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8-K - 8-K - FERRELLGAS PARTNERS L Pa13-13540_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS’ THIRD-QUARTER ADJUSTED EBITDA UP 39%;

DISTRIBUTABLE CASH FLOW CLIMBS 59%;

FISCAL 2013 ADJUSTED EBITDA RANGE RAISED TO $270-$275 MILLION

 

OVERLAND PARK, KAN., June 6, 2013/PR Newswire/ — Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the nation’s largest distributors of propane, today reported record Adjusted EBITDA, distributable cash flow and gross profit for its fiscal third quarter ended April 30, primarily attributable to increased propane sales volumes, margins and improved operating efficiencies.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased 39% to $98.5 million from $70.8 million in the prior year quarter. Distributable cash flow to equity investors rose 59% to $76.2 million from $48.0 million a year ago. Through April, the partnership’s trailing 12 month distributable cash flow coverage stands at a healthy 1.08x.

 

President and CEO Steve Wambold pointed out, “We are extremely proud of our operational and financial performance this year as it is indicative of what our operations are capable of producing for investors in a more normal operating environment.”  Wambold further remarked, “Our positive momentum has continued into our fiscal fourth quarter.  As a result, we are raising our Adjusted EBITDA guidance for fiscal 2013 to a range of $270 million to $275 million, producing a distributable cash flow coverage to equity investors of greater than 1.1x.”  Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing 12-months was $264.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2012 was $193.1 million.

 

Wambold continued, “Especially encouraging this quarter was that our propane sales volumes grew 18% over the prior year quarter to 267.1 million gallons. These sales volumes not only reflect temperatures that were 6 % colder than normal, but also our organic growth efforts of recent years.”

 

-more-

 



 

Third-quarter revenues decreased modestly to $603.0 million from $629.6 million on lower sales prices to consumers, while the partnership’s gross profit climbed 25% to $223.1 million on increased sales and improved margins.  Fiscal third quarter gross profit margins improved $0.05 cents per gallon sold, from $0.79 to $0.84.

 

Third-quarter operating expense increased to $107.2 million, or $0.40 per gallon sold, from $95.8 million, or $0.42 per gallon sold, on increased propane sales volumes and performance based incentive accruals. Excluding performance based incentives, operating expenses improved by 12% from $0.42 per gallon sold to $0.37 per gallon sold, which was made possible by the partnership’s efficiency initiatives.  Similarly, general and administrative expense increased to $13.4 million from $9.0 million as a result of performance based incentives.  Excluding these incentives, G&A expense decreased to $8.6 million from $8.9 million.

 

Equipment lease expense was $4.1 million, compared with $3.8 million the year before. Interest expense again declined to $22.1 million from $23.5 million a year ago, reflecting lower borrowing rates.

 

Net earnings more than doubled to $45.2 million, or $0.56 per unit, from $21.l million, or $0.26 per unit. Wambold noted, “Our Blue Rhino operations are well positioned to capitalize on the all-important grilling season, adding more than 950 selling locations since this time last year.  The acquisition environment continues to be quite attractive, and we remain interested in complementary acquisitions, including some diversification, as indicated by the purchase of Mr. Bar-B-Q during the third quarter.” He added, “We focus on deals that are immediately accretive to earnings, and all our recent acquisitions have handily exceeded their proformas.”

 

-more-

 



 

For the nine months, gross profit was up 17%, primarily attributable to margin improvement and increased sales volumes.  Propane sales volumes grew 2% to 745.1 million on nationwide temperatures that were 4% warmer than normal.  Adjusted EBITDA rose 41% and distributable cash flow climbed 79%. Consistent with the quarter, operating expense was impacted by both increased sales volumes and performance based incentives.  After adjusting for the impact of performance based incentives, operating expense was practically unchanged, $297.8 million versus $298.7 million, as our operating efficiencies offset the incremental cost associated with increased sales volumes.  General and administrative expense, excluding the impact of performance based incentives declined to $25.5 million from $28.4 million. Net earnings surged to $86.2 million, or $1.07 per unit, from $25.0 million, or $0.32 per unit.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., serves customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own more than 21 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, 2012, 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 STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

FOR THE THREE, NINE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2013 AND 2012

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

508,408

 

$

556,644

 

$

1,426,763

 

$

1,850,430

 

$

1,737,278

 

$

2,272,176

 

Other

 

94,612

 

72,975

 

198,031

 

146,887

 

229,291

 

174,799

 

Total revenues

 

603,020

 

629,619

 

1,624,794

 

1,997,317

 

1,966,569

 

2,446,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

313,207

 

401,521

 

903,100

 

1,405,243

 

1,099,743

 

1,715,584

 

Other

 

66,714

 

49,117

 

123,348

 

80,211

 

138,460

 

93,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

223,099

 

178,981

 

598,346

 

511,863

 

728,366

 

638,142

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense (including $126 of severance charges for the twelve months ended April 30, 2013, and $277, $500 and $500 for the three, nine and twelve months ended April 30, 2012, respectively)

 

107,188

 

95,822

 

309,221

 

298,974

 

409,227

 

399,620

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,896

 

21,123

 

62,522

 

62,839

 

83,524

 

84,930

 

General and administrative expense (including $166 of severance charges for the twelve months ended April 30, 2013, and $113, $263 and $263 for the three, nine and twelve months ended April 30, 2012, respectively)

 

13,432

 

8,963

 

32,396

 

28,671

 

40,841

 

41,560

 

Equipment lease expense

 

4,098

 

3,789

 

11,848

 

10,846

 

15,650

 

14,439

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,824

 

2,203

 

12,673

 

6,719

 

15,394

 

8,909

 

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

 

2,222

 

385

 

8,434

 

4,867

 

12,410

 

4,646

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

3,337

 

1,220

 

5,728

 

2,052

 

9,711

 

4,851

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

69,102

 

45,476

 

155,524

 

96,895

 

141,609

 

79,187

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(22,084

)

(23,471

)

(67,138

)

(70,904

)

(89,488

)

(94,584

)

Other income, net

 

185

 

201

 

517

 

248

 

775

 

306

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

47,203

 

22,206

 

88,903

 

26,239

 

52,896

 

(15,091

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

2,023

 

1,144

 

2,676

 

1,285

 

2,519

 

1,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

45,180

 

21,062

 

86,227

 

24,954

 

50,377

 

(16,329

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest (a)

 

499

 

255

 

997

 

377

 

676

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

44,681

 

20,807

 

85,230

 

24,577

 

49,701

 

(16,330

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

447

 

208

 

852

 

246

 

497

 

(163

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings (loss)

 

$

44,234

 

$

20,599

 

$

84,378

 

$

24,331

 

$

49,204

 

$

(16,167

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) Per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.26

 

$

1.07

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.62

 

$

(0.21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding

 

79,054.4

 

78,960.0

 

79,027.5

 

77,095.8

 

79,018.5

 

76,797.1

 

 



 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

April 30

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

44,681

 

$

20,807

 

$

85,230

 

$

24,577

 

$

49,701

 

$

(16,330

)

Income tax expense

 

2,023

 

1,144

 

2,676

 

1,285

 

2,519

 

1,238

 

Interest expense

 

22,084

 

23,471

 

67,138

 

70,904

 

89,488

 

94,584

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,896

 

21,123

 

62,522

 

62,839

 

83,524

 

84,930

 

EBITDA

 

89,684

 

66,545

 

217,566

 

159,605

 

225,232

 

164,422

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,824

 

2,203

 

12,673

 

6,719

 

15,394

 

8,909

 

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

 

2,222

 

385

 

8,434

 

4,867

 

12,410

 

4,646

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

3,337

 

1,220

 

5,728

 

2,052

 

9,711

 

4,851

 

Other income, net

 

(185

)

(201

)

(517

)

(248

)

(775

)

(306

)

Severance costs

 

 

390

 

 

763

 

292

 

763

 

Nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees

 

113

 

 

1,338

 

892

 

1,338

 

1,879

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

499

 

255

 

997

 

377

 

676

 

1

 

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

98,494

 

70,797

 

246,219

 

175,027

 

264,278

 

185,165

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(20,631

)

(22,018

)

(62,829

)

(66,773

)

(83,656

)

(88,733

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(3,466

)

(2,680

)

(10,996

)

(11,518

)

(15,522

)

(15,034

)

Cash paid for taxes

 

(43

)

(10

)

(88

)

(100

)

(752

)

(657

)

Proceeds from asset sales

 

1,850

 

1,940

 

8,013

 

4,314

 

9,441

 

6,035

 

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)

 

$

76,204

 

$

48,029

 

$

180,319

 

$

100,950

 

$

173,789

 

$

86,776

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

196,009

 

167,462

 

542,688

 

524,287

 

637,719

 

619,898

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

71,113

 

58,421

 

202,396

 

202,971

 

258,237

 

257,873

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

267,122

 

225,883

 

745,084

 

727,258

 

895,956

 

877,771

 

 


(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

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Operating expense

 

$

422

 

$

112

 

$

1,726

 

$

1,952

 

$

2,521

 

$

1,877

 

General and administrative expense

 

1,800

 

273

 

6,708

 

2,915

 

9,889

 

2,769

 

Total

 

$

2,222

 

$

385

 

$

8,434

 

$

4,867

 

$

12,410

 

$

4,646

 

 


(c)  Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, 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, serverance costs, nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees and net earnings 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 inaccordance with GAAP.

(d)  Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income, 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.

 



 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30, 2013

 

July 31, 2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

12,260

 

$

8,429

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $183,957 and $121,812 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

198,188

 

124,004

 

Inventories

 

107,210

 

127,598

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

23,384

 

29,315

 

Total Current Assets

 

341,042

 

289,346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

604,716

 

626,551

 

Goodwill

 

253,286

 

248,944

 

Intangible assets, net

 

195,191

 

189,118

 

Other assets, net

 

46,391

 

43,320

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,440,626

 

$

1,397,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

70,285

 

$

47,824

 

Short-term borrowings

 

21,450

 

95,730

 

Collateralized note payable

 

116,000

 

74,000

 

Other current liabilities

 

123,456

 

122,667

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

331,191

 

340,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

1,106,669

 

1,059,085

 

Other liabilities

 

31,727

 

25,499

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (79,070,819 and 79,006,619 units outstanding at April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

31,047

 

43,701

 

General partner unitholder (798,695 and 798,047 units outstanding at April 30, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

(59,757

)

(59,630

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(1,841

)

(13,159

)

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Deficit

 

(30,551

)

(29,088

)

Noncontrolling Interest

 

1,590

 

1,562

 

Total Partners’ Deficit

 

(28,961

)

(27,526

)

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Deficit

 

$

1,440,626

 

$

1,397,279

 

 


(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.