Attached files
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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE | tnh-03312016xex321.htm |
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE | tnh-03312016xex322.htm |
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE | tnh-03312016xex312.htm |
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - TERRA NITROGEN CO L P /DE | tnh-03312016xex311.htm |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q |
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 | ||
OR | ||
o | 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 033-43007
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 73-1389684 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
4 Parkway North, Suite 400 Deerfield, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices) | 60015 (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 405-2400
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. x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files. x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes x No
At the close of business on May 4, 2016 there were 18,501,576 common units outstanding.
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited) | |||||||
March 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
(in millions, except for units) | |||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 48.2 | $ | 106.4 | |||
Due from affiliates of the General Partner | 23.4 | 10.4 | |||||
Accounts receivable | 2.4 | 0.8 | |||||
Inventories | 3.9 | 10.7 | |||||
Total current assets | 77.9 | 128.3 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 313.4 | 307.0 | |||||
Other assets | 9.5 | 8.4 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 400.8 | $ | 443.7 | |||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 23.8 | $ | 23.5 | |||
Due to affiliates of the General Partner | 11.2 | 4.5 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 19.5 | 15.9 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 54.5 | 43.9 | |||||
Other liabilities | 11.7 | 12.8 | |||||
Partners' capital: | |||||||
Limited partners' interests, 18,501,576 Common Units authorized, issued and outstanding | 281.9 | 308.5 | |||||
Limited partners' interests, 184,072 Class B Common Units authorized, issued and outstanding | 1.8 | 2.3 | |||||
General partner's interest | 50.9 | 76.2 | |||||
Total partners' capital | 334.6 | 387.0 | |||||
Total liabilities and partners' capital | $ | 400.8 | $ | 443.7 |
See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions, except per unit amounts) | |||||||
Net sales: | |||||||
Product sales to affiliates of the General Partner | $ | 107.9 | $ | 126.3 | |||
Other income from an affiliate of the General Partner | 0.1 | 0.1 | |||||
Other income | — | 0.2 | |||||
Total | 108.0 | 126.6 | |||||
Cost of goods sold: | |||||||
Materials, supplies and services | 57.7 | 54.0 | |||||
Services provided by affiliates of the General Partner | 7.2 | 7.6 | |||||
Gross margin | 43.1 | 65.0 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative services provided by affiliates of the General Partner | 3.9 | 3.9 | |||||
Other general and administrative expenses | 1.5 | 2.1 | |||||
Net earnings | $ | 37.7 | $ | 59.0 | |||
Allocation of net earnings: | |||||||
General Partner | $ | 10.6 | $ | 20.9 | |||
Class B Common Units | 0.4 | 0.6 | |||||
Common Units | 26.7 | 37.5 | |||||
Net earnings | $ | 37.7 | $ | 59.0 | |||
Net earnings per Common Unit | $ | 1.44 | $ | 2.03 |
See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
(unaudited)
Common Units | Class B Common Units | General Partner's Interest | Total Partners' Capital | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Partners' capital as of December 31, 2014 | $ | 302.7 | $ | 2.2 | $ | 70.0 | $ | 374.9 | |||||||
Net earnings | 37.5 | 0.6 | 20.9 | 59.0 | |||||||||||
Distributions | (46.3 | ) | (0.7 | ) | (29.1 | ) | (76.1 | ) | |||||||
Partners' capital as of March 31, 2015 | $ | 293.9 | $ | 2.1 | $ | 61.8 | $ | 357.8 | |||||||
Partners' capital as of December 31, 2015 | $ | 308.5 | $ | 2.3 | $ | 76.2 | $ | 387.0 | |||||||
Net earnings | 26.7 | 0.4 | 10.6 | 37.7 | |||||||||||
Distributions | (53.3 | ) | (0.9 | ) | (35.9 | ) | (90.1 | ) | |||||||
Partners' capital as of March 31, 2016 | $ | 281.9 | $ | 1.8 | $ | 50.9 | $ | 334.6 |
See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Operating Activities: | |||||||
Net earnings | $ | 37.7 | $ | 59.0 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 10.0 | 5.3 | |||||
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives | 2.3 | (3.1 | ) | ||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 0.1 | 1.0 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | (1.6 | ) | 0.1 | ||||
Inventories | 6.8 | 3.6 | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (2.4 | ) | (0.4 | ) | |||
Due to/from affiliates of the General Partner | (6.3 | ) | 4.2 | ||||
Other assets and liabilities | (0.9 | ) | 1.2 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 45.7 | 70.9 | |||||
Investing Activities: | |||||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment | (13.8 | ) | (47.8 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (13.8 | ) | (47.8 | ) | |||
Financing Activities: | |||||||
Partnership distributions paid | (90.1 | ) | (76.1 | ) | |||
Net cash used in financing activities | (90.1 | ) | (76.1 | ) | |||
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (58.2 | ) | (53.0 | ) | |||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 106.4 | 113.0 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 48.2 | $ | 60.0 |
See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Background and Basis of Presentation
Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. ("TNCLP," "we," "our" or "us") is a Delaware limited partnership that produces nitrogen fertilizer products. Our principal products are anhydrous ammonia (ammonia) and urea ammonium nitrate solutions (UAN), which we manufacture at our facility in Verdigris, Oklahoma.
We conduct our operations through an operating partnership, Terra Nitrogen, Limited Partnership (TNLP or the Operating Partnership, and collectively with TNCLP, the Partnership). Terra Nitrogen GP Inc. (TNGP or the General Partner), a Delaware corporation, is the general partner of both TNCLP and TNLP and owns a consolidated 0.05% general partner interest in the Partnership. The General Partner is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF Industries), a Delaware corporation. Ownership of TNCLP is comprised of the general partner interests and the limited partner interests. Limited partner interests are represented by common units, which are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TNH" and Class B common units. As of March 31, 2016, we had 18,501,576 common units and 184,072 Class B common units issued and outstanding. CF Industries through its subsidiaries owned 13,889,014 common units (representing approximately 75% of the total outstanding common units) and all of the Class B common units as of March 31, 2016.
We are a master limited partnership (MLP). Partnerships are generally not subject to federal income tax, although publicly traded partnerships (such as TNCLP) are treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes (and therefore are subject to federal income tax), unless at least 90% of the partnership's gross income is "qualifying income" as defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the partnership is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. As we currently satisfy the requirements to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, no federal income taxes are paid by the Partnership.
On May 6, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations on the types of income and activities that constitute or generate qualifying income of an MLP. The proposed regulations would have the effect of limiting the types of income and activities that qualify under the MLP rules, subject to certain transition provisions. The proposed regulations include certain processing or refining and transportation activities with respect to any mineral or natural resource (including fertilizer) as activities that generate qualifying income, but the proposed regulations reserve on specific proposals regarding fertilizer-related activities. Any change in the federal income tax treatment of income from fertilizer-related activities as qualifying income could have a material impact on the taxation of the Partnership and could have a material adverse impact on unitholder distributions. We continue to monitor these IRS regulatory activities.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, these statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, that are necessary for the fair representation of the information for the periods presented. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Operating results for any period presented apply to that period only and are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and certain financial statement disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions in these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include net realizable value of inventories, environmental remediation liabilities, environmental and litigation contingencies, useful lives of property, plant and equipment, and the assumptions used in the evaluation of potential impairment of property, plant and equipment.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016.
Throughout this document, the term "affiliates of the General Partner" refers to consolidated subsidiaries of CF Industries, including TNGP.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
2. New Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the lease accounting requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 840, Leases. This ASU will require lessees to recognize the rights and obligations resulting from virtually all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease) on their balance sheets as right-of-use assets with corresponding lease liabilities. Extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures, including significant judgments made by management, will be required to provide greater insight into the extent of revenue and expense recognized and expected to be recognized from existing contracts. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and requires the modified retrospective method of adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. ASU No. 2015-11 changes the inventory measurement principle for entities using the first-in, first out (FIFO) or average cost methods. For entities utilizing one of these methods, the inventory measurement principle will change from lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. We follow the FIFO or average cost methods and are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments. Additionally, information concerning the costs to obtain and fulfill a contract, including assets to be recognized, is to be capitalized and disclosed. As modified by ASU No. 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date, the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 is for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, as amended, on our consolidated financial statements.
3. Agreement of Limited Partnership
We make quarterly distributions to holders of our general partner interest and limited partner interests based on Available Cash for the quarter as defined in our agreement of limited partnership. Available Cash is defined generally as all cash receipts less all cash disbursements, less certain reserves (including reserves for future operating and capital needs) established as the General Partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate. Changes in working capital affect Available Cash as changes in the amount of cash invested in working capital items (such as increases in inventory and decreases in accounts payable) reduce Available Cash, while declines in the amount of cash invested in working capital items increase Available Cash. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we declared and paid partnership distributions of $90.1 million and $76.1 million, respectively.
We receive 99% of the Available Cash from the Operating Partnership and 1% is distributed by the Operating Partnership to the General Partner. Cash distributions from the Operating Partnership generally represent the Operating Partnership's Available Cash from operations. Our cash distributions are made 99.975% to common and Class B common unitholders and 0.025% to the General Partner except when cumulative distributions of Available Cash exceed specified target levels above the Minimum Quarterly Distributions (MQD) of $0.605 per unit. Under such circumstances, the General Partner is entitled to receive Incentive Distribution Rights.
On May 4, 2016, we announced a $1.51 cash distribution per common unit, payable on May 31, 2016 to holders of record as of May 16, 2016. In the first quarter of 2016, we exceeded the cumulative MQD amounts and will distribute Available Cash as summarized in the following table:
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
Income and Distribution Allocation | |||||||||||||||||||
Target Limit | Target Increment | Common Units | Class B Common Units | General Partner | Total | ||||||||||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distributions | $ | 0.605 | $ | 0.605 | 98.990 | % | 0.985 | % | 0.025 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||
First Target | 0.715 | 0.110 | 98.990 | % | 0.985 | % | 0.025 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Second Target | 0.825 | 0.110 | 85.859 | % | 0.985 | % | 13.156 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Third Target | 1.045 | 0.220 | 75.758 | % | 0.985 | % | 23.257 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Final Target and Beyond | >1.045 | — | 50.505 | % | 0.985 | % | 48.510 | % | 100.00 | % |
The General Partner is required to remit the majority of cash distributions it receives from the Partnership, in excess of its 1% Partnership equity interest, to an affiliated company.
As of March 31, 2016, the General Partner and its affiliates owned 75.3% of our outstanding units. When not more than 25% of our issued and outstanding units are held by non-affiliates of the General Partner, as was the case at March 31, 2016, we, at the General Partner's sole discretion, may call, or assign to the General Partner or its affiliates, our right to acquire all, but not less than all, such outstanding units held by non-affiliated persons. If the General Partner elects to acquire all outstanding units, we are required to give at least 30 but not more than 60 days' notice of our decision to purchase the outstanding units. The purchase price per unit will be the greater of (1) the average of the previous 20 trading days' closing prices as of the date five days before the purchase is announced or (2) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its affiliates for any unit within the 90 days preceding the date the purchase is announced.
4. Net Earnings per Common Unit
Net earnings per common unit are based on the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. The following table provides a calculation for net earnings per common unit for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions, except per unit amounts) | |||||||
Basic earnings per Common Unit: | |||||||
Net earnings | $ | 37.7 | $ | 59.0 | |||
Less: Net earnings allocable to General Partner | 10.6 | 20.9 | |||||
Less: Net earnings allocable to Class B Common Units | 0.4 | 0.6 | |||||
Net earnings allocable to Common Units | $ | 26.7 | $ | 37.5 | |||
Weighted-average Common Units outstanding | 18.5 | 18.5 | |||||
Net earnings per Common Unit | $ | 1.44 | $ | 2.03 |
There were no dilutive TNCLP units outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.
5. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
March 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Finished goods | $ | 2.2 | $ | 7.2 | |||
Raw materials, spare parts and supplies | 1.7 | 3.5 | |||||
Total | $ | 3.9 | $ | 10.7 |
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
6. Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative financial instruments are executed on our behalf by an affiliate of the General Partner to reduce our exposure to changes in commodity prices for natural gas. Natural gas is the largest and most volatile component of the manufacturing cost for nitrogen-based fertilizers.
The derivatives that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps and options traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets. The derivative contract prices are based on NYMEX future prices based on physical delivery of natural gas at the Henry Hub in Louisiana, the most common and financially liquid location of reference for derivative financial instruments related to natural gas. However, we purchase natural gas for our manufacturing facility from suppliers whose prices are based primarily on the ONEOK index (based on physical delivery of natural gas in Oklahoma, rather than at the Henry Hub). This creates a location basis differential between the derivative contract price and the price we pay for physical delivery of natural gas. Accordingly, the prices underlying the derivative financial instruments we use may not exactly match the prices of natural gas we purchase and consume. We enter into natural gas derivative contracts with respect to gas to be consumed by us in the future, and settlement of those derivative contracts are scheduled to coincide with our anticipated purchases of natural gas used to manufacture nitrogen products during those future periods. We use natural gas derivatives as an economic hedge of gas price risk, but without the application of hedge accounting.
We report derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized in cost of goods sold in the period of change. Cash flows related to natural gas derivatives are reported as operating activities.
The gross fair values of derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets are shown below. All balance sheet amounts from derivatives arise from natural gas derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments. For additional information on derivative fair values, see Note 7—Fair Value Measurements.
March 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Unrealized losses in other current liabilities | $ | (19.5 | ) | $ | (15.9 | ) | |
Unrealized losses in other liabilities | (10.7 | ) | (12.0 | ) | |||
Net derivative liabilities | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | (27.9 | ) |
The effect of derivatives in our consolidated statements of operations is shown below. All amounts arise from natural gas derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments and are recorded in cost of goods sold.
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Unrealized mark-to-market (losses) gains | $ | (2.3 | ) | $ | 3.9 | ||
Realized losses | (7.4 | ) | (4.6 | ) | |||
Net derivative losses | $ | (9.7 | ) | $ | (0.7 | ) |
As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had open derivative contracts for 51.9 million MMBtus (millions of British thermal units) and 59.6 million MMBtus, respectively, of natural gas. The derivative portfolio at March 31, 2016 includes natural gas derivatives that hedge a portion of the remainder of 2016, and a portion of 2017 and 2018 natural gas purchases. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we used derivatives to cover approximately 92% of our natural gas consumption.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the aggregate fair values of the derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features in a net liability position were $30.2 million and $27.9 million, respectively, which also approximates the fair value of the maximum amount of additional collateral that would need to be posted or assets needed to settle the obligations if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the reporting dates. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had no cash collateral on deposit with counterparties for derivative contracts. The credit support documents executed in connection with International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) agreements generally provide the right to set off collateral against amounts owing under the ISDA agreements upon the occurrence of a default or a specified termination event.
The following table presents amounts relevant to offsetting of our derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
Gross and net amounts presented in consolidated balance sheets(1) | Gross amounts not offset in consolidated balance sheets | ||||||||||||||
Financial instruments | Cash collateral received (pledged) | Net amount | |||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
March 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||
Total derivative assets | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total derivative liabilities | (30.2 | ) | — | — | (30.2 | ) | |||||||||
Net derivative liabilities | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (30.2 | ) | |||||
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Total derivative assets | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total derivative liabilities | (27.9 | ) | — | — | (27.9 | ) | |||||||||
Net derivative liabilities | $ | (27.9 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (27.9 | ) |
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1) | We report the fair values of our derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis on our consolidated balance sheets. As a result, amounts recognized and net amounts presented are the same. |
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7. Fair Value Measurements
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents assets and liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets that are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicates the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair value as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
March 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||
Total | Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 48.2 | $ | 48.2 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total assets at fair value | $ | 48.2 | $ | 48.2 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Unrealized losses on natural gas derivatives | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | — | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | — | |||||
Total liabilities at fair value | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | — | $ | (30.2 | ) | $ | — |
December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Total | Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 106.4 | $ | 106.4 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Total assets at fair value | $ | 106.4 | $ | 106.4 | $ | — | $ | — | |||||||
Unrealized losses on natural gas derivatives | $ | (27.9 | ) | $ | — | $ | (27.9 | ) | $ | — | |||||
Total liabilities at fair value | $ | (27.9 | ) | $ | — | $ | (27.9 | ) | $ | — |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, our cash and cash equivalents consisted primarily of money market mutual funds that invest in U.S. government obligations.
Natural Gas Derivatives
The derivative instruments that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps and options traded in the OTC markets with multi-national commercial banks, other major financial institutions and large energy companies. The derivatives are traded in months forward and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated gas purchases during those future periods. These contracts settle using NYMEX futures prices and accordingly, to determine the fair value of these instruments, we use quoted market prices from NYMEX and standard pricing models with inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as forward curves supplied by an industry-recognized unrelated third party. See Note 6—Derivative Financial Instruments for additional information.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
We also have assets and liabilities that may be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment. These include long-lived assets which may be written down to fair value as a result of impairment. We determined that these fair value measurements rely primarily on Company-specific inputs and the Company's assumptions about the use of the assets. Since certain of the Company’s assumptions involve inputs that are not observable, these assumptions reside within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
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8. Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
March 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Land | $ | 1.6 | $ | 1.6 | |||
Buildings and improvements | 15.2 | 14.5 | |||||
Machinery and equipment | 556.6 | 537.5 | |||||
Construction in progress | 14.1 | 18.9 | |||||
587.5 | 572.5 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | 274.1 | 265.5 | |||||
$ | 313.4 | $ | 307.0 |
During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded losses of approximately $0.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively, on the disposal of certain machinery and equipment, which is included in other general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations.
Plant turnarounds—Scheduled inspections, replacements and overhauls of machinery and equipment at our continuous process manufacturing facility are referred to as plant turnarounds. The expenditures related to turnarounds are capitalized in property, plant and equipment when incurred. The following is a summary of plant turnaround activity:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Net capitalized turnaround costs: | |||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 37.8 | $ | 16.7 | |||
Additions | 1.2 | 29.4 | |||||
Depreciation | (3.6 | ) | (1.6 | ) | |||
Ending balance | $ | 35.4 | $ | 44.5 |
Scheduled replacements and overhauls of machinery and equipment include the dismantling, repair or replacement and installation of various components including piping, valves, motors, turbines, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and the replacement of catalyst when a full plant shutdown occurs. Scheduled inspections are also conducted during full plant shutdowns, including required safety inspections which entail the disassembly of various components such as steam boilers, pressure vessels and other equipment requiring safety certifications. Internal employee costs and overhead are not considered turnaround costs and are not capitalized.
9. Related Party Transactions
TNCLP and TNGP have no employees. We have entered into several agreements with a subsidiary of CF Industries relating to the operation of our business and the sale of the fertilizer products produced at our Verdigris facility. We believe that each of these agreements is on terms that are fair and reasonable to us.
General and Administrative Services and Product Offtake Agreement
Pursuant to the Amendment to the General and Administrative Services and Product Offtake Agreement (the Services and Offtake Agreement), the Partnership sells all of its fertilizer products to affiliates of the General Partner at prices based on market prices for the Partnership's fertilizer products as defined in the Services and Offtake Agreement. Title and risk of loss transfer to affiliates of the General Partner as the product is shipped from the plant gate. The Services and Offtake Agreement is effective for annual terms starting as of January 1st and will be extended automatically for successive one-year terms unless terminated by one of the parties prior to renewal.
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Directly Incurred Charges
Since we have no employees, we rely on employees from an affiliate of the General Partner to operate our Verdigris facility. As a result, the payroll and payroll-related expenses and benefit costs, such as health insurance and pension costs, are incurred by an affiliate of the General Partner and directly charged to us. Payroll, payroll-related expenses and other employee-related benefit costs directly charged to us for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 were $7.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively. We report these expenses as services provided by affiliates of the General Partner in cost of goods sold.
Allocated Charges
CF Industries, together with its affiliates, also provides certain services to us under the Services and Offtake Agreement. These services include production planning, manufacturing management, logistics, procurement, accounting, legal, risk management, investor relations and other general and administrative functions. Allocated expenses charged to us for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $3.9 million. We report these expenses as selling, general and administrative services provided by affiliates of the General Partner.
Amounts Due to/from Affiliates of the General Partner
We receive cash and make expenditures directly from our cash accounts. Because we sell our products to and receive payroll and other related services from affiliates of the General Partner, the affiliates of the General Partner continue to be both debtors and creditors to us. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had a net balance due from affiliates of the General Partner of $12.2 million and $5.9 million, respectively.
Spare Parts Sharing Agreement
Affiliates of CF Industries own and operate nitrogen fertilizer complexes that utilize some equipment that is similar to equipment at our Verdigris nitrogen complex. Each of the various manufacturing complexes maintains spare parts for use in its facilities. In the event that an unplanned need arises and to help minimize manufacturing downtime, we have entered into a spare parts sharing agreement that permits spare parts to be shared among the manufacturing complexes from time to time. Parts that are borrowed from another complex under the agreement are either refurbished and returned to the lender or replaced.
Leases
We entered into an amended and restated lease with an affiliate of the General Partner under which the ammonia assets in our terminal in Blair, Nebraska are leased by the affiliate. The lease is effective for a five-year term ending on December 31, 2018, and the affiliate of the General Partner has options to renew for three additional five-year terms. The quarterly lease payment is $100,000, subject to an annual inflation adjustment, and additional rent will be paid equal to all costs, expenses, and obligations incurred by the affiliate of the General Partner related to the use, occupancy and operation of the terminal.
We also have leased certain of our rail cars to an affiliate of the General Partner for quarterly rental payments of $3,600 per car. This lease was effective initially for a one-year term and is extended automatically for successive one-year terms unless terminated by either party thereto prior to renewal.
We recognized rental income for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 of $0.1 million.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.'s ("TNCLP," "we," "our" or "us") annual consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 25, 2016 (2015 Annual Report), as well as our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto contained in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
The section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in Item 1A of our 2015 Annual Report, and similar discussions in our other SEC filings, describe some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity. You should read and consider carefully those risks, in addition to the other information in this report and in our other filings with the SEC.
We conduct our operations through an operating partnership, Terra Nitrogen, Limited Partnership (TNLP or the Operating Partnership, and collectively with TNCLP, the Partnership). Terra Nitrogen GP Inc. (TNGP or the General Partner), a Delaware corporation, is the General Partner of both TNCLP and TNLP and owns a consolidated 0.05% general partner interest in the Partnership. The General Partner is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF Industries), a Delaware corporation.
CF Industries, through its subsidiaries, is a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of nitrogen fertilizer and other nitrogen products, serving both agricultural and industrial customers. CF Industries operates world-class nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing complexes in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and distributes nitrogen fertilizer products through a system of terminals, warehouses, and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the midwestern United States.
Throughout this document, references to "affiliates of the General Partner" refer to consolidated subsidiaries of CF Industries, including TNGP.
Dependence on CF Industries
We are dependent on CF Industries for our success in a number of respects. Affiliates of CF Industries are obligated to take all of the production from our Verdigris manufacturing complex. Affiliates of CF Industries provide certain services to us, including production planning, manufacturing management, logistics, procurement, accounting, legal, risk management, investor relations and other general and administrative services. For additional information concerning CF Industries, refer to CF Industries' filings with the SEC on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and for further information regarding transactions with CF Industries, please refer to Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9—Related Party Transactions.
Introduction
In this discussion and analysis, we explain our business in the following areas:
• | Company Overview; |
• | Results of Operations; and |
• | Liquidity and Capital Resources |
Company Overview
TNCLP is a Delaware limited partnership that produces nitrogen fertilizer products. Our principal products are anhydrous ammonia (ammonia) and urea ammonium nitrate solutions (UAN), which we manufacture at our facility in Verdigris, Oklahoma.
TNCLP and TNGP have no employees. An affiliate of the General Partner provides certain services to us under the Amendment to the General and Administrative Services and Product Offtake Agreement (the Services and Offtake Agreement). Pursuant to the Services and Offtake Agreement, the Partnership sells all of its fertilizer products to affiliates of the General Partner at prices based on market prices for the Partnership's fertilizer products as defined in the Services and Offtake Agreement. Title and risk of loss transfer to affiliates of the General Partner as the product is shipped from the plant gate. For further information regarding our agreements with CF Industries and the General Partner, see Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 9—Related Party Transactions.
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Results of Operations
Consolidated Results
We reported net earnings of $37.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 on net sales of $108.0 million, compared with net earnings of $59.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 on net sales of $126.6 million. Net earnings per common unit for the three months ended March 31, 2016, were $1.44 compared with $2.03 for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
The following table shows our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
_______________________________________________________________________________
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 vs. 2015 | ||||||||||||
(in millions, except as noted) | ||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 108.0 | $ | 126.6 | $ | (18.6 | ) | (15 | )% | |||||
Cost of goods sold | 64.9 | 61.6 | 3.3 | 5 | % | |||||||||
Gross margin | 43.1 | 65.0 | (21.9 | ) | (34 | )% | ||||||||
Gross margin percentage | 39.9 | % | 51.3 | % | (11.4 | )% | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 5.4 | 6.0 | (0.6 | ) | (10 | )% | ||||||||
Net earnings | $ | 37.7 | $ | 59.0 | $ | (21.3 | ) | (36 | )% | |||||
Net earnings allocable to Common Units | $ | 26.7 | $ | 37.5 | $ | (10.8 | ) | (29 | )% | |||||
Net earnings per Common Unit | $ | 1.44 | $ | 2.03 | $ | (0.59 | ) | (29 | )% | |||||
Sales volume (tons in thousands): | ||||||||||||||
Ammonia | 91 | 95 | (4 | ) | (4 | )% | ||||||||
UAN(1) | 362 | 309 | 53 | 17 | % | |||||||||
Total | 453 | 404 | 49 | 12 | % | |||||||||
Average selling prices (dollars per ton): | ||||||||||||||
Ammonia | $ | 373 | $ | 499 | $ | (126 | ) | (25 | )% | |||||
UAN(1) | $ | 203 | $ | 254 | $ | (51 | ) | (20 | )% | |||||
Natural gas costs: | ||||||||||||||
Purchased natural gas costs (per MMBtu)(2) | $ | 1.99 | $ | 2.88 | $ | (0.89 | ) | (31 | )% | |||||
Realized derivatives loss (per MMBtu)(3) | 0.89 | 0.63 | 0.26 | 41 | % | |||||||||
Natural gas costs (per MMBtu) | $ | 2.88 | $ | 3.51 | $ | (0.63 | ) | (18 | )% | |||||
Production volume by product (tons in thousands): | ||||||||||||||
Ammonia(4) | 208 | 199 | 9 | 5 | % | |||||||||
UAN(1) | 325 | 292 | 33 | 11 | % |
(1) | The nitrogen content of UAN is 32% by weight. |
(2) | Represents the cost of natural gas purchased during the period for use in production. |
(3) | Represents realized gains and losses on natural gas derivatives settled during the period. Excludes unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on natural gas derivatives. |
(4) | Gross ammonia production, including amounts subsequently upgraded on-site into UAN. |
First Quarter of 2016 Compared to the First Quarter of 2015
Our financial results in the first quarter of 2016 were primarily influenced by two factors.
• | Average selling prices for both UAN and ammonia were negatively impacted by greater nitrogen supply driven by global capacity additions coupled with lower nitrogen manufacturing and ocean freight costs, and softer global ammonia demand from industrial users including phosphate fertilizer production. Our average selling prices for ammonia and UAN in the first quarter of 2016 were 25% and 20% lower, respectively, than the prior year comparable quarter. |
• | In the first quarter of 2016, we experienced an unscheduled outage for maintenance on one of the facility’s two ammonia plants, resulting in one-half of the complex's ammonia capacity being shut down for approximately two months, and one-half of the complex's UAN capacity being shut down for approximately one month. Maintenance was completed and the affected ammonia plant was restarted on March 17, 2016. In the first quarter of 2015, we |
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
had a planned turnaround of an ammonia plant and a UAN plant, together representing approximately one-half of our production capacity. The plants were both shut down for a period of approximately two months during the first quarter of 2015.
Our net sales for the first quarter of 2016 were $108.0 million, a decrease of $18.6 million, or 15%, from the first quarter of 2015 net sales of $126.6 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower average selling prices for both UAN and ammonia in the first quarter of 2016 versus the first quarter of 2015, offset by higher UAN sales volume. Average selling prices for nitrogen fertilizer products were negatively impacted by greater supply of global nitrogen fertilizer products.
UAN selling prices declined by 20% from $254 in the first quarter of 2015 to $203 per ton in the first quarter of 2016 due to pressure from low global pricing, including UAN and urea prices. UAN sales volume increased by 17% in the first quarter of 2016 to 362,000 tons from 309,000 tons in the first quarter of 2015 due to greater supply availability, driven by higher production and a higher level of inventory entering into 2016, supporting early season UAN movement in the Southern Plains.
Ammonia selling prices declined by 25% from $499 in the first quarter of 2015 to $373 per ton in the first quarter of 2016 due to pressure from a greater supply of global nitrogen fertilizer products combined with weakened global industrial ammonia demand, which negatively impacted North American selling prices. Ammonia sales volume decreased by 4% from 95,000 tons in the first quarter of 2015 to 91,000 tons in the first quarter of 2016, due to reduced supply availability.
The following table shows the components of cost of goods sold and the average cost of goods sold per ton for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 vs. 2015 | ||||||||||||
(in millions, except per ton amounts) | ||||||||||||||
Realized natural gas costs | $ | 23.9 | $ | 25.7 | $ | (1.8 | ) | (7 | )% | |||||
Unrealized mark-to-market loss (gain) on natural gas derivatives | 2.3 | (3.9 | ) | 6.2 | N/M | |||||||||
Payroll-related expenses | 7.2 | 7.6 | (0.4 | ) | (5 | )% | ||||||||
Other | 31.5 | 32.2 | (0.7 | ) | (2 | )% | ||||||||
Total cost of goods sold | $ | 64.9 | $ | 61.6 | $ | 3.3 | 5 | % | ||||||
Average cost of goods sold per ton | $ | 143 | $ | 152 | $ | (9 | ) | (6 | )% |
_________________________________________________________________________
N/M - Not Meaningful
The average cost of goods sold decreased to $143 per ton in the first quarter of 2016 from $152 per ton in the first quarter of 2015. The 6% decrease in the average cost of goods sold per ton was due primarily to lower realized natural gas prices. Realized natural gas costs decreased $0.63 per MMBtu from $3.51 per MMBtu in the first quarter of 2015 to $2.88 per MMBtu in the first quarter of 2016. We recorded a $2.3 million unrealized net mark-to-market loss on natural gas derivatives for the first quarter of 2016, compared to a $3.9 million unrealized net mark-to-market gain for the first quarter of 2015. The derivative portfolio at March 31, 2016 includes natural gas derivatives that hedge a portion of the remainder of 2016, and a portion of 2017 and 2018 natural gas purchases.
Our gross margin was $43.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared to $65.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. The decline was primarily due to the impact of lower UAN and ammonia average selling prices and unrealized mark-to-market losses on natural gas derivatives, partially offset by higher UAN sales volume and lower realized natural gas costs. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 39.9% during the first quarter of 2016 from 51.3% during the first quarter of 2015.
Total selling, general and administrative expenses, including other general and administrative expenses, were $5.4 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared to $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily driven by a loss in the first quarter of 2015 on the disposal of certain machinery and equipment.
Our net earnings were $37.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $21.3 million, or 36%, as compared to $59.0 million in the first quarter of 2015, primarily driven by the gross margin decline.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal funding needs and uses of cash are working capital, plant turnaround costs, capital expenditures, and quarterly distributions. Our cash and cash equivalents balance as of March 31, 2016 was $48.2 million, a decrease of $58.2 million from $106.4 million as of December 31, 2015. See further discussion below under "Cash Flows." Our cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market mutual funds that invest in U.S. government obligations.
Because we sell our products to, and receive payroll and other related services from, affiliates of the General Partner, the affiliates of the General Partner continue to be both debtors and creditors to us.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Total cash provided by (used in): | |||||||
Operating activities | $ | 45.7 | $ | 70.9 | |||
Investing activities | (13.8 | ) | (47.8 | ) | |||
Financing activities | (90.1 | ) | (76.1 | ) | |||
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (58.2 | ) | $ | (53.0 | ) |
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $45.7 million for the first three months of 2016 compared to $70.9 million for the same period of 2015, or a decline of $25.2 million. This decrease was due primarily to the $21.3 million decrease in net earnings. Net earnings included depreciation and amortization expense of $10.0 million and $5.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and unrealized net mark-to-market losses of $2.3 million and gains of $3.1 million, respectively, on natural gas derivatives.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $13.8 million for the first three months of 2016 compared to $47.8 million in the first three months of 2015. The $34.0 million decrease in cash used in investing activities in 2016 was due primarily to higher capital expenditures in the first three months of 2015 due to planned plant turnaround activities.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $90.1 million for the first three months of 2016 compared to $76.1 million in the first three months of 2015, and consists of distributions paid to our unitholders. The distributions paid are based on "Available Cash," as defined in our agreement of limited partnership. See further discussion below under "Partnership Distributions."
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures totaled $13.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $47.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015, with the decrease primarily resulting from the cost of turnarounds in the first quarter of 2015. We expect to make capital expenditures in the range of $45 million to $55 million in 2016. Capital expenditures are made to sustain our asset base, to increase capacity, to improve plant efficiency and to comply with various environmental, health and safety requirements. Due to the size, scope and timing of capital projects, certain projects require more than a year to complete. Planned capital expenditures and turnarounds are subject to change due to delays in regulatory approvals and/or permitting, unanticipated increases in cost, changes in scope and completion time, performance of third parties, adverse weather, defects in materials and workmanship, labor or material shortages, transportation constraints, and other unforeseen difficulties. Capital expenditures reduce the Available Cash for unitholder distributions.
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General Partner
The General Partner is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of CF Industries. Under the General Partner's governing documents, neither we nor the General Partner may make any bankruptcy filing (or take similar action) without the approval of the General Partner's independent directors, except in specified circumstances if there are not two independent directors on the General Partner's board of directors.
Partnership Distributions
We make quarterly distributions to holders of our general partner interest and limited partner interests based on Available Cash for the quarter as defined in our agreement of limited partnership. Available Cash is defined generally as all cash receipts less all cash disbursements, less certain reserves (including reserves for future operating and capital needs) established as the General Partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate. Changes in working capital affect Available Cash, as changes in the amount of cash invested in working capital items (such as increases in inventory and decreases in accounts payable) reduce Available Cash, while declines in the amount of cash invested in working capital items increase Available Cash. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we declared and paid partnership distributions of $90.1 million and $76.1 million, respectively.
We receive 99% of the Available Cash from the Operating Partnership and 1% is distributed by the Operating Partnership to the General Partner. Cash distributions from the Operating Partnership generally represent the Operating Partnership's Available Cash from operations. Our cash distributions are made 99.975% to common and Class B common unitholders and 0.025% to the General Partner except when cumulative distributions of Available Cash exceed specified target levels above the Minimum Quarterly Distributions (MQD) of $0.605 per unit. Under such circumstances, the General Partner is entitled to receive Incentive Distribution Rights.
On May 4, 2016, we announced a $1.51 cash distribution per common unit, payable on May 31, 2016 to holders of record as of May 16, 2016. In the first quarter of 2016, we exceeded the cumulative MQD amounts and will distribute Available Cash as summarized in the following table:
Income and Distribution Allocation | |||||||||||||||||||
Target Limit | Target Increment | Common Units | Class B Common Units | General Partner | Total | ||||||||||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distributions | $ | 0.605 | $ | 0.605 | 98.990 | % | 0.985 | % | 0.025 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||
First Target | 0.715 | 0.110 | 98.990 | % | 0.985 | % | 0.025 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Second Target | 0.825 | 0.110 | 85.859 | % | 0.985 | % | 13.156 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Third Target | 1.045 | 0.220 | 75.758 | % | 0.985 | % | 23.257 | % | 100.00 | % | |||||||||
Final Target and Beyond | >1.045 | — | 50.505 | % | 0.985 | % | 48.510 | % | 100.00 | % |
The General Partner is required to remit the majority of cash distributions it receives from the Partnership, in excess of its 1% Partnership equity interest, to an affiliated company.
General Partner Option to Effect Mandatory Redemption of Partnership Units
At March 31, 2016, the General Partner and its affiliates owned 75.3% of our outstanding units. When not more than 25% of our issued and outstanding units are held by non-affiliates of the General Partner, as was the case at March 31, 2016, we, at the General Partner's sole discretion, may call or assign to the General Partner or its affiliates, our right to acquire all, but not less than all, such outstanding units held by non-affiliated persons. If the General Partner elects to acquire all outstanding units, we are required to give at least 30 but not more than 60 days' notice of our decision to purchase the outstanding units. The purchase price per unit will be the greater of (1) the average of the previous 20 trading days' closing prices as of the date five days before the purchase is announced or (2) the highest price paid by the General Partner or any of its affiliates for any unit within the 90 days preceding the date the purchase is announced.
Derivatives
We purchase natural gas at market prices to meet production requirements at our manufacturing facility. Natural gas prices are volatile, and our natural gas acquisition policy allows us to establish derivative positions that are associated with anticipated natural gas requirements. The derivatives that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps and options traded in the over-the-counter markets.
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Natural gas derivatives involve the risk of dealing with counterparties and their ability to meet the terms of the contracts. The counterparties to our natural gas derivatives are multi-national commercial banks, other major financial institutions and large energy companies. For derivatives that are in net asset positions, we are exposed to credit loss from nonperformance by the counterparties. Credit risk is controlled through the use of multiple counterparties, credit limits, credit monitoring procedures, cash collateral requirements and master netting arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
At March 31, 2016, there were no material changes to the Partnership's contractual obligations, critical accounting policies or off-balance sheet arrangements presented in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our 2015 Annual Report.
Proposed Internal Revenue Service Regulation Impacting Master Limited Partnerships
We are a master limited partnership (MLP). Partnerships are generally not subject to federal income tax, although publicly traded partnerships (such as TNCLP) are treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes and therefore are subject to federal income tax, unless at least 90% of the partnership's gross income is "qualifying income" as defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the partnership is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. As we currently satisfy the requirements to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, no federal income taxes are paid by the Partnership.
On May 6, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations on the types of income and activities that constitute or generate qualifying income of an MLP. The proposed regulations would have the effect of limiting the types of income and activities that qualify under the MLP rules, subject to certain transition provisions. The IRS proposed regulations include certain processing or refining and transportation activities with respect to any mineral or natural resource (including fertilizer) as activities that generate qualifying income, but the proposed regulations reserve on specific proposals regarding fertilizer-related activities. Any change in the federal income tax treatment of income from fertilizer-related activities as qualifying income could have a material impact on the taxation of the Partnership and could have a material adverse impact on unitholder distributions. We continue to monitor these IRS regulatory activities.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to the impact of changes in the price of natural gas which we use in the manufacture of our nitrogen fertilizer products. Because natural gas prices are volatile, we manage the risk of changes in natural gas prices through the use of derivative financial instruments.
The derivative instruments that we use are primarily natural gas fixed price swaps and options. These contracts settle using NYMEX futures prices, which represent the basis for fair value at any given time. The derivatives are traded in months forward and settlements are scheduled to coincide with anticipated natural gas purchases during those future periods.
As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had open derivative contracts for 51.9 million MMBtus and 59.6 million MMBtus, respectively, of natural gas. A $1.00 per MMBtu increase in the forward curve prices of natural gas as of March 31, 2016, would result in a favorable change in the fair value of these derivative positions by $48.9 million, and a $1.00 per MMBtu decrease would change their fair value unfavorably by $48.9 million.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. TNGP's management, with the participation of TNGP's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, TNGP's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in (i) ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (ii) ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to TNGP's management, including TNGP's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes in the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
From time to time, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as in other written reports and verbal statements, we make forward-looking statements that are not statements of historical fact and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. We have used the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions, to identify forward-looking statements in this document. These forward-looking statements are made based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data, our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industries and markets in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events affecting us. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, our actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any responsibility to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this document. Additionally, we do not undertake any responsibility to provide updates regarding the occurrence of any unanticipated events which may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this document.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others:
• | risks related to our reliance on one production facility; |
• | the volatility of natural gas prices in North America; |
• | the cyclical nature of our business and the agricultural sector; |
• | the global commodity nature of our fertilizer products, the impact of global supply and demand on our selling prices, and the intense global competition from other fertilizer producers; |
• | conditions in the U.S. agricultural industry; |
• | difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery; |
• | reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment; |
• | the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling our products against which we may not be fully insured; |
• | risks associated with cyber security; |
• | weather conditions; |
• | potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permitting requirements; |
• | future regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions; |
• | the seasonality of the fertilizer business; |
• | risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of our risk measurement and hedging activities; |
• | limited access to capital; |
• | acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism; |
• | risks related to our dependence on and relationships with CF Industries; |
• | deterioration of global market and economic conditions; |
• | risks related to our partnership structure and control of the General Partner by CF Industries; |
• | changes in TNCLP’s available cash for distribution to its unitholders, due to, among other things, changes in its earnings, the amount of cash generated by its operations and the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner for operating, capital and other requirements; |
• | the conflicts of interest that may be faced by the executive officers of the General Partner, who operate both us and CF Industries; and |
• | tax risks to our common unitholders and changes in our treatment as a partnership for U.S. or state income tax purposes. |
For the detailed discussion of factors that might affect our performance, see Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of our 2015 Annual Report.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
A list of exhibits filed with this report on Form 10-Q (or incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed or furnished) is provided in the Exhibit Index on page 23 of this report.
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
SIGNATURES
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.
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P. | ||
By: | TERRA NITROGEN GP INC. as General Partner | |
Date: May 5, 2016 | By: | /s/ W. ANTHONY WILL |
W. Anthony Will President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Date: May 5, 2016 | By: | /s/ DENNIS P. KELLEHER |
Dennis P. Kelleher Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Description | |
31.1 | Certification of the Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
31.2 | Certification of the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32.1 | Certification of the Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
32.2 | Certification of the Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
101 | The following financial information from Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (1) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (2) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (3) Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital, (4) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (5) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
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