Neil Koehler, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX), Interviews with The Wall Street Transcript
67 WALL STREET, New York - July 19, 2013 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Agricultural & Specialty Chemicals Report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This special feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs and Equity Analysts. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
Topics covered: Crop Yield Management - U.S. Corn Crop - Chemicals Companies Pricing Power - Fertilizers, Paints and Coatings, and Petrochemicals - Emerging Market Demand - Specialty Chemicals and Fertilizer Pricing Power
Companies include: Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) and many more.
In the following excerpt from the Agricultural & Specialty Chemicals Report, the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) discusses company strategy and the outlook for this vital industry:
TWST: At this point, how would you describe the competitive landscape for the company, and what are the chief advantages you have?
Mr. Koehler: It's a very competitive business, like any commodity business. I think what we have been very successful in differentiating what we do. We've done it geographically. When you look at where are in the western United States, we are unique. There is no other ethanol producer or marketer that has the breadth and the depth of representation and production and marketing in the western United States that we have, so that's a material differentiator.
On products, we've taken what is a commodity ethanol, and we've essentially been able to create a specialty product through the lower carbon nature of the ethanol and of the unique nature of our wet feed product, so that we've been able to extract value by having something other than just a commodity competing with others. So we feel that on a competitive basis, we are very well-positioned.
We've worked very hard over the last three years to position the company for growth by working diligently on delevering the company and creating a very strong balance sheet. We went from having $300 million of debt three years ago to having $100 million of debt from third-party lenders today. We went from having that $100 million of debt a year ago all due this week to now all have been either paid down or extended off into 2016. So we are also executing have a strong financial strategy.
We have an industry that has gone through some very difficult times over the last couple of years, but we've reached an inflection point where supply and demand is balanced. The industry is continuing to grow. Incremental capacity is going to need to be built to meet the future demand for the product, and we are very well-positioned to...
For more of this interview and many others visit the Wall Street Transcript - a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs, portfolio managers and research analysts. This special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online.
