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Calumet, Inc. /DE (CLMT) FY 2024 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Calumet, Inc. /DE's 10-K for fiscal year 2024. Filing date: 2025-03-03. Report date: 2024-12-31. Accession: 0001558370-25-001961.

This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.

Extracted from a substantive MD&A body after the formal Item 7 span was a TOC or reference stub. Confidence: high.

Company profile: CLMT · All MD&A years: index · Next year: FY 2025

Overview

We manufacture, formulate and market a diversified slate of specialty branded products and renewable fuels to customers across a broad range of consumer-facing and industrial markets. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and operate twelve facilities throughout North America.

Our operations are managed using the following reportable segments: Specialty Products and Solutions; Performance Brands; Montana/Renewables; and Corporate. For additional information, see Note 18 — “Segments and Related Information” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” In our Specialty Products and Solutions segment, we manufacture and market a wide variety of solvents, waxes, customized lubricating oils, white oils, petrolatums, gels, esters, and other products. Our specialty products are sold to domestic and international customers who purchase them primarily as raw material components for consumer-facing and industrial products. In our Performance Brands segment, we blend, package and market high performance products through our Royal Purple, Bel-Ray, and TruFuel brands. Our Montana/Renewables segment is comprised of two facilities — renewable fuels and specialty asphalt. At our Great Falls renewable fuels facility, we process a variety of geographically advantaged renewable feedstocks into renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable hydrogen, renewable natural gas, renewable propane, and renewable naphtha that are distributed into renewable markets in the western half of North America. At our Montana specialty asphalt facility, we process Canadian crude oil into conventional gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and specialty grades of asphalt, with production sized to serve local markets. Our Corporate segment primarily consists of general and administrative expenses not allocated to the Specialty Products and Solutions, Performance Brands or Montana/Renewables segments.

Recent Developments

Corporate Conversion

On July 10, 2024, Calumet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Calumet”), completed the previously announced conversion transaction contemplated by the Conversion Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2024 (as amended, the “Conversion Agreement”), by and among Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”), the General Partner, Calumet Merger Sub I LLC (“Merger Sub I”), Calumet Merger Sub II LLC (“Merger Sub II”) and the other parties thereto, including The Heritage Group (the “Sponsor Parties”). Pursuant to the Conversion Agreement, (a) Merger Sub II merged with and into the Partnership, with the Partnership continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and all of the common units were exchanged into the right to receive an equal number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) and (b) Merger Sub I merged with and into the General Partner, with the General Partner continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and all outstanding equity interests of the General Partner (1,640,583 general partner units) were exchanged into the right to receive an aggregate of 5,500,000 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 warrants to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $20.00 per share (subject to adjustment) on or prior to July 10, 2027.

9.75% Senior Notes due 2028

On January 16, 2025, the Partnership and Calumet Finance Corp. (collectively, the “Issuers”) issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of a new series of the Issuers’ 9.75% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 2028 Notes were issued at 98% of par for net proceeds of approximately $96.2 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount and estimated

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offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to redeem a portion of the Issuers’ outstanding 2026 Notes on or before April 15, 2025.

U.S. Department of Energy Facility

On January 10, 2025, MRL and the DOE, as guarantor and loan servicer, executed a Loan Guarantee Agreement (“LGA”) for a $1.44 billion guaranteed loan facility to fund the construction and expansion of the renewable fuels facility owned by MRL. The loan guarantee is structured in two tranches, with the first tranche of approximately $782 million disbursed on February 18, 2025 (the “Funding Date”) to fund eligible expenses previously incurred by MRL. MRL has the ability to draw additional tranches of up to $658 million through a delayed draw construction facility from the beginning of construction in 2025 through the anticipated completion of the MaxSAFTM project in 2028, which includes a series of discrete, modular projects to enhance MRL’s SAF capacity. Under the MaxSAFTM project, we are planning to increase SAF capacity to approximately 150 million gallons per year within two years and approximately 300 million gallons at the completion of the project. The second tranche under the LGA is subject to the achievement of certain milestone conditions. As a result, we can provide no assurance on the funding of the second tranche under the LGA.

The LGA is secured by substantially all of MRL’s assets, and a pledge from MRHL over its right, title and interests to 100% of the equity interests of MRL. The LGA contains events of default that are customary in nature for financings of this type, including, among other things, (a) the non-payment of principal or interest, (b) material violations of covenants, (c) material breaches of representations and warrants, (d) certain bankruptcy events and (e) certain change of control events.

The LGA is also subject to amortization events that are customary in nature for financings of this type, including (a) failure to maintain financial ratios, (b) disposition of certain assets and (c) failure to meet certain project milestones. The occurrence of an amortization event or an event of default could result in accelerated amortization of the LGA, and the occurrence of an event of default could, in certain instances, result in the liquidation of the collateral securing the LGA.

In connection with the funding of the first tranche under the DOE Facility, MRL terminated (i) the Master Lease Agreement (including the equipment schedules thereto) and the Interim Funding Agreement, each dated as of December 31, 2021, as amended from time to time (collectively, the “MRL Asset Financing Arrangements”), between MRL and Stonebriar Commercial Finance LLC (“Stonebriar”), (ii) the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2023, as amended from time to time (the “MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement”), among MRL, MRHL, the lenders from time to time party thereto (including an affiliate of I Squared Capital) and Delaware Trust Company, as administrative agent, (iii) the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2022, as amended from time to time (the “MRL Revolving Credit Agreement”), among MRL, MRHL and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and lender and (iv) the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement, including the Credit Support Annex to the Schedule thereto and the Renewable Fuel & Feedstock Repurchase Master Confirmation, dated October 3, 2023, as amended from time to time (the “MRL Supply and Offtake Agreement”), between MRL and Wells Fargo Commodities, LLC.

On the Funding Date, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the first tranche of the DOE Facility to:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
repurchase all of the equipment associated with the MRL Asset Financing Arrangements for approximately $392.3 million (including exit fees of $23.0 million);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
repay in full the outstanding loans of approximately $83.8 million under the MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement (including a make-whole premium of approximately $9.4 million and an early termination premium of approximately $0.7 million);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
repay in full the outstanding loans of approximately $26.7 million under the MRL Revolving Credit Agreement; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
repay in full the outstanding obligations of approximately $32.5 million under the MRL Supply and Offtake Agreement.

Refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information regarding the MRL Asset Financing Arrangements, the MRL Term Loan Credit

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Agreement and MRL Revolving Credit Agreement. Refer to Note 7 — “Inventory Financing Agreements” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information regarding the MRL Supply and Offtake Agreement.

In addition, the Company received $40.0 million of cash from Stonebriar on the Funding Date in satisfaction of the remaining purchase price for the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement. Refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information regarding the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement.

2024 Update

Outlook and Trends

During the fourth quarter of 2024, our business continued to benefit from strong production volumes. In the fourth quarter, we achieved new operational milestones, including another exceptional production quarter following the volume records set in the third quarter of 2024 in our specialties business. At Montana Renewables, we successfully completed a planned turnaround in December and achieved our year end operational cost target of $0.70/gallon. Additionally, we continue to benefit from enhanced operational performance following the capital investments we have made over the past few years on projects designed to improve asset reliability.

In our Specialties Products and Solutions and Performance Brands segments, we continue to benefit from an attractive specialty product margin environment, which has proved resilient despite the weakened commodity margin environment hampering results for our fuel based products. As anticipated, fourth quarter results reflected typical seasonal impacts to the fuel and asphalt business. Demand for our products in these businesses remained strong in comparison to historical averages and we continue to leverage the benefits of our fully integrated specialty business in this market. As expected, margins continue to normalize relative to the record highs experienced in the second half of 2022 and early 2023. We expect the current margin environment for both specialty products and fuel based products to continue into the first quarter of 2025. Further, we believe low unemployment and stabilizing raw material and packaging costs point to a continuation of healthy demand for the majority of our products. While the risk of recession and inflation continue to be monitored, our plants and the industry are expected to operate at high rates to meet market demand.

In our Montana/Renewables segment, we continue to see strong demand for our renewable fuel products. We maintain our outlook of strong demand for renewable fuel products, including those we produce at our Montana Renewables facility. We believe demand for renewable fuel products will only continue to grow as a result of the increased focus on domestic fuel production, the rapid expansion of corporate decarbonization targets and the benefits thereto for the aviation industry, strategic alignment with the agricultural industry as renewable fuels represent a key end market, broad sustainability initiatives, and governmental mandates and incentives that have been passed or announced by national, state, and provincial jurisdictions across the globe. In light of the global decarbonization initiatives, forecasts of future renewable fuel availability still fall short of the necessary emissions reductions that would be required to reach established decarbonization and/or net-zero goals, as adequate supply does not exist yet. For example, in 2024, our Montana Renewables facility was one of the only facilities in North America capable of SAF production at scale. We believe that our advantage as a first-mover in the renewable fuels market positions us as a key producer for potential offtake partners to help them reach their announced targets. In November 2024, we conducted a planned turnaround to change catalyst at our Montana Renewables facility, which was completed successfully in December. The timing of the turnaround was planned to coincide with a period of margin uncertainty as the blender tax credit transitions to the production tax credit.

Our Montana specialty asphalt facility continues to be impacted by WCS inflationary pressure, but remains strategically advantaged due to its local access to cost-advantaged Canadian conventional crude oil, while producing additional fuels and refined products for delivery into the regional market. Due to its strategic location and logistical capabilities, we believe that our Montana specialty asphalt facility is well-positioned to continue to serve long-standing customers in the regional market.

As we have experienced in the past several years, our integrated business model and diversified product portfolio provides an advantaged response to changing market conditions. While we are not immune to the impacts of an economic

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downturn, we believe our specialty business is well positioned in periods of raw material volatility, which can negatively impact short-term margins, and a variety of economic conditions.

Contingencies

For a summary of litigation and other contingencies, please read Note 6 — “Commitments and Contingencies” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” Based on information available to us at the present time, we do not believe that any liabilities beyond the amounts already accrued, which may result from these contingencies, will have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations.

Financial Results

We reported a net loss of $222.0 million in 2024, versus net income of $48.1 million in 2023. We reported Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Non-GAAP Financial Measures”) of $194.8 million in 2024, versus $260.5 million in 2023. We used cash from operating activities of $46.4 million in 2024, versus using cash from operating activities of $14.9 million in 2023.

Please read Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss), our most directly comparable financial performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Specialty Products and Solutions segment Adjusted EBITDA was $193.6 million in 2024 compared to $251.2 million in the prior year. We remained focused on leveraging our integrated assets and producing greater volumes of specialty products compared to fuels. However, compared to the prior year, Specialty Products and Solutions segment Adjusted EBITDA was unfavorably impacted by the lower commodity margin environment in our fuels business that has impacted the broader industry. Our current period results were favorably impacted by throughput volumes as a result of improved operational performance, reflective of our investments to improve the reliability of our assets.

Montana/Renewables segment Adjusted EBITDA was $16.7 million in 2024 compared to $30.2 million in 2023. Compared to the prior year, Montana/Renewables segment Adjusted EBITDA was unfavorably impacted by a decrease to margins in both our legacy specialty asphalt business and in our renewable fuels business.  In our legacy specialty asphalt business, margins were unfavorably impacted due to a tighter WCS spread exacerbated by a rapid run-up in WCS prices early in the year, a seasonally weak asphalt and gas market during the first half of the year, and a late start to the retail paving season. In our renewable fuels business, margins were unfavorably impacted from higher material costs in the beginning of the year, primarily as it related to processing higher priced pre-treated feedstocks carried into 2024 as a consequence of the summer 2023 slowdown related to a steam system issue, and feedstock price lag in the second half of the year when the industry saw feedstock prices abruptly drop approximately $0.40 per gallon mid-year. Current year results were favorably impacted by strong operations at our Montana Renewables facility, which achieved multiple operational milestones during the year, including achievement of our year end operational cost target of $0.70/gallon.

Performance Brands segment Adjusted EBITDA was $57.4 million in 2024 compared to $47.9 million in 2023. Compared to the prior year, Performance Brands segment Adjusted EBITDA was favorably impacted from the strong volume growth across high performance products, in particular our TruFuel product line and our integrated industrial business. This segment continues to benefit from strong unit margins, reflective of stabilized input costs in our branded and consumer markets and a focus on growing our presence in industrial markets.

Corporate segment Adjusted EBITDA was negative $72.9 million in 2024 versus negative $68.8 million in 2023 primarily due to higher labor and benefits related expenses.

Liquidity Update

As of December 31, 2024, we had total liquidity of $178.2 million comprised of $38.1 million of unrestricted cash and $140.1 million of availability under our revolving credit facilities. As of December 31, 2024, our revolving credit

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facilities had a $472.1 million borrowing base, $286.6 million in outstanding borrowings and $45.4 million of outstanding standby letters of credit. We believe we will continue to have sufficient liquidity from cash on hand, projected cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity and other means by which to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, contingencies, and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. Please read Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for additional information.

Renewable Fuel Standard Update

Along with the broader refining industry, we remain subject to compliance costs under the RFS unless or until we receive a small refinery exemption from the EPA, which we have historically received. Administered by the EPA, the RFS provides annual requirements for the total volume of renewable transportation fuels that are mandated to be blended into finished transportation fuels. If a refiner does not meet its required annual Renewable Volume Obligation, the refiner can purchase blending credits in the open market, referred to as RINs. For more information, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors — The availability and cost of renewable identification numbers and results of litigation related to our SRE petitions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make payments on our debt obligations.”

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a gain of $31.9 million for RINs, as compared to a gain of $231.2 million for RINs for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our gross RINs Obligation, which includes RINs that are required to be secured through either our own blending or through the purchase of RINs in the open market, is spread across four compliance categories (D3, D4, D5 and D6). The gross RINs obligations may be satisfied by our own renewables blending, RIN purchases, or receipt of small refinery exemptions.

Expenses related to RFS compliance have the potential to remain a significant expense for our two segments containing fuels products. If legal or regulatory changes occur that have the effect of increasing our RINs Obligation or eliminating or narrowing the availability of the small refinery exemption under the RFS program, we could be required to purchase additional RINs in the open market, which may materially increase our costs related to RFS compliance and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.

See Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information on the Company’s RINs obligation.

Unrestricted Subsidiaries

See Note 19 — “Unrestricted Subsidiaries” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for further information regarding certain financial information of our unrestricted subsidiaries.

Key Performance Measures

Our sales and results of operations are principally affected by demand for specialty products, fuel and renewable fuel product demand, global fuel crack spreads, the price of natural gas used as fuel in our operations, our ability to operate our production facilities at high utilization, and our results from derivative instrument activities.

Our primary raw materials are crude oil, renewable feedstocks and other specialty feedstocks, and our primary outputs are specialty consumer facing and industrial products, specialty branded products, and fuel and renewable fuel products. The prices of crude oil, specialty products and fuel and renewable fuel products are subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply, demand, market uncertainties and a variety of factors beyond our control. We monitor these risks and from time-to-time enter into derivative instruments designed to help mitigate the impact of commodity price fluctuations on our business. The primary purpose of our commodity risk management activities is to economically hedge our cash flow exposure to commodity price risk. We may also hedge when market conditions exist that we believe to be out of the ordinary and particularly supportive of our financial goals. We enter into derivative contracts for future periods in quantities that do not exceed our projected purchases of crude oil and natural gas and sales of fuel products. Please read

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Note 9 — “Derivatives” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Our management uses several financial and operational measurements to analyze our performance. These measurements include the following:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
sales volumes;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
segment gross profit;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
segment Adjusted gross profit;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
segment Adjusted EBITDA; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
selling, general and administrative expenses.

Sales volumes. We view the volumes of Specialty Products and Solutions products, Montana/Renewables products and Performance Brands products sold as an important measure of our ability to effectively utilize our operating assets. Our ability to meet the demands of our customers is driven by the volumes of feedstocks that we run at our facilities. Higher volumes typically improve profitability both through the spreading of fixed costs over greater volumes and the additional gross profit achieved on the incremental volumes.

Segment gross profit. Specialty Products and Solutions, Montana/Renewables and Performance Brands products’ gross profit are important measures of profitability of our segments. We define gross profit as sales less the cost of crude oil and other feedstocks, LCM/LIFO adjustments, and other production-related expenses, the most significant portion of which includes labor, plant fuel, utilities, contract services, maintenance, transportation, RINs, depreciation and amortization and processing materials. We use gross profit as an indicator of our ability to manage margins in our business over the long-term. The increase or decrease in selling prices typically lags behind the rising or falling costs, respectively, of feedstocks throughout our business. Other than plant fuel, RINs mark-to-market adjustments, and LCM/LIFO adjustments, production related expenses generally remain stable across broad ranges but can fluctuate depending on maintenance activities performed during a specific period.

Segment Adjusted gross profit. Specialty Products and Solutions, Montana/Renewables and Performance Brands products segment Adjusted gross profit measures are useful as they exclude transactions not related to our core cash operating activities and provide metrics to analyze the profitability of the core cash operations of our segments. We define segment Adjusted gross profit as segment gross profit excluding the impact of (a) LCM inventory adjustments; (b) the impact of liquidation of inventory layers calculated using the LIFO method; (c) RINs mark-to-market adjustments; and (d) depreciation and amortization.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA. We believe that Specialty Products and Solutions, Montana/Renewables and Performance Brands segment Adjusted EBITDA measures are useful as they exclude transactions not related to our core cash operating activities and provide metrics to analyze our ability to pay interest to our noteholders. Adjusted EBITDA allows us to meaningfully analyze the trends and performance of our core cash operations as well as to make decisions regarding the allocation of resources to segments. Corporate Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects general and administrative costs.

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Results of Operations

Production Volume. The following table sets forth information about our continuing operations after giving effect to the elimination of all intercompany activity. Facility production volume differs from sales volume due to changes in inventories and the sale of purchased blendstocks such as ethanol and specialty blendstocks, as well as the resale of crude oil.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In bpd)
Total sales volume (1)88,00779,80582,946
Facility production:
Specialty Products and Solutions:
Lubricating oils12,17410,35810,951
Solvents7,5707,2087,100
Waxes1,5401,3261,452
Fuels, asphalt and other by-products36,39637,35340,221
Total Specialty Products and Solutions57,68056,24559,724
Montana/Renewables:
Gasoline3,5563,8983,409
Diesel2,8302,9416,449
Jet fuel472449820
Asphalt, heavy fuel oils and other3,9834,4836,942
Renewable fuels9,8486,314
Total Montana/Renewables20,68918,08517,620
Performance Brands1,7391,4741,434
Total facility production80,10875,80478,778
Column 1Column 2
(1)Total sales volume includes sales from the production at our facilities and certain third-party facilities pursuant to supply and/or processing agreements, sales of inventories and the resale of crude oil to third-party customers. Total sales volume includes the sale of purchased blendstocks.

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The following table reflects our consolidated results of operations and includes the non-GAAP financial measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. For a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss), our most directly comparable financial performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In millions)
Sales$4,189.4$4,181.0$4,686.3
Cost of sales3,958.63,729.34,334.6
Gross profit230.8451.7351.7
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling55.754.953.9
General and administrative145.5133.0143.4
Taxes other than income taxes20.721.513.7
Loss on impairment and disposal of assets2.03.50.7
Other operating (income) expense(1.2)(28.4)8.1
Operating income8.1267.2131.9
Other income (expense):
Interest expense(236.7)(221.7)(175.9)
Debt extinguishment costs(0.4)(5.9)(41.4)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments9.39.9(81.7)
Other income (expense)(1.5)0.2(2.8)
Total other expense(229.3)(217.5)(301.8)
Net income (loss) before income taxes(221.2)49.7(169.9)
Income tax expense0.81.63.4
Net income (loss)$(222.0)$48.1$(173.3)
EBITDA$164.5$418.3$104.3
Adjusted EBITDA$194.8$260.5$390.0

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We include in this Annual Report the non-GAAP financial measures EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We provide reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss), our most directly comparable financial performance measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used as supplemental financial measures by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, to assess:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support our indebtedness;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
our operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other companies in our industry, without regard to financing or capital structure; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.

We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to analysts and investors as they exclude transactions not related to our core cash operating activities and provide metrics to analyze our ability to pay interest to our noteholders. However, the indentures governing our senior notes contain covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to pay distributions. We believe that excluding these transactions allows investors to meaningfully analyze trends and performance of our core cash operations.

We define EBITDA for any period as net income (loss) plus interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs), income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Historically, we considered net income (loss) to be the most directly comparable GAAP measure to EBITDA. We believe net income (loss) is the most directly comparable GAAP measure to EBITDA.

We define Adjusted EBITDA for any period as EBITDA adjusted for (a) impairment; (b) unrealized gains and losses from mark-to-market accounting for hedging activities; (c) realized gains and losses under derivative instruments excluded from the determination of net income (loss); (d) non-cash equity-based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding items such as accruals of cash expenses in a future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense) that were deducted in computing net income (loss); (e) debt refinancing fees, extinguishment costs, premiums and penalties; (f) any net gain or loss realized in connection with an asset sale that was deducted in computing net income (loss); (g) amortization of turnaround costs; (h) LCM inventory adjustments; (i) the impact of liquidation of inventory layers calculated using the LIFO method; (j) RINs mark-to-market adjustments; and (k) all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or expense.

We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by sales.

The definition of Adjusted EBITDA presented in this Annual Report is similar to the calculation of “Consolidated Cash Flow” contained in the indentures governing our senior notes. We are required to report Consolidated Cash Flow to the holders of our senior notes and Adjusted EBITDA to the lenders under our revolving credit facility, and these measures are used by them to determine our compliance with certain covenants governing those debt instruments. Please read “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Debt and Credit Facilities” for additional details regarding the covenants governing our debt instruments.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered alternatives to Net income (loss) or Operating income (loss) or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. In evaluating our performance as measured by EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, management recognizes and considers the limitations of these

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measurements. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our liabilities for the payment of income taxes, interest expense or other obligations such as capital expenditures. Accordingly, EBITDA and, Adjusted EBITDA are only two of several measurements that management utilizes. Moreover, our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of another company because all companies may not calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner.

The following tables present a reconciliation of Net income (loss), our most directly comparable GAAP financial performance measure to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, for each of the periods indicated.

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In millions)
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Net income (loss)$(222.0)$48.1$(173.3)
Add:
Interest expense236.7221.7175.9
Depreciation and amortization149.0146.998.3
Income tax expense0.81.63.4
EBITDA$164.5$418.3$104.3
Add:
LCM / LIFO loss$12.3$35.6$6.6
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments(47.1)(33.0)$45.9
Debt extinguishment costs0.45.941.4
Amortization of turnaround costs38.036.123.1
Loss on impairment and disposal of assets2.03.50.7
RINs mark-to-market (gain) loss(66.4)(290.2)115.7
Equity-based compensation and other items19.720.234.4
Other non-recurring expenses (1)75.560.915.6
Noncontrolling interest adjustments(4.1)3.22.3
Adjusted EBITDA$194.8$260.5$390.0
Column 1Column 2
(1)For the year ended December 31, 2024, other non-recurring expenses included a $51.3 million realized loss on derivatives related to our inventory financing arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2023, other non-recurring expenses included a $50.6 million charge to cost of sales for losses under firm purchase commitments. For the year ended December 31, 2022, other non-recurring expenses included a $13.0 million charge to cost of sales for losses under firm purchase commitments.

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Year Ended December 31, 2024, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2023

Sales. Sales increased $8.4 million, or 0.2%, to $4,189.4 million in 2024 from $4,181.0 million in 2023. Sales for each of our principal product categories in these periods were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,
20242023% Change
(In millions, except barrel and per barrel data)
Sales by segment:
Specialty Products and Solutions:
Lubricating oils$788.6$763.83.2%
Solvents407.3398.52.2%
Waxes156.3163.9(4.6)%
Fuels, asphalt and other by-products (1)1,437.11,550.7(7.3)%
Total Specialty Products and Solutions$2,789.3$2,876.9(3.0)%
Total Specialty Products and Solutions sales volume (in barrels)22,868,00021,468,0006.5%
Average Specialty Products and Solutions sales price per barrel$121.97$134.01(9.0)%
Montana/Renewables:
Gasoline$140.8$167.2(15.8)%
Diesel114.6144.8(20.9)%
Jet Fuel18.220.5(11.2)%
Asphalt, heavy fuel oils and other (2)159.6148.17.8%
Renewable fuels631.7513.223.1%
Total Montana/Renewables$1,064.9$993.87.2%
Total Montana/Renewables sales volume (in barrels)8,717,0007,149,00021.9%
Average Montana/Renewables sales price per barrel$122.16$139.01(12.1)%
Performance Brands:
Total Performance Brands (3)$335.2$310.38.0%
Total Performance Brands sales volume (in barrels)626,000512,00022.3%
Average Performance Brands sales price per barrel$535.46$606.05(11.6)%
Total sales$4,189.4$4,181.00.2%
Total Specialty Products and Solutions, Montana/Renewables, and Performance Brands sales volume (in barrels)32,211,00029,129,00010.6%
Column 1Column 2
(1)Represents (a) by-products, including fuels and asphalt, produced in connection with the production of specialty products at the Princeton, Cotton Valley, Dickinson and Karns City facilities, (b) polyol ester synthetic lubricants produced at the Missouri facility, and (c) fuels products produced at the Shreveport facility.
Column 1Column 2
(2)Represents asphalt, heavy fuel oils and other products produced in connection with the production of fuels at the Great Falls specialty asphalt facility.
Column 1Column 2
(3)Represents packaged and synthetic specialty products at our Royal Purple, Bel-Ray and Calumet Packaging facilities.

The components of the $87.6 million decrease in Specialty Products and Solutions segment sales in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Sales price$(275.4)
Volume187.8
Total Specialty Products and Solutions segment sales decrease$(87.6)

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Specialty Products and Solutions segment sales decreased period over period due to the lower commodity price environment in the current year period, primarily impacting our fuels business. This impact was partially offset by an increase in sales volumes as a result of strong market demand.

The components of the $71.1 million increase in Montana/Renewables segment sales in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Sales price$(146.7)
Volume217.8
Total Montana/Renewables segment sales increase$71.1

Montana/Renewables segment sales increased primarily due to stabilized production volumes at our Montana Renewables facility during the current year period in comparison to lower volumes in the prior year during the start-up of the facility. This impact was partially offset by the weaker price environment in both our Montana Renewables and specialty asphalt businesses during the current year in comparison to the prior year period.

The components of the $24.9 million increase in Performance Brands segment sales in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Sales price$(44.0)
Volume68.9
Total Performance Brands segment sales increase$24.9

Performance Brands segment sales increased primarily due to increases in sales volumes as a result of strong market demand and a continued focus on providing differentiated products with high brand recognition in certain industrial markets.

Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased $220.9 million, or 48.9%, to $230.8 million in 2024 from $451.7 million in 2023. Gross profit for our business segments were as follows:

Year Ended December 31,
20242023% Change
(Dollars in millions, except per barrel data)
Gross profit by segment:
Specialty Products and Solutions:
Gross profit$189.0$402.2(53.0)%
Percentage of sales6.8%14.0%(7.2)%
Specialty Products and Solutions gross profit per barrel$8.26$18.73(55.9)%
Montana/Renewables:
Gross profit (loss)$(53.5)$(32.6)64.1%
Percentage of sales(5.0)%(3.3)%(1.7)%
Montana/Renewables gross profit (loss) per barrel$(6.14)$(4.56)34.6%
Performance Brands:
Gross profit$95.3$82.116.1%
Percentage of sales28.4%26.5%1.9%
Performance Brands gross profit per barrel$152.24$160.35(5.1)%
Total gross profit$230.8$451.7(48.9)%
Percentage of sales5.5%10.8%(5.3)%

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The components of the $213.2 million decrease in Specialty Products and Solutions segment gross profit in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Year ended December 31, 2023 reported gross profit$402.2
Cost of materials109.0
Operating costs22.2
LCM / LIFO inventory adjustments(2.3)
Volumes43.5
Sales price(275.4)
RINs expense(110.2)
Year ended December 31, 2024 reported gross profit$189.0

The decrease in Specialty Products and Solutions segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to the impact of RINs prices. While RINs prices decreased in the current year period in comparison to the prior year period, the mark-to-market impact of RINs prices resulted in a RINs benefit of $16.1 million in the current year period, as compared to a benefit of $126.3 million in the prior year period. The unfavorable impact associated with margins was primarily the result of a weakened commodity margin environment for fuels products. The favorable volumes impact was the result of strong market demand and the benefit of improved reliability, primarily in the second half of 2024, following increased capital expenditures over the last several years. The favorable impact for operating costs in the current year period was due to the absence of expenses associated with turnarounds completed at our Shreveport, Cotton Valley, and Princeton facilities and unplanned outages as a result of the severe weather experienced in Northwest Louisiana during the prior year comparative period. Refer to Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to our accounting for RINs.

The components of the $20.9 million decrease in Montana/Renewables segment gross profit (loss) in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Year ended December 31, 2023 reported gross profit (loss)$(32.6)
Cost of materials142.4
LCM / LIFO inventory adjustments24.2
Volumes33.8
RINs expense(64.0)
Operating costs(10.6)
Sales price(146.7)
Year ended December 31, 2024 reported gross profit (loss)$(53.5)

The decrease in Montana/Renewables segment gross profit (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to the impact of RINs prices. While RINs prices decreased in the current year period in comparison to the prior year period, the mark-to-market impact of RINs prices resulted in a RINs benefit of $15.8 million in the current year period, as compared to a benefit of $79.8 million in the prior year period. This was coupled with the unfavorable impact resulting from a softer commodity margin environment in the current year period in comparison to the prior year. Operating expenses were unfavorable period over period as a result of operating the feedstock pre-treatment unit for the duration of the current year. The favorable volumes impact was the result of stabilized production at our Montana Renewables facility during the current year period. Refer to Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information related to our accounting for RINs.

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The components of the $13.2 million increase in Performance Brands segment gross profit in 2024, as compared to 2023, were as follows:

Dollar Change
(In millions)
Year ended December 31, 2023 reported gross profit$82.1
Sales price(44.0)
Operating costs(4.2)
LCM / LIFO inventory adjustments1.4
Volume23.8
Cost of materials36.2
Year ended December 31, 2024 reported gross profit$95.3

The increase in Performance Brands segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to an increase in industrial volumes. This segment continues to benefit from strong unit margins, reflective of stabilized input costs in our branded and consumer markets.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased $12.5 million, or 9.4%, to $145.5 million in 2024 from $133.0 million in 2023. The increase was due primarily to a $6.6 million increase in labor and benefits expenses and a $4.7 million increase in professional services fees. The increase in professional services fees were primarily related to IT infrastructure support services.

Other operating income. Other operating income decreased $27.2 million, or 95.8%, to $1.2 million in 2024 from $28.4 million in 2023. Prior year results included a $25.1 million gain associated with RINs for compliance year 2019 related to the San Antonio refinery. This impact was absent in the current year results.

Interest expense. Interest expense increased $15.0 million, or 6.8%, to $236.7 million in 2024 from $221.7 million in 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher borrowings on our revolving credit facility during the current year period in comparison to the prior year.

Year Ended December 31, 2023, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2022

Refer to Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Year Ended December 31, 2023, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2022” of our 2023 Annual Report for a description of the factors impacting our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of cash have historically included cash flow from operations, proceeds from public equity offerings, proceeds from notes offerings, bank borrowings and other financial arrangements. Principal uses of cash have included capital expenditures, acquisitions, and debt service. We may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.

In general, we expect that our short-term liquidity needs, including debt service, working capital, replacement and environmental capital expenditures and capital expenditures related to internal growth projects, will be met primarily through cash on hand, projected cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility and asset sales.

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On January 17, 2024, the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) governing its senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in January 2027, which provides maximum availability of credit under the revolving credit facility of $650.0 million, including a FILO tranche, subject to borrowing base limitations, and includes a $500.0 million incremental uncommitted expansion feature. Lenders under the revolving credit facility have a first priority lien on, among other things, the Company’s accounts receivable, inventory and substantially all of its cash (collectively, the “Credit Agreement Collateral”). Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On March 7, 2024, the Company issued and sold $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2029 Secured Notes in a private placement transaction in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 2029 Secured Notes were issued at par for net proceeds of $199.0 million, after deducting transaction expenses. The Company used the net proceeds from the private placement of the 2029 Secured Notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem all of its outstanding 9.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Secured Notes”) and $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 11.00% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On September 30, 2024, Calumet Montana Refining, LLC (“Calumet Montana”), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement with Stonebriar related to a sale and leaseback transaction. Pursuant to the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement, Calumet Montana sold to and leased back from Stonebriar the Refinery Assets, for a total purchase price of up to $150.0 million. Calumet Montana received $110.0 million of the total purchase price on September 30, 2024 and the remaining purchase price of $40.0 million on February 18, 2025 in connection with the funding of the first tranche of approximately $782 million under the DOE Facility. Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On January 17, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), the Company and J. Aron entered into a Monetization Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), a related Financing Agreement (the “Financing Agreement”) and a Supply and Offtake Agreement (together with the Master Agreement and the Financing Agreement, the “Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement”). Pursuant to the Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement, J. Aron agreed to, among other things, purchase from the Company, or extend to the Company, financial accommodations secured by crude oil and finished products located at the Company’s Shreveport facility on the Effective Date and from time to time, up to maximum volumes specified for crude oil and categories of finished products, subject to the Company’s repurchase obligations with respect thereto. The Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement replaced the Company’s previous inventory financing agreement with Macquarie, which terminated on January 17, 2024. Please refer to Note 7 — “Inventory Financing Agreements” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

We expect to fund planned capital expenditures in 2025 of approximately $60 million to $90 million primarily with cash on hand, cash flows from operations, and by available borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Future internal growth projects or acquisitions may require expenditures in excess of our then-current cash flow from operations and borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility and may require us to issue debt or equity securities in public or private offerings or incur additional borrowings under bank credit facilities to meet those costs. We anticipate that capital expenditure requirements for the MaxSAFTM project will be funded primarily from cash flows from operations generated by MRL, an unrestricted subsidiary of the Company, and borrowings under the DOE Facility.

The borrowing base on our revolving credit facilities increased from approximately $421.5 million as of December 31, 2023, to approximately $472.1 million at December 31, 2024. Our borrowing availability decreased from approximately $241.9 million at December 31, 2023, to approximately $140.1 million at December 31, 2024. Total liquidity, consisting of cash and available funds under our revolving credit facilities, decreased from $249.8 million at December 31, 2023 to $178.2 million at December 31, 2024.

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Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

We believe that we have sufficient liquid assets, cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity and adequate access to capital markets to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. We continue to seek to lower our operating costs, selling expenses and general and administrative expenses as a means to further improve our cash flow from operations with the objective of having our cash flow from operations support all of our capital expenditures and interest payments. However, we are subject to business and operational risks that could materially adversely affect our cash flows. A material decrease in our cash flow from operations including a significant, sudden decrease in crude oil prices would likely produce a corollary effect on our borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility and potentially our ability to comply with the covenants under our revolving credit facility. A significant, sudden increase in crude oil prices, if sustained, would likely result in increased working capital requirements which would be funded by borrowings under our revolving credit facility. In addition, our cash flow from operations may be impacted by the timing of settlement of our derivative activities. Gains and losses from derivative instruments that do not qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments until settlement and will impact operating cash flow in the period settled.

The following table summarizes our primary sources and uses of cash in each of the most recent two years:

Year Ended December 31,
20242023
(In millions)
Net cash used in operating activities$(46.4)$(14.9)
Net cash used in investing activities(76.7)(271.8)
Net cash provided by financing activities154.3266.2
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$31.2$(20.5)

Operating Activities. Operating activities used cash of $46.4 million in 2024 compared to using cash of $14.9 million in 2023. The change was primarily driven by a decrease in unit margins as a result of the weaker margin environment experienced during the current year period. This impact was partially offset by a decrease in the cash required for working capital during the current year period.

Investing Activities. Investing activities used cash of $76.7 million in 2024 compared to a use of cash of $271.8 million in 2023. The change is related to a decrease in cash expenditures for additions to property, plant and equipment in the current year period in comparison to the prior year. The cash expenditures for additions to property, plant and equipment in the prior year period were primarily related to our Montana Renewables project.

Financing Activities. Financing activities provided cash of $154.3 million in 2024 compared to providing cash of $266.2 million in 2023. The change is primarily due to the borrowings we received in the prior year period from the issuance of the 2028 Notes and the MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement. This was partially offset by the proceeds we received in the current year from the issuance of the 2029 Notes, borrowings from the Montana terminal asset financing arrangement and the Montana refinery asset financing arrangement, and the increase in net borrowings on our revolving credit facility in the current year period compared to the same period in 2023.

Capital Expenditures

Our property, plant and equipment capital expenditure requirements consist of capital improvement expenditures, replacement capital expenditures, environmental capital expenditures and turnaround capital expenditures. Capital improvement expenditures include the acquisition of assets to grow our business, facility expansions, or capital initiatives that reduce operating costs. Replacement capital expenditures replace worn out or obsolete equipment or parts. Environmental capital expenditures include asset additions to meet or exceed environmental and operating regulations. Turnaround capital expenditures represent capitalized costs associated with our periodic major maintenance and repairs.

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The following table sets forth our capital improvement expenditures, replacement capital expenditures, environmental capital expenditures and turnaround capital expenditures in each of the periods shown (including capitalized interest):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In millions)
Capital improvement expenditures$15.7$190.6$458.3
Replacement capital expenditures56.669.969.2
Environmental capital expenditures4.411.38.7
Turnaround capital expenditures20.647.962.6
Total$97.3$319.7$598.8

2025 Capital Spending Forecast

We are forecasting total capital expenditures of approximately $60 million to $90 million in 2025. Our forecasted capital expenditures are primarily related to maintenance and reliability projects and excludes capital expenditures associated with MaxSAFTM. We anticipate that capital expenditure requirements will be provided primarily through cash flows from operations, cash on hand, and by available borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We anticipate that capital expenditure requirements for the MaxSAFTM project will be funded primarily from cash flows from operations generated by MRL, an unrestricted subsidiary of the Company, and borrowings under the DOE Facility. If future capital expenditures require amounts in excess of our then-current cash flow from operations and borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility, we may be required to issue debt or equity securities in public or private offerings or incur additional borrowings under bank credit facilities to meet those costs.

Debt and Credit Facilities

As of December 31, 2024, our primary debt and credit instruments consisted of:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
$650.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in January 2027 (after giving effect to the Fourth Amendment to our revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility Amendment”)), subject to borrowing base limitations, with a maximum letter of credit sub-limit equal to $255.0 million, which amount may be increased to 90% of revolver commitments in effect with the consent of the Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (“revolving credit facility”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$90.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, with the option to request additional commitments of up to $15.0 million, maturing in November 2027 (the “MRL Revolving Credit Agreement”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$354.4 million of 11.00% Senior Notes due 2026 (“2026 Notes”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$325.0 million of 8.125% Senior Notes due 2027 (“2027 Notes”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$325.0 million of 9.75% Senior Notes due 2028 (“2028 Notes”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$200.0 million of 9.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (“2029 Secured Notes”);
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$73.7 million of borrowings under our MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$42.1 million of financing through our Shreveport terminal asset financing arrangement;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$368.1 million of financing through our MRL asset financing arrangements;
Column 1Column 2Column 3
$30.4 million of financing through our Montana terminal asset financing arrangement; and

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Column 1Column 2Column 3
$108.7 million of financing through our Montana refinery asset financing arrangement.

We were in compliance with all covenants under our debt instruments in place as of December 31, 2024, and believe we have adequate liquidity to conduct our business.

On January 17, 2024, the Company entered into the Fourth Amendment to its revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) governing its senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in January 2027, which provides maximum availability of credit under the revolving credit facility of $650.0 million, including a FILO tranche, subject to borrowing base limitations, and includes a $500.0 million incremental uncommitted expansion feature. Lenders under the revolving credit facility have a first priority lien on, among other things, the Company’s accounts receivable and inventory and substantially all of its cash (collectively, the “Credit Agreement Collateral”). Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On March 7, 2024, the Company issued and sold $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2029 Secured Notes in a private placement transaction in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The 2029 Secured Notes were issued at par for net proceeds of $199.0 million, after deducting transaction expenses. The Company used the net proceeds from the private placement of the 2029 Secured Notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem all of its outstanding 9.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Secured Notes”) and $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 11.00% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On September 30, 2024, Calumet Montana Refining entered into the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement with Stonebriar related to a sale and leaseback transaction. Pursuant to the Montana Refinery Asset Financing Arrangement, Calumet Montana sold to and leased back from Stonebriar the Refinery Assets, for a total purchase price of up to $150.0 million. Calumet Montana received $110.0 million of the total purchase price on September 30, 2024 and the remaining purchase price of $40.0 million on February 18, 2025 in connection with the funding of the first tranche of approximately $782 million under the DOE Facility. Please refer to Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

On January 17, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), the Company and J. Aron entered into a Monetization Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), a related Financing Agreement (the “Financing Agreement”) and Supply and Offtake Agreement (together with the Master Agreement and the Financing Agreement, the “Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement”). Pursuant to the Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement, J. Aron agreed to, among other things, purchase from the Company, or extend to the Company, financial accommodations secured by crude oil and finished products located at the Company’s Shreveport facility on the Effective Date and from time to time, up to maximum volumes specified for crude oil and categories of finished products, subject to the Company’s repurchase obligations with respect thereto. The Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement replaced the Company’s previous inventory financing agreement with Macquarie, which terminated on January 17, 2024. Please refer to Note 7 — “Inventory Financing Agreements” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

Inventory Financing

On January 17, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), the Company and J. Aron entered into a Monetization Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”), a related Financing Agreement (the “Financing Agreement”) and Supply and Offtake Agreement (together with the Master Agreement and the Financing Agreement, the “Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement”). Pursuant to the Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement, J. Aron agreed to, among other things, purchase from the Company, or extend to the Company, financial accommodations secured by crude oil and finished products located at the Company’s Shreveport facility on the Effective Date and from time to time, up to maximum volumes specified for crude oil and categories of finished products, subject to the Company’s repurchase obligations with respect thereto. The Shreveport Supply and Offtake Agreement replaced the Company’s previous inventory financing agreement

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with Macquarie, which terminated on January 17, 2024. Please refer to Note 7 — “Inventory Financing Agreements” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

Short-Term Liquidity

As of December 31, 2024, our principal sources of short-term liquidity were (i) approximately $140.1 million of availability under our revolving credit facilities, (ii) inventory financing agreements related to our Shreveport facility and Montana Renewables facility and (iii) $38.1 million of unrestricted cash on hand. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility can be used for, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, and other lawful partnership purposes including acquisitions. For additional information regarding our revolving credit facility, please read Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Long-Term Financing

In addition to our principal sources of short-term liquidity listed above, subject to market conditions, we may meet our cash requirements through the issuance of long-term notes or additional shares of common stock.

From time to time, we issue long-term debt securities referred to as our senior notes. All of our outstanding senior notes, other than the 2029 Secured Notes, are unsecured obligations that rank equally with all of our other senior debt obligations to the extent they are unsecured. As of December 31, 2024, we had $354.4 million in 2026 Notes, $325.0 million in 2027 Notes, $325.0 million in 2028 Notes, and $200.0 million in 2029 Secured Notes outstanding. The 2029 Secured Notes and the related guarantees are secured by a first priority lien (subject to certain exceptions) on all the fixed assets that secure our obligations under the secured hedge agreements, as governed by the Collateral Trust Agreement, which governs how secured hedging counterparties and holders of the 2029 Secured Notes share collateral pledged as security for the payment obligations owed by us to the secured hedging counterparties under their respective master derivatives contracts and the holders of the 2029 Secured Notes. In addition, as of December 31, 2024, we had $368.1 million of debt outstanding for our MRL asset financing arrangements, $73.7 million of debt outstanding for our MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement, $42.1 million of other debt outstanding for the Shreveport terminal asset financing arrangement, $30.4 million of other debt outstanding for the Montana terminal asset financing arrangement, and $108.7 million of other debt outstanding for the Montana refinery asset financing arrangement. Borrowings under the MRL asset financing arrangements and MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement are obligations of our unrestricted subsidiaries MRL and MRHL solely, and are non-recourse to the Company and its restricted subsidiaries. For additional information regarding our MRL asset financing arrangements and MRL Term Loan Credit Agreement, see Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Annual Report.

To date, our debt balances have not adversely affected our operations or our ability to repay or refinance our indebtedness. Based on our historical record, we believe that our capital structure will continue to allow us to achieve our business objectives.

For more information regarding our senior notes, please read Note 8 — “Long-Term Debt” under Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Annual Report.

Master Derivative Contracts and Collateral Trust Agreement

Under our credit support arrangements, our payment obligations under all of our master derivatives contracts for commodity hedging generally are secured by a first priority lien on our and our subsidiaries’ real property, plant and equipment, fixtures, intellectual property, certain financial assets, certain investment property, commercial tort claims, chattel paper, documents, instruments and proceeds of the foregoing (including proceeds of hedge arrangements). We had no additional letters of credit or cash margin posted with any hedging counterparty as of December 31, 2024. Our master derivatives contracts and Collateral Trust Agreement (as defined below) continue to impose a number of covenant limitations on our operating and financing activities, including limitations on liens on collateral, limitations on dispositions

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of collateral and collateral maintenance and insurance requirements. For financial reporting purposes, we do not offset the collateral provided to a counterparty against the fair value of our obligation to that counterparty. Any outstanding collateral is released to us upon settlement of the related derivative instrument liability.

Our various hedging agreements contain language allowing our hedge counterparties to request additional collateral if a specified credit support threshold is exceeded. However, these credit support thresholds are set at levels that would require a substantial increase in hedge exposure to require us to post additional collateral. As a result, we do not expect further increases in fuel products crack spreads or interest rates to significantly impact our liquidity due to requirements to post additional collateral.

Additionally, we have a collateral trust agreement (the “Collateral Trust Agreement”) which governs how secured hedging counterparties and holders of the 2029 Secured Notes share collateral pledged as security for the payment obligations owed by us to the secured hedging counterparties under their respective master derivatives contracts and the holders of the 2029 Secured Notes. The Collateral Trust Agreement limits to $150.0 million the extent to which forward purchase contracts for physical commodities are covered by, and secured under, the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Parity Lien Security Documents (as defined in the Collateral Trust Agreement). There is no such limit on financially settled derivative instruments used for commodity hedging. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Collateral Trust Agreement, we have the ability to add secured hedging counterparties from time to time.

Credit Ratings

In August 2024, S&P reaffirmed a rating of CCC+ on our senior unsecured notes and revised our outlook to negative. In March 2024, Moody’s reaffirmed a rating of Caa1 on our senior unsecured notes, maintained a Company rating of B3, and revised our outlook to negative. Our 2029 Secured Notes issued in March 2024 are rated B+ by S&P and B1 by Moody’s.

Equity Transactions

On January 14, 2025, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) with BMO Capital Markets Corp. (the “Agent”) pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate offering price of $65.0 million of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), in an “at-the-market” equity offering program (the “ATM Offering”) through the Agent.

Seasonality Impacts on Liquidity

The fuel and fuel related products that we manufacture, including asphalt products, are subject to seasonal demand and trends. Asphalt demand is generally lower in the first and fourth quarters of the year, as compared to the second and third quarters, due to the seasonality of the road construction and roofing industries we supply. Demand for gasoline and diesel is generally higher during the summer months than during the winter months due to seasonal increases in highway traffic and agricultural activity. In addition, our natural gas costs can be higher during the winter months, as demand for natural gas as a heating fuel increases during the winter. As a result, our operating results for the first and fourth calendar quarters may be lower than those for the second and third calendar quarters of each year due to seasonality related to these and other products that we produce and sell.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to use estimates and make judgements and assumptions about future events that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and the related disclosures. Considerable judgement is often involved in making these determinations. Critical estimates are those that require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgements in the preparation of the financial statements and the accompanying notes. We evaluate these estimates and judgements on a regular basis. We believe our assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate. However, the use of different assumptions could result in significantly different results and actual results could differ from those estimates. The following discussion of accounting

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estimates is intended to supplement the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies presented in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8.

We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if:

Column 1Column 2Column 3
The accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made; and
Column 1Column 2Column 3
We reasonably could have used different estimates in the current period, or changes in these estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period to period as new information becomes available, and a change in these estimates would have a material impact on our financial condition or results from operations.

Valuation of Finite Long-Lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows related to the asset are less than the carrying value, we recognize a loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value, usually determined by the estimated discounted future cash flows of the asset. When a decision has been made to dispose of property, plant and equipment prior to the end of the previously estimated useful life, depreciation estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over the shortened estimated useful life.

Estimated undiscounted future cash flows are used for the purpose of testing our finite long-lived assets for impairment. Fair values calculated for the purpose of measuring impairments on finite long-lived assets are estimated using the expected present value of future cash flows method and comparative market prices when appropriate. Significant judgment is involved in estimating undiscounted future cash flows and performing these fair value estimates since the results are based on forecasted assumptions.

We base our estimated undiscounted future cash flows and fair value estimates on projected financial information which we believe to be reasonable. However, actual results may differ from these projections.

Valuation of Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) Obligation

The Company’s RINs volume obligation (“RVO” or “RINs Obligation”) is an estimated provision if future purchase of RINs were to be required in order to satisfy the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) requirement to blend renewable fuels into certain transportation fuel products pursuant to the Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”) of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). The Company has historically not been obligated to make these purchases. A RIN is a 38-character number assigned to each physical gallon of renewable fuel produced in or imported into the United States. The EPA sets annual volume obligations for the percentage of renewable fuels that must be blended into transportation fuels consumed in the U.S. Compliance is demonstrated by tendering RINs to the EPA documenting that blending has been accomplished or by obtaining a Small Refinery Exemption (“SRE”) as provided in the Clean Air Act. Prior to 2018, the Company historically received the Small Refinery Exemption after qualifying on the merits. The Company’s petitions for the Small Refinery Exemption for compliance years 2018-2022 were included in blanket denials by EPA across the entire industry. EPA’s denials of Calumet’s 2018-2020 petitions have been overturned in litigation and are back pending with EPA. The Company’s cases challenging EPA’s denials for program years 2021 and 2022 remain pending in the Fifth Circuit and D.C. Circuit. The 2023 petitions were recently denied by the EPA and are the subject of new legal proceedings. The 2024-25 petitions have not yet been decided by EPA. Refer to Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

The RVO is a quantity and cannot be settled financially with EPA. The Company accounts for its current period RVO by multiplying the quantity of RINs shortage (based on actual results) by the period end RINs spot price, which is recorded as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheets and revalued at the end of each subsequent accounting period, which produces non-cash mark-to-market adjustments that are reflected in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of

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operations (with the exception of RINs for compliance year 2019 related to the San Antonio refinery, which amount is reflected in other operating expense in the consolidated statements of operations). RINs generated by blending may be sold or held to offset future RVO. Any gains or losses from RINs sales are recorded in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations.

Our RINs Obligation is measured at the RINs spot prices obtained from an independent pricing service as of each balance sheet date. However, certain vintage RINs are very thinly traded, and the period end spot prices might not be an accurate reflection of the actual amount that we could purchase RINs in the open market in the quantities that would be required to satisfy our RINs volume obligation. Please read Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for further information on our RINs obligation.

We believe that our small refineries (the “refineries”) qualify for SREs on the merits and we have asked EPA to approve our petitions. The Company has previously applied for and received SREs through 2018, following a structured procedure administered by the EPA. According to documentation we have received from the EPA, the analysis prepared by the Department of Energy (“DOE”) under this procedure showed that the Company’s refineries met the criteria for disproportionate economic hardship for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 compliance years. The reversal of our previously approved 2018 SRE in April 2022, the blanket denial in June 2022 by EPA of our 2019 and 2020 petitions, and the blanket denial in July 2023 by EPA of our 2021 and 2022 petitions were based on EPA’s retroactive across-the-board determination that there is no such thing as disproportionate economic hardship, despite the affirmative findings from the DOE that the refineries met the criteria for disproportionate economic hardship.

Management believes that we have viable legal arguments to challenge the denials, including that the denials are inconsistent with the CAA, the Administrative Procedure Act, EPA’s regulations, the DOE’s analysis and/or the factual record, and are unlawful retroactive applications of a new standard. In November 2023, the Fifth Circuit ruled in the Company’s favor on the merits of its challenge as it relates to the Shreveport refinery’s 2019 and 2020 SRE petitions, vacated EPA’s denial and remanded it to the EPA, and held that EPA’s denial was impermissibly retroactive and also violated federal law. In January 2024, the Fifth Circuit denied EPA’s request to rehear the case. The court’s mandate issued in January 2024, and these SRE petitions are before EPA once again for further consideration consistent with the court’s opinion. The challenge before the D.C. Circuit remains pending. As with any legal action, a challenge to an EPA decision denying the refineries’ SRE petitions may ultimately be unsuccessful. This scenario would present a number of uncertainties and complexities caused primarily by the passage of time since we first submitted the SRE petitions, including for example the potential expiration and/or unavailability or limited availability in the market of vintage 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 RINs, the specifics of other potential forthcoming EPA actions, the results of other parties’ potential litigation avenues and outcomes, and post-litigation uncertainties around the timing and magnitude of any resolution.

Based on current information we believe the most likely outcome is either successful appellate litigation or reaching an alternative resolution. If we are ultimately successful in obtaining the refineries’ SREs (or a non-enforcement equivalent), the value of the liability would be zero. If we are ultimately unsuccessful in our appeals, the timing, amount and form our actual liability may depend upon the resolution obtained, potentially as part of subsequent, additional litigation. For example, if resolution for the 2019 and 2020 compliance years used the market price of RINs on the day the EPA was obligated to rule on the refineries’ 2019 SRE petitions, the value of the liability would be approximately $50.7 million.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a summary of recently issued and adopted accounting standards applicable to us, please read Note 2 — “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

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