Vertex Energy Shares Rise 36% on Sale of Oil Collection and Recycling Portfolio

Source: Streetwise Reports   06/30/2021

Vertex Energy shares climbed to a new 52-week high after the company reported it entered into an agreement to sell its used motor oil collection and recycling assets to Safety-Kleen Systems for $140 million.

Vertex Energy, Inc. (VTNR:NASDAQ) yesterday announced that “it entered into a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio of used motor oil collection and recycling assets to Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Clean Harbors Inc., for a total cash consideration of $140 million, subject to working capital and other adjustments.”

Vertex Energy stated that the transaction remains subject to approval by its shareholders along with ordinary closing conditions and regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q3/21.

The company explained that the agreement provides that Safety-Kleen will purchase the firm’s Marrero, La., used oil refinery, the Heartland used oil refinery in Ohio, the H&H and Heartland used oil collections business, the East Texas Nickco oil filters and absorbent materials recycling facility, and the Baytown, Tex., Cedar Marine terminal. The firm indicated that in Q1/21 these assets collectively generated $4.5 million in operating income and $5.7 million in adjusted EBITDA.

Vertex Energy stated that when the transaction is completed it expects to receive total net cash proceeds totaling approximately $90 million after retiring $6.3 million in debt and paying other financial obligations and transaction fees. The company advised that it plans to use a portion of the gross cash proceeds to exercise an option to repurchase Tensile Capital’s interest in the Myrtle Grove facility located in Belle Chase, La., giving it a 100% ownership in the property.

The company added that the transaction will help provide funding for a new pretreatment unit at Myrtle Grove and that it intends to begin building a renewable feedstock pretreatment unit there starting in Q4/21. The firm stated that it anticipates that the project will initially cost about $40 million and should be completed by YE/23 and when finished will contribute around $75-100 million in incremental adjusted EBITDA each year.

Vertex Energy’s President and CEO Benjamin P. Cowart commented, “the transaction will advance our strategy of becoming a leading pure-play energy transition company of scale…First and foremost, these asset sales will allow for a full recapitalization of our balance sheet. After retiring costly term debt and other financial obligations, we expect to bring approximately $90 million of cash into our business at the close of this transaction.”

Cowart continued, “Over the near-term, we intend to allocate net cash proceeds from the transaction toward both organic and inorganic growth opportunities, consistent with our stated strategy…we plan to use a portion of the net cash proceeds to fund initial development of a pre-treatment technology at our Myrtle Grove facility, one that we expect will increase our ability to process and market a wider range of cost-advantaged renewable feedstocks. We believe the pre-treatment of second-generation organic feedstocks have the potential to contribute significant, incremental cash flow from operations upon planned completion by year-end 2023”

“During the past decade, Vertex has assembled one of the leading independent UMO collections and re-refining networks in the United States…After careful consideration, our Board of Directors concluded that the sale of these assets to Safety-Kleen was the optimal outcome for all shareholders, given our focus on pursuing higher-growth, higher-margin energy transition businesses. Safety-Kleen recognized the value of our black oil recycling assets, resulting in a compelling all-cash offer,” Cowart added.

Vertex is a specialty refiner of alternative feedstocks and marketer of high-purity refined energy products based in Houston, Tex. The company has processing operations in Texas, Louisiana and Ohio. The firm stated that it is one of the largest processors of used motor oil in the U.S., having the capacity to process greater than 115 million gallons per year. The company stated that “it also co-owns a facility, Myrtle Grove, located on a 41-acre industrial complex along the Gulf Coast in Belle Chasse, La., with existing hydro-processing and plant infrastructure assets, that include nine million gallons of storage.” Vertex added that it is a key North American supplier of Group II+ and Group III Base Oils for the lubricant manufacturing industry.

Vertex Energy began the day with a market cap of around $531.4 million with approximately 51.74 million shares outstanding and a short interest of about 4.3%. VTNR shares opened 34% higher today at $13.7635 (+$3.4935, +34.02%) over yesterday’s $10.27 closing price and reached a new 52-week high price this afternoon of $14.19. The stock has traded today between $12.15 to $14.19 per share and is currently trading at $13.99 (+$3.72, +36.22%).

Disclosure:
1) Stephen Hytha compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.