EX-99.1 2 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex99_1.htm
Exhibit 99.1




NEWS
RELEASE

2008-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristine Boyd
(713) 688-9600 x135

FRONTIER OIL REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2008 RESULTS

HOUSTON, TEXAS, November 6, 2008 – Frontier Oil Corporation (NYSE: FTO) today announced quarterly net income of $72.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to net income of $137.2 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net income totaled $177.6 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, compared to $455.7 million, or $4.19 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

The light/heavy crude oil differential averaged $14.00 per barrel in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $22.07 per barrel in the second quarter of 2008 and $19.02 in the third quarter of 2007.  The WTI/WTS differential averaged $2.77 in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $4.98 per barrel in the second quarter of 2008 and $4.20 per barrel in the third quarter of 2007.  These crude differentials have increased to date during the fourth quarter.

Frontier’s gasoline crack spread continued to improve over prior 2008 quarters, averaging $9.52 per barrel in the third quarter of 2008, compared to the $5.03 per barrel average in the second quarter of 2008, though significantly less than the $20.51 per barrel average in the third quarter of 2007.   This improvement was partially due to the spike in product margins resulting from the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.  Frontier’s diesel crack spread remained strong in the third quarter of 2008, averaging $26.86 per barrel, compared to $23.43 per barrel in the third quarter of 2007.

Frontier’s total charges for the third quarter of 2008 were 173,954 barrels per day (“bpd”), compared to 161,380 bpd in the second quarter of 2008 and 171,243 bpd in the third quarter of 2007.  The most recent quarter’s throughput was reduced by a ten-day planned coker shutdown at El Dorado.

Frontier’s Chairman, President, and CEO, James Gibbs, commented, “Despite the distressed economy and persisting weakness in gasoline demand this year, Frontier has remained profitable due to strong diesel margins, lower cost feedstock, and improving operations.  Significant components of our major growth investments in the El Dorado and Cheyenne refineries are now complete and producing record throughputs and yields.  The El Dorado refinery averaged 127,000 bpd total crude throughput in September, yielding record distillate production of over 57,000 bpd, while the Cheyenne coker has been consistently running over 13,500 bpd.  While building these premium quality refining assets, Frontier has maintained one of the lowest debt to capitalization ratios among our peers.  The combination of complex refining assets, substantial liquidity, and financial discipline gives us the strength to successfully weather the current economic downturn.”

Recognizing Frontier’s history of fiscal conservatism and solid operating performance, Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s upgraded Frontier’s credit rating in September to Ba2 from Ba3 and to BB from BB minus, respectively.

For the three months ended September 30, 2008, Frontier generated $100.6 million in cash from operations while investing approximately $45.2 million in capital expenditures and $4.9 million in working capital.  Frontier’s cash balance at September 30, 2008 was $464.0 million, up from $221.2 million at June 30, 2008 principally due to $195.3 million in net proceeds received from senior notes issued in September 2008.  As of September 30, 2008, there were no cash borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, and the net debt to book capitalization ratio was negative.

The third quarter 2008 results include an after-tax inventory loss of approximately $77.5 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to a gain of approximately $15.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the same period of 2007.  The third quarter 2008 results also include an after-tax hedging gain of approximately $64.2 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to a loss of approximately $19.8 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007.  The nine months ended September 30, 2008 include an after-tax inventory gain of approximately $87.8 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, compared to a gain of approximately $37.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.  The nine months ended September 30, 2008 include an after-tax hedging loss of approximately $24.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to a loss of approximately $22.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the same period in 2007.

Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled for today, November 6, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. eastern time to discuss the financial results.  To access the call, please dial (800) 665-0430 several minutes prior to the call.  From outside the United States, please call (913) 981-5591.  A recorded replay of the call may be heard through November 21, 2008 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (international callers (719) 457-0820) and entering the code 3371040.  In addition, the real-time conference call and a recorded replay will be available via webcast by registering from the Investor Relations page of the website www.frontieroil.com.

Frontier operates a 130,000 bpd refinery located in El Dorado, Kansas, and a 52,000 bpd refinery located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and markets its refined products principally along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains and in other neighboring plains states.  Information about the Company may be found on its website www.frontieroil.com.

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements are those concerning strategic plans, expectations and objectives for future operations. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.  Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.


 
 

 

FRONTIER OIL CORPORATION
 
                         
   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
INCOME STATEMENT DATA ($000's except per share)
                       
Revenues
  $ 5,150,641     $ 3,869,103     $ 2,198,302     $ 1,386,520  
Raw material, freight and other costs
    4,565,992       2,900,169       1,991,966       1,095,364  
Refining operating expenses, excluding depreciation
    244,861       210,359       76,267       69,382  
Selling and general expenses, excluding depreciation
    32,379       41,855       9,876       17,240  
Gain on sale of assets
    44       15,232       -       17,260  
Operating income before depreciation
    307,453       731,952       120,193       221,794  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    48,072       37,963       16,635       14,770  
Operating income
    259,381       693,989       103,558       207,024  
Interest expense and other financing costs
    7,454       7,029       2,891       2,081  
Interest and investment income
    (5,102 )     (17,697 )     (1,467 )     (6,050 )
Provision for income taxes
    79,421       248,949       29,811       73,768  
Net income
  $ 177,608     $ 455,708     $ 72,323     $ 137,225  
Net income per diluted share
  $ 1.71     $ 4.19     $ 0.70     $ 1.28  
Average shares outstanding (000's)
    103,785       108,890       103,920       106,913  
                                 
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA ($000's)
                               
EBITDA (1)
  $ 307,453     $ 731,952     $ 120,193     $ 221,794  
Cash flow before changes in working capital
    233,648       508,764       95,707       137,264  
Working capital changes
    (13,258 )     (55,848 )     4,904       (93,123 )
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
    220,390       452,916       100,611       44,141  
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
    (167,674 )     (217,612 )     (45,198 )     (63,031 )
                                 
OPERATIONS
                               
Consolidated
                               
Operations (bpd)
                               
    Total charges
    153,857       167,272       173,954       171,243  
    Gasoline yields
    72,508       78,592       78,755       78,302  
    Diesel yields
    53,205       57,376       66,424       55,389  
    Total sales
    157,775       172,928       177,219       174,116  
                                 
Refinery operating margins information ($ per bbl)
                               
    Refined products revenue
  $ 119.92     $ 82.60     $ 128.46     $ 88.54  
    Raw material, freight and other costs
    105.62       61.43       122.17       68.38  
    Refinery operating expenses, excluding depreciation
    5.66       4.46       4.68       4.33  
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    1.11       0.80       1.02       0.92  
                                 
Cheyenne Refinery Light/Heavy crude oil differential ($ per bbl)
  $ 17.95     $ 15.27     $ 13.92     $ 18.40  
WTI/WTS Differential ($ per bbl)
    4.13       4.38       2.77       4.20  
El Dorado Refinery Light/Heavy crude oil differential ($ per bbl)
    19.48       17.26       14.23       20.60  
                                 
                                 
BALANCE SHEET DATA ($000's)
 
At September 30, 2008
   
At December 31, 2007
 
Cash, including cash equivalents (a)
          $ 464,028             $ 297,399  
Working capital
            723,874               529,510  
Short-term and current debt (b)
            -               -  
Total long-term debt (c)
            347,168               150,000  
Shareholders' equity (d)
            1,150,519               1,038,614  
Net debt to book capitalization (b+c-a)/(b+c-a+d)
            -11.3 %             -16.5 %


(1) Adjusted EBITDA represents income before interest expense and other financing costs, interest and investment income, income tax, and depreciation, accretion and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is not a calculation based upon generally accepted accounting principles; however, the amounts included in the Adjusted EBITDA calculation are derived from amounts included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or operating income, as an indication of operating performance of the Company or as an alternative to operating cash flow as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.  Adjusted EBITDA is presented here because the Company believes it enhances an investor’s understanding of Frontier’s ability to satisfy principal and interest obligations with respect to Frontier’s indebtedness and to use cash for other purposes, including capital expenditures.  Adjusted EBITDA is also used for internal analysis and as a basis for financial covenants.  Frontier’s Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is reconciled to net income as follows:
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                         
Net income (loss)
  $ 177,608     $ 455,708     $ 72,323     $ 137,225  
Add provision (benefit) for income taxes
    79,421       248,949       29,811       73,768  
Add interest expense and other financing costs
    7,454       7,029       2,891       2,081  
Subtract interest and investment income
    (5,102 )     (17,697 )     (1,467 )     (6,050 )
Add Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    48,072       37,963       16,635       14,770  
EBITDA
  $ 307,453     $ 731,952     $ 120,193     $ 221,794