Exhibit 99.1
NuStar GP Holdings, LLC Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009
Earnings and Announces Quarterly Distribution
SAN ANTONIO, January 29, 2010 – NuStar GP Holdings, LLC (NYSE: NSH) announced today distributable cash flow available to unitholders for the fourth quarter of 2009 of $18.9 million, or $0.45 per unit, compared to $18.5 million, or $0.44 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, distributable cash flow available to unitholders was $74.7 million, or $1.76 per unit, compared to $69.2 million, or $1.63 per unit.
Fourth quarter 2009 net income was $17.0 million, or $0.40 per unit, compared to $10.7 million, or $0.25 per unit, for the fourth quarter of 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, net income was $68.1 million, or $1.60 per unit, compared to $66.3 million, or $1.56 per unit for the same period in 2008.
NuStar GP Holdings, LLC also announced that its board of directors has declared a distribution of $0.435 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2009, which would equate to $1.74 per unit on an annual basis. This distribution will be paid on February 17, 2010, to holders of record as of February 5, 2010 and represents an increase over the $0.43 distribution for the fourth quarter of 2008. For 2009, NuStar Energy L.P. declared distributions of $1.73 per unit, which were around 9.5 percent higher than distributions of $1.58 per unit related to 2008.
“Our company continues to benefit from its investment in NuStar Energy L.P., which generated higher distributable cash flow in 2009 compared to 2008 and allowed us to increase the distribution to our unitholders by around 9.5 percent. We expect to benefit from the continuing growth of our underlying partnership in 2010 and beyond,” said Curt Anastasio, Chief Executive Officer and President of NuStar Energy L.P. and NuStar GP Holdings, LLC.
A conference call with management is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (10:00 a.m. CT) today, January 29, 2010, to discuss the financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended 2009. Investors interested in listening to the presentation may call 800/622-7620, passcode 49455765. International callers may access the presentation by dialing 706/645-0327, passcode 49455765. The company intends to have a playback available following the presentation, which may be accessed by calling 800/642-1687, passcode 49455765. A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available on the company’s Web site atwww.nustargp.com.
NuStar GP Holdings, LLC is a publicly traded limited liability company that owns the two percent general partner interest, a 16.7 percent limited partner interest and the incentive distribution rights in NuStar Energy L.P., one of the largest asphalt refiners and marketers in the U.S. and the second largest independent liquids terminal operator in the nation with operations in
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the United States, the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s Web site atwww.nustargp.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding future events. All forward-looking statements are based on the company’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the company. These statements reflect the company’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions are discussed in NuStar GP Holdings, LLC’s 2008 annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this release is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company’s operations.
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NuStar GP Holdings, LLC
Consolidated Financial Information
(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | | Year Ended
December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Statement of Income Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | $ | 12,793 | | | $ | 11,502 | | | $ | 65,573 | | | $ | 69,622 | |
| | | | |
General and administrative expenses | | | (1,346 | ) | | | (472 | ) | | | (3,502 | ) | | | (2,831 | ) |
Other income (expense), net | | | 5,536 | | | | (261 | ) | | | 5,555 | | | | (379 | ) |
Interest expense, net | | | (226 | ) | | | (61 | ) | | | (363 | ) | | | (214 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Income before income tax benefit (expense) | | | 16,757 | | | | 10,708 | | | | 67,263 | | | | 66,198 | |
Income tax benefit (expense) | | | 231 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 834 | | | | 98 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 16,988 | | | $ | 10,703 | | | $ | 68,097 | | | $ | 66,296 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Basic and diluted net income per unit | | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 1.60 | | | $ | 1.56 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Equity in Earnings of NuStar Energy L.P.: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General partner interest | | $ | 591 | | | $ | 517 | | | $ | 3,924 | | | $ | 4,586 | |
General partner incentive distribution | | | 7,799 | | | | 6,929 | | | | 28,712 | | | | 24,764 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General partner’s interest in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | | 8,390 | | | | 7,446 | | | | 32,636 | | | | 29,350 | |
Limited partner interest in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | | 5,124 | | | | 4,777 | | | | 35,821 | | | | 43,156 | |
Amortization of step-up in basis related to NuStar Energy L.P.’s assets and liabilities | | | (721 | ) | | | (721 | ) | | | (2,884 | ) | | | (2,884 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | $ | 12,793 | | | $ | 11,502 | | | $ | 65,573 | | | $ | 69,622 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Distributable Cash Flow (Note 1): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash distributions from NuStar Energy L.P. associated with: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General partner interest | | $ | 1,467 | | | $ | 1,318 | | | $ | 5,430 | | | $ | 5,058 | |
Incentive distribution rights (Note 2): | | | 7,799 | | | | 6,929 | | | | 28,712 | | | | 25,294 | |
Limited partner interest-common units | | | 11,005 | | | | 10,824 | | | | 43,557 | | | | 41,827 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total cash distributions from NuStar Energy L.P. | | | 20,271 | | | | 19,071 | | | | 77,699 | | | | 72,179 | |
Deduct expenses of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expenses | | | (1,346 | ) | | | (472 | ) | | | (3,502 | ) | | | (2,831 | ) |
Income tax benefit (expense) | | | 231 | | | | (5 | ) | | | 834 | | | | 98 | |
Interest expense, net | | | (226 | ) | | | (61 | ) | | | (363 | ) | | | (214 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributable cash flow | | $ | 18,930 | | | $ | 18,533 | | | $ | 74,668 | | | $ | 69,232 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Weighted average number of common units outstanding | | | 42,510,273 | | | | 42,502,920 | | | | 42,505,534 | | | | 42,501,586 | |
| | | | |
Distributable cash flow per unit | | $ | 0.45 | | | $ | 0.44 | | | $ | 1.76 | | | $ | 1.63 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Cash distributions to be paid to the unitholders of NuStar GP Holdings, LLC: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distribution per unit | | $ | 0.435 | | | $ | 0.43 | | | $ | 1.730 | | | $ | 1.58 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Total distribution | | $ | 18,494 | | | $ | 18,277 | | | $ | 73,537 | | | $ | 67,153 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NuStar GP Holdings, LLC
Consolidated Financial Information
(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars)
Notes:
| | 1. | NuStar GP Holdings, LLC utilizes distributable cash flow as a financial measure, which is not defined in United States generally accepted accounting principles. Management uses this financial measure because it is a widely accepted financial indicator used by investors to compare general partner performance. In addition, management believes that this measure provides investors an enhanced perspective of the ability to make a minimum quarterly distribution. Distributable cash flow is not intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor is it presented as an alternative to net income. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following is a reconciliation of net income to distributable cash flow and net cash provided by operating activities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | | Year Ended
December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Net Income | | $ | 16,988 | | | $ | 10,703 | | | $ | 68,097 | | | $ | 66,296 | |
Less equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | | (12,793 | ) | | | (11,502 | ) | | | (65,573 | ) | | | (69,622 | ) |
Plus cash distributions from NuStar Energy L.P. | | | 20,271 | | | | 19,071 | | | | 77,699 | | | | 72,179 | |
Other (income) expense, net | | | (5,536 | ) | | | 261 | | | | (5,555 | ) | | | 379 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributable cash flow | | | 18,930 | | | | 18,533 | | | | 74,668 | | | | 69,232 | |
Less cash distributions from NuStar Energy L.P. | | | (20,271 | ) | | | (19,071 | ) | | | (77,699 | ) | | | (72,179 | ) |
Plus distributions of equity in earnings of NuStar Energy L.P. | | | 12,793 | | | | 19,105 | | | | 65,573 | | | | 69,449 | |
Net effect of changes in operating accounts | | | (7,367 | ) | | | (399 | ) | | | (2,761 | ) | | | (485 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | 4,085 | | | $ | 18,168 | | | $ | 59,781 | | | $ | 66,017 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2. | For the first quarter of 2008, NuStar Energy’s net income allocation to its general and limited partners reflected total cash distributions based on the partnership interests outstanding as of March 31, 2008. NuStar Energy issued approximately 5.1 million common units in April 2008. Actual distribution payments are made within 45 days after the end of each quarter as of a record date that is set after the end of each quarter. Therefore, our portion of the actual distributions made with respect to the year ended December 31, 2008, including the incentive distribution rights, exceeded the net income allocated to us. |
