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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004

 

Commission file number 1-13018

 


 

PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   74-2628339

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

6080 Surety Dr.

El Paso, Texas

  79905
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (915) 779-4711

 


 

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  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Not applicable.

 



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 

     December 31,
2003


    June 30,
2004


 
Assets                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 17,806     $ 27,803  

Trade accounts receivable, net

     1,315       3,110  

Inventories, net

     25,410       26,900  

Other current assets

     1,215       1,552  

Due from affiliates

     4,950       3,412  
    


 


Total current assets

     50,696       62,777  

Property and equipment, net

     202,827       197,072  

Deferred debt issuance costs, net

     4,245       11,226  

Other assets

     13,072       12,381  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 270,840     $ 283,456  
    


 


Liabilities and Partners’ Capital (Deficit)                 

Current liabilities:

                

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 9,500     $ 10,187  

Trade accounts payable

     13,928       18,312  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     25,691       29,381  

Due to affiliates

     19,104       12,603  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     68,223       70,483  

Other liabilities

     789       799  

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

     165,979       237,313  
    


 


Total long-term liabilities

     166,768       238,112  
    


 


Total liabilities

     234,991       308,595  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Partners’ capital (deficit):

                

General partner’s

     (210 )     (220 )

Limited partners’

     36,059       (24,919 )
    


 


Total partners’ capital (deficit)

     35,849       (25,139 )
    


 


Total liabilities and partners’ capital (deficit)

   $ 270,840     $ 283,456  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

1


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,


   

Six Months Ended

June 30,


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 

Net revenues:

                                

Fuel (including motor fuel taxes)

   $ 189,533     $ 249,473     $ 403,103     $ 473,517  

Non-fuel

     62,498       66,340       119,669       128,423  
    


 


 


 


Total net revenues

     252,031       315,813       522,772       601,940  

Costs and expenses:

                                

Cost of sales

                                

Fuel (including motor fuel taxes)

     179,572       236,282       383,012       451,870  

Non-fuel

     25,130       26,843       47,378       51,434  

Operating expenses

     32,216       34,888       64,231       68,399  

General and administrative

     3,888       4,344       7,481       8,034  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,824       3,840       7,652       7,670  

Loss on disposition of fixed assets

     9       29       9       33  
    


 


 


 


Total costs and expenses

     244,639       306,226       509,763       587,440  
    


 


 


 


Operating income

     7,392       9,587       13,009       14,500  

Loss on retirement of debt

     —         —         —         (6,164 )

Retired debt restructuring costs

     —         —         —         (794 )

Equity in income of affiliate

     201       182       158       158  

Interest income

     17       24       30       51  

Interest expense

     (4,899 )     (6,114 )     (9,864 )     (11,651 )
    


 


 


 


Income (loss) before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

     2,711       3,679       3,333       (3,900 )

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

     —         —         (397 )     —    
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 2,711     $ 3,679     $ 2,936     $ (3,900 )
    


 


 


 


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

2


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF

CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (DEFICIT)

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

(in thousands)

 

     General
Partner’s
(Deficit)


    Limited
Partners’
Capital
(Deficit)


    Total
Partners’
Capital
(Deficit)


 

Balances, December 31, 2003

   $ (210 )   $ 36,059     $ 35,849  

Net loss

     (10 )     (3,890 )     (3,900 )

Partners’ operating distributions

     —         (57,072 )     (57,072 )

Partners’ minimum tax distributions

     —         (16 )     (16 )
    


 


 


Balances, June 30, 2004

   $ (220 )   $ (24,919 )   $ (25,139 )
    


 


 


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

3


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30,


 
     2003

    2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,936     $ (3,900 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     7,652       7,670  

Write-off of deferred financing costs associated with retired debt

     —         4,009  

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

     397       —    

Deferred debt issuance cost amortization

     903       1,249  

Provision for bad debt

     88       80  

Equity in income of affiliate

     (158 )     (158 )

Loss on disposition of fixed assets

     9       33  

Other operating activities

     23       19  

Increase (decrease) from changes in:

                

Trade accounts receivable

     (317 )     (1,875 )

Inventories

     2,030       (1,490 )

Other current assets

     (524 )     (337 )

Due from affiliates

     (1,159 )     1,538  

Due to affiliates

     8,323       (6,501 )

Trade accounts payable

     (141 )     10,650  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     924       3,681  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     20,986       14,668  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Proceeds from disposition of fixed assets and land held for sale

     18       983  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (1,742 )     (2,151 )

(Increase) decrease in other assets, net

     204       (193 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,520 )     (1,361 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Repayments of bank debt

     (16,500 )     (4,500 )

Proceeds from bank debt

     18,500       4,500  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (8,210 )     (178,285 )

Proceeds from long-term debt issuance

     —         250,000  

Change in book cash overdraft

     (79 )     (6,304 )

Partners’ operating distribution

     —         (57,072 )

Partners’ minimum tax distributions

     (49 )     (16 )

Payment of debt issuance costs

     —         (11,633 )
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (6,338 )     (3,310 )
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     13,128       9,997  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     8,221       17,806  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 21,349     $ 27,803  
    


 


Supplemental cash flow information:

                

Interest paid during the period

   $ 8,960     $ 8,685  

Non-cash activities:

                

Net change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedging derivative

     (196 )     —    

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements

 

4


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(1) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements, which include the accounts of Petro Stopping Centers, L.P. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Petro Financial Corporation and Petro Distributing, Inc. (the “Company”), have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, certain financial information has been condensed and certain footnote disclosures have been omitted. Such information and disclosures are normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

These unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (“2003 Form 10-K”). Capitalized terms used in this report and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the 2003 Form 10-K. In the opinion of management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated condensed financial position of the Company at December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, the consolidated condensed results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, changes in partners’ capital (deficit) for the six months ended June 30, 2004, and the consolidated condensed cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full calendar year.

 

The Company’s fuel revenues and related cost of sales include a significant amount of federal and state motor fuel taxes. Such taxes were $61.3 million and $65.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $121.9 million and $130.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

(2) 2004 Refinancing Transactions

 

On February 9, 2004, the Company completed its refinancing transactions (the “2004 Refinancing Transactions”) in which the Company and Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P. (the “Holding Partnership”) refinanced substantially all of their existing indebtedness. The 2004 Refinancing Transactions consisted of the following components:

 

  The issuance of $225.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.0% senior secured notes due 2012 (the “9% Notes”);

 

  The repurchase of the majority of the Company’s 10½% senior notes due 2007 (the “10½% Notes”);

 

  Entering into the new senior secured credit facilities of an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, consisting of a three year revolving credit facility of $25.0 million and a four year term loan facility of $25.0 million;

 

  The repayment and retirement of the Company’s retired senior secured credit facilities of approximately $40.8 million, plus accrued interest;

 

  The repurchase for cash of approximately 54.8% of the Holding Partnership’s 15.0% senior discount notes due 2008 (the “Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes”) and the exchange of approximately 42.2% of the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes for new senior third secured discount notes;

 

  The extension by the Holding Partnership of the mandatory purchase date of the warrants issued in July of 1999 by Petro Warrant Holdings Corporation from August 1, 2004 to October 1, 2009; and

 

  The reduction of the Company’s trade credit balance with Exxon Mobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”).

 

(continued)

 

5


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

In connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions, the repurchase of the majority of the Company’s 10½% Notes and the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes were accounted for as debt extinguishments resulting in the recognition of a loss of approximately $5.4 million and $9.3 million, respectively, which included the write-off of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs of approximately $2.8 million for each transaction. These losses are presented as a component of income (loss) before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on each company’s unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004. Additionally, the Company capitalized approximately $9.6 million of debt issuance costs related to the issuance of the 9% Notes through June 30, 2004. The Holding Partnership capitalized approximately $3.2 million of debt issuance costs related to its exchange offer through June 30, 2004.

 

The Company has capitalized approximately $2.3 million of debt issuance costs through June 30, 2004 and has written off approximately $794,000 of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of its retired senior credit facilities.

 

In connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions, the Company reduced its trade credit balance and amended its agreement with the ExxonMobil Suppliers. The amendment provides that the penalty for failing to purchase the Company’s annual volume commitments under its agreement with the ExxonMobil Suppliers will be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the average of the Company’s trade credit with the ExxonMobil Suppliers during December of each year and the denominator of which is $30.0 million.

 

On March 12, 2004, the Company repurchased all of its remaining 10 1/2% Notes. In connection with this repurchase, the Company recognized a loss of approximately $724,000, which includes the write-off of approximately $379,000 of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs. This loss is presented as a component of income (loss) before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on the Company’s unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004.

 

After giving effect to the 2004 Refinancing Transactions and the repurchase of the Company’s remaining 10½% Notes, the Company’s total consolidated debt increased $79.0 million and, as a result, the Company’s associated estimated annual interest expense will increase approximately $5.6 million.

 

On July 19, 2004, the Company completed the exchange of substantially all of the unregistered 9% Notes for 9% Notes that were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, thereby satisfying the Company’s obligation to register the 9% Notes.

 

(continued)

 

6


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(3) Significant Accounting Policies

 

Land Held for Sale

 

The Company records long-lived assets held for sale at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. At December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, the Company reported land held for sale at its carrying value of $5.0 million and $4.3 million, respectively. The land held for sale consists of several parcels of undeveloped land considered by management as excess and no longer necessary for the operations of the Company. In March 2004, the Company sold all of its undeveloped land in Knowlton Township, New Jersey for a sales price of $1.1 million. Since the carrying amount of land in Knowlton Township, New Jersey was equal to the selling price less cost to sell, no gain or loss was recognized in 2004. These balances are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (“SFAS No. 143”). SFAS No. 143 provides accounting guidance for retirement obligations, for which there is a legal obligation to settle, associated with tangible long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that asset retirement costs be capitalized as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and such costs should be allocated to expense by using a systematic and rational method. The statement requires that the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation be recorded at fair value and that an allocation approach be used for subsequent changes in the measurement of the liability. SFAS No. 143 changes the Company’s accounting for underground storage tank removal costs and sewage plant waste removal costs. An asset retirement obligation for $489,000 and $508,000 has been recorded as a liability at December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, respectively. The implementation of this standard resulted in a one-time cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $397,000 in 2003.

 

A reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligation for the six months ended June 30, 2004 is as follows:

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2004


     (in thousands)

January 1, 2004

   $ 489

Liabilities incurred

   —  

Liabilities settled

   —  

Revisions of estimate

   —  

Accretion expense

   19
    

June 30, 2004

   $ 508
    

 

Partnership Interests Option Plan

 

The Holding Partnership has established an equity incentive plan (“Option Plan”) to attract and retain key personnel, including senior management, and to enhance their interest in the Company’s continued success, which is more fully described in Note 11 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2003 Form 10-K. The Company applies Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 in accounting for its Option Plan. Accordingly, compensation costs for partnership interest options are measured as the excess, if any, of the market price of the partnership interests at the date of grant over the amount an employee must pay to exercise the option. No such compensation cost was recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004. The Company provides the disclosures required by the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”), as amended by the SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”.

 

(continued)

 

7


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

If compensation expense had been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income (loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004 (no options were granted during the six months ended June 30, 2003 or 2004) would have been recorded in the following pro forma amounts:

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,


    Six Months Ended
June 30,


 
     2003

    2004

    2003

    2004

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)  

Net income (loss) - as reported

   $ 2,711     $ 3,679     $ 2,936     $ (3,900 )

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation determined under fair value based method for all awards

     (6 )     (1 )     (12 )     (2 )
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss) - pro forma

   $ 2,705     $ 3,678     $ 2,924     $ (3,902 )
    


 


 


 


 

For pro forma disclosure purposes, the Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the related service period.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

(4) Segments

 

The Company has two reportable operating segments, company-operated truck stops and franchise operations.

 

The Company operates 37 multi-service truck stops in the United States. Full-size Petro Stopping Centers are built on an average of 27 acres of land situated at a convenient location with easy highway access. They can each generally accommodate an average of 263 trucks and an average of 145 cars in spacious and well-lit parking areas. The Company’s locations are designed to provide good traffic flow, reduce accidents, and enhance security for the drivers, their trucks, and freight. Within the Petro Stopping Center network, the Company offers standardized and consistent products and services to accommodate the varied needs of professional truck drivers and other highway motorists. Generally, these include separate gas and diesel fueling islands, its home-style Iron Skillet restaurants, truck maintenance and repair services, and travel and convenience stores offering an array of merchandise selected to cater to professional truck drivers’ needs during long periods away from home. In addition, a typical Petro Stopping Center provides amenities and services such as telephone, fax, photocopying, Internet access, postal services, certified truck weighing scales, truck washes, laundry facilities, private showers, video games, and television and/or movie rooms. The Company has aggregated its company-operated truck stops into one reportable operating segment based on the distribution of products and services under one common site facility, classified as a multi-service truck stop. During the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, the revenues generated from the company-operated truck stops were $250.7 million and $314.3 million, respectively, and $520.3 million and $599.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, the Company was a franchisor to 23 Petro Stopping

 

(continued)

 

8


PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Center locations. The Company collects royalties and fees in exchange for the use of its tradenames and trademarks and for certain services provided to the franchisees. Franchise fees are based generally upon a percentage of the franchisee’s sales. During the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, the revenues generated from the Company’s franchise operations were $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and $2.5 million and $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Franchise operations revenues, which include initial franchise fees and other revenue types, are combined in non-fuel revenues reported on the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations. The Company does not allocate any expenses in measuring this segment’s profit and loss, nor does it believe there are any significant financial commitments or obligations resulting from these franchise agreements.

 

(5) Operating Leases

 

The Company currently leases the land and owns the building in Hammond, Louisiana. This land lease expires in September 2004 and, accordingly, to protect its interest, the Company has written a letter of intent stating that it will exercise its option to purchase the land. The Company expects to consummate this transaction in September 2004 at a purchase price of $4.1 million.

 

(6) Partners’ Deficit

 

Under the Indenture for the 9% Notes and the agreement governing the new senior secured credit facilities, the Company is permitted to make distributions to the Holding Partnership in an amount sufficient to allow the Holding Partnership to pay interest on the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes and its new senior third secured discount notes due 2014 and to pay for administrative expenses. Through June 30, 2004, the Company has paid approximately $539,000 with respect to these distributions. The Company expects to pay the Holding Partnership approximately $1.4 million related to these distributions during the remainder of 2004.

 

As of June 30, 2004, the Company made distributions of approximately $56.5 million to the Holding Partnership in connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions as permitted under the Indenture for the 9% Notes and the agreement governing the new senior secured credit facilities. These distributions were made to allow the Holding Partnership to repurchase approximately 54.8% of the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes.

 

9


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The information contained in this Item 2 updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the information set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our 2003 Form 10-K.

 

Certain sections of this Form 10-Q, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” contain various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may be accompanied by words such as “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “could,” “project,” “anticipate,” or “predict,” that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements. In addition to the factors described in this Form 10-Q, important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

 

  volatility of fuel prices;

 

  availability of fuel;

 

  the economic condition of the long-haul trucking industry and the U.S. economy in general;

 

  competition from other truck stops, convenience stores, fast food retailers, restaurants, and truck maintenance and repair facilities; and

 

  environmental regulations.

 

All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this Form 10-Q, may be considered forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are included in, without limitation, “—Transactions with Related-Parties,” “—Network Development,” “—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” “— Critical Accounting Policies,” and “—Results of Operations”. In addition, in the preparation of the financial statements, we make various estimates and assumptions that are by their nature forward-looking statements.

 

Reporting Format

 

We have two reportable operating segments, company-operated truck stops and franchise operations.

 

We operate 37 multi-service truck stops in the United States. Full-size Petro Stopping Centers are built on an average of 27 acres of land situated at a convenient location with easy highway access. They can each generally accommodate an average of 263 trucks and an average of 145 cars in spacious and well-lit parking areas. Our locations are designed to provide good traffic flow, reduce accidents, and enhance security for the drivers, their trucks, and freight. Within the Petro Stopping Center network, we offer standardized and consistent products and services to accommodate the varied needs of professional truck drivers and other highway motorists. Generally, these include separate gas and diesel fueling islands, our home-style Iron Skillet restaurants, truck maintenance and repair services, and travel and convenience stores offering an array of merchandise selected to cater to professional truck drivers’ needs during long periods away from home. In addition, a typical Petro Stopping Center provides amenities and services such as telephone, fax, photocopying, Internet access, postal services, certified truck weighing scales, truck washes, laundry facilities, private showers, video games, and television and/or movie rooms. We have aggregated our company-operated truck stops into one reportable operating segment based on the distribution of products and services under one common site facility, classified as a multi-service truck stop. During the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, the revenues generated from our company-operated truck stops were $250.7 million and $314.3 million, respectively, and $520.3 million and $599.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, we are a franchisor to 23 Petro Stopping Center locations. We collect royalties and fees in exchange for the use of our tradenames and trademarks and for

 

10


certain services provided to the franchisees. Franchise fees are based generally upon a percentage of the franchisee’s sales. During the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, the revenues generated from our franchise operations were $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and $2.5 million and $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Franchise operations revenues, which include initial franchise fees and other revenue types, are combined in non-fuel revenues reported on the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations. We do not allocate any expenses in measuring this segment’s profit and loss, nor do we believe there are any significant financial commitments or obligations resulting from these franchise agreements.

 

We derive our revenues from:

 

  The sale of diesel and gasoline fuels;

 

  Non-fuel items, including the sale of merchandise and offering of services including truck tire sales, truck maintenance and repair services, on-site vendor lease income, showers, laundry, video games, franchise revenues, fast-food operations, and other operations; and

 

  Iron Skillet restaurant operations.

 

The following table sets forth our total consolidated revenues by major source:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,

  Six Months Ended June 30,

     2003

  2004

  2003

  2004

     (dollars in thousands)   (dollars in thousands)

Fuel

   $189,533    75.2%   $249,473    79.0%   $403,103    77.1%   $473,517    78.7%

Maintenance Services and Retail
(Non-Fuel excluding Restaurant)

   45,938    18.2%   48,045    15.2%   87,232    16.7%   92,467    15.3%

Restaurant

   16,560    6.6%   18,295    5.8%   32,437    6.2%   35,956    6.0%
    
  
 
  
 
  
 
  

Total Net Revenues

   $252,031    100.0%   $315,813    100.0%   $522,772    100.0%   $601,940    100.0%
    
  
 
  
 
  
 
  

 

Our fuel revenues and related cost of sales include a significant amount of federal and state motor fuel taxes. Such taxes were $61.3 million and $65.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $121.9 million and $130.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

 

On January 1, 2003, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (“SFAS No. 143”). SFAS No. 143 provides accounting guidance for retirement obligations, for which there is a legal obligation to settle, associated with tangible long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that asset retirement costs be capitalized as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and such costs should be allocated to expense by using a systematic and rational method. The statement requires that the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation be recorded at fair value and that an allocation approach be used for subsequent changes in the measurement of the liability. SFAS No. 143 changes our accounting for underground storage tank removal costs and sewage plant waste removal costs. An asset retirement obligation of $489,000 and $508,000 has been recorded as a liability at December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, respectively. The implementation of this standard resulted in a one-time cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $397,000 in 2003.

 

No provision for income taxes is reflected in the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements because we are a partnership for which taxable income and tax deductions are passed through to the individual partners.

 

Transactions with Related-Parties

 

Our related-party transactions are described in our 2003 Form 10-K under Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”. We believe that all of our existing related-party transactions are on terms comparable to those that could have been received in an arms-length transaction.

 

11


Our most significant related-party transactions are the two ten-year supply agreements with ExxonMobil entered into in July 1999. Under the terms of one of these agreements, the ExxonMobil Suppliers will supply the company-operated Petro Stopping Centers’ diesel fuel and gasoline requirements at certain of our locations and under the other of these agreements, we purchase lubricants, based upon minimum purchase commitments, at the prices set forth in the agreement.

 

Network Development

 

The following table sets forth the development of our Petro Stopping Centers network since 2000:

 

     As of June 30,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

Company-operated

   32    35    35    37    37

Franchise operation

   23    23    21    23    23
    
  
  
  
  

Total Petro Stopping Centers

   55    58    56    60    60
    
  
  
  
  

 

The following table sets forth information on currently existing Petro Stopping Centers opened from June 30, 2000 through June 30, 2004, all but three of which are full-sized facilities.

 

Location


 

Date Opened


Company-operated:    

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

  September 2000

Los Banos, California

  November 2000

North Las Vegas, Nevada

  January 2001

Angola, Indiana

  August 2002

Sparks, Nevada

  December 2002
Franchise operation:    

Oak Grove, Missouri

  April 2001

Glade Spring, Virginia

  October 2001

Greensburg, Indiana

  June 2002

Morton’s Gap, Kentucky

  October 2002

Gaston, Indiana

  October 2002

 

We own land held for sale which consists of several parcels of undeveloped land considered by management as excess and no longer necessary for our operations. In March 2004, we sold all of our undeveloped land in Knowlton Township, New Jersey for a sales price of $1.1 million. Since the carrying amount of land in Knowlton Township, New Jersey was equal to the selling price less cost to sell, no gain or loss was recognized in 2004.

 

We currently lease the land and own the building in Hammond, Louisiana. This land lease expires in September 2004 and, accordingly, to protect our interest, we have written a letter of intent stating that we will exercise our option to purchase the land. We expect to consummate this transaction in September 2004 at a purchase price of $4.1 million.

 

As of June 30, 2004, the diesel fuel sold at all but eighteen company-operated Petro Stopping Centers is branded Mobil Diesel.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

At June 30, 2004, our principal sources of liquidity were:

 

  $14.4 million in available borrowing capacity under the revolving credit portion of our new senior secured credit facility;

 

12


  Cash flows from operations of $14.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The decrease in cash flows from operations, from $21.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, was due to an increase in accounts receivable and inventory and the change in the timing of payments for fuel, offset by variations in the timing of payments for trade accounts payable and an increase in accrued expenses, in addition to a reduction in our amounts due from affiliates related to distributions made to the Holding Partnership in connection with the 2004 refinancing transactions (the “2004 Refinancing Transactions”) and to the increase in operating income; and

 

  Cash flows used in financing activities of $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004. The decrease in cash flows used in financing activities, from $6.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, was entirely due to the 2004 Refinancing Transactions which includes the operating distribution of $57.1 million to the Holding Partnership.

 

On February 9, 2004, we completed our 2004 Refinancing Transactions in which we refinanced substantially all of our existing indebtedness and the indebtedness of our parent, Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P. (the “Holding Partnership”). The 2004 Refinancing Transactions consisted of the following components:

 

  The issuance of $225.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.0% senior secured notes due 2012 (the “9% Notes”);

 

  The repurchase of the majority of our 10½% senior notes due 2007 (the “10½% Notes”);

 

  Entering into the new senior secured credit facilities of an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, consisting of a three year revolving credit facility of $25.0 million and a four year term loan facility of $25.0 million;

 

  The repayment and retirement of our retired senior secured credit facilities of approximately $40.8 million, plus accrued interest;

 

  The repurchase for cash of approximately 54.8% of the Holding Partnership’s 15.0% senior discount notes due 2008 (the “Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes”) and the exchange of approximately 42.2% of the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes for new senior third secured discount notes;

 

  The extension by the Holding Partnership of the mandatory purchase date of the warrants issued in July of 1999 by Petro Warrant Holdings Corporation from August 1, 2004 to October 1, 2009; and

 

  The reduction of our trade credit balance with Exxon Mobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”).

 

On February 9, 2004, we entered into new senior secured credit facilities of an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, consisting of a three year revolving credit facility of $25.0 million and a four year term loan facility of $25.0 million. We refer to these credit facilities as the new senior secured credit facilities. Any funds drawn on our new senior secured credit facilities are secured by substantially all of our assets and the guarantees of Petro, Inc. and each of our subsidiaries. We have capitalized approximately $2.3 million of debt issuance costs through June 30, 2004 related to our new senior secured credit facilities and have written off approximately $794,000 of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of our retired senior credit facilities.

 

At June 30, 2004, we had $22.5 million outstanding under our term loan facility. We made two scheduled quarterly principal payments of approximately $1.3 million each on March 31, 2004 and June 30, 2004. The first four scheduled quarterly principal payments under the term facilities are approximately $1.3 million each, the next four quarterly principal payments are approximately $1.5 million each, and the last eight quarterly installments are approximately $1.8 million each.

 

13


Under the revolving credit portion of our new senior secured credit facilities, $25.0 million is available on a revolving basis until maturity at February 9, 2007. Interest on drawn funds is paid at maturity or quarterly if the term is greater than three months at a current spread of 2.75% above the bank’s base rate or 4.25% over the Eurodollar rate (the rate to be determined at the time of borrowing, at our option). Commitment fees of 0.75% per annum on undrawn funds are paid quarterly. At June 30, 2004, we had no borrowings outstanding under this portion of our new senior secured credit facilities and had $10.6 million in standby letters of credit outstanding, which reduce our borrowing capacity under this portion of our new senior secured credit facilities on a dollar for dollar basis. Approximately $7.6 million of these letters of credit are required to be posted with our insurance carriers in connection with our obtaining liability and other insurance coverage. As of June 30, 2004, we are in compliance with all financial covenants under our new senior secured credit facilities.

 

In connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions, the repurchases of the majority of our 10½% Notes and the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes were accounted for as debt extinguishments resulting in the recognition of a loss of approximately $5.4 million and $9.3 million, respectively, which included the write-off of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs of approximately $2.8 million for each transaction. These losses are presented as a component of income (loss) before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on each company’s unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004. Additionally, we capitalized approximately $9.6 million of debt issuance costs related to the issuance of the 9% Notes through June 30, 2004. The Holding Partnership capitalized approximately $3.2 million of debt issuance costs related to its exchange offer through June 30, 2004.

 

In connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions, we reduced our trade credit balance and amended our agreement with the ExxonMobil Suppliers. The amendment provides that the penalty for failing to purchase our annual volume commitments under our agreement with the ExxonMobil Suppliers will be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the average of our trade credit with the ExxonMobil Suppliers during December of each year and the denominator of which is $30.0 million.

 

On March 12, 2004, we repurchased all of our remaining 10½% Notes. In connection with this repurchase, we recognized a loss of approximately $724,000, which includes the write-off of approximately $379,000 of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs. This loss is presented as a component of income (loss) before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle on our unaudited consolidated condensed statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2004.

 

After giving effect to the 2004 Refinancing Transactions and the repurchase of our remaining 10½% Notes, our total consolidated debt increased $79.0 million and, as a result, our estimated associated annual interest expense will increase approximately $5.6 million.

 

On July 19, 2004, we completed the exchange of substantially all of our unregistered 9% Notes for 9% Notes that were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, thereby satisfying our obligation to register the 9% Notes.

 

14


The following is a summary of our contractual cash obligations as of June 30, 2004:

 

Contractual

Cash Obligations


   Total

  

Less Than

1 Year


   1-3 Years

   4-5 Years

  

After

5 Years


     (in thousands)

Long-term debt

   $ 247,500    $ 10,187    $ 9,778    $ 2,535    $ 225,000

Operating leases

     39,183      4,478      7,715      6,561      20,429
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $  286,683    $  14,665    $  17,493    $  9,096    $ 245,429
    

  

  

  

  

 

In addition to the above, we have an annual volume commitment associated with the ExxonMobil Supply Agreements. See Note 8 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K for additional discussion.

 

Under our Indenture for the 9% Notes and the agreement governing our new senior secured credit facilities, we are permitted to make distributions to the Holding Partnership in an amount sufficient to allow the Holding Partnership to pay interest on the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes and its new senior third secured discount notes due 2014 and to pay for administrative expenses. Through June 30, 2004, we have paid approximately $539,000 with respect to these distributions. We expect to pay the Holding Partnership approximately $1.4 million related to these distributions during the remainder of 2004.

 

As of June 30, 2004, we made distributions of approximately $56.5 million to the Holding Partnership in connection with the 2004 Refinancing Transactions as permitted under our Indenture for the 9% Notes and the agreement governing our new senior secured credit facilities. These distributions were made to allow the Holding Partnership to repurchase approximately 54.8% of the Holding Partnership’s 15% Notes.

 

We guaranteed a portion of our Joint Venture, Petro Travel Plaza LLC’s debt under a Repayment Guaranty dated as of June 4, 1999 and last modified on September 10, 2003. The guaranteed amount is reduced as the outstanding principal balance of the loan is reduced. The guarantee is reduced to zero when the loan to value ratio is equal to or less than 0.5 to 1.00. As of June 30, 2004, the maximum potential amount of future payments related to the guarantee was $342,000. The fair value of the guarantee is insignificant.

 

Additionally, we guaranteed a portion of Petro Travel Plaza, LLC’s debt under a Continuing Guaranty dated as of May 12, 2003, which was modified by an Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement on September 10, 2003. The guaranteed amount is reduced as the outstanding principal balance of the loan is reduced. The guarantee is reduced to zero when the loan to value ratio is equal to or less than 0.5 to 1.0. As of June 30, 2004, the maximum potential amount of future payments related to the guarantee was $75,000. The fair value of the guarantee is insignificant.

 

We had negative working capital of $17.5 million and $7.7 million at December 31, 2003 and June 30, 2004, respectively. Negative working capital is normal in the truck stop industry since diesel fuel inventory turns approximately every two to three days, but payment for fuel purchases can generally be made over a longer period of time. Approximately 91.0% of our total sales are cash sales (or the equivalent in the case of sales paid for on credit, which are funded on a daily basis by third-party billing companies).

 

Capital expenditures on our truck stop network totaled $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004. We currently expect to invest approximately $7.8 million during the remainder of 2004 on capital expenditures, the majority of which will be related to the purchase of the land at the Hammond, Louisiana site and to a lesser extent to regular capital maintenance and improvement projects on existing Petro Stopping Centers. These capital outlays will be funded through borrowings under our new senior secured credit facilities and internally generated cash.

 

We are partially self-insured, paying our own employment practices, general liability, workers’ compensation, and group health benefit claims, up to stop-loss amounts ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 on a per occurrence basis. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, we paid approximately $4.2 million on claims related to these partial self-insurance programs. Provisions established under these partial self insurance programs are made for both estimated losses on known claims and claims incurred but not reported, based on claims history. For the six months ended June 30, 2004, aggregated provisions amounted to approximately $4.6 million. At June 30, 2004, the aggregated accrual amounted to approximately $7.8 million, which we believe is adequate to cover both reported and incurred but not reported claims.

 

15


Based on the foregoing, we believe that internally generated funds, together with amounts available under our new senior secured credit facilities, will be sufficient to satisfy our cash requirements for operations and debt service through 2004 and the foreseeable future thereafter; provided however, that our ability to satisfy such obligations and maintain covenant compliance under our new senior secured credit facilities is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including economic, capital market, and competitive conditions.

 

Results of Operations

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2003

 

Overview. Net income decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2003, due primarily to costs associated with our 2004 Refinancing Transactions and increased interest costs. Our net revenues of $601.9 million increased 15.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $522.8 million in the prior year period. The increase was mainly due to higher fuel revenues, as a result of increased fuel gallons sold and an increase in our average retail-selling price of fuel, in addition to improved non-fuel sales. Operating expenses increased 6.5% to $68.4 million from $64.2 million in the prior year period due primarily to higher employee-related costs, increased telephone and utility costs, and higher credit card fees associated with the increased fuel revenues.

 

Fuel. Revenues increased 17.5% to $473.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $403.1 million in the prior year period. Fuel revenues increased due to a 6.6% increase in our total fuel gallons sold compared to the prior year period, as well as a 10.2% increase in our average retail-selling price per gallon from the prior year period. Gross profit increased by 7.8% to $21.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $20.1 million in the prior year period, despite a 10.6% increase in our cost of fuel.

 

Maintenance Services and Retail (Non-fuel excluding Restaurant). Revenues increased 6.0% to $92.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $87.2 million in the prior year period. Gross profit increased 6.1% to $52.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $49.1 million in the prior year period. These increases in revenues and gross profit were due primarily to a 6.6% or $5.3 million increase in general merchandise sales at our retail stores and increased sales at our Petro:Lubes.

 

Restaurant. Revenues increased 10.8% to $36.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $32.4 million in the prior year period, due to increased customer traffic and an increase in the average ticket price. Gross profit in the restaurants improved by 7.3% or $1.7 million from the prior year period due to the increase in revenues, partially offset by an increase in food costs.

 

Costs and Expenses. Total costs and expenses increased 15.2% to $587.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $509.8 million in the prior year period. Cost of sales increased $72.9 million or 16.9% from the prior year period mainly due to a 10.6% increase in our cost of fuel. Operating expenses increased 6.5% or $4.2 million to $68.4 million compared to the prior year period due primarily to higher employee-related costs, increased telephone and utility costs, and higher credit card fees associated with the increased fuel revenues. General and administrative expenses increased 7.4% to $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $7.5 million in the prior year period due primarily to an increase in professional services expenses.

 

Loss on Retirement of Debt. We recognized a loss of $6.2 million related to the repurchase and redemption of all of our 10½% Notes in connection with our 2004 Refinancing Transactions.

 

16


Retired Debt Restructuring Costs. We recognized a loss of $794,000 on the write-off of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of our retired senior credit facilities related to our 2004 Refinancing Transactions.

 

Equity in Income of Affiliate. We recognized income of $158,000 related to our investment in the Wheeler Ridge facility in Southern California in both the current and prior year periods.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased 18.1% or $1.8 million to $11.7 million compared to the prior year period, due primarily to the increase in our debt outstanding in the current year associated with our 2004 Refinancing Transactions.

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2003

 

Overview. Net income increased for the three months ended June 30, 2004 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2003, due primarily to increased fuel gross profit and improved non-fuel sales, partially offset by increased interest expense. Our net revenues of $315.8 million increased 25.3% for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 from $252.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was mainly due to higher fuel revenues, as a result of increased fuel gallons sold and an increase in our average retail-selling price of fuel, in addition to improved non-fuel sales. Operating expenses increased 8.3% to $34.9 million from $32.2 million in the prior year quarter due primarily to higher employee-related costs, increased telephone and utility costs, and higher credit card fees associated with the increased fuel revenues.

 

Fuel. Revenues increased 31.6% to $249.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to $189.5 million in the prior year quarter. Fuel revenues increased due to a 7.2% increase in our total fuel gallons sold compared to the prior year quarter, as well as a 22.8% increase in our average retail-selling price per gallon from the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 32.4% to $13.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to $10.0 million in the prior year quarter, in spite of a 22.8% increase in our cost of fuel.

 

Maintenance Services and Retail (Non-fuel excluding Restaurant). Revenues increased 4.6% to $48.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 from $45.9 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased 5.0% to $26.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 from $25.6 million in the prior year quarter. These increases in revenues and gross profit were due primarily to a 4.8% or $2.0 million increase in general merchandise sales at our retail stores and increased sales at our Petro:Lubes.

 

Restaurant. Revenues increased 10.5% to $18.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to $16.6 million in the prior year quarter, due to increased customer traffic and an increase in the average ticket price. Gross profit in the restaurants improved by 7.2% or $849,000 from the prior year quarter due to the increase in revenues, partially offset by an increase in food costs.

 

Costs and Expenses. Total costs and expenses increased 25.2% to $306.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to $244.6 million in the prior year quarter. Cost of sales increased $58.4 million or 28.5% from the prior year quarter mainly due to a 22.8% increase in our cost of fuel. Operating expenses increased 8.3% or $2.7 million to $34.9 million compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to higher employee-related costs, increased telephone and utility costs, and higher credit card fees associated with the increased fuel revenues. General and administrative expenses increased 11.8% to $4.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 compared to $3.9 million in the prior year quarter due primarily to higher employee-related costs and an increase in professional services expenses.

 

Equity in Income of Affiliate. We recognized income of $182,000 related to our investment in the Wheeler Ridge facility in Southern California compared to $201,000 of income in the prior year quarter.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased 24.8% or $1.2 million to $6.1 million compared to the prior year quarter, due primarily to the increase in the amount of debt outstanding in the current year associated with our 2004 Refinancing Transactions.

 

17


Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in our unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has defined a company’s critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of the company’s financial condition and results of operations, and which require the company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this definition, we have identified our critical accounting policies as including those addressed below. We also have other key accounting policies that involve the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions. See Note 2 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2003 Form 10-K for additional discussion of these accounting policies. We believe that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, based upon information presently available, however, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Partial Self-Insurance

 

We are partially self-insured, paying our own employment practices, general liability, workers’ compensation, and group health benefit claims, up to stop-loss amounts ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 on a per-occurrence basis. Provisions established under these partial self-insurance programs are made for both estimated losses on known claims and claims incurred but not reported, based on claims history.

 

Loyalty Program

 

We utilize estimates in accounting for our Petro Passport loyalty program. We record a liability for the estimated redemption of Petro points based upon our estimates about the future redemption rate of Petro points outstanding. A change to these estimates could have an impact on our liability in the year of the change as well as in future years.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51,” which replaces the original Interpretation No. 46 issued in January 2003. This Interpretation addresses the consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities as defined in the Interpretation. The effective dates vary depending on the type of reporting company and the type of entity that the company is involved with. Non-public companies, such as ourselves, must apply the revised Interpretation immediately to all entities created after December 31, 2003, and to all other entities no later than the beginning of the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2004. We do not believe that the adoption of this revised Interpretation will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk due to changes in commodity prices and interest rates. For a complete discussion of our market risks and our market risk sensitive assets and liabilities, please refer to Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” included in our 2003 Form 10-K. During the six months ended June 30, 2004, there have been no material changes regarding our market risks from the discussion in our 2003 Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of June 30, 2004, we completed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and President and our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and President and our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us which is required to be included in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarterly period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially effect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

18


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time we are involved in ordinary routine litigation incidental to our operations. Based on the existence of insurance coverage, we believe that any litigation currently pending or threatened against us will not have a material adverse effect on our unaudited consolidated condensed financial position or results of operations.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

Incorporated herein by reference is a list of Exhibits contained in the Exhibit Index on page 21 through 22 of this Quarterly Report.

 

  (b) The Registrant filed no report on Form 8-K during the quarter ended June 30, 2004.

 

19


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

    PETRO STOPPING CENTERS, L.P.
   

                    (Registrant)

Date: August 10, 2004

 

By:

 

/s/ Edward Escudero


       

Edward Escudero

       

Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

       

(On behalf of the Registrant and as Registrant’s

       

Principal Financial and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

20


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description


3.1(aa)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.
3.2(gg)   Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., dated July 23, 1999, by and among Petro Inc., as a General Partner and Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P., Petro Holdings GP, L.L.C., and James A. Cardwell, Jr., as Limited Partners.
3.3(bb)   Certificate of Incorporation of Petro Financial Corporation.
3.4(bb)   Bylaws of Petro Financial Corporation.
4.2(aa)   Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1997 among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., Petro Financial Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, relating to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s $135.0 million principal amount 10 1/2% Senior Notes due 2007.
4.3(aa)   Form of 10 1/2% Senior Note due 2007.
4.5 (hh)   Supplemental Indenture, dated July 23, 1999, by and among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., Petro Financial Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, relating to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s 10 1/2% Senior Notes due 2007.
4.7 (ll)   Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2001, among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., Fleet National Bank (formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.) and the other lending institutions listed on Schedule 1 hereto and Fleet National Bank (formerly known as BankBoston, N.A.), as Agent, First Union National Bank, as Documentation Agent and Fleet Securities, Inc., as Arranger.
4.8 (rr)   Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated February 9, 2004, among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P., Petro Holdings Financial Corporation, Petro Distributing, Inc., and Petro Financial Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, and L/C Issuer, Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent and the other lenders party thereto.
4.9 (rr)   Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2004, by and among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P. and Petro Financial Corporation, as Issuers, Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P., Petro Holdings Financial Corporation, and Petro Distributing, Inc., as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s $225 million aggregate principal amount 9.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2012.
4.10 (rr)   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2004, by and among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P. and Petro Financial Corporation, as Issuers, Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P., Petro Holdings Financial Corporation, and Petro Distributing, Inc., as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s $225 million aggregate principal amount 9.0% Senior Secured Notes due 2012.
4.11 (rr)   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2004, by and among Petro Stopping Centers, L.P. and Petro Financial Corporation, as Issuers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s $135 million aggregate principal amount 10½% Senior Notes due 2007.

 

21


31.1*   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President’s Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
31.2*   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer’s Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).
32*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(aa) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.
(bb) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-76154).
(gg) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 6, 1999.
(hh) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers Holdings, L.P. Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-87371).
(ll) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001.
(rr) Incorporated by reference to Petro Stopping Centers, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 23, 2004.
 * Filed herewith

 

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