EX-99.1 2 h40218exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
For immediate release
Contact:
Ryan VanWinkle, Investor Relations, 913-661-1528
Scott Brockelmeyer, Media Relations, 913-661-1830
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Announces Record Fiscal 2006 Results
     Overland Park, KS (October 12, 2006)—Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the nation’s largest propane distributors, today reported record Adjusted EBITDA results for the year ended July 31, 2006.
     “We are proud to deliver these significantly improved financial results to our investors this fiscal year,” said James E. Ferrell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our record Adjusted EBITDA results were achieved, in large part, by enhanced capabilities afforded us through our new operating system, which helped to improve margins, reduce propane distribution expenses and greatly improve customer service.”
     Fiscal 2006 earnings from continuing operations of $25.0 million improved by more than $40 million and Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was a record $215.9 million, improving by more than 20% or $36.1 million, each as compared to the prior year results.
     Gross profit for the fiscal year was a record $663.8 million, a $50.0 million increase as compared to $613.8 million achieved in fiscal 2005, reflecting improved margins resulting from enhanced pricing controls made available by the new retail operating platform. Propane sales for the fiscal year were 809 million gallons compared to 898 million gallons sold in fiscal 2005, as nationwide temperatures were 11% warmer than normal and customers continued to conserve usage with elevated wholesale propane prices that on average were up more than 25% compared to fiscal 2005.
     Operating and general and administrative expenses for the fiscal year were $374.8 million and $47.7 million, respectively, compared to $366.2 million and $42.3 million, respectively, as savings achieved from the new operating platform were offset by increased variable expenses, including the continued growth in tank exchange sales volumes, added vehicle fuel costs, and higher performance-based incentive compensation. Fiscal 2006 equipment lease expense was $27.3 million, compared to $25.5 in fiscal 2005, primarily reflecting the addition of leased equipment related to the

 


 

partnership’s technology initiative. Interest expense for the fiscal year was $84.2 million, down from $91.5 million in fiscal 2005.
     “Our operations performed exceptionally well in fiscal 2006 despite the significant impacts that warmer weather and high commodity prices had on our industry,” said Steve Wambold, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our significant improvement in earnings and operations this year should give investors confidence that we have built a strong foundation to support our anticipated future growth.”
     For the fourth quarter, propane sales volumes and gross profit were 127 million gallons and $121.1 million, respectively. Operating and general and administrative expenses were $92.9 million and $12.9 million, respectively. Interest expense and equipment lease expense were $21.3 million and $6.6 million, respectively. These results produced an expected Adjusted EBITDA of $8.9 million and a seasonal net loss of $38.2 million for the fourth fiscal quarter.
     Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., serves more than one million customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own more than 20 million common units of the partnership through an employee stock ownership plan.
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, 2006, and other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
                 
ASSETS   July 31, 2006     July 31, 2005  
 
               
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,525     $ 20,505  
Accounts and notes receivable, net
    116,369       107,778  
Inventories
    154,613       97,743  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    15,334       12,861  
 
           
Total Current Assets
    302,841       238,887  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    740,101       766,765  
Goodwill
    246,050       234,142  
Intangible assets, net
    248,546       255,277  
Other assets, net
    11,962       13,902  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 1,549,500     $ 1,508,973  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
               
 
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 128,049     $ 108,667  
Short term borrowings
    52,647       19,800  
Other current liabilities (a)
    94,901       71,535  
 
           
Total Current Liabilities
    275,597       200,002  
 
               
Long-term debt (a)
    983,545       948,977  
Other liabilities
    19,178       20,165  
Contingencies and commitments
           
Minority interest
    5,435       6,151  
 
               
Partners’ Capital:
               
Common unitholders (60,885,784 and 60,134,054 units outstanding at 2006 and 2005, respectively)
    321,194       390,422  
General partner unitholder (615,008 and 607,415 units outstanding at 2006 and 2005, respectively)
    (56,829 )     (56,132 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,380       (612 )
 
           
Total Partners’ Capital
    265,745       333,678  
 
           
Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital
  $ 1,549,500     $ 1,508,973  
 
           
 
(a)   The principal difference between the Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. balance sheet and that of Ferrellgas, L.P., is $268 million of 8 3/4% notes and related accrued interest 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 AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 2006 AND 2005
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three months ended     Twelve months ended  
    July 31,     July 31,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Revenues:
                               
Propane and other gas liquids sales
  $ 297,309     $ 261,908     $ 1,697,940     $ 1,592,325  
Other
    33,969       34,442       197,530       161,789  
 
                       
Total revenues
    331,278       296,350       1,895,470       1,754,114  
 
                               
Cost of product sold:
                               
Propane and other gas liquids sales
    189,551       170,314       1,109,177       1,052,005  
Other
    20,662       19,777       122,450       88,293  
 
                       
 
                               
Gross profit
    121,065       106,259       663,843       613,816  
 
                               
Operating expense
    92,949       86,864       374,843       366,192  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    21,089       21,509       84,953       83,060  
General and administrative expense
    12,896       10,664       47,689       42,342  
Equipment lease expense
    6,597       6,821       27,320       25,495  
Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
    2,756       3,814       10,277       12,266  
Loss on disposal of assets and other
    2,021       4,070       7,539       8,673  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income (loss)
    (17,243 )     (27,483 )     111,222       75,788  
 
                               
Interest expense
    (21,342 )     (22,848 )     (84,235 )     (91,518 )
Interest income
    581       368       2,046       1,894  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, minority interest, and discontinued operations
    (38,004 )     (49,963 )     29,033       (13,836 )
 
                               
Income tax expense
    553       879       3,524       1,447  
Minority interest (a)
    (329 )     (452 )     500       92  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations
    (38,228 )     (50,390 )     25,009       (15,375 )
 
                               
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of minority interest
          97,027             104,189  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings (loss)
    (38,228 )     46,637       25,009       88,814  
 
                               
Distributions to senior unitholder
          1,323             7,305  
Net earnings (loss) available to general partner
    (382 )     3,146       250       815  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings (loss) available to common unitholders
  $ (37,846 )   $ 42,168     $ 24,759     $ 80,694  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings per common unit:
                               
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations available to common unitholders before discontinued operations (b)
  $ (0.62 )   $ (0.91 )   $ 0.41     $ (0.41 )
Earnings from discontinued operations
          1.66             1.91  
 
                       
Net earnings (loss) available to common unitholders (c)
  $ (0.62 )   $ 0.75     $ 0.41     $ 1.50  
 
                       
Weighted average common units outstanding
    60,795.4       56,460.5       60,459.5       53,945.4  

 


 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
                                 
    Three months ended     Twelve months ended  
    July 31,     July 31,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Propane gallons (d)
    127,005       130,053       808,890       897,606  
 
                       
 
                               
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (38,228 )   $ 46,637     $ 25,009     $ 88,814  
Income tax expense
    553       879       3,524       1,447  
Interest expense
    21,342       22,848       84,235       91,518  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    21,089       21,509       84,953       83,060  
Interest income
    (581 )     (368 )     (2,046 )     (1,894 )
 
                       
EBITDA
    4,175       91,505       195,675       262,945  
Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
    2,756       3,814       10,277       12,266  
Unit and stock-based compensation charge (e)
    282             1,863        
Loss on disposal of assets and other
    2,021       4,070       7,539       8,673  
Minority interest (a)
    (329 )     (452 )     500       92  
Non-cash charges related to discontinued operations(f)
          270             1,236  
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of minority interest
          (96,021 )           (96,021 )
 
                       
Adjusted EBITDA (g)
    8,905       3,186       215,854       189,191  
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations
          (1,276 )           (9,404 )
 
                       
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations
    8,905       1,910       215,854       179,787  
Net cash interest expense (h)
    (21,432 )     (22,628 )     (85,769 )     (89,543 )
Maintenance capital expenditures (i)
    (3,545 )     (2,591 )     (13,003 )     (17,326 )
 
                       
Distributable cash flow to equity investors (j)
  $ (16,072 )   $ (23,309 )   $ 117,082     $ 72,918  
 
                       
 
(a)   Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.
 
(b)   Amount calculated as 99% of the earnings (loss) before discontinued operations less distribution to senior unit holder; the result then divided by the weighted average common units outstanding.
 
(c)   Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 03-6 “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share,” requires the calculation of net earnings per limited partner unit for each period presented according to distributions declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings, as if all of the earnings for the period had to be distributed. In periods with undistributed earnings above certain levels, the calculation according to the two-class method results in an increased allocation of undistributed earnings to the general partner and a dilution of earnings to the limited partners. Due to the seasonality of the propane business, the dilution of effect of the EITF 03-6 on net earnings per limited partner unit will typically impact the three months ending January 31. However, the dilutive effect of EITF 03-6 on basic net earnings per common unit was $0.04 for the three months ended July 31, 2005 due to the gain on the sale of the storage and distribution business during July 2005.
 
(d)   Propane gallons includes 0.4 million gallons and 3.8 million gallons for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2005 related to the storage and distribution business sold during July 2005 that were classified as discontinued operations.
 
(e)   Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123( R), “Share-Based Payment” was adopted during the first quarter of fiscal 2006 and requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. Management adopted this standard using the modified prospective application method which resulted in a non-cash compensation charge of $0.1 million and $0.2 million to operating expense and general and administrative expense, respectively, for the three months ended July 31, 2006, and $0.5 million and $1.4 million to operating expense and general and administrative expense, respectively,for the twelve months ended July 31, 2006.
 
(f)   Non-cash earnings related to the storage and distribution business sold during July 2005 that were classified as discontinued operations for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2005.
 
(g)   Management considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a chief measurement of the partnership’s overall economic performance and return on invested capital. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, unit and stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, minority interest, and other non-cash and non-operating charges. 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 are unusual or non-recurring, and makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. In addition, management believes this measure is consistent with the manner in which the partnership’s lenders and investors measure its overall performance and liquidity, including its ability to pay quarterly equity distributions, service its long-term debt and other fixed obligations and to fund its capital expenditures and working capital requirements. 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.
 
(h)   Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and interest income. This amount also includes interest expense related to the accounts receivable securitization facility.
 
(i)   Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment.
 
(j)   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, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures used by other corporations and partnerships.