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8-K - FORM 8-K - NuStar Energy L.P.d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

NuStar Energy L.P. Increases Second Quarter 2011 Distribution

3% over Second Quarter 2010

Exceeds Analyst Expectations and

Reports Record Second Quarter and Year to Date EBITDA results

SAN ANTONIO, July 29, 2011 – NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS) today announced that its board of directors has declared a second quarter 2011 distribution of $1.095 per unit to be paid on August 12, 2011, to holders of record as of August 9, 2011. . This distribution is $0.03 per unit, or approximately 3%, higher than the second quarter 2010 distribution of $1.065 per unit and $0.02 per unit, or approximately 2%, higher than the first quarter 2011 distribution of $1.075 per unit.

The company also reported second quarter net income applicable to limited partners of $81.8 million, or $1.27 per unit, compared to $89.1 million, or $1.43 per unit, earned in the second quarter of 2010. Without special items in the second quarters of both years, however, the second quarter 2011 results would have been $86.4 million, or $1.34 per unit, which far exceeds the second quarter 2010 adjusted net income applicable to limited partners of $70.7 million, or $1.13 per unit.

Special Items

The second quarter 2011 results included $4.0 million, or $0.06 per unit, net of tax, of expenses related to an asset impairment at one of NuStar’s refined products terminals and the write- off of project costs associated with certain capital projects cancelled during the quarter. As noted above, excluding these and other special items, second quarter 2011 adjusted net income applicable to limited partners would have been $86.4 million, or $1.34 per unit.

The second quarter 2010 results included an $8.8 million, or $0.14 per unit gain, net of tax, related to property insurance proceeds received due to damage caused by Hurricane Ike, which occurred at the Texas City, Texas terminal in the third quarter of 2008. The second quarter 2010 results also included a tax benefit of $8.6 million, or $0.14 per unit, related to the recognition of future tax deductions that were previously expected to expire unused. As noted above, excluding the effect of these and other special items, second quarter 2010 adjusted net income applicable to limited partners would have been $70.7 million, or $1.13 per unit.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, net income applicable to limited partners was $101.1 million, or $1.57 per unit, compared to $100.6 million, or $1.64 per unit, for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

 

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Record Earnings

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were a record $160 million for the second quarter of 2011 compared to $157.1 million for the second quarter of 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, EBITDA was also a record at $253 million, higher than the $238.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

“Improved results primarily in our asphalt and fuels marketing segment contributed to our highest-ever second quarter EBITDA results,” said Curt Anastasio, Chief Executive Officer and President of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC. “Strong margins in our asphalt refining and marketing operations, earnings generated by our April 2011 San Antonio refinery acquisition and improved results in our fuels marketing operations all contributed to higher second quarter results in the segment.”

Anastasio added, “Our second quarter storage segment EBITDA was up slightly benefitting primarily from the completion of some internal growth projects in late 2010. As expected, transportation segment results were lower than the second quarter of 2010 due primarily to lower pipeline throughputs.”

Distributable cash flow available to the limited partners for the second quarter of $119.4 million, or $1.85 per unit, was higher than the 2010 second quarter distributable cash flow of $107.2 million, or $1.72 per unit. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, distributable cash flow available to limited partners was $164.5 million, or $2.55 per unit, compared to $130.0 million, or $2.10 per unit for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Distributable cash flow available to limited partners covers the distribution to the limited partners by 1.69 times for the second quarter of 2011 and 1.17 times for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

Full-Year 2011 EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow Projected to be Higher than 2010

Commenting on the full-year outlook for NuStar Energy L.P., Anastasio said, “We expect 2011 EBITDA and distributable cash flow results to be higher than 2010. We expect EBITDA in our storage segment to be $15 to $25 million higher than 2010, as this segment should continue to benefit from the completion of internal growth projects. EBITDA in our transportation segment should be $10 to $20 million lower due to reduced throughputs caused by the refinery turnaround activity of our customers and changing market conditions.”

 

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“With regard to the margin-based asphalt and fuels marketing segment earnings from our April 2011 San Antonio refinery acquisition and improved earnings in our crude oil trading operations should cause EBITDA in this segment to be higher than the $111 million of EBITDA earned in 2010.”

A conference call with management is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. CT) today, July 29, 2011, to discuss the financial and operational results for the second quarter of 2011. Investors interested in listening to the presentation may call 800/622-7620, passcode 76735865. International callers may access the presentation by dialing 706/645-0327, passcode 76735865. The company intends to have a playback available following the presentation, which may be accessed by calling 800/642-1687, passcode 76735865. A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available on the company’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

NuStar Energy L.P. is a publicly traded, limited partnership based in San Antonio, with 8,417 miles of pipeline; 90 terminal and storage facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products and specialty liquids; and two asphalt refineries and a fuels refinery with a combined throughput capacity of 118,500 barrels per day. The partnership’s combined system has over 94 million barrels of storage capacity. One of the largest asphalt refiners and marketers in the U.S. and the second largest independent liquids terminal operator in the nation, NuStar has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, including St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Turkey. For more information, visit NuStar Energy L.P.’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

This release serves as qualified notice to nominees under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1446-4(b)(4) and (d). Please note that 100% of NuStar’s distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, all of NuStar’s distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest effective tax rate for individuals and corporations, as applicable. Nominees, and not NuStar, are treated as the withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding future events. All forward-looking statements are based on the partnership and company’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the partnership and company. These statements reflect the partnership and company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions are

 

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discussed in NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s 2010 annual reports on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit Data and Per Unit Data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Statement of Income Data:

        

Revenues:

        

Services revenues

   $ 199,615      $ 195,087      $ 398,008      $ 384,382   

Product sales

     1,389,569        929,854        2,425,792        1,686,088   
                                

Total revenues

     1,589,184        1,124,941        2,823,800        2,070,470   

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of product sales

     1,269,448        842,588        2,261,815        1,561,809   

Operating expenses

     134,626        119,943        254,865        241,280   

General and administrative expenses

     26,119        22,195        52,102        49,464   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     41,640        38,185        81,936        76,114   
                                

Total costs and expenses

     1,471,833        1,022,911        2,650,718        1,928,667   
                                

Operating income

     117,351        102,030        173,082        141,803   

Equity earnings from joint venture

     2,010        2,102        4,398        5,117   

Interest expense, net

     (20,622     (18,890     (41,079     (37,476

Other (expense) income, net

     (967     14,816        (6,466     15,117   
                                

Income before income tax expense

     97,772        100,058        129,935        124,561   

Income tax expense

     5,167        636        8,814        5,436   
                                

Net income

   $ 92,605      $ 99,422      $ 121,121      $ 119,125   
                                

Net income applicable to limited partners

   $ 81,784      $ 89,064      $ 101,149      $ 100,575   
                                

Net income per unit applicable to limited partners

   $ 1.27      $ 1.43      $ 1.57      $ 1.64   
                                

Weighted average limited partner units outstanding

     64,610,549        62,289,670        64,610,549        61,255,853   

EBITDA (Note 1)

   $ 160,034      $ 157,133      $ 252,950      $ 238,151   

Distributable cash flow (Note 1)

   $ 130,175      $ 117,121      $ 185,554      $ 149,170   
     June 30,
2011
    June 30,
2010
          December 31,
2010
 

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Debt, including current portion (a)

   $ 2,442,244      $ 1,846,276        $ 2,137,080   

Partners’ equity (b)

     2,658,966        2,694,908          2,702,700   

Debt-to-capitalization ratio (a) / ((a)+(b))

     47.9     40.7       44.2


NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Barrel Data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Segment Data:

        

Storage:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     693,781        684,982        657,384        663,339   

Throughput revenues

   $ 19,597      $ 19,119      $ 36,645      $ 36,946   

Storage lease revenues

     119,947        109,690        239,674        218,495   
                                

Total revenues

     139,544        128,809        276,319        255,441   

Operating expenses

     74,895        66,955        141,844        132,033   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     21,801        18,989        42,931        37,655   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 42,848      $ 42,865      $ 91,544      $ 85,753   
                                

Transportation:

        

Refined products pipelines throughput (barrels/day)

     501,948        533,979        502,277        530,678   

Crude oil pipelines throughput (barrels/day)

     283,603        398,518        297,159        380,975   
                                

Total throughput (barrels/day)

     785,551        932,497        799,436        911,653   

Revenues

   $ 71,562      $ 76,958      $ 144,572      $ 152,220   

Operating expenses

     28,679        29,543        54,585        58,296   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     12,720        12,680        25,427        25,432   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 30,163      $ 34,735      $ 64,560      $ 68,492   
                                

Asphalt and fuels marketing:

        

Product sales

   $ 1,390,318      $ 929,990      $ 2,430,386      $ 1,688,920   

Cost of product sales

     1,274,966        847,065        2,276,039        1,573,799   
                                

Gross margin

     115,352        82,925        154,347        115,121   

Operating expenses

     37,664        30,298        71,644        65,349   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     5,535        5,075        10,432        10,116   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 72,153      $ 47,552      $ 72,271      $ 39,656   
                                

Consolidation and intersegment eliminations:

        

Revenues

   $ (12,240   $ (10,816   $ (27,477   $ (26,111

Cost of product sales

     (5,518     (4,477     (14,224     (11,990

Operating expenses

     (6,612     (6,853     (13,208     (14,398
                                

Total

   $ (110   $ 514      $ (45   $ 277   
                                

Consolidated Information:

        

Revenues

   $ 1,589,184      $ 1,124,941      $ 2,823,800      $ 2,070,470   

Cost of product sales

     1,269,448        842,588        2,261,815        1,561,809   

Operating expenses

     134,626        119,943        254,865        241,280   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     40,056        36,744        78,790        73,203   
                                

Segment operating income

     145,054        125,666        228,330        194,178   

General and administrative expenses

     26,119        22,195        52,102        49,464   

Other depreciation and amortization expense

     1,584        1,441        3,146        2,911   
                                

Consolidated operating income

   $ 117,351      $ 102,030      $ 173,082      $ 141,803   
                                


NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Unit Data)

Notes:

1. NuStar Energy L.P. utilizes two financial measures, EBITDA and distributable cash flow, which are not defined in United States generally accepted accounting principles. Management uses these financial measures because they are widely accepted financial indicators used by investors to compare partnership performance. In addition, management believes that these measures provide investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of the partnership’s assets and the cash that the business is generating. Neither EBITDA nor distributable cash flow are intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor are they presented as an alternative to net income. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and distributable cash flow:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended June
30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 92,605      $ 99,422      $ 121,121      $ 119,125   

Plus interest expense, net

     20,622        18,890        41,079        37,476   

Plus income tax expense

     5,167        636        8,814        5,436   

Plus depreciation and amortization expense

     41,640        38,185        81,936        76,114   
                                

EBITDA

     160,034        157,133        252,950        238,151   

Less equity earnings from joint ventures

     (2,010     (2,102     (4,398     (5,117

Less interest expense, net

     (20,622     (18,890     (41,079     (37,476

Less reliability capital expenditures

     (18,145     (12,131     (26,153     (24,486

Less income tax expense

     (5,167     (636     (8,814     (5,436

Plus distributions from joint venture

     3,806        2,650        6,729        5,050   

Plus other non-cash items

     5,093        —          5,093        —     

Mark-to-market impact on hedge transactions (a)

     7,186        (8,903     1,226        (21,516
                                

Distributable cash flow

   $ 130,175      $ 117,121      $ 185,554      $ 149,170   

EBITDA

   $ 160,034      $ 157,133      $ 252,950      $ 238,151   

EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interest

     164        —          286        —     
                                

EBITDA attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.

   $ 159,870      $ 157,133      $ 252,664      $ 238,151   

Distributable cash flow

   $ 130,175      $ 117,121      $ 185,554      $ 149,170   

Distributable cash flow attributable to noncontrolling interest

     190        —          301        —     
                                

Distributable cash flow attributable to NuStar Energy L.P.

   $ 129,985      $ 117,121      $ 185,253      $ 149,170   

General partner’s interest in distributable cash flow

     10,590        9,945        20,750        19,211   
                                

Limited partners’ interest in distributable cash flow

   $ 119,395      $ 107,176      $ 164,503      $ 129,959   
                                

Distributable cash flow per limited partner unit

   $ 1.85      $ 1.72      $ 2.55      $ 2.10   

 

(a) Distributable cash flow excludes the impact of unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses which arise from valuing certain derivative contracts that hedge a portion of our inventory but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. The gain or loss associated with these contracts is realized in distributable cash flow when the contracts are settled.