GPP - Green Plains Partners Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

May, 08 2019 04:30 PM Green Plains Partners LP

Results for the First Quarter of 2019

Net income of $10.2 million, or $0.43 per common unit
Adjusted EBITDA of $13.5 million and distributable cash flow of $11.4 million
Quarterly cash distribution of $0.475 per unit
Distribution coverage ratio of 1.01x, LTM distribution coverage ratio of 1.02x

OMAHA, Neb., May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2019. Net income was $10.2 million, or $0.43 per common unit, for the first quarter of 2019 compared with $13.4 million, or $0.41 per common unit, for the same period in 2018. The partnership reported adjusted EBITDA of $13.5 million and distributable cash flow of $11.4 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $17.1 million and distributable cash flow of $15.5 million for the same period in 2018. Distribution coverage was 1.01x for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

“We continue to execute our business strategy for the Partnership,” said Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer of Green Plains Partners. “While the previous six months have presented many challenges, we believe that we will maintain our distributable cash flow as Green Plains Inc. plans to return to its historical ethanol production level of 90% of capacity or greater starting in the third quarter of this year.”

First Quarter Highlights and Recent Developments

On April 18, 2019, the board of directors of the partnership’s general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.475 per unit, or approximately $11.3 million, for the first quarter of 2019. The distribution is payable on May 10, 2019, to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 3, 2019.

Results of Operations
Consolidated revenues decreased $4.8 million to $21.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with the same period for 2018. Storage and throughput revenue decreased $2.9 million primarily due to a decrease in throughput volumes as a result of the sale by our parent of three ethanol plants in the fourth quarter of 2018 and lower utilization rates across the remaining platform. Revenues generated from rail transportation services decreased $1.8 million primarily due to the reduction in volumetric capacity provided as a result of the assignment of railcar operating leases in the fourth quarter of 2018. Trucking and other revenue decreased $0.2 million primarily due to a reduction in volumes transported for Green Plains Trade. Terminal services revenue remained relatively consistent as a result of non-affiliate minimum volume commitments.

Operations and maintenance expenses decreased $1.5 million to $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with the same period for 2018, primarily due to lower railcar lease expense as a result of the assignment of railcar leases in the fourth quarter of 2018, as well as lower unloading fees on less volume at the partnership’s terminals. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million to $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with the same period for 2018, primarily due to a reduction in accounting and transaction fees. Interest expense increased by $0.5 million primarily due to higher borrowing costs.

During the first quarter of 2019, Green Plains Inc. continued to adjust its ethanol production in response to the weaker margin environment, operating its ethanol facilities at approximately 56.0% of capacity. Lower capacity utilization resulted in ethanol production of 155.0 million gallons compared with the contracted minimum volume commitment of 235.7 million gallons per quarter. As a result, the partnership charged Green Plains Trade a deficiency payment of $4.0 million related to the minimum volume commitment for the three months ended March 31, 2019. In addition, overall performance at our parent’s ethanol plants was negatively impacted by flooding during the quarter, with the largest impact on their ability to transport products.








GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
SELECTED OPERATING DATA
(unaudited, in million gallons)








Three Months Ended

March 31,

2019

2018

% Var.
Product volumes






Storage and throughput services
155.7

298.3

(47.8
)
%







Terminal services:






Affiliate
24.8

29.6

(16.2
)

Non-affiliate
25.6

32.1

(20.2
)


50.4

61.7

(18.3
)








Railcar capacity billed (daily average)
83.4

99.2

(15.9
)

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Total liquidity as of March 31, 2019, was $65.3 million, including $0.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $65.0 million available under the partnership’s revolving credit facility. The balance outstanding on the partnership’s revolving credit facility was $135.0 million as of March 31, 2019.

Conference Call Information
On May 9, 2019, Green Plains Partners LP and Green Plains Inc. will host a joint conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Central time) to discuss first quarter 2019 financial and operating results for each company. Domestic and international participants can access the conference call by dialing 877.711.2374 and 281.542.4862, respectively, and referencing conference ID 6208719. The company advises participants to call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, the conference call, transcript and presentation will be accessible on Green Plains Partners’ website at http://ir.greenplainspartners.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are supplemental financial measures used to assess the partnership’s financial performance. Management believes adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provide investors useful information in assessing the partnership’s financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization excluding the amortization of right-of-use assets and debt issuance costs, plus adjustments for transaction costs related to acquisitions or financings, minimum volume commitment deficiency payments, unit-based compensation expense, net gains or losses on asset sales and the partnership’s proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of equity method investee. Distributable cash flow is defined as adjusted EBITDA less interest paid or payable, income taxes paid or payable, maintenance capital expenditures and the partnership’s proportionate share of distributable cash flow adjustments of equity method investee. References to LTM refer to results from the immediately preceding twelve-month period. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and therefore should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP to analyze the partnership’s results.

About Green Plains Partners LP
Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP) is a fee-based Delaware limited partnership formed by Green Plains Inc. to provide fuel storage and transportation services by owning, operating, developing and acquiring ethanol and fuel storage tanks, terminals, transportation assets and other related assets and businesses. For more information about Green Plains Partners, visit www.greenplainspartners.com.

About Green Plains Inc.
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a diversified commodity-processing business with operations related to ethanol production, grain handling and storage, cattle feeding, and commodity marketing and logistics services. The company is one of the leading producers of ethanol in the world and, through its adjacent businesses, is focused on the production of high-protein feed ingredients and export growth opportunities. Green Plains owns a 49.1% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners. For more information about Green Plains, visit www.gpreinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied are discussed in Green Plains Partners’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains Partners assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Consolidated Financial Results







GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)







March 31,

December 31,

2019

2018
ASSETS
(unaudited)



Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents
$
304


$
569

Accounts receivable, including from affiliates

20,923



15,357

Other current assets

667



690

Total current assets

21,894



16,616

Property and equipment, net

39,926



40,911

Operating lease right-of-use assets

35,950



-

Other assets

23,630



23,617

Total assets
$
121,400


$
81,144







LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT





Current liabilities





Accounts payable, including to affiliates
$
5,214


$
3,177

Operating lease current liabilities

12,621



-

Other current liabilities

7,009



5,011

Total current liabilities

24,844



8,188

Long-term debt

143,037



142,025

Operating lease long-term liabilities

24,323



-

Other liabilities

2,592



3,385

Total liabilities

194,796



153,598







Partners' deficit

(73,396
)


(72,454
)
Total liabilities and partners' deficit
$
121,400


$
81,144










GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands except per unit amounts)










Three Months Ended


March 31,

2019


2018


% Var.
Revenues








Affiliate
$
18,782


$
24,257


(22.6
)
%
Non-affiliate

2,305



1,628


41.6


Total revenues

21,087



25,885


(18.5
)

Operating expenses








Operations and maintenance (excluding depreciation and amortization reflected below)

6,865



8,410


(18.4
)

General and administrative

1,117



1,401


(20.3
)

Depreciation and amortization

985



1,181


(16.6
)

Total operating expenses

8,967



10,992


(18.4
)

Operating income

12,120



14,893


(18.6
)

Other income (expense)








Interest income

20



20


-


Interest expense

(2,055
)


(1,571
)

30.8


Other

-



75


*


Total other expense

(2,035
)


(1,476
)

37.9


Income before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investee

10,085



13,417


(24.8
)

Income tax expense

(52
)


(32
)

62.5


Income (loss) from equity method investee

215



(13
)

*


Net income
$
10,248


$
13,372


(23.4
)
%









Net income attributable to partners' ownership interests:








General partner
$
205


$
267


(23.2
)
%
Limited partners - common unitholders

10,043



6,559


*


Limited partners - subordinated unitholders

-



6,546


*











Earnings per limited partner unit (basic and diluted):








Common units
$
0.43


$
0.41


4.9

%
Subordinated units
$
-


$
0.41


*











Weighted average limited partner units outstanding (basic and diluted):








Common units

23,119



15,922




Subordinated units

-



15,890













Supplemental Revenues Data:








Storage and throughput services
$
11,785


$
14,642


(19.5
)
%
Railcar transportation services

5,619



7,469


(24.8
)

Terminal services

2,788



2,691


3.6


Trucking and other

895



1,083


(17.4
)

Total revenues
$
21,087


$
25,885


(18.5
)
%









* Percentage variance not considered meaningful.







GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited, in thousands)







Three Months Ended

March 31,

2019


2018

Cash flows from operating activities:





Net income
$
10,248


$
13,372

Noncash operating adjustments:





Depreciation and amortization

985



1,181

Other

105



292

Net change in working capital

(1,334
)


(156
)
Net cash provided by operating activities

10,004



14,689







Cash flows from investing activities:





Purchases of property and equipment, net

-



(1,212
)
Net cash used in investing activities

-



(1,212
)






Cash flows from financing activities:





Payments of distributions

(11,269
)


(15,306
)
Net proceeds - revolving credit facility

1,000



2,100

Payments of loan fees

-



(185
)
Net cash used in financing activities

(10,269
)


(13,391
)






Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(265
)


86

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

569



502

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
304


$
588










GREEN PLAINS PARTNERS LP
RECONCILIATIONS TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands except ratios)










Three Months Ended

LTM Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2019


2018


2019

Net income
$
10,248


$
13,372


$
52,557

Interest expense

2,055



1,571



7,791

Income tax expense

52



32



121

Depreciation and amortization

985



1,181



4,246

Minimum volume commitment adjustments ⁽¹⁾

-



747



(747
)
Transaction costs

-



135



670

Unit-based compensation expense

79



60



296

Proportional share of EBITDA adjustments of equity method investee ⁽²⁾

66



-



146

Gain on assignment of operating leases ⁽³⁾

-



-



(2,721
)
Adjusted EBITDA

13,485



17,098



62,359

Interest paid or payable

(2,055
)


(1,571
)


(7,791
)
Income taxes paid or payable

(53
)


(32
)


(122
)
Maintenance capital expenditures

-



(15
)


(35
)
Distributable cash flow
$
11,377


$
15,480


$
54,411

Distributions declared ⁽⁴⁾
$
11,269


$
15,493


$
53,543

Coverage ratio

1.01x



1.00x



1.02x










(1) Adjustments related to the storage and throughput quarterly minimum volume commitments.
(2) Represents the partnership's proportional share of depreciation and amortization, interest expense, and income tax expense of its equity method investee.
(3) Consideration received related to the assignment of railcar operating leases to Valero Renewable Fuels Company, LLC in the fourth quarter of 2018.
(4) Represents distributions declared for the applicable period and paid in the subsequent quarter.









Contact: Jim Stark \| Vice President, Investor & Media Relations \| 402.884.8700 \| jim.stark@gpreinc.com

Company Name:	Green Plains Partners LP
Stock Symbol:	GPP
Market:	NASDAQ
Website:	greenplainspartners.com

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