GlobeNewswire Inc | Mar 10, 2021 04:05PM EST

March 10, 2021

-- Full year 2020 net loss of $16.4 million, which included a $24.4 million impairment charge -- Full year 2020 Adjusted EBITDA of $67.4 million -- Total debt reduced by approximately $146 million

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTO), a leading producer of specialty alcohols and essential ingredients, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

In 2020, we significantly increased production of our profitable specialty alcohols, reduced the impact of unprofitable fuel-grade operations by idling or selling assets, and lowered operating and overhead expenses, said Mike Kandris, CEO of Alto Ingredients. These efforts increased our 2020 Adjusted EBITDA to over $67 million, a remarkable achievement that was within our August 2020 guidance. We also significantly improved our balance sheet, reducing our total debt by approximately $146 million during 2020.

We are pursuing a more sustainable and profitable path forward, delivering quality products driven by solid consumer demand. We are currently operating plants with an annual production capacity of 290 million gallons, of which 70 million gallons of specialty alcohols are already contracted for 2021. Our transformation is far from complete and with a significantly improved balance sheet, we are actively developing and exploring new build and buy opportunities to grow and expand our business to further increase revenues and profitability while maintaining and controlling expenses. We believe we are well positioned to capitalize on the opportunities ahead to deliver long-term growth for all our stakeholders.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to 2019

-- Net sales were $168.8 million, compared to $357.6 million. -- Cost of goods sold was $155.2 million, compared to $354.4 million. -- Gross profit was $13.6 million, compared to $3.2 million. -- Selling, general and administrative expenses were $6.7 million, compared to $11.8 million. -- Operating loss was $14.2 million, compared to $37.9 million. -- Net loss available to common stockholders was $20.5 million, or $0.30 per share, and included an impairment charge of $24.4 million related to the companys Western assets. This compares to a loss of $41.4 million, or $0.85 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2019. -- Adjusted EBITDA was $16.4 million, compared to $1.9 million. -- Cash and cash equivalents were $47.7 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $19.0 million at December 31, 2019.

Financial Results for the Full Year 2020 Compared to 2019

-- Net sales were $897.0 million, compared to $1.4 billion. -- Cost of goods sold was $844.2 million, compared to $1.4 billion. -- Gross profit was $52.9 million, compared to a gross loss of $9.9 million. -- Selling, general and administrative expenses were $32.0 million, compared to $35.5 million. -- Operating income was $9.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $74.7 million. -- Net loss available to common stockholders was $16.4 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to a loss of $90.2 million, or $1.90 per share. -- Adjusted EBITDA was positive $67.4 million, compared to negative $1.7 million.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results Conference Call Management will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 11, 2021, and will deliver prepared remarks via webcast followed by a question-and-answer session.

The webcast for the call can be accessed from Alto Ingredients website at www.altoingredients.com. Alternatively, you may dial the following number up to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: (877) 847-6066. International callers should dial 00-1 (970) 315-0267. The pass code will be 8599307. If you are unable to participate in the live call, the webcast will be archived for replay on Alto Ingredients website for one year. In addition, a telephonic replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 11, 2021 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 18, 2021. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056. International callers should dial 00-1 (404) 537-3406. The pass code will be 8599307.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Management believes that certain financial measures not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") are useful measures of operations. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as unaudited net income (loss) attributed to Alto Ingredients, Inc. before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, asset impairments, loss on extinguishment of debt, purchase accounting adjustments, fair value adjustments, and depreciation and amortization expense. A table is provided at the end of this release that provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, net income (loss) attributed to Alto Ingredients, Inc. Management provides this non-GAAP measure so that investors will have the same financial information that management uses, which may assist investors in properly assessing the company's performance on a period-over-period basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) attributed to Alto Ingredients, Inc. or any other measure of performance under GAAP, or to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and you should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the company's results as reported under GAAP.

About Alto Ingredients, Inc.Alto Ingredients, Inc. (ALTO), formerly known as Pacific Ethanol, Inc., is a leading producer of specialty alcohols and essential ingredients. The company is focused on products for four key markets: Health, Home & Beauty; Food & Beverage; Essential Ingredients; and Renewable Fuels. The companys customers include major food and beverage companies and consumer products companies. For more information please visit www.altoingredients.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Statements and information contained in this communication that refer to or include Alto Ingredients estimated or anticipated future results or other non-historical expressions of fact are forward-looking statements that reflect Alto Ingredients current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of the communication. Forward looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as anticipate, believe, plan, could, should, estimate, expect, forecast, outlook, guidance, intend, may, might, will, possible, potential, predict, project, or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Alto Ingredients plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. It is important to note that Alto Ingredients objectives, expectations and intentions are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Alto Ingredients current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Alto Ingredients business. These factors include, among others, adverse economic and market conditions, including for specialty alcohols and essential ingredients; export conditions and international demand for the companys products; fluctuations in the price of and demand for oil and gasoline; raw material costs, including production input costs, such as corn and natural gas; and the effects both positive and negative of the coronavirus pandemic and its resurgence or abatement. These factors also include, among others, the inherent uncertainty associated with financial and other projections; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Alto Ingredients products; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the risks and uncertainties normally incident to the specialty alcohol production and marketing industries; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; successful compliance with governmental regulations applicable to Alto Ingredients distilleries, products and/or businesses; changes in laws, regulations and governmental policies; the loss of key senior management or staff; and other events, factors and risks previously and from time to time disclosed in Alto Ingredients filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, specifically, those factors set forth in the Risk Factors section contained in Alto Ingredients Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2020.

Media Contact:Bryon McGregor, Alto Ingredients, Inc., 916-403-2768, mediarelations@altoingredients.com

Company IR Contact:Michael Kramer, Alto Ingredients, Inc., 916-403-2755, Investorrelations@altoingredients.com

IR Agency Contact: Moriah Shilton, LHA Investor Relations, 415-433-3777, Investorrelations@altoingredients.com

ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net sales $ 168,818 $ 357,617 $ 897,023 $ 1,424,881 Cost of goods sold 155,181 354,421 844,164 1,434,819 Gross profit (loss) 13,637 3,196 52,859 (9,938 )Selling, general and (6,735 ) (11,823 ) (31,980 ) (35,453 )administrative expensesGain on litigation ? ? 11,750 ? settlementGain on sale of assets 3,223 ? 1,580 ? Asset impairments (24,356 ) (29,292 ) (24,356 ) (29,292 )Income (loss) from (14,231 ) (37,919 ) 9,853 (74,683 )operationsLoss on debt ? (6,517 ) ? (6,517 )extinguishmentInterest expense, net (3,790 ) (5,192 ) (17,943 ) (20,206 )Fair value adjustments (2,462 ) ? (9,959 ) ? Other income (expense), 271 (147 ) 750 104 netLoss before benefit for (20,212 ) (49,775 ) (17,299 ) (101,302 )income taxesBenefit for income (17 ) (20 ) (17 ) (20 )taxesConsolidated net loss (20,195 ) (49,755 ) (17,282 ) (101,282 )Net loss attributed tononcontrolling ? 8,671 2,166 12,333 interestsNet loss attributed to $ (20,195 ) $ (41,084 ) $ (15,116 ) $ (88,949 )Alto Ingredients, Inc.Preferred stock $ (319 ) $ (319 ) $ (1,268 ) $ (1,265 )dividendsNet loss available to $ (20,514 ) $ (41,403 ) $ (16,384 ) $ (90,214 )common stockholdersNet loss per share, $ (0.30 ) $ (0.85 ) $ (0.28 ) $ (1.90 )basic and dilutedWeighted-average sharesoutstanding, basic and 67,512 48,438 58,609 47,384 diluted

ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(unaudited, in thousands, except par value) December 31, December 31,ASSETS 2020 2019Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 47,667 $ 18,997Accounts receivable, net 43,491 74,307Inventories 41,767 60,600Prepaid inventory 891 1,528Assets held-for-sale 58,295 69,764Derivative assets 17,149 2,438Other current assets 4,786 4,430Total current assets 214,046 232,064Property and equipment, net 229,486 332,526Other Assets: Right of use operating lease assets, net 11,046 24,346Notes receivable 14,337 ?Assets held-for-sale ? 16,500Intangible assets 2,678 2,678Other assets 5,225 4,381Total other assets 33,286 47,905Total Assets $ 476,818 $ 612,495

ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC.CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)(unaudited, in thousands, except par value) December 31, December 31,LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS? EQUITY 2020 2019Current Liabilities: Accounts payable ? trade $ 13,047 $ 29,277 Accrued liabilities 11,101 22,331 Current portion ? operating leases 2,180 3,457 Current portion ? long-term debt 25,533 63,000 Derivative liabilities ? 1,860 Liabilities held-for-sale 19,542 34,413 Other current liabilities 15,524 6,060 Total current liabilities 86,927 160,398 Long-term debt, net of current 71,807 180,795 portionOperating leases, net of current 8,715 21,171 portionOther liabilities 13,134 23,086 Total Liabilities 180,583 385,450 Stockholders? Equity: Alto Ingredients, Inc. Stockholders? Equity:Preferred stock, $0.001 par value;10,000 shares authorized; Series A: 0 shares issued andoutstanding as ofDecember31, 2020 1 1 and 2019 Series B: 927 shares issued andoutstanding as of December 31, 2020and 2019Common stock, $0.001 par value;300,000 shares authorized; 72,491 and55,508 shares 72 56 issued and outstanding as ofDecember31, 2020 and 2019,respectivelyNon-voting common stock, $0.001 parvalue; 3,553 shares authorized; 1 ? ? share issued and outstanding as ofDecember31, 2020 and 2019Additional paid-in capital 1,036,638 942,307 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,878 ) (2,370 )Accumulated deficit (736,598 ) (720,214 )Total Alto Ingredients, Inc. 296,235 219,780 Stockholders? EquityNoncontrolling Interests ? 7,265 Total Stockholders? Equity 296,235 227,045 Total Liabilities and Stockholders? $ 476,818 $ 612,495 Equity

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss

Three Months Ended Years Ended December 31, December 31,(unaudited) 2020 2019 2020 2019Net loss attributed to $ (20,195 ) $ (41,084 ) $ (15,116 ) $ (88,949 )Alto Ingredients, Inc.Adjustments: Interest expense, net 3,790 5,192 17,943 20,206 Asset impairments* 24,356 21,655 24,356 21,655 Fair value adjustments 2,462 ? 9,959 ? Loss on debt ? 6,517 ? 6,517 extinguishmentBenefit for income taxes (17 ) (20 ) (17 ) (20 )Depreciation and 6,015 9,648 30,269 38,880 amortization expense*Total adjustments 36,606 42,992 82,510 87,238 Adjusted EBITDA $ 16,411 $ 1,908 $ 67,394 $ (1,711 ) ________________ * Adjusted for noncontrolling interests.

Commodity Price Performance

Three Months Ended Years Ended December 31, December 31,(unaudited) 2020 2019 2020 2019Production gallons sold (in 49.0 125.4 271.9 491.0 millions)Third party gallons sold (in 51.6 70.1 264.4 328.4 millions)Total gallons sold (in 100.6 195.5 536.3 819.4 millions) Production capacity 49% 82% 56% 82% utilization Average sales price per $ 1.72 $ 1.70 $ 1.63 $ 1.61 gallonAverage CBOT ethanol price $ 1.41 $ 1.42 $ 1.25 $ 1.39 per gallon Corn cost ? CBOT equivalent $ 3.79 $ 3.93 $ 3.56 $ 3.83 Average basis $ 0.27 $ 0.46 $ 0.28 $ 0.43 Delivered cost of corn $ 4.06 $ 4.39 $ 3.84 $ 4.26 Total co-product tons sold 270.0 725.7 1,447.5 2,821.7 (in thousands)Co-product return % (1) 42.6% 35.6% 44.1% 35.1% ________________ (1) Co-product revenue as a percentage of delivered cost of corn.