TULSA, Okla. – Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) today reported operating profit of $122.8 million for first quarter 2012 compared to $116.7 million for first quarter 2011, and net income was $93.5 million for first quarter 2012 compared to $90.1 million for first quarter 2011. 

Diluted net income per limited partner unit was 83 cents in first quarter 2012 versus 80 cents in the corresponding 2011 period. Diluted net income per unit excluding mark-to-market (MTM) commodity-related pricing adjustments, a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure, of 94 cents for first quarter 2012 was less than the 98-cent guidance provided by management in early Feb. due to higher than expected non-cash asset retirements. 

Distributable cash flow (DCF), a non-GAAP financial measure that represents the amount of cash generated during the period that is available to pay distributions, increased to $125.7 million for first quarter 2012 compared to $117.7 million during first quarter 2011.  

“Magellan’s first quarter results increased compared to the 2011 period driven by higher results from our growing crude oil pipeline and storage infrastructure, offsetting reduced demand for gasoline so far in 2012,” said Michael Mears, chief executive officer. “We are excited about our current growth opportunities, most notably our recently-expanded project to reverse and convert our Crane-to-Houston pipeline to crude oil service, which will create a foundation for Magellan’s growth for years to come.” 

An analysis by segment comparing first quarter 2012 to first quarter 2011 is provided below based on operating margin, a non-GAAP financial measure that reflects operating profit before general and administrative (G&A) expense and depreciation and amortization: 

Petroleum pipeline system. Pipeline operating margin was $125.4 million, a decline of $1 million as higher expenses more than offset improved revenues. Transportation and terminals revenues increased between periods primarily due to the partnership’s higher average tariff and 2% higher shipments. Higher crude oil volumes more than offset lower gasoline demand in first quarter 2012. Revenues also benefited from higher demand for storage and capacity leases. Operating expenses increased between periods primarily due to higher asset integrity costs, property taxes and asset retirements resulting from recently replaced assets.  

Product margin (defined as product sales revenues less product purchases) increased $2.9 million between periods, including a $7.8 million unfavorable variance associated with the timing of MTM adjustments for New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) positions used to economically hedge the partnership’s commodity-related activities. Details of these items can be found on the Distributable Cash Flow Reconciliation to Net Income schedule that accompanies this news release. The partnership's actual cash product margin, which excludes MTM timing differences and reflects only transactions that settled during the quarter, increased between periods primarily due to higher petroleum products blending profits as a result of selling more product at higher prices.  

Petroleum terminals. Terminals operating margin was $48 million, an increase of $8.1 million and a quarterly record for this segment. The current period primarily benefited from recently-constructed crude oil storage in Cushing, Oklahoma and new refined products tanks and higher rates at the partnership’s marine terminals. Operating expenses decreased due to an insurance reimbursement received in first quarter 2012 for maintenance work necessary following historical hurricane-related damage. Product margin declined due to the sale of less product overages in the current period.  

Ammonia pipeline system. Ammonia operating margin was $3.9 million, an increase of $0.2 million. Revenues declined due to lower shipments during the 2012 period, and expenses decreased due to reduced environmental accruals.  

Other items. Depreciation and amortization increased due to recent expansion capital expenditures, while G&A costs declined due to lower equity-based incentive compensation expense. Net interest expense increased in the current quarter as a result of additional borrowings over the last year to fund capital spending. As of March 31, 2012, the partnership had $2.1 billion of debt outstanding and more than $150 million of cash on hand.  

Expansion capital spending expectations 

Management continues to pursue expansion opportunities, including organic growth construction projects and acquisitions. Based on the progress of expansion projects already underway, the partnership plans to spend approximately $500 million during 2012 with an additional $180 million of spending in 2013 to complete these projects. The latest spending estimates include $375 million for the Crane-to-Houston crude oil pipeline project, which the partnership recently announced it was expanding to 225,000 barrels per day following a successful binding open season. 

The partnership also continues to evaluate more than $500 million of potential growth projects in earlier stages of development, which have been excluded from these spending estimates. 

Financial guidance for 2012 

Management is raising its 2012 DCF guidance by $10 million to approximately $490 million and remains committed to its stated goal of 9% distribution growth for the year. Net income per limited partner unit is estimated to be $3.75 for 2012, with second-quarter guidance of 83 cents. Guidance assumes no future NYMEX MTM adjustments on the partnership’s commodity-related activities.  

Earnings call details 

An analyst call with management regarding first-quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2012 is scheduled today at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. To participate, dial (800) 289-0487 and provide code 2268478. Investors also may listen to the call via the partnership’s website at www.magellanlp.com/webcasts.aspx. 

Audio replays of the conference call will be available from 4:30 p.m. Eastern today through midnight on

May 8. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 and provide code 2268478. The replay also will be available at www.magellanlp.com. 

Non-GAAP financial measures 

Management believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures utilized by the partnership. As a result, this news release and supporting schedules include the non-GAAP financial measures of operating margin, product margin, DCF and net income per unit excluding MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, which are important performance measures used by management. 

Operating margin reflects operating profit before G&A expense and depreciation and amortization. This measure forms the basis of the partnership’s internal financial reporting and is used by management to evaluate the economic performance of the partnership’s operations. 

Product margin, which is calculated as product sales revenues less product purchases, is used by management to evaluate the profitability of the partnership’s commodity-related activities. 

DCF is important in determining the amount of cash generated from the partnership’s operations that is available for distribution to its unitholders. Management uses this measure as a basis for recommending to the board of directors the amount of cash distributions to be paid each period. 

Reconciliations of operating margin to operating profit and DCF to net income accompany this news release. 

The partnership uses NYMEX futures contracts to hedge against price changes of petroleum products associated with its commodity-related activities. Most of these NYMEX contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. However, because these NYMEX contracts are generally effective at hedging price changes, management believes the partnership’s profitability should be evaluated excluding the unrealized NYMEX gains and losses associated with petroleum products that will be sold in future periods. Further, because the financial guidance provided by management generally excludes future MTM commodity-related pricing adjustments, a reconciliation of actual results to those excluding these adjustments is provided for comparability to previous financial guidance. 

Because the non-GAAP measures presented in this news release include adjustments specific to the partnership, they may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. 

About Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. 

Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) is a publicly traded partnership that primarily transports, stores and distributes petroleum products. The partnership owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country, with access to more than 40% of the nation’s refining capacity, and can store 80 million barrels of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and crude oil. More information is available at www.magellanlp.com. 

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Portions of this document constitute forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Although management believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct impact on the partnership’s results of operations and financial condition are: (1) its ability to identify growth projects or to complete identified projects on time and at expected costs; (2) price fluctuations and overall demand for refined petroleum products, crude oil and natural gas liquids; (3) changes in the partnership’s tariff rates imposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Surface Transportation Board or state regulatory agencies; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at major refineries, petrochemical plants, ammonia production facilities or other businesses that use or supply the partnership’s services; (5) changes in the throughput or interruption in service on petroleum pipelines owned and operated by third parties and connected to the partnership’s petroleum terminals or petroleum pipeline system; (6) the occurrence of an operational hazard or unforeseen interruption for which the partnership is not adequately insured; (7) the treatment of the partnership as a corporation for federal or state income tax purposes or if the partnership becomes subject to significant forms of other taxation; (8) an increase in the competition the partnership’s operations encounter; (9) disruption in the debt and equity markets that negatively impacts the partnership’s ability to finance its capital spending and (10) failure of customers to meet or continue contractual obligations to the partnership. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011 and subsequent reports on Forms 8-K. The partnership undertakes no obligation to revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today's date.