Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC Announces Financial Results for the Third Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2013 and declares Quarterly Distribution

HOUSTON, TEXAS - January 31, 2013 - Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC (NYSE:NKA) ("Niska" or "the Company") reported today financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2012. The Company also provided an update on its current business environment and outlook.

Financial Results

Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for Niska's third quarter ended December 31, 2012, was $15.0 million compared to $12.5 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011. For the nine months ended December 31, 2012, Adjusted EBITDA was $104.0 million compared to $81.3 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011. Cash available for distribution (as defined below) was negative $1.6 million and positive $55.3 million for the three month and nine month periods ended December 31, 2012, compared to negative $7.8 million and positive $24.2 million for the comparable periods last year. In the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2012, Adjusted EBITDA included the benefits of approximately $11.4 million and $17.8 million, respectively, resulting from inventory write-downs recorded in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012.  Niska's net earnings were $10.4 million ($0.15 per unit) for the three months ended December 31, 2012.  Niska's net loss was $42.3 million ($0.61 per unit) for the nine months ended December 31, 2012.  These amounts compare to net losses of $213.6 million ($3.07 per unit) and $181.4 million ($2.62 per unit) for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011.  The three and nine month periods from last year include a provision for goodwill impairment of $250.0 million.

Operations and Outlook

"Niska continues to operate well in a challenging market environment," said Simon Dupéré, President and Chief Executive Officer, "We continue to experience relatively lower natural gas storage spreads with modest market volatility.  However, the proactive approach we have taken throughout Fiscal 2013 in marketing our capacity has allowed us to lock-in a substantial portion of our projected Fiscal Year 2013 revenues.  As a result, we are reaffirming our guidance for Adjusted EBITDA as $130 million to $140 million and our Cash Available for Distribution guidance as $65 million to $75 million.  These estimates exclude any beneficial impact of the inventory write-downs recorded in the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012."

"Since the end of Fiscal 2011, we have seen continued weakness in seasonal storage spreads and low volatility. However, we are now seeing demand increase due to the low cost and ample supply of North American natural gas. In addition, Western Canada, where one of our major storage assets is located, continues to be a key source of natural gas for major North American markets.  We believe that demand for natural gas will continue to grow, and that storage will be required to balance a larger market, which could lead to future improvement in market conditions."

Continued Mr. Dupéré, "During the quarter, we furthered our efforts to position Niska for long-term growth. We completed the pipeline tie-in at our Wild Goose facility in California and continued to pursue regulatory approval for an expansion of up to 25 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") at that location, which would increase working gas capacity from 50 Bcf to 75 Bcf.  In addition, we are evaluating the opportunity for liquids storage at our Starks location, a salt cavern project located in a major industrial zone in Southwest Louisiana. Our efforts to grow and diversify our business represent our commitment to building value for our unitholders."

Distributions

Niska today announced a cash distribution of $0.35 per common unit. The distribution will be payable on Friday, February 15, 2013 to common unitholders of record at the close of business on Monday, February 11, 2013. This distribution represents the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per common unit on an annualized basis, as set forth in Niska`s operating agreement and is unchanged from the preceding quarter. The Company continued the suspension of distributions on its subordinated units.

Earnings Call

Niska will host a conference call detailing its quarterly results on Thursday, January 31, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (9:00 a.m. CST). This call will be webcast by Thomson Reuters and can be accessed at Niska's website at www.niskapartners.com.  

If you are unable to participate in the webcast of the earnings call, you may access the live conference call by dialing the following numbers:

North America: 1-800-299-7635
International: 1-617-786-2901
Access Code: 86309071

A telephonic replay can be accessed until midnight, February 7, 2013 at the following numbers:

North America: 1-888-286-8010
International: 1-617-801-6888
Access Code: 52365438

In addition, an electronic replay and PDF transcript will be available on Niska's website in the Investor Center section under the Presentations and Webcasts tab.

About Niska

Niska is the largest independent owner and operator of natural gas storage in North America, with strategically located assets in key natural gas producing and consuming regions. Niska owns and operates three facilities, including the AECO HubTM in Alberta, Canada; Wild Goose in California; and Salt Plains in Oklahoma. Niska also contracts gas storage capacity on the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America system. In total, Niska owns or contracts approximately 225.5 Bcf of gas storage capacity.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact.  In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "expect," "plan," "will" or other similar words. Our estimates of future Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution, as well as our expectation regarding expansion capital expenditures for our fiscal year, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Among these risks and uncertainties are (1) changes in general economic conditions; (2) our level of exposure to the market value of natural gas storage services could adversely affect our revenues and cash available to make distributions; (3) competitive conditions in our industry; (4) actions taken by third-party operators, processors and transporters; (5) changes in the availability and cost of capital; (6) operating hazards, natural disasters, weather-related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control; (7) the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations; (8) the effects of future litigation; and (9) other factors and uncertainties inherent in the development and operation of natural gas storage facilities. Other factors that are not described that are unknown or unpredictable could also have a material adverse effect on future results.  For further discussion of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Niska's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Niska undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Niska uses and discloses the financial measures "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Cash Available for Distribution" in this press release.  Niska defines Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, unrealized risk management gains and losses, loss on extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses, inventory impairment write-downs, gains and losses on asset dispositions, asset impairments (including goodwill) and other income.  Niska defines Cash Available for Distribution as Adjusted EBITDA reduced by interest expense (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), income taxes paid, maintenance capital expenditures and other income.  Niska's Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are not presentations made in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("GAAP").  Niska's management utilizes Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution as key performance measures in order to assess:

  • the financial performance of Niska's assets, operations and return on capital without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;  

  • the ability of Niska's assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on its indebtedness and make distributions to its equity holders;  

  • repeatable operating performance that is not distorted by non-recurring items or market volatility; and  

  • the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects.  

The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution is net earnings. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net earnings, please see the schedule provided in the attached pages.  This press release contains forward-looking estimates of Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. Reconciliations to GAAP net earnings are not provided for these forward-looking estimates because GAAP net earnings for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 are not accessible. Niska is able to estimate interest expense, income tax benefits, depreciation and amortization, inventory write-downs, impairments of assets (including goodwill), losses on extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses and other income.  However, the Company is unable to predict future unrealized risk management gains and losses and these amounts could be material, such that the amount of net earnings would vary substantially from the amount of projected Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution.

Niska believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by Niska's management. Further, Niska believes that these measures are useful to investors because they are one of the bases for comparing Niska's operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations, although Niska's measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

This information is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Under rules applicable to publicly-traded partnerships, our distributions to non-U.S. unitholders are subject to withholding tax at the highest effective applicable rate to the extent attributable to income that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Given the uncertainty at the time of making distributions regarding the amount of any distribution that is attributable to income that is so effectively connected, we intend to treat all of our distributions as attributable to our U.S. operations, and as a result, the entire distribution will be subject to withholding.

Contact

Niska Gas Storage Partners LLC
Investor Relations:
Brandon Tran, Investor Relations Associate
(403) 513-8600

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2012 2011 2012 2011
 REVENUES
 Long-term contract   $      26,492 $        28,994 $       82,283 $        88,069
 Short-term contract          14,763             8,228         37,031          19,532
 Optimization, net        32,576           52,682       (23,725)         103,726
 Total revenue        73,831          89,904          95,589         211,327
 EXPENSES (INCOME)
 Operating            8,330             9,702          25,250          34,881
 General and administrative          8,417             6,015          26,332          20,482
 Depreciation and amortization        14,831          13,115          39,896          33,922
 Loss on disposal of assets           15,072                     -            15,072                     -  
 Interest           17,279          19,598          50,459           57,620
 Impairment of goodwill                  -          250,000                   -          250,000
 Loss on extinguishment of debt                  -               5,147               599             6,030
 Foreign exchange losses (gains)               22               557            (314)               939
 Other expense (income)                 3                (7)            (182)               (49)
        63,954         304,127        157,112         403,825
 INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES          9,877      (214,223)       (61,523)       (192,498)
 Income tax expense (benefit)           (542)             (593)       (19,200)        (11,084)
 NET EARNINGS (LOSS) AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)   $      10,419 $   (213,630) $    (42,323) $    (181,414)
 Net earnings (loss) allocated to:
 Managing member $           206 $       (4,230) $         (838) $        (3,595)
 Common unitholders $        5,158 $   (105,754) $    (20,951) $      (89,804)
 Subordinated unitholder $        5,055 $   (103,646) $    (20,534) $      (88,015)
 Earnings (loss) per unit allocated to
 common unitholders - basic and diluted $          0.15 $         (3.07) $        (0.61) $          (2.62)
 Earnings (loss) per unit allocated to
 subordinated unitholders - basic and diluted $          0.15 $         (3.07) $        (0.61) $          (2.62)

NISKA GAS STORAGE PARTNERS LLC
 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA AND NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS
 (in thousands of U.S. dollars, except capacity amounts)
 (unaudited)
 Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2012 2011 2012 2011
Reconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) to
Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available
for Distribution:
 Net loss $          10,419 $       (213,630) $         (42,323) $       (181,414)
 Add (deduct):
 Interest expense       17,279            19,598            50,459            57,620
 Income tax benefit               (542)               (593)          (19,200)          (11,084)
 Depreciation and amortization            14,831            13,115            39,896            33,922
 Unrealized risk management (gains) losses          (42,118)          (61,736)            37,739          (74,708)
 Loss on disposal of assets              15,072                     -              15,072                     -  
 Impairment of goodwill                     -            250,000                     -            250,000
 Loss on extinguishment of debt                     -                 5,147                 599              6,030
 Foreign exchange losses (gains)                    22                  557               (314)                  939
 Other expense (income)                      3                   (7)               (182)                 (49)
 Write-down of inventory                     -                       -              22,281                     -  
 Adjusted EBITDA            14,966            12,451          104,027            81,256
 Less:
 Cash interest expense, net            16,421            18,626            47,882            54,602
 Income taxes (recovered) paid                 (31)                  352                 (38)               1,107
 Maintenance capital expenditures                  193               1,274               1,107               1,436
 Other expense (income)                      3                   (7)               (182)                 (49)
 Cash available for distribution $          (1,620) $           (7,794) $            55,258 $            24,160
 Revenue:
 Long-term contract $          26,492 $            28,994 $            82,283 $            88,069
 Short-term contract            14,763               8,228            37,031            19,532
 Proprietary optimization:
 Realized optimization            (9,542)            (9,054)            36,316            29,018
 Unrealized risk management gains (losses)            42,118            61,736          (37,760)            74,708
 Write-down of inventory                     -                       -            (22,281)                     -  
 Total $          73,831 $            89,904 $            95,589 $          211,327
 Total realized revenues $          31,713 $            28,168 $          155,630 $          136,619
 Capital expenditures:
 Maintenance   $               193 $              1,274 $              1,107 $              1,436
 Expansion and cost reduction                 1,805            24,107            22,577            47,941
 Total $            1,998 $            25,381 $            23,684 $            49,377
 Operating data:
 Effective working gas capacity (Bcf)               225.5               206.5               225.5               206.5
 Capacity added during the period                     -                     2.0                   4.0                   2.0
December 31, March 31,
 Selected Balance Sheet data   2012 2012
(unaudited)
Cash and cash equivalents $            11,660 $            13,342
Borrowings under revolving credit facility $          124,000 $          150,000
Total debt excluding revolving credit facility $          643,790 $          643,790
Members' equity $          611,886 $          690,390


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