Westlake Chemical Partners LP Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE: WLKP) reported a record net income of $25.1 million for Q2 2021, a significant increase from $14.9 million in Q2 2020. This rise was driven by higher production and a buyer deficiency fee totaling $8.7 million. Operating cash flows rose to $131.7 million, up by $18.9 million year-over-year. MLP distributable cash flow also increased, reaching $25.5 million.

For the first half of 2021, net income was $40.2 million, up from $32.6 million the previous year. The company announced a quarterly distribution of $0.4714 per unit, marking its 28th consecutive distribution.

Positive

• Record Q2 2021 net income of $25.1 million, up $10.2 million year-over-year.
• Operating cash flows increased to $131.7 million, a rise of $18.9 million compared to Q2 2020.
• MLP distributable cash flow rose to $25.5 million, an increase of $8.6 million year-over-year.
• Net income for the first half of 2021 reached $40.2 million, up $7.6 million from the previous year.
• Announced a quarterly distribution of $0.4714 per unit, the 28th consecutive distribution.

Negative

• Decrease in cash flows from operating activities by $23.7 million compared to Q1 2021 due to a receivable from Westlake Chemical.
• Increased maintenance costs and turnaround reserves offset gains in MLP distributable cash flow.

Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE: WLKP) (the "Partnership") today reported record net income attributable to the Partnership in the second quarter of 2021 of $25.1 million, or $0.71 per limited partner unit, an increase of $10.2 million compared to second quarter 2020 net income attributable to the Partnership of $14.9 million. The increase in net income was a result of higher production, higher earnings on third-party sales as well as a buyer deficiency fee. The buyer deficiency fee of $8.7 million is a result of lower planned production in 2021 attributable to the impacts of the winter storm which occurred in the first quarter and an outage at Westlake Chemical OpCo LP ("OpCo") Petro 1 facility, which occurred on June 25, 2021. Cash flows from operating activities in the second quarter of 2021 were $131.7 million, an increase of $18.9 million compared to second quarter 2020 cash flows from operating activities of $112.8 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2021, MLP distributable cash flow of $25.5 million increased by $8.6 million from second quarter 2020 MLP distributable cash flow of $16.9 million. The increase in MLP distributable cash flow was primarily attributable to the higher production and resulting higher earnings at OpCo, partially offset by increased maintenance costs and turnaround reserves.

Record second quarter 2021 net income attributable to the Partnership of $25.1 million increased by $10.0 million compared to first quarter 2021 net income attributable to the Partnership of $15.1 million. This increase was primarily attributable to higher production at OpCo and increased earnings on third party sales. Second quarter 2021 cash flows from operating activities of $131.7 million decreased by $23.7 million compared to first quarter 2021 cash flows from operating activities of $155.4 million. This decrease in cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to the receipt of a receivable from Westlake Chemical Corporation ("Westlake Chemical") in the first quarter, partially offset by higher earnings during the quarter. Second quarter 2021 MLP distributable cash flow of $25.5 million increased by $9.3 million compared to first quarter 2021 MLP distributable cash flow of $16.2 million. This increase was primarily attributable to the higher production and earnings at OpCo.

Net income attributable to the Partnership of $40.2 million, or $1.14 per limited partner unit, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $7.6 million compared to the first six months of 2020 net income attributable to the Partnership of $32.6 million. The increase in net income attributable to the Partnership as compared to the prior-year period was due to higher earnings on ethylene sold to Westlake Chemical under the Ethylene Sales Agreement and third parties and a buyer deficiency of $18.4 million related to the winter storm that occurred in the first quarter of 2021, partially offset by lower ethylene production. Cash flows from operating activities in the first six months of 2021 were $287.1 million, an increase of $63.4 million compared to the first six months of 2020 cash flows from operating activities of $223.7 million. This increase was primarily due to the receipt of a prior year receivable from Westlake and higher earnings during the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, MLP distributable cash flow of $41.8 million increased by $6.6 million compared to the first six months of 2020 MLP distributable cash flow of $35.2 million. The increase in MLP distributable cash flow as compared to the prior-year period was primarily attributable to the Partnership's higher earnings at OpCo, partially offset by increased maintenance costs and turnaround reserves.

"The Partnership had a record second quarter driven by the strong consumer markets for PVC construction materials and polyethylene packaging, which drove the resulting demand for ethylene. The strong demand for ethylene and the resulting robust pricing environment drove higher margins in our second quarter 2021 third-party ethylene sales," said Albert Chao, President and Chief Executive Officer.

OpCo's Ethylene Sales Agreement with Westlake Chemical is designed to provide for stable and predictable cash flows. The agreement provides that 95% of OpCo's ethylene production is sold to Westlake Chemical for a cash margin of $0.10 per pound, net of operating costs, maintenance capital expenditures and reserves for future turnaround expenditures.

On August 2, 2021, the Partnership announced that the Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC had approved a quarterly distribution for the second quarter of 2021 of $0.4714 per unit to be payable on August 26, 2021 to unitholders of record as of August 12, 2021, representing the 28^th consecutive quarterly distribution to our unitholders. MLP distributable cash flow provided trailing twelve-month coverage of 1.18x the declared distributions for the second quarter of 2021.

The statements in this release and the related teleconference relating to matters that are not historical facts, such as those with respect to cost recovery of expenses incurred in the second quarter of 2021, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to, the COVID-19 pandemic and the response thereto; operating difficulties; the volume of ethylene that we are able to sell; the price at which we are able to sell ethylene; changes in the price and availability of feedstocks; changes in prevailing economic conditions; actions and commitments of Westlake Chemical Corporation; actions of third parties; inclement or hazardous weather conditions, including flooding, and the physical impacts of climate change; environmental hazards; changes in laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof); inability to acquire or maintain necessary permits; inability to obtain necessary production equipment or replacement parts; technical difficulties or failures; labor disputes; difficulty collecting receivables; inability of our customers to take delivery; fires, explosions or other industrial accidents; our ability to borrow funds and access capital markets; and other risk factors. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC in March 2021.

This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of the Partnership's distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, the Partnership's distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release makes reference to certain "non-GAAP" financial measures, such as MLP distributable cash flow and EBITDA. For this purpose, a non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as a numerical measure of a registrant's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that (1) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") in the statement of income, balance sheet or statement of cash flows (or equivalent statements) of the registrant; or (2) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but believe that certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as MLP distributable cash flow and EBITDA, provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of our ongoing operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define MLP distributable cash flow as distributable cash flow less distributable cash flow attributable to Westlake's noncontrolling interest in OpCo and distributions attributable to the incentive distribution rights holder. MLP distributable cash flow does not reflect changes in working capital balances. We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. MLP distributable cash flow and EBITDA 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, our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures and the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities. Reconciliations of MLP distributable cash flow to net income and to net cash provided by operating activities and of EBITDA to net income, income from operations and net cash provided by operating activities can be found in the financial schedules at the end of this press release.

Westlake Chemical Partners LP

Westlake Chemical Partners is a limited partnership formed by Westlake Chemical Corporation to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and other qualified assets. Headquartered in Houston, the Partnership owns a 22.8% interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP. Westlake Chemical OpCo LP's assets consist of three ethylene production facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky, and Lake Charles, Louisiana and an ethylene pipeline. For more information about Westlake Chemical Partners LP, please visit http://www.wlkpartners.com.

Westlake Chemical Partners LP Conference Call Information:

A conference call to discuss Westlake Chemical Partners' second quarter 2021 results will be held Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (12:00 PM Central Time). To access the conference call, dial (855) 765-5686 or (234) 386-2848 for international callers, approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and reference passcode 321 65 79.

A replay of the conference call will be available beginning two hours after its conclusion until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. To hear a replay, dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 for international callers. The replay passcode is 321 65 79.

The conference call will also be available via webcast at: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/go9q47ya and the earnings release can be obtained via the Partnership web page at: https://investors.wlkpartners.com/corporate-profile/default.aspx.

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP ("WESTLAKE PARTNERS") CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021					2020					2021					2020
		(In thousands of dollars, except per unit data)
Revenue
Net sales—Westlake Chemical Corporation ("Westlake")		$	240,956				$	227,431				$	460,759				$	442,259
Net co-product, ethylene and other sales—third parties		81,273					11,069					129,677					46,790
Total net sales		322,229					238,500					590,436					489,049
Cost of sales		191,200					148,470					371,708					295,471
Gross profit		131,029					90,030					218,728					193,578
Selling, general and administrative expenses		8,269					6,139					16,942					12,335
Income from operations		122,760					83,891					201,786					181,243
Other income (expense)
Interest expense—Westlake		(2,224		)			(3,431		)			(4,460		)			(7,381		)
Other income, net		21					123					28					708
Income before income taxes		120,557					80,583					197,354					174,570
Income tax provision		263					206					438					423
Net income		120,294					80,377					196,916					174,147
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP ("OpCo")		95,195					65,517					156,671					141,540
Net income attributable to Westlake Partners		$	25,099				$	14,860				$	40,245				$	32,607
Net income per limited partners unit attributable to Westlake Partners (basic and diluted)
Common units		$	0.71				$	0.43				$	1.14				$	0.93
Distributions declared per unit		$	0.4714				$	0.4714				$	0.9428				$	0.9428
MLP distributable cash flow		$	25,538				$	16,855				$	41,783				$	35,192
Distributions declared
Limited partner units—publicly and privately held		$	9,938				$	9,933				$	19,874				$	19,867
Limited partner units—Westlake		6,657					6,657					13,314					13,314
Total distributions declared		$	16,595				$	16,590				$	33,188				$	33,181
EBITDA		$	151,483				$	109,827				$	258,058				$	233,795

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
		June 30, 2021					December 31, 2020
		(In thousands of dollars)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	17,665				$	17,154
Receivable under the Investment Management Agreement—Westlake		222,249					123,228
Accounts receivable, net—Westlake		66,948					108,028
Accounts receivable, net—third parties		24,962					11,029
Inventories		4,929					3,474
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		61					392
Total current assets		336,814					263,305
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,030,016					1,050,677
Other assets, net		34,925					42,506
Total assets		$	1,401,755				$	1,356,488
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities (accounts payable and accrued liabilities)		$	48,653				$	39,754
Long-term debt payable to Westlake		399,674					399,674
Other liabilities		1,670					1,923
Total liabilities		449,997					441,351
Common unitholders—publicly and privately held		476,076					471,701
Common unitholder—Westlake		51,103					48,270
General partner—Westlake		(242,572		)			(242,572		)
Total Westlake Partners partners' capital		284,607					277,399
Noncontrolling interest in OpCo		667,151					637,738
Total equity		951,758					915,137
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,401,755				$	1,356,488

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021					2020
		(In thousands of dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$	196,916				$	174,147
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		56,244					51,844
Other balance sheet changes		33,958					(2,272		)
Net cash provided by operating activities		287,118					223,719
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(27,289		)			(20,595		)
Maturities of investments with Westlake under the Investment Management Agreement		83,000					181,000
Investments with Westlake under the Investment Management Agreement		(182,000		)			(190,000		)
Other		126					—
Net cash used for investing activities		(126,163		)			(29,595		)
Cash flows from financing activities
Quarterly distributions to noncontrolling interest retained in OpCo by Westlake		(127,258		)			(157,248		)
Quarterly distributions to unitholders		(33,186		)			(33,181		)
Net cash used for financing activities		(160,444		)			(190,429		)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		511					3,695
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		17,154					19,923
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	17,665				$	23,618

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP RECONCILIATION OF MLP DISTRIBUTABLE CASH FLOW TO NET INCOME AND NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,					Three Months Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
		2021					2021					2020					2021					2020
		(In thousands of dollars)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	155,408				$	131,710				$	112,758				$	287,118				$	223,719
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other		(78,786		)			(11,416		)			(32,381		)			(90,202		)			(49,572		)
Net Income		76,622					120,294					80,377					196,916					174,147
Add:
Depreciation, amortization and disposition of property, plant and equipment		28,898					28,734					26,164					57,632					52,291
Mark-to-market adjustment loss (gain) on derivative contracts		—					—					704					—					(1,787		)
Less:
Contribution to turnaround reserves		(12,332		)			(12,463		)			(9,884		)			(24,795		)			(19,807		)
Maintenance capital expenditures		(11,743		)			(14,344		)			(8,228		)			(26,087		)			(19,349		)
Distributable cash flow attributable to noncontrolling interest in OpCo		(65,200		)			(96,683		)			(72,278		)			(161,883		)			(150,303		)
MLP distributable cash flow		$	16,245				$	25,538				$	16,855				$	41,783				$	35,192

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO NET INCOME, INCOME FROM OPERATIONS AND NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,					Three Months Ended June 30,										Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021					2021					2020					2021					2020
		(In thousands of dollars)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	155,408				$	131,710				$	112,758				$	287,118				$	223,719
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other		(78,786		)			(11,416		)			(32,381		)			(90,202		)			(49,572		)
Net Income		76,622					120,294					80,377					196,916					174,147
Less:
Other income, net		7					21					123					28					708
Interest expense		(2,236		)			(2,224		)			(3,431		)			(4,460		)			(7,381		)
Income tax provision		(175		)			(263		)			(206		)			(438		)			(423		)
Income from operations		79,026					122,760					83,891					201,786					181,243
Add:
Depreciation and amortization		27,542					28,702					25,813					56,244					51,844
Other income, net		7					21					123					28					708
EBITDA		$	106,575				$	151,483				$	109,827				$	258,058				$	233,795

 

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FAQ

What was Westlake Chemical Partners' net income for Q2 2021?

Westlake Chemical Partners reported a net income of $25.1 million for Q2 2021.

How did cash flows from operating activities change in Q2 2021?

Cash flows from operating activities increased to $131.7 million, a rise of $18.9 million from Q2 2020.

What is the MLP distributable cash flow for Q2 2021?

The MLP distributable cash flow for Q2 2021 was $25.5 million.

How much is the quarterly distribution announced for Q2 2021?

The quarterly distribution announced for Q2 2021 is $0.4714 per unit.

What factors increased Westlake Chemical Partners' net income in 2021?

Net income increased due to higher earnings on ethylene sales and a buyer deficiency fee.