XML 33 R23.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.25.1

Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments and Contingencies | ​ 16. Commitments and Contingencies Environmental Matters Due to the nature of our business, certain of our subsidiaries’ operations are subject to numerous existing and proposed laws and governmental regulations designed to protect human health and safety and the environment, particularly regarding plant wastes and emissions and solid waste disposal. Our consolidated environmental liabilities on an undiscounted basis were $4 million and $3 million as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, primarily within our Energy segment, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We do not believe that environmental matters will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Energy RFS Disputes - CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries are subject to the Renewable Fuel Standard (“RFS”) implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) which, absent any exemption or waiver, requires refiners to either blend renewable fuels into their transportation fuels or purchase renewable fuel credits, known as RINs, in lieu of blending, in an amount equal to the renewable volume obligation (“RVO”) for the applicable compliance year. CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries are not able to blend the substantial majority of their transportation fuels and, unless their obligations are waived or exempted by the EPA, must either purchase RINs on the open market or obtain waiver credits for cellulosic biofuels in order to comply with the RFS. CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries also purchase RINs generated from its renewable diesel operations to partially satisfy their RFS obligations. One of CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries, Wynnewood Refining Company, LLC (“WRC”), qualifies as a “small refinery” defined under the RFS as a refinery with an average aggregate daily crude oil throughput for a calendar year no greater than 75,000 barrels, which enables WRC to seek small refinery exemptions (“SREs”) under the RFS should it be able to establish it suffered disproportionate economic hardship. WRC has submitted SRE petitions for the 2017 through 2024 compliance periods, which petitions are in various stages of review by the EPA and/or various courts. Regarding WRC’s SRE petitions for the 2017 to 2021 compliance periods which, together with the SRE petitions from certain other small refineries, had been denied by the EPA in 2022 (the “2022 Denials”), the EPA has yet to act on those petitions after its denials were vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Fifth Circuit”) in November 2023 and remanded back to the EPA on the grounds that the EPA’s denials were impermissibly retroactive and that the EPA’s interpretation was contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious as applied to petitioners’ exemptions. The EPA and certain biofuels groups sought certiorari before the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) seeking review of whether venue for these challenges to the 2022 Denials lies exclusively in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia Circuit (the “DC Circuit”), which certiorari was granted in October 2024. Oral argument was held in March 2025 with a ruling from SCOTUS currently expected in the second quarter of 2025. While WRC believes venue was proper in the Fifth Circuit, should SCOTUS determine venue lies exclusively in the DC Circuit, WRC expects the November 2023 decision of the Fifth Circuit vacating the EPA’s denials of WRC’s petitions for the 2017 to 2021 compliance periods, as well as petitions from certain other small refineries, would be vacated and ultimately become subject to July 2024 decision of the DC Circuit which ruled in favor of certain small refineries also challenging the 2022 Denials, holding that the 2022 Denials as applicable to those small refineries was arbitrary and capricious, vacating such denials and remanding such petitions back to the EPA. Also in March 2025, the Fifth Circuit granted WRC’s unopposed motion to stay its 2023 compliance obligations under the RFS in connection with the lawsuit filed by WRC against the EPA in the Fifth Circuit challenging the EPA’s January 2025 denial of WRC’s petition seeking exemption for the 2023 compliance period. As these matters are in various stages, CVR Energy cannot yet determine at this time the outcomes of these matters. While CVR Energy intends to prosecute these actions vigorously, if these matters are ultimately concluded in a manner adverse to them, they could have a material effect on CVR Energy’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Our Energy segment recognized, net of RINS sales, an expense of $123 million and a benefit of $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, for CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries’ compliance with the RFS (based on the 2020 through 2025 annual RVO, excluding the impacts of any exemptions or waivers to which the obligated-party subsidiaries may be entitled). These recognized amounts are included in cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations and represent costs to comply with the RFS obligation through purchasing of RINs not otherwise reduced by blending of ethanol, biodiesel, or renewable diesel. At each reporting period, to the extent RINs purchased or generated through blending are less than the RFS obligation (excluding the impact of exemptions or waivers to which CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries may be entitled), the remaining position is valued using RIN market prices at period end using each specific or closest vintage year. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries’ RFS position was $438 million and $323 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. 45Q Transaction In January 2023, CVR Energy and its obligated-party subsidiaries entered into a joint venture and related agreements with unaffiliated third-party investors and others intended to qualify for certain tax credits available under Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the agreements entered into in connection with the 45Q Transactions, CVR Partners and certain of its subsidiaries are obligated to meet certain minimum quantities of carbon dioxide supply each year during the term of the agreement and is subject to fees of up to $15 million per year, with an overall cap at $45 million, should it fail to perform. Litigation From time to time, we and our subsidiaries are involved in various lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. We do not believe that such normal routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. See the matters described under the caption “Other” below. Energy Call Option Coverage Cases - The appeal filed in the Texas First Court of Appeals by CVR Energy and certain of its affiliates (the “Call Defendants”) of the entry of summary judgment by the lower court in the declaratory judgment action (the “Texas Case”) filed by CVR Energy’s primary and excess insurers (the “Insurers”) seeking determination that the Insurers owe no indemnity coverage under policies with coverage limits of $50 million for the August 2022 settlement by the Call Defendants of the consolidated lawsuits filed by purported former unitholders of CVR Refining, L.P. on behalf of themselves and an alleged class of similarly situated unitholders has been fully briefed, though no decision has yet been issued. The Delaware action filed by the Call Defendants against the Insurers seeking recovery of all amounts paid in connection with settlement August 2022 settlement remains pending. While both cases remain pending, CVR Energy does not expect the outcome of these lawsuits to have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. ​ Guaranty Dispute – In April 2025, a subsidiary of CVR Energy filed an amended complaint in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware disputing the validity of an alleged guaranty claimed by XOM to have been issued in its favor in 1993 by a subsidiary of CVR Energy, under which XOM has demanded that such subsidiary defend and indemnify it against claims by numerous property owners in Louisiana alleging contamination from historic well operations. As this matter remains in its early stages, the Company cannot yet determine whether its outcome will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. ​ Other Matters Pension Obligations Mr. Icahn, through certain affiliates, owns 100% of Icahn Enterprises GP and approximately 86% of Icahn Enterprises’ outstanding depositary units as of March 31, 2025. Applicable pension and tax laws make each member of a “controlled group” of entities, generally defined as entities in which there is at least an 80% common ownership interest, jointly and severally liable for certain pension plan obligations of any member of the controlled group. These pension obligations include ongoing contributions to fund the plan, as well as liability for any unfunded liabilities that may exist at the time the plan is terminated. In addition, the failure to pay these pension obligations when due may result in the creation of liens in favor of the pension plan or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) against the assets of each member of the controlled group. As a result of the more than 80% ownership interest in us by Mr. Icahn’s affiliates, we and our subsidiaries are subject to the pension liabilities of entities in which Mr. Icahn has a direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 80%, which include the liabilities of a pension plan sponsored by Viskase. All the minimum funding requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, for the Viskase plan have been met as of March 31, 2025. If the plan was voluntarily terminated, it would be underfunded by approximately $21 million as of March 31, 2025. These results are based on the most recent information provided by the plans’ actuary. This liability could increase or decrease, depending on a number of factors, including future changes in benefits, investment returns, and the assumptions used to calculate the liability. As members of the controlled group, we would be liable for any failure of Viskase to make ongoing pension contributions or to pay the unfunded liabilities upon a termination of the Viskase pension plan. In addition, other entities now or in the future within the controlled group in which we are included may have pension plan obligations that are, or may become, underfunded and we would be liable for any failure of such entity to make ongoing pension contributions or to pay the unfunded liabilities upon termination of such plan. The current underfunded status of the Viskase pension plan requires them to notify the PBGC of certain “reportable events,” such as if we cease to be a member of the Viskase controlled group, or if we make certain extraordinary dividends or stock redemptions. The obligation to report could cause us to seek to delay or reconsider the occurrence of such reportable events. Starfire Holding Corporation (“Starfire”), which is 99.6% owned by Mr. Icahn and his affiliates (excluding us and Brett Icahn), has undertaken to indemnify us and our subsidiaries from losses resulting from any imposition of certain pension funding or termination liabilities that may be imposed on us and our subsidiaries or our assets as a result of being a member of the Icahn controlled group. The Starfire indemnity provides, among other things, that so long as such contingent liabilities exist and could be imposed on us, Starfire will not make any distributions to its stockholders that would reduce its net worth to below $250 million. Nonetheless, Starfire may not be able to fund its indemnification obligations to us. Other Icahn Enterprises L.P. was contacted on May 3, 2023 by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, seeking production of information relating to the Company and certain of its affiliates’ corporate governance, capitalization, securities offerings, disclosure, dividends, valuation, marketing materials, due diligence and other materials. The Company produced documents in response to that inquiry and has had no substantive communication with the U.S. Attorney’s office since the initial inquiry on May 3, 2023. ​

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482648/440-10-50-4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 450 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//450/tableOfContent Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 954 -SubTopic 440 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480327/954-440-50-1 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 440 -SubTopic 10 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482648/440-10-50-4 Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 440 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//440/tableOfContent + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration