(Source: Business Wire)

Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (NYSE:APL) ("APL" or the "Partnership") today
reported financial results for the third quarter 2009.
Highlights from the third quarter 2009 and recent events include the
following:
Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization ("adjusted EBITDA"), a non-GAAP measure, was $29.3
million in the third quarter 2009 compared to $80.7 million for the
prior year comparable quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter
2009 included approximately $19.0 million of realized losses from
legacy derivative positions, partially offset by a realized cash gain
on asset sales of approximately $1.5 million. A reconciliation of
non-GAAP measures, including adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash
flow, is provided within the financial tables of this release;
Excluding the approximately $1.5 million gain on asset sales and the
approximately $19.0 million of realized hedge losses in the third
quarter 2009 discussed above, adjusted EBITDA would have been $46.8
million compared with adjusted EBITDA of $80.7 million for the prior
year comparable quarter. The decrease between periods was primarily
due to lower overall commodity prices combined with reduced earnings
resulting from the sale of income-generating assets during the second
quarter of 2009;
Net loss was $12.3 million compared with net income of $201.2 million
for the prior year third quarter. The decrease between periods was
primarily due to mark to market gains on certain derivatives in the
prior year period as a result of the decline in crude oil prices, as
well as overall lower commodity prices in the current period; and
The Partnership closed the sale of the Sweetwater II processing
facility ("Sweetwater II"), a redundant natural gas processing
facility, to Penn Virginia Resource Partners, LP. The property sold
had been superseded by the Partnership's new Nine Mile processing
facility completed earlier this year and is likewise located in
western Oklahoma. Total proceeds from the transaction of approximately
$22.6 million were used to reduce indebtedness.
"We are pleased to report another quarter of solid performance," said
Eugene N. Dubay, chief executive officer of Atlas Pipeline Partners,
L.P. "For the quarter, we received average natural gas liquids price of
$0.75, up 12% versus our second quarter 2009 price of $0.67. Since the
end of the quarter, our margins have further improved as the outlook for
NGLs has strengthened on increasing economic fundamentals. While the
past year has been challenging, we are making significant progress on
our initiatives to maximize the capacity of our systems, and to improve
our balance sheet for the benefit of all stakeholders. We are confident
we can deliver on all these objectives."
Midkiff Consolidator Plant
The Partnership and Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE: PXD), which
owns a 27.2% undivided interest, are in the process of upgrading the
processing facilities on the Midkiff-Benedum system in the Permian Basin
of western Texas. The Consolidator gas plant is being constructed at
APL's Midkiff location and is progressing on budget and on schedule for
a mid-November 2009 startup. The Consolidator plant will extract an
incremental 3,200 barrels per day ("bpd") of natural gas liquids ("NGL")
(primarily ethane) from existing processed natural gas volumes and will
also offer increased reliability, reduced emissions and additional
operating efficiencies. The new cryogenic plant also provides an
incremental 40 million cubic feet per day ("mmcf/d") of processing
capacity to pursue the numerous growth prospects in the Spraberry area
and the ability to accommodate the robust 2010 drilling programs by
producers in the Permian Basin of Western Texas.
Mid-Continent Segment Results
The Velma system's average natural gas processed volume was 78.7 Mmcfd
for the third quarter 2009, an increase of approximately 29.2%
compared with the prior year comparable quarter. This increase is
primarily due to the expansion of the gathering system and connections
made to new production through the recently installed Madill to Velma
pipeline. Average NGL production also increased to 8,922 bpd, an
increase of 35.3% compared to the prior year third quarter.
The western Oklahoma systems, comprised of the Elk City/Sweetwater and
Chaney Dell complexes, had average NGL production of 24,168 bpd and
average natural gas processed volume was 402.7 Mmcfd for the third
quarter 2009. System volumes were impacted by decreased drilling in
western Oklahoma and producer well shut-ins because of lower natural
gas prices.
The Midkiff/Benedum system's average natural gas processed volume was
152.3 Mmcfd for the third quarter 2009, an increase of approximately
11.5% compared with the prior year comparable quarter. Average gross
NGL production volumes increased to 19,926 bpd, up 5.3% when compared
to the prior year comparable quarter.
Appalachia Segment Results
Gross margin for the Appalachia segment, including $1.4 million of
equity income from its interest in Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLC
("Laurel Mountain") was $2.9 million for the third quarter 2009
compared with $10.1 million for the prior year comparable quarter. The
decrease is due to APL's contribution of the majority of the
Appalachia system to Laurel Mountain, the joint venture established
between the Partnership and The Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB), in
which APL has a 49% ownership interest. Laurel Mountain generated $9.6
million in revenues and $2.4 million in net income during third
quarter 2009.
Gross throughput volume on the Appalachia system, including 100% of
the volumes of Laurel Mountain, increased to 106.0 Mmcfd for the third
quarter 2009, an increase of approximately 15.4% compared with the
prior year third quarter, resulting from the connection of new wells
to the Appalachia gathering system from drilling activity by APL's
affiliate, Atlas Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: ATLS).
Corporate and Other
General and administrative expense, including amounts reimbursed to
affiliates, was $8.8 million for the third quarter 2009 compared with
income of $2.7 million for the prior year third quarter. The prior
year third quarter included a $13.3 million gain related to a non-cash
mark-to-market reduction in share-based compensation expense.
Excluding this gain, general and administrative expense decreased $1.8
million compared to third quarter 2008.
Depreciation and amortization increased to $21.9 million for the third
quarter 2009 compared with $20.7 million for the prior year third
quarter due primarily to expansion capital expenditures incurred
subsequent to third quarter 2008, offset by the sale of certain assets
in the second quarter 2009.
Net of deferred financing costs, interest expense increased to $26.5
million for the third quarter 2009 as compared with $20.8 million for
the comparable prior year period. This increase was primarily due to
an increase in the interest rate on our revolver and senior secured
term loans as a result of the amendment to our credit facility in May
2009, offset by a $183 million diminution in debt outstanding.
At September 30, 2009, the Partnership had $1.243 billion of total
debt which includes $433.5 million outstanding on its term loan that
matures in 2014, $494.5 million of 8 1/8% and 8 7/8% senior unsecured
notes that mature in 2015 and 2018, respectively, and $315.0 million
of outstanding borrowings under its $380.0 million revolving credit
facility that matures in 2013. Up to $50.0 million of the credit
facility may be utilized for letters of credit, of which $9.1 million
was outstanding at September 30, 2009. Remaining available borrowings
on the credit facility are $55.9 million.
The credit facility contains customary covenants, including
maintaining the following ratios as of the fiscal quarter ending
September 30, 2009:
Maximum Leverage -- 6.50x
Maximum Senior Secured Leverage -- 3.75x
Minimum Interest Coverage -- 2.50x
The Partnership is in
compliance with all of its covenants under the credit facility. As
of September 30, 2009, the Partnership's Leverage ratio was 4.2x,
its Senior Secured Leverage ratio was 2.5x, and its Interest
Coverage ratio was 3.3x.
Interested parties are invited to access the live webcast of an investor
call with management regarding the Partnership's third quarter 2009
results on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 9:00 am ET by going to the
Investor Relations section of the Partnership's website at www.atlaspipelinepartners.com.
An audio replay of the conference call will also be available beginning
at 11:00 am ET on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. To access the replay,
dial 1-888-286-8010 and enter conference code 60143730.
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. is active in the gathering and
processing segments of the midstream natural gas industry. In the
Mid-Continent region of Oklahoma, southern Kansas, northern and western
Texas and the Texas panhandle, APL owns and operates eight active gas
processing plants and a treating facility, as well as approximately
8,750 miles of active intrastate gas gathering pipeline. In Appalachia,
APL is a 49% joint venture partner with Williams in Laurel Mountain
Midstream, LLC, which manages the natural gas gathering system in that
region, namely from the Marcellus Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit the Partnership's website at www.atlaspipelinepartners.com
or contact investorrelations@atlaspipelinepartners.com.
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. is a limited partnership which owns
and operates the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.,
through which it owns a 2% general partner interest, all the incentive
distribution rights and approximately 5.8 million common and 15,000
$1,000 par value 12% preferred limited partner units of Atlas Pipeline
Partners, L.P.
Atlas Energy, Inc. is one of the largest independent natural gas
producers in the Appalachian and Michigan Basins and a leading producer
in the Marcellus Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania. Atlas Energy, Inc.
is also the country's largest sponsor and manager of tax-advantaged
energy investment partnerships that finance the exploration and
development of Atlas Energy, Inc.'s acreage. Atlas Energy, Inc. also
owns 1.1 million common units in APL and a 64% interest in AHD. For more
information, please visit our website at www.atlasamerica.com,
or contact Investor Relations at InvestorRelations@atlasamerica.com.
Certain matters discussed within this press release are
forward-looking statements. Although Atlas Pipeline
Partners, L.P. believes the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can
give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations
include financial performance, inability of the Partnership to
successfully integrate the operations at the acquired systems,
regulatory changes, changes in local or national economic conditions and
other risks detailed from time to time in Atlas Pipeline's reports filed
with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form
8-K and annual reports on Form 10-K.
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Financial Summary
(unaudited; in thousands)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2009 2008(1) 2009(1) 2008(1)
Revenue:
Natural gas and liquids $ 194,440 $ 396,739 $ 526,478 $ 1,186,688
Transportation, compression and other fees -- affiliates 380 11,916 16,877 32,496
Transportation, compression and other fees -- third parties 4,719 6,125 12,574 16,792
Equity income in joint venture 1,430 ? 2,140 ?
Gain on asset sales 1,499 ? 111,440 ?
Other income (loss), net 4,065 153,878 (6,431 ) (247,136 )
Total revenue and other loss, net 206,533 568,658 663,078 988,840
Costs and expenses:
Natural gas and liquids 144,990 314,315 409,411 937,852
Plant operating 14,762 16,652 42,713 46,418
Transportation and compression 134 2,883 6,256 7,842
General and administrative 8,379 (3,832 ) 24,846 8,325
Compensation reimbursement -- affiliates 375 1,175 1,125 3,694
Depreciation and amortization 21,896 20,741 67,563 61,200
Interest 28,320 22,098 75,820 62,663
Total costs and expenses 218,856 374,032 627,734 1,127,994
Income (loss) from continuing operations (12,323 ) 194,626 35,344 (139,154 )
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of discontinued operations -- ? 51,078 ?
Income from discontinued operations -- 6,538 11,417 21,029
Income from discontinued operations -- 6,538 62,495 21,029
Net income (loss) (12,323 ) 201,164 97,839 (118,125 )
Income attributable to non-controlling interests (954 ) (2,591 ) (2,075 ) (7,793 )
Preferred unit dividends ? (650 ) (900 ) (1,437 )
Preferred unit imputed dividend cost ? ? ? (505 )
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners and the general partner $ (13,277 ) $ 197,923 $ 94,864 $ (127,860 )
See footnotes at the end of this earnings release.
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P.