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8-K - 8-K - FERRELLGAS PARTNERS L Pa12-13473_18k.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS REPORTS SOLID THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS;

EXPECTS IMPROVED FOURTH-QUARTER RESULTS

 

OVERLAND PARK, KS, June 8, 2012- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the nation’s largest distributors of propane, today reported operating results for its fiscal third quarter ended April 30, 2012.

 

Propane sales for the quarter outperformed operating conditions declining 11% to 226 million gallons despite temperatures that were 23% warmer than in the prior year’s quarter.  Revenues and gross profit directionally followed sales volumes declining to $629.6 million and $179.0 million, respectively while gross profit margins in the quarter improved nearly 6% to $0.79 per gallon sold reflecting lower wholesale prices.

 

Operating expense improved to $95.8 million, compared to $103.8 million in the prior year’s quarter on lesser sales volumes and management’s focus on long-term cost reductions.  General and administrative expense improved to $9.0 million, contrasted with $17.9 million the year prior (which included $10.5 million in litigation reserves and related legal fees, partially offset by incentive accrual reversals).  Excluding these prior year adjustments, G&A expense declined approximately $1 million this quarter primarily reflecting management’s ongoing cost-reduction efforts. Equipment leasing expense of $3.8 million was materially in line with prior year levels while prior year financings reduced interest expense in the quarter by nearly $1.5 million to $23.5 million.

 

For the quarter, net earnings improved to $21.1 million, or $0.26 per unit, compared with $3.4 million, or $0.04 per unit, which included a loss on extinguishment of debt of $10.5 million, or $0.14 per unit.  And while Adjusted EBITDA declined modestly to $70.8 million from $74.3 million in the prior year quarter, distributable cash flow was practically unchanged at $48.0 million.

 

“While the past winter proved to be most challenging for the propane industry with temperatures the second warmest in recorded history, several encouraging signs appeared in the third quarter,” commented President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Wambold.  “Positive momentum is carrying over into the fourth quarter and we expect to report improved operating results in the quarters to follow.”

 

Wambold explained, “Although the warm temperatures adversely affected retail propane sales, they did spark an early start to the grilling season. Our Blue Rhino tank exchange posted strong same-store sales gains with large retailers and across all trades.”

 

- more -

 



 

Also contributing to the optimistic outlook are the continued progress of the company’s cost-reduction program and the recent decline in wholesale propane costs. “We are increasingly confident that we will reach, if not exceed, our goal of more than $20 million in annualized cost savings by the end of fiscal 2013,” Wambold pointed out. “And, propane costs are currently 53% below year-ago levels.”

 

Year-to-date, revenues were practically unchanged at $2 billion. Total propane gallon sales declined 3% to 727 million despite temperatures that were 18% warmer than in the prior year. Gross profit was $511.9 million, compared with $563.1 million. Operating expense decreased to $299.0 million from $306.6 million, general and administrative expense totaled $28.7 million compared with $39.3 million. Equipment lease expense was unchanged at $10.8 million. Interest expense of $70.9 million was $7.3 million less than a year ago. Net earnings were $25.0 million, or $0.32 per unit, contrasted with a net loss of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per unit during the prior year period.  Adjusted EBITDA was $175.0 million and $217.5 million for the fiscal 2012 and 2011 nine-month periods, respectively.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., serves approximately one million customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own nearly 22 million common units of the partnership through an employee stock ownership plan. More information about the partnership can be found online at www.ferrellgas.com.

 

Statements in this release concerning expectations for the future are forward-looking statements. A variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause results, performance and expectations to differ materially from anticipated results, performance and expectations. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Form 10-K of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011, and other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

###

 

Contact:

Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, 913-661-1530

Scott Brockelmeyer, Media Relations, 913-661-1830

 



 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30, 2012

 

July 31, 2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

11,873

 

$

7,437

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $194,762 and $112,509 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at April 30, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively)

 

193,016

 

159,532

 

Inventories

 

131,854

 

136,139

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

18,285

 

23,885

 

Total Current Assets

 

355,028

 

326,993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

635,881

 

642,205

 

Goodwill

 

248,944

 

248,944

 

Intangible assets, net

 

194,420

 

204,136

 

Other assets, net

 

39,967

 

38,308

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,474,240

 

$

1,460,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

67,503

 

$

67,541

 

Short-term borrowings

 

58,291

 

64,927

 

Collateralized note payable

 

134,000

 

61,000

 

Other current liabilities (a)

 

97,871

 

104,813

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

357,665

 

298,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

1,044,187

 

1,050,920

 

Other liabilities

 

23,622

 

23,068

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (78,965,469 and 75,966,353 units outstanding at April 30, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively)

 

111,336

 

139,614

 

General partner unitholder (797,631 and 767,337 units outstanding at April 30, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively)

 

(58,947

)

(58,660

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(5,993

)

4,633

 

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Capital

 

46,396

 

85,587

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

2,370

 

2,730

 

Total Partners’ Capital

 

48,766

 

88,317

 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

$

1,474,240

 

$

1,460,586

 

 


(a) The principal difference between the Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. balance sheet and that of Ferrellgas, L.P., is $182 million of 8.625% notes which are liabilities of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and not of Ferrellgas, L.P.

 



 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

FOR THE THREE, NINE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2012 AND 2011

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

556,644

 

$

647,709

 

$

1,850,430

 

$

1,790,511

 

$

2,272,176

 

$

2,102,791

 

Other

 

72,975

 

84,664

 

146,887

 

183,046

 

174,799

 

224,614

 

Total revenues

 

629,619

 

732,373

 

1,997,317

 

1,973,557

 

2,446,975

 

2,327,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

401,521

 

483,101

 

1,405,243

 

1,299,003

 

1,715,584

 

1,496,321

 

Other

 

49,117

 

60,074

 

80,211

 

111,432

 

93,249

 

137,550

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

178,981

 

189,198

 

511,863

 

563,122

 

638,142

 

693,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense (including $277, $500 and $500 of non-recurring severance charges for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended April 30, 2012, respectively)

 

95,822

 

103,813

 

298,974

 

306,635

 

399,620

 

406,647

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

21,123

 

20,030

 

62,839

 

60,395

 

84,930

 

80,864

 

General and administrative expense (including $113, $263 and $263 of non-recurring severance charges for the three, nine and twelve month periods ended April 30, 2012, respectively)

 

8,963

 

17,879

 

28,671

 

39,271

 

41,560

 

51,385

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,789

 

3,650

 

10,846

 

10,842

 

14,439

 

14,123

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,203

 

2,591

 

6,719

 

7,967

 

8,909

 

10,328

 

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b)

 

385

 

1,628

 

4,867

 

13,709

 

4,646

 

17,352

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

1,220

 

463

 

2,052

 

834

 

4,851

 

3,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

45,476

 

39,144

 

96,895

 

123,469

 

79,187

 

108,996

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(23,471

)

(24,933

)

(70,904

)

(78,205

)

(94,584

)

(104,645

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(10,513

)

 

(46,962

)

 

(46,962

)

Other income, net

 

201

 

243

 

248

 

509

 

306

 

486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

22,206

 

3,941

 

26,239

 

(1,189

)

(15,091

)

(42,125

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

1,144

 

572

 

1,285

 

1,288

 

1,238

 

1,198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

21,062

 

3,369

 

24,954

 

(2,477

)

(16,329

)

(43,323

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (a)

 

255

 

196

 

377

 

264

 

1

 

(82

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

20,807

 

3,173

 

24,577

 

(2,741

)

(16,330

)

(43,241

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner’s interest in net earnings (loss)

 

208

 

32

 

246

 

(27

)

(163

)

(432

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings (loss)

 

$

20,599

 

$

3,141

 

$

24,331

 

$

(2,714

)

$

(16,167

)

$

(42,809

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) Per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders’ interest

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.32

 

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.21

)

$

(0.61

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding

 

78,960.0

 

73,145.6

 

77,095.8

 

71,102.5

 

76,797.1

 

70,704.0

 

 



 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

$

20,807

 

$

3,173

 

$

24,577

 

$

(2,741

)

$

(16,330

)

$

(43,241

)

Income tax expense

 

1,144

 

572

 

1,285

 

1,288

 

1,238

 

1,198

 

Interest expense

 

23,471

 

24,933

 

70,904

 

78,205

 

94,584

 

104,645

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

21,123

 

20,030

 

62,839

 

60,395

 

84,930

 

80,864

 

EBITDA

 

66,545

 

48,708

 

159,605

 

137,147

 

164,422

 

143,466

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

10,513

 

 

46,962

 

 

46,962

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,203

 

2,591

 

6,719

 

7,967

 

8,909

 

10,328

 

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b)

 

385

 

1,628

 

4,867

 

13,709

 

4,646

 

17,352

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

1,220

 

463

 

2,052

 

834

 

4,851

 

3,839

 

Other income, net

 

(201

)

(243

)

(248

)

(509

)

(306

)

(486

)

Nonrecurring severance costs

 

390

 

 

763

 

 

763

 

 

Nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees

 

 

10,466

 

892

 

11,133

 

1,879

 

11,133

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

255

 

196

 

377

 

264

 

1

 

(82

)

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

70,797

 

74,322

 

175,027

 

217,507

 

185,165

 

232,512

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(22,018

)

(23,011

)

(66,773

)

(71,393

)

(88,733

)

(93,206

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(2,680

)

(4,073

)

(11,518

)

(11,921

)

(15,034

)

(16,306

)

Cash paid for taxes

 

(10

)

(119

)

(100

)

(34

)

(657

)

(642

)

Proceeds from asset sales

 

1,940

 

1,073

 

4,314

 

4,273

 

6,035

 

8,896

 

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)

 

$

48,029

 

$

48,192

 

$

100,950

 

$

138,432

 

$

86,776

 

$

131,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

167,462

 

190,009

 

524,287

 

559,797

 

619,898

 

649,855

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

58,421

 

62,441

 

202,971

 

189,373

 

257,873

 

241,062

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

225,883

 

252,450

 

727,258

 

749,170

 

877,771

 

890,917

 

 


(a)  Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.

(b)  Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charges consist of the following:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating expense

 

$

112

 

$

570

 

$

1,952

 

$

3,832

 

$

1,877

 

$

4,834

 

General and administrative expense

 

273

 

1,058

 

2,915

 

9,877

 

2,769

 

12,518

 

Total

 

$

385

 

$

1,628

 

$

4,867

 

$

13,709

 

$

4,646

 

$

17,352

 

 

(c)  Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, other income, net, nonrecurring severance costs, nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees and net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. Management believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership’s performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(d)  Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income (expense), net. This amount includes interest expense related to the accounts receivable securitization facility.

(e)  Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment.

(f)   Management considers Distributable cash flow to equity investors a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures used by other corporations and partnerships.