Western Refining Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results

• Completed IPO of Western Refining Logistics, LP
• Acquired general partner interests in Northern Tier Energy LP
• Paid fourth quarter dividend of $0.22 per share

EL PASO, Texas, Feb. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE:WNR) today reported fourth quarter 2013 net income, excluding special items, of $57.3 million, or $0.60 per diluted share. This compares to fourth quarter 2012 net income, excluding special items, of $155.7 million, or $1.45 per diluted share. Including special items, the Company recorded fourth quarter 2013 net loss attributable to Western Refining, Inc. of $7.3 million, or $(0.09) per diluted share as compared to net income of $207.6 million, or $1.92 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012. The special items for the fourth quarter of 2013 primarily included a non-cash unrealized pre-tax hedging loss of $100.6 million. Western's financial results reflect the consolidation of financial results of both Western Refining Logistics, LP (NYSE:WNRL), a fee-based master limited partnership of which Western owns the general partner and approximately 65% of the limited partnership interests and Northern Tier Energy LP (NYSE:NTI), a variable distribution master limited partnership of which Western owns the general partner and 38.7% of the limited partnership interests.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company reported net income, excluding special items, of $313.7 million, or $3.15 per diluted share as compared to net income, excluding special items, of $552.3 million, or $5.08 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2012. Including special items, Western recorded full year 2013 net income attributable to Western Refining, Inc. of $276.0 million, or $2.79 per diluted share compared to full year 2012 net income of $398.9 million, or $3.71 per diluted share.

A reconciliation of reported earnings and description of special items can be found in the accompanying financial tables.

The Company successfully completed a number of strategic initiatives during 2013:

• began operation of the crude gathering system in the fast-growing Permian Basin
• expanded crude oil gathering capabilities in the Four Corners region
• completed the IPO of Western Refining Logistics, LP
• completed the strategic investment in Northern Tier Energy LP
• returned $305.3 million in cash to shareholders from dividends and share repurchases

Jeff Stevens, Western's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Western had a truly transformational year in 2013. In the fourth quarter, we continued to benefit from our refinery locations which have both direct pipeline access to cost-advantaged crude oils and service areas with strong refined product values. We launched WNRL as a platform to grow our logistics business, and acquired NTI to further diversify our asset base and expand our direct pipeline access to cost-advantaged crude sources. We also implemented a number of successful capital projects and returned cash to shareholders. We will continue to focus on growing the earnings power of the Company and delivering long-term shareholder value."

Excluding WNRL and NTI, total debt as of December 31, 2013, was $1,108.2 million and cash was $298.3 million resulting in net debt of $810.0 million.

Stevens concluded, "We successfully achieved our ambitious goals that we set for 2013. As we look to the first quarter of 2014, we are seeing widening Midland/Cushing differentials, similar to what we saw in early 2013. We continue to grow our logistics business by expanding our direct pipeline access to cost-advantaged crude oils from some of the fastest growing basins in North America. As always, we will continue to focus on safety and reliability while continuing to increase value to our shareholders."

Conference Call Information

The management teams of Western Refining and Northern Tier Energy will hold a joint conference call to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2013. The conference call is scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. ET. A slide presentation will also be available for reference during the conference call. The call, press release and slide presentation can be accessed on the Investor Relations section on Western's website, www.wnr.com. The call can also be heard by dialing (866) 566-8590 or (702) 224-9819, passcode: 31406191. The audio replay will be available two hours after the end of the call through March 6, 2014, by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (404) 537-3406, passcode: 31406191.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In a number of places in the press release and related tables, we have excluded the impact of gains, losses, and impairments on disposal of assets, the impact of the non-cash unrealized net gains and losses from our commodity hedging activities and the non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt. We believe it is useful for investors to understand our financial performance excluding these items so that investors can see the operating trends underlying our business. Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial information that we report in accordance with GAAP.

About Western Refining

Western Refining, Inc. is an independent refining and marketing company headquartered in El Paso, Texas. The refining segment operates refineries in El Paso, and Gallup, New Mexico. The Wholesale segment includes a fleet of crude oil and finished product truck transports, and wholesale petroleum products operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Virginia. The retail segment includes retail service stations and convenience stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.

Western Refining, Inc. owns the general partner and approximately 65% of the limited partnership interest of Western Refining Logistics, LP (NYSE:WNRL). Western Refining, Inc. also owns the general partner and approximately 39% of the limited partnership interest in Northern Tier Energy LP (NYSE:NTI).

More information about Western Refining is available at www.wnr.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements about: our commitment to return cash to shareholders; continued focus on safety and reliability; expectations for margins; growth of crude production in basins in North America; our ability to access cost-advantaged crude sources; ability to realize anticipated benefits of our acquisitions and strategic initiatives; the continued growth of our logistics capabilities; the attractiveness of our refinery locations; budgeted capital expenditures and the effectiveness of such capital expenditures; and the impact of the Midland/Cushing price differential on our El Paso refinery crude oil acquisition costs. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in the Company's business. 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 relating to the uncertainties affecting Western's business is contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are only as of the date made, and Western does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Consolidated Financial Data

The following tables set forth our summary historical financial and operating data for the periods indicated below:

(1) Excludes $1,024.8 million, $4,277.8 million, $1,099.0 million, and $4,909.4 million of intercompany sales; $1,012.0 million, $4,265.0 million, $1,096.4 million, and $4,901.5 million of intercompany cost of products sold; and $4.1 million, $12.8 million, $2.6 million and $7.9 million, of intercompany direct operating expenses for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

(2) Our computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share potentially includes our Convertible Senior Notes and our restricted shares and share units. If determined to be dilutive to period earnings, these securities are included in the denominator of our diluted earnings per share calculation. For purposes of the diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation, we assumed issuance of 0.2 million restricted shares and share units and assumed issuance of 22.5 million shares related to our Convertible Senior Notes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013. Our Convertible Senior Notes and our restricted shares and share units were determined to be anti-dilutive for the three months ended December 31, 2013 and as such were not included in our computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share. We assumed issuance of 0.6 million and 0.5 million restricted shares and share units for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2012, respectively, and assumed issuance of 22.1 million shares related to the Convertible Senior Notes, respectively for both periods.

(3) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest expense and other financing costs, amortization of loan fees, provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, maintenance turnaround expense, and certain other non-cash income and expense items. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). 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 financings, income taxes, the accounting effects of significant turnaround activities (that many of our competitors capitalize and thereby exclude from their measures of EBITDA), and certain non-cash charges that are 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:

• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for significant turnaround activities, 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 changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and
• Adjusted EBITDA, as we calculate it, may differ from the Adjusted EBITDA calculations of other companies in our industry, thereby 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 to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented: 

(4) The information presented includes the results of operations of NTI beginning November 12, 2013, the date the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement were consummated. Additionally, the information presented includes the financial results for WNRL from the period beginning October 16, 2013 through the year ended December 31, 2013.

Consolidating Financial Data

The following tables set forth our consolidating historical financial data for the periods presented below.

(1) WNRL financial data represents financial results for the period beginning October 16, 2013 through December 31, 2013.

(2) NTI financial data represents financial results for the period beginning November 12, 2013 through December 31, 2013.

(3) Calculation of total debt to capitalization ratio excludes NTI debt of $278.4 million and total equity of $1,676.5 million attributable to non-controlling interest.

Refining Segment

El Paso and Gallup Refineries and Related Operations 

El Paso and Gallup Refineries

El Paso Refinery

Gallup Refinery

(1) Sales volume includes sales of refined products sourced primarily from our refinery production as well as refined products purchased from third parties. We purchase additional refined products from third parties to supplement supply to our customers. These products are similar to the products that we currently manufacture and represented 14.44% and 13.83% of our total consolidated sales volumes for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The majority of the purchased refined products are distributed through our wholesale refined product sales activities in the Mid-Atlantic region where we satisfy our refined product customer sales requirements through a third-party supply agreement.

(2) Total refinery throughput includes crude oil, other feedstocks and blendstocks.

(3) Refinery gross margin is a per barrel measurement calculated by dividing the difference between net sales and cost of products sold by our refineries' total throughput volumes for the respective periods presented. Net realized and net non-cash unrealized economic hedging gains and losses included in the combined refining segment gross margin are not allocated to the individual refineries. Cost of products sold does not include any depreciation or amortization. Refinery gross margin is a non-GAAP performance measure that we believe is important to investors in evaluating our refinery performance as a general indication of the amount above our cost of products that we are able to sell refined products. Each of the components used in this calculation (net sales and cost of products sold) can be reconciled directly to our statement of operations. Our calculation of refinery gross margin may differ from similar calculations of other companies in our industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

The following table reconciles combined gross profit for all refineries to combined gross margin for all refineries for the periods presented:

(4) Refinery direct operating expenses per throughput barrel is calculated by dividing direct operating expenses by total throughput volumes for the respective periods presented. Direct operating expenses do not include any depreciation or amortization.

(5) Cost of products sold for the combined refining segment includes the net realized and net non-cash unrealized hedging activity shown in the table below. The hedging gains and losses are also included in the combined gross profit and refinery gross margin but are not included in those measures for the individual refineries.

(6) For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013, cost of products sold for the combined refining segment includes $17.8 million and $8.7 million from the El Paso and Gallup refineries, respectively, with no comparable activity in prior periods. Concurrent with the closing of its initial public offering on October 16, 2013, WNRL entered into fee-based commercial and service agreements with Western under which it operates assets contributed by Western for the purpose of generating fee-based revenues. Under these agreements, WNRL provides various pipeline, gathering, transportation, terminalling and storage services to Western and Western pays fees to WNRL based on minimum monthly throughput volumes of crude oil and refined and other products, and reserved storage capacity. Most of WNRL's assets are integral to the operations of Western's El Paso and Gallup refineries.

(7) Direct operating expenses including WNRL expenses per throughput barrel includes $5.9 million and $2.0 million of WNRL directing operating expenses associated with El Paso and Gallup refinery operations, respectively.

Wholesale Segment

(1) Fuel margin per gallon is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between fuel sales and cost of fuel sales for our wholesale segment by the number of gallons sold. Fuel margin per gallon is a measure frequently used in the petroleum products wholesale industry to measure operating results related to fuel sales.

(2) Lubricant margin is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between lubricant sales and lubricant cost of products sold by lubricant sales. Lubricant margin is a measure frequently used in the petroleum products wholesale industry to measure operating results related to lubricant sales.

Retail Segment

(1) Fuel margin per gallon is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between fuel sales and cost of fuel sales for our retail segment by the number of gallons sold. Fuel margin per gallon is a measure frequently used in the convenience store industry to measure operating results related to fuel sales.

(2) Merchandise margin is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between merchandise sales and merchandise cost of products sold by merchandise sales. Merchandise margin is a measure frequently used in the convenience store industry to measure operating results related to merchandise sales.

WNRL

The following table sets forth the summary operating results for WNRL. The selected historical financial data for the 2013 period presented below represents the financial results from the period beginning October 16, 2013 through the year ended December 31, 2013. WNRL commenced operations on October 16, 2013, therefore, there is no comparable activity in prior periods.

NTI

The following table sets forth the summary operating results for Northern Tier Energy, LP ("NTI"). The selected historical financial data for the 2013 period presented below represents the financial results from the period beginning November 12, 2013 through the year ended December 31, 2013. We acquired NTI on November 12, 2013, therefore, there is no comparable activity in prior periods.

Reconciliation of Special Items

We present certain additional financial measures below that are non-GAAP measures within the meaning of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

We present these non-GAAP measures to provide investors with additional information to analyze our performance from period to period. We believe it is useful for investors to understand our financial performance excluding these special items so that investors can see the operating trends underlying our business. Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, the financial information that we report in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures reflect subjective determinations by management and may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. 

(1) We recompute income taxes after deducting earnings attributed to non-controlling interest.