INDIANAPOLIS, June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: CLMT), a leading independent producer of specialty hydrocarbon and fuels products, today announced the sale of its 50% equity interest in Dakota Prairie Refining, LLC ("DPR") to joint venture partner WBI Energy, Inc. ("WBI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc. ("MDU"). Concurrent with Calumet's sale of its equity interest to WBI, Tesoro Corporation has acquired 100% of DPR from WBI in a separate transaction that closed on June 27, 2016.
DPR is a 20,000 bpd fuels refinery with related storage and logistics assets located in Dickinson, North Dakota. DPR commenced operations in May 2015, employs approximately 75 people and produces a combination of diesel fuel, naphtha and atmospheric tower bottoms.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement with WBI, Calumet will receive consideration of $28.5 million and will be released from all financial, commercial and environmental obligations associated with DPR, including certain debt obligations of DPR that currently total approximately $66 million.
"This transaction allows for the orderly divestiture of DPR from Calumet's portfolio, while positioning us to refocus on our vision of becoming the premier provider of petroleum-based specialty products in the world," stated Tim Go, CEO of Calumet. "Further, we view this agreement as an optimal outcome for all parties involved, including the valued employees of DPR, surrounding communities and customers whom the refinery continues to supply."
"Although operations at DPR have been safe and reliable since the refinery commenced production in 2015 – a testament to the dedication and diligence of our on-site employees – market conditions have been challenging, given sustained commodity price volatility and a slowing in commercial activity throughout the Bakken region," continued Go. "For the full-year 2016, we anticipate the sale of our joint venture interest in DPR will positively impact our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, while bolstering our overall liquidity."
"The sale of DPR represents the first significant divestiture in Calumet's 25-year history," continued Go. "This transaction positions us to narrow the Partnership's strategic focus around our remaining portfolio of competitively advantaged, niche market assets. Though a series of operations excellence initiatives, we will seek to extract additional value from this portfolio, while positioning the Partnership to drive sustained growth in cash flows from operations in the coming years."
About Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: CLMT) is a master limited partnership and a leading independent producer of high-quality, specialty hydrocarbon products in North America. Calumet processes crude oil and other feedstocks into customized lubricating oils, solvents and waxes used in consumer, industrial and automotive products; produces fuel products including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel; and provides oilfield services and products to customers throughout the United States. Calumet is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and has thirteen manufacturing facilities located in northwest Louisiana, northwest Wisconsin, northern Montana, western Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Oklahoma and eastern Missouri.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements and information in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee," "should," "would," "could" or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. All comments concerning our expectations for future sales and operating results are based on our forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: the overall demand for specialty hydrocarbon products, fuels and other refined products; our ability to produce specialty products and fuels that meet our customers' unique and precise specifications; the impact of fluctuations and rapid increases or decreases in crude oil and crack spread prices, including the resulting impact on our liquidity; the results of our hedging and other risk management activities; our ability to comply with financial covenants contained in our debt instruments; the availability of, and our ability to consummate, acquisition or combination opportunities and the impact of any completed acquisitions; labor relations; our access to capital to fund expansions, acquisitions and our working capital needs and our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms; successful integration and future performance of acquired assets, businesses or third-party product supply and processing relationships; our ability to timely and effectively integrate the operations of recently acquired businesses or assets, particularly those in new geographic areas or in new lines of business; environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an indemnity, insurance or existing reserves; maintenance of our credit ratings and ability to receive open credit lines from our suppliers; demand for various grades of crude oil and resulting changes in pricing conditions; fluctuations in refinery capacity; our ability to access sufficient crude oil supply through long-term or month-to-month evergreen contracts and on the spot market; the effects of competition; continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, counterparties; the impact of current and future laws, rulings and governmental regulations, including guidance related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; shortages or cost increases of power supplies, natural gas, materials or labor; hurricane or other weather interference with business operations; our ability to access the debt and equity markets; accidents or other unscheduled shutdowns; and general economic, market or business conditions. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.