Natural Resource Partners L.P. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP) today reported first quarter 2024 results as follows:

For the Three Months Ended

Last Twelve Months Ended

(In thousands) (Unaudited)

March 31, 2024

Net income

$

56,213

$

255,373

Operating cash flow

71,499

309,577

Free cash flow (1)

72,146

312,081

(1)

See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and reconciliation tables at the end of this release.

Highlights:

  • Generated $72.1 million of free cash flow in the first quarter of 2024
  • Repurchased 1.2 million warrants with $55.7 million in cash and 198,767 common units
  • Increased credit facility borrowing capacity $45 million from $155 million to $200 million
  • Paid fourth quarter 2023 common unit distribution of $0.75 per unit
  • Paid special distribution of $2.44 per common unit to help cover unitholder tax liabilities associated with owning NRP common units in 2023
  • In April, repurchased 0.3 million warrants with $10.0 million in cash and 89,059 common units; Zero warrants remain outstanding

“NRP generated $72 million of free cash flow in the first quarter of 2024 and $312 million of free cash flow over the last twelve months,” said Craig Nunez, NRP’s president and chief operating officer. “NRP has generated more free cash flow over the last two years than during any comparable period in the history of the Partnership. This performance has allowed us to make considerable progress toward our goal of eliminating all our financial obligations. The sum of debt and preferred equity outstanding is down to approximately $260 million, the Partnership is warrant free, and our financial position is solid and improving. While we expect lower prices for coal and soda ash to drive our free cash flow in the coming quarters below the record levels realized in recent years, we expect to continue making steady progress paying down debt and preferred equity. We continue to believe eliminating all our obligations while maintaining common unit distributions to help cover unitholder tax liabilities is the right strategy to maximize intrinsic value and maximize unitholder returns.”

NRP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner declared a first quarter 2024 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit to be paid on May 28, 2024, to unitholders of record on May 21, 2024. In addition, the board declared a $2.15 million cash distribution on NRP’s outstanding preferred units. Future distributions on NRP’s common and preferred units will be determined on a quarterly basis by the board of directors. The board of directors considers numerous factors each quarter in determining cash distributions including profitability, cash flow, debt service obligations, market conditions and outlook, estimated unitholder income tax liability, and the level of cash reserves that the board determines is necessary for future operating and capital needs.

Segment Performance

Mineral Rights

Mineral Rights net income, operating cash flow, and free cash flow for the first quarter of 2024 decreased $8.2 million, $4.1 million, and $4.1 million, respectively, as compared to the prior year period. These decreases were primarily due to lower metallurgical coal prices as compared to the prior year period. Approximately 75% of coal royalty revenues and approximately 50% of coal royalty sales volumes were derived from metallurgical coal in the first quarter of 2024.

Metallurgical and thermal coal prices declined during the first quarter of 2024, significantly lower than the highs seen in 2022, but above historical norms. NRP expects continued price volatility as global softening in steel demand impacts metallurgical prices, and mild weather, high inventory levels, low natural gas prices, and scheduled shutdowns of thermal coal plants should weaken demand for thermal coal. However, limitations on operators’ ability to increase production due to limited access to capital, labor shortages, and inflationary pressures should provide some price support for metallurgical and thermal coal for the foreseeable future.

NRP continues to explore carbon neutral revenue opportunities across its large asset portfolio, including the sequestration of carbon dioxide underground and in standing forests, the generation of electricity using geothermal, solar, and wind energy, and lithium production. While the timing and likelihood of additional cash flows from these activities is uncertain, NRP believes its large ownership footprint throughout the United States provides additional opportunities to create value in this regard with minimal capital investment by NRP.

Soda Ash

Soda Ash net income in the first quarter of 2024 decreased $13.7 million as compared to the prior year period due to lower sales prices and volumes primarily driven by new supply from China. Operating cash flow and free cash flow in the first quarter of 2024 improved $3.5 million as compared to the prior year period due to a higher cash distribution received from Sisecam Wyoming in the first quarter of 2024 relating to results in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Global soda ash prices were significantly lower in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior year period primarily due to new supply from China. NRP believes lower international prices will persist throughout the remainder of the year and into next year as the market contends with slower global growth and absorbs the additional supply.

Corporate and Financing

In the first quarter of 2024 Corporate and Financing costs increased $1.1 million and operating cash flow and free cash flow decreased $0.8 million as compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher interest expense and cash paid for interest in the first quarter of 2024 due to increased borrowings outstanding on the credit facility used for warrant settlements.

NRP repurchased 1.2 million warrants for $55.7 million in cash and 198,767 common units during the first quarter of 2024. In April of 2024, NRP repurchased the remainder of the outstanding 0.3 million warrants for $10.0 million in cash and 89,059 common units. NRP has now retired all 4.0 million of its previously issued warrants.

In February 2024, NRP declared and paid a fourth quarter 2023 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit and a $2.15 million cash distribution on its preferred units. In March 2024, NRP declared and paid a special distribution of $2.44 per common unit to help cover the tax liability associated with owning NRP units in 2023. Today, NRP declared a first quarter 2024 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit and a $2.15 million cash distribution on its outstanding preferred units.

NRP increased its revolving credit facility borrowing capacity by $45 million to $200 million in the first quarter of 2024. NRP’s available liquidity was $64.8 million at March 31, 2024, consisting of $11.0 million of cash and $53.8 million of borrowing capacity available under its revolving credit facility.

NRP’s consolidated leverage ratio was 0.6x at March 31, 2024.

Conference Call

A conference call will be held today at 9:00 a.m. ET. To register for the conference call, please use this link: https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I890960. After registering a confirmation will be sent via email, including dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call, however, to ensure you are connected for the full conference call we suggest registering at minimum 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Investors may also listen to the call via the Investor Relations section of the NRP website at www.nrplp.com. To access the replay, please visit the Investor Relations section of NRP’s website.

Withholding Information for Foreign Investors

Concurrent with this announcement, we are providing qualified notice to brokers and nominees that hold NRP units on behalf of non-U.S. investors under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) and (d) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(iii). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of NRP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. In addition, brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of the distribution as being in excess of cumulative net income for purposes of determining the amount to withhold. Accordingly, NRP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at a rate equal to the sum of the highest applicable rate plus ten percent (10%).

Company Profile

Natural Resource Partners L.P., a master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, TX, is a diversified natural resource company that owns, manages and leases a diversified portfolio of properties in the United States including coal, industrial minerals and other natural resources, as well as rights to conduct carbon sequestration and renewable energy activities. NRP also owns an equity investment in Sisecam Wyoming LLC, one of the world’s lowest-cost producers of soda ash.

For additional information, please contact Tiffany Sammis at 713-751-7515 or tsammis@nrplp.com. Further information about NRP is available on the partnership’s website at http://www.nrplp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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, among other things, statements regarding: future distributions on the Partnerships common and preferred units; the Partnership’s business strategy; its liquidity and access to capital and financing sources; its financial strategy; prices of and demand for coal, trona and soda ash, and other natural resources; estimated revenues, expenses and results of operations; projected future performance by the Partnership’s lessees; Sisecam Wyoming LLCs trona mining and soda ash refinery operations; distributions from the soda ash joint venture; the impact of governmental policies, laws and regulations, as well as regulatory and legal proceedings involving the Partnership, and of scheduled or potential regulatory or legal changes; global and U.S. economic conditions; 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

“Adjusted EBITDA” is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net income (loss) less equity earnings from unconsolidated investment; plus total distributions from unconsolidated investment, interest expense, net, debt modification expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, depreciation, depletion and amortization and asset impairments. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or loss, net income or loss attributable to partners, operating income or loss, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance, liquidity or ability to service debt obligations. There are significant limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance, including the inability to analyze the effect of certain recurring items that materially affect our net income, the lack of comparability of results of operations of different companies and the different methods of calculating Adjusted EBITDA reported by different companies. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA presented below is not calculated or presented on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA as defined in our partnership agreement or Consolidated EBITDDA as defined in Opco’s debt agreements. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental performance measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis.

“Distributable cash flow or “DCF” is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus distributions from unconsolidated investment in excess of cumulative earnings, proceeds from asset sales and disposals, including sales of discontinued operations, and return of long-term contract receivable; less maintenance capital expenditures. DCF 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. DCF may not be calculated the same for us as for other companies. In addition, distributable cash flow is not calculated or presented on the same basis as distributable cash flow as defined in our partnership agreement, which is used as a metric to determine whether we are able to increase quarterly distributions to our common unitholders. Distributable cash flow is a supplemental liquidity measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others to assess our ability to make cash distributions and repay debt.

“Free cash flow or “FCF” is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus distributions from unconsolidated investment in excess of cumulative earnings and return of long-term contract receivable; less maintenance and expansion capital expenditures and cash flow used in acquisition costs classified as investing or financing activities. FCF is calculated before mandatory debt repayments. Free 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. Free cash flow may not be calculated the same for us as for other companies. Free cash flow is a supplemental liquidity measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others to assess our ability to make cash distributions and repay debt.

“Leverage ratio” represents the outstanding principal of NRP’s debt at the end of the period divided by the last twelve months’ Adjusted EBITDA as defined above. NRP believes that leverage ratio is a useful measure to management and investors to evaluate and monitor the indebtedness of NRP relative to its ability to generate income to service such debt and in understanding trends in NRPs overall financial condition. Leverage ratio may not be calculated the same for NRP as for other companies and is not a substitute for, and should not be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial ratios.

-Financial Tables and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures Follow-

Natural Resource Partners L.P.

Financial Tables

(Unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

December 31,

(In thousands, except per unit data)

2024

2023

2023

Revenues and other income

Royalty and other mineral rights

$

67,372

$

76,271

$

72,922

Transportation and processing services

3,427

3,598

3,476

Equity in earnings of Sisecam Wyoming

5,450

19,254

14,764

Gain on asset sales and disposals

165

96

2,001

Total revenues and other income

$

76,414

$

99,219

$

93,163

Operating expenses

Operating and maintenance expenses

$

5,733

$

7,163

$

8,864

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

4,654

4,083

6,020

General and administrative expenses

6,327

5,845

8,954

Asset impairments

424

Total operating expenses

$

16,714

$

17,091

$

24,262

Income from operations

$

59,700

$

82,128

$

68,901

Interest expense, net

$

(3,487

)

$

(2,853

)

$

(3,921

)

Net income

$

56,213

$

79,275

$

64,980

Less: income attributable to preferred unitholders

(2,150

)

(6,661

)

(2,151

)

Less: redemption of preferred units

(16,228

)

Net income attributable to common unitholders and the general partner

$

54,063

$

56,386

$

62,829

Net income attributable to common unitholders

$

52,982

$

55,258

$

61,572

Net income attributable to the general partner

1,081

1,128

1,257

Net income per common unit

Basic

$

4.13

$

4.40

$

4.87

Diluted

3.83

3.44

4.31

Net income

$

56,213

$

79,275

$

64,980

Comprehensive income (loss) from unconsolidated investment and other

845

(19,583

)

(5,367

)

Comprehensive income

$

57,058

$

59,692

$

59,613

Natural Resource Partners L.P.

Financial Tables

(Unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

December 31,

(In thousands)

2024

2023

2023

Cash flows from operating activities

Net income

$

56,213

$

79,275

$

64,980

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

4,654

4,083

6,020

Distributions from unconsolidated investment

14,210

10,780

15,338

Equity earnings from unconsolidated investment

(5,450

)

(19,254

)

(14,764

)

Gain on asset sales and disposals

(165

)

(96

)

(2,001

)

Asset impairments

424

Bad debt expense

(813

)

(610

)

1,431

Unit-based compensation expense

2,964

2,491

3,007

Amortization of debt issuance costs and other

(749

)

25

260

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

9,433

7,061

(4,254

)

Accounts payable

629

(541

)

(258

)

Accrued liabilities

(8,225

)

(8,805

)

6,063

Accrued interest

412

263

(641

)

Deferred revenue

1,028

(154

)

1,480

Other items, net

(2,642

)

(1,618

)

701

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

71,499

$

72,900

$

77,786

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds from asset sales and disposals

$

165

$

101

$

2,002

Return of long-term contract receivable

647

598

633

Capital expenditures

(2

)

Net cash provided by investing activities

$

812

$

697

$

2,635

Cash flows from financing activities

Debt borrowings

$

89,357

$

94,200

$

33,800

Debt repayments

(55,696

)

(89,696

)

(86,335

)

Distributions to common unitholders and the general partner

(42,186

)

(40,900

)

(9,670

)

Distributions to preferred unitholders

(2,150

)

(8,086

)

(2,150

)

Redemption of preferred units

(47,499

)

Warrant settlements

(55,689

)

(22,481

)

Other items, net

(6,946

)

(3,052

)

(7

)

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(73,310

)

$

(95,033

)

$

(86,843

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

$

(999

)

$

(21,436

)

$

(6,422

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

11,989

39,091

18,411

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

10,990

$

17,655

$

11,989

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for interest

$

2,843

$

2,474

$

4,372

Natural Resource Partners L.P.

Financial Tables

(Unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

March 31,

December 31,

2024

2023

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

10,990

$

11,989

Accounts receivable, net

33,874

41,086

Other current assets, net

3,494

2,218

Total current assets

$

48,358

$

55,293

Land

24,008

24,008

Mineral rights, net

390,176

394,483

Intangible assets, net

13,340

13,682

Equity in unconsolidated investment

268,634

276,549

Long-term contract receivable, net

25,632

26,321

Other long-term assets, net

8,034

7,540

Total assets

$

778,182

$

797,876

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$

1,514

$

885

Accrued liabilities

5,064

12,987

Accrued interest

995

584

Current portion of deferred revenue

5,635

4,599

Current portion of long-term debt, net

14,202

30,785

Total current liabilities

$

27,410

$

49,840

Deferred revenue

38,348

38,356

Long-term debt, net

174,595

124,273

Other non-current liabilities

6,305

7,172

Total liabilities

$

246,658

$

219,641

Commitments and contingencies

Class A Convertible Preferred Units (71,666 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 at $1,000 par value per unit; liquidation preference of $1,850 per unit at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023)

$

47,181

$

47,181

Partners’ capital

Common unitholders’ interest (12,960,064 and 12,634,642 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)

$

474,095

$

503,076

General partner’s interest

7,721

8,005

Warrant holders’ interest

4,804

23,095

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(2,277

)

(3,122

)

Total partners’ capital

$

484,343

$

531,054

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

$

778,182

$

797,876

Natural Resource Partners L.P.

Financial Tables

(Unaudited)

Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital

Accumulated

Other

Total

Common Unitholders

General

Warrant

Comprehensive

Partners’

(In thousands)

Units

Amounts

Partner

Holders

Loss

Capital

Balance at December 31, 2023

12,635

$

503,076

$

8,005

$

23,095

$

(3,122

)

$

531,054

Net income (1)

55,089

1,124

56,213

Distributions to common unitholders and the general partner

(41,342

)

(844

)

(42,186

)

Distributions to preferred unitholders

(2,107

)

(43

)

(2,150

)

Issuance of unit-based awards

126

Unit-based awards amortization and vesting, net

(3,971

)

(3,971

)

Capital contribution

227

227

Warrant settlements

199

(36,650

)

(748

)

(18,291

)

(55,689

)

Comprehensive income from unconsolidated investment and other

845

845

Balance at March 31, 2024

12,960

$

474,095

$

7,721

$

4,804

$

(2,277

)

$

484,343

(1)

Net income includes $2.15 million of income attributable to preferred unitholders that accumulated during the period, of which $2.11 million is allocated to the common unitholders and $0.04 million is allocated to the general partner.

Accumulated

Other

Total

Common Unitholders

General

Warrant

Comprehensive

Partners’

(In thousands)

Units

Amounts

Partner

Holders

Income (Loss)

Capital

Balance at December 31, 2022

12,506

$

404,799

$

5,977

$

47,964

$

18,717

$

477,457

Net income (1)

77,690

1,585

79,275

Redemption of preferred units

(15,904

)

(324

)

(16,228

)

Distributions to common unitholders and the general partner

(40,082

)

(818

)

(40,900

)

Distributions to preferred unitholders

(7,924

)

(162

)

(8,086

)

Issuance of unit-based awards

129

Unit-based awards amortization and vesting, net

(1,178

)

(1,178

)

Capital contribution

142

142

Comprehensive loss from unconsolidated investment and other

(19,583

)

(19,583

)

Balance at March 31, 2023

12,635

$

417,401

$

6,400

$

47,964

$

(866

)

$

470,899

Contacts

Tiffany Sammis

Investor Relations

713.751.7515

tsammis@nrplp.com

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