Holly Energy Partners, L.P. Reports Third Quarter Results

Holly Energy Partners, L.P. Reports Third Quarter Results

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Holly Energy Partners, L.P. ("HEP" or the "Partnership") (NYS: HEP) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2012. For the quarter, distributable cash flow was $40.4 million, up $14.7 million, or 57% compared to the third quarter of 2011. Based on these results, HEP announced its 32nd consecutive distribution increase on October 26, 2012, raising the quarterly distribution from $0.91 to $0.925, representing a 6% increase over the distribution for the third quarter of 2011.

Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners for the third quarter was $24.5 million ($0.68 per basic and diluted limited partner unit) compared to $16.7 million ($0.58 per basic and diluted limited partner unit) for the third quarter of 2011. This increase in earnings is due principally to increased pipeline shipments, earnings attributable to our November 2011 asset acquisition and annual tariff increases. These factors were offset partially by increased operating costs and expenses and higher interest expense.

Commenting on the third quarter of 2012, Matt Clifton, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are extremely pleased with our financial results, particularly with the record levels of our distributable cash flow and EBITDA. EBITDA for the third quarter was $49.8 million, an increase of $16.5 million, or 50%, over last year's third quarter."

"Increased domestic oil production has positively impacted the gross margins of the refineries we serve throughout our Midcontinent, Rocky Mountain and Southwest asset base. This has given our refinery shippers strong incentives to increase their production levels, which has correspondingly raised our pipeline and terminal utilization rates. Additionally, increased oil drilling activity near our crude oil gathering pipelines in Southeast New Mexico has continued to raise the amount of oil we gather and transport on our New Mexico crude oil pipeline assets. These positive industry fundamentals have increased the financial contribution from our heritage assets while our tankage and terminals acquisition in November 2011 and our UNEV pipeline acquisition in July 2012 further fueled significant additions to our year over year growth in distributable cash flow," Clifton said.

Third Quarter 2012 Revenue Highlights

Revenues for the quarter were $72.5 million, a $23.5 million increase compared to the third quarter of 2011. The revenue increase was due to increased pipeline shipments, revenues attributable to our July 2012 and November 2011 acquisitions and the effect of annual tariff increases. Overall pipeline volumes were up 23% compared to the third quarter of 2011.

• Revenues from our refined product pipelines were $25.9 million, an increase of $6.9 million primarily due to increased refined pipeline shipments, revenues attributable to UNEV and annual tariff increases. Shipments averaged 180.4 thousand barrels per day ("mbpd") compared to 140.3 mbpd for the third quarter of 2011.

• Revenues from our intermediate pipelines were $7.3 million, an increase of $1.4 million, on shipments averaging 132.2 mbpd compared to 91.8 mbpd for the third quarter of 2011. This includes $1.3 million in revenues attributable to our Tulsa interconnect pipelines that were placed in service in September 2011.

• Revenues from our crude pipelines were $12.3 million, an increase of $1.5 million, on shipments averaging 187.9 mbpd compared to 175.5 mbpd for the third quarter of 2011.

• Revenues from terminal, tankage and loading rack fees were $27.0 million, an increase of $13.7 million compared to the third quarter of 2011. This includes $12.4 million in revenues attributable to our assets acquired in November 2011 that serve HollyFrontier's El Dorado and Cheyenne refineries. Refined products terminalled in our facilities increased to an average of 325.1 mbpd compared to 227.2 mbpd for the third quarter of 2011.

Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2012 include the recognition of $0.7 million of prior shortfalls billed to shippers in 2011, as they did not meet their minimum volume commitments within the contractual make-up period. As of September 30, 2012, deferred revenue in our consolidated balance sheet was $9.3 million. Such deferred revenue will be recognized in earnings either as payment for shipments in excess of guaranteed levels or when shipping rights expire unused over the contractual make-up period.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Revenue Highlights

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $207.0 million, a $62.1 million increase compared to the same period of 2011. The revenue increase was due to increased pipeline shipments, revenues attributable to our July 2012 and November 2011 acquisitions and the effect of annual tariff increases, partially offset by a $6.7 million decrease in previously deferred revenue realized. Overall pipeline volumes were up 25% compared to the same period of 2011.

• Revenues from our refined product pipelines were $74.6 million, an increase of $13.6 million primarily due to increased refined pipeline shipments, revenues attributable to UNEV and annual tariff increases partially offset by the effects of a $7.2 million decrease in previously deferred revenue realized. Shipments averaged 166.7 mbpd compared to 136.3 mbpd for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

• Revenues from our intermediate pipelines were $21.1 million, an increase of $5.4 million, on shipments averaging 131.0 mbpd compared to 81.6 mbpd for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. This includes $3.7 million in revenues attributable to our Tulsa interconnect pipelines and the effects of a $0.5 million increase in previously deferred revenue realized.

• Revenues from our crude pipelines were $33.8 million, an increase of $3.5 million, on shipments averaging 169.9 mbpd compared to 157.6 mbpd for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

• Revenues from terminal, tankage and loading rack fees were $77.5 million, an increase of $39.5 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2011. This includes $36.0 million in revenues attributable to our terminal, tankage and loading racks serving HollyFrontier's El Dorado and Cheyenne refineries. Refined products terminalled in our facilities increased to an average of 318.9 mbpd compared to 217.0 mbpd for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 include the recognition of $3.2 million of prior shortfalls billed to shippers in 2011, as they did not meet their minimum volume commitments within the contractual make-up period.

Cost and Expense Highlights

Operating costs and expenses were $35.8 million and $107.2 million for the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, representing increases of $8.4 million and $33.8 million over the respective periods of 2011. These increases reflect incremental operating costs and expenses attributable to UNEV and our recently acquired assets serving HollyFrontier's El Dorado and Cheyenne refineries and higher throughput levels on our legacy assets, as well as year-over-year increases in depreciation expense, maintenance service and payroll costs and professional fees.

Interest expense was $12.5 million and $34.3 million for the three and the nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, representing increases of $3.7 million and $8.2 million over the respective periods of 2011 due to higher year-over-year debt levels. Also, we recognized a loss of $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, on the early extinguishment of our $185 million 6.25% senior notes.

We have scheduled a webcast conference call today at 4:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss financial results. This webcast may be accessed at: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1009340.

An audio archive of this webcast will be available using the above noted link through November 15, 2012.

About Holly Energy Partners, L.P.

Holly Energy Partners, L.P., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage and throughput services to the petroleum industry, including HollyFrontier Corporation subsidiaries. The Partnership owns and operates petroleum product and crude gathering pipelines, tankage and terminals in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming and Kansas. In addition, the Partnership owns a 75% interest in UNEV Pipeline, L.L.C., the owner of a Holly Energy operated refined products pipeline running from Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada, and related product terminals and a 25% interest in SLC Pipeline, L.L.C., a 95-mile intrastate pipeline system serving refineries in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.

HollyFrontier Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other specialty products. HollyFrontier operates through its subsidiaries a 135,000 barrels-per-stream-day ("bpsd") refinery located in El Dorado, Kansas, a 125,000 bpsd refinery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 100,000 bpsd refinery located in Artesia, New Mexico, a 52,000 bpsd refinery located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and a 31,000 bpsd refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. HollyFrontier markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacific Northwest and in other neighboring Plains states. A subsidiary of HollyFrontier also owns a 44% interest (including the general partner interest) in Holly Energy Partners, L.P.

The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward looking statements use words such as "anticipate," "project," "expect," "plan," "goal," "forecast," "intend," "could," "believe," "may," and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations. These statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions and those of our general partner using currently available information and expectations as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Although we and our general partner believe that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurance that our expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• risks and uncertainties with respect to the actual quantities of petroleum products and crude oil shipped on our pipelines and/or terminalled, stored and throughput in our terminals;

• the economic viability of HollyFrontier Corporation, Alon USA, Inc. and our other customers;

• the demand for refined petroleum products in markets we serve;

• our ability to successfully purchase and integrate additional operations in the future;

• our ability to complete previously announced or contemplated acquisitions;

• the availability and cost of additional debt and equity financing;

• the possibility of reductions in production or shutdowns at refineries utilizing our pipeline and terminal facilities;

• the effects of current and future government regulations and policies;

• our operational efficiency in carrying out routine operations and capital construction projects;

• the possibility of terrorist attacks and the consequences of any such attacks;

• general economic conditions; and

• other financial, operations and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.