WES
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Western Gas Partners Announces Second-Quarter 2009 Results

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 11, 2009– Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) today announced second-quarter 2009 financial and operating results.

Net income available to limited partners for the second quarter of 2009 totaled $17.8 million, or$0.32 per limited partner unit (diluted). The Partnership’s second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) was$24.9 million and distributable cash flow(1) was $22.8 million, resulting in a coverage ratio of 1.30 times for the period.

“We reported strong performance during the second quarter, primarily as a result of stable throughput and continued progress on cost-reduction initiatives with respect to both operating expenses and capital expenditures,” said Western Gas Partners’ President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Gwin. “In addition, we continue to deliver upon our growth strategy, as evidenced by the recent closing of another acquisition from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: APC) and the recent increase in our quarterly distribution.”

Total throughput for the second quarter of 2009 averaged 1,060 MMcf/d, essentially flat compared to the prior quarter, and approximately 6 percent below the second quarter of 2008.

Capital expenditures totaled approximately $5.2 million during the second quarter of 2009. Of this amount, maintenance capital expenditures were approximately $4.5 million, or 18 percent of Adjusted EBITDA.

The Partnership previously declared a quarterly distribution of $0.31 per unit for the second quarter of 2009, payable on August 14, 2009 to unitholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2009, representing an approximately 3-percent increase over the prior quarter.

CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 9 A.M. CDT

The Partnership will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 12, at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time (10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) to discuss second-quarter results. The dial-in number for the call is 888.679.8038 and the participant code is 56695688. For complete instructions on how to participate in the conference call, or to access the live audio webcast and slide presentation, please visit www.westerngas.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the Web site for approximately two weeks following the conference call.

1 Please see the tables at the end of this release for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.

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

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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 obtain new sources of natural gas supplies; the effect of fluctuations in commodity prices and the demand for natural gas and related products; 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 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities 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 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 and Adjusted EBITDA provides information useful in assessing the Partnership’s financial condition and results of operations and that Distributable Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA are widely accepted financial indicators of a company’s ability to incur and service debt, fund capital expenditures and make distributions. Distributable Cash Flow and Adjusted EBITDA, 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 and Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in conjunction with net income and other performance measures, such as operating income or cash flow 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, maintenance capital expenditures and income taxes.

                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
    (in thousands)
Reconciliation of Net Income to Distributable Cash Flow                
                 
Net Income   $ 18,124   $ 15,579   $ 35,082   $ 30,700
Add:                
Distributions from equity investee     1,459     844     2,570     2,251
Non-cash share-based compensation expense     942     261     1,788     261

Interest expense, net – affiliates

(non-cash settled)

   

   

126

   

   

1,916

Income tax expense     55     4,168    

    12,635
Depreciation and amortization     8,752     8,204     17,373     15,986
Less:                
Equity income, net     1,985     1,959     3,535     2,301
Cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures     4,500     3,322     8,727     5,922
Other income     9     27     14     31
Income tax benefit    

   

    435    

                 
Distributable Cash Flow   $ 22,838   $ 23,874   $ 44,102   $ 55,495
                         

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures, continued

Adjusted EBITDA

The Partnership defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus distributions from equity investee, non-cash share-based compensation expense, interest expense, income tax expense and depreciation and impairment, less income from equity investment, interest income, income tax benefit and other income.

                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
    (in thousands)
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA                
                 
Net Income   $ 18,124   $ 15,579   $ 35,082   $ 30,700
Add:                
Distributions from equity investee     1,459     844     2,570     2,251

Non-cash share-based compensation expense

    942     261     1,788     261

Interest expense, net – affiliates

    1,786     166     3,571     1,955
Income tax expense     55     4,168    

    12,635
Depreciation and amortization     8,752     8,204     17,373     15,986
Less:                
Equity income, net     1,985     1,959     3,535     2,301
Interest income – affiliate     4,225     2,226     8,450     2,226
Other income     9     27     14     31
Income tax benefit    

   

 

  435    

                 
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 24,899   $ 25,010   $ 47,950   $ 59,230
 

Western Gas Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                       
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
    June 30,     June 30,
    2009     2008     2009     2008
    (in thousands except per-unit amounts)
Revenues                      
Gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas   $ 30,759     $ 31,045     $ 61,476       $ 62,350
Natural gas, natural gas liquids and condensate sales     16,431       54,551       34,410         102,485
Equity income and other     2,784       5,013       4,976         7,196
Total Revenues   $ 49,974     $ 90,609     $ 100,862       $ 172,031
                       
Operating Expenses                      
Cost of product   $ 9,489     $ 47,839     $ 22,017       $ 81,567
Operation and maintenance     10,371       12,397       19,607         23,343
General and administrative     3,860       2,792       8,583         4,752
Property and other taxes     1,771       1,717       3,528         3,350
Depreciation and amortization     8,752       8,204       17,373         15,986
Total Operating Expenses   $ 34,243     $ 72,949     $ 71,108       $ 128,998
                       
Operating Income   $ 15,731     $ 17,660     $ 29,754       $ 43,033
                       
Interest income (expense), net – affiliates     2,439       2,060       4,879         271
Other income, net     9       27       14         31
                       
Income Before Income Taxes   $ 18,179     $ 19,747     $ 34,647       $ 43,335
                       
Income tax expense (benefit)     55       4,168       (435 )       12,635
                       
Net Income   $ 18,124     $ 15,579     $ 35,082       $ 30,700
                       
Calculation of Limited Partner Interest in Net Income:                      
                       
Net income   $ 18,124     $ 8,249     $ 35,082       $ 8,249
Less general partner interest in net income     362       165       702         165
Limited partner interest in net income   $ 17,762     $ 8,084     $ 34,380       $ 8,084
                       

Net income per limited partner unit – basic and diluted

  $ 0.32     $ 0.15     $ 0.62       $ 0.15
                       

Limited partner units outstanding – basic and diluted

    55,645       53,103       55,637         53,103
 

Western Gas Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

           
    June 30,

2009

   

December 31,

2008

(in thousands)
           
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 39,858     $ 33,306
Other current assets     7,792       12,073
Note receivable – Anadarko     260,000       260,000
Net property, plant and equipment     510,975       517,815
Goodwill     14,436       14,436
Equity investment     19,412       18,183
Other assets     564       628
Total Assets   $ 853,037     $ 856,441
           
Accounts payable   $ 4,242     $ 5,544
Other current liabilities     10,396       10,797
Note payable – Anadarko     175,000       175,000
Other long-term liabilities     9,878       10,146
Total Liabilities   $ 199,516     $ 201,487
           

Common unit partner capital (29,124 and 29,093 units issued and

outstanding at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively)

  $ 366,135     $ 368,049

Subordinated unit partner capital (26,536 units issued and outstanding at

June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008)

    276,378       275,917

General partner capital (1,135 units issued and outstanding at

June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008)

    11,008       10,988
Total Partners’ Capital   $ 653,521     $ 654,954
Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital   $ 853,037     $ 856,441
     

Western Gas Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

     
    Six Months Ended June 30,
    2009   2008
    (in thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities    
Net income   $ 35,082     $ 30,700  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

           
Depreciation and amortization     17,373       15,986  
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)     (554 )     1,614  
Changes in assets and liabilities:            
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable     (582 )     2,211  
(Increase) decrease in natural gas imbalance receivable     1,733       (2,814 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and imbalance payable

   

(327

)

   

964

 
Change in other items, net     (124 )     (2,031 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 52,601     $ 46,630  
     
Cash Flows from Investing Activities            
Loan to Anadarko   $     $ (260,000 )
Capital expenditures     (11,718 )     (14,376 )
Investment in equity affiliate     (263 )     (5,654 )
Net cash used in investing activities   $ (11,981 )   $ (280,030 )
     
Cash Flows from Financing Activities            
Proceeds from issuance of common units   $     $ 315,346  
Reimbursement of capital expenditures to Anadarko           (45,346 )
Distributions to unitholders     (34,068 )      
Net distributions to Anadarko           (10,812 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   $ (34,068 )   $ 259,188  
     
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents     6,552       25,788  
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period     33,306        
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period   $ 39,858     $ 25,788  
         

Western Gas Partners, LP

OPERATING STATISTICS

         
  Three Months Ended

June 30,

    Six Months Ended

June 30,

  2009   2008     2009   2008
                         
Throughput (MMcf/d)                        
Gathering and transportation     910       981         911       968
Processing     30       29         29       29
Equity investment (1)     120       112         122       107
Total throughput     1,060       1,122         1,062       1,104
                         
Gross margin per Mcf (2)   $ 0.42     $ 0.42       $ 0.41     $ 0.45
(1)   Represents the Partnership’s proportionate share of volumes attributable to its 14.81% interest in Fort Union.
(2)   Average for period. Calculated as gross margin (total revenues less cost of product) divided by total throughput.

 

 

Source: Western Gas Partners, LP

Western Gas Partners, LP

Chris Campbell, CFA, 832-636-6012

[email protected]

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