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8-K - 8-K - Niska Gas Storage Partners LLCa11-5524_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC Announces Results for the Third Quarter ended December 31, 2011

 

Houston, Texas — February 8, 2011 - Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (“Niska”) (NYSE: NKA) reported today Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for its third quarter ended December 31, 2010 of $59.9 million, compared to $86.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.  Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended December 31, 2010 was $134.4 million, compared to $145.0 million in the same period last year.  Cash Available for Distribution (as defined below) was $41.3 million for the three months and $73.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2010, respectively.  Net earnings for Niska’s third quarter reflected a loss of $2.4 million in fiscal 2011 compared to net earnings of $48.1 million in fiscal 2010. Nine month net earnings for fiscal 2011 were $29.6 million, compared to $3.2 million in fiscal 2010.

 

“Our results for the third quarter reflect a weaker storage market compared to an exceptionally strong third quarter in fiscal 2010.” said David Pope, President and CEO of Niska.  “However, our baseload contracting, complemented by optimization strategies and low-cost organic growth, have allowed us to achieve solid results in line with our expectations.  We reaffirm our previous Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $190 - $205 million and our Cash Available for Distribution guidance range of $110 - $125 million for fiscal 2011. This reflects our continued confidence in our ability to deliver consistent financial results in a variety of economic environments.”

 

During the quarter, Niska received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand the working gas capacity of its Wild Goose facility in California from 29 billion cubic feet (“Bcf”) to 50 Bcf. Following the approval, further performance testing was conducted on the Wild Goose reservoir as part of the facility expansion and, as expected, Niska was able to add an incremental 6 Bcf of working gas capacity.  With this expansion, the Wild Goose facility now has total working gas capacity of 35 Bcf. The remaining 15 Bcf of capacity at Wild Goose is expected to be available within the next year. Niska has now added a total of 19 Bcf of gas storage capacity in fiscal 2011, exceeding its previous target of 15 Bcf.

 

As announced on January 26, 2011, Niska will pay a cash distribution of $0.35 per unit on February 11, 2011 to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2011.

 

Earnings Call

 

Niska will host a conference call with members of executive management on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may access the call via our website at www.niskapartners.com. A webcast is also available on the Thomson Reuters Street Events network at www.earnings.com.

 

If you are unable to participate in the webcast, you may access the live conference call by dialing the following numbers:

 

North America:

1-866-203-2528

International:

1-617-213-8847

Access Code:

62391847

 

A telephonic replay can be accessed until midnight, February 16, 2011 at the following numbers:

 

North America:

1-888-286-8010

International:

1-617-801-6888

Access Code:

34932447

 

In addition, an electronic replay and PDF transcript will be available on the Niska website in the Investor Center section under the Presentations and Webcasts tab.

 



 

About Niska

 

Niska is the largest independent owner and operator of natural gas storage in North America, with strategically located assets in key natural gas producing and consuming regions. Niska owns and operates three facilities, including the AECO Hub™ in Alberta, Canada; Wild Goose in California; and Salt Plains in Oklahoma. Niska also contracts gas storage capacity on the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America system. In total, Niska owns or contracts approximately 204.5 Bcf of gas storage capacity.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” — that is, statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact.  In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “will” or other similar words. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Niska’s SEC filings. Niska undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

*****

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Niska uses and discloses the financial measures “Adjusted EBITDA” and “Cash Available for Distribution” in this press release.  Niska defines Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, unrealized risk management gains and losses, foreign exchange gains and losses, unrealized inventory impairment write-downs, gains and losses on asset dispositions, asset impairments and other income.  Niska defines Cash Available for Distribution as Adjusted EBITDA reduced by interest expense (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs and the effects of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate swaps), income taxes paid and maintenance capital expenditures.  Niska’s Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are not presentations made in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”).  Niska’s management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution as key performance measures in order to assess:

 

·                  The financial performance of our assets, operations and return on capital without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

·                  The ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and make distributions to our equity holders;

·                  Repeatable operating performance that is not distorted by non-recurring items or market volatility; and

·                  The viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects.

 

The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution is net earnings. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net earnings, please see the schedule provided in the attached pages.

 

Contact

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

Investor Relations:

Brandon Tran or Vance Powers

(403) 513-8600

 



 

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

(Niska Predecessor)

 

 

 

(Niska Predecessor)

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term contract

 

$

30,298

 

$

28,283

 

$

88,316

 

$

81,799

 

Short-term contract

 

11,101

 

15,029

 

28,877

 

39,939

 

Optimization, net

 

4,188

 

67,895

 

47,874

 

27,939

 

Total revenue

 

45,587

 

111,207

 

165,067

 

149,677

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES (INCOME)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

11,133

 

10,199

 

32,404

 

28,388

 

General and administrative

 

8,692

 

11,208

 

23,964

 

21,532

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

13,011

 

12,101

 

36,348

 

32,891

 

Interest

 

19,434

 

6,704

 

57,601

 

20,140

 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses

 

(796

)

3,578

 

(765

)

(8,222

)

Other income

 

(12

)

(9

)

(35

)

(88

)

 

 

51,462

 

43,781

 

149,517

 

94,641

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

(5,875

)

67,426

 

15,550

 

55,036

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(3,461

)

19,279

 

(14,008

)

51,848

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(2,414

)

$

48,147

 

$

29,558

 

$

3,188

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings prior to initial public offering on May 17, 2010

 

N/A

 

 

 

36,234

 

N/A

 

Net earnings (loss) subsequent to initial public offering on May 17, 2010

 

$

(2,414

)

 

 

$

(6,676

)

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) subsequent to initial public offering allocated to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing member

 

$

(48

)

N/A

 

$

344

 

N/A

 

Common unitholders

 

$

(1,183

)

N/A

 

$

(3,510

)

N/A

 

Subordinated unitholder

 

$

(1,183

)

N/A

 

$

(3,510

)

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit allocated to common unitholders - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.03

)

N/A

 

$

(0.10

)

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit allocated to subordinated unitholders - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.03

)

N/A

 

$

(0.10

)

N/A

 

 



 

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA AND NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except capacity amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

(Niska Predecessor)

 

 

 

(Niska Predecessor)

 

Reconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(2,414

)

$

48,147

 

$

29,558

 

$

3,188

 

Add (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

19,434

 

6,704

 

57,601

 

20,140

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

(3,461

)

19,279

 

(14,008

)

51,848

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

13,011

 

12,101

 

36,348

 

32,891

 

Unrealized risk management losses (gains)

 

34,108

 

(3,198

)

25,659

 

45,250

 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses

 

(796

)

3,578

 

(765

)

(8,222

)

Other income

 

(12

)

(9

)

(35

)

(88

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

59,870

 

$

86,602

 

$

134,358

 

$

145,007

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest expense, net

 

18,408

 

13,110

 

54,503

 

18,916

 

Income taxes paid

 

 

(328

)

287

 

212

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

144

 

680

 

868

 

838

 

Other income

 

(12

)

(9

)

(35

)

(88

)

Cash available for distribution

 

$

41,330

 

$

73,149

 

$

78,735

 

$

125,129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term contract

 

30,298

 

28,283

 

88,316

 

81,799

 

Short-term contract

 

11,101

 

15,029

 

28,877

 

39,939

 

Proprietary optimization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized optimization

 

38,296

 

64,697

 

73,532

 

73,189

 

Unrealized risk management gains (losses)

 

(34,108

)

3,198

 

(25,659

)

(45,250

)

Total

 

$

45,587

 

$

111,207

 

$

165,067

 

$

149,677

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total realized revenues

 

$

79,695

 

$

108,009

 

$

190,725

 

$

194,927

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance

 

$

144

 

$

680

 

$

868

 

$

838

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

8,866

 

21,787

 

23,302

 

53,094

 

Total

 

$

9,011

 

$

22,467

 

$

24,170

 

$

53,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective working gas capacity (Bcf)

 

204.5

 

185.5

 

204.5

 

185.5

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Balance Sheet data

 

2010

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Niska Predecessor)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

33,386

 

$

131,559

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt excluding revolving credit facility

 

$

800,000

 

$

800,000

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ equity

 

$

914,979

 

$

929,786