Fueling a sustainable future
2020 ANNUAL REPORT Fueling a sustainable future
Green Plains Partners (NASDAQ:GPP) is a fee-based Delaware limited
partnership formed by Green Plains Inc. to provide fuel storage and
transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring
ethanol and fuel storage terminals, transportation assets and other
related businesses. For more information about Green Plains Partners,
visit www.greenplainspartners.com.
F
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(cid:95) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020
or
(cid:133) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the transition period from ___ to ___
Commission File Number 001-37469
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
47-3822258
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1811 Aksarben Drive, Omaha, NE 68106
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(402) 884-8700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Units, Representing Limited Partner
Interests
Trading Symbol(s)
GPP
Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
(cid:133) Yes (cid:95)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.
(cid:133) Yes (cid:95)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.
(cid:95) Yes (cid:133)No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
(cid:95) Yes (cid:134) No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer (cid:134)
Non-accelerated filer (cid:133)
Smaller reporting company (cid:134)
Accelerated filer (cid:95)
Emerging growth company
(cid:133)
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. (cid:133)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its
internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public
accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. (cid:95)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
(cid:134) Yes (cid:95) No
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common units held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2020, based upon the last
sale price of the common units on such date, was approximately $153.6 million. For purposes of this calculation, executive officers and
directors are deemed to be affiliates of the registrant.
As of February 11, 2021, the registrant had 23,208,171 common units outstanding.
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Commonly Used Defined Terms
Item 1.
Business.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Properties.
Legal Proceedings.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Item 9B. Other Information.
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
PART III
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary.
Signatures.
PART IV
Page
2
5
15
31
31
31
31
32
33
35
48
48
48
48
51
51
55
56
57
60
61
64
65
1
Commonly Used Defined Terms
The abbreviations, acronyms and industry terminology used in this annual report are defined as follows:
Green Plains Partners LP, Subsidiaries, and Partners:
z
BlendStar
Green Plains Operating Company
Green Plains Partners; the partnership
MLP predecessor
NLR
Green Plains Inc. and Subsidiaries:
BlendStar LLC and its subsidiaries, the partnership’s predecessor for
accounting purposes
Green Plains Operating Company LLC
Green Plains Partners LP and its subsidiaries
BlendStar LLC and its subsidiaries, and the assets, liabilities and
results of operations of the ethanol storage and leased railcar assets
contributed by Green Plains
NLR Energy Logistics LLC
Green Plains; the parent
Green Plains Holdings; the general partner
Green Plains Trade
Green Plains Inc. and its subsidiaries
Green Plains Holdings LLC
Green Plains Trade Group LLC
Other Defined Terms:
ARO
ASC
Bgy
BNSF
CAFE
CARB
CAMEX
Clean Water Act
COVID-19
CSX
D.C.
DOE
DOT
E10
E15
E85
EBITDA
EIA
EPA
EVWR
Exchange Act
GAAP
IPO
IRA
IRS
JOBS Act
KCS
LCFS
LIBOR
LTIP
Mmg
Mmgy
MTBE
Nasdaq
NEO
Asset retirement obligation
Accounting Standards Codification
Billion gallons per year
BNSF Railway Company
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
California Air Resources Board
Brazil Chamber of Foreign Trade
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
Coronavirus Disease 2019
CSX Transportation, Inc.
District of Columbia
Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Transportation
Gasoline blended with up to 10% ethanol by volume
Gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol by volume
Gasoline blended with up to 85% ethanol by volume
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
U.S. Energy Information Administration
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Evansville Western Railway, Inc.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Initial public offering of Green Plains Partners LP
Individual retirement account
Internal Revenue Service
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012
Kansas City Southern Railway Company
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
London Interbank Offered Rate
Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Million gallons
Million gallons per year
Methyl tertiary-butyl ether
The Nasdaq Global Market
Named executive officer
2
NMTC
OSHA
Partnership agreement
PCAOB
RFS II
RIN
RVO
Securities Act
SEC
SRE
U.S.
USDA
New Markets Tax Credits
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Green Plains Partners LP, dated as of July 1, 2015, between Green
Plains Holdings LLC and Green Plains Inc.
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
Renewable Fuels Standard II
Renewable identification number
Renewable volume obligation
Securities Act of 1933
Securities and Exchange Commission
Small refinery exemption
United States
U.S. Department of Agriculture
3
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The SEC encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so investors can better understand future
prospects and make informed investment decisions. As such, forward-looking statements are included in this report or
incorporated by reference to other documents filed with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements are made in accordance with safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations which involve a number of risks and uncertainties
and do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, but rather to plans and objectives for future operations. These
statements include words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “outlook,” “plan,”
“predict,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will” and similar words and phrases as well as statements regarding future operating or
financial performance or guidance, business strategy, environment, key trends and benefits of actual or planned acquisitions.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied are discussed in this report under Item 1A
– Risk Factors or incorporated by reference. Specifically, we may experience fluctuations in future operating results due to
disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the COVID-19 outbreak; changes in general economic, market or business
conditions; foreign imports of ethanol; fluctuations in demand for ethanol and other fuels; risks of accidents or other
unscheduled shutdowns affecting our assets, including mechanical breakdown of equipment or infrastructure; risks associated
with changes to federal policy or regulation; ability to comply with changing government usage mandates and regulations
affecting the ethanol industry; price, availability and acceptance of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, and laws
mandating such fuels or vehicles; changes in operational costs at our facilities and for our railcars; failure to realize the
benefits projected for capital projects; competition; inability to successfully implement growth strategies; the supply of corn
and other feedstocks; unusual or severe weather conditions and natural disasters; ability and willingness of parties with whom
we have material relationships, including Green Plains Trade, to fulfill their obligations; labor and material shortages;
changes in the availability of unsecured credit and changes affecting the credit markets in general; and other risk factors
detailed in our reports filed with the SEC.
We believe our expectations regarding future events are based on reasonable assumptions; however, these assumptions
may not be accurate or account for all risks and uncertainties. Consequently, forward-looking statements are not guaranteed.
Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. In addition, we are not
obligated and do not intend to update our forward-looking statements as a result of new information unless it is required by
applicable securities laws. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which represent
management’s views as of the date of this report or documents incorporated by reference.
4
Item 1. Business.
PART I
References to “we,” “our,” “us” or the “partnership” used in present tense for periods beginning on or after July 1, 2015,
refer to Green Plains Partners LP and its subsidiaries. References to the “MLP predecessor” used in a historical context for
periods ended on or before June 30, 2015, refer to BlendStar LLC and its subsidiaries, the partnership’s predecessor for
accounting purposes, and the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the ethanol storage and leased railcar assets
contributed by Green Plains in connection with the IPO on July 1, 2015.
Partnership History
We are a master limited partnership formed by our parent on March 2, 2015. On July 1, 2015, we completed our IPO of
11,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests. Our common units are traded under the symbol “GPP” on
Nasdaq.
After completing the IPO, in addition to the interests of BlendStar, we obtained the ethanol storage and leased railcar
assets and liabilities previously owned and operated by our parent, in a transfer between entities under common control.
On January 1, 2016, we acquired the ethanol storage and leased railcar assets of the Hereford, Texas and Hopewell,
Virginia ethanol production facilities from our parent in a transfer between entities under common control. The assets were
recognized at historical cost and reflected retroactively along with related expenses for periods prior to the effective date of
the acquisition, subsequent to the initial dates the assets were acquired by our parent, on October 23, 2015, and November 12,
2015, for Hopewell and Hereford, respectively.
On September 23, 2016, we acquired the ethanol storage assets located in Madison, Illinois, Mount Vernon, Indiana and
York, Nebraska related to three ethanol plants, which occurred concurrently with the acquisition of these facilities by Green
Plains from subsidiaries of Abengoa S.A. The transaction was accounted for as a transfer between entities under common
control and the assets were recognized at the preliminary value recorded in Green Plains’ purchase accounting. No retroactive
adjustments were required.
On August 13, 2018, the requirements under the partnership agreement for the conversion of all of the outstanding
subordinated units into common units were satisfied. Accordingly, all of the 15,889,642 outstanding subordinated units were
converted into common units on a one-for-one basis.
On November 15, 2018, our parent closed on the sale of three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota,
Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC (“Valero”). Correspondingly, the storage assets located
adjacent to such plants were sold to our parent for $120.9 million. As consideration, we received from our parent 8.7 million
Green Plains units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 0.2 million equivalent limited partner units to
maintain the general partner’s 2% interest. These units were retired upon receipt. In addition, we also received cash
consideration of $2.7 million from Valero for the assignment of certain railcar operating leases.
On November 15, 2018, our parent announced the permanent closure of its ethanol plant located in Hopewell, Virginia.
The closure did not affect our quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green Plains Trade.
On December 28, 2020, our parent closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford Ethanol
Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to our parent for $10.0
million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases.
5
Overview
Green Plains Partners provides fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring
ethanol and fuel storage facilities, terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. We were formed by
Green Plains, a vertically integrated ethanol producer, to support its marketing and distribution activities as its primary
downstream logistics provider.
We generate a substantial portion of our revenues under fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade for
receiving, storing, transferring and transporting ethanol and other fuels, which are supported by minimum volume or take-or-
pay capacity commitments. We do not take ownership or receive any payments based on the value of ethanol or other fuels
we handle. As a result, we do not have direct price exposure to fluctuating commodity prices.
As of December 31, 2020, our parent owns a 48.9% limited partner interest in us, consisting of 11,586,548 common
units, a 2.0% general partner interest and all of our incentive distribution rights. The public owns the remaining 49.1%
limited partner interest. The following diagram depicts our simplified organizational structure at December 31, 2020:
Green Plains Inc.
(NASDAQ: GPRE)
(Our Parent)
100% ownership
interest
Green Plains Holdings LLC
(our General Partner)
Public Unitholders
49.1% limited partrr ner interest
(11.6 million common units)
48.9% limited partner interest
(11.6 million common units)
Incentitt ve Disii trtt irr buii
titt on Righi
ts
2% general
partner interest
Green Plains Partners LP
(NASDAQ: GPP)
(the Partnership)
100% ownership
interest
Operating Companies
Our Assets and Operations
Ethanol Storage. Our ethanol storage assets are the principal method of storing ethanol produced at our parent’s ethanol
production plants. Most of our parent’s ethanol production plants are located near major rail lines. Ethanol can be distributed
from our storage facilities to bulk terminals via truck, railcar or barge.
We currently own or lease 31 ethanol storage facilities and approximately 44 acres of land. Our storage tanks are located
at or near our parent’s 12 operational ethanol production plants in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and
Tennessee, as well as our parent’s non-operational ethanol production plant in Virginia.
6
Our ethanol storage tanks have combined storage capacity of 27.5 mmg and aggregate throughput capacity sufficient to
support our parent’s annual production capacity of 1,023 mmgy. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our parent operated
its ethanol production facilities at an average utilization rate of approximately 71%. The following table presents additional
ethanol production plant details by location:
Plant Location
Atkinson, Nebraska
Central City, Nebraska
Fairmont, Minnesota
Hopewell, Virginia (1)
Madison, Illinois
Mount Vernon, Indiana
Obion, Tennessee
Ord, Nebraska
Otter Tail, Minnesota
Shenandoah, Iowa
Superior, Iowa
Wood River, Nebraska
York, Nebraska
Total
Initial Operation or
Acquisition Date
June 2013
July 2009
Nov. 2013
Oct. 2015
Sept. 2016
Sept. 2016
Nov. 2008
July 2009
Mar. 2011
Aug. 2007
July 2008
Nov. 2013
Sept. 2016
Major Rail Line
Access
BNSF
Union Pacific
Union Pacific
Norfolk Southern
Port Harbor
EVWR
Canadian National
Union Pacific
BNSF
BNSF
Union Pacific
Union Pacific
BNSF
Plant Production
Capacity (mmgy)
55
116
119
-
90
90
120
65
55
82
60
121
50
1,023
On-Site Ethanol Storage
Capacity (thousands of
gallons)
2,074
2,250
3,124
761
2,855
2,855
3,000
1,550
2,000
1,524
1,238
3,124
1,100
27,455
(1) Production at the Hopewell, Virginia facility ceased during the fourth quarter of 2018, however the storage and terminal assets remain in operating
condition.
Terminal and Distribution Services. We own and operate six fuel terminals in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Kentucky and Oklahoma with combined total storage capacity of approximately 7.2 mmg and access to major rail lines. We
also own approximately five acres of land and lease approximately 17 acres of land where our fuel terminals are located.
Ethanol and other products are transported to our terminals primarily by rail, and shipped from our terminals by truck to third
parties, including refiners, blenders and other obligated and non-obligated parties. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the
aggregate throughput at these facilities was approximately 206.5 mmg.
The following table presents additional fuel terminal details by location:
Fuel Terminal Facility Location
Birmingham, Alabama - Unit Train Terminal
Other Fuel Terminal Facilities
Major
Rail Line Access
BNSF
(1)
On-Site Storage Capacity
(thousands of gallons)
Throughput Capacity
(mmgy)
6,542
690
7,232
300
426
726
(1) Access to our five other fuel terminal facilities is available from BNSF, KCS, Canadian National, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX.
Transportation and Delivery. Ethanol deliveries to distant markets are shipped using major U.S. rail carriers that can
switch cars to other major railroads or barge delivery to national or international ports. Our railcar volumetric capacity is used
to transport product primarily from our ethanol storage facilities and third-party production facilities to other fuel terminals,
including our own, international export terminals and refineries located throughout the United States. As of December 31,
2020, our leased railcar fleet consisted of approximately 2,480 railcars with an aggregate capacity of 74.4 mmg. We expect
our railcar volumetric capacity to fluctuate over the normal course of business as our existing railcar leases expire and we
enter into or acquire new railcar leases.
We also own and operate a fleet of 19 trucks and tankers that transport ethanol and other products.
7
Segments
Our operations consist of one reportable segment and are conducted solely in the U.S. See Item 8 - Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data for financial information about our operations and assets.
Our Relationship with Green Plains
Green Plains is one of the largest ethanol producers in North America with 12 operating dry mill plants, with the
capacity to produce approximately 1.0 billion gallons of ethanol per year. Our parent is transitioning from a commodity-
processing business to a value-add agricultural technology company focused on creating additional diverse, non-cyclical,
higher margin feed ingredients, specialty alcohols and renewable feedstocks for the emerging renewable diesel industry.
We benefit significantly from our relationship with our parent. Our assets are the principal method of storing and
delivering the ethanol our parent produces. Our commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade account for a substantial
portion of our revenues.
Our parent has a majority interest in us through the ownership of our general partner and a 48.9% limited partner interest,
as well as all of our incentive distribution rights. We believe our parent will continue to support the successful execution of
our business strategies given its significant ownership in us and the importance of our assets to Green Plains’ operations.
We have entered into several agreements with our parent, which were established in conjunction with the IPO, including:
an omnibus agreement; a contribution, conveyance and assumption agreement; an operational services and secondment
agreement; and various commercial agreements described below. For all material agreements and subsequent amendments
required to be filed, please refer to Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Commercial Agreements with Affiliate
A substantial portion of our revenues and cash flows are derived from our commercial agreements with Green Plains
Trade, our primary customer, including a (1) fee-based storage and throughput agreement, (2) Birmingham terminal services
agreement, (3) fee-based rail transportation services agreement and (4) various other transportation and terminal services
agreements.
Minimum Volume Commitments. Our storage and throughput agreement and certain terminal services agreements with
Green Plains Trade are supported by minimum volume commitments. Our rail transportation services agreement is supported
by minimum take-or-pay capacity commitments. Green Plains Trade is required to pay us fees for these minimum
commitments regardless of actual throughput volume, capacity used, or the amount of product tendered for transport, which
is intended to provide some assurance that we will receive a certain amount of revenue during the terms of these agreements.
These arrangements are intended to provide stable and predictable cash flows over time.
Storage and Throughput Agreement. Under our storage and throughput agreement, as amended, Green Plains Trade is
obligated to deliver a minimum volume of 232.5 mmg of product per calendar quarter at our storage facilities and pay $0.05
per gallon on all volume it throughputs through June 30, 2020 and $0.05312 per gallon subsequent to June 30, 2020. If Green
Plains Trade fails to meet its minimum volume commitment during any quarter, we will charge Green Plains Trade a
deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee. The deficiency payment may be applied as
a credit toward volumes delivered by Green Plains Trade in excess of the minimum volume commitment during the
following four quarters, after which time any unused credits will expire.
On November 15, 2018, as part of the sale of ethanol storage assets associated with the ethanol plants located in
Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan, the storage and throughput agreement was amended to reduce the
minimum volume commitment from 296.6 mmg of product per calendar quarter to 235.7 mmg. In addition, we agreed with
our parent to extend the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade an additional three years to June 30,
2028.
8
On December 28, 2020, as part of the sale of ethanol storage assets associated with the ethanol plant located in Hereford,
Texas, the storage and throughput agreement was amended to reduce the minimum volume commitment from 235.7 mmg of
product per calendar quarter to 232.5 mmg.
The storage and throughput agreement, effective through June 30, 2028, will automatically renew for successive one-
year terms unless either party provides written notice of its intent to terminate the agreement at least 360 days prior to the end
of the remaining primary or renewal term.
Terminal Services Agreement. Under our terminal services agreement for the Birmingham facility, effective through
December 31, 2022, Green Plains Trade is obligated to throughput a minimum volume commitment of approximately 8.3
mmg per month of ethanol and other fuels and pay associated throughput fees, as well as fees for ancillary services. The
agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year renewal terms unless either party provides written notice of its
intent to terminate the agreement at least 90 days prior to the end of the remaining primary or renewal term. Several of our
other terminal services agreements with Green Plains Trade also contain minimum volume commitments with various
remaining terms.
Rail Transportation Service Agreement. Under our rail transportation services agreement, Green Plains Trade is
obligated to use the partnership to transport ethanol and other fuels from receipt points identified by Green Plains Trade, to
nominated delivery points, and pay an average monthly fee of approximately $0.0286 per gallon for all railcar volumetric
capacity provided over the remaining life of the agreement. The minimum railcar capacity commitment we provide to Green
Plains Trade for our leased railcar fleet is currently 74.4 mmg and the weighted average remaining term of all railcar lease
agreements is 3.8 years. At December 31, 2020, the remaining term of our rail transportation services agreement was 4.5
years. The rail transportation services agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year renewal terms unless
either party provides written notice of its intent to terminate the agreement at least 360 days prior to the end of the remaining
primary or renewal term.
Green Plains Trade is also obligated to use the partnership for logistical operations management and other services
related to railcar volumetric capacity provided by Green Plains Trade and pay a monthly fee of approximately $0.0013 per
gallon for these services. In addition, Green Plains Trade reimburses us for costs related to: (1) railcar switching and
unloading fees; (2) increased costs related to changes in law or governmental regulation related to the specification, operation
or maintenance of railcars; (3) demurrage charges, except when the charges are due to our gross negligence or willful
misconduct; and (4) fees related to rail transportation services under transportation contracts with third-party common
carriers. Green Plains Trade frequently contracts with us for additional railcar volumetric capacity during the normal course
of business at comparable margins.
We lease our railcars from third parties under multiple operating lease agreements with various terms. The minimum
take-or-pay capacity commitment under the rail transportation services agreement is closely aligned with our existing railcar
lease agreements. As a result, when current railcar lease agreements expire, the volumetric capacity provided under the rail
transportation services agreement declines accordingly. We enter new lease agreements to replace scheduled capacity
reductions under the rail transportation services agreement or provide incremental capacity as requested by Green Plains
Trade. We do not speculate on capacity by leasing additional railcars that are not covered by the rail transportation services
agreement.
Trucking Transportation Agreement. Under our trucking transportation agreement, Green Plains Trade pays us to
transport ethanol and other fuels by truck from identified receipt points to various delivery points. Green Plains Trade is
obligated to pay a monthly trucking transportation services fee equal to the aggregate amount of product volume transported
in a calendar month multiplied by the applicable rate for each truck lane, which is defined as a specific route between point of
origin and point of destination. Rates for each truck lane are negotiated based on product, location, mileage and other factors,
including competitive factors. At December 31, 2020, the remaining term of our trucking transportation agreement was five
months. The trucking transportation agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year renewal terms unless either
party provides written notice of its intent to terminate the agreement at least 30 days prior to the end of the remaining primary
or renewal term.
9
Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths position us to successfully execute our business strategies:
Stable and Predictable Cash Flows. A substantial portion of our revenues and cash flows are derived from long-term,
fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade, including a storage and throughput agreement, rail transportation
services agreement, terminal services agreement and other transportation agreements. Our storage and throughput agreement
and certain terminal services agreements are supported by minimum volume commitments, and our rail transportation
services agreement is supported by minimum take-or-pay capacity commitments. Green Plains Trade is obligated to pay us
fees for these minimum commitments regardless of actual throughput or volume, capacity used or the amount of product
tendered for transport.
Advantageous Relationship with Our Parent. Our assets are the principal method of storing and delivering the ethanol
our parent produces, and the related agreements with Green Plains Trade include minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity
commitments. Furthermore, as owner of a 48.9% limited partner interest in us and our general partner interest, as well as all
of our incentive distribution rights, our parent directly benefits from our growth, which provides an incentive to pursue
projects that directly or indirectly enhance the value of our business and assets. This can be accomplished through organic
expansion, accretive acquisitions or the development of downstream distribution services.
Quality Assets. Our ethanol storage and fuel terminal assets are strategically located in twelve states near major rail lines
and barge service, which minimizes our exposure to weather-related downtime and transportation congestion and enables
access to markets across the United States. Given the nature of our assets, we expect to incur only modest maintenance-
related expenses and capital expenditures in the near future.
Proven Management Team. Each member of our senior management team is an employee of our parent who also
devotes time to manage our business affairs. We believe the commercial, operational and financial expertise of our senior
management team, which averages approximately 30 years of industry experience, allows us to successfully execute our
business strategies.
Business Strategy
We believe ethanol could become an increasingly larger portion of the global fuel supply driven by volatile oil prices,
heightened environmental concerns, energy independence and national security concerns. We intend to further develop and
strengthen our business by pursuing the following growth strategies, as capital and opportunities permit:
Generate Stable, Fee-Based Cash Flows. A substantial portion of our revenues and cash flows are derived from our
commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade. Under these agreements, we do not have direct exposure to fluctuating
commodity prices. We intend to continue to establish fee-based contracts with our parent and third parties that generate stable
and predictable cash flows where available.
Grow Organically. We intend to collaborate with our parent and other potential third parties to identify opportunities to
develop and construct assets that provide us long-term returns on our investments.
Acquire Strategic Assets. While not recently acquisitive, our parent has a proven history of identifying, acquiring and
integrating assets that are accretive to its business, and to the extent we can, we intend to work with our parent on such
opportunities that are eligible for our business model. Subject to capital constraints, we intend to monitor the marketplace for
opportunities that complement or diversify our existing operations, including fuel storage and terminal assets in close
proximity to our existing asset base.
Development of Downstream Distribution Services. We intend to continue to use our logistical capabilities and expertise
to further develop downstream ethanol distribution services that leverage the strategic locations of our ethanol storage and
fuel terminal facilities.
Conduct Safe, Reliable and Efficient Operations. We are committed to maintaining safe, reliable and environmentally
compliant operations and conduct routine inspections of our assets in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We
seek to improve our operating performance through preventive maintenance, employee training, and safety and development
programs.
10
Recent Developments
The following is a summary of our significant developments. Additional information about these items can be found
elsewhere in this report or in previous reports filed with the SEC.
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement
On June 4, 2020, our credit facility was amended decreasing the total amount available from $200.0 million to $135.0
million. The amended credit facility includes a $130.0 million term loan and a $5.0 million revolving credit facility maturing
on December 31, 2021.
Hereford Disposition
On December 28, 2020, our parent closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford Ethanol
Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to our parent for $10.0
million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases.
As part of this transaction, we amended the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade to reduce the
quarterly minimum volume commitment from 235.7 mmg of product per calendar quarter to 232.5 mmg. This transaction
was reviewed and approved by the conflicts committee.
Impact of COVID-19 and Decline in Gasoline Demand
We continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of our business, including how it will impact our
employees, customers, vendors, and business partners. Although we did not incur significant disruptions from COVID-19
during the year ended December 31, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic repercussions have created
significant volatility, uncertainty, and turmoil in the energy industry. The situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to
evolve rapidly and the ultimate duration and impact of the outbreak as well as the continued decline in gasoline demand
remains highly uncertain and subject to change. There was significant reduction of gasoline demand in certain market areas,
particularly during the early months of the pandemic, which resulted in a reduction in ethanol demand. The return to prior
levels of gasoline demand continues to be uncertain.
There has been no material adverse effect on our ability to maintain operations, including our financial reporting
systems, our internal controls over financial reporting or our disclosure controls and procedures. In addition, to date we have
not incurred any material COVID-19 related contingencies. We are unable to predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on
our future financial position and operating results due to numerous uncertainties.
For further discussion regarding the impact of COVID-19 and the decline in gasoline demand on the partnership, please
see Item 1A - Risk Factors in this report.
Ord Disposition
On January 25, 2021, our parent entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its ethanol plant located in Ord,
Nebraska to GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC. Correspondingly, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell the
storage assets located adjacent to the Ord plant to our parent for $27.0 million, along with the transfer of associated railcar
operating leases. As part of this transaction, upon closing, the quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume
commitment with Green Plains Trade will be reduced to 217.7 mmg per quarter, and the storage and throughput agreement
with Green Plains Trade will be extended an additional year to June 30, 2029.
The transaction is anticipated to close within 45 days in conjunction with the completion of our parent’s Ord ethanol
asset sale, subject to customary closing conditions. The terms of this transaction were approved by both the board of directors
of the general partner and the board of directors’ conflicts committee, which consists entirely of independent directors.
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Our Competition
Our contractual relationship with Green Plains Trade and the integrated nature of our storage tanks with our parent’s
production facilities minimizes potential competition for storage and distribution services provided under our commercial
agreements from other third-party operators.
We compete with independent fuel terminal operators and major fuel producers for terminal services based on terminal
location, services provided, safety and cost. While there are numerous fuel producers and distributors that own terminal
operations similar to ours, they often are not focused on providing services to third parties. Independent operators are often
located near key distribution points with cost advantages that provide more efficient services and distribution capabilities into
strategic markets with a variety of transportation options. Companies often rely on independent operators when their own
storage facilities cannot manage their volumes or throughput adequately due to lack of expertise, market congestion, size
constraints, optionality or the nature of the materials being stored.
We believe we are well-positioned to compete effectively in a growing market due to our expertise managing third-party
terminal services and logistics. We are a low-cost operator, focused on safety and efficiency, and capable of managing the
needs of multiple constituencies across geographical markets. While the competitiveness of our services may be impacted by
competition from new entrants, transportation constraints, industry production levels and related storage needs, we believe
there are significant barriers to entry that partially mitigate these risks, including significant capital costs, execution risk,
complex permitting requirements, development cycle, financial and working capital constraints, expertise and experience,
and ability to effectively capture strategic assets or locations.
Seasonality
Our business is directly affected by the supply and demand for ethanol and other fuels in the markets served by our
assets. However, the effects of seasonality on our revenues are substantially mitigated through our fee-based commercial
agreements with Green Plains Trade, which include minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity commitments.
Major Customer
We are highly dependent on Green Plains Trade and anticipate deriving a substantial portion of our revenues from them
in the foreseeable future. Revenues from Green Plains Trade totaled approximately $78.5 million, or 94.2%, $75.5 million, or
91.7%, and $94.3 million, or 93.6% of our total revenues, during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively. Accordingly, we are indirectly subject to the business risks of Green Plains Trade and any development that
materially and adversely affects its operations, financial condition or market reputation. For additional information, please
refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry and Risks Related to an Investment in Us.
Regulatory Matters
Government Ethanol Programs and Policies
We are sensitive to government programs and policies that affect the supply and demand for ethanol and other fuels,
which in turn may impact the volume of ethanol and other fuels we handle. In the United States, the federal government
mandates the use of renewable fuels under the RFS II. The EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders and importers the
volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to blend into the fuel supply each year based on their percentage of total fuel
sales. The EPA has the authority to waive the mandates in whole or in part if there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel
supply, if the requirement severely harms the environment, or harms the economy of the nation or a state. The RFS II sets a
floor for ethanol usage in the United States. When the RFS II was established in 2010, the required volume of “conventional”
or corn-based ethanol to be blended with gasoline was to increase each year until it reached 15.0 billion gallons in 2015,
which left the EPA to address existing limitations in both supply and demand. The EPA has not yet released a draft RVO rule
for the 2021 volumes, despite the fact they typically release a draft mid-year and finalize the rule by November 30 each year.
It is unclear when they will release the RVO for 2021.
According to the RFS II, if mandatory renewable fuel volumes are reduced by at least 20% for two consecutive years, the
EPA is required to modify, or reset, statutory volumes through 2022 – the year through which the statutorily prescribed
volumes run. While conventional ethanol maintained 15 billion gallons, 2019 was the second consecutive year that the total
proposed RVO was more than 20% below the statutory volumes levels. Thus, the EPA was expected to initiate a reset
rulemaking, and modify statutory volumes through 2022, and do so based on the same factors they are to use in setting the
RVOs post-2022. These factors include environmental impact, domestic energy security, expected production, infrastructure
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impact, consumer costs, job creation, price of agricultural commodities, food prices, and rural economic development. In late
2019, the EPA announced it would not be moving forward with a reset rulemaking in 2020, however it is currently unclear if
or when they will propose a reset rulemaking.
Under the RFS, RINs and SREs are important tools impacting supply and demand. The EPA assigns individual refiners,
blenders, and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to use based on their percentage of total domestic
transportation fuel sales. Obligated parties use RINs to show compliance with the RFS II mandated volumes. Ethanol
producers assign RINs to renewable fuels and the RINs are detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation
fuel domestically. Market participants can trade the detached RINs in the open market. The market price of detached RINs
affects the price of ethanol in certain markets and can influence purchasing decisions by obligated parties. As it relates to
SREs, a small refinery is defined as one that processes fewer than 75,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Small refineries can
petition the EPA for a SRE which, if approved, waives their portion of the annual RVO requirements. The EPA, through
consultation with the DOE and the USDA can grant a full or partial waiver, or deny it outright within 90 days of submittal.
The EPA granted significantly more of these waivers for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 reporting years than they had in prior
years, totaling 790 mmg of waived requirements for the 2016 compliance year, 1.82 billion gallons for 2017 and 1.43 billion
gallons for 2018. In doing so, the EPA effectively reduced the RFS II mandated volumes for those compliance years by those
amounts respectively, and as a result, RIN values declined significantly.
Biofuels groups have filed a lawsuit in the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging the 2019 RVO rule over
the EPA’s failure to address small refinery exemptions in the rulemaking. This was the first RFS II rulemaking since the
expanded use of the exemptions came to light; however, the EPA had declined to cap the number of waivers it grants, and
until late 2019, had declined to alter how it accounts for the retroactive waivers in its annual volume calculations. The EPA
has a statutory mandate to ensure the volume requirements are met, which are achieved by setting the percentage standards
for obligated parties. We believe the EPA’s recent approach accomplished the opposite in that even if all the obligated parties
complied with their respective percentage obligations for 2019, the nation’s overall supply of renewable fuel would not meet
the total volume requirements set by the EPA. This undermines Congressional intent to increase the consumption of
renewable fuels in the domestic transportation fuel supply. Biofuels groups have argued the EPA must therefore adjust its
percentage standard calculations to make up for past retroactive waivers and adjust the standards to account for any waivers it
reasonably expects to grant in the future.
In 2019, in a supplemental rulemaking to the 2020 RVO rule, the EPA changed their approach, and for the first time
accounted for the gallons that they anticipate will be waived from the blending requirements due to small refinery
exemptions. To accomplish this, they added in the trailing three year average of gallons the DOE recommended be waived, in
effect raising the blending volumes across the board in anticipation of waiving the obligations in whole or in part for certain
refineries that qualify for the exemptions. Though the EPA has often disregarded the recommendations of the DOE in years
past, they stated in the rule their intent to adhere to these recommendations going forward, including granting partial waivers
rather than an all or nothing approach. The EPA will be adjudicating the 2020 compliance year small refinery exemption
applications in early 2021, and have indicated they will also adhere to the DOE recommendations for the 2019 compliance
year applications.
In January 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled on RFA et. al. vs. EPA in favor of biofuels
interests, overturning EPA’s granting of refinery exemptions to three refineries on two separate grounds. The Court agreed
that, under the Clean Air Act, refineries are eligible for SREs for a given RVO year only if such exemptions are extensions of
exemptions granted in previous RVO years. In this case, the three refineries at issue did not qualify for SREs in the year prior
to the year that EPA granted them. They were thus ineligible for additional SRE relief because there were no immediately
prior SREs to extend. In addition, the Court agreed that the disproportionate economic hardship prong of SRE eligibility
should be determined solely by reference to whether compliance with the RFS II creates such hardship, not whether
compliance plus other issues create disproportionate economic hardship. The Court thus vacated EPA's grant of SREs for
certain years and remanded the grants back to EPA. The refiners appealed for a rehearing which was denied. Two of the
refiners appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and in January 2021, the Supreme Court announced they would
hear the case. If the decision against the EPA is upheld by the Supreme Court, it is uncertain how the EPA will propose to
remedy the situation.
In light of the 10th Circuit ruling, a number of refineries have applied for “gap year” SREs in an effort to establish a
continuous string of relief and to ensure they are able to qualify for SREs going forward. A total of 64 gap year requests were
filed with the EPA and reviewed by the DOE. In September 2020 the EPA announced that they were denying 54 of the gap
year requests that had been scored and returned by DOE, regardless of how they had been scored. Without a string of
continuous SRE approvals, almost no small refinery would be eligible to apply for hardship relief in this manner, unless the
Supreme Court overturns the 10th Circuit ruling, which we believe is unlikely.
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To respond to the COVID-19 health crisis and attempt to offset the subsequent economic damage, Congress passed
multiple relief measures, most notably the CARES Act in March 2020, which created and funded multiple programs that
have impacted our industry. The USDA was given additional resources for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and
they are using those funds to provide direct payments to farmers, including corn farmers from whom our parent purchases
most of its feedstock for ethanol production. Similar to the trade aid payments made by the USDA over the past two years,
this cash injection for farmers could cause them to delay marketing decisions and increase the price our parent pays to
purchase corn. The CARES Act also allowed for certain net operating loss carrybacks, which has allowed our parent to
receive certain tax refunds. In December 2020, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law an annual spending
package coupled with another COVID relief bill which included additional funds for the Secretary of Agriculture to distribute
to those impacted by the pandemic. The language of the bill specifically includes biofuels producers as eligible for some of
this aid.
The CARES Act provided a tax exclusion on the shipment of un-denatured ethanol for use in manufacturing hand
sanitizer, a key ingredient of which is undenatured ethanol of specific grades. The FDA has also provided expanded guidance
to allow for more denaturants to be used in ethanol intended for hand sanitizer production, and has expanded the grades of
ethanol allowed for the duration of the public health crisis.
See further discussion in Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
Environmental and Other Regulation
Under the omnibus agreement, our parent is required to indemnify us from all known and certain unknown
environmental liabilities associated with owning and operating our assets that existed on or before the closing of the IPO. In
turn, we agree to indemnify our parent from future environmental liabilities associated with the activities of the partnership.
Construction or maintenance of our terminal facilities and storage facilities may impact wetlands, which are regulated by the
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act.
Our parent’s ethanol production plants emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of the ethanol production process. In 2007,
the U.S. Supreme Court classified carbon dioxide as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act in a case seeking to require the
EPA to regulate carbon dioxide in vehicle emissions, which the EPA later addressed in RFS II. While some of our parent’s
plants operate as grandfathered at their current authorized capacity under the RFS II mandate, expansion above these
capacities at grandfathered plants will require a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2005 baseline
measurement.
In addition, various states and countries are adopting regulatory schemes similar to what California has adopted.
Specifically, CARB adopted LCFS requiring a 10% reduction in average carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel
transportation fuels in California from 2010 to 2020. After a series of rulings that temporarily prevented CARB from
enforcing these regulations, the State of California Office of Administrative Law approved the LCFS in November 2012, and
revised LCFS regulations took effect in January 2013.
See further discussion in Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
Employees
We do not have any direct employees. We are managed and operated by the executive officers of our general partner,
who are also officers of our parent, and our general partner’s board of directors. Our general partner and its affiliates have
approximately 40 full-time equivalent employees under its direct management and supervision supporting our operations.
In addition, we have entered into service agreements with unaffiliated third-parties to provide railcar unloading and
terminal services for several of our terminal facilities. Under these service agreements, the third parties are responsible for
providing the personnel necessary to perform various railcar unloading and terminal services. The third parties are considered
independent contractors and none of their employees or contractors are considered employees, representatives or agents of
the partnership.
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Available Information
Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to
those reports are available on our website at www.greenplainspartners.com shortly after we file or furnish the information
with the SEC. You can also find the charter of our audit committee, as well as our code of ethics in the corporate governance
section of our website. The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file or furnish with the
SEC. For more information on our parent, please visit www.gpreinc.com. Alternatively, investors may visit the SEC website
at www.sec.gov to access our reports and information statements filed with the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our common units involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below
together with the other information set forth in this report before making an investment decision. Any of the following risks
and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability
to make distributions to our unitholders. If that occurs, we may not be able to pay distributions on our common units, the
trading price of our common units could decline materially, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Although many
of our business risks are comparable to those faced by a corporation engaged in a similar business, limited partner interests
are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation and involve additional risks described below. We may
experience additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or as a result of developments occurring in the future.
Conditions that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results
of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and
expenses, including cost reimbursements to our general partner and its affiliates, to enable us to pay quarterly distributions
to our unitholders.
We may not generate sufficient cash flows each quarter to enable us to pay quarterly distributions. We do not have a
legal obligation to pay any distribution except to the extent we have available cash as defined in our partnership agreement.
The amount of cash we can distribute on our units depends on the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which
fluctuates from quarter to quarter based on (1) the volume of ethanol and other fuels we handle; (2) the fees associated with
the volumes and capacity we handle; (3) payments associated with the minimum commitments under our commercial
agreements with Green Plains Trade, (4) timely payments by Green Plains Trade and other third parties; and (5) prevailing
economic conditions. The cash we have available for distribution also depends on other factors, some of which are beyond
our control, including: (1) the amount of our operating expenses and general and administrative expenses, including
reimbursements to our general partner in respect of those expenses; (2) our capital expenditures; (3) the cost of acquisitions
and organic growth projects; (4) our debt service requirements and other liabilities; (5) fluctuations in our working capital
needs; (6) our ability to borrow funds and access capital markets; (7) restrictions contained in our credit facility and other
debt service requirements; (8) the cash reserves established by our general partner; and (9) other business risks affecting our
cash levels.
Our credit facility includes restrictions that may limit our ability to finance future operations, meet our capital needs or
expand our business. In addition, our credit facility matures on December 31, 2021 and we may not be able to renew, extend
or replace the expiring facility. If we fail to comply with covenants in our credit facility or if the facility is terminated, we
may be required to repay our indebtedness thereunder, which may have an adverse effect on our liquidity.
We are dependent upon the earnings and cash flow generated by our operations in order to meet our debt service
obligations and to allow us to pay cash distributions to our unitholders. The operating and financial restrictions and covenants
in our credit facility or in any future financing agreements could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital
needs or to expand or pursue our business activities, which may, in turn, limit our ability to pay cash distributions to our
unitholders. For example, our credit facility restricts our ability to, among other things, make certain cash distributions, incur
certain indebtedness, create certain liens, make certain investments, merge or sell certain of our assets, and expand the nature
of our business. Furthermore, our credit facility contains covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial ratios. A failure
to comply with the provisions of our credit facility could result in an event of default that could enable our lenders, subject to
the terms and conditions of our credit facility, to declare the outstanding principal of that debt, together with accrued interest,
to be immediately due and payable and/or to proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure such debt. If there is a
default or event of default under our debt the payment of our debt is accelerated, defaults under our other debt instruments, if
any, may be triggered, and our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full. Therefore, the holders of our units could
experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
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The credit facility matures on December 31, 2021. We currently intend to renew and extend the credit facility prior to its
maturity. However, we may not be able to renew the credit facility with the same or similar terms, which could have a
material and adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to
our unitholders.
Our financial performance is substantially dependent on our parent’s ethanol production plants.
We believe that a substantial portion of our revenues for the foreseeable future will be derived from operations
supporting our parent’s ethanol production plants. Any event that renders these ethanol production plants temporarily or
permanently unavailable or that temporarily or permanently reduces production rates at any of these ethanol production
plants could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our
unitholders.
The services we provide under commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade account for a substantial portion of our
revenues, which subject us to the business risks of Green Plains Trade and, as a result of its direct ownership by our parent,
to the business risks of our parent.
The services we provide under commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade account for a substantial portion of our
revenues for the foreseeable future. Therefore, we are subject to risk of nonpayment or nonperformance by Green Plains
Trade and our parent under the commercial agreements. Any event, whether related to our operations or otherwise, that
materially and adversely affects Green Plains Trade’s or our parent’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows
may adversely affect our ability to sustain or increase cash distributions to our unitholders. Accordingly, we are indirectly
subject to the operational and business risks of our parent and its subsidiaries.
Green Plains Trade may suspend, reduce or terminate its obligations under the commercial agreements with us in certain
circumstances.
All of our commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade include provisions that permit Green Plains Trade to
suspend, reduce or terminate its obligations under the agreements if certain events occur. Under all of our commercial
agreements, these events include a material breach of such agreements by us, the occurrence of certain force majeure events
that would prevent Green Plains Trade or us from performing our respective obligations under the applicable commercial
agreement and the minimum commitment, if any, not being available to Green Plains Trade for reasons outside of its control.
Accordingly, under the commercial agreements, there are a broad range of events that could result in our no longer being
required to store, throughput or transport Green Plains Trade’s minimum commitments and Green Plains Trade no longer
being required to pay the full amount of fees that would have been associated with its minimum commitments. Neither our
parent nor Green Plains Trade is required to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets. They could elect
to decrease ethanol production or shutdown or reconfigure an ethanol production plant. Furthermore, a single event or
business decision relating to one of our parent’s ethanol production plants could have an impact on the commercial
agreements with us. These actions, as well the other activities described above, could result in a reduction or suspension of
Green Plains Trade’s obligations under the commercial agreements. Any such reduction or suspension would have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and ability to make distributions to our
unitholders.
Ethanol production and marketing is a highly competitive business subject to changing market demands and regulatory
environments. Change in our parent’s business or financial strategy to meet such demands or requirements may negatively
impact our parent’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and, in turn, may adversely affect our financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Ethanol production, storage, transportation and marketing is highly competitive. In the United States, our parent
competes with farmer cooperatives, corn processors and refiners. If our parent’s competitors consolidate or otherwise grow,
our parent’s business may be significantly and adversely affected. There is also risk of foreign competition that may be able
to produce ethanol at lower input costs than our parent. As part of its total transformation, our parent is changing its focus of
its operations by developing new types of facilities, suspending or reducing certain operations, modifying or closing facilities
and/or terminating operations. Changes may be considered to meet market demands, to satisfy regulatory requirements or
environmental and safety objectives, to improve operational efficiency or for other reasons. Our parent actively manages its
assets and operations, and, therefore, changes of some nature, possibly material to its business relationship with us, are likely
to occur at some point in the future. No such changes will be subject to our consent. Moreover, our parent and Green Plains
Trade, which we have no control over, may elect to pursue a business strategy that does not favor us or our business. A
change in our parent’s business or financial strategy, contractual obligations or risk profile may negatively impact its
financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or creditworthiness. In turn, our cash flows from our commercial
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agreements with Green Plains Trade and, therefore, our ability to sustain or increase cash distributions to our unitholders may
be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, our creditworthiness may be adversely affected by a decline in our parent’s
creditworthiness, increasing our borrowing costs or hindering our ability to access the capital markets.
Neither our parent nor Green Plains Trade is obligated to use our services with respect to volumes or volumetric capacity of
ethanol or other fuels in excess of the applicable minimum commitment under the respective commercial agreements.
Furthermore, we may be unable to renew or extend our commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade or renew them on
favorable terms.
Our ability to distribute a quarterly distribution to our unitholders will be adversely affected if we do not receive, store,
transfer, transport or deliver additional volumes or use volumetric capacity for Green Plains Trade or other third parties at our
ethanol storage facilities, at our fuel terminal facilities or on our railcars. In addition, the remaining term of Green Plains
Trade’s obligations under each agreement extends for approximately 7.5 years in the case of the storage and throughput
agreement, 4.5 years in the case of the rail transportation services agreement, 2.0 years in the case of the terminal services
agreements that provide for minimum commitments, and five months in the case of the trucking transportation agreement. If,
at the end of the remaining primary term, our parent and Green Plains Trade elect not to extend these agreements and, as a
result, fail to use our assets and we are unable to generate additional revenues from third parties, our ability to pay cash
distributions to our unitholders will be reduced. Furthermore, any renewal of the commercial agreements with Green Plains
Trade may not be on favorable commercial terms. To the extent we are unable to renew the commercial agreements with
Green Plains Trade on terms that are favorable to us, our revenue and cash flows could decline and our ability to pay cash
distributions to our unitholders could be materially and adversely affected.
Green Plains Trade’s minimum take-or-pay capacity commitment under the rail transportation services agreement will be
reduced proportionately as our railcar leases expire if we do not enter into new rail transportation services agreements.
We lease our fleet of railcars from several lessors pursuant to lease agreements with remaining terms ranging from less
than one year to approximately five years with a weighted average remaining term of 3.8 years. As our railcar lease
agreements expire, the respective volumetric capacity of those expired leases will no longer be subject to the rail
transportation services agreement, and Green Plains Trade’s minimum take-or-pay capacity commitment will be reduced
proportionately. Of our current leased railcar fleet, 16.3%, 21.2%, 32.5% and 13.1% of the railcar volumetric capacity have
terms that expire in the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, or approximately 83.1% of our
total current railcar volumetric capacity during that time frame. If at the end of the terms under the lease agreements, we do
not enter into new commercial arrangements with respect to rail transportation services, our revenues and cash flows could
decline and our ability to pay cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially and adversely affected.
Railcars used to transport ethanol and other fuels will need to be retrofitted or replaced to meet new rail safety standards.
The U.S. ethanol industry has long relied on railroads to deliver its product to market. In 2015, the DOT announced final
rules which call for enhanced tank car standards known as the DOT specification 117, or DOT-117 tank car, and establishes a
schedule for retrofitting or replacing older tank cars carrying crude oil and ethanol. The rule also establishes new braking
standards that are intended to reduce the severity of accidents. These regulations will result in upgrades or replacements of
our railcars, and may have an adverse effect on our operations as lease costs for railcars may increase over the long term. The
deadline for compliance with DOT specification 117 is May 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 50% of our
2,480 railcars were DOT 117 compliant. Our railcars are also subject to federally-mandated tank car requalification, which
requires inspection, repairs and upgrades to our current railcar fleet every ten years. Due to these regulatory standards, as well
as any potential modifications that may be issued in the future, existing railcars could be out of service for a period of time
while such upgrades are made, tightening supply in an industry that is highly dependent on such railcars to transport its
product. Since we cannot charge our customers for railcars that are out of service, a significant increase in out of service
railcars could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make
distributions.
Rail logistical problems may delay the delivery of our customers’ products.
Weather related incidents, particularly snow and flooding, can cause increased transit times and result in rail congestion
at destinations. In the past, rail delays have caused some ethanol plants to slow or suspend production. If railroad
performance is inadequate, we may face delays in shipping railcars to and from our parent’s ethanol production plants, which
may affect our ability to transport product. Rail logistical problems due to circumstances outside of the control or us or our
customers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to
make distributions.
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If the United States were to withdraw from or materially modify certain international trade agreements, our business,
financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Ethanol and other products that our parent produces are exported to Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China and other countries.
The past administration has expressed antipathy towards many existing international trade agreements, and has significantly
increased tariffs on goods imported into the United States from many countries, which in turn has led to retaliatory actions on
US exports. The current trade situation, the outcome of trade negotiations or lack thereof, has had and may continue to have a
material effect on our parent’s, and consequently our, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our future growth could be limited if we are unable to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms, or if the
acquisitions we make reduce, rather than increase, our cash flows.
A portion of our strategy to grow our business and increase distributions to our unitholders is dependent on our ability to
acquire businesses or assets that increase our cash flows. The acquisition component of our growth strategy has been based,
in large part, on our expectation of ongoing divestitures of complementary assets by industry participants, including in
conjunction with acquisitions by our parent. A material decrease in such divestitures would limit our opportunities for future
acquisitions and could adversely affect our ability to grow our operations and increase cash distributions to our unitholders. If
we are unable to make acquisitions from third parties because we are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates,
negotiate acceptable purchase contracts, obtain financing for these acquisitions on economically acceptable terms or we are
outbid by competitors, our future growth and ability to increase distributions will be limited. Furthermore, even if we do
consummate acquisitions that we believe will be accretive, they may in fact result in a decrease in cash flows.
Future events could result in impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill, or equity method investments, which may result in
charges that adversely affect our results of operations.
Long-lived assets, including property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets, as well as goodwill and
equity method investments, are evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Our impairment evaluations are sensitive to changes in key
assumptions used in our analysis and may require use of financial estimates of future cash flows. Application of alternative
assumptions could produce significantly different results. We may be required to recognize impairments based on future
economic factors such as unfavorable changes in estimated future undiscounted cash flows.
Any inability to maintain required regulatory permits may impede or completely prohibit our parent’s and our operations.
Additionally, any change in environmental and safety regulations, including those related to climate change, or violations of
existing regulations, may impede our parent’s and our ability to operate our respective businesses successfully.
Our and our parent’s operations are subject to extensive air, water and other environmental regulation. Our parent has
had to obtain a number of environmental permits to construct and operate its ethanol production plants. Ethanol production
involves the emission of various airborne pollutants, including particulate, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, hazardous air
pollutants and volatile organic compounds. In addition, the governing state agencies could impose conditions or other
restrictions in the permits that are detrimental to our parent and us or which increase our parent’s costs above those required
for profitable operations. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and financial
position.
The interest rates under our credit facility may be impacted by the phase-out of LIBOR and we have exposure to increases in
interest rates.
LIBOR is the basic rate of interest widely used as a reference for setting the interest rates on loans globally. We use
LIBOR as a reference rate for our credit facility. In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which
regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is unclear if LIBOR will cease to exist
at that time or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. The U.S.
Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large
U.S. financial institutions, is considering replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index, the Secured Overnight Financing
Rate (“SOFR”), calculated using short-term repurchase agreements backed by Treasury securities. We are evaluating the
potential impact of the eventual replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate, however, we are not able to predict
whether LIBOR will cease to be available after 2021, whether SOFR will become a widely accepted benchmark in place of
LIBOR, or what the impact of such a possible transition to SOFR may be on our business, financial condition, and results of
operations.
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We have a credit facility consisting of a $130.0 million term loan and a $5.0 million revolving credit facility maturing on
December 31, 2021. The term loan balance, and any advances on the revolver, are subject to a floating interest rate based on
LIBOR. Our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our unitholders could
be materially adversely affected by significant increases in interest rates.
Debt we incur in the future may limit our flexibility to obtain financing and to pursue other business opportunities.
Our future level of debt could have important consequences to us, including, but not limited to (1) our ability to obtain
additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures or other purposes may be impaired, or such
financing may not be available on favorable terms; (2) our funds available for operations, future business opportunities and
distributions to our unitholders will be reduced by that portion of our cash flow required to service our debt; (3) we may be
more vulnerable to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally; and (4) our flexibility in
responding to changing business and economic conditions may be limited.
Our parent is required to comply with a number of covenants under its existing loan agreements that could hinder our ability
to grow our business, pay cash distributions and maintain our credit profile. Our ability to obtain credit in the future may
also be affected by our parent’s financial condition, our own credit profile and the environment for access to capital for
master limited partnerships.
Our parent must devote a portion of its cash flows from operating activities to service its indebtedness. A higher level of
indebtedness at our parent in the future increases the risk that its subsidiary, Green Plains Trade, may default on its
obligations under the commercial agreements with us. Our parent and its subsidiaries may incur additional debt in the future,
including secured debt. Our parent’s existing and future debt arrangements, as applicable, may limit its ability to, among
other things, incur additional indebtedness, make capital expenditures above certain limits, pay dividends or distributions,
merge or consolidate, or dispose of substantially all of its assets, and may directly or indirectly impact our operations in a
similar manner. Our parent’s subsidiaries are also required to maintain specified financial ratios, including minimum cash
flow coverage, minimum working capital and minimum net worth. If any of its subsidiaries default, and if such default is not
cured or waived, our parent’s lenders could, among other things, accelerate their debt and declare that debt immediately due
and payable. If this occurs, our parent may not be able to repay such debt or borrow sufficient funds to refinance. No
assurance can be given that the future operating results of our parent’s subsidiaries will be sufficient to achieve compliance
with such covenants and requirements, or in the event of a default, to remedy such default. In the event that our parent were
to default under certain of its debt obligations, there is a risk that our parent’s creditors would assert claims against us with
respect to our contracts with Green Plains Trade, our parent’s assets, and Green Plains Trade’s ethanol and other product we
throughput and handle during the litigation of their claims. The defense of any such claims could be costly and could
materially impact our financial condition, even absent any adverse determination. In the event these claims were successful,
Green Plains Trade’s ability to meet its obligations under our commercial agreements and our ability to make distributions
and finance our operations could be materially adversely affected.
Our assets and operations are subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection
and safety that may require substantial expenditures.
Our assets and operations involve the receipt, storage, transfer, transportation and delivery of ethanol and other fuels,
which is subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations governing operational safety and the
discharge of materials into the environment. Our business involves the risk that ethanol and other fuels may gradually or
suddenly be released into the environment. To the extent not covered by insurance or an indemnity, responding to the release
of regulated substances, including releases caused by third parties, into the environment may cause us to incur potentially
material expenditures related to response actions, government penalties, natural resources damages, personal injury or
property damage claims from third parties and business interruption.
Our operations are also subject to increasingly strict federal, state and local laws and regulations related to protection of
the environment that require us to comply with various safety requirements regarding the design, installation, testing,
construction and operational management of our assets. Compliance with such laws and regulations may cause us to incur
potentially material capital expenditures associated with the construction, maintenance and upgrading of equipment and
facilities. Our failure to comply with any environmental or safety-related regulations could result in the assessment of
administrative, civil or criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial liabilities and the issuance of
injunctions that may subject us to additional operational constraints. Any such penalties or liabilities could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions.
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Replacement technologies could make corn-based ethanol or our process technology obsolete.
Ethanol is primarily an additive and oxygenate for blended gasoline. Although use of oxygenates is currently mandated,
there is always the possibility that a preferred alternative product could emerge and impact the current market and prove to be
environmentally or economically superior to ethanol. New ethanol process technologies may emerge that require less energy
per gallon produced. The development of such process technologies would result in lower ethanol production costs. Our
parent’s process technologies may become outdated and obsolete, placing it at a competitive disadvantage against
competitors in the industry. The development of replacement technologies may have a material adverse effect on our
parent’s, and consequently our, operations, cash flows and financial position.
Future demand for ethanol is uncertain and changes in federal mandates, public perception, consumer acceptance and
overall consumer demand for transportation fuel could affect demand.
There are limited markets for fuel ethanol beyond the federal mandates and further consumer acceptance of E15 and E85
fuels may be necessary before ethanol can achieve significant market share growth. Discretionary and E85 blending are
important secondary markets. Discretionary blending is often determined by the price of ethanol relative to gasoline, and
availability to consumers. When discretionary blending is financially unattractive, the demand for ethanol may be reduced.
Demand for ethanol is also affected by overall demand for transportation fuel. Global events, such as COVID-19, have
greatly decreased miles traveled and in turn, the demand for ethanol. Consumer demand for gasoline may be impacted by
emerging transportation trends, such as electric vehicles or ride sharing. Additionally, factors such as over-supply of ethanol,
which has been the case for some time, could continue to negatively impact our parent’s business. Reduced demand for
ethanol may depress the value of our parent’s products, erode its margins, and reduce our parent’s, and consequently our,
ability to generate revenue or operate profitably.
We could be adversely affected by cyber-attacks or failure of our or our parent’s internal computer network and applications
to operate as designed.
We and our parent rely on network infrastructure and enterprise applications, and internal technology systems for
operational, marketing support and sales, and product development activities. The hardware and software systems related to
such activities are subject to damage from earthquakes, floods, lightning, tornados, fire, power loss, telecommunication
failures, cyber-attacks and other similar events. They are also subject to acts such as computer viruses, physical or electronic
vandalism or other similar disruptions that could cause system interruptions and loss of critical data, and could prevent us or
our parent from fulfilling customers’ orders. Cybersecurity threats and incidents can range from uncoordinated individual
attempts to gain unauthorized access to information technology networks and systems to more sophisticated and targeted
measures, known as advanced persistent threats, directed at a company, its products, its customers and/or its third-party
service providers. Despite the implementation of cybersecurity measures, our information technology systems may still be
vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and other electronic security breaches. While we believe we have taken reasonable efforts
to protect ourselves, we cannot assure our unitholders that any of our or our parent’s backup systems would be sufficient.
Any event that causes failures or interruption in such hardware or software systems could result in disruption of our or our
parent’s business operations, have a negative impact on our parent’s and our operating results, and damage each of our
reputations, which could negatively affect our financial condition, results of operation, cash flows and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders.
Our insurance policies do not cover all losses, costs or liabilities that we may experience, and insurance companies that
currently insure companies in the energy industry may cease to do so or substantially increase premiums.
We are insured under the property, liability and business interruption policies of our parent, subject to the deductibles
and limits under those policies. Our parent has acquired insurance that we and our parent believe to be adequate to prevent
loss from material foreseeable risks. However, events may occur for which no insurance is available or for which insurance is
not available on terms that are acceptable to our parent. Loss from an event may not be insured and may have a material
adverse effect on our and our parent’s operations, cash flows and financial position. Additionally, certain of our parent’s
ethanol production plants and our related storage tanks, as well as certain of our fuel terminal facilities are located within
recognized seismic and flood zones. We believe that the design of these facilities have been modified to fortify them to meet
structural requirements for those regions of the country. Our parent has also obtained additional insurance coverage specific
to earthquake and flood risks for the applicable plants and fuel terminals. However, there is no assurance that any such
facility would remain in operation if a seismic or flood event were to occur. If we experience insurable events, our annual
premiums could increase further or insurance may not be available at all. If significant changes in the number or financial
solvency of insurance underwriters for the ethanol industry occur, we may be unable to obtain and maintain adequate
insurance at a reasonable cost. We cannot assure our unitholders that we will be able to renew our insurance coverage on
acceptable terms, if at all, or that we will be able to arrange for adequate alternative coverage in the event of non-renewal.
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We could be adversely affected by terrorist attacks, threats of war or actual war.
Terrorist attacks in the United States, as well as events occurring in response to or in connection with them, including
threats of war or actual war, may adversely affect our and our parent’s financial condition, results of operations, cash flows,
and ability to make distributions to our unitholders. A direct attack on our assets or assets used by us could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
In addition, any terrorist attack could have an adverse impact on ethanol prices, including prices for our parent’s ethanol.
Environmental, social and corporate governance matters and uncertainty regarding regulation of such matters may increase
our operating costs, impact our capital markets, and potentially reduce the value of our assets.
The issue of global climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention with widespread
concern about the impacts of human activity, especially the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and
methane. Several states have already adopted measures requiring reduction of greenhouse gases within state boundaries.
Other states have elected to participate in voluntary regional cap-and-trade programs. Any significant legislative changes at
the international, national, state or local levels could increase the cost of production for our parent and could materially
reduce the value of our assets. Apart from governmental regulation, some investment banks based both domestically and
internationally have announced that they have adopted environmental, social and corporate governance guidelines (ESG).
The impact of such efforts may adversely affect the demand for and price of securities issued by us, and impact our access to
the capital and financial markets.
Our business continues to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The outbreak of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, which has been declared by the World Health Organization to be a
pandemic, has spread across the globe and continues to impact worldwide economic activity. COVID-19 poses a risk on all
aspects of our business, including how it will impact our employees, customers, vendors, and business partners. We are
unable to predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on our future financial position and operating results, or that of our
parent from which we obtain a significant portion of our revenues, due to numerous uncertainties. These uncertainties include
(1) the severity of the virus; (2) the duration of the outbreak; (3) federal, state or local governmental regulations or other
actions which could include limitations on our operations; (4) the effect on customer demand resulting in a decline in the
demand for our parent’s products; (5) impacts on our supply chain and potential limitations of supply of our parent’s
feedstocks; (6) interruptions of our distribution systems and delays in the delivery of product; (7) the health of our workforce,
and our ability to meet staffing needs which is vital to our operations; and (8) volatility in the credit and financial markets.
We continue to actively manage our response in collaboration with customers, government officials, team members and
business partners and assessing potential impacts to our future financial position and operating results, as well as adverse
developments in our business. It is not possible for us to predict whether there will be additional government-mandated
shelter-in-place and similar government orders that could affect our business, how long the existing orders will remain in
place, and how these measures will impact our operations or those of our parent. The COVID-19 pandemic and related
economic repercussions have created significant volatility, uncertainty, and turmoil in the energy industry. We are unable to
predict the overall impact these events will have on our future financial position and operations, including those of our
parent.
Risks Related to an Investment in Us
As of December 31, 2020, we were no longer an “emerging growth company” and are therefore required to comply with
increased disclosure and governance requirements.
As five fiscal years have passed since the June 2015 listing of our common units on Nasdaq, we ceased to be an
“emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act as of December 31, 2020. As such, we are subject to certain
requirements that apply to other public companies but did not previously apply to us. These requirements include: (1) the
provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that our independent registered public accounting firm
provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; and (2) the requirement to
provide detailed compensation discussion and analysis in proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.
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Therefore, this Annual Report is subject to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires that our
independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting. Compliance with Section 404 is expensive for our unitholders and time consuming for management and
could result in the detection of internal control deficiencies of which we are currently unaware. The loss of “emerging growth
company” status and compliance with the additional requirements may substantially increase our legal and financial
compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly.
Our parent owns and controls our general partner, which has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing
our operations. Our general partner and its affiliates, including our parent and Green Plains Trade, have conflicts of interest
with us and limited duties to us and our unitholders, and they may favor their own interests to our detriment and that of our
unitholders.
Our parent owns and controls our general partner and appoints all of the directors of our general partner. Some of the
directors and all of the executive officers of our general partner are also directors or officers of our parent. Although our
general partner has a duty to manage us in a manner it believes to be in our best interests, the directors and officers of our
general partner also have a duty to manage our general partner in a manner that is in the best interests of its owner, our
parent. Conflicts of interest may arise between our general partner and its affiliates, including our parent and Green Plains
Trade, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, our general
partner may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates, including our parent and Green Plains Trade, over the
interests of our unitholders, which could have an adverse impact on your investment in us.
Except as provided in our omnibus agreement, affiliates of our general partner, including our parent and Green Plains
Trade, may compete with us, and neither our general partner nor its affiliates have any obligations to present business
opportunities to us.
Except as provided in our omnibus agreement, affiliates of our general partner, including our parent and Green Plains
Trade, may compete with us. Pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or
any analogous doctrine, does not apply to our general partner or any of its affiliates, including our parent and Green Plains
Trade, and their respective executive officers and directors. Any such person or entity that becomes aware of a potential
transaction, agreement, arrangement or other matter that may be an opportunity for us does not have any duty to
communicate or offer such opportunity to us. Any such person or entity is not liable to us or to any limited partner for breach
of any fiduciary duty or other duty by reason of the fact that such person or entity pursues or acquires such opportunity for
itself, directs such opportunity to another person or entity or does not communicate such opportunity or information to us.
This may create actual and potential conflicts of interest between us and affiliates of our general partner, including our parent
and Green Plains Trade, and result in less than favorable treatment of us and our common unitholders.
Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our obligations.
Our general partner intends to limit its liability under contractual arrangements between us and third parties so that the
counterparties to such arrangements have recourse only against our assets and not against our general partner or its assets.
Our general partner may therefore cause us to incur indebtedness or other obligations that are nonrecourse to our general
partner. Our partnership agreement provides that any action taken by our general partner to limit its liability is not a breach of
our general partner’s duties, even if we could have obtained more favorable terms without the limitation on liability. In
addition, we are obligated to reimburse or indemnify our general partner to the extent that it incurs obligations on our behalf.
Any such reimbursement or indemnification payments would reduce the amount of cash otherwise available for distribution
to our unitholders.
Ongoing cost reimbursements and fees due to our general partner and its affiliates for services provided, which are
determined by our general partner in its sole discretion, are substantial and reduce the amount of cash that we have
available for distribution to our unitholders.
Prior to making distributions on our common units, we reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for all expenses
they incur on our behalf. These expenses include all costs incurred by our general partner and its affiliates in managing and
operating us, including costs for rendering certain management, maintenance and operational services to us, reimbursable
pursuant to the operational services and secondment agreement. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner
determines the expenses that are allocable to us in good faith. Under the omnibus agreement, we have agreed to reimburse
our parent for certain direct or allocated costs and expenses incurred by our parent in providing general and administrative
services in support of our business. In addition, under Delaware partnership law, our general partner has unlimited liability
for our obligations, such as our debts and environmental liabilities, except for our contractual obligations that are expressly
made without recourse to our general partner. To the extent our general partner incurs obligations on our behalf, we are
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obligated to reimburse or indemnify it. If we are unable or unwilling to reimburse or indemnify our general partner, our
general partner may take actions to cause us to make payments of these obligations and liabilities. Payments to our general
partner and its affiliates, including our parent, are substantial and reduce the amount of cash otherwise available for
distribution to our unitholders.
Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash, which could limit our ability to grow and
make acquisitions.
Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders. As a result, we rely
primarily upon external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity
securities, to fund our expansion capital expenditures and acquisitions. Therefore, to the extent that we are unable to finance
growth externally, our cash distribution policy significantly impairs our ability to grow. In addition, because we distribute all
of our available cash, our growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing
operations. To the extent we issue additional partnership interests in connection with any acquisitions or expansion capital
expenditures or as in-kind distributions, our current unitholders will experience dilution and the payment of distributions on
those additional partnership interests may increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit
distribution level. There are no limitations in our partnership agreement, and we do not anticipate that there will be
limitations in our credit facility, on our ability to issue additional partnership securities, including units ranking senior to the
common units. The incurrence of additional commercial borrowings or other debt to finance our growth strategy would result
in increased debt service costs which, in turn, may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.
Our partnership agreement replaces our general partner’s fiduciary duties to holders of our common units with contractual
standards governing its duties and restricts remedies available to holders.
As permitted by Delaware law, our partnership agreement contains provisions that eliminate the fiduciary standards that
our general partner would otherwise be held to by state fiduciary duty law and replaces those duties with several different
contractual standards. For example, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in
its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner, or otherwise, free of any duties to us and our
unitholders. This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or
obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or our limited partners.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that restrict the remedies available to our unitholders for actions taken by
our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty under state fiduciary duty law. For example,
our partnership agreement provides that whenever our general partner makes a determination or takes, or declines to take, any
other action in its capacity as our general partner, our general partner is required to make such determination, or take or
decline to take such other action, in good faith, and is not subject to any higher standard imposed by our partnership
agreement, Delaware law, or any other law, rule or regulation, or at equity; our general partner does not have any liability to
us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as a general partner so long as it acted in good faith; our general
partner and its officers and directors are not liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners resulting from any act
or omission unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction
determining that our general partner or its officers and directors, as the case may be, acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or
willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was unlawful; and our general
partner is not in breach of its obligations under the partnership agreement or its duties to us or our limited partners if a
transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is approved by the conflicts committee of the board of
directors of our general partner, although our general partner is not obligated to seek such approval; approved by the vote of a
majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our general partner and its affiliates; or
otherwise meets the standards set forth in our partnership agreement.
In connection with a situation involving a transaction with an affiliate or a conflict of interest, our partnership agreement
provides that any determination by our general partner must be made in good faith, and that our conflicts committee and the
board of directors of our general partner are entitled to a presumption that they acted in good faith. In any proceeding brought
by or on behalf of any limited partner or the partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the
burden of overcoming such presumption.
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Our partnership agreement designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain
types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our unitholders, which limits our unitholders’ ability to choose the
judicial forum for disputes with us or our general partner’s directors, officers or other employees.
Our partnership agreement provides that, with certain limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
will be the exclusive forum for any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (1) arising out of or relating in any way to our
partnership agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of our partnership
agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among limited partners or of limited partners to us, or the rights or powers
of, or restrictions on, the limited partners or us); (2) brought in a derivative manner on our behalf; (3) asserting a claim of
breach of a duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of us or our general partner, or owed by our general partner,
to us or the limited partners; (4) asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act; or (5) asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine, each
referred to as a unitholder action. By purchasing a common unit, a limited partner is irrevocably consenting to these
limitations and provisions regarding unitholder actions and submitting to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware (or such other court) in connection with any such unitholder actions. These provisions may have the
effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our general partner’s directors and officers that may otherwise benefit us and
our unitholders.
Our partnership agreement provides that any unitholder bringing certain unsuccessful unitholder actions is obligated to
reimburse us for any costs we have incurred in connection with such unsuccessful unitholder action.
If any unitholder brings any unitholder action and such person does not obtain a judgment on the merits that substantially
achieves, in substance and amount, the full remedy sought, then such person shall be obligated to reimburse us and our
affiliates for all fees, costs and expenses of every kind and description, including but not limited to all reasonable attorneys’
fees and other litigation expenses, that the parties may incur in connection with such unitholder action. For purposes of these
provisions, “our affiliates” means any person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control
with us, and “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such person. A limited partner or any person holding a beneficial interest in us (whether through
a broker, dealer, bank, trust company or clearing corporation or an agent of any of the foregoing or otherwise) is subject to
these provisions. By purchasing a common unit, a limited partner is irrevocably consenting to these potential reimbursement
obligations regarding unitholder actions. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our
general partner’s directors and officers that might otherwise benefit us and our unitholders.
The reimbursement provision in our partnership agreement is not limited to specific types of unitholder action but is
rather potentially applicable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Such reimbursement provisions are relatively new and
untested. The case law and potential legislative action on these types of reimbursement provisions are evolving and there
exists considerable uncertainty regarding the validity of, and potential judicial and legislative responses to, such provisions.
For example, it is unclear whether our ability to invoke such reimbursement in connection with unitholder actions under
federal securities laws would be pre-empted by federal law. Similarly, it is unclear how courts might apply the standard that a
claiming party must obtain a judgment that substantially achieves, in substance and amount, the full remedy sought. The
application of our reimbursement provision in connection with such unitholder actions, if any, depends in part on future
developments of the law. This uncertainty may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our general partner’s
directors and officers that might otherwise benefit us and our unitholders. In addition, given the unsettled state of the law
related to reimbursement provisions, such as ours, we may incur significant additional costs associated with resolving
disputes with respect to such provision, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our general partner, or any transferee holding incentive distribution rights, may elect to cause us to issue common units to it
in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to its incentive distribution rights, without the approval
of the conflicts committee or the holders of our common units, which could result in lower distributions to holders of our
common units.
Our general partner has the right, as the initial holder of our incentive distribution rights, at any time when our general
partner has received incentive distributions at the highest level to which it is entitled (48%, in addition to distributions paid
on its 2% general partner interest) for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters and the amount of each such
distribution did not exceed the adjusted operating surplus for such quarter, to reset the initial target distribution levels at
higher levels based on our distributions at the time of the exercise of the reset election. Following a reset election by our
general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution will be adjusted to equal the reset minimum quarterly distribution and the
target distribution levels will be reset to correspondingly higher levels based on percentage increases above the reset
minimum quarterly distribution.
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If our general partner elects to reset the target distribution levels, it will be entitled to receive a number of common units.
The number of common units to be issued to our general partner will equal the number of common units that would have
entitled the holder to an aggregate quarterly cash distribution in the quarter prior to the reset election equal to the distribution
to our general partner on the incentive distribution rights in the quarter prior to the reset election. Our general partner will
also be issued the number of general partner interests necessary to maintain our general partner’s interest in us at the level
that existed immediately prior to the reset election. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in
order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per
common unit without such reset. It is possible, however, that our general partner could exercise this reset election at a time
when it is experiencing, or expects to experience, declines in the cash distributions it receives related to its incentive
distribution rights and may, therefore, desire to be issued common units rather than retain the right to receive incentive
distributions based on the initial target distribution levels. This risk could be elevated if our incentive distribution rights have
been transferred to a third party. As a result, a reset election may cause our common unitholders to experience a reduction in
the amount of cash distributions that our common unitholders would have otherwise received had we not issued new common
units and general partner interests to our general partner in connection with resetting the target distribution levels.
Our general partner has a limited call right that may require our unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable
time or price.
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of our then-outstanding common units, our
general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all,
but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price equal to the greater of (1) the average of the
daily closing price of the common units over the 20 trading days preceding the date three business days before notice of
exercise of the call right is first mailed and (2) the highest per-unit price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for
common units during the 90-day period preceding the date such notice is first mailed. As a result, our unitholders may be
required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return, or may receive a negative
return, on their investment. Our unitholders may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of their common units. Our general
partner is not obligated to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon
exercise of the limited call right. There is no restriction in our partnership agreement that prevents our general partner from
issuing additional common units and exercising its call right. Our parent owns an aggregate of approximately 50.4% of our
outstanding common units (excluding any common units owned by directors, director nominees and executive officers of our
general partner or of Green Plains) and therefore is currently unable to exercise the call right.
Our unitholders have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or the board of directors of our
general partner, which could reduce the price at which our common units trade.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our
business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. For example, unlike
holders of stock in a public corporation, unitholders do not have “say-on-pay” advisory voting rights. Our unitholders did not
elect our general partner or the board of directors of our general partner, and have no right to elect our general partner or the
board of directors of our general partner on an annual or other continuing basis. The board of directors of our general partner,
including its independent directors, is chosen by the member of our general partner. Furthermore, if our unitholders are
dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they have little ability to remove our general partner. Our
partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of our unitholders to call meetings or to acquire
information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting our unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or
direction of management. As a result of these limitations, the price at which our common units trade could be diminished
because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.
Even if our unitholders are dissatisfied, they cannot initially remove our general partner without its consent.
Our unitholders are unable to remove our general partner without its consent because our general partner and its affiliates
own sufficient units to be able to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all outstanding common
units is required to remove the general partner. Our parent owns approximately 50.4% of our total outstanding and equivalent
common units on an aggregate basis (excluding any common units owned by directors, director nominees and executive
officers of our general partner or of Green Plains).
25
Our partnership agreement eliminates the voting rights of certain of our unitholders owning 20% or more of our common
units.
Our unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by the partnership agreement provision providing that any units held
by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates,
including our parent, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors
of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter.
Our general partner’s interest in us or the control of our general partner or the incentive distribution rights held by our
general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially
all of its assets without the consent of our unitholders. Furthermore, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of
our parent from transferring all or a portion of its ownership interest in our general partner to a third party. The new owner of
our general partner would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with its
own choices and thereby exert significant control over the decisions made by the board of directors and officers. This
effectively permits a “change of control” without the vote or consent of our unitholders. Our general partner may transfer all
or a portion of its incentive distribution rights to a third party at any time without the consent of our unitholders, and such
transferee shall have the same rights as the general partner relative to resetting target distributions if our general partner
concurs that the test for resetting target distributions have been fulfilled. If our general partner transfers the incentive
distribution rights to a third party, it may not have the same incentive to grow our partnership and increase quarterly
distributions to our unitholders over time as it would if it had retained ownership of the incentive distribution rights. For
example, a transfer of incentive distribution rights by our general partner could reduce the likelihood of our parent accepting
offers made by us relating to assets owned by it and our parent would have less of an economic incentive to grow our
business, which in turn would impact our ability to grow our asset base.
We may issue additional partnership interests, including units that are senior to the common units, without unitholder
approval, which would dilute our unitholders’ existing ownership interests.
Our partnership agreement does not limit the number of additional limited partner interests or general partner interests
that we may issue at any time without the approval of our unitholders. The issuance by us of additional common units,
general partner interests or other equity securities of equal or senior rank to our common units as to distributions or in
liquidation or that have special voting rights or other rights, have the following effects: (1) each unitholder’s proportionate
ownership interest in us will decrease; (2) the amount of distributable cash flow on each unit may decrease; (3) because the
amount payable to holders of incentive distribution rights is based on a percentage of the total distributable cash flow, the
distributions to holders of incentive distribution rights will increase even if the per unit distribution on common units remains
the same; (4) the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase; (5) the relative voting strength of each previously
outstanding unit may be diminished; (6) the claims of the common unitholders to our assets in the event of our liquidation
may be subordinated; and (7) the market price of the common units may decline. The issuance by us of additional general
partner interests may have the following effects, among others, if such general partner interests are issued to a person that is
not an affiliate of our parent: (1) management of our business may no longer reside solely with our current general partner;
and (2) affiliates of the newly admitted general partner may compete with us, and neither that general partner nor such
affiliates will have any obligation to send business opportunities to us.
Our general partner’s discretion in establishing cash reserves may reduce the amount of distributable cash flow to our
unitholders.
Our partnership agreement requires our general partner to deduct from operating surplus the cash reserves that it
determines are necessary to fund our future operating expenditures. In addition, our partnership agreement permits the
general partner to reduce available cash by establishing cash reserves for the proper conduct of our business, to comply with
applicable law or agreements that we are a party to, or to provide funds for future distributions to partners. These cash
reserves affect the amount of distributable cash flow to our unitholders.
26
If we distribute available cash from capital surplus, which is analogous to a return of capital, our minimum quarterly
distribution will be proportionately reduced, and the target distribution relating to our general partner’s incentive
distributions will be proportionately decreased.
Our distributions of available cash are characterized as derived from either operating surplus or capital surplus.
Operating surplus as defined in our partnership agreement generally means amounts we have received from operations or
“earned,” less operating expenditures and cash reserves to provide funds for our future operations. Capital surplus is defined
in our partnership agreement as any distribution of available cash in excess of our cumulative operating surplus, and
generally would result from cash received from non-operating sources such as sales of other dispositions of assets and
issuances of debt and equity securities. Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of
the IPO initial unit price, which is analogous to a return of capital. Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the
minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be proportionately reduced. Because distributions of
capital surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution after any of these distributions are made, the effects of
distributions of capital surplus may make it easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions.
Unitholder liability may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.
A general partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those
contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. Our partnership is
organized under Delaware law, and we own assets and conduct business throughout much of the United States. Our
unitholders could be liable for any and all of our obligations as if they were a general partner if (1) a court or government
agency determines that we were conducting business in a state but had not complied with that particular state’s partnership
statute; or (2) unitholder rights to act with other unitholders to remove or replace the general partner, to approve some
amendments to our partnership agreement or to take other actions under our partnership agreement constitute “control” of our
business.
Our unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.
Under certain circumstances, our unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully distributed to them. Under Section
17-607 of the Delaware Act, we may not make a distribution to our unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities
to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the
impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it
violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Substituted limited partners are
liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership that are known to the substituted limited
partner at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the
partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are nonrecourse to the
partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.
The price of our common units may fluctuate significantly, which could cause our unitholders to lose all or part of their
investment.
As of December 31, 2020, there are 11,621,623 publicly traded common units. In addition, our parent owns 11,586,548
common units, representing an aggregate 48.9% limited partner interest in us. Our unitholders may not be able to resell their
common units at or above their purchase price. Additionally, the lack of liquidity may result in wide bid-ask spreads,
contribute to significant fluctuations in the market price of the common units and limit the number of investors who are able
to buy the common units. The market price of our common units may decline below current levels. The market price of our
common units may also be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control. As a result, investors in our
common units may not be able to resell their common units at or above the current trading price. In addition, the stock market
in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the
operating performance of companies like us. These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price
of our common units, regardless of our operating performance.
Nasdaq does not require a publicly traded partnership like us to comply with certain of its corporate governance
requirements.
We have listed our common units on Nasdaq. Because we are a publicly traded partnership, Nasdaq does not require us
to have a majority of independent directors on our general partner’s board of directors or to establish a compensation
committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee. Accordingly, our unitholders do not have the same
protections afforded to certain corporations that are subject to all of Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements.
27
Tax Risks to Our Unitholders
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Internal Revenue
Service were to treat us as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would subject us to entity-level
taxation, or if we were otherwise subjected to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation, then our distributable
cash flow to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.
The anticipated after-tax benefit of an investment in our units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Despite the fact that we are a limited partnership under Delaware law, it is possible in
certain circumstances for a partnership such as ours to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A
change in our business or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.
If we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our
taxable income at the corporate tax rate, and would likely pay state and local income tax at varying rates. Distributions to our
unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate dividends (to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and
profits), and no income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits would flow through to our unitholders. Because a tax would be
imposed upon us as a corporation, our distributable cash flow would be substantially reduced. In addition, changes in current
state law may subject us to additional entity-level taxation by individual states. Imposition of any such taxes may
substantially reduce the distributable cash flow to our unitholders. Therefore, if we were treated as a corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes or otherwise subjected to a material amount of entity-level taxation, there would be material
reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the
value of our units. Our partnership agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a
manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for U.S. federal, state or
local income tax purposes, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels may be adjusted to
reflect the impact of that law on us.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our units could be subject to potential legislative,
judicial or administrative changes or differing interpretations, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our
common units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. Any modification to the
U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more
difficult or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are
unable to predict whether any of these changes or any other proposals will ultimately be enacted or adopted. However, it is
possible that a change in law could affect us, and any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our
common units.
If the IRS were to contest the U.S. federal income tax positions we take, it may adversely impact the market for our common
units, and the costs of any such contest would reduce distributable cash flow to our unitholders.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take, even if taken with the advice of counsel, and
the IRS’s positions may ultimately be sustained. A court may not agree with some or all of the positions we take. Any contest
with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the prices at which they trade.
Moreover, the costs of any contest between us and the IRS will result in a reduction in distributable cash flow to our
unitholders and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders. Legislation was passed in 2015 requiring large partnerships
to pay federal tax deficiencies. A tax assessment paid by the partnership would reduce distributable cash flow available to
unitholders, potentially for tax assessments related to years in which they did not own partnership units.
Even if our unitholders do not receive any cash distributions from us, our unitholders are required to pay taxes on their share
of our taxable income.
Because our unitholders are treated as partners to whom we allocate taxable income that could be different in amount
than the cash we distribute, our unitholders’ allocable share of our taxable income is taxable to our unitholders, which may
require the payment of U.S. federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on our unitholders’ share
of our taxable income even if our unitholders receive no cash distributions from us. Our unitholders may not receive cash
distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from that
income.
28
Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
If our unitholders sell common units, they will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized
and their tax basis in those common units. Because distributions in excess of their allocable share of our net taxable income
decrease their tax basis in their common units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the
common units they sell will, in effect, become taxable income to them if they sell such common units at a price greater than
the tax basis therein, even if the price they receive is less than their original cost. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the
amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income to such unitholder due to potential
recapture items, including depreciation recapture. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of
our nonrecourse liabilities, if our unitholders sell common units, they may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash
they receive from the sale.
Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons owning our common units face unique tax issues that may result in adverse tax
consequences to them.
Investment in our common units by tax-exempt entities, such as IRAs, and non-U.S. persons, raises issues unique to
them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including
IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Distributions to non-
U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be
required to file U.S. federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income. Tax exempt entities and non-
U.S. persons should consult a tax advisor before investing in our common units.
We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the common units purchased.
The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons, we adopted
depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful
IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to our unitholders. Our counsel is
unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of
gain from the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit
adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss, and deduction between transferors and transferees of our common units each
month based upon the ownership of our common units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a
particular common unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of
income, gain, loss, and deduction among our unitholders.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss, and deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes between transferors and
transferees of our common units each month based upon the ownership of our common units on the first day of each month,
instead of on the basis of the date a particular common unit is transferred. Although simplifying conventions are
contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the
use of this proration method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. The U.S. Treasury recently adopted
final Treasury Regulations allowing similar monthly simplifying conventions. However, the final Treasury Regulations do
not specifically authorize the use of the proration method that we have adopted and, accordingly, our counsel is unable to
opine as to the validity of this method. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method, we may be required to change the
allocation of items of income, gain, loss, and deduction among our unitholders.
29
A unitholder whose common units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of
common units) may be considered as having disposed of those common units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax
purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from
the disposition.
Because a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a “short seller” to effect a short sale of common units may be
considered as having disposed of the loaned common units, he may no longer be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes
as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may
recognize gain or loss from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan to the short seller, any of our income,
gain, loss or deduction with respect to those common units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions
received by the unitholder as to those common units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to assure
their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to
discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from loaning
their common units.
We will adopt certain valuation methodologies that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss, and deduction between our
unitholders. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.
When we issue additional common units or engage in certain other transactions, we will determine the fair market value
of our assets and allocate any unrealized gain or loss attributable to our assets to the capital accounts of our unitholders and
our general partner. Our methodology may be viewed as understating the value of our assets. In that case, there may be a shift
of income, gain, loss, and deduction between certain of our unitholders and our general partner, which may be unfavorable to
such unitholders. Moreover, under our valuation methods, subsequent purchasers of common units may have a greater
portion of their Internal Revenue Code Section 743(b) adjustment allocated to our tangible assets and a lesser portion
allocated to our intangible assets. The IRS may challenge our valuation methods, or our allocation of the Section 743(b)
adjustment attributable to our tangible and intangible assets, and allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction between our
general partner and certain of our unitholders. A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely
affect the amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of taxable gain
from our unitholders’ sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of the common units or result in
audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.
As a result of investing in our common units, our unitholders may be subject to state and local taxes and return filing
requirements in jurisdictions where we operate or own or acquire properties.
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, our unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including foreign, state, and local
taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions
in which we conduct business or control property now or in the future, even if our unitholders do not live in any of those
jurisdictions. Our unitholders may be required to file foreign, state, and local income tax returns and pay state and local
income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions. Further, our unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to
comply with those requirements. We expect to conduct business in multiple states, many of which impose a personal income
tax on individuals as well as corporations and other entities. It is the responsibility of our unitholders to file all U.S. federal,
foreign, state, and local tax returns.
30
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
See Item 1 – Business, Our Assets and Operations for a description of our properties and their utilization. We believe our
properties and facilities are adequate for our operations and properly maintained.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We may be involved in litigation that arises during the ordinary course of business. We are not, however, involved in any
material litigation at this time.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
31
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities.
On June 26, 2015, our common units began trading under the symbol “GPP” on Nasdaq. On July 1, 2015, we completed
our IPO of 11,500,000 common units, representing limited partner interests, for $15.00 per common unit. The requirements
under the partnership agreement for the conversion of all of the outstanding subordinated units into common units were
satisfied upon the payment of the distribution with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Accordingly, the subordination
period ended on August 13, 2018, the first business day after the date of the distribution payment, and all of the 15,889,642
outstanding subordinated units were converted into common units on a one-for-one basis. Our parent currently owns
11,586,548 common units, constituting a 48.9% limited partner ownership interest in us.
Holders of Record
We had six holders of record of our common units as of February 11, 2021, one of which holds 11,533,570 of the
outstanding common units held by the public, including those held in street name.
Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly distributions are made from available cash within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, assuming the
partnership has available cash, up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $0.12 per outstanding unit, subject to the terms of the
credit agreement which matures December 31, 2021. Available cash generally means all cash and cash equivalents on hand at
the end of that quarter less cash reserves established by our general partner plus all or any portion of the cash on hand
resulting from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of that quarter. For additional information on our cash
distribution policy, please refer to Note 11 – Partners’ Deficit to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Equity Compensation Plans
Refer to Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
for information regarding units authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans in this report.
32
Performance Graph
The following graph compares our cumulative total return on our common units to the cumulative total return of the S&P
500 Index and the Alerian MLP Index for each of the five years ended December 31, 2020. The graph assumes $100 was
invested in each option at December 31, 2015, and that all dividends were reinvested. The Alerian MLP Index is a composite
of the 50 most prominent master limited partnerships and is calculated using a float-adjusted, capitalization weighted
methodology.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATAA IVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Green Plains Partners LP, the S&P 500 Index
and the Alerian MLP Index
$250
$200
$150
$100
$50
$0
12/15
12/16
12/17
12/18
12/19
12/20
Green Plains Partners LP
S&P 500
Alerian MLP
*$100 invested on 12/31/15 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
The information in the graph is not considered solicitation material, nor will it be filed with the SEC or incorporated by
reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or Exchange Act unless we specifically incorporate it by reference
into our filing.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, and the balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2020 and 2019, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and should be read together
with the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report.
The statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the balance sheet data year ended
December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in
this report, which describe a number of matters that materially affect the comparability of the periods presented.
33
On September 23, 2016, we acquired the ethanol storage assets located in Madison, Illinois; Mount Vernon, Indiana and
York, Nebraska related to three ethanol plants, which occurred concurrently with the acquisition of these facilities by Green
Plains from subsidiaries of Abengoa S.A. The transaction was accounted for as a transfer between entities under common
control and the assets were recognized at the preliminary value recorded in Green Plains’ purchase accounting. No retroactive
adjustments were required.
On November 15, 2018, our parent closed on the sale of three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota,
Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to such plants were sold to our
parent for $120.9 million. As consideration, we received from our parent 8.7 million Green Plains units and a portion of the
general partner interest equating to 0.2 million equivalent limited partner units to maintain the general partner’s 2% interest.
These units were retired upon receipt. In addition, we also received cash consideration of $2.7 million from Valero for the
assignment of certain railcar operating leases.
On November 15, 2018, our parent announced the permanent closure of its ethanol plant located in Hopewell, Virginia.
The closure did not affect our quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green Plains Trade.
On December 28, 2020, our parent closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford Ethanol
Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to our parent for $10.0
million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases.
The following selected financial data should be read together with Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow of this report. The financial
information below is not necessarily indicative of our expected results for any future period, which could differ materially
from historical results due to numerous factors, including those discussed in Item 1A – Risk Factors of this report.
Statement of Operations Data:
(in thousands, except per unit information)
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2019
2017
2016
Revenues
Operating expenses (1)
Operating income
Other expense
Net income
$
83,345 $
34,137
49,208
(8,513)
41,147
82,387 $
33,154
49,233
(8,215)
41,479
100,748 $
37,845
62,903
(7,107)
55,681
106,993 $
42,835
64,158
(5,171)
58,867
103,772
44,281
59,491
(2,462)
56,805
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and
diluted):
Common units
Subordinated units
Weighted average limited partner units
outstanding (basic and diluted):
Common units
Subordinated units
$
$
1.74 $
- $
1.76 $
- $
1.81 $
1.71 $
1.81 $
1.81 $
1.75
1.75
23,149
-
23,129
-
20,950
9,752
15,916
15,890
15,904
15,890
Distribution declared per unit
$
0.4800 $
1.9000 $
1.9000 $
1.8200 $
1.6650
(1) Includes consideration received of $2.7 million for the assignment of railcar operating leases to Valero in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Balance Sheet Data (in thousands):
Cash and cash equivalents
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Long-term debt
Total liabilities
Partners' deficit
2020
2019
December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
2,478 $
261 $
569 $
502 $
17,994
105,320
119,082
-
151,782
(46,462)
17,429
105,653
155,812
-
181,400
(75,747)
16,616
81,144
8,188
142,025
153,598
(72,454)
21,634
92,268
16,058
134,875
155,114
(62,846)
622
22,275
93,776
17,303
136,927
157,942
(64,166)
34
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization,
plus adjustments for transaction costs related to acquisitions or financing transactions, unit-based compensation expense, net
gains or losses on asset sales and our proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investee. Distributable
cash flow is defined as adjusted EBITDA less interest paid or payable, income taxes paid or payable, maintenance capital
expenditures and our proportional share of distributable cash flow adjustments of our equity method investee.
Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow presentations are not made in accordance with GAAP and therefore
should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, operating income or any other measure of financial
performance presented in accordance with GAAP to analyze our results. Refer to Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods presented and a
reconciliation of net income to distributable cash flow (dollars in thousands):
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
Reconciliations to Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
Net income
$
Interest expense
Income tax expense
Depreciation and amortization
Transaction costs
Unit-based compensation expense
Gain on the disposal of assets
Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of equity
method investee (1)
Gain on assignment of operating leases (2)
Adjusted EBITDA
Interest paid or payable
Income taxes paid or payable
Maintenance capital expenditures
Distributable cash flow (3)
Distributions declared (4)
Coverage ratio
$
$
$
41,479 $
8,310
220
3,441
-
319
(14)
196
-
53,951
(8,310)
(238)
(94)
45,309 $
55,681
7,307
101
4,442
805
277
-
80
(2,721)
65,972
(7,307)
(101)
(50)
58,514
41,147
8,513
212
3,806
25
320
-
181
-
54,204
(8,513)
(137)
(181)
45,373
11,361
$
$
45,109
$
57,767
3.99x
1.00x
1.01x
(1) Represents our proportional share of depreciation and amortization of our equity method investee.
(2) Represents consideration received related to the assignment of railcar operating leases to Valero.
(3) Distributable cash flow does not include adjustments for the principal payments on the term loan of $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(4) Distributions declared for the applicable period and paid in the subsequent quarter.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
The following discussion and analysis includes information management believes is relevant to understand and assess
our financial condition and results of operations. This section should be read together with our consolidated financial
statements, accompanying notes and risk factors contained in this report.
Overview
We are a master limited partnership formed by our parent to be its principle provider of fuel storage and transportation
services. On July 1, 2015, we completed our IPO, and, in addition to the interests of BlendStar, obtained the assets and
liabilities of the ethanol storage and leased railcar assets contributed by our parent in a transfer between entities under
common control. We also entered into long-term, fee-based commercial agreements for storage and transportation services
with Green Plains Trade, which are supported by minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity commitments.
35
Our profitability is dependent on the volume of ethanol and other fuels handled at our facilities and the amount of railcar
volumetric capacity we are able to provide. Our long-term, fee-based commercial agreements generate stable, predictable
cash flows supported by minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity commitments.
Information about our business, properties and strategy can be found under Item 1 – Business and a description of our
risk factors can be found under Item 1A – Risk Factors.
Industry Factors Affecting our Results of Operations
U.S. Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the EIA, domestic ethanol production averaged 0.91 million barrels per day in 2020, which was 12% lower
than the 1.03 million barrels per day in 2019. Refiner and blender input volume decreased 13% to 798 thousand barrels per
day for 2020, compared with 921 thousand barrels per day in 2019. Gasoline demand decreased 1.2 million barrels per day,
or 13% in 2020. U.S. domestic ethanol ending stocks increased by approximately 2.5 million barrels, or 12%, year over year
to 23.5 million barrels. As of December 31, 2020, according to Prime the Pump, there were approximately 2,300 retail
stations selling E15 in 30 states, up from 2,080 at the beginning of the year, as well as 203 pipeline terminal locations now
offering E15 to wholesale customers.
Global Ethanol Supply and Demand
According to the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, domestic ethanol exports through November 30, 2020 were
approximately 1.22 bgy, down 7.6% from 1.32 bgy for the same period of 2019. Canada was the largest export destination
for U.S. ethanol accounting for 25% of domestic ethanol export volume. Brazil, India, and South Korea accounted for 16%,
15%, and 8%, respectively, of U.S. ethanol exports. We currently estimate that net ethanol exports will range from 1.3 to 1.5
billion gallons in 2021, excluding any significant exports to China, based on historical demand from a variety of countries
and certain countries who seek to improve their air quality and eliminate MTBE from their own fuel supplies.
On April 1, 2018, China announced it would add an additional 15% tariff to the existing 30% tariff it had earlier imposed
on ethanol imports from the United States and Brazil. China later raised the tariff further to 70% as the trade war escalated. In
January 2020, China and the United States struck a “Phase I” trade agreement, which included commitments on agricultural
commodity purchases. Ethanol, corn and distillers grains were included as potential purchases in the agreement. China has
been purchasing large quantities of corn, which has raised domestic prices of this feedstock for our ethanol production
process. In addition, in October 2020 it was announced that China had purchased a shipment of U.S. ethanol for the first time
since March 2018.
Legislation and Regulation
We are sensitive to government programs and policies that affect the supply and demand for ethanol and other fuels,
which in turn may impact the volume of ethanol and other fuels we handle. Over the past few years, various bills and
amendments have been proposed in the House and Senate which would eliminate the RFS II entirely, eliminate the corn
based ethanol portion of the mandate, and make it more difficult to sell fuel blends with higher levels of ethanol. We believe
it is unlikely that any of these bills will become law in the current Congress. In addition, the manner in which the EPA
administers the RFS II and related regulations can have a significant impact on the actual amount of ethanol blended into the
domestic fuel supply.
Federal mandates and state-level clean fuel programs supporting the use of renewable fuels are a significant driver of
ethanol demand in the U.S. Ethanol policies are influenced by concerns for the environment, diversifying our fuel supply, and
reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Consumer acceptance of flex-fuel vehicles and higher ethanol blends of
ethanol in non-flex-fuel vehicles may be necessary before ethanol can achieve further growth in U.S. market share. In
addition, expansion of clean fuel programs in other states, or a national low carbon fuel standard could increase the demand
for ethanol, depending on how it is structured.
36
Congress first enacted CAFE in 1975 to reduce energy consumption by increasing the fuel economy of cars and light
trucks. Flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are designed to run on a mixture of fuels, including higher blends of ethanol
such as E85, receive preferential treatment in the form of CAFE credits. There are approximately 21 million FFVs on the
road in the U.S. today, 16 million of which are light duty trucks. FFV credits have been decreasing since 2014 and were
completely phased out in 2020. Absent CAFE preferences, auto manufacturers may not be willing to build flexible-fuel
vehicles, which has the potential to slow the growth of E85 markets. However, California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
program (LCFS) has driven growth in E85 usage, and other state/regional LCFS programs have the potential to do the same.
The RFS II sets a floor for ethanol usage in the United States. When the RFS II was established in 2010, the required
volume of “conventional” or corn-based ethanol to be blended with gasoline was to increase each year until it reached 15.0
billion gallons in 2015, which left the EPA to address existing limitations in both supply and demand. The EPA has not yet
released a draft RVO rule for the 2021 volumes, despite the fact they typically release a draft mid-year and finalize the rule
by November 30 each year. It is unclear when they will release the RVO for 2021.
According to the RFS II, if mandatory renewable fuel volumes are reduced by at least 20% for two consecutive years, the
EPA is required to modify, or reset, statutory volumes through 2022 – the year through which the statutorily prescribed
volumes run. While conventional ethanol maintained 15 billion gallons, 2019 was the second consecutive year that the total
proposed RVO was more than 20% below the statutory volumes levels. Thus, the EPA was expected to initiate a reset
rulemaking, and modify statutory volumes through 2022, and do so based on the same factors they are to use in setting the
RVOs post-2022. These factors include environmental impact, domestic energy security, expected production, infrastructure
impact, consumer costs, job creation, price of agricultural commodities, food prices, and rural economic development.
However, in late 2019, the EPA announced it would not be moving forward with a reset rulemaking in 2020. It is unclear
when or if they will propose a reset rulemaking.
Under the RFS, RINs and SREs are important tools impacting supply and demand. The EPA assigns individual refiners,
blenders, and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to use based on their percentage of total domestic
transportation fuel sales. Obligated parties use RINs to show compliance with the RFS II mandated volumes. Ethanol
producers assign RINs to renewable fuels and the RINs are detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation
fuel domestically. Market participants can trade the detached RINs in the open market. The market price of detached RINs
affects the price of ethanol in certain markets and can influence purchasing decisions by obligated parties. As it relates to
SREs, a small refinery is defined as one that processes fewer than 75,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Small refineries can
petition the EPA for a SRE which, if approved, waives their portion of the annual RVO requirements. The EPA, through
consultation with the DOE and the USDA can grant them a full or partial waiver, or deny it outright within 90 days of
submittal. The EPA granted significantly more of these waivers for 2016, 2017 and 2018 than they had in the past, totaling
790 mmg of waived requirements for the 2016 compliance year, 1.82 billion gallons for 2017 and 1.43 billion gallons for
2018. In doing so, the EPA effectively reduced the RFS II mandated volumes for those compliance years by those amounts
respectively, and as a result, RIN values declined significantly.
The One-Pound Waiver that was extended in May 2019 to allow E15 to be sold year-round to all vehicles model year
2001 and newer is being challenged in an action filed in Federal District Court for the D.C. Circuit. However, the One-Pound
Waiver remains in effect, and E15 is sold year-round in approximately 30 states.
Biofuels groups have filed a lawsuit in the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging the 2019 RVO rule over
the EPA’s failure to address small refinery exemptions in the rulemaking. This was the first RFS II rulemaking since the
expanded use of the exemptions came to light; however, the EPA had declined to cap the number of waivers it grants, and
until late 2019, had declined to alter how it accounts for the retroactive waivers in its annual volume calculations. The EPA
has a statutory mandate to ensure the volume requirements are met, which are achieved by setting the percentage standards
for obligated parties. The EPA’s recent approach accomplished the opposite. Even if all the obligated parties complied with
their respective percentage obligations for 2019, the nation’s overall supply of renewable fuel would not meet the total
volume requirements set by the EPA. This undermines Congressional intent to increase the consumption of renewable fuels
in the domestic transportation fuel supply. Biofuels groups have argued the EPA must therefore adjust its percentage standard
calculations to make up for past retroactive waivers and adjust the standards to account for any waivers it reasonably expects
to grant in the future.
37
In 2017, the D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of biofuel groups against the EPA related to its decision to lower the 2016
volume requirements by 500 mmg. As a result, the Court remanded to the EPA to make up for the 500 mmg. Despite this, in
the proposed 2020 RVO rulemaking released in July 2019, the EPA stated it does not intend to make up the 500 mmg as the
court directed, citing potential burden on obligated parties. The EPA had indicated that it plans to address this court ordered
remand in conjunction with the 2021 RVO rulemaking, however that rulemaking has been delayed indefinitely for political
reasons.
In 2019, in a supplemental rulemaking to the 2020 RVO rule, the EPA changed their approach, and for the first time
accounted for the gallons that they anticipate they will be waiving from the blending requirements due to small refinery
exemptions. To accomplish this, they added in the trailing three year average of gallons the DOE recommended be waived, in
effect raising the blending volumes across the board in anticipation of waiving the obligations in whole or in part for certain
refineries that qualify for the exemptions. Though the EPA has often disregarded the recommendations of the DOE in years
past, they stated in the rule their intent to adhere to these recommendations going forward, including granting partial waivers
rather than an all or nothing approach. The EPA will be adjudicating the 2020 compliance year small refinery exemption
applications in early 2021, but have indicated they will adhere to the DOE recommendations for the 2019 compliance year
applications as well.
In January 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled on RFA et. al. vs. EPA in favor of biofuels
interests, overturning EPA’s granting of refinery exemptions to three refineries on two separate grounds. The Court agreed
that, under the Clean Air Act, refineries are eligible for SREs for a given RVO year only if such exemptions are extensions of
exemptions granted in previous RVO years. In this case, the three refineries at issue did not qualify for SREs in the year prior
to the year that EPA granted them. They were thus ineligible for additional SRE relief because there were no immediately
prior SREs to extend. In addition, the Court agreed that the disproportionate economic hardship prong of SRE eligibility
should be determined solely by reference to whether compliance with the RFS II creates such hardship, not whether
compliance plus other issues create disproportionate economic hardship. The Court thus vacated EPA's grant of SREs for
certain years and remanded the grants back to EPA. The refiners appealed for a rehearing which was denied. Two of the
refiners appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and in January 2021, the Supreme Court announced they would
hear the case. If the decision against the EPA is upheld by the Supreme Court, it is uncertain how the EPA will propose to
remedy the situation.
In light of the 10th Circuit ruling, a number of refineries have applied for “gap year” SREs in an effort to establish a
continuous string of relief and to ensure they are able to qualify for SREs going forward. A total of 64 gap year requests were
filed with the EPA and reviewed by the DOE. In September 2020 the EPA announced that they were denying 54 of the gap
year requests that had been scored and returned by DOE, regardless of how they had been scored. The EPA will be
adjudicating the 2020 compliance year SRE applications in early 2021 and has indicated they will adhere to the DOE
recommendations of the 2019 compliance year applications as well. Without a string of continuous SRE approvals, almost no
small refinery would be eligible to apply for hardship relief in this manner, unless the Supreme Court overturns the 10th
Circuit ruling, which we believe is unlikely.
In October 2019, the White House directed the USDA and EPA to move forward with rulemaking to expand access to
higher blends of biofuels. This includes funding for infrastructure, labeling changes and allowing E15 to be sold through E10
infrastructure. The USDA rolled out the Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program in the summer of 2020, providing
competitive grants to fuel terminals and retailers for installing equipment for dispensing higher blends of ethanol and
biodiesel. The EPA had indicated it would move forward with notice of proposed rulemaking on E15 labeling reforms, but
they have not as of this filing. In 2020, five Governors and 15 Republican Senators sent letters to the EPA requesting a
general waiver from the RFS due to the drop in demand caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions. As of this filing the EPA
had indicated only that they are watching the situation closely and reviewing the letters.
To respond to the COVID-19 health crisis and attempt to offset the subsequent economic damage, Congress passed
multiple relief measures, most notably the CARES Act in March 2020, which created and funded multiple programs that
have impacted our industry. The USDA was given additional resources for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and
they are using those funds to provide direct payments to farmers, including corn farmers from whom our parent purchases
most of its feedstock for ethanol production. Similar to the trade aid payments made by the USDA over the past two years,
this cash injection for farmers could cause them to delay marketing decisions and increase the price our parent pays to
purchase corn. The CARES Act also allowed for certain net operating loss carrybacks, which has allowed our parent to
receive certain tax refunds. In December 2020, Congress passed and the former President signed into law an annual spending
package coupled with another COVID relief bill which included additional funds for the Secretary of Agriculture to distribute
to those impacted by the pandemic. The language of the bill specifically includes biofuels producers as eligible for some of
this aid.
38
The CARES Act provided a tax exclusion on the shipment of undenatured ethanol for use in manufacturing hand
sanitizer, a key ingredient of which is undenatured ethanol of specific grades. The FDA has also provided expanded guidance
to allow for more denaturants to be used in ethanol intended for hand sanitizer production, and has expanded the grades of
ethanol allowed for the duration of the public health crisis.
Government actions abroad can significantly impact the demand for U.S. ethanol. In September 2017, China’s National
Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Agency and 15 other state departments issued a joint plan to
expand the use and production of biofuels containing up to 10% ethanol by 2020. China, the number three importer of U.S.
ethanol in 2016, imported negligible volumes during 2018 and 2019 due to a 30% tariff on U.S. ethanol, which increased to
70% in early 2018. There is no assurance that China’s joint plan to expand blending to 10% will be carried to fruition, nor
that it will lead to increased imports of U.S. ethanol in the near term. Ethanol is included as an agricultural commodity under
the “Phase I” agreement with China, wherein they are to purchase upwards of $40 billion in agricultural commodities from
the U.S. in both 2020 and 2021. In 2020, there were few meaningful purchases of U.S. ethanol by China.
In Brazil, the Secretary of Foreign Trade had issued a tariff rate quota which expired in December of 2020. Exports to
Brazil were on pace for 120 mmg in 2020. All U.S. ethanol gallons now face a 20% tariff into Brazil. Our parent’s exports
also face tariffs, rate quotas, countervailing duties, and other hurdles in the European Union, India, Peru, Columbia and
elsewhere, which limits the ability to compete in some markets. We believe some countries are using the COVID-19 crisis as
justification for raising duties on imports of U.S. ethanol, or blocking imports entirely.
In June 2017, the Energy Regulatory Commission of Mexico (CRE) approved the use of 10% ethanol blends, which was
challenged by multiple lawsuits, of which several were dismissed. The remaining four cases follow one of two tracks: 1) to
determine the constitutionality of the CRE regulation, or 2) to determine the benefits, or lack thereof, of introducing E10 to
Mexico. An injunction was granted in October 2017, preventing the blending and selling of E10, but was overturned by a
higher court in June 2018 making it legal to blend and sell E10 by PEMEX throughout Mexico except for its three largest
metropolitan areas. On January 15, 2020, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that the expedited process for the CRE regulation
was unconstitutional, and that after a 180 day period the maximum ethanol blend allowed in the country would revert to
5.8%. There is an effort underway to go through the full regulatory process to allow for 10% blends countrywide, including
in the three major metropolitan areas. The 180 day window was extended due to COVID-19, and the new deadline is March
20, 2021.
In January 2020, the updated North American Free Trade Agreement, known as the United States Mexico Canada
Agreement or USMCA was signed. The USMCA went into effect on July 1, 2020, and maintains the duty free access of U.S.
agricultural commodities, including ethanol, into Canada and Mexico. According to the Department of Commerce, exports to
Canada were 303.5 mmg and exports to Mexico were 61.5 mmg through November 30, 2020.
Environmental and Other Regulation
Our operations are subject to environmental regulations, including those that govern the handling and release of ethanol,
crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbon materials. Compliance with existing and anticipated environmental laws and
regulations may increase our overall cost of doing business, including capital costs to construct, maintain, operate, and
upgrade equipment and facilities. Our business may also be impacted by government policies, such as tariffs, duties,
subsidies, import and export restrictions and outright embargos. Our parent employs maintenance and operations personnel at
each of its facilities, which are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The U.S. ethanol industry relies heavily on tank cars to deliver its product to market. In 2015, the DOT finalized the
Enhanced Tank Car Standard and Operational Controls for High-Hazard and Flammable Trains, or DOT specification 117,
which established a schedule to retrofit or replace older tank cars that carry crude oil and ethanol, braking standards intended
to reduce the severity of accidents and new operational protocols. The deadline for compliance with DOT specification 117 is
May 1, 2023. The rule may increase our lease costs for railcars over the long term, which will in turn result in an increase in
the fees we charge for railcar capacity. Additionally, existing railcars may be out of service for a period of time while
upgrades are made, tightening supply in an industry that is highly dependent on railcars to transport product. We intend to
strategically manage our leased railcar fleet to comply with the new regulations and have commenced transition of our fleet
to DOT 117 compliant railcars. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 50% of our railcar fleet was DOT 117 compliant.
We anticipate that an additional 20% of our railcar fleet will be DOT 117 compliant by the end of 2021, and that our entire
fleet will be fully compliant by 2023.
39
Our Parent’s Production Levels
Our parent’s operating margins are sensitive to commodity price fluctuations, particularly for corn, ethanol, corn oil,
distillers grains and natural gas, which are impacted by factors that are outside of its control, including weather conditions,
corn yield, changes in domestic and global ethanol supply and demand, government programs and policies and the price of
crude oil, gasoline and substitute fuels. Our parent uses various financial instruments to manage and reduce its exposure to
price variability.
Our parent’s operating margins influence its production levels, which in turn affects the volume of ethanol we store,
throughput and transport. During periods of commodity price variability or compressed margins, our parent may slow down
or temporarily idle operations at certain ethanol plants. Slowing production increases the ethanol yield per bushel of corn,
optimizing cash flow in lower margin environments. In 2020, our parent’s ethanol facilities maintained an average utilization
rate of approximately 71% of capacity, compared with 76% of capacity for the prior year. The reduction in the average
utilization rate was primarily due to continued poor margins driven in part by a reduction in motor fuel demand as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our parent’s quarterly actual production, daily average production capacity and utilization are highlighted in the
following chart:
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
-
Q 1-17
Q 2-17
Q 3-17
Q 4-17
Q 1-18
Q 2-18
Q 3-18
Q 4-18
Q 1-19
Q 2-19
Q 3-19
Q 4-19
Q 1-20
Q 2-20
Q 3-20
Q 4-20
Production
% of Capacity
Production Capacity
Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Our Parent
Our parent guarantees Green Plains Trade’s obligations under our storage and throughput agreement and rail
transportation service agreements, which account for a substantial portion of our revenues. Any change in our parent’s
business or financial strategy, or event that negatively impacts its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows may
materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For additional information, please
refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors.
Availability of Railcars
The long-term growth of our business depends on the availability of railcars, which we currently lease, to transport
ethanol and other fuels on reasonable terms. Railcars may become unavailable due to increased demand, maintenance or
other logistical constraints. Railcar shortages caused by increased demand for rail transportation or changes in regulatory
standards that apply to railcars could negatively impact our business and our ability to grow.
40
How We Evaluate Our Operations
Our management uses a variety of GAAP and non-GAAP financial and operating metrics, including among others,
throughput volume and capacity, operations and maintenance expense, adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow.
Management views each of these metrics as important factors to evaluate our operating results and measure profitability.
Throughput Volume and Capacity
Our revenues are dependent on the volume of ethanol and other fuels we store, throughput, or transport at our ethanol
storage and fuel terminal facilities, and the volumetric capacity that is used to transport ethanol and other fuels by railcars.
These volumes are affected by our parent’s operating margins at its ethanol production plants as well as the overall supply
and demand for ethanol and other fuels in markets served directly or indirectly by our assets.
Green Plains Trade is obligated to meet minimum volume or take-or-pay capacity commitments under our commercial
agreements. Our results of operations may be impacted by our parent’s use of our assets in excess of its minimum volume
commitments, and our ability to capture incremental volumes or capacity from Green Plains Trade or third parties, retain
Green Plains Trade as a customer, enter into contracts with new customers and increase volume commitments.
Operations and Maintenance Expenses
Our management seeks to maximize the profitability of our operations by effectively managing operations and
maintenance expenses. Our expenses are relatively stable across a broad range of storage, throughput and transportation
volumes and usage, but can fluctuate from period to period depending on maintenance activities and growth. We manage our
expenses by scheduling maintenance activities over time to avoid significant variability in our cash flows.
Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization
excluding the amortization of right-of-use assets and debt issuance costs, plus adjustments for transaction costs related to
acquisitions or financing transactions, unit-based compensation expense, net gains or losses on asset sales, and our
proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of our equity method investee.
Distributable cash flow is defined as adjusted EBITDA less interest paid or payable, income taxes paid or payable,
maintenance capital expenditures, which are defined under our partnership agreement as cash expenditures (including
expenditures for the construction or development of new capital assets or the replacement, improvement or expansion of
existing capital assets) made to maintain our operating capacity or operating income, and our proportional share of
distributable cash flow adjustments of our equity method investee.
We believe the presentation of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provides useful information to investors in
assessing our financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are supplemental
financial measures that we use to assess our financial performance. However, these presentations are not made in accordance
with GAAP. The GAAP measure most directly comparable with adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow is net income.
Since adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our
definitions of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other
companies, diminishing its utility. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as
alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP to analyze our
results. Refer to Item 6 – Selected Financial Data for reconciliations of net income to adjusted EBITDA and distributable
cash flow.
Components of Revenues and Expenses
Revenues. Our revenues consist primarily of fee-based commercial agreements for receiving, storing, transferring and
transporting ethanol and other fuels.
For more information about these charges and the services covered by these agreements, please refer to Note 15 –
Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
41
Operations and Maintenance Expenses. Our operations and maintenance expenses consist primarily of lease expenses
related to our transportation assets, labor expenses, outside contractor expenses, insurance premiums, repairs and
maintenance expenses and utility costs. These expenses also include fees for certain management, maintenance and
operational services to support our facilities, trucks and leased railcar fleet allocated by our parent under our operational
services and secondment agreement.
General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of allocated employee
salaries, incentives and benefits, office expenses, professional fees for accounting, legal, and consulting services, and other
costs allocated by our parent. Our general and administrative expenses include direct monthly charges for the management of
our assets and certain expenses allocated by our parent under our omnibus agreement for general corporate services, such as
treasury, accounting, human resources and legal services. These expenses are charged or allocated to us based on the nature
of the expense and our proportionate share of employee time or capital expenditures.
For more information about fees we reimburse our parent for services received, please read Note 15 – Related Party
Transactions to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) includes interest earned, interest expense and other non-operating
items.
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investee. Income (loss) from equity method investee consists of the income or loss
associated with our 50% ownership in the NLR joint venture.
For the commercial agreements, operational services and secondment agreement and the omnibus agreement in their
entirety and any subsequent amendments required to be filed, please refer to Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement
Schedules.
Results of Operations
Comparability of our Financial Results
The following summarizes certain events that affect the comparability of our operating results over the course of the past
three years:
(cid:120) On November 15, 2018, our parent closed on the sale of three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana,
Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to such plants
were sold to our parent for $120.9 million. As consideration, we received from our parent 8.7 million Green Plains
units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 0.2 million equivalent limited partner units to maintain
the general partner’s 2% interest. These units were retired upon receipt. In addition, we also received cash
consideration of $2.7 million from Valero for the assignment of certain railcar operating leases.
(cid:120) On November 15, 2018, our parent announced the permanent closure of its ethanol plant located in Hopewell,
Virginia. The closure did not affect our quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green
Plains Trade.
(cid:120) On December 28, 2020, our parent closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford
Ethanol Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to our
parent for $10.0 million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases. Since this transaction closed
on December 28, 2020, the impact to the comparability of our operating results was not material.
A discussion regarding our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019,
compared to the year ended December 31, 2018, can be found under Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2020.
42
Selected Financial Information and Operating Data
The following table reflects selected financial information (in thousands):
Revenues
Storage and throughput services
Rail transportation services
Terminal services
Trucking and other
Total revenues
Operating expenses
Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and
amortization reflected below)
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Gain on assignment of operating leases
Total operating expenses
Operating income
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
$
48,603 $
21,496
8,506
4,740
83,345
26,125
4,206
3,806
-
34,137
49,208 $
47,140 $
21,265
9,664
4,318
82,387
25,658
4,055
3,441
-
33,154
49,233 $
59,290
26,055
10,498
4,905
100,748
30,866
5,258
4,442
(2,721)
37,845
62,903
The following table reflects selected operating data (in mmg, except railcar capacity billed):
Product volumes
Storage and throughput services
Terminal services:
Affiliate
Non-affiliate
Railcar capacity billed (daily avg. mmg)
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
796.4
859.8
1,134.7
102.9
103.6
206.5
80.6
114.9
106.0
220.9
79.8
133.7
116.2
249.9
96.9
Year Ended December 31, 2020, Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Revenues
Consolidated revenues increased $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared with the year ended
December 31, 2019. Storage and throughput services revenue increased $1.5 million due to an increase in the rate per gallon
charged to Green Plains Trade beginning on July 1, 2020. Trucking and other revenue increased $0.4 million primarily due to
an increase in volumes transported for Green Plains Trade. Railcar transportation services revenue increased $0.2 million
primarily due to an increase in average volumetric capacity provided and the average capacity fee charged of $0.7 million,
offset by a decrease in railcar sublease revenue of $0.5 million. Terminal services revenue decreased $1.1 million as a result
of a reduction in fees associated with minimum volume commitments.
Operations and Maintenance Expenses
Operations and maintenance expenses increased $0.5 million in 2020 compared with 2019, primarily due to increases in
railcar lease expense of $0.3 million and repair and maintenance expense of $0.2 million.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $0.2 million in 2020 compared with 2019, primarily due to an increase in
insurance expense of $0.3 million, partially offset by a reduction in expenses allocated by our parent under the secondment
agreement of $0.1 million.
43
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity include cash generated from operating activities and borrowings under our credit
facility. We expect operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs. We consider opportunities to repay or
refinance our debt, depending on market conditions, as part of our normal course of doing business. Our ability to meet our
debt service obligations and other capital requirements depends on our future operating performance, which is subject to
general economic, financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other conditions, many of which are beyond
our control. We plan to utilize a combination of operating cash, refinancing and other strategic actions, to repay debt
obligations as they come due.
Recently, we announced the sale to our parent of the Ord, Nebraska ethanol storage assets, along with the transfer of
associated railcar operating leases, for $27.0 million. This transaction is anticipated to close within 45 days, and the proceeds
will be used to repay our debt.
Subordinated Unit Conversion
The requirements under the partnership agreement for the conversion of all of the outstanding subordinated units into
common units were satisfied upon the payment of the distribution with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2018.
Accordingly, the subordination period ended on August 13, 2018, the first business day after the date of the distribution
payment, and all of the 15,889,642 outstanding subordinated units were converted into common units on a one-for-one basis.
The conversion of the subordinated units did not impact the amount of cash distributions paid or the total number of units
outstanding.
Retirement of Units
On November 15, 2018, the storage assets associated with the ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota, Iowa,
and Riga, Michigan were sold to our parent for $120.9 million. As consideration, we received from our parent 8,692,736
Green Plains units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 177,403 equivalent limited partner units to
maintain the general partner’s 2% interest.
Distributions to Unitholders
Quarterly distributions are made from available cash within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, assuming we
have available cash, up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $0.12 per outstanding unit, subject to the terms of the credit
agreement which matures December 31, 2021. Available cash generally means all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the
end of that quarter less cash reserves established by our general partner plus all or any portion of the cash on hand resulting
from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of that quarter. For more information, see Note 11 – Partners’
Deficit to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
The table below summarizes the quarterly cash distributions for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended Declaration Date
January 21, 2021
October 15, 2020
December 31, 2020
September 30, 2020
June 30, 2020
March 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
September 30, 2019
June 30, 2019
March 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
September 30, 2018
June 30, 2018
March 31, 2018
July 16, 2020
April 16, 2020
January 16, 2020
October 17, 2019
July 18, 2019
April 18, 2019
January 17, 2019
October 18, 2018
July 19, 2018
April 19, 2018
Record Date
February 5, 2021
November 6, 2020
July 31, 2020
May 1, 2020
January 31, 2020
November 1, 2019
August 2, 2019
May 3, 2019
February 1, 2019
November 2, 2018
August 3, 2018
May 4, 2018
Payment Date
February 12, 2021
November 13, 2020
August 7, 2020
May 8, 2020
February 7, 2020
November 8, 2019
August 9, 2019
May 10, 2019
February 8, 2019
November 9, 2018
August 10, 2018
May 11, 2018
Quarterly Distribution
$
0.1200
0.1200
0.1200
0.1200
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
44
Cash Flows
On December 31, 2020, we had $2.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $5.0 million available under the revolving
portion of our credit facility.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $47.8 million in 2020 compared with $46.7 million in 2019. Increased
cash flows from operating activities resulted primarily from the distribution received from NLR, partially offset by changes
in net working capital. Net cash provided by investing activities increased $9.8 million in 2020 compared with 2019,
primarily as a result of the Hereford disposition in the fourth quarter of 2020. Net cash used in financing activities was $55.4
million in 2020, compared with $47.0 million in 2019. This increase was due to principal payments on our term loan and the
payment of loan fees, partially offset by a decrease in our quarterly distributions paid.
Capital Resources
We incurred capital expenditures of $0.2 million in 2020 for various maintenance projects at our storage facilities. We do
not anticipate significant capital spending for 2021.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we received a distribution of $1.0 million from our NLR joint venture. We
did not make any equity method investee contributions in 2020 and we do not anticipate making significant equity
contributions to NLR in 2021. We expect to receive future distributions from NLR as excess cash becomes available.
Credit Facility
Green Plains Operating Company has a credit facility to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general
partnership purposes. The credit facility was amended on June 4, 2020, decreasing the size of the facility from $200.0 million
to $135.0 million. The amended credit facility includes a $130.0 million term loan and a $5.0 million revolving credit facility,
maturing on December 31, 2021. Payments of $30.0 million were made on the term loan principal during the year ended
December 31, 2020, including $10.0 million related to the sale of the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford, Texas
ethanol plant. As of December 31, 2020, no additional prepayments on the term loan were required or paid. Monthly
principal payments of $2.5 million are required through April 15, 2021, with a step up to monthly payments of $3.2 million
beginning May 15, 2021 through maturity. As of December 31, 2020, the term loan had a balance of $100.0 million and an
interest rate of 6.00%, and there were no outstanding swing line loans.
In certain situations we are required to make prepayments on the outstanding principal balance on the credit facility. If at
any time subsequent to July 15, 2020, our cash balance exceeds $2.5 million for more than five consecutive business days,
prepayments of outstanding principal are required in an amount equal to the excess cash. We are also required to prepay
outstanding principal on the credit facility with 100% of net cash proceeds from any asset disposition or recovery event. Any
prepayments on the term loan are applied to the remaining principal balance in inverse order of maturity, including the final
payment.
The credit facility, which is supported by a group of financial institutions, will mature on December 31, 2021 unless
extended by agreement of the lenders or replaced by another funding source. While we have not yet renegotiated the credit
facility or secured additional funding necessary to repay the loan, we believe it is probable that we will source appropriate
funding given our consistent and stable fee-based cash flows, ongoing profitability, low leverage and history of obtaining
financing on reasonable commercial terms. In the unlikely scenario that we are unable to refinance the debt with the lenders
prior to its maturity, we will consider other financing sources, including but not limited to, the restructuring or issuance of
new debt with a different lending group, the issuance of additional common units, other strategic actions to extinguish the
debt, or support from our parent.
We use LIBOR as a reference rate for our credit facility. LIBOR is set to be phased out at the end of 2021. It is unclear if
LIBOR will cease to exist at that time or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to
exist after 2021. We may need to amend our credit facility to determine the interest rate to replace LIBOR with the new
standard that is established. The potential effect of any such event on interest expense cannot yet be determined.
For more information related to our debt, see Note 8 – Debt to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
45
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2020, were as follows (in thousands):
Payments Due By Period
Contractual Obligations
Long-term debt obligations (1)
Interest and fees on debt obligations (2)
Operating leases (3)
Service agreements (4)
Other (5)
Total contractual obligations
Total
100,000
5,276
45,267
962
5,440
156,945
$
$
$
Less Than
1 Year
100,000 $
5,276
12,750
805
1,188
120,019 $
$
1-3 Years
- $
-
19,349
157
1,836
21,342 $
3-5 Years
-
-
10,305
-
1,191
11,496
More Than
5 Years
$
$
-
-
2,863
-
1,225
4,088
(1) Includes the current portion of long-term debt and excludes the effect of any debt discounts.
(2) Interest amounts are calculated over the terms of the loans using current interest rates, assuming scheduled principal and interest amounts are paid
pursuant to the debt agreements. Includes administrative and/or commitment fees on debt obligations.
(3) Operating lease costs are primarily for property and railcar leases and exclude leases not yet commenced with undiscounted future lease payments of
approximately $6.5 million.
(4) Service agreements are related to minimum commitments on railcar unloading contracts at our fuel terminals.
(5) Includes asset retirement obligations to return property and equipment to its original condition at the termination of lease agreements.
Effects of Inflation
Inflation in the United States has been relatively low in recent years; therefore, we do not expect it to have a material
impact on our future results of operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires that we use estimates that affect the reported assets,
liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures for contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on
experience and assumptions we believe are proper and reasonable. While we regularly evaluate the appropriateness of these
estimates, actual results could differ materially from our estimates. The following accounting policies, in particular, may be
impacted by judgments, assumptions and estimates used to prepare our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied, which generally
occurs with the completion of services or the transfer of control of products to the customer or another specified third party.
For contracts with customers in which a take-or-pay commitment exists, any minimum volume deficiency charges are
recognized as revenue in the period incurred and are not allowed to be credited towards excess volumes in future periods.
We generate a substantial portion of our revenues under fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade.
Operating lease revenue related to minimum volume commitments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the
lease. Under the terms of the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade, to the extent shortfalls associated
with minimum volume commitments in the previous four quarters continue to exist, volumes in excess of the minimum
volume commitment are applied to those shortfalls. Remaining excess volumes generating operating lease revenue are
recognized as incurred.
Please refer to Note 3 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
Our long-lived assets consist of property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets. We review long-lived
assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be
recoverable. We measure recoverability by comparing the carrying amount of the asset with the estimated undiscounted
future cash flows the asset is expected generate. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows,
we record an impairment charge for the amount in excess of the fair value. No impairment charges were recorded for the
periods presented.
46
Our goodwill consists of amounts related to our predecessor’s acquisition of its fuel terminal and distribution business.
We review goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually, as of October 1, or more frequently when
events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.
We estimate the amount and timing of projected cash flows that will be generated by an asset over an extended period of
time when we review our long-lived assets and goodwill. Circumstances that may indicate impairment include a decline in
future projected cash flows, a decision to suspend plant operations for an extended period of time, sustained decline in our
market capitalization or market prices for similar assets or businesses, or a significant adverse change in legal or regulatory
matters or business climate. Significant management judgment is required to determine the fair value of our long-lived assets
and goodwill and measure impairment, which includes projected cash flows. Fair value is determined by using various
valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, sales of comparable properties and third-party independent
appraisals. Changes in estimated fair value could result in an impairment of the asset.
During the first half of 2020, a decline in our stock price resulted in a decrease in our market capitalization. As such, we
determined a triggering event had occurred that required an interim impairment assessment for the BlendStar reporting unit
as of both March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Significant assumptions inherent in the valuation methodologies for goodwill
impairment testing were employed and include market capitalization, prospective financial information, growth rates,
discount rates, inflationary factors, and cost of capital. Based on our quantitative evaluations, we determined that the fair
value of the BlendStar reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value, and that the goodwill assigned to the
BlendStar reporting unit was not impaired. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, we did not identify any
triggering events, and as such, no impairment assessment was deemed necessary.
We performed the annual goodwill assessment as of October 1, 2020 using a qualitative assessment, which resulted in no
goodwill impairment. Please refer to Note 7 – Goodwill to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
Leases
On January 1, 2019, we adopted the amended guidance in ASC 842, Leases, and all related amendments, and applied it
to all leases using the optional transition method which requires the amended guidance to be applied at the date of adoption.
The standard does not require the guidance to be applied to the earliest comparative period presented in the financial
statements. As such, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting
standards in effect for those periods.
We lease certain facilities, parcels of land, and railcars. Our leases are accounted for as operating leases, with lease
expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The term of the lease may include options to extend or
terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise one of those options. For leases with initial terms
greater than 12 months, we record operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding operating lease liabilities. Leases
with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheet.
Operating lease right-of-use assets represent our right to control an underlying asset for the lease term and operating
lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These assets and liabilities are
recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As our leases do not
provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on information available at commencement date to
determine the present value of future payments.
We record operating lease revenue as part of our operating lease agreements for storage and throughput services, rail
transportation services, and certain terminal services. In addition, we may sublease certain of our railcars to third parties on a
short-term basis. These subleases are classified as operating leases, with the associated sublease revenue recognized on a
straight-line basis over the lease term.
Please refer to Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements for further details on
operating lease expense and revenue. Please refer to Note 3 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further
details on the operating lease agreements in which we are a lessor.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information related to recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
47
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, as described below. At this time,
we conduct all of our business in U.S. dollars and are not exposed to foreign currency risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk through our credit facility, which bears interest at a variable rate. At December 31,
2020, we had $100.0 million outstanding under our credit facility. A 10% change in interest rates would affect our interest
expense by approximately $0.5 million per year, assuming no changes in the amount outstanding or other variables under our
credit facility.
Other details about our outstanding debt are discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this report.
Commodity Price Risk
We do not have direct exposure to risks associated with fluctuating commodity prices because we do not own the ethanol
or other fuels that are stored at our facilities or transported by our railcars.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The required consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are listed in Part IV, Item 15.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure information that must be disclosed in the reports we
file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in
the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, as appropriate, to
allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and
procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide
only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Management is required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Under the supervision and participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, management carried out
an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31,
2020, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act and concluded that our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective.
48
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined
in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Under the supervision of and participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, management
assessed the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020,
based on the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting
was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The effectiveness of the partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, has been audited
by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. We have not identified any changes in our internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
49
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors of Green Plains Holdings LLC, the general partner of Green Plains Partners LP, and Unitholders
Green Plains Partners LP:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Green Plains Partners LP and subsidiaries' (the Partnership) internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in
Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Partnership as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated
statements of operations, partners’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
2020, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 16, 2021
expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Partnership’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership’s
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and
are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in
all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Omaha, Nebraska
February 16, 2021
/s/ KPMG LLP
50
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Management of Green Plains Partners
PART III
We are managed by the directors and executive officers of our general partner, Green Plains Holdings. Our general
partner is not elected by our unitholders and will not be subject to re-election by our unitholders in the future. Our parent
owns all of the membership interests and appoints all members to the board of directors of our general partner. Our
unitholders are not entitled to elect the directors or directly or indirectly to participate in our management or operations. Our
general partner is liable, as general partner, for all of our debts (to the extent not paid from our assets), except for
indebtedness or other obligations that are made specifically nonrecourse to it. Whenever possible, we intend to incur
indebtedness that is nonrecourse to our general partner.
Our general partner has the primary responsibility for providing the personnel necessary to conduct our operations,
whether through directly hiring employees or by obtaining the services of personnel employed by our parent or others. In
addition, pursuant to the operational services and secondment agreement, certain of our parent’s employees (including our
chief executive officer) will be seconded to our general partner to provide management, maintenance and operational services
with respect to the ethanol and fuel storage assets, terminal and transportation assets. During their period of secondment to
our general partner, the seconded personnel will be under the direct management and supervision of our general partner. All
of the personnel who conduct our business are employed by or contracted by our general partner and its affiliates, including
our parent and Green Plains Trade.
Director Independence
Although most companies listed on Nasdaq are required to have a majority of independent directors serving on the board
of directors of the listed company, Nasdaq does not require a publicly traded limited partnership to have a majority of
independent directors on the board of directors of our general partner or to establish a compensation or a nominating and
corporate governance committee. We are, however, required to have an audit committee of at least three members, and all of
our audit committee members are required to meet the independence and financial literacy tests established by Nasdaq and
the Exchange Act. We currently have three independent directors serving on our audit committee, Mr. Clayton Killinger, Mr.
Brett Riley and Mr. Martin Salinas.
Director Experience and Qualifications
The board of directors of the general partner as a whole is responsible for filling vacancies on the board of directors at
any time during the year, and for selecting individuals to serve on the board of directors of our general partner. From time to
time, the board of directors may utilize the services of search firms or consultants to assist in identifying and screening
potential candidates.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The board of directors of our general partner has an audit committee and a conflicts committee and may have such other
committees as the board of directors shall determine appropriate from time to time. Each of the standing committees of the
board of directors will have the composition and responsibilities described below.
Audit Committee
Our general partner has an audit committee currently comprised of three directors, Messrs. Killinger, Riley and Salinas,
who meet the independence and experience standards established by Nasdaq and the Exchange Act, and qualify as audit
committee financial experts. Mr. Killinger acts as chairman of the audit committee.
51
Our audit committee assists the board of directors in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements and our
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and corporate policies and controls. Our audit committee has the sole
authority to retain and terminate our independent registered public accounting firm, approve all auditing services and related
fees and the terms thereof and pre-approve any non-audit services to be rendered by our independent registered public
accounting firm. Our audit committee is responsible for confirming the independence and objectivity of our independent
registered public accounting firm. Our independent registered public accounting firm is given unrestricted access to our audit
committee.
Conflicts Committee
Messrs. Killinger, Riley and Salinas serve on our conflicts committee to review specific matters that may involve
conflicts of interest in accordance with the terms of our partnership agreement. Mr. Riley acts as chairman of the conflicts
committee. The board of directors of our general partner determine whether to refer a matter to the conflicts committee on a
case-by-case basis. The members of our conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of our general partner or
directors, officers, or employees of its affiliates and must meet the independence and experience standards established by
Nasdaq and the Exchange Act to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors, along with other requirements set forth
in our partnership agreement. If our general partner seeks approval from the conflicts committee, then it is presumed that, in
making its decision, the conflicts committee acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited
partner or the partnership challenging such determination, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the
burden of overcoming such presumption.
Meetings of the Board of Directors
The board of directors held twelve meetings during 2020, while the audit committee held seven meetings. The conflicts
committee, which meets on an ad-hoc basis, held nine meetings during 2020. Meetings were conducted via teleconference or
in person. No director attended fewer than 83% of the aggregate of board meetings and committee meetings held on which
the director served during this period.
Directors and Executive Officers of Green Plains Holdings LLC
Directors are elected by the sole member of our general partner and hold office until their successors have been elected
or qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification. Executive officers are appointed by, and serve
at the discretion of, the board of directors of our general partner. Todd A. Becker and George P. (Patrich) Simpkins, who
serve as directors, are also executive officers of our general partner and our parent. The following table shows information for
the directors and executive officers of Green Plains Holdings as of February 11, 2021.
Name
Todd A. Becker
George P. (Patrich) Simpkins
Walter S. Cronin
Paul E. Kolomaya
Michelle S. Mapes
Mark A. Hudak
Clayton E. Killinger
Jerry L. Peters
Brett C. Riley
Martin Salinas, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer (Chairman and Director)
Age Positions with Green Plains Holdings LLC
55
59 Chief Financial Officer (Director)
58 Chief Commercial Officer
55 Chief Accounting Officer
54 Chief Legal and Administration Officer
60
60 Director
63 Director
50 Director
49 Director
Executive Vice President – Human Resources
Todd A. Becker. Todd Becker was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of
directors of our general partner in March 2015. He also currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors of our
general partner. Mr. Becker has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of our parent since January 2009, and was
appointed as a director of our parent in March 2009. Mr. Becker served as our parent’s President and Chief Operating Officer
from October 2008 to December 2008. He served as Chief Executive Officer of VBV LLC from May 2007 to October 2008.
Mr. Becker was Executive Vice President of Sales and Trading at Global Ethanol from May 2006 to May 2007. Prior to that,
he worked for ten years with ConAgra Foods, Inc. in various management positions including Vice President of International
Marketing for ConAgra Trade Group and President of ConAgra Grain Canada. Mr. Becker has approximately 31 years of
related experience in various commodity processing businesses, risk management and supply chain management, along with
extensive international trading experience in agricultural markets. Mr. Becker served on the board of directors, including its
audit and compensation committees, for Hillshire Brands Company from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Becker has a master’s degree in
52
Finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration with a Finance emphasis from the University of Kansas. Mr. Becker brings valuable expertise to the board of
directors of our general partner because he provides an insider’s perspective about the business and the strategic direction of
the general partner to board discussions. His extensive commodity experience and leadership traits make him an essential
member of the board of directors of our general partner.
George P. (Patrich) Simpkins. Patrich Simpkins was appointed Chief Financial Officer of our general partner and our
parent in May 2019, and has served as a member of the board of directors of our general partner since June 2015. He has also
served in a number of executive and senior leadership roles for our parent including: Chief Development Officer from
October of 2014 to May of 2019, Chief Risk Officer from October of 2014 to August of 2016 and Executive Vice President-
Finance and Treasurer from May of 2012 to August of 2016. Prior to joining our parent, Mr. Simpkins was Managing Partner
of GPS Capital Partners, LLC, a capital advisory firm serving global energy and commodity clients. From February 2005 to
June 2008, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SensorLogic, Inc., and as Executive Vice
President and Global Chief Risk Officer of TXU Corporation from November 2001 to June 2004. Prior to that, he served in
senior financial and commercial executive roles with Duke Energy Corporation, Louis Dreyfus Energy, MEAG Power
Company and MCI Communications. Mr. Simpkins earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Economics and
Marketing from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Simpkins’ experience in varied risk management matters, including as an
executive officer and in financial and commercial executive roles, qualifies him to serve on the board of directors of our
general partner.
Walter S. Cronin. Walter Cronin was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of our general partner and our parent in
January 2020. Mr. Cronin previously served as Executive Vice President – Commercial Operations from August 2015 to
January 2020. Prior to joining Green Plains Asset Management LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of our parent, as
Chief Investment Officer in November 2011, Mr. Cronin served as Executive Vice President and trading principal of County
Cork Asset Management from April 2010 to November 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Cronin acted as a consultant to Bunge
Limited from September 2004 through March 2010. Additionally, Mr. Cronin has over 30 years of commodity trading
experience working at a number of firms, including RJ O’Brien and Continental Grain. Mr. Cronin received a Bachelor of
Arts degree from the University of Santa Clara in 1985.
Paul E. Kolomaya. Paul Kolomaya was appointed Chief Accounting Officer of our general partner and our parent in
May 2019. Mr. Kolomaya previously served as Executive Vice President—Commodity Finance of our parent from February
2012 to May 2019. Prior to joining our parent in August 2008 as its Vice President—Commodity Finance, Mr. Kolomaya
was employed by ConAgra Foods, Inc. from March 1997 to August 2008 in a variety of senior finance and accounting
capacities, both domestic and international. Prior to that, he was employed by Arthur Andersen & Co. in both the audit and
business consulting practices. Mr. Kolomaya holds chartered accountant and certified public accountant certifications and has
a Bachelor of Honors Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba.
Michelle S. Mapes. Michelle Mapes was appointed Chief Legal and Administration Officer of our general partner and
our parent in January 2018. Ms. Mapes previously served as Executive Vice President—General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of our general partner from March 2015 to January 2018 and of our parent from November 2009 to January 2018.
Prior to joining our parent in September 2009 as General Counsel, Ms. Mapes was a Partner at Husch Blackwell LLP, where
for three years she focused her legal practice nearly exclusively in renewable energy. Prior to that, she was Chief
Administrative Officer and General Counsel for HDM Corporation. Ms. Mapes served as Senior Vice President—Corporate
Services and General Counsel to Farm Credit Services of America from April 2000 to June 2005. Ms. Mapes holds a Juris
Doctorate, a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance, all from the
University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
Mark A. Hudak. Mark Hudak was appointed Executive Vice President—Human Resources of our general partner in
March 2015. Mr. Hudak was named Executive Vice President—Human Resources of our parent in November 2013 after
joining our parent in January 2013 as its Vice President—Human Resources. Mr. Hudak has extensive experience in human
resource management, organizational development, employee relations, employee benefits and compensation management.
He served as Senior Director, Global Human Resources for Bimbo Bakeries from November 2010 to January 2013. Prior to
that, from September 2006 to November 2010, Mr. Hudak was Vice President, Global Human Resources / Compliance and
Ethics Officer at United Malt Holdings. He held several senior level positions at ConAgra Foods, Inc. from December 2000
to September 2006. Mr. Hudak has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bellevue University.
53
Clayton E. Killinger. Clayton Killinger was appointed a member of the board of directors of our general partner in
August 2015 and serves as chairman of the audit committee and as a member of the conflicts committee. Mr. Killinger served
as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CrossAmerica Partners LP and CST Brands, Inc. until June 2017
when CrossAmerica and CST were acquired by Alimentation Couche-Tard. He also served on the board of directors of the
general partner of CrossAmerica during that time. Previous to these positions, Mr. Killinger spent eleven years at Valero
Energy Corporation, most recently as the Senior Vice President and Controller. Prior to his employment at Valero, he was an
audit partner at Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Killinger is a certified public accountant. He obtained his Bachelor of Business
Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Mr.
Killinger is qualified to serve on our general partner’s board of directors because of his financial and master limited
partnership experience within the energy industry.
Jerry L. Peters. Jerry Peters retired as Chief Financial Officer of our general partner and our parent in September 2017,
but remained a member of the board of directors of our general partner. Mr. Peters served as Chief Financial Officer of our
general partner from March 2015 to September 2017 and of our parent from June 2007 to September 2017. He joined the
board of directors of our general partner in June 2015. Mr. Peters served as Senior Vice President—Chief Accounting Officer
for ONEOK Partners, L.P. from May 2006 to April 2007, as its Chief Financial Officer from July 1994 to May 2006, and in
various senior management roles prior to that. Prior to joining ONEOK Partners in 1985, he was employed by KPMG LLP as
a certified public accountant. Since September 2012, Mr. Peters serves on the board of directors, and as chairman of the audit
committee of the general partner of Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded partnership focused on midstream
energy infrastructure assets. Mr. Peters received his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University with a
Finance emphasis and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
Mr. Peters’ experience serving on the board of directors of publicly traded limited partnerships, including as chairman of the
audit committees, and his financial expertise are key attributes, among others, that make him well qualified to serve on the
board of directors of our general partner.
Brett C. Riley. Brett Riley was appointed a member of the board of directors of our general partner in April 2016 and
serves as chairman of the conflicts committee and as a member of the audit committee. Mr. Riley is currently an independent
energy consultant and private investor. Mr. Riley led the strategy and mergers and acquisitions activities for Magellan
Midstream Partners, L.P., a publicly traded master limited partnership, from June 2003 until April 2016. From 2007 to April
2016, Mr. Riley served as Senior Vice President, Business Development for Magellan GP, LLC, the general partner of
Magellan Midstream Partners. Prior to joining Magellan GP, Mr. Riley served as Director, Mergers and Acquisitions and
Director, Financial Planning and Analysis for a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc. Before that, he held various
finance and business development positions with MAPCO Inc. and The Williams Companies, Inc. Mr. Riley received his
Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Pittsburg State University and his Master of Business
Administration from the University of Tulsa. Mr. Riley is qualified to serve on our general partner’s board of directors
because of his financial and master limited partnership experience within a variety of industries.
Martin Salinas, Jr. Martin Salinas, Jr. was appointed a member of the board of directors of our general partner in July
2018 and serves as a member of both the audit committee and conflicts committee. Mr. Salinas most recently served as Chief
Financial Officer of Energy Transfer Partners, LP, one of the largest publicly traded master limited partnerships, from 2008
to 2015. Prior to that, he was Controller and Vice President of Finance from 2004 to 2008. Mr. Salinas began his career at
KPMG after earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas in San
Antonio. He is also a member of the Texas Society of CPAs and advisory council member of University of Texas, San
Antonio School of Business. Mr. Salinas is a certified public accountant. Mr. Salinas is qualified to serve on our general
partner’s board of directors because of his financial and master limited partnership experience within the energy industry.
Board of Directors Leadership Structure
The board of directors of our general partner has no policy with respect to the separation of the offices of chairman of the
board of directors and chief executive officer. Instead, that relationship is defined and governed by the limited liability
company agreement of our general partner, which permits the same person to hold both offices. Directors of the board of
directors of our general partner are designated or elected by our parent. Accordingly, unlike holders of common stock in a
corporation, our unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business or governance, subject in all
cases to any specific unitholder rights contained in our partnership agreement.
54
Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight
Our corporate governance guidelines state that the board of directors of our general partner is responsible for reviewing
the process of assessing major risks facing us and the options for their mitigation. This responsibility is largely satisfied by
our audit committee, which is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management and our registered public
accounting firm the major risk exposures and the policies implemented by management to monitor such exposures. This
includes our financial risk exposures and risk management policies.
Code of Ethics
The board of directors of our general partner has adopted a code of ethics which sets forth the partnership’s policy with
respect to business ethics and conflicts of interest. The code of ethics is intended to ensure that the employees, officers and
directors of the partnership conduct business with the highest standards of integrity and in compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations. It applies to any employees, officers and directors of the partnership, including its principal executive
officer, principal financial officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions. The code of ethics also
incorporates expectations of the senior financial officers that enable us to provide accurate and timely disclosure in our filings
with the SEC and other public communications. The code of ethics is publicly available on our website under the "Corporate
Governance" subsection of the Investors section at www.greenplainspartners.com and is also available free of charge on
request to the Secretary at the Omaha office address given under the "Contact" section on our website.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Neither the partnership nor the general partner employ any of the persons responsible for managing our business. Our
general partner does not have a compensation committee. Our general partner, under the direction of its board of directors, is
responsible for managing our operations and for obtaining the services of the employees that operate our business.
The compensation payable to the officers of our general partner, who are employees of our parent, is paid by our parent.
Our general partner and the operating subsidiaries entered into an operational services and secondment agreement with our
parent and Green Plains Trade pursuant to which, among other matters:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
our parent has made available to our general partner the services of the employees who serve as the executive
officers of our general partner; and
our general partner is obligated to reimburse our parent for a specified portion of the costs that our parent incurs in
providing compensation and benefits to such employees of our parent.
The executive officers of our general partner perform services unrelated to our business for our parent and its affiliates
and will not receive any separate amounts of compensation for their services to us or our general partner. Each of the
executive officers of our general partner devoted substantially less than a majority of his working time to matters relating to
our ethanol and fuel storage assets, terminal and transportation assets. As a result, we do not believe the compensation the
executive officers of our general partner receive in relation to the services they perform with respect to our ethanol storage
assets, terminal and transportation assets would comprise a material amount of their total compensation.
The tabular and narrative information required by this Item 11 pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K with respect to
our Named Executive Officers is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included in a
subsequent amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our fiscal year end.
55
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our units as of February 11, 2021, held by (i) beneficial owners
of 5% or more of the units, (ii) each director and named executive officer of our general partner, and (iii) all director and
executive officers of our general partner as a group.
The amounts and percentage of units beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing
the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a beneficial
owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such
security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. In
computing the number of common units beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person,
common units subject to options or warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days
of February 11, 2021, if any, are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
ownership of any other person. Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and
investment power with respect to all units shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where
applicable.
The percentage of units beneficially owned is based on a total of 23,208,171 common units outstanding as of February
11, 2021.
Name of Beneficial Owner (1)
Todd A. Becker
George P. (Patrich) Simpkins
Walter S. Cronin
Paul E. Kolomaya
Michelle S. Mapes
Clayton E. Killinger
Jerry L. Peters
Brett C. Riley
Martin Salinas, Jr.
All Directors and Executive Officers as a
group (10 persons)
Other 5% or more unitholders:
Green Plains Inc. (2)
No Street GP LP (3)
Green Plains Partners LP
Green Plains Inc.
Common Units
Beneficially
Owned
Percentage of
Common Units
Beneficially
Owned
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Percentage of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
57,556
5,000
-
1,500
-
50,270
40,276
32,815
28,209
220,626
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
544,595
153,795
58,400
78,914
46,391
-
10,858
-
-
1.5%
*
*
*
*
*
11,586,548
2,025,000
49.9%
8.7%
* Less than 1%
(1) Except where otherwise indicated, the address of the beneficial owner is deemed to be the same address as the partnership.
(2) Includes common units beneficially owned by our parent, which is publicly traded and managed by a separate ten-person board of directors.
(3) The address for this entity is 505 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111. The share amount is based on the amount reported according to
Nasdaq.com as of February 11, 2021. Shares are beneficially owned with sole voting and dispositive power.
56
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The board of directors of the general partner adopted our LTIP in connection with the IPO. Our LTIP reserves 2,500,000
common units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distributable equivalent rights, substitute
awards, unit appreciation rights, unit awards, profits interest units or other unit-based awards. The following table provides
information as of December 31, 2020, with respect to the partnership’s common units that may be issued under our LTIP.
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(1)
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans,
excluding securities
reflected in column
47,620 $
-
47,620 $
n/a
-
-
2,378,377
-
2,378,377
Plan Category
Equity compensation plans approved by
security holders
Equity compensation plans not approved by
security holders
Total
(1) Amount shown represents restricted common unit awards outstanding under the LTIP as of December 31, 2020. These awards vest on June 30, 2021 and
are not subject to an exercise price.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
As of February 11, 2021, our parent owns 11,586,548 common units, representing a 48.9% limited partner interest in us.
In addition, our general partner owns a 2% general partner interest in us and all of our incentive distribution rights.
Distributions and Payments to Our General Partner and Its Affiliates
The following summarizes the distributions and payments made or to be made by us to our general partner and its
affiliates in connection with the ongoing operations and liquidation of Green Plains Partners LP. These distributions and
payments were determined by and among affiliated entities and, consequently, are not the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
Operational Stage
Distributions of available cash to our general partner and its affiliates. Quarterly distributions are made from available
cash within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, assuming we have available cash, up to an aggregate amount not
to exceed $0.12 per outstanding unit, subject to the terms of the credit agreement which matures December 31, 2021. In
addition, if distributions exceed the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels, the incentive distribution
rights held by our general partner will entitle our general partner to increasing percentages of the distributions, up to 48% (in
addition to distributions paid on its 2% general partner interest) of the distributions above the highest target distribution level.
Payments to our general partner and its affiliates. Under our partnership agreement, we are required to reimburse our
general partner and its affiliates for all costs and expenses that they incur on our behalf for managing and controlling our
business and operations. Except to the extent specified in the operational services and secondment agreement and omnibus
agreement, our general partner determines the amount of these expenses and such determinations must be made in good faith
under the terms of our partnership agreement.
Under our operational services and secondment agreement, our general partner reimburses our parent for the secondment
to our general partner of certain employees who serve management, maintenance and operational functions in support of our
operations and reimburses Green Plains for the provision of those personnel, including with respect to routine and emergency
maintenance and repair services, routine operational activities, routine administrative services and such other services as we
and Green Plains may mutually agree upon from time to time. The costs and expenses for which we are required to reimburse
our general partner and its affiliates are not subject to any caps or other limits.
Under our omnibus agreement, we reimburse our parent for all reasonable direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred
by our parent and its affiliates in connection with the provision of certain general and administrative services, such as
treasury, accounting and legal services. These services are consistent in nature and quality to the services of such type
previously provided by our parent in connection with our assets.
57
Withdrawal or removal of our general partner. If our general partner withdraws or is removed, its incentive distribution
rights will either be sold to the new general partner for cash or converted into common units, for an amount equal to the fair
market value of such interests.
Liquidation Stage
Upon our liquidation, the partners, including our general partner, will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions
according to their respective capital account balances.
Agreements with Affiliates
We have various agreements with certain affiliates, as described below. These agreements have been negotiated among
affiliated parties and, consequently, are not the result of arm's-length negotiations. For all material agreements and
subsequent amendments required to be filed, please refer to Item 15 – Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. For additional
information, please refer to Note 15 – Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements in this report.
Omnibus Agreement
In connection with the IPO, we entered into an omnibus agreement with Green Plains and its affiliates which addresses:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
the partnership’s obligation to reimburse Green Plains for direct or allocated costs and expenses incurred by Green
Plains for general and administrative services (in addition to expenses incurred by the general partner and its
affiliates that are reimbursed under the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Green
Plains Partners LP, or the partnership agreement);
the prohibition of Green Plains and its subsidiaries from owning, operating or investing in any business that owns or
operates fuel terminals or fuel transportation assets in the United States, subject to exceptions;
the partnership’s right of first offer, which expired June 30, 2020;
a nontransferable, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use the Green Plains trademark and name;
the allocation of taxes among the parent, the partnership and its affiliates and the parent’s preparation and filing of
tax returns; and
an indemnity by Green Plains for environmental and other liabilities, the partnership’s obligation to indemnify
Green Plains and its subsidiaries for events and conditions associated with the operation of partnership assets that
occur after the closing of the IPO, and for environmental liabilities related to partnership assets to the extent Green
Plains is not required to indemnify the partnership.
If Green Plains or its affiliates cease to control the general partner, then either Green Plains or the partnership may
terminate the omnibus agreement, provided that (i) the indemnification obligations of the parties survive according to their
respective terms; and (ii) Green Plains’ obligation to reimburse the partnership for operational failures survives according to
its terms.
Effective November 15, 2018, the omnibus agreement was amended in connection with the disposition of ethanol storage
and transportation assets. We entered into amendments to the omnibus agreement with our parent, our general partner, and
Green Plains Operating Company that terminate our obligation to reimburse our parent for certain direct or allocated costs
and expenses incurred by our parent in providing general and administrative services in connection with assets divested,
including these assets.
Operating Services and Secondment Agreement
In connection with the IPO, the general partner entered into an operational services and secondment agreement with
Green Plains. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains seconds employees to the general partner to provide
management, maintenance and operational functions for the partnership, including regulatory matters, health, environment,
safety and security programs, operational services, emergency response, employees training, finance and administration,
human resources, business operations and planning. The seconded personnel are under the direct management and
supervision of the general partner.
58
The general partner reimburses the parent for the cost of the seconded employees, including wages and benefits. If a
seconded employee does not devote 100% of his or her time providing services to the general partner, the general partner
reimburses the parent for a prorated portion of the employee’s overall wages and benefits based on the percentage of time the
employee spent working for the general partner. The parent bills the general partner monthly in arrears for services provided
during the prior month. Payment is due within 10 days of the general partner’s receipt of the invoice.
Under the operational services and secondment agreement, our parent will indemnify us from any claims, losses or
liabilities incurred by us, including third-party claims, arising from their performance of the operational services secondment
agreement; provided, however, our parent will not be obligated to indemnify us for any claims, losses or liabilities arising out
of our gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to any services provided under the operational services
and secondment agreement.
Effective November 15, 2018 and December 28, 2020, our general partner entered into amendments to the operational
services and secondment agreement with our parent in connection with the disposition of ethanol storage and transportation
assets in each applicable period. These amendments terminated our parent’s obligation to second certain employees to our
general partner to provide management, maintenance and operational functions with respect to the divested assets.
Commercial Agreements
We have various fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade, including:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
10-year storage and throughput agreement, expiring on June 30, 2028;
10-year rail transportation services agreement, expiring on June 30, 2025;
1-year trucking transportation agreement, expiring on May 31, 2021;
(cid:120) Terminal services agreement for the Birmingham, Alabama unit train terminal, expiring on December 31, 2022; and
(cid:120) Various other terminal services agreements for our other fuel terminal facilities, each with Green Plains Trade.
The storage and throughput agreement and terminal services agreements, including the terminal services agreement for
the Birmingham facility, are supported by minimum volume commitments. The rail transportation services agreement is
supported by minimum take-or-pay capacity commitments. All of the commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade
include provisions that permit Green Plains Trade to suspend, reduce or terminate its obligations under the applicable
commercial agreement if certain events occur, including a material breach of the applicable commercial agreement by the
partnership, force majeure events that prevent the partnership or Green Plains Trade from performing the respective
obligations under the applicable commercial agreement, and not being available to Green Plains Trade for any reason other
than action or inaction by Green Plains Trade. If Green Plains Trade reduces its minimum commitment under the commercial
agreements, Green Plains Trade is required to pay fees on the revised minimum commitments only.
The commercial agreements are further described in Item 1. Business – Commercial Agreements with Affiliate.
Procedures for Review, Approval and Ratification of Related Person Transactions
The board of directors of our general partner adopted a related party transactions policy in connection with the closing of
the IPO that provides the board of directors of our general partner or its authorized committee will review on at least a
quarterly basis all related person transactions that are required to be disclosed under SEC rules and, when appropriate,
initially authorize or ratify all such transactions. In the event that the board of directors of our general partner or its
authorized committee considers ratification of a related person transaction and determines not to so ratify, the code of
business conduct and ethics will provide that our management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the
transaction.
59
The related party transactions policy provides that, in determining whether or not to recommend the initial approval or
ratification of a related person transaction, the board of directors of our general partner or its authorized committee should
consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available, including (if applicable) but not limited to: (1) whether there is
an appropriate business justification for the transaction; (2) the benefits that accrue to us as a result of the transaction; (3) the
terms available to unrelated third parties entering into similar transactions; (4) the impact of the transaction on a director’s
independence (in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director or an entity in which a
director or an immediate family member of a director is a partner, unitholder, member or executive officer); (5) the
availability of other sources for comparable products or services; (6) whether it is a single transaction or a series of ongoing,
related transactions; and (7) whether entering into the transaction would be consistent with the code of business conduct and
ethics.
If a conflict or potential conflict of interest arises between our general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or
our unitholders, on the other hand, the resolution of any such conflict or potential conflict should be addressed by the board
of directors of our general partner in accordance with the provisions of our partnership agreement. At the discretion of the
board in light of the circumstances, the resolution may be determined by the board in its entirety or by a conflicts committee
meeting the definitional requirements for such a committee under our partnership agreement.
The information required by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K is included in Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and
Corporate Governance of this report.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, KPMG LLP was our independent auditor. The following table sets
forth aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed to us for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Audit fees
Audit-related fees
All other fees
Total
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
$
$
600,000 $
-
-
600,000 $
405,899
-
-
405,899
Audit fees are fees billed by KPMG for services during 2020 and 2019 related to professional services rendered for the
annual audit of our consolidated financial statements, quarterly reviews of our consolidated financial statements, reviews of
other partnership filings with the SEC, and other fees that are normally provided by the independent auditor in connection
with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services
We have adopted policies and procedures for pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be provided by our
independent auditor. It is our policy that the audit committee pre-approve all audit, tax and other non-audit services. A
proposal for audit or non-audit services must include a description and purpose of the services, estimated fees and other terms
of the services. To the extent a proposal relates to non-audit services, a determination that such services qualify as permitted
non-audit services and an explanation as to why the provision of such services would not impair the independence of the
independent auditor are also required.
All services provided by KPMG during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, were approved in advance by our
audit committee. The audit committee has considered whether the provision of the services performed by our principal
accountant is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
60
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Part IV
(1) Financial Statements. The following consolidated financial statements and notes are filed as part of this report.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years-ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Partners' Deficit for the years-ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years-ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
F-1
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
(2) Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required
information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes.
(3) Exhibits. The following exhibits are incorporated by reference, filed or furnished as part of this report.
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
2.1
2.2
3.1
3.2
Asset Purchase Agreement among Green Plains Partners LP, Green Plains Holdings LLC, Green Plains
Operating Company LLC, Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC, Green Plains Logistics LLC, Green Plains
Inc., Green Plains Trade Group LLC, Green Plains Bluffton LLC and Green Plains Holdings II LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 10, 2018).
(The schedules to the Asset Purchase Agreement have been omitted. The partnership will furnish such
schedules to the SEC upon request).
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated December 14, 2020, by and among Green Plains Partners LP, Green
Plains Holdings LLC, Green Plains Operating Company LLC, Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC, Green
Plains Logistics LLC, Green Plains Inc., Green Plains Trade Group LLC and Green Plains Hereford LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 15,
2020). (The exhibits to the Asset Purchase Agreement have been omitted. The partnership will furnish
such schedules to the SEC upon request).
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Green Plains Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1
of our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-204279) filed on May 18, 2015).
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Green Plains Partners LP, dated as of
July 1, 2015, between Green Plains Holdings LLC and Green Plains Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2015).
3.2(a)
First Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Green Plains
Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
May 9, 2019).
4.1
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2020.
10.1(a)*
10.1(b)*
10.2
Green Plains Partners LP 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 1, 2015).
Form of Green Plains Partners LP Restricted Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1(b) of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2015).
Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and among Green Plains
Inc., Green Plains Obion LLC, Green Plains Trucking LLC, Green Plains Holdings LLC, Green Plains
Partners LP and Green Plains Operating Company LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015).
10.3(a)
Omnibus Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and among Green Plains Inc., Green Plains Holdings LLC,
Green Plains Partners LP and Green Plains Operating Company LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015).
61
10.3(b)
10.3(c)
10.3(d)
10.4(a)
10.4(b)
10.4(c)
10.4(d)
10.4(e)
10.5(a)
10.5(b)
10.5(c)
10.5(d)
10.5(e)
10.5(f)
10.6(a)
10.6(b)
First Amendment to the Omnibus Agreement, dated January 1, 2016, by and among Green Plains Inc.,
Green Plains Holdings LLC, Green Plains Partners LP and Green Plains Operating Company LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(b) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on
February 18, 2016).
Second Amendment to the Omnibus Agreement, dated September 23, 2016, by and among Green Plains
Inc., Green Plains Partners LP, Green Plains Holdings LLC and Green Plains Operating Company LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
September 26, 2016).
Third Amendment to the Omnibus Agreement, dated November 15, 2018, by and among Green Plains
Inc., Green Plains Partners LP, Green Plains Holdings LLC and Green Plains Operating Company LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3(d) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20,
2019).
Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and between Green Plains Inc.
and Green Plains Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015).
Amendment No. 1 to the Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated January 1, 2016, by
and between Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.4(b) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2016).
Amendment No. 2 to Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated September 23, 2016,
between Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2016).
Amendment No. 3 to Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated November 15, 2018,
between Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4(d)
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2019).
Amendment No. 4 to Operational Services and Secondment Agreement, dated December 28, 2020,
between Green Plains Inc. and Green Plains Holdings LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2020).
Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and between Green Plains Logistics LLC
and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of our Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015).
Amendment No. 1 to Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated September 1, 2015, by and between
Green Plains Logistics LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 12, 2016).
Amendment No. 2 to Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated November 30, 2016, by and
between Green Plains Logistics LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 1, 2016).
Amendment No. 2 to Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated November 15, 2018, by and
between Green Plains Logistics LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 15, 2018).
Corrective Amendment to Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated November 15, 2018, by and
between Green Plains Logistics LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5(e) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2019).
Amendment No. 4 to Rail Transportation Services Agreement, dated December 28, 2020, by and
between Green Plains Logistics LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2020).
Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and between Green Plains Ethanol
Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2015).
Amendment No. 1 to the Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated January 1, 2016, by and
between Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.6(b) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2016).
62
10.6(c)
10.6(d)
10.6(e)
10.6(f)
10.7(a)
10.7(b)
10.7(c)
10.7(d)
10.7(e)
10.7(f)
10.7(g)
10.7(h)
Clarifying Amendment to Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated January 4, 2016, by and
between Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2016).
Amendment No. 2 to Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated September 23, 2016, by and
between Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2016).
Amendment No. 3 to Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated November 15, 2018, by and
between Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 15, 2018). (The exhibits
to Amendment No. 3 have been omitted. The partnership will furnish such schedules to the SEC upon
request).
Amendment No. 4 to Ethanol Storage and Throughput Agreement, dated December 28, 2020, by and
between Green Plains Ethanol Storage LLC and Green Plains Trade Group LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2020). (The exhibits
to Amendment No. 4 have been omitted. The partnership will furnish such schedules to the SEC upon
request).
Credit Agreement, dated July 1, 2015, by and among Green Plains Operating Company LLC, as the
Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, Bank of America, N.A., and the other
lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed
on July 6, 2015).
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated September 16, 2016, by and among Green Plains Operating
Company LLC, as the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, Bank of America,
N.A. and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2016).
Incremental Joinder Agreement, dated October 27, 2017, among Green Plains Operating Company LLC
and Bank of America, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2017).
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated February 16, 2018, by and among Green Plains
Operating Company LLC, as the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, Bank of
America, N.A. and other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2018).
Incremental Joinder Agreement, dated February 20, 2018, among Green Plains Operating Company LLC
and Bank of America, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2018).
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated October 12, 2018, by and among Green Plains Operating
Company LLC, as the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, Bank of America,
N.A. and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on October 15, 2018).
Consent to Credit Agreement, dated July 15, 2019, by and among Green Plains Operating Company LLC
and Bank of America, as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2019).
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated June 4, 2020, by and among Green Plains Operating
Company LLC, as the Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, Bank of America,
N.A. and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2020).
10.8*
Green Plains Holdings LLC Director Compensation Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8
of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2015).
21.1
23.1
31.1
Schedule of Subsidiaries
Consent of KPMG LLP
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002
63
31.2
32.1
32.2
101
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The following information from Green Plains Partners LP Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2020, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i)
Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements
of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
104
The cover page from Green Plains Partners LP Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020, formatted in iXBRL
* Represents a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
64
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.
c
SIGNATURES
Date: February 16, 2021
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
(Registrant)
By: Green Plains Holdings LLC,
its general partner
By: /s/ Todd A. Becker
Todd A. Becker
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive 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
February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021
Signature
Title
/s/ Todd A. Becker
Todd A. Becker
/s/ G. Patrich Simpkins Jr.
G. Patrich Simpkins Jr.
/s/ Clayton E. Killinger
Clayton E. Killinger
/s/ Jerry L. Peters
Jerry L. Peters
/s/ Brett C. Riley
Brett C. Riley
/s/ Martin Salinas, Jr.
Martin Salinas, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer,
(Principal Executive Officer) Chairman and
Director
Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
65
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors of Green Plains Holdings LLC, the general partner of Green Plains Partners LP, and Unitholders
Green Plains Partners LP:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Green Plains Partners LP and subsidiaries (the
Partnership) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, partners’ deficit, and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively, the
consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established
in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission, and our report dated February 16, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the
Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements, the Partnership changed its method of accounting for leases
as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of ASC Topic 842, Leases.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered
with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material
misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the
consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
F-1
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial
statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or
disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective,
or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the
consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below,
providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Recoverability of Goodwill
As described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Partnership’s goodwill balance as of December 31,
2020 was $10.6 million, and was assigned entirely to the BlendStar reporting unit. The Partnership reviews goodwill at
the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances
indicate that impairment may have occurred. The Partnership performed a quantitative impairment test of goodwill
during its first and second quarters of 2020 due to a decrease in the Partnership’s stock price that resulted in a decrease
in the Partnership’s market capitalization. Key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow model for goodwill
impairment testing include projected BlendStar EBITDA margins and the discount rate. Based on the Partnership’s
quantitative evaluations, it was determined that the fair value of the BlendStar reporting unit exceeded its carrying
value, and that the goodwill assigned to the BlendStar reporting unit was not impaired.
We identified the assessment of the recoverability of the Partnership’s goodwill as a critical audit matter. Specifically,
subjective and challenging auditor judgment was required in testing the Partnership’s discounted cash flow model used
to perform the quantitative impairment tests due to the degree of measurement uncertainty associated with projected
BlendStar EBITDA margins and the discount rate. Additionally, specialized skills and knowledge were needed to test
the selection of the discount rate.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address the critical audit matter. We evaluated the design
and tested the operating effectiveness of internal controls related to the goodwill impairment process, including the
development of projected BlendStar EBITDA margins and the discount rate. We evaluated the Partnership’s ability to
project BlendStar EBITDA margins by comparing historical projections to actual results. We evaluated projected
BlendStar EBITDA margins based on current industry, macroeconomic and market conditions, and BlendStar’s
historical results. We involved our valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
evaluating the discount rate used by the Partnership by comparing the selected discount rate to publicly
testing the estimate of the fair value of the reporting unit using the cash flow assumptions and discount rate and
●
available data for comparable entities
●
comparing the results to the fair value estimates.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Partnership’s auditor since 2015.
Omaha, Nebraska
February 16, 2021
F-2
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit amounts)
ASSETS
December 31,
2020
2019
$
$
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT
$
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable from affiliates
Prepaid expenses and other
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Goodwill
Investment in equity method investee
Other assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
Accounts payable to affiliates
Accrued and other liabilities
Asset retirement obligations
Operating lease current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt
Total current liabilities
Asset retirement obligations
Operating lease long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
2,478 $
605
14,139
772
17,994
32,119
40,604
10,598
3,994
11
105,320 $
3,792 $
607
4,527
911
11,506
97,739
119,082
2,865
29,835
151,782
261
985
15,666
517
17,429
37,355
35,456
10,598
4,329
486
105,653
5,050
543
4,461
565
13,093
132,100
155,812
2,500
23,088
181,400
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Partners' deficit
Common unitholders - public (11,621,623 and 11,574,003 units issued and
outstanding, respectively)
Common unitholders - Green Plains (11,586,548 units issued and outstanding)
General partner interests
Total partners' deficit
Total liabilities and partners' deficit
124,823
(170,368)
(917)
(46,462)
105,320 $
114,006
(188,304)
(1,449)
(75,747)
105,653
$
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-3
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
78,510 $
75,531 $
Revenues
Affiliate
Non-affiliate
Total revenues
Operating expenses
Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and
amortization reflected below)
General and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Gain on assignment of operating leases
Total operating expenses
Operating income
Other income (expense)
Interest income
Interest expense
Other, net
Total other expense
Income before income taxes and income (loss) from equity
method investee
Income tax expense
Income (loss) from equity method investee
Net income
Net income attributable to partners' ownership interests:
General partner
Limited partners - common unitholders
Limited partners - subordinated unitholders
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted):
Common units
Subordinated units
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding (basic
and diluted):
Common units
Subordinated units
$
$
$
$
4,835
83,345
26,125
4,206
3,806
-
34,137
49,208
-
(8,513)
-
(8,513)
6,856
82,387
25,658
4,055
3,441
-
33,154
49,233
81
(8,310)
14
(8,215)
40,695
(212)
664
41,147 $
41,018
(220)
681
41,479 $
94,267
6,481
100,748
30,866
5,258
4,442
(2,721)
37,845
62,903
81
(7,307)
119
(7,107)
55,796
(101)
(14)
55,681
823 $
830 $
40,324
-
40,649
-
1,114
37,868
16,699
1.74 $
- $
1.76 $
- $
1.81
1.71
23,149
-
23,129
-
20,950
9,752
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-4
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
Limited Partners
Balance, December 31, 2017
Quarterly cash distributions to
unitholders
Net income
Unit-based compensation, including
general partner net contributions
Conversion of subordinated units
Disposition of Bluffton, Lakota, and
Riga assets
Retirement of units
Balance, December 31, 2018
Quarterly cash distributions to
unitholders
Net income
Unit-based compensation, including
general partner net contributions
Balance, December 31, 2019
Quarterly cash distributions to
unitholders
Net income
Unit-based compensation, including
general partner net contributions
Disposition of Hereford assets
Balance, December 31, 2020
Common Units
- Public
Common Units
- Green Plains
$
115,747 $
(38,505) $
Subordinated
Units - Green
Plains
(139,376) $
General
Partner
Total
(712) $
(62,846)
(21,872)
21,200
277
-
-
-
115,352
(21,968)
20,303
319
114,006
(9,675)
20,172
(15,866)
16,668
-
(145,240)
114,790
(118,482)
(186,635)
(22,015)
20,346
-
(188,304)
(9,676)
20,152
(22,563)
16,699
-
145,240
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,504)
1,114
6
-
2,343
(2,418)
(1,171)
(1,115)
830
7
(1,449)
(449)
823
320
-
124,823 $
-
7,460
(170,368) $
$
-
-
- $
7
151
(917) $
(61,805)
55,681
283
-
117,133
(120,900)
(72,454)
(45,098)
41,479
326
(75,747)
(19,800)
41,147
327
7,611
(46,462)
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Accretion
Amortization of debt issuance costs
Gain on the disposal of assets
Unit-based compensation
(Income) loss from equity method investee
Distribution from equity method investee
Gain on assignment of operating leases
Other
Changes in operating assets and liabilities before effects of asset
dispositions:
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable from affiliates
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Accounts payable to affiliates
Operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets
Other
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment
Proceeds from the disposal of property and equipment
Proceeds from the assignment of operating leases
Contributions to equity method investee
Disposition of assets
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments of distributions
Proceeds from revolving credit facility
Payments on revolving credit facility
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
Principal payments on long-term debt
Payments of loan fees
Other
Net cash used in financing activities
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Non-cash investing and financing activity:
Settlement of NMTC transaction
Transfer of assets and liabilities in equity exchange with parent
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
Cash paid for income taxes
Cash paid for interest
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
41,147
$
41,479
$
55,681
3,806
264
1,695
-
320
(664)
1,000
-
75
380
1,527
(255)
(1,660)
44
94
16
47,789
(162)
-
-
-
10,000
9,838
(19,800)
43,900
(49,000)
3,000
(30,000)
(3,517)
7
(55,410)
2,217
261
2,478
-
-
96
6,562
$
$
$
$
$
3,441
168
839
(14)
319
(681)
-
-
(39)
475
(1,769)
173
2,544
(167)
(150)
39
46,657
(305)
331
-
-
-
26
(45,098)
86,200
(88,100)
-
-
-
7
(46,991)
(308)
569
261
8,100
-
240
7,560
$
$
$
$
$
4,442
65
793
(44)
277
14
-
(2,721)
47
1,240
3,437
372
(6,826)
(1,430)
-
44
55,391
(1,267)
11
2,721
(1,425)
-
40
(61,805)
83,100
(76,000)
-
-
(665)
6
(55,364)
67
502
569
(3,767)
124
6,439
$
$
$
$
$
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Organization
Green Plains Partners, a master limited partnership, was formed by Green Plains Inc. in March 2015 and began
operations in July 2015 in connection with its IPO of 11,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests.
References to “we,” “our,” “us” or the “partnership” refer to Green Plains Partners LP and its subsidiaries.
Green Plains Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Plains Inc., serves as the general partner of the
partnership. References to (i) “the general partner” and “Green Plains Holdings” refer to Green Plains Holdings LLC; (ii)
“the parent” and “Green Plains” refer to Green Plains Inc.; and (iii) “Green Plains Trade” refers to Green Plains Trade Group
LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Green Plains.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, include the accounts of the Green Plains
Partners LP and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated on a consolidated
basis for reporting purposes.
In February 2017, the partnership and Delek Renewables LLC formed NLR Energy Logistics LLC, a 50/50 joint venture,
to build an ethanol unit train terminal in the Little Rock, Arkansas area with capacity to unload 110-car unit trains and
provide approximately 100,000 barrels of storage. Operations commenced at the beginning of the second quarter of 2018 and
the first unit train was received in July 2018.
The NLR investment is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, an investment is
recorded at the acquisition cost plus the partnership’s share of equity in undistributed earnings or losses since acquisition, and
reduced by distributions received and the amortization of excess net investment. The partnership’s proportionate share of the
equity investments’ earnings or losses are reported on a one-month lag as a separate line item in the consolidated financial
statements.
On November 15, 2018, Green Plains closed on the sale of three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana,
Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC (“Valero”). Correspondingly, the partnership’s
storage assets located adjacent to such plants were sold to Green Plains for $120.9 million. As consideration, the partnership
received from its parent 8.7 million Green Plains units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 0.2 million
equivalent limited partner units to maintain the general partner’s 2% interest. These units were retired upon receipt. In
addition, the partnership also received cash consideration of $2.7 million from Valero for the assignment of certain railcar
operating leases.
On November 15, 2018, Green Plains announced the permanent closure of its ethanol plant located in Hopewell,
Virginia. The closure did not affect the quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green Plains
Trade.
On December 28, 2020, Green Plains closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford
Ethanol Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the partnership’s storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to
Green Plains for $10.0 million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases. As part of this transaction, the
quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green Plains Trade was reduced to 232.5 mmg per
quarter.
F-7
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
Preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the consolidated financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The partnership bases its
estimates on historical experience and assumptions it believes are proper and reasonable under the circumstances. The
partnership regularly evaluates the appropriateness of these estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those
estimates. Key accounting policies, including, but not limited to, those related to revenue recognition, leases, depreciation of
property and equipment, asset retirement obligations, and impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill are impacted
significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used to prepare the consolidated financial statements.
Description of Business
The partnership provides fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol
and fuel storage terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. The partnership is its parent’s
primary downstream logistics provider to support the parent’s approximately 1.0 bgy ethanol marketing and distribution
business since the partnership’s assets are the principal method of storing and delivering the ethanol the parent produces. The
ethanol produced by the parent is fuel grade, made principally from starch extracted from corn, and is primarily used for
blending with gasoline. Ethanol currently comprises approximately 10% of the U.S. gasoline market and is an economical
source of octane and oxygenates for blending into the fuel supply. The partnership does not take ownership of, or receive any
payments based on the value of the ethanol or other fuels it handles; as a result, the partnership does not have any direct
exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The partnership considers short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash
equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include bank deposits.
Revenue Recognition
The partnership recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied.
Generally, this occurs with the completion of services or the transfer of control of products to the customer or another
specified third party. For contracts with customers in which a take-or-pay commitment exists, any minimum volume
deficiency charges are recognized as revenue in the period incurred and are not allowed to be credited towards excess
volumes in future periods.
The partnership generates a substantial portion of its revenues under fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains
Trade. Operating lease revenue related to minimum volume commitments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term
of the lease. Under the terms of the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade, to the extent shortfalls
associated with minimum volume commitments in the previous four quarters continue to exist, volumes in excess of the
minimum volume commitment are applied to those shortfalls. Remaining excess volumes generating operating lease revenue
are recognized as incurred.
Please refer to Note 3 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further details.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
In the normal course of business, the partnership is exposed to credit risk resulting from the possibility a loss may occur
due to failure of another party to perform according to the terms of their contract. The partnership provides fuel storage and
transportation services for various parties with a significant portion of its revenues earned from Green Plains Trade. The
partnership continually monitors its credit risk exposure and concentrations.
F-8
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount. The partnership assesses the need for an allowance for
doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. In assessing the required allowance, the
partnership considers historical losses adjusted to take into account current market conditions and its customers’ financial
condition, the amount of receivables in dispute, current receivables’ aging and current payment patterns. The partnership does
not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of these assets is generally
computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:
Buildings and improvements
Tanks and terminal equipment
Rail and rail equipment
Other machinery and equipment
Computers and software
Office furniture and equipment
Years
10-40
15-40
10-22
5-7
3-5
5-7
Expenditures for land are capitalized at cost. Expenditures for property, equipment, and improvements are capitalized at
cost and depreciated over their respective useful lives. Costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
The partnership periodically evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may warrant revision of the
estimated useful life of its fixed assets.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
The partnership reviews its long-lived assets, currently consisting primarily of property and equipment and operating
lease right-of-use assets, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of a long-
lived asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparison of the carrying
amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount
of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying
amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment charges were recorded for the periods reported.
The partnership’s goodwill currently is comprised of amounts recognized by the MLP predecessor related to terminal
services assets. The partnership reviews goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually, as of October 1,
or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.
The partnership estimates the amount and timing of projected cash flows that will be generated by an asset over an
extended period of time when reviewing long-lived assets and goodwill. Circumstances that may indicate impairment include
a decline in future projected cash flows, a decision to suspend plant operations for an extended period of time, sustained
decline in market capitalization or market prices for similar assets or businesses, or a significant adverse change in legal or
regulatory matters or business climate. Significant management judgment is required to determine the fair value of the
partnership’s long-lived assets and goodwill and measure impairment, which includes projected cash flows. Fair value is
determined by using various valuation techniques, including discounted or undiscounted cash flow models, sales of
comparable properties and third-party independent appraisals. Changes in estimated fair value could result in a write-down of
the asset.
The partnership identified triggering events due to decreases in its stock price and as a result, its market capitalization,
and performed interim quantitative goodwill assessments as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020. The partnership performed
its annual goodwill assessment as of October 1, 2020, using a qualitative assessment. Each of the goodwill assessments
resulted in no goodwill impairment. For additional information, please refer to Note 7 – Goodwill.
F-9
Leases
On January 1, 2019, the partnership adopted the amended guidance in ASC 842, Leases, and all related amendments, and
applied it to all leases using the optional transition method which requires the amended guidance to be applied at the date of
adoption. The standard does not require the guidance to be applied to the earliest comparative period presented in the
financial statements. As such, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the
accounting standards in effect for those periods.
The partnership leases certain facilities, parcels of land, and railcars. These leases are accounted for as operating leases,
with lease expense recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The term of the lease may include options to
extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that such options will be exercised. For leases with initial terms
greater than 12 months, the partnership records operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding operating lease
liabilities. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The partnership
had no short-term lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 or 2019.
Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the right to control an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease
liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These assets and liabilities are recognized at
the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the partnership’s leases do not
provide an implicit rate, the incremental borrowing rate is used based on information available at commencement date to
determine the present value of future payments.
The partnership utilizes a portfolio approach for lease classification, which allows for an entity to group together leases
with similar characteristics provided that its application does not create a material difference when compared to accounting
for the leases at a contract level. For the partnership’s railcar leases, the partnership combines the railcars within each
contract rider and accounts for each contract rider as an individual lease.
From a lessee perspective, the partnership combines both the lease and non-lease components and accounts for them as
one lease. Certain of the partnership’s railcar agreements provide for maintenance costs to be the responsibility of the
partnership as incurred or charged by the lessor. This maintenance cost is a non-lease component that the partnership
combines with the monthly rental payment and accounts for the total cost as operating lease expense. In addition, the
partnership has a land lease that contains a non-lease component for the handling and unloading services the landlord
provides. The partnership combines the cost of services with the land lease cost and accounts for the total as operating lease
expense.
The partnership records operating lease revenue as part of its operating lease agreements for storage and throughput
services, rail transportation services, and certain terminal services. In addition, the partnership may sublease certain of its
railcars to third parties on a short-term basis. These subleases are classified as operating leases, with the associated sublease
revenue recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
From a lessor perspective, the partnership combines, by class of underlying asset, both the lease and non-lease
components and accounts for them as one lease. The storage and throughput agreement consists of lease costs paid by Green
Plains Trade for the rental of the terminal facilities as well as non-lease costs for the throughput services provided by the
partnership. For this agreement, the partnership combines the facility rental revenue and the service revenue and accounts for
the total as leasing revenue. The railcar transportation services agreement consists of lease costs paid by Green Plains Trade
for the use of the partnership’s railcar assets as well as non-lease costs for logistical operations management and other
services. For this agreement, the partnership combines the railcar rental revenue and the service revenue and accounts for the
total as leasing revenue.
Please refer to Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements for further details on
operating lease expense and revenue. Please refer to Note 3 - Revenue to the consolidated financial statements for further
details on the operating lease agreements in which the partnership is a lessor.
F-10
Asset Retirement Obligations
The partnership records an ARO for the fair value of the estimated costs to retire a tangible long-lived asset in the period
incurred if it can be reasonably estimated, which is subsequently adjusted for accretion expense. Corresponding asset
retirement costs are capitalized as a long-lived asset and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the asset’s remaining useful
life. The expected present value technique used to calculate the fair value of the AROs includes assumptions about costs,
settlement dates, interest accretion and inflation. Changes in assumptions, such as the amount or timing of estimated cash
flows, could increase or decrease the AROs. The partnership’s AROs are based on legal obligations to perform remedial
activity related to land, machinery and equipment when certain operating leases expire.
Investment in Equity Method Investee
The partnership accounts for investments in which the partnership exercises significant influence using the equity
method so long as the partnership (i) does not control the investee and (ii) is not the primary beneficiary of the entity. The
partnership recognizes its investment in its equity method investee as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheets.
The partnership recognizes its proportionate share of its equity method investee earnings or loss on a one-month lag as a
separate line item in the consolidated statements of operations.
The partnership recognizes losses in the value of its equity method investee when there is evidence of an other-than-
temporary decrease in value. Evidence of a loss might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, the inability to
recover the carrying amount of the investment or the inability of the equity method investee to sustain an earnings capacity
that justifies the carrying amount of the investment. The current fair value of an investment that is less than its carrying
amount may indicate a loss in value of the investment. The partnership evaluates its equity method investee if there is
evidence that the investment may be impaired.
Distributions paid to the partnership from unconsolidated affiliates are classified as operating activities in the
consolidated statements of cash flows until the cumulative distributions exceed the partnership’s proportionate share of
income from the unconsolidated affiliate since the date of initial investment. The amount of cumulative distributions paid to
the partnership that exceeds the cumulative proportionate share of income in each period represents a return of investment,
which is classified as an investing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Segment Reporting
The partnership accounts for segment reporting in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, which establishes
standards for entities reporting information about the operating segments and geographic areas in which they operate.
Management evaluated how its chief operating decision maker has organized the partnership for purposes of making
operating decisions and assessing performance, and concluded it has one reportable segment.
Income Taxes
The partnership is a limited partnership, which is not subject to federal income taxes. However, the partnership is subject
to state income taxes in certain states. As a result, the financial statements reflect a provision or benefit for such income
taxes. The general partner and the unitholders are responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of the
partnership’s taxable income.
The partnership recognizes uncertainties in income taxes within the financial statements under a process by which the
likelihood of a tax position is gauged based upon the technical merits of the position. Then, a subsequent measurement uses
the maximum benefit and degree of likelihood to determine the amount of benefit recognized in the financial statements.
Financing Costs
Fees and costs related to securing debt financing are recorded as financing costs. Debt issuance costs are stated at cost
and are amortized utilizing the effective interest method for term loans and on a straight-line basis for revolving credit
arrangements over the life of the agreements. However, during periods of construction, amortization of such costs is
capitalized in construction-in-progress.
F-11
Operations and Maintenance Expenses
The partnership’s operations and maintenance expenses consist primarily of lease expenses related to the transportation
assets, labor expenses, outside contractor expenses, insurance premiums, repairs and maintenance expenses and utility costs.
These expenses also include fees for certain management, maintenance and operational services to support the facilities,
trucks, and the leased railcar fleet allocated by Green Plains under the operational services and secondment agreement.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses are primarily general and administrative expenses for employee salaries, incentives
and benefits; office expenses; director compensation; and professional fees for accounting, legal, consulting, and investor
relations activities.
Unit-Based Compensation
The partnership recognizes compensation cost using a fair value based method whereby compensation cost is measured
at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting
period. Units issued for compensation are valued using the market price of the stock on the date of the related agreement.
Earnings Per Unit
The partnership has identified common units and subordinated units prior to the expiration of the subordination period as
participating securities and computes earnings per limited partner unit using the two-class method. Earnings per limited
partner unit is computed by dividing limited partners' interest in net income, after deducting any incentive distributions, by
the weighted-average number of common and subordinated units outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive
effect of any outstanding dilutive securities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the FASB issued amended guidance in ASC 848, Reference Rate Reform Facilitation of the Effects of
Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions to U.S. GAAP guidance
on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burden related to the expected market
transition from LIBOR and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The expedients and exceptions
provided by the amended guidance do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or
evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has
elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. The guidance is
effective upon issuance and to be applied prospectively from any date beginning March 12, 2020 through December 31,
2022. The amended guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the partnership’s consolidated financial statements.
3. REVENUE
Revenue Recognition
The partnership recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied.
Generally this occurs with the completion of services or the transfer of control of products to the customer or another
specified third party. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for providing
services.
F-12
Revenue by Source
The following table disaggregates our revenue by major source (in thousands):
Revenues
Service revenues
Terminal services
Trucking and other
Rail transportation services
Total service revenues
Leasing revenues (1)
Storage and throughput services
Rail transportation services
Terminal services
Total leasing revenues
Total revenues
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
$
8,105 $
4,740
-
12,845
48,603
21,496
401
70,500
83,345 $
9,230 $
4,318
-
13,548
47,140
21,265
434
68,839
82,387 $
9,197
4,905
108
14,210
59,290
25,947
1,301
86,538
100,748
(1) Leasing revenues do not represent revenues recognized from contracts with customers under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and are
accounted for under ASC 842, Leases for 2020 and 2019 and ASC 840, Leases for 2018.
Terminal Services Revenue
The partnership provides terminal services and logistics solutions to Green Plains Trade, and other customers, through its
fuel terminal facilities under various terminal service agreements, some of which have minimum volume commitments.
Revenue generated by these terminals is disaggregated between service revenue and leasing revenue in accordance with the
new revenue standard. If Green Plains Trade, or other customers, fail to meet their minimum volume commitments during the
applicable term, a deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee will be charged.
Deficiency payments related to the partnership’s terminal services revenue may not be utilized as credits toward future
volumes. At terminals where customers have shared use of terminal and tank storage assets, revenue is generated from
contracts with customers and accounted for as service revenue. This service revenue is recognized at the point in time when
product is withdrawn from tank storage.
At terminals where a customer is predominantly provided exclusive use of the terminal or tank storage assets, the
partnership is considered a lessor as part of an operating lease agreement. Revenue is recognized over the term of the lease
based on the minimum volume commitment or total actual throughput if in excess of the minimum volume commitment.
Trucking and Other Revenue
The partnership transports ethanol, natural gasoline, other refined fuels and feedstocks by truck from identified receipt
points to various delivery points. Trucking revenue is recognized over time based on the percentage of total miles traveled,
which is on average less than 100 miles.
Rail Transportation Services Revenue
Under the rail transportation services agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to use the partnership to transport
ethanol and other fuels from receipt points identified by Green Plains Trade to nominated delivery points. Green Plains Trade
is required to pay the partnership fees for the minimum railcar volumetric capacity provided, regardless of utilization of that
capacity. However, Green Plains Trade is not charged for railcar volumetric capacity that is not available for use due to
inspections, upgrades or routine repairs and maintenance. Revenue associated with the rail transportation services fee is
considered leasing revenue and is recognized over the term of the lease based on the actual average daily railcar volumetric
capacity provided. The partnership may also charge Green Plains Trade a related services fee for logistical operations
management of railcar volumetric capacity utilized by Green Plains Trade which is not provided by the partnership. Revenue
associated with the related services fee is also considered leasing revenue and recognized over the term of the lease based on
the average volumetric capacity for which services are provided.
F-13
Storage and Throughput Revenue
The partnership generates leasing revenue from its storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade based on
contractual rates charged for the handling, storage and throughput of ethanol. Under this agreement, Green Plains Trade is
required to pay the partnership a fee for a minimum volume commitment regardless of the actual volume delivered. If Green
Plains Trade fails to meet its minimum volume commitment during any quarter, the partnership will charge Green Plains
Trade a deficiency payment equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee. The deficiency payment may be
applied as a credit toward volumes delivered by Green Plains Trade in excess of the minimum volume commitment during
the following four quarters, after which time any unused credits will expire. Revenue is recognized over the term of the lease
based on the minimum volume commitment or total actual throughput if in excess of the minimum volume commitment.
Payment Terms
The partnership has standard payment terms, which vary depending on the nature of the services provided, with the
majority of terms falling within 10 to 30 days after transfer of control or completion of services. Contracts generally do not
include a significant financing component in instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of
invoicing.
Major Customers
Revenue from Green Plains Trade Group was $78.5 million, $75.5 million, and $94.3 million for the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which exceeds 10% of the partnership's total revenue.
Contract Liabilities
The partnership records unearned revenue when consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due,
from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of service and lease agreements.
Unearned revenue from service agreements, which represents a contract liability, is recorded for fees that have been charged
to the customer prior to the completion of performance obligations, and is generally recognized in the subsequent quarter.
The following table reflects the changes in our unearned revenue from service agreements for the year ended December
31, 2020 (in thousands):
Balance at January 1, 2020
Revenue recognized included in beginning balance
Net additions
Balance at December 31, 2020
Amount
230
(230)
247
247
$
$
The partnership expects to recognize all of the unearned revenue associated with service agreements from contracts with
customers as of December 31, 2020, in the subsequent quarter when the product is withdrawn from tank storage.
4. DISPOSITIONS
Hereford Disposition
On December 28, 2020, Green Plains closed on the sale of its ethanol plant located in Hereford, Texas to Hereford
Ethanol Partners, L.P. Correspondingly, the partnership’s storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford plant were sold to
Green Plains for $10.0 million, along with the transfer of associated railcar operating leases.
This transaction was accounted for as a transfer between entities under common control and was approved by the
conflicts committee. There were no material transaction costs recorded for the disposition.
F-14
The following is a summary of assets and liabilities disposed of or assumed (in thousands):
Total consideration received
Identifiable assets and liabilities disposed of:
Property and equipment, net
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Operating lease current liabilities
Operating lease long-term liabilities
Asset retirement obligations
Total identifiable net assets
Liabilities assumed
Partners' deficit effect
$
10,000
2,494
5,094
(976)
(4,200)
(186)
2,226
163
7,611
$
In conjunction with the disposition, the partnership amended the 1) operational services agreement, 2) ethanol storage
and throughput agreement, and 3) rail transportation services agreement. Please refer to Note 15 – Related Party
Transactions to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Bluffton, Lakota, and Riga Disposition
On November 15, 2018, Green Plains closed on the sale of three of its ethanol plants located in Bluffton, Indiana,
Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan to Valero. Correspondingly, the partnership’s storage assets located adjacent to such plants
were sold to Green Plains for $120.9 million. As consideration, the partnership received from its parent 8.7 million Green
Plains units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 0.2 million equivalent limited partner units to maintain
the general partner’s 2% interest. These units were retired upon receipt. In addition, the partnership also received cash
consideration of $2.7 million from Valero for the assignment of certain railcar operating leases.
This transaction was accounted for as a transfer between entities under common control and was approved by the
conflicts committee. The partnership recorded $0.5 million of transaction costs in the consolidated statement of operations as
general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The following is a summary of assets and liabilities disposed of (in thousands):
Total consideration received
Identifiable assets and liabilities disposed of:
Property and equipment, net
Asset retirement obligations
Total identifiable net assets
Units retired:
Common units - Green Plains
General partners interest
Total units retired
Partners' deficit effect
$
120,900
4,192
(425)
3,767
118,482
2,418
120,900
(3,767)
$
In conjunction with the disposition, the partnership amended the 1) omnibus agreement, 2) operational services
agreement, 3) ethanol storage and throughput agreement, and 4) rail transportation services agreement. Please refer to Note
15 – Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
F-15
5. FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
The following methods, assumptions and valuation techniques were used to estimate the fair value of the partnership’s
financial instruments:
Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities the partnership can access at the
measurement date.
Level 2 – directly or indirectly observable inputs such, as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets
other than quoted prices included within Level 1, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active,
and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data through correlation or
other means.
Level 3 – unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and comprise a significant component of
the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The partnership currently does not have any recurring Level 3 financial instruments.
The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities with maturities of less than one year, including cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate fair value due to the short period to maturity.
The partnership uses market interest rates to measure the fair value of its long-term debt and adjusts those rates for all
necessary risks, including its own credit risk. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying amount of debt approximated fair
value.
6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
The components of property and equipment are as follows (in thousands):
Tanks and terminal equipment
Leasehold improvements and other
Land and buildings
Rail and rail equipment
Trucks and other vehicles
Computer equipment, furniture and fixtures
Construction-in-progress
Total property and equipment
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
Property and equipment, net
7. GOODWILL
December 31,
2020
2019
$
$
37,534 $
11,178
8,030
4,551
4,388
495
244
66,420
(34,301)
32,119 $
41,040
10,370
8,424
4,551
4,177
495
274
69,331
(31,976)
37,355
The partnership currently has goodwill assigned to one reporting unit, BlendStar. During the first half of 2020, a decline
in the partnership’s stock price resulted in a decrease in the partnership’s market capitalization. As such, the partnership
determined a triggering event had occurred that required an interim impairment assessment for its BlendStar reporting unit as
of both March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Significant assumptions inherent in the valuation methodologies for goodwill
impairment testing were employed and include market capitalization, prospective financial information, growth rates,
discount rates, inflationary factors, and cost of capital. Based on the partnership’s quantitative evaluations, it was determined
that the fair value of the BlendStar reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value, and the partnership concluded that
the goodwill assigned to the BlendStar reporting unit was not impaired. During the three months ended September 30, 2020,
the partnership did not identify any triggering events, and as such, no impairment assessment was deemed necessary.
The partnership performed the annual goodwill assessment as of October 1, 2020, and given the quantitative work
performed during previous quarters as described above, the partnership used a qualitative assessment, which resulted in no
goodwill impairment. Therefore, there were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, which was $10.6 million at both
December 31, 2020 and 2019.
F-16
8. DEBT
Credit Facility
Green Plains Operating Company has a credit facility to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general
partnership purposes. The credit facility was amended on June 4, 2020, decreasing the size of the facility from $200.0 million
to $135.0 million. The amended credit facility includes a $130.0 million term loan and a $5.0 million revolving credit facility
maturing on December 31, 2021. The partnership made $30.0 million in principal payments on the term loan during the year
ended December 31, 2020, including $10.0 million related to the sale of the storage assets located adjacent to the Hereford,
Texas ethanol plant. As of December 31, 2020, no additional prepayments on the term loan were required or paid. Monthly
principal payments of $2.5 million are required through April 15, 2021, with a step up to monthly payments of $3.2 million
beginning May 15, 2021 through maturity.
In certain situations the partnership is required to make prepayments on the outstanding principal balance on the credit
facility. If at any time subsequent to July 15, 2020, the partnership’s cash balance exceeds $2.5 million for more than five
consecutive business days, prepayments of outstanding principal are required in an amount equal to the excess cash. The
partnership is also required to prepay outstanding principal on the credit facility with 100% of net cash proceeds from any
asset disposition or recovery event. Any prepayments on the term loan are applied to the remaining principal balance in
inverse order of maturity, including the final payment.
The term loan balance, and any advances on the revolver, are subject to a floating interest rate based on a 1.00% Libor
floor plus 4.50% to 5.25% dependent upon the preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated leverage ratio. However, if less than
$40.0 million of prepayments in excess of the scheduled monthly payments have been made prior to April 1, 2021, the term
loan balance and any advances on the revolver will be subject to a floating rate based on a 1.00% Libor floor plus 5.00% to
5.75% dependent upon the preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated leverage ratio. The unused portion of the revolver is
subject to a commitment fee of 0.50%. The credit facility also allows for swing line loans subject to the revolver availability.
Swing line loans are subject to a floating interest rate based on the Prime Rate plus 3.50% to 4.25% dependent upon the
preceding fiscal quarter’s consolidated leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2020, the term loan had a balance of $100.0
million and an interest rate of 6.00%, and there were no outstanding swing line loans.
The partnership’s obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first priority lien on (i) the equity interests of the
partnership’s present and future subsidiaries, (ii) all of the partnership’s present and future personal property, such as
investment property, general intangibles and contract rights, including rights under any agreements with Green Plains Trade,
(iii) all proceeds and products of the equity interests of the partnership’s present and future subsidiaries and its personal
property and (iv) substantially all of the partnership’s real property and material leases of real property. The terms impose
affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the partnership’s ability to incur additional debt, acquire and sell
assets, create liens, invest capital, pay distributions and materially amend the partnership’s commercial agreements with
Green Plains Trade. The credit facility also requires the partnership to maintain a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, as of
the end of any fiscal quarter, of no more than 3.00x that decreases 0.25x each quarter to 1.50x by December 31, 2021, and a
minimum consolidated debt service coverage ratio of 1.10x, each of which is calculated on a pro forma basis with respect to
acquisitions and divestitures occurring during the applicable period. The consolidated leverage ratio is calculated by dividing
total funded indebtedness by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA. The consolidated debt
service coverage ratio is calculated by taking the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’ consolidated EBITDA minus
income taxes and consolidated capital expenditures for such period divided by the sum of the four preceding fiscal quarters’
consolidated interest charges plus consolidated scheduled funded debt payments for such period.
Under the amended terms of the credit facility, the partnership may make quarterly distribution payments in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $0.12 per outstanding unit, so long as (i) no default has occurred and is continuing, or would result
from payment of the distribution, and (ii) the partnership and its subsidiaries are in compliance with its financial covenants
and remain in compliance after payment of the distribution.
The partnership had $100.0 million and $132.1 million of borrowings outstanding under the credit facility as of
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, the partnership had $2.3 million of debt issuance costs recorded as a
direct reduction of the carrying value of the partnership’s long-term debt as of December 31, 2020. The partnership had no
unamortized debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2019.
F-17
The credit facility, which is supported by a group of financial institutions, will mature on December 31, 2021 unless
extended by agreement of the lenders or replaced by another funding source. While the partnership has not yet renegotiated
the credit facility or secured additional funding necessary to repay the loan, the partnership believes it is probable that it will
source appropriate funding given the partnership’s consistent and stable fee-based cash flows, ongoing profitability, low
leverage and history of obtaining financing on reasonable commercial terms. In the unlikely scenario that the partnership is
unable to refinance its debt with the lenders prior to its maturity, the partnership will consider other financing sources,
including but not limited to, the restructuring or issuance of new debt with a different lending group, the issuance of
additional common units, other strategic actions to extinguish the debt, or support from Green Plains.
Qualified Low Income Community Investment Notes
In June 2013, Birmingham BioEnergy, a subsidiary of BlendStar, was a recipient of qualified low income community
investment notes in conjunction with NMTC financing related to the Birmingham, Alabama terminal. Two promissory notes
payable of $1.9 million and $8.1 million, and a note receivable of $8.1 million, were issued in connection with this
transaction. On December 31, 2019, the parties to the transaction executed certain provisions under the agreements whereby
the promissory notes payable totaling $10.0 million were assigned to BlendStar in satisfaction of the $8.1 million note
receivable. The partnership previously accounted for the $1.9 million promissory note payable as grant revenue, which was
reflected as a reduction in the carrying value of the property and equipment at Birmingham BioEnergy and recognized in
earnings as a decrease in depreciation expense over the useful life of the assets. The remaining $8.1 million promissory note
payable and note receivable between Birmingham BioEnergy and BlendStar were forgiven in conjunction with the closing on
December 31, 2019.
Scheduled long-term debt repayments as of December 31, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Covenant Compliance
Amount
100,000
-
-
-
-
-
100,000
$
$
The partnership, including all of its subsidiaries, was in compliance with its debt covenants as of December 31, 2020.
Capitalized Interest
The partnership’s policy is to capitalize interest costs incurred on debt during the construction of major projects. The
partnership had no capitalized interest for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
F-18
9. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
Under various lease agreements, the partnership has AROs when certain machinery and equipment are disposed or
operating leases expire. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the partnership reassessed the estimated cost of AROs
related to its railcar operating leases. The reassessment resulted in a change in estimated costs that has been reflected as an
increase of $0.4 million to the ARO liabilities and corresponding assets on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31,
2020. The following table summarizes the change in the liability for the AROs (in thousands):
Balance, December 31, 2018
Additional asset retirement obligations incurred
Liabilities settled
Accretion expense
Balance, December 31, 2019
Additional asset retirement obligations incurred
Liabilities settled
Accretion expense
Change in estimate
Balance, December 31, 2020
10. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION
Amount
3,216
31
(350)
168
3,065
512
(497)
264
432
3,776
$
$
The board of directors of the general partner adopted the LTIP upon completion of the IPO. The LTIP is intended to
promote the interests of the partnership, its general partner and affiliates by providing incentive compensation awards based
on units to employees, consultants and directors to encourage superior performance. The LTIP reserves 2,500,000 common
units for issuance in the form of options, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, substitute awards, unit
appreciation rights, unit awards, profits interest units or other unit-based awards. The partnership measures unit-based
compensation grants at fair value on the grant date and records noncash compensation expense related to the awards on a
straight-line basis over the requisite service period of one year.
The non-vested unit-based award activity for the year ended December 31, 2020, is as follows:
Non-Vested at December 31, 2019
Granted
Vested
Non-Vested at December 31, 2020
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
14.00
6.72
14.00
6.72
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Vesting Term
(in years)
0.5
Non-Vested
Units
22,856
47,620
(22,856)
47,620
$
$
Compensation costs related to the unit-based awards of approximately $320 thousand, $319 thousand and $277 thousand
were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. At December 31, 2020, there were
$159 thousand of unrecognized compensation costs from unit-based compensation awards.
F-19
11. PARTNERS’ DEFICIT
A roll forward of the number of common limited partner units outstanding is as follows:
Units, December 31, 2018
Units issued under the LTIP
Units, December 31, 2019
Units issued under the LTIP
Units, December 31, 2020
Issuance of Additional Securities
Common Units
- Public
11,551,147
22,856
11,574,003
47,620
11,621,623
Common Units
- Green Plains
11,586,548
-
11,586,548
-
11,586,548
Total
23,137,695
22,856
23,160,551
47,620
23,208,171
The partnership agreement authorizes the partnership to issue unlimited additional partnership interests on the terms and
conditions determined by the general partner without unitholder approval.
It is possible the partnership will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other partnership
interests. Holders of any additional common units are entitled to share equally with existing holders in the partnership’s
distributions of available cash. The issuance of additional common units or other partnership interests may dilute the value of
the existing holders of common units’ interests.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of the partnership agreement, the partnership may also issue
additional interests that have rights to distributions or special voting rights the common units do not have, as determined by
the general partner. In addition, the partnership agreement does not prohibit the partnership’s subsidiaries to issue equity
interests, which may effectively rank senior to the common units.
The general partner has the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to
purchase common units or other partnership interests from the partnership whenever, and on the same terms that, the
partnership issues those interests to persons other than the general partner and its affiliates to maintain the percentage interest
of the general partner and its affiliates, including interests represented by common units that existed immediately prior to
each issuance. The other holders of common units do not have preemptive rights under the partnership agreement to acquire
additional common units or other partnership interests.
Subordinated Unit Conversion
The requirements under the partnership agreement for the conversion of all of the outstanding subordinated units into
common units were satisfied upon the payment of the distribution with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2018.
Accordingly, the subordination period ended on August 13, 2018, the first business day after the date of the distribution
payment, and all of the 15,889,642 outstanding subordinated units were converted into common units on a one-for-one basis.
The conversion of the subordinated units did not impact the amount of cash distributions paid or the total number of units
outstanding.
Retirement of Units
On November 15, 2018, the partnership’s storage assets located adjacent to the ethanol plants in Bluffton, Indiana,
Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan were sold to Green Plains for $120.9 million. As consideration, the partnership received
from its parent 8,692,736 Green Plains units and a portion of the general partner interest equating to 177,403 equivalent
limited partner units to maintain the general partner’s 2% interest. These units were retired upon receipt.
Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly distributions are made from available cash within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, assuming the
partnership has available cash, up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $0.12 per outstanding unit, subject to the terms of the
credit agreement which matures December 31, 2021. Available cash generally means all cash and cash equivalents on hand at
the end of that quarter less cash reserves established by the general partner, including those for future capital expenditures,
future acquisitions and anticipated future debt service requirements, plus all or any portion of the cash on hand resulting from
working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of that quarter.
F-20
The general partner also holds incentive distribution rights that entitles it to receive increasing percentages, up to 48%, of
available cash distributed from operating surplus, as defined in the partnership agreement, in excess of $0.46 per unit per
quarter. The maximum distribution of 48% does not include any distributions the general partner or its affiliates may receive
on its general partner interest or common units.
The table below summarizes the quarterly cash distributions for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended Declaration Date
January 21, 2021
October 15, 2020
December 31, 2020
September 30, 2020
June 30, 2020
March 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
September 30, 2019
June 30, 2019
March 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
September 30, 2018
June 30, 2018
March 31, 2018
July 16, 2020
April 16, 2020
January 16, 2020
October 17, 2019
July 18, 2019
April 18, 2019
January 17, 2019
October 18, 2018
July 19, 2018
April 19, 2018
Record Date
February 5, 2021
November 6, 2020
July 31, 2020
May 1, 2020
January 31, 2020
November 1, 2019
August 2, 2019
May 3, 2019
February 1, 2019
November 2, 2018
August 3, 2018
May 4, 2018
Payment Date
February 12, 2021
November 13, 2020
August 7, 2020
May 8, 2020
February 7, 2020
November 8, 2019
August 9, 2019
May 10, 2019
February 8, 2019
November 9, 2018
August 10, 2018
May 11, 2018
Quarterly Distribution
$
0.1200
0.1200
0.1200
0.1200
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
0.4750
The total cash distributions paid during the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
General partner distributions
Incentive distributions
Total distributions to general partner
Limited partner common units - public
Limited partner common units - Green Plains
Limited partner subordinated units - Green Plains
Total distributions to limited partners
Total distributions paid
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
$
$
396
53
449
9,675
9,676
-
19,351
19,800
$
$
902
213
1,115
21,968
22,015
-
43,983
45,098
$
1,236
268
1,504
21,872
15,866
22,563
60,301
61,805
The total cash distributions declared during the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
General partner distributions
Incentive distributions
Total distributions to general partner
Limited partner common units - public
Limited partner common units - Green Plains
Limited partner subordinated units - Green Plains
Total distributions to limited partners
Total distributions declared
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
$
$
227
-
227
5,572
5,562
-
11,134
11,361
$
$
902
213
1,115
21,979
22,015
-
43,994
45,109
$
1,155
272
1,427
21,938
19,307
15,095
56,340
57,767
F-21
12. EARNINGS PER UNIT
The partnership computes earnings per unit using the two-class method. Earnings per unit applicable to common units,
and to subordinated units prior to the expiration of the subordination period, is calculated by dividing the respective limited
partners’ interest in net income by the weighted average number of common and subordinated units outstanding during the
period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of any outstanding dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per limited partner unit is the
same as basic earnings per limited partner unit as there were no potentially dilutive common or subordinated units
outstanding as of December 31, 2020. The following tables show the calculation of earnings per limited partner unit – basic
and diluted (in thousands, except for per unit data):
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Limited Partner
Common Units General Partner
Total
Net income
Distributions declared
Earnings in excess of distributions
Total net income
Weighted-average units outstanding - basic and diluted
Earnings per limited partner unit - basic and diluted
$
$
$
11,134
29,190
40,324
$
$
23,149
1.74
227
596
823
$
$
11,361
29,786
41,147
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Limited Partner
Common Units General Partner
Total
Net income
Distributions declared
Earnings less than distributions
Total net income
Weighted-average units outstanding - basic and diluted
Earnings per limited partner unit - basic and diluted
$
$
$
43,994
(3,345)
40,649
$
$
1,115
(285)
830
$
$
45,109
(3,630)
41,479
23,129
1.76
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Limited
Partner
Common
Units
Limited
Partner
Subordinated
Units
General
Partner
Total
Net income
Distributions declared
Earnings (less than) in excess of distributions
Total net income
$
$
41,245 $
(3,377)
37,868 $
15,095 $
1,604
16,699 $
1,427 $
(313)
1,114 $
57,767
(2,086)
55,681
Weighted-average units outstanding - basic and
diluted
20,950
9,752
Earnings per limited partner unit - basic and diluted $
1.81 $
1.71
F-22
13. INCOME TAXES
The partnership is a limited partnership, which is not subject to federal income taxes. However, the partnership is subject
to state income taxes in certain states. As a result, the financial statements reflect a provision or benefit for such income
taxes. The general partner and the unitholders are responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of the
partnership’s taxable income. The partnership’s income tax balances did not have a material impact on the financial
statements.
Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following (in thousands):
Current
Deferred
Total
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
$
137
75
212
$
$
238
(18)
220
$
$
101
-
101
Differences between income tax expense computed at the statutory federal income tax rate on its income subject to tax
are presented on the consolidated statements of operations and summarized as follows (in thousands):
Tax expense at federal statutory rate
State income tax expense, net of federal
Other
Income tax expense
Year Ended December 31,
2020
2019
2018
$
$
62
151
(1)
212
$
$
51
170
(1)
220
$
$
49
53
(1)
101
The partnership conducts business and its parent files tax returns in several states within the United States. The
partnership’s federal and state returns filed by its parent for the tax years ended December 31, 2017, and later are still subject
to audit.
14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Adoption of ASC 842
On January 1, 2019, the partnership adopted the amended guidance in ASC 842, Leases, and all related amendments
(“new lease standard”) and applied it to all leases using the optional transition method which requires the amended guidance
to be applied at the date of adoption. The standard does not require the guidance to be applied to the earliest comparative
period presented in the financial statements. As such, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be
reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The new lease standard had a material impact on the
partnership’s consolidated balance sheets, increasing total assets and total liabilities by $39.7 million upon adoption. It did
not have a material impact on the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The partnership’s leases do not specify an implicit interest rate. Therefore, the incremental borrowing rate is used based
on information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future payments.
Operating Lease Expense
The partnership leases certain facilities, parcels of land, and railcars with remaining terms ranging from less than one
year to approximately 10.8 years, including renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised for the land and facility leases.
Railcar agreement renewals are not considered reasonably certain to be exercised as they typically renew with significantly
different underlying terms.
The partnership may sublease certain of its railcars to third parties on a short-term basis. These subleases are classified as
operating leases, with the associated sublease revenue recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
F-23
The components of lease expense are as follows (in thousands):
Lease expense
Operating lease expense (1)
Variable lease benefit (2)
Total lease expense
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
$
$
16,033
$
(289)
15,744
$
15,583
(165)
15,418
(1) Amount includes an additional $0.2 million of accelerated lease expense due to the early termination of leased railcar assets for the year ended December
31, 2020.
(2) Represents railcar lease abatements provided by the lessor when railcars are out of service during periods of maintenance or upgrade, offset by amounts
incurred in excess of the minimum payments required for the handling and unloading of railcars for a certain lease.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
$
15,937 $
15,720
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases
Right-of-use assets and lease obligations derecognized due to lease
modifications:
Operating leases (1)
24,597
11,165
5,170
1,726
(1) As part of the Hereford disposition, the partnership derecognized $5.1 million in right-of-use assets and $5.2 million in lease obligations related to railcar
operating leases. See Note 4 – Dispositions for further details.
Supplemental balance sheet information related to operating leases is as follows:
Weighted average remaining lease term
Weighted average discount rate
December 31,
2020
4.5 years
2019
4.2 years
4.11%
5.19%
Aggregate minimum lease payments under these agreements in future years are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Less: Present value discount
Operating lease liabilities
Amount
12,750
11,256
8,093
6,271
4,034
2,863
45,267
(3,926)
41,341
$
$
$
The partnership has additional railcar operating leases that will commence in the first quarter of 2021 to replace expiring
leases, with undiscounted future lease payments of approximately $6.5 million and lease terms of five years. These amounts
are not included in the tables above.
F-24
Lease Revenue
The components of lease revenue are as follows (in thousands):
Lease revenue
Operating lease revenue
Variable lease revenue (expense) (1)
Sublease revenue
Total lease revenue
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
$
$
69,639
710
151
70,500
$
$
68,774
(572)
637
68,839
(1) Represents amounts charged to Green Plains Trade under the storage and throughput agreement in excess of the initial rate of $0.05 per gallon, amounts
delivered by Green Plains Trade and other customers in excess of various minimum volume commitments, and the difference between the contracted railcar
volumetric capacity and the actual amount provided to Green Plains Trade during the period.
In accordance with the amended storage and throughput agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to deliver a
minimum volume of 232.5 mmg per calendar quarter to the partnership’s storage facilities and pay $0.05 per gallon on all
volume it throughputs associated with the agreement through June 30, 2020, and $0.05312 per gallon subsequent to June 30,
2020. The remaining lease term for this agreement is 7.5 years, with automatic one year renewal periods in which either party
has the right to terminate the contract. Due to the unilateral right to termination during the renewal period, the lease contract
would no longer contain enforceable rights or obligations. Therefore, the lease term does not include the successive one year
renewal periods. Anticipated minimum operating lease revenue under this agreement assuming a consistent rate of $0.05312
per gallon in future years is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Amount
49,391
49,391
49,391
49,391
49,391
123,477
370,432
$
$
In accordance with the amended rail transportation services agreement with Green Plains Trade, Green Plains Trade is
required to pay the rail transportation services fee for railcar volumetric capacity provided by the partnership. The remaining
lease term for this agreement is 4.5 years, with automatic one year renewal periods in which either party has the right to
terminate the contract. Due to the unilateral right to termination during the renewal period, the lease contract would no longer
contain enforceable rights or obligations. Therefore, the lease term does not include the successive one year renewal periods.
Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains Trade is not required to pay for volumetric capacity that is not available due
to inspections, upgrades, or routine repairs and maintenance. As a result, the actual volumetric capacity billed may be
reduced based on the amount of volumetric capacity available for use during any applicable period. Anticipated minimum
operating lease revenue under this agreement in future years is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Amount
19,230
17,068
11,346
8,816
5,943
-
62,403
$
$
F-25
The partnership provides terminal services and logistics solutions to certain customers under various terminal service
agreements, some of which have minimum volume commitments. At terminals where a customer is predominantly provided
exclusive use of the terminal or tank storage assets, the partnership is considered a lessor as part of an operating lease
agreement. Revenue is recognized over the term of the lease based on the minimum volume commitment, or total actual
throughput if in excess of the minimum volume commitment. The partnership currently has one such agreement, with a
remaining lease term of 4.7 years, which includes renewal options reasonably certain to be exercised. Anticipated minimum
operating lease revenue for this terminal in future years is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Other Commitments and Contingencies
Amount
74
74
74
74
49
-
345
$
$
The partnership has agreements for contracted services with certain vendors that require the partnership to pay minimum
monthly amounts, which expire on various dates. These agreements do not contain an identified asset and therefore are not
considered operating leases. The partnership satisfied the minimum commitments under these agreements during both the
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Aggregate minimum payments under these agreements in future years are as
follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
Legal
Amount
805
157
-
-
-
-
962
$
$
The partnership may be involved in litigation that arises during the ordinary course of business. Currently, the
partnership is not a party to any material litigation.
15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In addition to the related party transactions disclosed in Note 4 – Dispositions to the consolidated financial statements,
the partnership engages in various related party transactions with Green Plains and subsidiaries of Green Plains.
Green Plains provides a variety of shared services to the partnership, including general management, accounting and
finance, payroll and human resources, information technology, legal, communications and treasury activities. These costs are
proportionally allocated by Green Plains to its subsidiaries based on common financial metrics management believes are
reasonable. The partnership recorded expenses related to these shared services of approximately $3.4 million, $3.4 million
and $4.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition, the partnership reimburses
Green Plains for wages and benefit costs of employees directly performing services on its behalf. Green Plains may also pay
certain direct costs on behalf of the partnership, which are reimbursed by the partnership. The partnership believes the
consolidated financial statements reflect all material costs of doing business related to these operations, including expenses
incurred by other entities on its behalf.
F-26
Omnibus Agreement
The partnership has entered into an omnibus agreement, as amended, with Green Plains and its affiliates which, among
other terms and conditions, addresses the partnership’s obligation to reimburse Green Plains for direct or allocated costs and
expenses incurred by Green Plains for general and administrative services; the prohibition of Green Plains and its subsidiaries
from owning, operating or investing in any business that owns or operates fuel terminals or fuel transportation assets; the
partnership’s right of first offer to acquire assets if Green Plains decides to sell them; a nontransferable, nonexclusive,
royalty-free license to use the Green Plains trademark and name; the allocation of taxes among the parent, the partnership and
its affiliates and the parent’s preparation and filing of tax returns; and an indemnity by Green Plains for environmental and
other liabilities.
If Green Plains or its affiliates cease to control the general partner, then either Green Plains or the partnership may
terminate the omnibus agreement, provided that (i) the indemnification obligations of the parties survive according to their
respective terms; and (ii) Green Plains’ obligation to reimburse the partnership for operational failures survives according to
its terms.
Operating Services and Secondment Agreement
The general partner has entered into an operational services and secondment agreement, as amended, with Green Plains.
Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains seconds employees to the general partner to provide management,
maintenance and operational functions for the partnership, including regulatory matters, health, environment, safety and
security programs, operational services, emergency response, employee training, finance and administration, human
resources, business operations and planning. The seconded personnel are under the direct management and supervision of the
general partner who reimburses the parent for the cost of the seconded employees, including wages and benefits. If a
seconded employee does not devote 100% of his or her time providing services to the general partner, the general partner
reimburses the parent for a prorated portion of the employee’s overall wages and benefits based on the percentage of time the
employee spent working for the general partner.
Under the operational services and secondment agreement, Green Plains will indemnify the partnership from any claims,
losses or liabilities incurred by the partnership, including third-party claims, arising from their performance of the operational
services secondment agreement; provided, however, that Green Plains will not be obligated to indemnify the partnership for
any claims, losses or liabilities arising out of the partnership’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith with respect
to any services provided under the operational services and secondment agreement.
Commercial Agreements
The partnership has various fee-based commercial agreements with Green Plains Trade, including:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
10-year storage and throughput agreement, expiring on June 30, 2028;
10-year rail transportation services agreement, expiring on June 30, 2025;
1-year trucking transportation agreement, expiring on May 31, 2021;
(cid:120) Terminal services agreement for the Birmingham, Alabama unit train terminal, expiring on December 31, 2022; and
(cid:120) Various other terminal services agreements for other fuel terminal facilities, each with Green Plains Trade.
The storage and throughput, rail transportation services, and trucking transportation agreements have various automatic
renewal terms if not cancelled by either party within specified timeframes.
The storage and throughput agreement and terminal services agreements are supported by minimum volume
commitments. The rail transportation services agreement is supported by minimum take-or-pay volumetric capacity
commitments.
Under the storage and throughput agreement, as amended, Green Plains Trade is obligated to deliver a minimum volume
of 232.5 mmg of product per calendar quarter at the partnership’s storage facilities and pay $0.05 per gallon on all volume it
throughputs through June 30, 2020, and $0.05312 per gallon subsequent to June 30, 2020. If Green Plains Trade fails to meet
its minimum volume commitment during any quarter, Green Plains Trade will pay the partnership a deficiency payment
equal to the deficient volume multiplied by the applicable fee. The deficiency payment may be applied as a credit toward
payments due on future volumes delivered by Green Plains Trade in excess of the minimum volume commitment during the
following four quarters, after which time this option will expire.
F-27
On November 15, 2018, as part of the sale of ethanol storage assets associated with the ethanol plants located in
Bluffton, Indiana, Lakota, Iowa, and Riga, Michigan, the storage and throughput agreement was amended to reduce the
minimum volume commitment from 296.6 mmg of product per calendar quarter to 235.7 mmg. In addition, the storage and
throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade was extended an additional three years to June 30, 2028.
On December 28, 2020, as part of the sale of ethanol storage assets associated with the ethanol plant located in Hereford,
Texas, the storage and throughput agreement was amended to reduce the minimum volume commitment from 235.7 mmg of
product per calendar quarter to 232.5 mmg.
As of December 31, 2019, the cumulative minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade totaled
$4.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2020, Green Plains Trade utilized credits of $0.3 million, and the
remaining balance of these prior year credits of $4.2 million expired.
As of December 31, 2020, the cumulative minimum volume deficiency credits available to Green Plains Trade totaled
$7.8 million. These credits expire, if unused, as follows:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
$4.3 million, expiring on June 30, 2021;
$2.4 million, expiring on September 30, 2021; and
$1.1 million, expiring on December 31, 2021.
The above credits have been previously recognized as revenue by the partnership, and as such, future volumes
throughput by Green Plains Trade in excess of the quarterly minimum volume commitment, up to the amount of these
credits, will not be recognized in revenue in future periods prior to expiration.
Under the rail transportation services agreement, Green Plains Trade is obligated to use the partnership to transport
ethanol and other fuels from receipt points identified by Green Plains Trade to nominated delivery points. During the years
ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the average monthly fee was approximately $0.0221, $0.0215 and $0.0221 per
gallon, respectively, for the average railcar volumetric capacity provided by the partnership, which was 80.6, 79.8 and 96.9
mmg, respectively. The partnership’s leased railcar fleet consisted of approximately 2,480 and 2,630 railcars as of December
31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Green Plains Trade is also obligated to use the partnership for logistical operations management and other services
related to railcar volumetric capacity provided by Green Plains Trade, which was approximately 1.2 mmg, 3.3 mmg and 6.6
mmg for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Green Plains Trade was obligated to pay a
monthly fee of approximately $0.0013, $0.0013 and $0.0014 per gallon for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and
2018, respectively, for these services. In addition, Green Plains Trade reimburses the partnership for costs related to: (1)
railcar switching and unloading fees; (2) increased costs related to changes in law or governmental regulation related to the
specification, operation or maintenance of railcars; (3) demurrage charges, except when the charges are due to the
partnership’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; and (4) fees related to rail transportation services under transportation
contracts with third-party common carriers. Green Plains Trade frequently contracts with the partnership for additional railcar
volumetric capacity during the normal course of business at comparable margins.
Under the trucking transportation agreement, Green Plains Trade pays the partnership to transport ethanol and other fuels
by truck from identified receipt points to various delivery points. Green Plains Trade is obligated to pay a monthly trucking
transportation services fee equal to the aggregate volume transported in a calendar month by the partnership’s trucks,
multiplied by the applicable rate for each truck lane. A truck lane is defined as a specific and routine route of travel between a
point of origin and point of destination. Rates for each truck lane are negotiated based on product, location, mileage and other
factors. Green Plains Trade reimburses the partnership for costs related to: (1) truck switching and unloading fees; (2)
increased costs related to changes in law or governmental regulation related to the specification, operation and maintenance
of trucks; and (3) fees related to trucking transportation services under transportation contracts with third-party common
carriers.
Under the Birmingham terminal services agreement, effective through December 31, 2022, Green Plains Trade is
obligated to throughput a minimum volume commitment of approximately 8.3 mmg per month and pay associated
throughput fees, as well as fees for ancillary services.
F-28
The partnership recorded revenues from Green Plains Trade under the storage and throughput agreement and rail
transportation services agreement of $69.9 million, $67.8 million and $85.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020,
2019 and 2018, respectively. The partnership also recorded revenues from Green Plains Trade related to trucking and
terminal services of $8.6 million, $7.8 million and $9.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Other Related Party Revenues and Expenses
The partnership incurred tank cleaning expenses charged by a subsidiary of the parent for cleaning of its storage tanks of
$22 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018. There were no charges for these services for the years ended December
31, 2020 or 2019.
16. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT
NLR Energy Logistics LLC
The partnership and Delek Renewables LLC have a 50/50 joint venture, NLR Energy Logistics LLC, which operates a
unit train terminal in the Little Rock, Arkansas area with capacity to unload 110-car unit trains and provide approximately
100,000 barrels of storage. The partnership entered into a project management agreement with NLR, effective June 23, 2017,
in which NLR provided the partnership a fixed monthly fee to coordinate and manage the development, design, and
construction of the Little Rock, Arkansas unit train terminal. Construction of the terminal was completed during the first
quarter of 2018. The partnership recognized $75 thousand within other income for the performance of these services for the
year ended December 31, 2018.
The partnership received its first distribution from NLR in the amount of $1.0 million during the year ended December
31, 2020. In addition, the partnership had an outstanding receivable of $25 thousand and $23 thousand due from NLR for
various reimbursable expenses as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, the partnership's
investment balance in the joint venture was $4.0 million.
The partnership does not consolidate any part of the assets or liabilities or operating results of its equity method investee.
The partnership’s share of net income or loss in the investee increases or decreases, as applicable, the carrying value of the
investment. With respect to NLR, the partnership determined that this entity does not represent a variable interest entity and
consolidation is not required. In addition, although the partnership has the ability to exercise significant influence over the
joint venture through board representation and voting rights, all significant decisions require the consent of the other investor
without regard to economic interest.
17. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
The following tables set forth certain unaudited financial data for each of the quarters within the years ended December
31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per unit amounts). This information has been derived from the partnership’s
consolidated financial statements and in management’s opinion, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of
the information for the quarters presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for
any future period.
Three Months Ended
December 31,
2020
September 30,
2020
June 30,
2020
March 31,
2020
Revenues
Operating expenses
Operating income
Other expense
Income tax expense
Income from equity method investee
Net income attributable to the partnership
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted):
Common units
Distribution declared
$
$
$
$
21,311 $
8,822
12,489
(2,331)
(46)
176
10,288 $
21,382 $
8,703
12,679
(2,498)
(30)
155
10,306 $
20,381 $
8,447
11,934
(1,820)
(105)
175
10,184 $
20,271
8,165
12,106
(1,864)
(31)
158
10,369
0.44 $
0.1200 $
0.44 $
0.1200 $
0.43 $
0.1200 $
0.44
0.1200
F-29
Revenues
Operating expenses
Operating income
Other expense
Income tax expense
Income from equity method investee
Net income attributable to the partnership
Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted):
Common units
Distribution declared
118. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Three Months Ended
December 31,
2019
September 30,
2019
June 30,
2019
March 31,
2019
$
$
$
$
20,321 $
8,039
12,282
(1,967)
(76)
151
10,390 $
20,154 $
8,156
11,998
(1,994)
(45)
173
10,132 $
20,825 $
7,992
12,833
(2,219)
(47)
142
10,709 $
21,087
8,967
12,120
(2,035)
(52)
215
10,248
0.44 $
0.4750 $
0.43 $
0.4750 $
0.45 $
0.4750 $
0.43
0.4750
On January 25, 2021, Green Plains entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its ethanol plant located in Ord,
Nebraska to GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC. Correspondingly, the partnership entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement
to sell its storage assets located adjacent to the Ord plant to Green Plains for $27.0 million, along with the transfer of
associated railcar operating leases. The funds received will be used to pay down debt. As part of this transaction, upon
closing, the quarterly storage and throughput minimum volume commitment with Green Plains Trade will be reduced to
217.7 mmg per quarter, and the storage and throughput agreement with Green Plains Trade will be extended an additional
year to June 30, 2029.
The transaction is anticipated to close within 45 days in conjunction with the completion of the Green Plains Ord ethanol
asset sale, subject to customary closing conditions. The terms of this transaction were approved by both the board of directors
of the general partner and the board of directors’ conflicts committee, which consists entirely of independent directors.
T
F-30
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Corporate Information
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TODD BECKER, Chairman
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
TODD BECKER
President and Chief Executive Officer
President and Chief Executive Officer
Green Plains Inc. | Green Plains Holdings LLC
CLAYTON KILLINGER1,2
Retired Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
CrossAmerica Partners LP | CST Brands, Inc.
JERRY PETERS
Retired Chief Financial Officer
PATRICH SIMPKINS
Chief Financial Officer
WALTER CRONIN
Chief Commercial Officer
PAUL KOLOMAYA
Chief Accounting Officer
Green Plains Inc. | Green Plains Holdings LLC
MICHELLE MAPES
Chief Legal and Administration Officer
MARK HUDAK
Executive Vice President
Human Resources
BRETT RILEY1,2
Independent Energy Consultant
MARTIN SALINAS JR.1,2
Former Chief Financial Officer
Energy Transfer Partners, LP
PATRICH SIMPKINS
Chief Financial Officer
Green Plains Inc. | Green Plains Holdings LLC
Member of: (1) Audit Committee, and/or (2) Conflicts Committee
CORPORATE OFFICE
STOCK TRANSFER AGENT
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106
402.884.8700
www.greenplainspartners.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
PHIL BOGGS, Senior Vice President
Investor Relations
phil.boggs@gpreinc.com
STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
The Nasdaq Global Market
Stock Ticker Symbol: GPP
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