Natural Resource Partners L.P. Reports First Quarter 2010 Results

HOUSTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE: NRP) today reported distributable cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, of $33.8 million, down five percent from the $35.5 million reported for the first quarter of 2009. Net income attributable to the limited partners decreased 22% to $16.9 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $21.6 million for the first quarter of 2009.  This represents a $0.09 decrease in earnings per unit to $0.24 in first quarter 2010 compared to $0.33 in the first quarter of 2009.

"The first quarter exceeded our expectations on both coal tonnage and prices as our focus on metallurgical coal is benefiting us due to the increasing global demand for steel," said Nick Carter, President and Chief Operating Officer.  

Market Outlook

The metallurgical coal markets are improving around the globe.  New metallurgical coal contracts are being signed at significantly higher prices than last year and exports are dramatically increasing.  In just the first two months of 2010, exports of metallurgical coal from the United States increased by approximately 70% over the first two months of 2009.  With significantly higher exports of metallurgical coal for three straight months, met coal exports are on track to exceed the record exports seen in 2008.  Approximately 20% to 25% of all metallurgical coal produced in the United States is normally produced from NRP properties.  If this strong met market persists, it could have a positive impact on NRP's results going forward.

While there has been a strong recovery in the metallurgical coal market, the steam coal market has been improving at a slower rate.  Higher electricity demand as a result of the colder winter in the regions of the country that are predominantly supplied with coal-fired electricity has caused reductions in the coal stockpiles at the utilities.  However, the stockpiles still remain above normal and NRP does not see those stockpiles being drawn back to normal levels until sometime in the second half of 2010.  Many factors determine the demand for coal-fired electricity. While improvements in the economy could be a major positive, low natural gas prices may contribute to fuel switching.  Overall, NRP is seeing some fairly significant signs of recovery compared to this time last year.

Total revenues for the first quarter 2010 were down slightly from the fourth quarter 2009 to $63.5 million, mainly due to a scheduled longwall move in Illinois that affected not only coal royalty revenues but also transportation fees.  While production was down approximately 500 thousand tons, realizations increased by $0.09 to $4.37 per ton.  In the first quarter, minimums recognized as revenue increased by $3.1 million due to a non-recoupable minimum recognized on the Deer Run property.  These were offset by a reduction in oil and gas royalties of $2.8 million primarily due to settlements of $2.3 million received in the fourth quarter of 2009.

As in the first quarter of every year, NRP had a drop in distributable cash flow due to several large payments.  Distributable cash flow decreased in the first quarter 2010 by $30.0 million to $33.8 million from the fourth quarter 2009.  The main factors were a recurring interest payment on a tranche of the senior notes, long term incentive plan payments and annual property tax payments.   The majority of the property tax payments will be reimbursed by NRP's lessees in future quarters.

While net income was down only $2.7 million in the first quarter versus the fourth quarter 2009, there was an increased allocation of $8.0 million of net income to the incentive distribution rights (IDRs).  At the time of the Deer Run acquisition, the general partner of NRP agreed to forego $7.35 million of the IDRs per quarter for both the third and fourth quarters of 2009.  The fourth quarter reflected this reduction while the first quarter of 2010 returned to the full IDR distribution.  This item benefited earnings per unit by $0.10 in the fourth quarter 2009.  

Total revenues declined 5% to $63.5 million for the first quarter of 2010, compared to $66.7 million reported for the same period last year.  While some of the curtailments in production by our lessees due to the reduced demand for electricity and steel had occurred in the first quarter of 2009, there have been further reductions over the last year.

First quarter 2010 coal royalty revenues decreased 10% to $47.2 million from $52.6 million last year primarily due to curtailed production in Central Appalachia offset somewhat by increased coal royalty revenues per ton in all regions except one.  Increased metallurgical coal prices and higher sales contracts of some of NRP's lessees' steam coal generated a 4% increase in coal royalty revenue per ton to $4.37 in the first quarter 2010 from $4.21 for the same period last year.  

Total production for the partnership was 10.8 million tons compared to 12.5 million tons last year, a decrease of 13%.  Production decreased in most regions due to lower demand in 2010 versus the first quarter of 2009. Appalachia declined approximately 1.6 million tons mainly due to coal operators curtailing production over the year in 2009, of which approximately 700 thousand tons were related to the Aracoma preparation plant fire that occurred the second half of 2009.  One positive factor is that metallurgical coal production accounted for 33% of this quarter's production and 39% of coal royalty revenue versus the first quarter last year when met production was only 24% of production and 32% of coal royalty revenues.

In addition to coal royalty revenues, NRP generated $16.3 million or approximately 26% of its first quarter revenues from other sources, compared to $14.1 million or 21% for the same period in 2009.  These other sources include: aggregate royalties; coal processing and transportation fees; rentals; royalties on oil and gas; timber; overriding royalties; and wheelage payments.  This slight increase was mainly due to the minimums recognized as revenue.

Total expenses decreased $2.7 million or 11% from the first quarter of 2009 to $22.6 million.  Approximately $1.7 million was related to lower depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses resulting from lower production.  General and administrative expenses were down approximately $1.0 million mainly due to a decrease in accruals under the long-term incentive compensation plan.

Interest expense increased $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 over the same period last year due to additional borrowings for acquisitions and the issuance of senior notes in the first quarter of 2009 at higher interest rates than the credit facility.

Distributable cash flow decreased 5% to $33.8 million from $35.5 million generated in the first quarter of 2009 due to a $1.7 million decrease in net cash provided by operations.

Net income attributable to the limited partners declined 22% to $16.9 million from the first quarter of 2009 mainly due to the reduced revenues and increased interest expense discussed above.  Net income per unit declined $0.09 per unit to $0.24 per unit due to the reduced net income and also due to additional units outstanding in 2010 versus 2009.  The impact on earnings of the issuance of equity and the incremental IDRs associated with the equity was approximately $0.04 per unit.

Acquisitions

During the first quarter of 2010, NRP completed three acquisitions totaling $50.6 million. NRP completed the second acquisition related to the Deer Run property, announced last September, for $40 million and anticipates completing three more acquisitions on the Deer Run property during the remainder of 2010 for approximately $125 million.  NRP also purchased an overriding royalty interest on approximately 1.6 million tons associated with two separate properties for $3 million.  In addition, NRP closed an aggregate reserve acquisition related to a greenfield crushed stone property in Monon, Indiana that will service both the Gary, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois markets.  The aggregate reserve acquisition will total $7.5 million of which $3 million was paid at closing.  These acquisitions were funded through cash and borrowings.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, NRP closed two additional aggregate acquisitions in California and Indiana, totaling $23.5 million, $18 million of which was paid at closing and the remaining $5.5 million to be paid later in 2010.  The California acquisition consists of silica sand reserves while the Indiana acquisition relates to a fine grind processing facility currently under construction that NRP will lease to the producer.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At the end of the first quarter, NRP had approximately $63 million in cash, down approximately $20 from the cash available at year end.  This reduction in cash was mainly due to principal and interest payments made in the first quarter.  During the first quarter, NRP made scheduled principal payments of $15.2 million, and an interest payment of $17.7 million.  In addition, NRP made its final $3 million payment in January on the Blue Star acquisition announced last July.

On April 7, NRP closed an equity offering that generated $112 million to the partnership of which $74 million was used to retire the outstanding balance on the credit facility and approximately $18 million was used for the purchase of acquisitions since quarter end.  "With the repayment of the balance outstanding, we now have the full $300 million available on our credit facility, which gives us the ability to finance the balance of our purchase obligations for the Deer Run acquisitions and gives us flexibility to take advantage of opportunities in this market environment," said Dwight Dunlap, Chief Financial Officer.

Distributions

On April 22, the partnership announced the first quarter distribution of $0.54 per unit, held constant with the previous quarter.  The distribution will be paid on May 14, 2010 to unitholders of record on May 5, 2010.

"As stated in our January guidance, NRP believes that the cash generated by the partnership during 2010, together with our cash balance, will allow the partnership to maintain its quarterly distribution at $0.54 throughout 2010 until production increases on our recent acquisitions.  In addition, the Board and the holders of the incentive distribution rights intend to support the current distribution in 2010, if necessary, by deferring the distributions that the holders of the IDRs would receive in any quarter with respect to the highest splits," said Corbin J. Robertson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Company Profile

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is headquartered in Houston, TX, with its operations headquartered in Huntington, WV.  NRP is a master limited partnership that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing mineral reserve properties.  NRP owns coal reserves and coal handling and transportation infrastructure in the three major coal producing regions of the United States: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.  In addition, the partnership owns and manages aggregate reserves being mined in Arizona, California, Indiana, Texas, West Virginia and Washington.

For additional information, please contact Kathy H. Roberts at 713-751-7555 or [email protected].  Further information about NRP is available on the partnership's website at http://www.nrplp.com.

Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Distributable cash flow represents cash flow from operations less actual principal payments and cash reserves set aside for scheduled principal payments on the senior notes.  Distributable cash flow is a "non-GAAP financial measure" that is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under GAAP. Distributable cash flow is a significant liquidity metric that is an indicator of NRP's ability to generate cash flows at a level that can sustain or support an increase in quarterly cash distributions paid to its partners. Distributable cash flow is also the quantitative standard used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships. Distributable cash flow is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities. A reconciliation of distributable cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities is included in the tables attached to this release.  Distributable cash flow may not be calculated the same for NRP as other companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such statements include the outlook.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the partnership.  These risks include, but are not limited to, decreases in demand for coal; changes in operating conditions and costs; production cuts by our lessees; commodity prices; unanticipated geologic problems; changes in the legislative or regulatory environment and other factors detailed in Natural Resource Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Natural Resource Partners L.P. has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

-Financial statements follow-

SOURCE Natural Resource Partners L.P.