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8-K - 8-K - Alon USA Energy, Inc.alj2012q3earningsrelease8-k.htm


 
NEWS RELEASE
 
 
 
 
Contacts:
Amir Barash, Vice President-IR
Alon USA Energy, Inc.
972-367-3808
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
 
 
Investors: Jack Lascar/ Sheila Stuewe
DRG&L / 713-529-6600
Media: Blake Lewis
Lewis Public Relations
214-635-3020
Ruth Sheetrit
SMG Public Relations
011-972-547-555551
Alon USA Reports Third Quarter Results

Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Company schedules conference call for November 7, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern
DALLAS, TEXAS, November 5, 2012 - Alon USA Energy, Inc. (NYSE: ALJ) (“Alon”) today announced results for the third quarter of 2012. Net income for the third quarter of 2012 was $43.2 million, or $0.76 per share, compared to net income of $28.6 million, or $0.51 per share, for the same period last year. Excluding special items, Alon recorded net income of $47.6 million, or $0.84 per share, for the third quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $39.0 million, or $0.70 per share, for the same period last year.
Net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $56.9 million, or $1.01 per share, compared to net income of $55.4 million, or $1.00 per share, for the same period last year. Excluding special items, Alon recorded net income of $91.3 million, or $1.62 per share, for the first nine months of 2012, compared to net income of $74.5 million, or $1.35 per share, for the same period last year.
Paul Eisman, CEO and President, commented, “We are pleased with our third quarter results, and the positive impact these results are having on our balance sheet. The Company continues to benefit from good operations in a positive margin environment. During the third quarter, we increased throughput at each of our refineries versus the second quarter, and also realized increased sales in both Asphalt Marketing and Alon Brands. We generated very favorable operating margins of $28.19 per barrel at our Big Spring Refinery and $11.28 per barrel at our Krotz Springs Refinery. In Krotz Springs we processed on average a record of over 23,000 barrels per day of WTI.
“During the third quarter, we generated over $100 million of cash flow from operating activities, which was used to reduce total debt by $75 million. We were able to achieve this even though our reported results for the quarter were negatively impacted by $39 million of losses on commodity swap hedge positions comprised of $34 million of realized losses and $5 million of unrealized losses.
“We filed an amendment to the Form S-1 of Alon USA Partners, LP. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering to reduce our outstanding indebtedness.
“California remains challenging from an asphalt refining perspective, as low demand and value for produced asphalt in a high cost West Coast crude environment led to disappointing financial results. We are currently evaluating alternatives to improve the short and long term profitability of our California refining operations. With the end of the asphalt season, we are suspending refining operations in California. As mentioned last quarter, we have submitted permit applications to ship via rail lighter mid-continent crudes to replace the heavier West Coast crudes currently used in the California system. We expect to receive these permits, as well as to complete required infrastructure build out and to enter into the required supply arrangements, by the fourth quarter of 2013.
“For the fourth quarter of 2012, we expect the average throughput at the Big Spring refinery to be approximately 71,000 barrels per day and 74,000 barrels per day at the Krotz Springs refinery. At Krotz Springs, we expect to process 25,000 barrels per day of WTI increasing to 30,000 barrels per day of WTI by year end.”

- 1 -



THIRD QUARTER 2012
Special items reduced earnings by $4.4 million for the third quarter of 2012 which included after-tax losses of $2.8 million associated with unrealized losses on commodity swaps and $1.6 million associated with loss recognized on disposition of assets. Special items reduced earnings by $10.4 million for the third quarter of 2011 which primarily included an after-tax loss associated with heating oil call option crack spread contracts.
Refinery operating margin at the Big Spring refinery was $28.19 per barrel for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $23.05 per barrel for the same period in 2011. This increase is mainly due to higher Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spreads and a widening sweet/sour spread. Refinery operating margin at the California refineries was $0.12 per barrel for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $3.64 per barrel for the same period in 2011. This decrease is mainly due to the cost of crude oil used by the refinery. The Krotz Springs refinery operating margin was $11.28 per barrel for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $7.77 per barrel for the same period in 2011. This increase is mainly due to lower crude oil costs with the addition of WTI priced crude oils and higher Gulf Coast 2/1/1 high sulfur diesel crack spreads.
The refineries' combined refinery throughput for the third quarter of 2012 averaged 171,086 barrels per day ("bpd"), consisting of 69,563 bpd at the Big Spring refinery, 32,298 bpd at the California refineries, and 69,225 bpd at the Krotz Springs refinery, compared to 162,214 bpd for the third quarter of 2011, consisting of 56,828 bpd at the Big Spring refinery, 39,056 bpd at the California refineries, and 66,330 bpd at the Krotz Springs refinery.
The average Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $31.76 per barrel compared to $31.28 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average West Coast 3/1/1/1 crack spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $14.40 per barrel compared to $11.22 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average Gulf Coast 2/1/1 high sulfur diesel crack spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $15.91 per barrel compared to $12.44 per barrel for the same period in 2011.
The average WTI to WTS spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $3.34 per barrel compared to $0.82 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average LLS to WTI spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $15.02 per barrel compared to $18.87 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average WTI to Buena Vista spread for the third quarter of 2012 was $(14.14) per barrel compared to $(17.52) per barrel for the same period in 2011.
Asphalt margins for the third quarter of 2012 were $25.49 per ton compared to $25.68 per ton for same period in 2011. On a cash basis (i.e. excluding inventory effects), asphalt margins in the third quarter of 2012 were $37.13 per ton compared to $23.07 per ton in the third quarter of 2011. This increase is due primarily to higher asphalt sales prices. The average blended asphalt sales price increased 21.8% from $540.07 per ton in the third quarter of 2011 to $657.68 per ton in the third quarter of 2012 and the average non-blended asphalt sales price increased 2.3% from $383.87 per ton in the third quarter of 2011 to $392.76 per ton in the third quarter of 2012.
Retail fuel sales volume increased by 7.9% from 40.8 million gallons in the third quarter of 2011 to 44.0 million gallons in the third quarter of 2012. Our branded fuel sales volume increased by 5.9% from 95.2 million gallons in the third quarter of 2011 to 100.8 million gallons in the third quarter of 2012.
Also impacting earnings for the third quarter of 2012 was pre-tax realized losses on commodity swaps of $33.8 million. There were no significant realized losses on commodity swaps for the third quarter of 2011.
YEAR-TO-DATE 2012
Special items reduced earnings by $34.3 million for the first nine months of 2012 which included after-tax losses of $22.4 million associated with unrealized losses on commodity swaps, $4.4 million associated with heating oil call option crack spread contracts, $5.8 million associated with the write-off of unamortized original issuance discount due to the repayment of the Alon Brands term loan and $1.7 million associated with loss recognized on disposition of assets. Special items reduced earnings by $19.1 million for the first nine months of 2011 which included primarily an after-tax loss of $32.7 million associated with heating oil call option crack spread contracts and an after-tax gain of $13.5 million associated with a reduction in system inventories.
Refinery operating margin at the Big Spring refinery was $23.85 per barrel for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $20.67 per barrel for the same period in 2011. This increase is primarily due to higher Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spreads and a widening of the sweet/sour spread. Refinery operating margin at the California refineries was $1.60 per barrel for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $(0.16) per barrel for the same period in 2011. This increase is mainly due to an increase in West Coast 3/1/1/1 crack spreads. Refinery operating margin at the Krotz Springs refinery was $7.55 per barrel for the first nine months of 2012 compared to $5.61 per barrel for the same period in 2011. This increase is mainly due to lower crude oil costs with the addition of WTI priced crude oils and higher Gulf Coast 2/1/1 high sulfur diesel crack spreads.
The refineries’ combined throughput for the first nine months of 2012 averaged 155,769 bpd, consisting of 67,884 bpd at the Big Spring refinery, 21,472 bpd at the California refineries and 66,413 bpd at the Krotz Springs refinery compared to 144,515 bpd in the first nine months of 2011, consisting of 60,889 bpd at the Big Spring refinery, 21,357 bpd at the California

- 2 -



refineries and 62,269 bpd at the Krotz Springs refinery. The California refineries were not in operation for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011.
The average Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $27.54 per barrel compared to $24.53 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average West Coast 3/1/1/1 crack spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $12.84 per barrel compared to $11.09 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average Gulf Coast 2/1/1 high sulfur diesel crack spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $12.05 per barrel compared to $9.87 per barrel for the first nine months of 2011.
The average WTI to WTS spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $4.09 per barrel compared to $2.47 per barrel for the first nine months of 2011. The average LLS to WTI spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $15.25 per barrel compared to $14.55 per barrel for the same period in 2011. The average WTI to Buena Vista spread for the first nine months of 2012 was $(13.97) per barrel compared to $(11.20) per barrel for the same period in 2011.
Asphalt margins in the first nine months of 2012 increased to $46.76 per ton compared to $15.99 per ton in the first nine months of 2011. On a cash basis, asphalt margins in the first nine months of 2012 were $31.10 per ton compared to $12.86 per ton in the first nine months of 2011. This increase was primarily due to asphalt sales prices increasing more than crude oil costs. The average blended asphalt sales price increased 15.5% from $539.52 per ton in the first nine months of 2011 to $623.24 per ton in the first nine months of 2012 and the average non-blended asphalt sales price increased 12.9% from $337.82 per ton in the first nine months of 2011 to $381.49 per ton in the first nine months of 2012. The average price for Buena Vista crude increased 3.3%, from $106.62 per barrel in the first nine months of 2011 to $110.14 per barrel in the first nine months of 2012.
Retail fuel sales volume increased by 9.4% from 115.9 million gallons in the first nine months of 2011 to 126.8 million gallons in the first nine months of 2012. Our branded fuel sales volume increased by 6.8% from 272.1 million gallons in the first nine months of 2011 to 290.7 million gallons in the first nine months of 2012.
Also impacting earnings for the first nine months of 2012 was pre-tax realized losses on commodity swaps of $68.3 million. There were no significant realized losses on commodity swaps for the first nine months of 2011.
Alon also announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share. The dividend is payable on December 17, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2012.
CONFERENCE CALL
The Company has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, to discuss the third quarter 2012 results. To access the call, please dial 877-941-8609, or 480-629-9692, for international callers, and ask for the Alon USA Energy call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Investors may also listen to the conference live on the Alon corporate website, http://www.alonusa.com, by logging onto that site and clicking “Investors”. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through November 23, 2012, and may be accessed by calling 800-406-7325, or 303-590-3030, for international callers, and using the passcode 4570319#. A web cast archive will also be available at http://www.alonusa.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days. For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at DRG&L at 713-529-6600 or email dmw@drg-l.com.
Alon USA Energy, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products, operating primarily in the South Central, Southwestern and Western regions of the United States. The Company owns four crude oil refineries in Texas, California, Louisiana and Oregon, with an aggregate crude oil throughput capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels per day. Alon is a leading producer of asphalt, which it markets through its asphalt terminals predominately in the Western United States. Alon is the largest 7-Eleven licensee in the United States and operates approximately 300 convenience stores in Texas and New Mexico. Alon markets motor fuel products under the Alon brand name through a network of approximately 625 locations, including Alon's convenience stores.
Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations regarding future events, results or outcomes. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or otherwise materially affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of offers to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any security in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
- Tables to follow -

- 3 -




ALON USA ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED
EARNINGS RELEASE
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - FINANCIAL DATA
(ALL INFORMATION IN THIS PRESS RELEASE EXCEPT FOR BALANCE SHEET DATA AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011, IS UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales (1)
$
2,360,334

 
$
2,056,653

 
$
6,062,956

 
$
5,303,388

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
2,101,647

 
1,827,098

 
5,407,197

 
4,717,673

Unrealized losses on commodity swaps
5,017

 

 
37,458

 

Direct operating expenses
81,160

 
83,338

 
230,243

 
202,476

Selling, general and administrative expenses (2)
47,670

 
34,680

 
119,018

 
107,595

Depreciation and amortization (3)
31,870

 
29,812

 
93,000

 
80,046

Total operating costs and expenses
2,267,364

 
1,974,928

 
5,886,916

 
5,107,790

Gain (loss) on disposition of assets
(2,624
)
 
229

 
(2,838
)
 
161

Operating income
90,346

 
81,954

 
173,202

 
195,759

Interest expense (4)
(22,773
)
 
(22,582
)
 
(78,113
)
 
(63,780
)
Equity earnings of investees
4,542

 
2,005

 
6,112

 
3,775

Other income (loss), net (5)
202

 
(14,272
)
 
(6,791
)
 
(51,065
)
Income before income tax expense
72,317

 
47,105

 
94,410

 
84,689

Income tax expense
26,776

 
17,004

 
34,705

 
26,952

Net income
45,541

 
30,101

 
59,705

 
57,737

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
2,318

 
1,480

 
2,758

 
2,317

Net income available to common stockholders
$
43,223

 
$
28,621

 
$
56,947

 
$
55,420

Earnings per share, basic
$
0.76

 
$
0.51

 
$
1.01

 
$
1.00

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in thousands)
56,699

 
55,755

 
56,322

 
55,290

Earnings per share, diluted
$
0.69

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.91

 
$
0.91

Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (in thousands)
63,060

 
61,690

 
62,679

 
61,231

Cash dividends per share
$
0.04

 
$
0.04

 
$
0.12

 
$
0.12

CASH FLOW DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
101,276

 
$
109,478

 
$
215,498

 
$
58,362

Investing activities
(34,170
)
 
(28,055
)
 
(83,436
)
 
(104,130
)
Financing activities
(78,930
)
 
(22,964
)
 
(243,436
)
 
149,682

OTHER DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (6)
$
47,587

 
$
39,028

 
$
91,255

 
$
74,506

Adjusted earnings per share (6)
$
0.84

 
$
0.70

 
$
1.62

 
$
1.35

Adjusted EBITDA (7)
134,601

 
113,539

 
313,116

 
279,447

Capital expenditures (8)
31,748

 
23,162

 
72,273

 
91,120

Capital expenditures for turnaround and chemical catalyst
2,680

 
2,733

 
11,437

 
6,995


- 4 -



 
September 30,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
BALANCE SHEET DATA (end of period):
(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
45,692

 
$
157,066

Working capital (A)
(337,021
)
 
99,452

Total assets
2,320,937

 
2,330,382

Total debt
798,733

 
1,050,196

Total equity
456,341

 
395,784

(A)
We have launched syndication of $450,000 of new term debt and expect funding within a week; proceeds will be used to retire existing debt of $421,875 due August 2013.

- 5 -



REFINING AND UNBRANDED MARKETING SEGMENT
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands, except per barrel data and pricing statistics)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales (9)
$
2,136,619

 
$
1,862,181

 
$
5,527,395

 
$
4,797,125

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
1,917,852

 
1,681,163

 
5,005,249

 
4,336,655

Unrealized losses on commodity swaps
5,017

 

 
37,458

 

Direct operating expenses
72,259

 
72,271

 
204,001

 
170,214

Selling, general and administrative expenses
17,426

 
6,189

 
31,733

 
24,946

Depreciation and amortization
26,330

 
25,179

 
77,242

 
64,799

Total operating costs and expenses
2,038,884

 
1,784,802

 
5,355,683

 
4,596,614

Gain (loss) on disposition of assets
(2,532
)
 
1

 
(2,528
)
 
12

Operating income
$
95,203

 
$
77,380

 
$
169,184

 
$
200,523

KEY OPERATING STATISTICS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Per barrel of throughput:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refinery operating margin – Big Spring (10)
$
28.19

 
$
23.05

 
$
23.85

 
$
20.67

Refinery operating margin – CA Refineries (10)
0.12

 
3.64

 
1.60

 
(0.16
)
Refinery operating margin – Krotz Springs (10)
11.28

 
7.77

 
7.55

 
5.61

Refinery direct operating expense – Big Spring (11)
3.92

 
4.68

 
3.92

 
4.40

Refinery direct operating expense – CA Refineries (11)
7.82

 
7.20

 
10.35

 
6.13

Refinery direct operating expense – Krotz Springs (11)
3.76

 
3.61

 
3.86

 
3.42

Capital expenditures
$
23,520

 
$
14,931

 
$
45,606

 
$
76,119

Capital expenditures for turnaround and chemical catalyst
2,680

 
2,733

 
11,437

 
6,995

PRICING STATISTICS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WTI crude oil (per barrel)
$
92.09

 
$
89.75

 
$
96.17

 
$
95.42

WTS crude oil (per barrel)
88.75

 
88.93

 
92.08

 
92.95

Buena Vista crude oil (per barrel)
106.23

 
107.27

 
110.14

 
106.62

LLS crude oil (per barrel)
102.54

 
112.94

 
111.81

 
110.50

Crack spreads (3/2/1) (per barrel):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gulf Coast (12)
$
31.76

 
$
31.28

 
$
27.54

 
$
24.53

Crack spreads (3/1/1/1) (per barrel):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
West Coast (12)
$
14.40

 
$
11.22

 
$
12.84

 
$
11.09

Crack spreads (2/1/1) (per barrel):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gulf Coast high sulfur diesel (12)
$
15.91

 
$
12.44

 
$
12.05

 
$
9.87

Crude oil differentials (per barrel):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WTI less WTS (13)
$
3.34

 
$
0.82

 
$
4.09

 
$
2.47

LLS less WTI (13)
15.02

 
18.87

 
15.25

 
14.55

WTI less Buena Vista (13)
(14.14
)
 
(17.52
)
 
(13.97
)
 
(11.20
)
Product prices (dollars per gallon):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gulf Coast unleaded gasoline
$
2.89

 
$
2.82

 
$
2.89

 
$
2.80

Gulf Coast ultra-low sulfur diesel
3.07

 
3.01

 
3.06

 
2.97

Gulf Coast high sulfur diesel
2.97

 
2.95

 
2.99

 
2.91

West Coast LA CARBOB (unleaded gasoline)
3.04

 
2.89

 
3.09

 
2.92

West Coast LA ultra-low sulfur diesel
3.13

 
3.03

 
3.12

 
3.05

Natural gas (per MMBTU)
2.89

 
4.05

 
2.58

 
4.21


- 6 -



THROUGHPUT AND PRODUCTION DATA:
BIG SPRING REFINERY
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
Refinery throughput:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WTS crude
52,108

 
74.9

 
42,769

 
75.2

 
53,297

 
78.6

 
48,882

 
80.2

WTI crude
15,398

 
22.1

 
10,904

 
19.2

 
12,790

 
18.8

 
9,845

 
16.2

Blendstocks
2,057

 
3.0

 
3,155

 
5.6

 
1,797

 
2.6

 
2,162

 
3.6

Total refinery throughput (14)
69,563

 
100.0

 
56,828

 
100.0

 
67,884

 
100.0

 
60,889

 
100.0

Refinery production:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gasoline
34,918

 
50.3

 
26,846

 
47.3

 
33,653

 
49.6

 
28,969

 
47.8

Diesel/jet
23,215

 
33.5

 
18,570

 
32.6

 
22,234

 
32.8

 
19,704

 
32.5

Asphalt
4,148

 
6.0

 
4,619

 
8.1

 
4,241

 
6.3

 
4,505

 
7.4

Petrochemicals
4,040

 
5.8

 
3,422

 
6.0

 
4,005

 
5.9

 
3,664

 
6.0

Other
3,045

 
4.4

 
3,423

 
6.0

 
3,627

 
5.4

 
3,837

 
6.3

Total refinery production (15)
69,366

 
100.0

 
56,880

 
100.0

 
67,760

 
100.0

 
60,679

 
100.0

Refinery utilization (16)
 
 
96.4
%
 
 
 
89.9
%
 
 
 
97.3
%
 
 
 
88.3
%
THROUGHPUT AND PRODUCTION DATA:
CALIFORNIA REFINERIES
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
Refinery throughput:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medium sour crude
23,228

 
71.9

 
9,363

 
24.0

 
9,903

 
46.1

 
4,632

 
21.7

Heavy crude
8,065

 
25.0

 
23,928

 
61.2

 
10,259

 
47.8

 
14,707

 
68.9

Blendstocks
1,005

 
3.1

 
5,765

 
14.8

 
1,310

 
6.1

 
2,018

 
9.4

Total refinery throughput (14)
32,298

 
100.0

 
39,056

 
100.0

 
21,472

 
100.0

 
21,357

 
100.0

Refinery production:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gasoline
7,867

 
24.4

 
10,178

 
26.1

 
3,798

 
17.8

 
4,433

 
20.9

Diesel/jet
13,929

 
43.2

 
14,863

 
38.3

 
7,152

 
33.4

 
6,933

 
32.9

Asphalt
7,528

 
23.4

 
10,918

 
28.0

 
5,906

 
27.7

 
6,456

 
30.5

Light unfinished

 

 
525

 
1.3

 
267

 
1.3

 
177

 
0.8

Heavy unfinished
1,833

 
5.7

 
960

 
2.5

 
3,668

 
17.2

 
2,462

 
11.6

Other
1,057

 
3.3

 
1,498

 
3.8

 
554

 
2.6

 
708

 
3.3

Total refinery production (15)
32,214

 
100.0

 
38,942

 
100.0

 
21,345

 
100.0

 
21,169

 
100.0

Refinery utilization (16)
 
 
43.2
%
 
 
 
45.9
%
 
 
 
27.8
%
 
 
 
26.7
%
THROUGHPUT AND PRODUCTION DATA:
KROTZ SPRINGS REFINERY
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
 
bpd
 
%
Refinery throughput:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WTI crude
23,159

 
33.5

 

 

 
16,640

 
25.1

 

 

Gulf Coast sweet crude
45,925

 
66.3

 
66,265

 
99.9

 
49,381

 
74.3

 
61,423

 
98.6

Blendstocks
141

 
0.2

 
65

 
0.1

 
392

 
0.6

 
846

 
1.4

Total refinery throughput (14)
69,225

 
100.0

 
66,330

 
100.0

 
66,413

 
100.0

 
62,269

 
100.0

Refinery production:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gasoline
28,693

 
41.1

 
27,396

 
41.1

 
27,170

 
40.5

 
25,905

 
41.5

Diesel/jet
28,184

 
40.2

 
30,491

 
45.7

 
28,056

 
41.8

 
28,757

 
46.0

Heavy Oils
2,554

 
3.6

 
2,828

 
4.2

 
2,737

 
4.1

 
2,577

 
4.1

Other
10,605

 
15.1

 
6,017

 
9.0

 
9,162

 
13.6

 
5,245

 
8.4

Total refinery production (15)
70,036

 
100.0

 
66,732

 
100.0

 
67,125

 
100.0

 
62,484

 
100.0

Refinery utilization (16)
 
 
83.1
%
 
 
 
79.7
%
 
 
 
79.4
%
 
 
 
80.2
%


- 7 -



ASPHALT SEGMENT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands, except per ton data)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
203,982

 
$
201,081

 
$
449,442

 
$
435,135

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (17)
195,903

 
191,296

 
414,323

 
421,480

Direct operating expenses
8,901

 
11,067

 
26,242

 
32,262

Selling, general and administrative expenses
1,268

 
1,310

 
3,188

 
3,833

Depreciation and amortization
1,485

 
1,522

 
4,281

 
4,999

Total operating costs and expenses
207,557

 
205,195

 
448,034

 
462,574

Gain on disposition of assets
1

 

 
1

 

Operating income (loss)
$
(3,574
)
 
$
(4,114
)
 
$
1,409

 
$
(27,439
)
KEY OPERATING STATISTICS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blended asphalt sales volume (tons in thousands) (18)
300

 
351

 
674

 
727

Non-blended asphalt sales volume (tons in thousands) (19)
17

 
30

 
77

 
127

Blended asphalt sales price per ton (18)
$
657.68

 
$
540.07

 
$
623.24

 
$
539.52

Non-blended asphalt sales price per ton (19)
392.76

 
383.87

 
381.49

 
337.82

Asphalt margin per ton (20)
25.49

 
25.68

 
46.76

 
15.99

Capital expenditures
$
1,075

 
$
125

 
$
8,535

 
$
1,458


RETAIL AND BRANDED MARKETING SEGMENT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands, except per gallon data)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales (1)
$
400,140

 
$
383,636

 
$
1,159,369

 
$
1,083,455

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales (17)
368,299

 
344,884

 
1,060,875

 
971,865

Selling, general and administrative expenses
28,773

 
26,993

 
83,513

 
78,252

Depreciation and amortization
3,444

 
2,707

 
9,689

 
9,037

Total operating costs and expenses
400,516

 
374,584

 
1,154,077

 
1,059,154

Gain (loss) on disposition of assets
(93
)
 
228

 
(311
)
 
149

Operating income (loss)
$
(469
)
 
$
9,280

 
$
4,981

 
$
24,450

KEY OPERATING STATISTICS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Branded fuel sales (thousands of gallons) (21)
100,800

 
95,160

 
290,708

 
272,101

Branded fuel margin (cents per gallon) (21)
(2.5
)
 
5.5

 
(0.6
)
 
5.0

Number of stores (end of period) (22)
299

 
303

 
299

 
303

Retail fuel sales (thousands of gallons)
43,978

 
40,769

 
126,845

 
115,931

Retail fuel sales (thousands of gallons per site per month) (22)
51

 
47

 
49

 
44

Retail fuel margin (cents per gallon) (23)
14.5

 
15.9

 
14.6

 
16.7

Retail fuel sales price (dollars per gallon) (24)
$
3.46

 
$
3.52

 
$
3.51

 
$
3.47

Merchandise sales
$
82,069

 
$
79,366

 
$
238,062

 
$
225,812

Merchandise sales (per site per month) (22)
$
91

 
$
87

 
$
88

 
$
83

Merchandise margin (25)
32.3
%
 
32.4
%
 
32.5
%
 
33.0
%
Capital expenditures
$
6,669

 
$
7,777

 
$
16,865

 
$
12,271

________________

- 8 -




(1)
Includes excise taxes on sales by the retail and branded marketing segment of $17,159 and $15,476 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $49,481 and $44,887 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Net sales also includes net royalty and related net credit card fees of $1,427 and $1,265 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $4,346 and $4,177 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(2)
Includes corporate headquarters selling, general and administrative expenses of $203 and $188 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $584 and $564 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are not allocated to our three operating segments.
(3)
Includes corporate depreciation and amortization of $611 and $404 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $1,788 and $1,211 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are not allocated to our three operating segments.
(4)
Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes a charge of $9,624 for the write-off of unamortized original issuance discount associated with our repayment of the Alon Brands Term Loan.
(5)
Other income (loss), net for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, is substantially the loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts.
(6)
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income available to common stockholders under United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) to adjusted net income available to common stockholders utilized in determining adjusted earnings per share, excluding the after-tax loss on write-off of unamortized original issuance discount, after-tax loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts, after-tax unrealized losses on commodity swaps, after-tax gain from reduction in system inventories and after-tax gain (loss) on disposition of assets. Our management believes that the presentation of adjusted net income available to common stockholders and adjusted earnings per share, excluding these items, is useful to investors because it provides a more meaningful measurement for evaluation of our Company's operating results.
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net income available to common stockholders
$
43,223

 
$
28,621

 
$
56,947

 
$
55,420

Plus: Write-off of original issuance discount, net of tax

 

 
5,781

 

Plus: Loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts, net of tax

 
10,551

 
4,413

 
32,697

Plus: Unrealized losses on commodity swaps, net of tax
2,795

 

 
22,416

 

Less: Gain from reduction in system inventories, net of tax

 

 

 
(13,508
)
Less: (Gain) loss on disposition of assets, net of tax
1,569

 
(144
)
 
1,698

 
(103
)
Adjusted net income available to common stockholders
$
47,587

 
$
39,028

 
$
91,255

 
$
74,506

Adjusted earnings per share
$
0.84

 
$
0.70

 
$
1.62

 
$
1.35

(7)
Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before net income attributable to non-controlling interest, income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on disposition of assets, unrealized losses on commodity swaps and loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP; however, the amounts included in Adjusted EBITDA are derived from amounts included in our consolidated financial statements. Our management believes that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. In addition, our management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to that of other companies in our industry because the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of net income attributable to non-controlling interest, income tax expense, interest expense, gain (loss) on disposition of assets, unrealized losses on commodity swaps, loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts and the accounting effects of capital expenditures and acquisitions, items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

- 9 -



Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the prior claim that non-controlling interest have on the income generated by non-wholly-owned subsidiaries;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in or cash requirements for our working capital needs; and
Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from EBITDA calculations of other companies in our industry, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.
The following table reconciles net income available to common stockholders to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:
 
For the Three Months Ended
 
For the Nine Months Ended
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(dollars in thousands)
Net income available to common stockholders
$
43,223

 
$
28,621

 
$
56,947

 
$
55,420

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
2,318

 
1,480

 
2,758

 
2,317

Income tax expense
26,776

 
17,004

 
34,705

 
26,952

Interest expense
22,773

 
22,582

 
78,113

 
63,780

Depreciation and amortization
31,870

 
29,812

 
93,000

 
80,046

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets
2,624

 
(229
)
 
2,838

 
(161
)
Unrealized losses on commodity swaps
5,017

 

 
37,458

 

Loss on heating oil call option crack spread contracts

 
14,269

 
7,297

 
51,093

Adjusted EBITDA
$
134,601

 
$
113,539

 
$
313,116

 
$
279,447

(8)
Includes corporate capital expenditures of $484 and $329 for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $1,267 and $1,272 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are not allocated to our three operating segments.
(9)
Net sales include intersegment sales to our asphalt and retail and branded marketing segments at prices which approximate wholesale market prices. These intersegment sales are eliminated through consolidation of our financial statements.
(10)
Refinery operating margin is a per barrel measurement calculated by dividing the margin between net sales and cost of sales (exclusive of substantial hedge positions and certain inventory adjustments) attributable to each refinery by the refinery's throughput volumes. Industry-wide refining results are driven and measured by the margins between refined product prices and the prices for crude oil, which are referred to as crack spreads. We compare our refinery operating margins to these crack spreads to assess our operating performance relative to other participants in our industry.
The refinery operating margin excludes unrealized losses on commodity swaps of $5,017 and $37,458 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, as shown separately in the statements of operations. The refinery operating margin excludes realized losses on commodity swaps of $33,839 and $68,260 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
The refinery operating margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, excludes a benefit from inventory reductions of $22,460.
(11)
Refinery direct operating expense is a per barrel measurement calculated by dividing direct operating expenses at our Big Spring, California, and Krotz Springs refineries, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, by the applicable refinery’s total throughput volumes. Direct operating expenses related to the Bakersfield refinery of $3,356 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 have been excluded from the per barrel measurement calculation.

- 10 -



(12)
We compare our Big Spring refinery's per barrel operating margin to the Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spread. A 3/2/1 crack spread is calculated assuming that three barrels of a benchmark crude oil are converted, or cracked, into two barrels of gasoline and one barrel of diesel. We calculate the Gulf Coast 3/2/1 crack spread using the market values of Gulf Coast conventional gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel and the market value of West Texas Intermediate Cushing, or WTI, a light, sweet crude oil.
We compare our California refineries' per barrel operating margin to the West Coast 3/1/1/1 crack spread. A 3/1/1/1 crack spread is calculated assuming that three barrels of a benchmark crude oil are converted into one barrel of gasoline, one barrel of diesel and one barrel of fuel oil. We calculate the West Coast 3/1/1/1 crack spread using the market values of West Coast LA CARBOB pipeline gasoline, LA ultra-low sulfur pipeline diesel, and LA 380 pipeline CST (fuel oil) and the market value of Buena Vista crude oil.
We compare our Krotz Springs refinery's per barrel operating margin to the Gulf Coast 2/1/1 crack spread. A 2/1/1 crack spread is calculated assuming that two barrels of a benchmark crude oil are converted into one barrel of gasoline and one barrel of diesel. We calculate the Gulf Coast 2/1/1 crack spread using the market values of Gulf Coast conventional gasoline and Gulf Coast high sulfur diesel and the market value of Light Louisiana Sweet, or LLS, crude oil.
(13)
The WTI/WTS, or sweet/sour, spread represents the differential between the average value per barrel of WTI crude oil and the average value per barrel of WTS crude oil. The WTI less Buena Vista spread represents the differential between the average value per barrel of WTI crude oil and the average value per barrel of Buena Vista crude oil. The LLS less WTI spread represents the differential between the average value per barrel of LLS crude oil and the average value per barrel of WTI crude oil.
(14)
Total refinery throughput represents the total barrels per day of crude oil and blendstock inputs in the refinery production process. Throughput data for the California refineries for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 reflects substantially six months of operations as the California refineries were not in operation for the first quarter of 2012 and 2011. The throughput data of the Krotz Springs refinery for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, reflects approximately a one month shutdown due to flooding in Louisiana and the impact on crude oil supply to the refinery.
(15)
Total refinery production represents the barrels per day of various products produced from processing crude and other refinery feedstocks through the crude units and other conversion units at the refineries.
(16)
Refinery utilization represents average daily crude oil throughput divided by crude oil capacity, excluding planned periods of downtime for maintenance and turnarounds.
(17)
Cost of sales includes intersegment purchases of asphalt blends and motor fuels from our refining and unbranded marketing segment at prices which approximate wholesale market prices. These intersegment purchases are eliminated through consolidation of our financial statements.
(18)
Blended asphalt represents base asphalt that has been blended with other materials necessary to sell the asphalt as a finished product.
(19)
Non-blended asphalt represents base material asphalt and other components that require additional blending before being sold as a finished product.
(20)
Asphalt margin is a per ton measurement calculated by dividing the margin between net sales and cost of sales by the total sales volume. Asphalt margins are used in the asphalt industry to measure operating results related to asphalt sales.
(21)
Branded fuel sales represent branded fuel sales to our wholesale marketing customers that are primarily supplied by the Big Spring refinery. The branded fuels that are not supplied by the Big Spring refinery are obtained from third-party suppliers. The branded fuel margin represents the margin between the net sales and cost of sales attributable to our branded fuel sales volume, expressed on a cents-per-gallon basis.
(22)
At September 30, 2012 we had 299 retail convenience stores of which 286 sold fuel. At September 30, 2011 we had 303 retail convenience stores of which 290 sold fuel.
(23)
Retail fuel margin represents the difference between motor fuel sales revenue and the net cost of purchased motor fuel, including transportation costs and associated motor fuel taxes, expressed on a cents-per-gallon basis. Motor fuel margins are frequently used in the retail industry to measure operating results related to motor fuel sales.
(24)
Retail fuel sales price per gallon represents the average sales price for motor fuels sold through our retail convenience stores.
(25)
Merchandise margin represents the difference between merchandise sales revenues and the delivered cost of

- 11 -



merchandise purchases, net of rebates and commissions, expressed as a percentage of merchandise sales revenues. Merchandise margins, also referred to as in-store margins, are commonly used in the retail industry to measure in-store, or non-fuel, operating results.


- 12 -