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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 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 $3 million and $3 million as of September 30, 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.

On August 22, 2025, the EPA issued a decision document to WRC affirming the validity of its previous grants of WRC’s petitions for small refinery hardship relief under the RFS for WRC’s 2017 and 2018 compliance periods, granting 100 percent waivers for WRC’s 2019 and 2021 compliance periods and granting 50 percent waivers for its 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 compliance periods (the “2025 SRE Decision”). Based on this decision, WRC’s obligations for the 2020 through 2024 compliance periods were reduced by more than 424 million RINs, representing approximately $488 million. WRC timely complied with its RFS obligations for the 2023 and prior compliance periods by the October 1, 2025 deadline set forth in the 2025 SRE Decision. In July 2025, the EPA’s partial waiver of the 2024 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement was published in the Federal Register, making the RFS compliance reporting deadline for all obligated parties for the 2024 compliance period December 1, 2025.

Taking into account the 2025 SRE decision that resulted in a benefit of $488 million, our Energy segment recognized, net of RINS sales, a benefit of $417 million and an expense of $86 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and a benefit of $171 million and an expense of $65 million for the nine months ended September 30, 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 September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, CVR Energy’s obligated-party subsidiaries’ RFS position was $93 million and $323 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our Energy segment continues to accrue WRC’s 2025 RFS obligation at 100% of the required amount, as no waiver has yet been granted for that compliance year. Our Energy segment estimates that WRC’s 2025 obligation will represent approximately 120 million RINs as of the end of the current fiscal year absent a waiver.

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. Recent developments since the last periodic report of the Company are discussed below.

Energy

Renewable Fuel Standard Litigation – WRC’s previous legal challenges against the EPA relating to WRC’s SRE petitions for its historical compliance periods were effectively mooted by the 2025 SRE Decision. On October 27, 2025, WRC filed in the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia Circuit (the “DC Circuit”) a petition for review of the 2025 EPA Decision as respect to WRC’s 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 SREs, primarily intended to preserve WRC’s rights to challenge scoring and decisions relating to WRC’s future SRE petitions; similar petitions for review of the 2025 SRE Decision were filed by multiple other refineries and others.  Also in August 2025, the EPA requested additional information from WRC relating to its SRE petition for the 2025 compliance period, which WRC submitted in July 2025, ruling on which WRC believes was due from the EPA in October 2025. WRC is currently evaluating such request and any actions WRC may take relating to its SRE petition for the 2025 compliance period. As these matters are in their earliest stages, the Company cannot yet determine the impact thereof, or any actions of the EPA relating thereto, could have on WRC’s past, current, and future obligations under the RFS or the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, which could be material.

Wynnewood Refinery 2023 Fire Claim – In August 2025, plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by three contractor employees alleging personal injuries arising from the 2023 fire at the Wynnewood Refinery owned and operated by CVR Energy subsidiaries issued a settlement demand in the amount of $60 million. CVR Energy disputes plaintiffs’ claims and has tendered defense and indemnity of the lawsuit to certain of its contractors and carriers. Trial is currently set for January 6, 2026. While CVR Energy is defending itself, if this matter is ultimately concluded in a manner adverse to CVR Energy, it could have a material effect on CVR Energy’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

CRNF Ammonia Release – In October 2025, a lawsuit was filed against CVR Energy in the 268th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas alleging damages arising from an ammonia release that occurred at the fertilizer facility owned and operated by a CVR Energy affiliate in October 2025, following which multiple individuals were transported to hospitals for evaluation and treatment. As this matter is in its earliest stages, CVR Energy cannot yet determine whether this incident could have a material adverse effect on CVR Energy’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Guaranty Dispute – In October 2025, a subsidiary of CVR Energy entered into a stipulation with Exxon Mobil Corporation (“XOM”) in connection with the lawsuit it filed 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 extending all deadlines under the litigation until December 1, 2025. 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 September 30, 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 September 30, 2025. If the plan was voluntarily terminated, it would be underfunded by approximately $21 million as of September 30, 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.