EX-99.1 2 a09-34838_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS REPORTS STRONG FIRST-QUARTER ADJUSTED EBITDA; PROPANE GALLON SALES GROW MORE THAN 4%

 

OVERLAND PARK, KAN., December 10, 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 first quarter ended October 31 was $33.3 million compared to the exceptionally strong, year-earlier record of $35.2 million.  Moreover, the partnership noted that results in this year’s quarter were ahead of plan.

 

The seasonal net loss for the first quarter, adversely affected by one-time charges for debt prepayment premiums, was $32.9 million, or $0.47 per unit, compared with $15.0 million, or $0.23 per unit a year ago.  However, excluding these one-time charges, the net loss for this year’s quarter was $15.6 million, or $0.22 per unit.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Wambold explained, “The most significant performance in the first quarter was the ongoing momentum of propane sales which increased 4.3% to 179.5 million gallons, again primarily reflecting organic growth.”  Wambold pointed out, “More impressive was the 4.7% gain in retail sales to end users, with strength in our residential sales more than offsetting anticipated weakness in the commercial/industrial consumer base.”

 

Wambold also noted, “We maintained our discipline of keeping a tight rein on costs, as operating expense, despite higher propane volume, remained practically unchanged, reducing our operating expense per gallon.  In addition, equipment lease expense declined nearly 30%.”  Wambold further explained, “The first quarter’s general and administrative expense of $13.8 million reflects a $2.8 million non-cash stock option issuance charge from our parent company.  As this is not a cash obligation of the partnership it is not reflected in our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and we anticipate G&A expense for the remainder of the fiscal year to return to a more normal pattern.”

 

During the first quarter, revenues, as expected, declined, to $352.1 million from $480.9 million a year ago reflecting lower wholesale propane costs.  However, gross profit for the quarter was practically unchanged.

 

-more-

 



 

Turning to the near-term outlook, Wambold observed, “It’s too early to forecast results for the second quarter, but so far agricultural sales are well ahead of the year-ago pace and we are encouraged to see the first signs of winter weather across the country.”  He concluded, “We remain focused on executing our strategies and are confident there is potential for growth organically and by 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.

 

Contact:

Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, (913) 661-1530

Jim Saladin, Media Relations, (913) 661-1833

 

# # #

 



 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

October 31, 2009

 

July 31, 2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

10,177

 

$

7,066

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

117,654

 

106,910

 

Inventories

 

158,168

 

129,808

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

30,168

 

15,031

 

Total Current Assets

 

316,167

 

258,815

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

678,880

 

666,535

 

Goodwill

 

248,939

 

248,939

 

Intangible assets, net

 

238,295

 

212,037

 

Other assets, net

 

26,078

 

18,651

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,508,359

 

$

1,404,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

79,239

 

$

49,337

 

Short term borrowings

 

107,055

 

66,159

 

Other current liabilities (a)

 

118,978

 

108,763

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

305,272

 

224,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

1,064,714

 

1,010,073

 

Other liabilities

 

19,502

 

19,300

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (69,450,318 and 68,236,755 units outstanding at October 31, 2009 and July 31, 2009, respectively)

 

167,500

 

206,255

 

General partner unitholder (701,518 and 689,260 units outstanding at October 31, 2009 and July 31, 2009, respectively)

 

(58,380

)

(57,988

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

5,749

 

(1,194

)

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Capital

 

114,869

 

147,073

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

4,002

 

4,272

 

Total Partners’ Capital

 

118,871

 

151,345

 

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital

 

$

1,508,359

 

$

1,404,977

 

 


(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 OCTOBER 31, 2009 AND 2008

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

327,666

 

$

436,888

 

$

1,720,431

 

$

2,133,234

 

Other

 

24,404

 

44,031

 

220,242

 

243,458

 

Total revenues

 

352,070

 

480,919

 

1,940,673

 

2,376,692

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

200,920

 

318,590

 

1,089,698

 

1,557,989

 

Other

 

6,180

 

16,814

 

142,219

 

142,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

144,970

 

145,515

 

708,756

 

676,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense

 

96,890

 

96,217

 

401,408

 

377,836

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,527

 

21,316

 

81,705

 

85,472

 

General and administrative expense

 

13,778

 

9,086

 

46,074

 

42,905

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,774

 

5,355

 

16,825

 

23,482

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,002

 

1,749

 

7,008

 

10,988

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

1,662

 

2,582

 

12,122

 

11,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

6,337

 

9,210

 

143,614

 

124,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(22,695

)

(23,670

)

(88,544

)

(88,096

)

Debt prepayment premiums

 

(17,308

)

 

(17,308

)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

307

 

(818

)

(196

)

(596

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

(33,359

)

(15,278

)

37,566

 

35,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit) - current

 

(612

)

(269

)

1,561

 

1,774

 

Income tax expense (benefit) - deferred

 

190

 

(32

)

610

 

495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(32,937

)

(14,977

)

35,395

 

33,282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

(272

)

(90

)

601

 

580

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

(32,665

)

(14,887

)

34,794

 

32,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

(327

)

(149

)

348

 

327

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings (loss)

 

$

(32,338

)

$

(14,738

)

$

34,446

 

$

32,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) Per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) available per common unit

 

$

(0.47

)

$

(0.23

)

$

0.51

 

$

0.51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding

 

68,507.9

 

63,052.0

 

66,915.9

 

62,999.3

 

 



 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

(32,665

)

$

(14,887

)

$

34,794

 

$

32,702

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(422

)

(301

)

2,171

 

2,269

 

Interest expense

 

22,695

 

23,670

 

88,544

 

88,096

 

Debt prepayment premiums

 

17,308

 

 

17,308

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,527

 

21,316

 

81,705

 

85,472

 

Other income (expense), net

 

(307

)

818

 

196

 

596

 

EBITDA

 

27,136

 

30,616

 

224,718

 

209,135

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,002

 

1,749

 

7,008

 

10,988

 

Unit and stock-based compensation charge (b)

 

2,751

 

328

 

4,735

 

1,694

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

1,662

 

2,582

 

12,122

 

11,445

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(272

)

(90

)

601

 

580

 

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

33,279

 

35,185

 

249,184

 

233,842

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(21,324

)

(23,759

)

(86,480

)

(91,557

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(10,113

)

(5,026

)

(26,853

)

(22,496

)

Cash paid for taxes

 

 

(8

)

(1,504

)

(2,638

)

Proceeds from asset sales

 

1,933

 

2,318

 

7,814

 

10,254

 

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)

 

$

3,775

 

$

8,710

 

$

142,161

 

$

127,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

132,474

 

126,533

 

658,729

 

664,190

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

47,074

 

45,676

 

223,436

 

190,983

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

179,548

 

172,209

 

882,165

 

855,173

 

 


(a)

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

(b)

FASB guidance relating to stock compensation 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 $0.8 million and $0.1 million to operating expense for the three months ended October 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $1.5 million and $0.5 million to operating expense for the twelve months ending October 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. A non-cash compensation charge of $2.0 million and $0.2 million was recorded to general and administrative expense for the three months ended October 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $3.2 million and $1.2 million to general and administrative expense for the twelve months ending October 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, noncontrolling 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 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.