Increased Net Sales 128% to $385 Million and Gross Profit 209% to $42 Million in Q4 2021 vs. Q4 2020
Improved Net Income Available to Common Stockholders to $35 Million from Net Loss of $21 Million and Adjusted EBITDA 168% to $43 Million in Q4 2021 vs. Q4 2020
Grew Net Sales 35% to $1.2 Billion and Gross Profit 28% to $68 Million in 2021 vs. 2020
Improved Net Income Available to Common Stockholders to $44 Million and Adjusted EBITDA 15% to $77 Million in 2021 vs. 2020
Acquired Specialty Alcohol Distributor, Eagle Alcohol, in January 2022

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alto Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTO), a leading producer and distributor of specialty alcohols and essential ingredients, reported its fourth quarter and full year 2021 financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021.

"In 2021, by focusing on higher margin, consistent revenue markets, we succeeded in becoming a profitable business with significant, unique opportunities for top- and bottom-line growth," said Mike Kandris, CEO of Alto Ingredients. "During 2021, we invested in capacity, expanded our protein strategy, optimized assets, and secured valuable certifications. As a result, net sales reached $1.2 billion, up 35% over 2020, reflecting the solid specialty alcohol and essential ingredients business throughout the year and exceptional renewable fuel margins in the fourth quarter of 2021. In January 2022, we completed a downstream integration by acquiring a small-package distributor, Eagle Alcohol. Eagle fits perfectly into our strategic roadmap as we continue to raise the quality of our production to the highest grades of grain neutral spirits by further enhancing our distillation process, optimizing our production capabilities and integrating Eagle's strong distribution and sales services. Also, Eagle further diversifies our business with less emphasis on revenue related to commodities. Looking ahead, we plan to invest further in key differentiating assets as well as evaluate capital expenditure programs to create long-term stakeholder value."

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to 2020

Net sales were $385.5 million, compared to $168.8 million.
Cost of goods sold was $343.4 million, compared to $155.2 million.
Gross profit was $42.1 million, compared to $13.6 million.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $9.4 million, compared to $6.7 million.
Operating income was $37.3 million, compared to an operating loss of $14.2 million.
Net income available to common stockholders was $35.4 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared a net loss of $20.5 million, or $0.30 per share.
Adjusted EBITDA was $43.4 million, compared to $16.2 million.
Cash and cash equivalents were $50.6 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $47.7 million at December 31, 2020.
On November 8, 2021, the company announced the sale of its renewable fuel production facility in Stockton, California for $24.0 million in cash.

Financial Results for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to 2020

Net sales were $1.2 billion, compared to $897.0 million.
Cost of goods sold was $1.1 billion, compared to $844.2 million.
Gross profit was $67.8 million, compared to $52.9 million.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $29.2 million, compared to $32.0 million.
Operating income was $40.1 million, compared to $9.9 million.
Net income available to common stockholders was $44.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $16.4 million, or $0.28 per share.
Adjusted EBITDA was $76.8 million, compared to $66.6 million.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Results Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 10, 2022, 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 3612369. 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 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 10, 2022, through 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 17, 2022. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056. International callers should dial 00-1 (404) 537-3406. The pass code will be 3612369.

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, interest income, provision (benefit) for income taxes, asset impairments, loss on extinguishment of debt, purchase accounting adjustments, fair value adjustments, and depreciation 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) is a leading producer and distributor 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 company's 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 the benefits of the acquisition of Eagle Alcohol; and Alto Ingredients' other plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. It is important to note that Alto Ingredients' plans, 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 company's 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' facilities, 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 12, 2021.

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:

Kirsten Chapman, 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 December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2021			2020			2021			2020

Net sales	$	385,492		$	168,818		$	1,207,892		$	897,023
Cost of goods sold		343,379			155,181			1,140,108			844,164
Gross profit		42,113			13,637			67,784			52,859
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(9,408	)		(6,735	)		(29,185	)		(31,980	)
Gain on sale of assets		4,571			3,223			4,571			1,580
Gain on litigation settlement		—			—			—			11,750
Asset impairments		—			(24,356	)		(3,100	)		(24,356	)
Income (loss) from operations		37,276			(14,231	)		40,070			9,853
Income from loan forgiveness		—			—			9,860			—
Interest expense, net		(228	)		(3,790	)		(3,587	)		(17,943	)
Fair value adjustments		—			(2,462	)		—			(9,959	)
Other income, net		567			271			1,208			750
Income (loss) before income taxes		37,615			(20,212	)		47,551			(17,299	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		1,469			(17	)		1,469			(17	)
Consolidated net income (loss)		36,146			(20,195	)		46,082			(17,282	)
Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			2,166
Net income (loss) attributed to Alto Ingredients, Inc.	$	36,146		$	(20,195	)	$	46,082		$	(15,116	)
Preferred stock dividends	$	(319	)	$	(319	)	$	(1,265	)	$	(1,268	)
Income allocated to participating securities	$	(477	)	$	—		$	(600	)	$	—
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	35,350		$	(20,514	)	$	44,217		$	(16,384	)
Net income (loss) per share, basic	$	0.50		$	(0.30	)	$	0.62		$	(0.28	)
Net income (loss) per share, diluted	$	0.49		$	(0.30	)	$	0.61		$	(0.28	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic		71,387			67,512			71,098			58,609
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted		72,222			67,512			72,219			58,609


ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited, in thousands, except par value)

	December 31,		December 31,
ASSETS	2021		2020
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	50,612	$	47,667
Restricted cash		11,513		520
Accounts receivable, net		86,888		43,491
Inventories		54,373		37,925
Derivative assets		15,839		17,149
Assets held-for-sale		1,000		58,295
Other current assets		9,301		8,999
Total current assets		229,526		214,046
Property and equipment, net		222,550		229,486
Other Assets:
Right of use operating lease assets, net		13,413		11,046
Notes receivable		11,641		14,337
Other assets		7,823		7,903
Total other assets		32,877		33,286
Total Assets	$	484,953	$	476,818


ALTO INGREDIENTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED) (unaudited, in thousands, except par value)

	December 31,			December 31,
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	2021			2020
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable – trade	$	23,251		$	13,047
Accrued liabilities		21,307			11,101
Current portion – operating leases		3,909			2,180
Current portion – long-term debt		—			25,533
Derivative liabilities		13,582			—
Liabilities held-for-sale		—			19,542
Other current liabilities		7,553			15,524
Total current liabilities		69,602			86,927

Long-term debt, net of current portion		50,361			71,807
Operating leases, net of current portion		9,382			8,715
Other liabilities		10,394			13,134
Total Liabilities		139,739			180,583

Stockholders' Equity:
Alto Ingredients, Inc. Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized; Series A: 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 Series B: 927 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020		1			1
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 72,778 and 72,487 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively		73			72
Non-voting common stock, $0.001 par value; 3,553 shares authorized; 1 share issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		1,037,205			1,036,638
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(284	)		(3,878	)
Accumulated deficit		(691,781	)		(736,598	)
Total Stockholders' Equity		345,214			296,235
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	484,953		$	476,818

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
(unaudited)	2021			2020			2021			2020
Net income (loss) attributed to Alto Ingredients, Inc.	$	36,146		$	(20,195	)	$	46,082		$	(15,116	)
Adjustments:
Interest expense		228			3,790			3,587			17,943
Interest income		(177	)		(190	)		(730	)		(768	)
Asset impairments		—			24,356			3,100			24,356
Fair value adjustments		—			2,462			—			9,959
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		1,469			(17	)		1,469			(17	)
Depreciation expense		5,772			6,015			23,292			30,269
Total adjustments		7,292			36,416			30,718			81,742
Adjusted EBITDA	$	43,438		$	16,221		$	76,800		$	66,626

Commodity Price Performance

	Three Months Ended December 31,				Years Ended December 31,
(unaudited)	2021		2020		2021		2020
Renewable fuel production gallons sold (in millions)		42.6		33.0		161.1		181.0
Specialty alcohol production gallons sold (in millions)		26.3		16.0		89.5		90.9
Third party renewable fuel gallons sold (in millions)		48.5		51.6		229.0		264.4
Total gallons sold (in millions)		117.4		100.6		479.6		536.3

Total gallons produced (in millions)		69.6		53.0		251.7		262.1
Production capacity utilization		74%		47%		60%		53%

Average sales price per gallon	$	3.04	$	1.72	$	2.46	$	1.63
Average CBOT ethanol price per gallon	$	2.19	$	1.41	$	2.11	$	1.25

Corn cost – CBOT equivalent	$	5.69	$	3.79	$	5.70	$	3.56
Average basis	$	0.49	$	0.27	$	0.52	$	0.28
Delivered cost of corn	$	6.18	$	4.06	$	6.22	$	3.84

Total essential ingredient tons sold (in thousands)		349.7		270.0		1,236.2		1,447.5
Essential ingredient return % (1)		33.5%		42.6%		33.7%		44.1%
________________
(1) Essential ingredient revenue as a percentage of delivered cost of corn.

Segment Financials

(unaudited)	Three Months Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
	2021			2020			2021			2020
*Net sales*
Pekin Campus production, recorded as gross:
Alcohol sales	$	156,227		$	71,854		$	498,195		$	330,432
Essential ingredient sales		48,865			32,103			189,535			130,270
Intersegment sales		273			218			1,193			645
Total Pekin Campus sales		205,365			104,175			688,923			461,347
Marketing and distribution:
Alcohol sales, gross	$	123,720		$	43,585		$	379,422		$	256,209
Alcohol sales, net		264			405			1,753			1,529
Intersegment sales		2,784			1,898			10,061			9,648
Total marketing and distribution sales		126,768			45,888			391,236			267,386

Other production, recorded as gross:
Alcohol sales	$	44,622		$	15,800		$	107,931		$	137,703
Essential ingredient sales		11,794			5,071			31,056			40,880
Intersegment sales		68			187			964			1,309
Total Other production sales		56,484			21,058			139,951			179,892

Intersegment eliminations		(3,125	)		(2,303	)		(12,218	)		(11,602	)
Net sales as reported	$	385,492		$	168,818		$	1,207,892		$	897,023

*Cost of goods sold:*
Pekin Campus production	$	169,595		$	89,316		$	638,371		$	389,125
Marketing and distribution		125,567			42,637			371,371			253,465
Other production		49,348			25,069			136,401			206,412
Intersegment eliminations		(1,131	)		(1,841	)		(6,035	)		(4,838	)
Cost of goods sold as reported	$	343,379		$	155,181		$	1,140,108		$	844,164

*Gross profit (loss)*:
Pekin Campus production	$	35,770		$	14,859		$	50,552		$	72,222
Marketing and distribution		1,201			3,251			19,865			13,921
Other production		7,136			(4,011	)		3,550			(26,520	)
Intersegment eliminations		(1,994	)		(462	)		(6,183	)		(6,764	)
Gross profit as reported	$	42,113		$	13,637		$	67,784		$	52,859

Alto Ingredients, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results