PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) today reported first quarter 2021 income from operations of $57.7 million as compared to loss from operations of $1,366.8 million for the first quarter of 2020. Excluding special items, first quarter 2021 loss from operations was $317.8 million as compared to loss from operations of $134.0 million for the first quarter of 2020. PBF Energy's financial results reflect the consolidation of PBF Logistics LP (NYSE: PBFX), a master limited partnership of which PBF Energy indirectly owns the general partner and approximately 48% of the limited partner interests as of quarter-end.

The company reported first quarter 2021 net loss of $22.2 million and net loss attributable to PBF Energy Inc. of $41.3 million or $(0.34) per share. This compares to net loss of $1,062.5 million, and net loss attributable to PBF Energy Inc. of $1,065.9 million or $(8.93) per share for the first quarter 2020. Non-cash special items included in the first quarter 2021 results, which increased net income by a net, after-tax benefit of $273.9 million, or $2.27 per share, consisted of a lower-of-cost-or-market ("LCM") inventory benefit, offset by a change in fair value of the contingent consideration associated with earn-out provisions primarily related to the Martinez Acquisition and a net tax expense on remeasurement of deferred tax assets. Adjusted fully-converted net loss for the first quarter 2021, excluding special items, was $315.5 million, or $(2.61) per share on a fully-exchanged, fully-diluted basis, as described below, compared to adjusted fully-converted net loss of $143.2 million or $(1.19) per share, for the first quarter 2020.
Tom Nimbley, PBF Energy's Chairman and CEO, said, "PBF's first quarter results reflect the continuing challenges of lower demand brought on by the pandemic. Our refineries operated well and at rates which mirrored demand." Mr. Nimbley continued, "We did see sequential improvement during the quarter. We ran higher in March than we did in January which reflects more favorable market conditions as the progressive vaccine rollout lead to improving demand. However, even with rising demand, the independent refining sector is facing unsustainable headwinds as a result of escalating compliance costs under the RFS program. If the program is not fixed, it will likely result in a reshaping of the U.S. refining industry and a greater reliance on foreign energy."
Mr. Nimbley concluded, "We exited the first quarter with approximately $1.5 billion in cash and with ample other sources of liquidity that we believe will support our business. We expect demand to continue its gradual improvement as the vaccine rollout and approaching herd-immunity should allow everyone to return to their normal routines."
Liquidity and Financial Position
In response to the pandemic, we have taken several steps to protect our balance sheet and increase the financial liquidity of the company. As of March 31, 2021, our liquidity was approximately $2.3 billion based on approximately $1.5 billion of cash and current availability under our asset-based lending facility. In addition, PBF Logistics LP liquidity included $44.0 million in cash and approximately $311.0 million of availability under its revolving credit facility.
Strategic Update and Outlook
Employee and operational safety continue to be an ongoing priority in our pandemic response. We implemented a number of necessary safety protocols and social distancing requirements, issued personal protective equipment to all employees and enhanced facility cleaning, with these efforts focused on protecting our dedicated front line employees who have remained on the job throughout the current crisis. As a result of our efforts, our operating facilities have remained fully-staffed by our essential workforce throughout the pandemic, and we continue supplying our critical products to our valued customers.
In response to the effects of the global pandemic, we undertook a number of measures to ensure the safety and reliability of our operations. We successfully reconfigured our East Coast refining system to maintain the most profitable elements of two refineries while reducing costs and improving our competitive position. In all of our locations, we focused on creating sustainable cost reductions that we expect will make each of our assets more regionally competitive, and continue to review our operations in order to drive profitability.
In addition to focusing on our core refining operations, we are exploring opportunities to participate in the burgeoning renewable fuels market. We previously announced a potential project to be co-located at the Chalmette refinery. This project is expected to use certain idled assets, including an idle hydrocracker, along with a newly-constructed pre-treatment unit to establish an 18,000 to 20,000 barrel per day renewable diesel production facility. We believe that with the utilization of currently idled assets, and its strategic location on the Mississippi River, our project will have a shorter time to market and reduced construction costs compared to similar greenfield projects. We are currently in advanced discussions with potential partners and expect to provide further updates in the coming months.
Consistent with our previous guidance, our refining capital spending program for the first half of 2021 is expected to be approximately $150 million. Our overall market outlook for the second half of 2021 remains constructive, with continued gradual improvement in demand, and our full-year capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $400 to $450 million. Should market conditions change from our current expectations, we expect that we will review our capital requirements and adjust as needed.
We operated our refineries at reduced rates during the first quarter and, based on current market conditions, we expect to continue to operate our refineries in response to demand for our products. In the second quarter we expect to run at higher rates in every region with total expected throughput regionally as follows: East Coast to average 225,000 to 245,000 barrels per day (bpd); Mid-Continent to average 135,000 to 145,000 bpd; Gulf Coast to average 175,000 to 185,000 bpd; and West Coast to average 290,000 to 310,000 bpd.
Adjusted Fully-Converted Results
Adjusted fully-converted results assume the exchange of all PBF Energy Company LLC Series A Units and dilutive securities into shares of PBF Energy Inc. Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, resulting in the elimination of the noncontrolling interest and a corresponding adjustment to the company's tax provision.
Non-GAAP Measures
This earnings release, and the discussion during the management conference call, may include references to Non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures including Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss) excluding special items, Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss) per fully-exchanged, fully-diluted share, Income (Loss) from operations excluding special items, gross refining margin, gross refining margin excluding special items, gross refining margin per barrel of throughput, EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), EBITDA excluding special items and Adjusted EBITDA. PBF believes that Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its operating performance and financial results. However, these measures have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be viewed in isolation or considered as alternatives for, or superior to, comparable GAAP financial measures. PBF's Non-GAAP financial measures may also differ from similarly named measures used by other companies. See the accompanying tables and footnotes in this release for additional information on the Non-GAAP measures used in this release and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Conference Call Information
PBF Energy's senior management will host a conference call and webcast regarding quarterly results and other business matters on Thursday, April 29, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call is being webcast and can be accessed at PBF Energy's website, http://www.pbfenergy.com. The call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 869-3847 or (201) 689-8261. The audio replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the call and will be available through the company's website.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release relating to future plans, results, performance, expectations, achievements and the like are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond the company's control, that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to the risks disclosed in the company's filings with the SEC, as well as the risks disclosed in PBF Logistics LP's SEC filings and any impact PBF Logistics LP may have on the company's credit rating, cost of funds, employees, customer and vendors; risk relating to the securities markets generally; risks associated with the East Coast refining reconfiguration and the acquisition of the Martinez refinery, and related logistics assets; our ability to make, and realize the benefits from, acquisitions or investments, including in renewable diesel productions; the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental and consumer responses; our expectations regarding capital spending and the impact of market conditions on demand for the balance of 2021; and the impact of adverse market conditions affecting the company, unanticipated developments, regulatory approvals, changes in laws and other events that negatively impact the company. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable law.
About PBF Energy Inc.
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) is one of the largest independent refiners in North America, operating, through its subsidiaries, oil refineries and related facilities in California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio. Our mission is to operate our facilities in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible manner, provide employees with a safe and rewarding workplace, become a positive influence in the communities where we do business, and provide superior returns to our investors.
PBF Energy Inc. also currently indirectly owns the general partner and approximately 48% of the limited partnership interest of PBF Logistics LP (NYSE: PBFX).
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SOURCE PBF Energy Inc.