COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, U.S. — Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC (SIRE) and Bunge North America, LLC announced on Jan. 2 that SIRE repurchased Bunge’s Series B membership units effective Dec. 31, 2019. The purchase was made under the terms of the Bunge Membership Interest Purchase Agreement and ends Bunge’s 13-year ownership interest in SIRE.

As part of the transaction, the two Series B directors appointed by Bunge, Andrés Martín and Brett Caplice, resigned from the SIRE board. In addition, the two companies revised commercial agreements.

“Since we first partnered in 2006 and in the following years, through construction and ethanol industry challenges, Bunge has been an invaluable partner for SIRE,” said Karol King, chairman of SIRE. “In particular, SIRE benefited throughout the years from commercial agreements for corn origination and products and in having two Bunge board members, who provided international agribusiness insight to our business.

“SIRE is very pleased today to be in the position to go forward as an entity wholly-owned by our farmer and community members, with Bunge’s ongoing support for our ethanol marketing.”

SIRE accessed its existing credit facility to fund the unit purchase transaction.  In addition to the stock repurchase, SIRE will assume responsibility for originating corn and selling dried distillers grains produced by the plant. Under a revised agreement, Bunge will continue to purchase all the ethanol produced by SIRE.  SIRE also will continue to lease rail cars from Bunge under existing lease agreements.

“As Bunge focuses our resources on our core businesses, selling our shares in SIRE, while maintaining a relationship, is an attractive opportunity,” said Andrés Martín, North America country manager for Bunge. “Bunge is proud to have been a partner in building and operating this successful ethanol plant and we look forward to continuing to work with the SIRE team.”

Mike Jerke, chief executive officer of SIRE, added, “While conditions in the ethanol industry are difficult, with Bunge’s capital support and strategic advice over the years, SIRE is and will continue to be a strong participant in the renewable energy industry and low-carbon economy. We look forward to continuing to work with Bunge on a daily basis in managing our ethanol sales and rail car fleet.”

SIRE is located on 275 acres in Council Bluffs, operating an ethanol plant that is permitted to produce 140 million gallons per year. SIRE began producing ethanol in February 2009 and sells its ethanol, distillers grains, corn syrup, and corn oil in the continental U.S., Mexico and the Pacific Rim.

Bunge sources, processes and supplies oilseed and grain products and ingredients around the world.