas could impair our ability to manufacture ethanol and more significantly, distiller’s grains for our customers.  Furthermore, increases in natural gas prices or changes in our natural gas costs relative to natural gas costs paid by competitors may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  We seek to minimize the risks from fluctuations in the prices of corn and natural gas through the use of hedging instruments.  However, these hedging transactions also involve risks to our business.  See “Risks Relating to Our Business - We engage in hedging transactions which involve risks that could harm our business.”  If we were to experience relatively higher corn and natural gas costs compared to the selling prices of our products for an extended period of time, the value of our units may be reduced.

 

Declines in the price of ethanol or distiller’s grains would significantly reduce our revenues. The sales prices of ethanol and distiller’s grains can be volatile as a result of a number of factors such as overall supply and demand, the price of gasoline and corn prices, levels of government support, and the availability and price of competing products.  We are dependent on a favorable spread between the price we receive for our ethanol and

 

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distiller’s grains and the price we pay for corn and natural gas.  Any lowering of ethanol and distiller’s grains prices, especially if it is associated with increases in corn and natural gas prices, may affect our ability to operate profitably.  We anticipate the price of ethanol and distiller’s grains to continue to be volatile in our 2010 fiscal year as a result of the net effect of changes in the price of gasoline and corn prices and increased ethanol supply offset by increased ethanol demand.  Declines in the prices we receive for our ethanol and distiller’s grains will lead to decreased revenues and may result in our inability to operate the ethanol plant profitably for an extended period of time which could decrease the value of our units.

 

We may violate the terms of our credit agreements and financial covenants which could result in our lender demanding immediate repayment of our loans.  At the end of our 2008 fiscal year and the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year we were not in compliance with all of our financial loan covenants due to tight operating margins and unfavorable conditions in the ethanol industry.  We have addressed all of these prior loan non-compliances and we are currently in compliance with all of our financial loan covenants.  Current management projections indicate that we will be in compliance with our loan covenants for at least the next 12 months.  However, unforeseen circumstances may develop which could result in us violating our loan covenants.  If we violate the terms of our credit agreement, our primary lender could deem us in default of our loans and require us to immediately repay the entire outstanding balance of our loans. If we do not have the funds available to repay the loans or we cannot find another source of financing, we may fail which could decrease or eliminate the value of our units.

 

Our inability to secure credit facilities we may require in the future may negatively impact our liquidity.  Due to current conditions in the credit markets, it has been difficult for businesses to secure financing.  While we do not currently require more financing than we have, in the future we may need additional financing.  If we require financing in the future and we are unable to secure such financing, or we are unable to secure the financing we require on reasonable terms, it may have a negative impact on our liquidity.  This could negatively impact the value of our units.

 

The ethanol industry is an industry that is changing rapidly which can result in unexpected developments that could negatively impact our operations and the value of our units.  The ethanol industry has grown significantly in the last decade.  According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the ethanol industry has grown from approximately 1.5 billion gallons of production per year in 1999 to more than 10 billion gallons in 2009.  This rapid growth has resulted in significant shifts in supply and demand of ethanol over a very short period of time.  As a result, past performance by the ethanol plant or the ethanol industry generally might not be indicative of future performance.  We may experience a rapid shift in the economic conditions in the ethanol industry which may make it difficult to operate the ethanol plant profitably.  If changes occur in the ethanol industry that make it difficult for us to operate the ethanol plant profitably, it could result in a reduction in the value of our units.

 

We engage in hedging transactions which involve risks that could harm our business.  We are exposed to market risk from changes in commodity prices.  Exposure to commodity price risk results from our dependence on corn and natural gas in the ethanol production process.  We seek to minimize the risks from fluctuations in the prices of corn, natural gas and ethanol through the use of hedging instruments.  The effectiveness of our hedging strategies is dependent on the price of corn, natural gas and ethanol and our ability to sell sufficient products to use all of the corn and natural gas for which we have futures contracts.  Our hedging activities may not successfully reduce the risk caused by price fluctuation which may leave us vulnerable to high corn and natural gas prices. Alternatively, we may choose not to engage in hedging transactions in the future and our operations and financial conditions may be adversely affected during periods in which corn and/or natural gas prices increase.  During the end of our 2008 fiscal year and the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year, we were required to use a significant amount of cash to make margin calls required by our commodities broker as a result of the significant decrease in corn prices and the resulting unrealized and realized losses we experienced on our hedging activities beginning in July 2008.  Utilizing cash for margin calls has an impact on the cash we have available for our operations which could result in liquidity problems during times when corn prices fall significantly.

 

Price movements in corn, natural gas and ethanol contracts are highly volatile and are influenced by many factors that are beyond our control.  There are several variables that could affect the extent to which our derivative instruments are impacted by price fluctuations in the cost of corn or natural gas.  However, it is likely that commodity cash prices will have the greatest impact on the derivatives instruments with delivery dates nearest the

 

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current cash price.  We may incur such costs and they may be significant which could impact our ability to profitably operate the plant and may reduce the value of our units.

 

Our business is not diversified.  Our success depends largely on our ability to profitably operate our ethanol plant. We do not have any other lines of business or other sources of revenue if we are unable to operate our ethanol plant and manufacture ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil.  If economic or political factors adversely affect the market for ethanol, distiller’s grains or corn oil, we have no other line of business to fall back on. Our business would also be significantly harmed if the ethanol plant could not operate at full capacity for any extended period of time.

 

We depend on our management and key employees, and the loss of these relationships could negatively impact our ability to operate profitably.  We are highly dependent on our management team to operate our ethanol plant.  We may not be able to replace these individuals should they decide to cease their employment with us, or if they become unavailable for any other reason.  While we seek to compensate our management and key employees in a manner that will encourage them to continue their employment with us, they may choose to seek other employment.  Any loss of these officers and key employees may prevent us from operating the ethanol plant profitably and could decrease the value of our units.

 

Changes and advances in ethanol production technology could require us to incur costs to update our plant or could otherwise hinder our ability to compete in the ethanol industry or operate profitably.  Advances and changes in the technology of ethanol production are expected to occur.  Such advances and changes may make the ethanol production technology installed in our plant less desirable or obsolete.  These advances could also allow our competitors to produce ethanol at a lower cost than we are able.  If we are unable to adopt or incorporate technological advances, our ethanol production methods and processes could be less efficient than our competitors, which could cause our plant to become uncompetitive or completely obsolete.  If our competitors develop, obtain or license technology that is superior to ours or that makes our technology obsolete, we may be required to incur significant costs to enhance or acquire new technology so that our ethanol production remains competitive.  Alternatively, we may be required to seek third-party licenses, which could also result in significant expenditures.  These third-party licenses may not be available or, once obtained, they may not continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms.  These costs could negatively impact our financial performance by increasing our operating costs and reducing our net income.

 

Risks Related to Ethanol Industry

 

Demand for ethanol may not continue to grow unless ethanol can be blended into gasoline in higher percentage blends for conventional automobiles.  Currently, ethanol is blended with conventional gasoline for use in standard (non-flex fuel) vehicles to create a blend which is 10% ethanol and 90% conventional gasoline.  Estimates indicate that approximately 135 billion gallons of gasoline are sold in the United States each year.  Assuming that all gasoline in the United States is blended at a rate of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, the maximum demand for ethanol is 13.5 billion gallons.  This is commonly referred to as the “blending wall,” which represents a theoretical limit where more ethanol cannot be blended into the national gasoline pool.  Many in the ethanol industry believe that the ethanol industry will reach this blending wall 2010.  In order to expand demand for ethanol, higher percentage blends of ethanol must be utilized in conventional automobiles.  Such higher percentage blends of ethanol have recently become a contentious issue.  Automobile manufacturers and environmental groups have fought against higher percentage ethanol blends.  Currently, state and federal regulations prohibit the use of higher percentage ethanol blends in conventional automobiles and vehicle manufacturers have stated that using higher percentage ethanol blends in conventional vehicles would void the manufacturer’s warranty.  Recently, the EPA was expected to make a ruling on using higher percentage blends of ethanol such as E15, however, the EPA deferred making a decision on this issue until 2010.  Further, some believe the EPA is considering only approving a 15% ethanol blend for vehicles produced in model year 2001 and later.  This may lead to gasoline retailers refusing to carry a 15% ethanol blend even if it is approved.  Without an increase in the allowable percentage blends of ethanol, demand for ethanol may not continue to increase which could decrease the selling price of ethanol and could result in our inability to operate the ethanol plant profitably which could reduce or eliminate the value of our units.

 

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Technology advances in the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol may decrease demand for corn based ethanol which may negatively affect our profitability.  The current trend in ethanol production research is to develop an efficient method of producing ethanol from cellulose-based biomass, such as agricultural waste, forest residue, municipal solid waste, and energy crops. This trend is driven by the fact that cellulose-based biomass is generally cheaper than corn, and producing ethanol from cellulose-based biomass would create opportunities to produce ethanol in areas which are unable to grow corn.  The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the 2008 Farm Bill offer a strong incentive to develop commercial scale cellulosic ethanol.  The RFS requires that 16 billion gallons per year of advanced bio-fuels be consumed in the United States by 2022.  Additionally, state and federal grants have been awarded to several companies who are seeking to develop commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants.  We expect this will encourage innovation that may lead to commercially viable cellulosic ethanol plants in the near future.  If an efficient method of producing ethanol from cellulose-based biomass is developed, we may not be able to compete effectively. If we are unable to produce ethanol as cost-effectively as cellulose-based producers, our ability to generate revenue and our financial condition will be negatively impacted.

 

New plants under construction or decreases in the demand for ethanol may result in excess production capacity in our industry.  The supply of domestically produced ethanol is at an all-time high.  According to the Renewable Fuels Association, as of December 10, 2009, there are 200 ethanol plants in the United States with capacity to produce more than 13 billion gallons of ethanol per year.  In addition, there are approximately 9 new ethanol plants under construction and approximately 5 plant expansions underway which together are estimated to increase ethanol production capacity by more than 1.4 billion gallons per year.  Excess ethanol production capacity may have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and general financial condition.  According to the Renewable Fuels Association, approximately 9% of the ethanol production capacity in the United States was idled as of December 10, 2009, the most recent available data.  During the early part of 2009 when the ethanol industry was experiencing unfavorable operating conditions, as much as 20% of the ethanol production in the United States may have been idled.  Further, demand for ethanol may not increase past approximately 13 billion gallons of ethanol due to the blending wall unless higher percentage blends of ethanol are approved by the EPA.  If the demand for ethanol does not grow at the same pace as increases in supply, we expect the selling price of ethanol to decline.  If excess capacity in the ethanol industry continues to occur, the market price of ethanol may decline to a level that is inadequate to generate sufficient cash flow to cover our costs.  This could negatively affect our profitability.

 

Decreasing gasoline prices may negatively impact the selling price of ethanol which could reduce our ability to operate profitably.  The price of ethanol tends to change partially in relation to the price of gasoline.  Decreases in the price of ethanol reduce our revenue.  Our profitability depends on a favorable spread between our corn and natural gas costs and the price we receive for our ethanol.  If ethanol prices fall during times when corn and/or natural gas prices are high, we may not be able to operate our ethanol plant profitably.

 

Growth in the ethanol industry is dependent on growth in the fuel blending infrastructure to accommodate ethanol, which may be slow and could result in decreased demand for ethanol.  The ethanol industry depends on the fuel blending industry to blend the ethanol that is produced with gasoline so it may be sold to the end consumer.  In many parts of the country, the blending infrastructure cannot accommodate ethanol so no ethanol is used in those markets.  Substantial investments are required to expand this blending infrastructure and the fuel blending industry may choose not to expand the blending infrastructure to accommodate ethanol.  Should the ability to blend ethanol not expand at the same rate as increases in ethanol supply, it may decrease the demand for ethanol which may lead to a decrease in the selling price of ethanol which could impact our ability to operate profitably.

 

We operate in an intensely competitive industry and compete with larger, better financed entities which could impact our ability to operate profitably.  There is significant competition among ethanol producers.  There are numerous producer-owned and privately-owned ethanol plants planned and operating throughout the Midwest and elsewhere in the United States.  We also face competition from outside of the United States.  The passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 included a renewable fuels mandate.  The RFS was increased in December 2007 to 36 billion gallons by 2022.  Further, some states have passed renewable fuel mandates.  All of these increases in ethanol demand have encouraged companies to enter the ethanol industry.  The largest ethanol producers include Archer Daniels Midland, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Hawkeye Energy Holdings, POET, and Valero Renewable Fuels, all of which are each capable of producing significantly more ethanol than we produce.  Further, many believe that there will be consolidation occurring in the ethanol industry in the near future which will likely

 

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lead to a few companies who control a significant portion of the ethanol production market.  We may not be able to compete with these larger entities.  These larger ethanol producers may be able to affect the ethanol market in ways that are not beneficial to us which could negatively impact our financial performance.

 

Competition from the advancement of alternative fuels may lessen the demand for ethanol.  Alternative fuels, gasoline oxygenates and ethanol production methods are continually under development. A number of automotive, industrial and power generation manufacturers are developing alternative clean power systems using fuel cells, plug-in hybrids or clean burning gaseous fuels. Like ethanol, these emerging technologies offer an option to address worldwide energy costs, the long-term availability of petroleum reserves and environmental concerns. Fuel cells have emerged as a potential alternative to certain existing power sources because of their higher efficiency, reduced noise and lower emissions. Fuel cell industry participants are currently targeting the transportation, stationary power and portable power markets in order to decrease fuel costs, lessen dependence on crude oil and reduce harmful emissions. If these alternative technologies continue to expand and gain broad acceptance and become readily available to consumers for motor vehicle use, we may not be able to compete effectively. This additional competition could reduce the demand for ethanol, resulting in lower ethanol prices that might adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Consumer resistance to the use of ethanol based on the belief that ethanol is expensive, adds to air pollution, harms engines and/or takes more energy to produce than it contributes may affect the demand for ethanol.  Certain individuals believe that the use of ethanol will have a negative impact on gasoline prices at the pump. Many also believe that ethanol adds to air pollution and harms car and truck engines. Still other consumers believe that the process of producing ethanol actually uses more fossil energy, such as oil and natural gas, than the amount of energy that is produced. These consumer beliefs could potentially be wide-spread and may be increasing as a result of recent efforts to increase the allowable percentage of ethanol that may be blended for use in conventional automobiles.  If consumers choose not to buy ethanol based on these beliefs, it would affect the demand for the ethanol we produce which could negatively affect our profitability and financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Regulation and Governmental Action

 

Government incentives for ethanol production, including federal tax incentives, may be eliminated in the future, which could hinder our ability to operate at a profit.  The ethanol industry is assisted by various federal ethanol production and tax incentives, including the RFS set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  The RFS helps support a market for ethanol that might disappear without this incentive; as such, waiver of RFS minimum levels of renewable fuels required in gasoline could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

In addition, the elimination or reduction of tax incentives to the ethanol industry, such as the VEETC available to gasoline refiners and blenders, could also reduce the market demand for ethanol, which could reduce prices and our revenues by making it more costly or difficult for us to produce and sell ethanol. If the federal tax incentives are eliminated or sharply curtailed, we believe that decreased demand for ethanol will result, which could negatively impact our ability to operate profitably.

 

Also, elimination of the tariffs that protect the United States ethanol industry could lead to the importation of ethanol produced in other countries, especially in areas of the United States that are easily accessible by international shipping ports.  While the 2008 Farm Bill extended the tariff on imported ethanol through 2011, this tariff could be repealed earlier which could lead to increased ethanol supplies and decreased ethanol prices.

 

Changes in environmental regulations or violations of these regulations could be expensive and reduce our profitability.  We are subject to extensive air, water and other environmental laws and regulations.  In addition, some of these laws require our plant to operate under a number of environmental permits. These laws, regulations and permits can often require expensive pollution control equipment or operational changes to limit actual or potential impacts to the environment.  A violation of these laws and regulations or permit conditions can result in substantial fines, damages, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or plant shutdowns.  In the future, we may be subject to legal actions brought by environmental advocacy groups and other parties for actual or alleged violations of environmental laws or our permits.  Additionally, any changes in environmental laws and regulations, both at the federal and state level, could require us to spend considerable resources in order to comply with future

 

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environmental regulations. The expense of compliance could be significant enough to reduce our profitability and negatively affect our financial condition.

 

Carbon dioxide may be regulated in the future by the EPA as an air pollutant requiring us to obtain additional permits and install additional environmental mitigation equipment, which could adversely affect our financial performanceIn 2007, the Supreme Court decided a case in which it ruled that carbon dioxide is an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act for the purposes of motor vehicle emissions.  The Supreme Court directed the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.  Similar lawsuits have been filed seeking to require the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources such as our ethanol plant under the Clean Air Act. Our plant produces a significant amount of carbon dioxide that we currently vent into the atmosphere.  While there are currently no regulations applicable to us concerning carbon dioxide, if the EPA or the State of Iowa were to regulate carbon dioxide emissions by plants such as ours, we may have to apply for additional permits or we may be required to install carbon dioxide mitigation equipment or take other as yet unknown steps to comply with these potential regulations.  Compliance with any future regulation of carbon dioxide, if it occurs, could be costly and may prevent us from operating the ethanol plant profitably which could decrease or eliminate the value of our units.

 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.

 

Our ethanol plant is located on an approximately 124-acre site located approximately 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 65, one-half mile north of U.S. Highway 18, also known as the Avenue of the Saints, and approximately 5 miles east of Interstate Highway 35.  The plant’s address is 1822 43rd Street SW, Mason City, Iowa.  We produce all of our ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil at this site.  The ethanol plant has capacity to produce more than 110 million gallons of ethanol per year.

 

All of our tangible and intangible property, real and personal, serves as the collateral for our $82,000,000 senior credit facility with Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.  Our senior credit facility is discussed in more detail under “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

No material legal proceedings.

 

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

None.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

There is no public trading market for our Class A or Class B membership units.  We have created a qualified online matching service (“QMS”) in order to facilitate trading of our units.  Our online matching service consists of an electronic bulletin board that provides information to prospective sellers and buyers of our units.  We do not receive any compensation for creating or maintaining the matching service.  We do not become involved in any purchase or sale negotiations arising from our qualified matching service.  In advertising our qualified matching service, we do not characterize the Company as being a broker or dealer or an exchange.  We do not give advice regarding the merits or shortcomings of any particular transaction.  We do not receive, transfer or hold funds or securities as an incident of operating the online matching service.  We do not use the bulletin board to offer to buy or sell securities other than in compliance with the securities laws, including any applicable registration requirements.  We have no role in effecting the transactions beyond approval, as required under our operating agreement, and the

 

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issuance of new certificates.  So long as we remain a publicly reporting company, information about the Company will be publicly available through the SEC’s filing system.  However, if at any time we cease to be a publicly reporting company, we anticipate continuing to make information about the Company publicly available on our website in order to continue operating the QMS.

 

As of December 31, 2009, there were approximately 950 holders of record of our Class A units and approximately 50 holders of record of our Class B units.

 

The following table contains historical information by quarter for the past two years regarding the actual unit transactions that were completed by our unit-holders during the periods specified.  We believe this most accurately represents the current trading value of our units.  The information was compiled by reviewing the completed unit transfers that occurred on our qualified matching service bulletin board or through private transfers during the quarters indicated.

 

Quarter

 

Low Price

 

High Price

 

Average Price

 

# of
Units Traded

 

2008 1st

 

$

5.00

 

$

5.90

 

$

5.60

 

9,000

 

2008 2nd

 

$

5.00

 

$

5.00

 

$

5.00

 

2,000

 

2008 3rd

 

$

4.50

 

$

5.25

 

$

4.73

 

102,388

 

2008 4th

 

$

3.50

 

$

4.50

 

$

3.67

 

31,000

 

2009 1st

 

$

3.40

 

$

4.25

 

$

3.67

 

42,500

 

2009 2nd

 

$

3.55

 

$

3.55

 

$

3.55

 

7,500

 

2009 3rd

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2009 4th

 

$

3.25

 

$

3.25

 

$

3.25

 

5,000

 

 

The following table contains the bid and asked prices that were posted on our qualified matching service bulletin board and includes some transactions that were not completed.  We believe the table above more accurately describes the trading value of our units as the bid and asked prices below include some offers that never resulted in completed transactions.  The information was compiled by reviewing postings that were made on our qualified matching service bulletin board.

 

Sellers Quarter

 

Low Price

 

High Price

 

Average Price

 

# of
Units Listed

 

2008 1st

 

$

5.00

 

$

6.00

 

$

5.42

 

509,750

 

2008 2nd

 

$

3.75

 

$

8.25

 

$

4.76

 

671,500

 

2008 3rd

 

$

4.50

 

$

5.00

 

$

4.78

 

148,250

 

2008 4th

 

$

3.50

 

$

5.50

 

$

4.11

 

98,750

 

2009 1st

 

$

3.30

 

$

4.25

 

$

3.44

 

6,800

 

2009 2nd

 

$

3.80

 

$

3.80

 

$

3.80

 

30,000

 

2009 3rd

 

$

3.45

 

$

3.75

 

$

3.55

 

30,000

 

2009 4th

 

$

3.00

 

$

3.55

 

$

3.28

 

21,000

 

 

Buyers Quarter

 

Low Price

 

High Price

 

Average Price

 

# of
Units Listed

 

2008 1st

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2008 2nd

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2008 3rd

 

$

4.00

 

$

4.50

 

$

4.28

 

20,000

 

2008 4th

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2009 1st

 

$

3.50

 

$

3.50

 

$

3.50

 

30,000

 

2009 2nd

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2009 3rd

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

2009 4th

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

None

 

 

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As a limited liability company, we are required to restrict the transfers of our membership units in order to preserve our partnership tax status.  Our membership units may not be traded on any established securities market or readily traded on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof).  All transfers are subject to a determination that the transfer will not cause us to be deemed a publicly traded partnership.

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Distributions to our unit holders are in proportion to the number of units held by each unit holder.  A unit holder’s distribution is determined by dividing the number of units owned by the unit holder by the total number of units outstanding.   Our board of directors has complete discretion over the timing and amount of distributions to our unit holders subject to certain restrictions in our credit agreements.  Our operating agreement requires the board of directors to try to make cash distributions at such times and in such amounts as will permit our unit holders to satisfy their income tax liability related to owning our units in a timely fashion.  Our expectations with respect to our ability to make future distributions are discussed in greater detail in “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.”   In addition, distributions are restricted by certain loan covenants in our expansion term loan and revolving credit financing agreements.  These loan covenants and restrictions are described in greater detail under “MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS — Liquidity and Capital Resources.”  In order to obtain a waiver of certain loan covenant non-compliances in the early part of our 2009 fiscal year, we entered into an agreement with Home Federal where we agreed that we would not make any distributions during our 2009 fiscal year.

 

Below is a table representing the distributions made by us during our last two fiscal years.  As discussed above, we did not make any distributions during our 2009 fiscal year.

 

Date Declared

 

Total Distribution

 

Distribution
Per Unit

 

Distributed to Members of Record as of:

 

February 1, 2008

 

$

6,115,000

 

$

0.25

 

February 1, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 19, 2008

 

$

9,784,000

 

$

0.40

 

June 1, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

15,899,000

 

$

0.65

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total member return since October 31, 2005, calculated on a dividend reinvested basis, for the Company, the NASDAQ Composite Index (the “NASDAQ”) and an index of other companies that have the same SIC code as the Company (the “Industry Index”). The graph assumes $100 was invested in each of our units, the NASDAQ, and the Industry Index on October 31, 2005. Data points on the graph are annual. Note that historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future unit price performance.

 

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the performance graph and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

AMONG GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC,

NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND SIC CODE INDEX

 

GRAPHIC

 

ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON OCT. 31, 2005

ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED

FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCT. 31, 2009

 

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table presents selected consolidated financial and operating data as of the dates and for the periods indicated.  The selected consolidated balance sheet financial data as of October 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and the selected consolidated income statement data and other financial data for the years ended October 31, 2006 and 2005 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Form 10-K.  The selected consolidated balance sheet financial data as of October 31, 2009 and 2008 and the selected consolidated income statement data and other financial data for each of the years in the three year period ended October 31, 2009 have been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  You should read the following table in conjunction with Item 7 “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”  and the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  Among other things, those financial statements include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following consolidated financial data.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

Revenues

 

$

198,631,396

 

$

278,702,939

 

$

155,376,419

 

$

113,575,311

 

$

71,186,897

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Goods Sold

 

$

191,044,396

 

$

257,715,593

 

$

131,504,098

 

$

68,503,468

 

$

53,748,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

 

$

7,587,000

 

$

20,987,346

 

$

23,872,321

 

$

45,071,843

 

$

17,438,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

$

1,641,701

 

$

2,477,857

 

$

2,546,689

 

$

2,127,654

 

$

1,924,331

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment Loss

 

$

2,400,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

3,545,299

 

$

18,509,489

 

$

21,325,632

 

$

42,944,189

 

$

15,513,776

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

$

(1,925,893

)

$

(613,913

)

$

(995,507

)

$

(523,171

)

$

3,684,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

2,219,406

 

$

17,895,576

 

$

20,330,125

 

$

42,421,018

 

$

19,198,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Units Outstanding

 

26,485,771

 

24,460,000

 

24,460,000

 

25,293,333

 

27,560,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Per Unit

 

$

0.08

 

$

0.73

 

$

0.83

 

$

1.68

 

$

0.70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Distributions per Unit

 

$

 

$

0.65

 

$

1.00

 

$

0.10

 

$

 

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2005

 

Current Assets

 

$

16,229,819

 

$

14,264,258

 

$

11,523,935

 

$

21,759,099

 

$

19,588,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Property and Equipment

 

$

87,448,240

 

$

96,258,995

 

$

95,086,267

 

$

66,768,179

 

$

48,596,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets

 

$

17,178,331

 

$

16,353,987

 

$

14,818,459

 

$

9,418,814

 

$

423,507

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

120,856,390

 

$

126,877,240

 

$

121,428,661

 

$

97,946,092

 

$

68,638,076

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

$

8,884,890

 

$

15,446,792

 

$

10,263,239

 

$

12,725,973

 

$

3,971,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

 

$

32,818,635

 

$

38,148,845

 

$

40,480,395

 

$

10,405,217

 

$

20,841,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlling Interest

 

$

 

$

600,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members’ Equity

 

$

79,152,865

 

$

72,681,603

 

$

70,685,027

 

$

74,814,902

 

$

43,824,884

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Value Per Unit

 

$

2.75

 

$

2.97

 

$

2.89

 

$

3.05

 

$

1.58

 

 


* See Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion of our financial results.

 

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

This report contains forward-looking statements that involve future events, our future performance and our expected future operations and actions.  In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “future,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “predict,” “hope,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are only our predictions and involve numerous assumptions, risks and

 

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uncertainties.  Our actual results or actions may differ materially from these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the reasons described in this report.  We are not under any duty to update the forward-looking statements contained in this report.  We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.  We caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  You should read this report and the documents that we reference in this report and have filed as exhibits, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect.  We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2009 and 2008

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Income Statement Data

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Revenues

 

$

198,631,396

 

100.0

 

$

278,702,939

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

191,044,396

 

96.2

 

$

257,715,593

 

92.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

 

$

7,587,000

 

3.8

 

$

20,987,346

 

7.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

$

1,641,701

 

0.8

 

$

2,477,857

 

0.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment Loss

 

$

2,400,000

 

1.2

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

3,545,299

 

1.8

 

$

18,509,489

 

6.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

$

(1,925,893

)

(1.0

)

$

(613,913

)

(0.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Before Non-controlling Interest

 

$

1,619,406

 

0.8

 

$

17,895,576

 

6.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling Interest

 

$

600,000

 

0.3

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

2,219,406

 

1.1

 

$

17,895,576

 

6.4

 

 

Revenues

 

We experienced a significant decrease in our revenues for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Management attributes this decrease primarily to significant decreases we experienced in the average prices we received for our ethanol and distiller’s grains during fiscal year 2009 compared to fiscal year 2008.  We also experienced a decrease in the total amount of ethanol and distiller’s grains we sold during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  For our 2009 fiscal year, ethanol sales comprised approximately 83% of our revenue, distiller’s grains comprised approximately 17% of our revenue and corn oil sales comprised less than 1% of our revenue.  For our 2008 fiscal year, ethanol sales comprised approximately 84% of our revenue and distiller’s grains comprised approximately 16% of our revenue.  We had no corn oil sales during our 2008 fiscal year as our corn oil extraction equipment was not yet operational.

 

Ethanol

 

We experienced a decrease of approximately 27% in the average price we received for our ethanol for our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008.  Management attributes this decrease in the average price we received for our ethanol during our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008 with decreased commodity prices generally.  We experienced a peak in commodity prices during the middle of our 2008 fiscal year.  Following this peak, commodity prices, including ethanol, decreased sharply.  Management believes that the current global economic climate has resulted in continued low commodity prices, including ethanol.  However, as the world economy has shown some early signs of recovery, ethanol prices have recently been increasing, along with commodity prices generally.

 

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We experienced an approximately 3% decrease in gallons of ethanol sold during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  We attribute this decrease in ethanol sales with decreased ethanol production during 2009 compared to 2008 as a result of additional plant downtime during our 2009 fiscal year.  During the early part of our 2009 fiscal year, the ethanol industry was enduring unfavorable operating conditions.  This resulted in periods when our operating margins became negative.  In an attempt to avoid losses, we reduced ethanol production during January 2009 in order to perform plant cleaning and maintenance activities.  This allowed us to avoid some of the unfavorable operating conditions that existed in the ethanol industry during that time period and to reduce scheduled cleaning and maintenance during the remainder of our 2009 fiscal year.  Following this plant downtime, the ethanol plant produced ethanol very efficiently which increased our ethanol sales during the later part of our 2009 fiscal year.  This increased ethanol production allowed us to somewhat offset the decrease in ethanol sales we experienced during January 2009.

 

Management anticipates that ethanol prices will continue to change in relation to changes in corn and energy prices.  These prices have been somewhat volatile due to the uncertainty that we are experiencing in the overall economy which has been affecting commodities prices for the last year.  Further, difficult weather conditions during the harvest in the fall of 2009 has resulted in increased corn prices which has positively impacted ethanol prices.  Management believes that there is currently a surplus of ethanol production capacity in the United States.  Management believes this has resulted in several ethanol producers decreasing ethanol and distiller’s grains production or halting operations altogether.  The amount of this idled ethanol production capacity has changed throughout our 2009 fiscal year as a result of changes in the spread between corn prices and ethanol prices.  Ethanol producers decreasing or ceasing production has an effect on the supply of ethanol in the market which can positively impact the price of ethanol.  Much of this idled ethanol capacity could come back online within a reasonably short period of time which could negatively impact ethanol prices.  We anticipate that the ethanol industry must continue to grow demand for ethanol in order to support current ethanol prices and retain profitability in the ethanol industry.

 

A debate continues with respect to changes in the allowable percentage of ethanol blended with gasoline for use in standard (non-flex fuel) vehicles.  Currently, ethanol is blended with conventional gasoline for use in standard vehicles to create a blend which is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.  Estimates indicate that approximately 135 billion gallons of gasoline are sold in the United States each year.  However, gasoline demand may be shrinking in the United States as a result of the global economic slowdown.  Assuming that all gasoline in the United States is blended at a rate of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, the maximum demand for ethanol is 13.5 billion gallons per year.  This is commonly referred to as the “blending wall,” which represents a theoretical limit where more ethanol cannot be blended into the national gasoline pool.  This is a theoretical limit because it is believed that it would not be possible to blend ethanol into every gallon of gasoline that is used in the United States and it discounts the possibility of additional ethanol being used in higher percentage blends such as E85 used in flex fuel vehicles.  Many in the ethanol industry believe that we will reach this blending wall in 2010.  The RFS mandate requires that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels be used each year in the United States by 2022 which equates to approximately 27% renewable fuels used per gallon of gasoline sold.  In order to meet the RFS mandate and expand demand for ethanol, management believes higher percentage blends of ethanol must be utilized in conventional automobiles.  Such higher percentage blends of ethanol have continued to be a contentious issue.  Automobile manufacturers and environmental groups are lobbying against higher percentage ethanol blends.  State and federal regulations prohibit the use of higher percentage ethanol blends in conventional automobiles and vehicle manufacturers have indicated that using higher percentage blends of ethanol in conventional automobiles would void the manufacturer’s warranty.  Without increases in the allowable percentage blends of ethanol, demand for ethanol may not continue to increase.  Our financial condition may be negatively affected by decreases in the selling price of ethanol resulting from ethanol supply exceeding demand.  Recently, the EPA has been considering allowing E15 to be used in standard vehicles.  However, the EPA has delayed making a decision on E15 until sometime in 2010.  See “Item 1 — BUSINESS — Competition” for more detailed information regarding E15 and the blending wall.

 

Distiller’s Grains

 

We produce distiller’s grains for sale in two separate forms, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and modified/wet distiller’s grains (MWDG).  We experienced a decrease in the average prices we received for our distiller’s grains, both DDGS and MWDG, during our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008.  We experienced an approximately 14% decrease in the average price we received for our DDGS during our 2009 fiscal

 

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Table of Contents

 

year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  In addition, we experienced an approximately 16% decrease in the average price we received for our MWDG during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Management believes that the market prices for distiller’s grains change in relation to the prices of other animal feeds, such as corn and soybean meal.  As a result of the current economic situation and its effect on commodities prices, we experienced a significant decrease in the market prices of corn and soybean meal starting in the middle of 2008.  This resulted in a significant decrease in distiller’s grains prices.  We believe that the negative effect lower corn and soybean meal prices had on market distiller’s grains prices was somewhat offset by decreased distiller’s grains production by the ethanol industry during our 2009 fiscal year.  Management believes that several ethanol producers decreased ethanol and distiller’s grains production or ceased production altogether during 2009 as a result of unfavorable operating conditions.  Management believes this resulted in decreased distiller’s grains production which we believe had a positive impact on the market price of distiller’s grains which somewhat offset price decreases resulting from lower corn and soybean meal prices.

 

We experienced a significant decrease in the total tons of distiller’s grains we sold during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  We experienced a decrease of approximately 11% in the total tons of DDGS we sold during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  In addition, we experienced a decrease of approximately 21% in the total tons of MWDG we sold during our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008.  We attribute this decrease in distiller’s grains sales with a combination of decreased distiller’s grains production during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year and the fact that we commenced separating corn oil from our distiller’s grains during our 2009 fiscal year.  Management attributes the decrease in distiller’s grains production during our 2009 fiscal year with increased plant downtime we experienced during the early part of our 2009 fiscal year.  This increased plant downtime was scheduled to avoid unfavorable operating conditions in the ethanol industry during January 2009.  Further, this downtime allowed us to perform maintenance and cleaning activities that management believes has allowed the ethanol plant to operate very efficiently for the remaining portion of our 2009 fiscal year.  In addition, we commenced extracting corn oil from our distiller’s grains during our 2009 fiscal year in order to sell this corn oil separately from the distiller’s grains.  While this has provided a new revenue source for us, it has reduced the total tons of distiller’s grains we produce.  Management believes that extracting the corn oil from the distiller’s grains is more favorable to us than selling the corn oil and distiller’s grains together.

 

Corn Oil

 

Corn oil represents a new revenue source for us and as such we did not have any corn oil sales during our 2008 fiscal year that we can compare to our 2009 fiscal year.  We do not believe that separating the corn oil from our distiller’s grains will result in decreased revenue from our distiller’s grains sales on a per ton basis, however, it does decrease the total tons of distiller’s grains that we sell.  As we only recently completed installation of our corn oil separation equipment, we are continuing to fine-tune the operation of this equipment and find ways to operate this equipment more efficiently.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit

 

Our two primary costs of producing ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil are corn costs and natural gas costs.  We experienced a significant decrease in our cost of goods sold for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.

 

Corn Costs

 

Our largest cost associated with the production of ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil is corn costs.  We experienced a decrease in the total amount we paid for corn of approximately 25% for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  We experienced a decrease in the average price we paid for corn on a purchase basis of approximately 23% for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Further, we experienced an approximately 3% decrease in our corn consumption for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.

 

During the middle of our 2008 fiscal year, commodities prices, including corn prices, increased significantly causing a peak at the end of June and early July 2008.  Following the peak, commodities prices fell sharply.  The record high corn prices we experienced during most of our 2008 fiscal year resulted in significantly

 

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higher cost of goods sold related to corn costs during our 2008 fiscal year.  Management believes that lower worldwide demand for commodities as a result of the current economic situation has resulted in lower commodities prices throughout our 2009 fiscal year.  This positively impacted the average price we paid per bushel of corn during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.

 

In recent months, corn prices have trended higher.  Management attributes this upward trend in corn prices with a general increase in commodity and financial markets recently.  Despite the fact that corn yields have been strong, uncertainty continues regarding the total amount of corn that was harvested and the quality of the corn harvested in the fall of 2009 as a result of the late harvest and unfavorable weather conditions that existed during the 2009 growing season.  If the corn that was harvested in the fall of 2009 was of poor quality, it might negatively impact the number of gallons of ethanol that can be produced per bushel of corn.  Further, management anticipates that corn demand may increase in the near future should global economic conditions continue to improve.  Should corn demand increase, it may result in further increases in the market price of corn.

 

We experienced a decrease in the total amount of corn we used to produce ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil during our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008.  We used less corn during our 2009 fiscal year as a result of the fact that we experienced increased plant downtime during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Further, the ethanol plant operated more efficiently during our 2009 fiscal year by producing slightly more ethanol per bushel of corn compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Management primarily attributes this increase in productivity with our installation of the corn oil extraction equipment which allows the ethanol plant to run more efficiently and other equipment adjustments made by management during our 2009 fiscal year.

 

Natural Gas Costs

 

We experienced a significant decrease in the average price we paid per MMBtu of natural gas during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  The average price we paid per MMBtu of natural gas during our 2009 fiscal year was approximately 43% lower than the average price we paid during our 2008 fiscal year.  Management attributes this significant decrease in the average price we paid for natural gas with decreased commodity prices generally during 2009 compared to 2008.  Worldwide energy demand has decreased as a result of the global economic situation.  However, natural gas prices have recently been increasing.  Natural gas prices typically increase during the winter months as natural gas demand increases in colder climates that use natural gas for heating needs.  Management anticipates that natural gas prices will continue to increase during the winter months.  Should the economy continue to improve, it may result in increased energy demand, including increased natural gas demand.  This may result in further increases in natural gas prices.

 

We also experienced a decrease in our natural gas consumption of approximately 1% for our 2009 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2008.  Management attributes this slight decrease in our natural gas consumption with decreased ethanol and distiller’s grain production during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses related to our corn and natural gas derivatives instruments, including purchase commitments, resulted in an increase of approximately $181,000 in our cost of goods sold for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 compared to a decrease of approximately $1,243,000 in our cost of goods sold for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008.  We recognize the gains or losses that result from the changes in the value of our derivative instruments from corn and natural gas in cost of goods sold as the changes occur.  As corn and natural gas prices fluctuate, the value of our derivative instruments are impacted, which affects our financial performance.  We anticipate continued volatility in our cost of goods sold due to the timing of the changes in value of the derivative instruments relative to the cost and use of the commodity being hedged.

 

Operating Expenses

 

We experienced a significant decrease in our operating expenses for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  Management attributes this decrease in operating expenses with decreased personnel, accounting and insurance costs during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  We attribute these decreases in part to cost savings we have experienced as a result of the management services agreement we executed with

 

 

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Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC in late 2008.  We recorded a decrease of operating expenses of approximately $352,000 related to this agreement during the 2009 fiscal year.

 

Impairment Loss

 

We experienced an impairment loss of $2.4 million during our 2009 fiscal year.  This impairment loss is related to the fact that the COBS project has been idled due to uncertainty related to the viability of the project.  As a result, we have reduced the value of COBS on our financial statement to $0.  The impairment loss represents the total investment by us and other equity owners of COBS.  Since we account for COBS as a subsidiary, we have included the entire value of the investment in COBS in our financial statements and subsequently we offset the impairment loss of $2.4 million with the $600,000 non-controlling interest in COBS.  This $600,000 represents the other COBS owners’ investment in the project.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

We experienced a significant increase in our other expenses for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  This was primarily due to decreases in the amount of net income reported to us from our investments.

 

Changes in Financial Condition for Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2009 and 2008

 

We experienced an increase in our current assets at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.  We experienced a significant increase in our accounts receivable at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 related to the fact that at the end of October 2008 we were just completing a scheduled shutdown of the ethanol plant and therefore, had reduced production at that time.  Since we were producing less ethanol and distiller’s grains, the amount of receivables that we were generating was lower.

 

We experienced a significant decrease in the amount we had due from our commodities broker at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008, primarily as a result of changes we made to our risk management strategy following the end of our 2008 fiscal year.  We had a significant amount of funds that were being held in our margin account with our commodities broker on October 31, 2008 which were required to offset unrealized losses we experienced on our risk management positions at October 31, 2008.  Subsequent to the end of our 2008 fiscal year, we changed our risk management strategy in order to take fewer long positions on our raw material derivative instruments which along with less unrealized losses on our risk management resulted in us being required to maintain less cash in our margin account with our commodities broker.

 

The value of our inventory was comparable at October, 31 2009 compared to October 31, 2008, however the composition of our inventory was different.  The value of our raw material inventory was lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 primarily as a result of decreased market corn prices at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.   In addition, the value of our finished goods inventory was significantly higher at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 as a result of an increase in the market price of ethanol compared to October 31, 2008 as well as the fact that we had a scheduled shut down at the end of October 2008 which reduced our ethanol and distiller’s grains ending inventories.

 

The net value of our property and equipment was significantly lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.  This decrease in the net value of our property and equipment resulted primarily from increased accumulated depreciation and the impairment of the COBS project offset by limited fixed asset purchases.  The increase in the value of our property and equipment during our 2009 fiscal year was primarily related to the installation of our corn oil extraction equipment.  We have ongoing construction in progress of approximately $623,000 related to our slurry pump upgrade project and ongoing rail improvements.

 

We experienced an increase in the value of our investments at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 primarily as a result of our $1.5 million investment in Guardian Energy as well as increases in the value of our investments in Absolute Energy, Homeland Energy Solutions and RPMG.  The value of our grant receivable was lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 as a result of periodic payments pursuant to the Cerro Gordo County grant which were received during our first fiscal quarter of 2009 and an adjustment of the amount we anticipate receiving pursuant to this grant.  The amount of the Cerro Gordo County grant is directly related to the

 

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property taxes that we anticipate paying for our ethanol plant.  We recently adjusted our anticipated grant receivable as a result of a decrease in the estimated property tax payments and related refunds to be received under the grant from the 2007 plant expansion.

 

We experienced a significant decrease in our total current liabilities as of October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.  The value of our accounts payable was lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 primarily as a result of lower corn and natural gas prices at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.  The value of our accrued expenses was significantly lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 as a result of having a lower of cost or market adjustment related to purchase commitments of approximately $2.6 million which was included on October 31, 2008 which has been reduced to $0 on October 31, 2009.  In addition, the value of our derivative instruments was significantly lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 primarily as a result of changes in our risk management strategy following the end of our 2008 fiscal year and unrealized losses that we had at October 31, 2008.

 

Our long-term liabilities were lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008.  The value of our deferred compensation was lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 as a result of a portion of the phantom units vesting and being paid during the fiscal year as well as the fact that two of our managers who participated in our deferred compensation program left following the end of our 2008 fiscal year prior to the time when some of their deferred compensation vested.  The value of the unvested portion of their deferred compensation was removed from this long-term liability.  Our total long-term liability related to our long-term debt was lower at October 31, 2009 compared to October 31, 2008 as a result of our continuing principal payments on our long-term debt.  In addition, the value of our deferred revenue at October 31, 2009 was lower compared to October 31, 2008 which correlates to the decrease in the grant receivable value and relates to a change in our estimate of the total grant payments to be received.

 

As of October 31, 2009 we no longer include the $600,000 non-controlling interest in COBS on our balance sheet which was included at October 31, 2008.  This was the result of the fact that the COBS project is no longer an active or viable project and we have reduced the value of COBS on our financial statements to $0.

 

Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 2008 and 2007

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Income Statement Data

 

Amount

 

%

 

Amount

 

%

 

Revenues

 

$

278,702,939

 

100.0

 

$

155,376,419

 

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

257,715,593

 

92.5

 

$

131,504,098

 

84.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

 

$

20,987,346

 

7.5

 

$

23,872,321

 

15.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

$

2,477,857

 

0.9

 

$

2,546,689

 

1.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

18,509,489

 

6.6

 

$

21,325,632

 

13.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

$

(613,913

)

(0.2

)

$

(995,507

)

(0.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

17,895,576

 

6.4

 

$

20,330,125

 

13.1

 

 

Revenues

 

Our total revenue increased significantly in our fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 as a result of increased production of ethanol and distiller’s grains.  Our plant expansion project was operational for only a portion of our 2007 fiscal year.  Our total ethanol production increased by approximately 48% for our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  Additionally, our total distiller’s grains production increased by approximately 49% for our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.

 

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The average price we received for our ethanol increased by approximately 14% during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  Management attributes this increase in the average price we received for our ethanol with increased commodity prices we experienced for most of our 2008 fiscal year.  Management believes that the price of ethanol is positively impacted by high gasoline prices and high corn prices.  We experienced a peak in corn prices during late June and early July 2008 which we believe led to increases in the price we received for our ethanol during these periods.  Further, the price of gasoline peaked at approximately the same time as the corn price peak and later fell drastically.

 

The average price we received for our distiller’s grains increased significantly during our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007.  We attribute this increase in distiller’s grains prices with high corn prices we experienced for much of our 2008 fiscal year.  Since distiller’s grains are commonly used as a feed substitute for corn, when the price of corn increases, it increases demand for distiller’s grains which leads to positive gains in the market price of distiller’s grains.  We marketed approximately 88% of our total distiller’s grains in the form of DDGS and approximately 12% of our total distiller’s grains in the form of MWDG.  The average price we received for DDGS for our 2008 fiscal year increased by approximately 71% compared to the average price we received for our 2007 fiscal year.   The average price we received for our MWDG during our 2008 fiscal year was approximately 50% higher than the average price we received for our 2007 fiscal year.  Increases in the price of distiller’s grains helped us to somewhat offset increases in the price we paid for corn with increased revenue from the sale of distiller’s grains.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit

 

We experienced a significant increase in our cost of goods sold during our 2008 fiscal year as a result of significant increases in the price and consumption of corn and natural gas by our ethanol plant during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  The total number of bushels of corn we used increased by approximately 49% for our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  This increase in corn consumption was primarily the result of increased ethanol and distiller’s grains production by the ethanol plant.  Our total natural gas consumption increased by approximately 51% for our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007.  The increase in natural gas consumption was larger than the increase in corn consumption due to the fact that we sold a larger percentage of our total distiller’s grains in the form of DDGS during our 2008 fiscal year which requires more natural gas to produce than MWDG.

 

In addition to the increases in consumption of corn and natural gas, our total corn cost per bushel increased by approximately 42% during our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007.  We attribute this significant increase in corn costs with a significant peak in corn prices that occurred during June and early July of 2008 as a result of poor weather and flooding conditions that we experienced in the Midwest.  Corn prices subsequently dropped significantly after early July 2008 as a result of near ideal weather conditions for the remaining months of the 2008 growing season and a general decrease in commodities prices related to the slowing world economy.  Further, our total cost of natural gas per MMBtu increased by approximately 22% during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  We attribute this increase in natural gas costs with increases in commodity prices in general that we experienced during the early part of our 2008 fiscal year, especially for oil, as well as hurricane activity in the Gulf Coast region of the United States during the late summer of 2008 which resulted in shutdowns of natural gas production from that region of the United States.  However, management believes due to the general economic slowdown that we experienced during the fall of 2008, demand for natural gas decreased which may have reduced the effect of the natural gas supply disruptions on the market price of natural gas.

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses related to our corn and natural gas derivatives instruments, including purchase commitments, resulted in a decrease of approximately $1,243,000 in our cost of goods sold for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 compared to an increase of approximately $1,924,000 for the same period of 2007.  We recognize the gains or losses that result from the changes in the value of our derivative instruments from corn and natural gas in cost of goods sold as the changes occur.  As corn and natural gas prices fluctuate, the value of our derivative instruments are impacted, which affects our financial performance.

 

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Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 totaled approximately $2,478,000, a decrease from approximately $2,547,000 for the same period of 2007.  This decrease in operating expenses is primarily attributable to decreased personnel expenses and consulting fees we experienced during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

We had total other expense for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 of approximately $614,000 compared to other expense of approximately $996,000 for fiscal year 2007.  We experienced a smaller other expense for our 2008 fiscal year as a result of a significant increase in equity in net income of investments compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  The increase in equity in net income of investments is primarily attributable to a significant increase in our equity earnings in RPMG during our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007.  We had less interest income during our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007 as a result of having less cash on hand during our 2008 fiscal year.  Further, our interest expense was higher during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year due to more borrowing on our revolving promissory note and the fact that we ceased capitalizing the interest associated with our expansion project when it became operational.

 

Application of Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses.  Of the significant accounting policies described in the notes to our financial statements, we believe that the following are the most critical:

 

Derivative Instruments

 

The Company evaluates its contracts to determine whether the contracts are derivative instruments.  Certain contracts that literally meet the definition of a derivative may be exempted from derivative accounting and treated as normal purchases or normal sales if documented as such.  Normal purchases and normal sales are contracts that provide for the purchase or sale of something other than a financial instrument or derivative instrument that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business.

 

The Company enters into short-term cash, option and futures contracts as a means of securing corn and natural gas for the ethanol plant and managing exposure to changes in commodity and energy prices.  All of the Company’s derivatives are designated as non-hedge derivatives, with changes in fair value recognized in net income.  Although the contracts are economic hedges of specified risks, they are not designated as and accounted for as hedging instruments.

 

As part of its trading activity, the Company uses futures and option contracts through regulated commodity exchanges to manage its risk related to pricing of inventories.  To reduce that risk, the Company generally takes positions using cash and futures contracts and options.

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses related to derivative contracts related to corn and natural gas are included as a component of cost of goods sold and derivative contracts related to ethanol are included as a component of revenues in the accompanying financial statements.  The fair values of contracts entered through commodity exchanges are presented on the accompanying balance sheet as derivative instruments.

 

Accounting pronouncement

 

The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) will become the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities

 

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laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.  The Codification supersedes all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards.  All other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative.  The Company adopted the codification with no impact on the financial statements.

 

The FASB has issued guidance on fair value measurements that provides enhanced guidance to other pronouncements that require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value.  This guidance may change how fair value is determined and also expands the required disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The implementation for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis is deferred to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  We do not believe the adoption of the nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

The FASB issued guidance, which amends certain concepts related to consolidation of variable interest entities. It replaces the quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for determining which enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which enterprise has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the financial position or the results of operations.

 

The FASB has issued guidance which requires all entities to report non-controlling (minority) interests in subsidiaries within equity in the consolidated financial statements, but separate from the parent shareholders’ equity.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

The Company adopted guidance on subsequent events and it did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.  This guidance establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Based on financial forecasts performed by our management, we anticipate that we will have sufficient cash from our current credit facilities and cash from our operations to continue to operate the ethanol plant for the next 12 months.  We do not anticipate seeking additional equity or debt financing during our 2010 fiscal year.  However, should we experience unfavorable operating conditions in the future, we may have to secure additional debt or equity sources for working capital or other purposes.

 

As a result of current conditions in the ethanol market that have presented more favorable operating conditions than we experienced during the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year, we have been able to reduce the amount outstanding on our revolving line of credit.  This has allowed us greater liquidity and has increased the amount of funds that are available to us on our revolving line of credit.  We anticipate continuing to pay down our revolving line of credit and anticipate continuing to improve our liquidity going forward.  However, should we once again experience unfavorable operating conditions in the ethanol industry that prevent us from profitably operating the ethanol plant, we could have difficulty maintaining our liquidity.

 

In June 2009, we completed a private placement offering where we raised an additional $4.3 million in equity which has allowed us to reduce the funds that we had outstanding on our revolving line of credit.  Our primary lender originally required that we raise an additional $5 million in equity in order to increase our liquidity.  However, our primary lender has indicated that the $4.3 million that we raised was sufficient to satisfy its requirements.

 

Over the past year we changed our risk management strategy in order to reduce its potential effect on our liquidity.  We anticipate continuing to enter into fewer long-term fixed price contracts to purchase raw materials and fewer long-term derivative positions.  We believe that the market price of ethanol and distiller’s grains correlate

 

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 with commodity prices generally.  Therefore, we anticipate that if we price our raw materials closely in time with our finished product sales, we will be less exposed to losses on our risk management activities during times when commodity prices are volatile, such as they have been since the middle of 2008, and we will be able to maintain a positive spread between the selling price of our products and our raw material costs.  However, this strategy could leave us exposed to high raw material prices if the market prices of our products cease changing in correlation to the market prices of our raw materials.  This could result in our inability to operate the ethanol plant profitably in the future.

 

The following table shows cash flows for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

 

Year ended October 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

3,786,118

 

$

24,810,571

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(4,188,071

)

(8,992,008

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

401,953

 

(17,650,678

)

 

Cash Flow From Operations

 

We experienced a significant decrease in our net income for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year which we primarily attribute to less favorable operating conditions in the ethanol industry during the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  As of the end of our 2009 fiscal year, we experienced an unrealized loss on our risk management activities which was significantly less than the unrealized loss as of the end of our 2008 fiscal year. During our 2009 fiscal year, we reduced the value of COBS on our balance sheet which negatively impacted our net income but did not impact our cash flows.

 

We experienced a significantly larger increase in our accounts receivable for our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year which negatively impacted our cash flows in 2009.  In addition, during our 2009 fiscal year, we experienced a significant decrease in the amount we had due from our commodities broker compared to an increase for our 2008 fiscal year, which positively impacted our cash flows during the 2009 period.  In addition, we experienced a decrease in our accrued expenses as of the end of our 2009 fiscal year compared to at the end of our 2008 fiscal year which negatively impacted the cash that was provided by our operations during our 2009 fiscal year.

 

Cash Flow From Investing Activities

 

We used less cash for investing activities during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  We used significantly less cash for capital expenditures during our 2009 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.  For our 2009 fiscal year, our primary capital expenditures related to our installation of the corn oil extraction equipment, our slurry pump project and our ongoing rail improvements.  During our 2008 fiscal year we used cash for capital expenditures primarily related to our railroad expansion, our tank farm project and engineering expenses related to the COBS project.  During our 2008 fiscal year, we paid the final retainage that we were holding related to our plant expansion project which resulted in the release of approximately $2 million that our primary lender, Home Federal, was holding in a restricted cash account.  During our 2009 fiscal year, we purchased an investment in Guardian Energy, LLC, an ethanol plant in Minnesota.  We did not make any investments during our 2008 fiscal year.  During our 2008 fiscal year, our cash from investing activities was negatively impacted by a $3 million increase in the cash we were holding for construction activities related to the COBS project.

 

Cash Flow From Financing Activities

 

Our financing activities provided cash for our operations during our 2009 fiscal year, primarily related to the additional equity that we raised through our private placement offering offset by a reduction in our long term debt.  Comparatively, we used cash for our financing activities during our 2008 fiscal year, primarily related to distributions that we paid during our 2008 fiscal year.  We did not make any distributions during our 2009 fiscal year.

 

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The following table shows cash flows for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

Year ended October 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Net cash from operating activities

 

$

24,810,571

 

$

28,582,682

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(8,992,008

)

(35,784,860

)

Net cash used for financing activities

 

(17,650,678

)

(32,461

)

 

Cash Flow From Operations

 

We experienced a decrease in net cash from operating activities during our fiscal year ended October 31, 2008 as compared to the same period of 2007.  This change in cash from our operating activities resulted from a decrease in our net income for our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  We experienced a decrease in our accounts payable during our 2008 fiscal year compared to the same period of 2007 which resulted in a decrease in the cash we generated from our operations.   We also had an increase in the amount of cash from operations due from broker for increased margin calls during our 2008 fiscal year compared to 2007 fiscal year.  During our 2008 fiscal year, our capital needs were being adequately met through cash from our operating activities and our credit facilities.

 

Cash Flow From Investing Activities

 

We experienced a significant decrease in the cash we used for investing activities during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year.  This decrease was primarily the result of significantly less capital expenditures that we made during our 2008 fiscal year compared to 2007.  During our 2007 fiscal year, we used a significant amount of cash to complete our plant expansion project.  We also used significantly less cash to purchase investments in fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007.  We made a $5,000,000 investment in Homeland Energy Solutions during our 2007 fiscal year.  During our 2008 fiscal year, our capital expenditure was in connection with engineering services for the development of the COBS plant.

 

Cash Flow From Financing Activities

 

We used significantly more cash for financing activities during our 2008 fiscal year compared to our 2007 fiscal year primarily as a result of the fact that we received approximately $30,000,000 in loan proceeds from our expansion loan during our 2007 fiscal year.  These loan proceeds offset larger distributions that were paid during our 2007 fiscal year compared to our 2008 fiscal year.

 

Credit Facilities

 

In January 2004, we entered into a $33,500,000 credit facility with Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.  In November 2006, we restructured our existing debt financing and line of credit and we entered into a new credit facility for our expansion project with Home Federal Savings Bank.  Our restructured credit arrangement consists of a master credit agreement with three supplements.  The total value of the credit facility was $77,000,000; however this included the $32,000,000 value of the initial term loan to construct the ethanol plant, which was repaid in full in July 2007.  The total new funds available following the restructured credit facility was $45,000,000, split between a new expansion term loan of $30,000,000 and a revolving line of credit of $15,000,000.  In August 2007, we executed the first amendment to our credit facility increasing our line of credit from $15,000,000 to $20,000,000.  To secure this master credit agreement, we executed a mortgage on substantially all of our assets in favor of Home Federal in the amount of $82,000,000.

 

During our 2009 fiscal year, we executed two amendments to our credit facility.  On May 21, 2009 we executed the second amendment to our credit facility with Home Federal.  Pursuant to the second amendment to our Home Federal credit facility, we formalized the terms of a waiver that Home Federal granted us for our non-compliance with certain loan covenants as of October 31, 2008 and January 31, 2009.  Home Federal also changed the manner in which certain of our financial loan covenants are calculated, granted us a deferral of principal payments on our expansion term loan from June 1, 2009 until May 1, 2010 and gave us the ability to secure up to $2,500,000 in subordinated debt financing.  Home Federal also required us to raise an additional $5 million through

 

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an equity offering.  However, Home Federal notified us that the $4.3 million that we raised through our 2009 private offering was sufficient to satisfy its requirements.

 

Pursuant to the second amendment to our Home Federal credit facility, we agreed to a minimum interest rate of 6% on all of our variable interest rate debt and we agreed to maintain tangible net worth of at least $60,000,000.  Our tangible net worth is measured on a quarterly basis.  Due to current market interest rates, our interest rates would be significantly lower on our variable rate debt without this 6% minimum interest rate.  We also agreed to secure a guaranty of our obligations to Home Federal from Corn Oil Bio-Solutions, LLC.  We further agreed to pay Home Federal an origination fee of $23,000 and to pay all of Home Federal’s costs associated with the amendment as provided by our credit agreement.

 

We executed a third amendment to our Home Federal credit facility effective as of September 29, 2009.  Pursuant to the third amendment to our credit facility, Home Federal consented to our investment of up to $1,500,000 in Guardian Energy, LLC, an entity formed to purchase an ethanol plant that was formerly owned by VeraSun Energy.  Further, we agreed in the third amendment to terminate the deferral of principal payments which was approved by Home Federal in the second amendment to our Home Federal credit facility.  We also agreed to repay all of the deferred principal payments at the time we executed the third amendment and to re-commence repayment of our expansion loan as if the previous deferral of principal payments had not occurred.  We also agreed to pay Home Federal’s costs associated with the amendment to the credit facility as is required by the general terms of our credit agreement with Home Federal.

 

The master credit agreement supplies terms that are applicable to all three parts of the credit facility.  The terms that are specific to the original term loan, line of credit, and expansion loan are set out in three supplements to the master credit agreement.

 

The first supplement to the master credit agreement concerned the restructured term loan for our initial plant construction.  As of October 31, 2009, there was no outstanding principal balance of this term loan as we repaid the loan in full on July 17, 2007.

 

The second supplement to the master credit agreement relates to our revolving line of credit with Home Federal.  The total amount of the line of credit is $20,000,000.  The entire $20,000,000 revolving line of credit is available to us until the maturity date on August 1, 2017.  The amount of interest chargeable pursuant to the line of credit is the prime rate minus a percentage that is calculated based on the ratio of our total indebtedness to our tangible net worth.  The revolving line of credit is subject to the 6% minimum interest rate we agreed to in the second amendment to the credit facility.  There is an annual fee for the line of credit of $25,000.  As of October 31, 2009, we had $6,900,000 outstanding on this line of credit.  As of October 31, 2009, interest accrued on our line of credit at the minimum interest rate of 6% per year.

 

The third supplement to the master credit agreement is a new term loan used to finance our ethanol plant expansion.  The amount of the expansion loan is $30,000,000.  On July 22, 2008, we converted $10,000,000 of our expansion term note to a fixed interest rate of 6.7% for five years from August 1, 2008.  We converted a portion of our expansion loan to a fixed rate in order to protect against potential future interest rate increases. The remaining amount of our expansion term loan is subject to a variable interest rate charged at the prime rate minus a rate based on the ratio of our total indebtedness to our tangible net worth.  The variable interest rate portion of our expansion loan is subject to the 6% minimum interest rate we agreed to in the second amendment to the credit facility.  The expansion loan’s maturity date is August 1, 2017.  As of October 31, 2009, our expansion loan had a balance of approximately $25,401,000.  As of October 31, 2009, the variable rate portion of our expansion loan accrued interest at the minimum rate of 6% per year.

 

Our variable interest rates are adjusted annually on March 1st.  We anticipate that interest will continue to accrued on our variable interest loans at the minimum rate of 6% due to current low market interest rates.  If interest rates increase, we could incur higher interest costs which could adversely affect our net income.

 

We have agreed to maintain certain financial covenants set out by Home Federal in our credit facility.  These financial covenants include a requirement that we maintain a tangible net worth of at least $60,000,000.  We have other restrictive covenants which require us to maintain certain minimum financial ratios and restrict our

 

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ability to make distributions to our members.  As of October 31, 2009, we were in compliance with all loan covenants pursuant to our credit agreements with Home Federal.  Based on current financial forecasts prepared by management, we anticipate being in compliance with all of our loan covenants during our 2010 fiscal year.

 

In addition to our financial loan covenants, we are required to maintain a tangible net worth of at least 60% of our total assets.  Should we fall below this 60% threshold, we are required to deposit, on a quarterly basis, 25% of our net income into a restricted cash account until we reach the 60% threshold.  As of October 31, 2009, our tangible net worth was in excess of 60% of our total assets so we are not required to maintain any amount in our restricted cash account.

 

In addition to our long-term debt obligations, we have certain other contractual cash obligations and commitments.  The following tables provide information regarding our consolidated contractual obligations and approximate commitments as of October 31, 2009:

 

 

 

Payment Due By Period

 

Contractual Cash Obligations

 

Total

 

Less than
One Year

 

One to
Three
Years

 

Three to
Five
Years

 

After Five
Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt Obligations

 

$

39,721,000

 

$

4,168,000

 

$

8,336,000

 

$

8,331,000

 

$

18,886,000

 

Operating Lease Obligations

 

3,253,000

 

1,388,000

 

1,865,000

 

 

 

Purchase Obligations

 

6,447,000

 

6,447,000

 

 

 

 

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

 

$

49,421,000

 

$

12,003,000

 

$

10,201,000

 

$

8,331,000

 

$

18,886,000

 

 

The long-term debt obligations in the table above include both principal and interest payments, excluding interest payments on the line of credit, at the interest rates applicable to the obligations as of October 31, 2009.

 

Grants and Government Programs

 

We entered into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Economic Development for funding through the State of Iowa’s Value-Added Agricultural Products and Processes Financial Assistance Program (“VAAPPFAP”).  Under this program, we received a $100,000 forgivable loan and a zero percent interest loan of $300,000 on a 10-year amortization with a balloon payment following the fifth year.  We started making principal payments on the $300,000 zero percent interest loan in January 2006.  The principal balance of this loan was approximately $223,000 as of October 31, 2009.  The loan is subordinate to our term loan and line of credit and is secured by our business assets including accounts receivable and inventory.  Funding for these loans was received in October 2004.  On August 15, 2008, we received confirmation from the Iowa Department of Economic Development that all criteria of the forgivable loan were satisfied and that the $100,000 forgivable portion of the loan was forgiven.  The maturity date of the $300,000 loan is December 2010.

 

In December 2006, we received the first payment from our semi-annual economic development grants equal to the amount of the tax assessments imposed on our ethanol plant by Cerro Gordo County, the county in which our ethanol plant is located.  An amendment to these economic development grants was approved in May 2008 in order to clarify the benefits conferred by the grants for our expansion project.  The amendment provided that our expansion project was covered by these economic development grants.  Based on our 2009 assessment, the total present value of the amount we expect to receive pursuant to these economic development grants over the remaining life of the grant is approximately $3,460,000.  In exchange for these grants, we must continue to satisfy certain conditions, including the full-time employment of a minimum of 44 individuals, monthly payment of a special fixed-user fee for the water utilities used by the plant plus a regular water fee calculated based on actual plant usage multiplied by Mason City’s regular water rate ordinance.

 

The Iowa Department of Economic Development has approved us for participation in the New Jobs and Income Program (NJIP).  Under the program, we are eligible for the following benefits provided we continue to meet certain program requirements:

 

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·                  Funding for training new employees through a supplemental new jobs withholding credit equal to 1.5% of the gross wages of the new jobs created by the plant;

 

·                  A refund of 100% of the sales, service and use taxes paid to contractors and subcontractors during the construction phase of the plant (excluding local option sales taxes);

 

·                  A 6.5% research activities tax credit based on increasing research activities within the State of Iowa; and

 

·                  An investment tax credit equal to 10% of our capital investment or approximately $5,110,000, whichever amount is less.  This Iowa tax credit may be carried forward for up to 7 years until depleted.

 

In order to receive these benefits, we had to create at least 24 full-time non-management employee positions at a median wage of $16.35 per hour and these jobs must be maintained for at least five years.  We must pay at least 80% of the cost of a standard medical and dental insurance plan and offer a pension or profit sharing plan to full-time employees.  A worker productivity and safety improvement program must also be implemented and maintained.  We had until November 20, 2007 to satisfy these requirements.  On August 15, 2008, we received confirmation from the Iowa Department of Economic Development that all criteria of the NJIP were satisfied.

 

We were approved for additional incentives under the NJIP due to our plant expansion project.  We received an additional 5% tax credit based on our investment.  This credit is equal to approximately $1,531,000 to be amortized over 5 years.  We are also eligible for a refund of state sales taxes that we have paid for construction materials used in the expansion project and additional supplemental new jobs credits for the new jobs we will create.  These new incentives require us to create 10 jobs in addition to the 24 jobs we were already required to create under the program.  These jobs are subject to the same restrictions as the initial jobs we created for the program.  If we fail to meet the requirements of the NJIP, we may have to repay a portion of the benefits previously received.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations associated with commodity prices as discussed below. We have no exposure to foreign currency risk as all of our business is conducted in U.S. Dollars.  We use derivative financial instruments as part of an overall strategy to manage market risk. We use cash, futures and option contracts to hedge changes to the commodity prices of corn and natural gas. We do not enter into these derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, nor do we designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes pursuant to the requirements of SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

We seek to minimize the risks from fluctuations in the prices of raw material inputs, such as corn and natural gas, and finished products, such as ethanol, distiller’s grains and corn oil, through the use of hedging instruments.  In practice, as markets move, we actively manage our risk and adjust hedging strategies as appropriate.  Although we believe our hedge positions accomplish an economic hedge against our future purchases and sales, management has chosen not to use hedge accounting, which would match the gain or loss on our hedge positions to the specific commodity purchase being hedged.  We are using fair value accounting for our hedge positions, which means as the current market price of our hedge positions changes, the realized or unrealized gains and losses are immediately recognized in our cost of goods sold or as an offset to revenues. The immediate recognition of hedging gains and losses under fair value accounting can cause net income to be volatile from quarter to quarter due to the timing of the change in value of the derivative instruments relative to the cost and use of the commodity being hedged.

 

As corn prices move in reaction to market trends and information, our income statement will be affected depending on the impact such market movements have on the value of our derivative instruments.  Depending on market movements, crop prospects and weather, these price protection positions may cause immediate adverse effects, but are expected to produce long-term positive growth for us.

 

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A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to estimate our exposure to ethanol, corn and natural gas price risk. Market risk related to these factors is estimated as the potential change in income resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the fair value of our corn and natural gas prices and average ethanol price as of October 31, 2009, net of the forward and future contracts used to hedge our market risk for corn and natural gas usage requirements.  The volumes are based on our expected use and sale of these commodities for a one year period from October 31, 2009.  As of October 31, 2009, approximately 2% of our estimated corn usage, approximately 4% of our anticipated natural gas usage and approximately 3% of our ethanol sales over the next 12 months were subject to fixed price or index contracts where a price has been established with an exchange.    The results of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, are as follows:

 

 

 

Estimated Volume
Requirements for the next 12
months (net of forward and
futures contracts)

 

Unit of Measure

 

Hypothetical
Adverse Change in
Price as of
10/31/2009

 

Approximate
Adverse Change to
Income

 

Natural Gas

 

3,000,000

 

MMBtu

 

10

%

$

1,227,000

 

Ethanol

 

112,000,000

 

Gallons

 

10

%

$

20,944,000

 

Corn

 

40,580,000

 

Bushels

 

10

%

$

14,428,000

 

 

Liability Risk

 

We participate in a captive reinsurance company (“Captive”).  The Captive reinsures losses related to workers’ compensation, commercial property and general liability.  Premiums are accrued by a charge to income for the period to which the premium relates and is remitted by our insurer to the Captive reinsurer.  The Captive reinsures catastrophic losses in excess of a predetermined amount.  Our premiums are structured such that we have made a prepaid collateral deposit estimated for losses related to the above coverage.  The Captive insurer has estimated and collected an amount in excess of the estimated losses but less than the catastrophic loss limit insured by the Captive. We can not be assessed over the amount in the collateral fund.

 

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

Financial Statements begin on page 39.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Members

Golden Grain Energy, LLC

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Golden Grain Energy, LLC and subsidiary as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2009.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Golden Grain Energy, LLC and subsidiary as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We were not engaged to examine management’s assessment of the effectiveness of Golden Grain Energy, LLC’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2009, included in Item 9A(T) of Form 10-K and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.

 

Des Moines, Iowa

December 31, 2009

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

ASSETS

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

$

 

$

 

Accounts receivable

 

8,688,389

 

3,647,003

 

Other receivables

 

483,871

 

726,483

 

Due from broker

 

1,767,870

 

4,685,735

 

Inventory

 

4,460,088

 

4,585,653

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

829,601

 

619,384

 

Total current assets

 

16,229,819

 

14,264,258

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

Land and land improvements

 

11,262,333

 

11,262,333

 

Building and grounds

 

25,366,370

 

24,866,370

 

Grain handling equipment

 

13,029,583

 

13,029,583

 

Office equipment

 

320,493

 

280,193

 

Plant and process equipment

 

66,771,971

 

61,082,072

 

Construction in progress

 

622,748

 

6,720,219

 

 

 

117,373,498

 

117,240,770

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

29,925,258

 

20,981,775

 

Net property and equipment

 

87,448,240

 

96,258,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments

 

13,754,527

 

11,946,497

 

Grant receivable, net of current portion

 

3,154,344

 

4,103,261

 

Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization (2009 $107,204; 2008 $72,435)

 

269,460

 

304,229

 

Total other assets

 

17,178,331

 

16,353,987

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

120,856,390

 

$

126,877,240

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding checks in excess of bank balance

 

$

567,340

 

$

871,632

 

Current portion long-term debt

 

2,624,164

 

2,447,079

 

Accounts payable

 

3,362,520

 

4,646,728

 

Accrued expenses

 

930,526

 

3,605,085

 

Derivative instruments

 

1,051,844

 

3,506,617

 

Deferred revenue

 

348,496

 

369,651

 

Total current liabilities

 

8,884,890

 

15,446,792

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation

 

127,221

 

180,372

 

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

 

30,134,436

 

34,235,095

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

2,556,978

 

3,733,378

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

32,818,635

 

38,148,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Controlling Interest

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members’ Equity (28,760,000 and 24,460,000 units issed and outstanding in 2009 and 2008 respectively)

 

79,152,865

 

72,681,603

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Members’ Equity

 

$

120,856,390

 

$

126,877,240

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

198,631,396

 

$

278,702,939

 

$

155,376,419

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

191,044,396

 

257,715,593

 

131,504,098

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

 

7,587,000

 

20,987,346

 

23,872,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

1,641,701

 

2,477,857

 

2,546,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment Loss

 

2,400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

3,545,299

 

18,509,489

 

21,325,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

8,564

 

67,086

 

226,346

 

Interest expense

 

(2,531,587

)

(2,454,467

)

(1,507,561

)

Equity in net income of investments

 

597,130

 

1,773,468

 

285,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

(1,925,893

)

(613,913

)

(995,507

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income before non-controlling interest

 

1,619,406

 

17,895,576

 

20,330,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

2,219,406

 

$

17,895,576

 

$

20,330,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic & diluted net income per unit

 

$

0.08

 

$

0.73

 

$

0.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding for the calculation of basic & diluted net income per unit

 

26,485,771

 

24,460,000

 

24,460,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions Per Unit

 

$

 

$

0.65

 

$

1.00

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

2,219,406

 

$

17,895,576

 

$

20,330,125

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,978,251

 

7,988,231

 

5,911,717

 

Unrealized loss (gain) on risk management activities

 

(2,454,773

)

3,847,284

 

2,937,138

 

Unrealized loss on purchase commitments

 

 

2,611,000

 

 

Gain on sale of fixed assets

 

 

(37,669

)

 

Impairment of fixed assets

 

2,400,000

 

 

 

Non-controlling interest

 

(600,000

)

 

 

Amortization of deferred revenue

 

(465,304

)

(134,431

)

(536,354

)

Accretion of interest on grant receivable

 

(161,297

)

(97,291

)

(118,003

)

Undistributed (earnings) in excess of distributions from investments

 

(152,686

)

(1,773,468

)

(285,708

)

Deferred compensation expense (benefit)

 

7,936

 

57,022

 

71,955

 

Change in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(5,041,386

)

(226,728

)

3,289,808

 

Inventory

 

125,565

 

(80,559

)

(2,625,528

)

Due from broker

 

2,917,865

 

(4,342,242

)

(3,056,205

)

Prepaid expenses and other

 

32,395

 

(621,389

)

100,413

 

Accounts payable

 

(1,284,208

)

(271,350

)

2,135,094

 

Accrued expenses

 

(2,674,559

)

(3,415

)

428,230

 

Deferred compensation payable

 

(61,087

)

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

3,786,118

 

24,810,571

 

28,582,682

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(2,532,727

)

(8,140,048

)

(32,819,672

)

Proceeds from sale of equipment

 

 

111,501

 

 

Decrease in restricted cash

 

 

2,036,539

 

2,049,812

 

Purchase of investments

 

(1,655,344

)

 

(5,015,000

)

Increase in cash held for construction

 

 

(3,000,000

)

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

(4,188,071

)

(8,992,008

)

(35,784,860

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks in excess of bank balance

 

(304,292

)

871,632

 

 

Payments for long-term debt

 

(3,923,574

)

(3,935,462

)

(5,228,412

)

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

 

 

29,758,919

 

Contributions from members

 

4,300,000

 

 

 

Distribution to members

 

 

(15,899,000

)

(24,460,000

)

Payments received on grant receivable

 

377,963

 

712,152

 

173,695

 

Payments for offering costs

 

(48,144

)

 

(276,663

)

Contribution by non-controlling interest

 

 

600,000

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) in financing activities

 

401,953

 

(17,650,678

)

(32,461

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Equivalents

 

 

(1,832,115

)

(7,234,639

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Equivalents – Beginning of Period

 

 

1,832,115

 

9,066,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Equivalents – End of Period

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,832,115

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

October 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid net of capitalized interest (2009 $90,727; 2008 $0; $2007 $1,472,333)

 

$

2,512,986

 

$

2,508,768

 

$

977,468

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction in process in accounts payable

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,940,026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land improvement acquired through issuance of note payable

 

 

 

242,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred revenue received through grant receivable

 

 

2,090,416

 

2,683,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustment to grant receivable through deferred revenue

 

916,103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt issuance costs amortized to construction in process

 

 

 

73,186

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity

 

For the years ended October 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

 

Balance - October 31, 2006

 

$

74,814,902

 

Distribution for 24,460,000 Class A and Class B units, December 2006 and September 2007

 

(24,460,000

)

Net income

 

20,330,125

 

Balance - October 31, 2007

 

70,685,027

 

Distribution for 24,460,000 Class A and Class B units, February 2008 and June 2008

 

(15,899,000

)

Net income

 

17,895,576

 

Balance - October 31, 2008

 

72,681,603

 

Proceeds from the sale of 4,300,000 callable membership units, net of offering costs of $48,144

 

4,251,856

 

Net income

 

2,219,406

 

Balance - October 31, 2009

 

$

79,152,865

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements are an integral part of this Statement.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.     SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Nature of Business

Golden Grain Energy, LLC (Golden Grain Energy) is approximately a 110 million gallon annual production ethanol plant near Mason City, Iowa. The Company sells its production of ethanol, distillers grains with solubles and corn oil primarily in the continental United States.  The Company was a majority owner in Corn Oil Bio-Solutions, LLC (COBS) a biodiesel production plant in the development process, near Mason City, Iowa. Due to management’s uncertainty regarding the project’s feasibility an impairment loss of $2,400,000 was taken during the year ended October 31, 2009 which eliminates all net assets of COBS.  In addition, the non-controlling interest of $600,000 was written off during the year ended October 31, 2009.

 

Principles of consolidation:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Golden Grain Energy and its now dormant majority owned subsidiary COBS, collectively, the Company.  All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Organization

Golden Grain Energy is organized as an Iowa limited liability company.  The members’ liability is limited as specified in Golden Grain Energy’s operating agreement and pursuant to the Iowa Limited Liability Company Act.

 

Accounting Estimates

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Equivalents

The Company’s cash balances are maintained in bank depositories and periodically exceeded federally insured limits during the year.  The Company has not experienced any losses in connection with these balances.

 

Receivables

Credit sales are made primarily to two customers and no collateral is required.  The Company carries these accounts receivable at face amount with no allowance for doubtful accounts due to the historical collection rates on these.

 

Investments

The Company has less than a 20% investment interest in five unlisted companies in related industries.  These investments are being accounted for by the equity method of accounting under which the Company’s share of net income is recognized as income in the Company’s income statement and added to the investment account.  Distributions or dividends received from the investments are treated as a reduction of the investment account.

 

The fiscal years of Renewable Products Marketing Group, LLC (RPMG) and Guardian Energy, LLC end on September 30 and the fiscal years of Guardian Eagle, LLC, Absolute Energy, LLC and Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC end on December 31. The Company consistently follows the practice of recognizing the net income based on the most recent reliable data.  Therefore, the net income which is reported in the Company’s income statement for all companies is based on September 30, 2009.

 

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from the sale of the Company’s products is recognized at the time title to the goods and all risks of ownership transfer to the customers.  This generally occurs upon shipment, loading of the goods or when the customer picks up the goods. Collectability of revenue is reasonably assured based on historical evidence of collectability between the Company and its customers.  Interest income is recognized as earned.

 

Shipping costs incurred by the Company in the sale of ethanol and corn oil are not specifically identifiable and as a result, revenue from the sale of ethanol and corn oil are recorded based on the net selling price reported to the

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Company from the marketer.  Shipping costs incurred by the Company in the sale of distiller grain products are included in cost of goods sold.

 

Income Taxes

The Company was formed under sections of the federal and state income tax laws which provide that, in lieu of corporate income taxes, the members separately account for their pro rata share of the Company’s items of income, deductions, losses and credits.  As a result of this election, no income taxes have been recognized in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Grant receivable and deferred revenue

Grant receivable is recorded when the payments to be received can be estimated and when payment is reasonably assured.  The Company recorded a grant receivable and corresponding deferred revenue of approximately $2,683,000 associated with the original plant construction and recorded approximately $2,090,000 for an amendment to the original tax increment financing monies associated with the plant expansion that was completed in June 2007 to be received over a 10-year period for the tax increment financing monies.  The amendment to the grant was approved in May 2008.  These grants were recorded at their net present value using a discount rate of 6%.  Related deferred revenue was recorded and is being amortized into income as a reduction of property taxes over the life of the grant.  During the year ended October 31, 2009 an adjustment was made to both the deferred revenue and grant receivable accounts based on updated estimates of anticipated cash receipts over the remaining years.  As of October 31, 2009 the present value of the grant receivable was approximately $3,461,000 and the corresponding deferred revenue was approximately $2,905,000.

 

Investment in commodities contracts, derivative instruments and hedging activities

The Company evaluates its contracts to determine whether the contracts are derivative instruments.  Certain contracts that literally meet the definition of a derivative may be exempted from derivative accounting and treated as normal purchases or normal sales if documented as such.  Normal purchases and normal sales are contracts that provide for the purchase or sale of something other than a financial instrument or derivative instrument that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business.

 

The Company enters into short-term cash, option and futures contracts as a means of securing corn and natural gas for the ethanol plant and managing exposure to changes in commodity and energy prices.  All of the Company’s derivatives, other than those excluded under the normal purchases and sales exclusion, are designated as non-hedge derivatives, with changes in fair value recognized in net income.  Although the contracts are economic hedges of specified risks, they are not designated as and accounted for as hedging instruments.

 

As part of its trading activity, the Company uses futures and option contracts through regulated commodity exchanges to manage its risk related to pricing of inventories.  To reduce that risk, the Company generally takes positions using cash and futures contracts and options.

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses related to derivative contracts related to corn and natural gas are included as a component of cost of goods sold and derivative contracts related to ethanol are included as a component of revenues in the accompanying financial statements.  The fair values of contracts entered through commodity exchanges are presented on the accompanying balance sheet as derivative instruments.

 

Net income per unit

Basic and diluted earnings per unit are computed using the weighted-average number of Class A and B units outstanding during the period.

 

Environmental liabilities

The Company’s operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations adopted by various governmental authorities in the jurisdiction in which it operates.  These laws require the Company to investigate and remediate the effects of the release or disposal of materials at its locations.  Accordingly, the Company has adopted policies, practices and procedures in the areas of pollution control, occupational health and the production, handling, storage and use of hazardous materials to prevent material environmental or other damage, and to limit the financial liability which could result from such events.  Environmental liabilities are recorded when the Company’s liability is

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.  No expense has been recorded as of October 31, 2009 or 2008 for environmental liabilities.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company established a deferred compensation plan for management under a bonus and bonus phantom unit plan.  Costs of the plan are amortized over the vesting period, which ranges from three to five years from the grant date.  The liability under the plan is recorded at fair market value on the balance sheet based on the market price of the Company’s units as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Fair Value

Financial instruments include cash and equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses, long-term debt and derivative instruments.  Management believes the fair value of each of these instruments approximates their carrying value in the balance sheet as of the balance sheet date.  The fair value of derivative financial instruments is based on quoted market prices.  The fair value of other current financial instruments is estimated to approximate carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.  The fair value of the long-term debt is estimated based on anticipated interest rates which management believes would currently be available to the Company for similar issues of debt, taking into account the current credit risk of the Company and the other market factors.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

The current U.S. recession has reduced the nation’s demand for energy.  The bankruptcy filings of several of the industry’s major producers, specifically during 2008, has resulted in great economic uncertainty about the viability of ethanol.  The ethanol boom of recent years has spurred overcapacity in the industry and is currently nearing the RFS mandates.  Although margins over the last few months have been positive and will likely remain positive for the next few months, the Company will continue to evaluate margins on a regular basis and may reduce capacity or shut down the plant depending on the economic conditions at the time.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  The FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) will become the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.  The Codification supersedes all then-existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards.  All other non-grandfathered non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative.  The Company adopted the codification with no impact on the financial statements.

 

The FASB has issued guidance on fair value measurements that provides enhanced guidance to other pronouncements that require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value.  This guidance may change how fair value is determined and also expands the required disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The implementation for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a nonrecurring basis is deferred to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  We do not believe the adoption of the nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities will have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

The FASB issued guidance, which amends certain concepts related to consolidation of variable interest entities. It replaces the quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for determining which enterprise has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with an approach focused on identifying which enterprise has the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the financial position or the results of operations.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The FASB has issued guidance which requires all entities to report non-controlling (minority) interests in subsidiaries within equity in the consolidated financial statements, but separate from the parent shareholders’ equity.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

The Company adopted guidance on subsequent events and it did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.  This guidance establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.

 

2.              INVENTORY

 

Inventory consisted of the following as of October 31, 2009 and October 31, 2008:

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

Raw Materials

 

$

2,466,680

 

$

3,259,588

 

Work in Process

 

1,190,905

 

1,219,490

 

Finished Goods

 

802,503

 

106,575

 

Totals

 

$

4,460,088

 

$

4,585,653

 

 

Included in inventory is a lower of cost or market adjustment of approximately none and $389,000 as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

3.              INVESTMENTS

 

Condensed, consolidated financial information of the Company’s investment in Absolute Energy, Homeland Energy Solutions, Guardian Eagle and RPMG is as follows (in 000’s)

 

 

 

9/30/09

 

9/30/08

 

Current Assets

 

$

137,121

 

182,648

 

Other Assets

 

$

298,479

 

270,134

 

Current Liabilities

 

$

114,318

 

188,605

 

Long-term Debt

 

$

129,221

 

78,322

 

Members’ Equity

 

$

192,061

 

191,762

 

Revenue

 

$

1,906,561

 

2,657,313

 

Net Income (Loss)

 

$

16,786

 

5,498

 

 

In addition, during September 2009, the Company made a $1,500,000 investment in Guardian Energy, LLC, a 100 million gallon ethanol plant near Janesville, MN.  This investment will give the Company approximately a 10% ownership interest in the facility which started production in October 2009.  No activity in Guardian Energy, LLC has been recorded in the financial statements since our original investment.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

4.              BANK FINANCING

 

The Company had the following amounts outstanding under credit agreements.

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

Line of credit agreement for $20,000,000 requiring monthly interest payments at prime minus a rate based on the Company’s total indebtedness to its tangible net worth adjusted annually with a 6% floor effective March 1, 2009. (6% as of October 31, 2009) (a)

 

$

6,900,000

 

$

8,600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate term loan requiring monthly interest payment at 6.7% in addition to monthly principal payments of approximately $75,000. (a)

 

9,024,939

 

9,865,109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable rate term loan requiring monthly interest payments at prime minus a rate based on the Company’s total indebtedness to its tangible net worth adjusted annually with a floor of 6% in addition to monthly principal payments of approximately $140,000. (6% as of October 31, 2009) (a)

 

16,376,354

 

17,775,489

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other notes payable

 

457,307

 

441,576

 

 

 

32,758,600

 

36,682,174

 

Less amounts due within one year

 

2,624,164

 

2,447,079

 

Total

 

$

30,134,436

 

$

34,235,095

 

 


(a)          The credit agreement with the bank expires in August 2017 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.  The Company has restrictive covenants including, but not limited to, requiring minimum financial ratios and limitations on capital expenditures, investments and distributions.

 

On May 21, 2009, we executed the Second Amendment to our Credit Agreement with Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.  Among other things, the amendment changed the manner in which certain covenants are calculated, implemented a minimum interest rate of 6% on all of our variable interest rate debt, and formalized a previous waiver of certain non-compliances with our loan covenants from October 31, 2008 and January 31, 2009. In September 2009, the Company agreed to repay to its lender principal payments that have been deferred since June 2009 and to resume making principal payments. As of October 31, 2009 we were in compliance with all covenants.

 

The estimated maturities of long-term debt taking the effects of the amendment noted above for the period ending October 31, 2009 are as follows:

 

2010

 

$

2,624,164

 

2011

 

2,793,468

 

2012

 

2,970,379

 

2013

 

3,165,697

 

2014

 

3,365,286

 

Thereafter

 

17,839,606

 

Total

 

$

32,758,600

 

 

5.              MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

The Company sold 2,747,500 and 1,552,500 of Class A units during April 2009 and June 2009, respectively, for a purchase price of $1.00 per unit.  The units have a call feature that allows the Company to repurchase the units after

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

a minimum one year period for $1.00 per unit plus an accrued dividend at 18% per annum.  Total number of Class A and B units outstanding as of October 31, 2009 was 27,840,000, of which 4,300,000 have a call feature, and 920,000 respectively.

 

6.              RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company purchased corn and materials from members of its Board of Directors that own or manage elevators.  Purchases during the year ended 2009, 2008 and 2007 totaled approximately $60,908,000, $95,102,000 and $50,896,000, respectively.

 

As of October 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company has approximately $618,000 and $54,000 in payables to members of the Board of Directors who also own or manage elevators.

 

The Company entered into an agreement with Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC in December 2008.  Pursuant to the agreement, the companies have agreed to split the compensation costs associated with each position covered by the agreement in an effort to reduce the costs of administrative overhead.  The Company recorded a reduction of approximately $352,000 to operating expenses during the year ended October 31, 2009.  There was no effect on the income statement for 2008 and 2007.

 

7.              LEASE OBLIGATIONS

 

The Company has three leases for equipment with original terms of 4 to 10 years.  The Company is obligated to pay costs of insurance, taxes, repairs and maintenance pursuant to the terms of the lease.   Rent expense for operating leases for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $1,638,000, $1,425,000 and $860,000, respectively.

 

At October 31, 2009 the Company had the following approximate minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases.

 

2010

 

$

1,388,000

 

2011

 

1,306,000

 

2012

 

559,000

 

Total lease commitments

 

$

3,253,000

 

 

8.              SELF-INSURANCE

 

The Company participates in a captive reinsurance company (Captive).  The Captive reinsures losses related to workman’s compensation, commercial property and general liability.  Premiums are accrued by a charge to income for the period to which the premium relates and is remitted by our insurer to the captive reinsurer.  The Captive reinsures catastrophic losses in excess of a predetermined amount.  The Company’s premiums are structured such that the Company has made a prepaid collateral deposit estimated for losses related to the above coverage.  The Captive insurer has estimated and collected an amount in excess of the estimated losses but less than the catastrophic loss limit insured by the Captive. The Company can not be assessed over the amount in the collateral fund.

 

9.              EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

The Company has adopted a Simple IRA Adoption Agreement which provides retirement savings options for all eligible employees.  Employees meeting certain eligibility requirements can participate in the plan.  The Company makes a matching contribution based on the participants’ eligible wages.  The Company made matching contributions of approximately $76,000, $72,000 and $64,000 during the years ended October 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company also has a deferred phantom unit compensation plan for certain employees equal to 1% of net income.  One-third of the amount is paid in cash immediately and the other two-thirds have a five year vesting schedule.  During the years ended 2009, 2008 and 2007 the Company recorded compensation expense (benefit) related to this plan of approximately $(53,000), $124,000 and $72,000, respectively.  As of October 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company had a liability of approximately $127,000 and $180,000 outstanding as deferred compensation and has approximately $180,000 and $230,000 to be recognized as future compensation expense over the weighted average vesting period of approximately 3 years. The amount to be recognized in future years as compensation expense is  estimated based on the fair value of the Company’s membership units as of October 31, 2009.  Fair value is determined by recent trading activity of the Company’s membership units. The Company had approximately 82,000 unvested equivalent phantom units outstanding under this plan as of October 31, 2009.

 

10.       QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTING (UNAUDITED)

 

Summary quarterly results are as follows:

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

Second
Quarter

 

Third Quarter

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Year ended December 31, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

41,584,973

 

$

52,041,270

 

$

52,988,884

 

$

52,016,269

 

Gross profit (loss)

 

(6,334,325

)

1,733,692

 

4,263,750

 

7,923,883

 

Impairment Loss

 

 

 

2,400,000

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

(6,727,895

)

1,199,012

 

1,606,299

 

7,467,883

 

Net income (loss) before non-controlling interest

 

(7,745,022

)

940,828

 

920,855

 

7,502,745

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

600,000

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

(7,745,022

)

940,828

 

1,520,855

 

7,502,745

 

Basic & diluted earnings (loss) per unit

 

(0.32

)

0.04

 

0.05

 

0.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

64,608,444

 

$

72,786,518

 

$

74,595,223

 

$

66,712,754

 

Gross profit (loss)

 

15,889,556

 

14,686,216

 

3,170,959

 

(12,759,385

)

Income (loss) from operations

 

15,242,197

 

13,941,278

 

2,595,438

 

(13,269,424

)

Net income (loss)

 

14,424,616

 

13,569,255

 

2,585,080

 

(12,683,375

)

Basic & diluted earnings (loss) per unit

 

0.59

 

0.55

 

0.11

 

(0.60

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

32,791,027

 

$

33,721,324

 

$

39,311,635

 

$

49,552,433

 

Gross profit

 

10,219,817

 

4,174,797

 

2,819,559

 

6,658,148

 

Income from operations

 

9,502,166

 

3,418,310

 

2,358,958

 

6,046,198

 

Net income

 

9,537,489

 

3,553,789

 

1,909,657

 

5,329,190

 

Basic & diluted earnings per unit

 

0.39

 

0.15

 

0.08

 

0.21

 

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

11.       COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND AGREEMENTS

 

Ethanol,  Distiller’s grain and Corn Oil marketing agreements and major customers

The Company has entered into a marketing agreement with a marketing company, in which the Company has an investment, for the exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute the entire ethanol and corn oil inventory produced by the Company.  The marketing fees are presented net in revenues.

 

The Company has executed a Distiller’s Grains Marketing Agreement in November 2007 with a non related party for successive renewable one year periods. The Company will sell 100% of its distiller’s grain product under this marketing agreement.  The marketing fees are presented net in revenues.

 

Approximate sales and marketing fees related to the agreements in place are as follows:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

Sales ethanol & corn oil

 

$

165,911,000

 

$

234,777,000

 

$

137,779,000

 

Sales distiller grains

 

33,910,000

 

38,199,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing fees ethanol

 

483,000

 

482,000

 

238,000

 

Marketing fees distiller grains

 

707,000

 

738,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount due from ethanol marketer

 

8,112,000

 

3,268,000

 

2,477,000

 

Amount due from distiller marketer

 

576,000

 

360,000

 

 

 

12.       RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The Company’s activities expose it to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in commodity prices.  These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as an integral part of its overall risk-management program.  The Company’s risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial and commodities markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results.

 

To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, the Company generally follows a policy of using exchange traded futures contracts to reduce its net position of merchandisable agricultural commodity inventories and forward cash purchase and sales contracts and uses exchange traded futures contracts to reduce price risk.  Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued at market price.  Changes in market price of contracts related to corn and natural gas are recorded in cost of goods sold and changes in market prices of contracts related to sale of ethanol are recorded in revenues.

 

Unrealized gains and losses on forward contracts are deemed “normal purchases” under derivative accounting guidelines and, therefore, are not marked to market in the Company’s financial statements. The following table represents the approximate amount of realized gains (losses) and changes in fair value recognized in earnings on commodity contracts for the years ended 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the fair value of derivatives as of October 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Income Statement Classification

 

Realized
Gain (Loss)

 

Unrealized
Gain (Loss)

 

Total Gain
(Loss)

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·

Commodity Contracts for the fiscal year ending 2009

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

871,000

 

(1,052,000

)

(181,000

)

·

Commodity Contracts for the fiscal year ending 2008

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

7,361,000

 

(3,507,000

)

3,854,000

 

·

Commodity Contracts for the fiscal year ending 2007

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

(2,265,000

)

341,000

 

(1,924,000

)

Lower of cost or market adjustment on forward contracts deemed “normal purchases” for the fiscal year ending 2008

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

$

 

(2,611,000

)

(2,611,000

)

 

 

 

Balance Sheet
Classification

 

October 31, 2009

 

October 31, 2008

 

Futures contracts through December 2009

 

Current Assets (Liabilities)

 

$

(1,052,000

)

(3,507,000

)

 

At October 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding commitments for purchases:

 

 

 

Commitments
Through

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corn (a)

 

March 2010

 

$

6,447,000

 

 


(a) Approximately $2,131,000 is with related parties.

 

13.       FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

Effective November 1, 2008, the Company adopted the fair value measurements and disclosure standards, which provides a framework for measuring fair value of all financial instruments that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis.

 

Fair value is defined in the standards as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  In determining fair value, the Company uses various methods including market, income and cost approaches.  Based on these approaches, the Company often utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and/or the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.  These inputs can be readily observable, market-corroborated, or generally unobservable inputs.  The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  Based on the observability of the inputs used in the valuation techniques, the Company is required to provide the following information according to the fair value hierarchy.  The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.  Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

Level 1: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active markets from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2: Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in less active dealer or broker markets.  Valuations are obtained from third-party pricing services for identical or similar assets or liabilities.

 

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GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Level 3: Valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities.

 

A description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, including the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.  These valuation methodologies were applied to all of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities carried at fair value effective November 1, 2008.

 

Derivative financial instruments:  Commodity futures and exchange-traded commodity options contracts are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs.  For these contracts, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service.  The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes and live trading levels from markets such as the CBOT and NYMEX.  Crush swaps are bundled contracts or combined contracts that include a portion of corn, ethanol and natural gas rolled into a single trading instrument.  These contracts are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs and are based on the various trading activity of the components of each segment of the bundled contract.

 

The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at the approximate fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2009, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value:

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Liabilities, derivative financial instruments

 

$

1,052,000

 

 

$

1,052,000

 

 

 

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, for example, when there is evidence of impairment.

 

14.       SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Company has evaluated the period after the balance sheet date up through the date of this filing, which is the date that the financial statements were issued, and determined that there were no subsequent events or transactions that required recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

 

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ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A(T).  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer (the principal executive officer), Walter Wendland, along with our Chief Financial Officer (the principal financial officer), Christine Marchand, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of October 31, 2009.  Based on this review and evaluation, these officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act  is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods required by the forms and rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Inherent Limitations Over Internal Controls

 

Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

 

(i)            pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;

 

(ii)           provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

 

(iii)          provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of internal controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls in future periods are subject to the risk that those internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the

 

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Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 31, 2009.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of our 2009 fiscal year, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference in the definitive proxy statement from our 2010 Annual Meeting of Members to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of our 2009 fiscal year end.  This proxy statement is referred to in this report as the 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

The Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

The Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

 

The Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 

The Information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the 2010 Proxy Statement.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

 

Exhibits Filed as Part of this Report and Exhibits Incorporated by Reference.

 

The following exhibits and financial statements are filed as part of, or are incorporated by reference into, this report:

 

(1)                                   Financial Statements

 

The financial statements appear beginning at page 40 of this report.

 

(2)                                   Financial Statement Schedules

 

All supplemental schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes.

 

(3)                                   Exhibits

 

Exhibit 
No.

 

Exhibit

 

Filed
Herewith

 

Incorporated by Reference

3.1

 

Articles of Organization of the registrant.

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form SB-2 (Commission File 333-101441).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the registrant

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant Form 10-K filed with the Commission on January 17, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Form of Membership Unit Certificate.

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s registration statement on Form SB-2 (Commission File 333-101441).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

VAAPFAP Loan/Forgivable Loan Agreement and Promissory Note dated October 14, 2004 between the registrant and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-KSB filed with the Commission on January 31, 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Future Advance Mortgage dated January 30, 2006 between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Form 10-QSB filed with the Commission on March 17, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Security Agreement dated January 30, 2006 between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Form 10-QSB filed with the Commission on March 17, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.4

 

Member Control Agreement dated April 11, 2006 between the registrant and Renewable Products Marketing Group, LLC.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-QSB filed with the Commission on June 14, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.5

 

Master Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 16, 2006.

 

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10.6

 

First Supplement to the Master Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 16, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

 

Second Supplement to the Master Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 16, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.8

 

Third Supplement to the Master Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank of Rochester, Minnesota.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 16, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

 

First Amendment to the Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank dated August 1, 2007.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 13, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.10

 

Distiller’s Grains Marketing Agreement with Hawkeye Gold, LLC dated November 13, 2007. +

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.19 to the registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission on January 17, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.11

 

Management Services Agreement with Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC dated December 15, 2008.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.11 to the registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission on January 29, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.12

 

Management Phantom Unit and Bonus Plan dated December 19, 2008

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.12 to the registrant’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission on January 29, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.13

 

Corn Oil Marketing Agreement between the registrant and Renewable Products Marketing Group, LLC dated January 27, 2009. +

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on March 17, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.14

 

Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank dated May 21, 2009.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on June 12, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.15

 

Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement between the registrant and Home Federal Savings Bank dated September 29, 2009.

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.1

 

Code of Ethics of Golden Grain Energy, LLC, adopted January 14, 2004.

 

 

 

Exhibit 14.1 to the registrant’s Form 10-KSB filed with the Commission on January 29, 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certificate Pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certificate Pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a)

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certificate Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certificate Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

X

 

 

 


(+) Confidential Treatment Requested.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

GOLDEN GRAIN ENERGY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Walter Wendland

 

 

Walter Wendland

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Christine Marchand

 

 

 

Christine Marchand

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Dave Sovereign

 

 

 

 

Dave Sovereign, Chairman and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Jim Boeding

 

 

 

 

Jim Boeding, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Ron Pumphrey

 

 

 

 

Ron Pumphrey, Secretary and Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Chris Schwarck

 

 

 

 

Chris Schwarck, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Steve Retterath

 

 

 

 

Steve Retterath, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Stan Laures

 

 

 

 

Stan Laures, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Jerry Calease

 

 

 

 

Jerry Calease, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Marion Cagley

 

 

 

 

Marion Cagley, Director

 

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Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Steve Core

 

 

 

 

Steve Core, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Leslie Hansen

 

 

 

 

Leslie Hansen, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Duane Lynch

 

 

 

 

Duane Lynch, Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

 

December 31, 2009

 

/s/ Steve Sukup

 

 

 

 

Steve Sukup, Vice Chairman and Director

 

60