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Energy - Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing - NYSE - US
$ 17.65
0.915 %
$ 988 M
Market Cap
3.43
P/E
EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT
EARNINGS CALL TRANSCRIPT 2014 - Q2
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Executives

Brice Tarzwell - SVP and Chief Legal Officer Will Monteleone - Chairman and CEO.

Analysts

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital Rob Stuckey - Barclays.

Operator

Hello and welcome to the Par Petroleum Corporation Second quarter 2014 Earnings Call. My name is Joe and I will be your operator for today’s call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode and later we will conduct a question-and-answer session. Please note that this conference is also being recorded. I will now turn the call over to Mr.

Brice Tarzwell, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Par Petroleum. Mr. Tarzwell, you may begin..

Brice Tarzwell

Good morning. And welcome to Par Petroleum’s earning call for the second quarter of 2014. Before we begin we’d like to remind everyone that management’s comments today may contain forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements address expectations, estimates and projections, and may involve significant risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed.

Information about the risk we face and the uncertainties associated with Par Petroleum’s forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC.

Because of these risks and uncertainties investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. We will next turn to remarks from our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Will Monteleone.

Will?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Thank you, Brice. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. At this point you should have our earnings release and our 10-Q will be filed later today. As I communicated on our conference call two weeks ago our second quarter results were negatively affected by the compression in crack spreads beginning in mid-May but particularly during June.

Not readily apparent in the headline numbers disclosed in the press release we did see improvements in our profitability during April and May, however these improvements were more than offset by the deterioration in crack spreads particularly in the distillate portion of the barrel during June.

Beginning from the middle of June concerns regarding Iraq drove brent prices to spike by approximately $7 a barrel over the course of two weeks while refined product prices on the West Coast and Singapore lagged. Our largest product exposure is jet fuel with the heavy weighting towards the Singapore marketplace.

During the quarter the Singapore jet crack measured as spot Singapore jet less brent compressed from $12.40 a barrel in April to $8.83 a barrel in June. As a point of reference for the full year 2013 the Singapore jet crack averaged $14.16 a barrel.

We have seen this market indicator improve in July with the average returning to the $10.57 a barrel range. And continuing to improve to $13.02 a barrel during the month of August thus far.

To give you a sense of the importance of this indicator every $1 a barrel move in the jet crack affects our annual profitability by between $6.5 million and $7.5 million. During the quarter we also incurred almost $2.5 million of acquisition in integration costs.

If you breakdown these costs, approximately $900,000 were associated with the Mid Pac transaction with the remainder associated with integrating the Hawaii operations.

In addition to these acquisition integration costs, we incurred over $1 million of general and administrative expenses that we view as non-recurring in nature that were primarily associated with establishing stocks compliance, integrating SAP or stabilizing the information systems post cutover. Turning toward the Hawaii business.

In addition to improving crack spreads across the distillate portion of the barrel, there are several positive changes occurring. One, we are seeing the change in the term structure of the Brent market shifting from backwardation to contango during the month of July, which should improve our overall cost of supplying the refinery going forward.

We have seen backwardation increased our crude costs by an estimated at least $3 million year-to-date. Two, we are also observing crude differentials to Brent compress globally providing improved options for like grades sourced out of West Africa, the Middle East or Asia Pacific.

Three, we received our first cargo of crude from Mexico during the month of July and are looking at expanding that relationship going forward. And four, in July, we regained access to the [quiet jet] market which reopens an additional channel of distribution for the business.

We estimate foregone profits from the [quiet] jet business total approximately $4 million year-to-date. The above items are short-term fundamentals that we see impacting the balance of the year. However, given the length of the supply chain in Hawaii, it takes a longer period of time to realize the benefits of these changes in our financial results.

Over the longer term, we continue to see opportunities to grow the Hawaii business under a sustainable, efficient parts of the Hawaii economy. Winning back on island market share remains a top priority. And here are the following ways we are going to achieve the objective.

One, the Mid Pac acquisition allowed approximately 4,200 barrels a day of on island gasoline sales or approximately 25% of our gasoline earnings production year-to-date; two, we're bidding on jet/ diesel military contracts with volumes beginning on October 1, 2014 which could add up to 5,000 barrels a day of incremental demand.

Of note, we have already won some spot business with the military beginning in the third quarter and are well-positioned to win at least a portion of the annual contract volume; three, as we have shifted to a North American oriented crude play, we're producing more fuel oil and are reviving our marketing efforts to sell bunker fuel to the many ocean going vessels passing through Hawaii; and four, the wholesale gasoline market contract cycle begins shortly with volumes to be awarded starting January 1, 2015.

Our current line of site additional demand will add approximately 10,000 barrels per day of demand which would result in a 20% increase from the current base. These additional volumes meaningfully increased efficiency of the plant, reduced our exports and increased the company's profitability.

Unrelated to on island sales recapture, we’re evaluating several cost cutting measures and high return capital projects to allow us to reduce our distribution and terminaling costs including building a track rack at the refinery and improvements to the pipeline and tank farm systems.

Turning to the pending acquisition of Mid Pac, we recently received a second request from the Federal Trade Commission and are working diligently to provide a response. We continue to expect the acquisition will close during 2014.

Now, I’d like to shift focus and spend a few minutes on the other components of the business starting with our upstream assets. Piceance Energy continues to perform well and benefited from increased gas prices such as the previously planned capital infusion will be deferred until 2015 and may not be required at all.

The previously announced one-rig program is commencing in the third quarter and we look forward to the results from the company's pad drilling program. Important to note, virtually all reserves booked in the 2013 year-end reserve report do not reflect the economies of scale associated with pad drilling.

It is successful in its efforts, we would expect to see improved economics in the year end 2014 reserve report, all else from [making equal]. In addition, we continue to observe offset operator successes in the Mancos formation and the majority of the company's acreage has rights to the Mancos.

No undeveloped locations from the Mancos are booked in the company's reserves as of year-end 2013.

During the second quarter of 2014, Piceance generated revenue of $21 million versus $16 million for the second quarter of 2013, an increase of approximately $5 million and generated operating income of $2 million, which included approximately $9 million of DD&A expense versus an operating income of $2 million for the second quarter of 2013, which included $4 million of DD&A expense.

The change in operating income was largely driven by higher natural gas volumes and prices. Now I'd like to turn to Texadian. Our petroleum logistics business focused in Canada and over 48.

During the second quarter, Texadian's revenue was $29 million compared to $27 million for the second quarter of 2013 and segment operating income was approximately $1.3 million which included approximately $508,000 of DD&A expense versus $2 million of operating income for the second quarter which included $533,000 of DD&A expense.

The majority of the quarter's profitability was generated early in the quarter as we captured profitable movements of crude sourced during the first quarter, but not delivered until the second.

In conclusion, putting each of the pieces of our Hawaii strategy together and pro forma for the Mid Pac acquisition, we believe we can create a Hawaii business capable of generating $2 to $4 per barrel throughput of operating profit overtime with upside as we push rates up in the plant to maximize profitability.

Within this earnings profile is a significant base of earnings from our retail distribution channel which we believe is worthy of a higher multiple than the typical refiner given the relative stability of the earning stream. Higher multiples for these types of businesses is also verified by recent M&A activity in the space.

So, I’d encourage each of you as you build your models and some of the parts analysis to take into account the fact that fact as well as several others. One the value of our stake in Piceance Energy is largely a function of our portion of the PDP PV-10 and the value of the numerous high return undeveloped locations.

The value of Texadian our North American crude logistics and marketing business is largely a function of it’s difficult to replicate logistics positions moving Canadian heavy crude into the Mid-Continent.

Three, on a consolidated basis the value of the inventory and AR position net of current liabilities is in excess of $70 million as of June 30, 2014.

And four, the company has unrestricted 1.3 billion NOL carry forward as well as a Board of Directors and management team highly focused on unlocking value inside our existing assets as well as new opportunities to further monetize the NOL..

.

As communicated in our prior conference call, 2014 will be a year of transition for the company as a foundation for earnings and cash flow growth are built for 2015 and beyond. This concludes my prepared remarks and at this time I would like to turn it back over to the operator for Q&A..

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions). And our first question here comes from Mr. Andrew Shapiro from Lawndale Capital. Please go ahead..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Hi, good morning..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Good morning..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Questions on the new acquisition.

You said that you are working through the regulatory process you have got the second information request, there was always a time deadline for the first request in terms of when and if they had to come up with a second request is there similarly a time deadline and where is the information they ask for within your realm of expectations to tackle?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

The time frames underneath the second request are less concrete and ultimately the scope of their requests at this point, we recently received it so we are in the early stages of processing it.

And I don’t think at this point we can comment specifically on the duration except that we do expect that we’ll move quickly through it and still believe that we can close the acquisition by the end of this year..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay.

And in the event the regulatory authorities have a problem with this, is there any form of a break fee or any other kind of liability for the company other than some cost of the due diligence and processing?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

No, both parties agreed to accept the HSR risk and so there is no breakup on either side to the extent that we have a larger regulatory issue..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Other than some costs and transaction costs that we've incurred..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay. And are you still looking for this deal to become immediately accretive to take advantage of the [NOL] and in particular on the last call.

Which was not too long ago, you highlighted $6 to $10 a barrel of transport savings plus about $5 million or so of then identified operational synergies, have any other advantages or quantification come since the last call?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

No, those numbers are still valid and obviously our statement on the accretive nature of the transaction assumes that it’s closed by January 1, 2015 and we get the full year benefit of those volumes in Mid Pac business underneath our umbrella for that full fiscal year..

Operator

Thank you. (Operator Instructions). And we do have one more question here from Mr. Andrew Shapiro from Lawndale Capital. Please go ahead, sir..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Thanks. A few follow-ups, it seems like there is not anyone else there. The reduction in the value of the contingent payments do on the Hawaii Independent Energy acquisition that resulted in the gain.

Is that the result of Hawaii Energy not hitting the seller's projected operating performance?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Effectively we have to fair value the earn out potential and therefore I think it’s accurate to say that for the 2014 time period that we don't anticipate making an earn out payment given the results..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay.

And when does the contingent liability and measurement run its course?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

It’s every calendar year. And I believe -- hold on one second. It's a three year term and ultimately it’s measured on a calendar year basis..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay. So, three years from….

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

‘14, ‘15, ‘16 basically..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

‘15, ‘16, okay.

What effects did the company see from recent -- the two big storms in Hawaii might just have any negative impact that will show in your third quarter numbers or was the effect minimal?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Well, there was a significant amount of preparation that went into the storms. And I would say that the team in Hawaii did an excellent job planning contingencies and ensuring that we did everything we can to ensure that the neighbors islands are well supplied.

We really didn't have any significant impacts to the business, other than slightly reduced rates for a couple of days but no damage or significant damage to any of our assets on the islands. So, thankful for that. And the team in the Hawaii did an excellent job..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay. I have a few more questions. I’ll back out into the queue. Come back to me please..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Okay..

Operator

And we have another question here from [Edward Collier from Arbiter Partners]. Please go ahead..

Unidentified Analyst

Hi guys.

I just want to make sure if the acquisition doesn't close before the first, do you still get those contracted volumes?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

We have a contingent supply arrangement with the target. And so in the event the acquisition isn’t in place by January 1, we do feel like, we’d be able to supply them under that arrangement..

Unidentified Analyst

Okay. Thank you..

Operator

And we have a question here from Rob Stuckey from Barclays. Please go ahead..

Rob Stuckey - Barclays

With regards to the acquisition, it seems more a function of how many gas stations will be able to keep versus the deal not going through; is this accurate assessment? And in the case we do have to sell some gas stations to complete the acquisition, can you talk little bit about the asset value underlying those assets..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Difficult for me to speculate on what the FTC would require in the event that we would need to make any divestments.

Ultimately, I think the underlying value that you re referencing likely has to the fee-owned real estate and ultimately that's in excess of 20 stations primarily in Oahu and we think that's an excellent long-term advantage and the source of value for us in this field..

Rob Stuckey - Barclays

Thanks..

Operator

And thank you. Our next question here comes from [Janine McArdle from Flags]. Please go ahead. .

Unidentified Analyst

Hi, I was hoping you could help me with your rates at your refineries. You said you were slightly reduced for a couple of days because of the storm.

What sets to reduce your rates for the quarter, your average group?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Shouldn't have any material impact..

Unidentified Analyst

Okay.

And can you tell me in the third quarter, how you are running your crude slate between light and heavy, what percentage?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

We don't disclose that level of detail on a forward looking basis..

Unidentified Analyst

That’s okay. And then my third and last question is about Mexico.

Do you have a contract with them, is that could you tell me a little bit about how much you’re taking in all this reschedule?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

I would say we’re in the early stages of working with our counterparties with [MX] and it would be too early to discuss the current state of that relationship..

Unidentified Analyst

You just take one, you did take a delivery this quarter right?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Correct..

Unidentified Analyst

Okay, great. Thank you so much..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Thank you..

Operator

And we have one more question here from Andrew Shapiro from Lawndale Capital. Please go ahead. .

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Yes.

A follow-up from an earlier person’s question, what islands do you have retail cross-over on with your 76 [solar] stations?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

I mean effectively on the Big Island on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

On all three. Okay..

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

On all three, we have no stations on Kauai..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay.

And if you could you summarize combined on any of those particular islands any particular large market share that’s created by the deal, where there maybe the FTC risk?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

No I don’t think that’d be appropriate at this juncture..

Andrew Shapiro - Lawndale Capital

Okay.

And then lastly do you have any early indication on if all the shareholders plan to exercise their rights and to what extent people might over subscribe since the deadline is coming up and people then sending in irrevocable notice?.

Will Monteleone President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Yes, I think it’s still early. I think we still have the support of our two largest shareholders of White Box Advisors and Zell Credit Opportunities Fund and at that point I think it’s still a little bit too early..

Operator

And thank you. At this time, I show no additional questions. Thank you for your participation. And you may now disconnect. This does conclude the call..

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