CANONSBURG, Pa., Feb. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rice Midstream Partners LP (NYSE: RMP) ("RMP" or the "Partnership") today reported fourth quarter and full-year 2016 financial and operating results. Highlights to date include:


    --  Fourth quarter average daily throughput of 1,203 MDth/d
    --  2016 average daily throughput of 983 MDth/d, 3% above guidance
    --  Net income of $34.3 million and $121.6 million for the fourth quarter
        and full year, respectively
    --  Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA((1)) of $46.2 million driven by
        accelerated Rice Energy (NYSE: RICE) water volumes
    --  2016 Adjusted EBITDA((1) )of $158.4 million, 6% above the high end of
        guidance
    --  Distributable cash flow ("DCF")((1)) of $41.9 million and $143.2 million
        for the fourth quarter and full year, respectively
    --  DCF coverage ratio((1)) of 1.58x and 1.70x for the fourth quarter and
        full-year, respectively
    --  Raised fourth quarter distribution to $0.2505 per common unit, an
        increase of 27% over the prior year quarter and 6% relative to third
        quarter 2016
    --  2016 expansion capital of $104 million, 23% below guidance resulting
        from a combination of projects under budget and shifted into 2017
    --  Acquired Vantage Energy's midstream assets for $600 million including an
        acreage dedication covering 85,000 core dry gas Marcellus acres in
        Greene County, Pennsylvania
    --  Exited the quarter with strong liquidity of $682 million and leverage of
        1.1x net debt to 2016 Adjusted EBITDA((1))

Commenting on the results, Daniel J. Rice IV, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We delivered another outstanding quarter of meeting or exceeding expectations, as our sponsor's reliable production growth has allowed Rice Midstream Partners to spend its capital effectively and grow distributions at top-tier rates while maintaining ample coverage. Additionally, the acquisition of Vantage Energy provides a longer, more visible runway for our talented team to execute and deliver top-tier distribution growth at healthy coverage levels."



    1.              Please see "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures" for a description
                    of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash
                    flow, DCF coverage ratio and related
                    reconciliations to comparable GAAP
                    financial measures.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results

For the three months ended December 31, 2016, gathering volumes averaged 1,203 MDth/d, a 71% increase over the prior year quarter and a 26% increase relative to third quarter 2016, with 24% attributable to third-party volumes. Compression volumes averaged 825 MDth/d, a 778% increase over the prior year quarter and an 11% increase relative to third quarter 2016, with 36% attributable to third-party volumes. Fresh water delivery volumes were 321 MMgal, or an average of 3.5 MMgal/d, a 59% increase relative to the prior year quarter and a 138% increase relative to third quarter 2016.

Operating revenues were $59.5 million, comprised of $41.8 million in revenues from our gathering and compression segment and $17.7 million in revenues from our water services segment. Operation and maintenance expense totaled $7.3 million, including $2.9 million for gathering and compression and $4.4 million for water services. Net income was $34.3 million, or $0.33 per limited partner unit. Adjusted EBITDA((1)) was $46.2 million and, after giving effect to $2.8 million of estimated maintenance capital expenditures and cash interest expense of $1.6 million, DCF((1)) was $41.9 million, resulting in a DCF coverage ratio of 1.58x.

We invested approximately $22 million of net expansion capital, excluding acquisitions, including $17 million to develop gas gathering and compression assets and $5 million to develop our water services assets.



    1.              Please see "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures" for a description
                    of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash
                    flow and related reconciliations to
                    comparable GAAP financial measures.

Full-Year 2016 Financial Results

For the year ended December 31, 2016, gathering volumes averaged 983 MDth/d, a 52% increase over the the prior year, with 27% attributable to third-party volumes. Compression volumes averaged 572 MDth/d, a 794% increase relative to the prior year, with 43% attributable to third-party volumes. Fresh water delivery volumes were 1,253 MMgal, or an average of 3.4 MMgal/d, with 11% attributable to third-party volumes.

Operating revenues were $201.6 million, comprised of $132.1 million in revenues from our gathering and compression segment and $69.5 million in revenues from our water services segment. Operation and maintenance expense totaled $24.6 million, including $8.0 million for gathering and compression and $16.6 million for water services. Net income was $121.6 million, or $1.46 per limited partner unit. Adjusted EBITDA((1)) was $158.4 million and, after giving effect to $11.2 million of estimated maintenance capital expenditures and cash interest expense of $3.9 million, DCF((1)) was $143.2 million, resulting in a DCF coverage ratio of 1.70x.

We invested approximately $104 million of net expansion capital, excluding acquisitions, including $99 million to develop gas gathering and compression assets and $5 million to develop our water services assets.



                               Average Daily Throughput (MDth/d)
                               ---------------------------------

                                      Three Months Ended                       Year Ended

    Gathering Assets                   December 31, 2016                   December 31, 2016
    ----------------                   -----------------                   -----------------

    Affiliate                                                          910                     714

    Third-party                                                        293                     269
    -----------                                                        ---

    Total                                                            1,203                     983
    -----                                                            -----

    % Third-party                                                      24%                    27%



                          Average Daily Compression Volumes (MDth/d)

                                      Three Months Ended                       Year Ended

    Compression Assets                 December 31, 2016                   December 31, 2016
    ------------------                 -----------------                   -----------------

    Affiliate                                                          531                     327

    Third-party                                                        294                     245
    -----------

    Total                                                              825                     572
    -----

    % Third-party                                                      36%                    43%



                                 Average Water Volumes (MMGal)

                                      Three Months Ended                       Year Ended

    Water Services Assets              December 31, 2016                   December 31, 2016
    ---------------------              -----------------                   -----------------

    Pennsylvania Water                                                 149                     521

    Ohio Water                                                         172                     732
    ----------                                                         ---                     ---

    Total                                                              321                   1,253
    -----                                                              ---                   -----

    % Third-party                                                       -%                   11%

On October 19, 2016, concurrent with Rice Energy's acquisition of Vantage Energy, we purchased entities owning the Vantage Energy midstream assets from Rice Energy for $600 million. The assets are located in Greene County, Pennsylvania and include 30 miles of dry gas gathering and compression assets. In connection with the acquisition, Rice Energy dedicated the acquired 85,000 net acres to RMP to provide gas gathering, compression and freshwater distribution services.



    1.              Please see "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures" for a description
                    of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash
                    flow and related reconciliations to
                    comparable GAAP financial measures.

Financial Position and Liquidity

As of December 31, 2016, we had $660 million of availability on our revolving credit facility and $22 million of cash on hand, resulting in $682 million of total liquidity to fund our 2017 capital budget. We exited the year with a low leverage of 1.1x net debt to 2016 Adjusted EBITDA((1)).



    1.              Please see "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures" for a description
                    of Adjusted EBITDA and related
                    reconciliations to comparable GAAP
                    financial measures.

Quarterly Cash Distribution

On January 20, 2017, we declared a quarterly distribution of $0.2505 per unit for the fourth quarter 2016, an increase of $0.0135 per unit relative to third quarter 2016. The distribution was payable on February 16, 2017 to unitholders of record as of February 7, 2017.

Conference Call

RMP will host a conference call on February 23, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Central time) to discuss fourth quarter and full-year 2016 financial and operating results. To listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit RMP's website at www.ricemidstream.com. A replay of the conference call will be available following the call for two weeks and can be accessed from RMP's homepage.

Rice Energy will host a conference call on February 23, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Central time) to discuss fourth quarter and full-year quarter 2016 financial and operating results and we encourage RMP investors to listen-in. To listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit Rice Energy's website at www.riceenergy.com. A replay of the conference call will be available for two weeks and can be accessed from Rice's homepage.

About Rice Midstream Partners

Rice Midstream Partners LP is a fee-based, growth-oriented limited partnership formed by Rice Energy Inc. (NYSE: RICE) to own, operate, develop and acquire midstream assets in the Appalachian basin. RMP provides midstream services to Rice Energy and third-party companies through its natural gas gathering, compression and water assets in the rapidly developing dry gas cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ricemidstream.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. All statements, other than historical facts included in this release, that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as, forecasted gathering volumes, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, distribution growth, and distributable cash flow, the timing of completion of midstream projects, future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business and operations, plans, market conditions, references to future success, references to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although we believe that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements.

We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to our gathering and compression and water services businesses. These risks include, but are not limited to: commodity price volatility; inflation; environmental risks; regulatory changes; the uncertainty inherent in projecting future throughput volumes, cash flow and access to capital; and the timing of development expenditures of Rice Energy or our other customers. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized, or even if realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on us, our business or operations. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.



                                                                      Rice Midstream Partners LP

                                                                       Statements of Operations

                                                                             (Unaudited)


                                                Three Months Ended                                         Year Ended

                                                   December 31,                                            December 31,

    (in thousands, except per unit
     data)                                 2016                   2015                    2016                 2015
                                           ----                   ----                    ----                 ----

    Operating revenues:

    Affiliate                                     $46,993                                        $21,379                 $152,260  $93,668

    Third-party                          12,473                            7,935                            49,363          20,791

    Total operating revenues             59,466                           29,314                           201,623         114,459


    Operating expenses:

    Operation and maintenance expense     7,297                            4,882                            24,589          14,910

    General and administrative expense    6,022                            3,072                            18,759          13,394

    Incentive unit (income) expense (1)       -                             (4)                                -          1,044

    Equity compensation expense (1)         145                            1,185                             2,873           4,501

    Depreciation expense                  7,456                            5,944                            25,170          16,399

    Acquisition costs                        52                                -                              125               -

    Amortization of intangible assets       412                              408                             1,634           1,632

    Other expense                         1,292                               51                             1,531             543
                                          -----                              ---                             -----             ---

    Total operating expenses             22,676                           15,538                            74,681          52,423
                                         ------                           ------                            ------          ------


    Operating income (loss)              36,790                           13,776                           126,942          62,036

    Other (expense) income                   78                                -                               78              11

    Interest expense (1)                (1,562)                         (1,094)                           (3,931)        (3,164)

    Amortization of deferred finance
     costs                              (1,046)                           (144)                          (1,479)          (576)

    Income (loss) before income taxes    34,260                           12,538                           121,610          58,307

    Income tax expense                        -                            (17)                                -        (5,812)

    Net income                                    $34,260                                        $12,521                 $121,610  $52,495
                                                  =======                                        =======                 ========  =======


    Net income                                    $34,260                                        $12,521                 $121,610  $52,495

    Less: Pre-acquisition net income
     (loss) allocated to general
     partner                                  -                             992                                 -          7,296

    Less: General partner interest in
     net income attributable to
     incentive distribution rights          888                                -                            1,428               -
                                            ---

    Net income attributable to limited
     partners                                     $33,372                                        $11,529                 $120,182  $45,199
                                                  =======                                        =======                 ========  =======


    Weighted average limited partner
     units (in millions)

    Common units (basic)                   72.0                             36.5                              52.8            30.7

    Common units (diluted)                 72.2                             36.7                              53.1            30.8

    Subordinated units (basic and
     diluted)                              28.8                             28.8                              28.8            28.8

    Net income attributable to RMP per
     limited partner unit (2)

    Common units (basic)                            $0.33                                          $0.18                    $1.46    $0.76

    Common units (diluted)                          $0.33                                          $0.18                    $1.45    $0.76

    Subordinated units (basic and
     diluted)                                       $0.33                                          $0.18                    $1.50    $0.76


    Adjusted EBITDA (3)                           $46,225                                        $19,065                 $158,353  $63,780

    Distributable cash flow (4)                   $41,863                                        $16,997                 $143,222  $56,944


    Quarterly distribution per unit               $0.2505                                        $0.1965                  $0.9210  $0.7680


    Distribution declared:

    Limited partner units - Public                $18,416                                         $8,284                  $56,371  $24,715

    Limited partner units - GP Holdings   7,204                            5,651                            26,485          22,086

    General Partner                         888                                -                            1,429               -

    Total distributions declared                  $26,508                                        $13,935                  $84,285  $46,801


    DCF coverage ratio (5)                 1.58                   1.22                    1.70                 1.22



             1.     Prior to their acquisition by us, our
                    water assets were allocated
                    incentive unit expense, equity
                    compensation expense and interest
                    expense initially recognized by Rice
                    Energy. These non-cash charges are
                    described in more detail in Note 9
                    to the consolidated financial
                    statements in our Form 10-K.

             2.     Net income per limited partner unit
                    does not include results attributable
                    to the water assets prior to their
                    acquisition as these results are not
                    attributable to our limited partners.

             3.     We define Adjusted EBITDA as net
                    income (loss) before interest
                    expense, depreciation expense,
                    amortization expense, non-cash
                    equity compensation expense,
                    amortization of deferred financing
                    costs and other non-recurring items.
                    Please read "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures."

             4.     We define distributable cash flow as
                    Adjusted EBITDA less interest
                    expense, and estimated maintenance
                    capital expenditures. Please read
                    "Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial
                    Measures."

             5.     We define DCF coverage ratio as
                    distributable cash flow divided by
                    total distributions declared. Please
                    read "Supplemental Non-GAAP
                    Financial Measures."


                                                               Rice Midstream Partners LP

                                                              Segment Results of Operations

                                                                       (Unaudited)


    Gathering and Compression Segment


                                           Three Months Ended                                Year Ended

                                           December 31, 2016                             December 31, 2016

    (in thousands)                      2016                       2015                    2016             2015
                                        ----                       ----                    ----             ----

    Affiliate gathering volumes
     (MDth/d)                            910                          577                               714           547

    Third-party gathering
     volumes (MDth/d)                    293                          126                               269           100
                                         ---                                                           ---           ---

    Total gathering volumes
     (MDth/d)                          1,203                          703                               983           647


    Affiliate compression
     volumes (MDth/d)                    531                            9                               327            33

    Third-party compression
     volumes (MDth/d)                    294                           85                               245            31
                                         ---                          ---                               ---           ---

    Total compression volumes
     (MDth/d)                            825                           94                               572            64


    Operating revenues:

    Affiliate                                   $29,286                                  $16,434                 $86,347  $61,180

    Third-party                       12,473                        4,739                            45,752        16,031
                                      ------                        -----                            ------        ------

    Total operating revenues          41,759                       21,173                           132,099        77,211


    Operating expenses:

    Operation and maintenance
     expense                           2,897                        2,021                             7,987         6,006

    General and administrative
     expense                           4,731                        2,617                            15,044         9,961

    Equity compensation expense          128                          965                             2,270         3,925

    Depreciation expense               3,814                        1,778                            10,840         6,310

    Acquisition costs                     52                            -                              125             -

    Amortization of intangible
     assets                              412                          408                             1,634         1,632

    Other expense                        902                            -                            1,051           492
                                         ---                          ---                            -----

    Total operating expenses          12,936                        7,789                            38,951        28,326


    Operating income                            $28,823                                  $13,384                 $93,148  $48,885


    Water Services Segment


                                   Three Months Ended                   Year Ended

                                      December 31,                     December 31,

    (in thousands)                2016                2015        2016                 2015
                                  ----                ----        ----                 ----

    Water service volumes
     (MMgal)                       321                        202                    1,253              777


    Operating revenues:

    Affiliate                             $17,707                      $4,945                      $65,913          $32,488

    Third-party                      -                     3,196                    3,611            4,760
                                   ---                     -----                    -----            -----

    Total operating revenues    17,707                      8,141                   69,524           37,248


    Operating expenses:

    Operation and maintenance
     expense                     4,400                      2,861                   16,602            8,904

    General and administrative
     expense                     1,291                        455                    3,714            3,433

    Incentive unit (income)
     expense                         -                       (4)                       -           1,044

    Equity compensation expense     17                        220                      603              576

    Depreciation expense         3,642                      4,166                   14,330           10,089

    Other operating expense        390                         51                      480               51
                                   ---                        ---                      ---              ---

    Total operating expenses     9,740                      7,749                   35,729           24,097


    Operating income                       $7,967                        $392               33,795          $13,151

Rice Midstream Partners LP
Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)

Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and DCF 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 the financial performance of our assets, without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; our operating performance and return on capital as compared to other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of Adjusted EBITDA, financing or capital structure; our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our unitholders; and the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, depreciation expense, amortization of intangible assets, non-cash equity compensation expense, amortization of deferred financing costs and other non-recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of net income as determined by GAAP. We define distributable cash flow as Adjusted EBITDA less cash interest expense, and estimated maintenance capital expenditures. We define DCF coverage ratio as distributable cash flow divided by total distributions declared. Distributable cash flow does not reflect changes in working capital balances and is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP.

We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and DCF coverage ratio will 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, respectively. Our non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to GAAP net income or net cash provided by operating activities. Each of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow has important limitations as an analytical tool because they exclude some but not all items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. You should not consider Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow or DCF coverage ratio in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and DCF coverage ratio may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and DCF coverage ratio may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing its utility.



                               Three Months Ended             Year Ended

    (in thousands)             December 31, 2016          December 31, 2016
                               -----------------          -----------------

    Adjusted EBITDA
     reconciliation to loss
     from continuing
     operations:

    Net income                                    $34,260                              $121,610

         Interest expense                   1,562                                3,931

         Depreciation expense               7,456                               25,170

         Amortization of
          intangible assets                   412                                1,634

     Acquisition costs                         52                                  125

         Non-cash equity
          compensation expense                145                                2,873

         Amortization of
          deferred financing
          costs                             1,046                                1,479

         Other expense                      1,292                                1,531
                                            -----

    Adjusted EBITDA                               $46,225                              $158,353
                                                  =======                              ========


    Adjusted EBITDA                               $46,225                              $158,353

         Cash interest expense            (1,562)                             (3,931)

         Estimated maintenance
          capital expenditures            (2,800)                            (11,200)
                                           ------

    Distributable cash flow                       $41,863                              $143,222
                                                  =======                              ========


    Total distributions
     declared                                     $26,508                               $84,285

    DCF coverage ratio                       1.58                                 1.70


    Reconciliation of
     Adjusted EBITDA to
     Cash:

    Adjusted EBITDA                               $46,225                              $158,353

    Interest expense                      (1,562)                             (3,931)

    Other income (expense)                (1,292)                             (1,531)

    Acquisition costs                        (52)                               (125)

    Changes in operating
     assets and liabilities
     which used cash                        1,295                                1,350
                                            -----

    Net cash provided by
     operating activities                         $44,614                              $154,116

    Net cash used in
     investing activities               (623,408)                           (721,087)

    Net cash provided by
     financing activities                 592,995                              581,207
                                          -------                              -------

    Net (decrease) increase
     in cash                               14,201                               14,236

    Cash at the beginning
     of the period                          7,634                                7,597
                                            -----                                -----

    Cash at the end of the
     period                                       $21,835                               $21,833
                                                  =======                               =======

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