Takes Actions to Strengthen Balance Sheet and Improve Distribution Coverage
Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results
HOUSTON, Nov. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Buckeye Partners, L.P. ("Buckeye") (NYSE:BPL) announced today that as a result of its strategic review it is taking several actions designed to: (1) maintain Buckeye's investment grade credit rating by reducing leverage; (2) provide increased financial flexibility, eliminating the need for Buckeye to access the public equity markets to fund annual growth capital; and (3) reallocate capital to the higher return growth opportunities across our remaining assets. The actions consist of:
- The execution of a definitive agreement to sell its entire equity interest in VTTI B.V. ("VTTI") for cash proceeds of $975 million.
- The execution of a definitive agreement to sell a package of non-integrated domestic pipeline and terminal assets (collectively, the "Asset Package") for cash proceeds of $450 million.
- The reduction of Buckeye's quarterly cash distribution to $0.75 per unit or $3.00 per unit on an annual basis.
The sale of both Buckeye's VTTI equity interest and the Asset Package are expected to close by year end, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. The Asset Package includes: a jet fuel pipeline from Port Everglades, Florida to the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Florida airports; pipelines and terminal facilities serving the Reno, Nevada; San Diego, California and Memphis, Tennessee airports; and refined petroleum products terminals in Sacramento and Stockton, California.
"I am confident that the actions taken as a result of our strategic review will not only strengthen our balance sheet and solidify our investment grade rating but also meaningfully improve distribution coverage," stated Clark C. Smith, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are now well positioned to fund our annual growth capital spend without accessing the public equity markets. In addition, the sales of our interest in VTTI and the domestic Asset Package allow us to reallocate available growth capital to higher return initiatives across our domestic assets, particularly the opportunities we are actively pursuing along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Our improved financial flexibility along with our remaining portfolio of pipeline and terminal assets and attractive growth opportunities are expected to provide solid long-term returns for our unitholders through all business cycles."
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results. Buckeye also announced today its financial results for the third quarter of 2018. Buckeye reported a net loss attributable to Buckeye's unitholders for the third quarter of 2018 of $745.8 million compared to net income attributable to Buckeye's unitholders for the third quarter of 2017 of $116.2 million. The third quarter of 2018 was negatively impacted by a $537.0 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge, related primarily to our Caribbean assets, following an interim assessment of the recoverability of goodwill that was initiated in conjunction with the completion of the strategic review. In addition, the results reflect a $300.3 million non-cash loss related to the anticipated sale of our equity investment in VTTI. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for the third quarter of 2018 was $253.7 million compared to $277.3 million for the third quarter of 2017.
The net loss attributable to Buckeye's unitholders was $4.86 per diluted unit for the third quarter of 2018 compared to net income attributable to Buckeye's unitholders of $0.81 per diluted unit for the third quarter of 2017. The diluted weighted average number of units outstanding in the third quarter of 2018 was 153.5 million compared to 142.8 million in the third quarter of 2017.
Distributable cash flow (as defined below) for the third quarter of 2018 was $156.9 million compared to $181.9 million for the third quarter of 2017. Buckeye also reported distribution coverage of 1.35 times for the third quarter of 2018.
Intrepid Partners, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as financial advisors to Buckeye in connection with the strategic review and the sale of its interest in VTTI and the Asset Package. In addition, Intrepid Partners, LLC provided a fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP LLC, the general partner of Buckeye, in connection with the VTTI transaction.
About Buckeye Partners, L.P.
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Contact:
Kevin J. Goodwin
Vice President & Treasurer
[email protected]
(800) 422-2825
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