Western Refining Logistics, LP Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results


  • Net income of $14.8 million; EBITDA of $27.7 million, up 12.1% from Q4 2014
  • Increased quarterly distribution to $0.3925 per unit, an 18% increase vs Q4 2014
  • Completed the acquisition of the 375-mile TexNew Mex pipeline in October

EL PASO, Texas, Feb. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Western Refining Logistics, LP (NYSE:WNRL), reported fourth quarter 2015 net income attributable to limited partners of $14.8 million, or $0.30 per common limited partner unit, which compares to $18.8 million and $0.40 respectively in the fourth quarter  2014. Fourth quarter 2015 EBITDA was $27.7 million and distributable cash flow was $20.8 million; this compares to $24.7 million and $21.3 million respectively for the fourth quarter 2014.

“WNRL has seen tremendous growth in its second full year of operations,” said WNRL Chief Executive Officer and President Jeff Stevens.  “In 2015, we successfully completed the acquisition of Western Refining's (NYSE:WNR) 375-mile TexNew Mex crude oil pipeline and have experienced strong mainline volumes as a result. We've increased throughput on the existing Delaware Basin system and connected additional production to our pipeline systems. Our wholesale business performed well, with growth in fuel volumes and improved margins.”

On February 1, 2016, the board of directors declared a quarterly cash distribution for the fourth quarter 2015 of $0.3925 per unit, or $1.57 per unit on an annualized basis. This distribution represents a 2.6% increase over the third quarter distribution of $0.3825 per unit, and an 18.0% increase over the fourth quarter 2014 distribution.

Stevens continued, “While the energy industry has been impacted by falling and volatile crude oil prices, we continue to be well-positioned to succeed in this market environment. WNRL is a primarily fee-based business with an advantaged asset base, strong sponsor, and quality counterparties. Our organic growth and drop-down opportunities will allow us to continue to grow distributions, while maintaining a strong balance sheet.”

Conference Call Information

On Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. ET, WNRL will hold a webcast and conference call to discuss the reported results and provide an update on partnership operations. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Western Refining Logistics' website, www.wnrl.com. The call can also be heard by dialing (866) 410-4134 or (281) 241-4659, pass code: 4486397. The audio replay will be available two hours after the end of the call through March 10, 2016 by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, pass code: 4486397.

About Western Refining Logistics, LP

Western Refining Logistics, LP is principally a fee-based, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE:WNR) to own, operate, develop and acquire terminals, storage tanks, pipelines and other logistics assets related to the terminalling, transportation and storage of crude oil and refined products. Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, Western Refining Logistics, LP's assets include approximately 685 miles of pipelines, approximately 8.2 million barrels of active storage capacity, distribution of wholesale petroleum products and crude oil trucking.

More information about Western Refining Logistics is available at www.wnrl.com.  

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to our financial information presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), management utilizes non-GAAP measures to facilitate comparisons of past performance. This press release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP measures Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Distributable Cash Flow. We believe certain investors and financial analysts use EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow to evaluate WNRL’s financial performance between periods and to compare WNRL's performance to certain competitors. We believe certain investors and financial analysts use Distributable Cash Flow to determine the amount of cash generated from the partnership's operations and available for distribution to its unitholders. These additional financial measures are reconciled from the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP and should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, financial information that we report in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect WNRL’s current expectation regarding future events, results or outcomes. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements related to, among other things: growth of WNRL’s distributions to its unitholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet; organic growth and asset acquisition opportunities with Western and their ability to allow WNRL to continue to grow while maintaining a strong balance sheet; crude oil pricing environment; and the positioning of WNRL. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in WNRL’s business. These expectations may or may not be realized and some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. In addition, WNRL’s business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control, which could result in WNRL’s expectations not being realized, or otherwise materially affect WNRL’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Additional information relating to the uncertainties affecting WNRL’s business is contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission to which you are referred. The forward-looking statements are only as of the date made. Except as required by law, WNRL does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Results of Operations

The following tables set forth WNRL's summary historical financial and operating data for the periods indicated below:

 Three Months Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (In thousands, except per unit data)
Revenues:       
Fee based:       
Affiliate$52,381  $47,329  $203,435  $176,372 
Third-party682  674  2,771  2,718 
Sales based:       
Affiliate126,693  174,440  582,888  835,203 
Third-party396,141  528,779  1,810,773  2,487,595 
Total revenues575,897  751,222  2,599,867  3,501,888 
Operating costs and expenses:       
Cost of products sold:       
Affiliate124,177  210,988  573,264  871,751 
Third-party376,676  472,146  1,734,873  2,373,168 
Operating and maintenance expenses39,472  34,980  154,267  143,702 
Selling, general and administrative expenses6,288  5,286  24,116  22,628 
Loss (gain) and impairments on disposal of assets, net(21) 173  (278) 157 
Depreciation and amortization7,549  5,275  26,912  20,187 
Total operating costs and expenses554,141  728,848  2,513,154  3,431,593 
Operating income21,756  22,374  86,713  70,295 
Other income (expense):       
Interest income      4 
Interest expense and other financing costs(6,691) (1,286) (23,107) (2,374)
Other, net15  20  66  130 
Net income before income taxes15,080  21,108  63,672  68,055 
Provision for income taxes307  (120) (47) (459)
Net income15,387  20,988  63,625  67,596 
Less net income attributable to General Partner545  2,169  1,052  14,604 
Net income attributable to limited partners$14,842  $18,819  $62,573  $52,992 
        
Net income per limited partner unit:       
Common - basic$0.30  $0.40  $1.31  $1.16 
Common - diluted0.30  0.40  1.30  1.15 
Subordinated - basic and diluted0.29  0.40  1.30  1.15 
        
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding:       
Common - basic24,314  23,795  24,084  23,059 
Common - diluted24,321  23,861  24,099  23,107 
Subordinated - basic and diluted22,811  22,811  22,811  22,811 


 Three Months Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (In thousands)
Cash Flow Data       
Net cash provided by (used in):       
Operating activities$24,368  $50,870  $95,804  $114,800 
Investing activities(9,664) (36,458) (62,489) (79,066)
Financing activities(41,471) (39,226) (43,008) (65,440)
Capital expenditures9,717  36,544  62,995  79,172 
Other Data       
EBITDA (1)$27,703  $24,703  $106,662  $70,330 
Distributable cash flow (1)20,774  21,294  78,631  66,127 
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period)       
Cash and cash equivalents    $44,605  $54,298 
Property, plant and equipment, net    321,251  291,650 
Total assets    500,951  489,782 
Total debt    437,467  267,016 
Total liabilities    569,374  410,565 
Division equity      106,311 
Partners' capital    (68,423) (27,094)
Total liabilities, division equity and partners' capital    500,951  489,782 

(1) We define EBITDA as earnings before interest expense and other financing costs, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. We define Distributable Cash Flow as EBITDA plus the change in deferred revenues, less debt interest accruals, income taxes paid, maintenance capital expenditures and distributions declared on our TexNew Mex units. 

EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

  • EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
  • EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
  • EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and
  • EBITDA, as we calculate it, may differ from the EBITDA calculations of our affiliates or other companies in our industry, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow are used as supplemental financial measures by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors and commercial banks, to assess: 

  • our operating performance as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy industry, without regard to financial methods, historical cost basis or capital structure; 
  • the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash to make distributions to our unitholders; 
  • our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and 
  • the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities. 

Distributable Cash Flow is also a quantitative standard used by the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships because the value of a partnership unit is, in part, measured by its yield. Yield is based on the amount of cash distributions a partnership can pay to a unitholder.  

We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow is net income attributable to limited partners. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income attributable to limited partners. These non-GAAP measures may vary from those of other companies. As a result, EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. 

The calculation of EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow includes the results of operations for the period subsequent to the Offering, the results of operations for the wholesale segment for the period subsequent to the Wholesale Acquisition and the results of the TexNew Mex Pipeline System subsequent to the TexNew Mex Pipeline Acquisition.

The reconciliation of Distributable Cash Flow to EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2015, includes interest accruals related to the 2023 WNRL Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Facility. Prior to 2015, we calculated Distributable Cash Flows using cash interest paid. The reconciliation also includes cash distributions declared on our TexNew Mex units beginning as of the fourth quarter of 2015 following the  TexNew Mex Pipeline Acquisition.

The following table reconciles net income attributable to limited partners to EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow for the periods presented:

 Three Months Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (In thousands)
Net income attributable to limited partners$14,842  $18,819  $62,573  $52,992 
Interest expense and other financing costs6,691  1,286  23,107  2,359 
Provision for income taxes(307) 120  47  459 
Depreciation and amortization6,477  4,478  20,935  14,520 
EBITDA27,703  24,703  106,662  70,330 
        
Change in deferred revenues1,122  768  3,351  4,190 
Interest expense(6,345) (1,154) (21,836) (1,837)
Income taxes paid281    (456) (1)
Maintenance capital expenditures(1,677) (3,023) (9,562) (6,555)
Distributions on TexNew Mex Units(310)   (310)  
Other    782   
Distributable cash flow$20,774  $21,294  $78,631  $66,127 


Logistics

 Three Months Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (In thousands, except key operating statistics)
Revenues:       
Fee based revenues:       
Affiliate$43,813  $36,692  $161,536  $137,986 
Third-party682  674  2,771  2,718 
Total revenues44,495  37,366  164,307  140,704 
Operating costs and expenses:       
Operating and maintenance expenses20,670  16,904  77,930  68,980 
General and administrative expenses739  590  2,907  2,359 
Loss and impairments on disposal of assets, net22  262  146  262 
Depreciation and amortization6,393  4,238  22,426  16,294 
Total operating costs and expenses27,824  21,994  103,409  87,895 
Operating income$16,671  $15,372  $60,898  $52,809 
Key Operating Statistics       
Pipeline and gathering (bpd) (1):       
Mainline movements:       
Permian/Delaware Basin system52,068  31,447  47,368  24,644 
TexNew Mex system14,566    12,302   
Four Corners system60,115  44,808  56,079  45,232 
Gathering (truck offloading) (bpd):       
Permian/Delaware Basin system21,865  24,050  23,617  24,166 
Four Corners system13,589  12,627  13,438  11,550 
Pipeline Gathering and Injection system:       
Permian/Delaware Basin system7,367  1,519  5,861  1,525 
Four Corners system26,360  17,333  24,490  19,943 
Tank storage capacity (bbls) (2)783,879  619,706  669,356  598,057 
Terminalling, transportation and storage:       
Shipments into and out of storage (bpd) (includes asphalt)377,698  387,633  391,842  381,371 
Terminal storage capacity (bbls) (2)7,397,408  7,359,066  7,447,391  7,356,348 

(1) Some barrels of crude oil in route to the Gallup refinery and Permian/Delaware Basin are transported on more than one of our mainlines. Mainline movements for the Four Corners and Delaware Basin systems include each barrel transported on each mainline. During the second quarter, we began shipping crude oil from the Four Corners system, through the TexNew Mex Pipeline System, to the Permian/Delaware system. Additional activity resulting from the opening of the TexNew Mex Pipeline System caused us to re-evaluate our method for measuring average Four Corners mainline movements. As such, we have adjusted our 2014 average daily activity on the Four Corners system for consistency with our 2015 method. 

(2) Storage shell capacities represent weighted-average capacities for the periods indicated.

Wholesale

 Three Months Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (In thousands, except key operating statistics)
Revenues:       
Fee based revenues (1):       
Affiliate$8,568  $10,637  $41,899  $38,386 
Sales based revenues (1):       
Affiliate126,693  174,440  582,888  835,203 
Third party396,141  528,779  1,810,773  2,487,595 
Total revenues531,402  713,856  2,435,560  3,361,184 
Operating costs and expenses:       
Cost of products sold:       
Affiliate124,177  210,988  573,264  871,751 
Third-party376,676  472,146  1,734,873  2,373,168 
Operating and maintenance expenses18,802  18,075  76,337  74,722 
Selling, general and administrative expenses2,150  1,193  8,865  9,521 
Gain and impairments on disposal of assets, net(43) (89) (424) (105)
Depreciation and amortization1,156  1,036  4,486  3,893 
Total operating costs and expenses522,918  703,349  2,397,401  3,332,950 
Operating income$8,484  $10,507  $38,159  $28,234 
Key Operating Statistics:       
Fuel gallons sold (in thousands)318,186  297,020  1,237,994  1,147,860 
Fuel gallons sold to retail (included in fuel gallons sold, above) (in thousands)78,780  73,395  314,604  268,148 
Fuel margin per gallon (2)$0.026  $0.024  $0.030  $0.022 
Lubricant gallons sold (in thousands)2,728  2,919  11,697  12,082 
Lubricant margin per gallon (3)$0.77  $0.83  $0.73  $0.86 
Crude oil trucking volume (bpd)39,675  41,369  45,337  36,314 
Average crude oil revenue per barrel$2.35  $2.79  $2.53  $2.90 

(1) All wholesale fee based revenues are generated through fees charged to Western's refining segment for truck transportation and delivery of crude oil. Affiliate and third-party sales based revenues result from sales of refined products to Western and third-party customers at a delivered price that includes charges for product transportation. 

(2) Fuel margin per gallon is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between fuel sales, net of transportation charges, and cost of fuel sales for our wholesale segment by the number of gallons sold. Fuel margin per gallon is a measure frequently used in the petroleum products wholesale industry to measure operating results related to fuel sales.

(3) Lubricant margin per gallon is a measurement calculated by dividing the difference between lubricant sales, net of transportation charges, and lubricant cost of products sold by the number of gallons sold. Lubricant margin is a measure frequently used in the petroleum products wholesale industry to measure operating results related to lubricant sales.


            

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