Sunoco Logistics Partners LP Form 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: April 24, 2003

 

 

SUNOCO LOGISTICS PARTNERS L.P.

 


 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

1-31219

 

23-3096839


(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
file number)

 

(IRS employer
identification number)

Ten Penn Center, 1801 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1699

 


 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(215) 977-3000

 


 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 



 

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

  99.1   Press release dated April 24, 2003.

 

  99.2   Slide presentation given April 24, 2003, during investor teleconference.

 

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure (including Item 12 information).

 

The information included in Exhibit 99-1, which is intended to be furnished under Item 12 “Results of Operations and Financial Condition,” is being furnished under this Item 9 in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216, (34-47853).

 

On Thursday, April 24, 2003, Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for the Company’s first quarter 2003 earnings. A copy of the press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference. Attached as Exhibit 99.2, and being furnished under Item 9 “Regulation FD Disclosure,” is a copy of the slide presentation made during the investor conference call to discuss the announced earnings.

 

The information in this report is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 9 and Item 12 of Form 8-K. Accordingly, the information in Item 9 and Item 12 of this report will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements contained in the exhibits to this report that state the Company’s or its management’s expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect those results include those mentioned in the documents that the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

SUNOCO LOGISTICS PARTNERS L.P.

By: Sunoco Partners LLC, its General Partner

By:

 

/s/    SEAN P. MCGRATH         


   

Sean P. McGrath

Comptroller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

DATE April 24, 2003


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number


  

Exhibit


99.1

  

Press release dated April 24, 2003.

99.2

  

Slide presentation given April 24, 2003 during investor teleconference.

Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

SUNOCO LOGISTICS PARTNERS L.P.

REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

 

PHILADELPHIA, April 24, 2003 – Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL) today announced earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 of $17.8 million, or $0.77 per limited partner unit on a fully diluted basis, compared with $12.5 million for the first quarter of 2002. The first quarter 2002 net income per unit of $0.39 reflects results for a partial quarter from the date of our IPO, February 8, 2002.

 

“Our first quarter results were a record and yesterday we declared our first quarter distribution of $0.4875 per unit, to be paid on May 15, 2003,” said Deborah M. Fretz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. “All of our businesses operated well and the current market environment has enabled us to continue to yield ratable cash flow during the quarter. We also increased our Credit Facility from $150 million to $250 million and filed a $500 million Universal Shelf. This will provide us with significant liquidity and will enable us to continue to execute our growth strategy.”

 

Net income for the first quarter 2003 increased 42 percent to $17.8 million from $12.5 million for the first quarter of 2002. This increase was primarily the result of a $5.3 million increase in operating income and a $1.6 million increase from the absence of corporate income taxes in the current quarter due to our partnership status, partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in net interest expense. Operating income increased $5.3 million to $22.4 million for the first quarter 2003 compared with $17.1 million for the prior year due principally to higher gross margins from the Western Pipeline System, lower operating expenses at the Eastern Pipeline System, and equity income from the corporate joint ventures acquired in November 2002. Partially offsetting these increases were higher operating expenses at the Terminal Facilities business segment and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses due to higher administrative costs and a full quarter of public company costs in 2003 compared to the partial first quarter of 2002 due to our IPO on February 8, 2002.


Details of First Quarter Results

 

Eastern Pipeline System

 

The Eastern Pipeline System experienced a $3.2 million increase in operating income from $6.5 million in the first quarter 2002 to $9.7 million for the first quarter 2003. Sales and other operating revenues increased $0.8 million to $23.5 million for the first quarter 2003 principally as a result of an increase in revenues per barrel mile. Other income increased $0.9 million to $2.7 million for the first quarter 2003 primarily due to the equity income from the interests in corporate joint ventures acquired in November 2002, partially offset by a decline in income from Explorer pipeline due to lower volumes. Operating expenses declined $2.0 million to $9.4 million for the first quarter 2003 due to the absence of costs associated with a pipeline leak in January 2002 and lower pipeline maintenance expenses. As this pipeline leak occurred prior to the IPO and the Partnership is indemnified by Sunoco, Inc. for liabilities associated with this incident, there was no impact on the Partnership’s post-IPO financial results. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million to $4.6 million for the first quarter 2003 due to higher allocated administrative expenses and a full quarter of public company costs in 2003.

 

Terminal Facilities

 

Operating income at the Terminal Facilities business segment decreased $1.2 million to $7.4 million for the first quarter 2003 compared with $8.6 million for the first quarter 2002. Total revenues increased $1.0 million to $22.1 million for the first quarter 2003 primarily due to higher combined volumes at the refined product terminals, the Fort Mifflin Terminal Complex, and the Marcus Hook Tank Farm (collectively referred to as the “Other Terminals”) as a result of increased demand for heating oil in the Northeast U.S. due to cold winter weather. Revenue at the Nederland Terminal was also slightly higher due to an increase in tank rental revenues as a result of a new tank placed into service in the second quarter 2002, partially offset by a decline in volumes caused by rising foreign crude oil prices relative to domestic crude oil prices. Operating expenses increased $1.4 million to $8.9 million for the first quarter 2003 due mainly to higher maintenance expenses at the terminals. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.4 million to $3.1 million for the first quarter 2003 due to higher allocated administrative expenses and a full quarter of public company costs in 2003.

 

Western Pipeline System

 

Operating income for the Western Pipeline System was $5.3 million for the first quarter 2003, an increase of $3.3 million compared with the first quarter 2002. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in lease acquisition volumes and margins, higher trunk pipeline volumes and revenues and equity income from the 43.8% interest in the West Texas Gulf pipeline acquired in November 2002. Total revenues and cost of products sold and operating expenses increased significantly in the first quarter 2003 compared with the first quarter 2002 due primarily to an increase in the price of crude oil and an increase in lease acquisition volumes. The average price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil at Cushing, Oklahoma, increased to an average price of $33.80 per barrel for the first quarter 2003 from $21.67 for the first quarter 2002. Other income increased to $1.0 million for the first


quarter 2003 due to the interest acquired in the West Texas Gulf pipeline. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.9 million to $4.0 million for the first quarter 2003 due to higher allocated administrative expenses and a full quarter of public company costs in 2003.

 

Net Financing Activities

 

Net interest expense increased $1.6 million to $4.6 million for the first quarter 2003 compared with $3.0 million for the first quarter 2002 due to interest on the $250 million 7.25% Senior Notes being incurred for a full quarter in 2003, as compared to a partial first quarter in 2002, since these notes were issued on February 8, 2002, the date of the IPO. In addition, we incurred interest expense on the $64.5 million outstanding on the Credit Facility in the current year’s quarter. The Credit Facility was drawn on November 15, 2002 to fund two acquisitions and was not outstanding in the prior year’s quarter. Total net debt outstanding at March 31, 2003 was $317.4 million, including $248.5 million of the Senior Notes and $64.5 million outstanding on the Credit Facility.

 


Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.

Financial Highlights

(in thousands, except units and per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


Sales and other operating revenue

  

$

716,019

  

$

344,411

Other income

  

 

3,625

  

 

1,748

    

  

Total Revenues

  

 

719,644

  

 

346,159

    

  

Cost of products sold and operating expenses

  

 

679,027

  

 

313,067

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

6,529

  

 

6,239

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  

 

11,647

  

 

9,737

    

  

Total Costs and Expenses

  

 

697,203

  

 

329,043

    

  

Operating Income

  

 

22,441

  

 

17,116

Net interest expense

  

 

4,598

  

 

3,022

    

  

Income before income tax expense

  

 

17,843

  

 

14,094

Income tax expense

  

 

—  

  

 

1,555

    

  

Net Income

  

$

17,843

  

$

12,539

    

  

Allocation of 2002 Net Income:

             

Portion applicable to January 1 through February 7, 2002 (period prior to initial public offering)

         

$

3,421

Portion applicable to February 8 through March 31, 2002

         

 

9,118

           

Net Income

         

$

12,539

           

Calculation of Limited Partners’ interest:

             

Net Income

  

$

17,843

  

$

9,118

Less: General Partner’s interest

  

 

357

  

 

182

    

  

Limited Partners’ interest in Net Income

  

$

17,486

  

$

8,936

    

  

Net Income per Limited Partner unit (2002 is for the period from February 8 through March 31, 2002):

             

Basic

  

$

0.77

  

$

0.39

    

  

Diluted

  

$

0.77

  

$

0.39

    

  

Weighted average Limited Partners’ units outstanding:

             

Basic

  

 

22,771,793

  

 

22,767,278

    

  

Diluted

  

 

22,856,902

  

 

22,767,278

    

  

 


Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.

Earnings Contribution by Business Segment

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


Eastern Pipeline System:

             

Sales and other operating revenues

  

$

23,506

  

$

22,751

Other income

  

 

2,661

  

 

1,744

    

  

Total Revenues

  

 

26,167

  

 

24,495

    

  

Operating expenses

  

 

9,441

  

 

11,436

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

2,468

  

 

2,567

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  

 

4,565

  

 

4,026

    

  

Operating Income

  

$

9,693

  

$

6,466

    

  

Terminal Facilities:

             

Total Revenues

  

$

22,101

  

$

21,136

    

  

Operating expenses

  

 

8,905

  

 

7,503

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

2,737

  

 

2,385

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  

 

3,059

  

 

2,639

    

  

Operating Income

  

$

7,400

  

$

8,609

    

  

Western Pipeline System:

             

Sales and other operating revenues

  

$

670,419

  

$

300,526

Other income

  

 

957

  

 

2

    

  

Total Revenues

  

 

671,376

  

 

300,528

    

  

Cost of products sold and operating expenses

  

 

660,681

  

 

294,128

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

1,324

  

 

1,287

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  

 

4,023

  

 

3,072

    

  

Operating Income

  

$

5,348

  

$

2,041

    

  


Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.

Operating Highlights

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months ended
March 31,


    

2003


  

2002


Eastern Pipeline System (1):

         

Total shipments (barrel miles per day) (2)

  

54,799,851

  

54,579,732

Revenue per barrel mile (cents)

  

0.476

  

0.463

Terminal Facilities:

         

Terminal throughput (bpd):

         

Nederland terminal

  

392,605

  

416,000

Other terminals (3)

  

765,389

  

743,946

Western Pipeline System (1):

         

Crude oil pipeline throughput (bpd)

  

310,620

  

277,500

Crude oil purchases at wellhead (bpd)

  

199,693

  

190,910

Gross margin per barrel of pipeline throughput (cents) (4)

  

30.1

  

20.5

 

(1)   Excludes amounts attributable to equity ownership interests in joint ventures.
(2)   Represents total average daily pipeline throughput multiplied by the number of miles of pipeline through which each barrel has been shipped.
(3)   Consists of the refined product terminals, the Fort Mifflin Terminal Complex and Marcus Hook Tank Farm.
(4)   Represents total sales and other operating revenue minus cost of products sold and operating expenses and depreciation and amortization divided by crude oil pipeline throughput.

 

An investor call with management regarding our first-quarter results is scheduled for Thursday morning, April 24 at 10:00 am EDT. Those wishing to listen can access the call by dialing (USA toll free) 1-888-566-0007; International (USA toll) 1-630-395-0124 and requesting “Sunoco Logistics Partners Earnings Call,” password “Sunoco Logistics”, leader “Colin Oerton”. This event may also be accessed by a webcast, which will be available at www.sunocologistics.com. A number of presentation slides will accompany the audio portion of the call and will be available to be viewed and printed shortly before the call begins. Individuals wishing to listen to the call on the company’s web site will need Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded free of charge from Microsoft or from Sunoco Logistics Partners’ conference call page. Please allow at least fifteen minutes to complete the download.

 

Audio replays of the conference call will be available for two weeks after the conference call beginning approximately two hours following the completion of the call. To access the replay, dial 1-888-433-2212. International callers should dial 1-402-998-1313.


 

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL), headquartered in Philadelphia, was formed to acquire, own and operate Sunoco Inc.’s refined product and crude oil pipelines and terminal facilities. The Eastern Pipeline System consists of approximately 2,000 miles of primarily refined product pipelines and interests in four products pipelines, including a 9.4 percent interest in Explorer Pipeline, a 31.5 percent interest in Wolverine Pipe Line Company, a 9.2 percent interest in West Shore Pipe Line Company and a 14.0 percent interest in Yellowstone Pipe Line Company. The Terminal Facilities consist of 7.8 million barrels of refined product terminal capacity and 14.7 million barrels of crude oil terminal capacity (including 11.2 million at the Texas Gulf Coast Nederland Terminal). The Western Pipeline System consists of approximately 2,700 miles of crude oil pipelines, located principally in Oklahoma and Texas, and a 43.8 percent interest in West Texas Gulf Pipe Line Company. For additional information, visit Sunoco Logistics’ web site at www.sunocologistics.com.

 

NOTE: Those statements made in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Although Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”) believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and necessarily involve risks that may affect the Partnership’s business prospects and performance causing actual results to differ from those discussed in the foregoing release. Such risks and uncertainties include, by way of example and not of limitation: increased competition; changes in demand for crude oil and refined products that we store and distribute; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction; potential labor relations problems; the legislative or regulatory environment; plant construction/repair delays; and political and economic conditions, including the impact of potential terrorist acts and international hostilities. These and other applicable risks and uncertainties have been described more fully in the Partnership’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2003. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information or future events.

 

- END -

 

7

Slide Presentation

Exhibit 99.2


 
Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P.
 
 
 
First Quarter 2003 Earnings Conference Call
April 24, 2003
 

 


Forward-Looking Statements

 

     You should review this slide presentation in conjunction with the first quarter 2003 earnings conference call for Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., held on April 24, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. [EDT]. You may listen to the audio portion of the conference call on this website. An audio recording also will be available after the call’s completion by dialing 1-888-433-2212.

     During the call, those statements we make that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. We believe the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, but caution you that such forward-looking statements involve risks that may affect our business prospects and performance, causing actual results to differ from those discussed during the conference call. Such risks include, among other things: general business and economic conditions; increased competition; changes in demand for crude oil and refined products that we store and distribute; loss of a major customer; changes in our tariff rates, implemented by federal and/or state regulators; changes in throughput of third-party pipelines that connect to our refined product pipelines and terminals; changes in the condition of debt and equity capital markets in the United States; the amount of our indebtedness and restrictive covenants in our or Sunoco, Inc.’s credit agreements; our ability to control costs and manage growth; the effects of changes in accounting principles; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction; potential labor relations problems; the legislative or regulatory environment; plant construction/repair delays; and political and economic conditions, including the impact of potential terrorist acts and international hostilities.

     These and other applicable risks and uncertainties are described more fully in our December 31, 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2003. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events.

 

2

 


Q1 2003 Milestones

 
  • First quarter net income of $17.8 million or $0.77 per fully diluted Limited Partner unit, as compared to $12.5 million in prior year, a 42% increase
  • Full quarter’s contribution from interests in four pipeline acquisitions closed in fourth quarter 2002
  • Declaration of first quarter distribution of $0.4875 per unit, payable May 15 to unitholders of record May 1
  • Significant increased liquidity due to an increase in Credit Facility from $150 million to $250 million, and filing of $500 million Universal Shelf
 

3

 


Q1 2003 Financial Highlights

($ in millions, unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2003
2002
 

Sales and other operating revenue
$716.0
$344.4
Other income
3.6
1.8
 

Total Revenues
719.6
346.2
 

Cost of products sold and operating expenses
679.0
313.1
Depreciation and amortization
6.5
6.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses
11.7
9.7
 

Total costs and expenses
697.2
329.1
 

Operating income
22.4
17.1
Net interest expense
4.6
3.0
 

Income before income tax expense
17.8
14.1
Income tax expense
1.6
 

Net Income
$17.8
$12.5
 

     

4

 


Q1 2003 Financial Highlights

($ in million, except unit and per unit amounts, unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2003
2002
 

Net Income
$17.8
$12.5
Allocation of 2002 Net Income:
     Portion applicable to January 1 through February 7, 2002
     (period prior to initial public offering)
 
$3.4
     Portion applicable to February 8 through March 31, 2002
9.1
   
Net Income
$12.5
   
Calculation of Limited Partners’ interest:
     Net Income
$17.8
$9.1
     Less: General Partner’s interest
0.3
0.2
 

    Limited Partners’ interest in Net Income
$17.5
$8.9
 

Net Income per Limited Partner unit (2002 is for the period from
February 8 through March 31, 2002):
     Basic
$0.77
$0.39
 

     Diluted
$0.77
$0.39
 

Weighted average Limited Partners’ units outstanding:
     Basic
22,771,793
22,767,278
 

     Diluted
22,856,902
22,767,278
 

     

5

 


Eastern Pipeline System

($ in millions, unless otherwise noted, unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2003
2002
 

Financial Highlights
     Sales and other operating revenues
$23.5
$22.8
     Other income
2.7
1.7
 

     Total Revenues
26.2
24.5
 

     Operating expenses
9.4
11.4
      Depreciation and amortization
2.5
2.6
     Selling, general and administrative expenses
4.6
4.0
     

     Operating income
$9.7
$6.5
 

Operating Highlights
     Total shipments (mm barrel miles per day)
54.8
54.6
     Revenue per barrel mile (cents)
0.476
0.463
     

6


Terminal Facilities

($ in millions, unless otherwise noted, unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2003
2002
 

Financial Highlights
     Total Revenues
$22.1
$21.1
 

     Operating expenses
8.9
7.5
      Depreciation and amortization
2.7
2.4
     Selling, general and administrative expenses
3.1
2.6
     

     Operating income
$7.4
$8.6
 

Operating Highlights
     Terminal throughput (000’s bpd)    
          Nederland terminal
392.6
416.0
          Other terminals (1)
765.4
743.9
     
(1) Consists of the refined products terminals, the Fort Mifflin Terminal Complex, and the Marcus Hook Tank Farm.

7


Western Pipeline System

($ in millions, unless otherwise noted, unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2003
2002
 

Financial Highlights
     Sales and other operating revenues
$670.4
$300.5
     Other income
1.0
0.0
 

     Total Revenues
671.4
300.5
 

     Cost of products sold and operating expenses
660.8
294.1
     Depreciation and amortization
1.3
1.3
     Selling, general and administrative expenses
4.0
3.1
 

     Operating income
$5.3
$2.0
 

Operating Highlights
Crude oil pipeline throughput (000’s bpd)
310.6
277.5
Crude oil purchases at wellhead (000’s bpd)
199.7
190.9
Gross margin per barrel of pipeline throughput (cents)(1)
30.1
20.5
     

(1) Represents total sales and other operating revenue minus cost of products sold and operating expenses and depreciation and
      amortization divided by crude oil pipeline throughput.


8