EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

NuStar Energy L.P. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Earnings

and Announces Quarterly Distribution

2009 Net Income and EBITDA Second Highest in Partnership’s History

Stronger Fourth Quarter 2009 Results Compared to the Same Period Last Year Due to Much

Improved Asphalt Results

SAN ANTONIO, January 29, 2010 – NuStar Energy L.P. (NYSE: NS) today announced distributable cash flow available to limited partners of $57.0 million, or $0.99 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2009, nearly 87 percent higher than the $28.8 million, or $0.53 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, distributable cash flow available to limited partners was $311.4 million, or $5.66 per unit, compared to $288.7 million, or $5.44 per unit, for the same period in 2008.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $91.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $92.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, EBITDA was $460.5 million compared to $491.6 million for the same period in 2008. Net income applicable to limited partners was $28.8 million, or $0.50 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to $25.2 million, or $0.46 per unit, earned in the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, net income applicable to limited partners was $191.7 million, or $3.47 per unit, compared to $224.2 million, or $4.22 per unit, for the same period in 2008.

“Fourth quarter 2009 distributable cash flow and net income were stronger compared to the same period last year primarily due to improvement in the asphalt and fuels marketing segment,” said Curt Anastasio, Chief Executive Officer and President of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC. “Results in this segment improved by $23.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to last year primarily due to a higher margin per barrel in our asphalt operations. The margin per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $5.34 compared to $(1.66) last year. Since the fourth quarter 2008 results include a $22.7 million net gain resulting primarily from the sale of certain non-strategic pipeline and terminal assets, fourth quarter 2009 earnings were actually significantly higher than the fourth quarter of 2008.”

NuStar Energy L.P. also announced that its board of directors has declared a distribution of $1.065 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2009, which would equate to $4.26 per unit on an annual basis. This distribution will be paid on February 12, 2010, to holders of record as of February 5, 2010, and represents an increase over the $1.0575 per unit distribution for the fourth quarter of 2008. For 2009, NuStar Energy L.P. declared distributions of $4.245 per unit, which were nearly 4 percent higher than distributions of $4.085 per unit related to 2008.

 

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“When you consider the challenging economic and market conditions experienced during the past year, I am especially proud of what we accomplished,” said Anastasio. “While many MLPs suspended their distribution, reduced it, or just maintained the distribution at current levels, NuStar Energy L.P. provided its investors a nearly four percent distribution increase and still maintained a solid distribution coverage ratio of 1.33 times. This was mainly due to the performance of our fee-based storage and transportation business segments, which demonstrated relative stability during the year despite weak refined product demand in 2009. Combined, our transportation and storage businesses generated an incremental $39 million of segmental EBITDA in 2009 compared to 2008. A strong tariff increase of 7.6 percent effective July 1, 2009 on our interstate pipelines, higher renewal rates at certain of our storage terminals and the completion of storage expansion projects under our previous $400 million construction program all contributed to higher results in these two segments.

“Our asphalt and fuels marketing business generated $80 million of segmental EBITDA in 2009, of which $70 million came from our asphalt operations. While our 2009 asphalt results were lower than what we originally anticipated, primarily due to weaker than expected demand, I am pleased with the cumulative performance of the operations. The adjusted EBITDA contribution for the nearly two years we’ve owned the asphalt operations, excluding the 2008 crude oil hedging loss, is now over $220 million, which is in line with our original acquisition economics. In addition, our thesis on growing tightness in supply continues to prove out as margins have already responded to favorable market fundamentals well before the full impact of coker capacity expansions in 2011 and 2012. The adjusted margin per barrel for 2008 and 2009, excluding the crude oil hedging loss incurred in 2008, averaged $7.55, which is significantly higher than what the estimated average margin per barrel was for the first seven years of the decade prior to NuStar’s acquisition.

“Our fee-based transportation and storage segments should continue to be relatively stable in 2010 as we expect to primarily benefit from projects started last year and higher renewal rates. To the extent the economy recovers, we expect this will also positively impact these segments. We do not expect to see as much incremental contribution in 2010 compared to 2009 since we reduced our 2009 growth capital in response to the financial crisis. However, we have significantly increased our internal growth program in 2010 to over $310 million, most of which are long-term contracts with guaranteed rates of return, and we should start to the see the benefit from these later in 2010 and more so in 2011.

“With the 2009 asphalt season over, our focus has now turned to the upcoming 2010 season, which should start up in April. We remain optimistic that we will see improved results in our asphalt operations in 2010 compared to 2009 as we expect a higher margin per barrel and

 

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increased sales volumes. Even though year-over-year demand was down in 2009, the latest supply fundamentals through November 2009 show U.S. asphalt inventories continuing to decline well below the five-year average. This is mainly due to a larger decline in asphalt production, which has been impacted by low refinery utilization rates as a result of weak refining economics. We expect asphalt demand to be slightly higher in 2010 mainly due to increased stimulus spending and an improving economy. Higher demand and continued tightness in supply should result in improved margins. In addition, the U.S. refinery coker projects we are tracking, which are expected to further tighten asphalt supply as they come on line, are proceeding as planned. One of the coker projects expected to start up in the first quarter of 2010 has commenced operations.

“For the first quarter of 2010, we expect EBITDA to be similar to the fourth quarter and in the range of $80 to $100 million. This is reflective of the typical seasonal pattern in the asphalt operations as sales volumes and margins taper off and we start building inventories for the upcoming season. Business should start to pick up in the second quarter of 2010 as sales volumes and margins increase in response to warmer weather at the beginning of the asphalt season,” said Anastasio.

A conference call with management is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT) today, January 29, 2010, to discuss the financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. Investors interested in listening to the presentation may call 800/622-7620, passcode 49455765. International callers may access the presentation by dialing 706/645-0327, passcode 49455765. The company intends to have a playback available following the presentation, which may be accessed by calling 800/642-1687, passcode 49455765. A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available on the company’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

NuStar Energy L.P. is a publicly traded, limited partnership based in San Antonio, with 8,417 miles of crude oil and refined product pipelines; 82 terminal facilities that store and distribute crude oil, refined products and specialty liquids; four crude oil storage tank facilities; and two asphalt refineries with a combined throughput capacity of 104,000 barrels per day. The partnership’s combined system has over 91 million barrels of storage capacity. One of the largest asphalt refiners and marketers in the U.S. and the second largest independent liquids terminal operator in the nation, NuStar has operations in the United States, the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NuStar Energy L.P.’s Web site at www.nustarenergy.com.

 

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding future events. All forward-looking statements are based on the partnership’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 2008 annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this release is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the partnership’s operations.

 

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NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information

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

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2009     2008     2009     2008  

Statement of Income Data:

        

Revenues:

        

Services revenues

   $ 196,216      $ 192,855      $ 745,349      $ 740,630   

Product sales

     786,562        840,335        3,110,522        4,088,140   
                                

Total revenues

     982,778        1,033,190        3,855,871        4,828,770   

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of product sales

     744,663        828,233        2,883,187        3,864,310   

Operating expenses

     126,875        119,775        458,892        442,248   

General and administrative expenses

     27,204        20,445        94,733        76,430   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     37,420        35,690        145,743        135,709   
                                

Total costs and expenses

     936,162        1,004,143        3,582,555        4,518,697   
                                

Operating income

     46,616        29,047        273,316        310,073   

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     1,917        1,958        9,615        8,030   

Interest expense, net

     (18,858     (23,791     (79,384     (90,818

Other income, net

     5,976        25,503        31,859        37,739   
                                

Income before income tax expense

     35,651        32,717        235,406        265,024   

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (1,694     (65     10,531        11,006   
                                

Net income

   $ 37,345      $ 32,782      $ 224,875      $ 254,018   
                                

Net income applicable to limited partners

   $ 28,800      $ 25,196      $ 191,665      $ 224,171   
                                

Net income per unit applicable to limited partners (Note 1):

   $ 0.50      $ 0.46      $ 3.47      $ 4.22   
                                

Weighted average number of basic units outstanding

     57,523,049        54,460,549        55,232,467        53,182,741   

EBITDA (Note 2)

   $ 91,929      $ 92,198      $ 460,533      $ 491,551   

Distributable cash flow (Note 2)

   $ 66,218      $ 37,072      $ 345,510      $ 319,079   
     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
             

Balance Sheet Data:

        

Debt, including current portion (a)

   $ 1,849,763      $ 1,894,848       

Partners’ equity (b)

     2,484,968        2,206,997       

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

     42.7     46.2    


NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Barrel Data)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2009     2008     2009     2008  

Segment Data:

        

Storage:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     667,655        701,736        667,169        742,599   

Throughput revenues

   $ 18,705      $ 22,128      $ 78,353      $ 90,918   

Storage lease revenues

     108,519        95,407        409,219        363,171   
                                

Total revenues

     127,224        117,535        487,572        454,089   

Operating expenses

     68,645        62,486        245,439        246,304   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     18,416        17,158        70,888        66,706   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 40,163      $ 37,891      $ 171,245      $ 141,079   
                                

Transportation:

        

Refined products pipelines throughput (barrels/day)

     566,694        648,295        573,778        673,687   

Crude oil pipelines throughput (barrels/day)

     357,392        352,897        351,888        392,110   
                                

Total throughput (barrels/day)

     924,086        1,001,192        925,666        1,065,797   

Revenues

   $ 80,919      $ 83,808      $ 302,070      $ 317,778   

Operating expenses

     28,817        32,070        111,673        131,943   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     12,627        12,688        50,528        50,749   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ 39,475      $ 39,050      $ 139,869      $ 135,086   
                                

Asphalt and fuels marketing: (Note 3)

        

Product sales

   $ 786,562      $ 840,335      $ 3,110,522      $ 4,088,169   

Cost of product sales

     749,007        834,041        2,899,457        3,880,796   

Operating expenses

     37,297        29,285        130,973        80,133   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     4,927        4,862        19,463        14,734   
                                

Segment operating income

   $ (4,669   $ (27,853   $ 60,629      $ 112,506   
                                

Consolidation and intersegment eliminations:

        

Revenues

   $ (11,927   $ (8,488   $ (44,293   $ (31,266

Cost of product sales

     (4,344     (5,808     (16,270     (16,486

Operating expenses

     (7,884     (4,066     (29,193     (16,132
                                

Total

   $ 301      $ 1,386      $ 1,170      $ 1,352   
                                

Consolidated Information:

        

Revenues

   $ 982,778      $ 1,033,190      $ 3,855,871      $ 4,828,770   

Cost of product sales

     744,663        828,233        2,883,187        3,864,310   

Operating expenses

     126,875        119,775        458,892        442,248   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     35,970        34,708        140,879        132,189   
                                

Segment operating income

     75,270        50,474        372,913        390,023   

General and administrative expenses

     27,204        20,445        94,733        76,430   

Other depreciation and amortization expense

     1,450        982        4,864        3,520   
                                

Consolidated operating income

   $ 46,616      $ 29,047      $ 273,316      $ 310,073   
                                


NuStar Energy L.P. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Financial Information - Continued

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

Notes:

 

  1. In 2008, the FASB provided additional guidance regarding the application of the two-class method to calculate earnings per unit for master limited partnerships, which was effective January 1, 2009. As a result, net income per unit applicable to limited partners for the three months ended December 31, 2008 changed from $0.47 previously reported.

 

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

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

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
   2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net income

   $ 37,345      $ 32,782      $ 224,875      $ 254,018   

Plus interest expense, net

     18,858        23,791        79,384        90,818   

Plus income tax expense

     (1,694     (65     10,531        11,006   

Plus depreciation and amortization expense

     37,420        35,690        145,743        135,709   
                                

EBITDA

     91,929        92,198        460,533        491,551   

Less equity earnings from joint ventures

     (1,917     (1,958     (9,615     (8,030

Less interest expense, net

     (18,858     (23,791     (79,384     (90,818

Less reliability capital expenditures (a)

     (12,248     (27,668     (45,163     (55,669

Income tax benefit (expense)

     1,694        65        (10,531     (11,006

Plus distributions from joint ventures

     2,950        2,335        9,700        2,835   

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

     2,668        (4,109     19,970        (9,784
                                

Distributable cash flow

     66,218        37,072        345,510        319,079   

General partner’s interest in distributable cash flow

     (9,266     (8,247     (34,142     (30,352
                                

Limited partners’ interest in distributable cash flow

   $ 56,952      $ 28,825      $ 311,368      $ 288,727   
                                

Distributable cash flow per limited partner unit

   $ 0.99      $ 0.53      $ 5.66      $ 5.44   

 

  (a) For the fourth quarter and full year 2009, reliability capital expenditures were reduced by $14.1 million. The reduction consists of certain discretionary expenditures that do not relate to maintaining our equipment. Prospectively, we will not include these expenditures within reliability capital.

 

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

 

  3. Additional operational information related to the asphalt and fuels marketing segment is available on our website at www.nustarenergy.com under the investors portion of the website.