10-Q 1 a12-7511_110q.htm 10-Q

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 March 31, 2012

 

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 001-31239

 


 

MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

27-0005456

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1515 Arapahoe Street, Tower 1, Suite 1600, Denver, Colorado 80202-2137

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-925-9200

 

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

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 Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o  No x

 

As of April 30, 2012, the number of the registrant’s common units and Class B units outstanding were 102,693,615 and 19,954,389, respectively.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

    

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

2

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011

2

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

3

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

4

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

5

 

Unaudited Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Item 2.

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

26

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

38

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

40

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

41

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

41

Item 6.

Exhibits

43

SIGNATURES

44

 

Throughout this document we make statements that are classified as “forward-looking.” Please refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” included in Part I, Item 2 for an explanation of these types of assertions. Also, in this document, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “MarkWest Energy” or the “Partnership” are intended to mean MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “MarkWest Hydrocarbon” or the “Corporation” are intended to mean MarkWest Hydrocarbon, Inc., a wholly-owned taxable subsidiary of the Partnership. References to “General Partner” are intended to mean MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C., the general partner of the Partnership.

 



Table of Contents

 

Glossary of Terms

 

Bbl

 

Barrel

Bbl/d

 

Barrels per day

Bcf/d

 

Billion cubic feet per day

Btu

 

One British thermal unit, an energy measurement

DER

 

Distribution equivalent right

Dth/d

 

Dekatherms per day

EPA

 

Environmental Protection Agency

ERCOT

 

Electric Reliability Council of Texas south zone (around the clock)

FASB

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FERC

 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

GAAP

 

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

Gal

 

Gallon

Gal/d

 

Gallons per day

IFRS

 

International Financial Reporting Standards

Mcf

 

One thousand cubic feet of natural gas

Mcf/d

 

One thousand cubic feet of natural gas per day

MMBtu

 

One million British thermal units, an energy measurement

MMBtu/d

 

One million British thermal units per day

MMcf/d

 

One million cubic feet of natural gas per day

Net operating margin (a non-GAAP financial measure)

 

Segment revenue, excluding any derivative gain (loss), less purchased product costs, excluding any derivative gain (loss)

NGL

 

Natural gas liquids, such as ethane, propane, butanes and natural gasoline

N/A

 

Not applicable

OTC

 

Over-the-Counter

SEC

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

SMR

 

Steam methane reformer, operated by a third party and located at the Javelina gas processing and fractionation facility in Corpus Christi, Texas

VIE

 

Variable interest entity

WTI

 

West Texas Intermediate

 

1



Table of Contents

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

(unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents ($2,460 and $2,684, respectively)

 

$

350,634

 

$

117,016

 

Restricted cash

 

25,238

 

26,193

 

Receivables, net ($1,540 and $1,569, respectively)

 

197,115

 

226,561

 

Inventories

 

17,205

 

41,006

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

3,797

 

8,698

 

Deferred income taxes

 

14,885

 

14,885

 

Other current assets ($122 and $169, respectively)

 

8,197

 

11,748

 

Total current assets

 

617,071

 

446,107

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment ($161,716 and $156,808, respectively)

 

3,568,459

 

3,302,369

 

Less: accumulated depreciation ($17,115 and $15,551, respectively)

 

(478,771

)

(438,062

)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

3,089,688

 

2,864,307

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 

26,944

 

27,853

 

Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $179,153 and $168,168, respectively

 

592,782

 

603,767

 

Goodwill

 

67,918

 

67,918

 

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $14,462 and $13,194, respectively

 

40,530

 

41,798

 

Deferred contract cost, net of accumulated amortization of $2,340 and $2,262, respectively

 

910

 

988

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

8,270

 

16,092

 

Other long-term assets ($102 and $102, respectively)

 

1,534

 

1,595

 

Total assets

 

$

4,445,647

 

$

4,070,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable ($140 and $96, respectively)

 

$

182,149

 

$

179,871

 

Accrued liabilities ($1,898 and $1,144, respectively)

 

215,930

 

171,451

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

105,648

 

90,551

 

Total current liabilities

 

503,727

 

441,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

99,783

 

93,664

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

85,800

 

65,403

 

Long-term debt, net of discounts of $1,021 and $1,050, respectively

 

1,780,091

 

1,846,062

 

Other long-term liabilities ($75 and $73, respectively)

 

123,945

 

121,356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common units (102,694 and 94,940 common units issued and outstanding, respectively)

 

1,030,497

 

679,309

 

Class B units (19,954 units issued and outstanding)

 

752,531

 

752,531

 

Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

 

69,273

 

70,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total equity

 

1,852,301

 

1,502,067

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

4,445,647

 

$

4,070,425

 

 

Asset and liability amounts in parentheses represent the portion of the consolidated balance attributable to VIEs.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



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MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

(unaudited, in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

399,181

 

$

348,900

 

Derivative loss

 

(48,715

)

(85,679

)

Total revenue

 

350,466

 

263,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased product costs

 

154,555

 

153,629

 

Derivative loss related to purchased product costs

 

18,800

 

19,394

 

Facility expenses

 

48,840

 

39,424

 

Derivative gain related to facility expenses

 

(1,746

)

(3,011

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

25,224

 

21,712

 

Depreciation

 

41,145

 

34,364

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

10,985

 

10,817

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

986

 

2,099

 

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

238

 

87

 

Total operating expenses

 

299,027

 

278,515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

51,439

 

(15,294

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated affiliate

 

(9

)

(539

)

Interest income

 

72

 

89

 

Interest expense

 

(29,472

)

(28,263

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount (a component of interest expense)

 

(1,270

)

(1,428

)

Loss on redemption of debt

 

 

(43,328

)

Miscellaneous income (expense), net

 

58

 

(38

)

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

 

20,818

 

(88,801

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income tax expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

15,341

 

56

 

Deferred

 

(10,796

)

(14,186

)

Total provision for income tax

 

4,545

 

(14,130

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

16,273

 

(74,671

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

(253

)

(9,358

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership

 

$

16,020

 

$

(84,029

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership’s common unitholders per common unit (Note 11):

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.16

 

$

(1.13

)

Diluted

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of outstanding common units:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

96,840

 

74,531

 

Diluted

 

117,593

 

74,531

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distribution declared per common unit

 

$

0.76

 

$

0.65

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

 

(unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

Common Units

 

Class B Units

 

Non-controlling

 

 

 

 

 

Units

 

Amounts

 

Units

 

Amounts

 

Interest

 

Total

 

December 31, 2011

 

94,940

 

$

679,309

 

19,954

 

$

752,531

 

$

70,227

 

$

1,502,067

 

Issuance of units in public offering, net of offering costs

 

7,508

 

425,629

 

 

 

 

425,629

 

Distributions paid

 

 

(73,410

)

 

 

(1,962

)

(75,372

)

Contributions from non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

755

 

755

 

Share-based compensation activity

 

246

 

(2,343

)

 

 

 

(2,343

)

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

 

 

2,207

 

 

 

 

2,207

 

Deferred income tax impact from changes in equity

 

 

(16,915

)

 

 

 

(16,915

)

Net income

 

 

16,020

 

 

 

253

 

16,273

 

March 31, 2012

 

102,694

 

$

1,030,497

 

19,954

 

$

752,531

 

$

69,273

 

$

1,852,301

 

 

 

 

Common Units

 

Non-controlling

 

 

 

 

 

Units

 

Amounts

 

Interest

 

Total

 

December 31, 2010

 

71,440

 

$

993,049

 

$

465,517

 

$

1,458,566

 

Share-based compensation activity

 

270

 

314

 

 

314

 

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

 

 

1,096

 

 

1,096

 

Distributions paid

 

 

(49,274

)

(13,568

)

(62,842

)

Issuance of units in public offering, net of offering costs

 

3,450

 

138,163

 

 

138,163

 

Contributions to MarkWest Liberty Midstream joint venture

 

 

 

8,000

 

8,000

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(84,029

)

9,358

 

(74,671

)

March 31, 2011

 

75,160

 

$

999,319

 

$

469,307

 

$

1,468,626

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

(unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

16,273

 

$

(74,671

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

41,145

 

34,364

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

10,985

 

10,817

 

Loss on redemption of debt

 

 

43,328

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount

 

1,270

 

1,428

 

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

238

 

87

 

Amortization of deferred contract cost

 

78

 

78

 

Phantom unit compensation expense

 

5,709

 

5,636

 

Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate

 

9

 

539

 

Distributions from unconsolidated affiliate

 

900

 

 

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments

 

48,217

 

80,829

 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

986

 

2,099

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(10,796

)

(14,186

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of working capital acquired:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

30,279

 

13,751

 

Inventories

 

23,812

 

9,148

 

Other current assets

 

3,503

 

(2,658

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

32,556

 

(3,024

)

Other long-term assets

 

61

 

(372

)

Other long-term liabilities

 

2,688

 

8,126

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

207,913

 

115,319

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

 

1,003

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(254,263

)

(113,652

)

Acquisition of business

 

 

(230,728

)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

291

 

2,759

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

(252,969

)

(341,621

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from public equity offering, net

 

425,629

 

138,163

 

Proceeds from revolving credit facility

 

13,700

 

307,600

 

Payments of revolving credit facility

 

(79,700

)

(168,400

)

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

 

499,000

 

Payments of long-term debt

 

 

(437,848

)

Payments of premiums on redemption of long-term debt

 

 

(39,520

)

Payments for debt issuance costs, deferred financing costs and registration costs

 

 

(6,524

)

Contributions from non-controlling interest

 

755

 

8,000

 

Payments of SMR liability

 

(497

)

(452

)

Cash paid for taxes related to net settlement of share-based payment awards

 

(8,048

)

(6,269

)

Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation

 

2,207

 

1,096

 

Payment of distributions to common unitholders

 

(73,410

)

(49,274

)

Payment of distributions to non-controlling interest

 

(1,962

)

(13,568

)

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

 

278,674

 

232,004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

233,618

 

5,702

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

117,016

 

67,450

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

350,634

 

$

73,152

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

MARKWEST ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(unaudited)

 

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

 

MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. was formed in 2002 as a Delaware limited partnership. The Partnership is engaged in the gathering, transportation and processing of natural gas; the transportation, fractionation, marketing and storage of NGLs; and the gathering and transportation of crude oil. The Partnership has extensive natural gas gathering, processing and transmission operations in the southwest, Gulf Coast, and northeast regions of the United States, including the Marcellus Shale, and is the largest natural gas processor and fractionator in the Appalachian region.

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. In management’s opinion, the Partnership has made all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of its results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods shown. These adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Finally, results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year 2012 or any other future period.

 

The Partnership’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned or majority-controlled subsidiaries. In addition, MarkWest Utica EMG, L.L.C. (“MarkWest Utica EMG”) and MarkWest Pioneer, L.L.C. (“MarkWest Pioneer”), VIEs for which the Partnership has been determined to be the primary beneficiary, are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 3). All intercompany investments, accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Partnership’s investment in Centrahoma Processing, LLC (“Centrahoma”), in which the Partnership exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary, is accounted for using the equity method.

 

2. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2011, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for fair value measurement and disclosure. The amendment primarily clarifies the application of the existing guidance and provides for increased disclosures, particularly related to Level 3 fair value measurements. The amended guidance is effective for the Partnership prospectively as of January 1, 2012. Except for the additional disclosures included in Note 5, the adoption of the amended guidance did not have a material effect on the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2011, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for balance sheet offsetting for financial assets and financial liabilities. The amended guidance was intended to help investors and other financial statement users to better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a company’s financial position and provides for increased disclosures. The amended guidance is effective for the Partnership prospectively as of January 1, 2013. Except for the additional disclosures, the adoption of the amended guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

3. Variable Interest Entities

 

MarkWest Utica EMG

 

Effective January 1, 2012, the Partnership and EMG Utica, LLC (“EMG Utica”) executed agreements to form a joint venture, MarkWest Utica EMG, to develop significant natural gas gathering, processing and NGL fractionation, transportation and marketing infrastructure in Eastern Ohio. Under the terms of the agreements, the Partnership will make an initial contribution to MarkWest Utica EMG in a nominal amount in exchange for a 60% membership interest in MarkWest Utica EMG, and EMG Utica will make an initial contribution in a nominal amount and has agreed to contribute to MarkWest Utica EMG $350 million in cash on an as needed basis (the “Initial EMG Contribution”) in exchange for a 40% membership interest in MarkWest Utica EMG. Following the funding of the Initial EMG Contribution, the Partnership has the one time right to elect that (i) EMG Utica fund, as needed, all capital required to develop projects within MarkWest Utica EMG until the earlier of December 31, 2016 or such time as EMG Utica’s total investment balance reaches $500 million (the “Minimum EMG Investment”) or (ii) the Partnership fund 60% of all capital required to develop projects within MarkWest Utica EMG until such time as EMG Utica’s total investment balance equals the Minimum EMG Investment and EMG Utica will be required to fund the remaining 40% of all such capital. Once EMG Utica has funded capital equal to the Minimum EMG Investment, or if EMG has not funded the Minimum EMG Investment by December 31,

 

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2016, then commencing on January 1, 2017, the Partnership is required to fund, as needed, 100% of all capital required to develop projects within MarkWest Utica EMG until such time as the total investment balances of the Partnership and EMG Utica are in the ratio of 60% and 40%, respectively (such time being referred to as the “First Equalization Date”). If the First Equalization Date has not occurred by December 31, 2016, each member’s ownership interest will be adjusted to equal the proportionate share of capital that it has contributed, and allocations of profits and losses and distributions of available cash would be made in accordance with those adjusted membership interests. Following the First Equalization Date, the Partnership shall have the right to elect to continue to fund up to 100% of any additional capital required until such time as the investment balances of the Partnership and EMG Utica are in the ratio of 70% and 30%, respectively (such time being referred to as the “Second Equalization Date”). To the extent the Partnership does not fully exercise such right at any time prior to the Second Equalization Date, EMG Utica shall have the right, but not the obligation, to contribute such additional capital that is requested and that is not contributed by the Partnership. After the Second Equalization Date, EMG Utica shall have the right, but not the obligation, to maintain a 30% interest in MarkWest Utica EMG by funding 30% of any additional required capital.

 

The Partnership has determined that MarkWest Utica EMG is a VIE primarily due to the Partnership’s disproportionate economic interests as compared to its stated ownership interests and voting interests. The Partnership’s 60% ownership interest in the entity is disproportionate to its economic interest due to the timing of the capital funding requirements described above. The Partnership has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary of MarkWest Utica EMG based on its role as the operator and its right to receive benefits and absorb losses of MarkWest Utica EMG. The Partnership believes that its role as the operator along with its equity interests give it the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of MarkWest Utica EMG.

 

MarkWest Pioneer

 

MarkWest Pioneer is the owner and operator of the Arkoma Connector Pipeline. The Partnership and Arkoma Pipeline Partners, LLC share the equity interests in MarkWest Pioneer equally (50% and 50%). As discussed in Note 4 in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, the Partnership determined that MarkWest Pioneer is a VIE and the Partnership is the primary beneficiary.

 

Financial Statement Impact of VIEs

 

As the primary beneficiary of MarkWest Pioneer and MarkWest Utica EMG, the Partnership consolidates the entities and recognizes non-controlling interests. As of December 31, 2011, MarkWest Pioneer was the only VIE included in the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements and its assets and liabilities are disclosed parenthetically on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following tables show the consolidated assets and liabilities attributable to VIEs, excluding intercompany balances, as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012

 

 

 

MarkWest
Pioneer

 

MarkWest
Utica EMG

 

Total

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,097

 

$

363

 

$

2,460

 

Receivables, net

 

1,540

 

 

1,540

 

Other current assets

 

122

 

 

122

 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $17,114 and $1, respectively

 

140,721

 

3,880

 

144,601

 

Other long-term assets

 

102

 

 

102

 

Total assets

 

$

144,582

 

$

4,243

 

$

148,825

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

104

 

$

36

 

$

140

 

Accrued liabilities

 

1,338

 

560

 

1,898

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

75

 

 

75

 

Total liabilities

 

$

1,517

 

$

596

 

$

2,113

 

 

The assets of the VIEs are the property of the respective entities and are not available to the Partnership for any other purpose, including as collateral for its secured debt (see Note 7 and Note 13). VIE asset balances can only be used to settle obligations of each respective VIE. The liabilities of the VIEs do not represent additional claims against the Partnership’s general assets, and the creditors or beneficial interest holders of the VIE do not have recourse to the general credit of the Partnership. The Partnership’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the VIEs includes its equity investment, any additional capital contribution commitments and any operating expense incurred by the subsidiary operator in excess of its compensation received for

 

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the performance of the operating services. The Partnership did not provide any financial support to the VIEs that it was not contractually obligated to provide during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

The results of operations of MarkWest Utica EMG and MarkWest Pioneer are included in the Partnership’s Liberty and Southwest segments, respectively (see Note 12). The result of operations and cash flows for MarkWest Pioneer are not material to the Partnership. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, construction began for MarkWest Utica EMG assets, but operating activities have not commenced. Therefore, the results of operations and cash flows related to MarkWest Utica EMG are not material to the Partnership.

 

4. Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Commodity Derivatives

 

NGL and natural gas prices are volatile and are impacted by changes in fundamental supply and demand, as well as market uncertainty, availability of NGL transportation and fractionation capacity and a variety of additional factors that are beyond the Partnership’s control. The Partnership’s profitability is directly affected by prevailing commodity prices primarily as a result of processing or conditioning at its own or third-party processing plants, purchasing and selling or gathering and transporting volumes of natural gas at index-related prices and the cost of third-party transportation and fractionation services. To the extent that commodity prices influence the level of natural gas drilling by the Partnership’s producer customers, such prices also affect profitability. To protect itself financially against adverse price movements and to maintain more stable and predictable cash flows so that the Partnership can meet its cash distribution objectives, debt service and capital expenditures, the Partnership executes a strategy governed by the risk management policy approved by the General Partner’s board of directors (the “Board”). The Partnership has a committee comprised of senior management that oversees risk management activities (the “Hedge Committee”), continually monitors the risk management program and adjusts its strategy as conditions warrant. The Partnership enters into certain derivative contracts to reduce the risks associated with unfavorable changes in the prices of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil. Derivative contracts utilized are swaps and options traded on the OTC market. The risk management policy does not allow for trading derivative contracts.

 

To mitigate its cash flow exposure to fluctuations in the price of NGLs, the Partnership has entered into derivative financial instruments relating to the future price of NGLs and crude oil. Generally the Partnership manages its NGL price risk using crude oil contracts as NGL financial markets are not as liquid and historically there has been a strong relationship between changes in NGL and crude oil prices. The pricing relationship between NGLs and crude oil may vary in certain periods due to various market conditions. In periods where NGL prices and crude oil prices are not consistent with the historical relationship, the Partnership incurs increased risk and additional gains or losses. The Partnership enters into NGL derivative contracts when adequate market liquidity exists.

 

To mitigate its cash flow exposure to fluctuations in the price of natural gas, the Partnership primarily utilizes derivative financial instruments relating to the future price of natural gas and takes into account the partial offset of its long and short gas positions resulting from normal operating activities.

 

As a result of its current derivative positions, the Partnership has mitigated a portion of its expected commodity price risk through the fourth quarter of 2014. The Partnership would be exposed to additional commodity risk in certain situations such as if producers under deliver or over deliver product or when processing facilities are operated in different recovery modes. In the event the Partnership has derivative positions in excess of the product delivered or expected to be delivered, the excess derivative positions will be terminated.

 

The Partnership enters into derivative contracts primarily with financial institutions that are participating members of the Credit Facility (“participating bank group members”). Currently, all of the Partnership’s financial derivative positions are with participating bank group members. Management conducts a standard credit review on counterparties to derivative contracts. There are no collateral requirements for derivative contracts among the Partnership and any participating bank group members. Specifically, the Partnership is not required to post collateral when it enters into derivative contracts with participating bank group members as the participating bank group members have a collateral position in substantially all the wholly-owned assets of the Partnership. The Partnership uses standardized agreements that allow for offset of positive and negative exposures (master netting arrangements).

 

The Partnership records derivative contracts at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and has not elected hedge accounting or the normal purchases and normal sales designation which may cause volatility in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as the Partnership recognizes in current earnings all unrealized gains and losses from the changes in fair value on derivatives.

 

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Table of Contents

 

As of March 31, 2012, the Partnership had the following outstanding commodity contracts that were entered into to manage cash flow risk associated with future sales of NGLs or future purchases of natural gas.

 

Derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments

 

Financial
Position

 

Notional Quantity
(net)

 

Crude Oil (bbl)

 

Short

 

8,888,207

 

Natural Gas (MMBtu)

 

Long

 

14,301,553

 

NGLs (gal)

 

Short

 

36,896,028

 

 

Embedded Derivatives in Commodity Contracts

 

The Partnership has a commodity contract with a producer in the Appalachia region that creates a floor on the frac spread for gas purchases of 9,000 Dth/d. The commodity contract is a component of a broader regional arrangement that also includes a keep-whole processing agreement. This contract is accounted for as an embedded derivative and is recorded at fair value. The changes in fair value of this commodity contract are based on the difference between the contractual and index pricing and are recorded in earnings through Derivative (gain) loss related to purchased product costs. In February 2011, the Partnership executed agreements with the producer to extend the commodity contract and the related processing agreement from March 31, 2015 to December 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of this contract was a liability of $123.6 million and the recorded value was a liability of $70.1 million. The recorded liability does not include the inception fair value of the commodity contract related to the extended period from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022. In accordance with GAAP for non-option embedded derivatives, the fair value of this extended portion of the commodity contract at its inception of February 1, 2011 is deemed to be allocable to the host processing contract and therefore not recorded as a derivative liability. See the following table for a reconciliation of the liability recorded for the embedded derivative as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

Fair value of commodity contract

 

$

123,573

 

Inception value for period from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022

 

(53,507

)

Derivative liability as of March 31, 2012

 

$

70,066

 

 

The Partnership has a commodity contract that gives it an option to fix a component of the utilities cost to an index price on electricity at its plant location in the Gulf Coast segment through the fourth quarter of 2014. Changes in the fair value of the derivative component of this contract are recorded in Derivative gain related to facility expenses. As of March 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of this contract was an asset of $9.3 million.

 

Financial Statement Impact of Derivative Instruments

 

There were no material changes to the Partnership’s policy regarding the accounting for these instruments as previously disclosed in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments recorded on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is summarized below (in thousands):

 

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments and their balance sheet location

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

Commodity contracts(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of derivative instruments - current

 

$

3,797

 

$

8,698

 

$

(105,648

)

$

(90,551

)

Fair value of derivative instruments - long-term

 

8,270

 

16,092

 

(85,800

)

(65,403

)

Total

 

$

12,067

 

$

24,790

 

$

(191,448

)

$

(155,954

)

 


(1)          Includes Embedded Derivatives in Commodity Contracts as discussed above.

 

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Derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments and the location of gain
or (loss) recognized in income

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue: Derivative loss

 

 

 

 

 

Realized loss

 

$

(10,478

)

$

(14,391

)

Unrealized loss

 

(38,237

)

(71,288

)

Total revenue: derivative loss

 

(48,715

)

(85,679

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative loss related to purchased product costs

 

 

 

 

 

Realized loss

 

(7,074

)

(7,887

)

Unrealized loss

 

(11,726

)

(11,507

)

Total derivative loss related to purchased product costs

 

(18,800

)

(19,394

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative gain related to facility expenses

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain

 

1,746

 

3,011

 

Total loss

 

$

(65,769

)

$

(102,062

)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Realized loss—revenue includes amortization of premium payments of zero and $1.0 million, respectively.

 

5. Fair Value

 

Fair value measurements and disclosures relate primarily to the Partnership’s derivative positions discussed in Note 4. The following table presents the derivative instruments carried at fair value as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 

As of March 31, 2012

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

583

 

$

(101,710

)

Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

2,222

 

(19,672

)

Embedded derivatives in commodity contracts

 

9,262

 

(70,066

)

Total carrying value in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

$

12,067

 

$

(191,448

)

 

As of December 31, 2011

 

Assets

 

Liabilities

 

Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

5,063

 

$

(79,358

)

Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

12,210

 

(15,175

)

Embedded derivatives in commodity contracts

 

7,517

 

(61,421

)

Total carrying value in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

$

24,790

 

$

(155,954

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table provides additional information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation of Level 3 instruments as of March 31, 2012:

 

Level 3 Instrument

 

Balance Sheet
Classification

 

Valuation
Technique

 

Unobservable Inputs

 

Value Range (2)(3)(4)

 

Time Period

 

Commodity contracts

 

Assets

 

Market approach

 

Forward propane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.23

-

$1.33

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward natural gasoline prices (per gallon)

 

$2.18

-

$2.38

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude option volatilities (%)

 

14.80 %

-

37.42%

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Market approach

 

Forward propane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.23

-

$1.33

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward isobutane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.76

-

$2.05

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward normal butane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.68

-

$1.90

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward natural gasoline prices (per gallon)

 

$2.18

-

$2.38

 

Jan. 2013 - Dec. 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude option volatilities (%)

 

14.80 %

-

37.42%

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Embedded derivatives in commodity contracts

 

Liability

 

Market Approach

 

Forward propane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.16

-

$1.33

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward isobutane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.64

-

$2.05

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward normal butane prices (per gallon)

 

$1.58

-

$1.90

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward natural gasoline prices (per gallon)

 

$2.05

-

$2.38

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward natural gas prices (per mmbtu)

 

$2.16

-

$6.36

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probability of renewal (1)

 

 

0 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asset

 

Market Approach

 

ERCOT Pricing (per MegaWatt Hour)

 

$22.74

-

$66.30

 

Apr. 2012 - Dec. 2014

 

 


(1)

The producer counterparty to the embedded derivative has the option to renew the gas purchase agreement and the related keep-whole processing agreement for two successive five year terms after 2022. The embedded gas purchase agreement cannot be renewed without the renewal of the related keep-whole processing agreement. Due to the significant number of years until the renewal options are exercisable and the high level of uncertainty regarding the counterparty’s future business strategy, the future commodity price environment, and the future competitive environment for midstream services in the Appalachia area, management determined that a 0% probability of renewal is an appropriate assumption.

 

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(2)          The forward NGL prices utilized in the valuations are at the higher end of the range in the earlier years and are generally declining slightly through the later years presented.

 

(3)          The forward natural gas prices utilized in the valuations are at the low end of the range in the earlier years and are generally increasing through the later years presented.

 

(4)          The forward ERCOT prices utilized in the valuations are generally increasing over time with a seasonal spike in pricing in the summer months.

 

Fair Value Sensitivity Related to Unobservable Inputs

 

Commodity contracts (assets and liabilities) - For the Partnership’s commodity contracts, increases in forward NGL prices result in a decrease in the fair value of the derivative assets and an increase the fair value of the derivative liabilities. The forward prices for the individual NGL products generally increase or decrease in a positive correlation with one another. An increase in crude option volatilities will generally result in an increase in the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative assets and derivative liabilities in commodity contracts.

 

Embedded derivative in commodity contracts (liability) - The embedded derivative liability relates to the natural gas purchase agreement embedded in a keep-whole processing agreement as discussed further in Note 4. Increases (decreases) in forward NGL prices result in an increase (decrease) in the fair value of the embedded derivative liability. An increase in the probability of renewal would result in an increase in the fair value of the related embedded derivative liability.

 

Embedded derivative in commodity contracts (asset) - The embedded derivative asset relates to the electricity purchase agreement discussed further in Note 4. Increases in the forward ERCOT prices, relative to natural gas prices, result in an increase in the fair value of the embedded derivative asset.

 

Level 3 Valuation Process

 

The Partnership’s Risk Management Department (the “Risk Department”) is responsible for the valuation of the Partnership’s commodity derivative contracts and embedded derivatives in commodity contracts. The Risk Department reports to the Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for the oversight of the Partnership’s commodity risk management program. The members of the Risk Department have the requisite experience, knowledge and day-to-day involvement in the energy commodity markets to ensure appropriate valuations and understand the changes in the valuations from period to period. The valuations of the commodity derivative contracts are performed by a third-party pricing service and reviewed and validated on a quarterly basis by the Risk Department by comparing the pricing and option volatilities to actual market data and/or data provided by other independent third-party pricing services. The valuations for the embedded derivatives in commodity contracts are completed by the Risk Department utilizing the market data and price curves provided by the third-party pricing service. For the embedded derivative in the keep-whole processing arrangement discussed in Note 4, the Risk Department must develop forward price curves for NGLs and natural gas for periods in which price curves are not available from third-party pricing services due to insufficient market data. As of March 31, 2012,the Risk Department utilized internally developed price curves for the period of January 2015 through December 2022 in the valuation of the embedded derivative in the keep-whole processing arrangement. In developing the pricing curves for these periods, the Risk Department maximizes its use of the latest known market data and trends as well as its understanding of the historical relationships between the forward NGL and natural gas prices and the forward market data that is available for the required period, such as crude oil pricing and natural gas pricing from other markets. However, there is very limited actual market data available to validate the Partnership’s estimated price curves. The fair value of the Partnership’s commodity derivative contracts and embedded derivatives in commodity contracts are reviewed quarterly by the Hedge Committee.

 

12



Table of Contents

 

Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

 

The table below includes a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 for assets and liabilities classified by the Partnership within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy (in thousands).

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Commodity
Derivative
Contracts (net)

 

Embedded
Derivatives in
Commodity
Contracts (net)

 

Fair value at beginning of period

 

$

(2,965

)

$

(53,904

)

Total loss (realized and unrealized) included in earnings (1)

 

(12,076

)

(10,438

)

Settlements

 

(2,409

)

3,538

 

Fair value at end of period

 

$

(17,450

)

$

(60,804

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to contracts still held at end of period (1)

 

$

(14,050

)

$

(10,620

)

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

Commodity
Derivative
Contracts (net)

 

Embedded
Derivatives in
Commodity
Contracts (net)

 

Fair value at beginning of period

 

$

(14,357

)

$

(34,936

)

Total loss (realized and unrealized) included in earnings (1)

 

(22,993

)

(19,280

)

Settlements

 

1,444

 

3,609

 

Fair value at end of period

 

$

(35,906

)

$

(50,607

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of total losses for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses relating to contracts still held at end of period (1)

 

$

(22,779

)

$

(18,692

)

 


(1)                                 Gains and losses on Commodity Derivative Contracts classified as Level 3 are recorded in Derivative loss related to revenue. Gains and losses on Embedded Derivatives in Commodity Contracts are recorded in Purchased product costs, Derivative loss related to purchased product costs and Derivative gain related to facility expenses.

 

6. Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

NGLs

 

$

7,359

 

$

32,352

 

Spare parts, materials and supplies

 

9,846

 

8,654

 

Total inventories

 

$

17,205

 

$

41,006

 

 

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7. Long-Term Debt

 

Debt is summarized below (in thousands):

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

Credit Facility

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility, 4.25% interest, due September 2016

 

$

 

$

66,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes (1)

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Senior Notes, 8.75% interest, net of discount of $124 and $129, respectively, issued April and May 2008 and due April 2018

 

80,988

 

80,983

 

2020 Senior Notes, 6.75% interest, issued November 2010 and due November 2020

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

2021 Senior Notes, 6.5% interest, net of discount of $897 and $921, respectively, issued February and March 2011 and due August 2021

 

499,103

 

499,079

 

2022 Senior Notes, 6.25% interest, issued October 2011 and due June 2022

 

700,000

 

700,000

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

1,780,091

 

$

1,846,062

 

 


(1)          The estimated aggregate fair value of the senior notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) was approximately $1,895.1 million and $1,880.7 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, based on quoted prices in an inactive market. The fair value of the Partnership’s Senior Notes is considered a Level 3 measurement.

 

Credit Facility

 

Under the provisions of the Credit Facility, the Partnership is subject to a number of restrictions and covenants. These covenants are used to calculate the available borrowing capacity on a quarterly basis. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by the Partnership’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and collateralized by substantially all of the Partnership’s assets and those of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2012, the Partnership had $22.3 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility and $877.7 million available for borrowing.

 

8. Equity

 

Equity Offerings

 

In January 2012, the Partnership issued approximately 0.7 million units pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional common units under the equity offering initiated in December 2011. The total net proceeds from the exercise of this option were approximately $38 million and will be used to partially fund the Partnership’s ongoing capital expenditure program.

 

In March 2012, the Partnership completed a public offering of approximately 6.8 million newly issued common units representing limited partner interests, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Net proceeds after deducting underwriting fees and other third-party offering expenses were approximately $388 million and will be used to partially fund the Partnership’s ongoing capital expenditure program.

 

Distributions of Available Cash

 

Quarter Ended

 

Distribution Per
Common Unit

 

Declaration Date

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

March 31, 2012

 

$

0.79

 

April 26, 2012

 

May 7, 2012

 

May 15, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

$

0.76

 

January 26, 2012

 

February 6, 2012

 

February 14, 2012

 

 

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9. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal

 

The Partnership is subject to a variety of risks and disputes, and is a party to various legal proceedings in the normal course of its business. The Partnership maintains insurance policies in amounts and with coverage and deductibles as it believes reasonable and prudent. However, the Partnership cannot assure that the insurance companies will promptly honor their policy obligations or that the coverage or levels of insurance will be adequate to protect the Partnership from all material expenses related to future claims for property loss or business interruption to the Partnership, or for third-party claims of personal and property damage, or that the coverages or levels of insurance it currently has will be available in the future at economical prices. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of the legal actions with certainty, management is of the opinion that appropriate provisions and accruals for potential losses associated with all legal actions have been made in the consolidated financial statements.

 

In the ordinary course of business, the Partnership is a party to various legal and regulatory actions. In the opinion of management, none of these actions, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

 

Contract Contingencies

 

Certain natural gas processing arrangements in the Partnership’s Liberty and Northeast segments require the Partnership to construct new natural gas processing plants and NGL pipelines. Some contracts contain certain fees and charges if specified construction milestones are not achieved for reasons other than force majeure. The Partnership has experienced delays in the construction of a processing facility in the Partnership’s Liberty Segment due to events of force majeure including inabilities or delays in obtaining requisite permits, as well as due to extreme weather events. The requisite permits were subsequently issued several months later than expected and construction has re-commenced but those delays exacerbated construction conditions. In addition, the Partnership has continued to experience extraordinary weather events which have resulted in additional delays. Delay charges for delays other than due to force majeure events are up to $1.0 million for each month (pro-rated for partial months) that the Partnership does not achieve certain intermediate and final completion construction milestones. In addition, if delays for other than force majeure events are six months or longer, the producer has the option to purchase the processing facilities and terminate the processing agreement with a substantial termination fee. The Partnership has made a force majeure claim as the delays were a direct result of permit delays and weather which are force majeure events under the applicable contract. The customer has reserved its rights to dispute the Partnership’s force majeure claim, but has not requested the payment of any delay charges. The Partnership’s management believes it has a convincing legal position and believes that its force majeure claim would be recognized as valid if contested. The Partnership is also developing solutions to provide alternative processing capabilities for its customers to mitigate the impact of these delays.

 

10. Income Taxes

 

A reconciliation of the provision for income tax and the amount computed by applying the federal statutory rate to income (loss) before provision for income tax for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Corporation

 

Partnership

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Income before provision for income tax

 

$

7,525

 

$

14,097

 

$

(804

)

$

20,818

 

Federal statutory rate

 

35

%

0

%

0

%

 

 

Federal income tax at statutory rate

 

2,634

 

 

 

2,634

 

Permanent items

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

State income taxes net of federal benefit

 

339

 

66

 

 

405

 

Provision on income from Class A units (1)

 

1,502

 

 

 

1,502

 

Provision for income tax

 

$

4,479

 

$

66

 

$

 

$

4,545

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

Corporation

 

Partnership

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Loss before provision for income tax

 

$

(19,996

)

$

(67,436

)

$

(1,369

)

$

(88,801

)

Federal statutory rate

 

35

%

0

%

0

%

 

 

Federal income tax at statutory rate

 

(6,999

)

 

 

(6,999

)

Permanent items

 

(77

)

 

 

(77

)

State income taxes net of federal benefit

 

(682

)

(343

)

 

(1,025

)

Provision on income from Class A units (1)

 

(6,029

)

 

 

(6,029

)

Provision for income tax

 

$

(13,787

)

$

(343

)

$

 

$

(14,130

)

 


(1)                                  The Corporation and the General Partner of the Partnership own Class A units of the Partnership that were received in the merger of the Corporation and the Partnership completed in February 2008. The Class A units share, on a pro-rata basis, in the income or loss of the Partnership except for items attributable to the Partnership’s ownership of or sale of shares of the Corporation’s common stock. The provision on income from Class A units includes intra period allocations to continued operations and excludes allocations to equity.

 

11. Earnings (Loss) Per Common Unit

 

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and the weighted-average units used to compute basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership

 

$

16,020

 

$

(84,029

)

Less: Income allocable to phantom units

 

520

 

420

 

Income (loss) available for common unitholders - basic

 

15,500

 

(84,449

)

Add: Income allocable to phantom units and DER expense

 

535

 

 

Income (loss) available for common unitholders - diluted

 

$

16,035

 

$

(84,449

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding — basic

 

96,840

 

74,531

 

Potential common shares (Class B and phantom units)

 

20,753

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding — diluted

 

117,593

 

74,531

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership’s common unitholders per common unit (1)

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.16

 

$

(1.13

)

Diluted

 

$

0.14

 

$

(1.13

)

 


(1)          Earnings per Class B units equals zero as Class B unitholders are not entitled to receive distributions and therefore no income is allocable to Class B units under the two class method.

 

12. Segment Information

 

The Partnership prepares segment information in accordance with GAAP. Certain items below Income from operations in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, certain compensation expense, certain other non-cash items and any gains (losses) from derivative instruments are not allocated to individual segments. Management does not consider these items allocable to or controllable by any individual segment and therefore excludes these items when evaluating segment performance. Segment results are also adjusted to exclude the portion of operating income attributable to the non-controlling interests.

 

The tables below present the Partnership’s segment profit measure, Operating income before items not allocated to segments, and capital expenditures for the reported segments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands).

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012:

 

 

 

Southwest

 

Northeast

 

Liberty

 

Gulf Coast

 

Total

 

Segment revenue

 

$

214,725

 

$

86,918

 

$

75,577

 

$

24,229

 

$

401,449

 

Purchased product costs

 

104,233

 

25,687

 

24,635

 

 

154,555

 

Net operating margin

 

110,492

 

61,231

 

50,942

 

24,229

 

246,894

 

Facility expenses

 

22,992

 

6,378

 

12,247

 

9,638

 

51,255

 

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

1,446

 

 

 

 

1,446

 

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

86,054

 

$

54,853

 

$

38,695

 

$

14,591

 

$

194,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

48,040

 

$

23,302

 

$

178,689

 

$

2,543

 

$

252,574

 

Capital expenditures not allocated to segments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,689

 

Total capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

254,263

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Southwest

 

Northeast

 

Liberty

 

Gulf Coast

 

Total

 

Segment revenue

 

$

201,774

 

$

92,091

 

$

41,219

 

$

21,759

 

$

356,843

 

Purchased product costs

 

103,196

 

40,878

 

9,555

 

 

153,629

 

Net operating margin

 

98,578

 

51,213

 

31,664

 

21,759

 

203,214

 

Facility expenses

 

20,157

 

5,594

 

6,498

 

8,990

 

41,239

 

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

1,172

 

 

12,377

 

 

13,549

 

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

77,249

 

$

45,619

 

$

12,789

 

$

12,769

 

$

148,426

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

17,156

 

$

709

 

$

94,146

 

$

294

 

$

112,305

 

Capital expenditures not allocated to segments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,347

 

Total capital expenditures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

113,652

 

 

17



Table of Contents

 

The following is a reconciliation of segment revenue to total revenue and operating income before items not allocated to segments to income before provision for income tax for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment revenue

 

$

401,449

 

$

356,843

 

Derivative loss not allocated to segments

 

(48,715

)

(85,679

)

Revenue deferral adjustment (1)

 

(2,268

)

(7,943

)

Total revenue

 

$

350,466

 

$

263,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

194,193

 

$

148,426

 

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

1,446

 

13,549

 

Derivative loss not allocated to segments

 

(65,769

)

(102,062

)

Revenue deferral adjustment (1)

 

(2,268

)

(7,943

)

Compensation expense included in facility expenses not allocated to segments

 

(449

)

(1,040

)

Facility expenses adjustments (2)

 

2,864

 

2,855

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(25,224

)

(21,712

)

Depreciation

 

(41,145

)

(34,364

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

(10,985

)

(10,817

)

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

(986

)

(2,099

)

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

(238

)

(87

)

Income (loss) from operations

 

51,439

 

(15,294

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated affiliate

 

(9

)

(539

)

Interest income

 

72

 

89

 

Interest expense

 

(29,472

)

(28,263

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount (a component of interest expense)

 

(1,270

)

(1,428

)

Loss on redemption of debt

 

 

(43,328

)

Miscellaneous income (expense), net

 

58

 

(38

)

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

 

$

20,818

 

$

(88,801

)

 


(1)          Amount relates to certain contracts in which the cash consideration that the Partnership receives for providing service is greater during the initial years of the contract compared to the later years. In accordance with GAAP, the revenue is recognized evenly over the term of the contract as the Partnership will perform a similar level of service for the entire term; therefore, the revenue recognized in the current reporting period is less than the cash received. However, the Partnership’s chief operating decision maker and management evaluate the segment performance based on the cash consideration received and therefore the impact of the revenue deferrals is excluded for segment reporting purposes. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, approximately $0.2 million and $2.1 million of the revenue deferral adjustment is attributable to the Southwest segment and Northeast segment, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, approximately $6.5 million and $1.4 million of the revenue deferral adjustment is attributable to the Southwest segment and Northeast segment, respectively. Beginning in 2015, the cash consideration received from these contracts will decline and the reported segment revenue will be less than the revenue recognized for GAAP purposes.

 

(2)          Facility expenses adjustments consist of the reallocation of the MarkWest Pioneer field services fee and the reallocation of the interest expense related to the SMR, which is included in facility expenses for the purposes of evaluating the performance of the Gulf Coast segment.

 

18



Table of Contents

 

The tables below present information about segment assets as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

Southwest

 

$

1,693,321

 

$

1,701,919

 

Northeast

 

498,185

 

533,591

 

Liberty

 

1,279,066

 

1,114,654

 

Gulf Coast

 

551,313

 

553,043

 

Total segment assets

 

4,021,885

 

3,903,207

 

Assets not allocated to segments:

 

 

 

 

 

Certain cash and cash equivalents

 

342,684

 

66,212

 

Fair value of derivatives

 

12,067

 

24,790

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 

26,944

 

27,853

 

Other (1)

 

42,067

 

48,363

 

Total assets

 

$

4,445,647

 

$

4,070,425

 

 


(1)                                  Includes corporate fixed assets, deferred financing costs, income tax receivable, receivables and other corporate assets not allocated to segments.

 

13. Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information

 

The Partnership has no operations independent of its subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2012, the Partnership’s obligations under the outstanding Senior Notes (see Note 7) were fully, jointly and severally guaranteed, by all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries other than MarkWest Liberty Midstream. The guarantees are unconditional except for certain customary circumstances in which a subsidiary would be released from the guarantee under the indentures. MarkWest Liberty Midstream, MarkWest Utica EMG and MarkWest Pioneer, together with certain of the Partnership’s other subsidiaries that do not guarantee the outstanding Senior Notes, have significant assets and operations in aggregate. For the purpose of the following financial information, the Partnership’s investments in its subsidiaries and the guarantor subsidiaries’ investments in their subsidiaries are presented in accordance with the equity method of accounting. The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations, cash flows, or financial position had the subsidiaries operated as independent entities. The operations, cash flows and financial position of the co-issuer of the Senior Notes, MarkWest Energy Finance Corporation, are minor and therefore have been included with the Parent’s financial information. Condensed consolidating financial information for the Partnership, its combined guarantor subsidiaries and combined non-guarantor subsidiaries as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

270,022

 

$

77,759

 

$

2,853

 

$

 

$

350,634

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

25,238

 

 

25,238

 

Receivables and other current assets

 

7,401

 

187,646

 

42,355

 

 

237,402

 

Intercompany receivables

 

30,017

 

12,597

 

12,159

 

(54,773

)

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

3,797

 

 

 

3,797

 

Total current assets

 

307,440

 

281,799

 

82,605

 

(54,773

)

617,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

3,915

 

1,771,460

 

1,334,520

 

(20,207

)

3,089,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

26,944

 

 

 

26,944

 

Investment in consolidated affiliates

 

3,109,581

 

1,185,801

 

 

(4,295,382

)

 

Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization

 

 

592,248

 

534

 

 

592,782

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

8,270

 

 

 

8,270

 

Intercompany notes receivable

 

184,300

 

 

 

(184,300

)

 

Other long-term assets

 

40,231

 

70,314

 

347

 

 

110,892

 

Total assets (1)

 

$

3,645,467

 

$

3,936,836

 

$

1,418,006

 

$

(4,554,662

)

$

4,445,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercompany payables

 

$

12,506

 

$

36,887

 

$

5,380

 

$

(54,773

)

$

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

105,065

 

583

 

 

105,648

 

Other current liabilities

 

45,821

 

218,921

 

133,337

 

 

398,079

 

Total current liabilities

 

58,327

 

360,873

 

139,300

 

(54,773

)

503,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

660

 

99,123

 

 

 

99,783

 

Intercompany notes payable

 

 

161,300

 

23,000

 

(184,300

)

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

85,576

 

224

 

 

85,800

 

Long-term debt, net of discounts

 

1,780,091

 

 

 

 

1,780,091

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

3,154

 

120,383

 

408

 

 

123,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units

 

1,050,704

 

3,109,581

 

1,255,074

 

(4,384,862

)

1,030,497

 

Class B units

 

752,531

 

 

 

 

752,531

 

Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

69,273

 

69,273

 

Total equity

 

1,803,235

 

3,109,581

 

1,255,074

 

(4,315,589

)

1,852,301

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

3,645,467

 

$

3,936,836

 

$

1,418,006

 

$

(4,554,662

)

$

4,445,647

 

 


(1)          In accordance with the December 2011 amendment to the Partnership’s Credit Facility, certain assets in the Liberty segment included in Total property, plant, and equipment, net were contributed from a non-guarantor subsidiary to a guarantor subsidiary in April 2012. The contributed assets, with a net book value of approximately $105 million, include only the natural gas processing facilities at the Partnership’s Houston Complex and other equipment related solely to these processing facilities.

 

20



Table of Contents

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

22

 

$

99,580

 

$

17,414

 

$

 

$

117,016

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

26,193

 

 

26,193

 

Receivables and other current assets

 

7,097

 

232,010

 

55,098

 

(5

)

294,200

 

Intercompany receivables

 

19,981

 

40,519

 

22,193

 

(82,693

)

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

8,015

 

683

 

 

8,698

 

Total current assets

 

27,100

 

380,124

 

121,581

 

(82,698

)

446,107

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

4,012

 

1,714,857

 

1,163,226

 

(17,788

)

2,864,307

 

Other long-term assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

27,853

 

 

 

27,853

 

Investment in consolidated affiliates

 

3,071,124

 

1,097,350

 

 

(4,168,474

)

 

Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization

 

 

603,224

 

543

 

 

603,767

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

16,092

 

 

 

16,092

 

Intercompany notes receivable

 

235,700

 

 

 

(235,700

)

 

Other long-term assets

 

41,492

 

70,434

 

373

 

 

112,299

 

Total assets

 

$

3,379,428

 

$

3,909,934

 

$

1,285,723

 

$

(4,504,660

)

$

4,070,425

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercompany payables

 

$

40,503

 

$

40,374

 

$

1,816

 

$

(82,693

)

$

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

90,551

 

 

 

90,551

 

Other current liabilities

 

38,775

 

219,622

 

92,930

 

(5

)

351,322

 

Total current liabilities

 

79,278

 

350,547

 

94,746

 

(82,698

)

441,873

 

Deferred income taxes

 

1,228

 

92,436

 

 

 

93,664

 

Intercompany notes payable

 

 

212,700

 

23,000

 

(235,700

)

 

Fair value of derivative instruments

 

 

65,403

 

 

 

65,403

 

Long-term debt, net of discounts

 

1,846,062

 

 

 

 

1,846,062

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

3,232

 

117,724

 

400

 

 

121,356

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Units

 

697,097

 

3,071,124

 

1,167,577

 

(4,256,489

)

679,309

 

Class B Units

 

752,531

 

 

 

 

752,531

 

Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

70,227

 

70,227

 

Total equity

 

1,449,628

 

3,071,124

 

1,167,577

 

(4,186,262

)

1,502,067

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

3,379,428

 

$

3,909,934

 

$

1,285,723

 

$

(4,504,660

)

$

4,070,425

 

 

21



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

Total revenue

 

$

 

$

271,071

 

$

79,395

 

$

 

$

350,466

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased product costs

 

 

148,601

 

24,754

 

 

173,355

 

Facility expenses

 

 

33,936

 

13,334

 

(176

)

47,094

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

14,417

 

9,048

 

3,131

 

(1,372

)

25,224

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

164

 

39,293

 

12,911

 

(238

)

52,130

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

1,111

 

113

 

 

1,224

 

Total operating expenses

 

14,581

 

231,989

 

54,243

 

(1,786

)

299,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

(14,581

)

39,082

 

25,152

 

1,786

 

51,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from consolidated affiliates

 

56,431

 

24,234

 

 

(80,665

)

 

Other expense, net

 

(23,344

)

(2,406

)

(665

)

(4,206

)

(30,621

)

Income before provision for income tax

 

18,506

 

60,910

 

24,487

 

(83,085

)

20,818

 

Provision for income tax expense

 

66

 

4,479

 

 

 

4,545

 

Net income

 

18,440

 

56,431

 

24,487

 

(83,085

)

16,273

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

(253

)

(253

)

Net income attributable to the Partnership

 

$

18,440

 

$

56,431

 

$

24,487

 

$

(83,338

)

$

16,020

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

Total revenue

 

$

 

$

218,480

 

$

44,741

 

$

 

$

263,221

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased product costs

 

 

163,444

 

9,579

 

 

173,023

 

Facility expenses

 

 

28,931

 

7,649

 

(167

)

36,413

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

12,854

 

8,218

 

2,037

 

(1,397

)

21,712

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

175

 

36,469

 

8,685

 

(148

)

45,181

 

Other operating expenses

 

299

 

1,839

 

48

 

 

2,186

 

Total operating expenses

 

13,328

 

238,901

 

27,998

 

(1,712

)

278,515

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

(13,328

)

(20,421

)

16,743

 

1,712

 

(15,294

)

(Loss) earnings from consolidated affiliates

 

(1,233

)

7,375

 

 

(6,142

)

 

Loss on redemption of debt

 

(43,328

)

 

 

 

(43,328

)

Other expense, net

 

(24,894

)

(1,975

)

(10

)

(3,300

)

(30,179

)

(Loss) income before provision for income tax

 

(82,783

)

(15,021

)

16,733

 

(7,730

)

(88,801

)

Provision for income tax benefit

 

(342

)

(13,788

)

 

 

(14,130

)

Net (loss) income

 

(82,441

)

(1,233

)

16,733

 

(7,730

)

(74,671

)

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

(9,358

)

(9,358

)

Net (loss) income attributable to the Partnership

 

$

(82,441

)

$

(1,233

)

$

16,733

 

$

(17,088

)

$

(84,029

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

$

(27,744

)

$

149,912

 

$

88,402

 

$

(2,657

)

$

207,913

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

1,003

 

 

1,003

 

Capital expenditures

 

(68

)

(91,090

)

(166,976

)

3,871

 

(254,263

)

Equity investments

 

(13,230

)

(66,356

)

 

79,586

 

 

Distributions from consolidated affiliates

 

16,496

 

2,139

 

 

(18,635

)

 

Collection of intercompany notes, net

 

51,400

 

 

 

(51,400

)

 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,505

 

 

(1,214

)

291

 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

 

54,598

 

(153,802

)

(165,973

)

12,208

 

(252,969

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from public equity offering, net

 

425,629

 

 

 

 

425,629

 

Proceeds from revolving credit facility

 

13,700

 

 

 

 

13,700

 

Payments of revolving credit facility

 

(79,700

)

 

 

 

(79,700

)

Payments of intercompany notes, net

 

 

(51,400

)

 

51,400

 

 

Contributions from parent and affiliates

 

 

13,230

 

66,356

 

(79,586

)

 

Contribution from non-controlling interest

 

 

 

755

 

 

755

 

Payments of SMR liability

 

 

(497

)

 

 

(497

)

Share-based payment activity

 

(8,048

)

2,207

 

 

 

(5,841

)

Payment of distributions

 

(73,410

)

(16,496

)

(4,101

)

18,635

 

(75,372

)

Intercompany advances, net

 

(35,025

)

35,025

 

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

 

243,146

 

(17,931

)

63,010

 

(9,551

)

278,674

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

270,000

 

(21,821

)

(14,561

)

 

233,618

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

22

 

99,580

 

17,414

 

 

117,016

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

270,022

 

$

77,759

 

$

2,853

 

$

 

$

350,634

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

Parent

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Consolidating
Adjustments

 

Consolidated

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

$

(25,444

)

$

83,297

 

$

59,203

 

$

(1,737

)

$

115,319

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(125

)

(20,629

)

(95,964

)

3,066

 

(113,652

)

Acquisitions

 

 

(230,728

)

 

 

(230,728

)

Equity investments

 

(11,496

)

(41,360

)

 

52,856

 

 

Distributions from consolidated affiliates

 

10,446

 

10,757

 

 

(21,203

)

 

Collection of (investment in) intercompany notes, net

 

12,050

 

(14,000

)

 

1,950

 

 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

 

134

 

3,954

 

(1,329

)

2,759

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

10,875

 

(295,826

)

(92,010

)

35,340

 

(341,621

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from revolving credit facility

 

307,600

 

 

 

 

307,600

 

Payments of revolving credit facility

 

(168,400

)

 

 

 

(168,400

)

Proceeds from long-term debt

 

499,000

 

 

 

 

499,000

 

Payments of long-term debt

 

(437,848

)

 

 

 

(437,848

)

Payments of premiums on redemption of long-term debt

 

(39,520

)

 

 

 

(39,520

)

(Payments of) proceeds from intercompany notes, net

 

 

(12,050

)

14,000

 

(1,950

)

 

Payments for debt issuance costs, deferred financing costs and registration costs

 

(6,524

)

 

 

 

(6,524

)

Contributions from parent and affiliates

 

 

11,496

 

41,360

 

(52,856

)

 

Contributions from non-controlling interest

 

 

 

8,000

 

 

8,000

 

Payments of SMR liability

 

 

(452

)

 

 

(452

)

Proceeds from public equity offering, net

 

138,163

 

 

 

 

138,163

 

Share-based payment activity

 

(6,269

)

1,096

 

 

 

(5,173

)

Payment of distributions

 

(49,274

)

(10,446

)

(24,325

)

21,203

 

(62,842

)

Intercompany advances, net

 

(222,349

)

222,349

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

14,579

 

211,993

 

39,035

 

(33,603

)

232,004

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

10

 

(536

)

6,228

 

 

5,702

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

 

63,850

 

3,600

 

 

67,450

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

10

 

$

63,314

 

$

9,828

 

$

 

$

73,152

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

14. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

The following table provides information regarding supplemental cash flow information (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

 

$

16,607

 

$

22,729

 

Cash (received) paid for income taxes, net

 

(363

)

34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued property, plant and equipment

 

$

101,299

 

$

58,218

 

Interest capitalized on construction in progress

 

2,620

 

19

 

Issuance of common units for vesting of share-based payment awards

 

2,501

 

5,282

 

 

15. Subsequent Events

 

In May 2012, MarkWest Liberty Midstream and its wholly-owned subsidiary entered into an agreement to acquire Keystone Midstream Services, LLC (“Keystone”) from R.E. Gas Development, LLC (“Rex”), a subsidiary of Rex, Stonehenge Energy Resources, LP, and Summit Discovery Resources II, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation for a purchase price of approximately $512 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. Keystone owns certain gas gathering and processing facilities located in Butler County, Pennsylvania, consisting of two cryogenic natural gas processing plants with a combined capacity of approximately 90 MMcf/d, a natural gas gathering system and associated field compression. The closing of the acquisition of Keystone is conditioned upon the termination or expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and certain other customary closing conditions.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) contains statements that are forward-looking and should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Statements that are not historical facts are forward- looking statements. We use words such as “could,” “may,” “predict,” “should,” “expect,” “hope,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. We do not update publicly any forward-looking statement with new information or future events. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict.

 

Overview

 

We are a master limited partnership engaged in the gathering, transportation and processing of natural gas; the transportation, fractionation, marketing and storage of NGLs; and the gathering and transportation of crude oil. We have extensive natural gas gathering, processing and transmission operations in the southwest, Gulf Coast and northeast regions of the United States, including the Marcellus Shale, and are the largest natural gas processor and fractionator in the Appalachian region.

 

Significant Financial and Other Highlights

 

Significant financial and other highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are listed below. Refer to Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources for further details.

 

·      Total segment operating income before items not allocated to segments (a non-GAAP financial measure, see below) increased approximately $45.8 million, or 31%, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The increase is due primarily to expanding operations in our Liberty segment and our acquisition of EMG’s interest in MarkWest Liberty Midstream. Additionally, we had an increase in processed volumes in our Southwest and Northeast segments.

 

·      In January 2012, we received net proceeds of approximately $38 million from the sale of approximately 0.7 million newly issued common units representing limited partner interests, resulting from the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units under the equity offering initiated in December 2011.

 

·      In March 2012, we received net proceeds of approximately $388 million from a public offering of approximately 6.8 million newly issued common units representing limited partner interests, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

·      Effective January 1, 2012, we and EMG Utica executed agreements to form MarkWest Utica EMG to develop significant natural gas processing and NGL fractionation, transportation and marketing infrastructure in the Utica Shale beginning in late-2012 (see Note 3 in the accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

·      In March 2012, we announced the execution of long-term gathering and processing agreements with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation that will support the 120 MMcf/d expansion of our cryogenic processing capacity in East Texas that is currently under construction. The expansion will provide critical midstream services to Anadarko and other producer customers that are expanding their drilling programs in East Texas. In addition, the expansion will expand the Partnership’s gathering capacity in East Texas by 140 MMcf/d and residue gas outlet capacities by 60 MMcf/d.

 

·      In January 2012, we announced a 400 MMcf/d expansion of our processing facilities in Majorsville, West Virginia (“Majorsville Complex”) that is supported by long-term processing agreements with CONSOL Energy, Noble Energy and Range Resources.

 

·      In May 2012, we announced an additional 400 MMcf/d expansion of our Majorsville Complex that is supported by a long-term fee-based processing agreement with an affiliate of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. This expansion, combined with the expansion of the Majorsville Complex described above, consists of four, 200 MMcf/d processing plants that are expected to begin operations in 2013 and 2014 and will bring total cryogenic processing capacity at the Majorsville Complex to approximately 1.1 Bcf/d.

 

·      In May 2012, we announced a long-term fee-based agreement with Antero Resources Appalachian Corporation (“Antero”) to install significant gathering facilities in support of Antero’s rapidly growing liquids-rich natural gas production in northern West Virginia. The new gathering system will have initial capacity to deliver more than 300 MMcf/d to our processing facility currently under construction in Sherwood, West Virginia (“Sherwood Complex”). The first phase of the gathering system will be completed in the third quarter of 2012 in conjunction with the completion of the Sherwood Complex.

 

Non-GAAP Measures

 

In evaluating our financial performance, management utilizes the segment performance measures, segment revenues and operating income before items not allocated to segments. These financial measures are presented in Note 12 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and are considered non-GAAP financial measures when presented outside of the notes to

 

26



Table of Contents

 

the condensed consolidated financial statements. The use of these measures allows investors to understand how management evaluates financial performance to make operating decisions and allocate resources. See Note 12 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the reconciliations of segment revenue and operating income before items not allocated to segments to the respective most comparable GAAP measure.

 

Management evaluates contract performance on the basis of net operating margin (a non-GAAP financial measure) which is defined as segment revenue, excluding any derivative gain or loss and adjusted for the non-cash impact of revenue deferrals related to certain agreements, less purchased product costs, excluding any derivative gain or loss. These adjustments have been made for the purpose of enhancing the understanding by both management and investors of the underlying baseline operating performance of our contractual arrangements, which management uses to evaluate our financial performance for purposes of planning and forecasting.

 

The following is a reconciliation to Income (loss) from operations, the most comparable GAAP financial measure to net operating margin (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Segment revenue

 

$

401,449

 

$

356,843

 

Purchased product costs

 

(154,555

)

(153,629

)

Net operating margin

 

246,894

 

203,214

 

Facility expenses

 

(48,840

)

(39,424

)

Derivative loss

 

(65,769

)

(102,062

)

Revenue deferral adjustment

 

(2,268

)

(7,943

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(25,224

)

(21,712

)

Depreciation

 

(41,145

)

(34,364

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

(10,985

)

(10,817

)

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

(986

)

(2,099

)

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

(238

)

(87

)

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

51,439

 

$

(15,294

)

 

Segment revenues, operating income before items not allocated to segments and net operating margin (collectively the “Non-GAAP Measures”) do not have any standardized definition and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other reporting companies. Non-GAAP Measures should not be evaluated in isolation of, or as a substitute for, our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP Measures and the underlying methodology in excluding certain revenues or charges is not necessarily an indication of the results of operations expected in the future, or that we will not, in fact, receive such revenue or incur such charges in future periods.

 

Our Contracts

 

We generate the majority of our revenue and net operating margin (a Non-GAAP measure, see above for discussion and reconciliation of net operating margin) from natural gas gathering, transportation and processing; NGL transportation, fractionation, marketing and storage; and crude oil gathering and transportation. We enter into a variety of contract types. In many cases, we provide services under contracts that contain a combination of more than one of the following types of arrangements: fee-based, percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-index and keep-whole. See Item 1. BusinessOur Contracts in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for further discussion of each of these types of arrangements.

 

The following table does not give effect to our active commodity risk management program. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, we calculated the following approximate percentages of our segment revenue and net operating margin from the following types of contracts:

 

 

 

Fee-Based

 

Percent-of-Proceeds (1)

 

Percent-of-Index (2)

 

Keep-Whole (3)

 

Segment revenue

 

24

%

35

%

2

%

39

%

Net operating margin (4)

 

39

%

24

%

0

%

37

%

 


(1)                                 Includes condensate sales and other types of arrangements tied to NGL prices.

 

(2)                                Includes arrangements tied to natural gas prices.

 

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Table of Contents

 

(3)                                 Includes condensate sales and other types of arrangements tied to both NGL and natural gas prices.

 

(4)                                We manage our business by taking into account the partial offset of short natural gas positions by long positions primarily in our Southwest segment. The calculated percentages for the net operating margin for percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-index and keep-whole contracts reflect the partial offset of our natural gas positions.

 

Seasonality

 

Our business is affected by seasonal fluctuations in commodity prices. Sales volumes also are affected by various other factors such as fluctuating and seasonal demands for products, changes in transportation and travel patterns and variations in weather patterns from year to year. Our Northeast and Liberty segments are particularly impacted by seasonality. In our Northeast and Liberty segments, we store a portion of the propane that is produced in the summer to be sold in the winter months. Our access to over 60 million gallons of propane storage capacity provided by our own storage facilities and a firm capacity arrangement with a third party allows us to manage this seasonality. However, the mild winter this past year has resulted in constraints in available propane storage in the Northeast, which may present difficulties in securing adequate propane storage capacity until next winter.  If we are unable to fully utilize our storage capacity due to third party capacity constraints or other reasons, our operations would be adversely affected.   Also as a result of our seasonality, we generally expect the sales volumes in our Northeast and Liberty segments to be higher in the first quarter and fourth quarter, however, the expected growth and expansion in our Liberty segment may partially counteract this seasonality impact on sales volumes.

 

Results of Operations

 

Segment Reporting

 

We present information in this MD&A by segment. The segment information appearing in Note 12 of the accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements is presented on a basis consistent with our internal management reporting. We conduct our operations in the following operating segments: Southwest, Northeast, Liberty and Gulf Coast. Our assets and operations in each of these segments are described below. In addition, we include a description of our initial plan to development of our Utica operations, which is included in the Liberty segment.

 

Southwest

 

·                  East Texas.  We own a system that consists of natural gas gathering pipelines, centralized compressor stations, natural gas processing facility and an NGL pipeline. The East Texas system is located in Panola, Harrison and Rusk Counties and services the Carthage Field. Producing formations in Panola County consist of the Cotton Valley, Pettit, Travis Peak and Haynesville formations. For natural gas that is processed in this area, we purchase the NGLs from the producers under percent-of-proceeds arrangements, or we transport and process volumes for a fee. We expect to complete an additional 120 MMcf/d cryogenic processing plant during the first quarter of 2013, increasing total processing capacity in East Texas to 400 MMcf/d. We also plan to expand gathering capacity in East Texas by 140 MMcf/d and residue gas outlet capacities by 60 MMcf/d.

 

·                  Oklahoma.  We own a natural gas gathering system in the Woodford Shale play in the Arkoma Basin of southeast Oklahoma. The liquids- rich natural gas gathered in the Woodford system is processed through Centrahoma, our equity investment or another third-party processor. In addition, we own the Foss Lake natural gas gathering system and the Western Oklahoma natural gas processing complex, all located in Roger Mills, Beckham, Custer and Ellis Counties of western Oklahoma. The gathering portion consists of a pipeline system that is connected to natural gas wells and associated compression facilities. The majority of the gathered gas is ultimately compressed and delivered to the processing plants. We also own a gathering system in the Granite Wash formation in the Texas panhandle that is connected to our Western Oklahoma processing complex.

 

Through our joint venture, MarkWest Pioneer, we operate the Arkoma Connector Pipeline, a 50-mile FERC-regulated pipeline that interconnects with the Midcontinent Express Pipeline and Gulf Crossing Pipeline at Bennington, Oklahoma and is designed to provide approximately 638,000 Dth/d of Woodford Shale takeaway capacity. We completed an additional interconnect with the NGPL Pipeline in Bennington, Oklahoma in April 2012. For a complete discussion of the formation of, and accounting treatment for, MarkWest Pioneer, see Note 3 of the accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

·                  Other Southwest.  We own a number of natural gas gathering systems and lateral pipelines located in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico, including the Appleby gathering system in Nacogdoches County, Texas. We gather a significant portion of the natural gas produced from fields adjacent to our gathering systems, including from wells targeting the Haynesville Shale. In many areas we are the primary gatherer, and in some of the areas served by our smaller systems we are the sole gatherer. Our Hobbs, New Mexico natural gas lateral pipeline is subject to regulation by FERC.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Northeast

 

·                  Kentucky and southern West Virginia.  Our Northeast segment assets include the Kenova, Boldman, Cobb, Kermit and the Langley natural gas processing plants, an NGL pipeline, and the Siloam NGL fractionation plant. We plan to complete an additional cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a capacity of 150 MMcf/d in the fourth quarter of 2012. In addition, we have two caverns for storing propane at our Siloam facility and additional propane storage capacity under a long-term firm-capacity agreement with a third party. Including our presence in the Marcellus Shale (see Liberty Segment below), we are the largest processor and fractionator of natural gas in the Northeast, with fully integrated processing, fractionation, storage and marketing operations.

 

·                  Michigan.  We own and operate a FERC-regulated crude oil pipeline in Michigan providing transportation service for three shippers.

 

Liberty

 

·                  Marcellus Shale.  We provide extensive natural gas midstream services in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia through MarkWest Liberty Midstream. With gathering capacity of 325 MMcf/d and current processing capacity of 625 MMcf/d, we are the largest processor of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, with fully integrated gathering, processing, fractionation, storage and marketing operations that are critical to the liquids-rich gas development in the northeast United States.

 

The gathering, processing and fractionation facilities currently operating and under construction in our Liberty segment consist of the following:

 

Gathering

 

·    Existing gathering system with the capacity to deliver 325 MMcf/d to our Houston Complex.

 

·    Planned gathering system with the initial capacity to deliver 300 MMcf/d to our Sherwood Complex. The first phase of the gathering system will be operational in conjunction with the completion of the first processing plant at our Sherwood Complex in the third quarter of 2012.

 

Processing

 

·            355 MMcf/d of current cryogenic processing capacity at our Houston, Pennsylvania processing complex (“Houston Complex”).

 

·            270 MMcf/d of current cryogenic processing capacity at our Majorsville, West Virginia processing complex (“Majorsville Complex”).

 

·    800 MMcf/d expansion of our Majorsville Complex that is supported by long-term agreements with Chesapeake Energy, CONSOL Energy, Noble Energy and Range Resources. The Majorsville expansion includes four, 200 MMcf/d processing plants that are expected to commence operation in 2013 and 2014 and will bring our total cryogenic processing capacity at Majorsville to approximately 1.1 Bcf/d.

 

·            320 MMcf/d cryogenic processing capacity under construction in Mobley, West Virginia (“Mobley Complex”) where 120 MMcf/d and 200 MMcf/d cryogenic plants are expected to be completed in the second half of 2012.

 

·            200 MMcf/d cryogenic processing capacity under construction at our Sherwood Complex that is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2012. We plan to expand the capacity at our Sherwood Complex with an additional 200 MMcf/d cryogenic processing plant that is expected to be completed in 2013. The expansion plans are based, in part, on Antero’s decision to support the additional capacity under a long-term processing agreement. Antero has publicly stated its intent to move forward with the project but must make its final decision on whether to proceed with the additional plant at the Sherwood Complex by July 1, 2012.

 

By the end of 2014, MarkWest Liberty Midstream is expected to have 2.1 Bcf/d of cryogenic processing capacity that is supported by long-term agreements with our producer customers. NGLs produced at the Majorsville Complex are delivered through an NGL pipeline (“Majorsville Pipeline”) to the Houston Complex for exchange for fractionated products. We also plan to complete an NGL pipeline connecting each of the planned processing facilities to the Majorsville Pipeline allowing for fractionation at the Houston Complex. By the end of 2012, MarkWest Liberty Midstream expects to have approximately 100 miles of NGL transportation pipeline.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Fractionation and Market Outlets

 

·            Existing fractionation facility at our Houston Complex with a design capacity of 60,000 Bbl/d.

 

·            Existing interconnect with a key interstate pipeline providing a market outlet for the propane produced from this region.

 

·            Existing extension of our Majorsville Pipeline to receive NGLs produced at a third-party’s Fort Beeler processing plant. This project allows certain producers to benefit from our integrated NGL fractionation and marketing operations.

 

·            Railcar loading facility under construction at our Houston Complex that is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012.

 

We continue to evaluate additional projects to expand our gathering, processing, fractionation, and marketing operations in the Marcellus Shale.

 

Ethane Recovery and Associated Market Outlets

 

Due to the increased production of natural gas from the liquids-rich area of the Marcellus Shale, natural gas processors must begin to recover a significant amount of ethane from the raw NGL stream to continue to meet the pipeline gas quality specifications for residue gas. We have been developing solutions that will have the capability to recover and fractionate the required ethane, be scalable to recover and fractionate additional ethane at the option of our producer customers and provide access to attractive ethane markets in North America and Europe. The primary components of our ethane recovery solution consist of the following:

 

·            75,000 Bbl/d de-ethanization facilities under construction at our Houston Complex and Majorsville Complex that are expected to be completed by mid-2013.

 

·            A third de-ethanization facility is planned that would increase production capacity of purity ethane to approximately 115,000 Bbl/d in 2014.

 

·            A joint pipeline project with Sunoco Logistics, L.P. (“Sunoco”) that is currently under construction to deliver Marcellus ethane to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada markets (“Mariner West”). Mariner West will utilize new and existing pipelines and is anticipated to have an initial capacity to transport up to 50,000 Bbl/d of ethane by mid-2013 with the ability to expand to support higher volumes as needed. Sunoco completed an open season for Mariner West and received binding commitments from shippers that would enable the project to proceed as designed.

 

·            An additional joint project with Sunoco is under consideration (“Mariner East”). Mariner East, a pipeline and marine project, is intended to deliver Marcellus purity ethane and purity propane to the Gulf Coast and international markets.

 

We continue to evaluate additional projects that would support a comprehensive ethane solution for producers in the Marcellus Shale.

 

Utica

 

Effective January 1, 2012, MarkWest and EMG formed MarkWest Utica EMG, a joint venture focused on the development of significant natural gas processing and NGL fractionation, transportation and marketing infrastructure to serve producers’ drilling programs in the Utica shale in eastern Ohio. The first phase of the Utica development plan includes two new processing complexes with total processing capacity of 525 MMcf/d and a 100,000 Bbl/d fractionation, storage, and marketing facility. The fractionation facility for propane and heavier components will be jointly owned by MarkWest Utica EMG and MarkWest Liberty Midstream. The processing complexes will be in Harrison County (“Harrison Complex”) and Noble County, and are both expected to begin initial operations in late 2012, with the full planned processing capacity in operation by the end of 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Both processing complexes are expected to be connected via an NGL pipeline system to the fractionation facilities at the Harrison Complex that is expected to be operational in 2013. Creating a large network of processing complexes connected through an extensive NGL gathering system has been critical to the full development of the Marcellus, and the announced Ohio facilities represent the first major step in providing Utica producers with the same benefits. Additionally, the Harrison Complex fractionation facilities, which would be able to market NGLs by truck, rail and pipeline, is expected to be connected to our extensive processing and NGL pipeline network in our Liberty segment and provide for the integrated operation of the two largest fractionation complexes in the Northeastern United States.

 

On March 6, 2012, MarkWest Utica EMG announced the execution of a letter of intent (“LOI”) with Gulfport Energy Corporation (“Gulfport”) to provide gathering, processing, fractionation, and marketing services in the liquids-rich corridor of the Utica shale. Under the terms of the LOI, which requires the execution of definitive agreements, MarkWest Utica EMG plans to develop extensive natural gas gathering infrastructure with Gulfport and other producers, primarily in Harrison, Guernsey, and Belmont Counties, that is expected to commence initial operations beginning in 2012. MarkWest Utica EMG plans to process the gas at its Harrison Complex, and is expected to provide NGL fractionation and marketing services at the Harrison Complex’s fractionation facilities when they are completed in 2013.

 

Gulf Coast

 

·                  Javelina.  We own and operate the Javelina processing facility, a natural gas processing facility in Corpus Christi, Texas that treats and processes off-gas from six local refineries operated by three different refinery customers. We also have a product supply agreement creating a long-term contractual obligation for the payment of processing fees in exchange for all of the product processed by the SMR that is operated by a third party. The product received under this agreement is sold to a refinery customer pursuant to a corresponding long-term agreement.

 

The following summarizes the percentage of our segment revenue and net operating margin (a non-GAAP financial measure, see above) generated by our assets, by segment, for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

 

 

 

Southwest

 

Northeast

 

Liberty

 

Gulf Coast

 

Segment revenue

 

53

%

22

%

19

%

6

%

Net operating margin

 

44

%

25

%

21

%

10

%

 

Segment Operating Results

 

Items below Income (loss) from operations in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, certain compensation expense, certain other non-cash items and any gains (losses) from derivative instruments are not allocated to individual business segments. Management does not consider these items allocable to or controllable by any individual business segment and therefore excludes these items when evaluating segment performance. The segment results are also adjusted to exclude the portion of operating income attributable to the non-controlling interests. The tables below present financial information, as evaluated by management, for the reported segments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The information includes net operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure. See above for a reconciliation of net operating margin to Income (loss) from operations, the most comparable GAAP financial measure.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to three months ended March 31, 2011

 

Southwest

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

214,725

 

$

201,774

 

$

12,951

 

6

%

Purchased product costs

 

104,233

 

103,196

 

1,037

 

1

%

Net operating margin

 

110,492

 

98,578

 

11,914

 

12

%

Facility expenses

 

22,992

 

20,157

 

2,835

 

14

%

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

1,446

 

1,172

 

274

 

23

%

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

86,054

 

$

77,249

 

$

8,805

 

11

%

 

Segment Revenue.  Revenue increased primarily due to higher NGL production and sale volumes, primarily due to the expansion of the Western Oklahoma processing facilities completed in the third quarter of 2011. The increase was partially offset by decreased natural gas sales.

 

Purchased Product Costs. Although the volumes of natural gas processed and NGLs sold increased, purchased product costs remained relatively consistent primarily due to a decrease in the price and volume of natural gas purchased.

 

Facility Expenses. Facility expenses increased primarily due to the expansion of our processing facilities in Western Oklahoma.

 

Northeast

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

86,918

 

$

92,091

 

$

(5,173

)

(6

)%

Purchased product costs

 

25,687

 

40,878

 

(15,191

)

(37

)%

Net operating margin

 

61,231

 

51,213

 

10,018

 

20

%

Facility expenses

 

6,378

 

5,594

 

784

 

14

%

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

54,853

 

$

45,619

 

$

9,234

 

20

%

 

Segment Revenue.  Revenue decreased primarily due to a contract change related to our acquisition of the Langley processing facilities and related assets (“Langley Acquisition”) in first quarter of 2011. Subsequent to the Langley Acquisition, we continue to market the NGLs related to natural gas processed at the Langley plant; however, we are acting as an agent and therefore record revenue net of purchase product costs. Prior to the contract change we were acting as the principal. The decrease in revenue was offset by increased volumes as a key transmission pipeline feeding our processing plants was damaged and had limited service capacity during the first quarter of 2011 but was repaired and fully operational for the entire first quarter of 2012.

 

Purchased Product Costs.  Purchased product costs decreased due to the contract change related to the Langley Acquisition. In addition, purchased product costs decreased as a percentage of revenue due to an increase in the spread between NGL and natural gas prices.

 

Facility Expenses.  Facility expenses increased primarily due to the Langley Acquisition completed on February 1, 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Liberty

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

75,577

 

$

41,219

 

$

34,358

 

83

%

Purchased product costs

 

24,635

 

9,555

 

15,080

 

158

%

Net operating margin

 

50,942

 

31,664

 

19,278

 

61

%

Facility expenses

 

12,247

 

6,498

 

5,749

 

88

%

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

12,377

 

(12,377

)

(100

)%

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

38,695

 

$

12,789

 

$

25,906

 

203

%

 

Segment Revenue.  Revenue increased due to ongoing expansion of the Liberty operations resulting in increased gathered and fractionated volumes and higher NGL prices. Revenue increased approximately $11.0 million related to gathering and processing fees and approximately $22.7 million related to NGL product sales.

 

Purchased Product Costs.  Purchased product costs increased primarily due to increased NGL product sales.

 

Facility Expenses.  Facility expenses increased due to the ongoing expansion of the Liberty operations.

 

Portion of Operating Income Attributable to Non-controlling Interests.  The portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests represented M&R’s interest in net operating income of MarkWest Liberty Midstream. As a result of our acquisition of M&R’s interest in MarkWest Liberty Midstream, no portion of income is attributable to non-controlling interests for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

Gulf Coast

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

24,229

 

$

21,759

 

$

2,470

 

11

%

Purchased product costs

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

Net operating margin

 

24,229

 

21,759

 

2,470

 

11

%

Facility expenses

 

9,638

 

8,990

 

648

 

7

%

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

14,591

 

$

12,769

 

$

1,822

 

14

%

 

Segment Revenue.  Revenue increased primarily due to increased production as scheduled refinery maintenance in 2011 did not recur in 2012.

 

Facility Expenses.  Facility expenses increased primarily due to the timing of facility maintenance and repairs.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Provision for Income Tax

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of segment revenue to total revenue and operating income before items not allocated to segments to our consolidated income (loss) before provision for income tax for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. The ensuing items listed below the Total segment revenue and Operating income lines are not allocated to business segments as management does not consider these items allocable to any individual segment.

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Total segment revenue

 

$

401,449

 

$

356,843

 

$

44,606

 

13

%

Derivative loss not allocated to segments

 

(48,715

)

(85,679

)

36,964

 

(43

)%

Revenue deferral adjustment

 

(2,268

)

(7,943

)

5,675

 

(71

)%

Total revenue

 

$

350,466

 

$

263,221

 

$

87,245

 

33

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income before items not allocated to segments

 

$

194,193

 

$

148,426

 

$

45,767

 

31

%

Portion of operating income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

1,446

 

13,549

 

(12,103

)

(89

)%

Derivative loss not allocated to segments

 

(65,769

)

(102,062

)

36,293

 

(36

)%

Revenue deferral adjustment

 

(2,268

)

(7,943

)

5,675

 

(71

)%

Compensation expense included in facility expenses not allocated to segments

 

(449

)

(1,040

)

591

 

(57

)%

Facility expenses adjustments

 

2,864

 

2,855

 

9

 

0

%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(25,224

)

(21,712

)

(3,512

)

16

%

Depreciation

 

(41,145

)

(34,364

)

(6,781

)

20

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

(10,985

)

(10,817

)

(168

)

2

%

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

(986

)

(2,099

)

1,113

 

(53

)%

Accretion of asset retirement obligations

 

(238

)

(87

)

(151

)

174

%

Income (loss) from operations

 

51,439

 

(15,294

)

66,733

 

(436

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from unconsolidated affiliate

 

(9

)

(539

)

530

 

(98

)%

Interest income

 

72

 

89

 

(17

)

(19

)%

Interest expense

 

(29,472

)

(28,263

)

(1,209

)

4

%

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount (a component of interest expense)

 

(1,270

)

(1,428

)

158

 

(11

)%

Loss on redemption of debt

 

 

(43,328

)

43,328

 

(100

)%

Miscellaneous income (expense), net

 

58

 

(38

)

96

 

(253

)%

Income (loss) before provision for income tax

 

$

20,818

 

$

(88,801

)

$

109,619

 

(123

)%

 

Derivative Gain (Loss) Not Allocated to Segments.  Unrealized gain from the mark-to-market of our derivative instruments was $48.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to an unrealized loss of $79.8 million for the same period in 2011. Realized loss from the settlement of our derivative instruments was $17.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $22.3 million for the same period in 2011. The total change of $36.3 million is due mainly to volatility in commodity prices.

 

Revenue Deferral Adjustment.  Revenue deferral adjustment relates primarily to certain contracts in which the cash consideration we receive for providing service is greater during the initial years of the contract compared to the later years. In accordance with GAAP, the revenue is recognized evenly over the term of the contract as we will perform a similar level of service for the entire term; therefore, the revenue recognized in the current reporting period is less than the cash received. However, the chief operating decision maker and management evaluate the segment performance based on the cash consideration received and therefore the impact of the revenue deferrals is excluded for segment reporting purposes. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, approximately $0.2 million and $2.1 million of the revenue deferral adjustment is attributable to the Southwest segment and Northeast segment, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, approximately $6.5 million and $1.4 million of the revenue

 

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Table of Contents

 

deferral adjustment is attributable to the Southwest segment and Northeast segment, respectively. Based on current commodity prices, management expects the deferred revenue in subsequent periods to approximate the current quarter’s amount until the beginning of 2015 when the cash consideration received from these contracts will decline and the reported segment revenue will be less than the revenue recognized for GAAP purposes.

 

Selling, General and Administrative.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher labor, benefits, office expense and professional services necessary to support the overall growth of our operations.

 

Depreciation.  Depreciation increased due to additional projects completed during 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased due to an increased amount of outstanding debt partially offset by lower interest rates and increased capitalized interest.

 

Loss on Redemption of Debt.  The decrease in loss on redemption of debt was related to the redemption of debt which occurred in the first quarter of 2011, while no such redemptions of debt occurred during the first quarter of 2012.

 

Operating Data

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

% Change

 

Southwest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East Texas gathering systems throughput (Mcf/d)

 

410,000

 

425,800

 

(4

)%

East Texas natural gas processed (Mcf/d)

 

242,500

 

219,200

 

11

%

East Texas NGL sales (gallons, in thousands)

 

63,400

 

56,700

 

12

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Oklahoma gathering system throughput (Mcf/d) (1)

 

262,000

 

207,400

 

26

%

Western Oklahoma natural gas processed (Mcf/d)

 

203,800

 

157,100

 

30

%

Western Oklahoma NGL sales (gallons, in thousands)

 

57,300

 

39,000

 

47

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast Oklahoma gathering systems throughput (Mcf/d)

 

501,200

 

498,000

 

1

%

Southeast Oklahoma natural gas processed (Mcf/d) (2)

 

101,700

 

93,700

 

9

%

Southeast Oklahoma NGL sales (gallons, in thousands)

 

33,000

 

29,400

 

12

%

Arkoma Connector Pipeline throughput (Mcf/d)

 

328,700

 

285,900

 

15

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Southwest gathering system throughput (Mcf/d)

 

25,000

 

33,100

 

(24

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northeast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas processed (Mcf/d) (3)

 

321,700

 

304,800

 

6

%

NGLs fractionated (Bbl/d) (4)

 

16,700

 

22,200

 

(25

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep-whole sales (gallons, in thousands)

 

49,500

 

39,800

 

24

%

Percent-of-proceeds sales (gallons, in thousands)

 

33,000

 

30,900

 

7

%

Total NGL sales (gallons, in thousands) (5)

 

82,500

 

70,700

 

17

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crude oil transported for a fee (Bbl/d)

 

10,400

 

10,200

 

2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural gas processed (Mcf/d)

 

392,100

 

254,500

 

54

%

Gathering system throughput (Mcf/d)

 

308,100

 

195,900

 

57

%

NGLs fractionated (Bbl/d) (6)

 

20,000

 

6,900

 

190

%

NGL sales (gallons, in thousands) (7)

 

97,500

 

51,800

 

88

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf Coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refinery off-gas processed (Mcf/d)

 

120,300

 

102,800

 

17

%

Liquids fractionated (Bbl/d)

 

23,400

 

19,200

 

22

%

NGL sales (gallons excluding hydrogen, in thousands)

 

89,300

 

72,700

 

23

%

 

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Table of Contents

 


(1)                                  Includes natural gas gathered in Western Oklahoma and from the Granite Wash formation in the Texas Panhandle as it is one integrated area of operations.

 

(2)                                  The natural gas processing in Southeast Oklahoma is outsourced to Centrahoma, our equity investment, or third-party processors.

 

(3)                                  Includes throughput from the Kenova, Cobb, Boldman and Langley processing plants. We acquired the Langley processing plant in February 2011. The volumes reported for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are the average daily rates for the days of operation.

 

(4)                                  Amount includes zero barrels per day and 5,500 barrels per day fractionated on behalf of Liberty for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, Siloam no longer fractionated NGLs on behalf of Liberty due to the operation of Liberty’s fractionation facility that began in September 2011.

 

(5)                                  Represents sales from the Siloam facilities. The total sales exclude approximately zero gallons and 20,700,000 gallons sold by the Northeast on behalf of Liberty for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These volumes are included as part of NGLs sold at Liberty.

 

(6)                                  Amount includes all NGLs that were produced at the Liberty processing facilities and fractionated into purity products at our Liberty fractionation facility.

 

(7)                                  Includes sale of all purity products fractionated at the Liberty facilities and sale of all unfractionated NGLs. Also includes the sale of purity products fractionated and sold from the Siloam facilities on behalf of Liberty.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary strategy is to expand our asset base through organic growth projects and selective third-party acquisitions that are accretive to our cash available for distribution per common unit. In 2011, we spent approximately $782 million on acquisitions, growth capital projects, and maintenance capital, of which approximately $130 million was funded by our former MarkWest Liberty Midstream joint venture partner.

 

Our 2012 capital plan is summarized in the table below (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

Actual

 

 

 

2012 Full Year Plan

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

Low

 

High

 

March 31, 2012

 

Consolidated growth capital (1)

 

$

1,250

 

$

1,700

 

$

248

 

Utica joint venture partner’s estimated share of growth capital

 

(150

)

(200

)

 

Partnership share of growth capital

 

1,100

 

1,500

 

248

 

Acquisition (2)

 

512

 

512

 

 

Partnership share of growth capital and acquisitions

 

$

1,612

 

$

2,012

 

$

248

 

Consolidated maintenance capital (1)

 

$

20

 

$

20

 

$

6

 

 


(1)          Growth capital includes expenditures made to expand the existing operating capacity, to increase the efficiency of our existing assets, and to facilitate an increase in volumes within our operations. Growth capital also includes costs associated with new well connections. Growth capital excludes expenditures for third-party acquisitions and equity investments. Maintenance capital includes capital expenditures made to maintain our operating capacity and asset base.

 

(2)          As discussed in Note 15 to the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, MarkWest Liberty Midstream and its wholly owned subsidiary entered into an agreement to acquire Keystone for a purchase price of approximately $512 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. The closing of the acquisition of Keystone is conditioned upon the termination or expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and certain other customary closing conditions.

 

Our primary sources of liquidity to meet operating expenses, pay distributions to our unitholders and fund capital expenditures are cash flows generated by our operations, contributions from our MarkWest Utica EMG joint venture partner, our Credit Facility and access to both the debt and equity capital markets, public and private. We will also consider the use of alternative financing strategies such as entering into additional joint venture arrangements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Management believes that expenditures for our currently planned capital projects and acquisition of Keystone will be funded with cash flows from operations, current cash balances, contributions by our joint venture partner for capital projects encompassed by MarkWest Utica EMG, our current borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, additional long-term borrowings, and proceeds from equity offerings. Our access to capital markets can be impacted by factors outside our control, including economic conditions; however, we believe that our strong cash flows and balance sheet, our Credit Facility and our credit rating will provide us with adequate access to funding given our expected cash needs. Any new borrowing cost would be affected by market conditions and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies. As of April 30, 2012, our credit ratings were Ba2 with a Stable outlook by Moody’s Investors Service, BB with a Stable outlook by Standard & Poor’s, and BB with a Stable outlook by Fitch Ratings. Changes in our operating results, cash flows or financial position could impact the ratings assigned by the various rating agencies. Should our credit ratings be adjusted downward, we may incur higher costs to borrow, which could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Debt Financing Activities

 

Under the provisions of the Credit Facility we are subject to a number of restrictions and covenants. As of March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants and we expect to remain in compliance for at least the next twelve months. These covenants are used to calculate the available borrowing capacity on a quarterly basis. As of April 30, 2012, we had no borrowings outstanding and $22.3 million of letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility, leaving approximately $877.7 million available for borrowing.

 

The Credit Facility and indentures governing the Senior Notes limit the activity of our and our restricted subsidiaries’ activity and ability to incur additional indebtedness; declare or pay dividends or distributions or redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests or subordinated indebtedness; make investments; incur liens; create any consensual limitation on the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or distributions, make loans or transfer property to us; engage in transactions with our affiliates; sell assets, including equity interests of our subsidiaries; make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any subordinated obligation or guarantor subordination obligation (except principal and interest at maturity); and consolidate, merge or transfer assets.

 

The Credit Facility also limits our ability to enter into transactions with parties that require margin calls under certain derivative instruments. The Credit Facility prevents participating bank group members from requiring margin calls. As of April 30, 2012, all of our derivative positions are with participating bank group members and are not subject to margin deposit requirements. We believe this arrangement gives us additional liquidity as it allows us to enter into derivative instruments without utilizing cash for margin calls or requiring the use of letters of credit.

 

Equity Offerings

 

On January 13, 2012, we issued approximately 0.7 million units pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional common units under the equity offering initiated in December 2011. The total net proceeds from the exercise of this option were approximately $38 million and will be used to partially fund the Partnership’s ongoing capital expenditure program.

 

On March 16, 2012, we completed a public offering of approximately 6.8 million newly issued common units representing limited partner interests, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Net proceeds after deducting underwriting fees and other third-party offering expenses were approximately $388 million and were used to partially fund our ongoing capital expenditure program.

 

Cash Flow

 

The following table summarizes cash inflows (outflows) (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Change

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

207,913

 

$

115,319

 

$

92,594

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

(252,969

)

(341,621

)

88,652

 

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

 

278,674

 

232,004

 

46,670

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities increased primarily due to a $45.8 million increase in operating income, excluding derivative gains and losses, in our operating segments. The increase in operating income was also due to increases in operating cash flow resulting from changes in working capital.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities decreased primarily due to the $230.7 million Langley Acquisition which occurred in the first quarter of 2011, partially offset by a $140.6 million increase in capital expenditures.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities increased primarily due to a $287.5 million increase in proceeds from public offerings and a decrease in premiums paid to redeem senior notes, partially offset by a $266.3 million decrease in net borrowings.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

We periodically make other commitments and become subject to other contractual obligations that we believe to be routine in nature and incidental to the operation of the business. Management believes that such routine commitments and contractual obligations do not have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. As of March 31, 2012, our purchase obligations for the remainder of 2012 were $413.5 million compared to our 2012 obligations of $181.0 million as of December 31, 2011. The increase is due primarily to obligations related to the ongoing expansion in our Liberty segment. Purchase obligations represent purchase orders and contracts related to property, plant and equipment.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Estimates are used in accounting for, among other items, valuing identified intangible assets; evaluating impairments of long-lived assets, goodwill and equity investments; risk management activities and derivative financial instruments; VIEs; and acquisitions.

 

There have not been any material changes during the three months ended March 31, 2012 to the methodology applied by management for critical accounting policies previously disclosed in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Refer to Note 2 of the accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk includes the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. We face market risk from commodity price changes and, to a lesser extent, interest rate changes and nonperformance by our customers and counterparties.

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

The information about commodity price risk for the three months ended March 31, 2012 does not differ materially from that discussed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Outstanding Derivative Contracts

 

The following table provides information on the volume of our derivative activity for positions related to long liquids and keep-whole price risk at March 31, 2012, including the weighted average prices (“WAVG”):

 

WTI Crude Collars

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG Floor
(Per Bbl)

 

WAVG Cap
(Per Bbl)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

3,330

 

$

78.72

 

$

99.74

 

$

(8,494

)

2013

 

3,714

 

88.08

 

107.45

 

(5,077

)

2014

 

734

 

95.36

 

114.81

 

1,146

 

 

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WTI Crude Swaps

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Bbl)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

7,858

 

$

86.81

 

$

(37,799

)

2013

 

5,461

 

93.54

 

(19,264

)

2014

 

1,773

 

97.08

 

(1,085

)

 

Natural Gas Swaps

 

Volumes
(MMBtu/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per MMBtu)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

17,118

 

$

4.15

 

$

(8,574

)

2013

 

1,453

 

4.66

 

(731

)

 

The following tables provide information on the volume of our taxable subsidiary’s commodity derivative activity for positions related to keep-whole price risk at March 31, 2012, including the WAVG:

 

WTI Crude Collars

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG Floor
(Per Bbl)

 

WAVG Cap
(Per Bbl)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

1,116

 

$

78.41

 

$

101.97

 

$

(2,630

)

 

WTI Crude Swaps

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Bbl)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

1,441

 

$

87.11

 

$

(6,901

)

2013

 

1,304

 

94.32

 

(4,174

)

 

Natural Gas Swaps

 

Volumes
(MMBtu/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per MMBtu)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

14,322

 

$

5.93

 

$

(13,338

)

2013

 

9,793

 

5.34

 

(6,581

)

2014

 

4,249

 

5.69

 

(2,681

)

 

Propane Swaps

 

Volumes
(Gal/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Gal)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2013 (Jan-Mar, Oct-Dec)

 

36,885

 

$

1.29

 

$

(102

)

2014 (Jan-Mar, Oct-Dec)

 

87,837

 

$

1.25

 

$

(425

)

 

IsoButane Swaps

 

Volumes
(Gal/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Gal)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2013

 

3,081

 

$

1.70

 

$

(233

)

2014

 

3,885

 

$

1.67

 

$

(163

)

 

Normal Butane Swaps

 

Volumes
(Gal/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Gal)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2013

 

8,512

 

1.61

 

(495

)

2014

 

10,711

 

1.61

 

(356

)

 

Natural Gasoline Swaps

 

Volumes
(Gal/d)

 

WAVG Price
(Per Gal)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2013

 

5,600

 

2.26

 

(75

)

2014

 

7,106

 

2.32

 

262

 

 

The following tables provide information on the volume of MarkWest Liberty Midstream’s commodity derivative activity for positions related to long liquids price risk at March 31, 2012, including the WAVG:

 

WTI Crude Collars

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG Floor
(Per Bbl)

 

WAVG Cap
(Per Bbl)

 

Fair Value
(in thousands)

 

2012

 

682

 

90

 

$

108.99

 

$

(442

)

2013

 

494

 

92

 

$

108.67

 

$

(365

)

 

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The following table provides information on the derivative positions related to long liquids and keep-whole price risk that we have entered into subsequent to March 31, 2012, including the WAVG:

 

WTI Crude Swaps

 

Volumes
(Bbl/d)

 

WAVG
Price
(Per Bbl)

 

2014

 

1,150

 

$

98.39

 

 

Embedded Derivatives in Commodity Contracts

 

We have a commodity contract with a producer in the Appalachia region that creates a floor on the frac spread for gas purchases of 9,000 Dth/d. The commodity contract is a component of a broader regional arrangement that also includes a keep-whole processing agreement. This contract is accounted for as an embedded derivative and is recorded at fair value. The changes in fair value of this commodity contract are based on the difference between the contractual and index pricing and are recorded in earnings through Derivative  loss related to purchased product costs. In February 2011, we executed agreements with the producer to extend the commodity contract and the related processing agreement from March 31, 2015 to December 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of this contract was a liability of $123.6 million and the recorded value was a liability of $70.1 million. The recorded liability does not include the inception fair value of the commodity contract related to the extended period from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022. In accordance with GAAP for non-option embedded derivatives, the fair value of this extended portion of the commodity contract at its inception of February 1, 2011 is deemed to be allocable to the host processing contract and therefore not recorded as a derivative liability. See the following table for a reconciliation of the liability recorded for the embedded derivative as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

Fair value of commodity contract

 

$

123,573

 

Inception value for period from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022

 

(53,507

)

Derivative liability as of March 31, 2012

 

$

70,066

 

 

We have a commodity contract that gives us an option to fix a component of the utilities cost to an index price on electricity at one of our plant locations through the fourth quarter of 2014. The value of the derivative component of this contract is marked to market through Derivative gain related to facility expenses. As of March 31, 2012, the estimated fair value of this contract was an asset of $9.3 million.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The information about interest rate risk for the three months ended March 31, 2012 does not differ materially from that discussed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Credit Risk

 

The information about credit risk for the three months ended March 31, 2012 does not differ materially from that discussed in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Partnership’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the 1934 Act, as of March 31, 2012. Based on this evaluation, the Partnership’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that as of March 31, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

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Limitations on Controls

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives as specified above. Management does not expect, however, that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Partnership have been detected.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2012 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

Refer to Note 9 of the accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding legal proceedings.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There were no material changes to our risk factors as disclosed in Item1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results. There have been no significant changes to our risk factors as set forth in our Annual Report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, except for the additional or updated risk factors below:

 

Recently approved final rules regulating air emissions from natural gas processing operations could cause us to incur increased capital expenditures and operating costs, which may be significant.

 

On April 17, 2012, the EPA approved final rules that establish new air emission controls for natural gas and natural gas liquids production, processing and transportation activities, including New Source Performance Standards to address emissions of sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds, and a separate set of emission standards to address hazardous air pollutants frequently associated with production and processing activities. Among other things, the rules establish specific requirements regarding emissions from compressors and controllers at natural gas gathering and boosting stations and processing plants together with dehydrators and storage tanks at natural gas processing plants, compressor stations and gathering and boosting stations. In addition, the rules establish new requirements for leak detection and repair of leaks at natural gas processing plants that exceed 500 parts per million in concentration. We are currently reviewing this new rule and assessing its potential impacts. Compliance with these requirements may require modifications to certain of our operations, including the installation of new equipment to control emissions from our compressors that could result in significant costs, including increased capital expenditures and operating costs, and could adversely impact our business.

 

Our commodity derivative activities may reduce our earnings, profitability and cash flows.

 

Our operations expose us to fluctuations in commodity prices. We utilize derivative financial instruments related to the future price of crude oil, natural gas and certain NGLs with the intent of reducing volatility in our cash flows due to fluctuations in commodity prices.

 

The extent of our commodity price exposure is related largely to the effectiveness and scope of our derivative activities. We have a policy to enter into derivative transactions related to only a portion of the volume of our expected production or fuel requirements and, as a result, we expect to continue to have some direct commodity price exposure. Our actual future production or fuel requirements may be significantly higher or lower than we estimate at the time we enter into derivative transactions for such period. If the actual amount is higher than we estimate, we will have greater commodity price exposure than we intended. If the actual amount is lower than the amount that is subject to our derivative financial instruments, we might be forced to settle all or a portion of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from our sale or purchase of the underlying

 

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physical commodity, which could result in a substantial diminution of our liquidity. Alternatively, we may seek to amend the terms of our derivative financial instruments, including to extend the settlement date of such instruments. Additionally, because we primarily use derivative financial instruments relating to the future price of crude oil to mitigate our exposure to NGL price risk, the volatility or our future cash flows and net income may increase if there is a change in the pricing relationship between crude oil and NGLs. As a result of these factors, our risk management activities may not be as effective as we intend in reducing the downside volatility of our cash flows and, in certain circumstances, may actually increase the volatility of our cash flows. In addition, our risk management activities are subject to the risks that a counterparty may not perform its obligation under the applicable derivative instrument, the terms of the derivative instruments are imperfect and our risk management policies and procedures are not properly followed. It is possible that the steps we take to monitor our derivative financial instruments may not detect and prevent violations of our risk management policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved.

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits

 

4.1*

 

Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2012 among MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P., MarkWest Energy Finance Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

31.1*

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2*

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1*

 

Certification of the 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 the 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*

 

The following financial information from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

 


*                 Filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

 

MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

By:

MarkWest Energy GP, L.L.C.,

 

 

Its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 7, 2012

/s/ FRANK M. SEMPLE

 

Frank M. Semple

 

Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date: May 7, 2012

/s/ NANCY K. BUESE

 

Nancy K. Buese

 

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date: May 7, 2012

/s/ PAULA L. ROSSON

 

Paula L. Rosson

 

Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

44