ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ciner Resources LP (NYSE: CINR) today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2015 Financial Highlights:

• Net sales of $126.4 million increased 0.3% over the prior-year fourth quarter; year-to-date net sales of $486.4 million increased 4.6% over the prior year.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $35.9 million increased 3.2% over the prior-year fourth quarter; year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA of $133.9 million increased 11.1% over the prior year.
• Earnings per unit was $0.69 in the fourth quarter, an increase of 1.5% over the prior-year fourth quarter of $0.68; year-to-date earnings per unit of $2.58 increased 15.7% over the prior-year.
• Quarterly distribution declared per unit of $0.5575, increased 4.9% over the prior-year fourth quarter; and 1.2% over third quarter 2015.
• Distributable cash flow of $16.7 million increased 16.8% over the prior-year fourth quarter; year-to-date distributable cash flow of $55.7 million increased 4.9% over the prior-year. The distribution coverage ratio was 1.50 and 1.27 for the fourth quarter and year ended 2015; and 1.35 and 1.29 for the fourth quarter and year ended 2014.

2016 Outlook:

• We expect our total volume sold to increase 2% to 4%; which includes an expected increase in domestic volume of 4% to 6%.
• We expect international prices to decline 3% to 6%.
• Maintenance of business capital expenditures are planned to be in the range of $11 to $13 million.
• Expansion capital expenditures are planned to be in the range of $15 to $18 million.

Kirk Milling, CEO, commented, “I am pleased our 2015 final results are in line with our outlook and targets. Our expansion investments and operational excellence enabled us to achieve the highest annual production and sales volume in our history and those led to an 11% increase in Adjusted EBITDA. During the quarter, production and sales volume gains were offset in part by lower international pricing, which led to a more modest increase to Adjusted EBITDA of 3.2%.

“As we look forward into 2016, we anticipate further volume increases to be realized from our debottlenecking investments; however, we believe these gains may be offset by softer international pricing and higher freight and royalty costs. In January, we began to see reports of prices rising in China’s domestic market. We are optimistic this is an indicator we will soon begin to see prices rebounding throughout the other Asian export markets as the year progresses in 2016.”

FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED 2015 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2014

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

Net sales. Net sales increased by 0.3% to $126.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 compared to $126.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, driven by an increase in volumes sold of 2.7%, partially offset by a decrease in average sales price of 2.3%.

Cost of products sold.Cost of products sold, including depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, increased by 0.8% to $91.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015 from $91.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, due primarily to an increase in fringe benefits and royalty expenses, as well as an increase in sales volumes. These increases were moderately offset by a decrease in energy costs as a result of lower natural gas prices.

Year Ended December 31, 2015 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014

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

Net sales. Net sales increased by 4.6% to $486.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $465.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, driven by increases in both international average sales price of 3.8% and soda ash volumes sold of 4.2%. These positive results were partially offset by a decrease in domestic average sales price of 4.4% during the year 2015 compared to 2014, primarily driven by a change in one of our large customer contracts taking delivery of product at our plant. Generally, we sell soda ash on a delivered basis, inclusive of freight, which is included both in net sales and cost of products sold.

Cost of products sold. Cost of products sold, including depreciation and amortization expense, increased by 2.4% to $356.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 from $347.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, due primarily to an increase in pension costs, as well as an increase in sales volumes. These increases were partly offset by a decrease in energy costs as a result of lower natural gas prices.

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, 2015 and 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents of $20.4 million and $31.0 million, respectively. In addition, we have $90 million of remaining capacity under our revolving credit facilities. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, our leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, as calculated in Ciner Wyoming Credit Facility, were 0.94 and 1.21, respectively.

CASH FLOWS AND QUARTERLY CASH DISTRIBUTION

Cash Flows

Cash provided by operating activities was $150.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $106.1 million of cash generated during the year ended December 31, 2014, primarily driven by an increase of 15.6% in net income during 2015, and $17.8 million of cash flows provided from working capital during the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $9.8 million of cash flows used in working capital during the prior year.

Cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2015 were partially offset by cash used in investing activities due to capital expenditures of $35.7 million and cash used in financing activities during the year of $125.1 million, the majority was due to distributions paid of $90.1 million and net repayments on revolving credit facility of $35 million.

Quarterly Distribution

On January 14, 2016, the Partnership declared its fourth quarter 2015 quarterly distribution of $0.5575 per unit. This represents an increase of 1.18% over the last quarterly distribution and an increase of 4.9% over the distribution declared for the fourth quarter of 2014. The quarterly cash distribution is payable on February 12, 2016 to unitholders of record on January 29, 2016.

RELATED COMMUNICATIONS

Ciner Resources LP will host a conference call tomorrow, February 11, 2016 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 32355088. 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 32355088, 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.cinerresources.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 LP (“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”), 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, 2014, 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. 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.

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 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. Distributable cash flow will not reflect changes in working capital balances. We define distribution coverage ratio as the ratio of distributable cash flow per outstanding unit (as of the end of the period) to cash distributions payable per outstanding unit 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 an 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: