The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated
financial statements.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
April 30, 2023
Note 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
References to the Company – References
to “REX” or the “Company” in the consolidated financial statements and in these notes to the consolidated
condensed financial statements refer to REX American Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its majority and wholly
owned subsidiaries.
The consolidated financial statements
included in this report have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to state fairly the
information set forth therein. Any such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. Certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the
disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Financial information as of January 31, 2023
included in these financial statements has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2023 (fiscal year 2022). These
unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes
thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2023. The results of operations
for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year.
Basis of Consolidation – The consolidated
financial statements in this report include the operating results and financial position of the Company. All intercompany balances
and transactions have been eliminated. The Company consolidates the results of its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries.
The Company includes the results of operations of One Earth Energy, LLC (“One Earth”) in its Consolidated Statements
of Operations on a delayed basis of one month as One Earth has a fiscal year end of December 31.
Stock Split – On June 21, 2022,
the Board of Directors of the Company adopted resolutions declaring a three-for-one split of the Company’s Common Stock to
be effectuated in the form of a 200% stock dividend, payable on August 5, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business
on July 29, 2022. The stock split has been retroactively reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Nature of Operations – The Company
has one reportable segment, ethanol and by-products. Within the ethanol and by-products segment, the Company has equity investments
in three ethanol limited liability companies, two of which are majority ownership interests.
Note 2. Accounting Policies
The interim consolidated condensed financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included
in the
Company’s fiscal year 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. While management
believes that the procedures followed in the preparation of interim financial information are reasonable, the accuracy of some
estimated amounts is dependent upon facts that will exist or calculations that will be accomplished at fiscal year-end. Examples
of such estimates include accrued liabilities, such as management bonuses, and the provision for income taxes. Any adjustments
pursuant to such estimates during the quarter were of a normal recurring nature. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash
equivalents includes bank deposits as well as short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or
less.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes sales of ethanol,
distillers grains and distillers corn oil when obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied;
this occurs with the transfer of control of products, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail
car used to transport the products.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes depreciation, costs
of raw materials, inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, other distribution expenses, warehousing
costs, plant repair and maintenance costs, plant management, certain compensation costs and general facility overhead charges.
Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”)
Expenses
The Company includes non-production related
costs such as professional fees, outbound freight charges, selling charges and certain payroll in SG&A expenses. Outbound freight
charges were approximately $5,061,000 and $273,000 in the first quarter of fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Financial Instruments
Certain of the forward corn purchase and ethanol,
distillers grains and distillers corn oil sale contracts are accounted for under the “normal purchases and normal sales”
scope exemption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC
815”) because these arrangements are for purchases of corn that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used by the
Company and sales of ethanol, distillers grains and distillers corn oil in quantities expected to be produced by the Company over
a reasonable period of time in the normal course of business.
The Company uses derivative financial instruments
(exchange-traded futures contracts) to manage a portion of the risk associated with changes in commodity prices, primarily related
to corn. The Company monitors and manages this exposure as part of its overall risk management policy. As such, the Company seeks
to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of these markets may have on its operating results. The Company may
take hedging positions in these commodities as one way to mitigate risk. While the Company attempts to link its hedging activities
to purchase and sales activities, there are situations in
which these hedging activities can themselves result in losses.
The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The changes in fair value
of these derivative financial instruments are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.
Income Taxes
The Company applies an effective tax rate to
interim periods that is consistent with the Company’s estimated annual tax rate as adjusted for discrete items impacting
the interim periods. The Company provides for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences attributable
to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis
and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company provides for a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available
positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
Company paid income taxes of approximately $4.5 million and received no refunds during the three months ended April 30, 2023. The
Company paid no income taxes and received no refunds of income taxes during the three months ended April 30, 2022.
As of April 30, 2023, and January 31, 2023, total
unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $19,033,000. Accrued penalties and interest were approximately $51,000 and approximately
$55,000 at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively. If the Company were to prevail on all unrecognized tax benefits recorded,
the provision for income taxes would be reduced by approximately $18.9 million. In addition, the impact of penalties and interest
would also benefit the effective tax rate. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits are recorded within
income tax expense. On a quarterly basis, the Company accrues for the effects of open uncertain tax positions and the related potential
penalties and interest.
Inventories
Inventories are carried at the lower of cost
or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory includes direct production costs and certain overhead costs such
as depreciation, property taxes and utilities associated with producing ethanol and related by-products. Inventory is written down
for instances when cost exceeds estimated net realizable value; such write-downs are based primarily upon commodity prices as the
market value of inventory is often dependent upon changes in commodity prices. The Company recorded no inventory write-downs in
cost of sales at April 30, 2023 and approximately $0.7 million of inventory write-downs in cost of sales at January 31, 2023. Fluctuations
in the write-down of inventory generally relate to the levels and composition of such inventory and changes in commodity prices
at a given point in time.
The components of inventory are as follows as
of the dates presented (amounts in thousands):
| |
April 30, 2023 | | |
January 31, 2023 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Ethanol and other finished goods | |
|
$ | 4,519 | | |
|
$ | 12,695 | |
Work in process | |
|
| 8,551 | | |
|
| 10,194 | |
Corn and other raw materials | |
|
| 28,229 | | |
|
| 25,855 | |
Total | |
|
$ | 41,299 | | |
|
$ | 48,744 | |
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost or
the fair value on the date of acquisition (for property and equipment acquired in a business combination). Depreciation is computed
using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 15 to 40 years for buildings and improvements, and 3 to 20 years for
fixtures and equipment.
In accordance with ASC 360-10 “Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for recoverability by management
when changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company did not identify any indicators
of impairment or record any impairment charges during the first three months of fiscal years 2023 or 2022.
The Company tests for recoverability
of an asset group by comparing its carrying amount to its estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If the carrying amount exceeds
its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the asset group’s
carrying amount exceeds its fair value, if any.
Investments
The method of accounting applied to long-term
investments, whether consolidated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of the significant terms of each investment that explicitly
grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the operations of the investee and also includes the identification of any
variable interests in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company accounts for investments in a limited liability
company in which it has a less than 20% ownership interest using the equity method of accounting when the factors discussed in
ASC 323, “Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures” are met. The excess of the carrying value over the underlying
equity in the net assets of equity method investees is allocated to specific assets and liabilities. Investments in businesses
that the Company does not control but for which it has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial
matters are accounted for using the equity method. The Company accounts for its investment in Big River Resources, LLC (“Big
River”) using the equity method of accounting and includes the results on a delayed basis of one month as Big River has a
fiscal year end of December 31.
The Company periodically evaluates its investments
for impairment due to declines in market value considered to be other than temporary. Such impairment evaluations include general
economic and company-specific evaluations. If the Company determines that a decline in market value is other than temporary, then
a charge to earnings is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and a new cost basis in the investment is established.
Short-term investments are considered held to
maturity, and therefore are carried at amortized historical cost.
Comprehensive Income
The Company has no components of other comprehensive
income, and therefore, comprehensive income equals net income.
Note 3. Net Sales and Revenue
The Company recognizes sales of products when
obligations under the terms of the respective contracts with customers are satisfied. This occurs with the transfer of control
of products, generally upon shipment from the ethanol plant or upon loading of the rail car used to transport the products. Revenue
is measured as the amount of consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring goods. Sales, value added and other
taxes the Company collects concurrent with revenue producing activities are excluded from net sales and revenue.
The majority of the Company’s sales have
payment terms ranging from 5 to 10 days after transfer of control. The Company has determined that sales contracts do not generally
include a significant financing component. The Company has not historically, and does not intend to, enter sales contracts in which
payment is due from a customer prior to transferring product to the customer. Thus, the Company does not record unearned revenue.
The following tables shows disaggregated revenue
by product (amounts in thousands):
| |
Three Months Ended April 30, | |
| |
| 2023 | | |
| 2022 | |
Sales of products | |
| | | |
| | |
Ethanol | |
| $157,549 | | |
| $146,462 | |
Dried distillers grains | |
| 39,706 | | |
| 31,897 | |
Distillers corn oil | |
| 13,081 | | |
| 11,102 | |
Modified distillers grains | |
| 1,565 | | |
| 4,355 | |
Derivative financial instrument gains | |
| 730 | | |
| 322 | |
Other | |
| 83 | | |
| 90 | |
Total | |
| $212,714 | | |
| $194,228 | |
Note 4. Leases
At April 30, 2023, the Company had lease agreements,
as lessee, for railcars. All of the leases are accounted for as operating leases. The lease agreements do not contain a specified
implicit interest rate; therefore, the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate was used to determine the present value
of future minimum lease payments. The exercise of any lease option renewal is at the Company’s sole discretion. The lease
term for all of the Company’s leases includes the noncancelable period of the lease and any periods covered by renewal options
that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. Certain
leases include rent escalations pre-set in the agreements, which
are factored into the lease payment stream. The components of lease expense, classified as SG&A expenses on the Consolidated
Statement of Operations are as follows (amounts in thousands):
| |
Three Months Ended April 30, | |
| |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Operating lease expense | |
|
$ | 1,761 | | |
|
$ | 1,610 | |
Variable lease expense | |
|
| 242 | | |
|
| 394 | |
Total lease expense | |
|
$ | 2,003 | | |
|
$ | 2,004 | |
The following table is a summary of future minimum
rentals on such leases at April 30, 2023 (amounts in thousands):
Years Ended January 31, | Minimum Rentals | |
| |
| | |
Remainder of 2024 | |
$ | 3,796 | |
2025 | |
| 4,432 | |
2026 | |
| 2,277 | |
2027 | |
| 2,229 | |
2028 | |
| 1,799 | |
Thereafter | |
| 446 | |
Total | |
| 14,979 | |
Less: present value discount | |
| 1,141 | |
Operating lease liabilities | |
$ | 13,838 | |
At April 30, 2023, the weighted average remaining lease term
is 3.5 years, and the weighted average discount rate is 5.55% for the above leases. At January 31, 2023, the weighted average
remaining lease term was 3.7 years, and the weighted average discount rate was 5.51% for the above leases.
Note 5. Fair Value
The Company applies ASC 820, “Fair Value
Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), which provides a framework for measuring fair value under accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This accounting standard defines fair value as the exchange price
that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market
for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.
The Company determines the fair market values
of its financial instruments based on the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820 which requires an entity to maximize the
use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels
of inputs that may be used to measure fair values which are provided below. The Company carries certain cash equivalents, investments
and derivative instruments at fair value.
The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities
traded in the over-the-counter market are determined using quantitative models that require the use of multiple market inputs including
interest rates, prices and indices to generate pricing and volatility factors, which are used to value the position. The predominance
of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and
third-party pricing services. Estimation risk is greater for derivative asset and liability positions that are either option-based
or have longer maturity dates where observable market inputs are less readily available or are unobservable, in which case interest
rate, price or index scenarios are extrapolated in order to determine the fair value. The fair values of derivative assets and
liabilities include adjustments for market liquidity, counterparty credit quality, the Company’s own credit standing and
other specific factors, where appropriate.
To ensure the prudent application of estimates
and management judgment in determining the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities, investments and property and equipment,
various processes and controls have been adopted, which include: (i) model validation that requires a review and approval for pricing,
financial statement fair value determination and risk quantification; and (ii) periodic review and substantiation of profit and
loss reporting for all derivative instruments. Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at
April 30, 2023 are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
| |
Level 1 | | |
Level 2 | | |
Level 3 | | |
Fair Value | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Investment in cooperative (1) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 354 | | |
|
$ | 354 | |
Forward purchase contracts asset (2) | |
| - | | |
| 1,301 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 1,301 | |
Commodity futures asset (2) | |
| - | | |
| 2,366 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 2,366 | |
Total assets | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 3,667 | | |
$ | 354 | | |
|
$ | 4,021 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
| | |
Forward purchase contracts liability (3) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 2,097 | | |
$ | - | | |
|
$ | 2,097 | |
Commodity futures liability (3) | |
| - | | |
| 554 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 554 | |
Total liabilities | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 2,651 | | |
$ | - | | |
|
$ | 2,651 | |
Financial assets and liabilities measured at
fair value on a recurring basis at January 31, 2023 are summarized below (amounts in thousands):
| |
Level 1 | | |
Level 2 | | |
Level 3 | | |
Fair Value | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Investment in cooperative (1) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 354 | | |
|
$ | 354 | |
Forward purchase contracts asset (2) | |
| - | | |
| 105 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 105 | |
Commodity futures (2) | |
| - | | |
| 80 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 80 | |
Total assets | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 185 | | |
$ | 354 | | |
|
$ | 539 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
|
| | |
Forward purchase contracts liability (3) | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 355 | | |
$ | - | | |
|
$ | 355 | |
Commodity futures (3) | |
| - | | |
| 67 | | |
| - | | |
|
| 67 | |
Total liabilities | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 422 | | |
$ | - | | |
|
$ | 422 | |
(1) The investment in cooperative
is included in “Other assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(2) The forward purchase contracts
and commodity futures assets are included in “Prepaid expenses and other” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance
Sheets.
(3) The commodity futures and forward
purchase contracts liabilities are included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the accompanying
Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company determined the fair value of the
investment in cooperative by using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows. Inputs used in the analysis include
the face value of the allocated equity amount, the projected term for repayment based upon a historical trend and a risk adjusted
discount rate based on the expected compensation participants would demand because of the uncertainty of the future cash flows.
The inherent risk and uncertainty associated with unobservable inputs could have a significant effect on the actual fair value
of the investment.
There were no assets measured at fair value on
a non-recurring basis at April 30, 2023 or January 31, 2023.
Note 6. Property and Equipment
The components of property and equipment are
as follows for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):
| |
April 30, 2023 | | |
January 31, 2023 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Land and improvements | |
$ | 31,098 | | |
$ | 30,194 | |
Buildings and improvements | |
| 23,740 | | |
| 23,707 | |
Machinery, equipment, and fixtures | |
| 300,330 | | |
| 299,665 | |
Construction in progress | |
| 12,635 | | |
| 10,255 | |
| |
| 367,803 | | |
| 363,821 | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation | |
| (232,678) | | |
| (228,324) | |
Total | |
$ | 135,125 | | |
$ | 135,497 | |
Note 7. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
The components of accrued expenses and other
current liabilities are as follows for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):
| |
April 30,
2023 | | |
January 31, 2023 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Accrued payroll and related items | |
$ | 2,300 | | |
$ | 4,428 | |
Accrued utility charges | |
| 2,964 | | |
| 4,116 | |
Accrued transportation related items | |
| 1,311 | | |
| 1,311 | |
Accrued real estate taxes | |
| 2,051 | | |
| 1,850 | |
Commodity futures | |
| 554 | | |
| 67 | |
Forward purchase contracts | |
| 2,097 | | |
| 355 | |
Accrued income taxes | |
| 229 | | |
| 2,049 | |
Other | |
| 1,667 | | |
| 1,152 | |
Total | |
$ | 13,173 | | |
$ | 15,328 | |
Note 8. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company is exposed to various market risks,
including changes in commodity prices (raw materials and finished goods). To manage risks associated with the volatility of these
natural business exposures, the Company enters into commodity agreements and forward purchase (corn and natural gas) and sale (ethanol,
distillers grains and distillers corn oil) contracts. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative financial instruments for
trading or speculative purposes. The Company does not purchase or sell derivative financial instruments for which a lack of marketplace
quotations would require the use of fair value estimation techniques. The changes in fair value of these derivative financial instruments
are recognized in current period earnings as the Company does not use hedge accounting.
The following table provides information about
the fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments (that are not accounted for under the “normal purchases
and normal sales” scope exemption of ASC 815) and the line items on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in which the fair values
are reflected (in thousands):
| |
Asset Derivatives Fair Value | | |
Liability Derivatives Fair Value | |
| |
April 30, 2023 | | |
January 31, 2023 | | |
April 30, 2023 | | |
January 31, 2023 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Commodity futures (1) | |
$ | 2,366 | | |
$ | 80 | | |
$ | 554 | | |
$ | 67 | |
Forward purchase contracts (2) | |
| 1,301 | | |
| 105 | | |
| 2,097 | | |
| 355 | |
Total | |
$ | 3,667 | | |
$ | 185 | | |
$ | 2,651 | | |
$ | 422 | |
(1) Commodity futures assets are included in
“Prepaid expenses and other” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These contracts include short/sell
positions and long/buy positions for
approximately 5.5 million bushels and 20,000 bushels
of corn, respectively at April 30, 2023. These contracts included short/sell positions and long/buy positions for approximately 3.2 million
bushels and 725,000 bushels of corn, respectively at January 31, 2023. Commodity futures liabilities are included in
“Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These contracts included
short/sell positions for approximately 3.9 million bushels and 1.4 million bushels of corn at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023,
respectively.
(2) Forward purchase contracts assets are included in
“Prepaid expenses and other” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These contracts were for purchases of
approximately 9.3 million bushels and 5.2 million bushels of corn at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively. Forward
contract liabilities are included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the accompanying Consolidated
Condensed Balance Sheets. These contracts were for purchases of approximately 9.8 million bushels and 12.8 million bushels of corn
at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.
As of April 30, 2023, and January 31, 2023,
all of the derivative financial instruments held by the Company were subject to enforceable master netting arrangements with the
counterparty. The Company’s accounting policy is to offset positions and amounts owed with the same counterparty. As of April
30, 2023, and January 31, 2023, the gross positions of the enforceable master netting agreements were not significantly different
from the net positions presented in the table above. Depending on the amount of an unrealized loss on a derivative contract held
by the Company, the counterparty may require collateral to secure the Company’s derivative contract position. The Company
was required to maintain collateral in the amount of approximately $3,379,000 and approximately $1,735,000 to secure the Company’s
derivative liability position at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, which is recorded as “Restricted cash”
on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
See Note 5 which contains fair value information
related to derivative financial instruments.
The Company recognized gains, which are included
in “Net sales and revenue” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations, on derivative financial instruments
of approximately $730,000 and $322,000 for the first quarter of fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company recognized gains (losses), which
are included in “Cost of sales” in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations, on derivative financial instruments
of approximately $5,806,000 and of $(11,776,000) for the first quarter of fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Note 9. Investments
Equity Method Investment in Big
River
The following table summarizes the Company’s equity
method investment at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands):
|
|
|
|
Carrying Amount |
Entity |
|
Ownership Percentage |
|
April 30, 2023 |
|
January 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big River |
|
10.3% |
|
$34,535 |
|
$ 33,045 |
Undistributed earnings of the Company’s equity
method investee totaled approximately $14.5 million and approximately $13.0 million at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.
The Company did not receive any dividends from its equity method investee in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 or 2022.
Summarized financial information for the Company’s
equity method investee is presented in the following table for the periods presented (amounts in thousands):
| |
Three Months Ended April 30,
| |
| |
|
2023 | | |
|
2022 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Net sales and revenue | |
$ | 374,503 | | |
$ | 351,746 | |
Gross profit | |
$ | 17,552 | | |
$ | 22,024 | |
Income from continuing operations | |
$ | 14,447 | | |
$ | 18,925 | |
Net income | |
$ | 14,447 | | |
$ | 18,925 | |
Short-term Investments
At April 30, 2023, the Company owned United States Treasury
Bills (classified as short-term investments) that had an amortized cost, or carrying value, of approximately $188.1 million. The contractual
maturity of these investments was less than one year. The yield to maturity rate was approximately 4.7%. Unrealized gains or losses were
insignificant.
At January 31, 2023, the Company owned United States
Treasury Bills (classified as short-term investments) that had an amortized cost, or carrying value, of approximately $211.3 million.
The contractual maturity of these investments was less than one year. The yield to maturity rate was approximately 3.9%. Unrealized gains
or losses were insignificant.
Note 10. Employee Benefits
The Company maintains the REX 2015
Incentive Plan, approved by its shareholders, which reserves a total of 1,650,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to its
terms. The plan provides for the granting of shares of stock, including options to purchase shares of common stock, stock appreciation
rights tied to the value of common stock, restricted stock, and restricted stock unit awards to eligible employees,
non-employee directors
and consultants. Until 2022, the Company had only granted restricted stock awards. In May 2022, the Company issued
restricted stock units to certain officers of the Company which vest based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) compared
to the TSRs of companies that comprise the Russell 2000 Index over a three-year performance period. The Company measures share-based compensation
grants at fair value on the grant date, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The Company records non-cash compensation expense related
to liability and equity awards in its consolidated financial statements over the requisite service period on a straight-line basis. At
April 30, 2023, 1,342,842 shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, excluding the impact of the 67,500 restricted stock units
that may vest between zero and 135,000 shares of stock depending on certain performance metrics being achieved.
Restricted Stock Awards
As a component of their compensation,
restricted stock has been granted to directors and certain employees at the closing market price of REX common stock on the grant date.
In addition, one quarter of executives’ incentive compensation is payable by an award of restricted stock-based on the then closing
market price of REX common stock on the grant date. The Company’s board of directors has determined that the grant date will be
June 15th, or the next business day if June 15th is not a business day, for all grants of restricted stock.
At April 30, 2023 and January 31,
2023, unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock awards was approximately $291,000 and $450,000 respectively.
The following tables summarize non-vested restricted stock award activity for the periods presented:
| |
| Three Months Ended April 30, 2023 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| Non-Vested Shares | | |
| Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (000’s) | | |
| Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Non-Vested at January 31, 2023 | |
| 81,264 | | |
$ | 2,320 | | |
| 2 | |
Granted | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Forfeited | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Vested | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Non-Vested at April 30, 2023 | |
| 81,264 | | |
$ | 2,320 | | |
| 2 | |
| |
| Three Months Ended April 30, 2022 |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| |
| |
| Non-Vested Shares | | |
| Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value (000’s) | | |
| Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Term (in years) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| |
Non-Vested at January 31, 2022 | |
| 30,167 | | |
$ | 773 | | |
| 1 | |
Granted | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Forfeited | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Vested | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| | |
Non-Vested at April 30, 2022 | |
| 30,167 | | |
$ | 773 | | |
| 1 | |
An additional 75,100 shares were
authorized by the Board of Directors to be granted on June 15, 2023 to certain officers and employees of the Company.
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
In May 2022, the Company issued
a total of 67,500 RSUs to certain officers. The number of RSUs eligible to vest will be determined based on how the Company’s TSR
compares to the TSR of companies that comprise the Russell 2000 Index during the performance period ending December 31, 2024. The number
of RSUs eligible to vest ranges from zero percent to two hundred percent, depending on actual performance during the performance period.
For the three month period ended
April 30, 2023, the Company recognized compensation cost of approximately $265,000 related to the RSUs. Unrecognized compensation cost
related to the RSUs at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, was approximately $1.8 million and 2.0 million, respectively.
Note 11. Income Taxes
The Company’s income tax provision was approximately
$2.0 million and approximately $1.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company assessed all available positive and negative
evidence to determine whether it expects sufficient future taxable income will be generated to allow for the realization of existing federal
deferred tax assets. The Company ceased operation of its refined coal business on November 18, 2021. There is sufficient objectively verifiable
income for management to conclude that it is more likely than not that the Company will utilize available federal deferred tax assets
prior to their expiration.
The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and
various state income tax returns. In general, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations
by tax authorities for years ended January 31, 2014 and prior. The Company is currently undergoing a federal income tax examination for
the years ended January 31, 2015 through January 31, 2020.
On a quarterly and annual basis, the Company accrues
for the effects of open uncertain tax positions and the related potential penalties and interest. It is reasonably possible that the amount
of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease during the next 12 months;
however, the Company does not expect the change to have a material effect on results of operations or financial position. A reconciliation
of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, is as follows (amounts in thousands):
| |
| Three Months Ended April 30, | |
| |
| 2023 | | |
| 2022 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period | |
$ | 19,088 | | |
$ | 16,781 | |
Changes for prior years’ tax positions | |
| (3) | | |
| 88 | |
Changes for current year tax positions | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of period | |
$ | 19,085 | | |
$ | 16,869 | |
Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company may be involved in various legal actions arising in the
normal course of business, from time to time. After taking into consideration legal counsels’ evaluations of any such action(s),
management is of the opinion that their outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements. The Company recorded a liability of $250,000 at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, as a probable and reasonably estimable
loss associated with a legal contingency for a patent infringement case involving our refined coal facility which is no longer in operation.
One Earth and NuGen have combined forward purchase
contracts for approximately 20.3 million bushels of corn, the principal raw material for their ethanol plants, and they have combined
forward purchase contracts for approximately 4.1 million MmBtu (million British thermal unit) of natural gas.
One Earth and NuGen have combined sales commitments
for approximately 42.8 million gallons of ethanol, approximately 82,000 tons of distillers grains and approximately 13.9 million pounds
of distillers corn oil.
Note 13. Related-Party Transactions
During the first quarter of fiscal years 2023 and 2022,
One Earth and NuGen purchased approximately $33.8 million and approximately $30.7 million, respectively, of corn (and other supplies)
from minority equity investors and board members of those affiliates. The Company had amounts payable to related parties of approximately
$0.3 million and approximately $1.5 million at April 30, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.