Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES):

  • Reported fourth-quarter 2021 Net income attributable to limited partners of $238.2 million, generating fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $480.9 million, which included $26.2 million of an unfavorable non-cash revenue adjustment.
  • Reported full-year 2021 Net income attributable to limited partners of $896.5 million, generating full-year Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $1.947 billion, exceeding the high end of full-year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $1.825 billion to $1.925 billion.
  • Reported fourth-quarter 2021 Cash flows provided by operating activities of $661.9 million, generating fourth-quarter Free cash flow(1) of $576.5 million.
  • Reported full-year 2021 Cash flows provided by operating activities of $1.767 billion, generating full-year Free cash flow(1) of $1.490 billion.
  • Achieved year-end 2021 leverage ratio(2) of approximately 3.6 times, or 3.5 times on a net(3) basis.
  • Provided 2022 Adjusted EBITDA(4) guidance range of $1.925 billion to $2.025 billion and total capital expenditures(5) range between $375 million and $475 million.
  • Expect to declare a 53-percent distribution increase effective first-quarter 2022.
  • Immediately commencing a new $1.0 billion opportunistic unit repurchase program to complement a new annual enhanced distribution framework commencing in first-quarter 2023.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

 

Please see the definitions of the Partnership’s non-GAAP measures at the end of this release and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.

(2)

 

Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (trailing twelve months).

(3)

 

The ratio of Net Debt (defined as total principal debt outstanding less total cash on-hand as of the end of the period) to Adjusted EBITDA (trailing twelve months).

(4)

 

A reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA range to net cash provided by operating activities and net income (loss) is not provided because the items necessary to estimate such amounts are not reasonably estimable at this time. These items, net of tax, may include, but are not limited to, impairments of assets and other charges, divestiture costs, acquisition costs, or changes in accounting principles. All of these items could significantly impact such financial measures. At this time, WES is not able to estimate the aggregate impact, if any, of these items on future period reported earnings. Accordingly, WES is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for the Adjusted EBITDA range.

(5)

 

Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta.

Today Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) (“WES” or the “Partnership”) announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial and operating results. Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $238.2 million, or $0.58 per common unit (diluted), with fourth-quarter 2021 Adjusted EBITDA(1) totaling $480.9 million, fourth-quarter 2021 Cash flows provided by operating activities totaling $661.9 million, and fourth-quarter 2021 Free cash flow(1) totaling $576.5 million. Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners for full-year 2021 totaled $896.5 million, or $2.18 per common unit (diluted), with full-year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA(1) totaling $1.947 billion, full-year 2021 Cash flows provided by operating activities totaling $1.767 billion, and full-year 2021 Free cash flow(1) totaling $1.490 billion.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Surpassed projected year-end exit-rate throughput for all product lines, driven by increased producer activity levels in the Delaware Basin.
  • Maintained strong operational performance, with system availability above 99% for the second consecutive year.
  • Repurchased 5,621,450 common units for aggregate consideration of $113.1 million during the fourth quarter, inclusive of 2,500,000 common units repurchased from Occidental, completing the Partnership’s $250.0 million common unit repurchase program through December 31, 2021. Since third-quarter 2020, repurchased a total of 41,431,978 common units which represents approximately 9% of total outstanding unit count as of August 31, 2020.
  • Surpassed year-end leverage ratio(2) target of 4.0 times through the retirement of $431.1 million of Senior Notes due 2021 and the repurchase of $500.0 million of other Senior Notes, achieving a year-end leverage ratio(2) of approximately 3.6 times, or 3.5 times on a net(3) basis.
  • Achieved full-year cash distribution guidance of $1.24 per unit or greater, resulting in the payment of $533.8 million(4) in total distributions to unitholders.
  • Received an upgrade for WES Operating’s long-term debt to “BBB-” from Standard & Poor’s, returning the Partnership to investment-grade.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

 

Please see the definitions of the Partnership’s non-GAAP measures at the end of this release and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.

(2)

 

Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA (trailing twelve months).

(3)

 

The ratio of Net Debt (defined as total principal debt outstanding less total cash on-hand as of the end of the period) to Adjusted EBITDA (trailing twelve months).

(4)

 

Represents cash distributions paid during 2021.

On February 14, 2022, WES paid its fourth-quarter 2021 per-unit distribution of $0.327, which represents a 1.2-percent increase over the prior quarter’s distribution and is consistent with an annualized distribution growth of 5-percent. Fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 Free cash flow after distributions totaled $441.6 million and $956.4 million, respectively. Fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 capital expenditures(1) totaled $99.7 million and $324.0 million, respectively.

Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners and Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 include a non-cash decrease to revenue of approximately $26.2 million associated with revenue recognition cumulative adjustments related to certain cost-of-service contracts.

“WES surpassed all of our financial metric expectations for 2021 through continued producer outperformance in the Delaware Basin, commercial success in contracting additional third-party volumes, and sustainable cost savings,” said Michael Ure, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We exceeded the high end of our full-year 2021 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $1.825 billion to $1.925 billion, despite the negative effects from winter storm Uri in the first half of the year. Our outperformance was aided by throughput increasing across all three products in the Delaware Basin for the fourth consecutive quarter, highlighting our superior asset base and expanding portfolio of producer relationships.”

Mr. Ure continued, “Additionally, due to cost and capital efficiencies, and some projects moving into 2022, we achieved the mid-point of our capital expenditure guidance range of $275 million to $375 million, coming in under our revised expectations from last quarter. We also increased our distribution by 5-percent year over year, exceeding our $1.24 per-unit expectation for 2021, and reduced debt by $931 million, meaningfully surpassing our year-end 2021 leverage ratio target of 4.0 times and achieving a 2021 leverage ratio of 3.5 times on a net basis.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

 

Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta.

Fourth-quarter 2021 total natural-gas throughput(1) averaged 4.2 Bcf/d, representing a 3-percent sequential-quarter increase and a 6-percent increase from fourth-quarter 2020. Fourth-quarter 2021 total throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets(1) averaged 702 MBbls/d, representing a 10-percent sequential-quarter increase and a 13-percent increase from fourth-quarter 2020. Fourth-quarter 2021 total throughput for produced-water assets(1) averaged 792 MBbls/d, representing an 8-percent sequential-quarter increase and a 21-percent increase from fourth-quarter 2020.

Full-year 2021 total natural-gas throughput(1) averaged 4.1 Bcf/d, representing a 3-percent decrease from full-year 2020. Full-year 2021 total throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets(1) averaged 659 MBbls/d, representing a 6-percent decrease from full-year 2020. Full-year 2021 total throughput for produced-water assets(1) averaged 703 MBbls/d, representing a 1-percent increase from full-year 2020.

2022 GUIDANCE

Based on the most current production-forecast information from our producer customers, WES is providing 2022 guidance as follows:

  • Adjusted EBITDA(2) between $1.925 billion and $2.025 billion
  • Total capital expenditures(3) between $375 million and $475 million
  • Free cash flow(2) between $1.200 billion and $1.300 billion
  • Full-year 2022 distributions of at least $2.00 per unit(4)

“We expect strong producer activity levels to continue in the Delaware Basin, leading to increased throughput during 2022,” said Mr. Ure. “Our 2022 guidance includes the impact of the reduced cost-of-service rates and allocates additional capital spending in preparation for expected increased Delaware Basin activity beginning in 2023.” Mr. Ure continued, “We are also investing capital in technologies necessary for a maturing stand-alone organization designed to enhance employee development and safety, increase operational efficiencies, and minimize our environmental impact. We remain committed to maintaining a disciplined approach to capital spending, operating our assets safely, and delivering exceptional customer service.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

 

Represents total throughput attributable to WES, which excludes (i) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating and (ii) for natural-gas throughput, the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests.

(2)

 

A reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA range to net cash provided by operating activities and net income (loss), and a reconciliation of the Free cash flow range to net cash provided by operating activities, is not provided because the items necessary to estimate such amounts are not reasonably estimable at this time. These items, net of tax, may include, but are not limited to, impairments of assets and other charges, divestiture costs, acquisition costs, or changes in accounting principles. All of these items could significantly impact such financial measures. At this time, WES is not able to estimate the aggregate impact, if any, of these items on future period reported earnings. Accordingly, WES is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for the Adjusted EBITDA or Free cash flow ranges.

(3)

 

Accrual-based, includes equity investments, excludes capitalized interest, and excludes capital expenditures associated with the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta.

(4)

 

Subject to Board review and approval on a quarterly basis based on the needs of the business.

FINANCIAL POLICY AND ENHANCED DISTRIBUTION FRAMEWORK

Additionally, WES has recently refined its financial policy, including establishing a framework for paying an annual enhanced distribution (“Enhanced Distribution”) in conjunction with the regular first-quarter distribution (beginning in 2023), contingent on attainment of certain prior-year financial metrics. WES expects to generate substantial value for all stakeholders through three core pillars of reducing leverage, increasing distributions, and repurchasing units. As such, WES anticipates taking the following actions:

  • Retiring $715 million of aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2022 and 2023.
  • Based on current conditions and estimates, targeting approximately a 53-percent step-up in the Partnership’s regular quarterly distribution (“Base Distribution”) effective first-quarter 2022.
  • Commencing a new $1.0 billion common unit repurchase program to be executed opportunistically through 2024 as a complement to the Enhanced Distribution.
  • Establishing a framework whereby an annual Enhanced Distribution would be payable in conjunction with the first-quarter Base Distribution each year (beginning in 2023) in a target amount equal to Free cash flow generated in the prior year after subtracting the prior year’s debt repayments, Base Distributions, and unit repurchases. This Enhanced Distribution is contingent on the attainment of prior year-end net leverage(1) levels, after taking the Enhanced Distribution for such prior year into effect, of 3.4 times in 2022, 3.2 times in 2023, and 3.0 times in 2024(2).

“Since becoming a stand-alone midstream enterprise, we’ve made significant changes throughout the organization that have greatly improved our financial performance and positioned us for continued success,” said Mr. Ure. “We’re excited to now be in a place where we can continue to reduce leverage while simultaneously returning meaningful capital to unitholders through unit repurchases and distributions.”

Mr. Ure continued, “Through the actions taken since our bond offering in 2020, we have returned approximately 18-percent(3) of our enterprise value through retired debt, repurchased units, and paid distributions. With our superior asset base, outstanding customer portfolio, and strong financial policy, we believe we’re in a great position to continue our financial success and return incremental value back to unitholders.”

______________________________________________________________________________________________

(1)

 

The ratio of Net Debt (defined as total principal debt outstanding less total cash on-hand as of the end of the period) to Adjusted EBITDA (trailing twelve months).

(2)

 

The enhanced distribution is subject to any continuing cash reserve requirements as determined by the Board.

(3)

 

Calculated using limited and general partner unit counts and total enterprise value as of December 31, 2021. Does not include any market-driven appreciation of unit price.

As part of the Partnership’s financial policy, the Board has authorized a buyback program of up to $1.0 billion of the Partnership’s common units through December 31, 2024 (the “Purchase Program”).

The common units may be purchased from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and amount of purchases under the Purchase Program will be determined based on ongoing assessments of capital needs, WES’s financial performance, the market price of the common units, and other factors, including organic growth and acquisition opportunities and general market conditions. The Purchase Program does not obligate the Partnership to purchase any specific dollar amount or number of units and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 1:00 P.M. CT

WES will host a conference call on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 results. To participate, individuals should dial 844-200-6205 (Domestic) or 929-526-1599 (International) 15 minutes before the scheduled conference call time and enter participant access code 271823. To access the live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit the investor relations section of the Partnership’s website at www.westernmidstream.com. A replay of the conference call also will be available on the website following the call.

For additional details on WES’s financial and operational performance, please refer to the earnings slides and updated investor presentation available at www.westernmidstream.com.

FILING OF ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

Today WES also announced the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the report is available for viewing and downloading on the Western Midstream website at www.westernmidstream.com. Unitholders may request hard copies of the report, which contains WES’s audited financial statements, free of charge, by emailing investors@westernmidstream.com, or by submitting a written request to Western Midstream Partners, LP at the following address: 9950 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 2800, The Woodlands, TX 77380, Attention: Western Midstream Investor Relations.

ABOUT WESTERN MIDSTREAM

Western Midstream Partners, LP (“WES”) is a Delaware master limited partnership formed to acquire, own, develop, and operate midstream assets. With midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania, WES is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural-gas liquids, and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water for its customers. In its capacity as a natural-gas processor, WES also buys and sells natural gas, natural-gas liquids, and condensate on behalf of itself and as an agent for its customers under certain contracts.

For more information about Western Midstream Partners, LP, please visit www.westernmidstream.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. WES’s management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet financial guidance or distribution expectations; the ultimate impact of efforts to fight COVID-19 on the global economy and any related impact on commodity demand and prices; our ability to safely and efficiently operate WES’s assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our ability to meet projected in-service dates for capital-growth projects; construction costs or capital expenditures exceeding estimated or budgeted costs or expenditures; and the other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of WES’s most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. WES undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

Year Ended
December 31,

thousands except per-unit amounts

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Revenues and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenues – fee based

 

$

621,093

 

 

$

603,777

 

 

$

2,462,835

 

 

$

2,584,323

 

Service revenues – product based

 

 

34,317

 

 

 

13,132

 

 

 

122,584

 

 

 

48,369

 

Product sales

 

 

63,588

 

 

 

30,068

 

 

 

290,947

 

 

 

138,559

 

Other

 

 

212

 

 

 

503

 

 

 

789

 

 

 

1,341

 

Total revenues and other

 

 

719,210

 

 

 

647,480

 

 

 

2,877,155

 

 

 

2,772,592

 

Equity income, net – related parties

 

 

45,308

 

 

 

49,962

 

 

 

204,645

 

 

 

226,750

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product

 

 

72,040

 

 

 

34,477

 

 

 

322,285

 

 

 

188,088

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

147,102

 

 

 

144,204

 

 

 

581,300

 

 

 

580,874

 

General and administrative

 

 

55,576

 

 

 

37,303

 

 

 

195,549

 

 

 

155,769

 

Property and other taxes

 

 

18,275

 

 

 

11,077

 

 

 

64,267

 

 

 

68,340

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

144,225

 

 

 

106,398

 

 

 

551,629

 

 

 

491,086

 

Long-lived asset and other impairments

 

 

1,345

 

 

 

3,314

 

 

 

30,543

 

 

 

203,889

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

441,017

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

438,563

 

 

 

336,773

 

 

 

1,745,573

 

 

 

2,129,063

 

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net

 

 

(234

)

 

 

12,285

 

 

 

44

 

 

 

8,634

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

325,721

 

 

 

372,954

 

 

 

1,336,271

 

 

 

878,913

 

Interest income – Anadarko note receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,736

 

Interest expense

 

 

(89,472

)

 

 

(101,247

)

 

 

(376,512

)

 

 

(380,058

)

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

862

 

 

 

(24,944

)

 

 

11,234

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

390

 

 

 

413

 

 

 

(623

)

 

 

1,025

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

236,639

 

 

 

272,982

 

 

 

934,192

 

 

 

522,850

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

(14,210

)

 

 

2,206

 

 

 

(9,807

)

 

 

5,998

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

250,849

 

 

 

270,776

 

 

 

943,999

 

 

 

516,852

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

7,332

 

 

 

6,885

 

 

 

27,707

 

 

 

(10,160

)

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP

 

$

243,517

 

 

$

263,891

 

 

$

916,292

 

 

$

527,012

 

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP

 

$

243,517

 

 

$

263,891

 

 

$

916,292

 

 

$

527,012

 

General partner interest in net (income) loss

 

 

(5,331

)

 

 

(5,642

)

 

 

(19,815

)

 

 

(11,104

)

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)

 

$

238,186

 

 

$

258,249

 

 

$

896,477

 

 

$

515,908

 

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic

 

$

0.58

 

 

$

0.62

 

 

$

2.18

 

 

$

1.18

 

Net income (loss) per common unit – diluted

 

$

0.58

 

 

$

0.62

 

 

$

2.18

 

 

$

1.18

 

Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic

 

 

407,212

 

 

 

415,597

 

 

 

411,309

 

 

 

435,554

 

Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted

 

 

408,454

 

 

 

415,907

 

 

 

412,022

 

 

 

435,624

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

December 31,

thousands except number of units

 

2021

 

2020

Total current assets

 

$

684,764

 

 

$

943,064

 

Net property, plant, and equipment

 

 

8,512,907

 

 

 

8,709,945

 

Other assets

 

 

2,075,408

 

 

 

2,177,018

 

Total assets

 

$

11,273,079

 

 

$

11,830,027

 

Total current liabilities

 

$

1,140,197

 

 

$

960,935

 

Long-term debt

 

 

6,400,616

 

 

 

7,415,832

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

298,275

 

 

 

260,283

 

Other liabilities

 

 

338,231

 

 

 

297,765

 

Total liabilities

 

 

8,177,319

 

 

 

8,934,815

 

Equity and partners’ capital

 

 

 

 

Common units (402,993,919 and 413,839,863 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)

 

 

2,966,955

 

 

 

2,778,339

 

General partner units (9,060,641 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020)

 

 

(8,882

)

 

 

(17,208

)

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

137,687

 

 

 

134,081

 

Total liabilities, equity, and partners’ capital

 

$

11,273,079

 

 

$

11,830,027

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

thousands

 

2021

 

2020

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

943,999

 

 

$

516,852

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities and changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

551,629

 

 

 

491,086

 

Long-lived asset and other impairments

 

 

30,543

 

 

 

203,889

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

441,017

 

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net

 

 

(44

)

 

 

(8,634

)

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

24,944

 

 

 

(11,234

)

Cash paid to settle interest-rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

(25,621

)

Change in other items, net

 

 

215,781

 

 

 

30,063

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

1,766,852

 

 

$

1,637,418

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

(313,674

)

 

$

(423,602

)

Contributions to equity investments - related parties

 

 

(4,435

)

 

 

(19,388

)

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties

 

 

41,385

 

 

 

32,160

 

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties

 

 

8,102

 

 

 

20,333

 

(Increase) decrease in materials and supplies inventory and other

 

 

11,084

 

 

 

(57,757

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(257,538

)

 

$

(448,254

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs

 

$

480,000

 

 

$

3,681,173

 

Repayments of debt

 

 

(1,432,966

)

 

 

(3,803,888

)

Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks

 

 

(21,631

)

 

 

20,699

 

Distributions to Partnership unitholders

 

 

(533,758

)

 

 

(695,834

)

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner

 

 

(9,117

)

 

 

(8,644

)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner of WES Operating

 

 

(14,984

)

 

 

(15,434

)

Net contributions from (distributions to) related parties

 

 

8,533

 

 

 

24,466

 

Finance lease payments

 

 

(6,513

)

 

 

(14,207

)

Unit repurchases

 

 

(217,465

)

 

 

(32,535

)

Other

 

 

(4,336

)

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

(1,752,237

)

 

$

(844,204

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(242,923

)

 

$

344,960

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

444,922

 

 

 

99,962

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

201,999

 

 

$

444,922

 

Western Midstream Partners, LP
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

WES defines Adjusted gross margin attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP (“Adjusted gross margin”) as total revenues and other (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product, plus distributions from equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interest owners’ proportionate share of revenues and cost of product.

WES defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus (i) distributions from equity investments, (ii) non-cash equity-based compensation expense, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax expense, (v) depreciation and amortization, (vi) impairments, and (vii) other expense (including lower of cost or market inventory adjustments recorded in cost of product), less (i) gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net, (ii) gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt, (iii) income from equity investments, (iv) interest income, (v) income tax benefit, (vi) other income, and (vii) the noncontrolling interest owners’ proportionate share of revenues and expenses.

WES defines Free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less total capital expenditures and contributions to equity investments, plus distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings. Management considers Free cash flow an appropriate metric for assessing capital discipline, cost efficiency, and balance-sheet strength. Although Free cash flow is the metric used to assess WES’s ability to make distributions to unitholders, this measure should not be viewed as indicative of the actual amount of cash that is available for distributions or planned for distributions for a given period. Instead, Free cash flow should be considered indicative of the amount of cash that is available for distributions, debt repayments, and other general partnership purposes.

Below are reconciliations of (i) gross margin (GAAP) to Adjusted gross margin (non-GAAP), (ii) net income (loss) (GAAP) and net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), and (iii) net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) to Free cash flow (non-GAAP), as required under Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management believes that Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow are widely accepted financial indicators of WES’s financial performance compared to other publicly traded partnerships and are useful in assessing WES’s ability to incur and service debt, fund capital expenditures, and make distributions. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow as defined by WES, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Therefore, WES’s Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free cash flow should be considered in conjunction with net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP and other applicable performance measures, such as gross margin or cash flows provided by operating activities.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

 

Adjusted Gross Margin

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

thousands

 

December 31,
2021

 

September 30,
2021

 

December 31,
2021

 

December 31,
2020

Reconciliation of Gross margin to Adjusted gross margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues and other

 

$

719,210

 

$

763,840

 

$

2,877,155

 

$

2,772,592

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product

 

 

72,040

 

 

83,232

 

 

322,285

 

 

188,088

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

144,225

 

 

139,002

 

 

551,629

 

 

491,086

Gross margin

 

 

502,945

 

 

541,606

 

 

2,003,241

 

 

2,093,418

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from equity investments

 

 

60,054

 

 

62,711

 

 

254,901

 

 

278,797

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

144,225

 

 

139,002

 

 

551,629

 

 

491,086

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reimbursed electricity-related charges recorded as revenues

 

 

19,783

 

 

19,725

 

 

74,405

 

 

79,261

Adjusted gross margin attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)

 

 

17,192

 

 

18,187

 

 

67,850

 

 

65,835

Adjusted gross margin

 

$

670,249

 

$

705,407

 

$

2,667,516

 

$

2,718,205

Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets

 

$

488,220

 

$

492,708

 

$

1,882,726

 

$

1,820,926

Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets

 

 

114,733

 

 

148,939

 

 

547,134

 

 

647,390

Adjusted gross margin for produced-water assets

 

 

67,296

 

 

63,760

 

 

237,656

 

 

249,889

(1)

 

For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

thousands

 

December 31,
2021

 

September 30,
2021

 

December 31,
2021

 

December 31,
2020

Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

250,849

 

 

$

263,638

 

 

$

943,999

 

 

$

516,852

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from equity investments

 

 

60,054

 

 

 

62,711

 

 

 

254,901

 

 

 

278,797

 

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense

 

 

6,842

 

 

 

6,979

 

 

 

27,676

 

 

 

22,462

 

Interest expense

 

 

89,472

 

 

 

93,257

 

 

 

376,512

 

 

 

380,058

 

Income tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

1,826

 

 

 

4,403

 

 

 

10,278

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

144,225

 

 

 

139,002

 

 

 

551,629

 

 

 

491,086

 

Impairments

 

 

1,345

 

 

 

1,594

 

 

 

30,543

 

 

 

644,906

 

Other expense

 

 

216

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

1,468

 

 

 

1,953

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net

 

 

(234

)

 

 

(364

)

 

 

44

 

 

 

8,634

 

Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

(24,655

)

 

 

(24,944

)

 

 

11,234

 

Equity income, net – related parties

 

 

45,308

 

 

 

48,506

 

 

 

204,645

 

 

 

226,750

 

Interest income – Anadarko note receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,736

 

Other income

 

 

392

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

585

 

 

 

2,785

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

14,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,210

 

 

 

4,280

 

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)

 

 

12,453

 

 

 

13,835

 

 

 

49,901

 

 

 

50,607

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

480,874

 

 

$

531,580

 

 

$

1,946,690

 

 

$

2,030,366

 

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

661,858

 

 

$

391,333

 

 

$

1,766,852

 

 

$

1,637,418

 

Interest (income) expense, net

 

 

89,472

 

 

 

93,257

 

 

 

376,512

 

 

 

368,322

 

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net

 

 

(1,762

)

 

 

(1,871

)

 

 

(7,635

)

 

 

(8,654

)

Current income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

(2,165

)

 

 

824

 

 

 

(37

)

 

 

2,702

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

 

(390

)

 

 

(110

)

 

 

623

 

 

 

(1,025

)

Cash paid to settle interest-rate swaps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,621

 

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties

 

 

11,310

 

 

 

8,702

 

 

 

41,385

 

 

 

32,160

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

(147,139

)

 

 

61,609

 

 

 

(16,366

)

 

 

193,688

 

Accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net

 

 

(58,392

)

 

 

(17,204

)

 

 

(114,887

)

 

 

(144,437

)

Other items, net

 

 

(59,465

)

 

 

8,875

 

 

 

(49,856

)

 

 

(24,822

)

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)

 

 

(12,453

)

 

 

(13,835

)

 

 

(49,901

)

 

 

(50,607

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

480,874

 

 

$

531,580

 

 

$

1,946,690

 

 

$

2,030,366

 

Cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

661,858

 

 

$

391,333

 

 

$

1,766,852

 

 

$

1,637,418

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(70,251

)

 

 

(80,883

)

 

 

(257,538

)

 

 

(448,254

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(489,470

)

 

 

(516,161

)

 

 

(1,752,237

)

 

 

(844,204

)

(1)

 

For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)

 

Free Cash Flow

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

thousands

 

December 31,
2021

 

September 30,
2021

 

December 31,
2021

 

December 31,
2020

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

661,858

 

 

$

391,333

 

 

$

1,766,852

 

 

$

1,637,418

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

95,917

 

 

 

79,829

 

 

 

313,674

 

 

 

423,602

 

Contributions to equity investments – related parties

 

 

752

 

 

 

175

 

 

 

4,435

 

 

 

19,388

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – related parties

 

 

11,310

 

 

 

8,702

 

 

 

41,385

 

 

 

32,160

 

Free cash flow

 

$

576,499

 

 

$

320,031

 

 

$

1,490,128

 

 

$

1,226,588

 

Cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

661,858

 

 

$

391,333

 

 

$

1,766,852

 

 

$

1,637,418

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(70,251

)

 

 

(80,883

)

 

 

(257,538

)

 

 

(448,254

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(489,470

)

 

 

(516,161

)

 

 

(1,752,237

)

 

 

(844,204

)

Western Midstream Partners, LP

OPERATING STATISTICS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

December 31,
2021

 

September 30,
2021

 

December 31,
2021

 

December 31,
2020

Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering, treating, and transportation

 

 

437

 

 

378

 

 

466

 

 

543

Processing

 

 

3,409

 

 

3,416

 

 

3,374

 

 

3,445

Equity investments (1)

 

 

513

 

 

443

 

 

463

 

 

445

Total throughput

 

 

4,359

 

 

4,237

 

 

4,303

 

 

4,433

Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)

 

 

155

 

 

156

 

 

155

 

 

159

Total throughput attributable to WES for natural-gas assets

 

 

4,204

 

 

4,081

 

 

4,148

 

 

4,274

Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d)

Gathering, treating, and transportation

 

 

323

 

 

304

 

 

306

 

 

331

Equity investments (3)

 

 

393

 

 

350

 

 

366

 

 

381

Total throughput

 

 

716

 

 

654

 

 

672

 

 

712

Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)

 

 

14

 

 

13

 

 

13

 

 

14

Total throughput attributable to WES for crude-oil and NGLs assets

 

 

702

 

 

641

 

 

659

 

 

698

Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering and disposal

 

 

808

 

 

750

 

 

717

 

 

712

Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)

 

 

16

 

 

15

 

 

14

 

 

14

Total throughput attributable to WES for produced-water assets

 

 

792

 

 

735

 

 

703

 

 

698

Per-Mcf Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets (4)

 

$

1.26

 

$

1.31

 

$

1.24

 

$

1.16

Per-Bbl Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets (5)

 

 

1.78

 

 

2.52

 

 

2.28

 

 

2.54

Per-Bbl Adjusted gross margin for produced-water assets (6)

 

 

0.92

 

 

0.94

 

 

0.93

 

 

0.98

(1)

 

Represents the 14.81% share of average Fort Union throughput (until divested in October 2020), 22% share of average Rendezvous throughput, 50% share of average Mi Vida and Ranch Westex throughput, and 30% share of average Red Bluff Express throughput.

(2)

 

For all periods presented, includes (i) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating and (ii) for natural-gas assets, the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests.

(3)

 

Represents the 10% share of average White Cliffs throughput; 25% share of average Mont Belvieu JV throughput; 20% share of average TEG, TEP, Whitethorn, and Saddlehorn throughput; 33.33% share of average FRP throughput; and 15% share of average Panola and Cactus II throughput.

(4)

 

Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets, divided by total throughput (MMcf/d) attributable to WES for natural-gas assets.

(5)

 

Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets, divided by total throughput (MBbls/d) attributable to WES for crude-oil and NGLs assets.

(6)

 

Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for produced-water assets, divided by total throughput (MBbls/d) attributable to WES for produced-water assets.

Western Midstream Partners, LP

OPERATING STATISTICS (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

December 31,
2021

 

September 30,
2021

 

December 31,
2021

 

December 31,
2020

Throughput for natural-gas assets (MMcf/d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware Basin

 

1,370

 

1,274

 

1,256

 

1,297

DJ Basin

 

1,349

 

1,368

 

1,369

 

1,305

Equity investments

 

513

 

443

 

463

 

445

Other

 

1,127

 

1,152

 

1,215

 

1,386

Total throughput for natural-gas assets

 

4,359

 

4,237

 

4,303

 

4,433

Throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets (MBbls/d)

 

 

Delaware Basin

 

199

 

185

 

183

 

189

DJ Basin

 

92

 

87

 

90

 

101

Equity investments

 

393

 

350

 

366

 

381

Other

 

32

 

32

 

33

 

41

Total throughput for crude-oil and NGLs assets

 

716

 

654

 

672

 

712

Throughput for produced-water assets (MBbls/d)

 

 

Delaware Basin

 

808

 

750

 

717

 

712

Total throughput for produced-water assets

 

808

 

750

 

717

 

712