Sunoco Inc--Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-6841

 


 

SUNOCO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

PENNSYLVANIA   23-1743282

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

TEN PENN CENTER, 1801 MARKET STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-1699

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(215) 977-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  x    NO  ¨

 

At March 31, 2005, there were 68,837,721 shares of Common Stock, $1 par value outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

SUNOCO, INC.

 

INDEX

 

          Page No.

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (Unaudited)     
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004    1
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004    2
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004    3
     Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    4

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    19

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    30

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    30
PART II.     OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    31

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    31

Item 6.

   Exhibits    32
SIGNATURE    33


Table of Contents

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Sunoco, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(Millions of Dollars and Shares Except Per Share Amounts)

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (UNAUDITED)  

REVENUES

                

Sales and other operating revenue (including consumer excise taxes)

   $ 7,191     $ 5,232  

Interest income

     3       2  

Other income, net (Notes 2 and 3)

     15       11  
    


 


       7,209       5,245  
    


 


COSTS AND EXPENSES

                

Cost of products sold and operating expenses

     6,059       4,254  

Consumer excise taxes

     585       498  

Selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 2)

     209       187  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     105       100  

Payroll, property and other taxes

     36       33  

Interest cost and debt expense

     23       29  

Interest capitalized

     (6 )     (1 )
    


 


       7,011       5,100  
    


 


Income before income tax expense

     198       145  

Income tax expense

     82       56  
    


 


NET INCOME

   $ 116     $ 89  
    


 


Net income per share of common stock:

                

Basic

   $ 1.68     $ 1.18  

Diluted

   $ 1.67     $ 1.17  
                  

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (Note 4):

                

Basic

     69.1       75.5  

Diluted

     69.5       76.3  

Cash dividends paid per share of common stock (Note 8)

   $ .30     $ .275  

 

(See Accompanying Notes)

 

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Table of Contents

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Sunoco, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(Millions of Dollars)


  

At

March 31

2005


  

At

December 31

2004


     (UNAUDITED)     

ASSETS

             

Current Assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 346    $ 405

Accounts and notes receivable, net

     1,656      1,271

Inventories:

             

Crude oil

     370      319

Petroleum and chemical products

     393      315

Materials, supplies and other

     149      131

Deferred income taxes

     110      110
    

  

Total Current Assets

     3,024      2,551

Investments and long-term receivables

     104      115

Properties, plants and equipment

     8,900      8,688

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     3,806      3,722
    

  

Properties, plants and equipment, net

     5,094      4,966

Prepaid retirement costs

     12      11

Deferred charges and other assets (Note 3)

     445      436
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 8,679    $ 8,079
    

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current Liabilities

             

Accounts payable

   $ 2,688    $ 2,109

Accrued liabilities (Note 5)

     406      461

Short-term borrowings

     100      100

Current portion of long-term debt

     3      3

Taxes payable

     331      349
    

  

Total Current Liabilities

     3,528      3,022

Long-term debt

     1,374      1,379

Retirement benefit liabilities (Note 6)

     538      539

Deferred income taxes

     781      755

Other deferred credits and liabilities (Notes 5 and 7)

     323      247

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 5)

             

Minority interests (Note 2)

     521      530

Shareholders’ equity (Note 8)

     1,614      1,607
    

  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 8,679    $ 8,079
    

  

 

(See Accompanying Notes)

 

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Sunoco, Inc. and Subsidiaries

(Millions of Dollars)

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (UNAUDITED)  

INCREASES (DECREASES) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

                

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net income

   $ 116     $ 89  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     105       100  

Deferred income tax expense

     26       35  

Proceeds from power contract restructuring (Note 7)

     48       —    

Payments less than (in excess of) expense for retirement plans

     (1 )     1  

Changes in working capital pertaining to operating activities, net of effect of acquisitions:

                

Accounts and notes receivable

     (385 )     (115 )

Inventories

     (147 )     (277 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     493       377  

Taxes payable

     (12 )     (18 )

Other

     4       (4 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     247       188  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                

Capital expenditures

     (208 )     (112 )

Acquisitions (Note 3)

     —         (235 )

Proceeds from divestments (Note 3)

     12       97  

Other

     3       1  
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (193 )     (249 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net proceeds from short-term borrowings

     —         100  

Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     1       2  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (5 )     (102 )

Cash distributions to investors in cokemaking operations

     (11 )     (19 )

Cash distributions to investors in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.

     (6 )     (3 )

Cash dividend payments

     (21 )     (21 )

Purchases of common stock for treasury

     (70 )     (37 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under management incentive and employee option plans

     5       24  

Other

     (6 )     (3 )
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (113 )     (59 )
    


 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (59 )     (120 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     405       431  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 346     $ 311  
    


 


 

(See Accompanying Notes)

 

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. General.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reporting. They do not include all disclosures normally made in financial statements contained in Form 10-K. In management’s opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods shown have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year 2005.

 

2. Minority Interests.

 

Cokemaking Operations

 

Since 1995, Sunoco has received, in four separate transactions, a total of $724 million in exchange for interests in its Indiana Harbor and Jewell cokemaking operations. Sunoco did not recognize any gain at the dates of these transactions because the third-party investors were entitled to a preferential return on their investments. The preferential returns are currently equal to 98 percent of the cash flows and tax benefits from the respective cokemaking operations during the preferential return periods, which continue until the investors currently entitled to preferential returns recover their investments and achieve a cumulative annual after-tax return that averages approximately 10 percent. Income is recognized as coke production and sales generate cash flows and tax benefits which are allocated to Sunoco and the third-party investors, while expense is recognized to reflect the investors’ preferential returns.

 

Due to anticipated high costs associated with coal purchases from the Coke business’ coal operation over the next few years, the Company anticipates the preferential return period for the Jewell operation will likely extend indefinitely. The preferential return period for the Indiana Harbor operation is expected to end in 2007. Due to the difficulty of forecasting operations and tax benefits into the future, the accuracy of these estimates is subject to considerable uncertainty. The estimated lengths of these preferential return periods are based upon the Company’s current expectations of future cash flows and tax benefits, which are impacted by sales volumes and prices, raw material and operating costs, capital expenditure levels and the ability to recognize tax benefits under the current tax law (see below). Better-than-expected cash flows and tax benefits will shorten the investors’ preferential return periods, while lower-than-expected cash flows and tax benefits will lengthen the periods.

 

Following any expiration of these preferential return periods, the investor in the Jewell operation would be entitled to a minority interest in the related cash flows and tax benefits amounting to 18 percent, while the investors in the Indiana Harbor operation would be entitled to a minority interest in the related cash flows and tax benefits initially amounting to 34 percent and thereafter declining to 10 percent by 2038.

 

Under the current tax law, the coke production at Jewell and Indiana Harbor will no longer be eligible to generate nonconventional fuel tax credits after 2007. Prior to 2008, the tax credits would be phased out, on a ratable basis, if the average annual price of domestic crude oil at the wellhead increases on an inflation-adjusted basis from $51.35 to $64.47 per barrel (in 2004 dollars). If this were to occur, the Company could be required to make cash payments to the third-party investors. Payments for the Jewell or Indiana Harbor operation would be required only if the expected end of the

 

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respective preferential return period is extended by two years or more and if the respective third-party investor is expected to achieve a cumulative after-tax return of less than approximately 6.5 percent. The Company currently does not believe that any payments to the investors would be required under this provision of the tax indemnity agreement, even if the average annual wellhead crude oil price exceeds the $64.47 per barrel threshold at which the credits are completely phased out. The domestic wellhead price averaged $41.01 per barrel for the two months ended February 28, 2005, $41.93 per barrel for the month of February 2005 and $36.75 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The Company also indemnifies the third-party investors in the event the Internal Revenue Service disallows the tax deductions and benefits allocated to the third parties or if there is a change in the tax laws that reduces the amount of nonconventional fuel tax credits which would be available to them. These tax indemnifications are in effect until the applicable tax returns are no longer subject to Internal Revenue Service review. In certain of these cases, if performance under the indemnification is required, the Company also has the option to purchase the third-party investors’ interests. Although the Company believes it is remote that it will be required to make any payments under these indemnifications, at March 31, 2005, the maximum potential payment under these tax indemnifications and the options to purchase the third-party investors’ interests, if exercised, would have been approximately $635 million. If this were to occur, the minority interest balance would be reduced by approximately $235 million.

 

An agreement at the Indiana Harbor cokemaking operation requires the Company to supply the hot exhaust gas produced at the facility to a contiguous cogeneration plant operated by an independent power producer for use in the generation of electricity. In exchange, the independent power producer is obligated to reduce the sulfur and particulate content of that hot exhaust gas to acceptable environmental emission levels. Under the provisions of a performance guarantee, Sunoco would be required to make cash payments to the independent power producer until 2013 in the event that the Company failed to supply sufficient hot exhaust gas pursuant to the supply agreement. Although the Company believes that it is remote that it would be required to make any payment under this performance guarantee, the maximum potential payment, if required, would be approximately $150 million.

 

The following table sets forth the minority interest balances and the changes in these balances attributable to the third-party investors’ interests in cokemaking operations (in millions of dollars):

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 287     $ 328  

Nonconventional fuel credit and other tax benefits*

     (15 )     (13 )

Preferential return*

     11       13  

Cash distributions to third-party investors

     (11 )     (19 )
    


 


Balance at end of period

   $ 272     $ 309  
    


 



* The nonconventional fuel credit and other tax benefits and the preferential return, which comprise the noncash change in the minority interest in cokemaking operations, are included in other income, net, in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

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Logistics Operations

 

On April 7, 2004, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”), a master limited partnership in which Sunoco had a 75.3 percent interest, issued 3.4 million limited partnership units under its shelf registration statement at a price of $39.75 per unit. Proceeds from the offering, net of underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $129 million. Coincident with the offering, the Partnership redeemed 2.2 million limited partnership units owned by Sunoco for $83 million. Sunoco now has a 62.2 percent interest in the Partnership, including its 2 percent general partnership interest. The accounts of the Partnership continue to be included in Sunoco’s consolidated financial statements. No gain or loss was recognized on these transactions.

 

The following table sets forth the minority interest balance and the changes to this balance attributable to the third-party investors’ interests in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (in millions of dollars):

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 232     $ 104  

Minority interest share of income*

     6       3  

Increase attributable to Partnership management incentive plan

     4       —    

Cash distributions to third-party investors**

     (6 )     (3 )
    


 


Balance at end of period

   $ 236     $ 104  
    


 



* Included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
** During 2004, the Partnership increased its quarterly cash distribution per unit from $.55 to $.57 for the first quarter and then to $.5875 for the second quarter, $.6125 for the third quarter and $.625 for the fourth quarter.

 

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3. Changes in Business.

 

Acquisitions

 

Eagle Point Refinery and Related Assets – Effective January 13, 2004, Sunoco completed the purchase of the Eagle Point refinery and related assets from El Paso Corporation (“El Paso”) for $250 million, including inventory. In connection with this transaction, Sunoco also assumed certain environmental and other liabilities. The Eagle Point refinery is located in Westville, NJ, near the Company’s existing Northeast Refining operations. Management believes the acquisition of the Eagle Point refinery complements and enhances the Company’s refining operations in the Northeast and enables the capture of significant synergies in Northeast Refining. The related assets acquired include certain pipeline and other logistics assets associated with the refinery which Sunoco subsequently sold in March 2004 for $20 million to Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. No gain or loss was recognized on this transaction.

 

The purchase price (including a $15 million payment for inventory in the fourth quarter of 2004) has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair market values at the acquisition date. The following is a summary of the effects of the transaction on Sunoco’s consolidated financial position (in millions of dollars):

 

Increase in:

        

Inventories

   $ 159  

Properties, plants and equipment, net

     108  

Accrued liabilities

     (3 )

Other deferred credits and liabilities

     (14 )
    


Cash paid for acquisition

   $ 250  
    


 

Service Stations – In the second quarter of 2004, Sunoco completed the purchase of 340 retail outlets operated under the Mobil® brand from ConocoPhillips for $181 million, including inventory. Of the total sites acquired, 50 were owned outright and 62 were subject to long-term leases. The remaining network consisted of contracts to supply 34 dealer-owned and operated locations and 194 branded distributor-owned sites. These outlets, which included 31 sites that are Company-operated and have convenience stores, are located primarily in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. These sites are being rebranded to Sunoco® gasoline and APlus® convenience stores over time. The Company believes this acquisition fits its long-term strategy of building a retail and convenience store network designed to provide attractive long-term returns.

 

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The purchase price for the service stations acquired has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair market values at the acquisition date. The following is a summary of the effects of the transaction on Sunoco’s consolidated financial position (in millions of dollars):

 

Increase in:

        

Inventories

   $ 1  

Properties, plants and equipment, net

     136  

Deferred charges and other assets

     45 *

Accrued liabilities

     (1 )
    


Cash paid for acquisition

   $ 181  
    



* Consists of $6 million allocated to goodwill and $39 million allocated to contracts with dealers and distributors. The value of the dealer and distributor contracts is being amortized primarily on a straight-line basis over a 10-15 year period, which represents the expected life of the Company’s affiliation with these dealers and distributors. The unamortized cost related to the dealer and distributor contracts amounted to $36 million at March 31, 2005.

 

Pro Forma Data for Acquisitions – The unaudited pro forma sales and other operating revenue, net income and net income per share of common stock of Sunoco for the three months ended March 31, 2004, as if the acquisition of the Eagle Point refinery and related assets and the Mobil® retail outlets had occurred on January 1, 2004, are as follows (in millions of dollars, except per share amount):

 

    

Three Months

Ended

March 31, 2004


Sales and other operating revenue

   $ 5,457
    

Net income

   $ 93
    

Net income per share of common stock – diluted

   $ 1.22
    

 

The pro forma data does not purport to be indicative of the results that actually would have been obtained if the Eagle Point refinery and related assets and the retail outlets had been part of Sunoco’s businesses during the entire period presented and is not intended to be a projection of future results. Accordingly, the pro forma results do not reflect any restructuring costs, changes in operating levels, or potential cost savings and other synergies prior to the acquisition dates.

 

Logistics Assets – In 2004, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. completed the following acquisitions: in March, certain pipeline and other logistics assets previously purchased by Sunoco with the Eagle Point refinery for $20 million; in April, two ConocoPhillips refined product terminals located in Baltimore, MD and Manassas, VA for $12 million; in June, an additional one-third interest in the Harbor Pipeline from El Paso Corporation for $7 million; and in November, a refined product terminal located in Columbus, OH from a subsidiary of Certified Oil Company for $8 million. The purchase price of the acquisitions has been included in properties, plants and equipment in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. No pro forma information has been presented since the acquisitions were not material in relation to Sunoco’s condensed consolidated results of operations.

 

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Divestments

 

Retail Portfolio Management Program – A Retail Portfolio Management (“RPM”) program is ongoing, which is selectively reducing the Company’s invested capital in Company-owned or leased retail sites. During the 2003-2005 period, selected sites, including some of the recently acquired Mobil® sites as well as some Speedway® sites acquired from a subsidiary of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC in 2003, are being divested. Most of the sites are being converted to contract dealers and distributors. The Company expects to generate divestment proceeds of approximately $170 million, of which $128 million has been received through March 31, 2005 related to the sale of 257 sites. Most of the gasoline sales volume attributable to the divested sites has been retained within the Sunoco branded business. During the first quarter of 2005, a net gain of $3 million ($2 million after tax) was recognized in other income, net, in the condensed consolidated statement of income in connection with the RPM program. There was no gain or loss attributable to the RPM program in the first quarter of 2004. The Company expects the RPM program to generate additional gains during the remainder of 2005.

 

Plasticizer Business - During the fourth quarter of 2003, Sunoco announced its decision to sell its plasticizer business and in that period recorded a $17 million after-tax charge to write down the assets held for sale to their estimated fair values less costs to sell and to establish accruals for employee terminations and other exit costs. Sunoco sold this business and related inventory in January 2004 to BASF for approximately $90 million in cash.

 

4. Earnings Per Share Data.

 

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the weighted-average number of common shares used to compute basic earnings per share (“EPS”) to those used to compute diluted EPS (in millions):

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31


     2005

   2004

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding – basic

   69.1    75.5

Add effect of dilutive stock incentive awards

   .4    .8
    
  

Weighted-average number of shares – diluted

   69.5    76.3
    
  

 

5. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities.

 

Commitments

 

Sunoco is contingently liable under various arrangements which guarantee debt of third parties aggregating to approximately $10 million at March 31, 2005. At this time, management does not believe that it is likely that the Company will have to perform under any of these guarantees.

 

Over the years, Sunoco has sold thousands of retail gasoline outlets as well as refineries, terminals, coal mines, oil and gas properties and various other assets. In connection with these sales, the Company has indemnified the purchasers for potential environmental and other contingent liabilities related to the period prior to the transaction dates. In most cases, the effect of these arrangements was to afford protection for the purchasers

 

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with respect to obligations for which the Company was already primarily liable. While some of these indemnities have spending thresholds which must be exceeded before they become operative, or limits on Sunoco’s maximum exposure, they generally are not limited. The Company recognizes the fair value of the obligations undertaken for all guarantees entered into or modified after January 1, 2003. In addition, the Company accrues for any obligations under these agreements when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable. The Company cannot reasonably estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments under these agreements.

 

Effective January 1, 2001, Sunoco completed the acquisition of Aristech Chemical Corporation (“Aristech”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (“Mitsubishi”), for $506 million in cash and the assumption of $163 million of debt. Contingent payments with a net present value as of the acquisition date of up to $167 million (the “earn out”) may also be made if realized margins for polypropylene and phenol exceed certain agreed-upon thresholds through 2006. As of March 31, 2005, no such payments have been earned. Since the $167 million represents a present value as of January 1, 2001, the actual amounts that could ultimately be paid under the earn out provisions increase over time by a contract-specified 11 percent per year. However, the contingent payments are limited to $90 million per year. Any earn-out payments would be treated as adjustments to the purchase price. In addition, Mitsubishi is responsible for up to $100 million of any potential environmental liabilities of the business identified through 2026 arising out of or related to the period prior to the acquisition date.

 

Environmental Remediation Activities

 

Sunoco is subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, state and local laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment or that otherwise deal with the protection of the environment, waste management and the characteristics and composition of fuels. As with the industry generally, compliance with existing and anticipated laws and regulations increases the overall cost of operating Sunoco’s businesses, including capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities. Existing laws and regulations result in liabilities and loss contingencies for remediation at Sunoco’s facilities and at third-party or formerly owned sites. The accrued liability for environmental remediation is classified in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as follows (in millions of dollars):

 

    

At

March 31

2005


  

At

December 31

2004


Accrued liabilities

   $ 42    $ 39

Other deferred credits and liabilities

     104      109
    

  

     $ 146    $ 148
    

  

 

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The following table summarizes the changes in the accrued liability for environmental remediation activities by category (in millions of dollars):

 

     Refineries

   

Marketing

Sites


   

Chemicals

Facilities


   

Pipelines

and

Terminals


   

Hazardous

Waste

Sites


    Other

   Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2004

   $ 43     $ 74     $ 7     $ 15     $ 5     $ 2    $ 146  

Accruals

     —         4       —         —         —         —        4  

Payments

     (2 )     (4 )     —         (1 )     (1 )     —        (8 )

Acquisitions and divestments

     11       —         (1 )     —         —         —        10  

Other

     2       1       —         —         —         —        3  
    


 


 


 


 


 

  


Balance at March 31, 2004

   $ 54     $ 75     $ 6     $ 14     $ 4     $ 2    $ 155  
    


 


 


 


 


 

  


Balance at January 1, 2005

   $ 48     $ 74     $ 5     $ 15     $ 4     $ 2    $ 148  

Accruals

     1       4       —         1       —         —        6  

Payments

     (3 )     (5 )     —         —         (1 )     —        (9 )

Other

     —         —         —         1       —         —        1  
    


 


 


 


 


 

  


Balance at March 31, 2005

   $ 46     $ 73     $ 5     $ 17     $ 3     $ 2    $ 146  
    


 


 


 


 


 

  


 

Sunoco’s accruals for environmental remediation activities reflect its estimates of the most likely costs that will be incurred over an extended period to remediate identified conditions for which the costs are both probable and reasonably estimable. Engineering studies, historical experience and other factors are used to identify and evaluate remediation alternatives and their related costs in determining the estimated accruals for environmental remediation activities. Losses attributable to unasserted claims are also reflected in the accruals to the extent they are probable of occurrence and reasonably estimable.

 

Total future costs for the environmental remediation activities identified above will depend upon, among other things, the identification of any additional sites, the determination of the extent of the contamination at each site, the timing and nature of required remedial actions, the technology available and needed to meet the various existing legal requirements, the nature and terms of cost-sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties, the availability of insurance coverage, the nature and extent of future environmental laws, inflation rates and the determination of Sunoco’s liability at the sites, if any, in light of the number, participation level and financial viability of the other parties. Management believes it is reasonably possible (i.e., less than probable but greater than remote) that additional environmental remediation losses will be incurred. At March 31, 2005, the aggregate of the estimated maximum additional reasonably possible losses, which relate to numerous individual sites, totaled approximately $90 million. However, the Company believes it is very unlikely that it will realize the maximum loss at every site. Furthermore, the recognition of additional losses, if and when they were to occur, would likely extend over many years and, therefore, likely would not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position.

 

Under various environmental laws, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) (which relates to solid and hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal), Sunoco has initiated corrective remedial action at its facilities, formerly owned facilities and third-party sites. At the Company’s major manufacturing facilities, Sunoco has consistently assumed continued industrial use and a containment/remediation strategy focused on eliminating unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. The

 

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remediation accruals for these sites reflect that strategy. Accruals include amounts to prevent off-site migration and to contain the impact on the facility property, as well as to address known, discrete areas requiring remediation within the plants. Activities include closure of RCRA solid waste management units, recovery of hydrocarbons, handling of impacted soil, mitigation of surface water impacts and prevention of off-site migration.

 

Many of Sunoco’s current terminals are being addressed with the above containment/remediation strategy. At some smaller or less impacted facilities and some previously divested terminals, the focus is on remediating discrete interior areas to attain regulatory closure.

 

Sunoco owns or operates certain retail gasoline outlets where releases of petroleum products have occurred. Federal and state laws and regulations require that contamination caused by such releases at these sites and at formerly owned sites be assessed and remediated to meet the applicable standards. The obligation for Sunoco to remediate this type of contamination varies, depending on the extent of the release and the applicable laws and regulations. A portion of the remediation costs may be recoverable from the reimbursement fund of the applicable state, after any deductible has been met.

 

Future costs for environmental remediation activities at the Company’s marketing sites also will be influenced by the extent of MTBE contamination of groundwater, the cleanup of which will be driven by thresholds based on drinking water protection. Though not all groundwater is used for drinking, several states have initiated or proposed more stringent MTBE cleanup requirements. Cost increases result directly from extended remedial operations and maintenance on sites that, under prior standards, could otherwise have been completed. Cost increases will also result from installation of additional remedial or monitoring wells and purchase of more expensive equipment because of the presence of MTBE. While actual cleanup costs for specific sites are variable and depend on many of the factors discussed above, expansion of similar MTBE remediation thresholds to additional states or adoption of even more stringent requirements for MTBE remediation would result in further cost increases.

 

The accrued liability for hazardous waste sites is attributable to potential obligations to remove or mitigate the environmental effects of the disposal or release of certain pollutants at third-party sites pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) (which relates to releases and remediation of hazardous substances) and similar state laws. Under CERCLA, Sunoco is potentially subject to joint and several liability for the costs of remediation at sites at which it has been identified as a “potentially responsible party” (“PRP”). As of March 31, 2005, Sunoco had been named as a PRP at 46 sites identified or potentially identifiable as “Superfund” sites under federal and state law. The Company is usually one of a number of companies identified as a PRP at a site. Sunoco has reviewed the nature and extent of its involvement at each site and other relevant circumstances and, based upon the other parties involved or Sunoco’s negligible participation therein, believes that its potential liability associated with such sites will not be significant.

 

Management believes that none of the current remediation locations, which are in various stages of ongoing remediation, is individually material to Sunoco as its largest accrual for any one Superfund site, operable unit or remediation area was less than $7 million at March 31, 2005. As a result, Sunoco’s exposure to adverse developments with respect to any individual site is not expected to be material. However, if changes in environmental regulations occur, such changes could impact multiple Sunoco facilities and

 

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formerly owned and third-party sites at the same time. As a result, from time to time, significant charges against income for environmental remediation may occur.

 

The Company maintains insurance programs that cover certain of its existing or potential environmental liabilities, which programs vary by year, type and extent of coverage. For underground storage tank remediations, the Company can also seek reimbursement through various state funds of certain remediation costs above a deductible amount. For certain acquired properties, the Company has entered into arrangements with the sellers or others that allocate environmental liabilities and provide indemnities to the Company for remediating contamination that occurred prior to the acquisition dates. Some of these environmental indemnifications are subject to caps and limits. No accruals have been recorded for any potential contingent liabilities that will be funded by the prior owners as management does not believe, based on current information, that it is likely that any of the former owners will not perform under any of these agreements. Other than the preceding arrangements, the Company has not entered into any arrangements with third parties to mitigate its exposure to loss from environmental contamination. Claims for recovery of environmental liabilities that are probable of realization totaled $22 million at March 31, 2005 and are included in deferred charges and other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Environmental Regulatory Matters

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) adopted rules under the Clean Air Act (which relates to emissions of materials into the air) that phases in limitations on the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2004 and the sulfur content of on-road diesel fuel beginning in 2006 (“Tier II”). The rules include banking and trading credit systems, which could provide refiners flexibility until 2006 for the low-sulfur gasoline and until 2010 for the on-road low-sulfur diesel. These rules are expected to have a significant impact on Sunoco and its operations, primarily with respect to the capital and operating expenditures at its five current refineries. Most of the capital spending is likely to occur in the 2004-2006 period, while the higher operating costs will be incurred when the low-sulfur fuels are produced. The Company estimates that the total capital outlays to comply with the new Tier II gasoline and on-road diesel requirements will be approximately $600 million. Capital spending to meet these requirements totaled $312 million through March 31, 2005. In May 2004, the EPA adopted a third rule which will phase in limitations on the allowable sulfur content in off-road diesel fuel beginning in mid-2007. The off-road diesel rule is currently being analyzed but is not expected to have a significant impact on Sunoco’s capital expenditures. The ultimate impact of the rules may be affected by such factors as technology selection, the effectiveness of the systems pertaining to banking and trading credits, timing uncertainties created by permitting requirements and construction schedules and any effect on prices created by changes in the level of gasoline and diesel fuel production.

 

In 1997, the EPA promulgated new, more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for ozone and fine particles, which has resulted in identification of non-attainment areas throughout the country, including Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, where Sunoco operates facilities. The EPA issued final ozone non-attainment area designations in April 2004, which became effective June 15, 2004. The EPA also issued final fine particle non-attainment area designations in December 2004 based on 2001-2003 air quality data. These standards will result in further controls of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compound emissions. The EPA has designated certain areas, including Philadelphia and Houston, as

 

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“moderate” non-attainment areas, which would require them to meet the ozone requirements by 2010, which is before existing federally mandated control programs would take effect. However, EPA’s designation of ozone non-attainment areas and the EPA’s rule on state implementation are currently being challenged by the state of Ohio, trade associations and health and environmental groups. In 2004, the EPA granted reconsideration of certain issues relating to the 8-hour ozone NAAQS standard and, in 2005, issued proposed rules relating to the implementation of the 8-hour standard and revocation of the 1-hour standard. In 2005, the EPA also identified 21 counties which, based on 2003-2004 data, now are in attainment of the fine particles standard. Sunoco’s Toledo refinery is included in this group of attainment areas. Regulatory programs, when established to implement the EPA’s standards, could have an impact on Sunoco and its operations. However, the potential financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated until the EPA promulgates regulatory programs to attain the standards, and the states, as necessary, develop and implement revised State Implementation Plans to respond to the new regulations.

 

Since the late 1990s, the EPA has undertaken significant enforcement initiatives under authority of the Clean Air Act, targeting industries with large manufacturing facilities that are significant sources of emissions, including the refining industry. The EPA has asserted that many of these facilities have modified or expanded their operations over time without complying with New Source Review regulations that require permits and new emission controls in connection with any significant facility modifications or expansions that could increase emissions above certain thresholds, and have violated various other provisions of the Clean Air Act, including the New Source Review and Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“NSR/PSD”) Program, Benzene Waste Operations National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (“NESHAP”), Leak Detection and Repair (“LDAR”) and flaring requirements. As part of this enforcement initiative, the EPA has entered into Consent Agreements with several refiners that require them to pay civil fines and penalties and make significant capital expenditures to install emissions-control equipment at selected facilities. For some of these refineries, the cost of the required emissions-control equipment is significant, depending on the size, age and configuration of the refinery. Sunoco received information requests in 2000, 2001 and 2002 in connection with the enforcement initiative pertaining to its Marcus Hook, Philadelphia, Toledo and Tulsa refineries, the Puerto Rico refinery divested in 2001 and its phenol facility in Philadelphia. Sunoco completed its responses to the EPA. In 2003, Sunoco received an additional information request pertaining to its phenol plant in Philadelphia.

 

Sunoco has received Notices of Violation and Findings of Violation from the EPA relating to its Marcus Hook, Philadelphia and Toledo refineries. The Notices and Findings of Violation allege failure to comply with certain requirements relating to benzene wastewater emissions at the Company’s Marcus Hook, Toledo and Philadelphia refineries and failure to comply with certain requirements relating to leak detection and repair at the Toledo refinery. In addition, the EPA has alleged that: at the Company’s Philadelphia refinery, certain modifications were made to one of the fluid catalytic cracking units in 1992 and 1998 without obtaining requisite permits; at the Company’s Marcus Hook refinery, certain modifications were made to the fluid catalytic cracking unit in 1990 and 1996 without obtaining requisite permits; and at the Company’s Toledo refinery, certain physical and operational changes were made to the fluid catalytic cracking unit in 1985 without obtaining requisite permits. The EPA has also alleged that at the Company’s Toledo refinery, certain physical and operational changes were made to the sulfur plant in 1995, 1998 and 1999 without obtaining requisite permits; certain physical and operational changes were made to a flare system without obtaining requisite permits; and that the flare system was

 

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not being operated in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Sunoco has met with representatives of the EPA on these Notices and Findings of Violation with the aim of trying to resolve these matters. Although Sunoco does not believe that it has violated any Clean Air Act requirements, as part of this initiative, Sunoco could be required to make significant capital expenditures, incur higher operating costs, operate these refineries at reduced levels and/or pay significant penalties. There are no liabilities accrued at March 31, 2005 in connection with this initiative. With respect to the Company’s Eagle Point refinery, acquired effective January 13, 2004 (Note 3), El Paso Corporation, its prior owner, has entered into a consent decree with the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of the EPA’s enforcement initiative. Sunoco does not anticipate substantial capital expenditures on its part as a result of El Paso’s consent decree.

 

Energy policy legislation continues to be debated in the U.S. Congress. The Bush Administration and the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have been unable to reach agreement on final legislation. There are numerous issues being debated, including an MTBE phase-out, ethanol and MTBE “safe harbor” liability provisions, ethanol and renewable fuels mandates and other issues that could impact gasoline production. Sunoco uses MTBE and ethanol as oxygenates in different geographic areas of its refining and marketing system. While federal action is uncertain, California, New York and Connecticut began enforcing state-imposed MTBE bans on January 1, 2004. Sunoco does not market in California but is complying with the bans in New York and Connecticut. These bans have resulted in unique gasoline blends, which could have a significant impact on market conditions depending on the details of future regulations, the impact on gasoline supplies, the cost and availability of ethanol and alternate oxygenates if the minimum oxygenate requirements remain in effect, and the ability of Sunoco and the industry in general to recover their costs in the marketplace. A number of additional states, including some in the northeastern United States, are considering or have approved bans of MTBE, with legislative and administrative actions underway that could lead to additional MTBE bans by 2007.

 

MTBE Litigation

 

Sunoco, along with other refiners, manufacturers and sellers of gasoline, owners and operators of retail gasoline sites, and manufacturers of MTBE, are defendants in over 60 cases in 16 states involving the manufacture and use of MTBE in gasoline and MTBE contamination in groundwater. Plaintiffs, which include private well owners, water providers and certain governmental authorities, allege that refiners and suppliers of gasoline containing MTBE are responsible for manufacturing and distributing a defective product. Plaintiffs also generally are alleging groundwater contamination, nuisance, trespass, negligence, failure to warn, violation of environmental laws and deceptive business practices. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages, and in some cases injunctive relief, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Most of the public water provider cases have been removed to federal court by motion of the defendants and consolidated for pretrial purposes in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Motions to remand these cases to their respective state courts have been denied. Motions to remand certain other cases are pending. Up to this point, for the group of MTBE cases currently pending, there has been little information developed about the plaintiffs’ legal theories or the facts that would be relevant to an analysis of potential exposure. Based on the current law and facts available at this time, Sunoco believes that these cases will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position.

 

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Conclusion

 

Many other legal and administrative proceedings are pending or possible against Sunoco from its current and past operations, including proceedings related to commercial and tax disputes, product liability, antitrust, employment claims, leaks from pipelines and underground storage tanks, natural resource damage claims, premises-liability claims, allegations of exposures of third parties to toxic substances (such as benzene or asbestos) and general environmental claims. The ultimate outcome of these proceedings and the matters discussed above cannot be ascertained at this time; however, it is reasonably possible that some of them could be resolved unfavorably to Sunoco. Management believes that these matters could have a significant impact on results of operations for any future quarter or year. However, management does not believe that any additional liabilities which may arise pertaining to such matters would be material in relation to the consolidated financial position of Sunoco at March 31, 2005. Furthermore, management does not believe that the overall costs for environmental activities will have a material impact over an extended period of time on Sunoco’s cash flows or liquidity.

 

6. Retirement Benefit Plans.

 

The following table sets forth the components of defined benefit plans and postretirement benefit plans expense (in millions of dollars):

 

     Defined Benefit
Plans


    Postretirement
Benefit Plans


 
    

Three Months
Ended

March 31


   

Three Months
Ended

March 31


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Service cost (cost of benefits earned during the year)

   $ 12     $ 11     $ 2     $ 2  

Interest cost on benefit obligations

     21       21       6       6  

Expected return on plan assets

     (22 )     (20 )     —         —    

Amortization of:

                                

Prior service cost (benefit)

     1       1       (1 )     (2 )

Unrecognized losses

     7       8       1       1  
    


 


 


 


     $ 19     $ 21     $ 8     $ 7  
    


 


 


 


 

7. Power Contract Restructuring.

 

In December 2004, Sunoco and a subsidiary of FPL Energy (“FPL”) agreed to a restructuring of an agreement (the “Agreement”) under which Sunoco may purchase steam from a natural gas fired cogeneration power plant owned and operated by FPL at Sunoco’s Marcus Hook refinery. Under the restructured terms, FPL surrendered its easement interest in adjacent land on which four auxiliary boilers were constructed, thereby transferring ownership of the auxiliary boilers which have an estimated fair market value of $33 million to Sunoco. FPL operates the auxiliary boilers on Sunoco’s behalf. When the cogeneration plant is in operation, Sunoco has the option to purchase steam from the facility at a rate equivalent to that set forth in the original agreement. As part of the restructuring, Sunoco has agreed to a long-term lease of land to FPL and to modify certain terms in the existing agreement for an aggregate cash payment of $48 million, most of which is attributable to prepaid rent. Sunoco received this $48 million payment in January 2005. No gain or loss was recognized in connection with the restructuring. Deferred revenue of $81 million has been recorded in other deferred credits and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2005, which is being amortized into income over the 30-year contract term.

 

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8. Shareholders’ Equity.

 

    

At

March 31

2005


   

At

December 31

2004


 
     (Millions of Dollars)  

Common stock, par value $1 per share

   $ 139     $ 139  

Capital in excess of par value

     1,673       1,656  

Earnings employed in the business

     2,962       2,895  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (163 )     (164 )

Common stock held in treasury, at cost

     (2,997 )     (2,919 )
    


 


Total

   $ 1,614     $ 1,607  
    


 


 

During the first three months of 2005, the Company repurchased 724,500 shares of common stock for $70 million under an existing repurchase authorization. In March 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an additional $500 million share repurchase authorization. At March 31, 2005, the Company had a remaining authorization to purchase up to $662 million of common stock, including $162 million available under the previous program, in the open market from time to time depending on prevailing market conditions and available cash.

 

The Company increased the quarterly dividend paid on common stock from $.275 per share ($1.10 per year) to $.30 per share ($1.20 per year) for the third quarter of 2004 and then to $.40 per share ($1.60 per year) for the second quarter of 2005. The estimated $28 million dividend for the second quarter of 2005 has been reflected as a reduction in earnings employed in the business at March 31, 2005.

 

9. Comprehensive Income.

 

The following table sets forth Sunoco’s comprehensive income (in millions of dollars):

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 

Net income

   $ 116     $ 89  

Other comprehensive income, net of related income taxes:

                

Net hedging gains

     3       2  

Reclassifications of net hedging gains to earnings

     (2 )     (4 )
    


 


Comprehensive income

   $ 117     $ 87  
    


 


 

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10. Business Segment Information.

 

The following table sets forth certain income statement information concerning Sunoco’s business segments (in millions of dollars):

 

     Sales and Other
Operating Revenue


  

Segment Income
(Loss)

(after tax)


 

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2005


  

Unaffiliated

Customers


  

Inter-

segment


  

Refining and Supply

   $ 3,437    $ 1,980    $ 108  

Retail Marketing

     2,470      —        (8 )

Chemicals

     659      —        33  

Logistics

     535      476      3  

Coke

     90      —        10  

Corporate and Other

     —        —        (30 )*
    

         


Consolidated

   $ 7,191           $ 116  
    

         


Three Months Ended

March 31, 2004


                

Refining and Supply

   $ 2,326    $ 1,437    $ 100  

Retail Marketing

     2,018      —        (4 )

Chemicals

     445      —        12  

Logistics

     379      365      8  

Coke

     64      —        9  

Corporate and Other

     —        —        (36 )**
    

         


Consolidated

   $ 5,232           $ 89  
    

         



* Consists of $16 million of after-tax corporate expenses and $14 million of after-tax net financing expenses and other.
** Consists of $12 million of after-tax corporate expenses and $24 million of after-tax net financing expenses and other.

 

11. New Accounting Standard.

 

In December 2004, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) was issued, which revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). Among other things, SFAS No. 123R requires a fair-value-based method of accounting for share-based payment transactions. Sunoco currently intends to adopt SFAS No. 123R, effective January 1, 2006. As Sunoco currently follows the fair value method of accounting prescribed by SFAS No. 123, adoption of SFAS No. 123R is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Earnings Profile of Sunoco Businesses (after tax)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31


   

Variance


 
     2005

    2004

   
     (Millions of Dollars)  

Refining and Supply

   $ 108     $ 100     $ 8  

Retail Marketing

     (8 )     (4 )     (4 )

Chemicals

     33       12       21  

Logistics

     3       8       (5 )

Coke

     10       9       1  

Corporate and Other:

                        

Corporate expenses

     (16 )     (12 )     (4 )

Net financing expenses and other

     (14 )     (24 )     10  
    


 


 


Consolidated net income

   $ 116     $ 89     $ 27  
    


 


 


 

Analysis of Earnings Profile of Sunoco Businesses

 

In the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, Sunoco earned $116 million, or $1.67 per share of common stock on a diluted basis, compared to $89 million, or $1.17 per share, for the first quarter of 2004.

 

The $27 million increase in net income in the first quarter of 2005 was primarily due to higher margins in Sunoco’s Refining and Supply ($12 million) and Chemicals ($27 million) businesses. Also contributing to the improvement in earnings were higher production of refined products ($9 million), largely due to lower scheduled maintenance activity in MidContinent Refining, and lower net financing expenses ($10 million). Partially offsetting these positive factors were lower margins in Retail Marketing ($10 million); higher expenses ($12 million), primarily fuel, depreciation and employee-related charges; and a higher effective income tax rate ($6 million).

 

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Refining and Supply

 

    

For the Three

Months Ended

March 31


     2005

   2004

Income (millions of dollars)

   $ 108    $ 100

Wholesale margin* (per barrel):

             

Total Refining and Supply

   $ 5.93    $ 5.68

Northeast Refining

   $ 6.11    $ 5.74

MidContinent Refining

   $ 5.42    $ 5.46

Crude inputs as percent of crude unit rated capacity**

     97      95

Throughputs*** (thousands of barrels daily):

             

Crude oil

     875.0      824.6

Other feedstocks

     52.7      65.6
    

  

Total throughputs

     927.7      890.2
    

  

Products manufactured*** (thousands of barrels daily):

             

Gasoline

     442.9      419.0

Middle distillates

     304.3      285.1

Residual fuel

     77.3      77.5

Petrochemicals

     38.6      33.3

Lubricants

     12.6      13.0

Other

     89.5      96.0
    

  

Total production

     965.2      923.9

Less: Production used as fuel in refinery operations

     46.7      42.9
    

  

Total production available for sale

     918.5      881.0
    

  


* Wholesale sales revenue less related cost of crude oil, other feedstocks, product purchases and terminalling and transportation divided by production available for sale.
** Effective January 1, 2005, crude unit capacity increased from 890 to 900 thousands of barrels daily due to a 10 thousand barrels-per-day adjustment in MidContinent Refining.
*** Data pertaining to the Eagle Point refinery for the three months ended March 31, 2004 are based on the amounts attributable to the 79-day ownership period (January 13, 2004 – March 31, 2004) divided by 91, the number of days in the period.

 

Refining and Supply earned $108 million in the current quarter versus $100 million in the first quarter of 2004. The $8 million increase in earnings was largely due to higher realized margins ($12 million) and higher production volumes ($9 million). The first quarter of 2004 included significant scheduled maintenance activity in MidContinent Refining. The higher realized margins reflect the increased use of discounted high-acid crude oils in Northeast Refining. Over the past three quarters, Refining and Supply has gradually increased the processing of such crude oils, which averaged approximately 48 thousands of barrels daily in the first quarter of 2005. With continued strong discounts to light-sweet crude oils, Refining and Supply would expect to process approximately 60-70 thousands of barrels daily of high-acid crude oils in the second quarter of 2005. Partially offsetting these positive factors were higher expenses ($11 million), including fuel, depreciation and employee-related charges and a higher effective income tax rate ($2 million).

 

Effective January 13, 2004, Sunoco completed the purchase of the 150 thousand barrels-per-day Eagle Point refinery and related assets from El Paso Corporation for $250 million, including inventory. In connection with this transaction, Sunoco also assumed certain environmental and other liabilities. The Eagle Point refinery is located in Westville, NJ, near the Company’s existing Northeast Refining operations. Management believes the acquisition of the Eagle Point

 

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refinery complements and enhances the Company’s refining operations in the Northeast and enables the capture of significant synergies in Northeast Refining. The related assets acquired include certain pipeline and other logistics assets associated with the refinery which Sunoco subsequently sold in March 2004 to Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., the master limited partnership that is currently 62.2 percent owned by Sunoco. (See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.)

 

Retail Marketing

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31


 
     2005

    2004

 

Loss (millions of dollars)

   $ (8 )   $ (4 )

Retail margin* (per barrel):

                

Gasoline

   $ 2.37     $ 2.68  

Middle distillates

   $ 5.06     $ 6.27  

Sales (thousands of barrels daily):

                

Gasoline

     289.8       273.7  

Middle distillates

     49.4       44.5  
    


 


       339.2       318.2  
    


 


Retail gasoline outlets

     4,805       4,532  
    


 



* Retail sales price less related wholesale price and terminalling and transportation costs per barrel. The retail sales price is the weighted-average price received through the various branded marketing distribution channels.

 

Retail Marketing had a loss of $8 million in the current quarter versus a loss of $4 million in the first quarter of 2004. Excluding $2 million of earnings from retail sites acquired from ConocoPhillips in April 2004, the decrease in results was primarily due to lower average retail gasoline ($7 million) and distillate ($3 million) margins, partially offset by lower expenses ($3 million) and higher gains attributable to the Retail Portfolio Management program ($2 million).

 

In April 2004, Sunoco completed the purchase of 340 retail outlets operated under the Mobil® brand from ConocoPhillips for $181 million, including inventory. Of the total sites acquired, 50 were owned outright and 62 were subject to long-term leases, with average throughput of approximately 175 thousand gallons per month. The remaining network consisted of contracts to supply 34 dealer-owned and operated locations and 194 branded distributor-owned locations. These outlets, which included 31 sites that are Company-operated and have convenience stores, are located primarily in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. These sites are being rebranded to Sunoco® gasoline and APlus® convenience stores over time. The Company believes this acquisition fits its long-term strategy of building a retail and convenience store network designed to provide attractive long-term returns. (See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.)

 

A Retail Portfolio Management (“RPM”) program is ongoing, which is selectively reducing the Company’s invested capital in Company-owned or leased retail sites. During the 2003-2005 period, selected sites, including some of the recently acquired Mobil® outlets as well as some Speedway® sites acquired from a subsidiary of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC in 2003, are being divested. Most of the sites are being converted to contract dealers and distributors. The Company expects to generate divestment proceeds of approximately $170 million, of which $128 million has been received through March 31, 2005 related to the sale of 257 sites. Most of the gasoline sales volume attributable to the divested sites has

 

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been retained within the Sunoco branded business. During the first quarter of 2005, a net after-tax gain totaling $2 million was recognized in connection with the RPM program. There was no gain or loss attributable to the RPM program in the first quarter of 2004. The Company expects the RPM program will generate additional gains during the reminder of 2005.

 

Chemicals

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31


     2005

   2004

Income (millions of dollars)

   $ 33    $ 12

Margin* (cents per pound):

             

All products**

     12.6      9.1

Phenol and related products

     11.0      8.6

Polypropylene**

     15.4      10.4

Sales (millions of pounds):

             

Phenol and related products

     681      614

Polypropylene

     533      575

Plasticizers***

     —        28

Other

     33      48
    

  

       1,247      1,265
    

  


* Wholesale sales revenue less the cost of feedstocks, product purchases and related terminalling and transportation divided by sales volumes.
** The polypropylene and all products margins include the impact of a long-term supply contract entered into on March 31, 2003 with Equistar Chemicals, L.P. which is priced on a cost-based formula that includes a fixed discount.
*** The plasticizer business was divested in January 2004.

 

Chemicals earned $33 million in the first quarter of 2005 versus $12 million in the prior-year quarter. The $21 million increase in earnings was due largely to higher margins for both phenol and polypropylene ($27 million), partially offset by slightly lower sales volumes ($1 million), lower gains on asset divestments ($2 million) and the absence of income from the BEF joint venture chemical operations divested in 2004 ($1 million).

 

Logistics

 

Sunoco’s Logistics business earned $3 million in the first quarter of 2005 versus $8 million in the prior-year period. The $5 million decline in earnings was primarily due to a $3 million after-tax accrual attributable to a pipeline spill and a $2 million unfavorable tax adjustment.

 

In 2004, the Partnership completed the following acquisitions: in March, certain pipeline and other logistics assets that had previously been acquired by Sunoco with the Eagle Point refinery for $20 million; in April, ConocoPhillips’ Baltimore, MD and Manassas, VA refined product terminals for $12 million; in June, an additional one-third interest in the Harbor Pipeline from El Paso Corporation for $7 million; and in November, a refined product terminal located in Columbus, OH from a subsidiary of Certified Oil Company for $8 million.

 

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Coke

 

Coke earned $10 million in the first quarter of 2005 versus $9 million in the first quarter of 2004. The $1 million increase in earnings was due primarily to higher tax benefits from cokemaking operations.

 

Under the current tax law, the coke production at Jewell and Indiana Harbor will no longer be eligible to generate nonconventional fuel tax credits after 2007, which is expected to result in a decline in Coke’s annual income of approximately $15 million after tax. Prior to 2008, the tax credits would be phased out, on a ratable basis, if the average annual price of domestic crude oil at the wellhead increases on an inflation-adjusted basis from $51.35 to $64.47 per barrel (in 2004 dollars). If the annual crude oil price were to average at or above the top of this range for any year prior to 2008, then it is estimated the corresponding reduction in Coke’s after-tax income would approximate $15 million for such year. The above estimates incorporate increased coke prices resulting from the expiration of the tax credits after 2007 or any phase out, as provided for in the coke purchase agreement with Ispat Inland Inc. (“Ispat”) with respect to the Indiana Harbor East Chicago plant. The Company also could be required to make cash payments to the third-party investors if the tax credit is reduced as a result of increased domestic crude oil prices. The domestic wellhead price averaged $41.01 per barrel for the two months ended February 28, 2005, $41.93 per barrel for the month of February 2005 and $36.75 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2004. (See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements).

 

In recent years, substantially all coke sales have been made under long-term contracts with International Steel Group (“ISG”) and Ispat. Neither ISG nor Ispat have given any indication that they will not perform under their contracts. However, in the event of nonperformance, the Coke business’ results of operations and cash flows may be adversely affected. In December 2004, Ispat International N.V. (the parent of Ispat) completed a previously announced acquisition of LNM Holdings N.V., both of which were under common control, and changed its name to Mittal Steel Company N.V. (“Mittal”). In April 2005, Mittal completed a previously announced merger with ISG whereby ISG became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mittal. As a result of the merger, Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”) and Standard and Poors Rating Services (“S&P”) upgraded Ispat’s credit ratings to investment grade. In addition, Moody’s upgraded ISG to two levels below investment grade, while S&P currently has ISG at two levels below investment grade but under review for possible upgrade.

 

In October 2003, Sun Coke entered into a 15-year coke purchase agreement with three affiliates of ISG to supply 550 thousand tons per year of coke from a new plant located near Haverhill, OH. Coke is being supplied to ISG on a take-or-pay basis for the first seven years, and thereafter based upon ISG’s requirements in excess of ISG’s existing coke production and its obligations in respect of the Jewell agreement described below. Construction of the Haverhill plant commenced in December 2003, and initial coke production began during March 2005. The Haverhill plant utilizes the waste flue gas to generate low-cost steam that is being provided to the adjacent chemical manufacturing complex owned and operated by Sunoco’s Chemicals business beginning in late April 2005.

 

Sun Coke has also entered into a 15-year coke purchase agreement with ISG to supply ISG with 700 thousand tons per year of coke from the Jewell Vansant plant. The term of that agreement is concurrent with the term of the Haverhill agreement. Coke is being supplied on a take-or-pay basis for the first seven years of that term, and thereafter will be supplied based upon ISG’s requirements in excess of ISG’s existing coke production.

 

In August 2004, Sun Coke entered into a series of agreements with two major steel companies (the “Off-takers”) with respect to the development of a 1.6 million

 

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metric tons-per-year cokemaking and associated cogeneration power plant in Vitória, Brazil. Those agreements generally include: technology license agreements whereby Sun Coke will license its proprietary technology to a project company (the “Project Company”); an engineering and technical assistance agreement whereby Sun Coke will provide engineering and construction-related technical services to the Project Company; an operating agreement whereby a local subsidiary of Sun Coke will operate the cokemaking and water treatment plant facilities for a term of not less than 15 years; and an investment agreement by and among Sun Coke and the Off-takers whereby Sun Coke has acquired an initial one percent equity interest in the Project Company as well as an option to purchase, at net book value plus interest from the date of the Off-takers’ initial investment, an additional 19 percent equity interest. The Off-takers will purchase from the Project Company all coke production under long-term agreements, and one of the steel companies will purchase all of the electricity produced at the cogeneration power plant. Those off-take agreements are to be negotiated. Construction of the facilities commenced in the first quarter of 2005 and the facilities are expected to be operational in 2006.

 

Given the rise in demand for steel and the related demand increases for coke, the Company is currently discussing other opportunities for developing new heat recovery and non-recovery cokemaking facilities with several domestic and international steel companies. It is intended that Sun Coke will license its proprietary technology, oversee the construction of coke production facilities and any associated cogeneration power plants, and operate the cokemaking facilities. The steel company customers are expected to purchase the coke production on a take-or-pay or equivalent basis. The ownership of the project companies would likely be shared by several parties, including the steel company customers, with Sun Coke generally holding a minority ownership interest.

 

Corporate and Other

 

Corporate Expenses – Corporate administrative expenses were $16 million after tax in the current three-month period versus $12 million in the first quarter of 2004. The $4 million increase was largely due to higher employee-related expenses, primarily accruals for stock-based incentive compensation.

 

Net Financing Expenses and Other – Net financing expenses and other were $14 million after tax in the first quarter of 2005 versus $24 million in the prior-year quarter. The $10 million decline was primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from debt restructuring activities in 2004 ($4 million) and increased capitalized interest ($3 million) (see “Financial Condition – Financial Capacity” below).

 

Analysis of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

 

Revenues — Total revenues were $7.21 billion in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $5.25 billion in the first quarter of 2004. The 37 percent increase was primarily due to significantly higher refined product and chemical prices and higher refined product sales volumes, in part due to the acquisition of the Mobil® retail sites from ConocoPhillips in April 2004. Also contributing to the increase were higher crude oil sales in connection with the crude oil gathering and marketing activities of the Company’s Logistics operations and higher consumer excise taxes.

 

Costs and Expenses — Total pretax costs and expenses were $7.01 billion in the current quarter compared to $5.10 billion in the first quarter of 2004. The 37 percent increase was primarily due to significantly higher crude oil and refined product acquisition costs. The higher crude oil acquisition costs reflect crude oil price increases and higher crude oil throughputs, while the higher refined

 

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product acquisition costs reflect refined product price increases and purchases to supply the Mobil® retail sites acquired in April 2004 that are located primarily in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Also contributing to the increase were higher crude oil costs in connection with the crude oil gathering and marketing activities of the Company’s Logistics operations and higher consumer excise taxes.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Cash and Working Capital

 

At March 31, 2005, Sunoco had cash and cash equivalents of $346 million compared to $405 million at December 31, 2004, and had a working capital deficit of $504 million compared to a working capital deficit of $471 million at December 31, 2004. The $59 million decrease in cash and cash equivalents was due to a $193 million net use of cash in investing activities and a $113 million net use of cash in financing activities, partially offset by $247 million of net cash provided by operating activities (“cash generation”). Sunoco’s working capital position is considerably stronger than indicated because of the relatively low historical costs assigned under the LIFO method of accounting for most of the inventories reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The current replacement cost of all such inventories exceeded their carrying value at March 31, 2005 by $2,037 million. Inventories valued at LIFO, which consist of crude oil, and petroleum and chemical products, are readily marketable at their current replacement values. Management believes that the current levels of cash and working capital are adequate to support Sunoco’s ongoing operations.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

In the first quarter 2005, Sunoco’s cash generation was $247 million compared to $188 million in the first three months of 2004. This $59 million increase in cash generation was primarily due to the increase in net income and the cash proceeds received in connection with a power contract restructuring, partially offset by an increase in working capital uses pertaining to operating activities.

 

Financial Capacity

 

Management currently believes that future cash generation will be sufficient to satisfy Sunoco’s ongoing capital requirements, to fund its pension obligations (see “Pension Plan Funded Status” below) and to pay the current level of cash dividends on Sunoco’s common stock. However, from time to time, the Company’s short-term cash requirements may exceed its cash generation due to various factors including reductions in margins for products sold and increases in the levels of capital spending (including acquisitions) and working capital. During those periods, the Company may supplement its cash generation with proceeds from financing activities.

 

The Company has a revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) totaling $900 million, which matures in June 2009. The Facility provides the Company with access to short-term financing and is intended to support the issuance of commercial paper, letters of credit and other debt. The Company also can borrow directly from the participating banks under the Facility. The Facility is subject to commitment fees, which are not material. Under the terms of the Facility, Sunoco is required to maintain tangible net worth (as defined in the Facility) in an amount greater than or equal to targeted tangible net worth (targeted tangible net worth being determined by adding $1.125 billion and 50 percent of the excess of net income over share repurchases (as defined in the Facility) for each quarter ended after March 31, 2004). At March 31, 2005, the Company’s tangible net worth was $1.7 billion and its targeted tangible net worth was $1.2 billion. The Facility also requires that Sunoco’s ratio of consolidated net indebtedness, including

 

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borrowings of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., to consolidated capitalization (as those terms are defined in the Facility) not exceed .60 to 1. At March 31, 2005, this ratio was .38 to 1. At March 31, 2005, the Facility was being used to support $100 million of commercial paper and $103 million of floating-rate notes due 2034.

 

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. has a $250 million revolving credit facility, which matures in November 2009. This facility is available to fund the Partnership’s working capital requirements, to finance acquisitions, and for general partnership purposes. It includes a $20 million distribution sublimit that is available for distributions to third-party unitholders and Sunoco. At March 31, 2005, $65 million was outstanding under this credit facility. The credit facility contains convenants requiring the Partnership to maintain a ratio of up to 4.5 to 1 of its consolidated total debt to its consolidated EBITDA (each as defined in the credit facility) and an interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit facility) of at least 3 to 1. At March 31, 2005, the Partnership’s ratio of its consolidated debt to its consolidated EBITDA was 2.7 to 1 and the interest coverage ratio was 5.4 to 1.

 

Epsilon, the Company’s consolidated joint venture, has a $40 million revolving credit facility that matures in September 2006. The credit facility contains restrictive covenants which, among other things, limit the incurrence of additional debt and the sale of assets by Epsilon. At March 31, 2005, $7 million was outstanding under this credit facility, which is guaranteed by Sunoco, Inc. Sunoco, Inc. also guarantees Epsilon’s $120 million term loan due in September 2006.

 

The following table sets forth Sunoco’s outstanding debt (in millions of dollars):

 

    

At

March 31

2005


  

At

December 31

2004


Short-term borrowings

   $ 100    $ 100

Current portion of long-term debt

     3      3

Long-term debt

     1,374      1,379
    

  

Total debt

   $ 1,477    $ 1,482
    

  

 

In September 2004, the Company repurchased outstanding long-term debt with a par value of $352 million through a series of tender offers and open market purchases utilizing the net proceeds from the issuance of $250 million of 4-7/8 percent, 10-year notes under its shelf registration statement (see below) and $154 million of cash. The Company recognized a $34 million after-tax loss in the third quarter of 2004 due to the early extinguishment of the debt. In November 2004, Sunoco issued $103 million of 30-year floating-rate notes and used the proceeds to redeem its 7.60 percent environmental industrial revenue bonds that were due in 2024. As a result of the above debt restructuring activities, pretax interest expense is expected to decline approximately $20 million in 2005. In March 2004, the Company issued $100 million of commercial paper and used the proceeds to repay its maturing 7-1/8 percent notes. Management believes there is sufficient financial capacity available to pursue strategic investment opportunities as they arise. In addition, the Company has the option of issuing additional common or preference stock or selling a portion of its Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. common units, and Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. has the option of issuing additional common units.

 

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The Company has a shelf registration statement which provides the Company with financing flexibility to offer senior and subordinated debt, common and preferred stock, warrants and trust preferred securities. Subsequent to the September 2004 debt offering discussed above, $1,050 million remains available under this shelf registration statement. Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. also has a shelf registration statement, under which the Partnership may issue debt or common units representing limited partnership interests. Subsequent to the Partnership’s April 2004 equity offering discussed below, $365 million remains available under the Partnership’s shelf registration statement. The amount, type and timing of any additional financings under these registration statements will depend upon, among other things, the Company’s and Partnership’s funding requirements, market conditions and compliance with covenants contained in the Company’s and Partnership’s respective debt obligations and revolving credit facilities.

 

In April 2004, the Partnership issued 3.4 million limited partnership units under its shelf registration statement at a price of $39.75 per unit. Proceeds from the offering, net of underwriting discounts and offering expenses, totaled approximately $129 million. Coincident with the offering, the Partnership redeemed 2.2 million limited partnership units owned by Sunoco for $83 million. The proceeds from the offering were also principally used by the Partnership to finance its acquisitions during 2004 (see “Analysis of Earnings Profile of Sunoco Businesses – Logistics” above). Sunoco now has a 62.2 percent interest in the Partnership, including its 2 percent general partnership interest. The accounts of the Partnership continue to be included in Sunoco’s consolidated financial statements. No gain or loss was recognized on these transactions.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement

 

A wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Sunoco Receivables Corporation, Inc., is a party to an accounts receivable securitization facility that terminates in 2006 under which the subsidiary may sell on a revolving basis up to a $200 million undivided interest in a designated pool of certain of Sunoco’s accounts receivable. No receivables have been sold to third parties under this facility.

 

PENSION PLAN FUNDED STATUS

 

The following table sets forth the components of the change in market value of the investments in Sunoco’s defined benefit pension plans (in millions of dollars):

 

    

Three Months

Ended

March 31, 2005


   

Year Ended

December 31, 2004


 

Market value of investments at beginning of period

   $ 1,158     $ 1,071  

Increase (reduction) in market value of investments resulting from:

                

Net investment income (loss)

     (9 )     123  

Company contributions

     18       95  

Plan benefit payments

     (28 )     (131 )
    


 


     $ 1,139     $ 1,158  
    


 


 

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Management currently anticipates making $50 million of voluntary contributions to Sunoco’s funded benefit plans in 2005. In March 2002, a temporary interest-rate-relief bill was enacted by Congress that mitigated the impact of a decline in interest rates used in pension funding calculations. In April 2004, Congress enacted additional legislation that continues the use of more favorable interest rates for determining funding requirements through 2005. This bill replaces the interest rate on 30-year Treasury bonds with a rate based on corporate bonds.

 

Management believes any additional contributions to the pension plans can be funded without a significant impact on liquidity. Future changes in the financial markets and/or interest rates could result in additional significant increases or decreases to the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of shareholders’ equity and to future pension expense and funding requirements.

 

CASH DIVIDENDS AND SHARE REPURCHASES

 

The Company increased the quarterly dividend paid on common stock from $.275 per share ($1.10 per year) to $.30 per share ($1.20 per year) for the third quarter of 2004 and then to $.40 per share ($1.60 per year) for the second quarter of 2005. The estimated $28 million dividend for the second quarter of 2005 has been reflected as a reduction in earnings employed in the business in shareholders’ equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2005.

 

During the first three months of 2005, the Company repurchased 724,500 shares of common stock for $70 million under an existing repurchase authorization. In March 2005, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved an additional $500 million share repurchase authorization. At March 31, 2005, the Company had a remaining authorization to purchase up to $662 million of Company common stock, including $162 million available under the previous program, in the open market from time to time depending on prevailing market conditions and available cash (see “Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds” below).

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some of the information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). These forward-looking statements discuss estimates, goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to the Company, based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, Sunoco. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “budget,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “scheduled,” “should,” or other similar words, phrases or expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although management believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

 

  Changes in refining, marketing and chemical margins;

 

  Variation in petroleum-based commodity prices and availability of crude oil and feedstock supply or transportation;

 

  Effects of transportation disruptions;

 

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  Changes in the price differentials between light-sweet and heavy-sour crude oils;

 

  Changes in the marketplace which may affect supply and demand for Sunoco’s products;

 

  Changes in competition and competitive practices, including the impact of foreign imports;

 

  Effects of weather conditions and natural disasters on the Company’s operating facilities and on product supply and demand;

 

  Age of, and changes in the reliability and efficiency of, the Company’s operating facilities or those of third parties;

 

  Changes in the level of operating expenses;

 

  Effects of adverse events relating to the operation of the Company’s facilities and to the transportation and storage of hazardous materials (including equipment malfunction, explosions, fires, spills, and the effects of severe weather conditions);

 

  Changes in the expected level of environmental capital, operating or remediation expenditures;

 

  Delays related to construction of or work on facilities and the issuance of applicable permits;

 

  Changes in product specifications;

 

  Availability and pricing of oxygenates such as MTBE and ethanol;

 

  Phase-outs or restrictions on the use of MTBE;

 

  Political and economic conditions in the markets in which the Company, its suppliers or customers operate, including the impact of potential terrorist acts and international hostilities;

 

  Military conflicts between, or internal instability in, one or more oil producing countries, governmental actions and other disruptions in the ability to obtain crude oil;

 

  Ability to conduct business effectively in the event of an information systems failure;

 

  Ability to identify acquisitions, execute them under favorable terms and integrate them into the Company’s existing businesses;

 

  Ability to enter into joint ventures and other similar arrangements with favorable terms;

 

  Changes in the availability and cost of debt and equity financing;

 

  Changes in the credit ratings assigned to the Company’s debt securities or credit facilities;

 

  Changes in insurance markets impacting costs and the level and types of coverage available;

 

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  Changes in tax laws or their interpretations;

 

  Changes in financial markets impacting pension expense and funding requirements;

 

  Risks related to labor relations and workplace safety;

 

  Nonperformance by major customers, suppliers, dealers, distributors or other business partners;

 

  General economic, financial and business conditions which could affect Sunoco’s financial condition and results of operations;

 

  Changes in applicable statutes and government regulations or their interpretations, including those relating to the environment and global warming;

 

  Claims of the Company’s noncompliance with statutory and regulatory requirements; and

 

  Changes in the status of, or initiation of new, litigation to which the Company is a party or liability resulting from litigation or administrative proceedings, including natural resource damage claims.

 

The factors identified above are believed to be important factors (but not necessarily all of the important factors) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by Sunoco. Other factors not discussed herein could also have material adverse effects on the Company. All forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement (or its associated cautionary language) whether as a result of new information or future events.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes to the Company’s exposure to market risk since December 31, 2004.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President and the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President and the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be

 

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disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President and the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Many legal and administrative proceedings are pending or possible against Sunoco from its current and past operations, including proceedings related to commercial and tax disputes, product liability, antitrust, employment claims, leaks from pipelines and underground storage tanks, natural resource damage claims, premises-liability claims, allegations of exposures of third parties to toxic substances (such as benzene or asbestos) and general environmental claims. Although the ultimate outcome of these proceedings cannot be ascertained at this time, it is reasonably possible that some of them could be resolved unfavorably to Sunoco. Management of Sunoco believes that any liabilities that may arise from such proceedings would not be material in relation to Sunoco’s business or consolidated financial position at March 31, 2005.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The following table provides a summary of all repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the three-month period ended March 31, 2005:

 

Period


  

Total Number

Of Shares

Purchased

(In Thousands)*


  

Average Price

Paid Per

Share


  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased

as Part of Publicly

Announced Plans or

Programs

(In Thousands)**


  

Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares That
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs

(In Millions)**


January 2005

   —      $ —      —      $ 228

February 2005

   623    $ 94.29    539    $ 181

March 2005

   186    $ 100.97    186    $ 662
    
  

  
      

Total

   809    $ 95.83    725       
    
  

  
      

* All of the shares repurchased during the three-month period ended March 31, 2005 were acquired pursuant to the repurchase program that Sunoco publicly announced on September 2, 2004 (see below), except for 84 thousand shares acquired in February 2005, which were purchased from employees. These shares were acquired in connection with stock swap transactions related to the exercise of stock options and with the settlement of tax withholding obligations arising from payment of common stock unit awards.
** On September 2, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) approved a $500 million share repurchase program with no stated expiration date. On March 3, 2005, Sunoco publicly announced that its Board approved an additional $500 million share repurchase program with no stated expiration date.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibits:

 

12      Statement re Sunoco, Inc. and Subsidiaries Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2005.
31.1      Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2      Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1      Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2      Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

**********

 

We are pleased to furnish this Form 10-Q to shareholders who request it by writing to:

 

Sunoco, Inc.
Investor Relations
Ten Penn Center
1801 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1699

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    SUNOCO, INC.
BY  

/s/ JOSEPH P. KROTT


    Joseph P. Krott
    Comptroller
    (Principal Accounting Officer)
DATE May 4, 2005

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Exhibit


12    Statement re Sunoco, Inc. and Subsidiaries Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2005.
31.1    Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.