NEWS RELEASE
Page 2 of 16
Management Commentary
“During the second quarter 2021, I am pleased to announce Crestwood continued its trend of strong execution generating Adjusted EBITDA of $145.7 million, a 14% increase year-over-year, distributable cash flow of $85.8 million, a 15% increase year-over-year, free cash flow after distributions of $40.1 million, and best-in-class credit metrics with coverage of 2.2x and leverage of 3.6x, pro forma for the completion of the Stagecoach divestiture,” commented Robert G. Phillips, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crestwood’s general partner. “During the quarter, Crestwood’s gathering and processing segment experienced an increase in drilling and completion activity and better netback pricing for our customers resulting from the continued improvements in commodity prices, both of which will drive higher utilization and enhanced margins across our gathering and processing assets going forward. Following the Stagecoach divestiture and based on Crestwood’s improved outlook for the second half of 2021, we are revising our guidance estimates to an Adjusted EBITDA range of $570 million to $600 million, which will help generate free cash flow after distributions of $150 million to $180 million, leverage of 3.4x to 3.7x and distribution coverage of 2.2x to 2.4x.”
Mr. Phillips continued, “During the first half of 2021, Crestwood has proactively taken action to differentiate the partnership from our peers by simplifying our ownership structure, enhancing our corporate governance and achieving our deleveraging targets, resulting in industry leading unitholder alignment and financial flexibility. Successful execution of these strategic initiatives has been viewed favorably by both the credit and ESG rating agencies and has resulted in improved ratings and outlooks across the board. With stronger commodity prices and an improved volume outlook across our G&P segment through 2022, Crestwood is squarely focused on utilizing its financial flexibility to maintain a strong balance sheet and enhance total returns to its unitholders through a secure distribution, prudent investment in the highest returning expansions of our existing assets and opportunistic common and preferred unit repurchases with excess cash flow. We believe this strategy best positions the partnership to maximize value creation for our investors as we manage through persistent COVID uncertainty, evaluate potential asset and corporate consolidation opportunities, and focus on generating long-term value for our unitholders.”
Second Quarter 2021 Segment Results
Gathering and Processing (G&P) segment Adjusted EBITDA totaled $123.5 million in the second quarter 2021, a 48% increase compared to $83.6 million in the second quarter 2020. Second quarter 2021 results were highlighted by increased drilling and completion activity with 79 total wells connected across the G&P assets, as well as significant year-over-year volume improvement across Crestwood’s oil weighted basins. Notably, Bakken gas gathering and processing volumes increased 58% and 59%, year-over-year, respectively, as debottlenecking projects have been completed increasing gas capture and further minimizing flaring across the Arrow system. In the second half of 2021, Crestwood expects to see an uptick in volumes from the Bakken, Powder River Basin, Delaware, and Barnett as incremental wells are connected to the gathering systems and producers continue to operate rigs and completion crews across the diversified footprint.
Storage and Transportation (S&T) segment Adjusted EBITDA totaled $14.9 million in the second quarter 2021, compared to $14.1 million in the second quarter 2020. Second quarter 2021 excludes a $38.5 million loss from unconsolidated affiliates related to the divestiture of Stagecoach. Second quarter 2021 natural gas storage and transportation volumes averaged 2.4 Bcf/d, compared to 2.1 Bcf/d in the second quarter 2020. In the second quarter 2021, continued favorable natural gas prices in the Northeast resulted in strong E&P production providing a backdrop for increased demand for transportation, as well as increased storage opportunities at Stagecoach. At the COLT Hub, second quarter 2021 rail loading volumes were 46 MBbls/d, a 13% increase over the second quarter of 2020, as producers brought all