UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

Commission file number: 000-52421

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

8000 Norman Center Drive, Suite 610

Bloomington, Minnesota 55437
(763) 226-2701
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

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. Yes     þ     No     o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, 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.)

 

Yes  o     No  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. (Check one):

 

 

(Do not check if a smaller

reporting company)

 

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

 

As of February 10, 2011, the number of outstanding units was 24,714,180.

 

 

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC
FORM 10-Q
Index

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC & SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data)
(Unaudited)

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC & SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity
For the Quarter Ended December 31, 2010
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC & SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

ADVANCED BIOENERGY, LLC & SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)

 

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Advanced BioEnergy, LLC (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, ABE Fairmont, LLC (“ABE Fairmont”) and ABE South Dakota, LLC (“ABE South Dakota”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010. The financial information as of December 31, 2010 and the results of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.

 

The Company currently operates three ethanol production facilities in the U.S. with a combined production capacity of 195 million gallons per year. The Company commenced operations at the 110 million gallon facility in Fairmont, Nebraska in October 2007. The Company acquired existing facilities in Aberdeen and Huron, South Dakota in November 2006 and commenced operations at the 44 million gallon Aberdeen expansion facility in January 2008.

 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash balances are maintained in bank depositories and periodically exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced losses in these accounts. The Company’s restricted cash includes cash held for debt service under the terms of its debt agreements.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

In determining fair value of its derivative financial instruments and warrant liabilities, 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. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three fair value hierarchy 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.

 

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

 

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 the CBOT and NYMEX markets.

 

The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at the approximate fair value utilized to measure fair value (amounts in thousands):

 

 

The stock warrants issued contain a strike price adjustment feature. The Company calculated the fair value of the warrants using the Black-Scholes valuation model. During the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized an unrealized gain of $34,000 and $1,000, respectively, related to the change in the fair value of the warrant derivative liability.

 

The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model were as follows:

 

 

 

The following table reflects the activity for liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs for the three months ended December 31, 2010 (amounts in thousands):

 

 

Receivables

 

Credit sales are made to a few customers with no collateral required. Trade receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful receivables based on a review of all outstanding amounts on a monthly basis. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by regularly evaluating individual receivables and considering a customer’s financial condition, credit history and current economic conditions. Receivables are written off if deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

 

Derivative Instruments/Due From Broker

 

On occasion, the Company has entered into derivative contracts to hedge the Company’s exposure to price risk related to forecasted corn purchases and forecasted ethanol sales. Accounting for derivative contracts requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as (a) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment, (b) a hedge of the exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction, or (c) a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation, an unrecognized firm commitment, an available-for-sale security, or a foreign-currency-denominated forecasted transaction.

 

Although the Company believes its derivative positions are economic hedges, none have been designated as a hedge for accounting purposes and derivative positions are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair market value, with changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings.

 

Inventories

 

Corn, chemicals, supplies, work in process, ethanol and distillers grains inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on a weighted cost basis.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Ethanol revenue is recognized when product title and all risk of ownership is transferred to the customer as specified in the contractual agreements with the marketers. At all of the Company’s plants, revenue is recognized upon the release of the product for shipment. Revenue from the sale of co-products is recorded when title and all risk of ownership transfers to customers, which generally occurs at the time of shipment. Co-products and related products are generally shipped free on board (“FOB”) shipping point. Interest income is recognized as earned. In accordance with the Company’s agreements for the marketing and sale of ethanol and related products, commissions due to the marketers are deducted from the gross sale price at the time of payment.

 

Income Per Unit

 

Basic and diluted income per unit is computed using the weighted-average number of vested units outstanding during the period. Unvested units are considered unit equivalents and are considered in the diluted income per unit computation, but have not been included in the computations of diluted income per unit as their effect would be anti-dilutive. Basic earnings and diluted per unit data were computed as follows (in thousands except per unit data):

 

 

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.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The ethanol industry is currently receiving an indirect benefit of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (“VEETC”) provided to gasoline blenders which is set to expire on December 31, 2011, after a one year extension was signed into law on December 17, 2010. This credit provides for a 45-cent a gallon tax credit for gasoline blenders and a 54-cent a gallon tariff on ethanol imports. Although the Renewable Fuels Standard still exists to maintain the demand for ethanol in the United States, the Company is uncertain of the potential impact that the elimination or reduction in the VEETC credit would have on the Company and the overall ethanol industry.

 

Contingencies

 

In June 2009, the Company’s former director and chairman of the board and former chief executive officer, filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association alleging that the Company breached its employment agreement with him and defamed him when it terminated his employment in January 2009. This individual is seeking additional compensation, including but not limited to two years of compensation and benefits. As of December 31, 2010 the Company has not recorded a liability for payment of a potential settlement that could result from these proceedings.

 

 

A summary of inventories is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

A summary of property and equipment is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

A summary of debt is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

The estimated maturities of debt at December 31, is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Senior Credit Facility for the Fairmont Plant

 

ABE Fairmont has a senior credit facility with Farm Credit consisting of a term loan (“term loan A”), and a revolving term loan, known as term loan B. Farm Credit also extended a $6.0 million revolving seasonal line for financing eligible grain inventory, which expires on April 1, 2011. The Company plans to review the need for this seasonal line prior to its expiration to determine whether it should be extended. ABE Fairmont also has a $2.0 million revolving credit facility for financing third-party letters of credit, which expires in February 2012. ABE Fairmont issued a letter of credit in connection with a rail car lease, reducing the financing available from the $2.0 million revolving credit facility by $911,000 as of December 31, 2010.

 

At December 31, 2010, ABE Fairmont had $32.5 million outstanding on term loan A. ABE Fairmont must make quarterly principal installments of $2.6 million through November 2013, followed by a final installment in an amount equal to the remaining unpaid term loan A principal balance in February 2014. For each fiscal year ending through September 30, 2012, ABE Fairmont is required to pay an additional amount equal to the lesser of

 

$8.0 million or 75% of its free cash flow, which was approximately $5.0 million for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. This cash sweep payment was made in December 2010.

 

At December 31, 2010, ABE Fairmont had $25.0 million outstanding on the revolving term loan B (“term loan B”). On the earlier of December 1, 2014 or six months following complete repayment of term loan A, ABE Fairmont will begin repayment of revolving term loan B in $5.0 million semi-annual principal payments.

 

ABE Fairmont pays interest monthly at an annualized interest rate of 7.53% on $20.0 million and a variable rate comprised of the 30-day LIBOR plus a fixed rate of 3.40% on the remaining outstanding debt.

 

ABE Fairmont’s senior credit facility is secured by a first mortgage on all of ABE Fairmont’s real estate and a lien on all of ABE Fairmont’s personal property. The agreement contains financial and restrictive covenants, including limitations on additional indebtedness, restricted payments, and the incurrence of liens and transactions with affiliates and sales of assets. In addition, the senior secured credit facility requires ABE Fairmont to comply with certain financial covenants, including maintaining monthly minimum working capital, monthly minimum net worth, annual debt service coverage ratios and capital expenditure limitations.

 

Fillmore County Subordinate Exempt Facilities Revenue Bonds for the Fairmont plant

 

ABE Fairmont has $6.2 million of subordinate exempt facilities revenue bonds outstanding under a subordinated loan and trust agreement with the County of Fillmore, Nebraska and Wells Fargo, N.A. The loan agreement is collateralized by the Fairmont plant assets. ABE Fairmont’s repayment of the loan and the security for the loan are subordinate to its senior credit facility. The loan requires semi-annual interest payments. The Company made its first principal payment of $815,000 in December 2010, and will continue to make this payment annually through December 2016, with the remainder due in December 2017.

 

Senior Credit Agreement for the South Dakota Plants

 

ABE South Dakota entered into an Amended and Restated Senior Credit Agreement (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) effective as of June 18, 2010, which was accounted for under troubled debt restructuring rules. The Senior Credit Agreement was executed among ABE South Dakota, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and WestLB AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent. The Senior Credit Agreement converted the outstanding principal amount of the loans and certain other amounts under interest rate protection agreements to a senior term loan in an aggregate principal amount equal to $84.4 million. The interest accrued on outstanding term and working capital loans under the existing credit agreement was reduced to zero. ABE South Dakota has agreed to pay a $3.0 million restructuring fee to the lenders due at the earlier of March 31, 2016 or the date on which the loans are repaid in full. ABE South Dakota recorded the restructuring fee as a long-term, non-interest bearing debt on its consolidated balance sheets. See Effect of Restructuring below.

 

The principal amount of the term loan facility is payable in equal quarterly payments of $750,000, with the remaining principal amount fully due and payable on March 31, 2016.

 

ABE South Dakota has the option to select the interest rate on the senior term loan between base rate and euro-dollar loans. Base rate loans bear interest at the administrative agent’s base rate plus an applicable margin of 0.50% increasing to 3.0% on June 16, 2013. Euro-dollar loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable margin of 1.5% increasing to 3.0% on June 16, 2012, and 4.0% beginning on June 16, 2013 and thereafter. Each loan can be entered for one, two, three or six month maturities.

 

Since the future maximum undiscounted cash payments on the Senior Credit Agreement (including principal, interest and the restructuring fee) exceed the adjusted carrying value, no gain for the forgiven interest was recorded, the carrying value was not adjusted and the modification of terms will be accounted for on a prospective basis, via a new effective interest calculation, amortized over the life of the note, offsetting interest expense. Based on the treatment of the troubled debt restructuring which will result in the additional carrying value being amortized as a reduction in interest expense over the term of the loan, the Company’s effective interest rate over the term of the restructuring note agreement is approximately 0.37% over the Three-Month LIBOR (0.67% at December 31, 2010).

 

ABE South Dakota’s obligations under the Senior Credit Agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of the equity of and assets of ABE South Dakota.

 

ABE South Dakota is allowed to make equity distributions (other than certain tax distributions) to ABE only upon ABE South Dakota meeting certain financial conditions and if there is no more than $25 million of principal outstanding on the senior term loan. Loans outstanding under the Senior Credit Agreement are subject to mandatory prepayment in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, mandatory prepayments based upon receipt of certain proceeds of asset sales, casualty proceeds, termination payments, and cash flows.

 

The Senior Credit Agreement and the related loan documentation include, among other terms and conditions, limitations (subject to specified exclusions) on ABE South Dakota’s ability to make asset dispositions; merge or consolidate with or into another person or entity; create, incur, assume or be liable for indebtedness; create, incur or allow liens on any property or assets; make investments; declare or make specified restricted payments or dividends; enter into new material agreements; modify or terminate material agreements; enter into transactions with affiliates; change its line of business; and establish bank accounts. Substantially all cash of ABE South Dakota is required to be deposited into special, segregated project accounts subject to security interests to secure obligations in connection with the Senior Credit Agreement. The Senior Credit Agreement contains customary events of default and also includes an event of default for defaults on other indebtedness by ABE South Dakota and certain changes of control.

 

 

The Company has entered into Exclusive Ethanol Marketing Agreements with Hawkeye Gold, LLC to sell substantially all of its ethanol. Prior to January 2011, Hawkeye Gold was an affiliate of Hawkeye Energy Holdings, LLC, a 34% owner of the Company’s membership units. ABE Fairmont executed an Exclusive Ethanol Marketing Agreement dated as of August 28, 2009 with Hawkeye Gold (the “ABE Fairmont Ethanol Agreement”), which became effective on January 1, 2010. Prior to that time, ABE Fairmont’s ethanol was marketed by Gavilon. ABE South Dakota executed Exclusive Ethanol Marketing Agreements dated as of April 7, 2010 with Hawkeye Gold (the “ABE South Dakota Ethanol Agreements”, and together with the ABE Fairmont Ethanol Agreement, the “Ethanol Agreements”), which became effective October 1, 2010. Prior to October 1, 2010, ABE South Dakota’s ethanol was marketed by Gavilon. The Ethanol Agreements require, among other things, that (1) Hawkeye Gold must use commercially reasonable efforts to submit purchase orders for, and ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota must sell, substantially all of the denatured fuel grade ethanol produced by ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota, (2) a purchase and sale of ethanol under the Ethanol Agreements must be in the form of either a direct fixed price purchase order, a direct index price purchase order, a terminal storage purchase order, a transportation swap or similar transaction that is mutually acceptable to the parties, (3) ABE Fairmont or ABE South Dakota will pay any replacement or other costs incurred by Hawkeye Gold as a result of any failure to deliver by ABE Fairmont or ABE South Dakota, respectively, and (4) with certain exceptions, ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota will sell substantially all of the ethanol they produce to Hawkeye Gold. The initial term of the ABE Fairmont Agreement is for two years, and provides for automatic renewal for successive 18 month terms unless either party provides written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the end of any term. The initial terms of the ABE South Dakota Ethanol Agreements are for three years and provide for automatic renewal for successive one-year terms unless either party provides written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the end of any term.

 

ABE Fairmont is currently self-marketing the distillers grains it produces. ABE South Dakota is party to a co-product marketing agreement with Dakotaland Feeds, LLC (“Dakotaland Feeds”), whereby Dakotaland Feeds markets the local sale of distillers grains produced at the ABE South Dakota Huron plant to third parties for an agreed upon commission. We currently have an agreement with Hawkeye Gold to market the distillers grains produced at the ABE South Dakota Aberdeen plants. The initial term of this agreement is for three years and provides for automatic renewal for successive one-year terms unless either party provides written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the end of any term.

 

Sales and receivables from the Company’s major customers were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

The Company is exposed to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in commodity prices and interest rates. 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 seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its current and future operating results. To reduce these effects, the Company generally attempts to fix corn purchase prices and related sale prices of ethanol and distillers grains, with forward purchase and sales contracts to reduce volatility in future operating margins. In addition to entering into contracts to purchase 14.8 million bushels of corn and sell 11.1 million gallons of ethanol in which the futures price was not locked, the Company had entered into the following fixed price forward contracts at December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on forward contracts, in which delivery has not occurred, are deemed “normal purchases and normal sales,” and, therefore are not marked to market in the financial statements.

 

When forward contracts are not available at competitive rates, the Company may engage in hedging activities using exchange traded futures contracts, OTC futures options or OTC swap agreements. Changes in market price of ethanol related hedging activities are reflected in revenues and changes in market price of corn related items are reflected in cost of goods sold. The following table represents the approximate amount of realized and unrealized gains and changes in fair value recognized in earnings on commodity contracts for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the fair value of futures contracts as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements regarding our business, financial condition, results of operations, performance and prospects. All statements that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond our control that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

You can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this report and in our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission that advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.

 

General

 

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included herewith and notes to the consolidated financial statements thereto.

Overview

 

Advanced BioEnergy, LLC (“Company,” “we”, “our”, “Advanced BioEnergy” or “ABE”) was formed in 2005 as a Delaware limited liability company. Our business consists of producing ethanol and co-products, including wet, modified and dried distillers grains. Ethanol is a renewable, environmentally clean fuel source that is produced at numerous facilities in the United States, mostly in the Midwest. In the U.S., ethanol is produced primarily from corn and then blended with unleaded gasoline in varying percentages. Ethanol is most commonly sold as E10. Increasingly, ethanol is also available as E85, which is a higher percentage ethanol blend for use in flexible-fuel vehicles.

 

To execute our business plan, we entered into financial arrangements to build and operate ethanol production facilities in Fairmont, Nebraska. Separately, we acquired ABE South Dakota in November 2006, which owned existing ethanol production facilities in Aberdeen and Huron, South Dakota. Construction of our Fairmont, Nebraska plant began in June 2006, and operations commenced at the plant in November 2007. Construction of our new facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota began in April 2007, and operations commenced in January 2008. Our production operations are carried out primarily through our operating subsidiaries, ABE Fairmont, which owns and operates the Fairmont, Nebraska plant and ABE South Dakota, which owns and operates plants in Aberdeen and Huron, South Dakota.

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources in assessing performance. Based on the related business nature and expected financial results, the Company’s plants are aggregated into one operating segment.

 

DRY MILL PROCESS

 

Dry mill ethanol plants produce ethanol by predominantly processing corn. Other possible feeds are sorghum, milo, or other cellulosic materials. The corn is received by truck, then weighed and unloaded in a receiving building. It is then transported to storage silos. Thereafter, it is transferred to a scalper to remove rocks, cobs, and other debris before it is fed to a hammer mill where it is ground into flour and conveyed into a slurry tank. Water, heat and enzymes are added to the flour in the slurry tank to start the process of converting starch from the corn into sugar. The slurry is pumped to a liquefaction tank where additional enzymes are added. These enzymes continue the starch-to-sugar conversion. The grain slurry is pumped into fermenters, where yeast is added, to begin the batch-fermentation process. Fermentation is the process of the yeast converting the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. After the fermentation is complete, a vacuum distillation system removes the alcohol from the grain mash. The 95% (190-proof) alcohol from the distillation process is then transported to a molecular sieve system, where it is dehydrated to 100% alcohol (200 proof). The 200-proof alcohol is then pumped to storage tanks and blended with a denaturant, usually gasoline. The 200-proof alcohol and 2.0-2.5% denaturant constitute denatured fuel ethanol.

 

Corn mash left over from distillation is pumped into a centrifuge for dewatering. The liquid from the centrifuge, known as thin stillage, is then pumped from the centrifuges to an evaporator, where it is dried into thick syrup. The solids that exit the centrifuge, known as the wet cake, are conveyed to the dryer system. Syrup is added to the wet cake as it enters the dryer, where moisture is removed. The process produces distillers grains with solubles, which is used as a high-protein/fat animal-feed supplement. Dry-mill ethanol processing creates three forms of distillers grains: wet distillers grains with solubles, known as wet distillers grains; modified wet distillers grains with solubles, known as modified distillers grains; and dry distillers grains with solubles, known as dry distillers grains. Wet and modified distillers grains have been dried to approximately 67% and 50% moisture levels, respectively, and are predominately sold to nearby markets. Dried distillers grains have been dried to 11% moisture, have an almost indefinite shelf life and may be sold and shipped to any market regardless of its proximity to an ethanol plant.

FACILITIES

 

The table below provides a summary of our ethanol plants in operation as of December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

We believe that each of the operating facilities is in adequate condition to meet our current and future production goals. We also believe that these plants are adequately insured for replacement cost plus related disruption expenditures.

 

The senior credit facility of the ABE Fairmont plant is secured by a first mortgage on the plant real estate and a security interest lien on the site’s personal property. We also granted a subordinate lien and security interest to the trustee of the subordinated exempt facilities revenue bonds used to finance the ABE Fairmont plant. We pledged a first-priority security interest in and first lien on substantially all of the assets of the ABE South Dakota plants to the collateral agent for the senior creditor of these plants.

 

ABE Fairmont entered into a new marketing agreement with Hawkeye Gold, which became effective on January 1, 2010. Prior to January 2011, Hawkeye Gold was an affiliate of Hawkeye Energy Holdings, LLC, a 34% owner of the Company’s membership units. The marketing agreement with Hawkeye Gold requires, among other things, that Hawkeye Gold must use commercially reasonable efforts to submit purchase orders for, and ABE Fairmont must sell, substantially all of the denatured fuel-grade ethanol produced by ABE Fairmont. The initial term of the agreement is for two years and provides for automatic renewal for successive 18-month terms unless either party provides written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the end of any term.

 

ABE South Dakota executed new marketing agreements with Hawkeye Gold which became effective October 1, 2010. The agreements provide that Hawkeye Gold will use commercially reasonable efforts to submit purchase orders for, and ABE South Dakota will sell to Hawkeye Gold, substantially all of the denatured fuel-grade ethanol produced at the South Dakota plants. The initial term of the agreement is for three years and provides for automatic renewal for successive one-year terms unless either party provides written notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to the end of any term. Prior to October 1, 2010, ABE South Dakota’s ethanol was marketed by Gavilon, LLC (“Gavilon”).

 

Sales of distillers grains have represented 16.0% and 14.3% of our revenues for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. When the plants are operating at capacity they produce approximately 592,000 tons of dried distillers grains equivalents per year, approximately 17 pounds per bushel of corn. Distillers grains are a high-protein, high-energy animal feed supplement primarily marketed to the dairy and beef industry, as well as the poultry and swine markets. Dry mill ethanol processing creates three forms of distillers grains: wet distillers grains with solubles, known as wet distillers grains, modified wet distillers grains with solubles, known as modified distillers grains, and dry distillers grains with solubles. Modified distillers grains have been dried to approximately 50% moisture, have a slightly longer shelf life than wet of approximately 10 days, and are often sold

to nearby markets. Dried distillers grains have been dried to 11% moisture, have an almost indefinite shelf life and may be sold and shipped to any market regardless of its proximity to an ethanol plant.

 

Plan of Operations Through December 31, 2011

 

Over the next year we will continue our focus on operational improvements at each of our operating facilities. These operational improvements include exploring methods to improve ethanol yield per bushel and maximizing production output at each of our plants. We will also have a continued emphasis on safety and environmental regulation, reducing our operating costs, and optimizing our margin opportunities through prudent risk-management policies. We are also improving the rail facilities at the Huron plant location, and evaluating adding corn oil extraction technology to one or more of our facilities.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Quarter Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Quarter Ended December 31, 2009

 

The following table reflects quantities of our products sold at average net prices as well as bushels of corn ground and therms of gas burned at average costs for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009:

 

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales for quarter ended December 31, 2010 were $116.5 million compared to $96.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $20.2 million or 21.0%. The increase in revenues was due to an increase in average prices of ethanol and distillers grains of 19.9% and 31.1%, respectively. Ethanol prices rose due to an increased demand and general overall motor fuel price increases and commodity inflation. During the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2010 and 2009, 84.0% and 85.4%, respectively, of our net sales were derived from the sale of ethanol and our remaining net sales were derived from the sale of distillers grains.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Costs of goods sold for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 were $110.4 million, compared to $84.1 million for the quarter ending December 31, 2009, an increase of $26.3 million or 31.3%. Costs of goods sold included a corn related hedging gain of $0.1 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2010 and a hedging gain of $0.7 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Corn costs represented 73.5% and 74.2% of cost of sales for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2010 and 2009. Physically delivered corn costs increased 33.1% to $4.62 per bushel in the quarter ending December 31, 2010 from $3.47 per bushel for the quarter ending December 31, 2009. The increase in corn cost per bushel was due primarily to the corn crop not being as favorable as the prior year, commodity inflation world-wide, and generally less corn available. Natural gas costs represented 5.3% and 7.3% of cost of sales for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2010 and 2009. Our average gas prices decreased to $4.12 per mmbtu in the quarter ending December 31, 2010 from $4.48 per mmbtu in the quarter ending December 31, 2009.

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 was $6.1 million, compared to gross profit of $12.1 million for the quarter ending December 31, 2009. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to a reduction in the crush margin. We define the crush margin as the price of ethanol per gallon less the costs of corn and natural gas on a per gallon basis. Compared to the quarter ending December 31, 2009, crush margins for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 decreased, as corn prices increased more than ethanol prices on a per gallon basis.

 

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses have declined to 1.8% for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 compared to 2.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Selling, general, and administrative expenses are comprised of recurring administrative personnel compensation, legal, technology, consulting, insurance and accounting fees as well as certain non-recurring charges. For the quarter ending December 31, 2010, selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.06 million, of which $0.49 million was non-recurring legal expense related to the arbitration proceedings. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.10 million for the quarter ending December 31, 2009, of which $0.45 million was non-recurring expense related to the South Dakota debt restructuring and $0.02 million was non-recurring legal expense related to the arbitration proceedings. Excluding non-recurring items, selling, general, and administrative expenses were $1.57 million, or 1.3% of sales, for the quarter ending December 31, 2010, and $1.63 million, or 1.7% of sales, for the quarter ending December 31, 2009.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the quarter ending December 31, 2010 was $1.0 million, compared to $3.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of $2.9 million. The decrease in interest expense is a result of the overall reduction in principal and a reduction in interest rates on ABE South Dakota’s debt. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the total principal outstanding was $204.9 million, decreasing to $147.0 million of stated principal for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The reduction in principal was a result of the debt restructuring that occurred in June 2010, repayment of a note issued to PJC Capital, LLC, and scheduled principal payments. The interest rates on the senior credit facility for ABE South Dakota decreased from a default rate of 8.50% at December 31, 2009 to a variable rate of 1.80% at December 31, 2010. The interest expense at December 31, 2010 also reflects a reduction in interest expense resulting from the amortization of additional carrying amount which resulted from the debt restructuring.

 

TRENDS AND UNCERTAINTIES IMPACTING THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY AND OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Ethanol is currently blended with gasoline to meet regulatory standards, as a clean air additive, an octane enhancer, a fuel extender and a gasoline alternative. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, as of January, 2011 the estimated ethanol production capacity in the United States is 13.5 million gallons per year with an additional 0.6 million gallons under construction or expansion. The demand for ethanol is impacted by what is commonly referred to as the “blend wall”, which is a regulatory cap on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline. The blend wall impacts the demand for ethanol, and as industry production capacity reaches the blend wall, the supply of ethanol in the market may surpass the demand. Assuming current gasoline usage in the U.S. at 140 billion gallons per year and a blend rate of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, the current blend wall can be assumed at approximately 14 billion gallons of ethanol per year.

 

In an attempt to increase the blend wall, Growth Energy, an ethanol industry trade organization, requested a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow blending of ethanol at a 15 percent blend rate. In October of 2010, the EPA made a decision to allow the use of E15 blends in 2007 and newer vehicles. On January 21, 2011, the EPA announced E15 blends to be safe for use in all cars and pickups built in 2001 and later. However, we do not yet know what the impact of this decision will be on ethanol demand, as there are still labeling

issues, additional testing, and some regulatory issues that must be addressed prior to widespread market use of the E15 blend.

 

Our operations are highly dependent on commodity prices, especially prices for corn, ethanol, distillers grains and natural gas. As a result of price volatility for these commodities, our operating results may fluctuate substantially. The price and availability of corn are subject to significant fluctuations depending upon a number of factors that affect commodity prices in general, including crop conditions, weather, federal policy and foreign trade. Because the market price of ethanol is not always directly related to corn prices, at times ethanol prices may lag movements in corn prices and compress the overall margin structure at the plants. As a result, operating margins may become negative and we may be forced to shut down the plants.

 

We focus on managing margins based on margin projections that monitor market prices of corn, natural gas and other input costs against prices for ethanol and distillers grains at each of our production facilities. We create offsetting positions by using a combination of derivative instruments, fixed-price purchases and sales, or a combination of strategies in order to manage risk associated with commodity price fluctuations. Our primary focus is to lock in positive margins whenever possible relative to current market conditions as opposed to reacting to movements in underlying commodity prices.

 

Federal policy has a significant impact on ethanol market demand. Ethanol blenders benefit from incentives that encourage usage and a tariff on imported ethanol that supports the domestic industry. Additionally, the renewable fuels standard (“RFS”) mandates increased level of usage of both corn-based and cellulosic ethanol. Any adverse ruling on, or legislation affecting, RFS mandates in the future could have an adverse impact on short-term ethanol prices and our financial performance in the future.

 

The ethanol industry and our business depend upon continuation of the federal and state ethanol supports such as the RFS, the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (“VEETC”) and import tariffs. We believe the ethanol industry expanded due to these federal mandates, policies, and incentives. These government mandates and incentives have supported a market for ethanol that might disappear without these programs. Alternatively, the government mandates and incentives may be continued at lower levels than those at which they currently exist. The elimination or reduction of the federal ethanol supports would make it more costly for us to sell our ethanol and would likely reduce our net income. In addition, state regulatory activity may also negatively impact the consumption of corn-based ethanol in certain domestic markets, such as California, due to low carbon fuel standards that take into consideration the effects caused by indirect land use.

 

The Renewable Fuels Standard

 

The RFS is a national program that imposes requirements with respect to the amount of renewable fuel produced and used. The RFS was revised by the EPA in July 2010 (“RFS2”) and applies to refineries, blenders, distributors and importers. In 2011, the RFS2 requires that refiners and importers blend renewable fuels totaling at least 8.01% of total fuel volume, or approximately 13.95 billion gallons, of which 12.60 million gallons can be derived from corn-based ethanol. The RFS2 requirement will increase incrementally over the next several years to a renewable fuel requirement of 36.0 billion gallons, or approximately 11% of the anticipated gasoline and diesel

consumption, by 2022. The following chart illustrates the potential United States ethanol demand based on the schedule of minimum usage established by the program through the year 2022 (in billions of gallons).

 

 

The RFS2 went into effect on July 1, 2010 and requires certain gas emission reductions for the entire lifecycle, including production of fuels. The greenhouse gas reduction requirement generally doesn’t apply to facilities that commenced construction prior to December 2007. If this changes and our plants must meet the standard for emissions reduction, it may impact the way we procure feed stock and modify the way we market and transport our products.

 

Blending Incentives

 

The VEETC, often commonly referred to as the “blender’s credit”, was created by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. This credit allows gasoline distributors who blend ethanol with gasoline to receive a federal excise tax credit of $0.45 per gallon of pure ethanol used, or $0.045 per gallon for E10 and $0.3825 per gallon for E85. To ensure the blender’s credit spurs growth in domestic production, federal policy has insulated the domestic ethanol industry from foreign competition by levying a $0.54 per gallon tariff on all imported ethanol. Both the VEETC and the tariff were set to expire on December 31, 2010, but were extended for one year as part of the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010” signed into law by President Obama on December 17, 2010.

 

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard

 

In April 2009, the California air regulators approved the Low-Carbon Fuel Standard aimed at achieving a 10% reduction in motor vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020. Other states may adopt similar legislation, which may lead to a national standard. The regulation requires that providers, refiners, importers and blenders ensure that the fuels they provide in the California market meet a declining standard of carbon intensity. This rule calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transportation and consumption of a fuel. The emissions score also includes indirect land-use change pollution created from converting a forest to cultivated land for corn feedstock. The final regulation contains a provision to review the measurement of the indirect land-use effects and further analysis of the land use values and modeling inputs.

 

This standard and others to follow may impact the way ethanol producers procure feedstocks, produce dry distillers grains and market and transport ethanol and distillers grains. Ethanol produced through low carbon methods, including imported ethanol made from sugarcane, may be redirected to certain markets and U.S. producers may be required to market their ethanol in other regions.

Imported Ethanol Tariffs

 

There is a $0.54 per gallon tariff on imported ethanol, which expires on December 31, 2011, after a one year extension was signed into law on December 17, 2010. Ethanol imports from 24 countries in Central America and the Caribbean region are exempted from the tariff under the Caribbean Basin Initiative or CBI, which provides that specified nations may export an aggregate of 7% of U.S. ethanol production per year into the U.S., with additional exemptions from ethanol produced from feedstock in the Caribbean region over the 7% limit. Ethanol imported from Caribbean basin countries may be a less expensive alternative to domestically produced ethanol. Expiration of this tariff could lead to the importation of ethanol from other countries, which may be a less expensive alternative to ethanol produced domestically. This could impact our ability to sell our ethanol at the price we need to operate profitably.

 

Chinese Anti-Dumping Investigation

 

On December 28, 2010, the Chinese government announced a one year investigation into the potential violation of anti-dumping laws regarding imported dried distillers grains originating in the United States. The allegation is that the recent surge in imports of U.S. dried distillers grains is undercutting sales of domestically produced dried distillers grains and that U.S. dried distillers grains are being sold at a price lower than the fair market value. If the Chinese Government finds evidence of dumping upon conclusion of the investigation on December. 28, 2011, a final determination may include the imposition of punitive tariffs on U.S. imports of DDGS to China. Punitive tariffs, if applied, will be significantly higher, as much as 50 percent, for non-cooperating parties. Although the Company does not sell distillers grains directly into China, some of our distillers grains are sold into China through third parties. The Company has chosen to cooperate with the Chinese government’s investigation, but at this time we are uncertain as to the impact this may have on our business.

 

COMPETITION

 

Ethanol

 

The ethanol we produce is similar to ethanol produced by other plants. The RFA reports that as of December 2010, current U.S. ethanol production capacity is approximately 13.8 billion gallons per year. On a national level there are numerous other production facilities with which we are in direct competition, many of whom have greater resources than we do. As of December 2010, Nebraska had 27 ethanol plants producing an aggregate of 1.8 billion gallons of ethanol per year, and South Dakota had 15 ethanol plants producing an aggregate of 1.0 billion gallons of ethanol per year, including our plants.

 

The largest ethanol producers include: Abengoa Bioenergy Corp., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Inc., Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., POET, LLC and Valero Renewable Fuels. Producers of this size may have an advantage over us from economies of scale and negotiating position with purchasers. We market our ethanol primarily on a regional and national basis. Our plants compete with other ethanol producers on the basis of price, and, to a lesser extent, delivery service. We believe that we can compete favorably with other ethanol producers due to our proximity to ample grain, natural gas, electricity and water supplies at favorable prices.

 

Distillers Grains

 

We compete with other ethanol producers in the sales of distillers grains, as well as a number of large and smaller suppliers of competing animal feed. We believe the principal competitive factors are price, proximity to purchasers and product quality. Currently 78.7% of our distillers grain revenues are derived from the sale of dried distillers grains, which has an indefinite shelf life and can be transported by truck or rail, 5.4% as modified and 15.9% as wet, which have a shorter shelf life and are typically sold in local markets.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Financing and Existing Debt Obligations

 

Our business activities and plant operations are conducted through Advanced BioEnergy, ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota. The liquidity and capital resources for each entity are based on the entity’s existing financing arrangements and capital structure. ABE Fairmont has traditional project financing in place, including senior secured financing, working capital facilities and subordinate exempt-facilities revenue bonds. In June 2010, ABE South Dakota entered into the Senior Credit Agreement (as defined below), which eliminated the subordinated debt. There are provisions contained in the various financing agreements at each operating entity preventing cross-default or collateralization between operating entities. Advanced BioEnergy is highly restricted in its ability to utilize the cash and other financial resources of each subsidiary for the benefit of Advanced BioEnergy, with the exception of allowable distributions as defined in the separate financing agreements.

 

Advanced BioEnergy, LLC

 

ABE had cash and cash equivalents of $0.6 million on hand at December 31, 2010. ABE does not have any debt outstanding as of December 31, 2010. ABE does not expect to make any distributions to its unit holders in the next 12 months. ABE’s primary source of operating cash comes from charging a monthly management fee to ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota for services provided in connection with operating the ethanol plants. The primary management services provided include risk management, accounting and finance, human resources and other general management related responsibilities. From time to time ABE may also receive certain allowable distributions from ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota based on the terms and conditions in their respective senior credit agreements. In January 2011, ABE received a distribution from ABE Fairmont of $4.7 million based on the fiscal 2010 financial results of ABE Fairmont. This distribution was subject to ABE Fairmont remaining in compliance with all loan covenants and terms and conditions of its senior secured credit agreement. ABE is not expecting any distribution from ABE South Dakota.

 

We believe ABE has sufficient financial resources available to fund current operations and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months.

 

ABE Fairmont

 

ABE Fairmont had cash and cash equivalents of $13.4 million and restricted cash of $1.4 million on hand at December 31, 2010. The restricted cash is held in escrow for future debt service payments. As of December 31, 2010, ABE Fairmont had total debt outstanding of $63.7 million consisting of $57.5 million in senior secured credit and $6.2 million of subordinate exempt-facilities revenue bonds. ABE Fairmont is required to make monthly interest payments on its senior secured credit and semi-annual interest payments on its outstanding subordinate exempt revenue bonds. ABE Fairmont is required to make quarterly principal payments of $2.6 million on its senior secured credit. The first principal payment of $815,000 on the subordinate exempt facilities revenue bonds was made in December 2010.

 

ABE Fairmont is allowed to make cash distributions to ABE if ABE Fairmont meets all conditions required in its senior secured credit agreement at the end of a fiscal year. This annual distribution is limited to 40% of net income calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and other terms contained in its senior secured credit agreement. The distribution is subject to the completion of ABE Fairmont’s annual financial statement audit and ABE Fairmont remaining in compliance with all loan covenants and terms and conditions of the senior secured credit agreement. The annual distribution based on ABE Fairmont fiscal 2010 financial results, which had not been made to ABE as of December 31, 2010, is $4.7 million. The distribution was made at the end of January 2011.

 

ABE Fairmont’s senior secured credit agreement also requires an annual cash sweep subject to a free cash flow calculation, as defined in its senior secured credit agreement. The cash sweep requires that, for each fiscal year ending in 2010 through 2012, ABE Fairmont must make a payment equal to the lesser of $8.0 million or 75% of its free cash flow after distributions, not to exceed $16.0 million in the aggregate for all of the free cash flow payments. Based on fiscal 2010 financial results, ABE Fairmont made a cash sweep payment of $5.0 million in December

2010. Cash sweep payments are subject to compliance with all loan covenants and terms and conditions of the senior secured credit agreement.

 

We believe ABE Fairmont has sufficient financial resources available to fund current operations and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. In addition to the cash on hand, ABE Fairmont has a $6.0 million revolving credit facility for financing eligible grain inventory and equity in Chicago Board of Trade futures positions, which expires on April 1, 2011. The Company plans to review the need for this seasonal line prior to its expiration to determine whether it should be extended. ABE Fairmont had $6.0 million available on the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2010. ABE Fairmont also has a $2.0 million revolving credit facility for financing third-party letters of credit, which expires in February 2012. ABE Fairmont issued a letter of credit in connection with a rail car lease, reducing the financing available from the $2.0 million revolving credit facility by $911,000 as of December 31, 2010.

 

ABE Fairmont’s senior secured credit facility agreement contains financial and restrictive covenants, including limitations on additional indebtedness, restricted payments, and the incurrence of liens and transactions with affiliates and sales of assets. In addition, the senior secured credit facility requires ABE Fairmont to comply with certain financial covenants, including maintaining monthly minimum working capital, monthly minimum net worth, annual debt service coverage ratios and capital expenditure limitations. ABE Fairmont was in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2010.

 

ABE South Dakota

 

ABE South Dakota had cash and cash equivalents of $7.4 million and $4.7 million of restricted cash on hand at December 31, 2010. The restricted cash consists of $3.0 million for a debt service payment reserve, $1.6 million for the construction of certain rail infrastructure at its Huron, South Dakota ethanol facility, and $0.1 million in an account for maintenance capital expenditures. As of December 31, 2010, ABE South Dakota had interest bearing term debt outstanding of $80.3 million.

 

In June 2010, ABE South Dakota entered into an Amended and Restated Senior Credit Agreement dated as of June 16, 2010 (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) among ABE South Dakota, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and WestLB AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Senior Credit Agreement converted the outstanding principal amount of the loans and certain other amounts under interest rate protection agreements under the existing senior credit agreement to a senior term loan in an aggregate principal amount equal to $84.3 million. Interest accrued on outstanding term and working capital loans under the existing credit agreement was reduced to zero on June 18, 2010. The principal amount of the term loan facility is payable in equal quarterly payments of $750,000, with the remaining principal amount fully due and payable on March 31, 2016. ABE South Dakota has agreed to pay a $3.0 million restructuring fee to the lender due at the earlier of March 31, 2016 and the date on which the loans are repaid in full. The Company recorded the restructuring fee as long-term, non-interest bearing debt.

 

ABE South Dakota’s obligations under the Senior Credit Agreement are secured by a first-priority security interest in all of the equity in and assets of ABE South Dakota.

 

ABE South Dakota is allowed to make equity distributions (other than certain tax distributions) to ABE only upon ABE South Dakota meeting certain financial conditions and if there is no more than $25 million of principal outstanding on the senior term loan. Loans outstanding under the Senior Credit Agreement are subject to mandatory prepayment in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, mandatory prepayments based upon receipt of certain proceeds of asset sales, casualty proceeds, termination payments, and cash flows.

 

The Senior Credit Agreement and the related loan documentation include, among other terms and conditions, limitations (subject to specified exclusions) on ABE South Dakota’s ability to make asset dispositions; merge or consolidate with or into another person or entity; create, incur, assume or be liable for indebtedness; create, incur or allow liens on any property or assets; make investments; declare or make specified restricted payments or dividends; enter into new material agreements; modify or terminate material agreements; enter into transactions with affiliates; change its line of business; and establish bank accounts. Substantially all cash of ABE South Dakota is required to be deposited into special, segregated project accounts subject to security interests to secure obligations

in connection with the Senior Credit Agreement. The Senior Credit Agreement contains customary events of default and also includes an event of default for defaults on other indebtedness by ABE South Dakota and certain changes of control. ABE South Dakota was in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2010.

 

We believe ABE South Dakota has sufficient financial resources available to fund current operations, make debt service payments and fund capital expenditure requirements, including the $1.6 million remaining for the rail infrastructure project at Huron, over the next 12 months.

 

CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

 

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

The estimated maturities of debt at December 31, is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements contains a summary of our significant accounting policies, many of which require the use of estimates and assumptions. Accounting estimates are an integral part of the preparation of financial statements and are based upon management’s current judgment. We used our knowledge and experience about past events and certain future assumptions to make estimates and judgments involving matters

that are inherently uncertain and that affect the carrying value of our assets and liabilities. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following are noteworthy because changes in these estimates or assumptions could materially affect our financial position and results of operations:

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments include cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, interest rate swaps, derivative financial instruments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and long-term debt. 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 other market factors. The Company believes the carrying value of the debt instruments at ABE Fairmont and ABE South Dakota approximate fair value. The fair value of all other financial instruments is estimated to approximate carrying value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

 

Derivative Instruments/Due From Broker

 

On occasion, the Company has entered into derivative contracts to hedge the Company’s exposure to price risk related to future corn purchases and future ethanol sales. Accounting for derivative contracts requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure those instruments at fair value. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as (a) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment, (b) a hedge of the exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction, or (c) a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation, an unrecognized firm commitment, an available-for-sale security, or a foreign-currency-denominated forecasted transaction.

 

Although the Company believes its derivative positions are economic hedges, none have been designated as a hedge for accounting purposes and derivative positions are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair market value, with changes in fair value recognized in current period earnings.

 

Inventories

 

Corn, chemicals, supplies, work in process, ethanol and distillers grains inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on a weighted cost basis.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives:

 

 

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred; major improvements and betterments are capitalized. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount on the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operations are less than the carrying value of the asset group. An impairment loss is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value on that date.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Ethanol revenue is recognized when product title and all risk of ownership is transferred to the customer as specified in the contractual agreements with the marketers. At all of the Company’s plants, revenue is recognized upon the release of the product for shipment. Revenue from the sale of co-products is recorded when title and all risk of ownership transfers to customers, which generally occurs at the time of shipment. Co-products and related products are generally shipped free on board (“FOB”) shipping point. Interest income is recognized as earned. In

accordance with the Company’s agreements for the marketing and sale of ethanol and related products, commissions due to the marketers are deducted from the gross sale price at the time of payment.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, TAX CREDITS AND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING

 

We have applied for income and sales tax incentives available under a Nebraska Advantage Act Project Agreement. As of December 31, 2010, we have received approximately $3.2 million in refunds under the Nebraska Advantage Act. We anticipate additional recovery of certain sales taxes paid on construction costs, and up to 10% of the cost of the Fairmont plant construction pursuant to reductions in income taxes over the next 12 years. Under the Nebraska Advantage Act, we also anticipate recovery of 5% of the annual costs of the newly created employment positions, pursuant to offsets to future payroll taxes. Although we may apply under several programs simultaneously and may be awarded grants or other benefits from more than one program, some combinations of programs are mutually exclusive. Under some state and federal programs, awards are not made to applicants in cases where construction on the project has started prior to the award date. There is no guarantee that applications will result in awards of grants or credits or deductions.

 

In December 2006, we received net proceeds of $6.7 million from tax incremental financing from the Village of Fairmont, Nebraska. We anticipate paying off the outstanding obligation with future property tax payments assessed on the Fairmont plant.

 

The State of South Dakota pays an incentive to operators of ethanol plants to encourage the growth of the ethanol industry. The Huron plant is eligible to receive an aggregate of $10 million, payable up to $1 million per year. The amounts are dependent on annual allocations by the State of South Dakota and the number of eligible plants. ABE South Dakota has historically received a payment between $700,000 and $800,000 for the Huron plant per year and expects this incentive to terminate for the plant in 2011.

 

 

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

 

We consider commodity price risk to be the impact of adverse changes in commodity prices on our results of operations. We are subject to significant market risk with respect to the price of ethanol and corn. For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, sales of ethanol represented 84.0% of our total revenues and corn costs represented 73.5% of total cost of goods sold. In general, ethanol prices are affected by the supply and demand for ethanol, the cost of ethanol production, the availability of other fuel oxygenates, the regulatory climate and the cost of alternative fuels such as gasoline. The price of corn is affected by weather conditions and other factors affecting crop yields, farmer planting decisions and general economic, market and regulatory factors. At December 31, 2010, the price per gallon of ethanol and the cost per bushel of corn on the Chicago Board of Trade, or CBOT, were $2.38 and $6.29, respectively.

 

We are also subject to market risk on the selling prices of our distillers grains, which represent 16.0% of our total revenues. These prices fluctuate seasonally when the price of corn or other cattle feed alternatives fluctuate in price. The dried distiller grains spot price for Nebraska and South Dakota local customers were $174 and $168 per ton, respectively, at December 31, 2010.

 

We are also subject to market risk with respect to our supply of natural gas that is consumed in the ethanol production process. Natural gas costs represented 5.3% of total cost of goods sold for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The price of natural gas is affected by weather conditions and general economic, market and regulatory factors. At December 31, 2010, the price of natural gas on the NYMEX was $4.41 per mmbtu.

 

To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations in the cost and selling prices of related commodities, we have entered into forward purchase/sale contracts and derivative transactions. At December 31, 2010 we guaranteed prices for our ethanol representing 27.6% of our ethanol gallons sold through March 2011 by entering into flat

priced contracts. At December 31, 2010 we had entered into forward sale contracts representing 57.7% of our expected distillers grains production and we had entered into forward purchase contracts representing 10.6% of our current corn requirements through March 2011. At December 31, 2010, our January gas usage prices were fixed with our natural gas providers.

 

The following represents a sensitivity analysis that estimates our annual exposure to market risk with respect to our current corn and natural gas requirements and ethanol sales. Market risk is estimated as the potential impact on operating income resulting from a hypothetical 10% change in the current ethanol, distiller grains, corn, and natural gas prices. The results of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, are as follows:

 

 

 

INTEREST RATE/FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

 

Our future earnings may be affected by changes in interest rates due to the impact those changes have on our interest expense on borrowings under our credit facilities. As of December 31, 2010, we had $117.8 million of outstanding borrowings with variable interest rates. With each 1% change in interest rates our annual interest would change by $1.18 million.

 

We have no international sales. Historically all of our purchases have been denominated in U.S. dollars. Therefore we do not consider future earnings subject to foreign exchange risk.

 

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer, who is also our chief financial officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer, who is also our chief financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

In June 2009, Revis Stephenson, the Company’s former director and chairman of the board and former chief executive officer, filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) alleging that the Company breached its employment agreement with Mr. Stephenson and defamed him when it terminated his employment in January 2009. Mr. Stephenson is seeking additional compensation and damages, including but not limited to two years of compensation and benefits. On January 26, 2011, the arbitration record was closed. As it relates to this matter, the AAA requires a written decision to be rendered within 30 days of the record closing. Therefore, we expect a final decision on or before February 25, 2011.

 

 

There have been no material change in our risk factors subsequent to the filing of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010.

 

 

None.

 

 

None.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

None.

 

 

The exhibits filed herewith are set forth on the Exhibit Index filed as a part of this report beginning immediately following the signatures.

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.