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8-K - 8-K - NuStar GP Holdings, LLCnsh4q168-k.htm
Exhibit 99.01


NuStar GP Holdings, LLC Reports Earnings for the Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2016
Quarterly Distribution Previously Announced
SAN ANTONIO, January 31, 2017 - NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (NYSE: NSH) today announced fourth quarter 2016 net income of $6.0 million, or $0.14 per unit, which was impacted by a reduction of $8.7 million in equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. related to NuStar Energy L.P.’s $58.7 million non-cash charge to reduce the value of its term loan to Axeon due to the announced sale of Axeon’s asphalt marketing business that NuStar Energy L.P. sold to Axeon in 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2016, net income was $55.1 million, or $1.28 per unit.

Distributable cash flow (DCF) available to unitholders for the fourth quarter of 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $23.3 million and $92.5 million, respectively.

As previously announced on January 27, 2017, the fourth quarter 2016 distribution of $0.545 per unit will be paid on February 15, 2017 to holders of record as of February 8, 2017.

“NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s fourth quarter and full year 2016 results were primarily driven by strong performance from NuStar Energy L.P.’s base pipeline and storage operations,” said Brad Barron, President and Chief Executive Officer of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC.

A conference call with management is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. CT today, January 31, 2017, to discuss the financial and operational results for the fourth quarter of 2016. Investors interested in listening to the discussion may dial toll-free 844/889-7787, passcode 48334486. International callers may access the discussion by dialing 661/378-9931, passcode 48334486. The company intends to have a playback available following the discussion, which may be accessed by dialing toll-free 855/859-2056, passcode 48334486. International callers may access the playback by dialing 404/537-3406, passcode 48334486. The playback will be available until 1:00 p.m. CT on March 2, 2017.

Investors interested in listening to the live discussion or a replay via the internet may access the discussion directly at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/9594wmas or by logging on to NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s website at www.nustargpholdings.com.

The discussion will disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of certain of these non-GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP may be found in this press release, with additional reconciliations located on the Financials page of the Investors section of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s website at www.nustargpholdings.com.

NuStar GP Holdings, LLC is a publicly traded limited liability company that owns the general partner interest, an approximate 13 percent common limited partner interest and the incentive distribution rights in NuStar Energy L.P., one of the largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators in the nation. NuStar has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, including St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s website at www.nustargpholdings.com.

This release serves as qualified notice to nominees under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1446-4(b)(4) and (d). Please note that 100% of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, all of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax




withholding at the highest effective tax rate for individuals and corporations, as applicable. Nominees, and not NuStar GP Holdings, LLC, are treated as the withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes and/or the related conference call will include forward-looking statements regarding future events, such as the future performance of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC. All forward-looking statements are based on the company’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the company. These statements reflect the company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed in NuStar Energy L.P.’s and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s 2015 annual reports on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.





NuStar GP Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Information
(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Statement of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.
$
6,671

 
$
17,389

 
$
56,096

 
$
79,673

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expenses
(669
)
 
(641
)
 
(3,046
)
 
(3,338
)
Other income (expense), net
266

 
(2,869
)
 
3,021

 
(2,333
)
Interest expense, net
(280
)
 
(232
)
 
(1,069
)
 
(893
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income tax benefit (expense)
5,988

 
13,647

 
55,002

 
73,109

Income tax benefit (expense)
11

 
(688
)
 
66

 
(901
)
Net income
$
5,999

 
$
12,959

 
$
55,068

 
$
72,208

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income per unit
$
0.14

 
$
0.30

 
$
1.28

 
$
1.68

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in Earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General partner interest
$
(480
)
 
$
973

 
$
2,091

 
$
5,270

General partner incentive distribution
10,907

 
10,805

 
43,407

 
43,220

General partner’s interest in earnings and incentive
distributions of NuStar Energy L.P.
10,427

 
11,778

 
45,498

 
48,490

Limited partner interest in earnings of NuStar
Energy L.P.
(3,035
)
 
6,332

 
13,482

 
34,067

Amortization of step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy
L.P.’s assets and liabilities
(721
)
 
(721
)
 
(2,884
)
 
(2,884
)
Equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.
$
6,671

 
$
17,389

 
$
56,096

 
$
79,673

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common units outstanding
42,936,397

 
42,916,143

 
42,932,320

 
42,914,297

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flow Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
6,162

 
13,509

 
49,751

 
75,899

Net cash provided by investing activities
17,273

 
9,648

 
40,286

 
14,848

Net cash used in financing activities
(23,588
)
 
(23,389
)
 
(89,864
)
 
(93,553
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributable Cash Flow (Note 1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash distributions from NuStar Energy L.P. associated with:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General partner interest
$
1,979

 
$
1,961

 
$
7,877

 
$
7,844

General partner incentive distribution
10,907

 
10,805

 
43,407

 
43,220

Limited partner interest – common units
11,185

 
11,227

 
44,699

 
45,073

Total cash distributions expected from NuStar Energy L.P.
24,071

 
23,993

 
95,983

 
96,137

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expenses
(669
)
 
(641
)
 
(3,046
)
 
(3,338
)
Income tax benefit (expense)
11

 
(688
)
 
66

 
(901
)
Interest expense, net
(280
)
 
(232
)
 
(1,069
)
 
(893
)
Unit-based compensation
$
159

 
$

 
$
535

 
$

DCF
$
23,292

 
$
22,432

 
$
92,469

 
$
91,005

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total distribution to unitholders
$
23,408

 
$
23,397

 
$
93,601

 
$
93,561






NuStar GP Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Information - Continued
(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars)

Note 1: NuStar GP Holdings, LLC utilizes distributable cash flow (DCF) as a financial measure, although it is not defined in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Management believes DCF provides useful information to investors and other external users of our financial information because (i) DCF provides additional information about the cash the business is generating and (ii) investors and other external users of our financial statements benefit from having access to the same financial measure being utilized by management and our board of directors when making financial and planning decisions. Our board of directors and management use DCF when assessing our ability to fund distributions and our ability to service debt. DCF is a widely accepted financial indicator used by our industry’s investment community to compare company performance. DCF is used by our industry’s investment community, in part, because the value of our company’s units is partially based on its yield, and its yield is based on the cash distributions a company can pay its unitholders.
DCF is not intended to represent cash flows from operations, and is not presented as an alternative to net income. DCF should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The following is a reconciliation of net income to DCF and net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income
$
5,999

 
$
12,959

 
$
55,068

 
$
72,208

Less equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.
(6,671
)
 
(17,389
)
 
(56,096
)
 
(79,673
)
Plus cash distributions expected from NuStar Energy L.P.
24,071

 
23,993

 
95,983

 
96,137

Gain related to NuStar Energy L.P.’s issuance of common limited partner units
(266
)
 

 
(2,408
)
 

Unit-based compensation items (a)
159

 
2,869

 
(78
)
 
2,333

DCF
23,292

 
22,432

 
92,469

 
91,005

Less cash distributions expected from NuStar Energy L.P.
(24,071
)
 
(23,993
)
 
(95,983
)
 
(96,137
)
Distributions of equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.
6,671

 
17,389

 
56,096

 
79,673

Changes in current assets and liabilities
196

 
(2,834
)
 
(3,336
)
 
296

Changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities
and other items
74

 
515

 
505

 
1,062

Net cash provided by operating activities
$
6,162

 
$
13,509

 
$
49,751

 
$
75,899


(a)
We intend to satisfy the vestings of equity-based awards with the issuance of our units. As such, the expenses related to these awards are considered non-cash and added back to DCF. These awards include distribution equivalent rights (DERs). Payments made in connection with DERs are deducted from DCF. Also included in this item are gains and losses resulting from the satisfaction of certain long-term incentive awards prior to the employee transfer on March 1, 2016.