UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________________________________________________
Form 10-K
(Mark One) | |
þ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 | |
OR | |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to . | |
Commission file number: 001-33492
_____________________________________________________________
CVR Energy, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | 61-1512186 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
2277 Plaza Drive, Suite 500 Sugar Land, Texas (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | 77479 (Zip Code) |
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code:
(281) 207-3200
_____________________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | The New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 or Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer þ | Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed based on the New York Stock Exchange closing price on June 30, 2016 (the last business day of the registrant's second fiscal quarter) was $242,301,131. Shares of the registrant's common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each entity or person that, to the registrant's knowledge, owned 10% or more of the registrant's outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2016 have been excluded from this number in that these persons may be deemed affiliates of the registrant. This determination of possible affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class | Outstanding at February 14, 2017 |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | 86,831,050 shares |
Documents Incorporated By Reference
Document | Parts Incorporated |
Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders | Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
1
GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS
The following are definitions of certain terms used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (this "Report").
2021 Notes — $320.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Senior Notes due 2021, which were issued by CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen Finance.
2022 Notes — $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Senior Notes due 2022, which were issued by Refining, LLC and Coffeyville Finance on October 23, 2012 and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Refining Partnership and each of Refining LLC's domestic subsidiaries other than Coffeyville Finance.
2023 Notes — $645.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, which were issued through CVR Partners and CVR Nitrogen Finance.
2-1-1 crack spread — The approximate gross margin resulting from processing two barrels of crude oil to produce one barrel of gasoline and one barrel of distillate. The 2-1-1 crack spread is expressed in dollars per barrel.
ABL Credit Facility —The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's senior secured asset based revolving credit facility with a group of lenders and UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as administrative agent and collateral agent.
Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility — The Refining Partnership's senior secured asset based revolving credit facility with a group of lenders and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent and collateral agent.
ammonia — Ammonia is a direct application fertilizer and is primarily used as a building block for other nitrogen products for industrial applications and finished fertilizer products.
barrel — Common unit of measure in the oil industry which equates to 42 gallons.
blendstocks — Various compounds that are combined with gasoline or diesel from the crude oil refining process to make finished gasoline and diesel fuel; these may include natural gasoline, fluid catalytic cracking unit or FCCU gasoline, ethanol, reformate or butane, among others.
bpd — Abbreviation for barrels per day.
bpcd — Abbreviation for barrels per calendar day, which refers to the total number of barrels processed in a refinery within a year, divided by the total number of days in the year (365 or 366 days), thus reflecting all operational and logistical limitations.
bulk sales — Volume sales through third-party pipelines, in contrast to tanker truck quantity rack sales.
capacity — Capacity is defined as the throughput a process unit is capable of sustaining, either on a calendar or stream day basis. The throughput may be expressed in terms of maximum sustainable, nameplate or economic capacity. The maximum sustainable or nameplate capacities may not be the most economical. The economic capacity is the throughput that generally provides the greatest economic benefit based on considerations such as crude oil and other feedstock costs, product values and downstream unit constraints.
catalyst — A substance that alters, accelerates, or instigates chemical changes, but is neither produced, consumed nor altered in the process.
Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility — CVR Partners' nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility located in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Coffeyville Finance — Coffeyville Finance Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Refining LLC and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Refining Partnership.
corn belt —The primary corn producing region of the United States, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.
2
crack spread — A simplified calculation that measures the difference between the price for light products and crude oil. For example, the 2-1-1 crack spread is often referenced and represents the approximate gross margin resulting from processing two barrels of crude oil to produce one barrel of gasoline and one barrel of distillate.
Credit Parties —CRLLC and certain subsidiaries party to the Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility.
CRLLC— Coffeyville Resources, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
CRPLLC —Coffeyville Resources Pipeline, LLC.
CRLLC Facility —The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's $300.0 million senior term loan credit facility with CRLLC, which was repaid in full and terminated on June 10, 2016.
CRNF— Coffeyville Resources Nitrogen Fertilizers, LLC a subsidiary of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership.
CRRM— Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Refining LLC and indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Refining Partnership.
CVR Energy or CVR or Company — CVR Energy, Inc.
CVR Nitrogen —CVR Nitrogen, LP (formerly known as East Dubuque Nitrogen Partners, L.P. and also formerly known as Rentech Nitrogen Partners L.P.).
CVR Nitrogen GP— CVR Nitrogen GP, LLC (formerly known as East Dubuque Nitrogen GP, LLC and also formerly known as Rentech Nitrogen GP, LLC).
CVR Partners or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership — CVR Partners, LP.
CVR Refining or the Refining Partnership — CVR Refining, LP. and it's subsidiaries.
CVR Refining GP — CVR Refining GP, LLC.
distillates — Primarily diesel fuel, kerosene and jet fuel.
East Dubuque Facility — CVR Partners' nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility located in East Dubuque, Illinois.
East Dubuque Merger —The transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, whereby the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen GP on April 1, 2016.
EPA— The United States Environmental Protection Agency.
ethanol — A clear, colorless, flammable oxygenated hydrocarbon. Ethanol is typically produced chemically from ethylene, or biologically from fermentation of various sugars from carbohydrates found in agricultural crops and cellulosic residues from crops or wood. It is used in the United States as a gasoline octane enhancer and oxygenate.
Excel Pipeline — Excel Pipeline LLC.
Exchange Act — Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
farm belt — Refers to the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
feedstocks — Petroleum products, such as crude oil and natural gas liquids, that are processed and blended into refined products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel during the refining process.
FIFO— First-in, first-out.
GAAP—U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
3
Group 3 — A geographic subset of the PADD II region comprising refineries in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. Current Group 3 refineries include the Refining Partnership's Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries; the Valero Ardmore refinery in Ardmore, OK; HollyFrontier's Tulsa refinery in Tulsa, OK and El Dorado refinery in El Dorado, KS; Phillips 66's Ponca City refinery in Ponca City, OK; and CHS Inc.'s refinery in McPherson, KS.
heavy crude oil — A relatively inexpensive crude oil characterized by high relative density and viscosity. Heavy crude oils require greater levels of processing to produce high value products such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
independent petroleum refiner — A refiner that does not have crude oil exploration or production operations. An independent refiner purchases the crude oil throughputs in its refinery operations from third parties.
intercompany credit facility — A $250.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility between CRLLC and Refining LLC.
light crude oil — A relatively expensive crude oil characterized by low relative density and viscosity. Light crude oils require lower levels of processing to produce high value products such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
Magellan — Magellan Midstream Partners L.P., a publicly traded company whose business is the transportation, storage and distribution of refined petroleum products.
Merger Agreement —The Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2015, whereby the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen GP.
MMBtu — One million British thermal units or Btu: a measure of energy. One Btu of heat is required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
MSCF — One thousand standard cubic feet, a customary gas measurement unit.
natural gas liquids — Natural gas liquids, often referred to as NGLs, are both feedstocks used in the manufacture of refined fuels, as well as products of the refining process. Common NGLs used include propane, isobutane, normal butane and natural gasoline.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership credit facility — CRNF's $125.0 million term loan, $25.0 million revolving and $50.0 million uncommitted incremental credit facility, guaranteed by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, entered into with a group of lenders including Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, as administrative and collateral agent, which was repaid in full and terminated on April 1, 2016.
PADD II — Midwest Petroleum Area for Defense District which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
petroleum coke (pet coke) — A coal-like substance that is produced during the refining process.
product pricing at gate — Product pricing at gate represents net sales less freight revenue divided by product sales volume in tons. Product pricing at gate is also referred to as netback.
rack sales — Sales which are made at terminals into third-party tanker trucks.
refined products — Petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, that are produced by a refinery.
Refining LLC — CVR Refining, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Refining Partnership.
Refining Partnership IPO—The initial public offering of 27,600,000 common units representing limited partner interests of the Refining Partnership, which closed on January 23, 2013 (which includes the underwriters' subsequently exercised option to purchase additional common units).
RFS —Renewable Fuel Standard of the EPA.
RINs— Renewable fuel credits, known as renewable identification numbers.
4
SEC —Securities and Exchange Commission.
Second Underwritten Offering — The second underwritten offering of 7,475,000 common units of the Refining Partnership, which closed on June 30, 2014 (which includes the underwriters' subsequently exercised option to purchase additional common units).
sour crude oil — A crude oil that is relatively high in sulfur content, requiring additional processing to remove the sulfur. Sour crude oil is typically less expensive than sweet crude oil.
spot market — A market in which commodities are bought and sold for cash and delivered immediately.
sweet crude oil — A crude oil that is relatively low in sulfur content, requiring less processing to remove the sulfur. Sweet crude oil is typically more expensive than sour crude oil.
Tender Offer — The cash tender offer commenced on April 29, 2016 by CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen Finance Corporation to purchase any and all of the outstanding 2021 Notes at 101.5% of par value.
throughput — The volume processed through a unit or a refinery or transported on a pipeline.
turnaround — A periodically required standard procedure to inspect, refurbish, repair and maintain the refinery or nitrogen fertilizer plant assets. This process involves the shutdown and inspection of major processing units and occurs every four to five years for the refineries and every two to three years for the nitrogen fertilizer plant.
UAN — An aqueous solution of urea and ammonium nitrate used as a fertilizer.
Underwritten Offering — The underwritten offering of 13,209,236 common units of the Refining Partnership, which closed on May 20, 2013 (which includes the underwriters' subsequently exercised option to purchase additional common units).
Velocity — Velocity Central Oklahoma Pipeline LLC.
Vitol—Vitol Inc.
Vitol Agreement —The Amended and Restated Crude Oil Supply Agreement between Vitol and CRRM.
VPP —Velocity Pipeline Partners, LLC.
WCS —Western Canadian Select crude oil, a medium to heavy, sour crude oil, characterized by an American Petroleum Institute gravity ("API gravity") of between 20 and 22 degrees and a sulfur content of approximately 3.3 weight percent.
Wells Fargo — Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
Wells Fargo Credit Agreement— CVR Nitrogen's credit agreement with Wells Fargo, as successor-in-interest by assignment from General Electric Company, as administrative agent, which was repaid in April 2016 and terminated.
WTI — West Texas Intermediate crude oil, a light, sweet crude oil, characterized by an API gravity between 39 and 41 degrees and a sulfur content of approximately 0.4 weight percent that is used as a benchmark for other crude oils.
WTS — West Texas Sour crude oil, a relatively light, sour crude oil characterized by an API gravity of between 30 and 32 degrees and a sulfur content of approximately 2.0 weight percent.
yield — The percentage of refined products that is produced from crude oil and other feedstocks.
5
PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
CVR Energy, Inc. and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries ("CVR Energy," the "Company," "we," "us," or "our") is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing industries through its holdings in CVR Refining, LP ("CVR Refining" or the "Refining Partnership") and CVR Partners, LP ("CVR Partners" or the "Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership"). The Refining Partnership is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer of high value transportation fuels. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership produces and markets nitrogen fertilizers in the form of UAN and ammonia. We own the general partner and approximately 66% and 34% respectively, of the outstanding common units representing limited partner interests in each of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership. CVR Energy's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "CVI," the Refining Partnership's common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "CVRR" and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "UAN." As of December 31, 2016, Icahn Enterprises L.P. and its affiliates owned approximately 82% of our outstanding common stock.
We operate under two business segments: petroleum (the petroleum and related businesses operated by the Refining Partnership) and nitrogen fertilizer (the nitrogen fertilizer business operated by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership). Throughout the remainder of this document, our business segments are referred to as the "petroleum business" and the "nitrogen fertilizer business," respectively.
For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we generated consolidated net sales of $4.8 billion, $5.4 billion and $9.1 billion, respectively, and operating income of $90.9 million, $421.6 million and $264.3 million, respectively. The petroleum business generated $4.4 billion, $5.2 billion and $8.8 billion of net sales and the nitrogen fertilizer business generated $356.3 million, $289.2 million and $298.7 million of net sales, in each case, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The petroleum business generated operating income of $77.8 million, $361.7 million and $207.2 million and the nitrogen fertilizer business generated operating income of $26.8 million, $68.7 million and $82.8 million, in each case, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our consolidated results of operations include certain other unallocated corporate activities and the elimination of intercompany transactions and, therefore, are not a sum of the operating results of the petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer businesses.
Refer to Item 1, "Petroleum Business" and Item 1, "Nitrogen Fertilizer Business" and Item 8, Note 18 ("Business Segments") for further details on our business segments.
Our History
The Coffeyville refinery, which began operations in 1906, and the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant, built in 2000, were operated as components of Farmland Industries, Inc. ("Farmland") until March 3, 2004, the date on which Coffeyville Resources, LLC ("CRLLC") completed the acquisition of these assets through a bankruptcy court auction.
On June 24, 2005, Coffeyville Acquisition LLC ("CALLC"), which was formed by certain funds affiliated with Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Kelso & Company, L.P. (the "Goldman Sachs Funds" and the "Kelso Funds," respectively), acquired these businesses. CALLC operated our business from June 24, 2005 until CVR Energy's initial public offering in October 2007.
CVR Energy was formed in September 2006 as a subsidiary of CALLC in order to consummate an initial public offering of its businesses. CVR Energy consummated its initial public offering on October 26, 2007. The Goldman Sachs Funds and the Kelso Funds completely sold their ownership interests by February 2011 and May 2011, respectively.
On April 13, 2011, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership completed the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership sold 22,080,000 common units at a price of $16.00 per common unit, resulting in gross proceeds of $353.3 million. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units are listed on the NYSE and are traded under the symbol "UAN." In connection with the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership paid approximately $24.7 million in underwriting fees and incurred approximately $4.4 million of other offering costs. As a result of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership IPO and through May 27, 2013, CVR Energy indirectly owned approximately 70% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's outstanding common units and 100% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner with its non-economic general partner interest.
6
On December 15, 2011, CVR Energy acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of WEC. Assets acquired include a 70,000 bpcd rated capacity refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma and approximately 2.0 million barrels of company-owned storage tanks.
On April 18, 2012, CVR Energy entered into a Transaction Agreement (the "Transaction Agreement") with an affiliate of Icahn Enterprises L.P. ("IEP"). Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, IEP's affiliate offered (the "Offer") to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of CVR Energy's common stock for a price of $30.00 per share in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes, plus one non-transferable contingent cash payment ("CCP") right for each share, which represented the contractual right to receive an additional cash payment per share if a definitive agreement for the sale of CVR Energy was executed on or before August 18, 2013 and such transaction closed. As no sale of the Company was executed by the date outlined in the Transaction Agreement, the CCPs expired on August 19, 2013.
In May 2012, IEP's affiliate acquired a majority of the common stock of CVR Energy through the Offer. As of December 31, 2016, IEP and its affiliates owned approximately 82% of CVR Energy’s outstanding common stock.
On January 23, 2013, the Refining Partnership completed the Refining Partnership IPO. The Refining Partnership sold 24,000,000 common units at a price of $25.00 per unit, resulting in gross proceeds of $600.0 million. Of the common units issued, 4,000,000 units were purchased by an affiliate of IEP. Additionally, on January 30, 2013, the underwriters closed their option to purchase an additional 3,600,000 common units at a price of $25.00 per unit resulting in gross proceeds of $90.0 million. The common units, which are listed on the NYSE, began trading on January 17, 2013 under the symbol "CVRR." In connection with the Refining Partnership IPO, the Refining Partnership paid approximately $32.5 million in underwriting fees and incurred approximately $3.9 million of other offering costs.
Immediately following the Refining Partnership IPO and through May 19, 2013, CVR Energy indirectly owned approximately 81% of the total Refining Partnership common units and 100% of the Refining Partnership's general partner, which holds a non-economic general partner interest. Prior to the Refining Partnership IPO, CVR Energy owned 100% of the Refining Partnership and net income earned during this period was fully attributable to the Company.
On May 20, 2013, the Refining Partnership completed an underwritten offering (the "Underwritten Offering") by selling 12,000,000 common units to the public at a price of $30.75 per unit. American Entertainment Properties Corporation ("AEPC"), an affiliate of IEP, also purchased an additional 2,000,000 common units at the public offering price in a privately negotiated transaction with a subsidiary of CVR Energy, which was completed on May 29, 2013. In connection with the Underwritten Offering, on June 10, 2013, the Refining Partnership sold an additional 1,209,236 common units to the public at a price of $30.75 per unit in connection with a partial exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units. The transactions described in this paragraph are collectively referred to as the "Transactions." In connection with the Transactions, the Refining Partnership paid approximately $12.2 million in underwriting fees and approximately $0.4 million in offering costs.
The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $394.0 million from the Underwritten Offering (including the underwriters' option) to redeem 13,209,236 common units from CVR Refining Holdings, LLC ("CVR Refining Holdings"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CVR Energy. The net proceeds to a subsidiary of CVR Energy from the sale of 2,000,000 common units to AEPC were approximately $61.5 million. The Refining Partnership did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by CVR Energy to AEPC.
Immediately following the closing of the Transactions and prior to June 30, 2014, public security holders held approximately 29% of the total Refining Partnership common units (including units owned by affiliates of IEP representing 4% of total Refining Partnership common units), and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 71% of the total Refining Partnership common units.
On May 28, 2013, CRLLC completed a registered public offering (the "Secondary Offering") whereby it sold 12,000,000 Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units to the public at a price of $25.15 per unit. The net proceeds to CRLLC from the Secondary Offering were approximately $292.6 million, after deducting approximately $9.2 million in underwriting discounts and commissions. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by CRLLC. In connection with the Secondary Offering, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership incurred approximately $0.5 million in offering costs.
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Immediately subsequent to the closing of the Secondary Offering, public security holders held approximately 47% of the total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units, and CRLLC held approximately 53% of the total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units. In addition, CRLLC owns 100% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership’s general partner, CVR GP, LLC, which only holds a non-economic general partner interest.
On June 30, 2014, the Refining Partnership completed a second underwritten offering (the "Second Underwritten Offering") by selling 6,500,000 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit. The Refining Partnership paid approximately $5.3 million in underwriting fees and approximately $0.5 million in offering costs. The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $164.1 million from the Second Underwritten Offering to redeem 6,500,000 common units from CVR Refining Holdings. Immediately subsequent to the closing of the Second Underwritten Offering and through July 23, 2014, public security holders held approximately 33% of the total Refining Partnership common units, and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 67% of the total Refining Partnership common units.
On July 24, 2014, the Refining Partnership sold an additional 589,100 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit in connection with the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional common units. The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $14.9 million from the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional common units to redeem an equal amount of common units from CVR Refining Holdings. Additionally, on July 24, 2014, CVR Refining Holdings sold 385,900 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit in connection with the underwriters' exercise of their remaining option to purchase additional common units. CVR Refining Holdings received net proceeds of $9.7 million.
On April 1, 2016, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership completed the East Dubuque Merger as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2015 (the "Merger Agreement"), whereby the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen GP. Pursuant to the East Dubuque Merger, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired the East Dubuque Facility.
Immediately following the closing of the East Dubuque Merger and as of December 31, 2016, public security holders held approximately 66% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units, and CRLLC held approximately 34% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units in addition to owning 100% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner.
On August 2, 2016, an affiliate of IEP sold 250,000 common units of CVR Refining. As a result of this transaction, CVR Refining GP and its affiliates collectively own 69.99% of CVR Refining's outstanding common units. Pursuant to CVR Refining's partnership agreement, in certain circumstances, CVR Refining GP has the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of CVR Refining common units held by unaffiliated unit holders at a price not less than their then-current market price, as calculated pursuant to the terms of such partnership agreement (the “Call Right”). Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement, because CVR Refining GP and its affiliates’ holdings were reduced to less than 70.0% of CVR Refining's outstanding common units, the ownership threshold for the application of such Call Right was permanently reduced from 95% to 80%. Accordingly, if at any time CVR Refining GP and its affiliates own more than 80% of CVR Refining common units, it will have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise such Call Right.
As of December 31, 2016, public security holders held approximately 34% of the total Refining Partnership common units (including units owned by affiliates of IEP, representing 3.9% of the total Refining Partnership common units), and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 66% of the total Refining Partnership common units, in addition to owning 100% of the Refining Partnership's general partner.
8
Organizational Structure and Related Ownership
The following chart illustrates our organizational structure and the organizational structure of the Refining Partnership and the
Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership as of the date of this Report.
9
Petroleum Business
The petroleum business, operated by the Refining Partnership, includes a complex full coking medium-sour crude oil refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas with a rated capacity of 115,000 bpcd and a complex crude oil refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma with a rated capacity of 70,000 bpcd capable of processing 20,000 bpcd of light sour crude oil (within its rated capacity of 70,000 bpcd). The combined crude capacity represents approximately 22% of the region's refining capacity. The Coffeyville refinery located in southeast Kansas is approximately 100 miles from Cushing, Oklahoma ("Cushing"), a major crude oil trading and storage hub. The Wynnewood refinery is located approximately 65 miles south of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and approximately 130 miles from Cushing.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Coffeyville refinery's product yield included gasoline (51%), diesel fuel (primarily ultra-low sulfur diesel) (42%), and pet coke and other refined products such as natural gas liquids ("NGL") (propane and butane), slurry, sulfur and gas oil (7%). The Wynnewood refinery's product yield included gasoline (53%), diesel fuel (primarily ultra-low sulfur diesel) (35%), asphalt (5%), jet fuel (4%) and other products (3%).
The petroleum business also includes the following auxiliary operating assets:
• | Crude Oil Gathering System. The petroleum business owns and operates a crude oil gathering system serving Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado and Texas. The system has field offices in Bartlesville and Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, Plainville and Winfield, Kansas and Denver, Colorado. The gathering system includes approximately 340 miles of active owned and leased pipelines and approximately 150 crude oil transports and associated storage facilities, which allows it to gather crude oils from independent crude oil producers. The crude oil gathering system has a gathering capacity of over 70,000 bpd. Gathered crude oil provides an attractive and competitive base supply of crude oil for the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries. During 2016, the petroleum business gathered an average of approximately 71,000 bpd. The petroleum business also has 35,000 bpd of contracted capacity on the Keystone and Spearhead pipelines that allow it to supply price-advantaged Canadian crude to its refineries. It also has contracted capacity on the Pony Express and White Cliffs pipelines, which both became in-service during 2015. Both the Pony Express and White Cliffs pipelines originate in Colorado and extend to Cushing. |
• | Pipelines and Storage Tanks. The petroleum business owns a proprietary pipeline system capable of transporting approximately 170,000 bpd of crude oil from its Broome Station facility located near Caney, Kansas to its Coffeyville refinery. Crude oils sourced outside of the proprietary gathering system are delivered by common carrier pipelines into various terminals in Cushing, where they are blended and then delivered to the Broome Station tank farm via a pipeline owned by Plains Pipeline L.P. ("Plains"). The petroleum business owns approximately (i) 1.5 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity that supports the gathering system and the Coffeyville refinery, (ii) 0.9 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity at the Wynnewood refinery and (iii) 1.5 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity in Cushing. The petroleum business also leases additional crude oil storage capacity of approximately (iv) 2.2 million barrels in Cushing, (v) 0.2 million barrels in Duncan, Oklahoma and (vi) 0.1 million barrels at the Wynnewood refinery. In addition to crude oil storage, the petroleum business owns over 4.5 million barrels of combined refined products and feedstocks storage capacity. |
• | Marketing and Product Supply. The petroleum business also has a rack marketing division supplying product through tanker trucks directly to customers located in geographic proximity to Coffeyville, Kansas and Wynnewood, Oklahoma and to customers at throughput terminals on Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. ("Magellan") and NuStar Energy, LP's ("NuStar") refined products distribution systems. |
The refineries' complexity allows the petroleum business to optimize the yields (the percentage of refined product that is produced from crude oil and other feedstocks) of higher value transportation fuels (gasoline and diesel). Complexity is a measure of a refinery's ability to process lower quality crude oil and feedstocks in an economic manner. The two refineries' capacity weighted average complexity is 13.0. As a result of key investments in its refining assets and the addition of process units to comply with gasoline quality regulations, both of the refinery's complexities have increased. The Coffeyville refinery's complexity score is 13.3, and the Wynnewood refinery's complexity score is 12.6. The petroleum business' higher complexity provides it the flexibility to increase its refining margin over comparable refiners with lower complexities. The petroleum business has achieved significant increases in its refinery crude throughput rates over historical levels. As a result of the increasing complexities, the petroleum business is capable of processing a variety of crudes, including WTS, WTI, sweet and sour Canadian, and locally gathered crudes.
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Crude and Feedstock Supply
The Coffeyville refinery has the capability to process blends of a variety of crude oil ranging from heavy sour to light sweet crude oil. Currently, the Coffeyville refinery crude oil slate consists of a blend of mid-continent domestic grades and various Canadian medium and heavy sours, and it has recently introduced North Dakota Bakken and other similarly sourced crudes into its crude slate. While crude oil has historically constituted over 90% of the Coffeyville refinery's total throughput over the last five years, other feedstock inputs include normal butane, natural gasoline, alkylation feeds, naphtha, gas oil and vacuum tower bottoms.
The Wynnewood refinery has the capability to process blends of a variety of crude oil ranging from medium sour to light sweet crude oil, although isobutane, gasoline components, and normal butane are also typically used. Historically most of the Wynnewood refinery's crude oil has been acquired domestically, mainly from Texas and Oklahoma, but it can also access and process various light and medium Canadian grades.
Crude oil is supplied to the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries through the wholly-owned gathering system and by pipeline. The petroleum business has continued to increase the number of barrels of crude oil supplied through its crude oil gathering system in 2016 and it now has the capacity of supplying over 70,000 bpd of crude oil to the refineries. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the gathering system supplied approximately 41% and 34% of the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries' crude oil demand, respectively. Locally produced crude oils are delivered to the refineries at a discount to WTI, and although sometimes slightly heavier and more sour, offer good economics to the refineries. These crude oils are light and sweet enough to allow the refineries to blend higher percentages of lower cost crude oils such as heavy sour Canadian crude oil while maintaining their target medium sour blend with an API gravity of between 28 and 36 degrees and between 0.9% and 1.2% sulfur. Crude oils sourced outside of the proprietary gathering system are delivered to Cushing by various pipelines including the Keystone and Spearhead pipelines, and subsequently to the Broome Station facility via the Plains pipeline. In May 2015 and November 2015, the petroleum business' contracted capacity included the Pony Express and White Cliffs pipelines, respectively. From the Broome Station facility, crude oil is delivered to the Coffeyville refinery via the petroleum business' 170,000 bpd proprietary pipeline system. Crude oils are delivered to the Wynnewood refinery by three separate pipelines, and received into storage tanks at terminals located on or near the refinery.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Coffeyville refinery's crude oil supply blend was comprised of approximately 84.3% light sweet crude oil, 14.7% heavy sour crude oil and 1% light/medium sour crude oil. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Wynnewood refinery's crude oil supply blend was comprised of approximately 98.2% light sweet crude oil and 1.8% light/medium sour crude oil. The light sweet crude oil supply blend includes its locally gathered crude oil.
The Coffeyville refinery is connected to the mid-continent natural gas liquids commercial hub of Conway, Kansas by the inbound Enterprise Pipeline Blue Line. Natural gas liquids feedstock supplies such as butanes and natural gasoline are sourced and delivered directly into the refinery. In addition, Coffeyville's proximity to Conway provides access to the natural gas liquid and liquid petroleum gas fractionation and storage capabilities as well as the commercial markets available at Conway.
Crude Oil Supply Agreement
On August 31, 2012, Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing, LLC ("CRRM") and Vitol Inc. ("Vitol") entered into an Amended and Restated Crude Oil Supply Agreement (as amended, the "Vitol Agreement"). Under the Vitol Agreement, Vitol supplies the petroleum business with crude oil and intermediation logistics, which helps the petroleum business to reduce its inventory position and mitigate crude oil pricing risk. The Vitol Agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each such term, a "Renewal Term") unless either party provides the other with notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to expiration of any Renewal Term. The Vitol Agreement currently extends through December 31, 2017.
Refining Process
Coffeyville Refinery
The Coffeyville refinery is a 115,000 bpcd rated capacity facility with operations including fractionation, catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, reforming, coking, isomerization, alkylation, sulfur recovery and propane and butane recovery. The Coffeyville refinery benefits from significant refining unit redundancies, which include two crude oil distillation and vacuum towers, three sulfur recovery units and four hydrotreating units. These redundancies allow the Refining Partnership to continue to receive and process crude oil even if one tower requires unplanned maintenance without having to shut down the entire refinery in the case of a major unit turnaround. In addition, the Coffeyville refinery has a redundant supply of hydrogen pursuant to its feedstock and shared services agreement with a subsidiary of CVR Partners. The Coffeyville refinery has the
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capability to process blends of a variety of crude oil ranging from heavy sour to light sweet crude oil into products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, propane, butane, sulfur, heavy oil and petroleum coke. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Coffeyville refinery processed approximately 124,200 bpd and 8,500 bpd of crude oil and feedstocks and blendstocks, respectively. These throughput rates for 2016 reflect the second phase of the major scheduled turnaround completed in the first quarter of 2016.
Wynnewood Refinery
The Wynnewood refinery is a 70,000 bpcd rated capacity facility with operations including fractionation, cracking, hydrotreating, hydrocracking, reforming, solvent deasphalting, alkylation, sulfur recovery and propane and butane recovery. Similar to the Coffeyville refinery, the Wynnewood refinery benefits from unit redundancies, including two crude oil distillation and vacuum towers and four hydrotreating units. The Wynnewood refinery has the capability to process blends of a variety of crude oil ranging from medium sour to light sweet crude oil (although isobutane, gasoline components, and normal butane are also typically used) into products such as gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, propane, butane, propylene, sulfur, solvents, heavy oil and asphalt. During the year ended December 31, 2016, our Wynnewood refinery processed approximately 73,900 bpd and 2,600 bpd of crude oil and feedstocks and blendstocks, respectively.
Marketing and Distribution
The petroleum business focuses its Coffeyville petroleum product marketing efforts in the central mid-continent area, because of its relative proximity to the refinery and pipeline access. Coffeyville also has access to the Rocky Mountain area. Coffeyville engages in rack marketing, which is the supply of product through tanker trucks directly to customers located in close geographic proximity to the refinery and to customers at throughput terminals on the refined products distribution systems of Magellan and NuStar. Coffeyville also makes bulk sales (sales into third-party pipelines) into the mid-continent markets and other destinations utilizing the product pipeline networks owned by Magellan, Enterprise and NuStar. The outbound Enterprise Pipeline Red Line provides Coffeyville with access to the NuStar Refined Products Pipeline system. This allows gasoline and ULSD product sales from Kansas up into North Dakota.
The Wynnewood refinery ships its finished product via pipeline, railcar, and truck. It focuses its efforts in the southern portion of the Magellan system which covers all of Oklahoma, parts of Arkansas as well as eastern Missouri, and all other Magellan terminals. The pipeline system is also able to flow in the opposite direction, providing access to Texas markets as well as some adjoining states with pipeline connections. Wynnewood also sells jet fuel to the U.S. Department of Defense via its segregated truck rack and can offer asphalts, solvents and other specialty products via both truck and rail.
Customers
Customers for the refined petroleum products primarily include retailers, railroads, and farm cooperatives and other refiners/marketers in Group 3 of the PADD II region because of their relative proximity to the refineries and pipeline access. The petroleum business sells bulk products to long-standing customers at spot market prices based on a Group 3 basis differential to prices quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange ("NYMEX"), which are reported by industry market-related indices such as Platts and Oil Price Information Service.
The petroleum business also has a rack marketing business supplying product through tanker trucks directly to customers located in proximity to the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries, as well as to customers located at throughput terminals on refined products distribution systems run by Magellan and NuStar. Rack sales are at posted prices that are influenced by competitor pricing and Group 3 spot market differentials. Additionally, the Wynnewood refinery supplies jet fuel to the U.S. Department of Defense. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the two largest customers accounted for approximately 15% and 10% of the petroleum business net sales and approximately 54% of the petroleum business net sales were made to its ten largest customers.
Competition
The petroleum business competes primarily on the basis of price, reliability of supply, availability of multiple grades of products and location. The principal competitive factors affecting its refining operations are cost of crude oil and other feedstock costs, refinery complexity, refinery efficiency, refinery product mix and product distribution and transportation costs. The location of the refineries provides the petroleum business with a reliable supply of crude oil and a transportation cost advantage over its competitors. The petroleum business primarily competes against five refineries operated in the mid-continent region. In addition to these refineries, the refineries compete against trading companies, as well as other refineries located outside the region that are linked to the mid-continent market through an extensive product pipeline system. These competitors
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include refineries located near the Gulf Coast and the Texas panhandle region. The petroleum business refinery competition also includes branded, integrated and independent oil refining companies, such as Phillips 66, HollyFrontier, CHS, Valero and Flint Hills Resources.
Seasonality
The petroleum business experiences seasonal effects as demand for gasoline products is generally higher during the summer months than during the winter months due to seasonal increases in highway traffic and road construction work. Demand for diesel fuel is higher during the planting and harvesting seasons. As a result, the petroleum business' results of operations for the first and fourth calendar quarters are generally lower compared to its results for the second and third calendar quarters. In addition, unseasonably cool weather in the summer months and/or unseasonably warm weather in the winter months in the markets in which the petroleum business sells its petroleum products can impact the demand for gasoline and diesel fuel. The demand for asphalt is also seasonal and is generally higher during the months of March through October.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Business
The nitrogen fertilizer business, operated by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, consists of two nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facilities which are located in Coffeyville, Kansas and East Dubuque, Illinois. The nitrogen fertilizer business produces and distributes nitrogen fertilizer products, which are used primarily by farmers to improve the yield and quality of their crops. The principal products are UAN and ammonia, and all products are sold on a wholesale basis. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility includes a 1,300 ton-per-day capacity ammonia unit, a 3,000 ton-per-day capacity UAN unit and a gasifier complex having a capacity of 89 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility is the only nitrogen fertilizer plant in North America that utilizes a pet coke gasification process to produce nitrogen fertilizer. The East Dubuque Facility, which includes a 1,075 ton-per-day capacity ammonia unit and a 1,100 ton-per-day capacity UAN unit, has the flexibility to vary its product mix enabling the East Dubuque Facility to upgrade a portion of its ammonia production into varying amounts of UAN, nitric acid and liquid and granulated urea each season, depending on market demand, pricing and storage availability. The East Dubuque Facility's product sales are heavily weighted toward sales of ammonia and UAN.
Raw Material Supply
Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility
The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility was built in 2000 and uses a gasification process to convert pet coke to high purity hydrogen for subsequent conversion to ammonia. The Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer facility's pet coke gasification process results in a significantly higher percentage of fixed costs than a natural gas-based fertilizer plant. During the past five years, over 70% of the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer facility's pet coke requirements on average were supplied by CVR Refining's adjacent crude oil refinery pursuant to a renewable long-term agreement. Historically the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant has obtained the remainder of its pet coke requirements from third parties such as other Midwestern refineries or pet coke brokers at spot-prices. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership is party to a pet coke supply agreement with HollyFrontier Corporation. The term of this agreement expires in December 2017 and historically has been renewed annually. If necessary, there are other pet coke suppliers and the gasification process can be modified to operate on coal as an alternative, which provides an additional raw material source. There are significant supplies of coal within a 60-mile radius of the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant.
The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility also purchased some of its hydrogen from the Coffeyville Refinery, pursuant to a feedstock and shared services agreement having an initial term that ends in 2027, subject to renewal. Effective January 2017, CRRM and CRNF entered into a hydrogen purchase and sale agreement, pursuant to which, CRRM agrees to sell and deliver a committed hydrogen volume of 90,000 mscf per month, and CRNF agrees to purchase and receive the committed volume. CRNF also has the option to purchase excess volume of up to 60,000 mscf per month, or more upon mutual agreement, from CRRM, if available for purchase. The agreement has an initial term of 20 years and will be automatically extended following the initial term for additional successive five-year renewal term unless either party gives 180 days written notice.
The pet coke gasification process is licensed from an affiliate of General Electric Company. The license grants the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility perpetual rights to use the pet coke gasification process on specified terms and conditions, and the license is fully paid.
Linde LLC ("Linde") owns, operates, and maintains the air separation plant that provides contract volumes of oxygen, nitrogen, and compressed dry air to the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility for a monthly fee. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility provides and pays for all utilities required for operation of the air separation plant. The air separation plant has not experienced
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any long-term operating problems; however, CVR Energy maintains contingent business interruption insurance with a $200.0 million limit for any interruption caused by physical damage to the air separation plant that results in a loss of production from an insured peril.
Although the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility has its own boiler that is used to create start-up steam, it also has the ability to import start-up steam from the adjacent Coffeyville crude oil refinery and then export steam back to the crude oil refinery once all units in the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility are in service. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility entered into a feedstock and shared services agreement with a subsidiary of CVR Refining, which regulates, among other things, the import and export of start-up steam between the adjacent Coffeyville crude oil refinery and the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility. Monthly charges and credits are recorded with the steam valued at the natural gas price for the month.
East Dubuque Facility
The East Dubuque Facility uses natural gas to produce nitrogen fertilizer, primarily ammonia and UAN. The East Dubuque Facility is able to purchase natural gas at competitive prices due to the plant’s connection to the Northern Natural Gas interstate pipeline system, which is within one mile of the facility, and the ANR Pipeline Company pipeline. The pipelines are connected to Nicor Inc.’s distribution system at the Chicago Citygate receipt point and at the Hampshire interconnect, respectively, from which natural gas is transported to the facility. Though the East Dubuque Facility does not typically purchase natural gas for the purpose of resale, it may occasionally sell natural gas when purchase commitments exceed production requirements and/or storage capacities, or when the margin from selling natural gas significantly exceeds the margin from producing additional ammonia. The East Dubuque nitrogen Fertilizer Facility’s receipt point locations and access to the Chicago Citygate receipt point has allowed it to obtain relatively favorable natural gas prices for sales of excess natural gas due to its proximity to the stable residential demand for the commodity in Chicago, Illinois.
Changes in the levels of natural gas prices and market prices of nitrogen-based products can materially affect the East Dubuque Facility's financial position and results of operations. Natural gas prices in the United States have experienced significant fluctuations over the last several years, increasing substantially in 2008 and subsequently declining to the current lower levels. Several recent discoveries of large natural gas deposits in North America, combined with advances in technology for natural gas production have caused large increases in the estimates of available natural gas reserves and production in the United States, contributing to significant reductions in the market price of natural gas. From time to time, the nitrogen fertilizer business enters into forward contracts with fixed delivery prices to purchase portions of its natural gas requirements. As of December 31, 2016, the nitrogen business segment had commitments to purchase 1.5 million MMBtus of natural gas supply for use in its East Dubuque Facility in January and February 2017 at a weighted average rate per MMBtu of $3.46, exclusive of transportation cost.
Nitrogen Production Process
The Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant was built in 2000 with two separate gasifiers to provide redundancy and reliability. The plant, which uses a gasification process to convert pet coke to high purity hydrogen for subsequent conversion to ammonia, is capable of producing approximately 1,300 tons per day of ammonia. Substantially all of the ammonia produced is converted to approximately 3,000 tons per day of UAN, which has historically commanded a premium price over ammonia. Typically, approximately 0.41 tons of ammonia is required to produce one ton of UAN. The plant completed a significant two-year plant expansion in February 2013, which increased UAN production capacity by 400,000 tons or approximately 50%, per year. The expanded Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility was operating at full rates since the end of the first quarter of 2013.
The East Dubuque Facility was built in 1965 and expanded in 2014 to manufacture natural-gas based nitrogen fertilizer products. The plant is capable of producing 1,075 tons per day of ammonia and 1,100 tons per day of UAN and has the flexibility to vary its product mix.
In 2016, the nitrogen fertilizer business produced, from both the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility and East Dubuque Facility, a total of 1.2 million tons of UAN and 0.7 million tons of ammonia.
Distribution, Sales and Marketing
The primary geographic markets for the nitrogen fertilizer business' fertilizer products are Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Texas. The nitrogen fertilizer business primarily markets the UAN products to agricultural customers and the ammonia products to agricultural and industrial customers.
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UAN and ammonia are distributed by truck or by railcar. If delivered by truck, products are sold on a freight-on-board basis, and freight is normally arranged by the customer. The nitrogen fertilizer business leases and owns a fleet of railcars for use in product delivery, and, if delivered by railcar, the products are most commonly sold on a FOB destination point basis and the nitrogen fertilizer business typically arranges the freight. The nitrogen fertilizer business incurs costs to maintain and repair its railcar fleet that include expenses related to regulatory inspections and repairs. For example, many of the nitrogen fertilizer business' railcars require specific regulatory inspections and repairs due on ten-year intervals. The extent and frequency of railcar fleet maintenance and repair costs are generally expected to change based partially on when regulatory inspections and repairs are due for its railcars under the relevant regulations.
The nitrogen fertilizer business's fertilizer products leave the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility either in railcars for destinations located principally on the Union Pacific Railroad or in trucks for direct shipment to customers. The nitrogen fertilizer business does not currently incur significant intermediate transfer, storage, barge freight or pipeline freight charges; however, it does incur costs to maintain and repair our railcar fleet as discussed above.
The East Dubuque Facility is located in northwest Illinois, in the corn belt. The East Dubuque nitrogen fertilizer facility primarily sells its product to customers located within 200 miles of the facility. In most instances, customers take delivery of nitrogen products at the East Dubuque nitrogen fertilizer facility and arrange and pay to transport them to their final destinations by truck. The East Dubuque nitrogen fertilizer facility has direct access to a barge dock on the Mississippi River as well as a nearby rail spur serviced by the Canadian National Railway Company.
The heavy in-season demand periods are spring and fall in the corn belt and summer in the wheat belt. The corn belt is the primary corn producing region of the United States, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. The wheat belt is the primary wheat producing region of the United States, which includes Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas. Most of the industrial sales are contractual agreements.
The nitrogen fertilizer business has the capacity to store approximately 160,000 tons of UAN and 80,000 tons of ammonia. The nitrogen fertilizer's business storage tanks are located primarily at its two production facilities. Inventories are often allowed to accumulate to allow customers to take delivery to meet the seasonal demand.
The nitrogen fertilizer business offers agricultural products on a spot, forward or prepay basis and often uses forward sales of fertilizer products to optimize its asset utilization, planning process and production scheduling. These sales are made by offering customers the opportunity to purchase product on a forward basis at prices and delivery dates that it proposes. The nitrogen fertilizer business uses this program to varying degrees during the year and between years depending on market conditions. Fixing the selling prices of nitrogen fertilizer products months in advance of their ultimate delivery to customers typically causes the nitrogen fertilizer business reported selling prices and margins to differ from spot market prices and margins available at the time of shipment. Cash received as a result of prepayments is recognized as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheet upon receipt, and revenue and resultant net income and EBITDA are recorded as the product is delivered.
Customers
The nitrogen fertilizer business sells UAN products to retailers and distributors. In addition, it sells ammonia to agricultural and industrial customers. Given the nature of its business, and consistent with industry practice, the nitrogen fertilizer business does not have long-term minimum purchase contracts with its UAN and ammonia customers.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the top five customers in the aggregate represented 32% of the nitrogen fertilizer business' net sales. The nitrogen fertilizer business' top two customers on a consolidated basis each accounted for approximately 10% of the nitrogen fertilizer business' net sales. While it does have high concentration of customers, the nitrogen fertilizer business does not believe that the loss of any single customer would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
Competition
The nitrogen fertilizer business has experienced and expect to continue to meet significant levels of competition from current and potential competitors, many of whom have significantly greater financial and other resources. Competition in the nitrogen fertilizer industry is dominated by price considerations. However, during the spring and fall application seasons, farming activities intensify and delivery capacity is a significant competitive factor. The nitrogen fertilizer business maintains a large fleet of leased and owned railcars and seasonally adjusts inventory to enhance its manufacturing and distribution operations.
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The nitrogen fertilizer business' major competitors include Agrium, Inc.; CF Industries Holdings, Inc., including its majority owned subsidiary Terra Nitrogen Company, LP.; Koch Nitrogen Company, LLC; and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc. Domestic competition is intense due to customers' sophisticated buying tendencies and competitor strategies that focus on cost and service. The nitrogen fertilizer business also encounters competition from producers of fertilizer products manufactured in foreign countries. In certain cases, foreign producers of fertilizer who export to the United States may be subsidized by their respective governments.
Seasonality
Because the nitrogen fertilizer business primarily sells agricultural commodity products, its business is exposed to seasonal fluctuations in demand for nitrogen fertilizer products in the agricultural industry. As a result, the nitrogen fertilizer business typically generates greater net sales in the first half of each calendar year, which is referred to as the planting season, and its net sales tend to be lower during the second half of each calendar year, which is referred to as the fill season. In addition, the demand for fertilizers is affected by the aggregate crop planting decisions and fertilizer application rate decisions of individual farmers who make planting decisions based largely on the prospective profitability of a harvest. The specific varieties and amounts of fertilizer they apply depend on factors like crop prices, the farmers' current liquidity, soil conditions, weather patterns and the types of crops planted.
Environmental Matters
The petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer businesses are subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, state and local, environmental and health and safety laws and regulations governing the emission and release of hazardous substances into the environment, the treatment and discharge of waste water, the storage, handling, use and transportation of petroleum and nitrogen products, and the characteristics and composition of gasoline and diesel fuels. These laws and regulations, their underlying regulatory requirements and the enforcement thereof impact the petroleum business and operations and the nitrogen fertilizer business and operations by imposing:
• | restrictions on operations or the need to install enhanced or additional controls; |
• | the need to obtain and comply with permits, licenses and authorizations; |
• | requirements for the investigation and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater at current and former facilities (if any) and liability for off-site waste disposal locations; and |
• | specifications for the products marketed by the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business, primarily gasoline, diesel fuel, UAN and ammonia. |
Our operations require numerous permits, licenses and authorizations. Failure to comply with these permits or environmental laws and regulations could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions or a revocation of our permits. In addition, the laws and regulations to which we are subject are often evolving and many of them have become more stringent or have become subject to more stringent interpretation or enforcement by federal or state agencies. The ultimate impact on our business of complying with evolving laws and regulations is not always clearly known or determinable due in part to the fact that our operations may change over time and certain implementing regulations for laws, such as the federal Clean Air Act, have not yet been finalized, are under governmental or judicial review or are being revised. These laws and regulations could result in increased capital, operating and compliance costs.
The principal environmental risks associated with our businesses are outlined below with additional details included in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors and Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies") of this Report.
The Federal Clean Air Act
The federal Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations, as well as the corresponding state laws and regulations that regulate emissions of pollutants into the air, affect the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business both directly and indirectly. Direct impacts may occur through the federal Clean Air Act's permitting requirements and/or emission control requirements relating to specific air pollutants, as well as the requirement to maintain a risk management program to help prevent accidental releases of certain regulated substances. The federal Clean Air Act indirectly affects the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business by extensively regulating the air emissions of sulfur dioxide ("SO2"), volatile organic
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compounds, nitrogen oxides and other substances, including those emitted by mobile sources, which are direct or indirect users of our products.
Some or all of the standards promulgated pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act, or any future promulgations of standards, may require the installation of controls or changes to the petroleum business or the nitrogen fertilizer facilities in order to comply. If new controls or changes to operations are needed, the costs could be material. These new requirements, other requirements of the federal Clean Air Act, or other presently existing or future environmental regulations could cause us to expend substantial amounts to comply and/or permit our facilities to produce products that meet applicable requirements.
The regulation of air emissions under the federal Clean Air Act requires that we obtain various construction and operating permits and incur capital expenditures for the installation of certain air pollution control devices at the petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer operations when regulations change or we add new equipment or modify existing equipment. Various regulations specific to our operations have been implemented, such as National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants ("NESHAP"), New Source Performance Standards ("NSPS") and New Source Review/Prevention of Significant Deterioration ("PSD"). We have incurred, and may be required to make, substantial capital expenditures to attain or maintain compliance with these and other air emission regulations that have been promulgated or may be promulgated or revised in the future.
On September 12, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") published in the Federal Register final revisions to its NSPS for process heaters and flares at petroleum refineries. The EPA originally issued final standards in June 2008, but the portions of the rule relating to process heaters and flares were stayed pending reconsideration of certain provisions. The final standards regulate emissions of nitrogen oxide from process heaters and emissions of SO2 from flares, as well as require certain work practice and monitoring standards for flares. We do not believe that the costs of complying with the rule will be material.
On August 14, 2012, the EPA sent both the Wynnewood and Coffeyville refineries letters regarding the EPA's 2012 enforcement alert entitled EPA Enforcement Targets Flaring Efficiency Violations signaling the agency's intention to begin a national enforcement program to conduct compliance evaluations and take enforcement actions against petroleum refining companies that operate flares that are not in compliance with standards articulated in the Enforcement Alert. The Enforcement Alert identified new standards that refiners are required to meet for flaring combustion efficiency. The EPA entered into consent decrees with several refining companies. Because the EPA has not specifically told us that our operations are not in compliance, we cannot say with certainty whether or when we may become an enforcement target under this initiative.
Refer to Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies") of this Report for further discussion of recent environmental matters related to the Clean Air Act including the "Flood, Crude Oil Discharge and Insurance" and certain "Environmental, Health and Safety ("EHS") Matters," such as the "Coffeyville Second Consent Decree," "Wynnewood Clean Air Act Compliance" and other compliance evaluations.
The Federal Clean Water Act
The federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and its implementing regulations, as well as the corresponding state laws and regulations that regulate the discharge of pollutants into the water, affect the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business. Direct impacts occur through the CWA's permitting requirements, which establish discharge limitations based on technology standards, water quality standards, and restrictions on the total maximum daily load of pollutants that may be released to a particular water body based on its use. In addition, water resources are becoming and in the future may become scarcer, and many refiners, including CRRM and WRC, are subject to restrictions on their ability to use water in the event of low availability conditions. Both CRRM and WRC have contracts in place to receive water during certain water shortage conditions, but these conditions could change over time if water becomes scarce.
Release Reporting
The release of hazardous substances or extremely hazardous substances into the environment is subject to release reporting requirements under federal and state environmental laws. Our facilities periodically experience releases of hazardous substances and extremely hazardous substances. For example, the nitrogen fertilizer facility periodically experiences minor releases of hazardous and extremely hazardous substances from its equipment. Our facilities periodically have excess emission events from flaring and other planned and unplanned start-up, shutdown and malfunction events. Such releases are reported to the EPA and relevant state and local agencies. From time to time, the EPA has conducted inspections and issued information requests to us with respect to our compliance with release reporting requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. If we fail to timely or properly report a release, or if the release violates the law or our permits, it could cause us to become the
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subject of a governmental enforcement action or third-party claims. Government enforcement or third-party claims relating to releases of hazardous or extremely hazardous substances could result in significant expenditures and liability.
Fuel Regulations
Tier 2, Low Sulfur Fuels. In February 2000, the EPA promulgated the Tier 2 Motor Vehicle Emission Standards Final Rule for all passenger vehicles, establishing standards for sulfur content in gasoline that were required to be met by 2006. In addition, in January 2001, the EPA promulgated its on-road diesel regulations, which required a 97% reduction in the sulfur content of diesel fuel sold for highway use by June 1, 2006, with full compliance by January 1, 2010. The refineries are in compliance with the EPA's low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel standards.
Tier 3. In April 2014, the EPA promulgated the Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards, which will require that gasoline contain no more than ten parts per million of sulfur on an annual average basis. Refineries must be in compliance with the more stringent emission standards by January 1, 2017; however, compliance with the rule is extended until January 1, 2020 for approved small volume refineries and small refiners. In March 2015, the EPA approved the Wynnewood refinery's application requesting "small volume refinery" status; therefore, it's compliance deadline is January 1, 2020. It is not anticipated that the refineries will require additional controls or capital expenditures to meet the anticipated new standard.
Mobile Source Air Toxic II Emissions
In 2007, the EPA promulgated the Mobile Source Air Toxic II ("MSAT II") rule that requires the reduction of benzene in gasoline by 2011. The MSAT II projects for CRRM and WRC were completed within the compliance deadline of November 1, 2014. The projects were completed at a total cost of approximately $48.3 million and $89.0 million, excluding capitalized interest, by CRRM and WRC, respectively.
Renewable Fuel Standards
Refer to Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase, if the petroleum business has to pay a significantly higher price for RINs or if the petroleum business is otherwise unable to meet the EPA's RFS mandates, the petroleum business' financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected, and Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies"), "Environmental, Health and Safety ("EHS") Matters" of this Report for further discussion of the "Renewable Fuel Standards."
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Refer to Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, Climate change laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, of this Report for further discussion of the Greenhouse Gas ("GHG") Emissions regulations.
RCRA
Our operations are subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") requirements for the generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. When feasible, RCRA-regulated materials are recycled instead of being disposed of on-site or off-site. RCRA establishes standards for the management of solid and hazardous wastes. Besides governing current waste disposal practices, RCRA also addresses the environmental effects of certain past waste disposal practices, the recycling of wastes and the regulation of underground storage tanks containing regulated substances. Refer to Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies"), "Environmental, Health and Safety ("EHS") Matters" for further discussion of "RCRA Compliance Matters."
Waste Management. There are two closed hazardous waste units at the Coffeyville refinery and eight other hazardous waste units in the process of being closed pending state agency approval. There is one closed hazardous waste unit and one active hazardous waste storage tank at the Wynnewood refinery. In addition, one closed interim status hazardous waste land farm located at the now-closed Phillipsburg terminal is under long-term post closure care.
Impacts of Past Manufacturing. The 2004 Consent Decree that CRRM signed with the EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (the "KDHE") required us to assume two RCRA corrective action orders issued to Farmland, the prior owner of the Coffeyville refinery. We are subject to a 1994 EPA administrative order related to investigation of possible past releases of hazardous materials to the environment at the Coffeyville refinery. In accordance with the order, we have documented existing soil and groundwater conditions, which required investigation and interim remediation projects. In
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December 2016, the Coffeyville refinery submitted a post-closure permit application to KDHE to complete closure of former hazardous waste management units at the Coffeyville refinery and perform corrective action at the site. The now-closed Phillipsburg terminal is subject to a 1996 EPA administrative order related to investigation of releases of hazardous materials to the environment at the Phillipsburg terminal, which operated as a refinery until 1991. The Phillipsburg terminal continues to implement interim measures to address the investigation’s findings. Further remediation, if ordered necessary by EPA or the state, will be based on the results of the investigation. The Wynnewood refinery operates under a RCRA permit. A RCRA facility investigation has been completed in accordance with the terms of the permit. Based on the facility investigation and other available information, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality ("ODEQ") and WRC have entered into a Consent Order requiring further investigations of groundwater conditions and enhancements of existing remediation systems. The Wynnewood refinery has completed the groundwater investigation and ODEQ has approved our corrective action recommendations.
The anticipated investigation and remediation costs through 2020 were estimated, as of December 31, 2016, to be as follows:
Facility | Site Investigation Costs | Capital Costs | Total Operation & Maintenance Costs Through 2020 | Total Estimated Costs Through 2020 | |||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Coffeyville Refinery | $ | 0.2 | $ | — | $ | 1.0 | $ | 1.2 | |||||||
Phillipsburg Terminal | 0.5 | — | 0.7 | 1.2 | |||||||||||
Wynnewood Refinery | 0.2 | — | 1.1 | 1.3 | |||||||||||
Total Estimated Costs | $ | 0.9 | $ | — | $ | 2.8 | $ | 3.7 | |||||||
These estimates are based on current information and could increase or decrease as additional information becomes available through our ongoing remediation and investigation activities. At this point, we have estimated that, over ten years starting in 2017, we will spend approximately $6.5 million to remedy impacts from past manufacturing activity at the Coffeyville refinery and to address existing soil and groundwater contamination at the now-closed Phillipsburg terminal and at the Wynnewood refinery. It is possible that additional costs will be required after this ten year period. We spent approximately $2.1 million in 2016 associated with related remediation.
Financial Assurance. We are required under the 2004 Consent Decree to establish financial assurance to secure the projected clean-up costs posed by the Coffeyville and the now-closed Phillipsburg facilities in the event we fail to fulfill our clean-up obligations. In accordance with the 2004 Consent Decree as modified by a 2010 agreement between CRRM, Coffeyville Resources Terminal, LLC, the EPA and the KDHE, this financial assurance is currently provided by a bond in the amount of $3.6 million for clean-up obligations at the Phillipsburg terminal and a letter of credit in the amount of $0.2 million for estimated costs to close regulated hazardous waste management units at the Coffeyville refinery. Additional self-funded financial assurance of approximately $4.9 million and $2.5 million is required by our post-closure care obligations and the 2004 Consent Decree for clean-up costs at the Coffeyville refinery and Phillipsburg terminal, respectively. The $3.6 million bond amount is reduced each year based on actual expenditures for corrective actions and the letter of credit and the self-funded mechanisms are re-evaluated and adjusted on an annual basis. Current RCRA financial assurance requirements for the Wynnewood refinery total $0.2 million for hazardous waste storage tank closure and post-closure monitoring of a closed storm water retention pond.
Environmental Remediation
Under the CERCLA, RCRA, and related state laws, certain persons may be liable for the release or threatened release of hazardous substances. These persons include the current owner or operator of property where a release or threatened release occurred, any persons who owned or operated the property when the release occurred, and any persons who disposed of, or arranged for the transportation or disposal of, hazardous substances at a contaminated property. Liability under CERCLA is strict, and under certain circumstances, joint and several, so that any responsible party may be held liable for the entire cost of investigating and remediating the release of hazardous substances. Similarly, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 generally subjects owners and operators of facilities to strict, joint and several liability for all containment and clean-up costs, natural resource damages, and potential governmental oversight costs arising from oil spills into the waters of the United States, which has been broadly interpreted to include most water bodies including intermittent streams.
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As is the case with all companies engaged in similar industries, we face potential exposure from future claims and lawsuits involving environmental matters, including soil and water contamination, personal injury or property damage allegedly caused by crude oil or hazardous substances that we manufactured, handled, used, stored, transported, spilled, disposed of or released. We cannot assure you that we will not become involved in future proceedings related to our release of hazardous or extremely hazardous substances or crude oil or that, if we were held responsible for damages in any existing or future proceedings, such costs would be covered by insurance or would not be material. Refer to Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies"), "Flood, Crude Oil Discharge and Insurance" of this Report for discussion of the environmental remediation associated with the discharge of crude oil on July 1, 2007 at the Coffeyville refinery.
Environmental Insurance
We are covered by a site pollution legal liability insurance policy with an aggregate limit of $51.0 million per pollution condition, subject to a self-insured retention of $1.0 million. The policy includes business interruption coverage, subject to a 5-day waiting period deductible. This insurance expires on March 1, 2017 and is expected to be renewed without any material changes in terms. The policy insures any location owned, leased or rented or operated by the Company, including the Coffeyville refinery, the Wynnewood refinery and the nitrogen fertilizer facility. The policy insures certain pollution conditions at or migrating from a covered location, certain waste transportation and disposal activities and business interruption.
In addition to the site pollution legal liability insurance policy, we maintain umbrella and excess casualty insurance policies having an aggregate and occurrence limit of $300.0 million, subject to a self-insured retention and deductible of $5.0 million. This insurance provides coverage due to named perils for claims involving pollutants where the discharge is sudden and accidental and first commenced at a specific day and time during the policy period. The casualty insurance policies, including umbrella and excess policies, expire on March 1, 2017 and are expected to be renewed or replaced by insurance policies containing materially equivalent sudden and accidental pollution coverage with no reduction in limits.
The site pollution legal liability policy and the pollution coverage provided in the casualty insurance policies contain discovery requirements, reporting requirements, exclusions, definitions, conditions and limitations that could apply to a particular pollution claim, and there can be no assurance such claim will be adequately insured for all potential damages.
Safety, Health and Security Matters
We are subject to a number of federal and state laws and regulations related to safety, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") and comparable state statutes, the purpose of which are to protect the health and safety of workers. We also are subject to OSHA Process Safety Management regulations, which are designed to prevent or minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable or explosive chemicals.
We operate a comprehensive safety, health and security program, with participation by employees at all levels of the organization. We have developed comprehensive safety programs aimed at preventing OSHA recordable incidents. Despite our efforts to achieve excellence in our safety and health performance, there can be no assurances that there will not be accidents resulting in injuries or even fatalities. We routinely audit our programs and consider improvements in our management systems.
The Wynnewood refinery has been the subject of a number of OSHA inspections since 2006. As a result of these inspections, the Wynnewood refinery has entered into four OSHA settlement agreements in 2008, pursuant to which it has agreed to undertake certain studies, conduct abatement activities, and revise and enhance certain OSHA compliance programs. The remaining costs associated with implementing these studies, abatement activities and program revisions are not expected to exceed $1.0 million.
Refer to Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies"), "Wynnewood Refinery Incident" of this Report for further discussion of OSHA matters related to the Wynnewood refinery boiler explosion.
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Employees
As of December 31, 2016, 968 employees were employed by the petroleum business, 299 employees were employed by the nitrogen fertilizer business and 220 employees were employed by the Company at our offices in Sugar Land, Texas and Kansas City, Kansas. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership each relies on the services of employees of CVR Energy and its subsidiaries pursuant to services agreements between each partnership, its general partner and CVR Energy. As of December 31, 2016, all these employees are covered by health insurance, disability and retirement plans established by the Company. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
As of December 31, 2016, (i) the Coffeyville refinery employed 327 of the petroleum business' employees, about 70% of whom are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with five unions of the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO ("Metal Trade Unions"), which expires in March 2019, (ii) the petroleum business had 268 employees who work in crude transportation, about 32% of whom are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC ("United Steelworkers"), which expires in March 2019 and automatically renews on an annual basis thereafter unless a written notice is received sixty days in advance of the relevant expiration date, and (iii) the Wynnewood refinery employed 323 of the petroleum business' employees, about 58% of whom were represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, which expires in June 2017.
As of December 31, 2016, the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility employed 146 of our employees, of whom none were unionized.
As of December 31, 2016, the East Dubuque Facility employed 150 of our employees, about 61% of whom were represented by the International Union of United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers under a three-year collective bargaining agreement that expires in October 2019.
Available Information
Our website address is www.cvrenergy.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available free of charge through our website under "Investor Relations," as soon as reasonably practicable after the electronic filing or furnishing of these reports is made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Codes of Ethics and Charters of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors are available on our website. These guidelines, policies and charters are also available in print without charge to any stockholder requesting them. We do not intend for information contained in our website to be part of this Report.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider each of the following risks together with the other information contained in this Report and all of the information set forth in our filings with the SEC. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Risks Related to the Petroleum Business
The price volatility of crude oil and other feedstocks, refined products and utility services may have a material adverse effect on the petroleum business' earnings, profitability and cash flows.
The petroleum business' financial results are primarily affected by the relationship, or margin, between refined product prices and the prices for crude oil and other feedstocks. When the margin between refined product prices and crude oil and other feedstock prices tightens, the petroleum business' earnings, profitability and cash flows are negatively affected. Refining margins historically have been volatile and are likely to continue to be volatile, as a result of a variety of factors including fluctuations in prices of crude oil, other feedstocks and refined products. Continued future volatility in refining industry margins may cause a decline in the petroleum business' results of operations, since the margin between refined product prices and crude oil and other feedstock prices may decrease below the amount needed for the petroleum business to generate net cash flow sufficient for its needs. The effect of changes in crude oil prices on the petroleum business' results of operations therefore depends in part on how quickly and how fully refined product prices adjust to reflect these changes. A substantial or prolonged increase in crude oil prices without a corresponding increase in refined product prices, or a substantial or prolonged decrease in refined product prices without a corresponding decrease in crude oil prices, could have a significant negative impact on the petroleum business' earnings, results of operations and cash flows.
Profitability is also impacted by the ability to purchase crude oil at a discount to benchmark crude oils, such as WTI, as the petroleum business does not produce any crude oil and must purchase all of the crude oil it refines. Crude oil differentials can fluctuate significantly based upon overall economic and crude oil market conditions. Adverse changes in crude oil differentials can adversely impact refining margins, earnings and cash flows. In addition, the petroleum business' purchases of crude oil, although based on WTI prices, have historically been at a discount to WTI because of the proximity of the refineries to the sources, existing logistics infrastructure and quality differences. Any change in the sources of crude oil, infrastructure or logistical improvements or quality differences could result in a reduction of the petroleum business' historical discount to WTI and may result in a reduction of the petroleum business' cost advantage.
Refining margins are also impacted by domestic and global refining capacity. Downturns in the economy reduce the demand for refined fuels and, in turn, generate excess capacity. In addition, the expansion and construction of refineries domestically and globally can increase refined fuel production capacity. Excess capacity can adversely impact refining margins, earnings and cash flows. The Arabian Gulf and Far East regions added refining capacity in 2015 and 2016.
The petroleum business is significantly affected by developments in the markets in which it operates. For example, numerous pipeline projects in 2014 expanded the connectivity of the Cushing and Permian Basin markets to the gulf coast, resulting in a decrease in the domestic crude advantage.
Volatile prices for natural gas and electricity also affect the petroleum business' manufacturing and operating costs. Natural gas and electricity prices have been, and will continue to be, affected by supply and demand for fuel and utility services in both local and regional markets.
If the petroleum business is required to obtain its crude oil supply without the benefit of a crude oil supply agreement, its exposure to the risks associated with volatile crude oil prices may increase and its liquidity may be reduced.
Since December 31, 2009, the petroleum business has obtained substantially all of its crude oil supply for the Coffeyville refinery, other than the crude oil it gathers, through the Vitol Agreement. The Vitol Agreement was amended and restated on August 31, 2012 to include the provision of crude oil intermediation services to the Wynnewood refinery. The agreement, which currently extends through December 31, 2017, minimizes the amount of in-transit inventory and mitigates crude oil pricing risk by ensuring pricing takes place close to the time the crude oil is refined and the yielded products are sold. If the petroleum business were required to obtain its crude oil supply without the benefit of a supply intermediation agreement, its exposure to crude oil pricing risk may increase, despite any hedging activity in which it may engage, and its liquidity could be negatively impacted due to increased inventory, potential need to post letters of credit and negative impacts of market volatility. There is no assurance that the petroleum business will be able to renew or extend the Vitol Agreement beyond December 31, 2017.
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Disruption of the petroleum business' ability to obtain an adequate supply of crude oil could reduce its liquidity and increase its costs.
In addition to the crude oil the petroleum business gathers locally in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado and Texas, it also purchased additional crude oil to be refined into liquid fuels in 2016. In 2016, the Coffeyville refinery purchased an additional 70,000 to 75,000 bpd of crude oil while the Wynnewood refinery purchased approximately 45,000 to 50,000 bpd of crude oil. The Wynnewood refinery has historically acquired most of its crude oil from Texas and Oklahoma with smaller amounts purchased from other regions. The Coffeyville refinery obtained a portion of its non-gathered crude oil, approximately 25%, from Canada in 2016. The actual amount of Canadian crude oil the petroleum business purchases is dependent on market conditions and will vary from year to year. The petroleum business is subject to the political, geographic, and economic risks attendant to doing business with Canada. Disruption of production for any reason could have a material impact on the petroleum business. In the event that one or more of its traditional suppliers becomes unavailable, the petroleum business may be unable to obtain an adequate supply of crude oil, or it may only be able to obtain crude oil at unfavorable prices. As a result, the petroleum business may experience a reduction in its liquidity and its results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
If our access to the pipelines on which the petroleum business relies for the supply of its crude oil and the distribution of its products is interrupted, its inventory and costs may increase and it may be unable to efficiently distribute its products.
If one of the pipelines on which either of the Coffeyville or Wynnewood refineries relies for supply of crude oil becomes inoperative, the petroleum business would be required to obtain crude oil through alternative pipelines or from additional tanker trucks, which could increase its costs and result in lower production levels and profitability. Similarly, if a major refined fuels pipeline becomes inoperative, the petroleum business would be required to keep refined fuels in inventory or supply refined fuels to its customers through an alternative pipeline or by additional tanker trucks, which could increase the petroleum business' costs and result in a decline in profitability.
The geographic concentration of the petroleum business' refineries and related assets creates an exposure to the risks of the local economy in which we operate and other local adverse conditions. The location of its refineries also creates the risk of increased transportation costs should the supply/demand balance change in its region such that regional supply exceeds regional demand for refined products.
As the petroleum business' refineries are both located in the southern portion of Group 3 of the PADD II region, the petroleum business primarily markets its refined products in a relatively limited geographic area. As a result, it is more susceptible to regional economic conditions than the operations of more geographically diversified competitors, and any unforeseen events or circumstances that affect its operating area could also materially adversely affect its revenues and cash flows. These factors include, among other things, changes in the economy, weather conditions, demographics and population, increased supply of refined products from competitors and reductions in the supply of crude oil.
Should the supply/demand balance shift in its region as a result of changes in the local economy, an increase in refining capacity or other reasons, resulting in supply in the region exceeding demand, the petroleum business may have to deliver refined products to customers outside of the region and thus incur considerably higher transportation costs, resulting in lower refining margins, if any.
If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase, if the petroleum business has to pay a significantly higher price for RINs or if the petroleum business is otherwise unable to meet RFS mandates, the petroleum business' financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the EPA has promulgated the RFS, which requires refiners to either blend "renewable fuels," such as ethanol and biodiesel, into their transportation fuels or purchase renewable fuel credits, known as RINs, in lieu of blending. Under the RFS, the volume of renewable fuels refineries like Coffeyville and Wynnewood are obligated to blend into their finished petroleum products is adjusted annually. The petroleum business is not able to blend the substantial majority of its transportation fuels and has to purchase RINs on the open market as well as waiver credits for cellulosic biofuels from the EPA, in order to comply with the RFS. The price of RINs has been extremely volatile as the EPA's proposed renewable fuel volume mandates approached the "blend wall." The blend wall refers to the point at which the amount of ethanol blended into the transportation fuel supply exceeds the demand for transportation fuel containing such levels of ethanol. The blend wall is generally considered to be reached when more than 10% ethanol by volume ("E10 gasoline") is blended into transportation fuel.
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On December 14, 2015, the EPA published in the Federal Register a final rule establishing the renewable fuel volume mandates for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the biomass-based diesel mandate for 2017. On December 12, 2016, the EPA published in the Federal Register a final rule establishing the renewable fuel volume mandates for 2017 and the biomass-based diesel mandate for 2018. The volumes included in the EPA's final rule increase each year, but are lower, with the exception of the volumes for biomass-based diesel, than the volumes required by the Clean Air Act. The EPA used its waiver authorities to lower the volumes, but its decision to do so for the 2014-2016 compliance years has been challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In addition, the EPA has articulated a policy to incentivize additional investments in renewable fuel blending and distribution infrastructure by increasing the price of RINs.
The petroleum business cannot predict the future prices of RINs or waiver credits. The price of RINs has been extremely volatile and has increased over the last year. Additionally, the cost of RINs is dependent upon a variety of factors, which include the availability of RINs for purchase, the price at which RINs can be purchased, transportation fuel production levels, the mix of the petroleum business' petroleum products, as well as the fuel blending performed at the refineries and downstream terminals, all of which can vary significantly from period to period. However, the costs to obtain the necessary number of RINs and waiver credits could be material, if the price for RINs continues to increase. Additionally, because the petroleum business does not produce renewable fuels, increasing the volume of renewable fuels that must be blended into its products displaces an increasing volume of the refineries' product pool, potentially resulting in lower earnings and materially adversely affecting the petroleum business' cash flows. If the demand for the petroleum business' transportation fuel decreases as a result of the use of increasing volumes of renewable fuels, increased fuel economy as a result of new EPA fuel economy standards, or other factors, the impact on its business could be material. If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase, if the petroleum business has to pay a significantly higher price for RINs or if the petroleum business is otherwise unable to meet the EPA's RFS mandates, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
The petroleum business faces significant competition, both within and outside of its industry. Competitors who produce their own supply of crude oil or other feedstocks, have extensive retail outlets, make alternative fuels or have greater financial resources than it does may have a competitive advantage.
The refining industry is highly competitive with respect to both crude oil and other feedstock supply and refined product markets. The petroleum business may be unable to compete effectively with competitors within and outside of the industry, which could result in reduced profitability. The petroleum business competes with numerous other companies for available supplies of crude oil and other feedstocks and for outlets for its refined products. The petroleum business is not engaged in the petroleum exploration and production business and therefore it does not produce any of its crude oil feedstocks. It does not have a retail business and therefore is dependent upon others for outlets for its refined products. It does not have long-term arrangements (those exceeding more than a twelve-month period) for much of its output. Many of its competitors obtain significant portions of their crude oil and other feedstocks from company-owned production and have extensive retail outlets. Competitors that have their own production or extensive retail outlets with brand-name recognition are at times able to offset losses from refining operations with profits from producing or retailing operations, and may be better positioned to withstand periods of depressed refining margins or feedstock shortages.
A number of the petroleum business' competitors also have materially greater financial and other resources than it does. These competitors may have a greater ability to bear the economic risks inherent in all aspects of the refining industry. An expansion or upgrade of its competitors' facilities, price volatility, international political and economic developments and other factors are likely to continue to play an important role in refining industry economics and may add additional competitive pressure.
In addition, the petroleum business competes with other industries that provide alternative means to satisfy the energy and fuel requirements of its industrial, commercial and individual customers. There are presently significant governmental incentives and consumer pressures to increase the use of alternative fuels in the United States. The more successful these alternatives become as a result of governmental incentives or regulations, technological advances, consumer demand, improved pricing or otherwise, the greater the negative impact on pricing and demand for the petroleum business' products and profitability.
Changes in the petroleum business' credit profile may affect its relationship with its suppliers, which could have a material adverse effect on its liquidity and its ability to operate the refineries at full capacity.
Changes in the petroleum business' credit profile may affect the way crude oil suppliers view its ability to make payments and may induce them to shorten the payment terms for purchases or require it to post security prior to payment. Given the large dollar amounts and volume of the petroleum business' crude oil and other feedstock purchases, a burdensome change in payment terms may have a material adverse effect on the petroleum business' liquidity and its ability to make payments to its
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suppliers. This, in turn, could cause it to be unable to operate the refineries at full capacity. A failure to operate the refineries at full capacity could adversely affect the petroleum business' profitability and cash flows.
The petroleum business' commodity derivative contracts may limit its potential gains, exacerbate potential losses and involve other risks.
The petroleum business enters into commodity derivatives contracts to mitigate crack spread risk with respect to a portion of its expected refined products production. However, its hedging arrangements may fail to fully achieve this objective for a variety of reasons, including its failure to have adequate hedging contracts, if any, in effect at any particular time and the failure of its hedging arrangements to produce the anticipated results. The petroleum business may not be able to procure adequate hedging arrangements due to a variety of factors. Moreover, such transactions may limit its ability to benefit from favorable changes in margins. In addition, the petroleum business' hedging activities may expose it to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which:
• | the volumes of its actual use of crude oil or production of the applicable refined products is less than the volumes subject to the hedging arrangement; |
• | accidents, interruptions in transportation, inclement weather or other events cause unscheduled shutdowns or otherwise adversely affect its refinery or suppliers or customers; |
• | the counterparties to its futures contracts fail to perform under the contracts; or |
• | a sudden, unexpected event materially impacts the commodity or crack spread subject to the hedging arrangement. |
As a result, the effectiveness of the petroleum business' risk mitigation strategy could have a material adverse impact on the petroleum business' financial results and cash flows.
The adoption of derivatives legislation by the U.S. Congress could have an adverse effect on the petroleum business' ability to hedge risks associated with its business.
The U.S. Congress has adopted the Dodd-Frank Act, comprehensive financial reform legislation that establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as the petroleum business, that participate in that market, and requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") to institute broad new position limits for futures and options traded on regulated exchanges. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC, the SEC and other regulators to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation. The Dodd-Frank Act and implementing rules and regulations also require certain swap participants to comply with, among other things, certain margin requirements and clearing and trade-execution requirements in connection with certain derivative activities. The rulemaking process is still ongoing, and the petroleum business cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the rulemakings. New regulations in this area may result in increased costs and cash collateral requirements for derivative instruments the petroleum business may use to hedge and otherwise manage its financial risks related to volatility in oil and gas commodity prices.
If the petroleum business reduces its use of derivatives as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and any new rules and regulations, its results of operations may become more volatile and its cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect its ability to satisfy its debt obligations or plan for and fund capital expenditures. Increased volatility may make the petroleum business less attractive to certain types of investors. Finally, the Dodd-Frank Act was intended, in part, to reduce the volatility of oil and natural gas prices. If the Dodd-Frank Act and any new regulations result in lower commodity prices, the petroleum business' revenues could be adversely affected. Any of these consequences could adversely affect the petroleum business' financial condition and results of operations and therefore could have an adverse effect on its ability to satisfy its debt obligations.
The petroleum business' commodity derivative activities could result in period-to-period volatility.
The petroleum business does not apply hedge accounting to its commodity derivative contracts and, as a result, unrealized gains and losses are charged to its earnings based on the increase or decrease in the market value of the unsettled position. Such gains and losses are reflected in its income statement in periods that differ from when the underlying hedged items (i.e., gross margins) are reflected in its income statement. Such derivative gains or losses in earnings may produce significant period-to-period earnings volatility that is not necessarily reflective of the petroleum business' operational performance.
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Existing design, operational, and maintenance issues associated with acquisitions may not be identified immediately and may require unanticipated capital expenditures that could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Our due diligence associated with acquisitions may result in our assuming liabilities associated with unknown conditions or deficiencies, as well as known but undisclosed conditions and deficiencies, where we may have limited, if any, recourse for cost recovery. Such conditions and deficiencies may not become evident until sometime after cost recovery provisions, if any, have expired.
The petroleum business must make substantial capital expenditures on its refineries and other facilities to maintain their reliability and efficiency. If the petroleum business is unable to complete capital projects at their expected costs and/or in a timely manner, or if the market conditions assumed in project economics deteriorate, the petroleum business' financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely affected.
Delays or cost increases related to the engineering, procurement and construction of new facilities, or improvements and repairs to the petroleum business' existing facilities and equipment, could have a material adverse effect on the petroleum business' financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Such delays or cost increases may arise as a result of unpredictable factors in the marketplace, many of which are beyond its control, including:
• | denial or delay in obtaining regulatory approvals and/or permits; |
• | unplanned increases in the cost of equipment, materials or labor; |
• | disruptions in transportation of equipment and materials; |
• | severe adverse weather conditions, natural disasters or other events (such as equipment malfunctions, explosions, fires or spills) affecting the petroleum business' facilities, or those of its vendors and suppliers; |
• | shortages of sufficiently skilled labor, or labor disagreements resulting in unplanned work stoppages; |
• | market-related increases in a project's debt or equity financing costs; and/or |
• | nonperformance or force majeure by, or disputes with, the petroleum business' vendors, suppliers, contractors or sub-contractors. |
The Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries have been in operation for many years. Equipment, even if properly maintained, may require significant capital expenditures and expenses to keep it operating at optimum efficiency. These refineries generally require facility turnaround every four to five years. The length of the turnaround is contingent upon the scope of work to be completed. For example, the petroleum business incurred approximately $102.5 million associated with the turnaround for the Wynnewood refinery completed in December 2012. The petroleum business incurred approximately $102.2 million associated with the first phase of the Coffeyville refinery turnaround which was completed in mid-November 2015 and approximately $31.5 million associated with the second phase of the Coffeyville refinery turnaround completed during the first quarter of 2016. During the outage at the Coffeyville refinery as a result of the isomerization unit fire in the third quarter of 2014, the petroleum business accelerated certain planned 2015 turnaround activities and incurred approximately $5.5 million in turnaround expenses. During the fluid catalytic cracking unit ("FCCU") outage at the Wynnewood refinery in the fourth quarter of 2014, the petroleum business accelerated certain planned turnaround activities and incurred approximately $1.3 million in turnaround expenses. These costs do not result in increases in unit capacities, but rather are focused on trying to maintain safe, reliable operations. The next turnround for the Wynnewood refinery will be performed as a two-phase turnaround. The first phase is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2017, with the second phase to begin in the second half of 2018.
Any one or more of these occurrences noted above could have a significant impact on the petroleum business. If the petroleum business was unable to make up for the delays or to recover the related costs, or if market conditions change, it could materially and adversely affect the petroleum business' financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The petroleum business' plans to expand its gathering and logistics assets, which assist it in reducing costs and increasing processing margins, may expose it to significant additional risks, compliance costs and liabilities.
The petroleum business plans to continue to make investments to enhance the operating flexibility of its refineries and to improve its crude oil sourcing advantage through additional investments in gathering and logistics assets. If it is able to
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successfully increase the effectiveness of the supporting gathering and logistics assets, including the crude oil gathering operations, the petroleum business believes it will be able to enhance crude oil sourcing flexibility and reduce related crude oil purchasing and delivery costs. However, the acquisition of infrastructure assets to expand crude oil gathering may expose the petroleum business to risks in the future that are different than or incremental to the risks it faces with respect to its refineries and existing gathering and logistics assets. The storage and transportation of liquid hydrocarbons, including crude oil and refined products, are subject to stringent federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment, operational safety and related matters. Compliance with these laws and regulations could adversely affect the petroleum business' operating results, financial condition and cash flows. Moreover, failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial liabilities, the issuance of injunctions that may restrict or prohibit the petroleum business' operations, or claims of damages to property or persons resulting from its operations.
Any businesses or assets that the petroleum business may acquire in connection with an expansion of its crude oil gathering could expose it to the risk of releasing hazardous materials into the environment. These releases would expose the petroleum business to potentially substantial expenses, including clean-up and remediation costs, fines and penalties, and third-party claims for personal injury or property damage related to past or future releases. Accordingly, if the petroleum business does acquire any such businesses or assets, it could also incur additional expenses not covered by insurance which could be material.
More stringent trucking regulations may increase the petroleum business' costs and negatively impact its results of operations.
In connection with the trucking operations conducted by its crude gathering division, the petroleum business operates as a motor carrier and therefore is subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation and various state agencies. These regulatory authorities exercise broad powers, governing activities such as the authorization to engage in motor carrier operations and regulatory safety, and hazardous materials labeling, placarding and marking. There are additional regulations specifically relating to the trucking industry, including testing and specification of equipment and product handling requirements. The trucking industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload services. Some of these possible changes include increasingly stringent environmental regulations, changes in the hours of service regulations that govern the amount of time a driver may drive in any specific period, onboard black box recorder devices or limits on vehicle weight and size.
To a large degree, intrastate motor carrier operations are subject to state safety regulations that mirror federal regulations. Such matters as weight and dimension of equipment are also subject to federal and state regulations. Furthermore, from time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, such as proposals to increase federal, state or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels, which may increase the petroleum business' costs or adversely impact the recruitment of drivers. The petroleum business cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in such taxes will be enacted or the extent to which they will apply to the petroleum business and its operations.
Risks Related to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Business
The nitrogen fertilizer business is, and nitrogen fertilizer prices are, cyclical and highly volatile, and the nitrogen fertilizer business has experienced substantial downturns in the past. Cycles in demand and pricing could potentially expose the nitrogen fertilizer business to significant fluctuations in its operating and financial results and have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The nitrogen fertilizer business is exposed to fluctuations in nitrogen fertilizer demand in the agricultural industry. These fluctuations historically have had and could in the future have significant effects on prices across all nitrogen fertilizer products and, in turn, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Nitrogen fertilizer products are commodities, the price of which can be highly volatile. The prices of nitrogen fertilizer products depend on a number of factors, including general economic conditions, cyclical trends in end-user markets, supply and demand imbalances, governmental policies and weather conditions, which have a greater relevance because of the seasonal nature of fertilizer application. If seasonal demand exceeds the projections on which the nitrogen fertilizer business bases production, customers may acquire nitrogen fertilizer products from competitors, and the profitability of the nitrogen fertilizer business will be negatively impacted. If seasonal demand is less than expected, the nitrogen fertilizer business will be left with excess inventory that will have to be stored or liquidated.
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Demand for nitrogen fertilizer products is dependent on demand for crop nutrients by the global agricultural industry. The international market for nitrogen fertilizers is influenced by such factors as the relative value of the U.S. dollar and its impact upon the cost of importing nitrogen fertilizers, foreign agricultural policies, the existence of, or changes in, import or foreign currency exchange barriers in certain foreign markets, changes in the hard currency demands of certain countries and other regulatory policies of foreign governments, as well as the laws and policies of the United States affecting foreign trade and investment. Nitrogen-based fertilizers remain solidly in demand, driven by a growing world population, changes in dietary habits and an expanded use of corn for the production of ethanol. Supply is affected by available capacity and operating rates, raw material costs, government policies and global trade. A decrease in nitrogen fertilizer prices would have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The costs associated with operating the nitrogen fertilizer plants include significant fixed costs. If nitrogen fertilizer prices fall below a certain level, the nitrogen fertilizer business may not generate sufficient revenue to operate profitably or cover its costs and ability to make distributions will be adversely impacted.
Unlike our competitors, whose primary costs are related to the purchase of natural gas and whose costs are therefore largely variable, the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility has largely fixed costs. In addition, while less than the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility, the East Dubuque Facility has a significant amount of fixed costs. As a result of the fixed cost nature of its operations, downtime, interruptions or low productivity due to reduced demand, adverse weather conditions, equipment failure, a decrease in nitrogen fertilizer prices or other causes can result in significant operating losses, which would have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
Continued low natural gas prices could impact the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility's relative competitive position when compared to other nitrogen fertilizer producers.
Most nitrogen fertilizer manufacturers rely on natural gas as their primary feedstock, and the cost of natural gas is a large component of the total production cost for natural gas-based nitrogen fertilizer manufacturers. Low natural gas prices benefit the nitrogen fertilizer business' competitors and disproportionately impact our operations by making the nitrogen fertilizer business less competitive with natural gas-based nitrogen fertilizer manufacturers. Although our nitrogen fertilizer business diversified its operations in connection with the acquisition of the East Dubuque Facility, which primarily relies on natural gas feedstock, continued low natural gas prices could impair the ability of the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility to compete with other nitrogen fertilizer producers who utilize natural gas as their primary feedstock if nitrogen fertilizer pricing drops as a result of low natural gas prices, and therefore have a material adverse impact on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
The market for natural gas has been volatile. Natural gas prices are currently at a relative low point. An increase in natural gas prices could impact the East Dubuque Nitrogen Fertilizer Facility's relative competitive position when compared to other foreign and domestic nitrogen fertilizer producers, and if prices for natural gas increase significantly, our nitrogen fertilizer business may not be able to economically operate the East Dubuque Facility.
The operation of the East Dubuque Facility with natural gas as the primary feedstock exposes the nitrogen fertilizer business to market risk due to increases in natural gas prices, particularly if the price of natural gas in the United States were to become higher than the price of natural gas outside the United States. An increase in natural gas prices would impact the East Dubuque Facility's operations by making it less competitive with competitors who do not use natural gas as their primary feedstock, and could therefore have a material adverse impact on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, if natural gas prices in the United States were to increase relative to prices of natural gas paid by foreign nitrogen fertilizer producers, this may negatively affect the nitrogen fertilizer business' competitive position in the corn belt and thus have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The profitability of operating the East Dubuque Facility is significantly dependent on the cost of natural gas, and the East Dubuque Facility operated at certain times, and could operate in the future, at a net loss. Local factors may affect the price of natural gas available to the nitrogen fertilizer business, in addition to factors that determine the benchmark prices of natural gas. Since the nitrogen fertilizer business expects to purchase natural gas on the spot market and to enter into forward purchase contracts. Since we expect to purchase a portion of our natural gas for use in the East Dubuque Facility on the spot market, the Nitrogen Fertilizer business remains susceptible to fluctuations in the price of natural gas in general and in local markets in particular. The nitrogen fertilizer business also expect to use short-term, fixed supply, fixed price forward purchase contracts to lock in pricing for a portion of our natural gas requirements. The nitrogen fertilizer business' ability to enter into forward purchase contracts is dependent upon creditworthiness and, in the event of a deterioration in the nitrogen fertilizer business' credit, counterparties could refuse to enter into forward purchase contracts on acceptable terms. If the nitrogen fertilizer
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business is unable to enter into forward purchase contracts for the supply of natural gas, the nitrogen fertilizer business would need to purchase natural gas on the spot market, which would impair its ability to hedge exposure to risk from fluctuations in natural gas prices. If the nitrogen fertilizer business enters into forward purchase contracts for natural gas, and natural gas prices decrease, then its cost of sales could be higher than it would have been in the absence of the forward purchase contracts.
Any interruption in the supply of natural gas to the nitrogen fertilizer business' East Dubuque Facility through Nicor Inc. ("Nicor") could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations and financial condition.
Our nitrogen fertilizer business' East Dubuque operations depend on the availability of natural gas. East Dubuque has an agreement with Nicor pursuant to which it accesses natural gas from the ANR Pipeline Company and Northern Natural Gas pipelines. East Dubuque's access to satisfactory supplies of natural gas through Nicor could be disrupted due to a number of causes, including volume limitations under the agreement, pipeline malfunctions, service interruptions, mechanical failures or other reasons. The agreement extends through October 31, 2019. Upon expiration of the agreement, East Dubuque may be unable to extend the service under the terms of the existing agreement or renew the agreement on satisfactory terms, or at all. Any disruption in the supply of natural gas to our East Dubuque Facility could restrict our ability to continue to make products at the facility. In the event it need to obtain natural gas from another source, it would need to build a new connection from that source to the East Dubuque Facility and negotiate related easement rights, which would be costly, disruptive and/or unfeasible. As a result, any interruption in the supply of natural gas through Nicor could have a material adverse effect on our nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations and financial condition.
Any decline in U.S. agricultural production or limitations on the use of nitrogen fertilizer for agricultural purposes could have a material adverse effect on the sales of nitrogen fertilizer, and on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Conditions in the U.S. agricultural industry significantly impact the operating results of the nitrogen fertilizer business. The U.S. agricultural industry can be affected by a number of factors, including weather patterns and field conditions, current and projected grain inventories and prices, domestic and international population changes, demand for U.S. agricultural products and U.S. and foreign policies regarding trade in agricultural products.
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the "2014 Farm Bill") ended direct subsidies to agricultural producers for owning farmland, and funded a new crop insurance program in its place. As part of the conservation title of the 2014 Farm Bill, agricultural producers must meet a minimum standard of environmental protection in order to receive federal crop insurance on sensitive lands. The 2014 Farm Bill also discourages producers from converting native grasslands to farmland by limiting crop insurance subsidies for the first few years for newly converted lands. These changes may have a negative impact on fertilizer sales and on the nitrogen fertilizer business’ results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
State and federal governmental policies, including farm and biofuel subsidies and commodity support programs, as well as the prices of fertilizer products, may also directly or indirectly influence the number of acres planted, the mix of crops planted and the use of fertilizers for particular agricultural applications. Developments in crop technology, such as nitrogen fixation (the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds that plants can assimilate), could also reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and adversely affect the demand for nitrogen fertilizer. In addition,s from time to time various state legislatures have considered limitations on the use and application of chemical fertilizers due to concerns about the impact of these products on the environment. Unfavorable state and federal governmental policies could negatively affect nitrogen fertilizer prices and therefore have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A major factor underlying the current high level of demand for nitrogen-based fertilizer products is the production of ethanol. A decrease in ethanol production, an increase in ethanol imports or a shift away from corn as a principal raw material used to produce ethanol could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A major factor underlying the solid level of demand for nitrogen-based fertilizer products produced by the nitrogen fertilizer business is the production of ethanol in the United States and the use of corn in ethanol production. Ethanol production in the United States is highly dependent upon a myriad of federal statutes and regulations, and is made significantly more competitive by various federal and state incentives and mandated usage of renewable fuels pursuant to the RFS. To date, the RFS has been satisfied primarily with fuel ethanol blended into gasoline. However, a number of factors, including the continuing "food versus fuel" debate and studies showing that expanded ethanol usage may increase the level of greenhouse gases in the environment as well as be unsuitable for small engine use, have resulted in calls to reduce subsidies for ethanol,
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allow increased ethanol imports and to repeal or waive (in whole or in part) the current RFS, any of which could have an adverse effect on corn-based ethanol production, planted corn acreage and fertilizer demand. Therefore, ethanol incentive programs may not be renewed, or if renewed, they may be renewed on terms significantly less favorable to ethanol producers than current incentive programs.
Recently, the volume of ethanol required by the RFS standards to be blended into transportation fuel has approached the "blend wall." The blend wall refers to the point at which the amount of ethanol blended into the transportation fuel supply exceeds the demand for transportation fuel containing such levels of ethanol. The blend wall is generally considered to be reached when more than 10% ethanol by volume ("E10 gasoline") is blended into transportation fuel. On December 14, 2015, the EPA published in the Federal Register a final rule establishing the renewable fuel volume mandates for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the biomass-based diesel mandate for 2017. On December 12, 2016, the EPA published in the Federal Register a final rule establishing the renewable fuel volume mandates for 2017 and the biomass-based diesel mandate for 2018. The volumes included in the EPA's final rule increase each year, but are lower, with the exception of the volumes for biomass-based diesel, than the volumes required by the Clean Air Act. The EPA used its waiver authorities to lower the volumes, but its decision to do so has been challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by corn growers and renewable fuels producers. The renewable fuel volume mandates for 2016 and 2017 are expected to result in renewable fuel being blended in volumes that breach the ethanol blend wall, forcing the use of higher ethanol fuel blends, including fuels with 15% or 85% ethanol, or non-ethanol renewable fuel that is not constrained by the blend wall. Information about the amount and type of renewable fuel actually blended in a particular year is reported at the end of March in the following year. In addition, in the final rules establishing the renewable volume obligations, the EPA articulated a policy to incentivize additional investments in renewable fuel blending and distribution infrastructure by increasing the price of RINs. Any substantial decrease in future volume obligations under RFS could have a material adverse effect on ethanol production in the United States, which could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
Further, while most ethanol is currently produced from corn and other raw grains, such as milo or sorghum, the current RFS mandate requires a portion of the overall RFS mandate to come from advanced biofuels, including cellulose-based biomass, such as agricultural waste, forest residue, municipal solid waste and energy crops (plants grown for use to make biofuels or directly exploited for their energy content) and biomass-based diesel. In addition, there is a continuing trend to encourage the use of products other than corn and raw grains for ethanol production. If this trend is successful, the demand for corn may decrease significantly, which could reduce demand for nitrogen fertilizer products and have an adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. This potential impact on the demand for nitrogen fertilizer products, however, could be slightly offset by the potential market for nitrogen fertilizer product usage in connection with the production of cellulosic biofuels.
Nitrogen fertilizer products are global commodities, and the nitrogen fertilizer business faces intense competition from other nitrogen fertilizer producers.
The nitrogen fertilizer business is subject to intense price competition from both U.S. and foreign sources, including competitors operating in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, the Caribbean, Russia and the Ukraine. Fertilizers are global commodities, with little or no product differentiation, and customers make their purchasing decisions principally on the basis of delivered price and availability of the product. Increased global supply may put downward pressure on fertilizer prices. Furthermore, in recent years the price of nitrogen fertilizer in the United States has been substantially driven by pricing in the global fertilizer market. The nitrogen fertilizer business competes with a number of U.S. producers and producers in other countries, including state-owned and government-subsidized entities. Some competitors have greater total resources and are less dependent on earnings from fertilizer sales, which makes them less vulnerable to industry downturns and better positioned to pursue new expansion and development opportunities. Increased domestic supply may put downward pressure on fertilizer prices. Additionally, the nitrogen fertilizer business' competitors utilizing different corporate structures may be better able to withstand lower cash flows than the nitrogen fertilizer business can as a limited partnership. The nitrogen fertilizer business' competitive position could suffer to the extent it is not able to expand its resources either through investments in new or existing operations or through acquisitions, joint ventures or partnerships. An inability to compete successfully could result in a loss of customers, which could adversely affect the sales, profitability and the cash flows of the nitrogen fertilizer business and therefore have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The nitrogen fertilizer business is seasonal, which may result in it carrying significant amounts of inventory and seasonal variations in working capital. Our inability to predict future seasonal nitrogen fertilizer demand accurately may result in excess inventory or product shortages.
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Our nitrogen fertilizer business is seasonal. Farmers tend to apply nitrogen fertilizer during two short application periods, one in the spring and the other in the fall. In contrast, the nitrogen fertilizer business and other nitrogen fertilizer producers generally produce products throughout the year. As a result, our nitrogen fertilizer business and our customers generally build inventories during the low demand periods of the year in order to ensure timely product availability during the peak sales seasons. Variations in the proportion of product sold through prepaid sales contracts and variations in the terms of such contracts can increase the seasonal volatility of our nitrogen fertilizer business' cash flows and cause changes in the patterns of seasonal volatility from year-to-year.
In most instances, our nitrogen fertilizer business’ East Dubuque customers take delivery of nitrogen products at the East Dubuque Facility. Customers arrange and pay to transport our nitrogen products to their final destinations. At our nitrogen fertilizer business’ East Dubuque Facility, inventories are accumulated to allow for customer to take delivery to meet the seasonal demand, which require significant storage capacity. The accumulation of inventory to be available for seasonal sales creates significant seasonal working capital requirements.
Most of our nitrogen fertilizer business’ Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility nitrogen products are delivered by railcar to its customer’s storage facilities. Therefore, our nitrogen fertilizer business is less dependent on storage capacity at the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility and, as a result, experiences lower seasonal fluctuations as compared to the East Dubuque Facility. At our nitrogen fertilizer business’ Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility, the strongest demand for our products typically occurs during the spring planting season. The seasonality of nitrogen fertilizer demand results in our nitrogen fertilizer business’ sales volumes and net sales being highest during the North American spring season and its working capital requirements typically being highest just prior to the start of the spring season.
If seasonal demand exceeds our nitrogen fertilizer business' projections, the nitrogen fertilizer business may not have enough product and its customers may acquire products from its competitors, which would negatively impact our nitrogen fertilizer business' profitability. If seasonal demand is less than expected, our nitrogen fertilizer business may be left with excess inventory and higher working capital and liquidity requirements.
The degree of seasonality of our nitrogen fertilizer business can change significantly from year to year due to conditions in the agricultural industry and other factors. As a consequence of this seasonality, it is expected that distributions we receive from our nitrogen fertilizer business will be volatile and will vary quarterly and annually.
Adverse weather conditions during peak fertilizer application periods may have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, because the agricultural customers of the nitrogen fertilizer business are geographically concentrated.
The nitrogen fertilizer business' sales to agricultural customers are concentrated in the Great Plains and Midwest states and are seasonal in nature. The nitrogen fertilizer business' quarterly results may vary significantly from one year to the next due largely to weather-related shifts in planting schedules and purchase patterns. For example, the nitrogen fertilizer business typically generates greater net sales and operating income in the first half of the year, which is referred to herein as the planting season, compared to the second half of the year. Accordingly, an adverse weather pattern affecting agriculture in these regions or during the planting season could have a negative effect on fertilizer demand, which could, in turn, result in a material decline in the nitrogen fertilizer business' net sales and margins and otherwise have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The nitrogen fertilizer business' quarterly results may vary significantly from one year to the next due largely to weather-related shifts in planting schedules and purchase patterns. As a result, it is expected that the nitrogen fertilizer business' distributions to holders of its common units (including us) will be volatile and will vary quarterly and annually.
The nitrogen fertilizer business' operations are dependent on third-party suppliers, including the following: Linde, which owns an air separation plant that provides oxygen, nitrogen and compressed dry air to the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility; the City of Coffeyville, which supplies the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility with electricity; and Jo-Carroll Energy, Inc. ("Jo-Carroll Energy") which supplies the East Dubuque Facility with electricity. A deterioration in the financial condition of a third- party supplier, a mechanical problem with the air separation plant supplying the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility, or the inability of a third-party supplier to perform in accordance with its contractual obligations could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Operations of the nitrogen fertilizer business' Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility depend in large part on the performance of third-party suppliers, including Linde for the supply of oxygen, nitrogen and compressed dry air, and the City of Coffeyville for the supply of electricity. With respect to Linde, the operations of the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility could be adversely affected if there were a deterioration in Linde's financial condition such that the operation of the air separation plant located adjacent to the
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Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility was disrupted. Additionally, this air separation plant in the past has experienced numerous short-term interruptions, causing interruptions in our gasifier operations. With respect to electricity, in 2010, our nitrogen fertilizer business entered into an amended and restated electric services agreement with the City of Coffeyville, Kansas, which allows for an option to extend the term of such agreement through June 30, 2024.
Our nitrogen fertilizer business' East Dubuque Facility operations also depend in large part on the performance of third-party suppliers, including, Jo-Carroll Energy for the purchase of electricity. We entered into a utility service agreement with Jo-Carroll Energy, which terminates on May 31, 2019 and will continue year-to-year thereafter unless either party provides 12-month advance written notice of termination.
Should Linde, the City of Coffeyville, Jo-Carroll Energy or any of our other third-party suppliers fail to perform in accordance with existing contractual arrangements, or should our nitrogen fertilizer business otherwise lose the service of any third-party suppliers, our nitrogen fertilizer business' operations (or a portion of our operations) could be forced to halt. Alternative sources of supply could be difficult to obtain. Any shutdown of our nitrogen fertilizer business' operations (or a portion of our operations), even for a limited period, could have a material adverse effect on our nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
The nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions may be adversely affected by the supply and price levels of pet coke. Failure by the Refining Business to continue to supply the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility with pet coke (to the extent third-party pet coke is unavailable only at higher prices), or the Refining Business imposition of an obligation to provide it with security for the Nitrogen Fertilizer business' payment obligations, could negatively impact results of operations
The profitability of the nitrogen fertilizer business' Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility is directly affected by the price and availability of pet coke obtained from the Refining Business' Coffeyville, Kansas crude oil refinery pursuant to a long-term agreement and pet coke purchased from third parties, both of which vary based on market prices. Pet coke is a key raw material used by the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility in the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizer products. If pet coke costs increase, the nitrogen fertilizer business may not be able to increase its prices to recover these increased costs, because market prices for nitrogen fertilizer products are not correlated with pet coke prices.
Based on nitrogen fertilizer business current output, it obtains most (over 70% on average during the last five years) of the pet coke needed for the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility from the Refining Business' adjacent crude oil refinery, and procure the remainder on the open market. The price that is paid to the Refining Business for pet coke is based on the lesser of a pet coke price derived from the price received for UAN (subject to a UAN-based price ceiling and floor) and a pet coke index price. In most cases, the price paid to the Refining Business will be lower than the price which would be otherwise paid to third parties. Pet coke prices could significantly increase in the future. Should the Refining Business fail to perform in accordance with the existing agreement, the fertilizer business would need to purchase pet coke from third parties on the open market, which could negatively impact its results of operations to the extent third-party pet coke is unavailable or available only at higher prices.
The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility may not be able to maintain an adequate supply of pet coke. In addition, it could experience production delays or cost increases if alternative sources of supply prove to be more expensive or difficult to obtain. The nitrogen fertilizer business currently purchases 100% of the pet coke the Coffeyville refinery produces. Accordingly, if the nitrogen fertilizer business increases production, it will be more dependent on pet coke purchases from third-party suppliers at open market prices. The nitrogen fertilizer business is party to a pet coke supply agreement with HollyFrontier Corporation. The term of this agreement ends in December 2017. There is no assurance that the nitrogen fertilizer business would be able to purchase pet coke on comparable terms from third parties or at all.
Under the pet coke agreement with the Refining Business, we may become obligated to provide security for payment of obligations if, in the Refining business's sole judgment, there is a material adverse change in financial condition or liquidity position or in ability to pay for pet coke purchases. See Part III, Item 13 "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence - Agreements with CVR Energy and CVR Refining - Coke Supply Agreement" of this Report.
The nitrogen fertilizer business relies on third-party providers of transportation services and equipment, which subjects it to risks and uncertainties beyond its control that may have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make distributions.
The nitrogen fertilizer business relies on railroad and trucking companies to ship finished products to customers of the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility. The nitrogen fertilizer business also lease railcars from railcar owners in order to ship its finished products. Additionally, although customers of the East Dubuque Facility generally pick up products at the facility, the facility occasionally rely on barge, truck and railroad companies to ship products to customers. These transportation operations,
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equipment and services are subject to various hazards, including extreme weather conditions, work stoppages, delays, spills, derailments and other accidents and other operating hazards. For example, barge transport can be impacted by lock closures resulting from inclement weather or surface conditions, including fog, rain, snow, wind, ice, strong currents, floods, droughts and other unplanned natural phenomena, lock malfunction, tow conditions and other conditions. Further, the limited number of towing companies and of barges available for ammonia transport may also impact the availability of transportation for our nitrogen fertilizer business' products.
These transportation operations, equipment and services are also subject to environmental, safety and other regulatory oversight. Due to concerns related to terrorism or accidents, local, state and federal governments could implement new regulations affecting the transportation of the nitrogen fertilizer business' finished products. In addition, new regulations could be implemented affecting the equipment used to ship its finished products.
Any delay in the nitrogen fertilizer business' ability to ship its finished products as a result of these transportation companies' failure to operate properly, the implementation of new and more stringent regulatory requirements affecting transportation operations or equipment, or significant increases in the cost of these services or equipment could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
Ammonia can be very volatile and extremely hazardous. Any liability for accidents involving ammonia or other products the nitrogen fertilizer business produces or transports that cause severe damage to property or injury to the environment and human health could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions. In addition, the costs of transporting ammonia could increase significantly in the future.
The nitrogen fertilizer business manufactures, processes, stores, handles, distributes and transports ammonia, which can be very volatile and extremely hazardous. Major accidents or releases involving ammonia could cause severe damage or injury to property, the environment and human health, as well as a possible disruption of supplies and markets. Such an event could result in civil lawsuits, fines, penalties and regulatory enforcement proceedings, all of which could lead to significant liabilities. Any damage to persons, equipment or property or other disruption of the ability of the nitrogen fertilizer business to produce or distribute its products could result in a significant decrease in operating revenues and significant additional cost to replace or repair and insure its assets, which could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility and East Dubuque Facility periodically experiences minor releases of ammonia related to leaks from its equipment. Similar events may occur in the future.
In addition, the nitrogen fertilizer business may incur significant losses or costs relating to the operation of railcars used for the purpose of carrying various products, including ammonia. Due to the dangerous and potentially toxic nature of the cargo, in particular ammonia, on board railcars, a railcar accident may result in fires, explosions and pollution. These circumstances may result in sudden, severe damage or injury to property, the environment and human health. In the event of pollution, the nitrogen fertilizer business may be held responsible even if it is not at fault and it complied with the laws and regulations in effect at the time of the accident. Litigation arising from accidents involving ammonia and other products the nitrogen fertilizer business produces or transports may result in the nitrogen fertilizer business or us being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting claims for large amounts of damages, which could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions.
Given the risks inherent in transporting ammonia, the costs of transporting ammonia could increase significantly in the future. Ammonia is most typically transported by pipeline and railcar. A number of initiatives are underway in the railroad and chemical industries that may result in changes to railcar design in order to minimize railway accidents involving hazardous materials. In addition, in the future, laws may more severely restrict or eliminate the ability of the nitrogen fertilizer business to transport ammonia via railcar. If any railcar design changes are implemented, or if accidents involving hazardous freight increase the insurance and other costs of railcars, freight costs of the nitrogen fertilizer business could significantly increase.
Environmental laws and regulations on fertilizer end-use and application and numeric nutrient water quality criteria could have a material adverse impact on fertilizer demand in the future.
Future environmental laws and regulations on the end-use and application of fertilizers could cause changes in demand for the nitrogen fertilizer business' products. In addition, future environmental laws and regulations, or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, could limit the ability of the nitrogen fertilizer business to market and sell its products to end users. From time to time, various state legislatures have proposed bans or other limitations on fertilizer products. The EPA is encouraging states to adopt state-wide numeric water quality criteria for total nitrogen and total phosphorus, which are present in the nitrogen fertilizer business' fertilizer products. A number of states have adopted or proposed numeric nutrient water
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quality criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus. The adoption of stringent state criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus could reduce the demand for nitrogen fertilizer products in those states. If such laws, rules, regulations or interpretations to significantly curb the end-use or application of fertilizers were promulgated in the nitrogen fertilizer business' marketing areas, it could result in decreased demand for its products and have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
New regulations concerning the transportation, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals, risks of terrorism and the security of chemical manufacturing facilities could result in higher operating costs.
The costs of complying with future regulations relating to the transportation, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals and security associated with our operations may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions. Targets such as chemical manufacturing facilities may be at greater risk of future terrorist attacks than other targets in the United States. The chemical industry has responded to the issues that arose in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 by starting new initiatives relating to the security of chemical industry facilities and the transportation of hazardous chemicals in the United States. For example, in May 2015, the Department of Transportation promulgated a regulation setting standings for rail tanks carrying transporting flammable liquids. Future terrorist attacks could lead to even stronger, more costly initiatives that could result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions. The 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas has generated consideration of more restrictive measures in the storage, handling and transportation of crop production materials. In January 2017, the Federal Register published finalized amendments to the Clean Air Act’s regulations implementing the Risk Management Program, which is designed to prevent and mitigate chemical releases and accidents at facilities that handle large quantities of hazardous chemicals. It is not yet known whether the rule will be challenged or otherwise affected by the incoming Trump administration.
If licensed technology were no longer available, the nitrogen fertilizer business may be adversely affected.
The nitrogen fertilizer business has licensed, and may in the future license, a combination of patent, trade secret and other intellectual property rights of third parties for use in its business. In particular, the gasification process used at the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility to convert pet coke to high purity hydrogen for subsequent conversion to ammonia is licensed from an affiliate of General Electric Company. The license, which is fully paid, grants the nitrogen fertilizer business perpetual rights to use the pet coke gasification process on specified terms and conditions and is integral to the operations of the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility. If this license or any other license agreements on which the nitrogen fertilizer business' operations rely, were to be terminated, licenses to alternative technology may not be available, or may only be available on terms that are not commercially reasonable or acceptable. In addition, any substitution of new technology for currently-licensed technology may require substantial changes to manufacturing processes or equipment and may have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The nitrogen fertilizer business may face third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, which if successful could result in significant costs.
Although there are currently no pending claims relating to the infringement of any third-party intellectual property rights, in the future the nitrogen fertilizer business may face claims of infringement that could interfere with its ability to use technology that is material to its business operations. Any litigation of this type, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs and diversions of resources, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In the event a claim of infringement against the nitrogen fertilizer business is successful, it may be required to pay royalties or license fees for past or continued use of the infringing technology, or it may be prohibited from using the infringing technology altogether. If it is prohibited from using any technology as a result of such a claim, it may not be able to obtain licenses to alternative technology adequate to substitute for the technology it can no longer use, or licenses for such alternative technology may only be available on terms that are not commercially reasonable or acceptable. In addition, any substitution of new technology for currently licensed technology may require the nitrogen fertilizer business to make substantial changes to its manufacturing processes or equipment or to its products, and could have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
There can be no assurance that the transportation costs of the nitrogen fertilizer business' competitors will not decline.
Our nitrogen fertilizer business' nitrogen fertilizer plants are located within the U.S. farm belt, where the majority of the end users of its nitrogen fertilizer products grow their crops. Many of our nitrogen fertilizer business' competitors produce fertilizer outside of this region and incur greater costs in transporting their products over longer distances via rail, ships and
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pipelines. There can be no assurance that competitors' transportation costs will not decline or that additional pipelines will not be built, lowering the price at which competitors can sell their products, which would have a material adverse effect on the nitrogen fertilizer business' results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Entire Business
Instability and volatility in the capital, credit and commodity markets in the global economy could negatively impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted by difficult conditions and volatility in the capital, credit and commodities markets and in the global economy. For example:
• | Although we believe the petroleum business has sufficient liquidity under its ABL credit facility and the intercompany credit facility to operate both the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries, and that the nitrogen fertilizer business has sufficient liquidity under its ABL credit facility to run the nitrogen fertilizer business, under extreme market conditions there can be no assurance that such funds would be available or sufficient, and in such a case, we may not be able to successfully obtain additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. |
• | Market volatility could exert downward pressure on the price of the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units, which may make it more difficult for either or both of them to raise additional capital and thereby limit their ability to grow, which could in turn cause our stock price to drop. |
• | The petroleum business' and nitrogen fertilizer business' credit facilities contain various covenants that must be complied with, and if either business is not in compliance, there can be no assurance that either business would be able to successfully amend the agreement in the future. Further, any such amendment may be expensive. In addition, any new credit facility the petroleum business or nitrogen fertilizer business may enter into may require them to agree to additional covenants. |
• | Market conditions could result in significant customers experiencing financial difficulties. We are exposed to the credit risk of our customers, and their failure to meet their financial obligations when due because of bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failure or other reasons could result in decreased sales and earnings for us. |
The refineries and nitrogen fertilizer facilities face significant risks due to physical damage hazards, environmental liability risk exposure, and unplanned or emergency partial or total plant shutdowns resulting in business interruptions. We could incur potentially significant costs to the extent there are unforeseen events which cause property damage and a material decline in production which are not fully insured. The commercial insurance industry engaged in underwriting energy industry risk is specialized and there is finite capacity; therefore, the industry may limit or curtail coverage, may modify the coverage provided or may substantially increase premiums in the future.
If any of our production plants, logistics assets, key pipeline operations serving our plants, or key suppliers sustains a catastrophic loss and operations are shutdown or significantly impaired, it would have a material adverse impact on our operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, the risk exposures we have at the Coffeyville, Kansas plant complex are greater due to production facilities for refinery and fertilizer production, distribution and storage being in relatively close proximity and potentially exposed to damage from one incident, such as resulting damages from the perils of explosion, windstorm, fire, or flood. Operations at either or both of the refineries and the nitrogen fertilizer plant could be curtailed, limited or completely shut down for an extended period of time as the result of one or more unforeseen events and circumstances, which may not be within our control, including:
• | major unplanned maintenance requirements |
• | catastrophic events caused by mechanical breakdown, electrical injury, pressure vessel rupture, explosion, contamination, fire, or natural disasters, including, floods, windstorms and other similar events; |
• | labor supply shortages, or labor difficulties that result in a work stoppage or slowdown; |
• | cessation or suspension of a plant or specific operations dictated by environmental authorities; and |
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• | an event or incident involving a large clean-up, decontamination, or the imposition of laws and ordinances regulating the cost and schedule of demolition or reconstruction, which can cause significant delays in restoring property to its pre-loss condition. |
We have sustained losses over the past ten-year period at our plants, which are illustrative of the types of risks and hazards that exist. These losses or events resulted in costs assumed by us that were not fully insured due to policy retentions or applicable exclusions. These events included the flood at the Coffeyville refinery flood in June 2007; the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant secondary urea reactor rupture in September 2010; the fire in the Coffeyville refinery fluid catalytic cracking unit ("FCCU") in December 2010; a hydrocracker unit fire at the Wynnewood refinery in December 2010; a boiler explosion at the Wynnewood refinery in September 2012; a FCCU outage at the Coffeyville refinery in July/August 2013; and a isomerization unit fire at the Coffeyville refinery in July 2014.
We are insured under casualty, environmental, property and business interruption insurance policies. The property and business interruption coverage has a combined policy limit of $1.25 billion for each occurrence. The property and business interruption insurance policies insure real and personal property, including property located at our Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries and our related crude gathering and logistics assets. There is potential for a common occurrence to impact both the CVR Partners' nitrogen fertilizer plant in Coffeyville, Kansas and the Coffeyville refinery in which case the insurance limitations limits and applicable sub-limits would apply to all damages combined. Under this insurance program, there is a $2.5 million property damage retention for property, except there is a $10 million retention for refinery property. In addition, the insurance policies contain a schedule of sub-limits which apply to certain specific perils or areas of coverage. Sub-limits which may be of importance depending on the nature and extent of a particular insured occurrence are: flood, earthquake, contingent business interruption insuring key suppliers, pipelines and customers, debris removal, decontamination, demolition and increased cost of construction due to law and ordinance, and others. Policy conditions, limits and sub-limits could materially impact insurance recoveries and potentially cause us to assume losses which could impair earnings.
There is finite capacity in the commercial insurance industry engaged in underwriting energy industry risk, and there are risks associated with the commercial insurance industry reducing capacity, changing the scope of insurance coverage offered, and substantially increasing premiums resulting from highly adverse loss experience or other financial circumstances. Factors that impact insurance cost and availability include, but are not limited to: industry wide losses, natural disasters, specific losses incurred by us and low or inadequate investment returns earned by the insurance industry. If the supply of commercial insurance is curtailed due to highly adverse financial results, we may not be able to continue our present limits of insurance coverage or obtain sufficient insurance capacity to adequately insure our risks for property damage or business interruption.
Environmental laws and regulations could require us to make substantial capital expenditures to remain in compliance or to remediate current or future contamination that could give rise to material liabilities.
Our operations are subject to a variety of federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the emission or discharge of pollutants into the environment, product specifications and the generation, treatment, storage, transportation, disposal and remediation of solid and hazardous wastes. Violations of these laws and regulations or permit conditions can result in substantial penalties, injunctive orders compelling installation of additional controls, civil and criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns.
In addition, new environmental laws and regulations, new interpretations of existing laws and regulations, increased governmental enforcement of laws and regulations or other developments could require us to make additional unforeseen expenditures. Many of these laws and regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, and the cost of compliance with these requirements can be expected to increase over time. The requirements to be met, as well as the technology and length of time available to meet those requirements, continue to develop and change. These expenditures or costs for environmental compliance could have a material adverse effect on our business' results of operations, financial condition and profitability.
Our facilities operate under a number of federal and state permits, licenses and approvals with terms and conditions containing a significant number of prescriptive limits and performance standards in order to operate. All of these permits, licenses, approvals, limits and standards require a significant amount of monitoring, record keeping and reporting in order to demonstrate compliance with the underlying permit, license, approval, limit or standard. Non-compliance or incomplete documentation of our compliance status may result in the imposition of fines, penalties and injunctive relief. Additionally, due to the nature of our manufacturing and refining processes, there may be times when we are unable to meet the standards and terms and conditions of our permits, licenses and approvals due to operational upsets or malfunctions, which may lead to the imposition of fines and penalties or operating restrictions that may have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate our facilities and accordingly our financial performance. For a discussion of environmental laws and regulations and their impact on our business and operations, please see "Business — Environmental Matters."
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We could incur significant cost in cleaning up contamination at our refineries, terminals, fertilizer plants and off-site locations.
Our businesses are subject to the occurrence of accidental spills, discharges or other releases of petroleum or hazardous substances into the environment. Past or future spills related to any of our current or former operations, including the refineries, pipelines, product terminals, fertilizer plants or transportation of products or hazardous substances from those facilities, may give rise to liability (including strict liability, or liability without fault, and potential clean-up responsibility) to governmental entities or private parties under federal, state or local environmental laws, as well as under common law. For example, we could be held strictly liable under CERCLA, and similar state statutes for past or future spills without regard to fault or whether our actions were in compliance with the law at the time of the spills. Pursuant to CERCLA and similar state statutes, we could be held liable for contamination associated with facilities we currently own or operate (whether or not such contamination occurred prior to our acquisition thereof), facilities we formerly owned or operated (if any) and facilities to which we transported or arranged for the transportation of wastes or byproducts containing hazardous substances for treatment, storage, or disposal.
The potential penalties and clean-up costs for past or future releases or spills, liability to third parties for damage to their property or exposure to hazardous substances, or the need to address newly discovered information or conditions that may require response actions could be significant and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, we may incur liability for alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals or other hazardous substances located at or released from our facilities. We may also face liability for personal injury, property damage, natural resource damage or for clean-up costs for the alleged migration of contamination or other hazardous substances from our facilities to adjacent and other nearby properties.
Four of our facilities, including the Coffeyville refinery, the now-closed Phillipsburg terminal (which operated as a refinery until 1991), the Wynnewood refinery and the Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer plant, have environmental contamination. We have assumed Farmland's responsibilities under certain administrative orders under the RCRA related to contamination at or that originated from the Coffeyville refinery and the Phillipsburg terminal. The Coffeyville refinery has agreed to assume liability for contamination that migrated from the refinery onto the nitrogen fertilizer plant property while Farmland owned and operated the properties. At the Wynnewood refinery, known areas of contamination have been partially addressed but corrective action has not been completed (refer to "RCRA Compliance Matters" in Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies") of this Report). If significant unknown liabilities are identified at or migrating from any of our facilities, that liability could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and may not be covered by insurance.
We may incur future liability relating to the off-site disposal of hazardous wastes. Companies that dispose of, or arrange for the treatment, transportation or disposal of, hazardous substances at off-site locations may be held jointly and severally liable for the costs of investigation and remediation of contamination at those off-site locations, regardless of fault. We could become involved in litigation or other proceedings involving off-site waste disposal and the damages or costs in any such proceedings could be material.
We may be unable to obtain or renew permits necessary for our operations, which could inhibit our ability to do business.
Our businesses hold numerous environmental and other governmental permits and approvals authorizing operations at our facilities. Future expansion of our operations is predicated upon securing the necessary environmental or other permits or approvals. A decision by a government agency to deny or delay issuing a new or renewed material permit or approval, or to revoke or substantially modify an existing permit or approval, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue operations and on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
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Climate change laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The EPA regulates GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. In October 2009, the EPA finalized a rule requiring certain large emitters of GHGs to inventory and report their GHG emissions to the EPA. In accordance with the rule, we have begun monitoring and reporting our GHG emissions to the EPA. In May 2010, the EPA finalized the "Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule," which established new GHG emissions thresholds that determine when stationary sources, such as the refineries and the nitrogen fertilizer plant, must obtain permits under PSD and Title V programs of the federal Clean Air Act. Under the rule, facilities already subject to the PSD and Title V programs that increase their emissions of GHGs by a significant amount are required to undergo PSD review and to evaluate and implement air pollution control technology, known as "best available control technology," to reduce GHG emissions.
In the meantime, in December 2010, the EPA reached a settlement agreement with numerous parties under which it agreed to promulgate NSPS to regulate GHG emissions from petroleum refineries and electric utilities by November 2012. In September 2014, the EPA indicated that the petroleum refining sector risk rule, proposed in June 2014 to address air toxics and volatile organic compounds from refineries, may make it unnecessary for the EPA to regulate GHG emissions from petroleum refineries at this time. The final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2015, places additional emission control requirements and work practice standards on FCCUs, storage tanks, flares, coking units and other equipment at petroleum refineries. Therefore, we expect that the EPA will not be issuing NSPS standards to regulate GHG from the refineries at this time but that it may do so in the future.
During the State of the Union address in each of the last four years, President Obama indicated that the United States should take action to address climate change. It is possible, however, that the Trump administration and/or the new Congress
will implement a new or modified policy with respect to climate change. If efforts to address climate change continue, at the federal legislative level, this could mean Congressional passage of legislation adopting some form of federal mandatory GHG emission reduction, such as a nationwide cap-and-trade program. It is also possible that Congress may pass alternative climate change bills that do not mandate a nationwide cap-and-trade program and instead focus on promoting renewable energy and efficiency.
In addition to potential federal legislation, a number of states have adopted regional greenhouse gas initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions. In 2007, a group of Midwest states, including Kansas (where the Coffeyville refinery and the nitrogen fertilizer facility are located), formed the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which calls for the development of a cap-and-trade system to control GHG emissions and for the inventory of such emissions. However, the individual states that have signed on to the accord must adopt laws or regulations implementing the trading scheme before it becomes effective. To date, Kansas has taken no meaningful action to implement the accord, and it's unclear whether Kansas intends to do so in the future.
Alternatively, the EPA may take further steps to regulate GHG emissions, although at this time it is unclear to what extent the EPA under its new Administrator will pursue climate change regulation. The implementation of EPA regulations and/or the passage of federal or state climate change legislation may result in increased costs to (i) operate and maintain our facilities, (ii) install new emission controls on our facilities and (iii) administer and manage any GHG emissions program. Increased costs associated with compliance with any current or future legislation or regulation of GHG emissions, if it occurs, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, climate change legislation and regulations may result in increased costs not only for our business but also users of our refined and fertilizer products, thereby potentially decreasing demand for our products. Decreased demand for our products may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We are subject to strict laws and regulations regarding employee and process safety, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and profitability.
We are subject to the requirements of OSHA and comparable state statutes that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers, and the proper design, operation and maintenance of our equipment. In addition, OSHA and certain environmental regulations require that we maintain information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that we provide this information to employees and state and local governmental authorities. Failure to comply with these requirements, including general industry standards, record keeping requirements and monitoring and control of occupational exposure to regulated substances, may result in significant fines or compliance costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
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We are subject to cybersecurity risks and other cyber incidents resulting in disruption.
Threats to information technology systems associated with cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents or attacks continue to grow. We depend on information technology systems. In addition, we collect, process and retain sensitive and confidential customer information in the normal course of business. Despite the security measures we have in place and any additional measures we may implement in the future, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, could be vulnerable to security breaches, computer viruses, lost or misplaced data, programming errors, human errors, acts of vandalism or other events. Any disruption of our systems or security breach or event resulting in the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, whether by us directly or our third-party service providers, could damage our reputation, expose us to the risks of litigation and liability, disrupt our business or otherwise affect our results of operations.
Deliberate, malicious acts, including terrorism, could damage our facilities, disrupt our operations or injure employees, contractors, customers or the public and result in liability to us.
Intentional acts of destruction could hinder our sales or production and disrupt our supply chain. Our facilities could be damaged or destroyed, reducing our operational production capacity and requiring us to repair or replace our facilities at substantial cost. Employees, contractors and the public could suffer substantial physical injury for which we could be liable. Governmental authorities may impose security or other requirements that could make our operations more difficult or costly. The consequences of any such actions could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Both the petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer businesses depend on significant customers and the loss of several significant customers may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer businesses both have a significant concentration of customers. The five largest customers of the petroleum business represented 40% of its petroleum net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016. The five largest customers of the nitrogen fertilizer business also represented approximately 32% of its net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016. One significant petroleum customer accounts for approximately 15% of petroleum net sales and two significant nitrogen fertilizer customers each accounts for approximately 10% of nitrogen fertilizer net sales. Given the nature of our businesses, and consistent with industry practice, we do not have long-term minimum purchase contracts with our customers. The loss of several of these significant customers, or a significant reduction in purchase volume by several of them, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The acquisition and expansion strategy of the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business involves significant risks.
Both the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business will consider pursuing acquisitions and expansion projects in order to continue to grow and increase profitability. However, we may not be able to consummate such acquisitions or expansions, due to intense competition for suitable acquisition targets, the potential unavailability of financial resources necessary to consummate acquisitions and expansions, difficulties in identifying suitable acquisition targets and expansion projects or in completing any transactions identified on sufficiently favorable terms and the failure to obtain requisite regulatory or other governmental approvals. In addition, any future acquisitions and expansions may entail significant transaction costs and risks associated with entry into new markets and lines of business.
In addition to the risks involved in identifying and completing acquisitions described above, even when acquisitions are completed, integration of acquired entities can involve significant difficulties, such as: unforeseen difficulties in the integration of the acquired operations and disruption of the ongoing operations of our business; failure to achieve cost savings or other financial or operating objectives contributing to the accretive nature of an acquisition; strain on the operational and managerial controls and procedures of the petroleum business and the nitrogen fertilizer business, and the need to modify systems or to add management resources; difficulties in the integration and retention of customers or personnel and the integration and effective deployment of operations or technologies; assumption of unknown material liabilities or regulatory non-compliance issues; amortization of acquired assets, which would reduce future reported earnings; possible adverse short-term effects on our cash flows or operating results; and diversion of management's attention from the ongoing operations of our business.
In addition, in connection with any potential acquisition or expansion project, each of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership (as applicable) will need to consider whether a business it intends to acquire or expansion project it intends to pursue could affect its tax treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the petroleum business or the nitrogen fertilizer business is otherwise unable to conclude that the activities of the business being acquired or the expansion project would not affect its treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, it may elect to seek a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). Seeking such a ruling could be costly or, in the case of competitive
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acquisitions, place the business in a competitive disadvantage compared to other potential acquirers who do not seek such a ruling. If the petroleum business or the nitrogen fertilizer business is unable to conclude that an activity would not affect its treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and is unable or unwilling to obtain an IRS ruling, the petroleum business or the nitrogen fertilizer business may choose to acquire such business or develop such expansion project in a corporate subsidiary, which would subject the income related to such activity to entity-level taxation, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to its unitholders and would likely cause a substantial reduction in the value of its common units.
Failure to manage these acquisition and expansion growth risks could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to consummate any acquisitions or expansions, successfully integrate acquired entities, or generate positive cash flow at any acquired company or expansion project.
We are a holding company and depend upon our subsidiaries for our cash flow.
Our two principal subsidiaries are publicly traded partnerships, and a portion of their common units trade on the NYSE. We are a holding company, and these subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own substantially all of our assets. Consequently, our cash flow and our ability to meet our obligations or to pay dividends or make other distributions in the future will depend upon the cash flow of our subsidiaries and the payment of funds by our subsidiaries to us in the form of distributions on their common units. The ability of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership to make any payments to us will depend on, among other things, their earnings, the terms of their indebtedness (including the terms of any debt facilities and instruments), tax considerations and legal restrictions. In particular, future debt facilities and instruments incurred at our subsidiaries may impose significant limitations on the ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us and consequently our ability to issue dividends to our stockholders.
Internally generated cash flows and other sources of liquidity may not be adequate for the capital needs of our businesses.
Our businesses are capital intensive, and working capital needs may vary significantly over relatively short periods of time. For instance, crude oil price volatility can significantly impact working capital on a week-to-week and month-to-month basis. If we cannot generate adequate cash flow or otherwise secure sufficient liquidity to meet our working capital needs or support our short-term and long-term capital requirements, we may be unable to meet our debt obligations, pursue our business strategies or comply with certain environmental standards, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
A substantial portion of our workforce is unionized and we are subject to the risk of labor disputes and adverse employee relations, which may disrupt our business and increase our costs.
As of December 31, 2016, approximately 70% of the employees at the Coffeyville refinery, 58% of the employees at the Wynnewood refinery and 32% of the employees who work in crude transportation were represented by labor unions under collective bargaining agreements. At Coffeyville, the collective bargaining agreement with five Metal Trades Unions (which covers union represented employees who work directly at the Coffeyville refinery) expires in March 2019. The collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers (which covers unionized employees who work in crude transportation) expires in March 2019 and automatically renews on an annual basis thereafter unless a written notice is received sixty days in advance of the relevant expiration date. The collective bargaining agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers with respect to the Wynnewood refinery expires in June 2017. Approximately 61% of the employees at the East Dubuque Facility were represented by the International Union of United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers under a collective bargaining agreement that expires in October 2019. We may not be able to renegotiate our collective bargaining agreements when they expire on satisfactory terms or at all. A failure to do so may increase our costs. In addition, our existing labor agreements may not prevent a strike or work stoppage at any of our facilities in the future, and any work stoppage could negatively affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
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Our business may suffer if any of our key senior executives or other key employees unexpectedly discontinues employment with us. Furthermore, a shortage of skilled labor or disruptions in our labor force may make it difficult for us to maintain labor productivity.
Our future success depends to a large extent on the services of our key senior executives and key senior employees. Our business depends on our continuing ability to recruit, train and retain highly qualified employees in all areas of our operations, including accounting, business operations, finance and other key back-office and mid-office personnel. Furthermore, our operations require skilled and experienced employees with proficiency in multiple tasks. In particular, the nitrogen fertilizer facility relies on gasification technology that requires special expertise to operate efficiently and effectively. The competition for these employees is intense, and the loss of these executives or employees could harm our business. If any of these executives or other key personnel resign unexpectedly or become unable to continue in their present roles and are not adequately replaced, our business operations could be materially adversely affected. We do not maintain any "key man" life insurance for any executives.
New regulations concerning the transportation, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals, risks of terrorism and the security of chemical manufacturing facilities could result in higher operating costs.
The costs of complying with future regulations relating to the transportation, storage and handling of hazardous chemicals and security associated with the refining and nitrogen fertilizer facilities may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Targets such as refining and chemical manufacturing facilities may be at greater risk of future terrorist attacks than other targets in the United States. As a result, the petroleum and chemical industries have responded to the issues that arose due to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 by starting new initiatives relating to the security of petroleum and chemical industry facilities and the transportation of hazardous chemicals in the United States. Future terrorist attacks could lead to even stronger, more costly initiatives that could result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas has generated consideration of more restrictive measures in storage, handling and transportation of crop production materials, including fertilizers.
Compliance with and changes in the tax laws could adversely affect our performance.
We are subject to extensive tax liabilities, including United States and state income taxes and transactional taxes such as excise, sales/use, payroll, franchise and withholding taxes. New tax laws and regulations are continuously being enacted or proposed that could result in increased expenditures for tax liabilities in the future.
The Refining Partnership's and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's level of indebtedness may affect their ability to operate their businesses, and may have a material adverse effect on their financial condition and results of operations.
The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership have incurred indebtedness and they may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. If new indebtedness is added to their current indebtedness, the risks described below could increase. Their level of indebtedness could have important consequences, such as:
• | limiting their ability to obtain additional financing to fund their working capital needs, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions or other purposes; |
• | requiring them to utilize a significant portion of their cash flows to service their indebtedness, thereby reducing available cash and their ability to make distributions on their common units (including distributions to us); |
• | limiting their ability to use operating cash flow in other areas of their business because they must dedicate a substantial portion of these funds to service debt; |
• | limiting their ability to compete with other companies who are not as highly leveraged, as they may be less capable of responding to adverse economic and industry conditions; |
• | restricting them from making strategic acquisitions, introducing new technologies or exploiting business opportunities; |
• | restricting the way in which they conduct their business because of financial and operating covenants in the agreements governing their and their respective subsidiaries' existing and future indebtedness, including, in the case of certain indebtedness of subsidiaries, certain covenants that restrict the ability of subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to them; |
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• | exposing them to potential events of default (if not cured or waived) under financial and operating covenants contained in their or their respective subsidiaries' debt instruments that could have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition and operating results; |
• | increasing their vulnerability to a downturn in general economic conditions or in pricing of their products; and |
• | limiting their ability to react to changing market conditions in their respective industries and in their respective customers' industries. |
In addition to their debt service obligations, the operations of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership require substantial investments on a continuing basis. Their ability to make scheduled debt payments, to refinance their obligations with respect to their indebtedness and to fund capital and non-capital expenditures necessary to maintain the condition of their operating assets, properties and systems software, as well as to provide capacity for the growth of their business, depends on their financial and operating performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, competitive, legal and other factors.
In addition, the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership are and will be subject to covenants contained in agreements governing their present and future indebtedness. These covenants include, and will likely include, restrictions on certain payments (including restrictions on distributions to their unitholders), the granting of liens, the incurrence of additional indebtedness, dividend restrictions affecting subsidiaries, asset sales, transactions with affiliates and mergers and consolidations. Any failure to comply with these covenants could result in a default under their current credit agreements or debt instruments or future credit agreements.
The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of their indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy their debt obligations that may not be successful.
The Refining Partnership's and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ability to satisfy their debt obligations will depend upon, among other things:
• | their future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond their control; and |
• | their future ability to obtain other financing. |
We cannot offer any assurance that our businesses will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, that the Refining Partnership will be able to draw under its Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility, the intercompany credit facility or otherwise, or that the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership will be able to draw under its ABL credit facility or otherwise, or from other sources of financing, in an amount sufficient to fund their respective liquidity needs.
If cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to service their indebtedness, the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance their indebtedness or seek bankruptcy protection. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit them to meet their scheduled debt service obligations. Their ability to restructure or refinance debt will depend on the condition of the capital markets and their financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of their debt could be at higher interest rates and may require them to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict their business operations, and the terms of existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In addition, in the absence of adequate cash flows or capital resources, they could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations, or sell equity, and/or negotiate with lenders to restructure the applicable debt in order to meet their debt service and other obligations. They may not be able to consummate those dispositions for fair market value or at all. Market or business conditions may limit their ability to avail themselves of some or all of these options. Furthermore, any proceeds that they realize from any such dispositions may not be adequate to meet their debt service obligations when due. None of the Company's stockholders or any of their respective affiliates has any continuing obligation to provide us with debt or equity financing.
The borrowings under the Refining Partnership's Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility and intercompany credit facility and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ABL credit facility bear interest at variable rates and other debt we or they incur could likewise be variable-rate debt. If market interest rates increase, variable-rate debt will create higher debt service requirements, which could adversely affect their respective distributions to us. The Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen
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Fertilizer Partnership may enter into agreements limiting their exposure to higher interest rates, but any such agreements may not offer complete protection from this risk.
The debt agreements of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership contain restrictions that limit their flexibility in operating their respective businesses and their ability to make distributions to their unitholders.
The debt facilities and instruments of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership contain, and any instruments governing their future indebtedness would likely contain, a number of covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on them, including restrictions on their and their respective subsidiaries' ability to, among other things:
• | incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred units; |
• | pay distributions in respect of our units or make other restricted payments; |
• | make certain payments on debt that is subordinated or secured on a junior basis; |
• | make certain investments; |
• | sell certain assets; |
• | create liens on certain assets; |
• | consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; and |
• | designate our subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries. |
Any of these restrictions could limit their ability to plan for or react to market conditions and could otherwise restrict partnership activities. Any failure to comply with these covenants could result in a default under their debt facilities and instruments. Upon a default, unless waived, the lenders under such debt facilities and instruments would have all remedies available to a secured lender, and could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans, institute foreclosure proceedings against their assets, and force them into bankruptcy or liquidation, subject to any applicable intercreditor agreements. In addition, a default under their debt facilities and instruments would trigger a cross default under their other agreements and could trigger a cross default under the agreements governing their future indebtedness. The Refining Partnership's or Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's operating results may not be sufficient to service their indebtedness or to fund their other expenditures and they may not be able to obtain financing to meet these requirements.
Despite their indebtedness, the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may still be able to incur significantly more debt, including secured indebtedness. This could intensify the risks described above.
The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may be able to incur substantially more debt in the future, including secured indebtedness. Although the Refining Partnership's Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ABL credit facility contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain circumstances, indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Also, these restrictions may not prevent them from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness. To the extent such new debt or new obligations are added to their existing indebtedness, the risks described above could substantially increase.
Mr. Carl C. Icahn exerts significant influence over the Company and his interests may conflict with the interest of the Company's other stockholders.
Mr. Carl C. Icahn indirectly controls approximately 82% of the voting power of the Company's capital stock and, by virtue of such stock ownership, is able to control or exert substantial influence over the Company, including:
• | the election and appointment of directors; |
• | business strategy and policies; |
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• | mergers or other business combinations; |
• | acquisition or disposition of assets; |
• | future issuances of common stock, common units or other securities; |
• | incurrence of debt or obtaining other sources of financing; and |
• | the payment of dividends on the Company's common stock and distributions on the common units of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership. |
The existence of a controlling stockholder may have the effect of making it difficult for, or may discourage or delay, a third party from seeking to acquire a majority of the Company's outstanding common stock, which may adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock.
Mr. Icahn's interests may not always be consistent with the Company's interests or with the interests of the Company's other stockholders. Mr. Icahn and entities controlled by him may also pursue acquisitions or business opportunities in industries in which we compete, and there is no requirement that any additional business opportunities be presented to us. We also have and may in the future enter into transactions to purchase goods or services with affiliates of Mr. Icahn. To the extent that conflicts of interest may arise between the Company and Mr. Icahn and his affiliates, those conflicts may be resolved in a manner adverse to the Company or its other stockholders.
In addition, if Mr. Icahn were to sell, or otherwise transfer, some or all of his interests in us to an unrelated party or group, a change of control could be deemed to have occurred under the terms of the indentures governing the Refining Partnership's 6.5% senior notes, which would require it to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase, and an event of default could be deemed to have occurred under the Refining Partnership's Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility, which would allow lenders to accelerate indebtedness owed to them. However, it is possible that the Refining Partnership will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of notes or repay amounts outstanding under the Refining Partnership's Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility, if any.
The Company's common stock price may decline due to sales of shares by Mr. Carl C. Icahn.
Sales of substantial amounts of the Company's common stock, or the perception that these sales may occur, may adversely affect the price of the Company's common stock and impede its ability to raise capital through the issuance of equity securities in the future. Mr. Icahn could elect in the future to request that the Company file a registration statement to enable him to sell shares of the Company's common stock. If Mr. Icahn were to sell a large number of shares into the public markets, Mr. Icahn could cause the price of the Company's common stock to decline.
We are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the NYSE rules and, as a result, qualify for, and are relying on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
A company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company is a "controlled company" within the meaning of the NYSE rules and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements of the NYSE, including:
• | the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors; |
• | the requirement that we have a nominating/corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and |
• | the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. |
We are relying on all of these exemptions as a controlled company. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE. In addition, both the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership are relying on exemptions from the same NYSE corporate governance requirements described above.
We may be subject to the pension liabilities of our affiliates.
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Mr. Icahn, through certain affiliates, owns approximately 82% of the Company's capital stock. Applicable pension and tax laws make each member of a “controlled group” of entities, generally defined as entities in which there is at least an 80% common ownership interest, jointly and severally liable for certain pension plan obligations of any member of the controlled group. These pension obligations include ongoing contributions to fund the plan, as well as liability for any unfunded liabilities that may exist at the time the plan is terminated. In addition, the failure to pay these pension obligations when due may result in the creation of liens in favor of the pension plan or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") against the assets of each member of the controlled group.
As a result of the more than 80% ownership interest in us by Mr. Icahn's affiliates, we are subject to the pension liabilities of all entities in which Mr. Icahn has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 80%. Two such entities, ACF Industries LLC ("ACF") and Federal-Mogul, are the sponsors of several pension plans. All the minimum funding requirements of the Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, for these plans have been met as of December 31, 2016. If the ACF and Federal-Mogul plans were voluntarily terminated, they would be collectively underfunded by approximately $613.4 million and $589.2 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. These results are based on the most recent information provided to us by Mr. Icahn's affiliates based on information from the plans' actuaries. These liabilities could increase or decrease, depending on a number of factors, including future changes in benefits, investment returns, and the assumptions used to calculate the liability. As members of the controlled group, we would be liable for any failure of ACF and Federal-Mogul to make ongoing pension contributions or to pay the unfunded liabilities upon a termination of their respective pension plans. In addition, other entities now or in the future within the controlled group that includes us may have pension plan obligations that are, or may become, underfunded, and we would be liable for any failure of such entities to make ongoing pension contributions or to pay the unfunded liabilities upon a termination of such plans. The current underfunded status of the ACF and Federal-Mogul pension plans requires such entities to notify the PBGC of certain "reportable events," such as if we cease to be a member of the controlled group, or if we make certain extraordinary dividends or stock redemptions. The obligation to report could cause us to seek to delay or reconsider the occurrence of such reportable events.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We have various mechanisms in place to discourage takeover attempts, which may reduce or eliminate our stockholders' ability to sell their shares for a premium in a change of control transaction.
Various provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware corporate law may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control or takeover attempt of our Company by a third party that our management and board of directors determines is not in the best interest of our Company and its stockholders. Public stockholders who might desire to participate in such a transaction may not have the opportunity to do so. These anti-takeover provisions could substantially impede the ability of public stockholders to benefit from a change of control or change in our management and board of directors. These provisions include:
• | preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or to discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock; |
• | limitations on the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders; |
• | limitations on the ability of stockholders to act by written consent in lieu of a stockholders' meeting; and |
• | advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by our stockholders at stockholder meetings. |
We are authorized to issue up to a total of 350 million shares of common stock and 50 million shares of preferred stock, potentially diluting equity ownership of current holders and the share price of our common stock.
We believe that it is necessary to maintain a sufficient number of available authorized shares of our common stock and preferred stock in order to provide us with the flexibility to issue common stock or preferred stock for business purposes that may arise as deemed advisable by our board of directors. These purposes could include, among other things, (i) future stock dividends or stock splits, which may increase the liquidity of our shares; (ii) the sale of stock to obtain additional capital or to acquire other companies or businesses, which could enhance our growth strategy or allow us to reduce debt if needed; (iii) for use in additional stock incentive programs and (iv) for other bona fide purposes. Our board of directors may authorize the Company to issue the available authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock without notice to, or further action by,
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our stockholders, unless stockholder approval is required by law or the rules of the NYSE. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock may significantly dilute the equity ownership of the current holders of our common stock.
Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is subject to market conditions and numerous other factors.
In January 2013, our board of directors adopted a quarterly dividend policy. We began paying regular quarterly dividends in the second quarter of 2013. Dividends are subject to change at the discretion of the board of directors and may change from quarter to quarter. Our ability to continue paying dividends is subject to our ability to continue to generate sufficient cash flow, and the amount of dividends we are able to pay each year may vary, possibly substantially, based on market conditions, crack spreads, our capital expenditure and other business needs, covenants contained in any debt agreements we may enter into in the future, covenants contained in the debt agreements of CVR Partners and CVR Refining, and the amount of distributions we receive from CVR Partners and CVR Refining. We may not be able to continue paying dividends at the rate we currently pay dividends, or at all. If the amount of our dividends decreases, the trading price of our common stock could be materially adversely affected as a result.
Risks Inherent In the Limited Partnership Structures Through Which
We Currently Hold Our Interests in the Refinery Business and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Business
Both the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership have in place policies to distribute an amount equal to the "available cash" each generates each quarter, which could limit their ability to grow and make acquisitions.
The current policies of both the board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner is to distribute an amount equal to the available cash generated by each partnership each quarter to their respective unitholders. As a result of their respective cash distribution policies, the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership will rely primarily upon external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund acquisitions and expansion capital expenditures. As such, to the extent they are unable to finance growth externally, their respective cash distribution policies will significantly impair their ability to grow. The board of directors of the general partner of either the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may modify or revoke its cash distribution policy at any time at its discretion, including in such a manner that would result in an elimination of cash distributions regardless of the amount of available cash they generate. Each board of directors will determine the cash distribution policy it deems advisable for them on an independent basis.
In addition, because of their respective distribution policies, their growth, if any, may not be as robust as that of businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. To the extent either issues additional units in connection with any acquisitions or expansion capital expenditures or as in-kind distributions, current unitholders will experience dilution and the payment of distributions on those additional units will decrease the amount each distributes in respect of each of its outstanding units. There are no limitations in their respective partnership agreements on either the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ability to issue additional units, including units ranking senior to the outstanding common units. The incurrence of additional commercial borrowings or other debt to finance their growth strategy would result in increased interest expense, which, in turn, would reduce the available cash they have to distribute to unitholders (including us).
Each of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may not have sufficient available cash to pay any quarterly distribution on their respective common units. Furthermore, neither is required to make distributions to holders of its common units on a quarterly basis or otherwise, and both may elect to distribute less than all of their respective available cash.
Either or both of the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may not have sufficient available cash each quarter to enable the payment of distributions to common unitholders. The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership are separate public companies, and available cash generated by one of them will not be used to make distributions to common unitholders of the other. Furthermore, their respective partnership agreements do not require either to pay distributions on a quarterly basis or otherwise. The board of directors of the general partner of either the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may at any time, for any reason, change its cash distribution policy or decide not to make any distribution. The amount of cash they will be able to distribute in respect of their common units principally depends on the amount of cash they generate from operations, which is directly dependent upon the margins each business generates. Please see "— Risks Related to the Petroleum Business — The price volatility of crude oil and other feedstocks, refined products and utility services may have a material adverse effect on our profitability and our ability to pay distributions to unitholders" and "— Risks Related to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Business — The nitrogen fertilizer business is, and nitrogen fertilizer prices are, cyclical and highly volatile, and the nitrogen fertilizer business has experienced substantial downturns in the past. Cycles in
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demand and pricing could potentially expose the nitrogen fertilizer business to significant fluctuations in its operating and financial results and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
If either the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership were to be treated as a corporation, rather than as a partnership, for U.S. federal income tax purposes or if either partnership were otherwise subject to entity-level taxation, such entity's cash available for distribution to its common unitholders, including to us, would be reduced, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of such entity's common units, including the common units held by us.
Current law requires the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership to derive at least 90% of their respective annual gross income from certain specified activities in order to continue to be treated as a partnership, rather than as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. One or both of them may not find it possible to meet this qualifying income requirement, or may inadvertently fail to meet this qualifying income requirement.
In addition, on January 24, 2017, final regulations regarding which activities give rise to qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code (the “Final Regulations”) were published in the Federal Register. The Final Regulations are effective as of January 19, 2017, and apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 19, 2017. We do not believe the Final Regulations affect the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ability to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, there are no assurances that the Final Regulations will not be revised to take a position that is contrary to our interpretation of the current law.
If either the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership were to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, they would pay U.S. federal income tax on all of their taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, they would likely pay additional state and local income taxes at varying rates, and distributions to their common unitholders, including to us, would generally be taxed as corporate distributions.
Increases in interest rates could adversely impact the price of the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units and the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ability to issue additional equity to make acquisitions, incur debt or for other purposes.
We expect that the price of the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units will be impacted by the level of the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's quarterly cash distributions and implied distribution yield. The distribution yield is often used by investors to compare and rank related yield-oriented securities for investment decision-making purposes. Therefore, changes in interest rates may affect the yield requirements of investors who invest in the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units, and a rising interest rate environment could have a material adverse impact on the price of the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units (and therefore the value of our investment in the Refining Partnership and/or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership) as well as the Refining Partnership's or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's ability to issue additional equity to make acquisitions or to incur debt.
We may have liability to repay distributions that are wrongfully distributed to us.
Under certain circumstances, we may, as a holder of common units in the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to us. Under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, a partnership may not make distributions to its unitholders if the distribution would cause its liabilities to exceed the fair value of its assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of an impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the company for the distribution amount.
Public investors own approximately 66% of the nitrogen fertilizer business through the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and approximately 34% of the petroleum business through the Refining Partnership. Although we own the general partner of both the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, the general partners owe a duty of good faith to public unitholders, which could cause them to manage their respective businesses differently than if there were no public unitholders.
Public investors own approximately 66% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's common units and approximately 34% of the Refining Partnership's common units. We are not entitled to receive all of the cash generated by the nitrogen fertilizer business or the petroleum business or freely transfer money from the nitrogen fertilizer business to finance operations at the petroleum business or vice versa. Furthermore, although we own the general partner of both the Refining Partnership and the
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Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, the general partners are subject to certain fiduciary duties, which may require the general partners to manage their respective businesses in a way that may differ from our best interests.
The general partners of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership have limited their liability, replaced default fiduciary duties and restricted the remedies available to common unitholders, including us, for actions that, without these limitations and reductions might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
The respective partnership agreements of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership limit the liability and replace the fiduciary duties of their respective general partner, while also restricting the remedies available to each partnership's common unitholders, including us, for actions that, without these limitations and reductions, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. Delaware partnership law permits such contractual reductions of fiduciary duty. The partnership agreements contain provisions that replace the standards to which each general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example:
• | The partnership agreements permit each partnership's general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to its capacity as general partner. This entitles its general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and means that it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, any limited partner. |
• | The partnership agreements provide that each partnership's general partner will not have any liability to unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as general partner so long as (i) in the case of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, it acted in good faith, meaning it believed that the decision was in the best interest of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and (ii) in the case of the Refining Partnership, it did not make such decisions in bad faith, meaning it believed that the decisions were adverse to the Refining Partnership's interests. |
• | The partnership agreements provide that each partnership's general partner and the officers and directors of its general partner will not be liable for monetary damages to common unitholders, including us, for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that (i) in the case of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, the general partner or its officers or directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct, or in, the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was criminal and (ii) in the case of the Refining Partnership, such losses or liabilities were the result of the conduct of our general partner or such officer or director engaged in by it in bad faith or with respect to any criminal conduct, with the knowledge that its conduct was unlawful. |
In addition, the Refining Partnership's partnership agreement provides that its general partner will not be in breach of its obligations thereunder or its duties to the Refining Partnership or its limited partners if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is either (i) approved by the conflicts committee of its board of directors of the general partner, although the general partner is not obligated to seek such approval; or (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding units, excluding any units owned by the general partner and its affiliates. In addition, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's partnership agreement (i) generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of its general partner and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be "fair and reasonable" to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, as determined by its general partner in good faith, and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is "fair and reasonable," the general partner may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to affiliated parties, including us and (ii) provides that in resolving conflicts of interest, it will be presumed that in making its decision, the general partner or its conflicts committee acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any holder of common units, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption.
With respect to the common units that we own, we have agreed to be bound by the provisions set forth in each partnership agreement, including the provisions described above.
The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership are managed by the executive officers of their general partners, some of whom are employed by and serve as part of the senior management team of the Company. Conflicts of interest could arise as a result of this arrangement.
The Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership is each managed by the executive officers of their general partners, some of whom are employed by and serve as part of the senior management team of the Company. Furthermore,
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although both the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership have entered into services agreements with the Company under which they compensate the Company for the services of its management, the Company's management is not required to devote any specific amount of time to the petroleum business or the nitrogen fertilizer business and may devote a substantial majority of their time to the business of the Company. Moreover the Company may terminate the services agreement with the Refining Partnership and/or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership at any time, in each case subject to a 180-day notice period. In addition, key executive officers of the Company, including its president and chief executive officer, chief financial officer and general counsel, will face conflicts of interest if decisions arise in which the Refining Partnership or the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Company have conflicting points of view or interests.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
There are no material unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC staff 180 days or more before the end of our fiscal year relating to our periodic or current reports under the Exchange Act.
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Item 2. Properties
The following table contains certain information regarding our principal properties:
Location | Acres | Own/Lease | Use | ||||
Coffeyville, KS | 440 | Own | Refining Partnership: oil refinery and office buildings | ||||
Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership: fertilizer plant | |||||||
Wynnewood, OK | 400 | Own | Refining Partnership: oil refinery, office buildings, refined oil storage | ||||
East Dubuque, IL | 210 | Own | Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership: fertilizer plant and fertilizer storage | ||||
Montgomery County, KS (Coffeyville Station) | 20 | Own | Refining Partnership: crude oil storage | ||||
Montgomery County, KS (Broome Station) | 20 | Own | Refining Partnership: crude oil storage | ||||
Cowley County, KS (Hooser Station) | 80 | Own | Refining Partnership: crude oil storage | ||||
Cushing, OK | 138 | Own | Refining Partnership: crude oil storage | ||||
We also lease property for our executive office which is located at 2277 Plaza Drive in Sugar Land, Texas. Additionally, other administrative office space is leased in Kansas City, Kansas.
As of December 31, 2016, the petroleum business owns crude oil storage capacity of approximately (i) 1.5 million barrels that supports the gathering system and the Coffeyville refinery, (ii) 0.9 million barrels at the Wynnewood refinery and (iii) 1.5 million barrels in Cushing. The petroleum business leases additional crude oil storage capacity of approximately (iv) 2.2 million barrels in Cushing, (v) 0.2 million barrels in Duncan, Oklahoma and (vi) 0.1 million barrels at the Wynnewood refinery. In addition to crude oil storage, the petroleum business owns over 4.5 million barrels of combined refined products and feedstocks storage capacity. The nitrogen fertilizer business has the capacity to store approximately 160,000 tons of UAN and 80,000 tons of ammonia. We believe that our owned and leased facilities are sufficient for our operating needs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are, and will continue to be, subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of our business, including matters such as those described under "Business — Environmental Matters." We also incorporate by reference into this Part I, Item 3 of this Report, the information regarding the lawsuits and proceedings described and referenced in Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies") to our Consolidated Financial Statements as set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Report. In accordance with the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), we record a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations or claims asserted against us, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding or proceedings to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market For Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock, which is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "CVI" commenced trading on October 23, 2007. The table below sets forth, for the quarter indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock for our most recent fiscal years:
2016 | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 38.98 | $ | 22.05 | |||
Second Quarter | 26.57 | 14.87 | |||||
Third Quarter | 16.39 | 13.01 | |||||
Fourth Quarter | 25.41 | 12.03 | |||||
2015 | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 43.21 | $ | 33.02 | |||
Second Quarter | 43.46 | 36.43 | |||||
Third Quarter | 43.63 | 36.02 | |||||
Fourth Quarter | 48.37 | 38.45 | |||||
Holders of Record
As of February 14, 2017, there were 126 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of beneficial owners represented by these record holders.
CVR Energy, Inc. Dividend Policy
On January 24, 2013, the board of directors of the Company adopted a quarterly cash dividend policy. Dividends are subject to change at the discretion of the board of directors. The Company began paying regular quarterly dividends in the second quarter of 2013. Additionally, the Company declared and paid one special cash dividend during the year ended December 31, 2014.
The following is a summary of the quarterly and special dividends paid to stockholders during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
December 31, 2015 | March 31, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | September 30, 2016 | Total Dividends Paid in 2016 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Dividend type | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly | |||||||||||||||
Amount paid to IEP | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 142.4 | |||||||||
Amounts paid to public stockholders | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 31.2 | ||||||||||||||
Total amount paid | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 173.6 | |||||||||
Per common share | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 2.00 | |||||||||
Shares outstanding | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | |||||||||||||||
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December 31, 2014 | March 31, 2015 | June 30, 2015 | September 30, 2015 | Total Dividends Paid in 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dividend type | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly | ||||||||||||||||
Amount paid to IEP | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 35.6 | $ | 142.4 | ||||||||||
Amounts paid to public stockholders | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 31.3 | |||||||||||||||
Total amount paid | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 43.4 | $ | 173.7 | ||||||||||
Per common share | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.50 | $ | 2.00 | ||||||||||
Shares outstanding | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | ||||||||||||||||
On February 15, 2017, the board of directors of the Company declared a cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2016 to the Company's stockholders of $0.50 per share, or $43.4 million in aggregate. The dividend will be paid on March 6, 2017 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2017.
Our ability to pay cash dividends is dependent on the ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us. The cash distribution policies of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership are described below. Furthermore, the ability of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and the Refining Partnership to make distributions to us is limited by the Refining Partnership's Amended and Restated ABL Credit Facility and the indenture governing the 2022 Notes and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's indenture governing the 2023 Notes and the ABL Credit Facility. See Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a discussion of those limitations.
CVR Partners, LP Cash Distribution Policy
The current policy of the board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner is to distribute all available cash the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership generates each quarter. Cash distributions will be made to the common unitholders of record on the applicable record date, generally within 60 days after the end of each quarter. Available cash for each quarter is determined by the board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner following the end of such quarter, subject to the limitations discussed below. The board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner calculates available cash for distribution starting with Adjusted Nitrogen Fertilizer EBITDA reduced for cash needed for (i) net cash interest expense (excluding capitalized interest) and debt service and other contractual obligations, (ii) maintenance capital expenditures, (iii) to the extent applicable, major scheduled turnaround expenses and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner deems necessary or appropriate, and (iv) expenses associated with the East Dubuque Merger, if any. Available cash for distribution may be increased by the release of previously established cash reserves, if any, at the discretion of the board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner and available cash is increased by the business interruption insurance proceeds and the impact of purchase accounting. Actual distributions are set by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner. The board of directors of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership may modify the cash distribution policy at any time, and the partnership agreement does not require the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership to make distributions at all. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (net income before interest expense, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization) further adjusted for the impact of non-cash share-based compensation, and, where applicable, major scheduled turnaround expenses, gain or loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on disposition of assets, expenses associated with the East Dubuque Merger and business interruption insurance recovery.
The following is a summary of cash distributions paid by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership to unitholders during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 for the respective quarters to which the distributions relate:
December 31, 2015 | March 31, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | September 30, 2016 | Total Cash Distributions Paid in 2016 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per common unit data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amount paid to CRLLC | $ | 10.5 | $ | 10.5 | $ | 6.6 | $ | — | $ | 27.6 | |||||||||
Amounts paid to public unitholders | 9.2 | 20.1 | 12.6 | — | 41.9 | ||||||||||||||
Total amount paid | $ | 19.7 | $ | 30.6 | $ | 19.2 | $ | — | $ | 69.5 | |||||||||
Per common unit | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.17 | $ | — | $ | 0.71 | |||||||||
Common units outstanding | 73.1 | 113.3 | 113.3 | 113.3 | |||||||||||||||
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December 31, 2014 | March 31, 2015 | June 30, 2015 | September 30, 2015 | Total Cash Distributions Paid in 2015 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per common unit data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amount paid to CRLLC | $ | 16.0 | $ | 17.5 | $ | 15.2 | $ | — | $ | 48.7 | |||||||||
Amounts paid to public unitholders | 14.0 | 15.4 | 13.3 | — | 42.7 | ||||||||||||||
Total amount paid | $ | 30.0 | $ | 32.9 | $ | 28.5 | $ | — | $ | 91.4 | |||||||||
Per common unit | $ | 0.41 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.39 | $ | — | $ | 1.25 | |||||||||
Common units outstanding | 73.1 | 73.1 | 73.1 | 73.1 | |||||||||||||||
CVR Refining, LP Cash Distribution Policy
The current policy of the board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner is to distribute all of the available cash the Refining Partnership generates each quarter. Available cash for each quarter will be determined by the board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner following the end of such quarter and will generally equal Adjusted Petroleum EBITDA reduced for (i) cash needed for debt service, (ii) reserves for environmental and maintenance capital expenditures, (iii) reserves for future major scheduled turnaround expenses and, (iv) to the extent applicable, reserves for future operating or capital needs that the board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner deems necessary or appropriate, if any. Available cash for distributions may be increased by the release of previously established cash reserves, if any, and other excess cash, at the discretion of the board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner. The Refining Partnership does not intend to maintain excess distribution coverage for the purpose of maintaining stability or growth in its quarterly distribution or otherwise to reserve cash for distributions, nor do they intend to incur debt to pay quarterly distributions. Further, it is the Refining Partnership's intent, subject to market conditions, to finance growth capital externally, and not to reserve cash for unspecified potential future needs. As of the date of this Report, we own approximately 66% of the Refining Partnership's common units, and are entitled to a pro rata percentage of the Refining Partnership's distributions in respect of its common units. The board of directors of the Refining Partnership's general partner may modify the cash distribution policy at any time, and the partnership agreement does not require the Refining Partnership to make distributions at all.
The following is a summary of cash distributions paid by the Refining Partnership to unitholders during the year ended December 31, 2015 for the respective quarters to which the distributions relate:
December 31, 2014 | March 31, 2015 | June 30, 2015 | September 30, 2015 | Total Cash Distributions Paid in 2015 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per common unit data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Amount paid to CVR Refining Holdings, LLC | $ | 36.0 | $ | 74.0 | $ | 95.4 | $ | 98.3 | $ | 303.7 | |||||||||
Amounts paid to public unitholders | 18.6 | 38.2 | 49.2 | 50.8 | 156.8 | ||||||||||||||
Total amount paid | $ | 54.6 | $ | 112.2 | $ | 144.6 | $ | 149.1 | $ | 460.5 | |||||||||
Per common unit | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.98 | $ | 1.01 | $ | 3.12 | |||||||||
Common units outstanding | 147.6 | 147.6 | 147.6 | 147.6 | |||||||||||||||
No cash distributions were paid during 2016.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph sets forth the cumulative return on our common stock between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2016, as compared to the cumulative return of the Russell 2000 Index and an industry peer group consisting of Alon USA Energy, Inc., Delek US Holdings, Inc., HollyFrontier Corporation, Tesoro Corporation, Valero Energy Corporation and Western Refining, Inc. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on January 1, 2011 in our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the industry peer group, and assumes the reinvestment of dividends where applicable. The closing market price for our common stock on the last trading day of the year ended December 31, 2016 was $25.39. The stock price performance shown on the graph is not intended to forecast and does not necessarily indicate future price performance.
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COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2011 AND DECEMBER 31, 2016
among CVR Energy, Inc., Russell 2000 Index and a peer group
This performance graph shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act.
Jan '11 | Mar '11 | Jun '11 | Sep '11 | Dec '11 | Mar '12 | Jun '12 | Sep '12 | Dec '12 | Mar '13 | Jun '13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CVR Energy, Inc. | 100.00 | 149.32 | 158.74 | 136.30 | 120.76 | 172.47 | 171.37 | 236.94 | 314.57 | 367.19 | 376.65 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Russell 2000 Index | 100.00 | 105.63 | 103.62 | 80.67 | 92.78 | 103.97 | 99.99 | 104.87 | 106.36 | 119.16 | 122.41 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Peer Group | 100.00 | 163.79 | 160.94 | 113.17 | 126.61 | 160.27 | 170.08 | 236.91 | 264.52 | 340.64 | 272.72 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sep '13 | Dec '13 | Mar '14 | Jun '14 | Sep '14 | Dec '14 | Mar '15 | Jun '15 | Sep '15 | Dec '15 | |||||||||||||||||||
CVR Energy, Inc. | 311.10 | 358.04 | 354.65 | 410.78 | 403.40 | 354.60 | 394.66 | 353.48 | 390.39 | 378.31 | ||||||||||||||||||
Russell 2000 Index | 134.47 | 145.72 | 146.89 | 149.39 | 137.96 | 150.86 | 156.88 | 157.03 | 137.83 | 142.24 | ||||||||||||||||||
Peer Group | 238.60 | 346.24 | 317.43 | 309.92 | 336.54 | 324.45 | 421.99 | 408.97 | 402.89 | 378.74 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mar '16 | Jun '16 | Sep '16 | Dec '16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
CVR Energy, Inc. | 227.67 | 138.43 | 127.30 | 244.10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Russell 2000 Index | 139.50 | 144.25 | 156.74 | 169.95 | |||||||||||||||||||
Peer Group | 289.13 | 227.10 | 262.55 | 343.43 | |||||||||||||||||||
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
We did not repurchase any of our common stock during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016.
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data
You should read the selected historical consolidated financial data presented below in conjunction with, and the selected historical consolidated and combined financial data presented below is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Report.
The selected consolidated financial information presented below under the captions "Statements of Operations Data" and "Cash Flow Data" for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and the selected consolidated financial information presented below under the caption "Balance Sheet Data" as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report, which financial statements have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. The selected consolidated financial information presented below under the captions "Statements of Operations Data" and "Cash Flow Data" for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the selected consolidated financial information presented below under the caption "Balance Sheet Data" at December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this Report.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Operations Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 4,782.4 | $ | 5,432.5 | $ | 9,109.5 | $ | 8,985.8 | $ | 8,567.3 | |||||||||
Operating costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||
Cost of materials and other | 3,847.5 | 4,190.4 | 8,066.0 | 7,563.2 | 6,696.9 | ||||||||||||||
Direct operating expenses(1) | 541.8 | 584.7 | 515.1 | 455.8 | 522.1 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 184.5 | 156.4 | 148.1 | 139.5 | 127.8 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of sales | 4,573.8 | 4,931.5 | 8,729.2 | 8,158.5 | 7,346.8 | ||||||||||||||
Flood insurance recovery | — | (27.3 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses(1) | 109.1 | 99.0 | 109.7 | 113.5 | 183.4 | ||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8.6 | 7.7 | 6.3 | 3.3 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | $ | 90.9 | $ | 421.6 | $ | 264.3 | $ | 710.5 | $ | 1,034.9 | |||||||||
Interest expense and other financing costs | (83.9 | ) | (48.4 | ) | (40.0 | ) | (50.5 | ) | (75.4 | ) | |||||||||
Interest income | 0.7 | 1 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | ||||||||||||||
Gain (loss) on derivatives, net | (19.4 | ) | (28.6 | ) | 185.6 | 57.1 | (285.6 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt | (4.9 | ) | — | — | (26.1 | ) | (37.5 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 5.7 | 36.7 | (3.7 | ) | 13.5 | 0.9 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income tax expense | $ | (10.9 | ) | $ | 382.3 | $ | 407.1 | $ | 705.7 | $ | 638.2 | ||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (19.8 | ) | 84.5 | 97.7 | 183.7 | 225.6 | |||||||||||||
Net income | 8.9 | 297.8 | 309.4 | 522.0 | 412.6 | ||||||||||||||
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | (15.8 | ) | 128.2 | 135.5 | 151.3 | 34.0 | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to CVR Energy stockholders | $ | 24.7 | $ | 169.6 | $ | 173.9 | $ | 370.7 | $ | 378.6 | |||||||||
Basic and Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.28 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 4.27 | $ | 4.36 | |||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 2.00 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 5.00 | $ | 14.25 | $ | — | |||||||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic and Diluted | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | 86.8 | ||||||||||||||
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Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 735.8 | $ | 765.1 | $ | 753.7 | $ | 842.1 | $ | 896.0 | |||||||||
Working capital(2) | 749.6 | 789.0 | 1,031.3 | 1,228.5 | 1,132.8 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets(2) | 4,050.2 | 3,299.4 | 3,454.3 | 3,655.9 | 3,595.9 | ||||||||||||||
Total debt, including current portion(2) | 1,164.6 | 667.1 | 666.7 | 666.3 | 883.2 | ||||||||||||||
Total CVR stockholders' equity | 858.1 | 984.1 | 988.1 | 1,188.6 | 1,525.1 | ||||||||||||||
Cash Flow Data | |||||||||||||||||||
Net cash flow provided by (used in): | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 267.5 | $ | 536.8 | $ | 640.3 | $ | 440.1 | $ | 762.6 | |||||||||
Investing activities | (201.4 | ) | (150.6 | ) | (296.6 | ) | (250.3 | ) | (210.7 | ) | |||||||||
Financing activities | (95.4 | ) | (374.8 | ) | (432.1 | ) | (243.7 | ) | (44.2 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash flow | $ | (29.3 | ) | $ | 11.4 | $ | (88.4 | ) | $ | (53.9 | ) | $ | 507.7 | ||||||
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment | $ | 132.7 | $ | 218.7 | $ | 218.4 | $ | 256.5 | $ | 212.2 | |||||||||
_______________________________________
(1) | Amounts are shown exclusive of depreciation and amortization. |
(2) | Prior period amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for Accounting Standard Update No. 2015-03, which requires that costs incurred to issue debt be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying value of the debt. |
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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Report.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report, including, without limitation, the sections captioned "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by the SEC, including statements concerning contemplated transactions and strategic plans, expectations and objectives for future operations. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
• | statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future; |
• | statements relating to future financial or operational performance, future dividends, future capital sources and capital expenditures; and |
• | any other statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "plans," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "could," "should," "may," or similar expressions. |
Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this Report, including this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. These statements are based on assumptions made by us based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. You are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those set forth under the section captioned "Risk Factors" and contained elsewhere in this Report. Such factors include, among others:
• | volatile margins in the refining industry and exposure to the risks associated with volatile crude oil prices; |
• | the availability of adequate cash and other sources of liquidity for the capital needs of our businesses; |
• | the ability to forecast future financial condition or results of operations and future revenues and expenses of our businesses; |
• | the effects of transactions involving forward and derivative instruments; |
• | disruption of the petroleum business' ability to obtain an adequate supply of crude oil; |
• | changes in laws, regulations and policies with respect to the export of crude oil or other hydrocarbons; |
• | interruption of the pipelines supplying feedstock and in the distribution of the petroleum business' products; |
• | competition in the petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer businesses; |
• | capital expenditures and potential liabilities arising from environmental laws and regulations; |
• | changes in ours or the Refining Partnership's or Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's credit profile; |
• | the cyclical nature of the nitrogen fertilizer business; |
• | the seasonal nature of the petroleum business; |
• | the supply and price levels of essential raw materials of our businesses; |
• | the risk of a material decline in production at our refineries and nitrogen fertilizer plants; |
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• | potential operating hazards from accidents, fire, severe weather, floods or other natural disasters; |
• | the risk associated with governmental policies affecting the agricultural industry; |
• | the volatile nature of ammonia, potential liability for accidents involving ammonia that cause interruption to the nitrogen fertilizer business, severe damage to property and/or injury to the environment and human health and potential increased costs relating to the transport of ammonia; |
• | the dependence of the nitrogen fertilizer business on a few third-party suppliers, including providers of transportation services and equipment; |
• | new regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous chemicals, risks of terrorism and the security of chemical manufacturing facilities; |
• | the risk of security breaches; |
• | the petroleum business' and the nitrogen fertilizer business' dependence on significant customers; |
• | the potential loss of the nitrogen fertilizer business' transportation cost advantage over its competitors; |
• | the potential inability to successfully implement our business strategies, including the completion of significant capital programs; |
• | our ability to continue to license the technology used in the petroleum business and nitrogen fertilizer business operations; |
• | our petroleum business' ability to purchase RINs on a timely and cost effective basis; |
• | our petroleum business' continued ability to secure environmental and other governmental permits necessary for the operation of its business; |
• | existing and proposed environmental laws and regulations, including those relating to climate change, alternative energy or fuel sources, and existing and future regulations related to the end-use and application of fertilizers; |
• | refinery and nitrogen fertilizer facilities' operating hazards and interruptions, including unscheduled maintenance or downtime, and the availability of adequate insurance coverage; |
• | instability and volatility in the capital and credit markets; and |
• | potential exposure to underfunded pension obligations of affiliates as a member of the controlled group of Mr. Icahn. |
All forward-looking statements contained in this Report only speak as of the date of this Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Report, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.
Overview and Executive Summary
We are a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing industries through our holdings in the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership. The Refining Partnership is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer of high value transportation fuels. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership produces nitrogen fertilizers in the form of UAN and ammonia. We own the general partner and approximately 66% and 34%, respectively, of the outstanding common units representing limited partner interests in each of the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership.
We operate under two business segments: petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we generated consolidated net sales of $4.8 billion, $5.4 billion and $9.1 billion, respectively, and operating income of $90.9 million, $421.6 million and $264.3 million, respectively. The petroleum business generated net sales of $4.4
58
billion, $5.2 billion and $8.8 billion, and the nitrogen fertilizer business generated net sales of $356.3 million, $289.2 million and $298.7 million, in each case, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The petroleum business generated operating income of $77.8 million, $361.7 million and $207.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The nitrogen fertilizer business generated operating income of $26.8 million, $68.7 million and $82.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Refer to Part I, Item 1, Business, of this Report for a detailed discussion of our business and the petroleum and nitrogen fertilizer segments.
East Dubuque Merger
On April 1, 2016, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership completed the East Dubuque Merger as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 9, 2015 (the "Merger Agreement"), whereby the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired CVR Nitrogen and CVR Nitrogen GP. Pursuant to the East Dubuque Merger, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership acquired the East Dubuque Facility. The primary reasons for the East Dubuque Merger were to expand the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's geographical footprint, diversify its raw material feedstocks, widen its customer reach and increase its potential for cash-flow generation. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805 - Business Combinations, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership accounted for the East Dubuque Merger as an acquisition of a business with the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership as the acquirer. Refer to Part II, Item 8, Note 3 ("Acquisition") of this Report for further discussion of the East Dubuque Merger.
Refining Partnership Initial Public Offering
On January 23, 2013, the Refining Partnership completed the Refining Partnership IPO. The Refining Partnership sold 24,000,000 common units at a price of $25.00 per unit, resulting in gross proceeds of $600.0 million. Of the common units issued, 4,000,000 units were purchased by an affiliate of Icahn Enterprises L.P. ("IEP"). Additionally, on January 30, 2013, the underwriters closed their option to purchase an additional 3,600,000 common units at a price of $25.00 per unit resulting in gross proceeds of $90.0 million. The common units, which are listed on the NYSE, began trading on January 17, 2013 under the symbol "CVRR." In connection with the Refining Partnership IPO, the Refining Partnership paid approximately $32.5 million in underwriting fees and incurred approximately $3.9 million of other offering costs.
Prior to the Refining Partnership IPO, CVR owned 100% of the Refining Partnership and net income earned during this period was fully attributable to the Company. Immediately following the Refining Partnership IPO and through May 19, 2013, CVR Energy indirectly owned approximately 81% of the Refining Partnership's outstanding common units and 100% of the Refining Partnership's general partner, which holds a non-economic general partner interest.
Refining Partnership Underwritten Offering
On May 20, 2013, the Refining Partnership completed the Underwritten Offering by selling 12,000,000 common units to the public at a price of $30.75 per unit. American Entertainment Properties Corporation ("AEPC"), an affiliate of IEP, also purchased an additional 2,000,000 common units at the public offering price in a privately negotiated transaction with a subsidiary of CVR Energy, which was completed on May 29, 2013. In connection with the Underwritten Offering, on June 10, 2013, the Refining Partnership sold an additional 1,209,236 common units to the public at a price of $30.75 per unit in connection with the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units. The transactions described in this paragraph are collectively referred to as the "Transactions."
The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $394.0 million from the Underwritten Offering (including the underwriters' option) to redeem 13,209,236 common units from CVR Refining Holdings, LLC ("CVR Refining Holdings"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CVR Energy. The net proceeds to a subsidiary of CVR Energy from the sale of 2,000,000 common units to AEPC were approximately $61.5 million. The Refining Partnership did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by CVR Energy to AEPC.
Immediately following the closing of the Transactions and prior to June 30, 2014, public security holders held approximately 29% of total Refining Partnership common units (including units owned by affiliates of IEP, representing approximately 4% of total Refining Partnership common units), and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 71% of total Refining Partnership common units.
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Refining Partnership Second Underwritten Offering
On June 30, 2014, the Refining Partnership completed a second underwritten offering (the "Second Underwritten Offering") by selling 6,500,000 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit. The Refining Partnership paid approximately $5.3 million in underwriting fees and approximately $0.5 million in offering costs. The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $164.1 million from the Second Underwritten Offering to redeem 6,500,000 common units from CVR Refining Holdings. Immediately subsequent to the closing of the Second Underwritten Offering and through July 23, 2014, public security holders held approximately 33% of the total Refining Partnership common units, and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 67% of the total Refining Partnership common units.
On July 24, 2014, the Refining Partnership sold an additional 589,100 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit in connection with the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional common units. The Refining Partnership utilized net proceeds of approximately $14.9 million from the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional common units to redeem an equal amount of common units from CVR Refining Holdings. Additionally, on July 24, 2014, CVR Refining Holdings sold 385,900 common units to the public at a price of $26.07 per unit in connection with the underwriters' exercise of their remaining option to purchase additional common units. CVR Refining Holdings received net proceeds of $9.7 million.
IEP Sale of Refining Partnership Units
On August 2, 2016, an affiliate of IEP sold 250,000 common units of Refining Partnership. As a result of this transaction, CVR Refining GP and its affiliates collectively own 69.99% of Refining Partnership's outstanding common units. Pursuant to the Refining Partnership's agreement, in certain circumstances, CVR Refining GP has the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of Refining Partnership common units held by unaffiliated unit holders at a price not less than their then-current market price, as calculated pursuant to the terms of such partnership agreement (the “Call Right”). Pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement, because CVR Refining GP and its affiliates’ holdings were reduced to less than 70.0% of Refining Partnership's outstanding common units, the ownership threshold for the application of such Call Right was permanently reduced from 95% to 80%. Accordingly, if at any time CVR Refining GP and its affiliates own more than 80% of Refining Partnership common units, it will have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise such Call Right.
As of December 31, 2016, public security holders held approximately 34% of all outstanding limited partner interests
of the Refining Partnership (including common units owned by affiliates of IEP, representing approximately 3.9% of all outstanding limited partner interests), and CVR Refining Holdings held approximately 66% of all outstanding limited partner interests of the Refining Partnership. In addition, CVR Refining Holdings owns 100% of the Refining Partnership's general partner, CVR Refining GP, which holds a non-economic general partner interest.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership Secondary Offering
On May 28, 2013, Coffeyville Resources, LLC ("CRLLC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVR Energy, completed the Secondary Offering in which it sold 12,000,000 Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units to the public at a price of $25.15 per unit. The net proceeds to CRLLC from the Secondary Offering were approximately $292.6 million, after deducting approximately $9.2 million in underwriting discounts and commissions. The Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by CRLLC.
Immediately following the closing of the Secondary Offering and through March 31, 2016, public security holders held approximately 47% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units, and CRLLC held approximately 53% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units in addition to owning 100% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner.
Immediately following the closing of the East Dubuque Merger and as of December 31, 2016, public security holders held approximately 66% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units, and CRLLC held approximately 34% of total Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership common units in addition to owning 100% of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's general partner.
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Major Influences on Results of Operations
Petroleum Business
The earnings and cash flows of the petroleum business are primarily affected by the relationship between refined product prices and the prices for crude oil and other feedstocks that are processed and blended into refined products. The cost to acquire crude oil and other feedstocks and the price for which refined products are ultimately sold depend on factors beyond the petroleum business' control, including the supply of and demand for crude oil, as well as gasoline and other refined products which, in turn, depend on, among other factors, changes in domestic and foreign economies, weather conditions, domestic and foreign political affairs, production levels, the availability of imports, the marketing of competitive fuels and the extent of government regulation. Because the petroleum business applies FIFO accounting to value its inventory, crude oil price movements may impact net income in the short term because of changes in the value of its unhedged on-hand inventory. The effect of changes in crude oil prices on our results of operations is influenced by the rate at which the prices of refined products adjust to reflect these changes.
The prices of crude oil and other feedstocks and refined product prices are also affected by other factors, such as product pipeline capacity, local market conditions and the operating levels of competing refineries. Crude oil costs and the prices of refined products have historically been subject to wide fluctuations. Widespread expansion or upgrades of competitors' facilities, price volatility, international political and economic developments and other factors are likely to continue to play an important role in refining industry economics. These factors can impact, among other things, the level of inventories in the market, resulting in price volatility and a reduction in product margins. Moreover, the refining industry typically experiences seasonal fluctuations in demand for refined products, such as increases in the demand for gasoline during the summer driving season and for home heating oil during the winter, primarily in the Northeast. In addition to current market conditions, there are long-term factors that may impact the demand for refined products. These factors include mandated renewable fuels standards, proposed climate change laws and regulations, and increased mileage standards for vehicles. The petroleum business is also subject to RFS, which requires it to either blend "renewable fuels" in with its transportation fuels or purchase RINs, in lieu of blending.
Refer to Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase, if the petroleum business has to pay a significantly higher price for RINs or if the petroleum business is otherwise unable to meet RFS mandates, the petroleum business' financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected, and Part II, Item 8, Note 14 ("Commitments and Contingencies"), "Environmental, Health and Safety ("EHS") Matters" of this Report for further discussion of RFS.
The cost of RINs for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $205.9 million, $123.9 million and $127.2 million, respectively. The price of RINs has been extremely volatile and has increased over the last year. The future cost of RINs for the petroleum business is difficult to estimate. Additionally, the cost of RINs is dependent upon a variety of factors, which include EPA regulations, the availability of RINs for purchase, the price at which RINs can be purchased, transportation fuel production levels, the mix of the petroleum business’ petroleum products, as well as the fuel blending performed at its refineries and downstream terminals, all of which can vary significantly from period to period.
In order to assess the operating performance of the petroleum business, we compare net sales, less cost of materials and other, or the refining margin, against an industry refining margin benchmark. The industry refining margin benchmark is calculated by assuming that two barrels of benchmark light sweet crude oil are converted into one barrel of conventional gasoline and one barrel of distillate. This benchmark is referred to as the 2-1-1 crack spread. Because we calculate the benchmark margin using the market value of NYMEX gasoline and heating oil against the market value of NYMEX WTI, we refer to the benchmark as the NYMEX 2-1-1 crack spread, or simply, the 2-1-1 crack spread. The 2-1-1 crack spread is expressed in dollars per barrel and is a proxy for the per barrel margin that a sweet crude oil refinery would earn assuming it produced and sold the benchmark production of gasoline and distillate.
Although the 2-1-1 crack spread is a benchmark for the refining margin, because the refineries have certain feedstock costs and logistical advantages as compared to a benchmark refinery and their product yield is less than total refinery throughput, the crack spread does not account for all the factors that affect refining margin. The Coffeyville refinery is able to process a blend of crude oil that includes quantities of heavy and medium sour crude oil that has historically cost less than WTI. The Wynnewood refinery has the capability to process blends of a variety of crude oil ranging from medium sour to light sweet crude oil, although isobutene, gasoline components, and normal butane are also typically used. We measure the cost advantage of the crude oil slate by calculating the spread between the price of the delivered crude oil and the price of WTI. The spread is referred to as the consumed crude oil differential. The refining margin can be impacted significantly by the consumed crude oil differential. The consumed crude oil differential will move directionally with changes in the WTS differential to WTI and the
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WCS differential to WTI as both these differentials indicate the relative price of heavier, more sour, slate to WTI. The correlation between the consumed crude oil differential and published differentials will vary depending on the volume of light medium sour crude oil and heavy sour crude oil the petroleum business purchases as a percent of its total crude oil volume and will correlate more closely with such published differentials the heavier and more sour the crude oil slate. The consumed crude oil cost discount to WTI for 2016 was $1.58 per barrel compared to consumed crude oil cost discounts of $1.12 per barrel in 2015 and $0.54 per barrel in 2014.
The petroleum business produces a high volume of high value products, such as gasoline and distillates. The fact that the actual product specifications used to determine the NYMEX 2-1-1 crack spread are different from the actual production in its refineries is because the prices the petroleum business realizes are different than those used in determining the 2-1-1 crack spread. The difference between its price and the price used to calculate the 2-1-1 crack spread is referred to as gasoline PADD II, Group 3 vs. NYMEX basis, or gasoline basis, and Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel PADD II, Group 3 vs. NYMEX basis, or Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel basis. If both gasoline and Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel basis are greater than zero, this means that prices in its marketing area exceed those used in the 2-1-1 crack spread.
The petroleum business is significantly affected by developments in the markets in which it operates. For example, numerous pipeline expansions in recent years expanding the connectivity of Cushing and Permian Basin markets to the gulf coast, along with lifting the crude oil export ban has resulted in a decrease in the domestic crude advantage. The refining industry is directly impacted by these events and could see a downward movement in refining margins as a result.
The direct operating expense structure is also important to the petroleum business' profitability. Major direct operating expenses include energy, employee labor, maintenance, contract labor, and environmental compliance. The predominant variable cost is energy, which is comprised primarily of electrical cost and natural gas. The petroleum business is therefore sensitive to the movements of natural gas prices. Assuming the same rate of consumption of natural gas for the year ended December 31, 2016, a $1.00 change in natural gas prices would have increased or decreased the petroleum business' natural gas costs by approximately $11.7 million.
Because crude oil and other feedstocks and refined products are commodities, the petroleum business has no control over the changing market. Therefore, the lower target inventory it is able to maintain significantly reduces the impact of commodity price volatility on its petroleum product inventory position relative to other refiners. This target inventory position is generally not hedged. To the extent its inventory position deviates from the target level, the petroleum business considers risk mitigation activities usually through the purchase or sale of futures contracts on the NYMEX. Its hedging activities carry customary time, location and product grade basis risks generally associated with hedging activities. Because most of its titled inventory is valued under the FIFO costing method, price fluctuations on its target level of titled inventory have a major effect on the petroleum business' financial results.
Safe and reliable operations at the refineries are key to the petroleum business' financial performance and results of operations. Unplanned downtime at the refineries may result in lost margin opportunity, increased maintenance expense and a temporary increase in working capital investment and related inventory position. The petroleum business seeks to mitigate the financial impact of planned downtime, such as major turnaround maintenance, through a diligent planning process that takes into account the margin environment, the availability of resources to perform the needed maintenance, feedstock logistics and other factors. The refineries generally require a facility turnaround every four to five years. The length of the turnaround is contingent upon the scope of work to be completed. During the outage at the Coffeyville refinery in the third quarter of 2014 as discussed further below, the petroleum business accelerated certain planned 2015 turnaround activities and incurred approximately $5.5 million of turnaround expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. The first phase of the Coffeyville refinery's most recent turnaround was completed in mid-November 2015 at a total cost of approximately $102.2 million. The second phase of the Coffeyville turnaround was completed during the first quarter of 2016 and we incurred $31.5 million of major scheduled turnaround expenses for the Coffeyville turnaround during 2016. During the outage at the Wynnewood refinery in the fourth quarter of 2014 as discussed further below, we accelerated certain planned turnaround activities and incurred approximately $1.3 million in turnaround expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014. The next turnaround scheduled for the Wynnewood refinery will be performed as a two-phase turnaround. The first phase is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2017, with the second phase to begin in the second half of 2018. Turnaround expenses associated with the first and second phase of the Wynnewood turnaround are estimated to be approximately $80.0 million to $100.0 million. Additionally, we expect to accelerate certain planned turnaround activities in the first quarter of 2017 on the hydrocracker unit for a catalyst change-out. Turnaround expenses associated with the hydrocracker are estimated to be approximately $15.0 million.
On July 29, 2014, the Coffeyville refinery experienced a fire at its isomerization unit. Four employees were injured in the fire, including one employee who was fatally injured. The fire was extinguished, and the refinery was subsequently shut down
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due to a failure of its plant-wide Distributed Control System, which was directly caused by the fire. The Coffeyville refinery returned to operations in mid-August, with all units except the isomerization unit in operation by August 23, 2014. The isomerization unit started operating on October 12, 2014. This interruption adversely impacted production of refined products for the petroleum business in the third quarter of 2014. Total gross repair and other costs recorded related to the incident for the year ended December 31, 2014 were approximately $6.3 million.
The Refining Partnership is covered by property damage insurance policies at the time of the incident, which had an associated deductible of $5.0 million for the Coffeyville refinery. The Refining Partnership anticipates amounts in excess of the $5.0 million deductible related to the isomerization unit fire incident will be recoverable under the property insurance policies. The Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 included an insurance receivable related to prior year claims of approximately $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively, included in prepaid expenses and other current assets. The recording of the receivable resulted in a reduction of direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization). The Partnership received the $1.2 million of insurance proceeds during the first quarter of 2016.
During the fourth quarter of 2014, the FCCU at the Wynnewood refinery was offline for approximately 16 days for necessary repairs. As a result of the FCCU outage, crude throughput and production at the Wynnewood refinery was significantly reduced. Additionally, the Refining Partnership incurred approximately $8.5 million in costs to repair the FCCU for the year ended December 31, 2014, which were included in direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Nitrogen Fertilizer Business
In the nitrogen fertilizer business, earnings and cash flows from operations are primarily affected by the relationship between nitrogen fertilizer product prices, on-stream factors and operating expenses. The price at which nitrogen fertilizer products are ultimately sold depends on numerous factors, including the global supply and demand for nitrogen fertilizer products which, in turn, depends on, among other factors, world grain demand and production levels, changes in world population, the cost and availability of fertilizer transportation infrastructure, weather conditions, the availability of imports, and the extent of government intervention in agriculture markets.
Nitrogen fertilizer prices are also affected by local factors, including local market conditions and the operating levels of competing facilities. An expansion or upgrade of competitors' facilities, new facility development, political and economic developments and other factors are likely to continue to play an important role in nitrogen fertilizer industry economics. These factors can impact, among other things, the level of inventories in the market, resulting in price volatility and a reduction in product margins. Moreover, the industry typically experiences seasonal fluctuations in demand for nitrogen fertilizer products.
As a result of a favorable global demand environment for grains, nitrogen fertilizer prices rose to near historic levels beginning in 2011. In addition, North American producers began to benefit from lower natural gas prices due to the significant increase in shale basin and other non-conventional production in the region. The combination of higher nitrogen fertilizer prices globally and a feedstock cost advantage led to high margins for North American nitrogen fertilizer producers. This resulted in numerous announcements for expansion plans for existing plants as well as new facility development in the corn belt and the gulf coast. The substantial majority of the additional supply from this expansion phase in North America is projected to come online in early 2017. The nitrogen fertilizer business expects product pricing may experience volatility as the new supply displaces imports into the U.S.. However, over the longer-term the U.S. is expected to remain a net importer of nitrogen fertilizer with domestic prices influenced by the higher cost of imported tons into the U.S.
Since mid-2013, global nitrogen fertilizer prices have trended down as global grain supply increased and growth in grain demand slowed due to more challenging worldwide economic considerations. There have been announced transactions for further consolidation in the North American nitrogen fertilizer market.
While there is risk of shorter-term volatility given the inherent nature of the commodity cycle, the longer-term fundamentals for the U.S. nitrogen fertilizer industry remain intact. The nitrogen fertilizer business views the anticipated combination of (i) increasing global population, (ii) decreasing arable land per capita, (iii) continued evolution to more protein-based diets in developing countries, (iv) sustained use of corn as feedstock for the domestic production of ethanol and (v) positioning at the lower end of the global cost curve will continue to provide a solid foundation for nitrogen fertilizer producers in the U.S.
In order to assess the operating performance of the nitrogen fertilizer business, the nitrogen fertilizer business calculates the product pricing at gate as an input to determine its operating margin. Product pricing at gate represents net sales less freight revenue divided by product sales volume in tons. The nitrogen fertilizer business believes product pricing at gate is a
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meaningful measure because it sells products at its plant gate and terminal locations' gates ("sold gate") and delivered to the customer's designated delivery site ("sold delivered"). The relative percentage of sold gate versus sold delivered can change period to period. The product pricing at gate provides a measure that is consistently comparable period to period.
The nitrogen fertilizer business and other competitors in the U.S. farm belt share a significant transportation cost advantage when compared to out-of-region competitors in serving the U.S. farm belt agricultural market; therefore, the nitrogen fertilizer business is able to cost-effectively sell substantially all of its products in the higher margin agricultural market. Further, the nitrogen fertilizer business believes that a significant portion of many of its competitors' revenues are derived from the lower margin industrial market.
The nitrogen fertilizer business' products leave the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility either in railcars for destinations located principally on the Union Pacific Railroad or in trucks for direct shipment to customers. The nitrogen fertilizer business does not currently incur significant intermediate transfer, storage, barge freight or pipeline freight charges; however, it does incur costs to maintain and repair its railcar fleet. Selling products to customers within economic rail transportation limits of the nitrogen fertilizer plant and keeping transportation costs low are keys to maintaining profitability.
The East Dubuque Facility is located in northwest Illinois, in the corn belt. The East Dubuque Facility primarily sells its product to customers located within 200 miles of the facility. In most instances, customers take delivery of nitrogen products at the plant and arrange and pay to transport them to their final destinations by truck. The East Dubuque Facility has direct access to a barge dock on the Mississippi River as well as a nearby rail spur serviced by the Canadian National Railway Company.
The nitrogen fertilizer business upgrades substantially all of its ammonia production at the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility into UAN and will continue to do so for as along as it makes economic sense. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the nitrogen fertilizer business upgraded approximately 93%, 96% and 97%, respectively, of its ammonia production into UAN, a product that presently generates greater profit than ammonia. The East Dubuque Facility has the flexibility to significantly vary its product mix. This enables us to upgrade our ammonia production into varying amounts of UAN, nitric acid and liquid and granulated urea each season, depending on market demand, pricing and storage availability. Product sales at our East Dubuque Facility are heavily weighted toward sales of ammonia and UAN. For the post acquisition period ended December 31, 2016, approximately 44% of our East Dubuque Facility produced ammonia tons were upgraded to other products.
The high fixed cost of the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility is direct operating expense structure also directly affects its profitability. Using a pet coke gasification process, the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility has a significantly higher percentage of fixed costs than a natural gas-based fertilizer plant. In addition, while less than our Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility, our East Dubuque Facility has a significant amount of fixed costs. Major fixed operating expenses include a large portion of electrical energy, employee labor, maintenance, including contract labor, and outside services. The nitrogen fertilizer business estimates fixed costs averaged approximately 80% of direct operating expenses at our Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility over the 24 months ended December 31, 2016.
The nitrogen fertilizer business' largest raw material expense used in the production of ammonia at our Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility is pet coke, which it purchases from the petroleum business and third parties. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the nitrogen fertilizer business incurred approximately $7.8 million, $11.9 million and $13.6 million, respectively, for pet coke, which equaled an average cost per ton of $15, $25 and $28, respectively.
Our largest raw material expense used in the production of ammonia at our East Dubuque Facility is natural gas, which we purchase from third parties. Our East Dubuque Facility's natural gas process results in a higher percentage of variable costs as compared to the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we incurred approximately $13.3 million for feedstock natural gas, which equaled an average cost of $2.87 per MMBtu.
Consistent, safe and reliable operations at the nitrogen fertilizer plants are critical to its financial performance and results of operations. Unplanned downtime of the nitrogen fertilizer plants may result in lost margin opportunity, increased maintenance expense and a temporary increase in working capital investment and related inventory position. The financial impact of planned downtime, such as major turnaround maintenance, is mitigated through a diligent planning process that takes into account margin environment, the availability of resources to perform the needed maintenance, feedstock logistics and other factors.
Historically, the Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility has undergone a full facility turnaround approximately every two to three years. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility underwent a full facility turnaround in the third quarter of 2015, and the gasifier, ammonia and UAN units were down for between 17 to 20 days each at a cost, exclusive of the impacts due to the lost
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production during the downtime, of approximately $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Coffeyville Fertilizer Facility is planning to undergo the next scheduled full facility turnaround in the second half of 2017, which is expected to last approximately 15 days.
Historically, the East Dubuque Facility has also undergone a full facility turnaround every two to three years. The East Dubuque Facility underwent a full facility turnaround in the second quarter of 2016, at a cost of approximately $6.6 million, exclusive of the impacts due to the lost production during the downtime.
Agreements With the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership
We are party to several agreements with the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership that govern the business relations among the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership and its affiliates on the one hand and us and our other affiliates on the other hand. In connection with the Refining Partnership IPO in January 2013, some of our subsidiaries party to these agreements became subsidiaries of the Refining Partnership.
These intercompany agreements include (i) the pet coke supply agreement mentioned above, under which the petroleum business sells pet coke to the nitrogen fertilizer business; (ii) a services agreement, pursuant to which we provide certain services to the nitrogen fertilizer business; (iii) a feedstock and shared services agreement, which governs the provision of feedstocks, including, but not limited to, hydrogen, high-pressure steam, nitrogen, instrument air, oxygen and natural gas; (iv) a raw water and facilities sharing agreement, which allocates raw water resources between the two businesses; (v) an easement agreement; (vi) an environmental agreement; and (vii) a lease agreement pursuant to which the petroleum business leases office space and laboratory space to the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership. These agreements were not the result of arm's-length negotiations and the terms of these agreements are not necessarily at least as favorable to the parties to these agreements as terms which could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
In connection with the Refining Partnership IPO, we entered into a number of agreements with the Refining Partnership, including (i) a $250.0 million intercompany credit facility between CRLLC and the Refining Partnership and (ii) a services agreement, pursuant to which we provide certain services to the petroleum business.
On February 9, 2016, CRLLC and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership entered into a guaranty, pursuant to which CRLLC agreed to guaranty the indebtedness outstanding under the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership's credit facility. Simultaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement discussed in Part II, Item 8, Note1 ("Organization and History of the Company") of this Report, the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership entered into a commitment letter (the "commitment letter") with CRLLC and a $300.0 million senior term loan credit facility (the "CRLLC Facility") with CRLLC. Refer to Part II, Item 7, "Liquidity and Capital Resources" of this Report for further discussion of the CRLLC Facility.
Crude Oil Supply Agreement
On August 31, 2012, CRRM and Vitol entered into the Vitol Agreement. Under the Vitol Agreement, Vitol supplies the petroleum business with crude oil and intermediation logistics, which helps the petroleum business to reduce its inventory position and mitigate crude oil pricing risk. The Vitol Agreement will automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each such term, a "Renewal Term") unless either party provides the other with notice of nonrenewal at least 180 days prior to expiration of any Renewal Term. The Vitol Agreement currently extends through December 31, 2017.
Joint Venture with Velocity
On September 19, 2016, CRPLLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Refining Partnership, entered into an agreement with Velocity related to their joint ownership of VPP. VPP will construct, own and operate a 12-inch crude oil pipeline with design capacity of approximately 65,000 barrel per day and with an estimated length of 25 miles with a connection to the Refining Partnership's Wynnewood refinery and a trucking terminal at Lowrance, Oklahoma. CRPLLC holds a 40% interest in VPP and expects to contribute approximately $9.3 million to VPP during the pipeline construction, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2017. Velocity holds a 60% interest in VPP, serves as the day-to-day operator of VPP and expects to contribute approximately $14.0 million. As of December 31, 2016, CRPLLC has contributed $5.6 million to VPP. On September 19, 2016, the Refining Partnership also entered into a transportation agreement with VPP for an initial term of 20 years under which VPP will provide the Refining Partnership with crude oil transportation services for crude oil purchased within a defined geographic area, and the Refining Partnership entered into a terminalling services agreement with Velocity under which the Refining Partnership will receive access to Velocity’s terminal in Lowrance, OK to unload and pump crude oil into VPP's pipeline for an initial term of 20 years.
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Factors Affecting Comparability
Our historical results of operations for the periods presented may not be comparable with prior periods or to our results of operations in the future for the reasons presented and discussed below.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Loss on extinguishment of debt(1) | $ | 4.9 | $ | |||||||||