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8-K - 8-K - Niska Gas Storage Partners LLCa13-12010_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2013 and Declares Quarterly Distribution

 

HOUSTON, TEXAS — May 9, 2013 - Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (NYSE:NKA) (“Niska” or “the Company”) reported today financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2013. The Company also provided guidance for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 as well as an update on its current business environment and outlook.

 

Financial Results

 

Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) was $181.7 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, compared to $136.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.  Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was $77.7 million compared to $55.0 million in the same period last year.  Cash Available for Distribution (as defined below) was $117.1 million and $61.9 million in the fiscal year and quarter ended March 31, 2013, compared to $63.7 million and $38.7 million in the respective periods last year. Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution for the fiscal year and quarter ended March 31, 2013 include benefits of $43.1 million  and $25.3 million, respectively, related to inventory write-downs recorded in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012.  Excluding the benefits of the inventory write-downs, Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 were $138.6 million and $74.0 million, respectively.  Niska’s net losses for the fiscal year and quarter ended March 31, 2013 were $43.6 million ($0.63 per unit) and $1.3 million ($0.02 per unit), compared to a net loss of $165.8 million ($2.39 per unit) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and net earnings of $15.6 million ($0.22 per unit) in the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

 

Operations and Outlook

 

“Fiscal 2013 was a year of significant accomplishments for Niska,” said Simon Dupéré, President and Chief Executive Officer, “During the year we created a platform for future growth with a number of notable successes:

 

·                  Delivered Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow at the high end of our guidance range;

·                  Completed an equity restructuring that included the cancellation of our subordinated units, effective April 2, 2013;

·                  Expanded capacity at our AECO HUB TM by 4 billion cubic feet (“Bcf”), which expanded our total capacity to 225.5 Bcf;

·                  Applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) for an expansion of up to an additional 25 Bcf of storage capacity at our Wild Goose facility which would bring our total capacity at the facility to 75 Bcf;

·                  Liquidated the remaining $50 million of excess working capital identified in the fiscal 2012 action plan; and

·                  Obtained Energy and Resources Conservation Board (“ERCB”) approval for a potential gas storage facility in Alberta and made significant progress in evaluating the potential use of our Starks development project in Louisiana as a liquids storage facility for natural gas liquids or crude oil.”

 

“In fiscal 2013, we achieved financial performance at the high end of our guidance of Adjusted EBITDA of $130 million to $140 million and Cash Available for Distribution of $65 million to $75 million.  Our equity restructuring, completed on April 2, 2013, now positions our common unitholders to share immediately in any distribution increases.  The elimination of the subordinated units also enhances Niska’s access to equity capital markets, if required.  In addition, the operational progress we made on our AECO expansion, CPUC application at Wild Goose and evaluation of our Sundance and Starks projects creates the potential for future earnings growth.”

 

Mr. Dupéré continued, “As we enter fiscal 2014, we continue to face a challenging natural gas storage market environment.  Extremely cold weather in late winter pushed near-term natural gas prices to their highest levels since 2011 and created an extremely narrow natural gas storage spread.  However, our approach to capacity management enabled us to lock-in significant fee-based revenues prior to these events.  Assuming that market

 



 

conditions fall within our range of expectations, we currently estimate Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2014 to be in the range of $125 million to $135 million and Cash Available for Distribution to be in the range of $60 million to $70 million, respectively. Our anticipated distribution coverage ratio is in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 times.  Subject to CPUC approval, we also plan to add low-cost capacity at our Wild Goose facility.  In addition, we will allocate $50 million of excess working capital to higher-value opportunities, including the potential for additional purchases of our 8.875% Senior Notes, organic growth opportunities, or potential acquisitions.”

 

Distributions

 

Niska today announced a cash distribution of $0.35 per common unit. The distribution will be payable on Thursday, May 23, 2013 to common unitholders of record at the close of business on Monday, May 20, 2013. This distribution represents the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per common unit on an annualized basis, as set forth in Niska`s operating agreement and is unchanged from the preceding quarter. As noted above, Niska eliminated its subordinated units effective April 2, 2013.

 

Earnings Call

 

Niska will host a conference call detailing its quarterly results on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:00 a.m. CDT). This call will be webcast by Thomson Reuters and can be accessed at Niska’s website at www.niskapartners.com.

 

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

 

Primary Dial-In:

1-877-703-6108

Secondary Dial-In:

1-857-244-7307

Access Code:

93153445

 

A telephonic replay can be accessed until midnight, May 16, 2013 at the following numbers:

 

Primary Dial-In:

1-888-286-8010

Secondary Dial-In:

1-617-801-6888

Access Code:

83362275

 

In addition, an electronic replay and PDF transcript will be available on Niska’s 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 HubTM 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 225.5 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. Our estimates of future Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution, as well as our expectation regarding expansion capital expenditures for our fiscal year, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Among these risks and uncertainties are (1) changes in general

 



 

economic conditions; (2) our level of exposure to the market value of natural gas storage services could adversely affect our revenues and cash available to make distributions; (3) competitive conditions in our industry; (4) actions taken by third-party operators, processors and transporters; (5) changes in the availability and cost of capital; (6) operating hazards, natural disasters, weather-related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control; (7) the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; (8) the effects of future litigation; and (9) other factors and uncertainties inherent in the development and operation of natural gas storage facilities. Other factors that are not described that are unknown or unpredictable could also have a material adverse effect on future results.  For further discussion of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Niska’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. 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, loss on extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses, inventory impairment write-downs, gains and losses on asset dispositions, asset impairments (including goodwill) and other income.  Niska defines Cash Available for Distribution as Adjusted EBITDA reduced by interest expense (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), income taxes paid, maintenance capital expenditures and other income.  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 Niska’s assets, operations and return on capital without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

·                                          the ability of Niska’s assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on its indebtedness and make distributions to its 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.  This press release contains forward-looking estimates of Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. Reconciliations to GAAP net earnings are not provided for these forward-looking estimates because GAAP net earnings for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 are not accessible. Niska is able to estimate interest expense, income tax benefits, depreciation and amortization, inventory write-downs, impairments of assets (including goodwill), losses on extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses and other income.  However, the Company is unable to predict future unrealized risk management gains and losses and these amounts could be material, such that the amount of net earnings would vary substantially from the amount of projected Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution.

 

Niska believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by Niska’s management. Further, Niska believes that these measures are useful to investors because they are one of the bases for comparing Niska’s operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations, although Niska’s measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

 



 

This information is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Under rules applicable to publicly-traded partnerships, our distributions to non-U.S. unitholders are subject to withholding tax at the highest effective applicable rate to the extent attributable to income that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Given the uncertainty at the time of making distributions regarding the amount of any distribution that is attributable to income that is so effectively connected, we intend to treat all of our distributions as attributable to our U.S. operations, and as a result, the entire distribution will be subject to withholding.

 

Contact

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC
Investor Relations:
Brandon Tran, Investor Relations Associate
(403) 513-8600

 



 

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

REVENUES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee-based revenue

 

$

44,011

 

$

38,452

 

$

163,325

 

$

146,053

 

Optimization, net

 

1,095

 

18,801

 

(22,630

)

122,528

 

Total revenue

 

45,106

 

57,253

 

140,695

 

268,581

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES (INCOME)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

7,285

 

9,097

 

32,535

 

43,978

 

General and administrative

 

12,231

 

8,104

 

38,562

 

28,582

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,513

 

12,210

 

50,409

 

46,131

 

Interest

 

16,551

 

16,977

 

67,010

 

74,630

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

250,000

 

(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(1,169

)

599

 

4,861

 

(Gain) loss on impairment and sale of assets

 

(145

)

5,342

 

14,927

 

5,342

 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses

 

(381

)

(228

)

(694

)

682

 

Other expenses (income)

 

71

 

(119

)

(110

)

(167

)

 

 

46,125

 

50,213

 

203,238

 

454,040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

(1,018

)

7,040

 

(62,543

)

(185,459

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

259

 

(8,602

)

(18,942

)

(19,687

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(1,277

)

$

15,642

 

$

(43,601

)

$

(165,772

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) allocated to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing member

 

$

(25

)

$

310

 

$

(863

)

$

(3,283

)

Common unitholders

 

$

(632

)

$

7,743

 

$

(21,584

)

$

(82,063

)

Subordinated unitholder

 

$

(620

)

$

7,589

 

$

(21,154

)

$

(80,426

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.22

 

$

(0.63

)

$

(2.39

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.22

 

$

(0.63

)

$

(2.39

)

 



 

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

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(1,277

)

$

15,642

 

$

(43,601

)

$

(165,772

)

Add (deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

16,551

 

16,977

 

67,010

 

74,630

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

258

 

(8,602

)

(18,942

)

(19,687

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

10,513

 

12,210

 

50,409

 

46,131

 

Unrealized risk management losses (gains)

 

52,112

 

(8,485

)

89,851

 

(83,193

)

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

 

 

250,000

 

(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(1,169

)

599

 

4,861

 

(Gain) loss on impairment and sale of assets

 

(145

)

5,342

 

14,927

 

5,342

 

Foreign exchange (gains) losses

 

(380

)

(228

)

(694

)

682

 

Other expense (income)

 

72

 

(119

)

(110

)

(167

)

Inventory impairment write-down

 

 

23,400

 

22,281

 

23,400

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

77,704

 

$

54,967

 

$

181,730

 

$

136,228

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest expense, net

 

15,717

 

16,089

 

63,599

 

69,856

 

Income taxes (received) paid

 

(684

)

(118

)

(722

)

988

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

726

 

422

 

1,833

 

1,858

 

Other expense (income)

 

72

 

(119

)

(110

)

(167

)

Cash available for distribution

 

$

61,873

 

$

38,694

 

$

117,130

 

$

63,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee-based revenue

 

44,011

 

38,452

 

163,325

 

146,053

 

Proprietary optimization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized optimization, net

 

53,207

 

33,717

 

89,525

 

62,735

 

Unrealized risk management (losses) gains

 

(52,112

)

8,485

 

(89,874

)

83,193

 

Inventory impairment write-down

 

 

(23,400

)

(22,281

)

(23,400

)

 

 

1,095

 

18,801

 

(22,630

)

122,528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

45,106

 

$

57,254

 

$

140,695

 

$

268,581

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total realized revenues

 

$

97,218

 

$

72,169

 

$

252,850

 

$

208,788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance

 

$

726

 

$

422

 

$

1,833

 

$

1,858

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

54

 

8,766

 

22,631

 

53,836

 

Total

 

$

780

 

$

9,188

 

$

24,464

 

$

55,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective working gas capacity (Bcf)

 

225.5

 

221.5

 

225.5

 

221.5

 

 

 

 

As of March 31,

 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet data : 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

10,610

 

$

13,342

 

Inventory

 

$

83,416

 

$

230,739

 

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

$

65,000

 

$

150,000

 

Total debt excluding revolving credit facility

 

$

643,790

 

$

643,790

 

Members’ equity

 

$

597,377

 

$

690,390