UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☑
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 001-35711
CROSSAMERICA PARTNERS LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
45-4165414
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
600 Hamilton Street, Suite 500
Allentown, PA
18101
(Zip Code)
(610) 625-8000
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Units
CAPL
New York Stock Exchange
As of May 2, 2019, the registrant had outstanding 34,444,113 common units.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Commonly Used Defined Terms
i
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 (unaudited) and December 31, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
2
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
3
Consolidated Statements of Equity and Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
4
Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
21
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
37
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
38
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURE
39
COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS
The following is a list of certain acronyms and terms generally used in the industry and throughout this document:
CrossAmerica Partners LP and subsidiaries:
CrossAmerica Partners LP
CrossAmerica, the Partnership, we, us, our
LGW
Lehigh Gas Wholesale LLC
LGPR
LGP Realty Holdings LP
LGWS
Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services, Inc. and subsidiaries
CrossAmerica Partners LP related parties:
Circle K
Circle K Stores Inc., a Texas corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Couche-Tard
Couche-Tard
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B)
CST
CST Brands, LLC and subsidiaries, indirectly owned by Circle K.
CST Fuel Supply
CST Fuel Supply LP is the parent of CST Marketing and Supply, indirectly owned by Circle K. Since July 1, 2015, we have owned a 17.5% limited partner interest in CST Fuel Supply.
CST Marketing and Supply
CST Marketing and Supply, LLC, indirectly owned by Circle K. It is CST’s wholesale motor fuel supply business, which provides wholesale fuel distribution to the majority of CST’s legacy U.S. retail convenience stores on a fixed markup per gallon.
CST Services
CST Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Circle K
DMI
Dunne Manning Inc. (formerly Lehigh Gas Corporation), an entity affiliated with Joseph V. Topper, Jr., a member of the Board, a related party and large holder of our common units
DMS
Dunne Manning Stores LLC (formerly known as Lehigh Gas-Ohio, LLC), an entity affiliated with the family of Joseph V. Topper, Jr., a member of the Board, a related party and large holder of our common units. DMS is an operator of retail motor fuel stations. DMS leases retail sites from us in accordance with a master lease agreement and DMS purchases substantially all of its motor fuel for these sites from us on a wholesale basis under rack plus pricing. The financial results of DMS are not consolidated with ours.
General Partner
CrossAmerica GP LLC, the General Partner of CrossAmerica, a Delaware limited liability company, indirectly owned by Circle K.
Topstar
Topstar Enterprises, an entity affiliated with Joseph V. Topper, Jr. Topstar is an operator of convenience stores that leases retail sites from us, but does not purchase fuel from us.
Recent Acquisitions:
Franchised Holiday Stores
The franchised Holiday stores acquired in March 2016
Jet-Pep Assets
The assets acquired from Jet-Pep, Inc. in November 2017
Other Defined Terms:
Amended Omnibus Agreement
The Amended and Restated Omnibus Agreement, dated October 1, 2014, as amended effective January 1, 2016 and February 1, 2018 by and among CrossAmerica, the General Partner, DMI, DMS, CST Services and Joseph V. Topper, Jr., which amends and restates the original omnibus agreement that was executed in connection with CrossAmerica’s IPO on October 30, 2012. The terms of the Amended Omnibus Agreement were approved by the conflicts committee of the Board. Pursuant to the Amended Omnibus Agreement, CST Services agrees, among other things, to provide, or cause to be provided, to the Partnership certain management services.
ASC
Accounting Standards Codification
ASU
Accounting Standards Update
Board
Board of Directors of our General Partner
BP
BP p.l.c.
DTW
Dealer tank wagon contracts, which are variable cent per gallon priced wholesale motor fuel distribution or supply contracts. DTW also refers to the pricing methodology under such contracts
EBITDA
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, a non-GAAP financial measure
Exchange Act
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil Corporation
FASB
Financial Accounting Standards Board
Form 10-K
CrossAmerica’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018
FTC
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Getty Lease
In May 2012, the Predecessor Entity, which represents the portion of the business of DMI and its subsidiaries and affiliates contributed to the Partnership in connection with the IPO, entered into a 15-year master lease agreement with renewal options of up to an additional 20 years with Getty Realty Corporation.
IDRs
Incentive Distribution Rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions after the target distribution levels have been achieved, as defined in our Partnership Agreement. Circle K is the indirect owner of 100% of the outstanding IDRs of CrossAmerica.
Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
IPO
Initial public offering of CrossAmerica Partners LP on October 30, 2012
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
MD&A
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Motiva
Motiva Enterprises LLC
NTI
CST’s new to industry stores opened after January 1, 2008, which is generally when CST began designing and operating its larger format stores that accommodate broader merchandise categories and food offerings and have more fuel dispensers than its legacy stores
Partnership Agreement
The First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of CrossAmerica Partners LP, dated as of October 1, 2014, as amended
Plan
In connection with the IPO, the General Partner adopted the Lehigh Gas Partners LP 2012 Incentive
Award Plan, a long-term incentive plan for employees, officers, consultants and directors of the General Partner and any of its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership
Predecessor Entity
Wholesale distribution business of DMS and real property and leasehold interests contributed to the Partnership in connection with the IPO
Retail Site
A general term to refer to convenience stores, including those operated by commission agents, independent dealers, Circle K, DMS or lessee dealers, as well as company operated sites
RIN
Renewable identification number, an identifier used by governmental agencies to track a specific batch of renewable fuel
SEC
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Terms Discounts
Discounts for prompt payment and other rebates and incentives from our suppliers for a majority of the gallons of motor fuel purchased by us, which are recorded within cost of sales. Prompt payment discounts are based on a percentage of the purchase price of motor fuel.
U.S. GAAP
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
UST
Underground storage tanks
Valero
Valero Energy Corporation and, where appropriate in context, one or more of its subsidiaries, or all of them taken as a whole
WTI
West Texas Intermediate crude oil
ii
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Thousands of Dollars, except unit data)
March 31,
December 31,
2019
2018
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
6,299
3,191
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $642 and $607, respectively
19,189
16,160
Accounts receivable from related parties
12,735
9,697
Inventories
15,070
14,083
Assets held for sale
2,644
2,218
Other current assets
4,481
5,513
Total current assets
60,418
50,862
Property and equipment, net
602,382
647,413
Right-of-use assets, net
128,908
—
Intangible assets, net
55,061
59,063
Goodwill
88,764
Other assets
21,127
20,820
Total assets
956,660
866,922
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt and finance lease obligations
2,339
2,296
Current portion of operating lease obligations
23,876
Accounts payable
35,470
32,632
Accounts payable to related parties
26,594
25,045
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
16,152
17,871
Motor fuel taxes payable
10,721
10,604
Total current liabilities
115,152
88,448
Debt and finance lease obligations, less current portion
536,859
519,276
Operating lease obligations, less current portion
107,705
Deferred tax liabilities, net
24,439
19,929
Asset retirement obligations
33,066
32,747
Other long-term liabilities
17,630
95,589
Total liabilities
834,851
755,989
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Common units—(34,444,113 units issued and
outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018)
121,809
110,933
General Partner’s interest
Total Partners’ Capital
Total liabilities and equity
See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Thousands of Dollars, except unit and per unit amounts)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Operating revenues(a)
471,786
554,570
Costs of sales
434,709
514,619
Gross profit
37,077
39,951
Income from CST Fuel Supply equity interests
3,426
3,805
Operating expenses:
Operating expenses
15,353
16,342
General and administrative expenses
4,418
4,720
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
13,061
15,500
Total operating expenses
32,832
36,562
(Loss) gain on dispositions and lease terminations, net
(59
)
230
Operating income
7,612
7,424
Other income, net
86
94
Interest expense
(7,337
(8,052
Income (loss) before income taxes
361
(534
Income tax expense
149
273
Net income (loss)
212
(807
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(2
Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners
(805
IDR distributions
(133
(1,180
Net income (loss) available to limited partners
79
(1,985
Basic and diluted income (loss) per limited partner unit
0.00
(0.06
Weighted-average limited partner units:
Basic common units
34,444,113
34,157,088
Diluted common units(b)
34,456,465
34,165,060
Supplemental information:
(a) Includes excise taxes of:
20,444
24,358
(a) Includes revenues from fuel sales to and rental
income from related parties of:
73,627
103,521
(b) Diluted common units were not used in the calculation of diluted earnings per common unit for the three months ended
March 31, 2018 because to do so would have been antidilutive.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Thousands of Dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Amortization of deferred financing costs
290
428
Amortization of above market leases, net
(1
Provision for losses on doubtful accounts
49
125
Deferred income taxes
(666
(650
Equity-based employee and director compensation expense
202
43
Amended Omnibus Agreement fees settled in common units
3,300
Loss (gain) on dispositions and lease terminations, net
59
(230
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
(2,209
432
Net cash provided by operating activities
10,998
18,140
Cash flows from investing activities:
Principal payments received on notes receivable
85
71
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
19
Capital expenditures
(7,078
(2,097
Net cash used in investing activities
(6,993
(2,007
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under the revolving credit facility
31,834
40,395
Repayments on the revolving credit facility
(13,334
(35,395
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations
(552
(498
Payments of sale leaseback obligations
(239
Payment of deferred financing costs
(613
Distributions paid on distribution equivalent rights
(16
(10
Distributions paid to holders of the IDRs
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests
(18
Distributions paid on common units
(18,083
(21,405
Net cash used in financing activities
(897
(18,350
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
3,108
(2,217
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
3,897
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
1,680
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Thousands of Dollars, except unit amounts)
Limited Partners’ Interest
General
Incentive
Common
Unitholders
Partner’s
Interest
Distribution
Rights
Noncontrolling
Equity
Units
Dollars
Balance at December 31, 2018
Transition adjustment upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax
28,896
Net income and comprehensive income
133
Distributions paid
(18,099
(18,232
Balance at March 31, 2019
Balance at December 31, 2017
34,111,461
171,337
(318
171,019
Issuance of units to Circle K for the payment of fees
under the Amended Omnibus Agreement
136,882
3,218
Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income
1,180
(21,415
(22,613
Balance at March 31, 2018
34,248,343
151,155
(338
150,817
CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1.DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND OTHER DISCLOSURES
Description of Business
Our business consists of:
•
the wholesale distribution of motor fuels;
the retail distribution of motor fuels to end customers at retail sites operated by commission agents or us;
the owning or leasing of retail sites used in the retail distribution of motor fuels and, in turn, generating rental income from the lease or sublease of the retail sites; and to a lesser extent,
the operation of retail sites.
The financial statements reflect the consolidated results of the Partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Our primary operations are conducted by the following consolidated wholly owned subsidiaries:
LGW, which distributes motor fuels on a wholesale basis and generates qualifying income under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code;
LGPR, which functions as our real estate holding company and holds assets that generate qualifying rental income under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
LGWS, which owns and leases (or leases and sub-leases) real estate and personal property used in the retail distribution of motor fuels, as well as provides maintenance and other services to its customers. In addition, LGWS distributes motor fuels on a retail basis and sells convenience merchandise items to end customers at company operated retail sites and sells motor fuel on a retail basis at sites operated by commission agents. Income from LGWS generally is not qualifying income under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Interim Financial Statements
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and the Exchange Act. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to keep the information presented from being misleading. The financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K. Financial information as of March 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 included in the consolidated financial statements has been derived from our unaudited financial statements. Financial information as of December 31, 2018 has been derived from our audited financial statements and notes thereto as of that date.
Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019. Our business exhibits seasonality due to our wholesale and retail sites being located in certain geographic areas that are affected by seasonal weather and temperature trends and associated changes in retail customer activity during different seasons. Historically, sales volumes have been highest in the second and third quarters (during the summer activity months) and lowest during the winter months in the first and fourth quarters.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results and outcomes could differ from those estimates and assumptions. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances could result in revised estimates and assumptions.
Significant Accounting Policies
Certain new accounting pronouncements have become effective for our financial statements, but the adoption of these pronouncements did not materially impact our financial position, results of operations or disclosures, other than as described below.
New Accounting Guidance Adopted – Lease Accounting
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02–Leases (Topic 842). This standard modifies existing guidance for reporting organizations that enter into leases to increase transparency by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This guidance was effective for us on January 1, 2019.
We elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which allows us to not reassess: 1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases; 2) lease classifications for any expired or existing leases; and 3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. We also elected the practical expedient to not assess whether existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under ASC 840 are or contain a lease under ASC 842. We did not elect the hindsight practical expedient and thus did not reassess the lease term for existing leases. We did not elect the practical expedient to not separate lease components from non-lease components for any classes of assets. We made an accounting policy election to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with an initial term of one year or less. We elected the modified retrospective transition method as permitted by ASU 2018-10 and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to equity effective January 1, 2019.
There was no impact from the adoption of this ASU on the accounting for our capital (now called finance) lease obligations.
Since our previous sale-leaseback transactions were accounted for as failed sale-leasebacks, we are required to reassess these leases under the new guidance as part of adopting ASC 842. We concluded that control, including the significant risks and rewards of ownership, transferred to the buyer-lessor at the inception of each sale-leaseback transaction, and as a result these leasing transactions do not represent financing obligations under ASC 842. Therefore, these leases are accounted for as operating leases under the new guidance and the $42.0 million of net property and equipment and $76.1 million of sale-leaseback financing obligations recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 were removed as part of our transition adjustment effective January 1, 2019. In addition, $5.2 million of deferred tax assets relating to the failed sale-leasebacks were removed from the balance sheet as part of our transition adjustment.
In order to measure our lease liability under our leases as lessee, we are required to discount our minimum rental payments using the rate implicit in the lease, unless such rate cannot be readily determined, in which case our incremental borrowing rate is used. As we do not know the amount of our lessors’ initial direct costs, we are generally unable to determine the rate implicit in our leases. As a result, we generally use our incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate we would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term in a similar economic environment. We considered the rates we paid in previous financing and sale-leaseback transactions, the rates on our borrowings under our prior secured revolving credit facility and mortgage rates on commercial properties for various terms in developing our incremental borrowing rates. See Note 7 for a discussion of the New Credit Agreement (as defined below) we entered into on April 1, 2019.
Effective January 1, 2019, we recognized right-of-use assets related to operating leases, inclusive of direct costs of entering leases and below market lease intangible assets and net of deferred rent expense and above market lease liabilities, totaling $133.3 million. We recorded lease liabilities related to operating leases, including related to the sale-leaseback transactions noted above, totaling $135.9 million.
The net adjustment recorded to equity as of January 1, 2019 was a credit of $28.9 million.
The table below summarizes these adjustments to the January 1, 2019 balance sheet (in millions).
Remove
sale-
Record
Balance
leaseback
ROU asset/
sheet
As Reported
balances
lease liability
reclasses
As Adjusted
647.4
(42.0
605.4
135.9
(2.6
133.3
59.1
(1.0
58.1
17.9
(1.1
16.8
24.3
111.6
19.9
5.2
25.1
95.6
(75.0
(3.6
17.0
110.9
28.9
139.8
6
Since we are not restating prior periods as part of adopting this guidance, our results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not directly comparable to our results for periods before January 1, 2019. Specifically, payments on our failed sale-leaseback obligations were characterized as principal and interest expense in periods prior to January 1, 2019. Beginning on January 1, 2019, these payments are characterized as rent expense and thus reduce gross profit and operating income (primarily from the Wholesale segment), income before income taxes and net income relative to the results reported for periods prior to January 1, 2019.
See Notes 7, 8 and 15 for additional information.
Concentration Risk
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we distributed 8% of our total wholesale distribution volumes to DMS and DMS accounted for 9% of our rental income. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we distributed 12% of our total wholesale distribution volumes to DMS and DMS accounted for 20% of our rental income. See Note 9 for information on an amendment to the master lease and master fuel supply agreements with DMS.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we distributed 7% of our total wholesale distribution volume to Circle K retail sites that are not supplied by CST Fuel Supply and received 19% of our rental income from Circle K. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we distributed 7% of our total wholesale distribution volume to CST retail sites that are not supplied by CST Fuel Supply and received 19% of our rental income from Circle K.
For more information regarding transactions with DMS and Circle K, see Note 9.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, our wholesale business purchased approximately 26%, 25%, 13% and 10% of its motor fuel from ExxonMobil, BP, Motiva and Circle K, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, our wholesale business purchased approximately 26%, 26%, 12% and 11% of its motor fuel from ExxonMobil, BP, Motiva and Circle K, respectively. No other fuel suppliers accounted for 10% or more of our motor fuel purchases during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Valero supplied substantially all of the motor fuel purchased by CST Fuel Supply during all periods presented. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, CST Fuel Supply purchased approximately 0.4 billion gallons of motor fuel from Valero.
Note 2. ASSET EXCHANGE TRANSACTION WITH CIRCLE K
On December 17, 2018, as approved by the independent conflicts committee of the Board, we entered into an Asset Exchange Agreement (the “Asset Exchange Agreement”) with Circle K. Pursuant to the Asset Exchange Agreement, the parties have agreed to exchange (i) certain assets of CrossAmerica related to 56 convenience and fuel retail stores currently leased and operated by Circle K pursuant to a master lease that CrossAmerica previously purchased jointly with or from CST (the “master lease properties”), and 17 convenience and fuel retail stores currently owned and operated by CrossAmerica located in the U.S. Upper Midwest (collectively, including the master lease properties, the “CAPL Properties”), having an aggregate value of approximately $184.5 million, for (ii) certain assets of Circle K related to 192 (162 fee and 30 leased) company-operated convenience and fuel retail stores (the “CK Properties”), having an aggregate value of approximately $184.5 million. The existing fuel supply arrangements for the 56 master lease properties will remain unchanged.
7
The assets being exchanged by CrossAmerica include (i) its fee simple title to all land and other real property and related improvements owned by CrossAmerica at the CAPL Properties, (ii) all buildings and other improvements located on the CAPL Properties, (iii) all tangible personal property owned by CrossAmerica and primarily used in connection with the operation of the CAPL Properties, including all underground storage tanks located on such properties and owned by CrossAmerica, (iv) CrossAmerica’s rights under certain contracts related to the CAPL Properties, (v) all in-store cash, inventory owned by CrossAmerica and assignable permits owned or held by CrossAmerica at the 17 convenience store sites owned and operated by CrossAmerica, (vi) all real estate records and related registrations and reports relating exclusively to the CAPL Properties, and (vii) all goodwill and other intangible assets associated with the foregoing assets (collectively, the “CAPL Assets”). The assets being exchanged by Circle K include (a) its fee simple title to all land and other real property and related improvements owned by Circle K at the CK Properties, (b) all buildings and other improvements located on the CK Properties, (c) all tangible personal property owned by Circle K and primarily used in connection with the operation of the CK Properties, including all underground storage tanks located on such properties and owned by Circle K, (d) Circle K’s rights under the dealer agreements and agent agreements to be entered into and assigned to CrossAmerica relating to each CK Property that will be dealerized as contemplated by the Asset Exchange Agreement, (e) Circle K’s rights under certain contracts related to the CK Properties, (f) all real estate records and related registrations and reports relating exclusively to the CK Properties, and (g) all goodwill and other intangible assets associated with the foregoing assets (collectively, the “CK Assets”). CrossAmerica will also assume certain liabilities associated with the CK Assets, and Circle K will assume certain liabilities associated with the CAPL Assets.
The CK Properties will be assigned to CrossAmerica in tranches after Circle K has executed a dealer agreement or agent agreement, as applicable, with respect to each CK Property to be included in a tranche and the applicable dealer or agent has assumed possession and operating control of such property. As a result, it is expected that the exchange of assets pursuant to the Asset Exchange Agreement will occur in a series of closings over a period of up to 24 months as Circle K enters into such dealer agreements or agent agreements. At each closing, CK Properties and related CK Assets will be exchanged for CAPL Properties and related CAPL Assets of approximately equivalent value. After the final closing, any net valuation difference will be paid by the party owing such amount to the other.
Each closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. The Asset Exchange Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, agreements and obligations of the parties, including covenants regarding the conduct by CrossAmerica and Circle K with respect to the CAPL Properties and the CK Properties, respectively, prior to closing. CrossAmerica and Circle K have generally agreed to indemnify each other for breaches of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Asset Exchange Agreement for a period of 18 months after the date of the final closing (or for certain specified losses, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations). Except for such specified losses, the respective indemnification obligations of each of CrossAmerica and Circle K to the other will not apply to the first $1.845 million of losses and the aggregate indemnification obligations will not exceed $39.9 million. The Asset Exchange Agreement may be terminated by mutual written consent of CrossAmerica and Circle K.
In connection with the execution of the Asset Exchange Agreement, CrossAmerica and Circle K also entered into an Environmental Responsibility Agreement (the “ERA”), which agreement sets forth the parties’ respective liabilities and obligations with respect to environmental matters relating to the CAPL Properties and the CK Properties. Generally, (i) each party will retain liability for known contamination at the sites it is transferring to the other party and (ii) each party will assume liability for unknown contamination at the sites it is receiving from the other party, except that the ERA does not affect any liability that Circle K currently has under the existing master lease of the master lease properties.
The first tranche is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2019, subject to approval by the independent conflicts committee of the Board.
Note 3. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
We have classified three sites and two sites as held for sale at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which are expected to be sold during 2019. Assets held for sale were as follows (in thousands):
Land
2,289
2,029
Buildings and site improvements
591
417
Equipment
301
238
Total
3,181
2,684
Less accumulated depreciation
(537
(466
8
Note 4. INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
Retail site merchandise
6,934
7,085
Motor fuel
8,136
6,998
Note 5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
256,017
283,137
336,602
361,579
Leasehold improvements
8,123
7,936
183,842
184,653
Construction in progress
9,247
3,841
Property and equipment, at cost
793,831
841,146
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(191,449
(193,733
As a result of the adoption of ASC 842, on January 1, 2019, we recorded a transition adjustment removing the $42.0 million of property and equipment, net, recorded on the December 31, 2018 balance sheet related to leases previously accounted for as failed sale-leaseback transactions. See Note 1 for additional information.
As discussed in Note 7, we lease sites under our Getty Lease, for which the building and equipment components are classified as a finance lease. The right-of-use asset associated with this finance lease is included in the table above and totaled $15.7 million at March 31, 2019, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization of this right-of-use asset is included in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense on the statement of operations and amounted to $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
We recorded an impairment charge of $1.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 related to the FTC-required divestiture of the Jet-Pep sites, included within depreciation, amortization and accretion expenses on the statement of operations.
Note 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
March 31, 2019
December 31, 2018
Gross
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Carrying
Wholesale fuel supply contracts/rights
126,734
(72,169
54,565
(69,265
57,469
Trademarks
1,095
(1,026
69
(1,006
89
Covenant not to compete
4,581
(4,154
427
(4,077
504
Below market leases
11,177
(10,176
1,001
Total intangible assets
132,410
(77,349
143,587
(84,524
As a result of the adoption of ASC 842, on January 1, 2019, we recorded a transition adjustment reclassifying below market lease intangible assets (and above market lease liabilities) to the right-of-use asset. See Note 1 for additional information.
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Note 7. DEBT
Our balances for long-term debt and finance lease obligations are as follows (in thousands):
Revolving credit facility
516,500
498,000
Finance lease obligations
24,375
24,927
Total debt and finance lease obligations
540,875
522,927
Current portion
Noncurrent portion
538,536
520,631
Deferred financing costs, net
1,677
1,355
Noncurrent portion, net of deferred financing costs
As of March 31, 2019, future principal payments on debt and future minimum rental payments on finance lease obligations were as follows (in thousands):
Debt
Finance Lease Obligations
2,316
2020
3,166
519,666
2021
3,266
2022
3,367
2023
3,761
Thereafter
12,014
Total future payments
27,890
544,390
Less interest component
3,515
Long-term portion
22,036
Our borrowings under the revolving credit facility had a weighted-average interest rate of 5.24% as of March 31, 2019 (LIBOR plus an applicable margin, which was 2.75% as of March 31, 2019). Letters of credit outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 totaled $5.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively.
New Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2019, we entered into a credit agreement with the lenders from time to time party thereto and Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and letter of credit issuer (the “New Credit Agreement”).
The New Credit Agreement replaced our previous credit agreement, dated as of March 4, 2014 (as amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), and provided the following key benefits:
Increased commitments from $650 million to $750 million with the ability to increase commitments by $300 million, subject to certain conditions;
Provides for the current and future asset exchange transactions with Circle K, subject to certain conditions being satisfied;
Provided for a general reduction in the applicable margin;
Increased the maximum permitted leverage ratio during most periods;
Reduced cost of compliance, including removal of the requirement to mortgage real property; and
Extended the maturity from April 2020 to April 2024.
The New Credit Agreement is a $750 million senior secured revolving credit facility, maturing in April 2024. The facility can be increased from time to time upon our written request, subject to certain conditions, up to an additional $300 million. The aggregate amount of the outstanding loans and letters of credit under the New Credit Agreement cannot exceed the combined revolving commitments then in effect. All obligations under the New Credit Agreement are secured by substantially all of the Partnership’s assets.
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Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest, at the Partnership’s option, at (1) a rate equal to LIBOR for interest periods of one, two, three or six months (or, if consented to by all lenders, for such other period that is twelve months or a period shorter than one month), plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% per annum depending on our consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) or (2) (a) a base rate equal to the greatest of, (i) the federal funds rate, plus 0.5% per annum, (ii) LIBOR for one month interest periods, plus 1.00% per annum or (iii) the rate of interest established by the agent, from time to time, as its prime rate, plus (b) a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.50% per annum depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. In addition, we incur a commitment fee based on the unused portion of the credit facility at a rate ranging from 0.25% to 0.45% per annum depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. Until the Partnership delivers a compliance certificate for the quarter ending June 30, 2019, the applicable margin for LIBOR and base rate loans is 2.25% and 1.25%, respectively, and the commitment fee rate is 0.40%.
We also have the right to borrow swingline loans under the New Credit Agreement in an amount up to $35.0 million. Swingline loans will bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable base rate margin.
Standby letters of credit are permissible under the New Credit Agreement up to an aggregate amount of $65.0 million. Standby letters of credit will be subject to a 0.125% fronting fee and other customary administrative charges. Standby letters of credit will accrue a fee at a rate based on the applicable margin of LIBOR loans.
The New Credit Agreement also contains certain financial covenants. We are required to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio for the most recently completed four fiscal quarters of (i) for each quarter ending on or before June 30, 2019, not greater than 5.00 to 1.00 and (ii) for each four quarter period thereafter, 4.75 to 1.00. Such threshold is increased to 5.50 to 1.00 for the quarter during a specified acquisition period (as defined in the New Credit Agreement). Upon the occurrence of a qualified note offering (as defined in the New Credit Agreement), the consolidated leverage ratio when not in a specified acquisition period is increased to 5.25 to 1.00, while the specified acquisition period threshold remains 5.50 to 1.00. Upon the occurrence of a qualified note offering, we are also required to maintain a consolidated senior secured leverage ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) for the most recently completed four fiscal quarter period of not greater than 3.75 to 1.00. Such threshold is increased to 4.00 to 1.00 for the quarter during a specified acquisition period. We are also required to maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) of at least 2.50 to 1.00.
The initial borrowings under the New Credit Agreement of $521.3 million and cash of $0.3 million were used to repay $516.5 million of outstanding borrowings and $2.0 million of accrued interest under the Existing Credit Agreement and to pay $3.1 million of fees and expenses in connection with the New Credit Agreement. Future borrowings will be used to provide ongoing working capital.
The New Credit Agreement prohibits us from making cash distributions to our unitholders if any event of default occurs or would result from the distribution.
The amount of availability under the New Credit Agreement at May 2, 2019, after taking into consideration debt covenant restrictions, was $20.8 million.
In May 2012, the Predecessor Entity entered into a 15-year master lease agreement with renewal options of up to an additional 20 years with Getty Realty Corporation. Since then, the agreement has been amended from time to time to add or remove retail sites. As of March 31, 2019, we lease 115 sites under this lease with a weighted-average remaining lease term of 8.1 years. We pay fixed rent, which increases 1.5% per year. In addition, the lease requires variable lease payments based on gallons of motor fuel sold.
Because the fair value of the land at lease inception was estimated to represent more than 25% of the total fair value of the real property subject to the lease, the land element of the lease was analyzed for operating or capital treatment separately from the rest of the property subject to the lease. The land element of the lease was classified as an operating lease and all of the other property was classified as a capital lease. This assessment was not required to be reassessed upon adoption of ASC 842. As such, future minimum rental payments are included in both the finance lease obligations table above as well as the operating lease table in Note 8.
The weighted-average discount rate for this finance lease obligation at March 31, 2019 was 3.5%. Interest on this finance lease obligation amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
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Note 8. OPERATING LEASES
Operating Leases of Retail Sites as Lessee
We lease approximately 400 retail sites from third parties under certain non-cancelable operating leases that expire from time to time through 2033. The weighted-average remaining lease term was 6.2 years as of March 31, 2019.
Lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was classified in the statement of operations as follows (in thousands):
Cost of sales
6,659
205
166
7,030
Variable lease payments included in the above table are based on future inflation, revenues or volumes and totaled $0.4 million. Short-term lease payments included in the table above that are excluded from the lease liability totaled $0.1 million. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities under operating leases totaled $7.0 million.
As of March 31, 2019, future minimum rental payments under operating leases, excluding variable lease payments or short-term lease payments, were as follows (in thousands). The weighted-average discount rate as of March 31, 2019 was 6.9%.
18,783
22,839
20,187
18,708
16,784
83,441
Total future minimum rental payments
180,742
Less impact of discounting
49,161
131,581
Most lease agreements include provisions for renewals. We generally do not include renewal options in our lease term for purposes of measuring our lease liabilities and right-of-use assets unless the sublease to our customer extends beyond the term of the head lease.
Substantially all of these retail sites are then subleased to lessee dealers (including DMS) or commission agents under leases with terms generally ranging from one to ten years and which may include renewal options. Sublease rental income amounted to $9.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Operating Leases of Retail Sites as Lessor
Motor fuel stations are leased to tenants under operating leases with various expiration dates ranging through 2033. Most lease agreements include provisions for renewals. We generally do not include renewal options in our lease term. Future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating leases with third parties, Circle K and DMS as of March 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
Third Party
31,888
10,634
4,419
46,941
36,381
14,178
5,972
56,531
29,551
6,060
49,789
24,315
6,149
44,642
21,591
6,239
42,008
68,819
18,850
29,087
116,756
212,545
86,196
57,926
356,667
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The future minimum rental payments presented above do not include contingent rent based on future inflation, future revenues or volumes of the lessee or non-lease components for amounts that may be received as tenant reimbursements for certain operating costs.
Deferred rent income from straight-line rent relates to the cumulative amount by which straight-line rental income recorded to date exceeds cash rents billed to date under the lease agreement and totaled $6.6 million and $6.3 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Note 9. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with Circle K
Fuel Sales and Rental Income
We sell wholesale motor fuel under a master fuel distribution agreement to 47 Circle K retail sites and lease real property on 73 retail sites to Circle K under a master lease agreement, each having initial 10-year terms. The master fuel distribution agreement provides us with a fixed wholesale mark-up per gallon. The master lease agreement is a triple net lease.
Revenues from wholesale fuel sales and real property rental income from Circle K were as follows (in thousands):
Revenues from motor fuel sales to Circle K
33,315
36,060
Rental income from Circle K
4,198
Accounts receivable from Circle K for fuel amounted to $5.0 million and $2.6 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
CST Fuel Supply Equity Interests
CST Fuel Supply provides wholesale motor fuel distribution to the majority of CST’s legacy U.S. retail sites at cost plus a fixed markup per gallon. Since July 1, 2015, we have owned a 17.5% total interest in CST Fuel Supply. We account for the income derived from our equity interest of CST Fuel Supply as “Income from CST Fuel Supply equity interests” on our statement of operations, which amounted to $3.4 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Purchase of Fuel from Circle K
We purchase the fuel supplied to the following sets of sites from Circle K:
retail sites acquired in the Jet-Pep Assets acquisition;
Franchised Holiday Stores in the Upper Midwest; we also pay a franchise fee to Circle K, which amounted to $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively;
retail sites in which we have a leasehold interest that we acquired from Circle K in March and May of 2018 for $0.5 million;
retail sites acquired from CST in February 2015; and
certain other retail sites at which we are evaluating our fuel supply options.
In total, we purchased $37.4 million and $46.9 million of motor fuel from Circle K for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Effective February 1, 2018, Couche-Tard began renegotiating fuel carrier agreements, including our wholesale transportation agreements, with third party carriers. The independent conflicts committee of our Board approved an amendment to the Amended Omnibus Agreement effective February 1, 2018 providing for the payment by us to an affiliate of Couche-Tard of a commission based on the payments made by us on the renegotiated wholesale transportation contracts. This commission is to compensate such affiliate of Couche-Tard for its services in connection with the renegotiations of our fuel carrier agreements with third party carriers, which resulted in overall reductions in transportation costs to us. This commission amounted to $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Amounts payable to Circle K related to these fuel purchases and freight commissions totaled $4.7 million and $4.3 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
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Amended Omnibus Agreement and Management Fees
We incurred expenses under the Amended Omnibus Agreement, including incentive compensation costs and non-cash stock-based compensation expense, totaling $2.9 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Such expenses are included in operating expenses and general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations. Amounts payable related to Circle K related to expenses incurred by Circle K in accordance with the Amended Omnibus Agreement totaled $20.5 million and $20.2 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Common Units Issued to Circle K as Consideration for Amounts Due Under the Amended Omnibus Agreement
As approved by the independent conflicts committee of the Board, the Partnership and Circle K mutually agreed to settle, from time to time, some or all of the amounts due under the terms of the Amended Omnibus Agreement in newly issued common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership. We issued the following common units to Circle K as consideration for amounts due under the terms of the Amended Omnibus Agreement:
Period
Date of Issuance
Number of
Units Issued
Quarter ended December 31, 2017
March 1, 2018
Quarter ended March 31, 2018
May 21, 2018
155,236
No charges allocated to us by Circle K under the Amended Omnibus Agreement since the first quarter of 2018 have been settled in common units.
IDR and Common Unit Distributions
We distributed $0.1 million and $1.2 million to Circle K related to its ownership of our IDRs and $3.9 million and $4.5 million related to its ownership of our common units during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Transactions with Affiliates of Members of the Board
Wholesale Motor Fuel Sales and Real Estate Rentals
Revenues from motor fuel sales and rental income from DMS were as follows (in thousands):
Revenues from motor fuel sales to DMS
34,120
58,921
Rental income from DMS
1,946
4,285
Accounts receivable from DMS totaled $6.9 million and $5.6 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
In March 2019, we entered into an amendment of the master lease and master fuel supply agreements with DMS. These amendments included the following provisions:
DMS will sever 17 sites from the master lease. Since April 1, 2019, DMS has not been charged rent on the to-be severed sites. We anticipate transitioning substantially all of these sites to other dealers by June 30, 2019.
Rental income from DMS for the remainder of the lease term was reduced effective April 1, 2019 by $0.5 million annually. We will make a total of $1.25 million in capital expenditures at certain DMS sites by December 31, 2019. Of the remaining 70 sites covered by the master lease agreement, DMS may sever up to 20 sites and we may sever up to eight sites. No severs may be made in 2019, and the required notification period for severs was extended from 30 days to 180 days.
The markup charged on fuel deliveries to the remaining 85 DMS sites covered by the master fuel supply agreement was reduced effective April 1, 2019 by $0.01 per gallon and by an additional $0.005 per gallon effective January 1, 2020.
Revenues from rental income from Topstar, an entity affiliated with a member of the Board, were insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
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CrossAmerica leases real estate from certain entities affiliated with Joseph V. Topper, Jr., a member of the Board. Rent expense paid to these entities was $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Maintenance and Environmental Costs
Certain maintenance and environmental monitoring and remediation activities are performed by an entity affiliated with Joseph V. Topper, Jr., a member of the Board, as approved by the independent conflicts committee of the Board. We incurred charges with this related party of $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Accounts payable to this related party amounted to $0.2 million and $0.4 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Principal Executive Offices
Our principal executive offices are in Allentown, Pennsylvania. We sublease office space from Circle K that Circle K leases from an affiliate of John B. Reilly, III and Joseph V. Topper, Jr., members of our Board. Rent expense amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Public Relations and Website Consulting Services
We have engaged a company affiliated with a member of the Board, for public relations and website consulting services. The cost of these services was insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Note 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Purchase Commitments
We have minimum volume purchase requirements under certain of our fuel supply agreements with a purchase price at prevailing market rates for wholesale distribution. In the event we fail to purchase the required minimum volume for a given contract year, the underlying third party’s exclusive remedies (depending on the magnitude of the failure) are either termination of the supply agreement and/or a financial penalty per gallon based on the volume shortfall for the given year. We did not incur any significant penalties in 2019 or 2018.
Litigation Matters
We are from time to time party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. These actions typically seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damages, environmental damages, employment-related claims and damages, punitive damages, civil penalties or other losses, or injunctive or declaratory relief. With respect to all such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, we record a reserve when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. In addition, we disclose matters for which management believes a material loss is at least reasonably possible. None of these proceedings, separately or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In all instances, management has assessed the matter based on current information and made a judgment concerning its potential outcome, giving due consideration to the nature of the claim, the amount and nature of damages sought and the probability of success. Management’s judgment may prove materially inaccurate, and such judgment is made subject to the known uncertainties of litigation.
As part of Circle K’s acquisition of Holiday Stationstores, LLC, the FTC issued a decree in which nine sites were required to be divested. These sites were divested in September 2018, after the June 15, 2018 deadline specified in the FTC orders. As a result, Couche-Tard and/or the Partnership may be subject to civil penalties, up to a maximum allowed by law of $41,000 per day per violation of the FTC divestiture orders. Circle K has agreed that it would be solely responsible for any such penalties and we have not accrued any liability for such penalties.
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Environmental Matters
We currently own or lease retail sites where refined petroleum products are being or have been handled. These retail sites and the refined petroleum products handled thereon may be subject to federal and state environmental laws and regulations. Under such laws and regulations, we could be required to remove or remediate containerized hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes (including wastes disposed of or abandoned by prior owners or operators), to remediate contaminated property arising from the release of liquids or wastes into the environment, including contaminated groundwater, or to implement best management practices to prevent future contamination.
We maintain insurance of various types with varying levels of coverage that is considered adequate under the circumstances to cover operations and properties. The insurance policies are subject to deductibles that are considered reasonable and not excessive. In addition, we have entered into indemnification and escrow agreements with various sellers in conjunction with several of their respective acquisitions, as further described below. Financial responsibility for environmental remediation is negotiated in connection with each acquisition transaction. In each case, an assessment is made of potential environmental liability exposure based on available information. Based on that assessment and relevant economic and risk factors, a determination is made whether to, and the extent to which we will assume liability for existing environmental conditions.
Environmental liabilities recorded on the balance sheet within accrued expenses and other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities totaled $3.4 million and $3.6 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Indemnification assets related to third-party escrow funds, state funds or insurance recorded on the balance sheet within other current assets and other noncurrent assets totaled $3.0 million and $3.2 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. State funds represent probable state reimbursement amounts. Reimbursement will depend upon the continued maintenance and solvency of the state. Insurance coverage represents amounts deemed probable of reimbursement under insurance policies.
The estimates used in these reserves are based on all known facts at the time and an assessment of the ultimate remedial action outcomes. We will adjust loss accruals as further information becomes available or circumstances change. Among the many uncertainties that impact the estimates are the necessary regulatory approvals for, and potential modifications of remediation plans, the amount of data available upon initial assessment of the impact of soil or water contamination, changes in costs associated with environmental remediation services and equipment and the possibility of existing legal claims giving rise to additional claims.
Environmental liabilities related to the sites contributed to the Partnership in connection with our IPO have not been assigned to us, and are still the responsibility of the Predecessor Entity. Under the Amended Omnibus Agreement, the Predecessor Entity must indemnify us for any costs or expenses that we incur for environmental liabilities and third-party claims, regardless of when a claim is made, that are based on environmental conditions in existence prior to the closing of the IPO for contributed sites. As such, these environmental liabilities and indemnification assets are recorded on the balance sheet of the Predecessor Entity rather than the balance sheet of the Partnership.
Note 11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
We measure and report certain financial and non-financial assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). U.S. GAAP specifies a three-level hierarchy that is used when measuring and disclosing fair value. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets (i.e., observable inputs) and the lowest priority to data lacking transparency (i.e., unobservable inputs). An instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of significant input to its valuation.
Transfers into or out of any hierarchy level are recognized at the end of the reporting period in which the transfers occurred. There were no transfers between any levels in 2019 or 2018.
As further discussed in Note 12, we have accrued for unvested phantom units and phantom performance units as a liability and adjust that liability on a recurring basis based on the market price of our common units each balance sheet date. Such fair value measurements are deemed Level 1 measurements.
The fair value of our accounts receivable, notes receivable, and accounts payable approximated their carrying values as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the revolving credit facility approximated its carrying values of $516.5 million as of March 31, 2019 and $498.0 million as of December 31, 2018, due to the frequency with which interest rates are reset and the consistency of the market spread. See Note 7 for a discussion of the New Credit Agreement we entered into on April 1, 2019.
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Note 12. EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
Partnership Equity-Based Awards
CrossAmerica equity-based award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was as follows:
Employees of Circle K
Directors
Phantom Units
Phantom Performance Units
Nonvested at December 31, 2018
827
13,607
15,580
30,014
Forfeited
(717
Nonvested at March 31, 2019
12,890
29,297
Equity-based compensation expense related to these awards was $0.1 million and was insignificant for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. The liability related to these awards totaled $0.2 million and $0.1 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
CST Equity-Based Awards
Equity-based compensation expense for CST equity-based awards charged to us under the Amended Omnibus Agreement amounted to $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Unrecognized compensation expense associated with CST equity-based awards amounted to $0.3 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, which will be recognized over the vesting term through January 2020.
Note 13. INCOME TAXES
As a limited partnership, we are not subject to federal and state income taxes. However, our corporate subsidiaries are subject to income taxes. Income tax attributable to our taxable income (including any dividend income from our corporate subsidiaries), which may differ significantly from income for financial statement purposes, is assessed at the individual limited partner unitholder level. We are subject to a statutory requirement that non-qualifying income, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, cannot exceed 10% of total gross income for the calendar year. If non-qualifying income exceeds this statutory limit, we would be taxed as a corporation. The non-qualifying income did not exceed the statutory limit in any period presented.
Certain activities that generate non-qualifying income are conducted through our wholly owned taxable corporate subsidiary, LGWS. Current and deferred income taxes are recognized on the earnings of LGWS. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates.
As discussed in Note 1, we removed $5.2 million of deferred tax assets related to our previous sale-leaseback transactions as part of our January 1, 2019 transition adjustment in connection with the adoption of ASC 842.
We recorded income tax expense of $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as a result of the income generated by our corporate subsidiaries. The effective tax rate differs from the combined federal and state statutory rate primarily because only LGWS is subject to income tax.
Note 14. NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT
In addition to the common units, we have identified the IDRs as participating securities and compute income per unit using the two-class method under which any excess of distributions declared over net income shall be allocated to the partners based on their respective sharing of income as specified in the Partnership Agreement. Net income per unit applicable to limited partners is computed by dividing the limited partners’ interest in net income (loss), after deducting the IDRs, by the weighted-average number of outstanding common units.
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The following tables provide a reconciliation of net income (loss) and weighted-average units used in computing basic and diluted net income (loss) per limited partner unit for the following periods (in thousands, except unit and per unit amounts):
Numerator:
18,099
21,415
Allocation of distributions in excess of net income (loss)
(18,020
(23,400
Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) - basic and diluted
Denominator:
Weighted-average limited partnership units outstanding - basic
Adjustment for phantom and phantom performance units(a)
12,352
Weighted-average limited partnership units outstanding - diluted
Net income (loss) per limited partnership unit - basic and diluted
Distributions paid per common unit
0.5250
0.6275
Distributions declared (with respect to each respective period)
per common unit
(a)
Excludes 7,971 potentially dilutive securities from the calculation of diluted earnings per common unit because to do so would be antidilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Distributions
Distribution activity for 2019 is as follows:
Quarter Ended
Record Date
Payment Date
Cash
(per unit)
(in thousands)
February 11, 2019
February 19, 2019
May 6, 2019
May 13, 2019
The amount of any distribution is subject to the discretion of the Board, which may modify or revoke our cash distribution policy at any time. Our Partnership Agreement does not require us to pay any distributions. As such, there can be no assurance we will continue to pay distributions in the future.
Note 15. SEGMENT REPORTING
We conduct our business in two segments: 1) the Wholesale segment and 2) the Retail segment. The Wholesale segment includes the wholesale distribution of motor fuel to lessee dealers, independent dealers, commission agents, DMS, Circle K and company operated retail sites. We have exclusive motor fuel distribution contracts with lessee dealers who lease the property from us. We also have exclusive distribution contracts with independent dealers to distribute motor fuel but do not collect rent from the independent dealers. Similar to lessee dealers, we have motor fuel distribution agreements with DMS and Circle K and collect rent from both. The Retail segment includes the sale of convenience merchandise items, the retail sale of motor fuel at company operated retail sites and the retail sale of motor fuel at retail sites operated by commission agents. A commission agent is a retail site where we retain title to the motor fuel inventory and sell it directly to our end user customers. At commission agent retail sites, we manage motor fuel inventory pricing and retain the gross profit on motor fuel sales, less a commission to the agent who operates the retail site. Similar to our Wholesale segment, we also generate revenues through leasing or subleasing real estate in our Retail segment.
As part of our evaluation of the economic performance of our retail sites, we will from time to time convert company owned retail sites from our Retail segment to lessee dealers in our Wholesale segment. As a result, we no longer generate revenues from the retail sale of motor fuel or merchandise at these stores subsequent to the date of conversion and we no longer incur retail operating expenses related to these retail sites. However, we continue to supply these retail sites with motor fuel on a wholesale basis pursuant to the fuel supply contract with the lessee dealer. Further, we continue to own/lease the property and earn rental income under lease/sublease agreements with the lessee dealers under triple net leases. The lessee dealer owns all motor fuel and convenience merchandise and retains all gross profit on such operating activities.
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Unallocated items consist primarily of general and administrative expenses, depreciation, amortization and accretion expense, gains on dispositions and lease terminations, net, and the elimination of the Retail segment’s intersegment cost of revenues from motor fuel sales against the Wholesale segment’s intersegment revenues from motor fuel sales. The profit in ending inventory generated by the intersegment motor fuel sales is also eliminated. Total assets by segment are not presented as management does not currently assess performance or allocate resources based on that data.
The following table reflects activity related to our reportable segments (in thousands):
Wholesale
Retail
Unallocated
Consolidated
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Revenues from fuel sales to external customers
329,913
99,600
429,513
Intersegment revenues from fuel sales
75,881
(75,881
Revenues from food and merchandise sales
20,016
Rent income
19,636
2,002
21,638
Other revenue
619
Total revenues
426,049
121,618
Operating income (loss)(a)
24,288
608
(17,284
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
382,000
127,317
509,317
98,393
(98,393
22,586
19,755
1,966
21,721
946
501,094
151,869
26,163
1,349
(20,088
As discussed in Note 1, as a result of the adoption of ASC 842, operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 is not comparable to operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Most significantly, payments on our previous failed sale-leaseback obligations were characterized as principal and interest expense in periods prior to 2019. Starting in 2019, these payments are characterized as rent expense and thus reduce operating income. These payments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $1.7 million and $0.1 million for the Wholesale and Retail segments, respectively.
Receivables relating to the revenue streams above are as follows:
Receivables from fuel and merchandise sales
26,328
19,247
Receivables for rent and other lease-related charges
5,596
6,610
Total accounts receivable
31,924
25,857
Performance obligations are satisfied as fuel is delivered to the customer. Many of our contracts with our customers include minimum purchase volumes measured on a monthly basis, although such revenue is not material. Receivables from fuel are recognized on a per-gallon rate and are generally collected within 10 days of delivery.
The balance of unamortized costs incurred to obtain certain contracts with customers was $5.9 million and $5.7 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Amortization of such costs is recorded against operating revenues and amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
Receivables from rent and other lease-related charges are generally collected at the beginning of the month.
Note 16. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
In order to determine net cash provided by operating activities, net income is adjusted by, among other things, changes in operating assets and liabilities as follows (in thousands):
Decrease (increase):
Accounts receivable
(3,077
2,154
(2,933
(1,128
(987
(114
848
1,416
(519
(825
Increase (decrease):
2,838
(63
488
117
(426
(590
(688
678
(382
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
acquisitions
The above changes in operating assets and liabilities may differ from changes between amounts reflected in the applicable balance sheets for the respective periods due to acquisitions.
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (in thousands):
Cash paid for interest
6,406
7,469
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received
44
135
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities (in thousands):
Amended Omnibus Agreement fees settled in our
common units
Note 17. SEPARATION BENEFITS
As discussed in Note 2, we expect to exchange 17 of our 63 company operated sites for dealerized sites through the asset exchange transaction with Circle K. We anticipate dealerizing the remaining 46 company operated sites in 2019, and as such have communicated a plan to exit the company operated business. As a result, we recorded separation benefit costs totaling $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2019, which is anticipated to be paid by early 2020.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report includes forward-looking statements, including in the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, credit ratings, distribution growth, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, potential improvements in return on capital employed, the effects of competition and the effects of future legislation or regulations. You can identify our forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “expect,” “objective,” “projection,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “effort,” “target” and similar expressions. Such statements are based on our current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could potentially affect actual results. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding:
future retail and wholesale gross profits, including gasoline, diesel and convenience store merchandise gross profits;
our anticipated level of capital investments, primarily through acquisitions, and the effect of these capital investments on our results of operations;
anticipated trends in the demand for, and volumes sold of, gasoline and diesel in the regions where we operate;
volatility in the equity and credit markets limiting access to capital markets;
our ability to integrate acquired businesses and to transition retail sites to dealer operated sites;
expectations regarding environmental, tax and other regulatory initiatives; and
the effect of general economic and other conditions on our business.
In general, we based the forward-looking statements included in this report on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our company and the industry in which we operate. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties we cannot predict. We anticipate that subsequent events and market developments will cause our estimates to change. In addition, we based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what we have expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. Any differences could result from a variety of factors, including the following:
Couche-Tard’s business strategy and operations and Couche-Tard’s conflicts of interest with us;
availability of cash flow to pay the current quarterly distributions on our common units;
the availability and cost of competing motor fuels;
motor fuel price volatility or a reduction in demand for motor fuels;
competition in the industries and geographical areas in which we operate;
the consummation of financing, acquisition or disposition transactions and the effect thereof on our business;
environmental compliance and remediation costs;
our existing or future indebtedness and the related interest expense and our ability to comply with debt covenants;
our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
failure to comply with applicable tax and other regulations or governmental policies;
future legislation and changes in regulations, governmental policies, immigration laws and restrictions or changes in enforcement or interpretations thereof;
future regulations and actions that could expand the non-exempt status of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act;
future income tax legislation;
changes in energy policy;
increases in energy conservation efforts;
technological advances;
the impact of worldwide economic and political conditions;
the impact of wars and acts of terrorism;
weather conditions or catastrophic weather-related damage;
earthquakes and other natural disasters;
hazards and risks associated with transporting and storing motor fuel;
unexpected environmental liabilities;
the outcome of pending or future litigation; and
our ability to comply with federal and state laws and regulations, including those related to environmental matters, the sale of alcohol, cigarettes and fresh foods, employment and health benefits, including the Affordable Care Act, immigration and international trade.
You should consider the areas of risk described above, as well as those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, in connection with considering any forward-looking statements that may be made by us and our businesses generally. We cannot assure you that anticipated results or events reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. The forward-looking statements included in this report are made as of the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events after the date of this report.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following MD&A is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition. This section is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to these financial statements contained elsewhere in this report, and the MD&A section and the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to those financial statements in our Form 10-K. Our Form 10-K contains a discussion of other matters not included herein, such as disclosures regarding critical accounting policies and estimates and contractual obligations.
MD&A is organized as follows:
Recent Developments—This section describes significant recent developments, including our asset exchange transaction with Circle K.
Significant Factors Affecting Our Profitability—This section describes the significant impact on our results of operations caused by crude oil commodity price volatility, seasonality and acquisition and financing activities.
Results of Operations—This section provides an analysis of our results of operations, including the results of operations of our business segments, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 and non-GAAP financial measures.
Liquidity and Capital Resources—This section provides a discussion of our financial condition and cash flows. It also includes a discussion of our debt, capital requirements, other matters impacting our liquidity and capital resources and an outlook for our business.
New Accounting Policies—This section describes new accounting pronouncements that we have already adopted, those that we are required to adopt in the future and those that became applicable in the current year as a result of new circumstances.
Critical Accounting Policies Involving Critical Accounting Estimates—This section describes the accounting policies and estimates that we consider most important for our business and that require significant judgment.
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Recent Developments
Asset Exchange Transaction with Circle K
On December 17, 2018, as approved by the independent conflicts committee of the Board, we entered into an Asset Exchange Agreement (the “Asset Exchange Agreement”) with Circle K. Pursuant to the Asset Exchange Agreement, the parties have agreed to exchange (i) certain assets of CrossAmerica related to 56 convenience and fuel retail stores currently leased and operated by Circle K pursuant to a master lease that CrossAmerica previously purchased jointly with or from CST (the “master lease properties”), and 17 convenience and fuel retail stores currently owned and operated by CrossAmerica located in the U.S. Upper Midwest (collectively, including the master lease properties, the “CAPL Properties”), having an aggregate value of approximately $184.5 million, for (ii) certain assets of Circle K related to 192 (162 fee and 30 leased) company-operated convenience and fuel retail stores (the “CK Properties”), having an aggregate value of approximately $184.5 million The existing fuel supply arrangements for the 56 master lease properties will remain unchanged. The estimated positive net impact to our annual EBITDA following the close of all tranches is $6 to $7 million.
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New Credit Facility
On April 1, 2019, we entered into a new credit agreement, which provides the following key benefits:
See Note 7 to the financial statements for additional information.
Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability
The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit
Wholesale segment
The prices paid to our motor fuel suppliers for wholesale motor fuel (which affects our cost of sales) are highly correlated to the price of crude oil. The crude oil commodity markets are highly volatile, and the market prices of crude oil, and, correspondingly, the market prices of wholesale motor fuel, experience significant and rapid fluctuations. We receive a fixed mark-up per gallon on approximately 82% of gallons sold to our customers. The remaining gallons are primarily DTW priced contracts with our customers. These contracts provide for variable, market-based pricing that results in motor fuel gross profit effects similar to retail motor fuel gross profits (as crude oil prices decline, motor fuel gross profit generally increases, as discussed in our Retail segment below). The increase in DTW gross profit results from the cost of wholesale motor fuel declining at a faster rate as compared to the rate that retail motor fuel prices decline. Conversely, our DTW motor fuel gross profit declines when the cost of wholesale motor fuel increases at a faster rate as compared to the rate that retail motor fuel prices increase.
From the time of the November 2017 Jet-Pep acquisition through October 31, 2018, we purchased motor fuel for our Jet-Pep Assets from Circle K at Circle K’s cost plus terminal and administration fees of $0.015 per gallon. Circle K’s cost to supply these sites included price fluctuations associated with index-based motor fuel pricing for pipeline delivery and the generation and sale of Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”). Effective November 1, 2018, we amended our contract with Circle K such that our cost is based on a rack-based price, which reduces our exposure to price fluctuations inherent in the previous pricing methodology. We are in the process of rebranding substantially all these sites to a major fuel supplier and anticipate a positive impact on volume and fuel margin.
Regarding our supplier relationships, a majority of our total gallons purchased are subject to Terms Discounts. The dollar value of these discounts increases and decreases corresponding to motor fuel prices. Therefore, in periods of lower wholesale motor fuel prices, our gross profit is negatively affected, and, in periods of higher wholesale motor fuel prices, our gross profit is positively affected (as it relates to these discounts). We expect the impact of these Terms Discounts to diminish as we increase the amount of fuel from Circle K under subjobber agreements which do not include prompt-pay discounts. We anticipate this to reduce the volatility of our fuel gross margin thereby making our cash flows more stable.
Retail segment
We attempt to pass along wholesale motor fuel price changes to our retail customers through “at the pump” retail price changes; however, market conditions do not always allow us to do so immediately. The timing of any related increase or decrease in “at the pump” retail prices is affected by competitive conditions in each geographic market in which we operate. As such, the prices we charge our customers for motor fuel and the gross profit we receive on our motor fuel sales can increase or decrease significantly over short periods of time.
Changes in our average motor fuel selling price per gallon and gross margin are directly related to the changes in crude oil and wholesale motor fuel prices. Variations in our reported revenues and cost of sales are, therefore, primarily related to the price of crude oil and wholesale motor fuel prices and generally not as a result of changes in motor fuel sales volumes, unless otherwise indicated and discussed below.
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We typically experience lower retail motor fuel gross profits in periods when the wholesale cost of motor fuel increases, and higher retail motor fuel gross profits in periods when the wholesale cost of motor fuel declines.
Seasonality Effects on Volumes
Our business is subject to seasonality due to our wholesale and retail sites being located in certain geographic areas that are affected by seasonal weather and temperature trends and associated changes in retail customer activity during different seasons. Historically, sales volumes have been highest in the second and third quarters (during the summer months) and lowest during the winter months in the first and fourth quarters.
Impact of Inflation
Inflation affects our financial performance by increasing certain of our operating expenses and cost of goods sold. Operating expenses include labor costs, leases, and general and administrative expenses. While our Wholesale segment benefits from higher Terms Discounts as a result of higher fuel costs, inflation could negatively impact our Retail segment as a result of higher motor fuel, merchandise and operating costs. Although we have historically been able to pass on increased costs through price increases, there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.
Acquisition and Financing Activity
Our results of operations and financial condition are also impacted by our acquisition and financing activities as summarized below.
In March and May 2018, we purchased the leasehold interest in three retail sites from Circle K for $0.5 million.
In July and September 2018, respectively, we sold two sites acquired in the Jet-Pep Assets acquisition and nine Upper Midwest sites to unaffiliated third parties as a result of FTC orders for total proceeds of $4.9 million.
On April 1, 2019, we entered into a new credit facility as further discussed in “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt” and Note 7 to the financial statements.
Adoption of ASC 842
As further discussed in Notes 1 and 15 to the financial statements, we adopted ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, and as a result, our results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not directly comparable to the results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Most significantly, payments on our previous failed sale-leaseback obligations were characterized as principal and interest expense in periods prior to 2019. Starting in 2019, these payments are characterized as rent expense. These payments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $1.7 million and $0.1 million for the Wholesale and Retail segments, respectively. Of the total payments, $1.4 million was classified as interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018. See “Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Income Statement Analysis
Below is an analysis of our consolidated statements of operations and provides the primary reasons for significant increases and decreases in the various income statement line items from period to period. Our consolidated statements of operations are as follows (in thousands):
Operating revenues
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Consolidated Results
Operating revenues decreased $82.8 million (15%), while gross profit decreased $2.9 million (7%).
Significant items impacting these results prior to the elimination of intercompany revenues were:
A $75.0 million (15%) decrease in our Wholesale segment revenues primarily attributable to the decrease in crude oil prices. The average daily spot price of WTI crude oil decreased 13% to $54.82 per barrel for the first quarter of 2019, compared to $62.91 per barrel for the first quarter of 2018. The wholesale price of motor fuel is highly correlated to the price of crude oil. See “Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability—The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit.” In addition, volume decreased 7% primarily due to the 2018 divestitures mandated by FTC orders, the termination of supply contracts (many of which were low margin) and seasonal weather.
A $30.3 million (20%) decrease in our Retail segment revenues primarily attributable to a 16% decrease in volume driven by the 2018 divestitures of seven company operated Upper Midwest and two commission agent sites mandated by FTC orders, the conversion of commission sites included in the Retail segment to lessee dealer sites included in the Wholesale segment and seasonal weather. In addition, crude oil prices decreased 13%. See “Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability—The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit.”
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Intersegment revenues
We present the results of operations of our segments on a consistent basis with how our management views the business. Therefore, our segments are presented before intersegment eliminations (which consist of motor fuel sold by our Wholesale segment to our Retail segment). As a result, in order to reconcile to our consolidated change in operating revenues, a discussion of the change in intersegment revenues is included in our consolidated MD&A discussion.
Our intersegment revenues decreased $22.5 million (23%), primarily attributable to the 2018 divestitures mandated by FTC orders, the conversion of commission sites included in our Retail segment to lessee dealer sites included in the Wholesale segment and the decrease in wholesale prices discussed above.
Cost of sales decreased $79.9 million (16%) as a result of the decrease in wholesale motor fuel prices and volume decreases discussed above. See “Results of Operations—Segment Results” for additional gross profit analyses.
See “Results of Operations—Segment Results” for operating expenses analyses.
General and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million (6%) primarily attributable to a $0.6 million decrease in acquisition-related costs, partially offset by increases in equity compensation expense as a result of more equity awards outstanding and separation benefits.
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense decreased $2.4 million primarily due to a $1.2 million impairment charge recorded in the first quarter of 2018 related to the two Jet-Pep sites required to be divested per FTC order as well as a $0.4 million reduction related to removing the property and equipment associated with our previous sale-leaseback transactions from our balance sheet as part of our transition adjustment in connection with the adoption of ASC 842 (see Note 1 to the financial statements for additional details). The remaining reduction is primarily driven by assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized.
Interest expense decreased $0.7 million due to a $1.4 million reduction relating to the adoption of ASC 842 and the resulting recharacterization of lease payments on our sale-leaseback transactions from principal and interest expense for periods prior to 2019 to rent expense starting in 2019. See Note 1 to the financial statements for additional information. Partially offsetting this decrease was a $0.9 million increase on borrowings under our credit facility due to an increase in the average interest rate from 4.7% to 5.3%.
IDR distributions decreased $1.0 million as a result of the lower distribution per common unit in 2019 as compared to 2018.
Segment Results
We present the results of operations of our segments consistent with how our management views the business. Therefore, our segments are presented before intersegment eliminations (which consist of motor fuel sold by our Wholesale segment to our Retail segment). These comparisons are not necessarily indicative of future results.
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The following table highlights the results of operations and certain operating metrics of our Wholesale segment. The narrative following these tables provides an analysis of the results of operations of that segment (thousands of dollars, except for the number of distribution sites and per gallon amounts):
Gross profit:
Motor fuel–third party
8,068
7,632
Motor fuel–intersegment and related party
6,702
6,667
Motor fuel gross profit
14,770
14,299
Rent and other(a)
14,210
16,379
Total gross profit
28,980
30,678
Income from CST Fuel Supply equity interests(b)
(8,118
(8,320
Adjusted EBITDA(c)
Motor fuel distribution sites (end of period):(d)
Independent dealers(e)
363
383
Lessee dealers(f)
502
449
Total motor fuel distribution–third party sites
865
832
DMS (related party)(g)
82
134
Circle K (related party)
Commission agents (Retail segment)(h)
172
180
Company operated retail sites (Retail segment)(i)
63
Total motor fuel distribution–intersegment
and related party sites
360
Motor fuel distribution sites (average during the
period):
Motor fuel-third party distribution
863
824
Motor fuel-intersegment and related party
distribution
435
Total motor fuel distribution sites
1,226
1,259
Volume of gallons distributed (in thousands)
Third party
151,397
149,259
Intersegment and related party
79,836
100,249
Total volume of gallons distributed
231,233
249,508
Wholesale margin per gallon
0.064
0.057
See Notes 1 and 15 to the financial statements for additional information regarding the impact of adopting ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, which impacted rent and other gross profit for 2019, resulting in the results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 not being comparable to our results for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(b)
Represents income from our equity interest in CST Fuel Supply.
(c)
Please see the reconciliation of our segment’s Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income (loss) under the heading “Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
(d)
In addition, as of March 31, 2019 and 2018, we distributed motor fuel to 13 and 14 sub-wholesalers, respectively, who distributed to additional sites.
(e)
The decrease in the independent dealer site count was primarily attributable to the termination or non-renewal of fuel supply contracts, a significant number of which were low margin.
(f)
The increase in the lessee dealer site count was primarily attributable to converting sites operated by DMS and commission agents to lessee dealers.
(g)
The decrease in the DMS site count was primarily attributable to converting DMS sites to lessee dealer sites.
(h)
The decrease in the commission site count was primarily attributable to converting commission sites in the Retail segment to lessee dealer sites in the Wholesale segment.
(i)
The decrease in the company operated site count was primarily attributable to the divestitures mandated by FTC orders.
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The results were driven by:
The $0.5 million (3%) increase in motor fuel gross profit was primarily due to a $1.1 million improvement in our fuel margin from sites in our Alabama market driven by the rebranding of these sites beginning November 1, 2018 and the concurrent change in terms under our subjobber agreement with Circle K, partially offset by a reduction in Terms Discounts in 2019 as compared to 2018 due to the decrease in motor fuel prices. The average daily spot price of WTI crude oil decreased 13% to $54.82 per barrel for the first quarter of 2019, compared to $62.91 per barrel for the first quarter of 2018. See “Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability—The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit.” Volume declined 7% as a result of the 2018 divestitures mandated by FTC orders, the termination or non-renewal of fuel supply contracts (a significant number of which were low margin) and seasonal weather.
Rent and other gross profit
Rent and other gross profit decreased $2.2 million (13%) primarily as a result of the new lease accounting guidance. Lease payments on our previous sale-leaseback transactions totaling $1.7 million were characterized as principal and interest expense in 2018, whereas such payments were characterized as rent expense in 2019. In addition, we received $0.4 million less in fees from dealers upon the termination of their contracts in 2019 as compared to 2018.
Operating expenses decreased $0.2 million primarily as a result of lower remediation costs incurred at individual sites that are not covered by state UST funds, insurance or other indemnifications.
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The following table highlights the results of operations and certain operating metrics of our Retail segment. The narrative following these tables provides an analysis of the results of operations of that segment (thousands of dollars, except for the number of retail sites, gallons sold per day and per gallon amounts):
1,544
2,156
Merchandise and services
4,911
5,742
1,388
1,473
7,843
9,371
(7,235
(8,022
Adjusted EBITDA(b)
Retail sites (end of period):
Commission agents(c)
Company operated retail sites(d)
Total system sites at the end of the period
235
251
Total system operating statistics:
Average retail fuel sites during the period
250
Motor fuel sales (gallons per site per day)
2,060
Motor fuel gross profit per gallon, net of credit card
fees and commissions
0.035
0.042
Commission agents statistics:
0.016
0.014
Company operated retail site statistics:
70
fees
0.080
0.101
Merchandise and services gross profit percentage,
net of credit card fees
24.5
%
25.4
Please see the reconciliation of our segment’s Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income under the heading “Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
The decrease in the commission site count was primarily driven by the conversion of commission sites in the Retail segment to lessee dealer sites in the Wholesale segment.
The decrease in the company operated retail site count was primarily driven by the divestitures mandated by FTC orders.
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Gross profit decreased $1.5 million (16%) while operating expenses decreased $0.8 million (10%).
These results were impacted by:
Our motor fuel gross profit decreased $0.6 million (28%) attributable to a 16% decrease in volume driven by the 2018 divestitures of seven company operated Upper Midwest and two commission agent sites mandated by FTC orders, the conversion of commission sites in our Retail segment to lessee dealer sites in our Wholesale segment and seasonal weather. In addition, we realized a lower margin per gallon at our company operated sites in 2019 as compared to 2018, driven by the movement in crude oil prices throughout the two periods. See “Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability—The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit.”
Our merchandise and services gross profit decreased $0.8 million (14%) as a result of the September 2018 divestitures of seven company operated Upper Midwest sites mandated by FTC orders.
Rent and other gross profit decreased $0.1 million primarily as a result of the new lease accounting guidance. Lease payments on our previous sale-leaseback transactions totaling $0.1 million were characterized as principal and interest expense in 2018, whereas such payments were characterized as rent expense in 2019.
Operating expenses decreased $0.8 million (10%) due primarily to the 2018 divestitures of seven company operated sites in the Upper Midwest and two commission sites mandated by FTC orders as well as the conversion of commission sites in our Retail segment to lessee dealer sites in our Wholesale segment.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We use non-GAAP financial measures EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio. EBITDA represents net income available to us before deducting interest expense, income taxes and depreciation, amortization and accretion (which includes certain impairment charges). Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA as further adjusted to exclude equity funded expenses related to incentive compensation and the Amended Omnibus Agreement, gains or losses on dispositions and lease terminations, net, certain discrete acquisition related costs, such as legal and other professional fees and separation benefit costs associated with recently acquired companies, and certain other discrete non-cash items arising from purchase accounting. Distributable Cash Flow represents Adjusted EBITDA less cash interest expense, sustaining capital expenditures and current income tax expense. Distribution Coverage Ratio is computed by dividing Distributable Cash Flow by the weighted-average diluted common units and then dividing that result by the distributions paid per limited partner unit.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio are used as supplemental financial measures by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors and lenders. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used to assess our financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure or income taxes and the ability to incur and service debt and to fund capital expenditures. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is used to assess the operating performance of our business on a consistent basis by excluding the impact of items which do not result directly from the wholesale distribution of motor fuel, the leasing of real property, or the day to day operations of our retail site activities. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio are also used to assess the ability to generate cash sufficient to make distributions to our unitholders.
We believe the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio provides useful information to investors in assessing the financial condition and results of operations. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio should not be considered alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income. Additionally, because EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage Ratio may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.
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The following table presents reconciliations of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable Cash Flow to net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except for per unit amounts):
Net income (loss) available to limited partners(a)
Interest expense(a)
7,337
8,052
EBITDA(a)
20,626
21,840
Equity funded expenses related to incentive
compensation and the Amended Omnibus
Agreement(b)
3,343
Acquisition-related costs(c)
558
1,056
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
21,445
26,009
Cash interest expense(a)
(7,047
(7,624
Sustaining capital expenditures(d)
(326
(790
Current income tax expense
(815
(924
Distributable Cash Flow(a)
13,257
16,671
Weighted-average diluted common units
34,456
34,165
Distributions paid per limited partner unit(e)
Distribution Coverage Ratio(a)(f)
0.73x
0.78x
As further discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, we adopted ASC 842 effective January 1, 2019, and as a result, our results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not directly comparable to the results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Most significantly, payments on our previous failed sale-leaseback obligations were characterized as principal and interest expense in periods prior to 2019. Starting in 2019, these payments are characterized as rent expense. These payments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 amounted to approximately $1.7 million and $0.1 million for the wholesale and retail segments, respectively. Of the total payments, $1.4 million was classified as interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
As approved by the independent conflicts committee of the Board, the Partnership and Circle K mutually agreed to settle certain amounts due under the terms of the Amended Omnibus Agreement in limited partner units of the Partnership.
Relates to certain discrete acquisition related costs, such as legal and other professional fees, separation benefit costs and certain purchase accounting adjustments associated with recently acquired businesses.
Under the Partnership Agreement, sustaining capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to maintain our long-term operating income or operating capacity. Examples of sustaining capital expenditures are those made to maintain existing contract volumes, including payments to renew existing distribution contracts, or to maintain our sites in conditions suitable to lease, such as parking lot or roof replacement/renovation, or to replace equipment required to operate the existing business.
On April 25, 2019, the Board approved a quarterly distribution of $0.5250 per unit attributable to the first quarter of 2019. The distribution is payable on May 13, 2019 to all unitholders of record on May 6, 2019.
The distribution coverage ratio is computed by dividing Distributable Cash Flow by the weighted-average diluted common units and then dividing that result by the distributions paid per limited partner unit.
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The table below shows approximate adjustments to our Net loss available to limited partners, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Distribution Coverage for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as if ASC 842 had been applied since January 1, 2018 (in thousands, except for per unit amounts).
Adjustments
Net loss available to limited partners
(404
(2,389
(1,403
6,649
(1,807
20,033
Agreement
Gain on dispositions and lease terminations, net
Acquisition-related costs
Adjusted EBITDA
24,202
Cash interest expense
1,403
(6,221
Sustaining capital expenditures
Distributable Cash Flow
16,267
Distributions paid per limited partner unit
Distribution Coverage Ratio
-0.02x
0.76x
The following table reconciles our segment Adjusted EBITDA to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA presented in the table above (in thousands):
Adjusted EBITDA - Wholesale segment
Adjusted EBITDA - Retail segment
Adjusted EBITDA - Total segment
24,896
27,512
Reconciling items:
Elimination of intersegment profit in ending
inventory balance
254
(98
(4,418
(4,720
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling
interests
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We incorporate by reference into this “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section our disclosures made in Part I, Item 1 of this report included in Note 7 of the notes to the financial statements under the caption “New Credit Agreement.”
Liquidity
Our principal liquidity requirements are to finance our operations, fund acquisitions, service our debt and pay distributions to our unitholders and IDR distributions. We expect our ongoing sources of liquidity to include cash generated by our operations and borrowings under the New Credit Agreement and, if available to us on acceptable terms, issuances of equity and debt securities. We regularly evaluate alternate sources of capital, including sale-leaseback financing of real property with third parties, to support our liquidity requirements.
Our ability to meet our debt service obligations and other capital requirements, including capital expenditures, acquisitions, and partnership distributions, will depend on our future operating performance, which, in turn, will be subject to general economic, financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other conditions, many of which are beyond our control. As a normal part of our business, depending on market conditions, we will, from time to time, consider opportunities to repay, redeem, repurchase or refinance our indebtedness. Changes in our operating plans, lower than anticipated sales, increased expenses, acquisitions or other events may cause us to seek additional debt or equity financing in future periods.
We believe that we will have sufficient cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity under the New Credit Agreement and access to capital markets and alternate sources of funding to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, contingencies, anticipated capital expenditures and partnership distributions. However, we are subject to business and operational risks that could adversely affect our cash flow. A material decrease in our cash flows would likely produce an adverse effect on our borrowing capacity as well as our ability to issue additional equity and/or debt securities and/or maintain or increase distributions to unitholders. See Note 7 to the financial statements for a discussion of the New Credit Agreement we entered into on April 1, 2019.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes cash flow activity (in thousands):
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, primarily attributable to settling $3.3 million of omnibus charges in common units in 2018, whereas all omnibus charges were settled in cash in 2019. In addition, wholesale fuel prices increased more significantly throughout the first quarter of 2019 as compared to the first quarter of 2018, driving an increase in receivables during the first quarter of 2019.
As is typical in our industry, our current liabilities exceed our current assets as a result of the longer settlement of real estate and motor fuel taxes as compared to the shorter settlement of receivables for fuel, rent and merchandise.
Investing Activities
We incurred capital expenditures of $7.1 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase was largely driven by the rebranding of sites in our Alabama market.
Financing Activities
We paid $18.2 million in distributions and made net borrowings on our credit facility of $18.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. We paid $22.6 million in distributions and made net borrowings on our credit facility of $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
34
Distribution activity for 2019 was as follows:
Cash Distribution
We distributed $0.1 million and $1.2 million to Circle K with respect to the IDRs for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As of March 31, 2019, our consolidated debt and finance lease obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):
Our borrowings under the revolving credit facility had a weighted-average interest rate of 5.24% as of March 31, 2019 (LIBOR plus an applicable margin, which was 2.75% as of March 31, 2019). Letters of credit outstanding at March 31, 2019 totaled $5.5 million.
See Note 7 to the financial statements for information on the New Credit Agreement we entered into on April 1, 2019. The amount of availability under the New Credit Agreement at May 2, 2019, after taking into consideration debt covenant restrictions, was $20.8 million.
Capital Expenditures
We make investments to expand, upgrade and enhance existing assets. We categorize our capital requirements as either sustaining capital expenditures, growth capital expenditures or acquisition capital expenditures. Sustaining capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain our long-term operating income or operating capacity. Acquisition and growth capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that we expect will increase our operating income or operating capacity over the long term. We have the ability to fund our capital expenditures by additional borrowings under our New Credit Agreement or, if available to us on acceptable terms, issuing additional equity, debt securities or other options, such as the sale of assets. Our ability to access the capital markets may have an impact on our ability to fund acquisitions. We may not be able to complete any offering of securities or other options on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
The following table summarizes our capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
Sustaining capital
326
790
Growth
6,752
1,307
Total capital expenditures and acquisitions
7,078
2,097
As noted previously, the increase in capital expenditures was largely driven by the rebranding of sites in our Alabama market.
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Other Matters Impacting Liquidity and Capital Resources
Concentration of Customers
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we distributed approximately 8% of our total wholesale distribution volumes to DMS and DMS accounted for approximately 9% of our rental income. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we distributed 7% of our total wholesale distribution volume to Circle K retail sites that are not supplied by CST Fuel Supply and received 19% of our rental income from Circle K. For more information regarding transactions with DMS and Circle K, see Note 9 of the financial statements.
Outlook
As noted previously, the prices paid to our motor fuel suppliers for wholesale motor fuel (which affects our costs of sales) are highly correlated to the price of crude oil. The crude oil commodity markets are highly volatile, and the market prices of crude oil, and, correspondingly, the market prices of wholesale motor fuel, experience significant and rapid fluctuations, which affect our motor fuel gross profit. See “Significant Factors Affecting our Profitability—The Significance of Crude Oil and Wholesale Motor Fuel Prices on Our Revenues, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit” for additional information.
Our results for 2019 are anticipated to be impacted by the following:
Transactions effected pursuant to the Asset Exchange Agreement entered into with Circle K are anticipated to increase motor fuel volume and motor fuel gross profit.
We anticipate that we will enter into a new subjobber agreement with Circle K to supply approximately 400 of our sites previously supplied under our contracts with certain suppliers. We anticipate an improvement in motor fuel gross profit at these sites.
Improved fuel pricing under the November 2018 amendment to our fuel distribution agreements with Circle K to supply the sites acquired in our Jet-Pep Assets acquisition is also anticipated to positively impact motor fuel gross profit. We are in the process of rebranding substantially all of these sites to a major fuel supplier and anticipate a positive impact on volume as well.
New lease accounting guidance adopted January 1, 2019 has resulted in the recharacterization of lease payments under our previous sale-leaseback transactions. Such payments have been characterized as principal and interest expense under lease accounting guidance effective for 2018 and prior but is characterized as rent expense as a component of gross profit under the new lease accounting guidance effective for 2019 and forward. As a result, gross profit particularly from the Wholesale segment, operating income, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow for periods subsequent to the January 1, 2019 adoption date are not directly comparable to such measures reported for periods prior to the January 1, 2019 adoption date. This change in accounting did not have any impact on the debt covenant calculations under our New Credit Agreement. See Notes 1 and 15 to the financial statements for additional information.
We will continue to evaluate acquisitions on an opportunistic basis. Additionally, we will pursue acquisition targets that fit into our strategy. Whether we will be able to execute acquisitions will depend on market conditions, availability of suitable acquisition targets at attractive terms, acquisition related compliance with customary regulatory requirements, and our ability to finance such acquisitions on favorable terms and in compliance with our debt covenant restrictions.
Similar to the transaction described in “Recent Developments—Asset Exchange Transaction with Circle K,” we intend, when favorable market conditions exist and subject to required approvals, including approval by the Board’s independent conflicts committee, to purchase certain assets from Circle K on mutually agreeable terms, which could include a portion of the independent dealer and lessee dealer wholesale business of Circle K and certain non-core retail convenience sites of Circle K with the intent to convert them to lessee dealer sites.
New Accounting Policies
See Note 1 of the financial statements, particularly as it relates to the adoption of ASC 842 on our accounting for leases.
Critical Accounting Policies Involving Critical Accounting Estimates
There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies described in our Form 10-K.
36
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market Risk
We purchase gasoline and diesel fuel from several suppliers at costs that are subject to market volatility. These purchases are generally made pursuant to contracts or at market prices established with the supplier. We do not currently engage in hedging activities for these purchases due to our pricing structure that allows us to generally pass on price changes to our customers and related parties.
Interest Rate Risk
As of March 31, 2019, we had $516.5 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility. Our outstanding borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus an applicable margin, which was 2.75% at March 31, 2019. Our borrowings had a weighted-average interest rate at March 31, 2019 of 5.24%. A one percentage point change in our average rate would impact annual interest expense by approximately $5.2 million. See Note 7 to the financial statements for a discussion of the New Credit Agreement we entered into on April 1, 2019.
Commodity Price Risk
We have not historically hedged or managed our price risk with respect to our commodity inventories (gasoline and diesel fuel), as the time period between the purchases of our motor fuel inventory and the sales to our customers is very short.
From the time of the November 2017 Jet-Pep Assets acquisition through October 31, 2018, we purchased motor fuel for our Jet-Pep Assets from Circle K at Circle K’s cost plus terminal and administration fees of $0.015 per gallon. Circle K’s cost to supply these sites included price fluctuations associated with index-based motor fuel pricing for pipeline delivery and the generation and sale of RINs. Effective November 1, 2018, we amended our contract with Circle K such that our cost is based on a rack-based price, which reduces our exposure to price fluctuations inherent in the previous pricing methodology. We are in the process of rebranding substantially all these sites to a major fuel supplier and anticipate a positive impact on volume and fuel margin.
Regarding our supplier relationships, a majority of our total gallons purchased are subject to discounts for prompt payment and other rebates and incentives, which are recorded within cost of sales. Prompt payment discounts are based on a percentage of the purchase price of motor fuel. As such, the dollar value of these discounts increases and decreases corresponding with motor fuel prices. We have not historically hedged or managed our price risk with respect to these terms discounts. Based on our current volumes, we estimate a $10 per barrel change in the price of crude oil would impact our annual wholesale motor fuel gross profit by approximately $2 million related to these payment discounts.
Foreign Currency Risk
Our operations are located in the U.S., and therefore we are not subject to foreign currency risk.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management has evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report, and based on their evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2019.
(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We hereby incorporate by reference into this Item our disclosures made in Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report included in Note 10 of the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There were no material changes in risk factors for the company in the period covered by this report. See the risk factors disclosed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2019, among CrossAmerica Partners LP, as borrower, Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services, Inc., as borrower, certain domestic subsidiaries of CrossAmerica Partners LP and Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services, Inc. from time to time party thereto, as guarantors, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 2, 2019
10.2 *
Amendment to PMPA Franchise Agreement, dated January 1, 2019, by and between Lehigh Gas Wholesale LLC and Lehigh Gas-Ohio, LLC
10.3 *
Amendment to Master Lease Agreement, dated January 1, 2019, by and among LGP Realty Holdings LP, Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services, Inc. and Lehigh Gas-Ohio, LLC
31.1 *
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of CrossAmerica GP LLC as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2 *
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of CrossAmerica GP LLC as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1*†
Certification of Principal Executive Officer of CrossAmerica GP LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350
32.2*†
Certification of Principal Financial Officer of CrossAmerica GP LLC pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350
101.INS *
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH *
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL *
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB *
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE *
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF *
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith
†
Not considered to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
By:
CROSSAMERICA GP LLC, its General Partner
/s/ Evan W. Smith
Evan W. Smith
Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: May 6, 2019