HOUSTON, TX — (Marketwired) — 10/30/13 — Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) (“Enbridge Partners” or “the Partnership”) today declared a cash distribution of $0.5435 per unit payable November 14, 2013 to unitholders of record on November 7, 2013.
The Partnership–s key financial results for the third quarter of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012, were as follows:
Adjusted net income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013, as reported above, eliminates the impact of: (a) additional environmental costs, net of insurance recoveries, associated with the Line 6B incident; and (b) non-cash, mark-to-market net gains and losses; among other adjustments. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliations section below for additional details.
Adjusted net income of $61.0 million for the third quarter of 2013 was $56.0 million lower than the same period from the prior year primarily due to: (a) a timing difference between integrity costs incurred pursuant to the scheduled hydrostatic test on our Line 14 and the related recovery of these costs in our tariffs; (b) the impact of lower natural gas liquids (“NGL”) prices in our natural gas business; and (c) the inclusion of the deferred distribution from the $1.2 billion of preferred units issued in the second quarter of 2013 as a decrease in net income available to the general and limited partners. We expect full year 2013 adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.18 and $1.2 billion.
“We are pleased with the improving deliveries on all our liquids pipelines systems during the quarter. We expect the Partnership–s performance to strengthen as we begin to realize the benefits of our liquids and natural gas growth projects entering service and as the backdrop of natural gas and NGL prices improve,” said Mark Maki, president of the Partnership.
“The long-term outlook for the Partnership remains strong as our multi-billion organic growth program will deliver long-term, low risk secured cash flow growth. Project construction is proceeding on schedule and we expect our distribution coverage to improve as these projects enter service, driving distributable cash flow growth. During the quarter, we continued to make meaningful progress around both project execution and on our financing initiatives. In our liquids business, we are on target to deliver the remaining components of the first phase of our Eastern Access projects over the next couple of quarters. In our natural gas business, our 150 million cubic feet per day Ajax cryogenic natural gas processing plant situated in the Granite Wash region commenced limited service during the quarter and will ramp-up further with the imminent start-up of the Texas Express NGL pipeline, which will provide much needed NGL takeaway capacity to the premium NGL hub at Mont Belvieu, Texas. We are working through an important transitional period for the Partnership and we are focused on delivering sustainable value and growth over the long-term to our unitholders,” added Maki.
Following are explanations for significant changes in the Partnership–s financial results, comparing the three month period ended September 30, 2013 with the same period of 2012. The comparison refers to adjusted operating income, which excludes the effect of non-cash and nonrecurring items (see Non-GAAP Reconciliations section below).
– Third quarter adjusted operating income for the Liquids segment decreased $3.3 million to $150.2 million from $153.5 million for the comparable period in 2012. Higher revenues attributable to an increase in transportation rates on our Lakehead system and contributions from growth projects entering service earlier in the year, specifically from the Bakken Berthold Rail and Bakken Pipeline Expansion projects, were more than offset by higher operating and administrative expenses associated with scheduled pipeline integrity initiatives. A timing difference between the integrity costs incurred during the quarter pursuant to the hydrostatic test on our Line 14 and the related recovery of these costs in our tariff revenues amounted to approximately $34 million of lower operating income over the comparable period in 2012. These costs will be substantially recovered in our tariffs through the first quarter of 2014.
– Third quarter adjusted operating income for the Natural Gas segment was $42.9 million lower than the same period of 2012. The decrease in adjusted operating income was predominantly due to lower NGL prices, in addition to lower natural gas and NGL volumes on our systems. The quarter was also impacted by unfavorable true-ups of gross margin amounts related to our gross margin estimate process, while the same period of 2012 included a favorable true-up of amounts related to prior periods.
– Third quarter adjusted operating income for the Marketing segment was $0.7 million higher than the same period of 2012. Improved adjusted operating income resulted from the expiration of certain firm natural gas transportation demand fees on third party pipelines and additional optimization opportunities attributable to modestly improved natural gas basis spreads.
– In September 2013, Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (“Enbridge Management”) closed an underwritten public offering and sale of 8,424,686 of its Listed Shares, including an over-allotment option. Enbridge Management received proceeds, net of underwriting commissions and offering costs, of approximately $235.6 million, which were subsequently used to invest in an equal number of i-units of Enbridge Partners. Enbridge Partners used the proceeds to repay commercial paper, to finance a portion of its capital expansion program relating to its core liquids and natural gas systems and for general partnership purposes.
During the third quarter the Partnership attributed approximately $22.7 million of earnings to its Series 1 Preferred unitholders. This amount is deducted from net income to arrive at the amount of net income attributable to the general and limited partners. Preferred distributions are accrued at an annual rate of 7.5 percent even though the payment of the distribution will be deferred until August 2015.
Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (NYSE: EEQ) declared a distribution of $0.5435 per share payable on November 14, 2013 to shareholders of record on November 7, 2013. The distribution will be paid in the form of additional shares of Enbridge Energy Management valued at the average closing price of the shares for the 10 trading days prior to the ex-dividend date on November 5, 2013.
Enbridge Partners will review its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 in a live Internet presentation, commencing at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2013. Interested parties may watch the live webcast at the link provided below. A replay will be available shortly afterward. Presentation slides and condensed unaudited financial statements will also be available at the link below.
EEP Q3 2013 Earnings Conference Call:
Alternative Webcast link:
The audio portion of the presentation will be accessible by telephone at (877) 703-6103 (Passcode: 14257402) and can be replayed until December 31, 2013 by calling (888) 286-8010 (Passcode: 48874555). An audio replay will also be available for download in MP3 format from either of the website addresses above.
Adjusted net income and adjusted operating income for the principal business segments are provided to illustrate trends in income excluding derivative fair value losses and gains and other nonrecurring items that affect earnings. The derivative non-cash losses and gains result from marking to market certain financial derivatives used by the Partnership for hedging purposes that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance as prescribed under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is used as a supplemental financial measurement to assess liquidity and the ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and make cash distributions to unitholders. The following reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted EBITDA is provided because EBITDA is not a financial measure recognized under generally accepted accounting principles.
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas transportation systems in the United States. Its principal crude oil system is the largest transporter of growing oil production from western Canada. The system–s deliveries to refining centers and connected carriers in the United States account for approximately 15 percent of total U.S. oil imports; while deliveries to Ontario, Canada satisfy approximately 70 percent of refinery demand in that region. The Partnership–s natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transmission assets, which are principally located onshore in the active U.S. Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast areas, deliver approximately 2.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily. Enbridge Partners is recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America.
Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. manages the business and affairs of Enbridge Partners, and its sole asset is an approximate 19 percent limited partner interest in Enbridge Partners. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, (NYSE: ENB) (TSX: ENB) is the general partner of Enbridge Partners and holds an approximate 21 percent interest in Enbridge Partners together with all of the outstanding preferred interests in Enbridge Partners.
This news release includes forward-looking statements and projections, which are statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements frequently use the following words, variations thereon or comparable terminology: “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “projection,” “should,” “strategy,” “target–, “will” and similar words. Although the Partnership believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information, such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are not guarantees of performance. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond the Partnership–s ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include: (1) changes in the demand for or the supply of, forecast data for, and price trends related to crude oil, liquid petroleum, natural gas and NGLs, including the rate of development of the Alberta Oil Sands; (2) the Partnership–s ability to successfully complete and finance expansion projects; (3) the effects of competition, in particular, by other pipeline systems; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at the Partnership–s facilities or refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities or other businesses for which the Partnership transports products or to whom the Partnership sells products; (5) hazards and operating risks that may not be covered fully by insurance, including those related to Line 6B and any additional fines and penalties assessed in connection with the crude oil release on that line; (6) changes in or challenges to the Partnership–s tariff rates; and (7) changes in laws or regulations to which the Partnership is subject, including compliance with environmental and operational safety regulations that may increase costs of system integrity testing and maintenance.
Reference should also be made to Enbridge Partners– filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 and its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for additional factors that may affect results. These filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC–s web site () and at Enbridge Partners– web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Investor Relations Contact:
Sanjay Lad
Toll-free: (866) EEP INFO or (866) 337-4636
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Media Contact:
Terri Larson
Telephone: (877) 496-8142
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