HOUSTON-Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP) today reported second quarter 2023 results as follows: Highlights: Generated $82 million of free cash flow
Paid first quarter 2023 common unit distribution of $0.75 per unit
Redeemed $81 million of preferred units at par with cash
Leverage ratio of 0.6x as of June 30, 2023
Declares second quarter 2023 common unit distribution of $0.75
'NRP generated $82 million of free cash flow in the second quarter driven by a solid performance from our mineral rights assets along with strong sales prices and distributions from our soda ash investment,' said Craig Nunez, NRP's president and chief operating officer. 'I am also pleased to report that during the second quarter we redeemed $81 million of preferred units at par with cash, lowering the outstanding par value of preferred equity to $122 million. We remain steadfast in our strategy to pay off our debt and redeem our preferred equity while maintaining distributions to our common unitholders. We believe this is the right strategy to maximize unitholder value and advantageously position the business for the long term.'
NRP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner declared a second quarter 2023 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit to be paid on August 23, 2023, to unitholders of record on August 16, 2023. In addition, the board declared a $3.65 million cash distribution on NRP's outstanding preferred units. Future distributions on NRP's common and preferred units will be determined on a quarterly basis by the board of directors. The board of directors considers numerous factors each quarter in determining cash distributions including profitability, cash flow, debt service obligations, market conditions and outlook, estimated unitholder income tax liability, and the level of cash reserves that the board determines is necessary for future operating and capital needs.
NRP's liquidity was $62.7 million at June 30, 2023, consisting of $10.7 million of cash and $52.0 million of borrowing capacity available under its revolving credit facility.
Segment Performance
Mineral Rights
Mineral Rights net income, operating cash flow, and free cash flow for the second quarter of 2023 decreased $16.9 million, $15.3 million, and $15.3 million, respectively, as compared to the prior year period primarily due to decreased metallurgical coal sales prices in the second quarter of 2023. Approximately 70% of coal royalty revenues and approximately 55% of coal royalty sales volumes were derived from metallurgical coal in the second quarter of 2023.
While metallurgical and thermal coal prices have decreased from the beginning of the year and decreased significantly from the record highs seen in 2022, they both remain strong relative to historical norms. Transportation and logistics challenges, limited access to capital, and labor shortages limit operators' ability to increase production and sales which should provide continued price support.
NRP continues to explore opportunities for carbon neutral revenue across its large portfolio of land, mineral, and timber assets, including the sequestration of carbon dioxide underground and in standing forests, and the generation of electricity using geothermal, solar, and wind energy.
Soda Ash
Soda Ash net income in the second quarter of 2023 increased $12.3 million as compared to the prior year period primarily due to higher sales prices driven by strong demand in domestic and international markets, partially offset by lower soda ash production and sales volumes. Operating cash flow and free cash flow in the second quarter of 2023 improved $21.9 million as compared to the prior year period due to the early timing of distributions received from Sisecam Wyoming and a higher distribution amount driven by Sisecam Wyoming's strong operating performance in the second quarter of 2023.
After starting the year at historically high levels, global soda ash prices have fallen throughout the first half of the year. New supply from China entering the market in the second half of the year is expected to continue to put downward pressure on international soda ash pricing. However, NRP expects Sisecam Wyoming's domestic soda ash sales prices to remain elevated versus the spot market in the second half of the year as a result of negotiated 2023 domestic sales contracts entered into at the end of 2022.
Corporate and Financing
Corporate and Financing costs in the second quarter of 2023 decreased $8.1 million as compared to the prior year period primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from less debt outstanding. Operating cash flow and free cash flow in the second quarter of 2023 improved $11.6 million as compared to the prior year period primarily due to lower cash paid for interest as a result of the retirement of the 9.125% Senior Notes in 2022.
NRP retired an aggregate of 80,834 Class A Preferred Units in the second quarter of 2023, saving NRP $9.7 million annually in preferred unit cash distributions. Of the originally issued 250,000 Class A Preferred Units, 121,667 Class A Preferred Units remain outstanding.
In May 2023, NRP declared and paid a first quarter 2023 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit and a $6.1 million cash distribution on the preferred units. Today, NRP declared a second quarter 2023 cash distribution of $0.75 per common unit and a $3.65 million cash distribution on its outstanding preferred units.
NRP's consolidated leverage ratio was 0.6x at June 30, 2023.
Conference Call
A conference call will be held today at 9:00 a.m. ET. To register for the conference call, please use this link: https://conferencingportals.com/event/mQRabxXg. After registering a confirmation will be sent via email, including dial in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open through the live call, however, to ensure you are connected for the full conference call we suggest registering at minimum 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Investors may also listen to the call via the Investor Relations section of the NRP website at www.nrplp.com. To access the replay, please visit the Investor Relations section of NRP's website.
Withholding Information for Foreign Investors
Concurrent with this announcement, we are providing qualified notice to brokers and nominees that hold NRP units on behalf of non-U.S. investors under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) and (d) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(iii). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of NRP's distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. In addition, brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of the distribution as being in excess of cumulative net income for purposes of determining the amount to withhold. Accordingly, NRP's distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at a rate equal to the sum of the highest applicable rate plus ten percent (10%).
Company Profile
Natural Resource Partners L.P., a master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, TX, is a diversified natural resource company that owns, manages and leases a diversified portfolio of properties in the United States including coal, industrial minerals and other natural resources, as well as rights to conduct carbon sequestration and renewable energy activities. NRP also owns an equity investment in Sisecam Wyoming LLC, one of the world's lowest-cost producers of soda ash.
Contact:
Tel: 713-751-7515
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All 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 are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Partnership. These risks include, among other things, statements regarding: the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic; future distributions on the Partnership's common and preferred units; the Partnership's business strategy; its liquidity and access to capital and financing sources; its financial strategy; prices of and demand for coal, trona and soda ash, and other natural resources; estimated revenues, expenses and results of operations; projected future performance by the Partnership's lessees; Sisecam Wyoming LLC's trona mining and soda ash refinery operations; distributions from the soda ash joint venture; the impact of governmental policies, laws and regulations, as well as regulatory and legal proceedings involving the Partnership, and of scheduled or potential regulatory or legal changes; global and U.S. economic conditions and other factors detailed in Natural Resource Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Natural Resource Partners L.P. has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Tiffany Sammis
Tel: 713-751-7515
Email: tsammis@nrplp.com
NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P. 
