EX-99.1 2 a08-27122_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

News Release

Five TEK Park

 

9999 Hamilton Blvd.

NYSE: BPL

Breinigsville, PA  18031

 

 

 

Contact:

 

Stephen R. Milbourne,

 

08-19

 

 

Manager, Investor Relations

 

 

 

 

smilbourne@buckeye.com

 

 

 

 

(800) 422-2825

 

 

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2008 RESULTS
AND INCREASES QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION

 

Breinigsville, PA – October 28, 2008. . . Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE:BPL) (the “Partnership”) today reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2008.  The Partnership’s net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $46.6 million, or $0.79 per LP unit, compared with net income of $36.4 million, or $0.71 per LP unit, reported for the third quarter of 2007.  The Partnership’s EBITDA (as defined below) for the third quarter of 2008 was $81.3 million, compared with EBITDA of $60.6 million in the third quarter of 2007.  Net income per LP unit in the third quarter of 2008 reflects an increase in the average number of LP units outstanding during the third quarter to 48.4 million from an average of 42.7 million LP units outstanding in the third quarter of 2007.

 

Revenue in the third quarter of 2008 was $496.2 million compared with revenue in the third quarter of 2007 of $125.7 million.  Revenue in the third quarter of 2008 includes $16.8 million generated by the Partnership’s Natural Gas Storage segment, which consists of the natural gas storage facilities that were acquired in January 2008, and $344.5 million generated by the Partnership’s Energy Services segment consisting principally of the wholesale operations of Farm & Home Oil Company LLC, which were acquired in February 2008 and merged into the Partnership’s Buckeye Energy Services LLC subsidiary on August 1, 2008.  Operating income in the third quarter of 2008 was $64.5 million compared with operating income of $47.5 million in the third quarter of 2007.  Operating income in the third quarter of 2008 includes $8.9 million from the Natural Gas Storage segment and $3.8 million from the Energy Services segment.

 

(more)

 



 

The Board of Directors of Buckeye GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership, declared a regular quarterly partnership cash distribution of $0.875 per LP unit, payable November 28, 2008 to unitholders of record on November 7, 2008.  This cash distribution represents a quarterly increase in the distribution of $0.0125 per LP unit to an indicated annualized cash distribution level of $3.50 per LP unit.  This is the 87th consecutive quarterly cash distribution paid by the Partnership.

 

Separately, the Partnership is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Lodi Gas Storage, L.L.C. (“Lodi”), has successfully begun natural gas injection into an expansion of its natural gas storage reservoir known as Kirby Hills located near Suisun City, California.  When fully operational, the expansion of the Kirby Hills storage facility, known as Kirby Hills Phase II will add an estimated 11 billion cubic feet (“Bcf”) of natural gas storage capacity to Lodi’s current storage capacity.  With the Kirby Hills Phase II expansion, Lodi’s aggregate storage capacity is expected to be approximately 33 Bcf, and its injection and withdrawal rates are expected to increase to 600 million cubic feet per day (“MMcfd”) and 700 MMcfd, respectively.  The Kirby Hills Phase II expansion project is expected to be fully operational in February 2009.

 

Forrest E. Wylie, Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased to report solid financial results for Buckeye in the third quarter and year to date 2008.  Buckeye’s business fundamentals remain strong despite the turmoil in the economy generally and continued volatility in refined petroleum product prices.  In the third quarter, our Pipeline Operations segment experienced a slight decline in operating income compared to the same period last year as revenue declines associated with a 4.6 percent reduction in pipeline volumes in the quarter were not fully offset by the positive impact of tariff rate increases and good cost control.  Our Terminalling and Storage segment continued to produce favorable year on year results due primarily to increased ethanol blending and additive injection charges at our product terminals.  In addition, we continue to be extremely pleased with the results of the Natural Gas Storage segment, as our natural gas storage operations in northern California performed in line with our expectations.  We look forward to increased business opportunities in this segment resulting from our Kirby Hills Phase II expansion project.  Finally, our Energy Services segment has stabilized as the rapid run-up in refined petroleum product prices and associated volatility abated somewhat

 

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in the third quarter of 2008.  Based on our overall financial performance in the third quarter, we are pleased to announce another increase in our quarterly cash distribution to unitholders.

 

“In connection with the current credit crisis, I would like to emphasize that Buckeye is in the favorable position of having a strong balance sheet that allows us to fund our current slate of internal growth projects with cash flow from operations and debt rather than equity.  We have sufficient borrowing capacity available to us under our $600 million revolving credit facility.  Our conservative approach to risk and credit metrics has put us in a good position in these times of tightening credit markets.”

 

The Partnership will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  Investors are invited to listen to the conference call via the Internet, on either a live or replay basis at: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=52531.  Interested parties may participate in the call by joining the conference at (719) 325-4783 and referencing conference ID 8584701.  An audio replay of the conference call also will be available through November 3, 2008 by dialing (719) 457-0820 Code: 8584701.

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. (www.buckeye.com) is a publicly traded partnership that owns and operates one of the largest independent refined petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, with approximately 5,400 miles of pipeline. Buckeye Partners, L.P. also owns 64 refined petroleum products terminals, operates and maintains approximately 2,200 miles of pipeline under agreements with major oil and chemical companies, owns a major natural gas storage facility in northern California, and markets refined petroleum products in certain of the geographic areas served by its pipeline and terminal operations.  The general partner of Buckeye Partners, L.P. is owned by Buckeye GP Holdings L.P. (NYSE: BGH).

 

* * * * *

 

EBITDA, a measure not defined under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), is defined by the Partnership as income from continuing operations before interest expense (including amortization and write-off of deferred debt financing costs), income taxes, depreciation, and amortization.  EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating profit, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with

 

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GAAP.  Because EBITDA excludes some items that affect net income and these items may vary among other companies, the EBITDA data presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies.  Management of the Partnership uses EBITDA as a performance measure to assist in the analysis and assessment of the Partnership’s operations, to evaluate the viability of proposed projects, and to determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.  The Partnership believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by the Partnership’s management.  Please see the attached reconciliation of EBITDA to income from continuing operations, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

* * * * *

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements that we believe to be reasonable as of today’s date. Such statements are identified by use of the words “anticipates”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “predicts”, “projects”, “should”, and similar expressions.  Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond the control of the Partnership.  Among them are (1) changes in laws or regulations to which we are subject, including those that permit the treatment of us as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (2) terrorism, adverse weather conditions, environmental releases, and natural disasters, (3) changes in the marketplace for our products or services, such as increased competition, better energy efficiency, or general reductions in demand, (4) adverse regional or national economic conditions or adverse capital market conditions, (5) shutdowns or interruptions at the source points for the products we transport, store, or sell, (6) unanticipated capital expenditures in connection with the construction, repair, or replacement of our assets, and (7) volatility in the price of refined petroleum products and the value of natural gas storage services. You should read our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results.  We undertake no obligation to revise our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today’s date.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

345,729

 

$

1,319

 

$

933,211

 

$

7,269

 

Transportation and other

 

150,441

 

124,334

 

435,783

 

368,279

 

Total revenue

 

496,170

 

125,653

 

1,368,994

 

375,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

 

334,959

 

1,278

 

913,163

 

7,154

 

Operating expenses

 

72,684

 

59,550

 

207,124

 

174,821

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

15,457

 

11,520

 

41,415

 

33,425

 

General and administrative

 

8,619

 

5,774

 

26,042

 

16,087

 

Total costs and expenses

 

431,719

 

78,122

 

1,187,744

 

231,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

64,451

 

47,531

 

181,250

 

144,061

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment and equity income

 

2,616

 

2,560

 

6,829

 

7,196

 

Interest and debt expense

 

(19,053

)

(12,391

)

(55,008

)

(38,651

)

Minority interests and other

 

(1,236

)

(1,320

)

(4,030

)

(3,947

)

Total other (expense)

 

(17,673

)

(11,151

)

(52,209

)

(35,402

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

46,778

 

36,380

 

129,041

 

108,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

 

(176

)

 

1,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

46,602

 

$

36,380

 

$

130,271

 

$

108,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income allocated to general partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

8,651

 

$

6,116

 

$

22,822

 

$

18,734

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

 

$

(53

)

$

 

$

370

 

$

 

Net income allocated to limited partners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

38,127

 

$

30,264

 

$

106,219

 

$

89,925

 

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

 

$

(123

)

$

 

$

860

 

$

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.71

 

$

2.23

 

$

2.18

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-basic

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.71

 

$

2.25

 

$

2.18

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.71

 

$

2.23

 

$

2.18

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.71

 

$

2.25

 

$

2.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

48,372

 

42,676

 

47,538

 

41,286

 

Diluted

 

48,378

 

42,719

 

47,558

 

41,333

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

(Financial data in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

91,439

 

$

92,067

 

$

286,716

 

$

278,244

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

33,003

 

24,843

 

87,749

 

72,379

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

16,762

 

 

43,412

 

 

Energy Services

 

344,494

 

 

926,809

 

 

Other Operations

 

12,011

 

8,743

 

33,637

 

24,925

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

(1,539

)

 

(9,329

)

 

Total

 

$

496,170

 

$

125,653

 

$

1,368,994

 

$

375,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

33,087

 

$

36,122

 

$

108,795

 

$

109,077

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

17,027

 

9,324

 

40,294

 

28,243

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

8,914

 

 

21,474

 

 

Energy Services

 

3,810

 

 

5,239

 

 

Other Operations

 

1,613

 

2,085

 

5,448

 

6,741

 

Total

 

$

64,451

 

$

47,531

 

$

181,250

 

$

144,061

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating, general & administrative expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

58,352

 

$

55,945

 

$

177,921

 

$

169,167

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

15,976

 

15,519

 

47,455

 

44,136

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

7,848

 

 

21,938

 

 

Energy Services

 

340,684

 

 

921,570

 

 

Other Operations

 

10,398

 

6,658

 

28,189

 

18,184

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

(1,539

)

 

(9,329

)

 

Total

 

$

431,719

 

$

78,122

 

$

1,187,744

 

$

231,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

10,092

 

$

9,630

 

$

28,704

 

$

28,035

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

1,600

 

1,455

 

4,604

 

4,193

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

982

 

 

3,732

 

 

Energy Services

 

2,336

 

 

3,070

 

 

Other Operations

 

447

 

435

 

1,305

 

1,197

 

Total

 

$

15,457

 

$

11,520

 

$

41,415

 

$

33,425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital additions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

 

 

 

 

$

24,704

 

$

36,933

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

 

 

 

 

17,326

 

12,053

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

 

 

 

 

27,528

 

 

Energy Services

 

 

 

 

 

2,651

 

 

Other Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,726

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

72,209

 

$

51,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Throughput (b/d - 000s)

 

1,360.4

 

1,425.7

 

1,383.4

 

1,441.2

 

Pipeline Average Tariff (Cents/bbl.)

 

68.6

 

65.5

 

66.0

 

63.5

 

Terminal Throughput (b/d - 000s)

 

539.2

 

576.3

 

537.6

 

566.4

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

(Financial data in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA Reconciliation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

46,778

 

$

36,380

 

$

129,041

 

$

108,659

 

Interest and debt expense

 

19,053

 

12,391

 

55,008

 

38,651

 

Income tax expense

 

9

 

277

 

435

 

715

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

15,457

 

11,520

 

41,415

 

33,425

 

EBITDA

 

$

81,297

 

$

60,568

 

$

225,899

 

$

181,450

 

 

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