Genesis Energy, L.P. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Genesis Energy, L.P. Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Genesis Energy, L.P. (NYS: GEL) today announced its third quarter results. Results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 included the following items:

• For the third quarter of 2012, we generated a record total Available Cash before Reserves of $45.9 million, an increase of $8.8 million, or 23.8%, over the third quarter of 2011. Adjusted EBITDA increased $11.4 million to $56.6 million, or 25%, over the prior year period. Available Cash before Reserves and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures that are defined and reconciled later in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income.

• We recorded net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 of $31.2 million, or $0.39 per unit, compared to $19.1 million, or $0.27 per unit, for the same period in 2011. Net income for the 2012 quarter included a non-cash $8.2 million benefit from the one-time reversal of certain tax provisions. Without this benefit, net income would have been $23 million, representing an increase of $3.9 million over the year earlier quarter.

• On November 14, 2012, we will pay a total quarterly distribution of $38.4 million attributable to our financial and operational results for the third quarter of 2012, based on our quarterly declared distribution of $0.4725 per unit. Our Available Cash before Reserves provided 1.20 times coverage for this quarterly distribution.

Grant Sims, CEO of Genesis Energy, said, "We are pleased to yet again announce a record quarter of Available Cash before Reserves for the partnership. Volume growth, whether on our pipelines, in our trucks or barges, or related to our refinery service operations, is a critical operating metric, and we continue to demonstrate the relative insensitivity of our financial results to volatile (absolute or relative) commodity price levels.

Our measured, stable growth allowed us to increase distributions to unitholders for the twenty-ninth consecutive quarter, twenty-four of which have been 10% or greater, and never less than 8.7%, over the year earlier quarter. None of this would have been possible without the hard work of our dedicated employees, and their, as well as management's, commitment to safe, reliable and responsible operations.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we facilitated the orderly exit of several large unitholders. I believe the important message in those transactions is that our largest unitholders and management actually significantly increased their ownership in the partnership.

As we look forward to the fourth quarter and into 2013, we would expect to see continuing sequential quarterly growth as we will benefit from the end to the extended maintenance at several offshore fields dedicated to our pipeline transportation segment, the return of development drilling at those dedicated fields, the contribution from our previously announced projects at Walnut Hill, in Texas City, and Natchez, as well as the continuing integration of our substantially expanded asset footprint, service capabilities and customer relationships. Consequently, we believe we are well positioned to achieve our goals of continuing to deliver double-digit growth in distributions, increasing our coverage ratio and maintaining a better than investment grade leverage ratio, all without ever losing sight of our commitment to safe, reliable and responsible operations."

Financial Results

Available Cash before Reserves (a non-GAAP measure) increased to $45.9 million in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to $37 million for the same period in 2011. The primary components impacting Available Cash before Reserves are Segment Margin, corporate general and administrative expenses (excluding non-cash charges), interest expense and maintenance capital expenditures. Variances from the third quarter of 2011 in these components are explained as follows:

Segment Margin

Segment Margin is defined and reconciled later in this press release to income before income taxes. During the third quarter of 2012 (or "2012 Quarter"), Segment Margin increased $13 million over the third quarter of 2011 (or "2011 Quarter") primarily reflecting the impact of acquisitions and higher volumes in our pipeline transportation and supply and logistics segments.

Segment results for the third quarters of 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

(1) We define Segment Margin as revenues less product costs, operating expenses (excluding non-cash charges, such as depreciation and amortization), and segment general and administrative expenses, plus our equity in distributable cash generated by our equity investees. In addition, our Segment Margin definition excludes the non-cash effects of our stock appreciation rights plan and includes the non-income portion of payments received under direct financing leases. A reconciliation of Segment Margin to income before income taxes is presented for periods presented in the table at the end of this release.

Pipeline transportation Segment Margin increased $7.3 million, or 45%, between the third quarter periods. The contribution from our interests in the Gulf of Mexico pipelines that we acquired in 2012 and higher crude oil tariff revenues were the primary factors increasing Segment Margin. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the contribution to Segment Margin from CHOPS as a result of ongoing improvements being made by producers at several connected production fields. Improvements at those fields were substantially completed late in the 2012 Quarter.

Our refinery services Segment Margin increased $1 million, or 6%, between the quarters due to increased NaHS sales volumes and operating efficiencies realized at several of our sour gas processing facilities as well as our favorable management of the acquisition and utilization of caustic soda in our, and our customers', operations and our logistics operations.

Supply and logistics Segment Margin increased $4.7 million, or 25%, between the quarters. The primary factors for Segment Margin increasing quarter-over-quarter were the contribution of the black oil barge transportation assets that we acquired in August 2011 and February 2012 and increased volumes handled by our expanded trucking and barge fleets. Our total volumes of crude oil and refined products increased 30% as a result of these expansions.

Other Components of Available Cash

Corporate general and administrative expenses included in the calculation of Available Cash before Reserves increased by $1.6 million primarily due to increased salaries and benefits associated with additional personnel to support our growth and increased equity compensation expense driven by a higher common unit price. Interest costs increased $2.2 million from the 2011 Quarter primarily as a result of increased borrowings for acquisitions and other growth projects. Capitalized interest costs of $1.3 million attributable to our growth capital expenditures and investments in the SEKCO pipeline joint venture partially offset the increase in interest expense, resulting in a net increase in interest expense of $0.9 million.

Several adjustments to net income are required to calculate Available Cash before Reserves.

The calculation of Available Cash before Reserves for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:

Other Components of Net Income

In the 2012 Quarter, we recorded net income of $31.2 million compared to $19.1 million for the third quarter of 2011. In addition to the factors impacting Available Cash before Reserves, income tax expense decreased $8.7 million between the quarterly periods primarily due to the reversal of uncertain tax positions as a result of tax audit settlements and the expiration of statutes of limitations. Our derivative positions resulted in a $0.1 million non-cash unrealized gain in the 2012 Quarter compared to a $4.4 million non-cash unrealized gain in the 2011 Quarter. In the 2012 Quarter, we recorded a non-cash expense related to certain equity-based compensation plans of $2 million. In the 2011 Quarter, we recorded a non-cash benefit of $0.9 million. Fluctuations in the market price of our common units were the reasons for the difference.

Distributions

We have increased our quarterly distribution rate for twenty-nine consecutive quarters. During that period, twenty-four of those quarterly increases have been 10% or greater year-over-year. Over the last four quarters, we have increased the distribution rate on our common units by a total of $0.045 per unit, or 10.5%. Distributions paid over the last four quarters, and the distribution to be paid on November 14, 2012 for the third quarter of 2012, are as follows:

Earnings Conference Call

We will broadcast our Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. Central time. This call can be accessed at www.genesisenergy.com. Choose the Investor Relations button. Listeners should go to this website at least fifteen minutes before this event to download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to attend the live broadcast, a replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the event and remain available on our website for 30 days. There is no charge to access the event.

Genesis Energy, L.P. is a diversified midstream energy master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, Texas. Genesis' operations include pipeline transportation, refinery services and supply and logistics. The Pipeline Transportation Division is engaged in the pipeline transportation of crude oil and carbon dioxide. The Refinery Services Division primarily processes sour gas streams to remove sulfur at refining operations. The Supply and Logistics Division is engaged in the transportation, storage and supply and marketing of energy products, including crude oil, refined products, and certain industrial gases. Genesis' operations are primarily located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.