EX-99.1 2 a09-27136_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, 913-661-1530

Jim Saladin, Media Relations, 913-661-1833

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS REPORTS 17% INCREASE IN FOURTH-QUARTER

ADJUSTED EBITDA; FULL-YEAR ADJUSTED EBITDA TOTALS RECORD

$251.1 MILLION, MEETING PARTNERSHIP’S PREVIOUS GUIDANCE

 

OVERLAND PARK, KAN., September 28, 2009/PR Newswire-First Call — Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the largest distributors of propane, today reported that Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal fourth quarter ended July 31 increased 17% to $12.2 million from $10.4 million in the year-earlier quarter.  The lower seasonal loss in the fiscal quarter primarily reflects a 7% increase in total propane sales volumes, that improved the seasonal loss to $35.1 million, or $0.51 per unit, from $38.8 million, or $0.61 per unit, the year before.

 

For the full year, the partnership reported record Adjusted EBITDA of $251.1 million, in line with the partnership’s guidance of “in the range of $250 million,” representing a 13% increase over $221.9 million in fiscal 2008.  The previous record Adjusted EBITDA had been $237.1 million in fiscal 2007.  Net income for the fiscal year more than doubled to $52.6 million, or $0.79 per unit, from $24.7 million, or $0.39 per unit the year before.

 

Chief Executive Officer and President Steve Wambold commented, “We are very pleased with the fourth-quarter and full-year results.  Our dedicated focus to our strategic plan of disciplined growth and cost containment played a significant role in this year’s performance.”  Wambold further observed, “The most impressive fourth-quarter metric was an increase of nearly 8% in retail propane sales, while our major competitors posted lower sales volumes.”  He added, “For the full year total propane sales were up more than 4% to 874.8 million gallons, while retail sales were practically unchanged, again outperforming the industry.”

 

Wambold concluded by noting, “With our focus toward growth, our management team remained committed to improved efficiency by keeping a tight rein on costs.  Most notably, for the full year general and administrative expense declined more than 9%, while equipment lease expense decreased nearly 25%.”

 

-more-

 



 

During fiscal 2009, revenues were down 9.7% to $2.07 billion.  However, the cost of product sold slipped 16.5%, with gross profit up more than 7% or $0.02 per propane gallon sold.

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ryan VanWinkle noted, “In addition to the record financial results, the partnership successfully addressed its near- to mid-term capital structure through the refinancing of a $400 million working capital credit facility due 2012 and the issuance of $300 million of long-term debt due 2017.  With these financings and the application of the proceeds, Ferrellgas will not only have addressed all its outstanding debt maturities through 2011 but also increased its liquidity to finance its ongoing business strategies.”  VanWinkle went on to say, “We are very pleased with our recent acquisition of Vanson, LLC, the fifth retail acquisition since fiscal 2008, as it demonstrates our continued focus on supplementing our organic growth initiative through acquisition.”

 

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 more than 20 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, 2009, 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)

 

 

 

July 31, 2009

 

July 31, 2008

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7,066

 

$

16,614

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

106,910

 

145,081

 

Inventories

 

129,808

 

152,301

 

Price risk management assets

 

3,391

 

26,086

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

11,640

 

10,924

 

Total Current Assets

 

258,815

 

351,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

666,535

 

685,328

 

Goodwill

 

248,939

 

248,939

 

Intangible assets, net

 

212,037

 

225,273

 

Other assets, net

 

18,651

 

18,685

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,404,977

 

$

1,529,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

49,337

 

$

71,348

 

Short term borrowings

 

66,159

 

125,729

 

Other current liabilities (a)

 

108,763

 

107,854

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

224,259

 

304,931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

1,010,073

 

1,034,719

 

Other liabilities

 

19,300

 

23,237

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

Minority interest

 

4,272

 

4,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (68,236,755 and 62,961,674 units outstanding at 2009 and 2008, respectively)

 

206,255

 

201,618

 

General partner unitholder (689,260 and 635,977 units outstanding at 2009 and 2008, respectively)

 

(57,988

)

(58,036

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

(1,194

)

18,542

 

Total Partners’ Capital

 

147,073

 

162,124

 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

$

1,404,977

 

$

1,529,231

 

 


(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 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, 2009 AND 2008

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended July
31,

 

Twelve months ended July
31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

283,379

 

$

390,547

 

$

1,829,653

 

$

2,055,281

 

Other

 

29,311

 

29,168

 

239,869

 

235,408

 

Total revenues

 

312,690

 

419,715

 

2,069,522

 

2,290,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

165,215

 

279,500

 

1,207,368

 

1,491,918

 

Other

 

16,700

 

15,246

 

152,853

 

136,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

130,775

 

124,969

 

709,301

 

662,293

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense

 

103,815

 

97,250

 

400,735

 

372,078

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,324

 

21,638

 

82,494

 

85,521

 

General and administrative expense

 

12,015

 

11,757

 

41,382

 

45,612

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,988

 

5,994

 

18,406

 

24,478

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

1,890

 

2,720

 

6,755

 

12,413

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

4,118

 

2,521

 

13,042

 

11,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(15,375

)

(16,911

)

146,487

 

110,941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(20,429

)

(20,361

)

(89,519

)

(86,712

)

Other income (expense), net

 

30

 

(309

)

(1,321

)

1,039

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes and minority interest

 

(35,774

)

(37,581

)

55,647

 

25,268

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit) - current

 

(405

)

1,132

 

1,904

 

1,732

 

Income tax expense (benefit) - deferred (g)

 

(16

)

402

 

388

 

(1,650

)

Minority interest (a)

 

(296

)

(335

)

783

 

497

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(35,057

)

(38,780

)

52,572

 

24,689

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) available to general partner unitholder

 

(350

)

(388

)

526

 

247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) available to common unitholders

 

$

(34,707

)

$

(38,392

)

$

52,046

 

$

24,442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common unit available to common unitholders

 

$

(0.51

)

$

(0.61

)

$

0.79

 

$

0.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding

 

68,183.2

 

62,961.7

 

65,540.7

 

62,959.5

 

 



 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended July
31,

 

Twelve months ended July
31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

(35,057

)

$

(38,780

)

$

52,572

 

$

24,689

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(421

)

1,534

 

2,292

 

82

 

Interest expense

 

20,429

 

20,361

 

89,519

 

86,712

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,324

 

21,638

 

82,494

 

85,521

 

Other income (expense), net

 

(30

)

309

 

1,321

 

(1,039

)

EBITDA

 

5,245

 

5,062

 

228,198

 

195,965

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

1,890

 

2,720

 

6,755

 

12,413

 

Unit and stock-based compensation charge (b)

 

1,203

 

433

 

2,312

 

1,816

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

4,118

 

2,521

 

13,042

 

11,250

 

Minority interest

 

(296

)

(335

)

783

 

497

 

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

12,160

 

10,401

 

251,090

 

221,941

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(20,439

)

(21,585

)

(88,915

)

(89,781

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(4,439

)

(5,536

)

(21,766

)

(20,594

)

Cash paid for taxes

 

(643

)

(2,514

)

(1,512

)

(3,841

)

Proceeds from asset sales

 

1,321

 

2,209

 

8,199

 

10,874

 

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)

 

$

(12,040

)

$

(17,025

)

$

147,096

 

$

118,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

96,710

 

89,585

 

652,788

 

656,832

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

52,745

 

50,603

 

222,038

 

182,015

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

149,455

 

140,188

 

874,826

 

838,847

 

 


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

(b)        Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123( R), “Share-Based Payment” requires that the cost resulting from all share-based  payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. Share-based payment transactions resulted in a non-cash compensation charge of $0.5 million and $0.1 million to operating expense for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $0.9 million and $0.5 million to operating expense for the twelve months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. A non-cash charge of $0.7 million and $0.3 million was recorded to general and administrative expense for the three months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  A non-cash charge of $1.4 million and $1.3 million was recorded to general and administrative expense for the twelve months ended July 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(c)         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 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.

(d)        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.

(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.

(g)        During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 the governor of the state of Michigan signed into law a new Michigan Business Tax.  The passing of this new tax law caused Ferrellgas to recognize a one time deferred tax expense of $2.8 million during fiscal 2007. During fiscal 2008 a credit for this deferred tax expense was created by a new Michigan tax law.  The passing of this new tax law caused Ferrellgas to recognize a one time deferred tax credit during fiscal 2008.