FORM 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------------
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarter ended September 30, 1999
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to ______________
Commission file number 1-10877
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 73-1389684
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
Terra Centre
PO Box 6000, 600 Fourth Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51102-6000
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number:
(712) 277-1340
At the close of business on October 31, 1999, there were 18,501,576 Common
Units outstanding.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
_X_Yes ___ No
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
September 30, December 31, September 30,
1999 1998 1998
------------- ------------ -------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14 $ 1,094 $ 16
Accounts receivable 26,840 6,663 1,718
Inventory - finished products 25,628 32,644 35,389
Inventory - materials and supplies 12,116 17,811 16,253
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 615 2,440 1,597
-------- -------- --------
Total current assets 65,213 60,652 54,973
Net property, plant and equipment 159,595 164,689 166,817
Other assets 17,545 10,736 13,136
-------- -------- --------
Total assets $242,353 $236,077 $234,926
======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Current liabilities:
Short-term note payable to affiliate $ 32,250 $ -- $ 18,778
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 21,967 19,454 16,031
Payable to affiliates 9,282 23,587 5,374
Current portion of long-term debt and
capital lease obligations 1,017 1,119 1,105
-------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities 64,516 44,160 41,288
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 386 7,846 8,439
Long-term payable to affiliates 5,316 5,316 5,521
Other long-term obligations -- -- 1,060
Partners' capital 172,135 178,755 178,618
-------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and partners' capital $242,353 $236,077 $234,926
======== ======== ========
See accompanying notes.
2
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
1999 1998 1999 1998
------ ------ ------ ------
Revenues $44,145 $33,306 $166,524 $182,327
Other income 207 303 465 1,029
------- ------- -------- --------
Total revenues 44,352 33,609 166,989 183,356
Cost of goods sold 49,085 26,851 166,887 136,776
------- ------- -------- --------
Gross profit (loss) (4,733) 6,758 102 46,580
Operating expenses 2,042 2,124 6,149 7,636
------- ------- -------- --------
Operating income (loss) (6,775) 4,634 (6,047) 38,944
Net interest income (expense) (229) 38 (574) 305
------- ------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) $(7,004) $ 4,672 $ (6,621) $ 38,639
======= ======= ======== ========
Net income (loss) allocable to
limited partners' interest $(6,864) $ 4,581 $ (6,489) $ 30,491
======= ======= ======== ========
Net income (loss) per limited
partnership unit $ (0.37) $ 0.25 $ (0.35) $ 1.65
======= ======= ======== ========
See accompanying notes.
3
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
Operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ (6,621) $ 38,639
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 9,717 9,217
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables (20,178) 2,289
Inventories 12,712 (20,964)
Prepaid expenses 1,824 714
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (11,795) (9,865)
Change in other assets (7,185) 2,895
Other 380 837
-------- --------
Net cash flows from operating activities (21,146) 23,762
Net cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (4,622) (6,503)
Financing activities:
Borrowings from Affiliates 32,251 18,778
Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations (7,563) (493)
Partnership distributions
-- (66,796)
-------- --------
Net cash flows from financing activities 24,688 (48,511)
-------- --------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (1,080) (31,252)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,094 31,268
-------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 14 $ 16
======== ========
See accompanying notes.
4
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements contained herein should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
contained in the Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. ("TNCLP") Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. TNCLP and its operating
partnership subsidiary, Terra Nitrogen, Limited Partnership (the "Operating
Partnership"), are referred to herein, collectively, as the "Partnership".
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all
adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair
statement of the results for the periods presented. All of these adjustments
are of a normal and recurring nature. Results for the quarter are not
necessarily indicative of future financial results of the Partnership.
Net income per limited partnership unit is computed by dividing net income,
less a 2% and 24% share allocable to the General Partner for the nine months
ended September 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively, by 18,501,576 limited
partner units. The net income allocated to the General Partner decreased to
2% during the nine months ended September 30, 1999 since no Available Cash
(as this and other capitalized terms are defined in the Partnership
Agreement) has been distributed in 1999. According to the Agreement of
Limited Partnership of TNCLP, net income is allocated to the General Partner
and the Limited Partners in each taxable year in the same proportion as
Available Cash for such taxable year was distributed to the General Partner
and the Limited Partners. If there is no cash distribution, net income is
allocated to the Limited Partners and the General Partner generally based on
their respective ownership percentages. Distributions of Available Cash are
made 98% to the Limited Partners and 2% to the General Partner, except that
the General Partner is entitled, as an incentive, to larger percentage
interests (up to 50%) to the extent that distributions of Available Cash
exceed specified amounts. Available Cash for the nine months ended September
30, 1999 declined to zero due primarily to lower 1999 net income and cash
used to fund accounts receivable that had previously been funded through the
Partnership's participation in an accounts receivable securitization
program.
2. Distributions to Unitholders
The Partnership makes quarterly cash distributions to Unitholders and the
General Partner in an amount equal to 100% of its Available Cash.
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No cash distributions have been made in 1999. The quarterly cash
distributions paid to the Units and to the General Partner applicable to
1998 were as follows:
Common Units General Partner
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Total (000s) $ Per Unit Total (000s) $ Per Unit
------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
First Quarter $21,647 $1.17 $3,431 --
Second Quarter -- -- -- --
Third Quarter 31,822 1.72 9,895 --
Fourth Quarter -- -- -- --
3. Financing Arrangements
The Partnership has an arrangement for demand deposits and notes with an
affiliate to allow for excess Partnership cash to be deposited with or funds
to be borrowed from Terra Capital, Inc., the parent of the General Partner.
At September 30, 1999 and 1998, no amounts were deposited with Terra
Capital, Inc. The amount of the demand note was $32.3 million at September
30, 1999 and $18.8 million at September 30, 1998. The balance is due on
demand bearing interest at the rate paid by Terra Capital on its short-term
borrowings, or 9.8% and 7.1% at September 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
4. Natural gas costs
The Partnership's natural gas procurement policy is to effectively fix or
cap the price of between 40% and 80% of its natural gas requirements for a
one-year period and up to 50% of its natural gas requirements for the
subsequent two-year period through supply contracts, financial derivatives
and other forward pricing techniques. These contracts reference physical
natural gas prices or appropriate NYMEX futures contract prices. Contract
physical prices are frequently based on the Henry Hub Louisiana price, but
natural gas supplies for the Partnership's production facilities are
physically purchased from various suppliers which often creates a location
basis differential between the contract price and the physical price of
natural gas. Accordingly, the use of financial derivatives may not exactly
offset the change in the price of physical gas. The contracts are traded in
months forward and settlement dates are scheduled to coincide with gas
purchases during that future period.
The Partnership has entered into forward pricing positions for a portion of
its natural gas requirements for the remainder of 1999, 2000 and 2001,
consistent with its policy. As a result of its policies, the Partnership has
reduced the potential adverse financial impact of natural gas price
increases during the forward pricing period, but conversely, if natural gas
prices were to fall, the Partnership will incur higher costs. Contracts were
in place at September 30, 1999 to cover 44% of natural gas requirements
through September 30, 2000 and 5% of natural gas requirements for the
succeeding twelve months. Unrealized gains from forward pricing positions
totaled $10.3 million and $9.4 million as of September 30, 1999 and 1998,
respectively. The amount recognized by the Partnership will be dependent on
prices in effect at the time of settlement.
For the first nine months of 1999 and 1998, natural gas hedging activities
produced cost savings of approximately $0.3 million and $5.5 million,
respectively, compared with spot prices.
6
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three months ended September 30, 1999 compared with
three months ended September 30, 1998
Volumes and prices for the three-month periods ended September 30, 1999 and 1998
were as follows:
1999 1998
---------------------------- -----------------------------------
Sales Average Sales Average
Volumes Unit Price Volumes Unit Price
(000 tons) ($/ton) (000 tons) ($/ton)
------------ ----------- ------------- ---------------
Ammonia 80 99 83 128
UAN 497 58 207 64
Urea 86 88 77 121
Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 increased $10.7 million, or
32%, compared with the same quarter in 1998 due primarily to increased UAN sales
volumes. UAN shipments were higher in the 1999 third quarter reflecting earlier
fall fill demand than in 1998 when customers delayed purchases in the face of
declining prices. The revenue increase from higher UAN sales volumes was
partially offset by lower prices for all products due to continued surplus
worldwide nitrogen production. Third quarter prices declined 22%, 10% and 27%
for ammonia, UAN and urea, respectively, compared with the 1998 quarter and
reduced revenues $6.2 million.
Third quarter 1999 gross profits declined $11.5 million from 1998. Lower selling
prices reduced gross profits $6.2 million from 1998 levels. In addition, third
quarter product costs increased $5.3 million from 1998 as the result of an 11%
increase to natural gas costs ($3.0 million) and higher unit costs as the result
of lower on-stream rates in 1999 as compared to 1998 when the plants operated
near 100% rates. The Partnership's natural gas forward pricing activities
produced $4.6 million in cost savings during the 1999 period as compared to
purchasing all natural gas needs at market prices.
Operating expenses were comparable to the 1998 third quarter. Net interest
expense was $266,000 higher than the 1998 third quarter due to higher levels of
short-term debt.
7
Nine months ended September 30, 1999 compared with
nine months ended September 30, 1998
Volumes and prices for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 1999 and 1998
were as follows:
1999 1998
---------------------------- -----------------------------------
Sales Average Sales Average
Volumes Unit Price Volumes Unit Price
(000 tons) ($/ton) (000 tons) ($/ton)
------------ ----------- ------------- ---------------
Ammonia 365 112 301 141
UAN 1,589 61 1,455 67
Urea 311 93 339 124
Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1999 declined $16.4 million, or
9%, compared with the 1998 period due primarily to lower nitrogen prices for all
Partnership products. Surplus worldwide nitrogen production caused nitrogen
prices to fall from prior year levels by 21%, 9% and 25% for ammonia, UAN and
urea, respectively. UAN prices were also adversely affected by increased
competition for UAN sales as the result of expanded domestic production capacity
during the past year and spring planting conditions that favored ammonia as an
alternative to UAN fertilizer. These price reductions lowered 1999 nine-month
revenues $28 million from the comparable 1998 period. Increased UAN sales
volumes during the 1999 third quarter, reflecting earlier fall fill demand than
in 1998, offset a portion of the revenue shortfall related to lower prices.
Gross profits during the 1999 first nine months were $46.5 million less than the
prior year period. Lower prices caused $28 million of the 1999 decline to gross
profits. Cost increases from 1998 included higher natural gas costs of $5.6
million (7%) and higher freight and storage charges of $8.7 million. The 1999
increase to freight and storage costs reflects longer shipping distances for
nitrogen solution sales as the result of increased industry supplies and lower
demand than during 1998. In addition, product costs increased $4.5 million
primarily as the result of higher unit costs and less efficient operations due
to lower on-stream rates in 1999 as compared to 1998 when the plants operated
near 100% rates. The Partnership's natural gas forward pricing activities
produced $0.3 million in lower costs during the 1999 first nine months as
compared to purchasing all natural gas needs at market prices.
Operating expenses were $1.5 million lower in 1999 than in 1998 primarily as the
result of management initiatives to reduce overhead. Net interest expense was
$269,000 higher in 1999 than in 1998 due to lower cash and short-term investment
balances during the 1999 third quarter.
8
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Net cash used by operating activities for the first nine months of 1999 was
$21.1 million compared to cash from operations of $23.8 million during the same
1998 period. The $45 million reduction to cash provided by operating activities
was principally due to the reduction to 1999 net income compared to 1998. Cash
used to fund changes in operating assets and liabilities for the first nine
months of 1999 approximated 1998 levels. Accounts receivable increased $20.2
million from December 31, 1998 and included effects of terminating of the
Partnership's accounts receivable securitization program during the 1999 second
quarter.
The Partnership's principal needs for funds are for support of its working
capital and capital expenditures. The Partnership intends to fund its needs
primarily from net cash provided by operating activities, and, to the extent
required, from funds borrowed from others, including borrowings from Terra
Capital, Inc., the parent of the General Partner. The Partnership believes that
such sources of funds will be adequate to meet the Partnership's working capital
needs and fund the Partnership's capital expenditures for at least the next
twelve months.
At September 30, 1999, the Partnership had $32.3 million of borrowings payable
to Terra Capital. Terra Capital's sources of funds include a $63 million
revolving credit agreement that management believes is adequate to meet the
needs of Terra Capital and the Partnership. Terra Capital's credit agreement is
subject to certain earnings requirements that, as well as other factors
affecting the earnings of Terra Capital, are primarily dependent on future
prices for nitrogen products. Terra Capital is in discussion with lending
institutions concerning alternative refinancing packages which would replace
existing bank facilities in order to increase liquidity sources and reduce risk
of failing to maintain earnings covenants. Although there can be no assurance
that Terra Capital will complete any of the contemplated alternatives, it is
planned that the refinancing will be completed near December 31, 1999.
During the second quarter, the Operating Partnership's $25 million revolving
credit facility, which was a part of the Terra Capital credit agreement, was
terminated in connection with revisions to the Terra Capital agreement.
Outstanding balances of $7 million under the Operating Partnership's facility
were repaid at termination. The Terra Capital agreement now provides for the
Operating Partnership to borrow from Terra Capital, which borrowings are
supported by a pledge and security agreement.
Quarterly distributions to the Partners of TNCLP are based on Available Cash for
the quarter as defined in the Agreement of Limited Partnership of TNCLP.
Available Cash is defined generally as all cash receipts less all cash
disbursements, adjusted for changes in certain reserves established as the
General Partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary. As the
result of the 1999 net loss for the first nine months and second quarter
termination of the accounts receivable securitization facility, there was no
Available Cash generated during the nine months ended September 30, 1999.
Available Cash paid as distributions to the Partners for the nine months ended
September 30, 1998 was $66.8 million.
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures totaled $4.6 million for the first nine months of 1999.
For the remainder of 1999, the Partnership plans to spend less than $2 million
for routine equipment replacement and efficiency improvements at both plants.
9
Environmental matters
The Partnership is subject to federal, state and local environmental, health and
safety laws and regulations, particularly relating to air and water quality. In
the course of its ordinary operations, the Partnership has and will generate
wastes which may fall within the definition of "hazardous substances" under
federal or state laws. The Partnership's production facilities and storage
locations require ongoing operating expenditures in order to remain in
compliance with environmental regulations. These operating costs consist largely
of such items as electrical and chemical usage, waste disposal, laboratory
analysis, fees for outside consultants and contractors, and salaries for
environmental employees.
Based on its current knowledge, the Partnership does not expect capital
expenditures relating to environmental matters to have a material adverse effect
on its results of operations, financial condition, capital resources, liquidity
or cash flow. The Partnership does not expect that any further material capital
expenditures will be required to comply with existing environmental regulations.
Based on such regulations, the Partnership does not believe that it will be
required to make any material environmental remediation expenditures in the
foreseeable future.
Year 2000 issue
On behalf of the Partnership, Terra has assigned dedicated resources to address
its year 2000 computer issues with a Year 2000 Steering Committee providing
management oversight and coordination. The Partnership has also published
Year 2000 Information and Disclosures on Terra's website
(http://www.terraindustries.com). In general, management believes the "State of
Readiness" for the Partnership is such that it will be ready for Year 2000
issues on time.
Terra's management information systems (MIS) environment has been assessed for
Year 2000 issues and nearly all remedial actions and testing have been completed
with minimal cost. Remaining MIS actions require updating a few software
packages originally purchased from third parties that are scheduled to be
updated in 1999.
Organization-wide reviews of all possible computing functions have been
completed, including the process control systems and instrumentation in the
manufacturing facilities, with the few remaining remedial actions scheduled to
be updated in 1999. The cost of these remedial actions is not expected to be
material to the Partnership.
Terra has largely completed its assessment of Year 2000 issues in relation to
its customers, suppliers and other constituents.
Although the Partnership expects that there will be no significant adverse
consequences relating to its Year 2000 issues, the Partnership believes its most
reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario involves the interruption of its
manufacturing facilities due to failed utility supplies or some other cause. The
Partnership has in place contingency plans to deal with such interruptions,
although restarting these facilities may be dependent on the resumption of
utilities from sole source suppliers. Other general contingency planning efforts
continue to be evaluated and refined for precautionary purposes.
10
Terra anticipates that it will complete all remaining assessment, remediation,
testing, and contingency planning efforts for Year 2000 issues in advance of
year end. Based on substantial completion of activities to date, the Partnership
anticipates that Year 2000 issues, including the historical and estimated costs
of remediation, will not have a material effect on its business, results of
operations or financial condition. However, the costs or consequences of
incomplete or untimely resolution of Year 2000 issues by the Partnership or
third parties could have a material adverse affect on the Partnership.
Limited Call Right
If at any time not more than 25% of the Common Units are held by non-affiliates
of the General Partner, either TNCLP, the General Partner or its affiliates may
call all such outstanding units held by non-affiliated persons in accordance
with the terms of the TNCLP partnership agreement. TNCLP is required to give at
least 30 but not more than 60 days notice of its decision to purchase the
outstanding Common Units. The purchase price per unit is required to be the
greater of (1) the average of the previous twenty trading days closing prices as
of the date five days before the purchase is announced or (2) the highest price
paid by the General Partner or any of its affiliates for any unit within 90 days
preceding the date the purchase is announced.
The General Partner and its affiliates own 72.4% of the Common Units as of
October 31, 1999. Under existing authorization of the board of directors of
Terra Industries, Inc., the indirect parent of the General Partner, additional
Common Units have been and may continue to be purchased from time to time on the
open market and through privately negotiated transactions by affiliates of the
General Partner and such purchases may bring this ownership level above 75%.
Although TNCLP and its affiliates reserve the right to consider in the future
whether to acquire all of the Common Units, they do not have any present plan or
intention to do so.
FORWARD LOOKING PRECAUTIONS
- ---------------------------
Information contained in this report, other than historical information, may be
considered forward looking. Forward looking information reflects Management's
current views of future events and financial performance that involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially include, but are not limited to the following: general
economic conditions within the agricultural industry, competitive factors and
price changes (principally, sales prices and sales volumes of products and
natural gas costs), changes in product mix, changes in the seasonality of demand
patterns, changes in weather conditions, changes in agricultural regulations,
and other risks detailed in the Partnership's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, in particular the "Factors that Affect Operating Results" section of
its most recent Form 10-K.
11
Part II. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
27 Financial Data Schedule. (EDGAR only)
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
None
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
TERRA NITROGEN COMPANY, L.P.
By: TERRA NITROGEN CORPORATION
as General Partner
By: /s/ Francis G. Meyer
---------------------------
Francis G. Meyer
Vice President
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: November 8, 1999
12