Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors identified in the Partnership’s fiscal 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Partnership’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, except as set forth below:
We may be unsuccessful in integrating the operations of the assets we have acquired or may acquire with our operations, and in realizing all or any part of the anticipated benefits of any such acquisitions.
From time to time, we evaluate and acquire assets and businesses that we believe complement our existing assets and businesses. Acquisitions may require substantial capital or the incurrence of substantial indebtedness. Our capitalization and results of operations may change significantly as a result of completed or future acquisitions. Acquisitions and business expansions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired businesses, inefficiencies and difficulties that arise because of unfamiliarity with new assets and the businesses associated with them, and new geographic areas and the diversion of management's attention from other business concerns. Further, unexpected costs and challenges may arise whenever businesses with different operations or management are combined, and we may experience unanticipated delays in realizing the benefits of an acquisition. Also, following an acquisition, we may discover previously unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business or assets for which we have no recourse under applicable indemnification provisions.
On April 8, 2022, DKL Delaware Gathering, LLC (the “Purchaser”), a subsidiary of the Partnership, entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with 3 Bear Energy – New Mexico LLC (the “Seller”) to purchase 100% of the limited liability company interests in 3 Bear Delaware Holding – NM, LLC (the “3 Bear Acquisition”), related to the Seller’s crude oil and natural gas gathering, processing and transportation businesses, as well as water disposal and recycling operations, in the Delaware Basin in New Mexico (the “3 Bear Purchase Agreement”). The Partnership also entered into a guaranty agreement with the Seller in order to guaranty the payment obligations of the Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement. These transactions were completed on June 1, 2022.
The 3 Bear Acquisition will require the management to devote significant attention and resources to integrating the 3 Bear business with our business. Potential difficulties that may be encountered in the integration process include, among others:
• the inability to successfully integrate the 3 Bear business into our business in a manner that permits us to achieve the revenue and cost savings that we announced as anticipated from the acquisition;
• complexities associated with managing the larger, integrated business;
• potential unknown liabilities and unforeseen expenses, delays or regulatory conditions associated with the 3 Bear Acquisition;
• integrating personnel from the two companies while maintaining focus on providing consistent, high-quality products and services;
• loss of key employees;
• integrating relationships with customers, vendors and business partners;
• performance shortfalls at one or both of the companies as a result of the diversion of management’s attention caused by completing the acquisition and integration of 3 Bear’s operations into the Partnership; and
• the disruption or loss in momentum in, each company’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies.
Delays or difficulties in the integration process could adversely affect our business, financial results, financial condition and common unit price. Even if we are able to integrate our business operations successfully, there can be no assurance that the integration will result in the realization of the full benefits of synergies, cost savings, innovation and operational efficiencies that we currently expect or have communicated from this integration or that these benefits will be achieved within the anticipated timeframe.
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The Russia-Ukraine War, and events occurring in response thereto, including sanctions brought by the United States and other countries against Russia and any expansion of hostilities, may have an adverse impact on our business, our future results of operations, and our overall financial performance.
The effects of the military conflict that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 on our business, financial condition, and results of operations are impossible to predict. Sanctions brought by the United States and other countries against Russia or any of its allies, any escalation of the conflict, including the regional or global expansion of hostilities, and other future developments could significantly affect the global economy, lead to market volatility and supply chain disruptions, have an adverse impact on energy prices, including prices for crude oil, other feedstocks, and refined petroleum products, have an adverse impact on the margins from our petroleum product marketing operations, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The physical effects of climate change and severe weather present risks to our operations.
The potential physical effects of climate change and severe weather on our operations are highly uncertain and depend upon the unique geographic and environmental factors present. We have systems in place to manage potential acute physical risks, including those that may be caused by climate change, but if any such events were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations. Examples of potential physical risks include floods, hurricane-force winds, wildfires, freezing temperatures and snowstorms. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, costs to protect our assets from physical risks, and to employ processes, to the extent available, to mitigate such risks.
Any extreme weather events may disrupt the ability to operate our facilities or to transport crude oil, refined petroleum or petrochemical and plastics products in these areas. Extended periods of such disruption could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. We could also incur substantial costs to prevent or repair damage to these facilities. Finally, depending on the severity and duration of any extreme weather events or climate conditions, our operations may need to be modified and material costs incurred, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There are certain environmental hazards and risks inherent in our operations that could adversely affect those operations and our financial results.
The operation of refineries, pipelines, terminals and vessels is inherently subject to the risks of spills, discharges or other inadvertent releases of petroleum or hazardous substances. If any of these events had previously occurred or occurs in the future in connection with any of our refineries, pipelines or refined petroleum products terminals, or in connection with any facilities that receive our wastes or byproducts for treatment or disposal, other than events for which we are indemnified, we could be liable for all costs and penalties associated with their remediation under federal, state, local and international environmental laws or common law, and could be liable for property damage to third parties caused by contamination from releases and spills.