Spectra Energy Partners Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results

HOUSTON, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP) today reported third quarter 2010 net income of $38.4 million, or $0.44 per limited partner unit.  Cash available for distribution was $50.4 million for the quarter.  This compares with net income of $40.4 million, or $0.48 per limited partner unit, and cash available for distribution of $55.2 million in the third quarter 2009.

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"The third quarter was another steady quarter for Spectra Energy Partners. Our businesses continue to perform well and our expansion projects are on schedule and within budget.  As a result, we raised quarterly distributions to our unitholders for the twelfth consecutive time," said Gregory J. Rizzo, president and chief executive officer.

Results from Operations

Spectra Energy Partners reported operating income of $24.3 million for the third quarter 2010, compared with $26.1 million in the third quarter 2009.  The decrease was primarily a result of a third quarter 2009 revenue benefit at the Ozark gas transmission system due to an opportunity to transport additional gas related to another company's pipeline outage, as well as higher operating expenses related to the timing of benefits costs within the year.    

Equity Investments in Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C. (Gulfstream) and Market Hub Partners (MHP)

In the third quarter 2010, Spectra Energy Partners recognized $8.2 million of equity earnings from its 24.5 percent interest in Gulfstream and $10.2 million of equity earnings from its 50 percent interest in MHP.  Gulfstream and MHP both delivered steady results for the quarter when compared with the prior year quarter.  The organic growth programs at Gulfstream and MHP continue with multi-year expansion projects underway.  These projects are on schedule and demonstrate the organic growth opportunities of the Spectra Energy Partners' asset portfolio.  

For the quarter, Spectra Energy Partners' share of Gulfstream's cash available for distribution was $14.7 million, compared with $14.4 million in the third quarter 2009, and its share of MHP's cash available for distribution was $11.4 million, compared with $11.3 million in the third quarter 2009.

Capital Expenditures and Equity Investments

During the quarter, Spectra Energy Partners invested $7.8 million in expansion and maintenance capital projects in the Gas Transportation and Storage segment and invested an additional $1.4 million in Gulfstream and $6.7 million in MHP for expansion projects.

Additional Information

The analyst conference call is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. CT today, November 4, 2010. The webcast and conference call can be accessed via the investor relations section of Spectra Energy Partners, LP's web site or by dialing (888) 252-3715 in the United States or (706) 634-8942 outside the United States. The Conference ID is 16896051.

Please call in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A replay of the conference call will be available after 12:00 p.m. CT, November 4, 2010, until 5:00 p.m. CT, January 4, 2011, by dialing (800) 642-1687 with Conference ID 16896051. The international replay number is (706) 645-9291 with Conference ID 16896051. A replay and transcript also will be available by accessing the investor relations section of Spectra Energy Partners' web site at http://www.spectraenergypartners.com.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain financial measures, including cash available for distribution and adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), that are non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures, as defined under the rules of the SEC.

Spectra Energy Partners defines adjusted EBITDA as net income plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, less equity in earnings of Gulfstream and MHP, interest income, and other income and expenses, net, which primarily includes non-cash AFUDC.

Spectra Energy Partners defines cash available for distribution as adjusted EBITDA plus cash available for distribution from Gulfstream and MHP and net preliminary project costs, less net cash paid for interest expense (income), net cash paid for income taxes and maintenance capital expenditures. Cash available for distribution does not reflect changes in working capital balances. Cash available for distribution for Gulfstream and MHP is defined on a basis consistent with Spectra Energy Partners.

This press release is accompanied by a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest GAAP financial measures. Management uses these financial measures because they are accepted financial indicators used by investors to compare company performance. In addition, management believes that these measures provide investors an enhanced perspective of the operating performance of the Partnership's assets and the cash that the business is generating. Adjusted EBITDA and cash available for distribution are not presented as alternatives to net income or cash flow from operations. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as: anticipate, believe, intend, estimate, expect, continue, should, could, may, plan, project, predict, will, potential, forecast, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an effect on rate structure, and affect the speed at and degree to which competition enters the natural gas industries; outcomes of litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; weather and other natural phenomena, including the economic, operational and other effects of hurricanes and storms; the timing and extent of changes in interest rates; general economic conditions, including the risk of a prolonged economic slowdown or decline, or the risk of delay in a recovery, which can affect the long-term demand for natural gas and related services; potential effects arising from terrorist attacks and any consequential or other hostilities; changes in environmental, safety and other laws and regulations; results and costs of financing efforts, including the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings and general market and economic conditions; increases in the cost of goods and services required to complete capital projects; growth in opportunities, including the timing and success of efforts to develop domestic pipeline, storage, gathering and other infrastructure projects and the effects of competition; the performance of natural gas transmission, storage and gathering facilities; the extent of success in connecting natural gas supplies to transmission and gathering systems and in connecting to expanding gas markets; the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; conditions of the capital markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements; and the ability to successfully complete merger, acquisition or divestiture plans; regulatory or other limitations imposed as a result of a merger, acquisition or divestiture; and the success of the business following a merger, acquisition or divestiture. These factors, as well as additional factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, are described in our filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available via the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described.  All forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Spectra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: SEP) is a Houston-based master limited partnership, formed by Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE), that owns interests in natural gas transportation and storage assets in the United States, including more than 3,100 miles of transmission and gathering pipeline and approximately 49 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas storage. These assets are capable of transporting 3.26 Bcf of natural gas per day from growing supply areas to high demand markets.

SOURCE Spectra Energy Partners, LP