EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

NuStar Energy L.P. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Earnings

SAN ANTONIO, January 25, 2008 – NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE:NS) today announced net income applicable to limited partners of $22.6 million, or $0.47 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to $33.0 million, or $0.70 per unit, earned in the fourth quarter of 2006. For the year ended December 31, 2007, net income applicable to limited partners was $129.2 million, or $2.74 per unit, compared to $132.6 million, or $2.83 per unit in 2006.

Distributable cash flow available to limited partners from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $34.9 million, or $0.72 per unit, compared to $45.3 million, or $0.97 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2006. For the year ended December 31, 2007, distributable cash flow available to limited partners from continuing operations was $198.6 million, or $4.22 per unit, compared to $195.7 million, or $4.18 per unit. As of December 31, 2007, the partnership’s debt-to-capitalization ratio was 42.0 percent compared to 41.9 percent as of December 31, 2006.

With respect to the quarterly distribution to unitholders for the fourth quarter of 2007, NuStar also announced that its board of directors has declared a distribution of $0.985 per unit, or $3.94 per unit on an annual basis, which will be paid on February 14, 2008, to holders of record as of February 7, 2008. This quarterly distribution represents an increase of $0.07 per unit, or 7.7 percent, over the $0.915 distribution for the fourth quarter of 2006.

“2007 was a very active and challenging year for the partnership, while at the same time very rewarding and productive,” said Curt Anastasio, Chief Executive Officer and President of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC. “Our separation from Valero Energy at the beginning of the year, including our name change to NuStar, the move to our new headquarters and the separation of services, was a defining moment in the company’s history. We brought on board a lot of very talented employees and started up a new marketing, supply and trading group, both of which have positioned us well for further growth.

“Financially, we had a good year, despite higher costs associated with our separation from Valero Energy and the impact of a fire at Valero Energy’s McKee refinery in the Texas Panhandle. We achieved our stated goal for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and increased the annual distribution by around 7 percent to $3.835 per unit in 2007 from $3.60 per unit in 2006, while maintaining a healthy coverage ratio applicable to the limited partners of 1.10 times.

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“We are in a great position to achieve greater success in 2008 and beyond. We started construction in 2007 on the majority of projects in our $400 million construction program, the largest capital expenditure program in the history of the company. While many of these projects came online this past year, several more are expected to be in-service in 2008, providing a major benefit to the partnership’s 2008 results. In addition, nearly all of the projects that we have completed, or that will be completed this year, have been and are still expected to be on-time and on-budget. We’ve made NuStar into a global leader in independents liquids storage, as we currently are the second largest independents liquids terminal operator in the world with over 81 million barrels of storage capacity.

“One of the more important accomplishments for 2007 was the announcement to acquire CITGO Asphalt Refining Company. We’re looking forward to completing the acquisition and the significant contribution we expect from these assets. We also look forward to sharing with you more information on the numerous projects we’ve recently identified that will increase the capacity and operational efficiency of these refineries and provide more operating flexibility to reduce the seasonality of the asphalt business.

“We believe 2008 will be a good year for NuStar, as we will benefit significantly from the construction projects that have already come on-stream in late 2007 and the ones that will be coming on-stream this year. The CITGO Asphalt Refining Company acquisition is also expected to be a major contributor to earnings. Although asphalt fundamentals weakened seasonally in the fourth quarter, we continue to see inventories tightening and the forward curve improving significantly from 2007 levels. While we foresee some coker projects coming online this year, the majority of the coker projects are expected to be in service in 2009 and 2010, which should further tighten asphalt supplies, resulting in higher margins. For these and many other reasons, we strongly believe that the best is yet to come for NuStar,” said Anastasio.

A conference call with management is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT) today, January 25, 2008, to discuss the financial and operational results for the fourth quarter of 2007. Investors interested in listening to the presentation may call 800/622-7620, passcode 30195295.International callers may access the presentation by dialing 706/645-0327, passcode 30195295. The company intends to have a playback available following the presentation, which may be accessed by calling 800/642-1687, passcode 30195295. A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available on the company’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

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NuStar Energy L.P. is a publicly traded, limited partnership based in San Antonio, with 9,113 miles of pipeline, 84 terminal facilities and four crude oil storage tank facilities. The second largest independent liquids terminal operator in the world, NuStar has operations in the United States, the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The partnership’s combined system has over 81 million barrels of storage capacity, and includes crude oil and refined product pipelines, refined product terminals, a petroleum and specialty liquids storage and terminaling business, as well as crude oil storage facilities. For more information, visit NuStar Energy L.P.’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events and the future financial performance of NuStar Energy L.P. All forward-looking statements are based on the partnership’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the partnership. These statements reflect the partnership’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 2006 annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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NuStar Energy L.P.

Consolidated Financial Information

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(unaudited, thousands of dollars, except unit data and per unit data)

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Statement of Income Data:

        

Revenues:

        

Services revenues

   $ 184,653     $ 165,462     $ 696,623     $ 636,154  

Product sales

     317,343       125,528       820,246       501,107  
                                

Total revenues

     501,996       290,990       1,516,869       1,137,261  

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of product sales

     309,816       116,016       784,827       466,276  

Operating expenses

     98,598       79,877       357,235       312,604  

General and administrative expenses

     19,308       14,893       67,915       45,216  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     29,557       26,244       114,293       100,266  
                                

Total costs and expenses

     457,279       237,030       1,324,270       924,362  
                                

Operating income

     44,717       53,960       192,599       212,899  

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     1,863       1,368       6,833       5,882  

Interest expense, net

     (18,829 )     (17,360 )     (76,516 )     (66,266 )

Other income, net

     2,916       3,252       38,830       3,252  
                                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     30,667       41,220       161,746       155,767  

Income tax expense

     2,402       3,864       11,448       5,861  
                                

Income from continuing operations

     28,265       37,356       150,298       149,906  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     —         1       —         (376 )
                                

Net income

     28,265       37,357       150,298       149,530  

Net income applicable to general partner (Note 1)

     (5,649 )     (4,360 )     (21,063 )     (16,910 )
                                

Net income applicable to limited partners

   $ 22,616     $ 32,997     $ 129,235     $ 132,620  
                                

Income per unit applicable to limited partners (Note 1):

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.47     $ 0.70     $ 2.74     $ 2.84  

Discontinued operations

     —         —         —         (0.01 )
                                

Net income

   $ 0.47     $ 0.70     $ 2.74     $ 2.83  
                                

Weighted average number of basic units outstanding

     48,194,532       46,809,749       47,158,790       46,809,749  

EBITDA from continuing operations (Note 2)

   $ 79,053     $ 84,824     $ 352,555     $ 322,299  

Distributable cash flow from continuing operations (Note 2)

   $ 41,158     $ 50,213     $ 221,096     $ 214,203  
     December 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
             

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Debt, including current portion (a)

   $ 1,446,289     $ 1,354,367      

Partners' equity (b)

     1,994,832       1,875,681      

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

     42.0 %     41.9 %    


NuStar Energy L.P.

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(unaudited, thousands of dollars, except barrel information)

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Operating Data:

        

Refined product terminals: (Note 3)

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     278,253       275,522       251,309       272,054  

Throughput revenues

   $ 13,743     $ 12,837     $ 51,135     $ 50,267  

Storage lease revenues

     83,284       69,138       314,255       266,234  
                                

Total revenues

     97,027       81,975       365,390       316,501  

Operating expenses

     63,242       48,575       221,890       191,698  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     14,069       12,289       54,635       45,485  
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 19,716     $ 21,111     $ 88,865     $ 79,318  
                                

Refined product pipelines: (Note 3)

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     728,613       712,252       678,573       711,476  

Throughput revenues

   $ 66,977     $ 59,542     $ 243,828     $ 222,356  

Operating expenses

     27,240       24,078       105,010       94,329  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     11,118       10,788       45,006       42,084  
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 28,619     $ 24,676     $ 93,812     $ 85,943  
                                

Crude oil pipelines:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     402,736       408,424       377,640       421,666  

Throughput revenues

   $ 14,891     $ 14,665     $ 52,968     $ 58,654  

Operating expenses

     3,493       4,279       15,332       16,825  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,237       1,252       4,940       5,061  
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 10,161     $ 9,134     $ 32,696     $ 36,768  
                                

Crude oil storage tanks:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     515,280       499,483       549,023       502,689  

Throughput revenues

   $ 10,858     $ 11,447     $ 45,237     $ 46,915  

Operating expenses

     3,414       3,063       11,785       10,108  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     1,926       1,915       7,682       7,636  
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 5,518     $ 6,469     $ 25,770     $ 29,171  
                                

Marketing: (Note 3)

        

Product sales

   $ 317,343     $ 125,528     $ 820,246     $ 501,107  

Cost of product sales

     313,701       117,415       791,975       471,576  

Operating expenses

     2,291       650       6,737       2,616  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     355       —         423       —    
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 996     $ 7,463     $ 21,111     $ 26,915  
                                

Consolidation and intersegment eliminations:

        

Revenues

   $ (5,100 )   $ (2,167 )   $ (10,800 )   $ (8,272 )

Cost of product sales

     (3,885 )     (1,399 )     (7,148 )     (5,300 )

Operating expenses

     (1,082 )     (768 )     (3,519 )     (2,972 )

Depreciation and amortization expense

     852       —         1,607       —    
                                

Total

   $ (985 )   $ —       $ (1,740 )   $ —    
                                

Consolidated Information:

        

Revenues

   $ 501,996     $ 290,990     $ 1,516,869     $ 1,137,261  

Cost of product sales

     309,816       116,016       784,827       466,276  

Operating expenses

     98,598       79,877       357,235       312,604  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     29,557       26,244       114,293       100,266  
                                

Segment operating income

     64,025       68,853       260,514       258,115  

General and administrative expenses

     19,308       14,893       67,915       45,216  
                                

Consolidated operating income

   $ 44,717     $ 53,960     $ 192,599     $ 212,899  
                                


NuStar Energy L.P.

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(unaudited, thousands of dollars, except unit data and per unit data)

 

Notes:

 

  1. Income is allocated between limited partners and the general partner's interests based on provisions in the partnership agreement. The income applicable to limited partners is divided by the weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding in computing the income per unit applicable to limited partners.

During the year ended December 31, 2006 our general partner reimbursed us for certain charges we incurred related to services historically provided under our Services Agreement with Valero Energy Corporation. United States generally accepted accounting principles require us to record the charges as expenses and record the reimbursement as partner's capital contribution.

The following table details the calculation of net income applicable to the general partner:

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net income applicable to general partner and limited partners' interest

   $ 28,265     $ 37,357     $ 150,298     $ 149,530  

Charges reimbursed by general partner

     —         223       —         575  
                                

Net income before charges reimbursed by general partner

     28,265       37,580       150,298       150,105  

Less general partner incentive distribution

     5,188       3,909       18,426       14,778  
                                

Net income before charges reimbursed by general partner and after general partner incentive distribution

     23,077       33,671       131,872       135,327  

General partner interest

     2 %     2 %     2 %     2 %
                                

General partner allocation of net income before charges reimbursed by general partner and after general partner incentive distribution

     461       674       2,637       2,707  

Charges reimbursed by general partner

     —         (223 )     —         (575 )

General partner incentive distribution

     5,188       3,909       18,426       14,778  
                                

Net income applicable to general partner

   $ 5,649     $ 4,360     $ 21,063     $ 16,910  
                                

 

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

The following is a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA from continuing operations and distributable cash flow from continuing operations:

 

    

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Year Ended

December 31,

 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 28,265     $ 37,356     $ 150,298     $ 149,906  

Plus interest expense, net

     18,829       17,360       76,516       66,266  

Plus income tax expense

     2,402       3,864       11,448       5,861  

Plus depreciation and amortization expense

     29,557       26,244       114,293       100,266  
                                

EBITDA from continuing operations

     79,053       84,824       352,555       322,299  

Less equity earnings from joint ventures

     (1,863 )     (1,368 )     (6,833 )     (5,882 )

Less interest expense, net

     (18,829 )     (17,360 )     (76,516 )     (66,266 )

Less reliability capital expenditures

     (16,779 )     (12,986 )     (40,337 )     (35,803 )

Less income tax expense

     (2,402 )     (3,864 )     (11,448 )     (5,861 )

Plus charges reimbursed by general partner

     —         223       —         575  

Plus distributions from joint ventures

     —         744       544       5,141  

Plus mark-to-market impact on hedge transactions (a)

     1,978       —         3,131       —    
                                

Distributable cash flow from continuing operations

     41,158       50,213       221,096       214,203  

General partner's interest in distributable cash flow from continuing operations

     (6,288 )     (4,864 )     (22,518 )     (18,520 )
                                

Limited partners' interest in distributable cash flow from continuing operations

   $ 34,870     $ 45,349     $ 198,578     $ 195,683  
                                

Weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding

     48,194,532       46,809,749       47,158,790       46,809,749  

Distributable cash flow from continuing operations per limited partner unit

   $ 0.724     $ 0.969     $ 4.221     $ 4.181  

(a)    Distributable cash flow from continuing operations above excludes the impact of mark-to-market gains and losses, which arise from valuing certain derivative contracts that are considered economic hedges. We enter into these contracts to mitigate our exposure to price fluctuations related to our inventory.

        


NuStar Energy L.P.

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

December 31, 2007 and 2006

(unaudited, thousands of dollars, except unit data and per unit data)

Notes (continued):

 

  3. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2007, product sales and the related costs were included in the Refined product terminal, the Refined product pipeline and the Other segments. Due to the growth of our product supply and marketing operations, we have consolidated all product sales and related costs into the Marketing segment. Previous periods have been restated to conform to this presentation. The Marketing segment consists of our marketing and trading operations, including sales of bunker fuel to marine vessels.

The Marketing segment operations consist of purchasing heavy fuel oil, asphalt and refined products for resale to third parties. We manage our exposure to price risk associated with these inventories by entering into economic and fair value hedges. Additionally, we engage in a limited trading program. Revenues include the sales of our inventories to third parties as well as the mark-to-market results of our trading program. Cost of sales includes the cost of our inventories as well as the mark-to-market results of our economic and fair value hedges.