Antero Midstream Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial and Operational Results

DENVER, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Antero Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: AM) ("Antero Midstream" or the "Partnership") today released its third quarter 2016 financial and operational results.  The relevant condensed combined consolidated financial statements are included in Antero Midstream's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Third Quarter Highlights Include:

• Net income was $71 million, or $0.37 per limited partner unit, representing a per unit increase of 61% compared to the prior year quarter
• Adjusted EBITDA was $111 million, a 55% increase compared to the prior year quarter
• Distributable cash flow was $103 million, resulting in DCF coverage of 2.0x
• Declared a cash distribution of $0.265 per unit for the third quarter of 2016, a 29% increase compared to the prior year quarter and a 6% increase sequentially
• Completed private placement of $650 million of 5.375% senior notes due 2024 at par, resulting in $1.0 billion of liquidity to fund organic growth opportunities

Recent Developments

Distribution for the Third Quarter of 2016

The Board of Directors of Antero Resources Midstream Management LLC, the general partner of the Partnership, declared a cash distribution of $0.265 per unit ($1.06 per unit annualized) for the third quarter of 2016. The distribution represents a 29% increase compared to the prior year quarter and a 6% increase sequentially.  The distribution is the Partnership's seventh consecutive quarterly distribution increase since its initial public offering in November 2014 and will be payable on November 24, 2016 to unitholders of record as of November 10, 2016.

Private Placement of Senior Notes

On September 13, 2016, Antero Midstream completed a private placement of $650 million of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2024 at par. In connection with the private placement, Antero Midstream received its initial corporate credit ratings of Ba2 and BB by Moody's and S&P, respectively.  Proceeds from the private placement were used to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the Partnership's credit facility. As of September 30, 2016, Antero Midstream had $170 million of borrowings outstanding under its $1.5 billion credit facility and $9 million of cash, resulting in approximately $1.0 billion of available liquidity⁽¹⁾.

Increase in Acreage Dedicated to Antero Midstream

Year-to-date, Antero Resources has acquired approximately 65,000 net leasehold acres in West Virginia in the high-graded core of the Marcellus Shale, 71% of which includes Utica rights. Substantially all of the acquired acreage is dedicated to Antero Midstream for gathering, compression, processing, and water services.  

On October 25, 2016, Antero Resources signed a definitive agreement for the sale of approximately 17,000 net acres primarily located in Washington and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania for $170 million.  Approximately 20% of the 17,000 net acres was dedicated to a third party and $10 million of the proceeds is expected to be allocated to Antero Midstream as consideration for the release of its existing gathering and compression dedication concurrent with the acreage sale. The acreage is not included in Antero Midstream's five year infrastructure development plan based on Antero Resources' current five year drilling plan. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Commenting on consolidation activity by Antero Resources, Paul Rady, Chairman and CEO said, "Antero Resources continues to be the most active operator and a leading consolidator in Appalachia, adding over 65,000 net acres in the high-graded core of the Marcellus year-to-date, substantially all of which is dedicated to Antero Midstream. Looking ahead, Antero Resources remains well capitalized to fund further consolidation in the Appalachian Basin and in turn, increase organic growth opportunities for Antero Midstream."

Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Antero Midstream's acquisition of Antero Resources' integrated water business in 2015 was accounted for as a transfer of entities under common control.  As a result, the Partnership recast its condensed combined consolidated financial statements to retrospectively reflect the integrated water business as if the assets and liabilities were owned for all past periods presented.  Beginning in the third quarter of 2015, and as a result of the acquisition, Antero Midstream began reporting its results through two business segments, Gathering and Compression and Water Handling and Treatment.  To facilitate year over year comparison and discussion, the third quarter 2016 and third quarter 2015 results discussed below include both the Gathering and Compression and Water Handling and Treatment segment operations.

The term "Adjusted EBITDA" discussed below reflects the Gathering and Compression and Water Handling and Treatment segments on a recast combined basis, while the term "Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership" reflects contribution from the Water Handling and Treatment segments only after the third quarter of 2015 based on the actual timing of the acquired assets.  For a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, please read "Non-GAAP Financial Measures". 

Low pressure gathering volumes for the third quarter of 2016 averaged 1,431 MMcf/d, a 38% increase from the third quarter of 2015 and a 6% increase sequentially.  High pressure gathering volumes for the third quarter of 2016 averaged 1,351 MMcf/d, an 11% increase from the third quarter of 2015 and an 8% increase sequentially.  Compression volumes for the third quarter of 2016 averaged 777 MMcf/d, a 78% increase from the third quarter of 2015 and an 18% increase sequentially. The increase in gathering and compression volumes was due to production growth from Antero Resources in Antero Midstream's area of dedication.  Condensate gathering volumes averaged 521 Bbl/d during the quarter, an 82% decrease compared to the prior year quarter and a 74% decrease sequentially. The sequential decrease in condensate gathering volumes was primarily driven by Antero shifting its Ohio Utica Shale development from its Highly-Rich Gas/Condensate area to currently higher rate of return drilling in the Highly-Rich Gas areas.

Fresh water delivery volumes averaged 140,162 Bbl/d during the quarter, a 109% increase compared to the prior year quarter and a 33% increase sequentially.  The increase in volumes was driven by an increase in the average water used per foot in Marcellus completions to  43 barrels per foot, a 35% increase as compared to 2015 and a 5% increase compared to the second quarter of 2016 as Antero piloted higher water and sand concentration completions.

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Partnership reported revenues of $150 million, comprised of $78 million from the Gathering and Compression segment and $72 million from the Water Handling and Treatment segment. Revenues increased 84% compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by growth in throughput volumes and fresh water delivery volumes. Water Handling and Treatment segment revenues include $25 million from produced water handling and high rate water transfer services provided to Antero Resources, which is billed at cost plus 3%. 

Direct operating expenses for the Gathering and Compression and Water Handling and Treatment segments were $5 million and $28 million, respectively, for a total of $33 million compared to $2 million in direct operating expenses in the prior year quarter. Water Handling and Treatment direct operating expenses include $24 million from produced water handling and high rate water transfer services. The increase in direct operating expenses was driven primarily by the inclusion of produced water handling and high rate water transfer services, as well as the expansion of the Partnership's gathering and compression and fresh water delivery systems to support the production growth of Antero Resources.  General and administrative expenses including equity-based compensation were $13 million, a $0.5 million decrease compared to the third quarter of 2015.  General and administrative expenses excluding equity-based compensation were $7 million during the third quarter of 2016, a 22% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2015, which included additional expenses from the integrated water business drop-down transaction. Total operating expenses were $76 million, including $26 million of depreciation, $7 million of equity-based compensation, and $4 million of accretion of contingent acquisition consideration.

Net income for the third quarter of 2016 was $71 million, a 65% increase compared to the prior year quarter. Net income per limited partner unit was $0.37 per unit, a 61% increase compared to the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $111 million, a 55% increase compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in net income and Adjusted EBITDA is primarily driven by increased gathering and compression volumes and fresh water delivery volumes.  Cash interest expense and cash reserved for payment of income tax withholding upon vesting of Antero Midstream equity-based compensation awards were $4 million and $1 million, respectively. Cash distribution to be received from unconsolidated affiliate for the third quarter was $2 million.  Maintenance capital expenditures during the quarter totaled $5 million and distributable cash flow was $103 million, resulting in a DCF coverage ratio of 2.0x.

Commenting on Antero Midstream's quarterly results, Michael Kennedy, CFO of Antero Midstream said, "Antero Midstream reported another strong quarter, driven by increased throughput and completion activities driving higher water volumes. Additionally, Antero Midstream continues to drive down operating expenses in both the gathering and compression and water businesses from optimizing the systems and enhanced efficiencies. The combination of growth and attractive EBITDA margins is a direct result of Antero Midstream's organic growth strategy delivering strong returns to our unitholders, exhibited by our peer leading distribution growth and coverage."

Gathering and Compression — During the third quarter, Antero Midstream added a total of 170 MMcf/d of compression capacity by adding additional horsepower to existing stations and placing in-service a 120 MMcf/d compressor station in the Marcellus Shale play.  Antero's current compression capacity is approximately 1.0 Bcf/d in the Marcellus and Utica combined and compression capacity was 90% utilized in the third quarter. Additionally, Antero Midstream connected 21 wells from 6 pads to its Marcellus and Utica gathering systems during the quarter.  Antero Resources is currently operating five drilling rigs on Antero Midstream dedicated acreage.

Water Handling and Treatment — Antero Midstream's Marcellus and Utica fresh water delivery systems serviced 35 well completions during the third quarter of 2016, a 25% increase from the third quarter of 2015 and 13% increase sequentially.  Antero Resources is currently operating six completion crews on Antero Midstream dedicated acreage.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2016, Antero Midstream had $170 million drawn on its $1.5 billion bank credit facility with current borrowing capacity of $1.2 billion, resulting in approximately $1.0 billion in available credit facility capacity.  Antero Midstream had $9 million of cash on its balance sheet and a consolidated net debt to trailing twelve months EBITDA of 2.2x as of September 30, 2016.  For a reconciliation of consolidated net debt to consolidated total debt, the most comparable GAAP measure, please read "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Capital Spending

Capital expenditures were $115 million in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to $103 million in the third quarter of 2015.  Capital invested in gathering and compression assets was $56 million and capital invested in water handling and treatment assets was $59 million, including $52 million invested in the Antero Clearwater Facility.

Conference Call

Antero Midstream will hold a call on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 10:00 am MT to discuss the results.  A brief Q&A session for security analysts will immediately follow the discussion of the results for the quarter.  To participate in the call, dial in at 888-347-8204 (U.S.), 855-669-9657 (Canada), or 412-902-4229 (International) and reference "Antero Midstream".  A telephone replay of the call will be available until Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00 am MT at 877-870-5176 (U.S.) or 858-384-5517 (International) using the passcode 10091485.

To access the live webcast and view the related earnings conference call presentation, visit Antero Midstream's website at www.anteromidstream.com.  The webcast will be archived for replay on the Partnership's website until Friday, November 4, 2016 at 10:00 am MT.

Presentation

An updated presentation will be posted to the Partnership's website before the October 27, 2016 conference call. The presentation can be found at www.anteromidstream.com on the homepage.  Information on the Partnership's website does not constitute a portion of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Antero Midstream views Adjusted EBITDA as an important indicator of the Partnership's performance.  Antero Midstream defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before equity-based compensation expense, interest expense, depreciation expense, accretion of contingent acquisition consideration, excluding pre-acquisition income and expenses attributable to the parent and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate.

Antero Midstream uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess:

• the financial performance of the Partnership's assets, without regard to financing methods in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, capital structure or historical cost basis;
• its operating performance and return on capital as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure; and
• the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects.

The Partnership defines Distributable Cash Flow as Adjusted EBITDA less cash interest paid, income tax withholding payments and cash reserved for payments upon vesting of equity-based compensation awards and ongoing maintenance capital expenditures paid, excluding pre-acquisition amounts attributable to the parent, plus cash distributions to be received from unconsolidated affiliate.  Antero Midstream uses Distributable Cash Flow as a performance metric to compare the cash generating performance of the Partnership from period to period and to compare the cash generating performance for specific periods to the cash distributions (if any) that are expected to be paid to unitholders.  Distributable Cash Flow does not reflect changes in working capital balances.

Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow is net income. The non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow should not be considered as alternatives to the GAAP measure of net income. Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow are not presentations made in accordance with GAAP and have important limitations as an analytical tool because they include some, but not all, items that affect net income. You should not consider Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow in isolation or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP. Antero Midstream's definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other partnerships.

The following table reconciles consolidated total debt to consolidated net debt as used in this release (in thousands):

The following table reconciles net income to adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended September 30, 2016 as used in this release (in thousands):

Antero Midstream Partners LP is a limited partnership that owns, operates and develops midstream gathering and compression assets located in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as integrated water assets that primarily service Antero Resources' properties located in West Virginia and Ohio.

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Partnership's control.  All statements, other than historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release.  Although the Partnership believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements.  Nothing in this release is intended to constitute guidance with respect to Antero Resources.

Antero Midstream cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Partnership's control, incident to the gathering and compression and water handling and treatment business. These risks include, but are not limited to, Antero Resources' expected future growth, Antero Resources' ability to meet its drilling and development plan, commodity price volatility, ability to execute the Partnership's business strategy, competition and government regulations, actions taken by third-party producers, operators, processors and transporters, inflation, environmental risks, drilling and completion and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, and the other risks described under "Risk Factors" in Antero Midstream's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

For more information, contact Michael Kennedy – CFO of Antero Midstream at (303) 357-6782 or [email protected].

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SOURCE Antero Midstream Partners LP