Pacific Ethanol, Inc. Receives Extension to Regain Compliance With NASDAQ Listing Requirements

Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

, the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States, announced it received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market ("NASDAQ") on December 5, 2012, granting a 180-day extension period in which to regain compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires listed securities to maintain a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share. As previously announced, the Company received a letter from NASDAQ on June 6, 2012 notifying the Company it was not in compliance with the $1.00 minimum closing bid requirement for continued listing under the NASDAQ listing rules. NASDAQ provided the Company with an initial period of 180 calendar days in which to regain compliance. This initial period expired on December 3, 2012. The extension granted today provides an additional 180 calendar days, or until June 3, 2013, for the Company to meet the minimum closing bid price requirement of at least $1.00 per share for ten consecutive business days.