-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Q8QrndMxK03jl4+/agz6IDFVuFDiC469FvkJCgyuwX68tni39Fs3eYzcjSiMUF70 11vJ8JhWo+ehL+8aW8FUKg== 0001193125-07-256114.txt : 20071129 0001193125-07-256114.hdr.sgml : 20071129 20071129154237 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-07-256114 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20070831 FILED AS OF DATE: 20071129 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20071129 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED REFINING CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000101462 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] IRS NUMBER: 251411751 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-06198 FILM NUMBER: 071274817 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PPC INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045544 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-08 FILM NUMBER: 071274819 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BELL OIL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045543 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-07 FILM NUMBER: 071274820 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KWIK FIL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045540 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-04 FILM NUMBER: 071274823 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VULCAN ASPHALT REFINING CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045546 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-10 FILM NUMBER: 071274824 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED JET CENTER INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045542 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-06 FILM NUMBER: 071274825 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KIANTONE PIPELINE CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000830253 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] IRS NUMBER: 251211902 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-01 FILM NUMBER: 071274827 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED REFINING CO /PA/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001040270 IRS NUMBER: 250850960 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-02 FILM NUMBER: 071274828 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SUPER TEST PETROLEUM INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045545 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-09 FILM NUMBER: 071274818 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KIANTONE PIPELINE CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045539 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PETROLEUM REFINING [2911] STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-03 FILM NUMBER: 071274826 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KWIK FILL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045541 IRS NUMBER: 251411751 FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-05 FILM NUMBER: 071274822 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: KWIK FILL INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19970905 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: INDEPENDENT GASOLINE & OIL CO OF ROCHESTER CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001045547 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-35083-11 FILM NUMBER: 071274821 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 BUSINESS PHONE: 8147231500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 BRADLEY ST CITY: WARREN STATE: PA ZIP: 16365 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2007

 

¨ 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. 333-35083

 


 

LOGO    UNITED REFINING COMPANY
   (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Pennsylvania   25-1411751

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

See Table of Additional Subsidiary Guarantor Registrants

 

15 Bradley Street, Warren, PA   16365-3299
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(814) 723-1500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.     Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.     Yes  ¨    No  x

 

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  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨   Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes  ¨    No  x

 

As of November 29, 2007, 100 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share, were outstanding. All shares of common stock of the Registrant’s are held by an affiliate. Therefore, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant is zero.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:    None

 



TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Name

   State of Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
   IRS Employer
Identification
Number
  

Commission

File Number

Kiantone Pipeline Corporation

   New York    25-1211902    333-35083-01

Kiantone Pipeline Company

   Pennsylvania    25-1416278    333-35083-03

United Refining Company of Pennsylvania

   Pennsylvania    25-0850960    333-35083-02

United Jet Center, Inc.  

   Delaware    52-1623169    333-35083-06

Kwik-Fill Corporation

   Pennsylvania    25-1525543    333-35083-05

Independent Gas and Oil Company of Rochester, Inc.  

   New York    06-1217388    333-35083-11

Bell Oil Corp.  

   Michigan    38-1884781    333-35083-07

PPC, Inc.  

   Ohio    31-0821706    333-35083-08

Super Test Petroleum Inc.  

   Michigan    38-1901439    333-35083-09

Kwik-Fil, Inc.  

   New York    25-1525615    333-35083-04

Vulcan Asphalt Refining Corporation

   Delaware    23-2486891    333-35083-10

Country Fair, Inc.  

   Pennsylvania    25-1149799    333-35083-12

 

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

 

Introduction

 

We are the leading integrated refiner and marketer of petroleum products in our primary market area, which encompasses western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. We own and operate a medium complexity 70,000 barrel per day (“bpd”) petroleum refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania where we produce a variety of products, including various grades of gasoline, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, kerosene, No. 2 heating oil and asphalt. Operations are organized into two business segments: wholesale and retail. The wholesale segment is responsible for the acquisition of crude oil, petroleum refining, supplying petroleum products to the retail segment and the marketing of petroleum products to wholesale and industrial customers.

 

The retail segment sells petroleum products under the Kwik Fill®, Citgo®, Keystone® and Country Fair® brand names at a network of Company-operated retail units and convenience and grocery items through Company-owned gasoline stations and convenience stores under the Red Apple Food Mart® and Country Fair® brand names. As of August 31, 2007, (sometimes referred to as “fiscal 2007”), we operated 371 units, of which, 183 units are owned, 125 units are leased, and the remaining stores are operated under a management agreement. Approximately 20% of the gasoline stations within this network are branded Citgo® pursuant to a license agreement granting us the right to use Citgo’s applicable brand names, trademarks and other forms of Citgo’s identification. For fiscal 2007 approximately 87% and 26% of our gasoline and distillate production, respectively, was sold through our retail network.

 

For fiscal 2007, we had total net sales of $2.4 billion, of which approximately 55% were derived from gasoline sales, approximately 37% were from sales of other petroleum products and 9% were from sales of merchandise and other revenue. Our capacity utilization rates have averaged 96% for the last five years.

 

We believe that the location of our 70,000 bpd refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania provides us with a transportation cost advantage over our competitors, which is significant within an approximately 100 mile radius of our refinery. For example, in Buffalo, New York over our last five fiscal years, and including fiscal 2007, we have experienced approximately 1.8 cents per gallon transportation cost advantage over those competitors who are required to ship gasoline by pipeline and truck from New York Harbor sources to Buffalo. We own and operate the Kiantone Pipeline, a 78-mile long crude oil pipeline which connects the refinery to Canadian, U.S. and world crude oil sources through the Enbridge Pipelines Inc. and affiliates (collectively, “Enbridge”) pipeline system. Utilizing the storage capability of the pipeline, we are able to blend various grades of crude oil from different suppliers, allowing us to efficiently schedule production while managing feedstock mix and product yields in order to optimize profitability.

 

It is our view that the high construction costs and the stringent regulatory requirements inherent in petroleum refinery operations make it uneconomical for new competing refineries to be constructed in our primary market area. The nearest fuels refinery is over 160 miles from Warren, Pennsylvania and we believe that no significant production from such refinery is currently shipped into our primary market area.

 

Our primary market area is western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania and our core market area encompasses our Warren County base and the eight contiguous counties in New York and Pennsylvania. Our retail gasoline and merchandise sales are split approximately 59% / 41% between rural and urban markets. Margins on gasoline sales are traditionally higher in rural markets, while gasoline sales volume is greater in urban markets. Our urban markets include Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York and Erie, Pennsylvania.

 

As of August 31, 2007, 171 of our retail units were located in New York, 187 in Pennsylvania and 13 in Ohio. In fiscal year 2007, approximately 87% of the refinery’s gasoline production was sold through our retail network. In addition to gasoline, all units sell convenience merchandise, 108 are Quick Serve Restaurants (“QSRs”) including franchise operations and eight of the units are full-service truck stops. Customers may pay for purchases with credit cards including our own Kwik Fill® credit card. In addition to this credit card, we

 

3


maintain a fleet credit card catering to regional truck and automobile fleets. Sales of convenience products, which tend to have constant margins throughout the year, have served to reduce the effects of the seasonality inherent in gasoline retail margins.

 

Recent Developments

 

The Company continues to be impacted by the petroleum market volatility in fiscal year 2008. Crude prices have increased to record highs during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The month of October saw NYMEX crude prices for November rising to an average price of $85.66/bbl, an increase of $6.03 or 7.6% over October 2007’s average. As of November 23, 2007 the month of November saw crude prices for December rising to an average of $95.30 and increase of $9.64 or 11.3% over November 2007 average.

 

Industry-wide margins on gasoline and distillate products, as indicated by the difference between the prices of crude oil contracts traded on the NYMEX and the prices of NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts, commonly referred to as the “3/2/1 crackspread”, have also been affected during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The month of October saw margins for November average $6.08 a $7.78 or 56% decrease from the average for fiscal year 2007. As of November 23, 2007, the December margins have averaged $11.63, a $2.23 or 16% decrease from the average for fiscal year 2007.

 

The Company conducted a scheduled maintenance turnaround to the west end of the refinery. This consists of the Fluid Catalytic Converter unit, the polymerization unit and the alkylation unit. The turnaround began on October 15, 2007 and was completed on November 7, 2007. The west end of the refinery will not be scheduled for another turnaround until October 2010.

 

The Company successfully completed its comprehensive turnaround of the Crude unit and other related units, such as the Desalter and Vacuum tower which is routinely scheduled every three to five years. In addition to normal maintenance work, the Company upgraded the units to allow them to meet the 30 ppm low sulfur gasoline requirement of the Federal Clean Air Act which is effective January 1, 2008. The Company now has the ability to process 70,000/bpd of crude instead of the previous 65,000/bpd capacity. The upgrade will also allow the Company to run up to 80% of its crude slate as heavy, sour crude. The Company will continue to utilize its proprietary linear program model to determine the optimal crude slate and run rate for the facility.

 

We are currently evaluating the best means to move forward with the implementation of our previously delayed plan for construction of a coker and related infrastructure (the “Project”), including the scope and cost of the Project and obtaining acceptable financing for the Project. In August 2007, we engaged an engineering firm to provide an updated cost schedule estimate for the Project and we continue to explore acceptable financing alternatives.

 

Industry Overview

 

We are a regional refiner and marketer located primarily in Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts I (“PADD I”). As of January 1, 2007, there were 15 operable refineries operating in PADD I with a combined crude processing capacity of 1.7 million bpd, representing approximately 10% of U.S. refining capacity. Petroleum product consumption during calendar year 2006 in PADD I averaged 6.24 million bpd, representing approximately 30% of U.S. demand based on industry statistics reported by the Energy Information Administration (“EIA”). According to the EIA, prime supplier sales volume of gasoline in the region grew by approximately 4.7% during the five-year period ending December 2006. Refined petroleum production in PADD I is insufficient to satisfy demand for such products in the region, making PADD I a net importer of such products.

 

We believe that domestic refining capacity utilization is close to maximum sustainable limits because of the existing high throughput coupled with a minimal change in refining capacity. We believe that high utilization rates coupled with inadequate crude capacity expansion is likely to result in sustainable current operating margins in the refining industry.

 

4


Refining Operations

 

The Company’s refinery is located on a 92-acre site in Warren, Pennsylvania. The refinery’s nominal capacity was recently increased to 70,000 bpd of crude oil processing and averaged saleable production of approximately 63,500 bpd during fiscal 2007.

 

During March and April 2007 the Company completed a maintenance and enhancement turnaround of the crude unit and related operations. In addition to normal maintenance work, we upgraded the operation to allow it to meet the 30 parts per million (“ppm”) low sulfur gasoline requirement of the federal Clean Air Act effective January 1, 2008. We also invested to allow the expansion of the crude unit and related operations to process crude from the former 65,000 bpd capacity to 70,000 bpd. The upgrade also allows the facility to run up to 80% of its slate as heavy, sour crude.

 

We believe our geographic location in the product short PADD I is a significant marketing advantage. Our refinery is located in northwestern Pennsylvania and is geographically distant from the majority of PADD I refining capacity. The nearest fuels refinery is over 160 miles from Warren, Pennsylvania and we believe that no significant production from such refinery is currently shipped into our primary market area.

 

Products

 

We produce three primary petroleum products: gasoline, middle distillates, and asphalt. We presently produce two grades of unleaded gasoline, 87-octane regular and 93-octane premium. We also blend our 87 and 93 octane gasoline to produce a mid-grade 89-octane. In fiscal year 2007, approximately 87% of our gasoline production was sold through our retail network and the remaining 13% of such production was sold to wholesale customers.

 

Middle distillates include kerosene, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, and No. 2 heating oil. For fiscal 2007, approximately 74% of our distillate production was sold to wholesale customers and the remaining 26% through our retail network.

 

We optimize our bottom of the barrel processing by producing asphalt, a higher value alternative to residual fuel oil. Asphalt production as a percentage of all refinery production has exceeded 26% over the last five fiscal years due to our ability and decision to process a larger amount of less costly heavy higher sulfur content crude oil in order to realize higher overall refining margins.

 

Asphalt is a residual product of the crude oil refining process, which is used primarily for construction and maintenance of roads and highways and as a component of roofing shingles. Distribution of asphalt is localized, usually within a distance of 150 miles from a refinery or terminal, and demand is influenced by levels of federal, state, and local government funding for highway construction and maintenance and by levels of roofing construction activities. We believe that an ongoing need for highway maintenance and domestic economic growth will sustain asphalt demand.

 

Refining Process

 

Our production of petroleum products from crude oil involves many complex steps, which are briefly summarized below.

 

We seek to maximize refinery profitability by selecting crude oil and other feedstocks taking into account factors including product demand and pricing in our market areas as well as price, quality and availability of various grades of crude oil. We also consider product inventory levels and any planned turnarounds of refinery units for maintenance. The combination of these factors is optimized by a sophisticated proprietary linear programming computer model, which selects the most profitable feedstock and product mix. The linear programming model is continuously updated and improved to reflect changes in the product market place and in the refinery’s processing capability.

 

5


Blended crude is stored in a tank farm near the refinery, which has a capacity of approximately 200,000 barrels. The blended crude is then brought into the refinery where it is first distilled at low pressure into its component streams in the crude and preflash unit. This yields the following intermediate products: light products consisting of fuel gas components (methane and ethane) and LPG (propane and butane), naphtha or gasoline, kerosene, diesel or heating oil, heavy atmospheric distillate, and crude tower bottoms which are further distilled under vacuum conditions to yield light and heavy vacuum distillates and asphalt. The present capacity of the crude unit is 70,000 bpd.

 

The intermediate products are then processed in downstream units and blended to produce finished products. A naphtha hydrotreater treats naphtha with hydrogen across a fixed bed catalyst to remove sulfur before further treatment. The treated naphtha is then distilled into light and heavy naphtha at a prefractionator. Light naphtha is then sent to an isomerization unit and heavy naphtha is sent to a reformer, in each case for octane enhancement. The isomerization unit converts the light naphtha catalytically into a gasoline component with 83 octane. The reformer unit converts the heavy naphtha into another gasoline component with up to 94 octane depending upon the desired octane requirement for the grade of gasoline to be produced. The reformer also produces as a co-product all the hydrogen needed to operate hydrotreating units in the refinery.

 

Raw kerosene is treated with hydrogen at a distillate hydrotreater to remove sulfur to make finished kerosene. A distillate hydrotreater built in 1993 and modified in 2006 also treats raw distillates to produce ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

 

The long molecular chains of the heavy atmospheric and vacuum distillates are broken or “cracked” in the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit and separated and recovered in the gas concentration unit to produce fuel gas, propylene, butylene, LPG, gasoline, light cycle oil and clarified oil. Fuel gas is burned within the refinery, propylene is fed to a polymerization unit which polymerizes its molecules into a larger chain to produce an 87 octane gasoline component, butylene is fed into an alkylation unit to produce a gasoline component and LPG is treated to remove trace quantities of water and then sold. Clarified oil is burned in the refinery or sold. Various refinery gasoline components are blended together in refinery tankage to produce 87 octane and 93 octane finished gasoline. Likewise, light cycle oil is blended with other distillates to produce No. 2 heating oil. FCC gasoline is hydrotreated in order to meet new more stringent legally mandated limits on gasoline sulfur content which took effect January 1, 2004, and a portion of the light cycle oil is hydrotreated in order to meet new more stringent legally mandated limits on diesel fuel sulfur content which took effect June 1, 2006.

 

Our refining configuration allows the processing of a wide variety of crude oil inputs. During the past five years our inputs have been of Canadian origin and range from light low sulfur (38 degrees API, 0.5% sulfur) to high sulfur heavy asphaltic (21 degrees API, 3.5% sulfur). Our ability to market asphalt on a year round basis enables us to purchase selected heavier crude oils at higher differentials and thus at a lower cost.

 

Supply of Crude Oil

 

Even though our crude supply is currently nearly all Canadian, it is not dependent on this source alone. Within 90 days, we could shift up to 70% of our crude oil requirements to some combination of domestic and offshore crude. With additional time, 100% of our crude requirements could be obtained from non-Canadian sources. 71% of our term contracts with our crude suppliers are on a month-to-month evergreen basis, with 60-to-90 day cancellation provisions; 29% of our term crude contracts are on an annual basis (with month to month pricing provisions). As of August 31, 2007, we had supply contracts with 14 major suppliers for an aggregate of 62,200 bpd of crude oil. We have contracts with three suppliers amounting to 55% of daily crude oil supply (none more than 16,000 barrels per day). None of the remaining suppliers accounted for more than 10% of our crude oil supply.

 

We access crude through the Kiantone Pipeline, which connects with the Enbridge pipeline system in West Seneca, New York, which is near Buffalo. The Enbridge pipeline system provides access to most North American and foreign crude oils through three primary routes: (i) Canadian crude oils are transported eastward

 

6


from Alberta and other points in Canada; (ii) various mid-continent crude oils from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are transported northeast along the Ozark, Woodpat and Chicap Pipelines (foreign crude oils shipped on the Seaway system can also access this route), which connects to the Enbridge pipeline system at Mokena, Illinois; and (iii) foreign crude oils unloaded at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port are transported north via the Capline and Chicap pipelines which connect to the Enbridge pipeline system at Mokena, Illinois.

 

The Kiantone Pipeline, a 78-mile Company-owned and operated pipeline, connects our West Seneca, New York terminal at the pipeline’s northern terminus to the refinery’s tank farm at its southern terminus. We completed construction of the Kiantone Pipeline in 1971 and have operated it continuously since then. We are the sole shipper on the Kiantone Pipeline, and can currently transport up to 70,000 bpd along the pipeline. Our right to maintain the pipeline is derived from approximately 265 separate easements, right-of-way agreements, licenses, permits, leases and similar agreements.

 

The pipeline operation is monitored by a computer at the refinery. Shipments of crude arriving at the West Seneca terminal are separated and stored in one of the terminal’s three storage tanks, which have an aggregate storage capacity of 485,000 barrels. The refinery tank farm has two additional crude storage tanks with a total capacity of 200,000 barrels. An additional 35,000 barrels of crude can be stored at the refinery.

 

Refinery Turnarounds

 

Turnaround cycles vary for different refinery units. A planned turnaround of each of the two major refinery units (the crude unit and the FCC) is conducted approximately every three to five years, during which time such units are shutdown for internal inspection and repair. The most recent turnarounds occurred in March and April 2007 at our crude unit and its related processing equipment, and in October and November 2007 at our FCC unit and its related processing equipment. A turnaround, which generally takes two to four weeks to complete in the case of the two major refinery units, consists of a series of moderate to extensive maintenance exercises. Turnarounds are planned and accomplished in a manner that allows for reduced production during maintenance instead of a complete plant shutdown. We defer the cost of turnarounds when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of benefit, which ranges from 3 to 10 years. Thus, we charge costs to production over the period most clearly benefited by the turnarounds.

 

The next scheduled turnarounds are currently scheduled to begin March 2010 at the crude unit and October 2010 at the FCC unit.

 

The scheduled maintenance turnarounds result in an inventory build of petroleum products to meet minimum sales demand during the maintenance shutdown period.

 

Marketing and Distribution

 

General

 

We have a long history of service within our market area. Our first retail service station was established in 1927 near the Warren, Pennsylvania refinery, and we have steadily expanded our distribution network over the years.

 

We maintain an approximate 59% / 41% split between sales at our rural and urban units. We believe this to be advantageous, balancing the higher gross margins and lower volumes often achievable due to decreased competition in rural areas with higher volumes and lower gross margins in urban areas. We believe that our network of rural convenience store units provide an important alternative to traditional grocery store formats. In fiscal year 2007, approximately 87% and 26% of our gasoline and distillate production, respectively, was sold through this retail network.

 

We continue to have a 50% interest in a joint venture for the production and marketing of asphalt products in Alabama with an unrelated entity.

 

7


We deliver asphalt from the refinery to end user contractors by truck or railcar in addition to re-supplying our asphalt terminals in Rochester, New York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Retail Operations

 

As of August 31, 2007, we operated a retail-marketing network (including those stores operated under a management agreement) that includes 371 retail units, of which 171 are located in western New York, 187 in northwestern Pennsylvania and 13 in eastern Ohio. We own 183 of these units. The retail segment sells petroleum products under the Kwik Fill®, Citgo® and Keystone® brand names and grocery items under the Red Apple Food Mart® and Country Fair® brand names. We believe that Red Apple Food Mart®, Kwik Fill®, Country Fair®, Keystone® and Citgo® are well-recognized names in our marketing areas. Approximately 20% of the gasoline stations within this network are branded Citgo® pursuant to a license agreement granting us the right to use Citgo’s applicable brand names, trademarks and other forms of Citgo’s identification. We believe that the Company operation of our retail units provides us with a significant advantage over competitors that operate wholly or partly through dealer arrangements because we have greater control over pricing and operating expenses.

 

We classify our retail stores into four categories: convenience stores, limited gasoline stations, truck stop facilities, and other stores. Convenience stores sell a wide variety of foods, snacks, cigarettes and beverages and also provide self-service gasoline. One hundred and eight of our 371 retail outlets include QSRs where food is prepared on the premises for retail sales and also distribution to our other nearby units that do not have in-store delicatessens. Limited gasoline stations sell gasoline, cigarettes, oil and related car care products and provide full service for gasoline customers. Truckstop facilities sell gasoline and diesel fuel on a self-service and full-service basis. All truckstops include either a full or mini convenience store, and one has a motel.

 

Total merchandise sales for fiscal year 2007 were $209.0 million, with a gross profit of approximately $56.6 million. Gross margins on the sale of convenience merchandise averaged 27.1% for fiscal 2007 and have been over 27% for the last three years. Merchandise sales have shown continued positive growth.

 

Merchandise Supply

 

Tripifoods, Buffalo, New York is our primary wholesale grocery supplier for our entire chain. During fiscal year 2007, we purchased approximately 72% of our convenience merchandise from this vendor. Tripifoods supplies us with products including tobacco, candy, deli, grocery, health and beauty products, and sundry items. We also purchase coffee, dairy products, beer, soda, snacks, and novelty goods from direct store vendors for resale. We annually review our suppliers’ costs and services versus those of alternate suppliers. We believe that alternative sources of merchandise supply at competitive prices are readily available.

 

Location Performance Tracking

 

We maintain a store tracking mechanism to collect operating data including sales and inventory levels for our retail network. Data transmissions are made using personal computers, which are available at each location. Once verified, the data interfaces with a variety of retail accounting systems, which support daily, weekly, and monthly performance reports. These different reports are then provided to both the field management and administrative personnel. Upon completion of a capital project, management tracks “before and after” performance, to evaluate the return on investment which has resulted from the improvements.

 

Wholesale Marketing and Distribution

 

In fiscal 2007, we sold on a wholesale basis approximately 45,600 bpd of gasoline, distillate and asphalt products to distributor, commercial, and government accounts. In addition, we sell approximately 1,000 bpd of propane to liquefied petroleum gas marketers. In fiscal year 2007, our production of gasoline, distillate, and

 

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asphalt sold at wholesale was 13%, 74%, and 100%, respectively. We sell approximately 98% of our wholesale gasoline and distillate products from our refinery in Warren, Pennsylvania, and our Company-owned and operated product terminals. The remaining 2% are sold through third-party exchange terminals.

 

Our wholesale gasoline customer base includes 50 branded dealer/distributor units operating under our proprietary “Keystone®” and “Kwik Fill®” brand names. Long-term dealer/distributor contracts accounted for approximately 17% of our wholesale gasoline sales in fiscal 2007. Supply contracts generally range from three to five years in length, with branded prices based on our prevailing wholesale rack price in Warren.

 

We believe that the location of our refinery provides us with a transportation cost advantage over our competitors, which is significant within an approximately 100-mile radius of our refinery. For example, in Buffalo, New York over our last five fiscal years, including fiscal 2007, we have experienced an approximately 1.8 cents per gallon transportation cost advantage over those competitors who are required to ship gasoline by pipeline and truck from New York Harbor sources to Buffalo. In addition to this transportation cost advantage, our proximity to local accounts allows us greater range of shipment options, including the ability to deliver truckload quantities of approximately 210 barrels versus much larger 10,000 barrel pipeline batch deliveries, and faster response time, and thus we can enhance service to our customers.

 

Our ability to market asphalt is critical to the performance of our refinery. The timing and a consistent marketing effort enables the refinery to process lower cost higher sulfur content crude oils, which in turn affords us higher refining margins. Sales of paving asphalt generally occur during the period May 1 through October 31 based on weather conditions. In order to maximize our in season asphalt sales, we have made substantial investments to increase our asphalt storage capacity through the installation of additional tankage, as well as through the purchase or lease of outside terminals. Partially mitigating the seasonality of the asphalt paving business is our ability to sell asphalt year-round to roofing shingle manufacturers. In fiscal year 2007, we sold 7.4 million barrels of asphalt while producing 6.6 million barrels. This difference is primarily attributed to our purchasing product for resale, predominantly for our Cordova, Alabama joint venture facility.

 

We have a significant share of the asphalt market in southwestern New York and western and central Pennsylvania as well as in the greater metro areas of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Rochester and Buffalo, New York. We distribute asphalt from the refinery by railcar and truck transport to our owned and leased asphalt terminals in such cities or their suburbs. Asphalt can be purchased or exchanged in the Gulf Coast area and delivered by barge to third party or Company-owned terminals near Pittsburgh.

 

We also have a 50% interest in a joint venture with an entity for the marketing of asphalt products in Alabama. This joint venture is accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

 

We use a network of five terminals to store and distribute refined products. This network provides distillate, and asphalt storage capacities of approximately 1,127,000 barrels, as of August 31, 2007.

 

During fiscal 2007, approximately 94% of our refined products were transported from the refinery via truck transports, with the remaining 6% transported by rail. The majority of our wholesale and retail gasoline distribution is handled by common carrier trucking companies at competitive rates. We also operate a fleet of ten tank trucks that supply approximately 24% of our Kwik Fill® retail stations.

 

Product distribution costs to both retail and wholesale accounts are minimized through product exchanges. Through these exchanges, we have access to product supplies at approximately 22 sources located throughout our retail marketing area. We seek to minimize retail distribution costs through the use of a system wide distribution model.

 

9


Environmental Considerations

 

General

 

We are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to fuel quality, pollution control and protection of the environment, such as those governing releases of certain materials to the air and water and the storage, treatment, transportation, disposal and clean-up of wastes located on land. As with the industry in general, compliance with existing and anticipated environmental laws and regulations increases the overall cost of business, including capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities.

 

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Manufacturing Standards

 

Changes in fuel manufacturing standards including mandatory sulfur reductions and renewable fuel blending will continue to affect our operations. In February 2000, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) issued a final rule under the federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”) requiring a phased reduction of the sulfur content in gasoline to ultimately achieve an annual average of 30 Parts Per Million (“PPM”). Many refiners had to make this reduction beginning in January 2004, but some smaller refiners and those in certain Western states will be allowed to phase down sulfur more slowly, reaching the 30 PPM level as late as January 2008. Although we are of comparable size to some of the small refiners granted more time to comply, we were not classified as a small refiner for this purpose, nor are our operations located in any of the Western states given more time. However, the rule allows individual refiners to seek additional time to comply on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the USEPA. We applied for and were granted additional time to phase down the sulfur content of gasoline. USEPA granted this relief in the form of a three-phase compliance plan giving us until January 2008 to meet the 30 PPM annual average sulfur limit. We made the initial required sulfur reduction before January 1, 2004 by modifying the refinery kerosene hydrotreater to allow it to hydrotreat gasoline as well as kerosene. This modification was effective enough to allow us to also meet the second phase of the compliance plan reducing sulfur levels in gasoline to below 250 PPM annual average. The third and final phase of the compliance plan is on schedule and will allow us to meet the industry-wide standard by January 1, 2008.

 

In 2005, the U.S. Congress passed the Energy Policy Act creating a Renewable Fuel Standard. That standard requires a certain volume each year of gasoline sold to be comprised of renewable fuel, such as ethanol. We are required to comply with the Act by January 2011.

 

The USEPA finalized another rule on February 26, 2007 under the CAA known as the Mobile Source Air Toxics Rule No. 2 (“MSAT II”) intended to reduce emissions of benzene by, among other things, regulating gasoline quality. The rule requires us to reduce the amount of benzene in gasoline from a current average level of about 2% down to 0.62% by January 2011.

 

Retail Gasoline Stations

 

We currently operate gasoline stations in three states with underground petroleum product storage tanks and in the past have operated gasoline stations that are now closed. Federal and state statutes and regulations govern the installation, operation and removal from service of these underground storage tanks and associated piping and product dispensing systems. The operation of underground storage tanks and systems carries the risk of contamination to soil and groundwater with petroleum products. We manage this risk by promptly responding to actual and suspected leaks and spills and implementing remedial action plans meeting regulatory requirements. In addition to prompt response and remediation, we receive reimbursement for response costs associated with leaks and spills in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund.

 

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Competition

 

Petroleum refining and marketing is highly competitive. Our major retail gasoline c-store competitors include British Petroleum, Amerada Hess, Exxon-Mobil, Sunoco, Sheetz, Delta Sonic, Valero and Giant Eagle/GetGo. With respect to wholesale gasoline and distillate sales, we compete with Sunoco, Inc., Exxon-Mobil, and other refiners via their pipeline system. We primarily compete with Marathon Petroleum in the asphalt market, both in New York and Pennsylvania. Many of our principal competitors are integrated multinational oil companies that are substantially larger and better known than us. Because of their diversity, integration of operations, larger capitalization and greater resources, these major oil companies may be better able to withstand volatile market conditions, compete on the basis of price and more readily obtain crude oil in times of shortages.

 

The principal competitive factors affecting our refining operations are crude oil and other feedstock costs, refinery efficiency, refinery product mix and product distribution and transportation costs. Certain of our larger competitors have refineries, which are larger and more complex and, as a result, could have lower per barrel costs or higher margins per barrel of throughput. We have no crude oil reserves and are not engaged in exploration. We believe that we will continue to be able to obtain adequate crude oil and other feedstocks at generally competitive prices for the foreseeable future.

 

The principal competitive factors affecting our retail marketing network are location, product price, overall appearance and cleanliness of stores and brand identification. Competition from large, integrated oil companies, supermarkets, and “big box” convenience store chains such as Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, is expected to be ongoing. The principal competitive factors affecting our wholesale marketing business are the price and quality of our products, as well as the reliability and availability of supply and the location of multiple distribution points.

 

Employees

 

As of August 31, 2007, we had approximately 4,377 employees; 1,926 full-time and 2,451 part-time employees. Approximately 3,731 persons were employed at our retail units, 385 persons at our refinery, Kiantone Pipeline and at terminals operated by us, with the remainder at our office in Warren, Pennsylvania. We have entered into collective bargaining agreements with International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 95, United Steel Workers of America Local No. 2122-A, the International Union of Plant Guard Workers of America Local No. 502 and General Teamsters Local Union No. 397 covering 215, 7, 20 and 18 employees, respectively. The agreements expire on February 1, 2009, January 31, 2009, June 25, 2008 and July 31, 2010, respectively. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We own various federal and state service and trademarks used by us, including Kwik Fill®, United®, Country Fair®, SuperKwik®, Keystone®, SubFare® and PizzaFare®. Our subsidiary, Country Fair, along with us, have licensing agreements with Citgo Petroleum Corporation (“Citgo”) for the right to use Citgo’s applicable brand names, trademarks and other forms of Citgo’s identification for petroleum products purchased under a distributor franchise agreement.

 

We have obtained the right to use the Red Apple Food Mart® service mark to identify our retail units under a royalty-free, nonexclusive, nontransferable license from Red Apple Supermarkets, Inc., a corporation which is indirectly wholly owned by John A. Catsimatidis, the indirect sole stockholder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The license is for an indefinite term. The licensor has the right to terminate this license in the event that we fail to maintain quality acceptable to the licensor. We license the right to use the Keystone® trademark to approximately 50 independent distributors on a non-exclusive royalty-free basis.

 

We currently do not own any material patents. Management believes that it does not infringe upon the patent rights of others, nor does our lack of patent ownership impact our business in any material manner.

 

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Governmental Approvals

 

We believe we have obtained all necessary governmental approvals, licenses, and permits to operate the refinery and convenience stores.

 

Financing

 

In November, 2006, we extended the term of our $100,000,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) with PNC Bank, N.A., as Agent Bank from May 9, 2007 to November 27, 2011, and amended certain terms and provisions thereof, including a reduction in the interest rate and a modification of certain covenants. Under the amended Revolving Credit Facility, interest is calculated as follows: (a) for base rate borrowings, at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate less an applicable margin of .5% to 0% or federal funds rate plus 1%; (b) for euro-rate borrowings, at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.75%. The applicable margin will vary depending on a formula calculating our average unused availability under the facility. Under the Revolving Credit Facility in effect prior to the extension and amendment, interest was calculated as follows: (a) for base rate borrowings, at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate plus an applicable margin of .25% to .75% or federal funds rate plus 1%; (b) for euro-rate borrowings, at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.75% to 3.00%. The applicable margin varied with our facility leverage ratio calculation. The Agent Bank’s prime rate at August 31, 2007 was 7.75%.

 

During May 2007, the Company sold an additional $125,000,000 of 10 1 /2% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2012 (the “Additional Notes”) for $130,312,500 resulting in a debt premium of $5,312,500 which will be amortized over the life of the Additional Notes using the interest method. These Additional Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of August 6, 2004, pursuant to which $200,000,000 of New Notes of the same series were issued in August 2004 and an additional $25,000,000 in February 2005. The net proceeds of the offering were used and will continue to be used for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Additional Notes are hereinafter collectively called “the Senior Unsecured Notes” and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Company’s subsidiaries (see Notes 9 and 16 to Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 8).

 

The Revolving Credit Facility is secured primarily by certain cash accounts, accounts receivable and inventory. Until maturity, we may borrow on a borrowing base formula as set forth in the facility. We had outstanding letters of credit of $432,000 and approximately $99,568,000 unused and available under the Revolving Credit Facility as of August 31, 2007.

 

ITEM 1A.     RISK FACTORS.

 

Risks Relating to the Business

 

Substantial Leverage and Ability to Service and Refinance Debt

 

Our ability to pay interest and principal on the Senior Unsecured Notes and to satisfy our other debt obligations will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, most of which are beyond our control. We anticipate that our operating cash flow, together with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, will be sufficient to meet our operating expenses and capital expenditures, to sustain operations and to service our interest requirements as they become due.

 

We use our Revolving Credit Facility to finance a portion of our operations. These on-balance sheet financial instruments, to the extent they provide for variable rates, expose us to interest rate risks resulting from changes in the PNC Prime rate, the Federal Funds rate or the LIBOR rate.

 

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Volatility of Crude Oil Prices and Refining Margins

 

We are engaged primarily in the business of refining crude oil and selling refined petroleum products. Our earnings and cash flows from operations are dependent upon us realizing refining and marketing margins at least sufficient to cover our fixed and variable expenses. The cost of crude oil and the prices of refined products depend upon numerous factors beyond our control, such as the supply of and demand for crude oil, gasoline and other refined products, which are affected by, among other things, changes in domestic and foreign economies, political events, and instability or armed conflict in oil producing regions, production levels, weather, the availability of imports, the marketing of gasoline and other refined petroleum products by our competitors, the marketing of competitive fuels, the impact of energy conservation efforts, and the extent of domestic and foreign government regulation and taxation. A large, rapid increase in crude oil prices would adversely affect our operating margins if the increased cost of raw materials could not be passed to our customers on a timely basis, and would adversely affect our sales volumes if consumption of refined products, particularly gasoline, were to decline as a result of such price increases. A sudden drop in crude oil prices would adversely affect our operating margins since wholesale prices typically decline promptly in response thereto, while we will be paying the higher crude oil prices until our crude supply at such higher prices is processed. The prices which we may obtain for our refined products are also affected by regional factors, such as local market conditions and the operations of competing refiners of petroleum products as well as seasonal factors influencing demand for such products. In addition, our refinery throughput and operating costs may vary due to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance shutdowns.

 

We do not manage the price risk related to all of our inventories of crude oil and refined products with a permanent formal hedging program, but we do manage our risk exposure by managing inventory levels and by selectively applying hedging activities. At August 31, 2007, the Company had no open futures positions of crude oil puts. As of November 19, 2007 the Company had open future positions of 1,200,000 barrels of crude puts that expire in future periods. The purchase cost of these puts was $2,988,650. Through November 19, 2007 the Company had unrealized losses of $2,580,150 on these puts. The Company also had realized losses of $501,500 on puts expiring in November.

 

At August 31, 2007, we were exposed to the risk of market price declines with respect to a substantial portion of our crude oil and refined product inventories.

 

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our indebtedness and fund our capital expenditures, we will be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may include reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness (including the notes) or seeking additional equity capital. There can be no assurance that any of these strategies could be affected on satisfactory terms, if at all. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations will be dependent upon our future performance which, in turn, is subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

Competition

 

Many of our competitors are fully integrated companies engaged on a national and/or international basis in many segments of the petroleum business, including exploration, production, transportation, refining and marketing, on scales much larger than ours. Large oil companies, because of the diversity and integration of their operations, larger capitalization and greater resources, may be better able to withstand volatile market conditions, compete on the basis of price, and more readily obtain crude oil in times of shortages.

 

We face strong competition in our market for the sale of refined petroleum products, including gasoline. Such competitors have in the past and may in the future engage in marketing practices that result in profit margin deterioration for us for periods of time, causing an adverse impact on us.

 

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Concentration of Refining Operations

 

All of our refinery activities are conducted at our facility in Warren, Pennsylvania. In addition, we obtain substantially all of our crude oil supply through our owned and operated Kiantone Pipeline. Any prolonged disruption to the operations of our refinery or the Kiantone Pipeline, whether due to labor difficulties, destruction of or damage to such facilities, severe weather conditions, interruption of utilities service or other reasons, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In order to minimize the effects of any such incident, we maintain a full schedule of insurance coverage which includes, but is not limited to, property and business interruption insurance. The property insurance policy has a combined loss limit for a property loss at our refinery and business interruptions of $500 million. A deductible of $5 million applies to physical damage claims, with a 45-day wait period deductible for business interruption. We believe that our business interruption coverage is adequate. However, there can be no assurance that the proceeds of any such insurance would be paid in a timely manner or be in an amount sufficient to meet our needs if such an event were to occur.

 

Impact of Environmental Regulation; Government Regulation

 

Our operations and properties are subject to increasingly more stringent environmental laws and regulations, such as those governing the use, storage, handling, generation, treatment, transportation, emission, release, discharge and disposal of certain materials, substances and wastes, remediation of areas of contamination and the health and safety of employees. These laws may impose strict, and under certain circumstances, joint and several, liability for remediation costs and also can impose responsibility for natural resource damages. Failure to comply, including failure to obtain required permits, can also result in significant fines and penalties, as well as potential claims for personal injury and property damage.

 

We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of environmental legislation or regulatory requirements that could be imposed or how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted. The nature of our operations and previous operations by others at certain of our facilities exposes us to the risk of claims under those laws and regulations. There can be no assurance that material costs or liabilities will not be incurred in connection with such claims, including potential claims arising from discovery of currently unknown conditions.

 

Taxes

 

Our operations and products will be subject to taxes imposed by federal, state and local governments, which taxes have generally increased over time. There can be no certainty of the effect that increases in these taxes, or the imposition of new taxes, could have on us, or whether such taxes could be passed on to our customers.

 

Nature of Demand for Asphalt

 

In fiscal 2007, asphalt sales represented 14% of our total revenues. Over the same period, approximately 88% of our asphalt was produced for use in paving or repaving roads and highways. The level of paving activity is, in turn, dependent upon funding available from federal, state and local governments. Funding for paving has been affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by budget difficulties at the federal, state or local levels. A decrease in demand for asphalt could cause us to sell asphalt at significantly lower prices or to curtail production of asphalt by processing more costly lower sulfur content crude oil which would adversely affect refining margins. In addition, paving activity in our marketing area generally ceases in the winter months. Therefore, much of our asphalt production during the winter must be stored until warmer weather arrives, resulting in deferred revenue and inventory buildups each year.

 

Controlling Stockholder

 

John A. Catsimatidis indirectly owns all of our outstanding voting stock. By virtue of such stock ownership, Mr. Catsimatidis has the power to control all matters submitted to our stockholders and to elect all of our directors.

 

14


Restrictions Imposed by Terms of Indebtedness

 

The terms of the Revolving Credit Facility, the indenture pursuant to which the Senior Unsecured Notes were issued (the “Indenture”) and the other agreements governing our indebtedness impose operating and financing restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. Such restrictions affect, and in many respects limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability and our subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, sell assets, or engage in mergers or acquisitions. These restrictions could limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet extraordinary capital needs or otherwise could restrict corporate activities. There can be no assurance that such restrictions will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities which will be in our interest.

 

Our Pension Plans are Currently Underfunded

 

Substantially all of our employees are covered by three noncontributory defined benefit pension plans. As of August 31, 2007, as measured under FAS 87 (which is not the same as the measure used for purposes of calculating required contributions and potential liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or PBGC), the aggregate accumulated benefit obligation under our pension plans was approximately $62.4 million and the value of the assets of the plans was approximately $55.8 million. In fiscal 2007, we contributed $6.2 million to the three plans, and we have made additional contributions to our pension plans of $3.6 million in fiscal year 2008. If the performance of the assets in our pension plans does not meet our expectations or if other actuarial assumptions are modified, our contributions for future years could be higher than we expect.

 

Our pension plans are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA. Under ERISA, the PBGC generally has the authority to terminate an underfunded pension plan if the possible long-run loss of the PBGC with respect to the plan may reasonably be expected to increase unreasonably if the plan is not terminated. In the event our pension plans are terminated for any reason while the plans are underfunded, we will incur a liability to the PBGC that may be equal to the entire amount of the underfunding.

 

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

 

We own a 92-acre site in Warren, Pennsylvania upon which we operate our refinery. The site also contains an office building housing our principal executive office.

 

We own various real property in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Alabama, upon which, as of August 31, 2007, we operated 183 retail units and two crude oil and five refined product storage terminals. We also own the 78-mile long Kiantone Pipeline, a pipeline which connects our crude oil storage terminal to the refinery’s tank farm. Our right to maintain the pipeline is derived from approximately 265 separate easements, right-of-way agreements, leases, permits, and similar agreements. We also have easements, right-of-way agreements, leases, permits, and similar agreements that would enable us to build a second pipeline on property contiguous to the Kiantone Pipeline.

 

As of August 31, 2007, we also lease an aggregate of 188 sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio upon which we operate retail units.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are from time to time parties to various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of their respective business operations. These proceedings include various administrative actions relating to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations as well as civil matters before various

 

15


courts seeking money damages. The Company believes that if the legal proceedings in which it is currently involved were determined against the Company, there would be no material adverse effect on the Company’s operations or its consolidated financial condition. In the opinion of management, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance, or if not so covered, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts that an unfavorable disposition would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated operations or financial position of the Company.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

NONE

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

NONE

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

 

The following table sets forth certain historical financial and operating data (the “Selected Information”) as of the end of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended August 31, 2007. The selected income statement, balance sheet, financial and ratio data as of and for each of the five years ended August 31, 2007 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The operating information for all periods presented has been derived from our accounting and financial records. The Selected Information set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 and our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto in Item 8 and other financial information included elsewhere herein.

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
     (dollars in thousands)  

Income Statement Data:

          

Net sales

   $ 2,405,063     $ 2,437,052     $ 1,890,189     $ 1,488,937     $ 1,290,351  

Gross margin (1)

     449,451       418,426       294,173       277,716       231,435  

Refining operating expenses (2)

     129,896       144,389       120,305       104,938       99,666  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     134,843       128,781       117,644       111,808       106,427  

Operating income

     170,293       132,066       43,538       48,517       13,123  

Interest expense

     (28,178 )     (24,645 )     (24,661 )     (21,445 )     (21,376 )

Interest income

     4,384       750       133       22       36  

Other, net

     (2,724 )     (1,898 )     (3,062 )     (2,201 )     (1,291 )

Equity in net earnings of affiliate

     1,611       2,190       864       672       867  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     —         —         —         (6,770 )     —    

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)

     145,386       108,463       16,812       18,795       (8,641 )

Income tax expense (benefit)

     59,680       44,449       6,900       7,400       (3,370 )

Net income (loss)

     85,706       64,014       9,912       11,395       (5,271 )

Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):

          

Total assets

     727,474       516,771       418,837       366,382       361,428  

Total debt

     358,952       228,014       227,141       212,948       214,410  

Total stockholder’s equity

     142,910       91,853       50,873       47,106       41,975  

(1) Gross margin is defined as gross profit plus refining operating expenses. Refinery operating expenses are expenses incurred in refining and included in costs of goods sold in our consolidated financial statements. Refining operating expense equals refining operating expenses per barrel, multiplied by the volume of total saleable products per day, multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(2) Refinery operating expenses include refinery fuel produced and consumed in refinery operations.

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain statements that constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements may include, among other things, United Refining Company and its subsidiaries current expectations with respect to future operating results, future performance of its refinery and retail operations, capital expenditures and other financial items. Words such as “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “believes”, “estimates”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “shall”, “anticipates”, “predicts”, and similar expressions typically identify such forward looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

By their nature, all forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainties. All phases of the Company’s operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect the Company’s results of operations and whether the forward looking statements ultimately prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward looking statements for a number of reasons.

 

Although we believe our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge, investors and prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are only projections and that actual events or results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors described in greater detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K, reports on Form 8-K, etc. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report 10-K, the Company’s actual consolidated quarterly or annual operating results have been affected in the past, or could be affected in the future, by additional factors, including, without limitation:

 

   

repayment of debt;

 

   

general economic, business and market conditions;

 

   

risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers of refined petroleum products in our markets;

 

   

the demand for and supply of crude oil and refined products;

 

   

the spread between market prices for refined products and market prices for crude oil;

 

   

the possibility of inefficiencies or shutdowns in refinery operations or pipelines;

 

   

the availability and cost of financing to us;

 

   

environmental, tax and tobacco legislation or regulation;

 

   

volatility of gasoline prices, margins and supplies;

 

   

merchandising margins;

 

   

labor costs;

 

   

level of capital expenditures;

 

   

customer traffic;

 

   

weather conditions;

 

   

acts of terrorism and war;

 

   

business strategies;

 

   

expansion and growth of operations;

 

17


   

future projects and investments;

 

   

expected outcomes of legal and administrative proceedings and their expected effects on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows;

 

   

future operating results and financial condition; and

 

   

the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

 

All subsequent written and oral forward looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. We undertake no obligation to update any information contained herein or to publicly release the results of any revisions to any such forward looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10K.

 

Business Strategy and Overview

 

Our strategy is to strengthen our position as a leading producer and marketer of high quality refined petroleum products within our market area. We plan to accomplish this strategy through continued attention to optimizing our operations, resulting in the lowest possible crude and overhead costs, and continuing to improve and enhance our retail and wholesale positions. More specifically, we intend to:

 

   

Maximize the favorable economic impact of our transportation cost advantage by increasing our retail and wholesale market shares within our market area.

 

   

Optimize profitability by managing feedstock costs, product yields, and inventories through our refinery feedstock management program and our system-wide distribution model.

 

   

Continue to investigate additional strategic acquisitions and capital improvements to our existing facilities.

 

   

Continue to evaluate the construction of a delayed Coker and related infrastructure to position us to process a heavier sour crude slate and thereby maximize the benefit of a favorable light/heavy crude differential.

 

Company Background

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and supplementary information were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 8. Inherent in the application of many of these accounting policies is the need for management to make estimates and judgments in the determination of certain revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. As such, materially different financial results can occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known. The policies with the greatest potential effect on our results of operation and financial position include:

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues for products sold by the wholesale segment are recorded upon delivery of the products to our customers, at which time title to those products is transferred and when payment has either been received or collection is reasonably assured. At no point do we recognize revenue from the sale of product prior to transfer of its title. Title to product is transferred to the customer at the shipping point, under predetermined contracts for sale at agreement upon or posted prices to customers of which collectibility is reasonably assured.

 

Revenues for products sold by the retail segment are recognized immediately upon sale to the customer. Revenue derived from other sources including freight charges are recognized when the related product revenue is recognized.

 

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Collectibility of Accounts Receivable

 

For accounts receivable we estimate the net collectibility considering both historical and anticipated trends relating to our customers and the possibility of non-collection due to their financial position. While such non-collections have been historically within our expectations and the allowances the Company has established, the Company cannot guarantee that it will continue to experience non-collection rates that it has experienced in the past. A significant change in the financial position of our customers could have a material impact on the quality of our accounts receivable and our future operating results.

 

Goodwill and Other Non-Amortizable Assets

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. We assess the impairment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets annually.

 

The Company performed separate impairment tests on June 1, 2007 for its tradename and other intangible assets using discounted and undiscounted cash flow methods, respectively. The fair value of the tradename and other intangible assets exceeded their respective carrying values. The Company has noted no subsequent indication that would require testing the tradename and intangible assets for impairment.

 

There were no material changes in the gross carrying amounts of goodwill, tradename, or other intangible assets for fiscal 2007.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any of these assets may not be recoverable, the Company will assess the recoverability of such assets based upon estimated undiscounted cash flow forecasts. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value.

 

Value of Pension Assets

 

The Company maintains three noncontributory defined benefit retirement plans for substantially all its employees. The assets of the plans are invested with a financial institution that follows an investment policy drafted by the Company. The investment guidelines provide a percentage range for each class of assets to be managed by the financial institution. The historic performance of these asset classes supports the Company’s expected return on the assets. The asset classes are rebalanced periodically should they fall outside the range allocations.

 

The percentage of total asset allocation range is as follows:

 

Asset Class

   Minimum     Maximum  

Equity

   55 %   75 %

Fixed Income

   25 %   35 %

Cash or Cash Equivalents

   0 %   10 %

 

The discount rate utilized in valuing the benefit obligations of the plans was derived from the rate of return on high quality bonds as of August 31, 2007. Similarly, the rate of compensation utilizes historic increases granted by the Company and the industry as well as future compensation policies. See Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 8.

 

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Environmental Remediation and Litigation Reserve Estimations

 

Management also makes judgments and estimates in recording liabilities for environmental cleanup and litigation. Liabilities for environmental remediation are subject to change because of matters such as changes in laws, regulations and their interpretation; the effect of additional information on the extent and nature of site contamination; and improvements in technology. Likewise, actual litigation costs can vary from estimates based on the facts and circumstance and application of laws in individual cases.

 

The above assessment of critical accounting policies is not meant to be an all-inclusive discussion of the uncertainties to financial results that occur from the application of the full range of the Company’s accounting policies. Materially different financial results could occur in the application of other accounting policies as well. Likewise, materially different results can occur upon the adoption of new accounting standards promulgated by the various rule-making bodies.

 

General

 

The Company is engaged in the refining and marketing of petroleum products. In fiscal 2007, approximately 87% and 26% of the Company’s gasoline and distillate production, respectively, was sold through the Company’s network of service stations and truck stops. The balances of the Company’s refined products were sold to wholesale customers. In addition to transportation and heating fuels, primarily gasoline and distillate, the Company is a major regional wholesale marketer of asphalt. The Company also sells convenience merchandise at convenience stores located at most of its service stations. The Company’s profitability is influenced by fluctuations in the market prices of crude oils and refined products. Although the Company’s product sales mix helps to reduce the impact of large short-term variations in crude oil price, net sales and costs of goods sold can fluctuate widely based upon fluctuations in crude oil prices. Specifically, the margins on wholesale gasoline and distillate tend to decline in periods of rapidly declining crude oil prices, while margins on asphalt, retail gasoline and distillate tend to improve. During periods of rapidly rising crude oil prices, margins on wholesale gasoline and distillate tend to improve, while margins on asphalt and retail gasoline and distillate tend to decline. Gross margins on the sale of convenience merchandise averaged 27.1% for fiscal 2007 and have been between 27.1% and 28.6% for the last five years and are essentially unaffected by variations in crude oil and petroleum products prices.

 

The Company includes in costs of goods sold operating expenses incurred in the refining process. Therefore, operating expenses reflect only selling, general and administrative expenses, including all expenses of the retail network, and depreciation and amortization.

 

Recent Developments

 

The Company continues to be impacted by the petroleum market volatility in fiscal year 2008. Crude prices have increased to record highs during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The month of October saw NYMEX crude prices for November rising to an average price of $85.66/bbl, an increase of $6.03 or 7.6% over October 2007’s average. As of November 23, 2007 the month of November saw crude prices for December rising to an average of $95.30 and increase of $9.64 or 11.3% over November 2007 average.

 

Industry-wide margins on gasoline and distillate products, as indicated by the difference between the prices of crude oil contracts traded on the NYMEX and the prices of NYMEX gasoline and heating oil contracts, commonly referred to as the “3/2/1 crackspread”, have also been affected during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The month of October saw margins for November average $6.08 a $7.78 or 56% decrease from the average for fiscal year 2007. As of November 23, 2007, the December margins have averaged $11.63, a $2.23 or 16% decrease from the average for fiscal year 2007.

 

The Company conducted a scheduled maintenance turnaround to the west end of the refinery. This consists of the Fluid Catalytic Converter unit, the polymerization unit and the alkylation unit. The turnaround began on

 

20


October 15, 2007 and was completed on November 7, 2007. The west end of the refinery will not be scheduled for another turnaround until October 2010.

 

The Company successfully completed its comprehensive turnaround of the Crude unit and other related units, such as the Desalter and Vacuum tower which is routinely scheduled every three to five years. In addition to normal maintenance work, the Company upgraded the units to allow them to meet the 30 ppm low sulfur gasoline requirement of the Federal Clean Air Act which is effective January 1, 2008. The Company now has the ability to process 70,000/bpd of crude instead of the previous 65,000/bpd capacity. The upgrade will also allow the Company to run up to 80% of its crude slate as heavy, sour crude. The Company will continue to utilize its proprietary linear program model to determine the optimal crude slate and run rate for the facility.

 

We are currently evaluating the best means to move forward with the implementation of our previously delayed plan for construction of a coker and related infrastructure (the “Project”), including the scope and cost of the Project and obtaining acceptable financing for the Project. In August 2007, we engaged an engineering firm to provide an updated cost schedule estimate for the Project and we continue to explore acceptable financing alternatives.

 

Results of Operations

 

The Company is a petroleum refiner and marketer in its primary market area of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Operations are organized into two business segments: wholesale and retail.

 

The wholesale segment is responsible for the acquisition of crude oil, petroleum refining, supplying petroleum products to the retail segment and the marketing of petroleum products to wholesale and industrial customers. The retail segment sells petroleum products under the Kwik Fill® , Citgo® and Keystone® brand names at a network of Company-operated retail units and convenience and grocery items through Company-owned gasoline stations and convenience stores under the, Red Apple Food Mart® and Country Fair® brand names.

 

A discussion and analysis of the factors contributing to the Company’s results of operations are presented below. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes (see Item 8), together with the following information, are intended to supply investors with a reasonable basis for evaluating the Company’s operations, but should not serve as the only criteria for predicting the Company’s future performance.

 

21


Retail Operations:

 

    Fiscal Year Ended August 31,  
    2007     2006     2005  
    (dollars in thousands)  

Net Sales

     

Petroleum

  $ 982,624     $ 937,604     $ 728,281  

Merchandise and other

    208,966       199,473       189,244  
                       

Total Net Sales

  $ 1,191,590     $ 1,137,077     $ 917,525  
                       

Costs of Goods Sold

  $ 1,068,264     $ 1,027,878     $ 820,253  
                       

Gross Profit

  $ 123,326     $ 109,199     $ 97,272  
                       

Operating Expenses

  $ 116,144     $ 110,009     $ 101,492  
                       

Segment Operating Income/(Loss)

  $ 7,182     $ (810 )   $ (4,220 )
                       

Petroleum Sales (thousands of gallons)

    371,418       351,117       343,901  
                       

Gross Profit

     

Petroleum (a)

  $ 66,728     $ 54,627     $ 44,212  

Merchandise and other

    56,598       54,572       53,060  
                       
  $ 123,326     $ 109,199     $ 97,272  
                       

Petroleum margin ($/gallon) (b)

    .1797       .1556       .1286  

Merchandise margin (percent of sales)

    27.1 %     27.4 %     28.0 %

Average number of stations (during period)

     

Owned and leased

    308       310       314  

Managed

    63       62       62  
                       
    371       372       376  
                       

(a) Includes the effect of intersegment purchases from our wholesale segment at prices which approximate market.
(b) Company management calculates petroleum margin per gallon by dividing petroleum gross profit by petroleum sales volumes. Management uses fuel margin per gallon calculations to compare profitability to other companies in the industry. Petroleum margin per gallon may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in the industry.

 

Net Sales

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Retail sales increased during fiscal 2007 by $54.5 million, or 4.8%, from $1,137.1 million in fiscal 2006 to $1,191.6 million in fiscal 2007. The retail sales increase was a result of a $45.0 million increase in petroleum sales, and a $9.5 million increase in merchandise sales. The petroleum sales increase is due to a 20.3 million gallon or 5.8% increase in retail petroleum volume offset by a 0.9% decrease in retail selling price. The merchandise sales increase is primarily due to increased prepared food, beverages and cigarette sales due to promotional campaigns and increased selling prices.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Retail sales increased during fiscal 2006 by $219.6 million, or 23.9%, from $917.5 million in fiscal 2005 to $1,137.1 million in fiscal 2006. The retail sales increase was a result of a $209.3 million increase in petroleum sales, and a $10.2 million increase in merchandise sales. The petroleum sales increase is due to a 26.1% increase

 

22


in retail selling prices and a 7.2 million gallon or 2.1% increase in retail petroleum volume. The merchandise sales increase is primarily due to increased prepared food, beverages and cigarette sales due to promotional campaigns and increased selling prices.

 

Costs of Goods Sold

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Retail costs of goods sold increased during fiscal 2007 by $40.4 million, or 3.9%, from $1,027.9 million in fiscal 2006 to $1,068.3 million in fiscal 2007. The increase of $40.4 million is due to the following: petroleum purchases increased $23.1 million due to an increase volume, fuel taxes of $11.8 million and merchandise costs of $7.5 million offset by decreases in the following: freight costs of $.2 million, inventory costs of $1.7 million and $.1 million in other sundry costs, all directly related to increase in sales.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Retail costs of goods sold increased during fiscal 2006 by $207.6 million, or 25.3%, from $820.3 million in fiscal 2005 to $1,027.9 million in fiscal 2006. The increase of $207.6 million is due to the following: petroleum purchases of $181.9 million due to an increase in prices and volume, fuel taxes of $14.4 million, freight costs of $2.5 million, merchandise costs of $8.7 million and $.1 million in other sundry costs, all directly related to increase in sales.

 

Gross Profit

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Retail gross profit increased during fiscal 2007 by $14.1 million or 12.9% from $109.2 million in fiscal 2006 to $123.3 million in fiscal 2007. Petroleum margins increased by $12.1 million, or 22.1%, due primarily to lower cost of goods on petroleum products. Merchandise margin increased by $2.0 million, or 3.7%, primarily due to a 4.8% increase in merchandise sales.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Retail gross profit increased during fiscal 2006 by $11.9 million or 12.3% from $97.3 million in fiscal 2005 to $109.2 million in fiscal 2006. Petroleum margins increased by $10.4 million, or 23.6%, due primarily to an increase in distillate sales volume. Merchandise margin increased by $1.5 million, or 2.8%, primarily due to a 5.4% increase in merchandise sales.

 

Operating Expenses

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Retail operating expenses increased during fiscal 2007 by $6.1 million or 5.6% from $110.0 million in fiscal 2006 to $116.1 million in fiscal 2007. The primary contributing factors were (i) environmental costs of $1.5 million, due primarily to environmental remediation liability issues and (ii) increased payroll and related payroll costs of $1.3 million due to a minimum wage increase effective January 1, 2006 from $6.00 to $6.75 per hour and another increase effective January 1, 2007 from $6.75 to $7.15 per hour for New York State and effective January 1, 2007 an increase of $5.15 to $6.25 per hour for Pennsylvania. Combined these January 1, 2007 increases affected approximately 1,100 retail employees. Other increases were related to maintenance costs of $.9 million, credit/customer service costs of $.8 million, supplies of $.2 million, legal/professional fees of $.1 million, equipment rental of $.1 million, insurance/utilities/taxes of $.4 million, advertising/promotion costs of $.5 million and other miscellaneous costs of $.3 million.

 

23


2006 vs. 2005

 

Retail operating expenses increased during fiscal 2006 by $8.5 million or 8.4% from $101.5 million in fiscal 2005 to $110.0 million in fiscal 2006. Primarily contributing to the increases were increased payroll and related payroll costs of $3.2 million. This increase was due in part to an increase in New York State minimum wage from $6.00 to $6.75 an hour effective January 1, 2006 which affected about 500 retail employees. The remaining increase was attributed to credit/customer service costs of $2.4 million due to increase in retail petroleum prices of approximately $.55 per gallon which thereby increased the credit card processing cost, pension/post retirement costs of $.3 million, maintenance/environmental costs of $.6 million, insurance/utilities/taxes of $.7 million, advertising/promotions of $.7 million, supplies of $.2 million and other miscellaneous costs of $.4 million.

 

Wholesale Operations:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
     2007    2006    2005
     (dollars in thousands)

Net Sales (a)

   $ 1,213,473    $ 1,299,975    $ 972,664

Costs of Goods Sold

     1,017,244      1,135,137      896,068
                    

Gross Profit

     196,229      164,838      76,596
                    

Operating Expenses

     33,118      31,962      28,838
                    

Segment Operating Income

   $ 163,111    $ 132,876    $ 47,758
                    

Crude throughput (thousand barrels per day)

     61.7      65.8      63.7
                    

 

Refinery Product Yield

 

     Fiscal Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  
     (thousands of barrels)  

Gasoline and gasoline blendstock

   10,209     10,394     10,027  

Distillates

   5,442     6,590     6,360  

Asphalt

   6,604     6,700     6,694  

Butane, propane, residual products, internally produced fuel and other

   2,360     2,466     2,347  
                  

Total Product Yield

   24,615     26,150     25,428  
                  

% Heavy Crude Oil of Total Refinery Throughput (b)

   59 %   54 %   54 %

 

Product Sales (a)

 

     Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
     2007    2006    2005
     (dollars in thousands)

Gasoline and gasoline blendstock

   $ 487,852    $ 503,158    $ 372,482

Distillates

     365,582      449,259      352,746

Asphalt

     338,262      327,992      224,791

Other

     21,777      19,566      22,645
                    
   $ 1,213,473    $ 1,299,975    $ 972,664
                    

 

24


Product Sales (a)

 

     Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
     2007    2006    2005
     (thousands of barrels)

Gasoline and gasoline blendstock

   6,163    6,283    6,127

Distillates

   4,523    5,348    5,425

Asphalt

   7,427    8,219    8,135

Other

   549    497    708
              
   18,662    20,347    20,395
              

(a) Sources of total product sales include products manufactured at the refinery located in Warren, Pennsylvania and products purchased from third parties.
(b) The Company defines “heavy” crude oil as crude oil with an American Petroleum Institute specific gravity of 26 or less.

 

Net Sales

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Wholesale sales decreased during fiscal 2007 by $86.5 million, or 6.7%, from $1,300.0 million in fiscal 2006 to $1,213.5 million in fiscal 2007. The wholesale sales decrease was due to an 8.3% decrease in wholesale volume offset by a 1.8% increase in wholesale prices. The decrease in volume was primarily a result of our scheduled refinery maintenance turnaround.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Wholesale sales increased during fiscal 2006 by $327.3 million, or 33.7%, from $972.7 million in fiscal 2005 to $1,300.0 million in fiscal 2006. The wholesale sales increase was due to a 33.7% increase in wholesale prices, offset by a .2% decrease in wholesale volume.

 

Costs of Goods Sold

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Wholesale costs of goods sold decreased during fiscal 2007 by $117.9 million, or 10.4%, from $1,135.1 million in fiscal 2006 to $1,017.2 million in fiscal 2007. The decrease in wholesale costs of goods sold was primarily due to an 8.3% decrease in wholesale volume as a result of our scheduled refinery turnaround. Also contributing to the decrease was the sale of Motor Vehicle Fuel Credits of $2.4 million, a gain on hedging activity of $4.1 million and a decrease of $9.8 million during fiscal 2007 by the year-end impact of valuing the Company’s inventories under the LIFO cost method.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Wholesale costs of goods sold increased during fiscal 2006 by $239.0 million, or 26.7%, from $896.1 million in fiscal 2005 to $1,135.1 million in fiscal 2006. The increase in wholesale costs of goods sold was primarily due to the 31.3% increase in the Company’s average crude oil purchase price for fiscal 2006 as compared to the prior year period. Worldwide crude oil prices, as indicated by NYMEX crude oil contract prices, increased 30.5% as compared to the prior year period. Costs of goods sold increased $33.6 million during fiscal 2006 by the year-end impact of valuing the Company’s inventories under the LIFO cost method.

 

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Gross Profit

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Wholesale gross profit increased during fiscal 2007 by $31.4 million or 19.0% from $164.8 million in fiscal 2006 to $196.2 million in fiscal 2007. Costs of goods sold decreased primarily due to a decrease in wholesale volumes as a result of our scheduled refinery turnaround, sale of Motor Vehicle Fuel Credits, a gain on hedging activity and by the year-end impact of valuing the Company’s inventories under the LIFO cost method.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Wholesale gross profit increased during fiscal 2006 by $88.2 million or 115.0% from $76.6 million in fiscal 2005 to $164.8 million in fiscal 2006. This is due to a 33.7% increase in wholesale selling prices, offset by a .3% decrease in wholesale volume.

 

Operating Expenses

 

2007 vs. 2006

 

Wholesale operating expenses increased during fiscal 2007 by $1.2 million or 3.6% from $31.9 million in fiscal 2006 to $33.1 million in fiscal 2007. This increase was primarily due to executive officers bonuses incurred, increased pension expense and corporate administrative overhead. For fiscal 2007 operating expenses were $33.1 million, or 2.7% of net wholesale sales, compared to $32.0 million or 2.5% of net wholesale sales for fiscal 2006.

 

2006 vs. 2005

 

Wholesale operating expenses increased during fiscal 2006 by $3.1 million or 10.8% from $28.8 million in fiscal 2005 to $31.9 million in fiscal 2006. This increase was primarily due to executive officers bonuses incurred, increased pension expense and corporate administrative overhead. For fiscal 2006 operating expenses were $32.0 million, or 2.5% of net wholesale sales, compared to $28.8 million or 3.0% of net wholesale sales for fiscal 2005.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Net interest expense (interest expense less interest income) decreased during fiscal 2007 by $.1 million from $23.9 million for fiscal 2006 to $23.8 million for fiscal 2007. The decrease was due to reduced usage of short term borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility throughout the fiscal year.

 

Net interest expense (interest expense less interest income) decreased during fiscal 2006 by $.6 million from $24.5 million for fiscal 2005 to $23.9 million for fiscal 2006. The decrease was due to reduced usage of short term borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility throughout the fiscal year.

 

Income Tax Expense / (Benefit)

 

Our fiscal 2007 effective tax remained the same at 41% for both fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006.

 

Our fiscal 2006 effective tax remained the same at 41% for both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We operate in an environment where our liquidity and capital resources are impacted by changes in the price of crude oil and refined petroleum products, availability of credit, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors beyond our control. Included in such factors are, among others, the level of customer product demand, weather conditions, governmental regulations, worldwide political conditions and overall market and economic conditions.

 

26


The following table summarizes selected measures of liquidity and capital sources:

 

     August 31,
2007
   August 31,
2006
     (in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 135,441    $ 59,197

Working capital

   $ 324,180    $ 146,723

Current ratio

     3.2      2.0

Debt

   $ 358,952    $ 228,014

 

Primary sources of liquidity have been cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations and borrowing availability under a revolving line of credit. We believe available capital resources will be adequate to meet our working capital, debt service, and capital expenditure requirements for existing operations. We continuously evaluate our capital budget; however, management does not foresee any significant increase in maintenance and non-discretionary capital expenditures during fiscal 2008 that would impact future liquidity or capital resources. Maintenance and non-discretionary capital expenditures have averaged approximately $6 million annually over the last three years for the refining and marketing operations and management currently projects this capital expenditure to be approximately $5 million for fiscal 2008.

 

Our cash and cash equivalents consist of bank balances and investments in money market funds. These investments have staggered maturity dates, none of which exceed three months. They have a high degree of liquidity since the securities are traded in public markets. During fiscal 2007, significant uses of cash are summarized in the following table:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
August 31, 2007
 
     (dollars in millions)  

Significant uses of cash

  

Property, plant and equipment

  

USEPA ultra low sulfur gasoline compliance

   $ 11.5  

Heavy crude processing upgrade

     7.3  

Residual upgrade

     6.1  

Crude pipeline upgrade

     3.7  

Miscellaneous equipment replacement

     3.4  

Retail store construction (new)

     2.4  

Retail store rehab

     2.0  

Retail petroleum upgrade

     1.7  

USEPA ultra low sulfur diesel compliance

     0.3  

Environmental upgrade

     0.2  

Other general capital items
(tank repairs, refinery piping projects, etc.)

     5.0  
        

Total

   $ 43.6  
        

Marketable securities purchased

   $ 75.9  

Refinery turnaround costs

   $ 6.0  
        

Working capital items

  

Increase in inventory due to increase in volumes

   $ (35.4 )

Accounts payable decrease

     (14.5 )

Accrued liabilities decrease

     (4.2 )

Income taxes payable increase (for fiscal 2007)

     15.1  

Accounts receivable decrease

     5.3  

Prepaid expense decrease

     4.9  

Other

     3.6  
        

Total

   $ (25.2 )
        

 

27


For fiscal 2007, net cash provided by financing activities totaled $114.3 million; of this amount, $131.9 million was from proceeds of $125 million Senior Notes issued May 2007 at a premium (see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources,” Item 7), and $7.8 million was a distribution received from the Parent company under the Tax Sharing Agreement. These receipts were offset by a $23.3 million dividend paid to the Company’s stockholder, payment of $1.2 million in deferred financing costs and principal reduction of long term debt of $.9 million.

 

The Company’s liquidity position remained strong throughout fiscal 2007. As of August 31, 2007, we had outstanding letters of credit of $.4 million with no borrowing under the $100 Million Revolving Credit Facility resulting in a net availability of $99.6 million.

 

We require a substantial investment in working capital which is susceptible to large variations during the year resulting from purchases of inventory and seasonal demands. Inventory purchasing activity is a function of sales activity and turnaround cycles for the different refinery units.

 

Future liquidity, both short and long-term, will continue to be primarily dependent on realizing a refinery margin sufficient to cover fixed and variable expenses, including planned capital expenditures. We expect to be able to meet our working capital, capital expenditure, contractual obligations, letter of credit and debt service requirements out of cash flow from operations, cash on hand and borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility with PNC Bank, N.A. as Agent Bank. In November 2006, we extended the term of our $100,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility from May 9, 2007 to November 27, 2011, and amended certain terms and provisions thereof, including a reduction in the interest rate and a modification of certain covenants. Under the amended Revolving Credit Facility, interest is calculated as follows: (a) for base rate borrowings, at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate less an applicable margin of .5% to 0% or federal funds rate plus 1%; (b) for euro-rate borrowings, at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.75%. The applicable margin will vary depending on a formula calculating our average unused availability under the facility. Under the Revolving Credit Facility in effect prior to the extension and amendment, interest was calculated as follows: (a) for base rate borrowings, at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate plus an applicable margin of .25% to .75% or federal funds rate plus 1%; (b) for euro-rate borrowings, at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.75% to 3.00%. The applicable margin varied with our facility leverage ratio calculation. The Agent Bank’s prime rate at August 31, 2007 was 7.75%.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility is secured primarily by certain cash accounts, accounts receivable and inventory. Until maturity, we may borrow on a borrowing base formula as set forth in the facility.

 

We had outstanding letters of credit of $432,000 as of August 31, 2007. As of August 31, 2007, outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility were $0 resulting in net availability of $99,568,000.

 

The following is a summary of our significant contractual cash obligations for the periods indicated that existed as of August 31, 2007 and is based on information appearing in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8:

 

     Payments due by period

Contractual Obligations

   Total    Less Than 1
Year
   1 – 3
Years
   3 – 5
Years
   More than 5
Years
     (in thousands)

Long-term debt (a) (b)

   $ 358,952    $ 1,808    $ 3,505    $ 352,036    $ 1,603

Operating leases

     93,417      10,360      16,882      14,600      51,575

Interest on 10.5% Senior Notes due 8/15/2012

     182,219      36,750      73,500      71,969      —  
                                  

Total contractual cash obligations

   $ 634,588    $ 48,918    $ 93,887    $ 438,605    $ 53,178
                                  

(a)

Does not include interest on the Revolving Credit Facility. The applicable margin varies with our facility leverage ratio calculation. Under the amended Revolving Credit Facility, for base rate borrowings, interest

 

28


 

is calculated at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate less an applicable margin of 0% to .5% or federal funds rate plus 1%. For Euro-Rate borrowings, interest is calculated at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.75%. The applicable margin varies with our facility’s average unused availability calculation (see Notes 8 and 18 to Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 8).

(b) Amounts reflect amortization of debt discount of $2.7 million, debt premium of $.8 million and debt premium of $5,313 million, respectively, on $200 million of Senior Unsecured Notes issued August 6, 2004, $25 million of Senior Unsecured Notes issued February 15, 2005, and $125 million of Senior Unsecured Notes issued May 4, 2007, respectively, which will be amortized over the life of the notes using the interest method (see Note 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements, Item 8).

 

Although we are not aware of any pending circumstances which would change our expectations, changes in the tax laws, the imposition of and changes in federal and state clean air and clean fuel requirements and other changes in environmental laws and regulations may also increase future capital expenditure levels. Future capital expenditures are also subject to business conditions affecting the industry. We continue to investigate strategic acquisitions and capital improvements to our existing facilities.

 

Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment affect nearly all of our operations. As is the case with all the companies engaged in similar industries, we face significant exposure from actual or potential claims and lawsuits involving environmental matters. Future expenditures related to environmental matters cannot be reasonably quantified in many circumstances due to the uncertainties as to required remediation methods and related clean-up cost estimates. We cannot predict what additional environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted or become effective in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted with respect to products or activities to which they have not been previously applied.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

See Item 13, Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

 

Seasonal Factors

 

Seasonal factors affecting the Company’s business may cause variation in the prices and margins of some of the Company’s products. For example, demand for gasoline tends to be highest in spring and summer months, while demand for home heating oil and kerosene tends to be highest in winter months.

 

As a result, the margin on gasoline prices versus crude oil costs generally tends to increase in the spring and summer, while margins on home heating oil and kerosene tend to increase in winter.

 

Inflation

 

The effect of inflation on the Company has not been significant during the last five fiscal years.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN No. 48”). FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement classification, accounting for interest and penalties and accounting in interim periods and disclosure.

 

The provisions of FIN No. 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not expect that the adoption of Interpretation 48 will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

29


In September 2006, the FASB issued Staff Position No. AUG AIR-1, “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities” (“Position No. AUG AIR-1”). Position No. AUG AIR-1 prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities.

 

The provisions of Position No. AUG AIR-1 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not expect that the adoption of Position No. AUG AIR-1 will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“Statement 158”), an amendment of Statements 87, 88, 106, and 132 (R). Statement 158 represents the completion of the FASB’s first phase in its postretirement benefit accounting project. Statement 158 requires an entity to recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year, and recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. The adoption of Statement 158 by the Company effective August 31, 2006 resulted in the recognition of a net loss of $20,676,000 as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (See Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

We use our Revolving Credit Facility to finance a portion of our operations. These on-balance sheet financial instruments, to the extent they provide for variable rates, expose us to interest rate risk resulting from changes in the PNC Prime rate, the Federal Funds rate or the LIBOR rate.

 

We have exposure to price fluctuations of crude oil and refined products. We do not manage the price risk related to all of our inventories of crude oil and refined products with a permanent formal hedging program, but we do manage our risk exposure by managing inventory levels and by selectively applying hedging activities. At August 31, 2007, the Company had no future positions.

 

At August 31, 2007, we were exposed to the risk of market price declines with respect to a substantial portion of our crude oil and refined product inventories.

 

30


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   32

Consolidated Financial Statements:

  

Balance Sheets

   33

Statements of Operations

   34

Statements of Comprehensive Income

   35

Statements of Stockholder’s Equity

   36

Statements of Cash Flows

   37

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   38 thru 61

 

31


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholder

United Refining Company

Warren, Pennsylvania

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United Refining Company and subsidiaries as of August 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the management of United Refining Company and its subsidiaries. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United Refining Company and subsidiaries as of August 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 10 to the accompanying financial statements, the Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” as of August 31, 2007.

 

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
New York, New York
November 8, 2007

 

32


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     August 31,  
     2007     2006  

Assets

    

Current:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 135,441     $ 59,197  

Marketable securities

     75,854       —    

Accounts receivable, net

     79,703       85,036  

Inventories

     166,024       130,633  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     16,957       21,809  

Amounts due from affiliated companies, net

     —         883  
                

Total current assets

     473,979       297,558  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     217,837       190,080  

Investment in affiliated company

     3,510       2,899  

Deferred financing costs, net

     5,635       5,643  

Goodwill

     1,349       1,349  

Tradename

     10,500       10,500  

Amortizable intangible assets, net

     2,191       2,665  

Deferred turnaround costs and other assets, net

     9,252       6,077  

Deferred income taxes

     7,313       —    
                
   $ 731,566     $ 516,771  
                

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

    

Current:

    

Current installments of long-term debt

   $ 1,808     $ 435  

Accounts payable

     69,806       84,269  

Accrued liabilities

     15,643       19,892  

Income taxes payable

     36,514       21,432  

Sales, use and fuel taxes payable

     20,725       20,144  

Deferred income taxes

     7,218       4,663  

Amounts due to affiliated companies, net

     2,177       —    
                

Total current liabilities

     153,891       150,835  

Long term debt: less current installments

     357,144       227,579  

Deferred income taxes

     —         8,624  

Deferred gain on settlement of pension plan obligations

     270       485  

Deferred retirement benefits

     77,305       36,794  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     46       601  
                

Total liabilities

     588,656       424,918  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholder’s equity:

    

Common stock; $.10 par value per share—shares authorized 100; issued and outstanding 100

  

 


—  


 

 

 


—  


 

Additional paid-in capital

     22,031       14,244  

Retained earnings

     141,555       79,188  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (20,676 )     (1,579 )
                

Total stockholder’s equity

     142,910       91,853  
                
   $ 731,566     $ 516,771  
                

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

33


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  

Net sales

   $ 2,405,063     $ 2,437,052     $ 1,890,189  

Costs of goods sold

     2,085,508       2,163,015       1,716,321  
                        

Gross profit

     319,555       274,037       173,868  
                        

Expenses:

      

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     134,843       128,781       117,644  

Depreciation and amortization expenses

     14,419       13,190       12,686  
                        

Total operating expenses

     149,262       141,971       130,330  
                        

Operating income

     170,293       132,066       43,538  
                        

Other income (expense):

      

Interest expense, net

     (23,794 )     (23,895 )     (24,528 )

Other, net

     (2,724 )     (1,898 )     (3,062 )

Equity in net earnings of affiliate

     1,611       2,190       864  
                        
     (24,907 )     (23,603 )     (26,726 )
                        

Income before income tax expense

     145,386       108,463       16,812  
                        

Income tax expense (benefit):

      

Current

     59,705       41,449       2,920  

Deferred

     (25 )     3,000       3,980  
                        
     59,680       44,449       6,900  
                        

Net income

   $ 85,706     $ 64,014     $ 9,912  
                        

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

34


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007    2006    2005  

Net income

   $ 85,706    $ 64,014    $ 9,912  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Minimum pension liability, net of taxes

     1,579      5,127      (4,402 )
                      

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     1,579      5,127      (4,402 )
                      

Total comprehensive income

   $ 87,285    $ 69,141    $ 5,510  
                      

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

35


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

(in thousands, except share data)

 

     Common Stock    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
 
     Shares    Amount         

Balance at August 31, 2004

   100    $  —      $ 16,648     $ 32,762     $ (2,304 )   $ 47,106  

Dividend to stockholder

   —        —        —         (1,743 )     —         (1,743 )

Other comprehensive loss

   —        —        —         —         (4,402 )     (4,402 )

Net income

   —        —        —         9,912       —         9,912  
                                            

Balance at August 31, 2005

   100      —        16,648       40,931       (6,706 )     50,873  

Dividend to stockholder

   —        —        —         (25,757 )     —         (25,757 )

Other comprehensive income

   —        —        —         —         5,127       5,127  

Distribution to Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement

   —        —        (2,404 )     —         —         (2,404 )

Net income

   —        —        —         64,014       —         64,014  
                                            

Balance at August 31, 2006

   100      —        14,244       79,188       (1,579 )     91,853  

Dividends to stockholder

   —        —        —         (23,339 )     —         (23,339 )

Other comprehensive income

   —        —        —         —         1,579       1,579  

Distribution from Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement

   —        —        7,787       —         —         7,787  

Adjustment to initially apply Statement 158, net of taxes

   —        —        —         —         (20,676 )     (20,676 )

Net income

   —        —        —         85,706       —         85,706  
                                            

Balance at August 31, 2007

   100    $ —      $ 22,031     $ 141,555     $ (20,676 )   $ 142,910  
                                            

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

36


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   $ 85,706     $ 64,014     $ 9,912  
                        

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     18,044       17,462       16,770  

Equity in net earnings of affiliate

     (1,611 )     (2,190 )     (864 )

Deferred income taxes

     (25 )     3,000       3,980  

Loss on asset dispositions

     1,932       1,469       1,662  

Cash (used in) provided by working capital items

     (25,195 )     (22,356 )     1,062  

Other, net

     (2 )     24       24  

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Other assets

     61       —         (30 )

Deferred retirement benefits

     8,059       3,313       2,287  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     (555 )     (657 )     (511 )
                        

Total adjustments

     708       65       24,380  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

     86,414       64,079       34,292  
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (43,590 )     (21,719 )     (11,858 )

Marketable securities purchased

     (75,854 )     —         —    

Additions to turnaround costs

     (6,023 )     (980 )     (888 )

Dividends received

     1,000       1,000       —    

Proceeds from asset dispositions

     11       1,371       (4 )
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (124,456 )     (20,328 )     (12,750 )
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Net reductions on revolving credit facility

     —         —         (13,000 )

Distribution from (to) Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement

     7,787       (2,404 )     —    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     131,956       1,140       26,919  

Principal reductions of long-term debt

     (947 )     (665 )     (911 )

Dividends to stockholder

     (23,339 )     (25,757 )     (1,743 )

Deferred financing costs

     (1,171 )     (72 )     (1,155 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     114,286       (27,758 )     10,110  
                        

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     76,244       15,993       31,652  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     59,197       43,204       11,552  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 135,441     $ 59,197     $ 43,204  
                        

Cash used in (provided by) working capital items:

      

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 5,333     $ (15,455 )   $ (24,985 )

Inventories

     (35,391 )     (57,497 )     2,550  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     4,852       (4,288 )     (1,045 )

Accounts payable

     (14,463 )     34,346       20,906  

Accrued liabilities

     (4,249 )     3,065       812  

Amounts due affiliated companies

     3,060       (1,594 )     576  

Income taxes payable

     15,082       19,464       1,173  

Sales, use and fuel taxes payable

     581       (397 )     1,075  
                        

Total change

   $ (25,195 )   $ (22,356 )   $ 1,062  
                        

Cash paid during the period for:

      

Interest

   $ 30,758     $ 24,560     $ 24,892  

Income taxes

   $ 34,438     $ 21,851     $ 1,900  
                        

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

      

Property additions and capital leases

   $ 24     $ 167     $ 934  
                        

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

37


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United Refining Company and its subsidiaries, United Refining Company of Pennsylvania and its subsidiaries, and Kiantone Pipeline Corporation (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The Company is a petroleum refiner and marketer in its primary market area of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Operations are organized into two business segments: wholesale and retail.

 

The wholesale segment is responsible for the acquisition of crude oil, petroleum refining, supplying petroleum products to the retail segment and the marketing of petroleum products to wholesale and industrial customers. The retail segment sells petroleum products under the Kwik Fill® , Citgo® and Keystone® brand names at a network of Company-operated retail units and convenience and grocery items through Company-owned gasoline stations and convenience stores under the Red Apple Food Mart® and Country Fair® brand names.

 

The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Refining, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Acquisition Corp., which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Red Apple Group, Inc. (the “Parent”).

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investment securities with maturities of three months or less at date of acquisition to be cash equivalents.

 

Marketable Securities

 

The Company considers all investment securities not classified as cash or cash equivalents to be marketable securities and classifies these investments as available-for-sale in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“Statement 115”). These securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain on loss, net of tax, reported in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Company classifies these securities as current assets as they are used to support its current operations. The fair value of marketable securities is determined by available market prices.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

From time to time the Company uses derivatives to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in crude oil purchase costs and refining margins. Derivative products, specifically crude oil option contracts and crack spread option contracts are used to hedge the volatility of these items. The Company does not enter such contracts for speculative purposes.

 

The Company accounts for changes in the fair value of its contracts by marking them to market and recognizing any resulting gains or losses in its statement of operations. During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, the Company realized net gains / (losses) from its trading activities of $4,114,000, $(215,000), and $(1,495,000), respectively, which is included as an increase or reduction to costs of goods sold. The Company includes the carrying amounts of the contracts in prepaid expenses and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

38


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

At August 31, 2007, the Company had no open future positions that will expire in future periods. At August 31, 2006, the Company had net open future positions of 1,400,000 barrels of crude oil that were sold during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007. The Company’s net investment in open future positions at August 31, 2007 amounted to $0.

 

Inventories and Exchanges

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined under the Last-in, First-out (LIFO) method for crude oil and petroleum product inventories and the First-in, First-out (FIFO) method for merchandise. Supply inventories are stated at either lower of cost or market or replacement cost and include various parts for the refinery operations. If the cost of inventories exceeds their market value, provisions are made currently for the difference between the cost and the market value. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, had the Company utilized the FIFO inventory method, petroleum product inventories would have been higher by $63,209,000 and $73,119,000, respectively. During the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had no reductions in the quantities of crude oil and petroleum products that resulted in the liquidation of LIFO layers.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated by the straight-line method over the respective estimated useful lives. The costs of funds used to finance projects during construction are capitalized. Routine current maintenance, repairs and replacement costs are charged against income. Expenditures which materially increase values expand capacities or extend useful lives are capitalized. A summary of the principal useful lives used in computing depreciation expense is as follows:

 

     Estimated Useful
Lives (Years)

Refinery Equipment

   20-30

Marketing

   15-30

Transportation

   20-30

 

Leases

 

The Company leases land, buildings, and equipment under long-term operating and capital leases and accounts for the leases in accordance with Financial Account Standard No. 13, “Accounting for Leases”. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. The lease term begins on the date the Company has the right to control the use of the leased property pursuant to the terms of the lease.

 

Deferred Maintenance Turnarounds

 

The cost of maintenance turnarounds, which consist of complete shutdown and inspection of significant units of the refinery at intervals of two or more years for necessary repairs and replacements, are deferred when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of benefit, which ranges from 3 to 10 years. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, deferred turnaround costs included in deferred turnaround costs and other assets, amounted to $8,241,000 and $4,974,000, net of accumulated amortization of $7,023,000 and $10,661,000, respectively. Amortization expense included in costs of goods sold for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $2,757,000, $3,058,000, and $2,913,000, respectively.

 

39


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Amortizable Intangible Assets

 

The Company amortizes identifiable intangible assets such as brand names, non-compete agreements, leasehold covenants and deed restrictions on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives which range from 5 to 25 years.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues for products sold by the wholesale segment are recorded upon delivery of the products to our customers, at which time title to those products is transferred and when payment has either been received or collection is reasonably assured. At no point do we recognize revenue from the sale of products prior to the transfer of its title. Title to product is transferred to the customer at the shipping point, under pre-determined contracts for sale at agreed upon or posted prices to customers of which collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenues for products sold by the retail segment are recognized immediately upon sale to the customer. Included in Net Sales and Costs of Goods Sold are consumer excise taxes of $206,885,000 $192,552,000 and $178,131,000 for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Product Shipping and Handling Costs

 

Costs incurred for shipping and handling of products are included in costs of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

The Company joins with the Parent and the Parent’s other subsidiaries in filing a Federal Income tax return on a consolidated basis. Income taxes are calculated on a separate return basis with consideration of the Tax Sharing Agreement between the Parent and its subsidiaries.

 

Post-Retirement Healthcare Benefits

 

The Company provides at no cost to retirees, post-retirement healthcare benefits to salaried and certain hourly employees. The benefits provided are hospitalization, medical coverage and dental coverage for the employee and spouse until age 65. After age 65, benefits continue until the death of the retiree, which results in the termination of benefits for all dependent coverage. If an employee leaves the Company as a terminated vested member of a pension plan prior to normal retirement age, the person is not entitled to any post-retirement healthcare benefits.

 

The Company accrues post-retirement benefits other than pensions, during the years that the employee renders the necessary service, of the expected cost of providing those benefits to an employee and the employee’s beneficiaries and covered dependents. The Company has elected to amortize the transition obligation of approximately $12,000,000 on a straight-line basis over a 20-year period.

 

40


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts based on specifically identified amounts that we believe to be uncollectible. The Company also recorded additional allowances based on historical collection experience and its assessment of the general financial conditions affecting the customer base. Senior management reviews accounts receivable on a weekly basis to determine if any receivables will potentially be uncollectible. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written off against the allowance.

 

Concentration Risks

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments.

 

The Company places its temporary cash investments with quality financial institutions. At times, such investments were in excess of FDIC insurance limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

The Company purchased approximately 26% of its cost of goods sold from two vendors during the year ended August 31, 2007 and one vendor representing approximately 17% during the year ended August 31, 2006. The Company is not obligated to purchase from these vendors, and, if necessary, there are other vendors from which the Company can purchase crude oil and other petroleum based products. The Company had approximately $16,213,000 and $4,378,000 in accounts payable for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006 to these respective vendors.

 

Environmental Matters

 

The Company expenses environmental expenditures related to existing conditions resulting from past or current operations and from which no current or future benefit is discernible. Expenditures, which extend the life of the related property or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. The Company determines its liability on a site by site basis and records a liability at the time when it is probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s estimated liability is reduced to reflect the anticipated participation of other potentially responsible parties in those instances where it is probable that such parties are legally responsible and financially capable of paying their respective shares of the relevant costs. The estimated liability of the Company is not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers and is recorded in accrued liabilities.

 

Goodwill and Other Non-Amortizable Assets

 

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“Statement 142”), goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests in accordance with Statement 142. Other intangible assets continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives.

 

41


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company performed separate impairment tests for its goodwill and tradename using the discounted cash flow method. The fair value of the goodwill and tradename exceeded their respective carrying values. The Company has noted no subsequent indication that would require testing its goodwill and tradename for impairment.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any of these assets (other than goodwill and tradename) may not be recoverable, the Company will assess the recoverability of such assets based upon estimated undiscounted cash flow forecasts. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value.

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The Company reports comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income” (“Statement 130”). Statement 130 establishes guidelines for the reporting and display of comprehensive income (loss) and its components in financial statements. Comprehensive loss includes charges and credits to equity that are not the result of transactions with the shareholder. Included in other comprehensive loss for the Company is a minimum pension liability adjustment, which is net of taxes in accordance with Statement 148.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN No. 48”). FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement classification, accounting for interest and penalties and accounting in interim periods and disclosure.

 

The provisions of FIN No. 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not expect that the adoption of Interpretation 48 will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Staff Position No. AUG AIR-1, “Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance Activities” (“Position No. AUG AIR-1”). Position No. AUG AIR-1 prohibits the use of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities.

 

The provisions of Position No. AUG AIR-1 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company does not expect that the adoption of Position No. AUG AIR-1 will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“Statement 158”), an amendment of Statements 87, 88, 106, and 132 (R). Statement 158 represents the completion of the FASB’s first phase in its postretirement benefit accounting project. Statement 158 requires an entity to recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the

 

42


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

employer’s fiscal year, and recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. The adoption of Statement 158 by the Company effective August 31, 2007 resulted in the recognition of a net loss of $20,676,000 as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (See Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Reclassification

 

Certain amounts in the prior year’s consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the presentation in the current year.

 

2. Marketable Securities

 

The following is a summary of marketable securities classified as “available-for-sale” securities:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Debt securities:

     

Cost

   $ 75,854    $  —  

Gross unrealized gains (losses)

     —        —  
             

Estimated fair value

   $ 75,854    $  —  
             

 

The estimated fair value of these securities is based on published closing prices of securities at August 31, 2007. These securities mature at various times, all of which are in excess of five years. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties.

 

3. Accounts Receivable, Net

 

As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, accounts receivable were net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $840,000 and $740,000, respectively.

 

4. Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Crude Oil

   $ 59,566    $ 46,166

Petroleum Products

     70,198      49,057
             

Total @ LIFO

     129,764      95,223
             

Merchandise

     18,127      18,256

Supplies

     18,133      17,154
             

Total @ FIFO

     36,260      35,410
             

Total Inventory

   $ 166,024    $ 130,633
             

 

43


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Included in petroleum product inventories are exchange balances either held for or due from other petroleum marketers. These balances are not significant.

 

The Company does not own sources of crude oil and depends on outside vendors for its needs.

 

As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the replacement cost of LIFO inventories exceeded their LIFO carrying values by approximately $63,209,000 and $73,119,000, respectively. Due to anticipated fluctuations in inventory levels and the many factors which enter into the LIFO calculation which are beyond management’s control, it is the policy of the Company to record the LIFO inventory adjustment only at fiscal year-end. These adjustments were $(9,910,000) and $34,723,000 for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which were recorded in the fourth quarter.

 

5. Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment is summarized as follows:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Refinery equipment, including construction-in-progress

   $ 244,549    $ 213,360

Marketing (i.e. retail outlets)

     95,809      91,501

Transportation

     12,329      8,626
             
     352,687      313,487

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     134,850      123,407
             
   $ 217,837    $ 190,080
             

 

6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s intangible assets and goodwill, included in the Company’s retail segment, were as follows:

 

     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
   August 31, 2007    August 31, 2006
      Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
     (in thousands)

Amortizable intangible assets:

              

Vendor contracts

   1 yr.    $ 2,600    $ 2,105    $ 2,600    $ 1,733

Deed restrictions

   17 yrs.      800      181      800      149

Non-compete agreement

   —        —        —        400      373

Leasehold covenants

   16 yrs.      1,490      413      1,641      521
                              
      $ 4,890    $ 2,699    $ 5,441    $ 2,776
                              

Non-amortizable assets:

              

Tradename

      $ 10,500    $ —      $ 10,500    $ —  

Goodwill

      $ 1,349    $ —      $ 1,349    $ —  

 

Amortization expense for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 amounted to $505,000, $588,000, and $591,000, respectively.

 

44


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for each of the years in the five-year period ending August 31, 2012 is estimated to be $478,000 in 2008, $230,000 in 2009, $106,000 in 2010, $106,000 in 2011, and $106,000 in 2012.

 

7. Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities include the following:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Interest

   $ 1,518    $ 935

Payrolls and benefits

     11,718      17,161

Other

     2,407      1,796
             
   $ 15,643    $ 19,892
             

 

8. Leases

 

The Company occupies premises, primarily retail gas stations and convenience stores and office facilities under long-term leases which require minimum annual rents plus, in certain instances, the payment of additional rents based upon sales. The leases generally are renewable for one to three five-year periods.

 

As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, capitalized lease obligations, included in long-term debt, amounted to $1,621,000 and $1,761,000, respectively, inclusive of current portion of $157,000 and $140,000, respectively. The related assets (retail gas stations and convenience stores) as of August 31, 2007 and 2006 amounted to $1,273,000 and $1,441,000, net of accumulated amortization of $941,000 and $773,000, respectively. Lease amortization amounting to $168,000, $168,000, and $146,000 for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively, is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Future minimum lease payments as of August 31, 2007 are summarized as follows:

 

Year ended August 31,

   Capital
Leases
   Operating
Leases
     (in thousands)

2008

   $ 336    $ 10,360

2009

     341      8,936

2010

     341      7,946

2011

     275      7,519

2012

     195      7,081

Thereafter

     1,287      51,575
             

Total minimum lease payments

     2,775      93,417

Less: Minimum sublease rents

     —        129
             

Net minimum sublease payments

     2,775    $ 93,288
         

Less: Amount representing interest

     1,154   
         

Present value of net minimum lease payments

   $ 1,621   
         

 

Net rent expense for operating leases amounted to $11,094,000, $10,876,000, and $10,781,000 for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

45


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

9. Credit Facility

 

In November 2006, the Company extended the term of its $100,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility from May 9, 2007 to November 27, 2011, and amended certain terms and provisions thereof, including a reduction in the interest rate and a modification of certain covenants. Under the amended Revolving Credit Facility, interest is calculated as follows: (a) for base rate borrowings, at the greater of the Agent Bank’s prime rate less an applicable margin of .5% to 0% or federal funds rate plus 1%; (b) for euro-rate borrowings, at the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 1.75%. The applicable margin will vary depending on a formula calculating the Company’s average unused availability under the facility. The Revolving Credit Facility is secured primarily by certain cash accounts, accounts receivable and inventory which amounted to $213,000,000 as of August 31, 2007. Until maturity, the Company may borrow on a borrowing base formula as set forth in the facility.

 

As of August 31, 2007 and 2006 no Base-Rate borrowings or Euro-Rate borrowings were outstanding under the agreement. $432,000 of letters of credit were outstanding under the agreement at August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The weighted average interest rate for Base-Rate borrowing for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006 was 7.8% and 7.7%, respectively. The weighted average interest rate for Euro-Rate borrowings was 0% for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company pays a commitment fee of 3/8% per annum on the unused balance of the facility. All bank related charges are included in Other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

10. Long-Term Debt

 

During May 2007, the Company sold an additional $125,000,000 of 10 1 /2% Senior Unsecured Notes (the “Senior Unsecured Notes”) due 2012 for $130,312,500, resulting in a debt premium of $5,312,500 which will be amortized over the life of the notes using the interest method. These additional notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of August 6, 2004, pursuant to which $200,000,000 of notes of the same series were issued in August 2004. The net proceeds of the offering were used for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes.

 

During February 2005, the Company sold an additional $25,000,000 of 10 1/2% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2012 for $25,750,000, resulting in a debt premium of $750,000 which is being amortized over the life of the notes using the interest method. These additional notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of August 6, 2004, pursuant to which $200,000,000 of notes of the same series were issued in August 2004. The net proceeds of the offering were used to pay down a portion of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness under its existing revolving credit facility.

 

During August 2004, the Company sold $200,000,000 of 10 1/2% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2012 for $197,342,000, resulting in debt discount of $2,658,000 which is being amortized over the life of the notes using the interest method. The net proceeds of the offering of $191,600,000 were used to retire all of its outstanding 10 3/4% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2007, Series B, pay accrued interest of $3,700,000 and a redemption premium related thereto and to pay a dividend of $5,000,000 to the Company’s stockholder. A loss of $6,770,000 on the early extinguishment of debt was recorded consisting of a redemption premium of $3,228,000, a write-off of deferred financing costs of $1,990,000 and additional interest paid of $1,552,000.

 

Such notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of the Company’s subsidiaries (see Footnote 16 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Both the Indenture of the Senior Unsecured Notes and the facility (See Footnote 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements) require that the Company maintain certain financial covenants. The facility requires the Company to meet certain financial covenants, as defined in the facility, a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and a

 

46


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

minimum Consolidated Net Worth. In addition, the facility limits the amount the Company can distribute for capital and operating leases. Both the facility and the Indenture of the Senior Unsecured Notes restrict the amount of dividends payable and the incurrence of additional Indebtedness. As of August 31, 2007 the Company is in compliance with covenants under the facility and the Indenture.

 

A summary of long-term debt is as follows:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Long-term debt:

     

10.50% Senior Unsecured Notes due August 15, 2012

   $ 353,840    $ 223,623

Other long-term debt

     5,112      4,391
             
     358,952      228,014

Less: Current installments of long-term debt

     1,808      435
             

Total long-term debt, less current installments

   $ 357,144    $ 227,579
             

 

The principal amount of long-term debt outstanding as of August 31, 2007, net of unamortized discount, matures as follows:

 

Year ended August 31,

     (in thousands)

2008

   $ 1,808

2009

     1,809

2010

     1,696

2011

     1,132

2012

     350,904

Thereafter

     1,603
      
   $ 358,952
      

 

The following financing costs have been deferred and are being amortized to expense over the term of the related debt:

 

     August 31,
     2007    2006
     (in thousands)

Beginning balance

   $ 8,444    $ 8,372

Current year additions

     1,174      72
             

Total financing costs

     9,618      8,444

Less:

     

Write-off of fully amortized deferred financing costs

     1,174      —  

Accumulated amortization

     2,809      2,801
             
   $ 5,635    $ 5,643
             

 

Amortization expense for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $1,182,000, $1,198,000, and $1,108,000, respectively.

 

47


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

11. Employee Benefit Plans

 

Substantially all employees of the Company are covered by noncontributory defined benefit retirement plans. The benefits are based on each employee’s years of service and compensation. The Company’s policy is to contribute the minimum amounts required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended, and any additional amounts for strategic financial purposes or to meet other goals relating to plan funded status. The assets of the plans are invested in an investment trust fund and consist of interest-bearing cash, separately managed accounts and bank common/collective trust funds.

 

In addition to the above, the Company provides certain post-retirement healthcare benefits to salaried and certain hourly employees. These post-retirement benefit plans are unfunded and the costs are paid by the Company from general assets.

 

Net periodic pension cost and post-retirement healthcare benefit cost consist of the following components for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005:

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Post-Retirement
Benefits
     2007     2006     2005     2007    2006    2005
     (in thousands)

Service cost

   $ 2,611     $ 2,938     $ 2,370     $ 2,275    $ 2,376    $ 1,568

Interest cost on benefit obligation

     4,187       3,936       3,488       3,398      2,746      2,452

Expected return on plan assets

     (4,240 )     (3,639 )     (3,155 )     —        —        —  

Amortization of transition obligation

     140       140       140       597      597      597

Amortization and deferrals

     762       1,741       878       975      947      516
                                            

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 3,460     $ 5,116     $ 3,721     $ 7,245    $ 6,666    $ 5,133
                                            

 

The Company adopted Statement 158 effective August 31, 2007. Statement 158 requires an employer to recognize the funded status of each of its defined pension and postretirement benefit plans as a net asset or liability in its statement of financial position with an offsetting amount in accumulated other comprehensive income, and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which changes occur through comprehensive income. The provisions of Statement 158 are to be applied on a prospective basis; therefore, prior periods presented are not restated. The incremental change due to the adoption of Statement 158 at August 31, 2007 is as follows:

 

Pension Benefits

   Balance Prior
to Statement 158
Adjustments
    Statement 158
Adjustments
    Balance After
Statement 158
Adjustments
 
     (in thousands)  

Intangible pension asset

   $ (576 )   $ 576     $ —    

Accrued and minimum pension liability

   $ 6,643     $ 8,825     $ 15,468  
                        

Accumulated other comprehensive income, pre-tax

   $ —       $ (8,825 )   $ (8,825 )

Deferred tax assets

     —         3,618       3,618  
                        

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

   $ —       $ (5,207 )   $ (5,207 )
                        

Other Post-Retirement Benefits

      

Accrued and minimum liability

   $ 37,609     $ 26,218     $ 63,827  
                        

Accumulated other comprehensive income, pre-tax

   $ —       $ (26,218 )   $ (26,218 )

Deferred tax assets

     —         10,749       10,749  
                        

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

   $ —       $ (15,469 )   $ (15,469 )
                        

 

48


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the change in benefit obligations and fair values of plan assets for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

     Pension Benefits     Other Post-Retirement
Benefits
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Change in benefit obligation:

        

Benefit obligation @ beginning of year

   $ 67,822     $ 72,750     $ 54,739     $ 50,627  

Service cost

     2,611       2,938       2,275       2,376  

Interest cost

     4,187       3,936       3,398       2,746  

Medicare act subsidy effect

     —         —         105       82  

Actuarial (gains) / losses

     (1,581 )     (9,962 )     5,448       780  

Benefits paid

     (1,769 )     (1,840 )     (2,138 )     (1,872 )
                                

Benefit obligation @ end of year

     71,270       67,822       63,827       54,739  
                                

Change in plan assets:

        

Fair values of plan assets @ beginning of year

     45,105       39,465       —         —    

Actual return on plan assets

     6,306       3,080       —         —    

Company contributions

     6,160       4,400       2,033       1,790  

Benefits paid

     (1,769 )     (1,840 )     (2,138 )     (1,872 )

Medicare act subsidy effect

     —         —         105       82  
                                

Fair values of plan assets @ end of year

     55,802       45,105       —         —    
                                

Funded status

     15,468       22,717       63,827       54,739  

Unrecognized net actuarial loss

     —         (11,298 )     —         (18,154 )

Unrecognized prior service cost

     —         (1,865 )     —         —    

Unrecognized transition obligation

     —         (211 )     —         (4,178 )
                                

Net amount recognized

   $ 15,468     $ 9,343     $ 63,827     $ 32,407  
                                

Amounts recognized in the balance sheet consist of:

        

Accrued benefit cost

   $ 15,468     $ 9,343      

Additional minimum liability

     —         4,554      

Intangible asset

     —         (1,963 )    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —         (2,591 )    
                    

Net amount recognized

   $ 15,468     $ 9,343      
                    

Note: For plans with assets less than the accumulated benefit obligation (ABO), the aggregate ABO is $62,442,000 while the aggregate asset value is $55,802,000

        

 

Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:

 

     Pension Benefits    Other Post-
Retirement Benefits
     2007         2006        2007         2006    
     (in thousands)

Accumulated transition obligation

   $ (71 )   N/A    $ (3,581 )   N/A

Accumulated prior service cost

     (1,586 )   N/A      —       N/A

Accumulated net actuarial loss

     (7,168 )   N/A      (22,637 )   N/A
                     

Net amount recognized, before tax effect

   $ (8,825 )   N/A    $ (26,218 )   N/A
                     

 

49


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The preceding table presents two measures of benefit obligations for the pension plans. Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) generally measures the value of benefits earned to date. Projected benefit obligation (PBO) also includes the effect of assumed future compensation increases for plans in which benefits for prior service are affected by compensation changes. Each of the three pension plans, whose information is aggregated above, have asset values less that these measures. Plan funding amounts are calculated pursuant to ERISA and Internal Revenue Code rules. The postretirement benefits are not funded.

 

Weighted average assumptions:

   Pension Benefits    Other Post-
Retirement
Benefits
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Discount rate

   6.00% – 6.30%    5.90% – 6.05%    6.25%    6.05%
               

Expected return on plan assets

   8.50%    8.50%      

Rate of compensation increase

   3.50%    3.50%      
               

 

The discount rate assumptions at August 31, 2007 and 2006 were determined independently for each plan. A yield curve was produced for a universe containing the majority of U.S.-issued Aa-graded corporate bonds, all of which were non-callable (or callable with make-whole provisions), and after exclusion of the 10% of the bonds with the highest yields and the 10% with the lowest yields. For each plan, the discount rate was developed as the level equivalent rate that would produce the same present value as that using spot rates aligned with the projected benefit payments.

 

For measurement purposes, the assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered medical and dental benefits was 9% and 5% for 2007 and 10% and 5%, respectively, for 2006. The rates were assumed to decrease gradually to 5% for medical benefits until 2012 and remain at that level thereafter. The healthcare cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the amounts reported. To illustrate, a 1 percentage point change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rate would have the following effects:

 

     1% Point
Increase
   1% Point
Decrease
 
     (in thousands)  

Effect on total of service and interest cost components

   $ 1,019    $ (821 )

Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation

     9,598      (7,901 )

 

The expected return on plan assets is a long-term assumption established by considering historical and anticipated returns of the asset classes invested in by the pension plans and the allocation strategy currently in place among those classes.

 

The Company intends to change the expected return on asset assumption to 8.25% for the 2008 net periodic cost.

 

50


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A reconciliation of the above accrued benefit costs to the consolidated amounts reported on the Company’s balance sheets follows:

 

     August 31,  
     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Accrued pension benefits

   $ 15,468     $ 9,343  

Accrued other post-retirement benefits

     63,827       32,407  
                
     79,295       41,750  

Current portion of above benefits, included in payrolls and benefits in accrued liabilities

     (2,400 )     (8,093 )

Minimum pension liability, net of intangible asset

     —         2,591  

Supplemental pension and other deferred compensation benefits

     410       546  
                

Deferred retirement benefits

   $ 77,305     $ 36,794  
                

 

The pension plans weighted-average target allocation for the year ended August 31, 2008 and strategic asset allocation matrix as of August 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

 

     Target
Allocation
    Plan Assets @ 8/31  

Asset Category

   2007     2007     2006  

Equity Securities

   55 – 75 %   71 %   67 %

Debt Securities

   25 – 35 %   27 %   29 %

Cash/Cash Equivalents

   0 – 10 %   2 %   4 %
              
     100 %   100 %
              

 

The investment policy for the plans is formulated by the Company’s Pension Plan Committee (the “Committee”). The Committee is responsible for adopting and maintaining the investment policy, managing the investment of plan assets and ensuring that the plans’ investment program is in compliance with all provisions of ERISA, as well as the appointment of any investment manager who is responsible for implementing the plans’ investment process.

 

In drafting a strategic asset allocation policy, the primary objective is to invest assets in a prudent manner to meet the obligations of the plans to the Company’s employees, their spouses and other beneficiaries, when the obligations come due. The stability and improvement of the plans’ funded status is based on the various reasons for which money is funded. Other factors that are considered include the characteristics of the plans’ liabilities and risk-taking preferences.

 

The asset classes used by the plan are the United States equity market, the international equity market, the United States fixed income or bond market and cash or cash equivalents. Plan assets are diversified to minimize the risk of large losses. Cash flow requirements are coordinated with the custodian trustees and the investment manager to minimize market timing effects. The asset allocation guidelines call for a maximum and minimum range for each broad asset class as noted above.

 

The target strategic asset allocation and ranges established under the asset allocation represents a long-term perspective. The Committee will rebalance assets to ensure that divergences outside of the permissible allocation ranges are minimal and brief as possible.

 

51


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The net of investment manager fee asset return objective is to achieve a return earned by passively managed market index funds, weighted in the proportions identified in the strategic asset allocation matrix. Each investment manager is expected to perform in the top one-third of funds having similar objectives over a full market cycle.

 

The investment policy is reviewed by the Committee at least annually and confirmed or amended as needed.

 

Under Statement 158 beginning at FYE August 31, 2007, the transition obligation, prior service costs, and actuarial (gains)/losses are recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income each August 31 or any interim measurement date, while amortization of these amounts through net periodic benefit cost will occur in accordance with FAS 87 and FAS 106. The estimated amounts that will be amortized in 2008 follow:

 

Estimated 2008 Amortization

   Pension
Benefits
  

Other

Post-Retirement
Benefits

     (in thousands)

Transition obligation amortization

   $ 65    $ 597

Prior service cost (credit) amortization

     278      —  

Net loss amortization

     81      1,300
             

Total

   $ 424    $ 1,897
             

 

The following contributions and benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:

 

Employer Contributions

   Pension
Benefits
   Other Post-Retirement Benefits  
      Gross    (Subsidy receipts)  
          (in thousands)  

FYE 8/31/2008 (expected)

   $ 3,600    $ 2,494    $ (189 )

Expected Benefit Payments for FYE 8/31

        

2008

   $ 2,648    $ 2,494    $ (189 )

2009

     2,907      2,864      (218 )

2010

     3,192      3,270      (244 )

2011

     3,494      3,629      (276 )

2012

     3,828      3,974      (308 )

2013 - 2017

     25,086      25,543      (2,040 )
                      

 

The pension plan contributions are deposited into a trust, and the pension plan benefit payments are made from trust assets. For the postretirement benefit plan, the contributions and the benefit payments are the same and represent expected benefit amounts, which are paid from general assets.

 

The Company’s postretirement benefit plan is likely to be affected by The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the “Act”). Beginning in 2006, the Act provides a Federal subsidy payment to companies providing benefit plans that meet certain criteria regarding their generosity. The Company expects to receive those subsidy payments. The Company has accounted for the Act in accordance with FASB Staff Position No. 106-2 “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003”, which requires, in the Company’s case, recognition on August 31, 2004. The benefit obligation as of that date reflects the effect of the federal subsidy, and this amount is identified in the table reconciling the change in benefit obligation above. The estimated effect of the subsidy on cash flow is shown in the accompanying table of expected benefit payments above. The expected subsidy reduced net periodic postretirement benefit cost by $930,000, as compared with the amount calculated without considering the effects of the subsidy.

 

52


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Company’s deferred gain on settlement of past pension plan obligations amounted to $270,000 and $485,000 as of August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and is being amortized over 23 years. The related amortization amounted to $215,000 for each of the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

 

The Company also contributes to voluntary employee savings plans through regular monthly contributions equal to various percentages of the amounts invested by the participants. The Company’s contributions to these plans amounted to $937,000, $1,066,000, and $810,000 for the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

12. Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of:

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006    2005  
     (in thousands)  

Federal:

       

Current

   $ 44,752     $ 30,394    $ 138  

Deferred

     391       2,841      4,329  
                       
     45,143       33,235      4,467  
                       

State:

       

Current

     14,953       11,055      2,782  

Deferred

     (416 )     159      (349 )
                       
     14,537       11,214      2,433  
                       
   $ 59,680     $ 44,449    $ 6,900  
                       

 

Reconciliation of the differences between income taxes computed at the Federal statutory rate and the provision for income taxes attributable to income before income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

U. S. federal income taxes at the statutory rate

   $ 50,885     $ 37,962     $ 5,716  

State income taxes, net of Federal benefit

     9,469       7,308       1,272  

Domestic production activity deduction

     (1,015 )     (1,015 )     —    

Nondeductible expenses

     238       261       111  

Other

     103       (67 )     (199 )
                        

Income tax attributable to income before income tax expense

   $ 59,680     $ 44,449     $ 6,900  
                        

 

53


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Deferred income tax liabilities (assets) are comprised of the following:

 

     August 31,  
     2007     2006  
     (in thousands)  

Current deferred income tax liabilities (assets):

    

Inventory valuation

   $ 9,642     $ 7,262  

Accounts receivable allowance

     (351 )     (316 )

Accrued liabilities

     (2,803 )     (2,892 )

Other

     730       609  
                
     7,218       4,663  
                

Deferred income tax liabilities (assets):

    

Property, plant and equipment

     52,054       35,326  

Accrued liabilities

     (49,952 )     (19,458 )

State net operating loss carryforwards

     (7,577 )     (7,251 )

Valuation allowance

     334       372  

Other

     (2,172 )     (365 )
                
     (7,313 )     8,624  
                

Net deferred income tax (asset) liability

   $ (95 )   $ 13,287  
                

 

The Company’s results of operations are included in the consolidated Federal tax return of the Parent (See Footnote 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company has no Federal net operating loss carryforwards for regular tax purposes. For state purposes, two entities have Pennsylvania net operating loss carryforwards of $30,000,000 and $45,800,000, respectively. Pennsylvania limits the amount of net operating loss carryforwards which can be used to offset Pennsylvania taxable income to $3,000,000 per year, per entity. The Company believes that the Pennsylvania net operating loss carryforwards will be utilized to offset future Pennsylvania taxable income.

 

For financial reporting purposes, valuation allowances of $334,000 and $372,000 at August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were recognized for state net operating loss carryforwards not anticipated to be realized before expiration.

 

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 created a separate parallel tax system called the Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) system. AMT is calculated separately from the regular U.S. Federal income tax and is based on a flat rate of 20% applied to a broader tax base. The higher of the two taxes is paid. The excess AMT over regular tax is a tax credit, which can be carried forward indefinitely to reduce regular tax liabilities in excess of AMT liabilities of future years. The Company has no AMT credits from prior years available to offset the regular tax liability in future years.

 

13. Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, the revolving credit facility and current liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. The fair value of marketable securities is determined by available market prices.

 

54


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The fair value of long-term debt (See Footnote 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements) was determined using the fair market value of the individual debt instruments. As of August 31, 2007, the carrying amount and estimated fair value of these debt instruments approximated $358,952,000 and $365,847,000, respectively.

 

14. Transactions with Affiliated Companies

 

On December 21, 2001, the Company acquired the operations and working capital assets of Country Fair. The fixed assets of Country Fair were acquired by related entities controlled by John A. Catsimatidis, the indirect sole shareholder of the Company. These assets are being leased to the Company at an annual aggregate rental which management, based on an independent third party valuation believes is fair, over a period ranging from 10 to 20 years. During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, $5,102,000, $5,102,000, and $5,168,000 of rent payments were made to these related entities. The Company is not a guarantor on the underlying mortgages on the properties.

 

Concurrent with the above acquisition of Country Fair, the Company entered into a management agreement with a non-subsidiary affiliate to operate and manage 18 of the retail units owned by the non-subsidiary affiliate on a turn-key basis. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company billed the affiliate $1,018,000, $972,000, and $857,000 for management fees and overhead expenses incurred in the management and operation of the retail units which amount was deducted from expenses. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had a receivable from the affiliate of $24,000 and $174,000, respectively, under the terms of the agreement, which is included in Amounts Due to/from Affiliated Companies, Net.

 

Effective June 1, 2001, the Company entered into a 50% joint venture with an unrelated entity for the marketing of asphalt products. The joint venture is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, net sales to the joint venture amounted to $12,596,000, $13,019,000, and $9,434,000, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had a receivable from the joint venture of $1,161,000 and $1,977,000, respectively, under the terms of the agreement, which is included in Amounts Due to/from Affiliated Companies, Net.

 

On September 29, 2000, the Company sold 42 retail units to an affiliate for $23,870,000. Concurrent with this asset sale, the Company terminated the leases on 8 additional retail locations which it had previously leased from a non-subsidiary affiliate. The Company has entered into a management agreement with the non-subsidiary affiliate to operate and manage the retail units owned by the non-subsidiary affiliate on a turnkey basis. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company billed the affiliate $1,976,000, $1,725,000, and $1,515,000, respectively, for management fees and overhead expenses incurred in the management and operation of the 50 retail units, which amount was deducted from expenses. For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, net sales to the affiliate amounted to $116,240,000, $105,651,000, and $72,431,000, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had accounts payable to the affiliate of $1,096,000 and $1,034,000, respectively, under the terms of the agreement.

 

The Company paid a service fee relating to certain costs incurred by its Parent for the Company’s New York office. During the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, such fees amounted to approximately $2,000,000, $2,000,000, and $2,000,000, respectively, which is included in Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.

 

The Company joins with the Parent and the Parent’s other subsidiaries in filing a Federal income tax return on a consolidated basis. Income taxes are calculated on a separate return basis with consideration of the Tax Sharing Agreement between the Parent and its subsidiaries. Amounts related to the Tax Sharing Agreement for

 

55


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

the utilization by the Company of certain tax attributes of the Parent and other subsidiaries related to the tax year ended August 31, 2006 and to the tax years ended August 31, 2001 through August 31, 2005, amounted to $7,787,000 and ($2,404,000) and have been recorded as a capital contribution (distribution) for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company owed the Parent $2,268,000 and $233,000, respectively, under the terms of the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

During the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company incurred $372,000 in each year as its share of occupancy expenses for our offices in New York that it shares with affiliates of the Company. Such offices are located in a building owned by John Catsimatidis.

 

During fiscal 2007 the Company shared certain costs with an affiliate of the Company for aircraft owned by another affiliate of the Company and incurred $332,000 as its share of such costs. For fiscal 2006 the Company’s share of such costs was $390,000.

 

15. Environmental Matters And Other Contingencies

 

The Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to pollution and protection of the environment such as those governing releases of certain materials into the environment and the storage, treatment, transportation, disposal and clean-up of wastes, including, but not limited to, the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and analogous state and local laws and regulations.

 

Due to the nature of the Company’s business, the Company is and will continue to be subject to various environmental claims, legal actions and actions by regulatory authorities. In the opinion of management, all current matters are without merit or are of such kind or involve such amounts that an unfavorable disposition would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition or operations of the Company.

 

The management of the Company believes that remediation and related environmental response costs incurred during the normal course of business, including contractual obligations as well as activities required under applicable law and regulation, will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or operations.

 

In addition to the foregoing proceedings, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of their respective business operations. In the opinion of management, all such matters are adequately covered by insurance, or if not so covered, are without merit or are of such kind, or involve such amounts that unfavorable dispositions would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company.

 

16. Segments of Business

 

The Company is a petroleum refiner and marketer in its primary market area of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Operations are organized into two business segments: wholesale and retail.

 

The wholesale segment is responsible for the acquisition of crude oil, petroleum refining, supplying petroleum products to the retail segment and the marketing of petroleum products to wholesale and industrial customers. The retail segment sells petroleum products under the Kwik Fill® , Citgo® and Keystone® brand names at a network of Company-operated retail units and convenience and grocery items through Company-owned gasoline stations and convenience stores under the, Red Apple Food Mart® and Country Fair® brand names.

 

56


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Footnote 1 to Consolidated Financial Statements. Intersegment revenues are calculated using estimated market prices and are eliminated upon consolidation. Summarized financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments is presented in the following table.

 

     Year Ended August 31,  
     2007    2006     2005  
     (in thousands)  

Net Sales

       

Retail

   $ 1,191,590    $ 1,137,077     $ 917,525  

Wholesale

     1,213,473      1,299,975       972,664  
                       
   $ 2,405,063    $ 2,437,052     $ 1,890,189  
                       

Intersegment Sales

       

Wholesale

   $ 546,981    $ 503,414     $ 367,614  
                       

Operating Income (Loss)

       

Retail

   $ 7,182    $ (810 )   $ (4,220 )

Wholesale

     163,111      132,876       47,758  
                       
   $ 170,293    $ 132,066     $ 43,538  
                       

Total Assets

       

Retail

   $ 158,164    $ 143,881     $ 138,162  

Wholesale

     573,402      372,890       280,675  
                       
   $ 731,566    $ 516,771     $ 418,837  
                       

Depreciation and Amortization

       

Retail

   $ 4,609    $ 4,320     $ 4,080  

Wholesale

     9,810      8,870       8,606  
                       
   $ 14,419    $ 13,190     $ 12,686  
                       

Capital Expenditures (including non-cash portion)

       

Retail

   $ 7,783    $ 5,161     $ 6,354  

Wholesale

     35,831      16,725       6,438  
                       
   $ 43,614    $ 21,886     $ 12,792  
                       

 

17. Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Certain of United Refining Company’s (the “issuer”) subsidiaries function as guarantors under the terms of the $350,000,000 Senior Unsecured Note Indenture due August 15, 2012. These subsidiaries were also guarantors under the terms of the $200,000,000 Senior Unsecured Notes due June 9, 2007, which were retired in August 2004. Financial information for the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary guarantors (see Footnote 9 to Consolidated Financial Statements) is as follows:

 

57


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

     August 31, 2007     August 31, 2006  
     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Assets

                

Current:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 123,858     $ 11,583     $ —       $ 135,441     $ 52,375     $ 6,822     $ —       $ 59,197  

Marketable securities

     75,854       —         —         75,854       —         —         —         —    

Accounts receivable, net

     49,577       30,126       —         79,703       55,230       29,806       —         85,036  

Inventories

     139,382       26,642       —         166,024       103,996       26,637       —         130,633  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     12,660       4,297       —         16,957       17,418       4,391       —         21,809  

Amounts due from affiliated companies

     —         —         —         —         1,744       (861 )     —         883  

Intercompany

     135,343       17,374       (152,717 )     —         119,481       20,655       (140,136 )     —    
                                                                

Total current assets

     536,674       90,022       (152,717 )     473,979       350,244       87,450       (140,136 )     297,558  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     141,955       75,882       —         217,837       119,728       70,352       —         190,080  

Investment in affiliated company

     3,510       —         —         3,510       2,899       —         —         2,899  

Deferred financing costs, net

     5,635       —         —         5,635       5,643       —         —         5,643  

Goodwill and other non-amortizable assets

     —         11,849       —         11,849       —         11,849       —         11,849  

Amortizable intangible assets

     —         2,191       —         2,191       —         2,665       —         2,665  

Deferred turnaround costs & other assets

     9,079       1,344       (1,171 )     9,252       5,735       1,513       (1,171 )     6,077  

Deferred income taxes

     13,063       (5,750 )     —         7,313       —         —         —         —    
                                                                
   $ 709,916     $ 175,538     $ (153,888 )   $ 731,566     $ 484,249     $ 173,829     $ (141,307 )   $ 516,771  
                                                                

Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity

                

Current:

                

Current installments of long-term debt

   $ 1,003     $ 805     $ —       $ 1,808     $ (84 )   $ 519     $ —       $ 435  

Accounts payable

     54,421       15,385       —         69,806       65,801       18,468       —         84,269  

Accrued liabilities

     10,474       5,169       —         15,643       14,022       5,870       —         19,892  

Income taxes payable

     38,215       (1,701 )     —         36,514       23,223       (1,791 )     —         21,432  

Sales, use and fuel taxes payable

     16,736       3,989       —         20,725       16,833       3,311       —         20,144  

Deferred income taxes

     9,041       (1,823 )     —         7,218       5,644       (981 )     —         4,663  

Amounts due to affiliated companies

     1,107       1,070       —         2,177       —         —         —         —    

Intercompany

     —         152,717       (152,717 )     —         —         140,136       (140,136 )     —    
                                                                

Total current liabilities

     130,997       175,611       (152,717 )     153,891       125,439       165,532       (140,136 )     150,835  

Long term debt: less current installments

     353,407       3,737       —         357,144       224,065       3,514       —         227,579  

Deferred income taxes

     —         —         —         —         3,650       4,974       —         8,624  

Deferred gain on settlement of pension plan obligations

     270       —         —         270       485       —         —         485  

Deferred retirement benefits

     77,298       7       —         77,305       36,826       (32 )     —         36,794  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     —         46       —         46       —         601       —         601  
                                                                

Total liabilities

     561,972       179,401       (152,717 )     588,656       390,465       174,589       (140,136 )     424,918  
                                                                

Commitment and contingencies

                

Stockholder’s equity

                

Common stock, $.10 par value per share–shares authorized 100; issued and outstanding 100

     —         18       (18 )     —         —         18       (18 )     —    

Additional paid-in capital

     12,533       10,651       (1,153 )     22,031       4,746       10,651       (1,153 )     14,244  

Retained earnings (deficit)

     156,236       (14,681 )     —         141,555       90,617       (11,429 )     —         79,188  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (20,825 )     149       —         (20,676 )     (1,579 )     —         —         (1,579 )
                                                                

Total stockholder’s equity

     147,944       (3,863 )     (1,171 )     142,910       93,784       (760 )     (1,171 )     91,853  
                                                                
   $ 709,916     $ 175,538     $ (153,888 )   $ 731,566     $ 484,249     $ 173,829     $ (141,307 )   $ 516,771  
                                                                

 

58


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

    Year Ended August 31, 2007     Year Ended August 31, 2006     Year Ended August 31, 2005  
    Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ 1,760,454     $ 1,196,266     $ (551,657 )   $ 2,405,063     $ 1,803,379     $ 1,142,068     $ (508,395 )   $ 2,437,052     $ 1,340,278     $ 922,380     $ (372,469 )   $ 1,890,189  

Costs of goods sold

    1,564,163       1,073,002       (551,657 )     2,085,508       1,640,350       1,031,060       (508,395 )     2,163,015       1,265,523       823,267       (372,469 )     1,716,321  
                                                                                               

Gross profit

    196,291       123,264       —         319,555       163,029       111,008       —         274,037       74,755       99,113       —         173,868  
                                                                                               

Expenses:

                       

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    22,773       112,070       —         134,843       22,578       106,203       —         128,781       19,764       97,880       —         117,644  

Depreciation and amortization expenses

    9,506       4,913       —         14,419       8,669       4,521       —         13,190       8,419       4,267       —         12,686  
                                                                                               

Total operating expenses

    32,279       116,983       —         149,262       31,247       110,724       —         141,971       28,183       102,147       —         130,330  
                                                                                               

Operating income (loss)

    164,012       6,281       —         170,293       131,782       284       —         132,066       46,572       (3,034 )     —         43,538  
                                                                                               

Other income (expense):

                       

Interest expense, net

    (13,229 )     (10,565 )     —         (23,794 )     (14,338 )     (9,557 )     —         (23,895 )     (18,329 )     (6,199 )     —         (24,528 )

Other, net

    (2,412 )     (312 )     —         (2,724 )     (2,512 )     614       —         (1,898 )     (2,536 )     (526 )     —         (3,062 )

Equity in net earnings of affiliate

    1,611       —         —         1,611       2,190       —         —         2,190       864       —         —         864  
                                                                                               
    (14,030 )     (10,877 )     —         (24,907 )     (14,660 )     (8,943 )     —         (23,603 )     (20,001 )     (6,725 )     —         (26,726 )
                                                                                               

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)

    149,982       (4,596 )     —         145,386       117,122       (8,659 )     —         108,463       26,571       (9,759 )     —         16,812  
                                                                                               

Income tax expense (benefit):

                       

Current

    60,880       (1,175 )     —         59,705       44,485       (3,036 )     —         41,449       6,293       (3,373 )     —         2,920  

Deferred

    144       (169 )     —         (25 )     2,392       608       —         3,000       3,942       38       —         3,980  
                                                                                               
    61,024       (1,344 )     —         59,680       46,877       (2,428 )     —         44,449       10,235       (3,335 )     —         6,900  
                                                                                               

Net income (loss)

  $ 88,958     $ (3,252 )   $ —       $ 85,706     $ 70,245     $ (6,231 )   $ —       $ 64,014     $ 16,336     $ (6,424 )   $ —       $ 9,912  
                                                                                               

 

59


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended August 31, 2007     Year Ended August 31, 2006     Year Ended August 31, 2005  
     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations   Consolidated     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations   Consolidated     Issuer     Guarantors     Eliminations   Consolidated  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 70,591     $ 15,823     $ —     $ 86,414     $ 65,752     $ (1,673 )   $ —     $ 64,079     $ 23,527     $ 10,765     $ —     $ 34,292  
                                                                                          

Cash flows from investing activities:

                        

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (32,104 )     (11,486 )     —       (43,590 )     (16,233 )     (5,486 )     —       (21,719 )     (5,841 )     (6,017 )     —       (11,858 )

Marketable securities purchased

     (75,854 )     —         —       (75,854 )     —         —         —       —         —         —         —       —    

Additions to turnaround costs

     (5,928 )     (95 )     —       (6,023 )     (911 )     (69 )     —       (980 )     (888 )     —         —       (888 )

Dividends received

     1,000       —         —       1,000       1,000       —         —       1,000       —         —         —       —    

Proceeds from asset dispositions

     —         11       —       11       1       1,370       —       1,371       (4 )     —         —       (4 )
                                                                                          

Net cash used in investing activities

     (112,886 )     (11,570 )     —       (124,456 )     (16,143 )     (4,185 )     —       (20,328 )     (6,733 )     (6,017 )     —       (12,750 )
                                                                                          

Cash flows from financing activities:

                        

Net reductions on revolving credit facility

     —         —         —       —         —         —         —       —         (13,000 )     —         —       (13,000 )

Distribution from (to) Parent under the Tax Sharing Agreement

     7,787       —         —       7,787       (2,404 )     —         —       (2,404 )     —         —         —       —    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     130,711       1,245       —       131,956       —         1,140       —       1,140       25,750       1,169       —       26,919  

Principal reductions of long- term debt

     (210 )     (737 )     —       (947 )     (196 )     (469 )     —       (665 )     (160 )     (751 )     —       (911 )

Dividends to stockholder

     (23,339 )     —         —       (23,339 )     (25,757 )     —         —       (25,757 )     (1,743 )     —         —       (1,743 )

Deferred financing costs

     (1,171 )     —         —       (1,171 )     (72 )     —         —       (72 )     (1,155 )     —         —       (1,155 )
                                                                                          

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     113,778       508       —       114,286       (28,429 )     671       —       (27,758 )     9,692       418       —       10,110  
                                                                                          

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     71,483       4,761       —       76,244       21,180       (5,187 )     —       15,993       26,486       5,166       —       31,652  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     52,375       6,822       —       59,197       31,195       12,009       —       43,204       4,709       6,843       —       11,552  
                                                                                          

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 123,858     $ 11,583     $ —     $ 135,441     $ 52,375     $ 6,822     $ —     $ 59,197     $ 31,195     $ 12,009     $ —     $ 43,204  
                                                                                          

 

60


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

18. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

 

     Net Sales    Gross
Profit
  

Net
Income

(Loss)

 
     (in thousands)  
2007         

First Quarter

   $ 584,596    $ 37,969    $ (3,190 )

Second Quarter

     492,781      41,583      (679 )

Third Quarter

     587,298      98,514      32,366  

Fourth Quarter (1)

     740,388      141,489      57,209  
2006         

First Quarter

   $ 573,992    $ 52,020    $ 7,438  

Second Quarter

     506,485      33,823      (3,897 )

Third Quarter

     612,966      114,780      42,294  

Fourth Quarter (1)

     743,609      73,414      18,179  
                      

(1) See Note 3 for LIFO adjustment.

 

61


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

NONE

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a) Based on an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13(a) —15(e) and 15(d)—15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

(b) There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

On November 27, 2006, the Company amended its $100,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, N.A. as Agent Bank. In addition to extending the expiration date from May 9, 2007 to November 27, 2011, the agreement provides for lower administrative expenses, improved pricing and improved covenant terms. For additional information, (see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources”, Item 7).

 

During May 2007, the Company sold an additional $125,000,000 of 10 1 /2% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2012 (the “Additional Notes”) for $130,312,500 resulting in a debt premium of $5,312,500 which will be amortized over the life of the Additional Notes using the interest method. These Additional Notes were issued under an indenture, dated as of August 6, 2004, pursuant to which $200,000,000 of New Notes of the same series were issued in August 2004 and an additional $25,000,000 in February 2005. The net proceeds of the offering were used and will continue to be used for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources”, Item 7.

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

 

Set forth below is certain information as of November 29, 2007 with respect to all directors and executive officers of the Company.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

John A. Catsimatidis    59    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Director
Myron L. Turfitt    56    President, Chief Operating Officer, Director
Ashton L. Ditka    66    Senior Vice President—Marketing
Thomas E. Skarada    65    Vice President—Refining
Frederick J. Martin, Jr.    53    Vice President—Supply and Transportation
James E. Murphy    62    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
John R. Wagner    48    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Dennis E. Bee, Jr.    65    Treasurer
Martin R. Bring    65    Director
Evan Evans    82    Director
Jacob Feinstein    64    Director
Kishore Lall    60    Director
Douglas Lemmonds    60    Director
Andrew Maloney    76    Director
Dennis Mehiel    65    Director

 

62


John A. Catsimatidis has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since February 1986, when his wholly-owned company, United Acquisition Corp., purchased our parent. He also served as President from February 1986 until September 1996. He also is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and the founder of Red Apple Group, Inc. (a holding company for certain businesses, including the Company and corporations which operate supermarkets in New York).

 

Myron L. Turfitt has been President and Chief Operating Officer since September 1996. From June 1987 to September 1996 he was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. From August 1983 until June 1987 he was Senior Vice President-Finance and from July 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Turfitt held the position of Vice President, Accounting and Administration. Mr. Turfitt is a CPA with over 30 years of financial and operations experience in all phases of the petroleum business including exploration and production, refining and retail marketing. His experience covers both fully-integrated major oil companies and large independents.

 

Ashton L. Ditka has been Senior Vice President-Marketing since July 1990. From December 1989 to July 1990 he was Vice President-Wholesale & Retail Marketing and from August 1976 until December 1989 he was Vice President-Wholesale Marketing. Mr. Ditka has over 38 years of experience in the petroleum industry, including 11 years in retail marketing with Atlantic Richfield Company.

 

Thomas E. Skarada has been Vice President-Refining since February 1996. From September 1994 to February 1996 he was Assistant Vice President-Refining and from March 1993, when he joined us, to September 1994 he was Director of Regulatory Compliance. Over his 38 year refining and marketing career, Mr. Skarada has worked in virtually every segment of the downstream business including supply, distribution, refinery operations, economics, planning, research and development. He has 18 years of managerial experience with Sun Refining and Marketing Co. and one year consulting with Muse Stancil and Co. in Dallas, Texas.

 

Frederick J. Martin, Jr. has been Vice President-Supply and Transportation since February 1993. From 1980 to January 1993 he held other positions with us involving transportation, product supply, crude supply and pipeline and terminal administration.

 

James E. Murphy has been Chief Financial Officer since January 1997. He was Vice President-Finance from April 1995 to December 1996 and since May 1982 has held other accounting and internal auditing positions with us, including Director of Internal Auditing since April 1986. Mr. Murphy is a CPA and prior to joining us he had over 15 years experience in accounting and auditing with banking, public accounting and manufacturing companies.

 

John R. Wagner has been Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since August 1997. Prior to joining us, Mr. Wagner served as Counsel to Dollar Bank, F.S.B. from 1988 to August 1997.

 

Dennis E. Bee, Jr. has been Treasurer since May 1988. Prior thereto and since he joined us in 1977, Mr. Bee held various positions in the accounting department including Assistant Treasurer from July 1982 to May 1988.

 

Martin R. Bring has served as a Director since 1988. Since November 2004, he has been a partner at the law firm of Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole, LLP. Previously he was a stockholder in Anderson, Kill & Olick, P.C., a New York law firm, from February 2002 to November 2004. Prior thereto Mr. Bring was a partner in the law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania law firm and its predecessor law firm for more than 5 years.

 

Evan Evans has served as a Director since 1997. He has also been the Chairman of Holvan Properties, Inc., a privately owned petroleum industry consulting firm since 1983; a director of U.S. Energy Systems, Inc., a public company whose common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

 

63


Jacob Feinstein has served as a Director since 2006. Since 1999, he has been employed as a Consultant to the electric power industry in disciplines such as management, transmission, generation interconnection and power system operation and control. From 1998 to 1999, he was employed by Cogen Technologies, Inc. as a Vice President. From 1991 to 1998, he was employed by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. as a Vice President.

 

Kishore Lall has served as a Director since 1997. He is currently Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of ABN AMRO Bank in New York. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Gristede’s Foods, Inc. an affiliate of the Company from August 2003 to August 2005 and Executive Vice President-Finance and Administration and Secretary of Gristede’s Foods, Inc. from May 2002 to August 2005. From January 1997 to October 1997 he served as a consultant to Red Apple Group, Inc. From June 1994 to December 1996 was a private investor. From January 1991 to May 1994 he was Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking of ABN AMRO Bank (New York branch).

 

Douglas Lemmonds has served as a Director since 1997. He has also served as Executive Vice President at SunTrust Bank (Washington D.C.) since 2002. From May 1996 to 2002 he served as Managing Director and the Chief Operating Officer, Private Banking-Americas of the Deutsche Bank Group. Private Banking-Americas operates across four separate legal entities, including a registered investment advisor, a broker-dealer, a trust company and a commercial bank. From June 1991 to May 1996 Mr. Lemmonds was the Regional Director of Private Banking of the Northeast Regional Office of the Bank of America and from August 1973 to June 1991 he held various other positions with Bank of America.

 

Andrew Maloney has served as a Director since 1997. He has also been counsel to De Feis O’Connell & Rose, a New York law firm since January 2003. From April 1998 to December 2002, Mr. Maloney was counsel to Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, a New York law firm. From December 1992 to April 1998 was a partner at Brown & Wood LLP, a New York law firm. From June 1986 to December 1992 he was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

 

Dennis Mehiel has served as a Director since 2006 and previously was a director from 1997 to 2005. He has also been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Fonda Group, Inc. since 1988. Since 1966 he has been the Chairman of Four M, a converter and seller of interior packaging, corrugated sheets and corrugated containers which he co-founded, and since 1977 (except during a leave of absence from April 1994 through July 1995) he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Four M. W. Mehiel is also the Chairman of MannKraft Corporation, a manufacturer of corrugated containers, and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Creative Expressions, Group, Inc.

 

Audit Committee

 

We do not have a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or national securities association subject to the requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Consequently, the Company does not have an audit committee at this time, and has not designated an audit committee financial expert. However, the Company is reviewing whether it would be appropriate to appoint an audit committee consisting of independent members of its board of directors.

 

Code Of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which is filed as Exhibit 14.1 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003. A copy of the Code of Ethics is available for review on the Company’s website at www.urc.com.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Not Applicable

 

64


ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

The Summary Compensation Table and supplementary tables that follow describe the compensation paid to our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), Senior Vice President Marketing and Vice President Refining for 2007.

 

Compensation Objectives and Components

 

The objective of the Company’s compensation program is to motivate, retain and attract management, linking incentives to financial and personal performance and enhanced shareholder value. The compensation program for the named executive officers consists of the following components:

 

   

Salary

 

   

Annual performance-based cash awards; and

 

   

Other fringe benefits and perquisites.

 

There is no Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors; however, the CEO and COO review and approve any proposed changes in salary, as well as discretionary bonuses for the other named executive officers.

 

Salary

 

Salaries for the named executive officers have been established by the CEO and COO. There is no policy to provide any scheduled increase to these individuals and increases may be awarded at the discretion of the CEO. There is no deferred compensation program for the named individuals or any other executives of the Company. The salaries of the CEO and COO are set by the CEO after reviewing comparable salaries for similar positions within the industry.

 

Annual Cash Bonus Awards

 

While there is no formal bonus program for the named executives, bonuses have been paid to them on an annual basis. The amount of the bonus is determined by the CEO and may vary based on the performance of the Company.

 

Other Fringe Benefits and Perquisites

 

The Company provides several fringe benefit plans including the United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees (the “Pension Plan”) and the United Refining Company Employees’ 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) to its named executive officers. Additionally, the Company provides other benefits, including medical and dental plans, life and accidental death insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, paid sick leave and vacation and paid holidays.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The Company does not have any change in control agreements with any of the named executive officers.

 

Estimated Benefits upon Termination Related to Other Than a Change in Control

 

The Company does not have a severance policy for benefits paid upon termination of employment.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The Company’s By-laws provide an open-ended indemnity of all officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

65


The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company to its principal executive officer and principal financial officer and each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name & Principal Position

   Year    Annual Compensation    Change in
Pension
Value
($) (1)
   Other
Compensation ($) (2)
   Total ($)
      Salary ($)    Bonus ($)         

John A. Catsimatidis

   2007    $ 650,000    $ 1,100,000    $ 69,294    $ 2,322    $ 1,821,616

    Chairman of the Board &

                 

    Chief Executive Officer

                 

James E. Murphy

   2007    $ 109,074    $ 15,000    $ 19,353    $ 10,160    $ 153,587

    Vice President &

                 

    Chief Financial Officer

                 

Myron L. Turfitt

   2007    $ 420,000    $ 700,000    $ 63,929    $ 6,729    $ 1,190,658

    President &

                 

    Chief Operating Officer

                 

Ashton L. Ditka

   2007    $ 193,833    $ 75,000    $ 37,816    $ 7,984    $ 314,633

    Senior Vice President

                 

    Marketing

                 

Thomas E. Skarada

   2007    $ 148,140    $ 75,000    $ 21,699    $ 13,010    $ 257,849

    Vice President

                 

    Refining

                 

(1) Amounts in this column reflect the actuarial increase in the present value at August 31, 2007 compared to August 31, 2006 of the named executive officer’s benefits under the Defined Benefit Plan.
(2) Amounts in this column represent the total of all perquisites (non-cash benefits and perquisites such as the use of employer-owned automobiles, membership dues and other personal benefits), employee benefits (employer cost of life insurance), and employer contributions to defined contribution plans (the 401(K) Plan). Amounts are reported separately under the “All Other Compensations” table below.

 

2007 ALL OTHER COMPENSATION

 

Name

   Automobile
Usage
   Company Match on
Qualified 401(k) Plan
   Life Insurance
Premium
  

Total

All Other

John A. Catsimatidis

   —      —      2,322    2,322

James E. Murphy

   5,547    3,272    1,341    10,160

Myron L. Turfitt

   5,514    —      1,215    6,729

Ashton L. Ditka

   2,861    —      5,123    7,984

Thomas E. Skarada

   6,621    4,444    1,945    13,010

 

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2007 PENSION BENEFITS

 

Name

  

Plan Name

   Number of Years of
Credited Service
   Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefits
  

Payments During

Last Fiscal Year

John A. Catsimatidis    United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees    21.3      $ 656,955    $  0
James E. Murphy    United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees    25.29    $ 393,782    $  0
Myron L. Turfitt    United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees    29.17    $ 723,458    $  0
Ashton L. Ditka    United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees    31.08    $ 795,785    $  0
Thomas E. Skarada    United Refining Company Pension Plan for Salaried Employees    14.42    $ 403,833    $  0

 

The Pension Plan is a tax-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit plan established to provide pension benefits to employees of the Company, including the named executive officers, meeting Pension Plan eligibility criteria. The criteria states that employees are eligible to participate in, and will be enrolled in, the Pension Plan on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the later of the completion of one Year of Service and attainment of age twenty-one years. Years of service for benefits purposes are measured based on the number of years in which at least 1,000 hours are worked.

 

A participant’s normal retirement date is the first of the month coinciding with or following the attainment of age 65. Participants who are actively employed may also elect an unreduced early retirement option at age 59  1/2. In addition to a single life annuity, benefits can be paid as other actuarially equivalent annuities.

 

The benefit formula is based on the average earnings of the participant for the three years in which such participant’s earnings were the highest. Earnings include salary and bonus up to a maximum of the IRC 401(a)(17) limit, which for 2007 is $225,000. Benefits are calculated by multiplying the sum of (a) 1.1% of average earnings up to the Social Security compensation base, plus (b) 1.25% of average earnings in excess of Social Security compensation base, by (c) the number of years of service. Payments of retirement benefits are not reduced by any Social Security benefits received by the participant. Effective May 2001, for purposes of calculating retirement benefits, the Company has fixed the earnings subject to tax under the Federal Insurance Contribution Act a $76,200.00 for years after 2001 for purposes of calculating Social Security compensation base.

 

In connection with a transaction in 1984, a portion of the benefits from the plan are provided through an annuity contract with an insurance company. The benefits shown in the table are gross amounts before off-setting the insured benefit and thereby represent the total benefit earned with the Company.

 

Vested benefits are those amounts to which participants are entitled regardless of future services to the Company. A participant is credited with a year of service for vesting purposes for each Pension Plan year during which at least 1,000 hours of service are completed, commencing with year of hire. Each executive is currently vested in his accumulated benefit.

 

67


In addition to vested benefits, the Pension Plan provides certain death benefits. Upon the death of a participant, the beneficiary is entitled to receive a portion of the vested interest of the participant’s accrued benefit in the form of a monthly annuity amount, subject to eligibility requirements stipulated in the Pension Plan.

 

The present value of accumulated benefits in the table above has been determined by an independent actuary. These assumptions for August 31, 2007 include a 6.25% discount rate and the RP 2000 mortality table projected to 2015 with a 15-year phase-in and no collar adjustment, each of which is consistent with the assumptions used for FAS 87 financial reporting. Further, it was assumed that benefits will commence at the earliest age in which an unreduced benefit is available (age 59.5 or current age if later) and there will be no turnover or death prior to retirement. The foregoing actuarial assumptions are also based on the presumption that the Pension Plan will continue. If the Pension Plan were to terminate or be frozen, different actuarial assumptions and other factors might be applicable in determining the present value of accumulated benefits.

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The Company pays its non-officer Directors an annual retainer of $15,000 per year and $1,000 for meetings attended. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable travel, meals, lodging and other expenses incidental to attendance at meetings.

 

2007 Director Compensation

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in
Cash ($)
   Option
Awards ($)
   Total ($)

Martin R. Bring (1)

   $ 0    $ 0    $ 0

John A. Catsimatidis (2)

   $ 0    $ 0    $ 0

Evan Evans

   $ 15,000    $ 0    $ 15,000

Jacob Feinstein

   $ 15,000    $ 0    $ 15,000

Douglas Lemmonds

   $ 15,000    $ 0    $ 15,000

Kishore Lall (3)

   $ 30,000    $ 0    $ 30,000

Andrew Maloney

   $ 15,000    $ 0    $ 15,000

Dennis Mehiel

   $ 15,000    $ 0    $ 15,000

Myron L. Turfitt (4)

   $ 0    $ 0    $ 0

 

Fees and expenses paid to Directors are recorded as expense in the period in which the meetings are held, and deducted for income tax purposes in the year incurred. There were no board meetings during the fiscal year other than telephonic.

 

(1) Martin R. Bring is a partner in the firm of Ellenoff, Grossman and Schole, LLP. Mr. Bring was paid $256,000 on a retainer basis for legal and consulting services during fiscal 2007.

 

(2) Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

(3) Payments to Mr. Lall were in September 2006 for fiscal 2007 and August 2007 for fiscal 2008.

 

(4) President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

 

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership of Common Stock on November 29, 2007 by: (i) each stockholder known to the Company to own beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each of the Company’s directors; and (iii) all officers and directors of the Company as a group. The Company believes that ownership of the shares by the persons named below is both of record and beneficial and such persons have sole voting and investing power with respect to the shares indicated.

 

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner        

   Number of Shares    Percent of Class  

John A. Catsimatidis

823 Eleventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

   100    100 %

All officers and directors

as a group (15 persons)

   100    100 %

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

 

On December 21, 2001, the Company acquired the operations and working capital assets of Country Fair. The fixed assets of Country Fair were acquired by related entities controlled by John A. Catsimatidis, the indirect sole shareholder of the Company. These assets are being leased to the Company at an annual aggregate rental which management, based on an independent third party valuation believes is fair, over a period ranging from 10 to 20 years. During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, $5,102,000, $5,102,000, and $5,168,000 of rent payments were made to these related entities. The Company is not a guarantor on the underlying mortgages on the properties.

 

Concurrent with the above acquisition of Country Fair, the Company entered into a management agreement with a non-subsidiary affiliate to operate and manage 18 of the retail units owned by the non-subsidiary affiliate on a turn-key basis. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company billed the affiliate $1,018,000, $972,000, and $857,000 for management fees and overhead expenses incurred in the management and operation of the retail units which amount was deducted from expenses. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had a receivable from the affiliate of $24,000 and $174,000 under the terms of the agreement.

 

Effective June 1, 2001, the Company entered into a 50% joint venture with an unrelated entity for the marketing of asphalt products. The joint venture is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, net sales to the joint venture amounted to $12,596,000, $13,019,000, and $9,434,000, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had a receivable from the joint venture of $1,161,000 and $1,977,000, respectively, under the terms of the agreement.

 

On September 29, 2000, the Company sold 42 retail units to an affiliate for $23,870,000. Concurrent with this asset sale, the Company terminated the leases on 8 additional retail locations which it had previously leased from a non-subsidiary affiliate. The Company has entered into a management agreement with the non-subsidiary affiliate to operate and manage the retail units owned by the non-subsidiary affiliate on a turnkey basis. For the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company billed the affiliate $1,976,000, $1,725,000, and $1,515,000, respectively, for management fees and overhead expenses incurred in the management and operation of the 50 retail units, which amount was deducted from expenses. For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, net sales to the affiliate amounted to $116,240,000, $105,651,000, and $72,431,000, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had a payable to the affiliate of $1,096,000 and $1,034,000, respectively, under the terms of the agreement.

 

The Company paid a service fee relating to certain costs incurred by its Parent for the Company’s New York office. During the years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, such fees amounted to approximately $2,000,000, $2,000,000, and $2,000,000, respectively.

 

69


The Company joins with the Parent and the Parent’s other subsidiaries in filing a Federal income tax return on a consolidated basis. Income taxes are calculated on a separate return basis with consideration of the Tax Sharing Agreement between the Parent and its subsidiaries. Amounts related to the Tax Sharing Agreement for the utilization by the Company of certain tax attributes of the Parent and other subsidiaries related to the tax year ended August 31, 2006 and to the tax years ended August 31, 2001 through August 31, 2005, amounted to $7,787,000 and ($2,404,000) and have been recorded as a contribution (distribution) for the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company owed the Parent $2,268,000 and $233,000, respectively, under the terms of the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

During the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company incurred $372,000 in each year as its share of occupancy expenses for our offices in New York that it shares with affiliates of the Company. Such offices are located in a building owned by John Catsimatidis.

 

During fiscal 2007 the Company shared certain costs with an affiliate of the Company for aircraft owned by another affiliate of the Company and incurred $332,000 as its share of such costs. For fiscal 2006 the Company’s share of such costs was $390,000.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 

The following represents amounts billed and amounts expected to be billed to the Company for the professional services of BDO Seidman, LLP rendered during fiscal years 2007 and 2006:

 

     2007    2006

Audit Fees

   $ 547,000    $ 529,000

Audit—Related Fees (1)

     —        11,000

Tax Fees

     —        —  

All Other Fees

     —        —  
             

Total

   $ 547,000    $ 540,000
             

(1) Services provided under this category consist of $11,000 related to Sarbanes Oxley Act-Section 404 compliance consultation in 2006.

 

70


ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

 

(a) (1) Financial Statements

 

A list of all financial statements filed as part of this report is contained in the index to Item 8, which index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

     (2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

     (3) Exhibits

 

Number   

Description

3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of United Refining Company (“URC”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-35083) (the “Registration Statement”).
3.2      Bylaws of URC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement.
3.3      Certificate of Incorporation of United Refining Company of Pennsylvania (“URCP”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement.
3.4      Bylaws of URCP. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement.
3.5      Certificate of Incorporation of Kiantone Pipeline Corporation (“KPC”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Registration Statement.
3.6      Bylaws of KPC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Registration Statement.
3.7      Certificate of Incorporation of Kiantone Pipeline Company (“KPCY”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to the Registration Statement.
3.8      Bylaws of KPCY. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to the registration Statement.
3.9      Certificate of Incorporation of Kwik Fill Corporation. (“K-FC”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Registration Statement.
3.10    Bylaws of K-FC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.10 to the Registration Statement.
3.11    Certificate of Incorporation of Independent Gasoline & Oil Company of Rochester, Inc. (“IGOCRI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.11 to the Registration Statement.
3.12    Bylaws of IGOCRI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.12 to the Registration Statement.
3.13    Certificate of Incorporation of Bell Oil Corp. (“BOC”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.13 to the Registration Statement.
3.14    Bylaws of BOC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.14 to the Registration Statement.
3.15    Certificate of Incorporation of PPC, Inc. (“PPCI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.15 to the Registration Statement.
3.16    Bylaws of PPCI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.16 to the Registration Statement.
3.17    Certificate of Incorporation of Super Test Petroleum, Inc. (“STPI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17 to the Registration Statement.
3.18    Bylaws of STPI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.18 to the Registration Statement.

 

71


Number   

Description

  3.19    Certificate of Incorporation of Kwik-Fil, Inc. (“K-FI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.19 to the Registration Statement.
  3.20    Bylaws of K-FI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.20 to the Registration Statement.
  3.21    Certificate of Incorporation of Vulcan Asphalt Refining Corporation (“VARC”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.21 to the Registration Statement.
  3.22    Bylaws of VARC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.22 to the Registration Statement.
  3.23    Certificate of Incorporation of United Jet Center, Inc. (“UJCI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23 to the Registration Statement.
  3.24    Bylaws of UJCI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.24 to the Registration Statement.
  4.1    Indenture dated as of August 6, 2004 between URC, Country Fair, Inc, (“CFI”), KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC and The Bank of New York (“BONY”), relating to the 10- 1/2% Series A Senior Notes due 2012. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.
  4.2    Form of Note. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement.
10.1    Purchase Agreement dated August 6, 2004 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC, Citigroup (“CITI”), Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“GSC”), and PNC Capital Markets, Inc. (“PNCCMI”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement.
10.2    Registration Rights Agreement dated August 6, 2004 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC, CITI, GSC, and PNCCMI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement.
10.3    Servicing Agreement dated June 9, 1997 between URC and Red Apple Group, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement.
10.4    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated July 12, 2002 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2002.
10.5    Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of July 12, 2002 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended August 31, 2002.
10.6    Limited Waiver and Amendment No 3 to Credit Agreement dated as of March 24, 2003 by and among, URC, URCP, KPC, CFI and the Banks thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2003.
10.7    Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of January 27, 2004 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI, K-FC and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2004.
10.8    Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement dated as of August 6, 2004 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI., K-FI., and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement.

 

72


Number   

Description

  10.9    Purchase Agreement dated February 10, 2005 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, USCF, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (CGMI). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2005.
10.10    Registrant’s Rights Agreement dated February 17, 2005 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC and CGMI. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2005
10.11    Amendment No. 6 to Credit Agreement dated as of April 19, 2005 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI, K-FI and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 22, 2005.
10.12    Amendment No. 7 to Credit Agreement dated as of November 27, 2006 by and among URC, URCP, KPC, CFI, K-FC and the Banks party thereto and PNC Bank, National Association, as Agent.
10.13    Purchase Agreement dated May 1, 2007 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2007.
10.14    Registrant’s Rights Agreement dated May 4, 2007 between URC, CFI, KPC, KPCY, UJCI, URCP, K-FC, IGOCRI, BOC, PPCI, STPI, K-FI, VARC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2007.
  14.1    Code of Ethics pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 in Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended August 31, 2003.
  21.1    Subsidiaries of the Registrants. A) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement. B) Country Fair, Inc. Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1965, doing business as “Country Fair”.
*31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Filed herewith.

 

73


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and

Stockholder of United Refining Company

Warren, Pennsylvania

 

The audits referred to in our report dated November 8, 2007, relating to the consolidated financial statements of United Refining Company and Subsidiaries included the audits of the financial statement Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2007. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this schedule based on our audits.

 

In our opinion, such financial statement Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP

 

New York, New York

November 8, 2007

 

74


UNITED REFINING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(in thousands)

 

Description

   Balance at
Beginning
of Period
  

Charged to

Costs and

Expenses

   Deductions    

Balance at End

of Period

Year ended August 31, 2005:

          

Reserves and allowances deducted from asset accounts: Allowance for uncollectible Accounts

   $ 1,460    $ 530    $ (315 )   $ 1,675
                            

Year ended August 31, 2006:

          

Reserves and allowances deducted from asset accounts:

          

Allowance for uncollectible Accounts

   $ 1,675    $ 881    $ (1,816 )   $ 740
                            

Year ended August 31, 2007:

          

Reserves and allowances deducted from asset accounts:

          

Allowance for uncollectible Accounts

   $ 740    $ 1,015    $ (915 )   $ 840
                            

 

75


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

UNITED REFINING COMPANY

 

Dated: November 29, 2007

 

By:

 

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Martin R. Bring

Martin R. Bring

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Evan Evans

Evan Evans

   Director    November 29, 2007

/s/  Jacob Feinstein

Jacob Feinstein

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Kishore Lall

Kishore Lall

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Douglas Lemmonds

Douglas Lemmonds

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

/s/  Andrew Maloney

Andrew Maloney

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

 

Dennis Mehiel

  

Director

  

November 29, 2007

 

76


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

  UNITED REFINING COMPANY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Dated:  November 29, 2007

  By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

President, Chief Operating Officer

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

77


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  KIANTONE PIPELINE CORPORATION

Dated:  November 29, 2007

  By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

78


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  KIANTONE PIPELINE COMPANY

Dated:  November 29, 2007

  By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

79


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

UNITED JET CENTER, INC.

Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

80


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  VULCAN ASPHALT REFINING CORPORATION
Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

81


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  KWIK-FIL, INC.
Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

82


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  KWIK-FILLCORPORATION
Dated:  November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

83


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  INDEPENDENT GASOLINE & OIL COMPANY OF ROCHESTER, INC.

Dated:  November 29, 2007

  By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2007

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2007

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2007

 

84


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

BELL OIL CORP.

 

Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2006

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2006

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2006

 

85


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

PPC, INC.

 

Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2006

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2006

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2006

 

86


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

SUPER TEST PETROLEUM, INC.

Dated: November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

   

Myron L. Turfitt

Executive Vice President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

John A. Catsimatidis

  

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

  November 29, 2006

/s/  Myron L. Turfitt

Myron L. Turfitt

  

Executive Vice President

  November 29, 2006

/s/  James E. Murphy

James E. Murphy

  

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

  November 29, 2006

 

87


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT

 

No annual report or proxy material was sent to security holders by the Corporation during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.

 

88

EX-31.1 2 dex311.htm SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO Section 302 Certification of the CEO

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, John A. Catsimatidis certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of United Refining Company (the “registrant”);

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:

  November 29, 2007   Signature:  

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

      John A. Catsimatidis
      Principal Executive Officer
EX-31.2 3 dex312.htm SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO Section 302 Certification of the CFO

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

I, James E. Murphy certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of United Refining Company (the “registrant”);

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:

  November 29, 2007   Signature:  

/s/  James E. Murphy

      James E. Murphy
      Principal Financial Officer
EX-32.1 4 dex321.htm SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO & CFO Section 906 Certification of the CEO & CFO

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

(subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code)

 

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of United Refining Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated:

  November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  John A. Catsimatidis

     

John A. Catsimatidis

Principal Executive Officer

Dated:

  November 29, 2007   By:  

/s/  James E. Murphy

     

James E. Murphy

Principal Financial Officer

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of Form 10-K or as a separate disclosure document.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to United Refining Company and will be retained by United Refining Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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