WES
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Western Gas Partners Announces First-Quarter 2012 Results

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May. 2, 2012– Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) today announced first-quarter 2012 financial and operating results. Net income available to limited partners for the first quarter of 2012 totaled $43.8 million, or $0.48 per common unit (diluted). The Partnership’s first-quarter Adjusted EBITDA (1) was $84.8 million and Distributable cash flow (1) was $73.1 million, resulting in a Coverage ratio (1) of 1.59 times for the period.

Total throughput attributable to the Partnership for the first quarter of 2012 averaged 2,414 MMcf/d, 5 percent above the prior quarter and 10 percent above the first quarter of 2011. These results include the net throughput attributable to the Mountain Gas Resources assets acquired from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for all periods of comparison and throughput attributable to the Platte Valleysystem beginning March 2011. Capital expenditures attributable to the Partnership, excluding acquisitions, totaled approximately $52.2 million during the first quarter of 2012. Of this amount, maintenance capital expenditures were approximately $5.8 million, or 7 percent of Adjusted EBITDA.

“Our first quarter was yet another quarter of strong, stable results,” said Western Gas Partners’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Don Sinclair. “While we believe that the current natural gas price environment creates challenges for our entire industry, the strength of our business model enables us to maintain the full-year guidance that we provided in February.”

The Partnership previously declared a quarterly distribution of $0.46 per unit for the first quarter of 2012, payable on May 14, 2012, to unitholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2012, representing a 5-percent increase over the prior quarter and an 18-percent increase over the first-quarter 2011 distribution of $0.39 per unit. The first-quarter 2012 Coverage ratio of 1.59 times is based on the quarterly distribution of $0.46 per unit.

CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 11 A.M. CDT

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 11 a.m. Central Daylight Time(12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) to discuss first-quarter 2012. To participate via telephone, please dial 877.621.4819 and enter participant code 71023847. Please call in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. To access the live audio webcast of the conference call and slide presentation, please visithttp://www.westerngas.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the Web site for approximately two weeks following the conference call.

Western Gas Partners, LP is a growth-oriented Delaware master limited partnership formed byAnadarko Petroleum Corporation to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. With midstream assets in East, West and South Texas, the Rocky Mountains and the Mid-Continent, the Partnership is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, natural gas liquids and crude oil for Anadarko and other producers and customers. For more information about Western Gas Partners, please visithttp://www.westerngas.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Western Gas Partners believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include the ability to meet financial guidance or distribution growth expectations; the ability to safely and efficiently operate our assets; the ability to obtain new sources of natural gas supplies; the effect of fluctuations in commodity prices and the demand for natural gas and related products; the ability to meet projected in-service dates for capital growth projects; and construction costs or capital expenditures exceeding estimated or budgeted costs or expenditures, as well as other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Partnership’s most recent Form 10-K filed with theSecurities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases by Western Gas Partners. Western Gas Partners undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

Below are reconciliations of Distributable cash flow (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) to net income (GAAP) as required under Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management believes that the presentation of Distributable cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Coverage ratio are widely accepted financial indicators of a company’s financial performance compared to other publicly traded partnerships and are useful in assessing our ability to incur and service debt, fund capital expenditures and make distributions. Distributable cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Coverage ratio, as defined by the Partnership, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Therefore, the Partnership’s consolidated Distributable cash flow, Adjusted EBITDA and Coverage ratio should be considered in conjunction with net income and other performance measures, such as operating income or cash flows from operating activities.

Distributable Cash Flow

The Partnership defines Distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA, plus interest income, less net cash paid for interest expense (including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs originally paid in cash, offset by non-cash capitalized interest), maintenance capital expenditures and income taxes.

  Quarter Ended
  March 31,
thousands except Coverage ratio 2012      

2011 (1)

Reconciliation of Net income attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP to Distributable cash flow
and calculation of the Coverage ratio                
Net income attributable to                
Western Gas Partners, LP

$

48,163

       

$

43,897

Add:

 

 

       

 

 

Distributions from equity investees   4,441           3,909

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense

  4,066           1,928
Interest expense, net (non-cash settled)   81          

Income tax expense   537           4,832

Depreciation, amortization and impairments (2)

  25,931           22,938
Less:                
Equity income, net   3,613           2,283
Cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures (2)   5,764           5,564
Capitalized interest   657          

Cash paid for income taxes   72          

Other income (2) (3)

  62           1,754
Interest income, net (non-cash settled)  

          445
Distributable cash flow $ 73,051         $ 67,458
Distribution declared for the                

quarter ended March 31, 2012 (4)

               
Limited partners $ 41,756            
General partner   4,297            
Total $ 46,053            
Coverage ratio   1.59 x          
 
(1)         Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
(2)         Includes the Partnership’s 51% share of depreciation, amortization and impairments; other expense; cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures; and other income attributable to Chipeta Processing LLC (“Chipeta”).
(3)         Excludes income of $0.4 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, related to a component of a gas processing agreement accounted for as a capital lease.
(4)         Reflects distribution of $0.46 per unit payable on May 14, 2012.
           
           
 

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP (“Adjusted EBITDA”)

The Partnership defines Adjusted EBITDA as Net income attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP, plus distributions from equity investees, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, general and administrative expense in excess of the omnibus cap (if any), interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization and impairments, and other expense, less income from equity investments, interest income, income tax benefit, other income and other nonrecurring adjustments that are not settled in cash.

  Quarter Ended
  March 31,
thousands 2012      

2011 (1)

Reconciliation of Net income attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP to Adjusted EBITDA
Net income attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP $ 48,163       $   43,897
Add:              

Distributions from equity investees

  4,441         3,909

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense

  4,066         1,928

Interest expense

  9,581         6,111

Income tax expense

  537         4,832

Depreciation, amortization and impairments (2)

  25,931         22,938
Less:              

Equity income, net

  3,613         2,283

Interest income, net – affiliates

  4,225         4,670

Other income (2) (3)

  62         1,754
Adjusted EBITDA $ 84,819       $   74,908
 
(1)         Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
(2)         Includes the Partnership’s 51% share of depreciation, amortization and impairments; other expense; and other income attributable to Chipeta.
(3)         Excludes income of $0.4 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, related to a component of a gas processing agreement accounted for as a capital lease.
           
           
 
Western Gas Partners, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
                       
          Quarter Ended
          March 31,
thousands except per-unit amounts         2012      

2011 (1)

Revenues          

 

         
Gathering, processing and transportation of                      
natural gas and natural gas liquids         $ 79,155         $ 70,357  
Natural gas, natural gas liquids and                      
condensate sales           128,486           105,889  
Equity income and other, net           4,601           4,596  
Total revenues           212,242           180,842  
Operating expenses                      
Cost of product           83,156           67,183  
Operation and maintenance           29,898           26,861  
General and administrative           9,924           7,862  
Property and other taxes           4,837           4,321  
Depreciation, amortization and impairments           26,586           23,643  
Total operating expenses           154,401           129,870  
Operating income           57,841           50,972  
Interest income, net – affiliates           4,225           4,670  
Interest expense           (9,581 )         (6,111 )
Other income (expense), net           458           2,152  
Income before income taxes           52,943           51,683  
Income tax expense           537           4,832  
Net income           52,406           46,851  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests           4,243           2,954  
Net income attributable to                      
Western Gas Partners, LP         $ 48,163         $ 43,897  
Limited partners’ interest in net income:                      
Net income attributable to                      
Western Gas Partners, LP         $ 48,163         $ 43,897  
Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Parent          

          (8,913 )
General partner interest in net (income) loss           (4,339 )         (1,448 )
Limited partners’ interest in net income         $ 43,824         $ 33,536  
                       
Net income per unit – basic and diluted                      
Common units         $ 0.48         $ 0.43  

Subordinated units (2)

        $

        $ 0.41  
Weighted average units outstanding – basic and diluted                      
Common units           90,690           52,145  

Subordinated units (2)

         

          26,536  
 
(1)         Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
(2)         All subordinated units were converted to common units on a one-for-one basis on August 15, 2011.
           
           
 
Western Gas Partners, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
                       
          March 31,       December 31,
thousands except number of units         2012      

2011 (1)

Current assets         $ 66,666       $ 256,448
Note receivable – Anadarko           260,000         260,000
Net property, plant and equipment           2,126,201         2,052,224
Other assets           267,334         268,954
Total assets         $ 2,720,201       $ 2,837,626
                       
Current liabilities         $ 122,244       $ 76,596
Long-term debt           948,296         669,178
Asset retirement obligations and other           69,638         174,546
Total liabilities         $ 1,140,178       $ 920,320
                       
Equity and partners’ capital                      
Common units (90,773,782 and 90,140,999 units issued and outstanding at                      
March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively)         $ 1,416,896       $ 1,495,253
General partner units (1,852,527 and 1,839,613 units issued and outstanding at                      
March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively)           33,456         31,729
Parent net investment          

        269,600
Noncontrolling interests           129,671         120,724
Total liabilities, equity and partners’ capital         $ 2,720,201       $ 2,837,626
 
(1)         Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
           
           
 
Western Gas Partners, LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
                       
          Quarter Ended
          March 31,
thousands         2012      

2011 (1)

Cash flows from operating activities                      
Net income         $ 52,406         $ 46,851  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                      
Depreciation, amortization and impairments           26,586           23,643  
Change in other items, net           15,574           1,476  
Net cash provided by operating activities         $ 94,566         $ 71,970  
                       
Cash flows from investing activities                      
Capital expenditures         $ (61,071 )       $ (21,010 )
Acquisitions from affiliates           (463,232 )        

 
Acquisitions from third parties          

          (303,602 )
Investments in equity affiliates          

          (93 )
Proceeds from sale of assets to affiliates          

          153  
Net cash used in investing activities         $ (524,303 )       $ (324,552 )
                       
Cash flows from financing activities                      
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs         $ 319,000         $ 556,340  
Repayments of debt           (40,000 )         (389,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of common and general partner units,                      
net of offering expenses          

          132,796  
Distributions to unitholders           (43,027 )         (30,564 )
Contributions from noncontrolling interest owners           9,849           960  
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners           (5,145 )         (4,364 )
Net contributions from (distributions to) Parent           2,119           (9,819 )
Net cash provided by financing activities         $ 242,796         $ 256,349  
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents         $ (186,941 )       $ 3,767  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period           226,559           27,074  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period         $ 39,618         $ 30,841  
 
(1)         Financial information has been recast to include results attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
           
           
 
Western Gas Partners, LP
OPERATING STATISTICS
(Unaudited)
                       
          Quarter Ended
          March 31,
MMcf/d except per-unit amounts         2012      

2011 (1)

                       
Throughput                      

Gathering, treating and transportation (2)

          1,298         1,366
Processing (3)           1,150         851

Equity investment (4)

          236         187
Total throughput (5)           2,684         2,404
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests           270         218
Total throughput attributable to                      
Western Gas Partners, LP           2,414         2,186
Gross margin per Mcf attributable to                      
Western Gas Partners, LP (6)         $ 0.56       $ 0.55
 
(1)         Throughput has been recast to include volumes attributable to the Bison and MGR assets.
(2)         Excludes average NGL pipeline volumes from the Chipeta assets of 27 MBbls/d and 22 MBbls/d for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(3)         Includes 100% of Chipeta, Granger, Hilight and Red Desert system volumes, and 50% of Newcastle system volumes for all periods presented, as well as throughput beginning March 2011 attributable to the Platte Valley system.
(4)         Represents the Partnership’s 14.81% share of Fort Union and 22% share of Rendezvous gross volumes and excludes 5 MBbls/d and 3 MBbls/d of oil pipeline volumes for quarter ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, representing the Partnership’s 10% share of average White Cliffs pipeline volumes.
(5)         Includes affiliate, third-party and equity-investment volumes.
(6)         Average for period. Calculated as gross margin, excluding the noncontrolling interest owners’ proportionate share of revenues and cost of product, divided by total throughput attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP. Calculation includes income attributable to the Partnership’s investments in Fort Union, White Cliffs and Rendezvous and volumes attributable to the Partnership’s investments in Fort Union and Rendezvous.
 

Source: Western Gas Partners, LP

Western Gas Partners, LP

Benjamin Fink, CFA

SVP, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

[email protected]

832.636.6010

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