CVR Energy Reports 2015 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results And Announces Cash Dividend of 50 Cents

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Feb. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVR Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CVI) today announced full year 2015 net income of $169.6 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, on net sales of $5,432.5 million, compared to net income for full year 2014 of $173.9 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, on net sales of $9,109.5 million. Full year 2015 adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $498.8 million compared to full year 2014 adjusted EBITDA of $473.5 million.

For the fourth quarter of 2015, the company reported a net loss of $45.0 million, or a loss of 52 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1,010.6 million, compared to a fourth quarter 2014 net loss of $44.4 million, or a loss of 51 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1,841.8 million. Net income for the 2015 fourth quarter was negatively affected by the downtime associated with a major scheduled turnaround at CVR Refining's Coffeyville refinery.

Fourth quarter 2015 adjusted EBITDA was $35.6 million compared to adjusted EBITDA of $81.7 million for the same period a year earlier.

"Our fourth quarter results were impacted by the downtime associated with the scheduled turnaround at CVR Refining's Coffeyville refinery in addition to narrowing crack spreads," said Jack Lipinski, CVR Energy's chief executive officer. "At CVR Partners, the Coffeyville fertilizer plant posted record UAN and ammonia production for the quarter."

CVR Energy also announced a fourth quarter 2015 cash dividend of 50 cents per share. The dividend, as declared by CVR Energy's Board of Directors, will be paid on March 7, 2016, to stockholders of record on Feb. 29, 2016.

CVR Energy's fourth quarter cash dividend brings the cumulative cash dividends paid or declared for the 2015 full year to $2.00 per share.

Today, CVR Partners announced a 2015 fourth quarter cash distribution of 27 cents per common unit. CVR Refining announced that it will not pay a cash distribution for the 2015 fourth quarter.

Petroleum Business

The petroleum business, which is operated by CVR Refining and includes the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries, reported a fourth quarter 2015 operating loss of $135.5 million, on net sales of $948.3 million, compared to a fourth quarter 2014 operating loss of $113.3 million, on net sales of $1,772.8 million.

Refining margin adjusted for FIFO impact per crude oil throughput barrel, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $8.96 in the 2015 fourth quarter, compared to $11.28 during the same period in 2014. Direct operating expenses, including major scheduled turnaround expenses, per barrel sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, for the 2015 fourth quarter was $12.34, compared to $5.76 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Fourth quarter 2015 throughputs of crude oil and all other feedstocks and blendstocks totaled 172,364 barrels per day (bpd), compared to fourth quarter 2014 throughputs of crude oil and all other feedstocks and blendstocks of 212,263 bpd.

Nitrogen Fertilizers Business

The fertilizer business, operated by CVR Partners, reported fourth quarter 2015 operating income of $20.4 million on net sales of $66.0 million, compared to operating income of $26.5 million on net sales of $74.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.

For the fourth quarter of 2015, average realized gate prices for UAN and ammonia were $221 per ton and $479 per ton, respectively, compared to $247 per ton and $547 per ton, respectively, for the same period in 2014.

CVR Partners produced 116,100 tons of ammonia during the fourth quarter of 2015, of which 6,100 net tons were available for sale while the rest was upgraded to 270,500 tons of UAN. In the 2014 fourth quarter, the plant produced 105,900 tons of ammonia and purchased an additional 3,900 tons of ammonia, of which 4,400 net tons were available for sale and the remainder was upgraded to 259,600 tons of UAN.

Cash and Debt

Consolidated cash and cash equivalents, which included $187.3 million for CVR Refining and $50.0 million for CVR Partners, was $765.1 million at Dec. 31, 2015. Consolidated total debt was $673.5 million at Dec. 31, 2015. The company had no debt exclusive of CVR Refining's and CVR Partners' debt.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Earnings Conference Call

CVR Energy previously announced that it will host its fourth quarter 2015 Earnings Conference Call for analysts and investors on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. Eastern. The Earnings Conference Call may also include discussion of company developments, forward-looking information and other material information about business and financial matters.

The Earnings Conference Call will be broadcast live over the Internet at
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1003/13082. For investors or analysts who want to participate during the call, the dial-in number is (877) 407-8291.

For those unable to listen live, the Webcast will be archived and available for 14 days at
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1003/13082. A repeat of the conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853, conference ID 13629396.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "explore," "evaluate," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," or "will," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. For a discussion of risk factors which may affect our results, please see the risk factors and other disclosures included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other SEC filings. These risks may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. CVR Energy disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About CVR Energy, Inc.
Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the petroleum refining and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing industries through its holdings in two limited partnerships, CVR Refining, LP and CVR Partners, LP. CVR Energy subsidiaries serve as the general partner and own a majority of the common units representing limited partner interests of CVR Refining and CVR Partners.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Contact:
Jay Finks
CVR Energy, Inc.
(281) 207-3588
[email protected]

Media Relations:
Angie Dasbach
CVR Energy, Inc.
281-207-3550
[email protected]

CVR Energy, Inc.

Financial and Operational Data (all information in this release is unaudited other than the statements of operations and cash flow data for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014).

Segment Information

Our operations are organized into two reportable segments, Petroleum and Nitrogen Fertilizer. Our operations that are not included in the Petroleum and Nitrogen Fertilizer segments are included in the Corporate and Other segment (along with elimination of intersegment transactions). The Petroleum segment is operated by CVR Refining, LP ("CVR Refining"), in which we own a majority interest as well as serve as the general partner. The Petroleum segment includes the operations of the Coffeyville, Kansas and Wynnewood, Oklahoma refineries along with the crude oil gathering and pipeline systems. Detailed operating results for the Petroleum segment for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are included in CVR Refining's press release dated February 18, 2016. The Nitrogen Fertilizer segment is operated by CVR Partners, LP ("CVR Partners"), in which we own a majority interest as well as serve as the general partner. It consists of a nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility that utilizes a pet coke gasification process in producing nitrogen fertilizer. Detailed operating results for the Nitrogen Fertilizer segment for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are included in CVR Partners' press release dated February 18, 2016.

Petroleum Segment Operating Data

The following tables set forth information about our consolidated Petroleum segment operated by CVR Refining, of which we own a majority interest and serve as the general partner, and the Coffeyville and Wynnewood refineries. Reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures are provided under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below. Additional discussion of operating results for the Petroleum segment for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are included in CVR Refining's press release dated February 18, 2016.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment Operating Data

The following tables set forth information about the Nitrogen Fertilizer segment operated by CVR Partners, of which we own a majority interest and serve as the general partner. Reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures are provided under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below. Additional discussion of operating results for the Nitrogen Fertilizer segment for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 are included in CVR Partners' press release dated February 18, 2016.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's actual results in accordance with GAAP for the applicable periods, the Company also uses the non-GAAP financial measures noted above, which are reconciled to our GAAP-based results below. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative for GAAP results. The adjustments are provided to enhance an overall understanding of the Company's financial performance for the applicable periods and are indicators management believes are relevant and useful for planning and forecasting future periods.

Adjusted net income (loss) is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be substituted for net income (loss) as a measure of our performance but rather should be utilized as a supplemental measure of financial performance in evaluating our business. Management believes that adjusted net income (loss) provides relevant and useful information that enables external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, to better understand and evaluate our ongoing operating results and allow for greater transparency in the review of our overall financial, operational and economic performance. Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share represents adjusted net income (loss) divided by weighted-average diluted shares outstanding.

Refining margin per crude oil throughput barrel is a measurement calculated as the difference between the Petroleum segment's net sales and cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization). Refining margin is a non-GAAP measure that we believe is important to investors in evaluating the refineries' performance as a general indication of the amount above their cost of product sold at which they are able to sell refined products. Each of the components used in this calculation (net sales and cost of product sold exclusive of depreciation and amortization) can be taken directly from our Petroleum segment's Statements of Operations. Our calculation of refining margin may differ from similar calculations of other companies in the industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. In order to derive the refining margin per crude oil throughput barrel, we utilize the total dollar figures for refining margin as derived above and divide by the applicable number of crude oil throughput barrels for the period. We believe that refining margin is important to enable investors to better understand and evaluate the Petroleum segment's ongoing operating results and allow for greater transparency in the review of our overall financial, operational and economic performance.

Refining margin per crude oil throughput barrel adjusted for FIFO impact is a measurement calculated as the difference between the Petroleum segment's net sales and cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) adjusted for FIFO impact. Refining margin adjusted for FIFO impact is a non-GAAP measure that we believe is important to investors in evaluating the refineries' performance as a general indication of the amount above their cost of product sold (taking into account the impact of the utilization of FIFO) at which they are able to sell refined products. Our calculation of refining margin adjusted for FIFO impact may differ from calculations of other companies in the industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Under the FIFO accounting method, changes in crude oil prices can cause fluctuations in the inventory valuation of crude oil, work in process and finished goods, thereby resulting in a favorable FIFO impact when crude oil prices increase and an unfavorable FIFO impact when crude oil prices decrease.

Gross profit (loss) is calculated as the difference between the Petroleum segment's net sales, cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization), direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization), major scheduled turnaround expenses, flood insurance recovery and depreciation and amortization. Gross profit (loss) per crude throughput barrel is calculated as gross profit (loss) as derived above divided by the refineries' crude oil throughput volumes for the respective periods presented. Gross profit (loss) is a non-GAAP measure that should not be substituted for operating income (loss). Management believes it is important to investors in evaluating the refineries' performance and the Petroleum segment's ongoing operating results. Our calculation of gross profit (loss) may differ from similar calculations of other companies in the industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA represents net income (loss) before (i) interest expense and other financing costs, net of interest income, (ii) income tax expense (benefit) and (iii) depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for (i) FIFO impact (favorable) unfavorable; (ii) share-based compensation; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) major scheduled turnaround expenses; (v) (gain) loss on derivatives, net; (vi) current period settlements on derivative contracts; (vii) flood insurance recovery and (viii) expenses associated with the pending Rentech Nitrogen mergers. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be substituted for net income (loss) or cash flow from operations. Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA enable investors to better understand and evaluate our ongoing operating results and allow for greater transparency in reviewing our overall financial, operational and economic performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA presented by other companies may not be comparable to our presentation, since each company may define these terms differently. Below is a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months and years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

Petroleum and Nitrogen Fertilizer EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA by operating segment represents net income (loss) before (i) interest expense and other financing costs, net of interest income, (ii) income tax expense and (iii) depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA by operating segment represents EBITDA by operating segment adjusted for (i) FIFO impact (favorable) unfavorable; (ii) share-based compensation, non-cash; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) major scheduled turnaround expenses; (v) (gain) loss on derivatives, net; (vi) current period settlements on derivative contracts; (vii) flood insurance recovery and (viii) expenses associated with the pending Rentech Nitrogen mergers. We present Adjusted EBITDA by operating segment because it is the starting point for CVR Refining's and CVR Partners' calculation of available cash for distribution. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by operating segment are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be substituted for net income (loss) as a measure of performance. Management believes that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA by operating segment enable investors to better understand CVR Refining's and CVR Partners' ability to make distributions to their common unitholders, help investors evaluate our ongoing operating results and allow for greater transparency in reviewing our overall financial, operational and economic performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA presented by other companies may not be comparable to our presentation, since each company may define these terms differently. Below is a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the Petroleum and Nitrogen Fertilizer segments for the three months and years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

Derivatives Summary. The Petroleum segment enters into commodity swap contracts through crack spread swap agreements with financial counterparties to fix the spread risk between the refineries' crude oil purchases and the refined products the refineries produce for sale. Through these swaps, the Petroleum segment will sell a fixed differential for the value between the selected refined product benchmark and the benchmark crude oil price, thereby locking in a margin for a portion of the refineries' production. The physical volumes are not exchanged and these contracts are net settled with cash. From time to time, the Petroleum segment holds various NYMEX positions through a third-party clearing house.

The table below summarizes the Petroleum segment's open commodity swap positions as of December 31, 2015. The positions are primarily in the form of crack spread swap agreements with financial counterparties, wherein the Petroleum segment has locked in differentials at the fixed prices noted below. As of December 31, 2015 the open commodity swap positions below were comprised of 100.0% distillate crack swaps.

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SOURCE CVR Energy, Inc.