EX-99.1 2 a09-4341_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

News Release

 

NYSE: BPL

Buckeye Partners, L.P.
Five TEK Park
9999 Hamilton Blvd.
Breinigsville, PA  18031

 

Contact:

Stephen R. Milbourne,

09-02

 

Manager, Investor Relations

 

 

smilbourne@buckeye.com

 

 

(800) 422-2825

 

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. REPORTS 2008 FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END
RESULTS AND INCREASES QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION

 

Breinigsville, PA – February 2, 2009. . . Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE:BPL) (the “Partnership”) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2008 as well as the full year.  The Partnership’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $54.1 million, or $0.89 per LP unit, compared with net income of $46.7 million, or $0.85 per LP unit, for the fourth quarter of 2007.  The Partnership’s EBITDA (as defined below) for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $87.7 million, compared with EBITDA of $69.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.  Net income per LP unit in the fourth quarter of 2008 reflects an increase in the average number of LP units outstanding during the fourth quarter of 2008 to 48.4 million from an average of 44.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008 was $527.7 million compared with revenue in the fourth quarter of 2007 of $143.8 million.  Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2008 includes $18.4 million generated by the Partnership’s Natural Gas Storage segment, which consists of the natural gas storage facility in northern California that was acquired in January 2008, and $369.1 million generated by the Partnership’s Energy Services segment, which consists principally of the wholesale product marketing operations that were acquired in February 2008.  Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2008 was $72.4 million compared with operating income of $58.0 million in the same period in the prior year.  Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2008 includes $11.2 million from the Natural Gas Storage segment and $0.8 million from the Energy Services segment.

 

The Partnership reported net income for the full year 2008 of $184.4 million, or $3.15 per LP unit.  The Partnership’s net income in 2007 was $155.4 million, or $3.03 per

 

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LP unit.  Revenue in 2008 increased to $1.897 billion from $519.3 million in 2007.  Revenue for the full year 2008 includes $61.8 million generated by the Natural Gas Storage segment and revenue of $1.296 billion generated by the Energy Services segment.  Operating income in 2008 increased to $253.6 million from operating income of $202.1 million in the prior year.  Operating income in 2008 includes $32.7 million from the Natural Gas Storage segment and $6.0 million from the Energy Services segment.  The average number of LP units outstanding during 2008 increased to 47.8 million from an average of 42.1 million outstanding during 2007.

 

The Board of Directors of Buckeye GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership, declared a regular quarterly partnership cash distribution of $0.8875 per LP unit, payable February 27, 2009 to unitholders of record on February 12, 2009.  This cash distribution represents a quarterly increase in the distribution of $0.0125 per LP unit and an annualized cash distribution level of $3.55 per LP unit.  This is the 88th consecutive quarterly cash distribution paid by the Partnership.

 

Forrest E. Wylie, Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are pleased to announce solid financial results for Buckeye in the fourth quarter and full year 2008 despite difficult conditions in the financial markets and the economy in general. During 2008, we expanded our business through the acquisitions of Lodi Gas Storage, L.L.C., which operates a natural gas storage facility in northern California, and Farm & Home Oil Company LLC, which operates a leading wholesale product distribution business in the northeastern United States.  These acquisitions made a positive contribution to our financial performance in both the quarter and the year. In addition, our pipeline and terminal businesses generated positive financial results despite a decline in demand for pipeline transportation and terminaling services due to record high petroleum product prices early in the year and a weak economy.  Based on our overall financial performance in the fourth quarter and full year 2008, we are pleased to announce another increase in our quarterly cash distribution to unitholders.”

 

 “Buckeye enters 2009 in a strong financial position with cash on hand of approximately $59 million and approximately $300 million of available capacity under the Partnership’s $600 million revolving credit facility.  We believe that our beginning cash

 

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balance and cash flow from operations will be more than sufficient to fund operations and our current slate of internal growth projects in 2009.  We expect that economic conditions in 2009 will present both challenges and opportunities.  We believe Buckeye is well-positioned to meet the challenges and to take advantage of the opportunities that will present themselves during the course of the year.”

 

The Partnership will host a conference call to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2008 on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 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=55222.  Interested parties may participate in the call by joining the conference at (785) 830-7990 and referencing conference ID 7464645.  An audio replay of the conference call also will be available through February 8, 2009 by dialing (719) 457-0820 and referencing code 7464645.

 

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 2,400 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 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.

 

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* * * * *

 

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”, “believes”, “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, (7) volatility in the price of refined petroleum products and the value of natural gas storage services, and (8) nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers. 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

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

370,886

 

$

3,411

 

$

1,304,097

 

$

10,680

 

Transportation and other

 

156,772

 

140,388

 

592,555

 

508,667

 

Total revenue

 

527,658

 

143,799

 

1,896,652

 

519,347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

 

360,972

 

3,319

 

1,274,135

 

10,473

 

Operating expenses

 

72,330

 

65,437

 

279,454

 

240,258

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

13,884

 

11,226

 

55,299

 

44,651

 

General and administrative

 

8,101

 

5,798

 

34,143

 

21,885

 

Total costs and expenses

 

455,287

 

85,780

 

1,643,031

 

317,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

72,371

 

58,019

 

253,621

 

202,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment and equity income

 

2,658

 

1,769

 

9,487

 

8,965

 

Interest and debt expense

 

(19,379

)

(11,727

)

(74,387

)

(50,378

)

Minority interests and other

 

(1,532

)

(1,364

)

(5,562

)

(5,311

)

Total other expense

 

(18,253

)

(11,322

)

(70,462

)

(46,724

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

54,118

 

46,697

 

183,159

 

155,356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

1,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

54,118

 

$

46,697

 

$

184,389

 

$

155,356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income allocated to general partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

10,862

 

$

9,062

 

$

33,684

 

$

27,796

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

370

 

$

 

Net income allocated to limited partners:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

43,256

 

$

37,635

 

$

149,475

 

$

127,560

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

$

 

$

 

$

860

 

$

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.89

 

$

0.85

 

$

3.13

 

$

3.03

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted

 

$

0.89

 

$

0.85

 

$

3.15

 

$

3.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding: Diluted

 

48,374

 

44,370

 

47,763

 

42,101

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

(Financial data in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

2008

 

2007

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

100,551

 

$

101,101

 

$

387,267

 

$

379,345

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

31,406

 

31,403

 

119,155

 

103,782

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

18,379

 

 

61,791

 

 

Energy Services

 

369,116

 

 

1,295,925

 

 

Other Operations

 

9,861

 

11,295

 

43,498

 

36,220

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

(1,655

)

 

(10,984

)

 

Total

 

$

527,658

 

$

143,799

 

$

1,896,652

 

$

519,347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

44,455

 

$

41,218

 

$

153,250

 

$

150,295

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

13,410

 

14,600

 

53,704

 

42,843

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

11,219

 

 

32,693

 

 

Energy Services

 

800

 

 

6,039

 

 

Other Operations

 

2,487

 

2,201

 

7,935

 

8,942

 

Total

 

$

72,371

 

$

58,019

 

$

253,621

 

$

202,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses including depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

56,096

 

$

59,883

 

$

234,017

 

$

229,050

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

17,996

 

16,803

 

65,451

 

60,939

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

7,160

 

 

29,098

 

 

Energy Services

 

368,316

 

 

1,289,886

 

 

Other Operations

 

7,374

 

9,094

 

35,563

 

27,278

 

Intersegment eliminations

 

(1,655

)

 

(10,984

)

 

Total

 

$

455,287

 

$

85,780

 

$

1,643,031

 

$

317,267

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

$

9,575

 

$

9,376

 

$

38,279

 

$

37,411

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

1,979

 

1,417

 

6,583

 

5,610

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

1,271

 

 

5,003

 

 

Energy Services

 

613

 

 

3,683

 

 

Other Operations

 

446

 

433

 

1,751

 

1,630

 

Total

 

$

13,884

 

$

11,226

 

$

55,299

 

$

44,651

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital additions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Operations

 

 

 

 

 

$

63,135

 

$

47,563

 

Terminalling and Storage

 

 

 

 

 

5,293

 

18,341

 

Natural Gas Storage

 

 

 

 

 

49,514

 

 

Energy Services

 

 

 

 

 

4,191

 

 

Other Operations

 

 

 

 

 

296

 

1,963

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

122,429

 

$

67,867

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline Throughput (b/d - 000s)

 

1,378.6

 

1,465.6

 

1,382.2

 

1,447.4

 

Pipeline Average Tariff (Cents/bbl.)

 

69.0

 

65.5

 

67.6

 

64.7

 

Terminal Throughput (b/d - 000s)

 

537.4

 

575.1

 

537.7

 

568.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA Reconciliation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

54,118

 

$

46,697

 

$

183,159

 

$

155,356

 

Interest and debt expense

 

19,379

 

11,727

 

74,387

 

50,378

 

Income tax expense

 

361

 

48

 

796

 

763

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

13,884

 

11,226

 

55,299

 

44,651

 

EBITDA

 

$

87,742

 

$

69,698

 

$

313,641

 

$

251,148

 

 

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