TULSA, Okla., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Williams
Pipeline Partners L.P. (NYSE: WMZ) today announced unaudited
first-quarter 2010 net income of $11.9
million, compared with $13.7
million for first-quarter 2009. Net income per
limited-partner unit for first-quarter 2010 was $0.35, compared with $0.41 for first-quarter 2009.
Lower firm transportation commodity revenues and higher property
taxes led to a slight decline in Northwest Pipeline GP's results
for first-quarter 2010. These results are a key component of the
partnership's earnings from its 35-percent equity interest in
Northwest Pipeline. In addition, Williams Pipeline Partners
incurred higher general and administrative expenses.
Distributable cash flow for first-quarter 2010 for Williams
Pipeline Partners' limited-partner unitholders was $12.2 million, or $0.36 per limited-partner unit. The first-quarter
2009 amounts were $11.0 million for
total distributable cash flow, or $0.33 per limited-partner unit.
Higher cash distributions from Northwest Pipeline in the first
quarter drove the increase in distributable cash flow for the
period.
Distributable Cash Flow Definition
Distributable cash flow per limited-partner unit is a key
measure of the partnership's financial performance and available
cash flows to unitholders.
This press release includes certain financial measures,
Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow per Limited
Partner Unit that are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. we define Distributable Cash
Flow as net income less its equity earnings in Northwest Pipeline,
plus reimbursements from Williams under an omnibus agreement, plus
cash distributed by Northwest Pipeline attributable to Northwest
Pipeline's operations through the current reporting period.
For Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. we define Distributable Cash
Flow per Limited Partner Unit as Distributable Cash Flow, as
defined in the preceding paragraph, allocated among the general
partner and the limited partners in accordance with the
cash-distribution provisions of our partnership agreement resulting
in distributable cash flow attributable to the general partner and
distributable cash flow attributable to limited partners,
respectively. The resulting Distributable Cash Flow
attributable to limited partners is then divided by the weighted
average limited partner units outstanding to arrive at
Distributable Cash Flow per Limited Partner Unit.
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. Distributable Cash Flow is not
intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor is it
presented as an alternative to net income (loss) or cash flow from
operations. Distributable Cash Flow per Limited Partner is
not presented as an alternative to net income per unit. They
should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for a
measure of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles.
Form 10-Q
Williams Pipeline Partners plans to file its first-quarter 2010
Form 10-Q with the SEC today. The document will be available on
both the SEC and Williams Pipeline Partners web sites.
About Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. (NYSE: WMZ)
Williams Pipeline Partners is a publicly traded master limited
partnership that owns and operates natural gas transportation and
storage assets. The general partner of Williams Pipeline
Partners is Williams Pipeline GP LLC, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ). For more
information, please visit www.williamspipelinepartners.com.
Go to
http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1589&to=ea&s=0 to join
our e-mail list.
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Contact:
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Jeff Pounds
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Williams (media relations)
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(918) 573-3332
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David Sullivan
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Williams (investor relations)
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(918) 573-9360
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Williams Pipeline Partners L.P. is a limited partnership formed
by The Williams Companies, Inc. Our reports, filings, and
other public announcements may contain or incorporate by reference
statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical
facts. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. You typically can identify forward-looking statements by
various forms of words such as "anticipates," "believes," "seeks,"
"could," "may," "should," "continues," "estimates," "expects,"
"forecasts," "intends," "might," "goals," "objectives," "targets,"
"planned," "potential," "projects," "scheduled," "will" or other
similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on
management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently
available to management and include, among others, statements
regarding:
- Amounts and nature of future capital expenditures;
- Expansion and growth of our business and operations;
- Financial condition and liquidity;
- Business strategy;
- Cash flow from operations or results of operations;
- The levels of cash distributions to unitholders;
- Rate case filings; and
- Natural gas prices and demand.
Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions,
uncertainties and risks that could cause future events or results
to be materially different from those stated or implied in this
announcement. Many of the factors that will determine these
results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific
factors that could cause actual results to differ from results
contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among
others, the following:
- Whether we have sufficient cash from operations to enable us to
maintain current levels of cash distributions or to pay the minimum
quarterly distribution following establishment of cash reserves and
payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general
partner;
- Availability of supplies (including the uncertainties inherent
in assessing and estimating future natural gas reserves), market
demand, volatility of prices, and the availability and cost of
capital;
- Inflation, interest rates, and general economic conditions
(including future disruptions and volatility in the global credit
markets and the impact of these events on Northwest's customers and
suppliers);
- The strength and financial resources of our and Northwest's
competitors;
- Development of alternative energy sources;
- The impact of operational and development hazards;
- Costs of, changes in, or the results of laws, government
regulations (including proposed climate change legislation),
environmental liabilities, litigation, and rate proceedings;
- Northwest's allocated costs for defined benefit pension plans
and other postretirement benefit plans sponsored by its
affiliates;
- Changes in maintenance and construction costs;
- Changes in the current geopolitical situation;
- Northwest's exposure to the credit risk of its customers;
- Risks related to strategy and financing, including restrictions
stemming from Northwest's debt agreements, future changes in
Northwest's credit ratings and the availability and cost of
credit;
- Risks associated with future weather conditions;
- Acts of terrorism; and
- Additional risks described in our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our
actual results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement, we caution investors not to unduly rely
on our forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligations to
and do not intend to update the above list or to announce publicly
the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking
statements to reflect future events or developments.
In addition to causing our actual results to differ, the factors
listed above may cause our intentions to change from those
statements of intention set forth in this report. Such changes in
our intentions may also cause our results to differ. We may change
our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon changes
in such factors, our assumptions, or otherwise.
Limited partner interests are inherently different from the
capital stock of a corporation, although many of the business risks
to which we are subject are similar to those that would be faced by
a corporation engaged in a similar business. Investors are
urged to closely consider the disclosures and risk factors in our
annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on Feb. 23, 2010 and our quarterly reports on Form
10-Q available from our offices or from our website at
www.williamspipelinepartners.com.
Reconciliation of non-GAAP
Measures
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(UNAUDITED)
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Williams Pipeline Partners
L.P.
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Distributable Cash Flow per LP Unit
Reconciliation
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2010
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2009
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Amounts in thousands, except per-unit
amounts
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1Q
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1Q
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Net Income
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11,927
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13,655
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Equity in earnings -
Northwest
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(13,259)
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(14,318)
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Reimbursements from Williams from
ominbus agreement
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248
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370
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Distributable cash flow excluding
equity investments
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(1,084)
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(293)
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Plus: Northwest's cash distributions
to WMZ
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13,748
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11,550
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Distributable cash flow attributable
to partnership
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12,664
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11,257
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Distributable cash flow attributable
to partnership allocated to GP
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448
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225
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Distributable cash flow attributable
to partnership allocated to LP
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12,216
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11,032
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Weighted Average number of LP units
outstanding
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33,565
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33,565
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Distributable cash flow attributable
to partnership per weighted
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average limited partner
unit
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0.3640
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0.3287
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`
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SOURCE Williams Pipeline Partners L.P.