Martin Midstream Partners Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Releases 2024 Guidance
- Total adjusted leverage of 3.75 times as of December 31, 2023
- Reported net income of $0.5 million for the fourth quarter and net loss of $4.5 million, which includes a $5.1 million impact from the loss on extinguishment of debt, for the year ended December 31, 2023
- Reported adjusted EBITDA of $29.2 million and $117.7 million, after giving effect to the May 2023 exit of the butane optimization business, which incurred adjusted EBITDA of zero and negative adjusted EBITDA of $15.1 million, for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023, respectively
- Releases 2024 adjusted EBITDA Guidance of $116.1 million, growth capital expenditures of $17.4 million, and maintenance capital expenditures of $32.0 million
KILGORE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Martin Midstream Partners L.P. (Nasdaq:MMLP) (“MMLP” or the “Partnership”) today announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023.
“Fiscal year 2023 was significant for the Partnership as we focused on debt reduction and stability in our earnings by concentrating on our diversified refinery services assets and exiting the butane optimization business,” said Bob Bondurant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Martin Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership. “We exceeded our full year adjusted EBITDA guidance by $2.5 million, excluding losses related to the exit of our butane optimization business, and met our long-term goal of adjusted leverage at or below 3.75 times. The Partnership had a strong fourth quarter, as each of our four operating segments either met or exceeded guidance, even as we experienced headwinds in the lubricants business and downtime in our marine transportation business due to accelerated regulatory inspections, demonstrating the value of our diversified business model.”
“In the fourth quarter, we reduced debt by $20.0 million, bringing 2023 full year debt reduction to $73.5 million, resulting in leverage of 3.75 times at December 31, 2023 compared to 4.53 times at December 31, 2022. While we have reached our stated adjusted leverage goal of 3.75 times, timing of our future cash flows and capital expenditures may result in a nominal short-term increase in the ratio. As such the Partnership intends to continue to concentrate on debt reduction to maintain our adjusted leverage at or below 3.75 times on a sustainable basis.”
“During 2023, we started construction on an oleum tower located within our Plainview, Texas sulfuric acid plant. The expansion will provide feedstock to our joint venture, DSM Semichem LLC, to produce electronic level sulfuric acid used for applications in the semiconductor industry. We anticipate the project to be complete in the first half of 2024 with a capital spend of $10.4 million this year, which along with our $6.5 million of cash contribution to the joint venture, makes up the majority of our anticipated growth capital expenditures for the year. We anticipate this project will begin returning cash flows to the Partnership by the fourth quarter of 2024.”
FOURTH QUARTER 2023 OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
TERMINALLING AND STORAGE (“T&S”)
T&S operating income was $3.9 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Adjusted segment EBITDA for T&S was $9.0 million and $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, reflecting contractual index-based fee increases combined with reduced operating expenses across our divisions.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation operating income was $8.6 million and $11.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Adjusted segment EBITDA for Transportation was $12.0 million and $14.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily reflecting slightly higher mileage in our land transportation division, offset by downtime associated with regulatory maintenance in our marine transportation division, and increased expenses across both divisions.
SULFUR SERVICES
Sulfur Services operating income was $4.8 million and $9.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Adjusted segment EBITDA for Sulfur Services was $7.4 million and $5.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, primarily reflecting increased fertilizer sales volume and increased operating fees associated with higher prilled sulfur volume.
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
Specialty Products operating income (loss) was $4.0 million and $(0.9) million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Butane optimization operating income (loss) was $0.0 million and $(4.7) million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Adjusted segment EBITDA for Specialty Products was $4.9 million and $(5.8) million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Included in the Specialty Products results is adjusted EBITDA of $0.0 million and $(10.7) million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, attributable to the butane optimization business. Adjusted Segment EBITDA for Specialty Products after giving effect to the May 2023 exit of the butane optimization business was $4.9 million and $4.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, reflecting improved volumes and margins in our grease business offset by higher product costs in our lubricants business.
UNALLOCATED SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE (“USGA”)
USGA expenses included in operating income were $4.1 million for each of the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
USGA expenses included in adjusted EBITDA were $4.1 million for each of the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
CAPITALIZATION
At December 31, 2023, the Partnership had $442.5 million of total debt outstanding, including $42.5 million drawn on its $175.0 million revolving credit facility maturing in 2027 and $400.0 million of senior secured second lien notes due 2028. At December 31, 2023, the Partnership had liquidity of approximately $109.0 million from available capacity under its revolving credit facility. The Partnership’s leverage ratio, as calculated under the revolving credit facility, was 3.75 times at December 31, 2023, compared to 3.95 times at September 30, 2023, a reduction of 0.20 times. The Partnership was in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2023.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The Partnership had net income of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per limited partner unit, for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The Partnership had a net loss of $0.4 million, a loss of $0.01 per limited partner unit, for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA was $29.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA after giving effect to the May 2023 exit of the butane optimization business for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $29.2 million compared to $17.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Net cash provided by operating activities was $31.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $32.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Distributable cash flow was $8.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $9.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.
The Partnership had a net loss of $4.5 million, a loss of $0.11 per limited partner unit, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Partnership had a net loss of $10.3 million, a loss of $0.26 per limited partner unit, for the year ended December 31, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $102.6 million compared to $114.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Adjusted EBITDA after giving effect to the May 2023 exit of the butane optimization business for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $117.7 million compared to $122.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net cash provided by operating activities was $137.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $16.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Distributable cash flow was $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $45.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Revenues were $181.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to $243.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Revenues associated with our butane optimization business were $0.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $55.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.
Revenues were $798.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $1.019 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022. Revenues associated with our butane optimization business were $70.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $172.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures which are explained in greater detail below under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information.” The Partnership has also included below a table entitled “Reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow” in order to show the components of these non-GAAP financial measures and their reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measurement.
An attachment included in the Current Report on Form 8-K to which this announcement is included, contains a comparison of the Partnership’s adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter 2023 to the Partnership’s adjusted EBITDA guidance for the fourth quarter 2023.
2024 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
The Partnership expects full year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $116.1 million, growth capital expenditures of approximately $17.4 million, with $16.9 million dedicated to the DSM Semichem joint venture, and maintenance capital expenditures of $32.0 million. More detailed 2024 Financial Guidance is provided as an attachment included in the Current Report on Form 8-K to which this press release is included.
MMLP does not intend at this time to provide financial guidance beyond 2024.
The Partnership has not provided comparable GAAP financial information on a forward-looking basis because it would require the Partnership to create estimated ranges on a GAAP basis, which would entail unreasonable effort as the adjustments required to reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures cannot be predicted with a reasonable degree of certainty but may include, among others, costs related to debt amendments and unusual charges, expenses and gains. Some or all of those adjustments could be significant.
2023 K-1 TAX PACKAGES
The timing of the availability of MMLP’s K-1 tax packages for 2023 is dependent upon whether and/or when recently proposed legislation (H.R. 7024), which includes proposed changes in tax law which would be applied retroactively to the 2023 tax year, is enacted. As currently written, certain provisions in H.R. 7024 would lower MMLP’s taxable income for 2023 compared to existing tax law. Barring any changes in tax law, MMLP’s K-1 tax packages, including all information to fiduciaries for common units owned in tax exempt accounts, could be made available online through our website at www.MMLP.com on or before February 29, 2024 and the mailing of the tax packages would be completed by March 8, 2024. Should deliberations over the passage of H.R. 7024 impact this timeline, we will issue a press release to update our investors on the timing of the availability of the K-1 tax packages.
INVESTORS CONFERENCE CALL
Date: Thursday, February 15, 2024
Time: 8:00 a.m. CT (please dial in by 7:55 a.m.)
Dial In #: (888) 330-2384
Conference ID: 8536096
Replay Dial In # (800) 770-2030 – Conference ID: 8536096
A webcast of the conference call will also be available by visiting the Events and Presentations section under Investor Relations on our website at www.MMLP.com.
About Martin Midstream Partners
Martin Midstream Partners LP, headquartered in Kilgore, Texas, is a publicly traded limited partnership with a diverse set of operations focused primarily in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. MMLP’s primary business lines include: (1) terminalling, processing, and storage services for petroleum products and by-products; (2) land and marine transportation services for petroleum products and by-products, chemicals, and specialty products; (3) sulfur and sulfur-based products processing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution; and (4) marketing, distribution, and transportation services for natural gas liquids and blending and packaging services for specialty lubricants and grease. To learn more, visit www.MMLP.com. Follow Martin Midstream Partners L.P. on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements about the Partnership’s outlook and all other statements in this release other than historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements and all references to financial estimates rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, including (i) the effects of the continued volatility of commodity prices and the related macroeconomic and political environment and (ii) other factors, many of which are outside its control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. While the Partnership believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in anticipating or predicting certain important factors. A discussion of these factors, including risks and uncertainties, is set forth in the Partnership’s annual and quarterly reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Partnership disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, including financial estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise except where required to do so by law.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
To assist management in assessing our business, we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), adjusted EBITDA (as defined below), distributable cash flow available to common unitholders (“distributable cash flow”), and free cash flow after growth capital expenditures and principal payments under finance lease obligations (“adjusted free cash flow”). Our management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements other than our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP to analyze our performance.
Certain items excluded from EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing an entity’s financial performance, such as cost of capital and historical costs of depreciable assets.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA before unit-based compensation expenses, gains and losses on the disposition of property, plant and equipment, impairment and other similar non-cash adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental performance and liquidity measure 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;
- the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs, support our indebtedness, and make cash distributions to our unitholders; and
- our operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing methods or capital structure.
The GAAP measures most directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA are net income (loss) and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), operating income (loss), net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because other companies may not calculate adjusted EBITDA in the same manner.
Adjusted EBITDA does not include interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization. Because we have borrowed money to finance our operations, interest expense is a necessary element of our costs and our ability to generate cash available for distribution. Because we have capital assets, depreciation and amortization are also necessary elements of our costs. Therefore, any measures that exclude these elements have material limitations. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider net income (loss) and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities as determined under GAAP, as well as adjusted EBITDA, to evaluate our overall performance.
Distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow. We define distributable cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less cash received (plus cash paid) for closed commodity derivative positions included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), plus changes in operating assets and liabilities which (provided) used cash, less maintenance capital expenditures and plant turnaround costs. Distributable cash flow is a significant performance measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to compare basic cash flows generated by us to the cash distributions we expect to pay unitholders. Distributable cash flow is also an important financial measure for our unitholders since it serves as an indicator of our success in providing a cash return on investment. Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we are generating cash flow at a level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly distribution rates. Distributable cash flow is also a quantitative standard used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly-traded partnerships because the value of a unit of such an entity is generally determined by the unit’s yield, which in turn is based on the amount of cash distributions the entity pays to a unitholder.
We define adjusted free cash flow as distributable cash flow less growth capital expenditures and principal payments under finance lease obligations. Adjusted free cash flow is a significant performance measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements and represents how much cash flow a business generates during a specified time period after accounting for all capital expenditures, including expenditures for growth and maintenance capital projects. We believe that adjusted free cash flow is important to investors, lenders, commercial banks and research analysts since it reflects the amount of cash available for reducing debt, investing in additional capital projects, paying distributions, and similar matters. Our calculation of adjusted free cash flow may or may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities.
The GAAP measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow is net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. Distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow should not be considered alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), operating income (loss), Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, or any other measure of liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow have important limitations because they exclude some items that affect net income (loss), operating income (loss), and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities. Distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because other companies may not calculate these non-GAAP metrics in the same manner. To compensate for these limitations, we believe that it is important to consider net cash provided by (used in) operating activities determined under GAAP, as well as distributable cash flow and adjusted free cash flow, to evaluate our overall liquidity.
MMLP-F
|
MARTIN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS L.P. |
||||||||
|
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
||||||||
|
(Dollars in thousands) |
||||||||
|
|
December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||||
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Cash |
$ |
54 |
|
|
$ |
45 |
|
|
|
Trade and accrued accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $530 and $496, respectively |
|
53,293 |
|
|
|
79,641 |
|
|
|
Inventories |
|
43,822 |
|
|
|
109,798 |
|
|
|
Due from affiliates |
|
7,924 |
|
|
|
8,010 |
|
|
|
Other current assets |
|
9,220 |
|
|
|
13,633 |
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
114,313 |
|
|
|
211,127 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Property, plant and equipment, at cost |
|
918,786 |
|
|
|
903,535 |
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
(612,993 |
) |
|
|
(584,245 |
) |
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
305,793 |
|
|
|
319,290 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Goodwill |
|
16,671 |
|
|
|
16,671 |
|
|
|
Right-of-use assets |
|
60,359 |
|
|
|
34,963 |
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes, net |
|
10,200 |
|
|
|
14,386 |
|
|
|
Intangibles and other assets, net |
|
2,039 |
|
|
|
2,414 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
509,375 |
|
|
$ |
598,851 |
|
|
|
Liabilities and Partners’ Capital (Deficit) |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Current portion of long term debt and finance lease obligations |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
|
Trade and other accounts payable |
|
51,653 |
|
|
|
68,198 |
|
|
|
Product exchange payables |
|
426 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
Due to affiliates |
|
6,334 |
|
|
|
8,947 |
|
|
|
Income taxes payable |
|
652 |
|
|
|
665 |
|
|
|
Other accrued liabilities |
|
41,499 |
|
|
|
33,074 |
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
100,564 |
|
|
|
110,925 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Long-term debt, net |
|
421,173 |
|
|
|
512,871 |
|
|
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
45,684 |
|
|
|
26,268 |
|
|
|
Other long-term obligations |
|
6,578 |
|
|
|
8,232 |
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
573,999 |
|
|
|
658,296 |
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Partners’ capital (deficit) |
|
(64,624 |
) |
|
|
(59,445 |
) |
|
|
Total partners’ capital (deficit) |
|
(64,624 |
) |
|
|
(59,445 |
) |
|
|
|
$ |
509,375 |
|
|
$ |
598,851 |
|
|
|
MARTIN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS L.P. |
||||||||||||
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
||||||||||||
|
(Dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts) |
||||||||||||
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2021 |
|||||||
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Terminalling and storage * |
$ |
86,514 |
|
|
$ |
80,193 |
|
|
$ |
75,223 |
|
|
|
Transportation * |
|
223,677 |
|
|
|
219,008 |
|
|
|
144,314 |
|
|
|
Sulfur services |
|
13,430 |
|
|
|
12,337 |
|
|
|
11,799 |
|
|
|
Product sales: * |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Specialty products |
|
346,777 |
|
|
|
540,513 |
|
|
|
517,852 |
|
|
|
Sulfur services |
|
127,565 |
|
|
|
166,827 |
|
|
|
133,243 |
|
|
|
|
|
474,342 |
|
|
|
707,340 |
|
|
|
651,095 |
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
797,963 |
|
|
|
1,018,878 |
|
|
|
882,431 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Cost of products sold: (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Specialty products * |
|
305,903 |
|
|
|
503,225 |
|
|
|
443,896 |
|
|
|
Sulfur services * |
|
83,702 |
|
|
|
120,062 |
|
|
|
89,134 |
|
|
|
Terminalling and storage * |
|
75 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
|
|
389,680 |
|
|
|
623,306 |
|
|
|
533,098 |
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Operating expenses * |
|
252,211 |
|
|
|
251,886 |
|
|
|
193,952 |
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative * |
|
40,826 |
|
|
|
41,812 |
|
|
|
41,012 |
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
49,895 |
|
|
|
56,280 |
|
|
|
56,751 |
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
732,612 |
|
|
|
973,284 |
|
|
|
824,813 |
|
|
|
Other operating income (loss), net |
|
1,373 |
|
|
|
5,669 |
|
|
|
(534 |
) |
|
|
Gain on involuntary conversion of property, plant and equipment |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
196 |
|
|
|
Operating income |
|
66,724 |
|
|
|
51,263 |
|
|
|
57,280 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Interest expense, net |
|
(60,290 |
) |
|
|
(53,665 |
) |
|
|
(54,107 |
) |
|
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
|
(5,121 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Other, net |
|
56 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
Total other income (expense) |
|
(65,355 |
) |
|
|
(53,670 |
) |
|
|
(54,111 |
) |
|
|
Net income (loss) before taxes |
|
1,369 |
|
|
|
(2,407 |
) |
|
|
3,169 |
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
(5,918 |
) |
|
|
(7,927 |
) |
|
|
(3,380 |
) |
|
|
Net loss |
|
(4,549 |
) |
|
|
(10,334 |
) |
|
|
(211 |
) |
|
|
Less general partner’s interest in net loss |
|
91 |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
Less loss allocable to unvested restricted units |
|
14 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Limited partners’ interest in net loss |
$ |
(4,444 |
) |
|
$ |
(10,087 |
) |
|
$ |
(207 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net loss per unit attributable to limited partners – basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.26 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
Weighted average limited partner units – basic and diluted |
|
38,771,657 |
|
|
|
38,726,048 |
|
|
|
38,689,041 |
|
|
|
*Related Party Transactions Shown Below |
||||||||||||
Contacts
Sharon Taylor – Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(877) 256-6644
ir@martinmlp.com
