Ciner Resources LP Announces Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2017 Financial Results

Ciner Resources LP Announces Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2017 Financial Results

Ciner Resources LP (NYSE: CINR) today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2017 Financial Highlights:

• Net sales of $128.5 million increased 4.4% over the prior-year fourth quarter; full year net sales of $497.3 million increased 4.7% over the prior-year.
• Net income of $27.2 million increased 33.3% over the prior-year fourth quarter; full year net income of $86.4 million was flat over the prior-year.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $34.9 million increased 21.6% over the prior-year fourth quarter; full year adjusted EBITDA of $120.1 million increased 2.6% over the prior-year.
• Basic and diluted earnings per unit of $0.67 and $0.66 for the quarter increased 36.7% and 34.7% over the prior-year fourth quarter of $0.49; full year basic and diluted earnings per unit of $2.08 and $2.07 was flat and down, respectively, over the prior-year.
• Quarterly distribution declared per unit of $0.567 remained flat compared to the prior-year fourth quarter as well as third quarter of 2017.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $34.1 million increased 40.3% over prior-year fourth quarter; full year net cash provided by operating activities of $79.3 million decreased by 38.2% over the prior-year.
• Distributable cash flow of $14.6 million was up 32.7% compared to the prior-year fourth quarter; full year distributable cash flow of $52.0 million increased by 3.2% over the prior year. The distribution coverage ratio was 1.28 and 0.96 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 1.14 and 1.10 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Kirk Milling, CEO, commented: “Record production levels along with higher than anticipated international prices in the quarter drove an improvement in adjusted EBITDA of 21.6% and net income of 33.3% compared to Q4 of 2016. The quarter was the first true sign that the production initiatives we undertook earlier in the year to improve reliability and increase utilization of our production units are beginning to take hold. Ultimately the quarter pushed our full year results more in line with expectations as EBITDA rose 2.6% and distributable cash flow rose just over 3% compared to 2016.”

“As we look forward into 2018, we expect higher production levels and share gains in the domestic market to soften any potential impact we may experience from lower international pricing. As we begin the year, the market looks better than previously anticipated due to continued strength in Asia and a smaller impact on pricing thus far from the new capacity coming on line in Turkey.”

2018 Outlook:

• We expect our total volume sold to increase 1% to 3%.
• We expect domestic volume to increase by 80,000 to 125,000 short tons.
• We expect domestic pricing to be down 1% to 3%.
• We expect international prices to be flat to down 2% **
• Maintenance of business capital expenditures are planned to be in the range of $13 to $15 million.
• Expansion capital expenditures are planned to be in the range of $30 to $35 million.

** Excluding the change related to freight from CIDT sales in 2017.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2017 compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2016

The following table sets forth a summary of net sales, sales volumes and average sales price, and the percentage change between the periods.

Consolidated Results

Net sales. Net sales increased by 4.4% to $128.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 from $123.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, driven by an increase in total average sales price of 3.7%, as well as a modest increase in soda ash volumes sold of 0.6%. The increased international average sales price reflects the higher ANSAC sales price during the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Cost of products sold, including freight costs. Cost of products sold, including freight costs, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, decreased by 1.6% to $95.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 from $96.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to lower deca rehydration (“DECA”) costs per ton as we harvested DECA from a pond with closer proximity to the plant for 2017 and lower employee benefit costs, primarily resulting from changes to postretirement benefits during 2017, partially offset by an increase in freight costs during the three months ended December 31, 2017.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased 13.7% to $5.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $5.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The increase over prior year was primarily driven by a decline in the proportion of employee time spent on Ciner Corp related activities and increased share-based compensation during 2017, offset by certain European restructuring charges present during the three months ended December 31, 2016 that did not occur during 2017 and higher selling and administrative fees relating to our affiliate, ANSAC during three months ended December 31, 2017.

Year Ended December 31, 2017 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016

The following table sets forth a summary of net sales, sales volumes and average sales price, and the percentage change between the periods.

Consolidated Results

Net sales. Net sales increased by 4.7% to $497.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 from $475.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, driven by increase in total average sales price of 5.8%, partially offset by an annual decrease in soda ash volumes sold of 1.1%. The increased international average sales price reflects the increase in freight costs driven by higher non-ANSAC export sales volume, primarily CIDT. The decrease in sales volumes are primarily due to lower production output compared to the prior year.

Cost of products sold, including freight costs. Cost of products sold, including freight costs, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, increased by 6.1% to $383.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 from $361.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to an increase in freight costs of 21.8% to $145.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $119.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. The increase in freight costs was driven by higher non-ANSAC export sales volumes, primarily CIDT. The higher incremental freight costs on non-ANSAC export sales is also reflected in the higher average international sales price. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, international sales primarily consisted of transactions to ANSAC. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, we also had higher maintenance expense that was partially offset by lower employee benefit costs, primarily resulting from changes to postretirement benefits.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 3.9% to $22.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $23.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily driven by lower selling and administrative fees relating to our affiliate, ANSAC, and a higher proportion of employee time spent on Ciner Corp related activities in 2017.

Impairment and loss on disposal of assets, net. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, we incurred a $1.6 million asset impairment charge relating to certain assets, which became obsolete as a result of energy sourcing initiatives at our Wyoming facility.

CAPEX AND ORE TO ASH RATIO

The following table below summarizes our capital expenditures, on an accrual basis, and ore to ash ratio:

FINANCIAL POSITION AND LIQUIDITY

As of December 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $30.2 million. In addition, we have approximately $75.4 million ($225.0 million, less $138.0 million outstanding and less standby letters of credit of $11.6 million) of remaining capacity under our revolving credit facilities. As of December 31, 2017, our leverage and interest coverage ratios, as calculated per the Ciner Wyoming Credit Facility, were 1.21 and 27.38, respectively.

CASH FLOWS AND QUARTERLY CASH DISTRIBUTION

Cash Flows

Cash provided by operating activities decreased to $79.3 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 compared to $128.3 million of cash provided during twelve months ended December 31, 2016, primarily driven by $37.8 million of working capital used in operating activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, compared to $14.2 million of working capital provided by operating activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. The $52.0 million increase in working capital used in operating activities was primarily due to the $37.7 million increase in due-from affiliates.

Cash provided by operating activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 were offset by cash used in investing activities of $24.7 million for capital expenditures and cash used in financing activities during the twelve month period of $44.1 million. The cash used in financing activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 was due to distributions paid of $94.4 million, partially offset by net borrowings and debt issuance costs on the Ciner Wyoming revolving credit facility and other long-term debt of $50.3 million.

Quarterly Distribution

On February 1, 2018, the Partnership declared its fourth quarter 2017 quarterly distribution of $0.567 per unit. This is consistent with the distribution declared during the fourth quarter of 2016. The quarterly cash distribution is payable on February 27, 2018 to unitholders of record on February 12, 2018.

RELATED COMMUNICATIONS

Ciner Resources LP will host a conference call tomorrow, February 16, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Participants can listen in by dialing 1-866-550-6980 (Domestic) or 1-804-977-2644 (International) and referencing confirmation 1197069. Please log in or dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection. A telephonic replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call’s completion by calling 1-800-585-8367 or 404-537-3406 and referencing confirmation 1197069, and will remain available for the following seven days. This conference call will be webcast live and archived for replay on Ciner Resources’ website at www.ciner.us.com.

ABOUT CINER RESOURCES LP

Ciner Resources LP, a master limited partnership, operates the trona ore mining and soda ash production business of Ciner Wyoming LLC (“Ciner Wyoming”), one of the largest and lowest cost producers of natural soda ash in the world, serving a global market from its facility in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. The facility has been in operation for more than 50 years.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Ciner Resources LP owns a controlling interest comprised of a 51% membership interest in Ciner Wyoming. Natural Resource Partners L.P. (“NRP”) owns a non-controlling interest consisting of a 49% membership interest in Ciner Wyoming.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. 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 contain words such as “possible,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predict,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “anticipate,” “will,” “if,” “expect” or similar expressions. Such statements are based only on the Partnership’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the Partnership’s business, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Partnership’s control. The Partnership’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those implied or expressed by these forward-looking statements. Consequently, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement because no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Factors that could cause the Partnership’s actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include: changes in general economic conditions, the Partnership’s ability to meet its expected quarterly distributions, changes in the Partnership’s relationships with its customers, including American Natural Soda Ash Corporation (“ANSAC”) and Ciner Ic ve Dis Ticaret Anonim Sirket (“CIDT”), the demand for soda ash and the opportunities for the Partnership to increase its volume sold, the development of glass and glass making product alternatives, changes in soda ash prices, operating hazards, unplanned maintenance outages at the Partnership’s production facilities, construction costs or capital expenditures exceeding estimated or budgeted costs or expenditures, the effects of government regulation, tax position, and other risks incidental to the mining, processing, and shipment of trona ore and soda ash, as well as the other factors discussed in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. Unless required by law, the Partnership undertakes no duty and does not intend to update the forward-looking statements made herein to reflect new information or events or circumstances occurring after this press release. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.

Supplemental Information

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). We also present the non-GAAP financial measures of:

• Adjusted EBITDA;
• Distributable cash flow; and
• Distribution coverage ratio.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus net interest expense, income tax, depreciation, depletion and amortization, equity-based compensation expense and certain other expenses that are non-cash charges or that we consider not to be indicative of ongoing operations. Distributable cash flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less net cash paid for interest, maintenance capital expenditures and income taxes, each as attributable to Ciner Resources LP. Additionally, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, we amended our definition of Distributable cash flow to include cash interest received as an offset to cash paid for interest and have adjusted all prior periods accordingly. The Partnership may fund expansion-related capital expenditures with borrowings under existing credit facilities such that expansion-related capital expenditures will have no impact on cash on hand or the calculation of cash available for distribution. In certain instances, the timing of the Partnership’s borrowings and/or its cash management practices will result in a mismatch between the period of the borrowing and the period of the capital expenditure. In those instances, the Partnership adjusts designated reserves (as provided in the partnership agreement) to take account of the timing difference. Accordingly, expansion-related capital expenditures have been excluded from the presentation of cash available for distribution. Distributable cash flow will not reflect changes in working capital balances. We define distribution coverage ratio as the ratio of distributable cash flow as of the end of the period to cash distributions payable with respect to such period.

Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures that management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, may use to assess:

• our operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in our industry, without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, financing methods;
• the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our unitholders;
• our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and
• the viability of capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.

We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio provide useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Our non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP net income, operating income, net cash provided by operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Investors should not consider Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio may be defined differently by other companies, including those in our industry, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and distribution coverage ratio may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing its utility.

The table below presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to the GAAP financial measures of net income and net cash provided by operating activities:

The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP financial measure of net income for the periods presented:

Ciner Resources LP
Investor Relations
Scott Humphrey, 770-375-2387
Chief Financial Officer
SHumphrey@ciner.us.com

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