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8-K - CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES - BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.a15-3958_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

News Release
NYSE: BPL

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.
One Greenway Plaza
Suite 600
Houston, TX 77046

 

 

Contact:

Kevin J. Goodwin

 

Vice President and Treasurer

 

irelations@buckeye.com

 

(800) 422-2825

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. REPORTS RECORD FINANCIAL RESULTS

FOR FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2014

Announces Increase in Cash Distribution

 

HOUSTON, February 6, 2015 — Buckeye Partners, L.P. (“Buckeye”) (NYSE: BPL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2014.  Buckeye reported income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 of $104.0 million compared to income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2013 of $87.5 million.

 

Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $223.5 million compared to $178.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders was $0.82 per diluted unit for the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to $0.75 per diluted unit for the fourth quarter of 2013.  The diluted weighted average number of units outstanding in the fourth quarter of 2014 was 127.6 million compared to 114.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.

 

“Our fourth quarter financial results reflect strong performance across all of our business segments driven by recent acquisitions, growth capital projects and improving business opportunities, particularly increasing demand for storage services,” said Clark C. Smith, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Year over year, we realized a full quarter benefit from the terminals acquired from Hess as well as a meaningful contribution for the first full quarter from the Buckeye Texas Partners assets in Corpus Christi.  We also enjoyed a full quarter contribution from new growth capital investments, including the crude oil rail and storage projects at our Chicago Complex as well as truck rack and pipeline connection projects at our Perth Amboy facility,” continued Mr. Smith.

 

“While we are currently operating in a volatile market for crude oil, we believe our diverse portfolio of assets will deliver consistent financial results in periods of increasing or decreasing crude oil and petroleum products prices.  While we expect certain aspects of our business will likely be negatively impacted by the decline in petroleum product prices we have seen over the past six months, other businesses are expected to benefit, as contango drives interest in storage and lower refined product prices potentially drives higher throughput volumes.  Overall, we believe Buckeye is well positioned for the current market environment,” commented Mr. Smith.

 

On January 30, 2015, Buckeye announced the initiation of an open season for the Michigan/Ohio Pipeline Expansion Project.  This project would allow the company to offer expanded service to transport refined petroleum products west to east, from supply locations in Michigan and Ohio to

 



 

destination locations in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.  “This project demonstrates our continued focus on identifying growth capital opportunities that leverage our existing asset footprint and provide logistical solutions to meet the needs of our customers,” commented Mr. Smith.

 

Distributable cash flow (as defined below) from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $160.1 million compared to $117.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.  Buckeye also reported distribution coverage of 1.10 times for the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Full Year Results.  For 2014, Buckeye reported income from continuing operations of $374.5 million compared to income from continuing operations for 2013 of $351.6 million.

 

Income from continuing operations attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders was $3.11 per diluted unit for 2014 compared to $3.23 per diluted unit for 2013.  The diluted weighted average number of units outstanding for 2014 was 119.9 million compared to 107.7 million for 2013.

 

For 2014, Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $763.6 million compared to $648.8 million for 2013.  Distributable cash flow from continuing operations for 2014 was $526.8 million compared to $454.2 million for 2013.  Buckeye reported distribution coverage of 0.96 times for 2014.

 

“Looking forward, construction of the 50,000 barrels-per-day condensate splitter and refrigerated LPG storage capacity at our Corpus Christi facility continues and these assets are expected to be placed in service by mid-2015,” stated Mr. Smith.  “One hundred percent of this capacity is subject to long-term contracts with Trafigura, our joint venture partner.  Once operational, these assets are expected to generate significant incremental cash flows and deliver additional value to our unitholders,” continued Mr. Smith.

 

Discontinued Operations.  As previously announced, as of December 31, 2014, Buckeye completed the sale of all of the outstanding limited liability company interests in Lodi Gas Storage, L.L.C., our Natural Gas Storage business, to Brookfield Infrastructure and its institutional partners.  The net proceeds, after closing adjustments, of $103.4 million were used to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under Buckeye’s revolving credit facility and for general partnership purposes.

 

Cash Distribution.  Buckeye also announced today that its general partner declared a cash distribution of $1.1375 per limited partner unit (“LP Unit”) for the quarter ended December 31, 2014.  The distribution will be payable on February 24, 2015 to unitholders of record on February 17, 2015.  This cash distribution represents a 4.6 percent increase over the $1.0875 per LP Unit distribution declared for the fourth quarter of 2013.  For 2014, Buckeye declared distributions of $4.475 LP Unit, which represents a 4.7 percent increase over the $4.275 per LP Unit for 2013.  Buckeye has paid cash distributions in each quarter since its formation in 1986.

 

Conference Call.  Buckeye will host a conference call with members of executive management today, February 6, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the live webcast of the call, go to http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/dgjqr8on ten minutes prior to its start.  Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 877-870-9226.   A replay will be archived and available at this link through March 31, 2015, and the replay also may be accessed by dialing 800-585-8367 and entering conference ID 67816794.

 



 

About Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BPL) is a publicly traded master limited partnership and owns and operates a diversified network of integrated assets providing midstream logistic solutions, primarily consisting of the transportation, storage, and marketing of liquid petroleum products.  Buckeye is one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline operators in the United States in terms of volumes delivered with approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline and more than 120 liquid petroleum products terminals with aggregate storage capacity of over 110 million barrels across our portfolio of pipelines, inland terminals and an integrated network of marine terminals located primarily in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States and in the Caribbean.  Buckeye has a controlling interest in a company with a vertically integrated system of marine midstream assets in Corpus Christi and the Eagle Ford Shale formation in Texas.  Buckeye’s flagship marine terminal, BORCO, is in The Bahamas and is one of the largest marine crude oil and refined petroleum products storage facilities in the world and provides an array of logistics and blending services for the global flow of petroleum products.  Buckeye’s network of marine terminals enables it to facilitate global flows of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other commodities, and to offer its customers connectivity to some of the world’s most important bulk storage and blending hubs.  Buckeye is also a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in areas served by its pipelines and terminals.  Finally, Buckeye also operates or maintains third-party pipelines under agreements with major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies, and performs certain engineering and construction management services for third parties.  More information concerning Buckeye can be found at www.buckeye.com.

 

* * * * *

 

Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are measures not defined by GAAP.  Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to (i) evaluate our consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of our business segments, (ii) allocate resources and capital to business segments, (iii) evaluate the viability of proposed projects, and (iv) determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.  Distributable cash flow is another measure used by our senior management to provide a clearer picture of Buckeye’s cash available for distribution to its unitholders.  Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow eliminate (i) non-cash expenses, including, but not limited to, depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the significant capital investments we make in our businesses and from intangible assets recognized in business combinations, (ii) charges for obligations expected to be settled with the issuance of equity instruments, and (iii) items that are not indicative of our core operating performance results and business outlook.

 

Buckeye believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by senior management and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing Buckeye’s operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations.  The Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow data presented by Buckeye may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies. Please see the attached reconciliations of each of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to income from continuing operations.

 

* * * * *

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that we believe to be reasonable as of today’s date.  Such statements are identified by use of the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,”

 



 

“expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” and similar expressions.  Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond our control.  Among them are (i) changes in federal, state, local, and foreign laws or regulations to which we are subject, including those governing pipeline tariff rates and those that permit the treatment of us as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (ii) terrorism, adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, environmental releases, and natural disasters, (iii) changes in the marketplace for our products or services, such as increased competition, better energy efficiency, or general reductions in demand, (iv) adverse regional, national, or international economic conditions, adverse capital market conditions, and adverse political developments, (v) shutdowns or interruptions at our pipeline, terminal, and storage assets or at the source points for the products we transport, store, or sell, (vi) unanticipated capital expenditures in connection with the construction, repair, or replacement of our assets, (vii) volatility in the price of refined petroleum products, (viii) nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, (ix) our ability to integrate acquired assets with our existing assets and to realize anticipated cost savings and other efficiencies and benefits, (x) our inability to realize the expected benefits of the Buckeye Texas Partners transaction, and (xi) our ability to successfully complete our organic growth projects and to realize the anticipated financial benefits.  You should read our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and our most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, and September 30, 2014, for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results.  We undertake no obligation to revise our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today’s date.

 

* * * * *

 

This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Buckeye’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.  Accordingly, Buckeye’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

 

####

 



 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

936,397

 

$

1,357,353

 

$

5,348,532

 

$

3,966,247

 

Transportation, storage and other services

 

349,597

 

298,231

 

1,311,715

 

1,087,854

 

Total revenue

 

1,285,994

 

1,655,584

 

6,660,247

 

5,054,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

 

917,659

 

1,353,996

 

5,311,552

 

3,944,448

 

Operating expenses

 

140,952

 

120,647

 

537,705

 

413,577

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

64,652

 

37,499

 

196,443

 

147,591

 

General and administrative

 

19,764

 

19,625

 

79,200

 

70,444

 

Total costs and expenses

 

1,143,027

 

1,531,767

 

6,124,900

 

4,576,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

142,967

 

123,817

 

535,347

 

478,041

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from equity investments

 

5,306

 

272

 

11,265

 

5,243

 

Interest and debt expense

 

(44,172

)

(36,093

)

(171,235

)

(130,920

)

Other income (expense)

 

43

 

8

 

(428

)

295

 

Total other expense, net

 

(38,823

)

(35,813

)

(160,398

)

(125,382

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before taxes

 

104,144

 

88,004

 

374,949

 

352,659

 

Income tax expense

 

(132

)

(539

)

(451

)

(1,060

)

Income from continuing operations

 

104,012

 

87,465

 

374,498

 

351,599

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(8,133

)

(169,160

)

(59,641

)

(187,174

)

Net income (loss)

 

95,879

 

(81,695

)

314,857

 

164,425

 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

644

 

(1,057

)

(1,903

)

(4,152

)

Net income (loss) attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

96,523

 

$

(82,752

)

$

312,954

 

$

160,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.76

 

$

3.12

 

$

3.25

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.06

)

(1.49

)

(0.50

)

(1.75

)

Total

 

$

0.76

 

$

(0.73

)

$

2.62

 

$

1.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per unit attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.82

 

$

0.75

 

$

3.11

 

$

3.23

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.06

)

(1.48

)

(0.50

)

(1.74

)

Total

 

$

0.76

 

$

(0.73

)

$

2.61

 

$

1.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

126,968

 

113,535

 

119,323

 

107,202

 

Diluted

 

127,599

 

114,091

 

119,899

 

107,677

 

 



 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

232,526

 

$

217,887

 

$

898,155

 

$

786,759

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

111,224

 

65,854

 

395,306

 

252,270

 

Merchant Services

 

938,421

 

1,362,857

 

5,358,626

 

3,990,575

 

Development & Logistics

 

24,994

 

17,199

 

81,631

 

59,247

 

Intersegment

 

(21,171

)

(8,213

)

(73,471

)

(34,750

)

Total revenue

 

$

1,285,994

 

$

1,655,584

 

$

6,660,247

 

$

5,054,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses: (1) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

122,886

 

$

113,566

 

$

486,778

 

$

401,329

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

85,490

 

48,714

 

275,514

 

176,890

 

Merchant Services

 

935,614

 

1,364,089

 

5,374,084

 

3,987,490

 

Development & Logistics

 

20,208

 

13,611

 

61,995

 

45,101

 

Intersegment

 

(21,171

)

(8,213

)

(73,471

)

(34,750

)

Total costs and expenses

 

$

1,143,027

 

$

1,531,767

 

$

6,124,900

 

$

4,576,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

21,119

 

$

16,717

 

$

74,498

 

$

63,799

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

41,831

 

18,828

 

114,335

 

76,146

 

Merchant Services

 

1,284

 

1,461

 

5,840

 

5,693

 

Development & Logistics

 

418

 

493

 

1,770

 

1,953

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

64,652

 

$

37,499

 

$

196,443

 

$

147,591

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

109,640

 

$

104,321

 

$

411,377

 

$

385,430

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

25,734

 

17,140

 

119,792

 

75,380

 

Merchant Services

 

2,807

 

(1,232

)

(15,458

)

3,085

 

Development & Logistics

 

4,786

 

3,588

 

19,636

 

14,146

 

Total operating income

 

$

142,967

 

$

123,817

 

$

535,347

 

$

478,041

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

140,759

 

$

132,195

 

$

511,329

 

$

471,091

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

73,024

 

40,494

 

239,556

 

149,740

 

Merchant Services

 

4,509

 

1,772

 

(8,059

)

12,616

 

Development & Logistics

 

5,242

 

4,120

 

20,742

 

15,367

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$

223,534

 

$

178,581

 

$

763,568

 

$

648,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital additions, net: (2) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

54,347

 

$

37,313

 

$

220,255

 

$

151,827

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

115,820

 

65,685

 

248,905

 

206,472

 

Merchant Services

 

461

 

 

614

 

113

 

Development & Logistics

 

98

 

1,398

 

1,595

 

2,840

 

Total segment capital additions, net

 

170,726

 

104,396

 

471,369

 

361,252

 

Natural Gas Storage disposal group (3) 

 

592

 

41

 

780

 

193

 

Total capital additions, net

 

$

171,318

 

$

104,437

 

$

472,149

 

$

361,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary of capital additions, net: (2) (3) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

$

23,775

 

$

27,291

 

$

80,141

 

$

71,595

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

147,543

 

77,146

 

392,008

 

289,850

 

Total capital additions, net

 

$

171,318

 

$

104,437

 

$

472,149

 

$

361,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Key Balance Sheet Information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalent

 

 

 

 

 

$

 8,208

 

$

 4,950

 

Long-term debt, total (4)

 

 

 

 

 

3,388,986

 

3,092,711

 

 


  (1) Includes depreciation and amortization.

  (2) Amounts exclude accruals for capital expenditures.

  (3) Includes Natural Gas Storage disposal group capital expenditures as follows: (i) maintenance capital expenditures of $592 thousand and $753 thousand for the three months and year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, and $41 thousand and $119 thousand for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively, and (ii) expansion and cost reduction capital of $27 thousand and $74 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.     

  (4) Includes long-term debt portion of Buckeye Partners, L.P. Credit Facility of $29 million as of December 31, 2013.

 



 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA - Continued

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

Pipelines & Terminals (average bpd in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

710.2

 

710.7

 

702.8

 

717.8

 

Jet fuel

 

347.6

 

335.1

 

336.0

 

334.4

 

Middle distillates (1) 

 

367.3

 

390.7

 

354.9

 

345.7

 

Other products (2) 

 

35.3

 

26.1

 

36.6

 

28.5

 

Total pipelines throughput

 

1,460.4

 

1,462.6

 

1,430.3

 

1,426.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Products throughput

 

1,159.6

 

1,003.9

 

1,136.5

 

975.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Average Tariff (cents/bbl)

 

84.3

 

83.6

 

85.2

 

82.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merchant Services (in millions of gallons):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales volumes

 

437.4

 

461.7

 

2,009.0

 

1,371.5

 

 


(1)         Includes diesel fuel and heating oil.

(2)         Includes liquefied petroleum gas, intermediate petroleum products and crude oil.

 



 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

(In thousands, except per unit amounts and coverage ratio)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

104,012

 

$

87,465

 

$

374,498

 

$

351,599

 

Less:

Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

644

 

(1,057

)

(1,903

)

(4,152

)

Income from continuing operations attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

104,656

 

86,408

 

372,595

 

347,447

 

Add:

Interest and debt expense

 

44,172

 

36,093

 

171,235

 

130,920

 

 

Income tax expense

 

132

 

539

 

451

 

1,060

 

 

Depreciation and amortization (1)

 

64,652

 

37,499

 

196,443

 

147,591

 

 

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense

 

7,718

 

9,004

 

20,867

 

21,013

 

 

Acquisition and transition expense (2)

 

4,972

 

11,806

 

13,048

 

11,806

 

Less:

Amortization of unfavorable storage contracts (3)

 

(2,768

)

(2,768

)

(11,071

)

(11,023

)

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$

223,534

 

$

178,581

 

$

763,568

 

$

648,814

 

Less:

Interest and debt expense, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and other

 

(39,886

)

(33,317

)

(156,728

)

(122,471

)

 

Income tax expense, excluding non-cash taxes

 

(356

)

(196

)

(675

)

(717

)

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

(23,183

)

(27,250

)

(79,388

)

(71,476

)

Distributable cash flow from continuing operations

 

$

160,109

 

$

117,818

 

$

526,777

 

$

454,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions for coverage ratio (4)

 

$

144,972

 

$

125,475

 

$

549,542

 

$

456,507

 

Coverage ratio from continuing operations

 

1.10

 

0.94

 

0.96

 

0.99

 

 


(1)         Includes $12.1 million and $12.3 million of depreciation and amortization expense for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, representing 100% of ownership interest in Buckeye Texas.

(2)         Represents acquisition and transition expense related to the Hess Terminals acquisition in December 2013 and the Buckeye Texas Partners transaction in September 2014.

(3)         Represents the amortization of the negative fair values allocated to certain unfavorable storage contracts acquired in connection with the BORCO acquisition.

(4)         Represents cash distributions declared for LP Units outstanding as of each respective period.  Amounts for 2014 reflect actual cash distributions paid on LP Units for the quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014 and estimated cash distributions for the quarter ended December 31, 2014.