EX-99.1 2 ex991q12015pressrelease.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Ex. 99.1 Q1 2015 PRESS RELEASE


 NEWS RELEASE


CONE MIDSTREAM REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS AND INCREASES 2015 GUIDANCE
CANONSBURG, PA (May 11, 2015) — CONE Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:CNNX) ("CONE Midstream" or the "Partnership") today reported financial and operational results for the three months ending March 31, 2015.(1) 
First Quarter Results
Highlights of first quarter 2015 results attributable to the Partnership include:
Net income of $14.2 million
Average daily throughput volumes of 549 billion Btu per day (BBtu/d)
EBITDA(2) of $16.1 million
Distributable cash flow (DCF)(2) of $14.1 million.

Management Comment
"Financial and operational results for the first quarter were good and exceeded our expectations," said John T. Lewis, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of CONE Midstream GP LLC (the "General Partner"). "I am pleased that, as a result, we are increasing and narrowing the range of our financial guidance for full year 2015 results. Our current expectation is that 2015 EBITDA attributable to CNNX will be in the range of $66 - $72 million and full year DCF will be in the range of $55 - $62 million. With our good first quarter results, the continued progress on volume and cost initiatives, and increasing clarity on our Sponsors' 2015 plan, we are increasingly bullish on this year's performance.
"Although the commodity price environment has changed since our IPO, we remain committed to multi-year distribution growth in the 15%-20% range. CNNX was designed for growth, and our development company structure provides the potential for acquisition and dropdown opportunities to supplement our organic growth. We anticipate that if our business results materialize in line with our current expectations, management would be prepared to recommend beginning to increase our quarterly cash distribution in the second half of this year."
Quarterly Distribution
As previously announced, the Board of Directors of the General Partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.2125 per unit with respect to the first quarter of 2015. The distribution payment will made on May 15, 2015 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2015.

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Capital Investment and Resources
CONE Midstream's allocated first quarter 2015 share of investment in expansion projects was $21.6 million. Total expansion capital investment at the three development companies in which CONE Midstream holds controlling interests was $58.7 million, with individual development company totals as follows:
Anchor Systems (Development Company 1): Expansion investments totaled $26.7 million and were primarily expended for continued gathering system extensions and compression capacity expansions at both McQuay and Majorsville fields.
Growth Systems (Development Company 2): Expansion investments totaled $11.4 million and primarily were expended to complete the connection of two well pads in Barbour County (WV), and the connection of one well pad in Lewis County (WV).
Additional Systems (Development Company 3): Expansion investments totaled $20.6 million for the continued construction of Shirley Station, purchase of materials associated with our Sherwood South gathering system that will support development of the Oxford area, and an extension to a new pad in Pennsboro field. Additional line clearing work was also completed in these areas as well as the Moundsville and Allegheny County Airport project areas.
CONE Midstream's respective share of maintenance capital expenditures for the three development companies for first quarter 2015 was $2.0 million. Maintenance capital expenditures in the aggregate for the development companies in which CONE Midstream holds controlling interests totaled $3.2 million.
As of March 31, 2015, CONE Midstream had outstanding borrowings of $7.5 million under its $250 million revolving credit facility.
2015 Guidance
Based on current expectations, management is providing the following updated guidance for 2015. Full year 2015 EBITDA attributable to the Partnership, previously projected to be in the range of $62 - $70 million, is now expected to be in the range of $66 - $72 million. Full year Distributable Cash Flow attributable to the Partnership, previously projected to be in the range of $50 - $60 million, is now expected to be in the range of $55 - $62 million. CONE Midstream’s  financial guidance is based on numerous assumptions about future events and conditions and, therefore, could vary materially from actual results. These estimates are meant to provide guidance only and are subject to revision for acquisitions or operating environment changes.
First Quarter Financial and Operational Results Conference Call
A conference call and webcast, during which management will discuss first quarter 2015 financial and operational results, is scheduled for May 11, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Prepared remarks by members of management will be followed by a question and answer period. Interested parties may listen via webcast at www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=102134 or by using the link posted on the "Events" page of our website, www.conemidstream.com. Participants who would like to ask questions may join the conference by phone at 888-349-0097 (international 412-902-0126) five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time (reference the CONE Midstream call). An on-demand replay of the webcast will be also be available at www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=102134 shortly after the conclusion of the conference. A telephonic replay will be available through May 18, 2015 by dialing 877-344-7529 (international: 412-317-0088) and using the conference playback number 10064247.

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_______________
(1)  
Unless otherwise indicated, the reporting measures included in this news release reflect the unallocated total activity of the three development companies jointly owned by the Partnership and CONE Gathering LLC (“CONE Gathering”).  Because the Partnership owns a controlling interest in each of the three development companies, it fully consolidates their financial results. The Partnership's current financial interests in the development companies are: 75% in the Anchor Systems, 5% in the Growth Systems, and 5% in the Additional Systems. CONE Gathering is a midstream joint venture formed by CONSOL Energy Inc. and Noble Energy, Inc. and owns non-controlling interests in the Partnership’s development companies. 
(2) 
EBITDA and DCF are not Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) measures. Definitions and reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP reporting measures appear in the financial tables which follow.




Contact:
Stephen R. Milbourne
CONE Investor Relations
Phone:
724-485-4408
Email:
smilbourne@conemidstream.com


* * * * *
CONE Midstream Partners is a master limited partnership formed by CONSOL Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNX) and Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL), referred to as our Sponsors, to own, operate, develop and acquire natural gas gathering and other midstream energy assets to service our Sponsors' production in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Our assets include natural gas gathering pipelines and compression and dehydration facilities, as well as condensate gathering, collection, separation and stabilization facilities. More information is available on our website www.conemidstream.com.
* * * * *
This press release is intended to be a qualified notice to nominees as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of CONE Midstream’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributed to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, CONE Midstream's distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Nominees, and not CONE Midstream, are treated as withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.
* * * * *
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate" and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and there can be no assurance that actual outcomes

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and results will not differ materially from those expected by our management. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, that our business plans may change as circumstances warrant. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-1, in the form last filed with the SEC as wells as our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, unless required by law.





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CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Revenue
 
 
 
Gathering Revenue — Related Party
$
43,168

 
$
24,106

Total Revenue
43,168

 
24,106

Expenses
 
 
 
Operating Expense — Third Party
8,530

 
5,346

Operating Expense — Related Party
7,044

 
6,630

General and Administrative Expense — Third Party
1,342

 
821

General and Administrative Expense — Related Party
1,977

 
241

Depreciation Expense
2,994

 
1,618

Interest Expense
65

 

Total Expense
21,952

 
14,656

Net Income
21,216

 
9,450

Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
7,004

 

Net Income Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP
$
14,212

 
$
9,450

 
 
 
 
Calculation of Limited Partner Interest in Net Income:
 
 
 
Net Income Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP (1)
$
14,212

 
$
9,450

Less: General Partner Interest in Net Income
284

 
N/A
Limited Partner Interest in Net Income
$
13,928

 
N/A
 
 
 
 
Net Income per Limited Partner Unit - Basic
$
0.24

 
N/A
Net Income per Limited Partner Unit - Diluted
$
0.24

 
N/A
 
 
 
 
Limited Partner Units Outstanding - Basic
58,326

 
N/A
Limited Partner Unit Outstanding - Diluted
58,360

 
N/A
 
 
 
 
Cash Distributions Declared per Unit (2)
$
0.2125

 
N/A
(1)
Reflective of general and limited partner interest in net income since closing of the IPO.
(2)
Represents the cash distributions declared related to the period presented.


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CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND DISTRIBUTABLE CASH FLOW
(in thousands)

Definition of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA
We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies, to assess:
our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy industry, without regard to financing methods, historical cost basis or capital structure;
the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our partners;
our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and
the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.
We believe that the presentation of EBITDA provides information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to EBITDA are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or net cash, and these measures may vary from those of other companies. As a result, EBITDA as presented below may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Distributable Cash Flow
We define distributable cash flow as EBITDA less net cash interest paid and maintenance capital expenditures. Distributable cash flow does not reflect changes in working capital balances.
Distributable cash flow is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, industry analysts, lenders and ratings agencies, to assess:
the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to support our indebtedness and make future cash distributions to our unitholders; and
the attractiveness of capital projects and acquisitions and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.
We believe that the presentation of distributable cash flow in this report provides information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to distributable cash flow are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Distributable cash flow should not be considered an alternative to net income, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Distributable cash flow excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income or net cash, and these measures may vary from those of other companies. As a result, our distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.


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The following tables present a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income and net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, on a historical basis, for each of the periods indicated.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
(unaudited)
 
2015
 
2014
Net Income
 
$
21,216

 
$
9,450

Add:
 
 
 
 
Interest Expense, Net
 
65

 

Depreciation Expense
 
2,994

 
1,618

EBITDA
 
24,275

 
11,068

Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
7,004

 

Less: Depreciation Expense Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
1,166

 

EBITDA Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP
 
$
16,105

 
$
11,068

Less: Ongoing Maintenance Capital Expenditures, Net of Expected Reimbursements
 
1,991

 
1,163

Distributable Cash Flow
 
$
14,114

 
$
9,905

 
 
 
 
 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
$
10,206

 
$
20,735

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
Less: Interest Expense, Net
 
65

 

Less: Other, Including Changes in Working Capital
 
(14,134
)
 
9,667

EBITDA
 
24,275

 
11,068

Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
7,004

 

Less: Depreciation Expense Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
 
1,166

 

EBITDA Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP
 
$
16,105

 
$
11,068

Less: Ongoing Maintenance Capital Expenditures, Net of Expected Reimbursements
 
1,991

 
1,163

Distributable Cash Flow
 
$
14,114

 
$
9,905



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CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except number of units)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
Cash
$
460

 
$
3,252

Receivables — Related Party
41,771

 
58,749

Prepaid Expenses
1,068

 
1,280

Inventory
16,632

 

Other Current Assets
164

 
164

Total Current Assets
60,095

 
63,445

Property and Equipment:
 
 
 
Property and Equipment
678,904

 
639,735

Less — Accumulated Depreciation
19,890

 
16,989

Property and Equipment — Net
659,014

 
622,746

Other Non-Current Assets
572

 
613

TOTAL ASSETS
$
719,681

 
$
686,804

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts Payable
$
57,892

 
$
70,635

Accounts Payable — Related Party
2,072

 
2,106

Total Current Liabilities
59,964

 
72,741

Other Liabilities:
 
 
 
MLP Revolver
7,500

 
31,300

Total Liabilities
67,464

 
104,041

Partners' Capital:
 
 
 
Common Units (29,163,121 Units Issued and Outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)
390,408

 
389,612

Subordinated Units (29,163,121 Units Issued and Outstanding at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)
(91,585
)
 
(92,285
)
General Partner Interest
(3,744
)
 
(3,772
)
Capital Attributable to CONE Midstream Partners LP
295,079

 
293,555

Noncontrolling Interest
357,138

 
289,208

Total Partners' Capital
652,217

 
582,763

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
$
719,681

 
$
686,804



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CONE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net Income
$
21,216

 
$
9,450

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation
2,994

 
1,618

Unit Based Compensation
96

 

Changes in Operating Assets:
 
 
 
Receivables — Related Party
3,462

 
(556
)
Inventory
(18,872
)
 

Other Current Assets
212

 

Non-Current Assets
41

 

Changes in Operating Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts Payable
1,256

 
9,695

Accounts Payable — Related Party
(199
)
 
528

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
10,206

 
20,735

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Capital Expenditures
(61,806
)
 
(47,304
)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(61,806
)
 
(47,304
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Partners' Investments
85,392

 
24,000

Distribution of Proceeds
(12,784
)
 

Payment of Revolver
(23,800
)
 

Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
48,808

 
24,000

Net Decrease in Cash
(2,792
)
 
(2,569
)
Cash at Beginning of Period
3,252

 
5,976

Cash at End of Period
$
460

 
$
3,407



















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Development Companies Jointly Owned by CONE Midstream Partners LP and CONE Gathering LLC
Operating Income Summary, Selected Operating Statistics and Capital Investment
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
 
 Development Company
 
 1 (Anchor)
 
 2 (Growth)
 
 3 (Additional)
 
 TOTAL
Income Summary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
34,533

 
$
2,975

 
$
5,660

 
$
43,168

Expenses
15,746

 
2,174

 
4,032

 
21,952

Net Income
18,787

 
801

 
1,628

 
21,216

Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
4,697

 
761

 
1,546

 
7,004

Net Income Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP
$
14,090

 
$
40

 
$
82

 
$
14,212

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Statistics - Gathered Volumes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dry Gas (BBtu/d)
381

 
77

 
12

 
470

Wet Gas (BBtu/d)
326

 
3

 
109

 
438

Condensate (Bcfe/d)
11

 

 
2

 
13

Total Gathered Volumes
718

 
80

 
123

 
921

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Volumes Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
539

 
4

 
6

 
549

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance Capital
$
2,619

 
$
258

 
$
273

 
$
3,150

Expansion Capital
26,680

 
11,379

 
20,597

 
58,656

Total Capital Investment
$
29,299

 
$
11,637

 
$
20,870

 
$
61,806

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Investment Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance Capital
$
1,964

 
$
13

 
$
14

 
$
1,991

Expansion Capital
20,010

 
569

 
1,030

 
21,609

Total Capital Investment Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
$
21,974

 
$
582

 
$
1,044

 
$
23,600






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Development Companies Jointly Owned by CONE Midstream Partners LP and CONE Gathering LLC
Operating Income Summary, Selected Operating Statistics and Capital Investment
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
 Development Company
 
 1 (Anchor)
 
 2 (Growth)
 
 3 (Additional)
 
 TOTAL (1)
Income Summary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
21,241

 
$
2,519

 
$

 
$
23,760

Expenses
12,494

 
1,796

 
162

 
14,452

Net Income
8,747

 
723

 
(162
)
 
9,308

Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to General and Limited Partner Ownership Interest in CONE Midstream Partners LP
$
8,747

 
$
723

 
$
(162
)
 
$
9,308

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Statistics - Gathered Volumes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dry Gas (BBtu/d)
298

 
44

 

 
342

Wet Gas (BBtu/d)
165

 

 

 
165

Condensate (Bcfe/d)

 

 

 

Total Gathered Volumes
463

 
44

 

 
507

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Volumes Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
347

 
2

 

 
349

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Investment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance Capital
$
1,544

 
$
90

 
$

 
$
1,634

Expansion Capital
30,499

 
4,486

 
6,493


41,478

Total Capital Investment
$
32,043

 
$
4,576

 
$
6,493


$
43,112

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Investment Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance Capital
$
1,158

 
$
5

 
$

 
$
1,163

Expansion Capital
22,874

 
224

 
325

 
23,423

Total Capital Investment Net to CONE Midstream Partners LP
$
24,032

 
$
229

 
$
325

 
$
24,586


(1)
Total consists of the 100% activity of the three Development Companies (Anchor, Growth and Additional) which CONE Midstream Partners LP owns a controlling interest of 75%, 5% and 5%, respectively. Other systems that were part of the Predecessor, CONE Gathering LLC, that have been included in the Historical Financial statements as the Predecessor are excluded from the table above, as these systems are not included in the consolidated operations of the Partnership.



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