Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - FERRELLGAS PARTNERS L Pa18-41108_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2019 Results

 

·                  Total Retail propane sales volume for the quarter increased approximately nine percent leading to a 15 percent increase in gross margin dollars over the prior year

·                  Retail customer growth of approximately 24,500, or four percent over prior year

·                  Tank Exchange sale locations now exceed 53,800, up 12 percent compared to prior year.

·                  Three accretive acquisitions of Blue Rhino independent distributors completed to date this fiscal year.

 

LIBERTY, Mo., December 6, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended October 31, 2018.

 

For the quarter, the Company reported a net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $57.0 million, or $.58 per common unit, compared to prior year period net loss of $47.9 million, or $.49 per common unit.

 

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $17.8 million compared to $26.2 million in the prior year. The following table represents the contribution to adjusted EBITDA from ongoing propane operations as well as from assets that were sold during 2018.

 

(in millions)

 

Q1 2019

 

Q1 2018

 

Propane Operations and Corporate Support

 

$

17.8

 

$

19.0

 

Results from Assets Sold in 2018

 

 

 

7.2

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

17.8

 

$

26.2

 

 

On a trailing twelve month basis, adjusted EBITDA from ongoing propane operations and corporate support as of October 31, 2018 is $226.5 million compared to $227.7 million as of July 31, 2018.

 

The Company’s propane operations reported that total gallons sold increased 5.9 million gallons, or three percent, over prior year. Margins were over two percent higher than the prior year despite increased competitive pressure in the tank exchange business. The Company continues its aggressive approach to gaining market share.  This strategic focus resulted in approximately 24,500 new customers, or approximately four percent more than prior year. Additionally, the Company’s current Blue Rhino tank exchange sales locations have increased over 12 percent from prior year to over 53,800 locations. Overall, the increase in sales volume growth and margins per gallon resulted in an increase in gross margin dollars of $4.4 million.  The Company’s ongoing commitment to investing in the

 


 

business led to higher operating expenses during the quarter which were largely the result of new locations established to be in closer proximity to current and potential customers as the company looks to continue increasing market share and customer density.  As a result of this investment and the growth in sales volumes, operating, general and administractive expenses in our Propane segment were $6.1 million higher than the prior year.

 

Liquidity of $250.1 million at October 31, 2018 resulted from $186.9 million of available borrowing capacity on the Company’s secured credit facility and $63.2 million of cash.

 

“We are extremely pleased with the quarterly results as our strategy to invest in the growth of the business is paying dividends even faster than anticipated,” said James E. Ferrell, Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Ferrellgas.  “We are committed to growing market share organically and through acquisition.  As expected, operating expenses would exceed growth in gross margin dollars leading into the quarter, however, we were able recover those investments almost completely with an extremely strong month of October.  We have momentum leading into the winter heating season with a stronger customer base, larger footprint and committed employee owners.”

 

As previously announced, the Company indefinitely suspended its quarterly cash distribution resulting from a failure to meet the required fixed charge coverage ratio within the senior unsecured notes due 2020.

 

In addition to solidifying the Company’s liquidity with the fourth quarter 2018 closing of the $575 million secured credit facility and extension of its accounts receivable securitization facility and cash from 2018 announced asset sales, the Company is in the process of engaging a financial advisor to assist in evaluating all available options to address its leverage.

 

“Our Company is focused on growth.” said Ferrell.  “We have the liquidity to continue executing on this strategy and I expect that we will resolve our leverage situation in the near future to position our Company for continued success.”

 

About Ferrellgas

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 22.8 million common units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed a Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2018. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com.

 


 

Forward Looking Statements

 

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 include those 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, 2018, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contacts

 

William Ruisinger, Interim Chief Financial Officer — billruisinger@ferrellgas.com 816-792-7914

 


 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

October 31, 2018

 

July 31, 2018

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

63,188

 

$

119,311

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $137,560 and $120,079 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018, respectively)

 

136,189

 

126,054

 

Inventories

 

106,560

 

83,694

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

34,003

 

34,862

 

Total Current Assets

 

339,940

 

363,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

566,078

 

557,723

 

Goodwill, net

 

247,478

 

246,098

 

Intangible assets, net

 

117,452

 

120,951

 

Other assets, net

 

72,842

 

74,588

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,343,790

 

$

1,363,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

59,664

 

$

46,820

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

32,800

 

Collateralized note payable

 

90,000

 

58,000

 

Other current liabilities

 

185,968

 

142,025

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

335,632

 

279,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

2,081,243

 

2,078,637

 

Other liabilities

 

38,654

 

39,476

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (97,152,665 units outstanding at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018)

 

(1,041,971

)

(978,503

)

General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018)

 

(70,433

)

(69,792

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

8,050

 

20,510

 

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Deficit

 

(1,104,354

)

(1,027,785

)

Noncontrolling interest

 

(7,385

)

(6,692

)

Total Partners’ Deficit

 

(1,111,739

)

(1,034,477

)

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Deficit

 

$

1,343,790

 

$

1,363,281

 

 


(a)         The principal difference between the Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. balance sheet and that of Ferrellgas, L.P., is $357 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

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

334,966

 

$

302,758

 

$

1,675,184

 

$

1,378,771

 

Midstream operations

 

 

120,760

 

161,559

 

479,419

 

Other

 

17,343

 

31,137

 

134,053

 

147,200

 

Total revenues

 

352,309

 

454,655

 

1,970,796

 

2,005,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

204,136

 

179,515

 

998,035

 

754,458

 

Midstream operations

 

 

108,125

 

147,434

 

442,922

 

Other

 

3,047

 

13,702

 

57,999

 

69,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

145,126

 

153,313

 

767,328

 

738,787

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense

 

110,331

 

110,462

 

471,617

 

437,221

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

18,992

 

25,732

 

95,055

 

102,881

 

General and administrative expense

 

14,179

 

13,164

 

55,416

 

47,662

 

Equipment lease expense

 

7,863

 

6,741

 

29,394

 

28,516

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,748

 

3,962

 

12,645

 

15,296

 

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge (a)

 

 

 

 

1,417

 

Asset impairments

 

 

 

10,005

 

 

Loss on asset sales and disposals

 

4,504

 

895

 

191,008

 

8,929

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(13,491

)

(7,643

)

(97,812

)

96,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(43,878

)

(40,807

)

(171,538

)

(157,864

)

Other income, net

 

19

 

511

 

436

 

1,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income tax benefit

 

(57,350

)

(47,939

)

(268,914

)

(59,522

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

158

 

377

 

(2,897

)

(176

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

(57,508

)

(48,316

)

(266,017

)

(59,346

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)

 

(493

)

(401

)

(2,336

)

(297

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

(57,015

)

(47,915

)

(263,681

)

(59,049

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner’s interest in net loss

 

(570

)

(479

)

(2,637

)

(590

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net loss

 

$

(56,445

)

$

(47,436

)

$

(261,044

)

$

(58,459

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss Per Common Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per common unitholders’ interest

 

$

(0.58

)

$

(0.49

)

$

(2.69

)

$

(0.60

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding - basic

 

97,152.7

 

97,152.7

 

97,152.7

 

97,443.7

 

 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

$

(57,015

)

$

(47,915

)

$

(263,681

)

$

(59,049

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

158

 

377

 

(2,897

)

(176

)

Interest expense

 

43,878

 

40,807

 

171,538

 

157,864

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

18,992

 

25,732

 

95,055

 

102,881

 

EBITDA

 

6,013

 

19,001

 

15

 

201,520

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,748

 

3,962

 

12,645

 

15,296

 

Non-cash stock based compensation charge (a)

 

 

 

 

1,417

 

Asset impairments

 

 

 

10,005

 

 

Loss on asset sales and disposals

 

4,504

 

895

 

191,008

 

8,929

 

Other income, net

 

(19

)

(511

)

(436

)

(1,477

)

Severance expense $358 included in operating expense for both the three and twelve months ended periods ending October 31, 2017. Also includes $1,305 and $1,795 included in general and administrative expense for the three and twelve months ended October 31, 2017, respectively.

 

 

1,663

 

 

2,153

 

Legal fees and settlements

 

3,564

 

 

9,629

 

 

Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement

 

1,524

 

 

1,524

 

 

Exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions

 

 

 

 

11,804

 

 

 

Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives $(314), and $1,839 included in cost of sales for the twelve months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Also includes in cost of sales $1,607 for the three months ended October 31, 2017. Also includes $(2,120) included in operating expense for the twelve months ended October 31, 2017.

 

 

1,607

 

(314

)

(281

)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)

 

(493

)

(401

)

(2,336

)

(297

)

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

17,841

 

26,216

 

233,544

 

227,260

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(40,899

)

(38,057

)

(163,734

)

(148,027

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(5,385

)

(8,704

)

(24,298

)

(22,317

)

Cash refund from (paid for) taxes

 

(2

)

(6

)

295

 

(315

)

Proceeds from certain asset sales

 

1,061

 

1,208

 

9,056

 

7,440

 

Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors (f)

 

(27,384

)

(19,343

)

54,863

 

64,041

 

Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest

 

(548

)

(387

)

1,097

 

1,281

 

Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders (g)

 

(26,836

)

(18,956

)

53,766

 

62,760

 

Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders

 

9,715

 

9,715

 

38,861

 

38,860

 

Distributable cash flow excess/(shortage)

 

$

(36,551

)

$

(28,671

)

$

14,905

 

$

23,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

129,667

 

119,294

 

647,341

 

572,978

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

48,960

 

53,429

 

235,741

 

227,690

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

178,627

 

172,723

 

883,082

 

800,668

 

 


 


(a)         Non-cash stock-based compensation charges consist of the following:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

2018

 

2017

 

Operating expense

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

567

 

General and administrative expense

 

 

 

 

850

 

Total

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,417

 

 


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

(c)          Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., less the sum of the following: income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, asset impairments, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income, net, severance expense, legal fees and settlements, multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement, exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions, unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives, and net 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 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)           Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus net cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash refund from (paid for) for taxes plus proceeds from certain asset sales. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to equity investors. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(g)          Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors minus distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and noncontrolling interest. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added to our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP .