Delek US Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
August 6, 2024

There are 14 speakers on the call.

Operator

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Desiree, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Delek Second Quarter Earnings Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question and answer session.

Operator

I would now like to turn the conference over to Robert Bright, Deputy CEO. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Good morning, and welcome to the Delek U. S. 2nd quarter earnings conference call. Participants joining me on today's call will include Avigal Torek, President and CEO Joseph Israel, EVP, Operations Ruben Spiegel, EVP and Chief Financial Officer and Mark Hobbs, EVP, Corporate Development. Today's presentation material can be found on the Investor Relations section of the Delek U.

Speaker 1

S. Website. Slide 2 contains our Safe Harbor statement regarding forward looking statements. Any forward looking statements made during today's call involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from today's comments. Factors that could cause actual results to differ are included here as well as in our SEC filings.

Speaker 1

The company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statements. I will now turn the call over to Avigal for opening remarks. Avigal?

Speaker 2

Thank you, Robert. Good morning and thank you for joining us today. During the Q2, our adjusted EBITDA was $108,000,000 Despite a challenging market environment, we ran our operation well. I'm proud of the ongoing progress our team is making. Turning to our strategic priorities.

Speaker 2

As I've outlined on our previous calls, Delek's key focus areas are: 1st, safe and reliable operation 2nd, unlocking the sum of the product value inherent in our system and third, being shareholder friendly and having a strong balance sheet. I will now focus on each one of these key priorities in detail. Safe and reliable operation is the core of everything we are trying to achieve. We have made further progress and achieved our highest throughput ever this quarter. Big Spring showed additional strong improvement and it's on track to meet previously communicated throughput and OpEx guidance.

Speaker 2

Joseph and Robert will provide more details on this. Next, I would like to talk about the progress that we have made in our sum of the part efforts. We have announced series of transactions that will allow us to further improve our position as a safe, reliable and efficient refiner. On August 1, we announced the sale of our retail business for a total price of around $385,000,000 We are pleased with the transaction and the value it unlocked for DK shareholders. Our supply agreement with Spenza is for 10 years.

Speaker 2

We are building a great relationship with the company and exploring additional strategic opportunities. We intend to use deposit from the sale to improve our balance sheet and return cash to stakeholders. Now I would like to cover the transaction between DK and DKL. We execute and amend and extend agreement. We have also decided to drop our interest in Winked Webster into DKL.

Speaker 2

These agreements are win win for stakeholders for both companies. From a DK perspective, it will bring value back to DK Refineries. And from a DKL perspective, it allows DKL acquire high quality assets without significant strain on its balance sheet. Today, we also announced a number of transactions for DKL. This transaction will enhance DKL's position as a full service crude natural gas and water provider in the most prolific areas of the Permian Basin.

Speaker 2

DKL announced the FID of a new gas processing plant. The plant is synergetic, highly subscribed and expected to exceed 20% cash on cash return. We expect the plan to come online during the first half of twenty twenty five. On the M and A front, DKL announced the acquisition of H2O Midstream for around $160,000,000 of cash and $70,000,000 of convertible preferred. The transaction is immediately accretive to DKL on an EBITDA and free cash flow basis.

Speaker 2

For synergies, the transaction should be in the acquired multiple of around 5 times. This transaction put us on a path to midstream independence and allow us to enhance the margin profile of our refineries and the asset quality of our midstream businesses. The overall impact of the transaction announced by DK and DKL is cash infusion to DK of over $500,000,000 on a standalone basis for little to no loss in EBITDA. For DKL, it says high quality third party EBITDA of around $70,000,000 making DKL largely independent 3rd party midstream service provider. This transaction move us closer along our path to midstream deconsolidation.

Speaker 2

We look forward to sharing with the market further steps we are taking on this road over the coming months. Next, I would like to highlight the progress we are making on our cost reduction efforts. When we announced our ZBB effort, we had a target to reduce our costs by around $100,000,000 I'm pleased to announce that we have completed this process ahead of time and are exceeding our regional estimates. Robert will provide more details around that. In addition, we are looking at ways to further increase the overall profitability of our company.

Speaker 2

The new project is not just about cost reduction, but it's about making DK's structurally leaner and more profitable company. We look forward to providing you with more details in the near future. Final piece of our strategy is our commitment to shareholder return and maintaining strong balance sheet. During the quarter we paid $16,000,000 in dividends. On July 31, the Board approved another 0.5% per share increase to regular dividend.

Speaker 2

Our quarterly dividend is now $0.255 per share. Before closing, I also want to highlight that the DC Circuit overturned the EPA denial of the small refinery exemption petition under the RFS last week. Our petition has been sent back to the EPA for reconsideration. The case along with the Chevron Difference ruling give us important direction to the EPA as it reconsiders our request. We believe the EPA should grant us the exemption we deserve under the RFS rules.

Speaker 2

In closing, I would like to thank our entire team of over 3,500 employees, especially our Decal Retail employees. On a personal note, I started my journey in Delek back in 2011 in the retail division and have special appreciation for their hard work and dedication. Now I would like to turn the call over to Joseph who will provide additional color on our operation.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Avigal. We have discussed operations excellence in the past several quarters. And today I'm very proud to share with you operating data results, which clearly reinforce our progress as operators and demonstrate improved capabilities of our assets. Bottom line for our Q2, safe, compliant and reliable operations led the way to a record high throughput of 316,000 barrels per day and favorable $5.02 per barrel cost structure for our refining system. In Tyler, total throughput in the Q2 was approximately 76,000 barrels per day.

Speaker 3

Production margin in the quarter was $10.11 per barrel and operating expenses were $4.83 per barrel. For the Q3, the estimated total throughput in Tyler is in the 74,000 to 77,000 barrels per day range. In El Dorado, total throughput in the quarter was approximately 85,000 barrels per day. Our production margin was $2.79 per barrel, driven by low margin environment, increased backwindation and a relatively weak asphalt market. Operating expenses were $4.12 per barrel.

Speaker 3

After successfully demonstrating our crude oil flexibility in the Q1, the team is pushing forward initiatives on the product side, including products diversification and logistics to support new markets access optionality. Estimated throughput for the 3rd quarter is in the 79,000 to 82,000 barrels per day range. In Big Spring, the successful execution of the recovery plan is well reflected in our results. Total throughput for the quarter was approximately 74,000 barrels per day. Our production margin was $8.92 per barrel and our operating expenses were $6.35 per barrel as we approach our $5.50 per barrel target range later this year.

Speaker 3

We successfully completed a Benson's Tripper project at the Big Spring refinery, which supports consent decree requirements related to Benzene in wastewater. We remain focused on people, process and equipment to ensure progress and operation stability. Estimated throughput for the Q3 is in the 69000 to 73000 barrels per day range. In Krotz Springs, total throughput was approximately 82,000 barrels per day. Our production margin was $7.02 per barrel and operating expenses in the quarter were $4.95 per barrel.

Speaker 3

Plant throughput for the Q3 is in the 79,000 to 83,000 barrels per day range. The team is in final stages of preparations for our 4th quarter turnaround. Our implied system throughput target for the Q3 is in the 301,000 to 315,000 barrels per day range. Moving on to the commercial front, improved but challenged supply demand balances in the Midwest negatively impacted 2nd quarter growth differentials for products and asphalt netbacks. For the quarter, we reported $34,000,000 loss for supply and marketing.

Speaker 3

Of that, approximately $17,000,000 loss was generated by Wholesale Marketing, dollars 5,000,000 loss was contributed by Asphalt, leaving approximately a negative $12,000,000 contribution for supply. In summary, after successfully addressing the liability gaps, our teams continue to focus on operational excellence and at the same time, advance process, logistics and commercial optimization initiatives for each one of our sites. I will now turn the call over to Robert for the financial variance.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Joseph. I will now move to Slide 10. For the Q2, Delek had a net loss of $37,000,000 or negative $0.58 per share. Adjusted net loss was $59,000,000 or negative $0.92 per share and adjusted EBITDA was $108,000,000 On Slide 11, the waterfall of adjusted EBITDA from the Q1 of 2024 to the Q2 of 2024 shows that the primary driver for lower results was from refining. The $64,000,000 decrease in refining is primarily attributable to a lower margin environment in the Q2 relative to the Q1.

Speaker 1

Logistics had another strong quarter delivering $101,000,000 in EBITDA. Finally, the lower expenses in corporate are primarily due to our cost reduction efforts. Moving to Slide 12 to discuss cash flow. Cash flow from operations was negative $48,000,000 Within this amount is our net loss for the period in addition to an outflow of $37,000,000 related to working capital movements including the inventory intermediation agreement. Investing activities of $63,000,000 is largely for capital expenditures.

Speaker 1

Financing activities of $15,000,000 reflects the 2029 DKL tack on offering in addition to timing of accrual. This also includes $16,000,000 in dividend payments and $14,000,000 in distribution payments. On Slide 13, we show the actual results of the 2024 capital program and full year 2024 forecast. 2nd quarter capital expenditures were $71,000,000 Half of this spend was in refining, primarily addressing sustaining and regulatory projects. As for the full year outlook for 2024, the original capital plan is on track at CAD330 1,000,000 outside of the recent gas plant announcement.

Speaker 1

Net debt is broken out between Delek and Delek Logistics on Slide 14. During the quarter, we drew $96,000,000 of cash and paid down $35,000,000 of debt, ending the quarter with a net debt position of $243,000,000 including a cash balance of $658,000,000 Slide 15 covers outlook items. In addition to the guidance Joseph provided for the Q3 of 2024, we expect operating expenses to be between $205,000,000 $215,000,000 and G and A to be between $60,000,000 $65,000,000 Our 3rd quarter outlook for operating expenses and G and A is around $272,000,000 As Avigal mentioned, this exceeds our original target of $100,000,000 in savings through our cost reduction efforts on a run rate basis. As to other guidance, D and A is expected to be between $90,000,000 $95,000,000 and net interest expense to be between $80,000,000 $85,000,000 We will now open the

Operator

Your first question comes from the line of Manav Gupta with UBS. Your line is open.

Speaker 4

Hey guys, since you just spoke about it, I'm going to start with Slide 14 itself. I'm trying to understand here, obviously, there's a big difference between Delek debt and consolidated debt. And so what more can be done in this year? And so eventually, you basically get to a situation where those two numbers start kind of converging and you're not holding on to this additional debt. So trying to understand what can more be done to deconsolidate that debt here?

Speaker 2

Yes. Manav, thank you for joining us today. I will start with giving highlight overview what we're trying to do, and I will get exactly to the points you just mentioned. As you've seen this quarter, we have an unwavering commitment to show investor both the DK, DKL, the value of some of the part and what and we were driving to this target very aggressively. We were able to do in the same quarter to build, buy, sell and deal with a complex conflicted transaction between DK and DKL, all of that on the same time.

Speaker 2

That's a huge testimony of our commitment to bring that value to stakeholders, along with strong execution to do all of that on the same time. To be more specific, Manav, you remember I've said it over and over last quarter that the availability of over $800,000,000 we created during March April of March April earlier this year will create us the ability to go to the next step. That's exactly what we did this quarter. From a DK standpoint, we improved cash balance. We have a minimal impact on EBITDA.

Speaker 2

And what we basically did on the 3rd point of the DKL, we did economical swap of asset, basically moved one asset from 1 company and to another company and vice versa economically and put everything on the right bucket and making ourselves deconsolidation ready. That's huge. From a DKS standpoint, we were able to do while doing all of that, we're able to grow the EBITDA, increase third party income and have 7 year amend and extend, huge steps. In the future, you will see us taking additional steps towards the consolidation. So that was a huge quarter for us and more to come.

Speaker 4

Perfect. So you kind of mentioned about putting the right assets in the right bucket. And one of the things where Delek is flagged out is like the EBITDA per barrel is less competitive versus some of your peers. So trying to understand based on the transactions you have done with DKL, are some of those assets now going to sit within refining? So the capture or for the patent, like for the same crack environment, would we should we expect a better EBITDA per barrel now that the assets are in the right buckets?

Speaker 2

Yes, Manav, you got it exactly right. We were bringing back the value over time while growing DKL and that's going to improve the DK capture rate in the refining. So that's exactly what we're trying to do and you got it exactly right. So DK and DKL going to be deconsolidation ready. You got it exactly right.

Speaker 4

Okay. Sorry for the last very quick one. On SREs, help us understand what your position is? Why you feel you should be given those SREs? And to be honest, like does it really, really matter if the rim price is $0.50 a gallon?

Speaker 2

Yes. So we were very pleased with the court ruling 10 days ago. It was on Friday. I think the court made the right decision, and that's something we need to get and I hope we will get. But Mohit, why don't you give some more color around it?

Speaker 2

Yes.

Speaker 5

Manav, I think from our company standpoint, if you look at Friday's ruling from DC Circuit Courts, it was a very positive move. From 2018 to 2020, I'm just going to give you some facts about how it has played out for us. From 2018 to 2020, 9 petitions were denied for us. And in order for us to meet the requirements under the RFS, we spent approximately $300,000,000 during that time. We are still eligible after 2021 to apply for more SREs, but we have not done that.

Speaker 5

But between 2018 2020, we spent $300,000,000 to meet our obligations under the RFS requirement. We don't know what's going to happen from here. EPA can appeal more, but we think this court ruling is extremely positive and that's how we are doing it so far.

Speaker 4

So congrats on all the restructuring and congratulations to Mohit on his new role. Thanks guys.

Speaker 2

Yes. We're excited about it. He's excited about it. You're excited about it. We're in good shape.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Joe Leach with Morgan Stanley. Your line is open.

Speaker 6

Hey, thanks for taking my questions and congrats on progressing some of the parts effort here. So I know you touched on a bit in the prepared remarks, but I just was hoping to dive into a little bit more on the use of proceeds from the transactions. I know you mentioned putting on towards the balance sheet. How much is there to go on that front? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Yes, absolutely. I will touch on that gladly. We have communicated in the past about our cash allocation strategy. Just to remind everyone, dividend maintained strong growing dividend throughout the cycle. We just increased our dividend again by 2% this last few days.

Speaker 2

So we are very proud of our ability to maintain, sustain and grow our dividend. We have a balanced approach between improving the balance sheet and the buyback. We see a lot of value in our share price, and we'll give more details on that once transaction are closed late Q3, early Q4. Thank you for the question.

Speaker 6

Thank you. Just a quick follow-up. How should we think about the tax implications from the recent transactions? Thank you.

Speaker 2

Absolutely. So Ruben, do you want to take that?

Speaker 7

Sure. On the retail front, there will be some tax leakage. It's not material, but we are working on a structure to minimize that. As far as the related party transaction, the taxes are residual.

Speaker 6

Great. Thank you all.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Neil Mehta with Goldman Sachs. Your line is open.

Speaker 8

Yes. Good morning, team and congrats on the announcements today. I guess the new corporate structure really does help to simplify things in a way that I think it could be easier to do larger scale M and A at the DKL level. I'd just be curious on does this get you one close step closer to deconsolidation?

Speaker 2

Yes, absolutely, Neil. That's the whole point of this deal. We are putting the right asset economically under the right ownership and right structure. So that make DKL and we prepared a full deck for DKL. I think it was the first time that shows the DKL by the second half of twenty twenty by the Q2 of 2025 going to be largely 2 thirds third party income.

Speaker 2

So that's a huge step in making a real full value for those assets. So the answer is absolutely. That's our intention. We have an asset in a premier location in the Permian Basin, and we are providing all products around it, crude, water and gas, and very proud of the clear strategy that we have for DKL, and that value and M and A will reflect itself over time.

Speaker 8

Thanks, Avigail. And the follow-up is on Slide 9, it is helpful to see the margins by asset. There's a lot of dispersion here. I mean, Dorado seems like it had a little bit of a tougher quarter and Tyler and Big Spring performed very well. So when you look at that spread, what stands out to you?

Speaker 8

And how does that affect the way we should think about the go forward?

Speaker 2

Yes, absolutely. There is extreme focus of Eldorado in terms of commercial improvement because the asset is performing very well operationally. But Josef will give you more color around it.

Speaker 3

Yes. Similar to our peers in the Q2, we faced the following headwinds. 1 was low margin, including the lower capture that comes with that. 2 is increased backwardation, which increased our acquisition price. 3 is co product weakness, which is for us in El Dorado with mainly asphalt.

Speaker 3

Similar to our Midwest refining peers, we faced an oversupplied Midwest market with the underseasonally trends for a group in this. On a strategic level, I want to make it very clear, we're very happy with our configuration. We believe it's healthy upstream and downstream. The team is doing a great job operating and optimizing the plants on a consistent basis. Our opportunity is clearly around alternative market access when the growth is low.

Speaker 3

So what we have done so far, we identify those strategic market destinations and we are now executing on the logistics and products offering aspect of that execution. I'm really this is not rocket science and I'm expecting in the next earnings call, we will be able to demonstrate actually progress and talk about our path forward. And one last thing, I'll say the obvious, we are 5 weeks into the Q3 and the Midwest balances have improved and we definitely see the positive impact on both the refinery and the wholesale margins. I'll leave it there.

Speaker 9

Thanks, Joseph.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Matthew Blair with TPH. Your line is open.

Speaker 1

Thank you and good morning. I want to jump into the supply and marketing improvement in the Q2. Could you talk about what helped you out there? And then, Joseph, I think you touched on a little bit. It sounds like the outlook for Q3 is improving on the wholesale side.

Speaker 1

What about the asphalt side? Do you expect some tailwinds from lower crude prices in Q3?

Speaker 2

Yes. Thank you for the question, Matt. We do see an improvement, but Joseph will touch on that a bit more. Please, Joseph.

Speaker 3

Yes. On the wholesale marketing, again, it's when the Midwest market is not flooded with markets, we have better options on pricing and moving the product and you will see our results improving. On the asphalt side, we had a rough start of the asphalt season this year with the wet weather conditions that made the roofing and paving challenging, we're expecting to go back to the normal range.

Speaker 1

Sounds good. And then on the renewable diesel side, I think at one point there was hope that that plant in Bakersfield would start up in the first half of the year. Has that happened yet?

Speaker 2

So it didn't happen yet. And maybe I will let Robert, our CFO, to answer that question. He's closer to that.

Speaker 1

Yes. I think it's something we are monitoring. We have ongoing dialogue with them. Obviously, we're monitoring their publicly filed information. And today, no decision has been made and no decision has to be made until they meet some of the requirements of the plant coming up and running.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of John Royall with JPMorgan. Your line is open.

Speaker 10

Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking my question and congrats on the transactions today. I want to start with just a high level some of the parts question. It's been a flurry of announcements with retail and several incremental items with this print. How close to complete do you think you are with the sum of the parts separate after these deals are closed?

Speaker 10

You've mentioned more to do on the deconsolidation side at DKL and presumably also on the 3rd party side to get that entity that's fully third party. So if you can talk about what inning you're in and anything else you can offer on the next steps?

Speaker 2

Yes, absolutely. So in order to get all of those deals done and you know that you're close to the story long enough, you need to make sure that right assets are on the right bucket and we are starting to make those separation as we speak. While doing that, we maintain and grow the DKL EBITDA to make it 3rd party dominant and to make it ready for next steps. All of those steps were completed, and we are ready to deconsolidation when the right opportunity presents itself. Marc, please, if you want to add anything around that, Marco.

Speaker 2

He was very close to those deals and was able to build, buy, sell and deal with all those intercompany transaction, all of that on the same time. So great job.

Speaker 11

Yes, absolutely. Thanks, Abigail, and thanks for the question, John. Look, I think you highlighted it and appreciate that, but the transactions that we've announced at DK and DKL last week and today, they do mark significant progress on our some of the parts journey. As you know, we've highlighted and are extracting the value of our retail operations, but I think importantly, which has already been cited on this call is through the DKDKL related announcements, we're reducing that interdependence between DKL and DK. And with Wink to Webster dropping, the expansion of the gas processing capacity in the Delaware, the purchase of H2O Midstream, combined they will add substantial third party business to DKL.

Speaker 11

I think as we consider deconsolidation kind of down the road and the pathway for that, we're in a much better position than we were prior to these announcements.

Speaker 10

Great. Thank you. And then my follow-up is just on the cost side. I think you've mentioned moving into kind of a Phase 2 of taking out costs after completing the $100,000,000 early. Is there any detail you can give us on that second phase?

Speaker 10

And what might be some of the components of those savings? And anything in order of magnitude relative to the first $100,000,000

Speaker 2

Yes. So we are taking that very seriously. It's going to impact more aspects of the business. We didn't give guidance around it, but everything is in motion and we'll be more specific around that very, very soon. So stay tight.

Speaker 10

Thank you.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Roger Read with Wells Fargo. Your line is open.

Speaker 12

Yes. Thank you. Good morning. And I'll add my congratulations on progressing some of the parts restructuring here. Maybe this question is for Joseph.

Speaker 12

You've been working hard to get big springs up. You made the comments here earlier about some work around El Dorado. But as we think about bringing the support pieces back into, I believe, 3 of the 4 refineries, what's the right way for us to think about that in terms of enhancing the cash flow or EBITDA generation of these units?

Speaker 3

Are you asking about oil refineries or Eldor and Big Spring specifically?

Speaker 12

Well, I was more citing the I think the progress at Big Spring, you mentioned Eldorado, but I was just curious as we think about deconsolidating DKL and bringing the assets back in, I'm presuming that's also going to be margin enhancing. So the progress you've made, the other changes you want to make and then what's the right way to think about margin enhancement from bringing the support assets back into DK?

Speaker 3

Yes, Roger. So it is amazing when fixed reliability, not only in the throughput aspect in the calculation and the OpEx are more favorable in the contribution. It is amazing what we can do and what we are doing with our leadership teams as far as handling all the optimization opportunities for each one of the sites. And this is what we basically switched to do. We have more octane capability where we can drive more Azzer Bob from Big Spring to the right markets.

Speaker 3

We can sell more higher octane products including aviation fuel from Tyler. We can convert some of the diesel we make to jet fuel. And this is what the system is driving these days, this optimization. Mark, do you have more to that?

Speaker 11

Yes, Roger. I guess to your question, and I know Abigail has stressed it a little bit earlier on the call, but the announcements between DK and DKL, you're exactly right. I mean, they're effectively an economic exchange of assets, sort of not a physical exchange of assets, but amending and extending the contracts accomplished a couple of things, right? The extension of the contracts for up to 7 years frankly, removes a pretty big overhang on the DKL units and the uncertainty that we know existed in the market with respect to those contracts. But importantly, it also means that we're through the amendment of the contracts that we're improving the overall DK refining profitability going forward and enhancing future capture rates, right.

Speaker 11

And to your point that does touch specifically Big Spring, El Dorado and Tyler over time to the moves that we've announced today.

Speaker 3

Did we answer your question, Olivia?

Speaker 12

Well, I think it's going to be something that evolves, but I'll take it offline with Mohit. And but I appreciate your clarity here. Thanks.

Speaker 3

Perfect. Thank you.

Operator

Next question comes from the line of Paul Cheng with Scotiabank. Your line is open.

Speaker 9

Hi, good morning guys. I have to first apologize. I still want to go back into what Voyager asked. Can you quantify for us or share with us with the contract extension, how much is the lower fee that the DK will pay to DKL on a per year basis? And also that did you I think maybe did I miss it or you didn't disclose, what's the price that you sell the wind and west pipeline down to DKL.

Speaker 9

We saw on your presentation you're saying that DKL transaction net cash 130,000,000. Should we assume that is the selling price? And what is the EBITDA associated with Wynn and Wdesk that you're currently receiving? That's the first question.

Speaker 2

Yes. Paul, thank you for the detailed question. And you cannot assume that the W to W value is basically it's a one off series of transaction between DK and DKL and we provide you guys the net number. So you cannot just assume that number. So the value of W2W, there is a market for that, and it's a pretty straightforward evaluation of that asset.

Speaker 2

You need to assume that we reduced over time the contract between DK to DKL in order of it's going to be over time of order of magnitude of $60,000,000 that's going to come between DK from DKL back to DKL, while DKL is building the EBITDA with the deals we announced. So all in all, DKL EBITDA is going to grow. The capture rate in DKL is going to look and be better because of the valuation of $60,000,000 that we have. And we still have like 20% of the contract to down the road to a deal between DK to DKL. That's the full picture.

Speaker 9

Okay. So you're not going to disclose to us that what's the actual selling price or drop down price for Webster and also the contract extension, I suppose?

Speaker 2

Unfortunately, I can't.

Speaker 9

Okay. The second question is for Joseph. BrickSpring that you've been working on the restructuring and improved optimization. As of now that is all the effort essentially done and other than say you're talking about how you may be still looking at same different product or different market. Other than that, from a manufacturing standpoint, is all the changes or all the improvement you're trying to make is already done right at this point?

Speaker 3

Yes. So I think on the cost structure, we guided the market to $5.50 target and this quarter we have about $0.85 per barrel over that in Big Spring. So the reason is we have several special programs still going on for a long term improvements. As they go away by year end, we will be at the $550,000,000 target and we believe that will be sustainable. Now to my point I made before, when you stop playing defense, you can start working on your offense.

Speaker 3

And we have a lot of great ideas in Big Spring. It's a great asset and we have a lot of room there on the octane side and the feedstock side that we will look very closely and then move forward.

Operator

Got it.

Speaker 9

All right. We do. Thank you.

Speaker 3

Thank you.

Operator

And we do have our last question comes from the line of Jason Gabelman with TD Cowen. Your line is open.

Speaker 13

Yes. Hey, thanks for taking my questions. Apologies, I'm going to try this again on what Paul just asked in terms of some of the EBITDA contributions. And if I look at what you've disclosed for the DKL transactions, H2O is $45,000,000 of EBITDA. The gas processing plant, call it $25,000,000 $30,000,000 of EBITDA.

Speaker 13

So that kind of gets you to that projected $70,000,000 of EBITDA for DKL and it implies that then wing to Webster offsets the DK contract amend and extend. Is that the right math or is there something off there?

Speaker 2

Yes. So Jason, I think it's a good opportunity to do a follow-up with Morit. We see more value in the gas plant, for example, and there is more EBITDA that comes back between DKL back to DKL. I said that to Paul, it's around $60,000,000 over time. It's not all of that day 1.

Speaker 2

So we didn't give specific numbers on each one of the transaction. And that's the reason we made sure that the strategy is clear to you and others that we want to make sure that the right ownership is on the right place and we are improving capture rate while growing DKL. That's the objective. And if you look at that holistically, we are trying, I think we achieved for the most part to achieve on the same quarter deconsolidation ready while making a clear separation between companies. That's what we're after.

Speaker 2

That's in our mind a very, very important step both for stakeholder and unitholder.

Speaker 13

Okay. And when you say $60,000,000 of value over time, how many years do you expect that to take?

Speaker 2

We're not going to get into the details, but I encourage you to get with Mohit and get some more detailed questions.

Speaker 13

Okay. And then my other question is just once again on use of proceeds. Your interest expenses, it looks pretty high right now. And in terms of improving the cash flow of the parent company, it seems like that's a great place to attack. So is that kind of priority 1 and why is there hesitance right now in just kind of talking through the use of proceeds?

Speaker 13

Thanks.

Speaker 2

So the use of proceeds is according to our strategy. And obviously, when we are looking on free cash flow, we always look at it on mid cycle. So mid cycle free cash flow looks great to our expectation. We have ability to do everything we need and to have a good return to invest also. We are very confident in where we are and looking forward.

Speaker 13

Okay. Thanks for the answers and I'll follow-up offline.

Speaker 2

Thank you.

Operator

That concludes the question and answer session. Mr. Avigal Sorek, our CEO, I turn the call back over to you.

Speaker 2

Yes. So thank you for joining us today. Thank you for the management team around the table for the extreme focus and execution around here. Thank you for our employees, the Board of Directors, you the investor and a special thank you for the retail employees a long time being with us. And welcome to the H2O team that are joining our family today.

Speaker 2

We'll talk again in the next quarter. Thank you.

Operator

This concludes today's conference call. You may now disconnect.

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Earnings Conference Call
Delek US Q2 2024
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