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Table of Contents

 

 

 

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 September 30, 2015

 

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: 001-34733

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

27-1855740
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification number)

 

 

 

170 Radnor Chester Road, Suite 150
Radnor, PA

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

19087
(Zip Code)

 

(484) 367-7432

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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. Yes x  No o

 

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). Yes x  No o

 

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.:

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o  No x

 

As of November 5, 2015, there were 37,988,724 Common Units outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This report contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which typically are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future—including statements relating to general views about future operating results—are forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include changes in general economic conditions, competitive conditions in our industry, actions taken by third-party operators, processors and transporters, changes in the availability and cost of capital, operating hazards, natural disasters, weather-related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control, the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations, the effects of future litigation, and certain factors described in Part II, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (“Annual Report”) and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2015 (“Q1 Quarterly Report”), and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

i



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

1

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three and Six Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

1

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015

2

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

4

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

5

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

24

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

34

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

35

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

35

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

35

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

36

 

ii



Table of Contents

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per unit amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee-based revenue

 

$

12,652

 

$

15,633

 

$

26,914

 

$

58,387

 

Optimization, net

 

4,684

 

(5,043

)

(333

)

7,580

 

 

 

17,336

 

10,590

 

26,581

 

65,967

 

Expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

8,626

 

12,062

 

16,583

 

23,015

 

General and administrative

 

6,730

 

6,205

 

17,960

 

16,279

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

14,805

 

16,012

 

25,539

 

65,978

 

Interest

 

12,965

 

12,735

 

25,706

 

25,047

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

240

 

20

 

240

 

6

 

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

79

 

(262

)

135

 

(312

)

Other income

 

(6

)

(2

)

(11

)

(3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

(26,103

)

(36,180

)

(59,571

)

(64,043

)

Income tax benefit

 

(6,494

)

(7,348

)

(2,555

)

(16,240

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

(19,609

)

$

(28,832

)

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) allocated to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing Member

 

$

(353

)

$

(538

)

$

(1,027

)

$

(896

)

Common unitholders

 

$

(19,256

)

$

(28,294

)

$

(55,989

)

$

(46,907

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(0.51

)

$

(0.78

)

$

(1.47

)

$

(1.30

)

 

(See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

1



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2015

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18,829

 

$

11,699

 

Margin deposits

 

18,674

 

13,285

 

Trade receivables

 

1,376

 

2,598

 

Accrued receivables

 

21,838

 

44,140

 

Natural gas inventory

 

111,117

 

136,295

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

3,078

 

3,788

 

Short-term risk management assets

 

31,639

 

41,600

 

 

 

206,551

 

253,405

 

Long-term assets

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

 

798,820

 

820,467

 

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization

 

38,726

 

41,829

 

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization

 

9,516

 

11,001

 

Other assets

 

3,087

 

3,329

 

Long-term risk management assets

 

28,691

 

30,928

 

 

 

878,840

 

907,554

 

TOTAL

 

$

1,085,391

 

$

1,160,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Obligations under credit facilities

 

$

173,500

 

$

193,500

 

Current portion of obligations under capital lease

 

1,360

 

1,339

 

Trade payables

 

652

 

885

 

Current portion of deferred taxes

 

2,334

 

2,334

 

Deferred revenue

 

6,715

 

6,669

 

Accrued liabilities

 

57,810

 

47,686

 

Short-term risk management liabilities

 

25,825

 

25,560

 

 

 

268,196

 

277,973

 

Long-term liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term risk management liabilities

 

19,082

 

20,833

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

2,412

 

2,308

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

1,165

 

1,270

 

Deferred income taxes

 

84,620

 

88,317

 

Obligations under capital lease

 

8,902

 

9,587

 

Long-term debt

 

575,000

 

575,000

 

 

 

691,181

 

697,315

 

Members’ equity (deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

Common units

 

(140,388

)

(81,805

)

Managing Member’s interest

 

266,402

 

267,476

 

 

 

126,014

 

185,671

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 2)

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

$

1,085,391

 

$

1,160,959

 

 

(See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

171

 

(66

)

Deferred income tax benefit

 

(3,738

)

(16,249

)

Unrealized risk management losses

 

10,712

 

151

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

25,539

 

65,978

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

1,872

 

1,825

 

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

 

240

 

(14

)

Non-cash compensation

 

713

 

1,243

 

Write-down of inventory

 

 

10,500

 

Changes in non-cash working capital

 

54,054

 

(122,901

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

32,547

 

(107,336

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment expenditures

 

(881

)

(1,698

)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 

14

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(881

)

(1,684

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from credit facility drawings

 

132,100

 

498,500

 

Repayments of credit facilities

 

(152,100

)

(374,500

)

Payments of financing costs

 

(388

)

(857

)

Repayments of obligations under capital lease

 

(665

)

(644

)

Distributions to unitholders

 

(3,354

)

(13,737

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(24,407

)

108,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of translation on foreign currency cash and cash equivalents

 

(129

)

(112

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

7,130

 

(370

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

11,699

 

7,704

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

18,829

 

$

7,334

 

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosures (Note 11)

 

(See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Managing

 

 

 

 

 

Common

 

Member

 

 

 

 

 

Units

 

Interest

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, April 1, 2014

 

$

279,604

 

$

274,536

 

$

554,140

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(46,907

)

(896

)

(47,803

)

Distributions to unitholders

 

(26,159

)

(507

)

(26,666

)

Issuance of common units

 

12,928

 

 

12,928

 

Non-cash equity contribution from parent

 

480

 

10

 

490

 

Non-cash compensation

 

739

 

14

 

753

 

Balance, September 30, 2014

 

$

220,685

 

$

273,157

 

$

493,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, April 1, 2015

 

$

(81,805

)

$

267,476

 

$

185,671

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(55,989

)

(1,027

)

(57,016

)

Distributions to unitholders

 

(3,294

)

(60

)

(3,354

)

Non-cash compensation

 

700

 

13

 

713

 

Balance, September 30, 2015

 

$

(140,388

)

$

266,402

 

$

126,014

 

 

(See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

 

Organization

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (“Niska Partners” or the “Company”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited liability company (NYSE:NKA) which independently owns and operates natural gas storage assets in North America. The Company operates the AECO Hub™, which consists of the Countess and Suffield gas storage facilities in Alberta, Canada and the Wild Goose and Salt Plains gas storage facilities in California and Oklahoma, respectively. Each of these facilities markets natural gas storage services in addition to optimizing storage capacity with proprietary gas purchases.

 

In June 2015, the Company and Niska Gas Storage Management LLC, its Managing Member, entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and its institutional partners (“Brookfield”). Under the terms of the agreement (“Merger Agreement”), Brookfield will acquire all of the Company’s outstanding common units for $4.225 per common unit in cash and will acquire the Managing Member and the Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) in the Company (the “Transaction”). The closing of the Transaction is expected to occur in calendar year 2016 and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”). A period provided for in the Merger Agreement for unsolicited consideration of alternative acquisition proposals expired on July 29, 2015.

 

The Merger Agreement, which includes a commitment by the Company not to make cash distributions until the earlier of the date of closing or termination of the Transaction, was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (“the Company Board”) and the Conflicts Committee of its Board of Directors (the “Conflicts Committee”). Affiliates of Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund II, L.P. and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund III, L.P. (collectively, the “Carlyle/Riverstone Funds”) delivered a written consent approving the Transaction. No additional unitholder action is required to approve the Transaction.

 

In connection with the entry into the Merger Agreement, Brookfield agreed to lend up to $50.0 million to the Company under a short-term credit facility to be used for working capital purposes (see Note 3).

 

At September 30, 2015, Niska Partners had 37,988,724 common units outstanding. Of this amount, 20,488,525 common units are owned by the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds through Niska Holdings, L.P. and Niska Sponsor Holdings Cȯȯpertief (“Sponsor Holdings”), U.A., along with a 1.80% Managing Member’s interest in the Company and all of the Company’s IDRs. Including all of the common units owned by the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds, along with the 1.80% Managing Member’s interest, the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds have a 54.76% ownership interest in the Company excluding the IDRs, which are a variable interest. The remaining 17,500,199 common units, representing a 45.24% ownership interest excluding the IDRs, are owned by the public.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accounting policies applied in these unaudited interim financial statements are consistent with the policies applied in the consolidated financial statements of Niska Partners and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation (continued)

 

Basis of Presentation (continued)

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Niska Partners, which are unaudited except for the balance sheet at March 31, 2015 which is derived from audited financial statements, include all adjustments necessary to present fairly Niska Partners’ financial position as of September 30, 2015, the results of Niska Partners’ operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, along with its cash flows for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily representative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. The optimization of proprietary gas purchases is seasonal with the majority of the revenues and costs associated with the physical sale of proprietary gas generally occurring during the third and fourth fiscal quarters, when demand for natural gas is typically the strongest.

 

Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and notes normally included with financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Niska Partners and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

 

2. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments

 

Niska Partners has entered into non-cancelable operating leases for temporary pressure-support gas, office space, land-use rights at its operating facilities, storage capacity at other facilities, equipment and vehicles used in its operations. The remaining lease terms expire between November 2015 and February 2058 and require the payment of taxes, insurance and maintenance by the lessee.

 

The Company’s purchase obligations arising as a result of forward purchase contracts in place at September 30, 2015 were as follows:

 

For the fiscal year ending:

 

 

 

2016

 

$

1,062,712

 

2017

 

365,376

 

2018

 

331,561

 

2019

 

13,812

 

2020

 

5,547

 

2021 and thereafter

 

901

 

Total future purchase commitments

 

$

1,779,909

 

 

Purchase obligations consisted of forward physical and financial commitments related to future purchases of natural gas. As the Company economically hedges substantially all of its natural gas purchases, there are forward sales that offset these commitments which are not included in the above table. As at September 30, 2015, forward physical and financial sales for all future periods totaled $1,772.8 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

2. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

Contingencies

 

In June 2015, the Company engaged the services of certain consultants for consideration of $5.8 million, the payment of which is contingent upon the successful closing of the Transaction.

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company was under review by Canadian tax authorities for withholding taxes paid on behalf of the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds and the investors of the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds for earnings distributions made prior to the Company’s initial public offering. The Company received a notice from the Canadian tax authorities of a proposed assessment equivalent to $10.0 million and estimates the probable amount payable to range from $5.7 million to the proposed assessment of $10.0 million. The Company has recorded the minimum of the range, or $5.7 million, as a liability to the Canadian tax authorities. Niska Holdings L.P., a company held by the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds and the parent of Sponsor Holdings, guaranteed the repayment of any amounts owing with respect to this matter to the Company. Accordingly, as the Company believes collection of any amounts receivable is reasonably assured, it recorded a corresponding receivable equivalent to $5.7 million.

 

Subsequent to the announcement of the proposed acquisition of the Company by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. and its institutional partners (the “Brookfield Merger”) on June 14, 2015, alleged unitholders of Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (the “Plaintiffs”) filed four class action lawsuits against Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, Niska Gas Storage Management LLC (“Management Co”), Niska Sponsor Holdings Coöperatief U.A. (“Swan Sponsor”) (collectively “Niska”), Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (“Brookfield”), Swan Holdings LP (“Parent”), Swan Merger Sub LLC (“Merger Sub”), and the members of Niska’s board of directors (collectively with Niska, the “Defendants”) in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. These lawsuits are styled (a) Eddie Barringer vs. Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, et al. (Case No. 11210); (b) David Raul vs. Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, et al. (Case No. 11220); (c) Nathan Peterson vs. Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, et al., (Case No. 11234); and (d) Fred Pappey vs. William H. Shea, Jr. et al., (Case No. 11238) (collectively, the “Litigation”). The above styled lawsuits have been consolidated for all purposes an captioned In re Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC Public Unitholders Litigation, CONSOL. C.A. No. 11210-CB (the “Action”).

 

The Plaintiffs allege causes of action challenging aspects of the Brookfield Merger, including that Niska’s board of directors breached their alleged fiduciary duties to Niska’s unitholders and that Niska and Brookfield aided and abetted the board of director’s breaches of alleged fiduciary duties. In general, the Plaintiffs allege the Brookfield Merger (a) provides inadequate consideration to Niska unitholders; (b) contains contractual terms (e.g. the no-solicitation, information rights, matching rights, and termination fee provisions) that dissuade other potential merger partners from making competing proposals; and (c) is not subject to a “majority of the minority” voting requirement.

 

Based on these allegations, the Plaintiffs request relief enjoining Niska from proceeding with or consummating the Brookfield Merger. To the extent that the Brookfield Merger is consummated before injunctive relief is granted, the Plaintiffs seek to have the Brookfield Merger rescinded. Plaintiffs also seek damages and experts’ and attorneys’ fees.

 

The Defendants’ date to answer, move to dismiss, or otherwise respond to the Litigation has not yet been set as Plaintiffs’ counsel has advised that Plaintiffs will be moving to consolidate the Litigation into one action and file a consolidated amended complaint. At that point, the parties will negotiate a schedule for Defendants to answer, move to dismiss, or otherwise respond. The Defendants believe the Litigation is without merit and intend to vigorously defend against it.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are also subject to other legal and tax proceedings and actions arising in the normal course of business. While the outcome of these proceedings and actions cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of Management that the resolution of such proceedings and actions will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

3. Debt

 

Niska Partners’ debt obligations consist of the following:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes due 2019

 

$

575,000

 

$

575,000

 

Revolving credit facilities

 

153,500

 

193,500

 

Short-term credit facility

 

20,000

 

 

Total

 

748,500

 

768,500

 

Less portion classified as current

 

(173,500

)

(193,500

)

 

 

$

575,000

 

$

575,000

 

 

Senior Notes due 2019

 

The Company has senior unsecured notes due 2019 (the “6.50% Senior Notes” or “Notes”) which were issued through its subsidiaries Niska Gas Storage Finance Corp. and Niska Gas Storage Canada ULC (together, the “Issuers”). The 6.50% Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations which are: (1) effectively junior to Niska Partners’ secured obligations to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt; (2) equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company; and (3) senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of Niska Partners. The 6.50% Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Niska Partners and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a senior unsecured basis, and are: (1) effectively junior to each guarantor’s secured obligations; (2) equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of each guarantor; and (3) senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of each guarantor.

 

Interest on the 6.50% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on October 1 and April 1, and the Notes will mature on April 1, 2019. As of September 30, 2015, the estimated fair market value of the Notes was $523.3 million.

 

Prior to October 1, 2016, the Company has the option to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 6.50%. Senior Notes using net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a price of 106.5% plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company may also redeem all or a part of the 6.50% Senior Notes at redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 103.25% during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1, 2016, 101.625% during the twelve-month period beginning on October 1, 2017 and at par beginning on October 1, 2018, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemptions or sinking fund payments with respect to the 6.50% Senior Notes.

 

The indenture governing the 6.50% Senior Notes limits Niska Partners’ ability to pay distributions in respect of, repurchase or pay dividends on its membership interests (or other capital stock) or make other restricted payments. However, it does not prohibit certain types or amounts of restricted payments, including a general basket of $75.0 million of restricted payments.

 

The indenture governing the Notes contains certain other covenants that, among other things, limit Niska Partners and certain of its subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

·                  incur additional debt or issue certain capital stock;

 

·                  pay dividends on, repurchase or make distributions in respect of its capital stock or repurchase or retire subordinated indebtedness;

 

8



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

3. Debt (continued)

 

Senior Notes due 2019 (continued)

 

·                  make certain investments;

 

·                  sell assets;

 

·                  create liens;

 

·                  consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets;

 

·                  enter into certain transactions with its affiliates; and

 

·                  permit restrictions on the ability of its subsidiaries to make distributions.

 

The occurrence of events involving the Company or certain of its subsidiaries may constitute an event of default under the indenture. Such events include failure to pay interest, principal, or the premium on the notes when due; failure to comply with the merger, asset sale or change of control covenants; certain defaults on other indebtedness; and certain insolvency proceedings. In the case of an event of default, the holders of the notes are entitled to remedies, including the acceleration of payment of the notes by request of the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes, and any action by the trustee to collect payment of principal, interest or premium in arrears.

 

Upon the occurrence of a change of control together with a decrease in the ratings of the 6.50% Senior Notes by either Moody’s or S&P by one or more gradations within 90 days of the change of control event, Niska Partners must offer to repurchase the Notes at 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

 

The Company’s ability to repurchase the 6.50% Senior Notes upon a change of control will be limited by the terms of its debt agreements, including its asset-based revolving credit facilities. In addition, the Company cannot assure that it will have the financial resources to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control.

 

Revolving Credit Facilities

 

Niska Partners, through its subsidiaries, Niska Gas Storage US, LLC and AECO Gas Storage Partnership, has senior secured asset-based revolving credit facilities, consisting of a U.S. revolving credit facility and a Canadian revolving credit facility, both of which are governed by a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement” or the “$400 million Credit Agreement”). Each revolving credit facility matures on June 29, 2016.

 

As of September 30, 2015, $153.5 million in borrowings, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.95% (March 31, 2015 - $193.5 million of borrowings had a weighted average interest rate of 3.98%), were outstanding under the credit facilities. Amounts committed in support of letters of credit totaled $33.7 million at September 30, 2015 (March 31, 2015 - $5.8 million). Any borrowings under the $400 million Credit Agreement are classified as current.

 

The Credit Agreement provides that Niska Partners may borrow only up to the lesser of the level of the then current borrowing base or the committed maximum borrowing capacity, which is currently $400.0 million. As of September 30, 2015, the borrowing base collateral totaled $261.9 million.

9



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

3. Debt (continued)

 

Revolving Credit Facilities (continued)

 

The Credit Agreement also includes a covenant that requires the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio (“FCCR”) of 1.1 to 1.0 at the end of each fiscal quarter when excess availability under both revolving credit facilities is less than 15% of the aggregate amount of availability under both revolving credit facilities. When the Company’s FCCR is below 1.1 to 1.0, the Company will be unable to borrow the last 15% of availability under the revolving credit facilities without triggering an event of default. The Credit Agreement provides that, upon the occurrence of certain events of default, including a covenant default, the Company’s obligations thereunder may be accelerated and the lending commitments terminated.

 

As of September 30, 2015, Niska Partners was in compliance with all covenant requirements under the indenture governing the 6.50% Senior Notes and the $400 million Credit Agreement. However, Niska Partners’ FCCR was 0.6 to 1.0. Therefore, the Company is subject to the above restriction limiting the last 15% of availability under the revolving credit facilities. Accordingly the availability under the borrowing base at September 30, 2015 has been reduced by 15%, to $222.6 million. As of September 30, 2015, Niska Partners’ availability under the Credit Agreement was $32.4 million.

 

The $400 million Credit Agreement contains limitations on Niska Partners’ ability to incur additional debt or to pay distributions in respect of, repurchase or pay distributions on its membership interests (or other capital stock) or make other restricted payments.

 

Niska Partners has no independent assets or operations other than its investments in its subsidiaries. Both the 6.50% Senior Notes and the $400 million Credit Agreement have been jointly and severally guaranteed by Niska Partners and substantially all of its subsidiaries. Niska Partners’ subsidiaries have no significant restrictions on their ability to pay distributions or make loans to Niska Partners and have no restricted assets as of September 30, 2015.

 

Short-term Credit Facility

 

On July 28, 2015, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Brookfield for a $50.0 million short term credit facility (the “Short-term Credit Facility”), which may be borrowed subject to certain customary conditions. As of September 30, 2015, the outstanding amount of $20.0 million under the Short-term Credit Facility bears interest at an annual rate of 10%, which is payable in cash on a quarterly basis, unless the Company elects to pay such interest in-kind by capitalizing accrued interest into the principal amount.

 

Amounts borrowed under the Short-term Credit Facility may be prepaid without premium and penalty, and all amounts due and owing under the Short-term Credit Facility will be payable on the earlier of January 28, 2017 or the first to occur of (a) the acceleration of the loans during the continuance of an event of default under the Short-term Credit Facility, (b) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (c) the date that is 90 days after the date on which the required lenders have determined that the acquisition of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to the Merger Agreement cannot or will not be consummated for any reason, including without limitation regulatory matters or legal bars, and (d) any uncured breach of any other agreement between the Company and certain affiliates, on the one hand, and any lenders or any affiliate thereof, on the other hand, which results in termination of such agreement.

 

The Company’s obligations under the Short-term Credit Facility are guaranteed by its parent, Sponsor Holdings, and the Company’s subsidiaries which guarantee the obligations under its $400 million Credit Agreement. Such obligations are also secured by a pledge by Sponsor Holdings over its equity interests in the Company and Niska Gas Storage Management LLC. The guarantee and pledge by Sponsor Holdings will terminate to the extent the Company obtains an amendment to the $400 million Credit Agreement which permits the Company and its subsidiaries to grant a security interest over their assets to the lenders under the Short-term Credit Facility, or such earlier date as the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are consummated.

 

The Short-term Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, with the Company permitted to enter into activities to the extent permitted by both the Merger Agreement and the Company’s $400 million Credit Agreement. The Company is also subject to customary events of default, substantially consistent with its $400 million Credit Agreement.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

4. Risk Management Activities and Financial Instruments

 

Risk Management Overview

 

Niska Partners has exposure to commodity price, the cost of compliance with environmental regulations, foreign currency, counterparty credit, interest rate and liquidity risks. Risk management activities are tailored to the risks they are designed to mitigate.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

As a result of its natural gas inventory, Niska Partners is exposed to risks associated with changes in price when buying and selling natural gas across future time periods. To manage these risks and reduce variability of cash flows, the Company utilizes a combination of financial and physical derivative contracts, including forwards, futures, swaps and option contracts. The use of these contracts is subject to the Company’s risk management policies. These contracts have not been treated as hedges for financial reporting purposes and therefore changes in fair value are recorded directly in earnings.

 

Forward contracts and futures contracts are agreements to purchase or sell a specific financial instrument or quantity of natural gas at a specified price and date in the future. Niska Partners enters into forward contracts and futures contracts to mitigate the impact of changes in natural gas prices. In addition to cash settlement, exchange traded futures may also be settled by the physical delivery of natural gas.

 

Swap contracts are agreements between two parties to exchange streams of payments over time according to specified terms. Swap contracts require receipt of payment for the notional quantity of the commodity based on the difference between a fixed price and the market price on the settlement date. Niska Partners enters into commodity swaps to mitigate the impact of changes in natural gas prices.

 

Option contracts are contractual agreements to convey the right, but not the obligation, for the purchaser of the option to buy or sell a specific physical or notional amount of a commodity at a fixed price, either at a fixed date or at any time within a specified period. Niska Partners enters into option agreements to mitigate the impact of changes in natural gas prices.

 

To limit its exposure to changes in commodity prices, Niska Partners enters into purchases and sales of natural gas inventory and concurrently matches the volumes in these transactions with offsetting derivative contracts. To comply with its internal risk management policies, Niska Partners is required to limit its exposure of unmatched volumes of proprietary current natural gas inventory to an aggregate overall limit of 8.0 billion cubic feet (“Bcf”). At September 30, 2015, 42.9 Bcf of natural gas inventory was offset with financial contracts, representing 98.0% of total inventory. At March 31, 2015, 47.2 Bcf of natural gas inventory was offset with financial contracts, representing 98.6% of total inventory. As of September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, the volumes of inventories which were economically hedged using each type of contract were:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forwards

 

0.5 Bcf

 

1.5 Bcf

 

Futures

 

42.4 Bcf

 

46.0 Bcf

 

Swaps

 

 

(0.3 Bcf)

 

 

 

42.9 Bcf

 

47.2 Bcf

 

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

4. Risk Management Activities and Financial Instruments (continued)

 

Price Risk Associated with Compliance with Environmental Regulations

 

One of Niska Partners’ operating facilities, the Wild Goose storage facility, is located in California. In 2006, California adopted AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, with a goal of reaching (i) 1990 greenhouse gases (“GHG”) emissions levels by the year 2020; (ii) 80% of 1990 levels by 2050; and (iii) a mandatory emission reporting program. AB 32 required the California Air Resources Board (“ARB”) to develop a scoping plan describing the approach California will take to reduce GHGs to achieve the goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (the “2020 Goal”). The scoping plan was first approved by the ARB in 2008 which identifies a cap-and-trade program as one of the strategies California will employ to meet the 2020 Goal. In 2010, ARB approved that cap and trade program and it came into effect on January 1, 2013.

 

Entities are subject to compliance obligations if they exceed certain ARB-defined emission thresholds. During each year of the program, the ARB issues emission allowances (i.e., the rights to emit GHGs) equal to the amount of GHG emissions allowed for that year. Emitters can obtain allowances from the ARB at quarterly auctions or from third parties or exchanges. Emitters may also satisfy a portion of their compliance obligation through the purchase of offset credits; e.g., credits for GHG reductions achieved by third parties (such as landowners, livestock owners, and farmers) that occur outside the industry sectors covered under the cap through ARB-qualified offset projects such as reforestation or biomass projects. During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, the Company determined that it had exceeded its allowed emissions threshold and became subject to compliance obligations whereby it must purchase allowances or offset credits. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had $0.8 million of accrued emission allowances and offset credits and the Company was exposed to risks associated with changes in the price of credits for GHG reductions.

 

Counterparty Credit Risk

 

Niska Partners is exposed to counterparty credit risk on its trade and accrued accounts receivable and risk management assets. Counterparty credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a customer fails to perform its contractual obligations. Niska Partners engages in transactions for the purchase and sale of products and services with major companies in the energy industry and with industrial, commercial, residential and municipal energy consumers. Credit risk associated with trade accounts receivable is mitigated by the high percentage of investment grade customers, collateral support of receivables and Niska Partners’ ability to take ownership of customer owned natural gas stored in its facilities in the event of non-payment. For the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, no doubtful accounts expense was recognized as a result of receivables deemed to be uncollectible. It is management’s opinion that no allowance for doubtful accounts was required as of September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, respectively, on the Company’s accrued and trade accounts receivable.

 

The Company analyzes the financial condition of counterparties prior to entering into an agreement. Credit limits are established and monitored on an ongoing basis. Management believes, based on its credit policies, that the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows will not be materially affected as a result of non-performance by any single counterparty. Credit risk is assessed prior to transacting with any counterparty and each counterparty is required to maintain an investment grade rating, provide a parental guarantee from an investment grade parent, or provide an alternative method of financial assurance (letter of credit, cash, etc.) to support proposed transactions. In addition, the Company’s tariffs contain provisions that permit it to take title to a customer’s inventory should the customer’s account remain unpaid for an extended period of time. Although the Company relies on a few counterparties for a significant portion of its revenues, one counterparty making up 41.1% and 61.0% of gross revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is a physical natural gas clearing and settlement facility that requires counterparties to post margin deposits equal to 125% of their net position, which reduces the risk of default.

 

Exchange traded futures and options comprise approximately 71.7% of Niska Partners’ commodity risk management assets at September 30, 2015. These exchange traded contracts have minimal credit exposure as the exchanges guarantee that every contract will be margined on a daily basis. In the event of any default, Niska Partners’ account on the exchange would be absorbed by other clearing members. Because every member posts an initial margin, the exchange can protect the exchange members if or when a clearing member defaults.

 

Niska Partners further manages credit exposure by entering into master netting agreements for the majority of non-retail contracts. These master netting agreements provide the Company, in the event of default, the right to offset the counterparty’s rights and obligations.

 

12



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

4. Risk Management Activities and Financial Instruments (continued)

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Niska Partners assesses interest rate risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows. At September 30, 2015, Niska Partners was exposed to interest rate risk resulting from the variable rates associated with its $400 million Credit Agreement of which $153.5 million was drawn.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. Niska Partners continues to manage its liquidity risk by ensuring sufficient cash and credit facilities are available to meet its operating and capital expenditure obligations when due, under both normal and stressed conditions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

Foreign currency risk is created by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. As Niska Partners conducts a portion of its activities in Canadian dollars, earnings and cash flows are subject to currency fluctuations. The performance of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar could positively or negatively affect earnings. Niska Partners is exposed to cash flow risk to the extent that Canadian currency outflows exceed Canadian currency inflows. The Company enters into currency swaps to mitigate the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates. The notional value of currency swaps at September 30, 2015 was $18.2 million (March 31, 2015 - $19.6 million). These contracts expire on various dates from October 1, 2015 through July 1, 2016. Niska Partners has not elected hedge accounting treatment, therefore, changes in fair value are recorded directly in earnings.

 

The following tables show the fair values of Niska Partners’ risk management assets and liabilities at September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015:

 

 

 

Energy

 

Currency

 

 

 

 

 

Contracts

 

Contracts

 

Total

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term risk management assets

 

$

27,782

 

$

3,857

 

$

31,639

 

Long-term risk management assets

 

28,691

 

 

28,691

 

Short-term risk management liabilities

 

(25,384

)

(441

)

(25,825

)

Long-term risk management liabilities

 

(19,082

)

 

(19,082

)

 

 

$

12,007

 

$

3,416

 

$

15,423

 

 

 

 

Energy

 

Currency

 

 

 

 

 

Contracts

 

Contracts

 

Total

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term risk management assets

 

$

39,392

 

$

2,208

 

$

41,600

 

Long-term risk management assets

 

29,647

 

1,281

 

30,928

 

Short-term risk management liabilities

 

(25,560

)

 

(25,560

)

Long-term risk management liabilities

 

(20,512

)

(321

)

(20,833

)

 

 

$

22,967

 

$

3,168

 

$

26,135

 

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

4. Risk Management Activities and Financial Instruments (continued)

 

Information about the Company’s risk management assets and liabilities that had netting or rights of offset arrangements is as follows:

 

 

 

Gross Amounts
Recognized

 

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts
Presented in
the Balance
Sheet

 

Margin
Deposits not
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

161,228

 

$

(104,755

)

$

56,473

 

$

(43,263

)

$

13,210

 

Currency derivatives

 

3,857

 

 

3,857

 

 

3,857

 

Total assets

 

165,085

 

(104,755

)

60,330

 

(43,263

)

17,067

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

149,221

 

(104,755

)

44,466

 

(38,900

)

5,566

 

Currency derivatives

 

441

 

 

441

 

(441

)

 

Total liabilities

 

149,662

 

(104,755

)

44,907

 

(39,341

)

5,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

$

15,423

 

$

 

$

15,423

 

$

(3,922

)

$

11,501

 

 

 

 

Gross Amounts
Recognized

 

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts
Presented in
the Balance
Sheet

 

Margin
Deposits not
Offset in the
Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

148,385

 

$

(79,346

)

$

69,039

 

$

(50,070

)

$

18,969

 

Currency derivatives

 

5,167

 

(1,678

)

3,489

 

 

3,489

 

Total assets

 

153,552

 

(81,024

)

72,528

 

(50,070

)

22,458

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

125,418

 

(79,346

)

46,072

 

(39,338

)

6,734

 

Currency derivatives

 

1,999

 

(1,678

)

321

 

(321

)

 

Total liabilities

 

127,417

 

(81,024

)

46,393

 

(39,659

)

6,734

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

$

26,135

 

$

 

$

26,135

 

$

(10,411

)

$

15,724

 

 

14



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

4. Risk Management Activities and Financial Instruments (continued)

 

The Company expects to recognize risk management assets and liabilities outstanding at September 30, 2015 into net earnings (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) in the fiscal periods as follows:

 

 

 

Energy

 

Currency

 

 

 

 

 

Contracts

 

Contracts

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal year ending March 31, 2016

 

$

3,962

 

$

1,791

 

$

5,753

 

Fiscal year ending March 31, 2017

 

6,426

 

1,625

 

8,051

 

Fiscal year ending March 31, 2018

 

3,233

 

 

3,233

 

Thereafter

 

(1,614

)

 

(1,614

)

 

 

$

12,007

 

$

3,416

 

$

15,423

 

 

Net realized and unrealized optimization gains and losses from the settlement of risk management contracts are summarized as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Classification

 

Energy contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

$

1,911

 

$

10,314

 

$

7,669

 

$

15,079

 

Optimization, net

 

Unrealized

 

(1,617

)

1,293

 

(10,960

)

1,071

 

Optimization, net

 

Currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

305

 

(131

)

1,047

 

1,065

 

Optimization, net

 

Unrealized

 

1,236

 

(295

)

248

 

(1,224

)

Optimization, net

 

 

 

$

1,835

 

$

11,181

 

$

(1,996

)

$

15,991

 

 

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

5. Fair Value Measurements

 

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, margin deposits, trade receivables, accrued receivables, trade payables and accrued liabilities reported on the unaudited consolidated balance sheet approximate fair value.

 

Fair values have been determined as follows for Niska Partners’ assets and liabilities that were accounted for or disclosed at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

 

$

56,473

 

$

 

$

56,473

 

Currency derivatives

 

 

3,857

 

 

3,857

 

Total assets

 

$

 

$

60,330

 

$

 

$

60,330

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

 

$

44,466

 

$

 

$

44,466

 

Currency derivatives

 

 

441

 

 

441

 

Long-term debt

 

 

523,250

 

 

523,250

 

Total liabilities

 

$

 

$

568,157

 

$

 

$

568,157

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

 

$

69,039

 

$

 

$

69,039

 

Currency derivatives

 

 

3,489

 

 

3,489

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

 

$

72,528

 

$

 

$

72,528

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity derivatives

 

$

 

$

46,072

 

$

 

$

46,072

 

Currency derivatives

 

 

321

 

 

321

 

Long-term debt

 

 

432,688

 

 

432,688

 

Total liabilities

 

$

 

$

479,081

 

$

 

$

479,081

 

 

The Company’s derivative assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis have been categorized as Level 2. The determination of the fair value of assets and liabilities for Level 2 valuations is generally based on a market approach. The key inputs used in Niska Partners’ valuation models include transaction-specific details such as notional volumes, contract prices and contract terms as well as forward market prices and basis differentials for natural gas obtained from third-party service providers (typically the New York Mercantile Exchange, or NYMEX). There were no changes in Niska Partners’ approach to determining fair value and there were no transfers out of Level 2 during the periods ended September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015.

 

The fair value of debt is the estimated amount the Company would have to pay to transfer its debt, including any premium or discount attributable to the difference between the stated interest rate and market rate of interest at the balance sheet date. Fair values are supported by observable market transactions when available.

 

Non-financial assets and liabilities are re-measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Company wrote down goodwill to its estimated fair value of $nil, which is classified as a Level 3 measurement in the table above. There were no other non-financial assets or liabilities recorded at fair value as of September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

6. Members’ Equity

 

Distributions to Unitholders

 

As of the beginning of fiscal 2016, one of the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries owed interest to a non-Canadian subsidiary. During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, the Company filed a tax election that deemed this interest as paid. The election triggered an obligation for the Company to pay withholding taxes of approximately $3.4 million to the Canadian tax authorities on behalf of the Company’s unitholders. Consistent with similar transactions in the past, the Company has accounted for this payment as a distribution to unitholders.

 

Unit-Based Performance Plan

 

The Company maintains compensatory unit-based performance plans (the “Plans”) to provide long-term incentive compensation for certain employees and directors, and to align their economic interest with those of common unitholders. The Plans are administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and permit the grant of unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, other unit-based awards, distribution equivalent rights and substitution awards. Unit-based awards are settled either in cash or in common units following the satisfaction of certain time and/or performance criteria.

 

The Company agreed not to grant additional unit awards under these plans under the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

Unit-based awards are classified as liabilities when expected to be settled in cash or when the Company has the option to settle in cash or equity. This accounting treatment has resulted from the Company’s historical practice of choosing to settle this type of award in cash. When awards are classified as liabilities, the fair value of the units granted is determined on the date of grant and is re-measured at each reporting period until the settlement date. The fair value at each remeasurement date is equal to the settlement expected to be incurred based on the anticipated number of units vested adjusted for (i) the passage of time and (ii) the payout threshold associated with the performance targets which the Company expects to achieve compared to its established peers. The performance criterion is based on total unitholder return (“TUR”) metrics compared to such metrics of a select group of the Company’s peers. The TUR metrics reflect the Company’s percentile ranking during the applicable performance period compared to a peer group. The pro-rata number of units vested is calculated as the number of performance awards multiplied by the percentage of the requisite service period.

 

Unit-based awards that are expected to be settled in units are classified as equity. The fair value of the units granted is determined on the date of grant and is amortized to equity using the straight-line method over the vesting period. Each equity settled award permits the holder to receive one common unit on the vesting date.

 

17



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

6. Members’ Equity (continued)

 

Unit-Based Performance Plan (continued)

 

The following tables summarize the Company’s unit-based awards outstanding and non-vested unit-based awards as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Number of
Time-Based
Units

 

Number of
Performance-
Based Units

 

Total Units

 

Unit-based awards outstanding - March 31, 2015

 

1,199,341

 

214,679

 

1,414,020

 

Exercised

 

(225,097

)

(124,049

)

(349,146

)

Unit-based awards outstanding - September 30, 2015

 

974,244

 

90,630

 

1,064,874

 

 

 

 

Number of
Time-Based
Units

 

Number of
Performance-
Based Units

 

Total Units

 

Nonvested unit-based awards - March 31, 2015

 

1,199,341

 

214,679

 

1,414,020

 

Vested

 

(225,097

)

(124,049

)

(349,146

)

Nonvested unit-based awards September 30, 2015

 

974,244

 

90,630

 

1,064,874

 

 

As of September 30, 2015, outstanding unit-based awards classified as liability and equity amounted to 743,609 units and 321,265 units, respectively.

 

Unit-based compensation for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 were $0.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively (a recovery of $1.0 million and an expense of $0.4 million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2014, respectively). Amounts paid to employees for unit-based awards settled in cash for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $0.3 million and $10.6 million, respectively. During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, 19,868 equity awards were settled using common units purchased from the open market for $0.1 million. No other equity awards were settled during the six months ended September 30, 2015, and 2014.

 

As of September 30, 2015, there was $4.0 million (March 31, 2015 - $5.1 million) of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested unit-based awards granted that were subject to both time and performance conditions. That cost is expected to be recognized over the next two years.

 

Modifications of Certain Unit-based Awards Outstanding

 

In July 2015, the Company offered certain eligible employees retention award opportunities that will become vested on the earlier of the date of successful closing of the Transaction or the ninetieth day following the termination of the Transaction contemplated in the Merger Agreement. To participate in this plan, each participant was required to forfeit rights to any outstanding performance-based unit awards and agree that all settlements, if any, of the outstanding time-based unit awards will be settled in cash.

 

Eligible employees with 466,949 outstanding unit-based awards participated in this plan which resulted in modifications of their original awards. In addition, 28,478 equity awards that would have been forfeited upon the termination of a previous employee were modified to remain eligible to vest upon the closing of the Transaction. These modifications did not result in additional compensation costs for the Company.

 

18



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

6. Members’ Equity (continued)

 

Earnings per unit

 

Niska Partners uses the two-class method for allocating earnings per unit (“EPU”). The two-class method requires the determination of net earnings (loss) allocated to member interests as shown below.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(19,609

)

$

(28,832

)

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing Member’s interest

 

353

 

538

 

1,027

 

896

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to common unitholders

 

$

(19,256

)

$

(28,294

)

$

(55,989

)

$

(46,907

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding

 

37,988,724

 

36,398,996

 

37,988,724

 

36,156,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding

 

37,988,724

 

36,398,996

 

37,988,724

 

36,156,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.51

)

$

(0.78

)

(1.47

)

$

(1.30

)

Diluted

 

$

(0.51

)

$

(0.78

)

$

(1.47

)

$

(1.30

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of equity-settled awards:

 

416,453

 

315,490

 

563,784

 

158,607

 

 

The Company maintains unit-based compensation plans that could dilute EPU in future periods. Because granted awards were anti-dilutive for the three and six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, the diluted EPU calculations above exclude the weighted average number of equity-settled unit-based awards.

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

7. Revenues

 

Niska Partners’ fee-based revenue consists of the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term contract revenue

 

$

8,928

 

$

14,101

 

$

18,573

 

$

54,584

 

Short-term contract revenue

 

3,724

 

1,532

 

8,341

 

3,803

 

Total

 

$

12,652

 

$

15,633

 

$

26,914

 

$

58,387

 

 

Long-term contract revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2014 included a one-time payment of $26.0 million as a result of the termination by TransCanada Gas Storage Partnership (“TransCanada”), the Company’s largest volumetric customer, of its previous storage service agreement.

 

Optimization, net consists of the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized optimization revenue, net

 

$

5,065

 

$

4,458

 

$

10,379

 

$

18,231

 

Unrealized risk management (losses) gains

 

(381

)

999

 

(10,712

)

(151

)

Write-down of inventory

 

 

(10,500

)

 

(10,500

)

Total

 

$

4,684

 

$

(5,043

)

$

(333

)

$

7,580

 

 

8. Income Taxes

 

Income taxes included in the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

$

(6,494

)

$

(7,348

)

$

(2,555

)

$

(16,240

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

 

25

%

20

%

4

%

25

%

 

The effective tax rate for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 differs from the U.S. statutory federal rate of 35% primarily because certain Canadian subsidiaries are taxed at a lower statutory tax rate as well as the earnings (loss) from certain subsidiaries exempt from U.S federal income taxes.

 

Income tax benefit for the six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $13.7 million compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014. This change was primarily due to lower recognized losses in certain taxable entities and an increase in Canadian provincial income tax rates which impacted certain Canadian taxable entities.

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

9. Accrued Liabilities

 

Niska Partners’ accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued gas purchases

 

$

21,706

 

$

13,917

 

Accrued interest

 

21,384

 

21,411

 

Employee-related accruals

 

2,653

 

2,369

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

12,067

 

9,989

 

Total

 

$

57,810

 

$

47,686

 

 

10. Changes in Non-Cash Working Capital

 

Changes in non-cash working capital for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 consist of the following:

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margin deposits

 

$

(5,390

)

$

(25,360

)

Trade receivables

 

1,245

 

4,093

 

Accrued receivables

 

21,977

 

122,578

 

Natural gas inventory

 

25,178

 

(209,331

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

711

 

1,148

 

Other assets

 

80

 

 

Trade payables

 

(15

)

(278

)

Accrued liabilities

 

10,319

 

(27,010

)

Deferred revenue

 

47

 

11,904

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

(98

)

(645

)

Total

 

$

54,054

 

$

(122,901

)

 

21



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

11. Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

23,915

 

$

4,243

 

Taxes paid

 

$

251

 

$

288

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash changes in working capital related to property, plant and equipment

 

$

(4

)

$

(395

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash earnings distribution and reinvestment

 

$

 

$

12,928

 

 

12. Segment Disclosures

 

The Company’s process for the identification of reportable segments involves examining the nature of services offered, the types of customer contracts entered into and the nature of the economic and regulatory environment.

 

Niska Partners operates along functional lines in its commercial, engineering and operations teams for operations in Alberta, northern California and the U.S. mid-continent. All functional lines and facilities offer the same services: storage and optimization. The Company has a small retail marketing business which is an extension of the Company’s proprietary optimization activities. Proprietary optimization activities occur when the Company purchases, stores and sells natural gas for its own account in order to utilize or optimize storage capacity that is not contracted or available to third-party customers. All services are delivered using reservoir storage. The Company measures profitability consistently along all functional lines based on revenues and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and unrealized risk management gains and losses. The Company has aggregated its operating segments into one reportable segment as at September 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015 and for each of the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

 

Information pertaining to the Company’s short-term and long-term contract services and net optimization revenues is presented in the consolidated statements of earnings (loss) and comprehensive income (loss). All facilities have the same types of customers: major companies in the energy industry, industrial, commercial, local distribution companies and municipal energy consumers.

 

22



Table of Contents

 

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC

 

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 

(Thousands of U.S. dollars, except per Unit amounts and unless otherwise noted)

 

12. Segment Disclosures (continued)

 

The following tables summarize the net revenues and long lived assets by geographic area:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Net realized revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

$

7,046

 

$

8,022

 

$

12,358

 

$

12,066

 

Canada

 

10,671

 

12,068

 

24,935

 

64,552

 

Net unrealized revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

(513

)

(1,486

)

(9,853

)

873

 

Canada

 

132

 

2,486

 

(859

)

(1,024

)

Write-down of inventory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

 

(6,400

)

 

(6,400

)

Canada

 

 

(4,100

)

 

(4,100

)

Inter-entity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

3,711

 

 

3,557

 

 

Canada

 

(3,711

)

 

(3,557

)

 

 

 

$

17,336

 

$

10,590

 

$

26,581

 

$

65,967

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2015

 

Long-lived assets (at period end)

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

$

361,796

 

$

367,920

 

Canada

 

488,353

 

508,706

 

 

 

$

850,149

 

$

876,626

 

 

23



Table of Contents

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following information should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in this report. The following information and such unaudited consolidated financial statements should also be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

 

Overview of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The process of preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires estimates and judgments to be made regarding certain items and transactions. It is possible that materially different amounts could be recorded if these estimates and judgments change or if the actual results differ from these estimates and judgments. Our most critical accounting estimates, which involve the judgment of our management, were fully disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and remained unchanged as of September 30, 2015.

 

Overview of Our Business

 

We operate the AECO HubTM, which consists of the Countess and Suffield gas storage facilities in Alberta, Canada, and the Wild Goose and Salt Plains gas storage facilities in California and Oklahoma, respectively. Niska Partners markets gas storage services of working gas capacity in addition to optimizing storage capacity with its own proprietary gas purchases at each of these facilities. We also operate a natural gas marketing business which is an extension of our propriety optimization activities in Canada.

 

We earn revenues by leasing storage on a long-term firm (“LTF”) contract basis for which we receive monthly reservation fees for fixed amounts of storage, leasing storage on a short-term firm (“STF”) contract basis, where a customer pays a fixed fee to inject a specified quantity of natural gas on a specified date or dates and a fixed fee to withdraw on a specified future date or dates, and optimization, where we purchase and sell gas on an economically hedged basis in order to improve facility utilization at margins that can be higher than those from third-party contracts. Proprietary optimization activities occur when the Company purchases and sells natural gas for its own account. Our revenues related to our marketing business are included in proprietary optimization activities.

 

The Company has a total of 244.9 Bcf of working gas capacity among its facilities, including 2.9 Bcf leased from a third-party pipeline company.

 

We have aggregated all of our activities in one reportable operating segment for financial reporting purposes. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Factors that Impact Our Business

 

In June 2015, the Company and Niska Gas Storage Management LLC, its Managing Member, entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Brookfield. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Brookfield will acquire all of the Company’s outstanding common units for $4.225 per common unit in cash and will acquire the Managing Member and the IDRs in the Company. The closing of the Transaction is expected to occur in the calendar year 2016 and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including approval by the CPUC. A period provided for in the Merger Agreement for unsolicited consideration of alternative acquisition proposals expired on July 29, 2015.

 

The Merger Agreement, which includes a commitment by the Company not to make cash distributions until the earlier of the date of closing or termination of the Transaction, was approved by the Company Board and the Conflicts Committee. Affiliates of the Carlyle/Riverstone Funds delivered a written consent approving the Transaction. No additional unitholder action is required to approve the Transaction.

 

In connection with the entry into the Merger Agreement, Brookfield agreed to lend up to $50.0 million to the Company under a short-term credit facility to be used for working capital purposes.

 

24



Table of Contents

 

During the six months ended September 30, 2015, the difference between summer and winter prices in the natural gas futures market, referred to as the seasonal spread, remained extremely narrow and reduced levels of volatility persisted in the cash market. These conditions resulted from numerous factors, including, but not limited to: (i) a material year-over-year increase in natural gas production in the Lower 48 states as well as in Western Canada; (ii) higher overall levels of natural gas in storage; (iii) real or perceived changes in overall supply and demand fundamentals; and (iv) the development of new pipeline infrastructure connecting new supply to markets. These market conditions have negatively impacted our revenues during the six months ended September 30, 2015 by eroding the prices we can charge for long and short term firm contracting services, as well as reducing the profitability of our optimization activities, where we make economically hedged natural gas purchases for our own account. As STF and LTF contracts expire in future years, new contracts could be entered into at lower rates than the expiring contracts and the impact on revenues could be material. If low levels of volatility and narrow seasonal spreads persist, our future revenues and profitability will continue to be adversely affected to a material extent.

 

The combination of reductions in natural gas prices, collateral required to support our retail marketing operations, costs associated with the requirements for temporary reservoir pressure support and unfavorable market conditions which have prevented us from realizing additional revenues and earnings have reduced the liquidity available under the Company’s $400 million revolving credit facilities. Continued reduction in amounts available under the revolving credit facilities may restrict our ability to pursue optimization strategies. The inability to pursue such revenue strategies may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues and profitability.

 

Market conditions for natural gas storage can change rapidly as a result of a number of factors, including weather patterns, overall storage levels across North America in the markets we serve, current and anticipated levels of natural gas supply and demand, and constraints on pipeline infrastructure capacity. Accordingly, current market conditions may not be a reliable predictor of future market conditions. Longer term, we believe several factors may contribute to meaningful growth in North American natural gas demand, including: (i) exports of North American Liquefied Natural Gas; (ii) fuel switching for power generation from coal to natural gas; (iii) construction of new gas-fired power plants; (iv) growing exports to Mexico; and (v) growth in base-load industrial demand, all of which could bolster the demand for, and the commercial value of, natural gas storage. We are unable to predict the timing or magnitude of such events nor can we predict the ultimate impact they may have on our results of operations.

 

Our storage facilities may require additional natural gas to provide temporary pressure support during periods of high activity to meet cycling requirements and performance demands related to our gas in storage. These volumes fluctuate from year to year along with our cycling requirements. These cycling requirements are managed through a combination of strategies which are adapted to changes in natural gas market conditions. Typically, the use of gas to provide temporary pressure support results in net revenue gains because the cost to acquire natural gas in the nearer term is lower than the price of natural gas for future delivery.

 

To mitigate the cost of our forecasted cycling requirements over the next five years, we implemented a hedging program to purchase and lease gas. Over the upcoming five years, the expected cumulative cost of temporary pressure support gas is approximately $6.6 million. This cost relates to our commitments to lease certain volumes of natural gas to address our future temporary pressure support needs. In the event that natural gas storage market conditions become more favorable, the cost of managing our operational requirements could be reduced. However, if the conditions deteriorate, the cost of managing our operational requirements will increase.

 

The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The Company generates revenues from its Canadian operations in Canadian dollars. Cash inflows from revenues are offset, in part, by natural gas inventory purchases, operating, general and administrative and capital costs that are also transacted in Canadian dollars. The majority of the Company’s hedges are transacted in U.S. dollars on the NYMEX or with private counterparties. The Company’s financial instruments, principally its Common Units, 6.50% Senior Notes and revolving credit facilities, are principally denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company hedges its net exposure to the Canadian dollar by entering into currency hedges for the substantial majority of its net exposure for existing transactions. The Company does not hedge its net Canadian dollar exposure for potential future transactions, because the timing and amount of those transactions, which include proprietary optimization purchases and sales, are difficult to predict. The Company does not believe that declines in the Canadian dollar have materially impacted the Company’s results of operations during the six months ended September 30, 2015 because lower level of revenues has been offset by lower expenses and hedging gains realized during the period.

 

In the intermediate term, any declines in value of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar will reduce positive cash flows measured in U.S. dollars to the extent Niska Partners is not able to hedge these transactions in advance. Because of the matters discussed above, the Company is unable to predict the impact of any such declines should they occur.

 

25



Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations

 

A summary of financial data for each of the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

Consolidated Statement of Earnings (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fee-based revenue

 

$

12,652

 

$

15,633

 

$

26,914

 

$

58,387

 

Optimization, net

 

4,684

 

(5,043

)

(333

)

7,580

 

 

 

17,336

 

10,590

 

26,581

 

65,967

 

Expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

8,626

 

12,062

 

16,583

 

23,015

 

General and administrative

 

6,730

 

6,205

 

17,960

 

16,279

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

14,805

 

16,012

 

25,539

 

65,978

 

Interest

 

12,965

 

12,735

 

25,706

 

25,047

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

240

 

20

 

240

 

6

 

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

79

 

(262

)

135

 

(312

)

Other income

 

(6

)

(2

)

(11

)

(3

)

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

(26,103

)

(36,180

)

(59,571

)

(64,043

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

(6,494

)

(7,348

)

(2,555

)

(16,240

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

(19,609

)

$

(28,832

)

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(19,609

)

$

(28,832

)

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

Add/(deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

12,965

 

12,735

 

25,706

 

25,047

 

Income tax benefit

 

(6,494

)

(7,348

)

(2,555

)

(16,240

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

14,805

 

16,012

 

25,539

 

65,978

 

Non-cash compensation

 

130

 

993

 

713

 

1,243

 

Unrealized risk management losses (gains)

 

381

 

(999

)

10,712

 

151

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

240

 

20

 

240

 

6

 

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

79

 

(262

)

135

 

(312

)

Other income

 

(6

)

(2

)

(11

)

(3

)

Write-down of inventory

 

 

10,500

 

 

10,500

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

2,491

 

2,817

 

3,463

 

38,567

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash interest expense, net

 

12,007

 

11,822

 

23,834

 

23,222

 

Income taxes paid

 

 

288

 

251

 

288

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

655

 

1,061

 

810

 

1,460

 

Other income

 

(6

)

(2

)

(11

)

(3

)

Cash Available for Distribution

 

$

(10,165

)

$

(10,352

)

$

(21,421

)

$

13,600

 

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution

 

We use the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution in this report. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution to net earnings (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, is shown above.

 

We define 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, non-cash compensation, asset impairments and other income. We believe the adjustments for other income are similar in nature to the traditional adjustments to net earnings used to calculate EBITDA and adjustment for these items results in an appropriate representation of this financial measure. Cash Available for Distribution is defined as Adjusted EBITDA reduced by interest expense (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), income taxes paid, maintenance capital expenditures and other income. Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are used as supplemental financial measures by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as commercial banks and ratings agencies, 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 non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution should not be considered as alternatives to net earnings (loss). Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are not presentations made in accordance with GAAP and have important limitations as analytical tools. Neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Cash Available for Distribution should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution exclude some, but not all, items that affect net earnings (loss) and are defined differently by different companies, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

We recognize that the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as an evaluative tool may have certain limitations, including:

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense. Because we have borrowed money in order to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and impacts our ability to generate profits and cash flows. Therefore, any measure that excludes interest expense may have material limitations;

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not include depreciation and amortization expense. Because we use capital assets, depreciation and amortization expense is a necessary element of our costs and ability to generate profits. Therefore, any measure that excludes depreciation and amortization expense may have material limitations;

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not include provision for income taxes. Because the payment of income taxes is a necessary element of our costs, any measure that excludes income tax expense may have material limitations;

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; and

 

·                  Adjusted EBITDA does not allow us to analyze the effect of certain recurring and non-recurring items that materially affect our net earnings or loss.

 

Similarly, Cash Available for Distribution has certain limitations because it accounts for some, but not all, of the above limitations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Revenues

 

Revenues include fee-based revenue and net optimization revenue. Fee-based revenue consists of long-term contracts for storage fees that are generated when we lease storage capacity on a term basis and short-term fees associated with specified injections and withdrawals of natural gas. Optimization revenue results from the purchase of natural gas inventory and its forward sale to future periods through financial and physical energy trading contracts, with our facilities being used to store the inventory between acquisition and disposition of the natural gas inventory.

 

Revenues for each of the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term contract revenue

 

$

8,928

 

$

14,101

 

$

18,573

 

$

54,584

 

Short-term contract revenue

 

3,724

 

1,532

 

8,341

 

3,803

 

Fee-based revenue

 

$

12,652

 

$

15,633

 

$

26,914

 

$

58,387

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized optimization, net

 

$

5,065

 

$

4,458

 

$

10,379

 

$

18,231

 

Unrealized risk management (losses) gains

 

(381

)

999

 

(10,712

)

(151

)

Write-down of inventory

 

 

(10,500

)

 

(10,500

)

Optimization revenue, net

 

$

4,684

 

$

(5,043

)

$

(333

)

$

7,580

 

 

Changes in revenue in the quarter were primarily attributable to the following:

 

Long-term contract revenue.  LTF revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $5.2 million (37%) compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 principally as a result of lower fees realized and a weaker Canadian dollar in the current period compared to the same period in fiscal 2015. LTF revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $36.0 million (66%) compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to the one-time, early termination payment of $26.0 million received from TransCanada in May 2014. Excluding the impact of this prior-period transaction, revenues declined by $10.0 million. This decline was mainly due to lower fees realized for equivalent storage volumes which reduced revenues by $7.4 million, combined with a weaker Canadian dollar which reduced revenues at our Canadian facilities by an additional $1.9 million. The erosion of prices charged for LTF services resulted from the ongoing compression of the seasonal spread.

 

Short-term contract revenue.  STF revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $2.2 million (143%) when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. STF revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $4.5 million (119%) when compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014. A higher volume of STF transactions during the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the volume in the prior periods increased STF revenue. In addition, during the year ended March 31, 2014, certain transactions with lower contract rates were entered into to mitigate withdrawal risk during the winter of fiscal 2014. The effects of this continued into first quarter of fiscal 2015. The lack of similar transactions in the six months ended September 30, 2015 resulted in higher STF revenue when compared to the same period last year.

 

Optimization Revenue.  Optimization activities for the three months ended September 30, 2015 resulted in a net gain of $4.7 million compared to a loss of $5.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014. Optimization revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased to a loss of $0.3 million from a net gain of $7.6 million during the six months ended September 30, 2014. When evaluating the performance of our optimization business, we focus on our realized optimization margins, excluding the impact of unrealized economic hedging gains and losses and inventory write-downs. Our net optimization revenue includes the impact of unrealized economic hedging gains and losses and inventory write-down, which cause our reported revenue to fluctuate from period to period. The components of optimization revenues are as follows:

 

Realized Optimization Revenue, net.  Net realized optimization revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $0.6 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. Net realized optimization revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $7.9 million compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014. A reduction of in-the-money settlement of financial hedges combined with lower levels of proprietary inventory principally caused a decrease in revenues from our storage operations for the six months ended September 30, 2015. This was partially offset by higher revenue from

 

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Table of Contents

 

our marketing business which generated realized optimization revenue of $3.8 million and $8.2 million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 compared to $2.7 million and $6.1 million realized during the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. Revenue from the marketing business exceeded last year as a result of an expansion of our residential market in Western Canada as well as our commercial market in Eastern Canada.

 

Unrealized Risk Management Gains (Losses). Unrealized risk management gains and losses are recorded based on the market value of derivative contracts. For the three and six months ended September 30, 2015, unrealized risk management losses resulted from the reversal of gains from previous periods associated with in-the-money contracts that settled in the current period along with lower values of futures contracts for our storage and marketing businesses.

 

During the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 our marketing business recognized $1.3 million and $2.4 million of unrealized risk management losses compared to $1.4 million and $5.3 million in unrealized risk management gains during the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. Lower gains resulted from decreases in the value of futures contracts as a result of a decline in natural gas prices relative to average contract prices for future months.

 

Write-Down of Inventory. Natural gas prices fell during the quarter ended September 30, 2014. This reduction increased the value of our economic hedges and decreased the value of the proprietary optimization inventory underlying those hedges. With the realization of hedges positioned during the quarter ended September 30, 2014 and the positioning of new hedges at lower values in the then future periods, the market value of our inventories became less than the carrying cost. Accordingly, we wrote down our proprietary inventories by $10.5 million in the three and six months ended September 30, 2014.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease costs and property taxes

 

$

3,210

 

$

4,088

 

$

6,439

 

$

7,781

 

Fuel and electricity

 

1,735

 

5,028

 

3,582

 

8,553

 

Salaries and benefits

 

1,373

 

1,364

 

2,800

 

3,039

 

Maintenance

 

899

 

1,006

 

1,447

 

2,058

 

General operating costs

 

1,409

 

576

 

2,315

 

1,584

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

8,626

 

$

12,062

 

$

16,583

 

$

23,015

 

 

Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $3.4 million (28%) compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. Operating expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $6.4 million (28%) compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014. Reductions in operating expenses for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 were principally the result of lower injections of gas into storage which resulted in reduced fuel and electricity costs. Additionally, the Canadian dollar depreciated approximately 15% compared to the U.S. dollar in the current period. A weaker Canadian dollar resulted in expenses associated with our Canadian facility being lower by $0.5 million and $1.0 million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. A decline in lease costs due to leased storage capacity being reduced by 5.6 Bcf since April 1, 2015 also contributed to reduced expenses. These reductions were partially offset by higher emission offset costs and costs of leasing additional cushion to manage our temporary pressure support requirements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation costs

 

$

3,686

 

$

2,683

 

$

7,460

 

8,909

 

General costs, including office and information technology costs

 

907

 

1,137

 

1,912

 

2,290

 

Legal, audit and regulatory costs

 

2,137

 

2,385

 

8,588

 

5,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total general and administrative expenses

 

$

6,730

 

$

6,205

 

$

17,960

 

$

16,279

 

 

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $0.5 million (8%) compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $1.7 million (10%) compared to the six months ended September 30, 2014. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily due to reductions in incentive compensation accruals recorded in fiscal 2015 which was partially offset by reductions of $0.8 million in response to the impact of weaker Canadian dollar. General and administrative costs for the six months ended September 30, 2015 increased principally as a result of higher legal and consulting costs incurred related to the Transaction. Excluding these costs, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2015 would have been $13.8 million. The increased costs were partially offset by lower overall compensation costs due to reduced staffing levels and the impact of a weaker Canadian dollar which resulted in expenses being lower by $1.9 million compared to the same period in fiscal 2015.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $1.2 million and $40.4 million, respectively, compared to the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. Depreciation expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 included $6.4 million and $8.6 million, respectively, related to migration of cushion gas at our Canadian facilities, compared to $5.7 million and $33.6 million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. The provisions for cushion gas migration represent our estimated costs associated with proprietary cushion gas that no longer provides effective pressure support.

 

Amortization of intangible assets during the six months ended September 30, 2014 included $11.7 million of amortization related to the termination of the prior storage agreement with TransCanada and the establishment of a new contract. The recorded amortization charges reflected the revised pattern of cash flows associated with this customer relationship.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on Senior Notes

 

$

9,344

 

$

9,344

 

$

18,688

 

$

18,687

 

Interest on revolving credit facilities

 

2,379

 

2,324

 

4,790

 

4,303

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

958

 

913

 

1,872

 

1,825

 

Other interest

 

284

 

154

 

356

 

232

 

Total interest expenses

 

$

12,965

 

$

12,735

 

$

25,706

 

$

25,047

 

 

Interest expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 increased by $0.2 million (2%) and $0.7 million (3%) compared to the same periods in fiscal 2015 mainly as a result of a higher average interest rate on our revolving credit facilities.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax benefit for the three and six months ended September 30, 2015 decreased by $0.9 million and $13.7 million compared to the three and six months ended September 30, 2014. The change for three months ended was primarily due to lower recognized losses in certain taxable entities. Lower income tax benefit for the six months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily due to lower recognized losses in certain taxable entities and an increase in Canadian provincial income tax rates which impacted certain Canadian taxable entities.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Sources and Uses of Liquidity

 

As discussed above, on June 14, 2015 the Company agreed to be acquired by Brookfield. As part of the Merger Agreement associated with the Transaction, Brookfield agreed to lend the Company up to $50.0 million to support ongoing operations of the business. The definitive agreement associated with this commitment was signed on July 28, 2015 and is discussed further in Note 3 to the Company’s financial statements.

 

Also as discussed in Note 3, when the Company’s FCCR is below 1.1 to 1.0 times, as defined in the Company’s Credit Agreement on a trailing twelve month basis, the Company is unable to borrow the last 15% of availability under its Credit Agreement without triggering an event of default. At September 30, 2015 the Company’s FCCR was 0.6 to 1.0 and therefore, the Company continued to be subject to this limitation. Based on the Company’s estimates of its cash flows coupled with the availability of borrowings under the agreement with Brookfield, the Company believes that it has adequate cash availability to support its operations for the next twelve months.

 

As of November 2, 2015, the Company’s availability under its Credit Agreement was $39.4 million, including reductions resulting from its FCCR falling below 1.1 to 1.0 times. In addition, the remaining capacity under the Company’s Short-term Credit Facility with Brookfield amounted to $30.0 million.

 

On November 4, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors continued the suspension of Niska Partners’ quarterly distribution to common unitholders for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 in compliance with the Company’s commitment not to make distributions until the earlier of the date of closing or termination of its Merger Agreement with Brookfield.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Cash Flows from Operations and Investing Activities

 

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively (in thousands):

 

Operating Activities:

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(57,016

)

$

(47,803

)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

171

 

(66

)

Deferred income tax benefit

 

(3,738

)

(16,249

)

Unrealized risk management losses

 

10,712

 

151

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

25,539

 

65,978

 

Deferred charges amortization

 

1,872

 

1,825

 

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

 

240

 

(14

)

Non-cash compensation

 

713

 

1,243

 

Write-down of inventory

 

 

10,500

 

Changes in non-cash working capital

 

54,054

 

(122,901

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

32,547

 

(107,336

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(881

)

(1,684

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(24,407

)

108,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of translation of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents

 

(129

)

(112

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

$

7,130

 

$

(370

)

 

The variability in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to (1) changes in market conditions that exist during any given fiscal period, which impacts the margins earned under each of our fee-based and optimization activities; and (2) market conditions at the end of any given fiscal period, which impacts our decision to sell significant volumes of inventory or hold them over a fiscal period end. When we purchase and store natural gas, we borrow under our credit facilities to pay for it, which negatively impacts operating cash flow. Cash flow from operating activities increases when we collect the cash from the sale of inventories.

 

Cash provided by operating activities during the six months ended September 30, 2015 was $32.5 million compared to a use of $107.3 million during the same period in fiscal 2015. The higher amount of cash provided by operating activities was principally due to our decision to hold proprietary inventories over the end of fiscal 2015, a portion of which were sold during the six months ended September 30, 2015. Inventory sales were partially offset by lower profitability during the first half of fiscal 2016 compared to the same period last year. During the six months ended September 30, 2014, cash flows from operating activities were materially impacted by significant proprietary inventory purchases as well as the purchase of natural gas for our retail entities in a falling market which required us to post higher margin deposits.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Net changes in non-cash working capital consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margin deposits

 

$

(5,390

)

$

(25,360

)

Trade receivables

 

1,245

 

4,093

 

Accrued receivables

 

21,977

 

122,578

 

Natural gas inventory

 

25,178

 

(209,331

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

711

 

1,148

 

Other assets

 

80

 

 

Trade payables

 

(15

)

(278

)

Accrued liabilities

 

10,319

 

(27,010

)

Deferred revenue

 

47

 

11,904

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

(98

)

(645

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

54,054

 

$

(122,901

)

 

As noted above, net changes in non-cash working capital can fluctuate significantly from period to period and is primarily affected by timing differences between the purchase and sale of natural gas inventory, including margin requirements and cash settlement on related risk management instruments, and the timing of collections from our customers.

 

Investing Activities

 

Substantially all of our cash used for investing activities consisted of capital expenditures in each of the six months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Our capital expenditures in each six month period consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance capital

 

$

810

 

$

1,460

 

Expansion capital

 

75

 

633

 

Total capital expenditures

 

885

 

2,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in accrued capital expenditures

 

(4

)

(395

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

 

(14

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

881

 

$

1,684

 

 

Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures made to replace partially or fully depreciated assets, to maintain the existing operating capacity of our assets and to extend their useful lives. Expansion capital expenditures are investments that serve to increase operating income over the long term through greater capacity or improved efficiency in Niska’s operations, whether through construction or acquisition.

 

Under our current plan, we expect to spend between $3.0 million to $5.0 million in fiscal 2016 for maintenance capital to maintain the integrity of our storage facilities and ensure the reliable injection, storage and withdrawal of natural gas for our customers. Expansion capital for fiscal 2016 is expected to be less than $1.0 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Regulation

 

Adoption of the Clean Power Plan Regulations

 

In August 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) issued its final Clean Power Plan rules that establish carbon pollution standards for power plants, called CO2 emission performance rates. The EPA expects each state to develop implementation plans for power plants in its state to meet the individual state targets established in the Clean Power Plan. The EPA has given states the option to develop compliance plans for annual rate-based reductions (pounds per megawatt hour or mass-based tonnage) limits for CO2.

 

The state plans are due in September 2016, subject to potential extensions of up to two years for final plan submission. The compliance period begins in 2022, and emission reductions will be phased in up to 2030. The EPA also proposed a federal compliance plan to implement the Clean Power Plan in the event that an approvable state plan is not submitted to the EPA. Judicial challenges have already been filed, which may result in a stay of the implementation of the rules.

 

Final Rule for the Waters of the United States

 

In May 2015, the EPA issued a final rule that sets forth changes to its definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). In August 2015, a federal district judge in North Dakota enjoined implementation of the rule in 13 states. Federal district court judges in West Virginia and Georgia have denied similar motions for injunctions, while district court judges in other jurisdictions have stayed their cases until the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ruled on whether to consolidate all of the district court cases in a single court. In October 2015, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to consolidate the various district court cases in a single court. In addition, in October 2015 the Sixth Circuit issued a nationwide stay of the rule until it determines whether it has jurisdiction over the petitions for review brought in the federal appellate courts. It remains to be seen how the various proceedings in more than a dozen federal district courts and possibly in the Sixth Circuit will affect the substance of the final rule and its implementation. Any expansion to CWA jurisdiction could impose additional permitting obligations on our operations, which may adversely affect any development or expansion we may plan to undertake.

 

New National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone

 

The EPA on October 1, 2015 finalized both the 8-hour primary and secondary air quality standards for ground level ozone to 70 parts per billion from 75 parts per billion. States must now evaluate their attainment status and determine whether additional control measures are needed in order to meet this standard. If states where we operate determine that they are not in attainment with this new standard, they may enact additional regulations beyond those currently contemplated to further control emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from certain sources, which could apply to our operations and could result in increased compliance costs. Niska Partners cannot predict the financial impact of the revised ozone standards at this time.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There were no material changes to the disclosures made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 regarding this matter.

 

At September 30, 2015, 42.9 Bcf of natural gas inventory was economically hedged, representing 98.0% of our total current inventory. Because inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market, not fair value, if the price of natural gas increased by $1.00 per Mcf the value of inventory would increase by $43.8 million, the fair value or mark-to-market value of our economic hedges would decrease by $42.9 million, and the impact due to the non-economically hedged position would be $0.9 million. Similarly, if the price of natural gas declined by $1.00 per Mcf, the value of inventory would decrease by $43.8 million while the fair value of our economic hedges would increase by $42.9 million and the impact due to the non-economically hedged position would be $0.9 million.

 

At September 30, 2015, we were exposed to interest rate risk resulting from the variable rates associated with our $400 million Credit Agreement, on which a balance of $153.5 million was drawn. The interest rate applicable on the credit facilities is subject to change based on certain ratios and the magnitude of our drawings on the facility. At September 30, 2015, a one percent increase or decrease in interest rates would have an impact of approximately $1.5 million on our interest expense.

 

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Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our principal executive officer (“CEO”) and principal financial officer (“CFO”) undertook an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. The CEO and the CFO have concluded that our controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2015. For purposes of this section, the term “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. However, a controls system cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

For information on legal proceedings, see Part I, Item 1, Financial Statements, Note 2, “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report, which is incorporated into this item by reference.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

Our business faces many risks. Any of the risks discussed in this Quarterly Report or our other SEC filings could have a material impact on our business, financial position or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business operations. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that should be understood by any investor contemplating investment in our securities, please refer to Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors in our Annual Report and Part II — Item 1A — Risk Factors in our Q1 Quarterly Report. There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report, other than those updated by our Q1 Quarterly Report.

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger and Membership Interest Transfer Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2015, by and among Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, Niska Gas Storage Management LLC, Niska Sponsor Holdings Coöperatief U.A., Swan Holdings LP and Swan Merger Sub LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on June 18, 2015)

 

 

 

3.1

Certificate of Formation of Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Amendment to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-165007) filed on April 15, 2010).

 

 

 

3.2

Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC dated April 2, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2013).

 

 

 

10.1

Credit Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2015, by and between Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, as the borrower, Swan Finance LP, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on July 31, 2015)

 

 

 

10.2

Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims, executed on July 31, 2015, between Bruce D. Davis, Jr., Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC, Niska Gas Transport Inc. and Niska Holdings L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2015)

 

 

 

10.3

Agreement Regarding Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC Phantom Unit Performance Plan Awards, executed on July 31, 2015, between Bruce D. Davis, Jr. and Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2015)

 

 

 

31.1*

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15D-14(A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

 

31.2*

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15D-14(A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

 

32.1**

Certification of Chief 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 Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

101.INS*

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

101.SCH*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

 

 

101.CAL*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.LAB*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.PRE*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

101.DEF*

Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 


*              Filed herewith.

**           Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

 

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: November 6, 2015

By:

/s/ VANCE E. POWERS

 

 

Vance E. Powers

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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