Natural Resource Partners L.P. Reports First Quarter Results

HOUSTON, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --  Natural Resource Partners L.P. NRP today reported first quarter 2014 revenues of $80.3 million and net income per unit of $0.29 compared to $94.3 million in revenues and net income per unit of $0.43 reported for first quarter 2013.  Distributable cash flow was $38.9 million in the first quarter 2014 compared to $44.5 million for 2013.  NRP also reported EBITDA of $71.7 million for first quarter 2014 versus $80.6 million for first quarter 2013.  Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures of distributable cash flow and EBITDA are included in the tables at the end of this release.

"Our operating performance in the first quarter reflects the continued challenges our lessees are facing in the coal business, offset to some degree by our recent investments in soda ash and oil and gas," said Nick Carter, President and Chief Operating Officer.  "Our diversification efforts continue to bear fruit, and with our current liquidity we are well-positioned to continue our growth, maintain sufficient coverage of our distribution and benefit from a recovery in the coal markets."

First Quarter 2014 compared to First Quarter 2013

Revenues and other income
Total revenues and other income for the first quarter 2014 declined 15% to $80.3 million from the same period of 2013 due to a 33% decrease in coal related revenues, offset by a 32% increase in aggregates and industrial minerals related revenue and  an approximately five times increase in oil and gas revenues.  Coal royalty revenues decreased 20% to $43.5 million, due to both decreases in coal production volumes by NRP's lessees (11%) and decreases in average coal royalty revenue per ton (10%) from the first quarter 2013. Production decreases from Appalachia were partially offset by increases in all the other basins. Average coal royalty revenue per ton declined in all basins except one, as the markets for both metallurgical coal and steam coal were weaker than in the first quarter of 2013.  Metallurgical coal represented 28% of coal production and 39% of coal royalty revenues for the first quarter of 2014.  Other coal related revenues, which consists of override revenue, transportation and processing fees, minimums recognized as revenue, wheelage, and gain on reserve swaps, decreased $14.6 million.  The decrease was mainly attributable to a reserve swap of $8.1 million recorded in the first quarter of 2013, a $3.0 million decrease in minimums recognized as revenue and a $2.5 million decrease in override revenues. 

NRP benefitted from its diversification into other asset classes, as increases were experienced in aggregates and industrial minerals as well as oil and gas.  Revenues from aggregates and industrial minerals related revenue increased $3.2 million mainly due to an increase of $2.7 million attributable to the equity investment in OCI Wyoming. This increase was due to the first quarter of 2014 reflecting a full quarter of revenues, as well as increased income generated by OCI Wyoming.  In addition, oil and gas revenues increased $8.3 million mainly due to the two acquisitions of non-operated working interests in the third and fourth quarters of 2013, as well as increased development and improved pricing on NRP's oil and gas royalty properties.

Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses decreased by 12% mainly due to lower general and administrative expense, partially offset by lease operating expenses associated with the non-operated working interest oil and gas properties that NRP acquired in the second half of 2013.  

Net Income
Net income attributable to the limited partners and net income per unit decreased 32% and 33% respectively in the first quarter 2014 compared to the 2013 period. In addition to lower total revenues and other income, a small portion of the decrease in net income per unit was due to an increase in the number of units outstanding in 2014 versus the same period in 2013. 

Distributable Cash Flow
Distributable cash flow decreased by 12% to $38.9 million in the first quarter 2014, due to the reduced revenues partially offset by an additional $11.4 million in distributions received in the first quarter 2014 related to NRP's investment in OCI Wyoming.

EBITDA
EBITDA declined 11% in the first quarter 2014 to $71.7 million compared to the $80.6 million generated in the same period 2013.  The decrease is mainly related to decreased coal related revenues.  NRP realized an EBITDA margin of 89% in the first quarter of 2014 versus 85% in the first quarter of 2013. 

First Quarter 2014 compared to Fourth Quarter 2013

Revenues and other income
Total revenues and other income for the first quarter decreased $14.4 million, or 15%, to $80.3 million from the fourth quarter 2013 mainly due to a decrease of $14.7 million in coal related revenue and a $2.2 million decrease in revenues from our equity investment in OCI Wyoming, offset by an increase in oil and gas revenues.  The largest decrease in coal related revenues resulted from a $10.4 million right-of-way condemnation payment received in the fourth quarter.  NRP's lessees increased production in the first quarter 2014 by 10% to 12.3 million tons, but average coal royalty revenue per ton decreased by 17% to $3.55 per ton.  The majority of the production increase occurred on one property in Northern Appalachia that has an extremely low royalty rate due to the age of the lease.  Excluding the increase from that one property the average coal royalty revenue per ton would have been $3.94.

Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were virtually flat with the fourth quarter even though there were lower general and administrative expenses that were offset by additional lease operating expenses and property, franchise and other taxes. 

Net Income
Net income to the limited partners and net income per unit decreased 31% in the fourth quarter from the previous quarter mainly due to lower revenues.

Distributable Cash Flow
Distributable cash flow decreased $30.7 million in the first quarter from the fourth quarter due to in part to decreased revenues, and the payment of interest expense and incentive compensation during the first quarter of 2014.  In addition, NRP received $10.4 million in right-of-way condemnation proceeds in the fourth quarter,

EBITDA
EBITDA for the first quarter 2014 decreased $15.4 million to $71.7 million from the $87.1 million generated in the fourth quarter 2013.  EBITDA margin for the first quarter was 89% versus 92% in the fourth quarter 2013.

Market Outlook

The steam and metallurgical coal markets are moving in different directions at this time. The seaborne metallurgical market is significantly oversupplied with U.S. producers also facing a disadvantage due to the weak Australian dollar and cheaper delivered costs from Australian producers. These factors have led to significantly lower realizations for metallurgical coal versus this time last year.  On the other hand the steam coal stockpiles at domestic utilities are at multi-year lows, which combined with the low level of natural gas in storage, bodes well for the near term demand for thermal coal from all basins within the United States. "To date we have not seen a significant thermal coal price increase but we expect that the market will improve in 2014," said Carter.  "Contrary to that, we expect that the metallurgical market could see further weakness and it is likely that we will see additional reductions in metallurgical production on our properties unless prices improve."

The natural gas and crude oil markets in the first quarter have remained robust.  Natural gas prices displayed some volatility due to weather and larger than normal storage withdrawals, but have resulted in a net price increase.  Oil markets have continued a strong growth trajectory fueled by healthy prices and production growth in the primary oil producing plays such as the Bakken/Three Forks.  NRP anticipates its oil and natural gas assets will see continued development and production growth during 2014 as long as the commodities markets remain strong.

Distributions

On April 22, 2014 the Board of Directors of NRP's general partner declared a quarterly distribution of $0.35 per unit for the first quarter 2014.  The distribution will be payable on May 14, 2014 to unitholders of record on May 5, 2014.

Acquisitions and Liquidity

At March 31, 2014, NRP's liquidity was approximately $349 million, consisting of $55 million in cash and $294 million available under its credit facilities. "NRP's current liquidity allows the continuation of our current acquisition strategy to further diversify our income stream," said Dwight Dunlap, Chief Financial Officer.

NRP's cash balance and distributable cash flow are typically lower during the first quarter of each year due to significant cash payments due during the quarter including semi-annual interest payments and annual long-term incentive plan payments.  During the first quarter, NRP permanently reduced its debt by $39.2 million.  Also, during the quarter NRP issued 343,335 units for gross proceeds of $5.6 million, excluding the general partner contribution to maintain its 2% interest in the partnership, under its "at-the-market" offering program.

Company Profile

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, TX, with its operations headquarters in Huntington, WV.  NRP is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing mineral reserve properties.  NRP primarily owns coal, aggregate and oil and gas reserves across the United States that generate royalty income for the partnership.  In addition, NRP owns an equity investment in OCI Wyoming, a trona/soda ash operation, and owns non-operated working interests in oil and gas properties.

For additional information, please contact Kathy H. Roberts at 713-751-7555 or kroberts@nrplp.com.  Further information about NRP is available on the partnership's website at http://www.nrplp.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

"Distributable cash flow" represents cash flow from operations  plus any proceeds from the sale of assets plus the return on direct financing lease and contractual overrides shown in the cash flows from investing activities section of the cash flow statement.  Distributable cash flow is a "non-GAAP financial measure" that is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under GAAP. Distributable cash flow is a significant liquidity metric that is an indicator of NRP's ability to make quarterly cash distributions to its partners. Distributable cash flow is also the quantitative standard used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships. Distributable cash flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities. A reconciliation of distributable cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities is included in the tables attached to this release.  Distributable cash flow may not be calculated the same for NRP as other companies.

"EBITDA" is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and asset impairment. "EBITDA," as used and defined by us, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies and is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income or loss, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA provides no information regarding a company's capital structure, borrowings, interest costs, capital expenditures, and working capital movement or tax positions. EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use because those funds may be required for debt service, capital expenditures, working capital and other commitments and obligations. Our management team believes EBITDA is useful in evaluating our financial performance because this measure is widely used by analysts and investors for comparative purposes. NRP entered the high-yield bond market in 2013, and EBITDA is a financial measure widely used by investors in that market.  There are significant limitations to using EBITDA as a measure of performance, including the inability to analyze the effect of certain recurring and non-recurring items that materially affect our net income or loss, the lack of comparability of results of operations of different companies and the different methods of calculating EBITDA reported by different companies.

"EBITDA margin" represents NRP's EBITDA as a percentage of total revenues and other income.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the partnership.  These risks include, but are not limited to, decreases in demand for coal, oil and gas, and aggregates and industrial minerals, including trona/soda ash; changes in operating conditions and costs; production cuts by our lessees; commodity prices; unanticipated geologic problems; changes in the legislative or regulatory environment and other factors detailed in Natural Resource Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Natural Resource Partners L.P. has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

-Financial statements follow-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Natural Resource Partners L.P.