Q1 2026 FTAI Infrastructure Inc Earnings Call

May 8, 2026

Operator 3: Good morning, and welcome to the FTAI Infrastructure first quarter twenty twenty-six earnings conference call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touchtone phone. To withdraw your question, please press star then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Alan Andreini of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Operator: Good morning, and welcome to the FTAI Infrastructure First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touchtone phone. To withdraw your question, please press star then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Alan Andreini of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #3: After today's remarks, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star, then one on your touch-tone phone.

Speaker #3: To withdraw your question, please press star, then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Alan Andreini of Investor Relations.

Speaker #3: Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Thank you, Jason. I would like to welcome you all to the FTAI Infrastructure Earnings Call for the first quarter of 2026. Joining me here today are Ken Nicholson, the CEO of FTAI Infrastructure, and Buck Fletcher, the company's CFO.

Alan Andreini: Thank you, Jason. I would like to welcome you all to the FTAI Infrastructure earnings call for Q1 2026. Joining me here today are Ken Nicholson, the CEO of FTAI Infrastructure, and Buck Fletcher, the company's CFO. We have posted an investor presentation and our press release on our website, which we encourage you to download if you have not already done so. Please note that this call is open to the public in listen-only mode and is being webcast. We will be discussing some non-GAAP financial measures during the call today, including Adjusted EBITDA. The reconciliations of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures can be found in the earnings supplement. Before I turn the call over to Ken, I would like to point out that certain statements made today will be forward-looking statements, including regarding future earnings.

Speaker #2: We have posted an investor presentation and our press release on our website. We encourage you to download if you have not already done so.

Speaker #2: Also, please note that this call is open to the public and listen-only mode and is being webcast. In addition, we will be discussing some non-GAAP financial measures during the call today, including adjusted EBITDA.

Speaker #2: The reconciliations of those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures can be found in the earnings supplement. Before I turn the call over to Ken, I would like to point out that certain statements made today will be forward-looking statements, including regarding future earnings.

Speaker #2: These statements, by their nature, are uncertain and may differ materially from actual results. We encourage you to review the disclaimers in our press release and investor presentation regarding non-GAAP financial measures and forward-looking statements, and to review the risk factors contained in our quarterly report filed with the SEC.

Alan Andreini: These statements, by their nature, are uncertain and may differ materially from actual results. We encourage you to review the disclaimers in our press release and investor presentation regarding non-GAAP financial measures and forward-looking statements, and to review the risk factors contained in our quarterly report filed with the SEC. I would like to turn the call over to Ken.

Speaker #2: Now, I would like to turn the call over to Ken.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Alan. And good morning, everyone. Welcome to the call. As we typically do, we'll be referring to the earnings supplement, which you can find posted on our website.

Ken Nicholson: Thank you, Alan Andreini. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the call. As we typically do, we will be referring to the earnings supplement, which you can find posted on our website. Before we get into the quarterly financial results, we are going to kick things off with a discussion of Long Ridge and provide some details on the sale transaction that we announced last week. I am going to briefly walk through the transaction terms. Then I will talk a little bit about why we believe it to be an important and highly accretive event for our company. Just over a week ago, we signed an agreement to sell Long Ridge to MARA Holdings for an aggregate transaction value of $1.52 billion. We expect to close the transaction in Q3 of this year after receiving required regulatory approvals. There are no other material conditions to closing.

Speaker #3: Before we get into the quarterly financial results, we're going to kick things off with a discussion of Long Ridge and provide some details on the sale transaction that we announced last week.

Speaker #3: I'm going to briefly walk through the transaction terms, and then I'll talk a little bit about why we believe it to be an important and highly accretive event for our company.

Speaker #3: Just over a week ago, we signed an agreement to sell Long Ridge to Marrow Holdings for an aggregate transaction value of $1.52 billion. We expect to close the transaction in the third quarter of this year after receiving required regulatory approvals, and there are no other material conditions to closing.

Speaker #3: Existing Long Ridge debt will either be repaid or assumed by the purchaser, bringing expected net proceeds to fit in excess of $300 million. We're pleased with the outcome of the sale process and believe Marrow is a great fit as the next owner of Long Ridge.

Ken Nicholson: Existing Long Ridge debt will either be repaid or assumed by the purchaser, bringing expected net proceeds to FIP in excess of $300 million. We're pleased with the outcome of the sale process and believe Mara is a great fit as the next owner of Long Ridge. I wanna recognize and thank Bo Wholey and the Long Ridge team for doing a remarkable job throughout the entire life cycle of our investment, developing the business plan, building the power plant, acquiring gas reserves, and turning on and maintaining operations to ultimately create what today is one of the most efficient and profitable power assets in the country. The transaction value reflects the uniqueness of the Long Ridge asset and results in a meaningful economic return for FIP over the life of our investment. More importantly, the sale of Long Ridge will allow us to accomplish two key goals. First, deleveraging.

Speaker #3: I want to recognize and thank Beau Woolley and the Long Ridge team for doing a remarkable job throughout the entire life cycle of our investment—developing the plant, acquiring gas reserves, and turning on and maintaining operations—to ultimately create what today is one of the most efficient and profitable power assets in the country.

Speaker #3: The transaction value reflects the uniqueness of the Long Ridge asset and results in a meaningful economic return for FIF over the life of our investment.

Speaker #3: More importantly, the sale of Long Ridge will allow us to accomplish two key goals. First, deleveraging. We plan to use the bulk of the net proceeds received at closing to repay higher-cost debt at our parent level, resulting in lower interest expense and higher free cash flow going forward.

Ken Nicholson: We plan to use the bulk of the net proceeds received at closing to repay higher cost debt at our parent level, resulting in lower interest expense and higher free cash flow going forward. Second, increasing our focus on our core freight rail business. We expect 2026 to be an active year for our railroad, with growth driven internally by integration of Transtar and the Wheeling, and externally, as we pursue a number of acquisition opportunities that leverage our existing platform. Having higher cash flow and additional debt capacity to fund acquisitions puts us in a good position to make accretive investments in the rail sector in the near future. I'm gonna flip to page 4. We'll talk a little bit more about deleveraging.

Speaker #3: Second, increasing our focus on our core freight rail business. We expect 2026 to be an active year for our railroad, with growth-driven internally by integration of Transtar and the Wheeling and externally as we pursue a number of acquisition opportunities that leverage our existing platform.

Speaker #3: Having higher cash flow and additional debt capacity to fund acquisitions puts us in a good position to make accretive investments in the rail sector in the near future.

Speaker #3: I'm going to flip to page four, and we'll talk a little bit more about deleveraging. As you may recall, our existing corporate debt contains terms allowing for repayment with proceeds from the Long Ridge sale to be made at a lower premium than would otherwise be due if funded with other sources of cash.

Ken Nicholson: As you may recall, our existing corporate debt contains terms allowing for repayment with proceeds from the Long Ridge sale to be made at a lower premium than would otherwise be due if funded with other sources of cash. With less premium required, we're able to repay more principal. In total, we expect to reduce parent debt by at least $300 million and reduce our parent level interest expense by about $30 million per year, meaningfully improving our leverage metrics. We expect our leverage metrics to continue to improve over the next several quarters as we realize more integration efficiencies at our rail business and bring online new business at our terminals, especially Repauno. Turning to slide 5. With the deleveraged balance sheet and higher free cash flow generation, we expect the bulk of our long-term growth going forward to be driven in the rail sector.

Speaker #3: So, with less premium required, we're able to repay more principal. In total, we expect to reduce parent debt by at least $300 million and reduce our parent-level interest expense by about $30 million per year, meaningfully improving our leverage metrics.

Speaker #3: We expect our leverage metrics to continue to improve over the next several quarters as we realize more integration, efficiencies at our rail business, and bring online new business at our terminals especially Rapono.

Speaker #3: Turning to slide five, with the deleveraged balance sheet and higher free cash flow generation, we expect the bulk of our long-term growth going forward to be driven in the rail sector.

Speaker #3: We have an enormous opportunity set in front of us in the North American freight rail space, and an exceptional platform from which to grow.

Ken Nicholson: We have an enormous opportunity set in front of us in the North American freight rail space and an exceptional platform from which to grow. We expect the remainder of 2026 to be a particularly active one for the rail sector, M&A, and we're actively evaluating multiple opportunities and look forward to reporting back on our progress. While we expect our freight rail business to emerge as the dominant source of earnings for us going forward, we're also excited about the future of our two terminals and are focused on ensuring that both Jefferson and Repauno each reach their earnings potential with the view to monetizing both assets in the future. Jefferson is currently engaged in conversations with customers for new business, representing at least $50 million of additional annual EBITDA.

Speaker #3: We expect the remainder of 2026 to be a particularly active one for the rail sector M&A, and we're actively evaluating multiple opportunities and look forward to reporting back on our progress.

Speaker #3: While we expect our freight rail business to emerge as the dominant source of earnings for us going forward, we're also excited about the future of our two terminals and are focused on ensuring that both Jefferson and Rapono each reach their earnings potential with a view to monetizing both assets in the future.

Speaker #3: Jefferson is currently engaged in conversations with customers for new business representing at least $50 million of additional annual EBITDA. And Rapono, similarly, is expected to complete its phase two expansion at the end of this year and start revenue service shortly thereafter.

Ken Nicholson: Repauno similarly is expected to complete its phase 2 expansion at the end of this year and start revenue service shortly thereafter. Now we'll go into the results for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 came in at $70.6 million, up materially from $35.2 million for Q1 2025. Given the investment activity during last year-over-year comparisons are less meaningful, but I can say that the quarter was a strong one that reflected great progress across our portfolio. At Long Ridge, we took an outage for 25 days that impacted revenues and EBITDA for the quarter. The outage was planned but longer than typical as it related to inspection of the hot gas section of the power turbine, which requires more time but is only required to take place every 4 to 5 years.

Speaker #3: Now we'll go into the results for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 came in at $70.6 million up materially from $35.2 million for the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #3: Given the investment activity during last year, year-over-year comparisons are less meaningful, but I can say that the quarter was a strong one that reflected great progress across our portfolio.

Speaker #3: At Long Ridge, we took an outage for 25 days that impacted revenues and EBITDA for the quarter. The outage was planned, but longer than typical as it related to inspection of the hot gas section of the power turbine, which requires more time but is only required to take place every four to five years.

Speaker #3: The inspection resulted in a clean bill of health but did result in lost revenues for the quarter, excluding the impact of the outage or consolidated Q1 EBITDA would have exceeded $80 million for FIF and represented a new record.

Ken Nicholson: The inspection resulted in a clean bill of health, did result in lost revenues for the quarter. Excluding the impact of the outage, our consolidated Q1 EBITDA would have exceeded $80 million for FIP and represented a new record. It's important to note that our Q1 results do not reflect a tremendous amount of activity across our business that we expect to contribute to EBITDA in the future. We provide some detail around some of those specific items in the math on the right side of slide 7. Each of the lighter blue shaded bars represents specific items that require no incremental capital and are either already contracted or otherwise represent cash flow streams that we have confidence in. Importantly, the bar chart does not include any organic growth or new business wins that we believe could be material and also contribute to incremental EBITDA going forward.

Speaker #3: It's important to note that our Q1 results do not reflect a tremendous amount of activity across our business that we expect to contribute to EBITDA in the future.

Speaker #3: We provide some detail around some of those specific items, and the math on the right side of slide seven. Each of the lighter blue shaded bars represents specific items that require no incremental capital and are either already contracted or otherwise represent cash flow streams that we have confidence in.

Speaker #3: Importantly, the bar chart does not include any organic growth or new business wins that we believe could be material and also contribute to incremental EBITDA going forward.

Speaker #3: I'll quickly flip to slide eight and talk through the highlights at each of our segments. In our rail segment, adjusted EBITDA was $40.2 million in Q1, up $31% on an apples-to-apples basis versus the same quarter last year.

Ken Nicholson: I'll quickly flip to slide 8 and talk through the highlights at each of our segments. In our Rail segment, Adjusted EBITDA was $40.2 million in Q1, up 31% on an apples-to-apples basis versus the same quarter last year. Q1 was the first full quarter during which we had active control of the Wheeling, and we've already begun to realize a portion of our targeted integration savings. At Long Ridge, EBITDA for the quarter was $26.4 million. As I mentioned, without the 25-day planned outage, we estimate that EBITDA for the quarter would have approached $40 million. Gas production for the quarter continued above amounts required to fuel the power plant. We also generated revenues from excess gas sales during the quarter.

Speaker #3: Q1 was the first full quarter during which we had active control of the Wheeling, and we've already begun to realize a portion of our targeted integration savings.

Speaker #3: At Long Ridge, EBITDA for the quarter was $26.4 million. As I mentioned, without the 25-day planned outage, we estimate that EBITDA for the quarter would have approached $40 million.

Speaker #3: Gas production for the quarter continued above amounts required to fuel the power plant, so we also generated revenues from excess gas sales during the quarter.

Speaker #3: At Jefferson, EBITDA for Q1 was $14.4 million, and included a full quarter of results from our new ammonia transloading contract. And at Rapono, construction of our phase two transloading product continues to progress on plan.

Ken Nicholson: At Jefferson, EBITDA for Q1 was $14.4 million and included a full quarter of results from our new ammonia transloading contract. At Repauno, construction of our phase II transloading product continues to progress on plan. Once phase II is operational, which is planned for early next year, we expect Repauno to be capable of handling over 80,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids, generating approximately $80 million of annual revenue, EBITDA. Moving to slide 9, our detailed capital structure. During Q1, we closed our new term loan of approximately $1.35 billion. The net proceeds were used to repay in full the initial loan we issued in connection with the acquisition of The Wheeling last year. The new term loan represents the only debt at our parent level and carries a coupon of 9.75% per annum.

Speaker #3: Once phase two is operational, which is planned for early next year, we expect Rapono to be capable of handling over 80,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids generating approximately $80 million of annual revenue, EBITDA.

Speaker #3: Moving to slide nine, our detailed capital structure. During Q1, we closed our new term loan of approximately $1.35 billion. The net proceeds were used to repay in full the initial loan we issued in connection with the acquisition of the Wheeling last year.

Speaker #3: The new term loan represents the only debt at our parent level and carries a coupon of 9.75% per annum. As I mentioned, the loan is prepayable at a reduced premium with proceeds of Long Ridge sale.

Ken Nicholson: As I mentioned, the loan is pre-payable at a reduced premium with proceeds of Long Ridge sale. We expect the balance of the term loan to be approximately $300 million lower following closing of the sale. Also, during the quarter, we received commitments for the refinancing of a little over $200 million of debt at Jefferson. The net result of everything is a stable balance sheet with no near-term maturities and a path for meaningful deleveraging in the coming months following the Long Ridge sale. Moving to slide 11. We'll dig a little deeper into the results at each of our segments, and we're going to start with our railroads.

Speaker #3: So we expect the balance of the term loan to be a million lower following closing of the sale. Also, during the quarter, we received commitments for the refinancing of a little over $200 million of debt at Jefferson.

Speaker #3: The net result of everything is a stable balance sheet with no near-term maturities, and a path for meaningful deleveraging in the coming months following the Long Ridge sale.

Speaker #3: Moving to slide 11, we'll dig a little deeper into the results at each of our segments and we're going to start with our railroads.

Speaker #3: We posted revenue of $85 million and adjusted EBITDA of $40.2 million in Q1 compared with pro forma Q1, 2025 revenue of $79.3 million and adjusted EBITDA of $30.6 million.

Ken Nicholson: We posted revenue of $85 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $40.2 million in Q1, compared with pro forma Q1 2025 revenue of $79.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $30.6 million. Our actual reported results for last year exclude the results of The Wheeling, we're showing pro forma figures to demonstrate what revenues and EBITDA would have been if we include The Wheeling standalone results for last year. Growth versus last year was driven by a combination of revenue growth from both higher volumes and rates, as well as reduced expenses as a result of the initial impact of a large set of cost savings initiatives, which we started to implement in Q1.

Speaker #3: Our actual reported results for last year exclude the results of the Wheeling, so we're showing pro forma figures to demonstrate where revenues and EBITDA would have been if we include the Wheeling standalone results.

Speaker #3: For last year, growth versus last year was driven by a combination of revenue growth from both higher volumes and rates, as well as reduced expenses as a result of the initial impact of a large set of cost savings initiatives, which we started to implement in Q1.

Speaker #3: I will note that the first quarter is typically the softest quarter for our aggregates and other construction materials always slow down during the winter months.

Ken Nicholson: I will note that Q1 is typically the softest quarter for our business, especially at The Wheeling, where volumes of aggregates and other construction materials always slow down during the winter months. We're particularly pleased with our results for Q1. Flipping to slide 12. We're off to a great start with the combination of Transtar and The Wheeling. We expect the combination to result in 2 sources of financial gains. The first is cost savings, which we expect to impact our results in the near term, and the second is new revenue opportunities, which we expect to occur over the longer term. Cost savings fall into 2 primary buckets, personnel reductions, purchasing power savings, and reduced overhead.

Speaker #3: So we're particularly pleased with our results for Q1. Flipping to slide 12, we're off to a great start with the combination of Transtar and the Wheeling.

Speaker #3: We expect the combination to result in two sources of financial gains. The first is cost savings, which we expect to impact our results in the near term, and the second is new revenue opportunities which we expect to occur over the longer term.

Speaker #3: Cost savings fall into two primary buckets: personnel reductions, purchasing power savings, and reduced overhead. In total, we're targeting about $23 million of annual cost savings, of which $10 million of annual savings was enacted in Q1, representing $2.5 million of EBITDA for the quarter.

Ken Nicholson: In total, we're targeting about $23 million of annual cost savings, of which $10 million of annual savings was enacted in Q1, representing $2.5 million of EBITDA for the quarter. The additional $13 million of annual cost savings should be in effect in the relatively near term. On the revenue side, we continue to grow the list of opportunities now that the two railroads are operating as one. Additional propane carloads are planned to start early next year when Repauno's phase two commences operations. Additional carloads of propane should be substantial, given the volumes originate on The Wheeling and move to Repauno. The pipeline of additional opportunities is substantial. In total, we're estimating in excess of $50 million of incremental annual EBITDA potential from the various new revenue sources manifesting in the future. I'm going to shift to slide 13, talk about Jefferson.

Speaker #3: The additional $13 million of annual cost savings should be in effect in the relatively near term. On the revenue side, we continue to grow the list of opportunities now that the two railroads are operating as one.

Speaker #3: Additional propane car loads are planned to start early next year when Rapono's phase two commences operations. Additional car loads of propane should be substantial given the volumes originate on the Wheeling and move to Rapono.

Speaker #3: And the pipeline of additional opportunities is substantial. In total, we're estimating in excess of $50 million of incremental annual EBITDA potential from the various new revenue sources manifesting in the future.

Speaker #3: And to shift the slide 13, talk about Jefferson. At Jefferson, we reported $27.3 million of revenue, and $14.4 million of adjusted EBITDA in Q1 versus $19.5 million of revenue and $8 million of EBITDA in Q1 of last year.

Ken Nicholson: At Jefferson, we reported $27.3 million of revenue and $14.4 million of Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 versus $19.5 million of revenue and $8 million of EBITDA in Q1 of 2023. Volumes at the terminal averaged 275,000 barrels per day, driven by the startup of the new ammonia export contract, which commenced in late November 2023, as well as increased volumes of inbound crude oil during the quarter. To date, inbound crude volumes have been unaffected by the conflict in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, as crude destined to Jefferson has originated largely from Saudi West Coast terminals. We continue to see crude volumes steady so far in Q2. We're negotiating new contracts to expand our business at Jefferson.

Speaker #3: Volumes at the terminal averaged $275,000 barrels per day driven by the startup of the new ammonia export contract, which commenced in late November last year, as well as increased volume of inbound crude oil during the quarter.

Speaker #3: To date, inbound crude volumes have been unaffected by the conflict in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, as crude destined to Jefferson has originated largely from Saudi West Coast terminals.

Speaker #3: We continue to see crude volumes steady so far in the second quarter. We're negotiating new contracts to expand our business at Jefferson. The largest opportunities we are pursuing are with existing customers and involve expansions of the services we currently provide to them.

Ken Nicholson: The largest opportunities we are pursuing are with existing customers and involve expansions of the services we currently provide to them. Our customers have been investing heavily in their nearby facilities to increase production and market reach, which would require more products to flow through Jefferson. We hope to execute on all three opportunities during this year and commence revenue shortly thereafter. In total, the three opportunities represent an excess of $50 million of annual incremental EBITDA and utilize existing assets requiring little to no incremental investment in CapEx. Now shifting to Repauno on slide 14. Our primary focus at Repauno is on phase two, where construction continues to proceed as planned toward our goal of completion by the end of 2026, with revenue commencing shortly thereafter.

Speaker #3: Our customers have been investing heavily in their nearby facilities to increase production, and market reach which would require more products to flow through Jefferson.

Speaker #3: We hope to execute on all three opportunities during this year and commence revenue shortly thereafter. In total, the three opportunities represent an excess of $50 million of annual incremental EBITDA and utilize existing assets requiring little to no incremental investment capex.

Speaker #3: Now shifting to Rapono on slide 14, our primary focus at Rapono is on phase two, where construction continues to proceed as planned toward our goal of completion by the end of 2026 with revenue commencing shortly thereafter.

Speaker #3: We have long-term contracts in place for a substantial portion of our capacity, and are seeing high demand for the remaining available space. With the disruption in the Middle East, spreads for propane exports are extremely attractive, and based on conversations we're having, we continue to expect to commence revenue service in early 2027 at full capacity.

Ken Nicholson: We have long-term contracts in place for a substantial portion of our capacity and are seeing high demand for the remaining available space. With the disruption in the Middle East, spreads for propane exports are extremely attractive. Based on conversations we're having, we continue to expect to commence revenue service in early 2027 at full capacity. In the aggregate, we can handle a total of just over 80,000 barrels per day, representing $80 million of annual EBITDA for the combined assets of phase I and phase II. Finally, on slide 15, we'll briefly close out with Long Ridge. Given the pending sale, I'm only gonna hit the highlights for the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $26.4 million in Q1 versus $18.1 million in Q1 of last year.

Speaker #3: In the aggregate, we can handle a total of just over $80,000 barrels per day, representing $80 million of annual EBITDA for the combined assets of phase one and phase two.

Speaker #3: And finally, on slide 15, we'll briefly close out with Long Ridge. Given the pending sale, I'm only going to hit the highlights for the quarter.

Speaker #3: Adjusted EBITDA came in at $26.4 million in Q1 versus $18.1 million in Q1 of last year. Power plant capacity factor of 73% was impacted by the $25-day planned outage that I described earlier, but away from the outage, the fundamentals continue to be strong with power prices and capacity revenue continuing at historically high levels.

Ken Nicholson: Power plant capacity factor of 73% was impacted by the 25-day planned outage that I described earlier. Away from the outage, the fundamentals continue to be strong, with power prices and capacity revenue continuing at historically high levels. We averaged a little more than 86,000 MMBtu per day of gas production versus the little more than 70,000 required at the plant. We expect to maintain production significantly in excess of plant requirements and generate continued revenues from excess gas sales in the quarters ahead. Far in Q2, Long Ridge is off to a great start with capacity factor at 100% currently and gas production continuing in excess of our plant's needs. I'm going to conclude our remarks there, and I will now turn it back to Alan.

Speaker #3: We averaged a little more than $86,000 MMBTU per day of gas production versus the little more than $70,000 required at the plant, and we expect to maintain production significantly in excess of plant requirements, and generate continued revenues from excess gas sales in the quarters ahead.

Speaker #3: So far in Q2, Long Ridge is off to a great start with capacity factor at 100% currently and gas production continuing in excess of our plant's needs.

Speaker #3: I'm going to conclude our remarks there, and I will now turn it back to Alan.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Ken. Jason, you may now open the call to Q&A.

Alan Andreini: Thank you, Ken. Jason, you may now open the call to Q&A.

Speaker #3: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touchstone phone. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys.

Operator 3: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. Our first question comes from Brian McKenna from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. Our first question comes from Brian McKenna from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Speaker #3: To withdraw your question, please press star, then two. Our first question comes from Brian McKenna from Citizens. Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Okay, great. Thanks. Good morning, everyone. So on the regulatory approvals for the Long Ridge South, can you walk through exactly what these are? And then do you have any sense of when the transaction will close in the third quarter?

Brian McKenna: Okay, great. Thanks. Good morning, everyone. On the regulatory approvals for the Long Ridge sale, can you walk through exactly what these are? Do you have any sense when the transaction will close in Q3? Are we talking the first half of the quarter or the second half of the quarter, et cetera?

Speaker #4: Are we talking the first half of the quarter or the second half of the quarter, etc.?

Speaker #5: Yeah. Good morning, Brian. Really just one approval—FERC. There's a requirement to file with FERC; FERC needs to approve the change of control. That filing kicks off the process.

Ken Nicholson: Yeah. Good morning, Brian. Just one approval, FERC. There's a requirement to file with FERC. FERC needs to approve the change of control. That filing kicks off the process. I think that filing is imminent. It's possible the filing is made today, otherwise early next week. That'll get things started. The FERC regulatory process is not an exact science. It's not a set number of days per se, we don't see any reasons why it should be a prolonged process. You know, I would guide folks toward the middle of Q3 for regulatory approval. Obviously, we would, we're going to be using these proceeds to repay debt, the sooner we close, the more interest we save on the debt we repay.

Speaker #5: I think that filing is imminent. It's possible the filing's made today. Otherwise, early next week. So that'll get things started. The FERC regulatory process is not a exact science.

Speaker #5: It's not a there isn't a set number of days per se, but we don't see any reasons why it should be a prolonged process.

Speaker #5: I would guide folks toward the middle of the third quarter for regulatory approval. Obviously, we would we're going to be using these proceeds to repay debt, so the sooner we close the more interest we save, on the debt we repay.

Speaker #5: So we're very focused on a speedy closing, and I know our friends at Merrill Holdings share that view. So hopefully, if we can do anything to accelerate closing, we will, but otherwise, yeah, we feel pretty comfortable with a mid-third quarter target.

Ken Nicholson: We're very focused on a speedy closing, and I know our friends at MARA Holdings share that view. Hopefully, if we can do anything to accelerate closing, we will. Otherwise, yeah, we feel pretty comfortable with the mid-Q3 target.

Speaker #4: Okay. That's helpful. Thanks, Ken. And then in terms of the holdco debt paydown, the plan is to pay down $300 million of debt there, and then it looks like there should be another $50 million or so of remaining cash from the transaction.

Brian McKenna: Okay, that's helpful. Thanks, Ken. In terms of the holdco debt paydown, the plan is to pay down $300 million of debt there. It looks like there should be another $50 million or so of remaining cash from the transaction. I guess, is my math correct there? If you have, you know, call it $40 to 50 million of incremental cash, you know, what's the plan for that? I guess, you know, related with the stock trading where it is, I mean, do you think about authorizing some kind of a buyback just to support the stock a little bit?

Speaker #4: So I guess is my math correct there? And then if you do have call it 40 to 50 million of incremental cash, what's the plan for that?

Speaker #4: And then I guess related with the stock trading where it is, I mean, do you think about authorizing some kind of a buyback just to support the stock a little bit?

Speaker #5: Yeah. Your math is correct. Final net proceeds will depend upon the timing of close, cash generated by Long Ridge between now and then, etc.

Ken Nicholson: Yeah. Your math is correct. You know, final net proceeds will depend upon the timing of close, cash generated by Long Ridge between now and then, et cetera. We don't have precision, you know, science, but you're right, there should be some excess cash. We can either use that to repay debt. We are permitted to just keep it on our balance sheet to fund acquisitions, and we've got a couple smaller situations that, you know, we think could be highly accretive in the rail space. We may choose to retain some of the cash to make those small investments. We have a handful of transaction fees as well that'll crystallize at the moment of closing.

Speaker #5: So don't have precision science, but you're right, there should be some excess cash. We can either use that to repay debt we are permitted to just keep it on our balance sheet to fund acquisitions, and we've got a couple smaller situations that we think could be highly accretive in the rail space, and so we may choose to retain some of the cash to make those small investments.

Speaker #5: We have a handful of transaction fees as well that'll crystallize at the moment of closing. In terms of other uses for cash flow, I would just say we're, of course, always evaluating the various things we can do.

Ken Nicholson: In terms of, you know, other uses for cash flow, I would just say we're of course, always evaluating the, you know, the various things we can do. We want to continue to grow the business. I, I still think the more likely use of proceeds is either to deleverage or otherwise invest accretively. Obviously everything's on the table and, you know, we and our board are always considering, you know, different options.

Speaker #5: We want to continue to grow the business. I still think the more likely use of proceeds is either to leverage or otherwise invest accretively.

Speaker #5: But obviously, everything's on the table, and we and our board are always considering different options.

Speaker #4: All right. That's helpful. I'll leave it there. Thanks so much.

Brian McKenna: All right. That's helpful. I'll leave it there. Thanks so much.

Speaker #5: Thanks.

Ken Nicholson: Thanks.

Speaker #3: The next question comes from Craig Shear from Tuohy Brothers. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Craig Shere from Tuohy Brothers. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Craig Shere from Tuohy Brothers. Please go ahead.

Speaker #6: Good morning. So Jefferson's doing well. Obviously, with the new contracts kicking in in November, the volumes are up, but it looks like the per-barrel unit pricing is somewhat softening sequentially and even a tad year over year.

Craig Shere: Morning. Jefferson's doing well, obviously with the new contracts kicking in in November. The volumes are up, but it looks like the per barrel unit pricing is somewhat softening sequentially and even a tad year over year. Could you provide any color on that?

Speaker #6: Could you provide any color on that?

Ken Nicholson: Hey, Craig Shere. Good morning. There's a lot in the mix there. What I can tell you is when you think about Jefferson's different business lines for refined products, crude oil, and now ammonia, there are multiple contracts under which Jefferson provides those transloading services. I think there are a total of 7 contracts that Jefferson has with various customers. In some cases, with 1 customer with multiple contracts or different destinations or rail handling or ship loading or whatever it may be. What I can tell you is there's certainly been no realized downward pricing for any particular contract or any particular, you know, product. I think what's going on to affect those numbers is just a mix, a little bit more of a lower-priced movement and a little bit less of a higher price movements.

Speaker #4: The hey, Craig. Yeah. Good morning. There's a lot in the mix there. What I can tell you is when you think about Jefferson's different business lines for refined products, crude oil, and now ammonia, there are multiple contracts under which Jefferson provides those transloading services.

Speaker #4: I think a total of seven contracts that Jefferson has with various customers in some cases with one customer or with multiple contracts or different destinations or rail handling or shiploading or whatever it may be.

Speaker #4: What I can tell you is there's certainly been no realized downward pricing for any particular contract or any particular product. I think what's going on to affect those numbers is just a mix a little bit more of a lower priced movement and a little bit less of a higher price moves forward.

Ken Nicholson: For example, crude oil. We handle crude oil, it's usually a higher rate because it requires more handling. Sometimes it requires steam unloading and blending, and that can be at a much higher rate than the refined products which flow more easily and we handle more volumes of. That's usually a lower price point. That doesn't mean one product conveys more or less margin. We may have a, you know, a lower rate for refined products, but it's also a lot easier to handle, the margins in some cases may be better than crude oil, even though crude oil is a higher priced product. There's a lot going on there. There has been no deterioration in price for any particular contract. It's just a matter of mix.

Speaker #4: For example, crude oil. We handle crude oil. It's usually a higher rate because it requires more handling. Sometimes it requires steam unloading and blending.

Speaker #4: And that can be at a much higher rate than the refined products, which flow more easily and we handle more volumes of. And so that's usually a lower price point.

Speaker #4: That doesn't mean one product conveys more or less margin. We may have a lower rate for refined products, but it's also a lot easier to handle, and so the margins in some cases may be better than crude oil, even though crude oil is a higher-priced product.

Speaker #4: So, there's a lot going on there. There has been no deterioration in price for any particular contract. It's just a matter of mix.

Speaker #6: Gotcha. And maybe you could elaborate on the next steps for commercializing Ropano Phase 3 underground storage, and potentially monetizing that business. Would it be reasonable to still think that could be accretively divested by mid-next year?

Craig Shere: Gotcha. Maybe you could elaborate on the next steps for commercializing Repauno Phase Three underground storage and potentially monetizing that business. Would it be reasonable to still think that could be accretively divested by mid-next year?

Speaker #5: Yeah. I think so. Yeah. There's plenty going on with Ropano and the natural gas liquids global trade market. Spreads are as attractive as I think we've seen them for a number of years.

Ken Nicholson: I think so. Yeah. You know, there's plenty going on with Repauno and the natural gas liquids, you know, global trade market. Spreads are as attractive as I think we've seen them for a number of years. There are supply issues and terminal loading issues in the Marcellus and Utica for liquids that would be destined to Repauno, but there is significant demand at very attractive pricing. Recently, just, you know, with the conflict in Iran, we've had increased dialogue with a number of large, you know, NGL producers. We like that, of course. That bodes very well for phase 3.

Speaker #5: There are supply issues, and terminal loading issues in the Marcellus and Utica for liquids that would be destined to Ropano, but there is significant demand at very attractive pricing.

Speaker #5: So recently, just with the conflict in Iran, we've had increased dialogue with a number of large NGO producers. And so we like that, of course, that bodes very well for Phase 3.

Speaker #5: I didn't talk much about I didn't talk at all about Phase 3 just in our prepared remarks because at the end of the day, Phase 2 is really our core focus.

Ken Nicholson: I didn't talk at all about phase III, just in our prepared remarks because at the end of the day, phase II is really our core focus. You know, completing, it's so important to Repauno, completing the construction, and, you know, starting to demonstrate the $80 million of annual EBITDA. We in management are singularly focused on phase II. Phase III is continuing. That's not to say we've, you know, we've slowed down at all. I think in order for phase III to be, you know, fully financed, fully committed, fully contracted on the construction work, we want to have all the commercial contracts in place. We're in a good market environment to do that.

Speaker #5: Completing it is so important to Ropano. Completing the construction and starting to demonstrate the $80 million of annual EBITDA. We in management are singularly focused on Phase 2.

Speaker #5: But Phase 3 is continuing. That's not to say we've slowed down at all. I think in order for Phase 3 to be fully financed, fully committed, fully contracted on the construction work, we want to have all the commercial contracts in place.

Speaker #5: So we're in a good market environment to do that. Frankly, in terms of the monetization of the asset, yeah, I think next year is certainly doable.

Ken Nicholson: Frankly, in terms of the monetization of the asset, yeah, I think next year is certainly doable. It's been important to us, and we think any buyer would really want to see phase II complete and operating and, you know, hence again, the reason why we're so focused on phase II. Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable with next year being a good year to, you know, think about monetization of Repauno and, you know, quite possibly Jefferson.

Speaker #5: It's been important to us, and we think any buyer would really want to see Phase 2 complete and operating and hence, again, the reason why we're so focused on pretty comfortable that next year being a good year to think about monetization of Ropano and quite possibly Jefferson.

Speaker #6: Great. Thank you.

Craig Shere: Great. Thank you.

Speaker #3: The next question comes from Greg Lewis from BTIG. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Gregory Lewis from BTIG. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Gregory Lewis from BTIG. Please go ahead.

Speaker #7: Yeah. Hi. Thank you. And good morning. And thanks for taking my question. I did want to go back to Jefferson. You kind of mentioned the incremental contract awards.

Gregory Lewis: Yeah. Thank you. Good morning, and thanks for taking my question. I did want to go back to Jefferson. You know, you kind of mentioned the incremental contract awards. You know, how should we think about the scaling of that EBITDA from those existing service contracts that are going to start to ramp here?

Speaker #7: How should we think about the scaling of that EBITDA from those existing service contracts that are going to start the ramp here?

Ken Nicholson: There are a number of existing, you know, customers who basically want to expand the volumes that they put through Jefferson. Particularly in this market, folks are considering, you know, alternate sources for crude, additional markets for refined products. The scale is look pretty significant. I mean, we're moving 275,000 barrels per day. You know, with the contracts that we are discussing with customers, the expansions of business, we're targeting total volumes of in excess of 500,000 barrels per day. We have capacity, operational capacity at Jefferson to probably do closer to 600,000 barrels per day. You know, we're pretty capped out with the existing infrastructure at that number. You know, at 500,000, we can handle all of that volume.

Speaker #5: There are a number of existing customers who basically want to expand the volumes that they put through Jefferson, particularly in this market. Folks are considering alternate sources for crude.

Speaker #5: Additional markets for refined products. So the scale is, look, pretty significant. I mean, we're moving 275,000 barrels per day with the contracts that we are discussing with customers, the expansions of business.

Speaker #5: We're targeting total volumes in excess of 500,000 barrels per day. We have capacity—operational capacity—at Jefferson to probably do closer to 600,000 barrels per day.

Speaker #5: We're pretty capped out with the existing infrastructure at that number. So at 500,000, we can handle all of that volume. It's getting to the point where there would likely be incremental capital beyond that.

Ken Nicholson: It's getting to the point where there would likely be incremental capital beyond that. You know, we're running at just under a $60 million annual EBITDA run rate currently. You know, an additional $50 million between three primary new pieces of business, you know, takes us over the $100 million mark. That's been a kind of an emotional level for Jefferson now for quite some time, and I'm really hopeful we can get all three of these expansions done this year.

Speaker #5: But we're running at just under a 60 million annual EBITDA run rate currently. An additional 50 million between three primary new pieces of business takes us over the 100 million mark.

Speaker #5: That's been a kind of emotional level for Jefferson now for quite some time. And I'm really hopeful we can get all three of these expansions done this year and put Jefferson in a place where we can hit those numbers.

Gregory Lewis: Oh, wow.

Ken Nicholson: put Jefferson in a place where we can hit those numbers.

Speaker #6: Okay, great, yeah, thanks for that. And then I did want to—I did have a question on the relationship with U.S. Steel Transtar. Realizing that, I guess, a couple of weeks ago, U.S. Steel announced a major capex initiative at their Arkansas facility.

Gregory Lewis: Okay, great. Yeah, thanks for that. I did have a question on the relationship with U.S. Steel Transtar, realizing that, I guess, a couple of weeks ago, U.S. Steel announced a major CapEx initiative at their Arkansas facility. Just kind of curious how you're thinking about that, realizing that currently we don't I don't believe we have exposure in that kind of little pocket. Just how you think about that incremental volume at U.S. Steel there maybe creating more opportunities across the U.S. Steel rail network.

Speaker #6: Just kind of curious how you're thinking about that. Realizing that currently, we don't I don't believe we have exposure in that kind of little pocket but just how you think about that incremental volume at US Steel there, maybe creating more opportunities across the US Steel rail network.

Speaker #5: Yeah. Yep. Good noting that. Yeah. Unfortunately, Arkansas is not one of the Transtar properties. But at the end of the day, the folks at Nippon committed a total of $11 billion in new projects.

Ken Nicholson: Yeah, yep, good noting that. Yeah, unfortunately, Arkansas is not one of the Transtar properties. You know, at the end of the day, the folks at Nippon committed a total of $11 billion in new projects. The Arkansas invest is about 2 of it, there's another 9 to go. We're pretty sure about 5 of that remaining 9 is gonna be focused on the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh and Gary Works. Nippon and U.S. Steel have announced a handful of projects at both the Mon Valley and Gary Works. They're both a little bit smaller or involve, you know, refurbishing a blast furnace, not necessarily new construction.

Speaker #5: The Arkansas invested about two of it. So there's another nine to go. We're pretty sure about five of that remaining nine is going to be focused on the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh and Gary works.

Speaker #5: Nippon and US Steel have announced a handful of projects at both the Mon Valley and Gary Works. They're both a little bit smaller.

Speaker #5: Or involve refurbishing a blast furnace, not necessarily new construction. But we feel pretty confident that there are some additional projects coming that will be very good news for Transtar at some point during the course of this year.

Ken Nicholson: You know, we feel pretty confident that there are, you know, some additional projects coming that will be very good news for Transtar, you know, at some point during the course of this year. It's a big commitment from Nippon and, you know, we're of course eager. No, we won't be benefiting from the Arkansas announcement, but I do think there will be some announcements coming that should be good news for us.

Speaker #5: So it's a big commitment from Nippon and we're, of course, eager, but no, we won't be benefiting from the Arkansas announcement, but I do think there will be some announcements coming that should be good news for us.

Speaker #6: No doubt. Super helpful. Thank you very much.

Gregory Lewis: No doubt. Super helpful. Thank you very much.

Speaker #3: The next question comes from Giuliano Bellona from Compass Point. Please go ahead.

Operator 3: The next question comes from Giuliano Bologna from Compass Point. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Giuliano Bologna from Compass Point. Please go ahead.

Speaker #8: Hello. Good morning, Chris. I'm the performance and the announced sale of Long Ridge. There is a switch of topics a little bit. You're obviously de-leveraging with the transaction.

Giuliano Bologna: Well, good morning. Progress on the performance and the announced sale of Long Ridge. Let me switch topics a little bit. You know, you're obviously de-leveraging with the transaction, but until you know, sold Jefferson or Repauno, you know, how do you think you'd finance any incremental rail acquisitions?

Speaker #8: But until you have sold Jefferson or Ropono, how do you think you'd finance any incremental rail acquisitions?

Ken Nicholson: You know, probably with incremental debt, I think it'd be the most efficient way to do it. You know, Brian McKenna asked earlier about maybe some incremental net proceeds and what we might use those for. There will be some cash from the Long Ridge transaction that could be invested into, you know, a rail acquisition. Otherwise, look, we're repaying debt. That opens up new debt capacity. You know, I think it would be much more efficient for us, particularly, you know, where we're trading right now to be an issuer of debt to make an accretive acquisition. I feel pretty comfortable we'll have access to the capital we need for whatever acquisition opportunities come up at the railroad.

Speaker #5: Probably with incremental debt. I think it'd be the most efficient way to do it. Brian asked earlier about maybe some incremental net proceeds and what we might use those for.

Speaker #5: So there will be some cash from the Long Ridge transaction that could be invested into a rail acquisition. Otherwise, look, we're repaying debt. That opens up new debt capacity.

Speaker #5: And I think it would be much more efficient for us, particularly where we're trading right now, to be an issuer of debt to make a accretive acquisition.

Speaker #5: And so I feel pretty comfortable we'll have access to the capital we need for whatever acquisition opportunities come up at the railroad.

Speaker #8: That sounds good. And are you seeing a good flow of rail deals in the market now? I mean, because in the past, you kind of mentioned that rail deal flow tends to be episodic and go in waves.

Giuliano Bologna: That's all good. Are you seeing a good flow of rail deals in the market now? I mean, because in the past you kind of mentioned that rail deal flow, you know, tends to be episodic and go in waves.

Speaker #5: Yes. Yes. Yes. Very definitely episodic. There are but we are the stars are aligning, I would say. There are three things driving an increase in activity.

Ken Nicholson: Yes. Yes, yes. Very definitely episodic. You know, there are. The stars are aligning, I would say. There are three things driving an increase in activity. One is, of course, you know, Class One mergers, both pending and, you know, under, I would say, you know, speculation. You know, when two Class Ones get together, it's pretty likely there are gonna be divestitures of various lines, and that opens up a set of opportunities, carve-outs of short lines and regional lines. You know, I think that's gonna stimulate some M&A activity. Two, there was a lot of activity where private equity firms, institutional investors, you know, bought into the rail sector five to 10 years ago, and most of those funds have 10-year lives.

Speaker #5: One is, of course, Class 1 mergers, both pending and under I would say speculation. When two Class 1s get together, it's pretty likely they're going to be divestitures of various lines and that opens up a set of opportunities to carve out of short lines and regional lines.

Speaker #5: And so I think that's going to stimulate some M&A activity. Two, there was a lot of activity where private equity firms, institutional investors, bought into the rail sector 5 to 10 years ago.

Speaker #5: And most of those funds have 10-year lives. And so many of them are approaching their mandated monetization timeframes. And so we expect a number of assets held by institutional investors to come to the market over the next, call it, 6 to 12 months.

Ken Nicholson: Many of them are approaching, you know, their mandated monetization time frames. We expect a number of assets held by institutional investors to come to the market over the next, call it 6 to 12 months. Finally, when you really think back, there are a number of large properties that are owned by individuals, very entrepreneurial individuals who've, you know, really established their ownership all the way back in the Staggers Act in 1980 and, you know, 40-plus years ago. They've owned these things for a very long time. They're starting to think about, you know, what they wanna do going forward. Values have grown materially since they first, you know, entered the business. We're having dialogues with a number of just individual owners who, you know, are starting to think about it.

Speaker #5: And then finally, when you really think back, there are a number of large properties that are owned by individuals, very entrepreneurial individuals who really established their ownership all the way back in the Staggers Act in 1980.

Speaker #5: And 40-plus years ago, so they've owned these things for a very long time. They're starting to think about what they want to do going forward.

Speaker #5: Values have grown materially since they first entered the business. And so we're having dialogues with a number of just individual owners who are starting to think about it.

Speaker #5: And so I think those three dynamics are at play. And I think we're going to have a nice wave of M&A opportunities here in the next 12 months.

Ken Nicholson: I think those three dynamics are at play and, you know, I think we're gonna have a nice wave of M&A opportunities here in the next 12 months.

Speaker #8: That's very helpful. I appreciate it. And I will jump back into the queue.

Giuliano Bologna: That's very helpful. I appreciate it and I will jump back in the queue.

Speaker #5: Thanks.

Ken Nicholson: Thanks.

Speaker #3: This concludes our question and answer session, I would like to turn the conference back over to Alan Andreini for any closing remarks.

Operator 3: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Alan Andreini for any closing remarks.

Operator: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Alan Andreini for any closing remarks.

Speaker #5: Thank you, Jason. And thank you all for participating in today's call. We look forward to updating you after Q2.

Alan Andreini: Thank you, Jason. Thank you all for participating in today's call. We look forward to updating you after Q2.

Operator 3: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

Operator: The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

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Q1 2026 FTAI Infrastructure Inc Earnings Call

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Q1 2026 FTAI Infrastructure Inc Earnings Call

Friday, May 8th, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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FTAI Infrastructure

Earnings

Q1 2026 FTAI Infrastructure Inc Earnings Call

FIP

Friday, May 8th, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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