e425
     
 
  Filed by Buckeye Partners, L.P. pursuant to Rule 425 under the
 
  Securities Act of 1933 and
 
  deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
  Subject Company: Buckeye GP Holdings L.P.
 
  Commission File No.: 001-32963
(NEWS RELEASE)
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P. REPORTS IMPROVED THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS;
INCREASES QUARTERLY CASH DISTRIBUTION
HOUSTON, November 8, 2010 — Buckeye Partners, L.P. (“Buckeye”) (NYSE: BPL) today reported net income attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders for the third quarter of 2010 of $61.2 million, or $0.93 per limited partner (“LP”) unit, compared to $57.9 million, or $0.89 per LP unit, for the third quarter of 2009.
Buckeye’s Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for the third quarter of 2010 increased 7.3 percent to $102.1 million from Adjusted EBITDA of $95.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. Third quarter operating income was $81.6 million, compared to $76.0 million in the prior year period.
Buckeye also announced today that its general partner, Buckeye GP LLC, declared a cash distribution of $0.975 per LP unit for the quarter ended September 30th. The distribution will be payable on November 30, 2010, to unitholders of record on November 15, 2010. This cash distribution is the 26th consecutive increase in the quarterly cash distribution and represents a 5.4 percent increase over the $0.925 per LP unit distribution declared for the third quarter of 2009. Buckeye has paid cash distributions in each quarter since its formation in 1986.
“Our third quarter financial performance demonstrated the strength of our asset portfolio and the soundness of our strategy,” said Forrest E. Wylie, Chairman and CEO of Buckeye’s general partner. “Organic growth and successful acquisitions enabled our Terminalling & Storage segment again to increase its contribution to Adjusted EBITDA. Our Pipeline Operations segment also contributed to Adjusted EBITDA growth, and experienced year-over-year volume growth for the first time since the second quarter of 2007.
“The increase in our pipeline transportation volumes is a sign of improving economic conditions,” Wylie said. “Because of effective execution of our best practices initiatives and strategic acquisitions, we are well positioned to take advantage of a strengthening economy.”
Buckeye also continued to pursue opportunities to expand its geographic and product diversification through two strategic acquisitions.
“Our recent agreement to purchase a refined petroleum products terminal in Puerto Rico will add approximately 4.6 million barrels of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, fuel oil, and crude storage capacity to our system,” Wylie said. “As our first acquisition outside the Continental United States, it will provide access to a strong local market and create regional growth opportunities. We also just completed the acquisition of a refined petroleum products terminal strategically located between the Lafayette and Alexandria, Louisiana, markets.”
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Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 2
     
Wylie also provided an update on the proposed merger between Buckeye and Buckeye GP Holdings L.P. (NYSE: BGH) (“BGH”). “We are on track to close the merger transaction in the fourth quarter of this year. Based on the proxies received to date, the proposed merger has the overwhelming support of the Buckeye and BGH unitholders,” Wylie said.
“The merger is an important step in our growth. By eliminating the incentive distribution rights Buckeye currently pays to BGH, our cost of capital will be reduced, allowing us to be even more competitive in our pursuit of acquisitions and organic growth projects, which increases the opportunity to accelerate distribution growth. Because the merger is important for the future of Buckeye, we ask that Buckeye and BGH unitholders take the time to vote.”
The special meetings of Buckeye and BGH unitholders are each scheduled for next week, November 16.
Buckeye will host a conference call with members of executive management today, November 8 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the live Webcast of the call, go to http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=73468 10 minutes prior to its start. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 877-440-9795. A replay will be archived and available at this link until December 8, 2010, and the replay may also be accessed by dialing 800-408-3053 and entering passcode 3238685.
Buckeye (www.buckeye.com) is a publicly traded partnership that owns and operates one of the largest independent refined petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, with approximately 5,400 miles of pipeline. Buckeye also owns 68 refined petroleum products terminals, operates and maintains approximately 2,400 miles of pipeline under agreements with major oil and chemical companies, owns a major natural gas storage facility in northern California, and markets refined petroleum products in certain of the geographic areas served by its pipeline and terminal operations. The general partner of Buckeye is owned by BGH.
* * * * *
EBITDA, a measure not defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), is defined by Buckeye as net income attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders before interest and debt expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. The EBITDA measure eliminates the significant level of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of Buckeye’s businesses and from intangible assets recognized in business combinations. In addition, EBITDA is unaffected by Buckeye’s capital structure due to the elimination of interest and debt expense and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA, which also is a non-GAAP measure, is defined by Buckeye as EBITDA plus: (i) non-cash deferred lease expense, which is the difference between the estimated annual land lease expense for Buckeye’s natural gas storage facility in the Natural Gas Storage segment to be recorded under GAAP and the actual cash to be paid for such annual land lease, and (ii) non-cash unit-based compensation expense. In addition, Buckeye has excluded the $72.5 million of impairment expense related to the approximately 350-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Wattenberg, Colorado, to Bushton, Kansas, that Buckeye sold in January 2010 (the “Buckeye NGL Pipeline”) and the $29.1 million of expense for organizational restructuring from Adjusted EBITDA for the 2009 periods in order to evaluate our results of operations on a comparative basis over multiple periods. The schedules to this press release include net income allocated to Buckeye’s limited partners (before special charges), which is a non-GAAP measure

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 3
     
derived by excluding from net income allocated to Buckeye’s limited partners items recognizing the Buckeye NGL Pipeline impairment expense and expenses related to an organizational restructuring, and operating income before special charges, which is a non-GAAP measure derived by excluding from operating income items recognizing the Buckeye NGL Pipeline impairment expense and expenses related to an organizational restructuring. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, net income allocated to Buckeye’s limited partners (before special charges), and operating income before special charges should not be considered alternatives to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.
The EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA data presented may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some items that affect net income attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders, and these measures may be defined differently by other companies. Management of Buckeye uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of the business segments and to allocate resources and capital to the business. In addition, Buckeye’s management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure to evaluate the viability of proposed projects and to determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. Buckeye’s management believes net income allocated to Buckeye’s limited partners (before special charges) and operating income before special charges are useful measures for investors because they allow comparison of Buckeye’s core operations from period to period.
Distributable cash flow, which is a financial measure included in the schedules to this press release, is another measure not defined under GAAP. Distributable cash flow is defined by Buckeye as net income attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders, plus depreciation and amortization expense, deferred lease expense for Buckeye’s Natural Gas Storage segment, unit-based compensation expense and the senior administrative charge (all of which are non-cash expense items) and minus maintenance capital expenditures. Buckeye’s management believes that distributable cash flow is useful to investors because it removes non-cash items from net income and provides a clearer picture of Buckeye’s cash available for distribution to its unitholders.
Buckeye believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures used by Buckeye’s management. Further, Buckeye believes that these measures are useful to investors because they are one of the bases for comparing Buckeye’s operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations, although Buckeye’s measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Please see the attached reconciliations of each of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, net income allocated to Buckeye’s limited partners (before special charges), operating income before special charges and distributable cash flow to net income attributable to Buckeye’s unitholders.
* * * * *
This press release includes forward-looking statements that we believe to be reasonable as of today’s date. Such statements are identified by use of the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” and similar expressions. Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond our control. Among them are (1) changes in laws or regulations to which we are subject, including those that permit the treatment of us as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (2) terrorism, adverse weather conditions, environmental releases, and natural disasters, (3) changes in the marketplace for our products or services, such as increased competition, better energy efficiency, or

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 4
     
general reductions in demand, (4) adverse regional or national economic conditions or adverse capital market conditions, (5) shutdowns or interruptions at the source points for the products we transport, store, or sell, (6) unanticipated capital expenditures in connection with the construction, repair, or replacement of our assets, (7) volatility in the price of refined petroleum products and the value of natural gas storage services, (8) nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, (9) our ability to realize efficiencies expected to result from our previously announced reorganization, and (10) our ability to integrate acquired assets with our existing assets and to realize anticipated cost savings and other efficiencies. You should read our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results. We undertake no obligation to revise our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today’s date.
Buckeye and BGH have filed a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents with the SEC in relation to their proposed merger. Investors are urged to read these documents carefully because they contain important information regarding Buckeye, BGH, and the transaction. A definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and joint proxy statement/prospectus supplement have been sent to unitholders of Buckeye and BGH seeking their approvals as contemplated by the merger agreement in connection with the merger. Investors may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, the joint proxy statement/prospectus supplement, and other documents containing information about Buckeye and BGH, without charge, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, the joint proxy statement/prospectus supplement, and the SEC filings incorporated by reference in those documents may also be obtained free of charge by contacting Investor Relations at (800) 422-2825, or by accessing www.buckeye.com or www.buckeyegp.com.
# # # #

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 5
     
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Revenue:
                               
Product sales
  $ 564,044     $ 258,188     $ 1,633,958     $ 728,744  
Transportation and other services
    170,813       165,256       499,349       462,760  
 
                       
Total revenue
    734,857       423,444       2,133,307       1,191,504  
 
                       
 
                               
Costs and expenses:
                               
Cost of product sales and
                               
natural gas storage services
    560,248       258,507       1,628,630       702,623  
Operating expenses
    67,287       65,537       200,556       207,639  
Depreciation and amortization
    16,177       14,253       47,607       43,408  
Asset impairment expense
                      72,540  
General and administrative
    9,549       8,186       30,059       24,625  
Reorganization expense
          996             29,109  
 
                       
Total costs and expenses
    653,261       347,479       1,906,852       1,079,944  
 
                       
Operating income
    81,596       75,965       226,455       111,560  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Earnings from equity investments
    3,391       3,807       8,807       9,031  
Interest and debt expense
    (22,014 )     (20,543 )     (64,825 )     (53,780 )
Other income
    140       364       379       631  
 
                       
Total other expense
    (18,483 )     (16,372 )     (55,639 )     (44,118 )
 
                       
Net income
    63,113       59,593       170,816       67,442  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (1,950 )     (1,704 )     (5,533 )     (4,164 )
 
                       
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.
  $ 61,163     $ 57,889     $ 165,283     $ 63,278  
 
                       
 
                               
Allocation of net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.:
                               
Net income allocated to general partner
  $ 13,113     $ 12,242     $ 38,405     $ 35,363  
 
                       
Net income allocated to limited partners
  $ 48,050     $ 45,647     $ 126,878     $ 27,915  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per Limited Partner Unit:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.93     $ 0.89     $ 2.45     $ 0.55  
 
                       
Diluted
  $ 0.93     $ 0.89     $ 2.45     $ 0.55  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding:
                               
Basic
    51,541       51,374       51,508       50,351  
 
                       
Diluted
    51,541       51,538       51,508       50,516  
 
                       

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 6
     
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Revenue:
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 103,621     $ 96,714     $ 299,497     $ 294,084  
Terminalling & Storage
    41,900       34,036       125,039       94,108  
Natural Gas Storage
    21,663       28,576       68,318       60,325  
Energy Services
    566,804       258,407       1,636,955       728,563  
Development & Logistics
    9,082       7,516       27,382       25,446  
Intersegment eliminations
    (8,213 )     (1,805 )     (23,884 )     (11,022 )
 
                       
Total revenue
  $ 734,857     $ 423,444     $ 2,133,307     $ 1,191,504  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income:
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 49,947     $ 42,466     $ 141,312     $ 37,349  
Terminalling & Storage
    24,055       17,539       71,753       39,573  
Natural Gas Storage
    2,914       7,659       9,891       19,691  
Energy Services
    2,960       5,703       (274 )     10,635  
Development & Logistics
    1,720       2,598       3,773       4,312  
 
                       
Total operating income
  $ 81,596     $ 75,965     $ 226,455     $ 111,560  
 
                       
 
                               
Total costs and expenses: (1)
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 53,675     $ 54,248     $ 158,186     $ 256,735  
Terminalling & Storage
    17,845       16,497       53,286       54,535  
Natural Gas Storage
    18,749       20,917       58,427       40,634  
Energy Services
    563,843       252,704       1,637,228       717,928  
Development & Logistics
    7,362       4,918       23,609       21,134  
Intersegment eliminations
    (8,213 )     (1,805 )     (23,884 )     (11,022 )
 
                       
Total costs and expenses
  $ 653,261     $ 347,479     $ 1,906,852     $ 1,079,944  
 
                       
 
                               
Depreciation and amortization:
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 9,950     $ 9,394     $ 29,361     $ 28,695  
Terminalling & Storage
    2,562       1,967       7,584       5,852  
Natural Gas Storage
    1,764       1,346       5,296       4,272  
Energy Services
    1,430       1,070       3,982       3,192  
Development & Logistics
    471       476       1,384       1,397  
 
                       
Total depreciation and amortization
  $ 16,177     $ 14,253     $ 47,607     $ 43,408  
 
                       
 
                               
Adjusted EBITDA:
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 62,810     $ 55,761     $ 178,241     $ 169,820  
Terminalling & Storage
    26,835       19,807       79,974       48,186  
Natural Gas Storage
    5,835       10,265       18,584       27,806  
Energy Services
    4,635       7,054       4,440       15,118  
Development & Logistics
    2,007       2,293       3,490       5,548  
 
                       
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 102,122     $ 95,180     $ 284,729     $ 266,478  
 
                       
 
                               
Capital additions, net: (2)
                               
Pipeline Operations
  $ 7,761     $ 8,252     $ 22,013     $ 20,813  
Terminalling & Storage
    8,495       3,165       16,116       15,186  
Natural Gas Storage
    4,174       5,978       7,466       18,884  
Energy Services
    771       1,171       2,835       2,973  
Development & Logistics
    502       418       845       947  
 
                       
Total capital additions, net
  $ 21,703     $ 18,984     $ 49,275     $ 58,803  
 
                       
 
                               
Summary of capital additions, net: (2)
                               
Maintenance capital expenditures
  $ 9,318     $ 4,096     $ 18,513     $ 11,869  
Expansion and cost reduction
    12,385       14,888       30,762       46,934  
 
                       
Total capital additions, net
  $ 21,703     $ 18,984     $ 49,275     $ 58,803  
 
                       
 
(1)   Includes depreciation and amortization. 2009 periods include asset impairment expense and reorganization expense.
 
(2)   Amounts exclude accruals for capital expenditures.
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
Key Balance Sheet information:   2010     2009  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 13,302     $ 34,599  
Long-term debt
    1,441,287       1,498,970  

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 7
     
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA — Continued
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Operating data:
                               
Pipeline Operations Throughput (b/d - 000s):
                               
Gasoline
    663.9       666.9       647.4       661.7  
Jet fuel
    350.7       350.0       337.5       342.9  
Diesel fuel
    237.0       199.9       229.2       205.0  
Heating oil
    35.0       33.6       61.4       72.0  
LPGs
    16.7       17.7       19.5       17.0  
NGLs
          9.6             17.1  
Other products
    3.3       5.0       2.6       9.4  
 
                       
Total Pipeline Operations Throughput
    1,306.6       1,282.7       1,297.6       1,325.1  
 
                       
 
                               
Pipeline Average Tariff (Cents/bbl.)
    75.7       74.2       73.7       72.0  
 
                               
Terminal Throughput (b/d - 000s) (1)
    566.2       472.0       564.2       470.8  
 
                               
Product sales (in millions of gallons)
    278.0       138.5       780.0       455.5  
 
(1)   Reported quantities exclude transfer volumes, which are non-revenue generating transfers among our various terminals, and include volumes from the Albany terminal. Previously reported 2009 amounts included transfer volumes and excluded volumes from the Albany terminal.

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. — 2010 Third Quarter Earnings   Page 8
     
BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(In thousands, except per unit amounts and coverage ratio)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Adjusted EBITDA:
                               
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.
  $ 61,163     $ 57,889     $ 165,283     $ 63,278  
Interest and debt expense
    22,014       20,543       64,825       53,780  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    230       (391 )     (435 )     (263 )
Depreciation and amortization
    16,177       14,253       47,607       43,408  
 
                       
EBITDA
    99,584       92,294       277,280       160,203  
Non-cash deferred lease expense
    1,059       1,125       3,176       3,375  
Non-cash unit-based compensation expense
    1,479       765       4,273       1,251  
Asset impairment expense
                      72,540  
Reorganization expense
          996             29,109  
 
                       
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 102,122     $ 95,180     $ 284,729     $ 266,478  
 
                       
 
                               
Distributable Cash Flow:
                               
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.
  $ 61,163     $ 57,889     $ 165,283     $ 63,278  
Depreciation and amortization
    16,177       14,253       47,607       43,408  
Non-cash deferred lease expense
    1,059       1,125       3,176       3,375  
Non-cash unit-based compensation expense
    1,479       765       4,273       1,251  
Asset impairment expense
                      72,540  
Reorganization expense
          996             29,109  
Non-cash senior administrative charge
                      475  
Maintenance capital expenditures
    (9,318 )     (4,096 )     (18,513 )     (11,869 )
 
                       
Distributable cash flow
  $ 70,560     $ 70,932     $ 201,826     $ 201,567  
 
                       
 
                               
Distributions for Coverage Ratio (1)
  $ 63,831     $ 59,859     $ 188,611     $ 176,719  
 
                       
 
                               
Coverage Ratio
    1.11       1.18       1.07       1.14  
 
                       
 
(1)   Represents cash distributions declared for respective periods.
                         
Net income allocated to limited partners (before special charges):
                       
Net income as reported
  $ 59,593             $ 67,442  
Add: Asset impairment expense
                  72,540  
Add: Reorganization expense
    996               29,109  
 
                   
Net income (as adjusted)
    60,589               169,091  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (as adjusted)
    (1,711 )             (4,377 )
 
                   
Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. (as adjusted)
  $ 58,878             $ 164,714  
 
                   
Net income allocated to limited partners (as adjusted)
  $ 46,631             $ 128,870  
 
                   
Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted (as adjusted):
                       
Earnings per limited partner unit-diluted (as adjusted):
  $ 0.90             $ 2.55  
 
                   
 
                       
Operating income before special charges:
                       
Operating income
  $ 75,965             $ 111,560  
Asset impairment expense
                  72,540  
Reorganization expense
    996               29,109  
 
                   
Operating income before special charges
  $ 76,961             $ 213,209