EX-99.1 2 c73064exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
 

         
(TERRA LOGO)   Exhibit 99.1   Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.
600 Fourth Street
P.O. Box 6000
Sioux City, IA 51102-6000
www.terraindustries.com
NEWS
     
For immediate release   Contact: Joe A. Ewing
(712) 277-7305
jewing@terraindustries.com
Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. reports first quarter results;
declares cash distribution
Sioux City, Iowa (April 24, 2008)—Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. (TNCLP) (NYSE: TNH) today reported net income of $81.6 million ($3.93 per Common Unit) on revenues of $174.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. This compares with net income of $35.3 million ($1.87 per Common Unit) on revenues of $128.2 million for the 2007 first quarter.
TNCLP also announced a cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, of $4.20 per common limited partnership unit payable May 28, 2008, to holders of record as of May 8, 2008. Cash distributions depend on TNCLP’s earnings, which can be affected by nitrogen selling prices, natural gas costs, seasonal demand factors, production levels and weather, cash requirements for working capital needs, and capital expenditures. Cash distributions per limited partnership unit also vary based on increasing amounts allocable to the General Partner when cumulative distributions exceed targeted levels. Those targeted levels were attained in the 2008 first quarter.
Analysis of results
TNCLP’s first quarter earnings improvement over last year was due to higher nitrogen products selling prices, partially offset by lower sales volumes and higher natural gas costs. Commodity grain prices and U.S. nitrogen demand continued to be strong in the 2008 first quarter, contributing to the improved selling prices. Ammonia sales volumes decreased primarily because cold, wet conditions early in the application season delayed product shipments. From the 2007 to the 2008 first quarter, TNCLP’s:
    Ammonia and UAN selling prices increased by 46 percent and 54 percent, respectively. (Note that Terra previously reported UAN data on a 28% nitrogen basis. Beginning this quarter, we report all UAN data on a 32% nitrogen basis, and have converted all 2007 UAN data for comparison purposes.)
 
    Ammonia sales volumes decreased by 45 percent.
 
    Natural gas unit costs increased by 12 percent.
Forward natural gas position
TNCLP’s forward purchase contracts at March 31, 2008, fixed prices for about 23 percent of its next 12 months’ natural gas requirements at $14.5 million below published forward markets at that date. TNCLP has entered into these forward gas positions to secure margins on nitrogen products sold forward at fixed prices.

 

 


 

About TNCLP
Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. is a leading manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizer products.
Forward-looking statement
Certain statements in this news release may constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they were made and TNCLP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These include, among others, statements relating to:
    changes in financial markets,
 
    general economic conditions within the agricultural industry,
 
    competitive factors and price changes (principally, sales prices of nitrogen products and natural gas costs),
 
    changes in product mix,
 
    changes in the seasonality of demand patterns,
 
    changes in weather conditions,
 
    changes in environmental and other government regulation, and
 
    changes in agricultural regulations.
Additional information as to these factors can be found in TNCLP’s 2007 Annual Report/10-K, in the sections entitled “Business,” “Legal Proceedings,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements.
# # #
Note:   Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. news announcements are also available on Terra Industries’ Web site, www.terraindustries.com.
(Tables follow)

 

 


 

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands except per-unit amounts)
(unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2008     2007  
 
               
Product revenues
  $ 174,253     $ 127,852  
Other income
    279       305  
 
           
 
               
Total revenues
    174,532       128,157  
 
           
 
               
Cost of goods sold
    91,971       90,770  
 
           
 
               
Total gross profit
    82,561       37,387  
 
               
Operating expenses
    3,524       3,178  
Interest expense—net
    (2,559 )     (1,121 )
 
           
 
               
Net income
  $ 81,596     $ 35,330  
 
           
 
               
Net income allocable to Common Units
  $ 72,704     $ 34,624  
 
           
 
               
Earnings per Common Unit
  $ 3.93     $ 1.87  
 
           
Nitrogen Volumes and Prices
Note:   All UAN data for 2008 and 2007 are expressed on a 32% nitrogen basis.
                                 
    2008     2007  
    Sales     Average     Sales     Average  
    Volumes     Unit Price     Volumes     Unit Price  
First quarter   (000 tons)     ($/ton) 1     (000 tons)     ($/ton) 1  
 
                               
Ammonia
    38       519       69       356  
UAN
    502       281       502       182  
Natural Gas Costs/MMBtu2
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2008     2007  
 
    7.16       6.39  
     
1.   After deducting outbound freight costs.
 
2.   Including effect of forward natural gas position.

 

 


 

Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    March 31,  
    2008     2007  
ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 248,780     $ 99,820  
Demand deposit with affiliate
    1,012        
Accounts receivable
    28,267       36,009  
Inventories
    38,833       33,665  
Other current assets
    16,338       5,275  
 
           
 
               
Total current assets
    333,230       174,769  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    69,698       73,234  
Other assets
    19,157       14,408  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 422,085     $ 262,411  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 43,758     $ 38,048  
Customer prepayments
    154,058       56,586  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    197,816       94,634  
 
               
Other liabilities
    436       495  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities
    198,252       95,129  
 
               
PARTNERS’ EQUITY
    223,833       167,282  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and partners’ equity
  $ 422,085     $ 262,411