Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) consists of direct costs of labor, maintenance and services, utilities, property taxes, environmental compliance costs and other direct operating costs incurred in connection with the Company’s refining operations. Such expenses exclude depreciation related to refining and logistics assets that are integral to the refinery production process, which is presented separately as Depreciation and amortization expense as a component of Cost of sales on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment on a continual basis and reassesses the reasonableness of their related useful lives whenever events or changes in circumstances warrant assessment. Possible triggering events may include, among other things, significant adverse changes in the business climate, market conditions, environmental regulations or a determination that it is more likely than not that an asset or an asset group will be sold or retired before its estimated useful life. These possible triggering events of impairment may impact the Company’s assumptions related to future throughput levels, future operating revenues, expenses and gross margin, levels of anticipated capital expenditures and remaining useful life. Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. A long-lived asset is not recoverable if its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use, early retirement or disposition. Cash flows for long-lived assets/asset groups are determined at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows exist. The cash flows from the refinery asset groups are evaluated individually regardless of product mix or fuel type produced. If a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value, with fair value determined based on discounted estimated net cash flows or other appropriate methods. The Company’s assumptions incorporate inherent uncertainties that are at times difficult to predict and could result in impairment charges or accelerated depreciation in future periods if actual results materially differ from the estimated assumptions used.

The Company sells various refined products primarily through its refinery subsidiaries and recognizes revenue related to the sale of products when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Refer to “Note 15 - Revenues” for further discussion of the Company’s revenue recognition policy.

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market (“LCM”). The cost of crude oil, feedstocks, blendstocks and refined products are determined under the last-in first-out (“LIFO”) method using the dollar value LIFO method with increments valued based on average purchase prices during the year. The cost of supplies and other inventories is determined principally on the weighted average cost method.

The Company is subject to obligations to purchase Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) required to comply with the renewable fuel standard implemented by Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), which sets annual quotas for the quantity of renewable fuels (such as ethanol) that must be blended into motor fuels consumed in the United States (the “RFS”). The Company’s overall RINs obligation is based on a percentage of domestic shipments of on-road fuels as established by EPA. To the degree the Company is unable to blend the required amount of biofuels to satisfy its RINs obligation, RINs must be purchased on the open market to avoid penalties and fines. The Company records its RINs obligation on a net basis in Accrued expenses when its RINs liability is greater than the amount of RINs earned and purchased in a given period and in Prepaid and other current assets when the amount of RINs earned and purchased is greater than the RINs liability.

The Company leases office space, office equipment, refinery facilities and equipment, railcars and other logistics assets primarily under non-cancelable operating leases, with terms typically ranging from one to twenty years, subject to certain renewal options as applicable. The Company considers those renewal or termination options that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the determination of the lease term and initial measurement of lease liabilities and right-of-use assets. Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Interest expense for finance leases is incurred based on the carrying value of the lease liability. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company determines whether a contract is or contains a lease at inception of the contract and whether that lease meets the classification criteria of a finance or operating lease. When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value; however, most of the Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company must discount lease payments based on an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate.

Property, plant and equipment additions are recorded at cost. The Company capitalizes costs associated with the preliminary, pre-acquisition and development/construction stages of a major construction project. The Company capitalizes the interest cost associated with major construction projects based on the effective interest rate of total borrowings. The Company also capitalizes costs incurred in the acquisition and development of software for internal use, including the costs of software, materials, consultants and payroll-related costs for employees incurred in the application development stage.

Deferred charges and other assets include refinery turnaround costs, catalyst, precious metal catalysts, linefill, deferred financing costs and intangible assets. Refinery turnaround costs, which are incurred in connection with planned major maintenance activities, are capitalized when incurred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs, which is based on an engineering assessment. The amortization period generally ranges from 3 to 6 years; however, based on the specific facts and circumstances, different periods of deferral may occur.

The Company records an asset retirement obligation at fair value for the estimated cost to retire a tangible long-lived asset at the time the Company incurs that liability, which is generally when the asset is purchased, constructed, or leased. The Company records the liability when it has a legal or contractual obligation to incur costs to retire the asset and when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made at the time the liability is incurred, the Company will record the liability when sufficient information is available to estimate the liability’s fair value. Certain of the Company’s asset retirement obligations are based on its legal obligation to perform remedial activity at its refinery sites when it permanently ceases operations of the long-lived assets. The Company therefore considers the settlement date of these obligations to be indeterminable. Accordingly, the Company cannot calculate an associated asset retirement liability for these obligations at this time. The Company will measure and recognize the fair value of these asset retirement obligations when the settlement date is determinable.

Liabilities for future remediation costs are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Other than for assessments, the timing and magnitude of these accruals generally are based on the completion of investigations or other studies or a commitment to a formal plan of action. Environmental liabilities are based on best estimates of probable future costs using currently available technology and applying current regulations, as well as the Company’s own internal environmental policies. The measurement of environmental remediation liabilities may be discounted to reflect the time value of money if the aggregate amount and timing of cash payments of the liabilities are fixed or reliably determinable. The actual settlement of the Company’s liability for environmental matters could materially differ from its estimates due to a number of uncertainties such as the extent of contamination, changes in environmental laws and regulations, potential improvements in remediation technologies and the participation of other responsible parties.

Stock-based compensation includes the accounting effect of options to purchase PBF Energy Class A common stock granted by PBF Energy to certain PBF Holding employees, Series A warrants issued or granted by PBF LLC to employees in connection with their acquisition of PBF LLC Series A units, options to acquire Series A units of PBF LLC granted by PBF LLC to certain employees, Series B units of PBF LLC that were granted to certain members of management and restricted PBF LLC Series A Units and restricted PBF Energy Class A common stock granted to certain directors and officers. The estimated fair value of the options to purchase PBF Energy Class A common stock and the PBF LLC Series A warrants and options is based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the fair value of the PBF LLC Series B units is estimated based on a Monte Carlo simulation model. The estimated fair value is amortized as stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line method over the vesting period and included in General and administrative expense with forfeitures recognized in the period they occur.

PBF Energy grants performance share unit awards and performance unit awards to certain key employees. Performance awards granted to employees prior to November 1, 2020 are based on a three-year performance cycle with four measurement periods and performance awards granted to employees after November 1, 2020 are based on a three-year performance cycle having a single measurement period. The payout for each, which ranges from zero to 200%, is based on the relative ranking of the total shareholder return (“TSR”) of PBF Energy’s common stock as compared to the TSR of a selected group of industry peer companies over an average of four measurement periods. The performance share unit awards and performance unit awards are each measured at fair value based on Monte Carlo simulation models. The performance share unit awards will be settled in PBF Energy Class A common stock and are accounted for as equity awards and the performance unit awards will be settled in cash and are accounted for as liability awards.

As PBF Holding is a limited liability company treated as a “flow-through” entity for income tax purposes, there is no benefit or expense for federal or state income tax in the accompanying financial statements apart from the income taxes attributable to two subsidiaries acquired in connection with the acquisition of Chalmette Refining, L.L.C. (“Chalmette Refining”) and the Company’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, PBF Energy Limited (“PBF Ltd.”). These subsidiaries are treated as C-corporations for tax purposes, with the tax provision calculated based on the effective tax rate for the periods presented.

A fair value hierarchy (Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3) is used to categorize fair value amounts based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value. Accordingly, fair values derived from Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values derived from Level 2 inputs are based on quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

The Company uses appropriate valuation techniques based on the available inputs to measure the fair values of its applicable assets and liabilities. When available, the Company measures fair value using Level 1 inputs because they generally provide the most reliable evidence of fair value. In some valuations, the inputs may fall into different levels in the hierarchy. In these cases, the asset or liability level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements.

The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined based on the Company’s assessment of available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The Company’s non-derivative financial instruments that are included in current assets and current liabilities are recorded at cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The estimated fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company’s commodity contracts are measured and recorded at fair value using Level 1 inputs based on quoted prices in an active market, Level 2 inputs based on quoted market prices for similar instruments, or Level 3 inputs based on third-party sources and other available market based data. The Company’s catalyst obligations and derivatives related to the Company’s crude oil and feedstocks and refined product purchase obligations are measured and recorded at fair value using Level 2 inputs on a recurring basis, based on observable market prices for similar instruments.

The Company is exposed to market risk, primarily related to changes in commodity prices for the crude oil and feedstocks used in the refining process as well as the prices of the refined products sold, and the risk associated with the price of credits needed to comply with various governmental and regulatory environmental compliance programs. The accounting treatment for commodity and environmental compliance contracts depends on the intended use of the particular contract and on whether or not the contract meets the definition of a derivative.

All derivative instruments, not designated as normal purchases or sales, are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at their fair values. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that either are not designated or do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment or normal purchase or normal sale accounting are recognized in earnings. Contracts qualifying for the normal purchase and sales exemption are accounted for upon settlement. Cash flows related to derivative instruments that are not designated or do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment are included in operating activities.

The Company designates certain derivative instruments as fair value hedges of a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability. At the inception of the hedge designation, the Company documents the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. Derivative gains and losses related to these fair value hedges, including hedge ineffectiveness, are recorded in cost of sales along with the change in fair value of the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk. Cash flows related to derivative instruments that are designated as fair value hedges are included in operating activities.

Economic hedges are hedges not designated as fair value or cash flow hedges for accounting purposes that are used to (i) manage price volatility in certain refinery feedstock and refined product inventories, and (ii) manage price volatility in certain forecasted refinery feedstock purchases and refined product sales. These instruments are recorded at fair value and changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments are recognized currently in cost of sales.

Derivative accounting is complex and requires management judgment in the following respects: identification of derivatives and embedded derivatives, determination of the fair value of derivatives, documentation of hedge relationships, assessment and measurement of hedge ineffectiveness and election and designation of the normal purchases and sales exemption. All of these judgments, depending upon their timing and effect, can have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings.

The Company’s Refining segment includes the operations of its six refineries, including certain related logistics assets that are not owned by PBFX. The Company’s refineries are located in Delaware City, Delaware, Paulsboro, New Jersey, Toledo, Ohio, Chalmette, Louisiana, Torrance, California, and Martinez, California. The refineries produce unbranded transportation fuels, heating oil, petrochemical feedstocks, lubricants, and other petroleum products in the United States. The Company purchases crude oil, other feedstocks and blending components from various third-party suppliers. The Company sells products throughout the Northeast, Midwest, Gulf Coast, and West Coast of the United States, as well as in other regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and is able to ship products to other international destinations.

In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, “Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” (“ASU 2024-03”) which introduces new disclosure requirements aimed at enhancing the transparency of expense information presented in the financial statements. Specifically, it mandates that public business entities disaggregate certain expense captions presented on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations into specified natural expense categories within the notes to the financial statements. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in this ASU prospectively or retrospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 on our consolidated financial statements. While we do not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements, it will result in additional disclosure requirements in the notes to our financial statements. We will continue to monitor any further guidance or interpretations by the FASB related to this ASU and will provide updates in future filings.