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8-K - FORM 8-K - Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P.bkep20200824_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

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Blueknight Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

 

Highlights

 

 

Third quarter net income of $14.4 million, operating income of $16.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $18.6 million

  Distributable cash flow up 26% year-over-year with coverage and leverage ratios improving to 1.87 times and 4.06 times, respectively
 

Asphalt terminalling operating margin and volumes year-to-date consistent with prior year
 

Crude oil pipeline operating margin driven by a $3.6 million non-cash gain and $1.5 million cash gain from commodity derivative contracts that settled during the quarter

 

Chief Financial Officer role successfully filled with an experienced and proven financial leader
  Partnership expects to exceed 2020 guidance

 

TULSA - November 4, 2020 - Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P. (“Blueknight” or the “Partnership”) (Nasdaq: BKEP and BKEPP) today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Net income was $14.4 million in the third quarter 2020, compared to net income of $7.0 million for the same period in 2019.  The increase in third quarter 2020 net income was the result of higher operating margins, which included a $3.6 million non-cash mark-to-market (“MTM”) gain on commodity activities related to short-term storage contracts that settled during the quarter, lower general and administrative costs, and lower interest expense. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) was $18.6 million in third quarter 2020 compared to $18.1 million for the same period in 2019. Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter 2020 excluded the non-cash MTM gain of $3.6 million and $0.2 million in transaction legal fees related to the new Ergon seven-year agreements executed during the quarter. 

 

“Our business had another solid quarter and our performance year-to-date continues to outpace last year.  For the first nine months of the year, net income, Adjusted EBITDA, and distributable cash flow were higher by $1.7 million, $2.1 million and $8.0 million, respectively, versus the same period in 2019. With these results and our outlook for fourth quarter, we now expect to meet or exceed our 2020 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA, distribution coverage, and leverage,” said Andrew Woodward, Chief Executive Officer.

 

“As we look forward, we continue to advance our strategy to transform Blueknight into a pure-play, downstream terminalling company focused on infrastructure and transportation end markets. We believe this strategy will further emphasize Blueknight’s unique and differentiated position in the market and better position the business for success over the long-term.  A key step in that direction continues to be our evaluation and possible sale of all or a portion of our crude oil business, which we remain committed to progressing despite a challenging market backdrop. We expect an uncertain macroenvironment to persist into next year and are proactively managing our business and cash flow to offset any unforeseen impacts,” added Woodward. 

 

 

 

 

 

SEGMENT RESULTS

 

Asphalt Terminalling Services. Total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization, in third quarter 2020 was $16.5 million, down 3% compared to the same period last year primarily due to lower excess throughput revenue and higher insurance premiums. Year-to-date, total throughput volumes across the Partnership’s 53 asphalt sites were essentially flat as some regions experienced near record levels of volume while others were either flat or down year-over-year. The weighted average remaining contract term for our asphalt sites was approximately six years following the successful execution of a new seven-year agreement with Ergon effective in August 2020. 

 

Crude Oil Terminalling Services. Total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization, in third quarter 2020 was $3.0 million, down $0.3 million compared to the same period last year. Third quarter 2019 included revenue of $0.3 million related to an intersegment storage contract for 0.5 million barrels that ended during the fourth quarter 2019. Average third-party storage volumes increased year-over-year as the segment continues to benefit from the current contango environment. Notably, the Partnership successfully renewed one storage contract during the quarter representing 2.0 million barrels, or approximately 30% of total capacity. The storage contract was previously set to expire on December 31, 2020, and now extends through December 31, 2021, at more favorable terms.

 

Crude Oil Pipeline Services. Total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization, in third quarter 2020 was $5.7 million, up $5.0 million compared to the same period last year. Pipeline earnings were favorably impacted by a $3.6 million non-cash gain on commodity derivative transactions that settled in August 2020, which offset a corresponding unrealized loss recognized during the second quarter 2020. The Partnership realized a $1.5 million net cash gain from the related product sales during third quarter 2020. This gain offset lower pipeline volumes year-over-year, which averaged 15 thousand barrels per day during third quarter 2020.

 

Crude Oil Trucking Services. Total operating loss, excluding depreciation and amortization, in third quarter 2020 was $0.1 million, down $0.2 million compared to the same period last year as declines in trucking volumes tracked closely with the crude oil pipeline segment. Average trucking volumes for third quarter 2020 were 16 thousand barrels per day.

 

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW

 

Third quarter distributable cash flow was $15.2 million compared to $12.1 million for the same period in 2019.  The 26% increase was attributable to lower cash interest payments, lower maintenance capital expenditures, and improved business performance. The calculated coverage ratio on all distributions was 1.87 times for third quarter of 2020 versus 1.49 times for the same period in 2019.

 

Net capital expenditures in third quarter 2020 were $4.5 million, which included $1.2 million of net maintenance capital and $1.7 million related to the buy-out of operating leases for our crude oil transportation trucks. At September 30, 2020, total debt was $260.6 million.  This resulted in a leverage ratio of 4.06 times versus 4.24 times for the same period last year. At September 30, 2020, total availability under the credit facility was approximately $137.7 million, and availability subject to covenant restrictions was $44.8 million. As of October 30, 2020, total debt was $255.6 million. 

 

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

 

The Partnership will discuss third quarter 2020 results during a conference call tomorrow, Thursday, November 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. CDT (11:00 a.m. EDT). The conference call will be accessible by telephone at 1-855-327-6837. International participants will be able to access the conference call at 1-631-891-4304. Participants are requested to dial in five to ten minutes before the scheduled start time. An audio replay will be available through the “Investors” section of the Partnership’s website at investor.bkep.com.

 

Additional information regarding the Partnership’s results of operations will be provided in the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2020, to be filed with the SEC on November 5, 2020

 

 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes the Partnership’s financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020 (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

   

Three Months ended September 30,

 

Nine Months ended September 30,

   

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

                                 

Service revenue:

                               

Third-party revenue

  $ 15,716     $ 12,886     $ 47,318     $ 39,935  

Related-party revenue

    3,934       4,849       12,189       12,945  

Lease revenue:

                               

Third-party revenue

    11,444       9,142       31,004       27,051  

Related-party revenue

    5,427       7,490       15,179       19,239  

Product sales revenue:

                               

Third-party revenue

    55,213       51,390       173,773       119,068  

Total revenue

    91,734       85,757       279,463       218,238  

Costs and expenses:

                               

Operating expense

    25,215       23,715       78,432       73,066  

Cost of product sales

    18,972       19,833       64,069       41,133  

Cost of product sales from related party

    32,691       22,627       99,886       63,671  

General and administrative expense

    3,840       3,401       10,495       11,008  

Asset impairment expense

    83       -       2,316       6,417  

Total costs and expenses

    80,801       69,576       255,198       195,295  

Gain (loss) on disposal of assets

    (40 )     509       1,765       426  

Operating income

    10,893       16,690       26,030       23,369  

Other income (expenses):

                               

Other income

    69       176       475       969  

Interest expense

    (3,989 )     (2,472 )     (12,394 )     (8,586 )

Income before income taxes

    6,973       14,394       14,111       15,752  

Provision for income taxes

    14       1       39       8  

Net income

  $ 6,959     $ 14,393     $ 14,072     $ 15,744  
                                 

Allocation of net income(loss) for calculation of earnings per unit:

                               

General partner interest in net income

  $ 110     $ 228     $ 268     $ 249  

Preferred interest in net income

  $ 6,278     $ 6,278     $ 18,836     $ 18,836  

Net income (loss) available to limited partners

  $ 571     $ 7,887     $ (5,032 )   $ (3,341 )
                                 
Basic net income (loss) per common unit   $ 0.01     $ 0.19     $ (0.12 )   $ (0.08 )

Diluted net income (loss) per common unit(1)

  $ 0.01     $ 0.18     $ (0.12 )   $ (0.08 )
                                 
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic     40,811       41,166       40,735       41,072  

Weighted average common units outstanding - diluted(1)

    40,811       77,646       40,735       41,072  

                                      

(1) Diluted earnings per unit is calculated by adding the Preferred interest in net income to the Net income(loss) available to limited partners and dividing by the total number of common and preferred units outstanding.  This amount is only reported if the result is lower than the basic earnings per unit calculation.

 

 

 

 

 

The table below summarizes the Partnership’s financial results by segment operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2020 (dollars in thousands):

 

   

Three Months ended

 

Nine Months ended

 

Favorable/(Unfavorable)

Operating results

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

Three Months

 

Nine Months

   

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

  $  

%

  $  

%

Operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization:

                                                               

Asphalt terminalling services

  $ 17,068     $ 16,477     $ 44,274     $ 44,297     $ (591 )     (3 )%   $ 23       0 %

Crude oil terminalling services

    3,286       2,967       9,146       9,456       (319 )     (10 )%     310       3 %

Crude oil pipeline services

    614       5,661       2,738       4,473       5,047       822 %     1,735       63 %
Crude oil trucking services     128       (85 )     129       (160 )     (213 )     (166 )%     (289 )     (224 )%

Total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization

  $ 21,096     $ 25,020     $ 56,287     $ 58,066     $ 3,924       19 %   $ 1,779       3 %

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

This press release contains the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation, asset impairment charges, gains and losses on asset sales, and other select items which management feels decreases the comparability of results among periods. Distributable cash flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA minus cash paid for interest, maintenance capital expenditures, cash paid for taxes, and other select items which management feels decreases the comparability of results among periods. Operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization is defined as revenues from related parties and external customers less operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization. The use of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP measures such as operating income, net income or cash flows from operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization are presented because the Partnership believes they provide additional information with respect to its business activities and are used as supplemental financial measures by management and external users of the Partnership’s financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and others to assess, among other things, the Partnership’s operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure. Reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the following tables.

 

 

 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to net income for the periods shown (in thousands, except ratios):

 

   

Three Months ended September 30,

 

Nine Months ended September 30,

   

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

Net income

  $ 6,959     $ 14,393     $ 14,072     $ 15,744  

Interest expense

    3,989       2,472       12,394       8,586  

Income taxes

    14       1       39       8  

Depreciation and amortization

    6,240       5,438       19,211       17,698  

Non-cash equity-based compensation

    286       220       879       750  

Asset impairment expense

    83       -       2,316       6,417  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

    40       (509 )     (1,765 )     (426 )
Non-cash gain on commodity derivatives(1)     -       (3,589 )     -       -  
Other     443       160       443       895  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 18,054     $ 18,586     $ 47,589     $ 49,672  

Cash paid for interest

    (3,844 )     (2,131 )     (11,817 )     (7,817 )

Cash paid for income taxes

    (1 )     (54 )     (219 )     (55 )

Maintenance capital expenditures, net of reimbursable expenditures

    (2,127 )     (1,224 )     (7,256 )     (5,514 )

Distributable cash flow

  $ 12,082     $ 15,177     $ 28,297     $ 36,286  
                                 

Distributions declared(2)

    8,083       8,109       24,248       24,326  

Distribution coverage ratio

    1.49       1.87       1.17       1.49  

___________________________

(1) Derivatives have not been designated as hedges for accounting purposes and the mark-to-market changes of these derivatives are recognized currently in net income. The Partnership excludes the net impact of these derivatives from its determination of DCF until the transactions are settled and the related products are sold. In the third quarter of 2020, the derivative transactions were settled and the related products were sold, thus, the net impact of the derivatives was included in DCF.
(2) Inclusive of preferred and common unit declared cash distributions.

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization to operating income for the periods shown (dollars in thousands):

 

   

Three Months ended

 

Nine Months ended

 

Favorable/(Unfavorable)

   

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

Three Months

 

Nine Months

   

2019

 

2020

 

2019

 

2020

 

$

 

%

 

$

 

%

Total operating margin, excluding depreciation and amortization

  $ 21,096     $ 25,020     $ 56,287     $ 58,066     $ 3,924       19 %   $ 1,779       3 %

Depreciation and amortization

    (6,240 )     (5,438 )     (19,211 )     (17,698 )     802       13 %     1,513       8 %

General and administrative expense

    (3,840 )     (3,401 )     (10,495 )     (11,008 )     439       11 %     (513 )     (5 )%

Asset impairment expense

    (83 )     -       (2,316 )     (6,417 )     83       100 %     (4,101 )     (177 )%

Gain (loss) on disposal of assets

    (40 )     509       1,765       426       549       1,373 %     (1,339 )     (76 )%

Operating income

  $ 10,893     $ 16,690     $ 26,030     $ 23,369     $ 5,797       53 %   $ (2,661 )     (10 )%

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This release includes forward-looking statements. Statements included in this release that are not historical facts (including, without limitation, any statements about future financial and operating results, guidance, projected or forecasted financial results, objectives, project timing, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts) are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties relating to the Partnership’s debt levels and restrictions in its credit agreement, its exposure to the credit risk of our third-party customers, the Partnership’s future cash flows and operations, future market conditions, current and future governmental regulation, future taxation and other factors discussed in the Partnership’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

About Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P.

 

Blueknight owns and operates a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets consisting of:

 

 

8.8 million barrels of liquid asphalt storage located at 53 terminals in 26 states;

 

6.9 million barrels of above-ground crude oil storage capacity located primarily in Oklahoma, approximately 6.6 million barrels of which are located at the Cushing Interchange terminalling facility in Cushing, Oklahoma;

 

604 miles of crude oil pipeline located primarily in Oklahoma; and

 

63 crude oil transportation vehicles deployed in Oklahoma and Texas.

 

Blueknight provides integrated terminalling, gathering and transportation services for companies engaged in the production, distribution and marketing of liquid asphalt and crude oil.  Blueknight is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For more information, visit the Partnership’s website at www.bkep.com.

 

Contact:

 

Blueknight Investor Relations

Chase Jacobson, (918) 237-4032

investor@bkep.com