EX-99.1 2 tm1924615d1_ex99-1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

 

·Gross Profit increased by $10.4 million, or 7.2 percent, compared to the prior year period as a result of a 3 percent increase in retail customers and a 4 percent increase in tank exchange selling locations combined with a 4.2¢ increase in margin cpg.
·Propane sales volume for the quarter increased 1.3 million gallons despite weather that was 4 percent warmer than the prior year as a result of the growth in customer count.
·Successfully completed two accretive retail acquisitions during the quarter.

 

OVERLAND PARK, KS., December 6, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its first quarter ended October 31, 2019.

 

For the quarter, the Company reported a net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $45.3 million, or $0.46 per common unit, compared to prior year period net loss of $57.0 million, or $0.58 per common unit. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, for the quarter was $25.1 million compared to $17.8 million in the prior year’s first quarter, a 41 percent increase.

 

The Company’s propane operations reported that total gallons sold for the quarter were 179.9 million, up from 178.6 million gallons in the prior year. Margin cents per gallon were 4.2¢, or 5.7 percent higher than the prior year despite increased competitive pressures in the tank exchange business. The Company continues its aggressive operating strategies in gaining market share. This strategic focus resulted in over 18,000 new customers, or approximately 3 percent more than prior year. Additionally, the Company’s current Blue Rhino tank exchange sales locations have increased over 4 percent from prior year to over 55,900 locations. Continued commitment to operating expense control during this growth period resulted in a $14.1 million increase in Operating Income despite a mere $4.2 million increase, or 3.8 percent, in operating expenses during the quarter.

 

The Company also successfully completed two accretive retail acquisitions in Colorado and New York during the quarter.

 

As previously announced, the Company indefinitely suspended its quarterly cash distribution as a result of not meeting the required fixed charge coverage ratio contained in the senior unsecured notes due June of 2020. Additionally, Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in our ongoing process to address our upcoming debt maturities. The Company does not intend to comment further on its progress in this regard or on potential options until further disclosure is appropriate or required by law.  For that reason, and in view of the information the Company otherwise makes available in earnings releases and quarterly and annual reports, the Company has suspended the practice of holding conference calls with investors, analysts and other interested parties in connection with periodic reporting of financial results for completed periods.

 

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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 October 15, 2019. 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, 2019, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contacts

 

Investor Relations – InvestorRelations@ferrellgas.com

 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

  October 31, 2019   July 31, 2019 
ASSETS        
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $29,805   $11,054 
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $118,164 and $106,145 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at October 31, 2019 and July 31, 2019, respectively)   123,841    107,596 
Inventories   84,995    80,454 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   50,582    42,275 
Total Current Assets   289,223    241,379 
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   598,887    596,723 
Goodwill, net   247,195    247,195 
Intangible assets, net   108,493    108,557 
Operating lease right-of-use asset   124,047    - 
Other assets, net   75,443    69,105 
Total Assets  $1,443,288   $1,262,959 
           
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT          
           
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $44,421   $33,364 
Short-term borrowings   80,000    43,000 
Collateralized note payable   73,000    62,000 
Current portion of long-term debt (a)   358,080    631,756 
Current operating lease liabilities   33,832    - 
Other current liabilities   187,731    138,237 
Total Current Liabilities   777,064    908,357 
           
Long-term debt   1,731,920    1,457,004 
Operating lease liabilities   88,773    - 
Other liabilities   36,915    36,536 
Contingencies and commitments          
           
Partners' Deficit:          
Common unitholders (97,152,665 units outstanding at October 31, 2019 and July 31, 2019)   (1,091,704)   (1,046,245)
General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at October 31, 2019 and July 31, 2019)   (70,935)   (70,476)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (20,598)   (14,512)
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners' Deficit   (1,183,237)   (1,131,233)
Noncontrolling interest   (8,147)   (7,705)
Total Partners' Deficit   (1,191,384)   (1,138,938)
Total Liabilities and Partners' Deficit  $1,443,288   $1,262,959 

 

(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 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Revenues:                
Propane and other gas liquids sales  $273,385   $334,966   $1,547,277   $1,675,184 
Midstream operations   -    -    -    161,559 
Other   19,829    17,343    78,020    134,053 
Total revenues   293,214    352,309    1,625,297    1,970,796 
                     
Cost of sales:                    
Propane and other gas liquids sales   134,028    204,136    832,408    998,035 
Midstream operations   -    -    -    147,434 
Other   3,681    3,047    12,040    57,999 
                     
Gross profit   155,505    145,126    780,849    767,328 
                     
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant & other   114,543    110,331    473,080    471,617 
Depreciation and amortization expense   19,219    18,992    79,073    95,055 
General and administrative expense   9,695    14,179    55,510    55,416 
Operating expense - equipment lease expense   8,388    7,863    33,598    29,394 
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge   795    2,748    3,740    12,645 
Asset impairments   -    -    -    10,005 
Loss on asset sales and disposals   2,235    4,504    8,699    191,008 
                     
Operating income (loss)   630    (13,491)   127,149    (97,812)
                     
Interest expense   (45,697)   (43,878)   (179,438)   (171,538)
Other income (expense), net   (132)   19    218    436 
                     
Loss before income taxes   (45,199)   (57,350)   (52,071)   (268,914)
                     
Income tax expense (benefit)   518    158    683    (2,897)
                     
Net loss   (45,717)   (57,508)   (52,754)   (266,017)
                     
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)   (373)   (493)   (178)   (2,336)
                     
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.   (45,344)   (57,015)   (52,576)   (263,681)
                     
Less: General partner's interest in net loss   (453)   (570)   (525)   (2,637)
                     
Common unitholders' interest in net loss  $(44,891)  $(56,445)  $(52,051)  $(261,044)
                     
Loss Per Common Unit                    
Basic and diluted net earnings loss per common unitholders' interest  $(0.46)  $(0.58)  $(0.54)  $(2.69)
                     
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic   97,152.7    97,152.7    97,152.7    97,152.7 

 

 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

   Three months ended   Twelve months ended 
   October 31   October 31 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.  $(45,344)  $(57,015)  $(52,576)  $(263,681)
Income tax expense (benefit)   518    158    683    (2,897)
Interest expense   45,697    43,878    179,438    171,538 
Depreciation and amortization expense   19,219    18,992    79,073    95,055 
EBITDA   20,090    6,013    206,618    15 
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge   795    2,748    3,740    12,645 
Asset impairments   -    -    -    10,005 
Loss on asset sales and disposal   2,235    4,504    8,699    191,008 
Other income (expense), net   132    (19)   (218)   (436)
Severance expense includes $690  in operating expense and $910 in general and administrative expense for the twelve months ended period ending October 31, 2018.   -    -    1,600    - 
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses   2,043    3,564    16,843    9,629 
Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement   -    1,524    -    1,524 
Exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions   -    -    -    11,804 
Unrealized (non-cash) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives $(314) included in midstream operations cost of sales for the twelve months ended October 31, 2018.   -    -    -    (314)
Lease accounting standard adjustment   170         170      
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)   (373)   (493)   (178)   (2,336)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)   25,092    17,841    237,274    233,544 
Net cash interest expense (d)   (42,583)   (40,899)   (166,474)   (163,734)
Maintenance capital expenditures (e)   (6,467)   (5,385)   (47,856)   (24,298)
Cash refund from (paid for) taxes   -    (2)   (139)   295 
Proceeds from certain asset sales   835    1,061    4,023    9,056 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors (f)   (23,123)   (27,384)   26,828    54,863 
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest   (462)   (548)   537    1,097 
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders (g)   (22,661)   (26,836)   26,291    53,766 
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders   -    9,715    -    38,861 
Distributable cash flow excess/(shortage)  $(22,661)  $(36,551)  $26,291   $14,905 
                     
Propane gallons sales                    
Retail - Sales to End Users   129,901    129,667    672,500    647,341 
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers   50,039    48,960    233,645    235,741 
Total propane gallons sales   179,940    178,627    906,145    883,082 

 

(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, asset impairments, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income (expense), net, severance expense, legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses, multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement, exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions, unrealized (non-cash) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives, lease accounting standard adjustment 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 paid 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 unit holders 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 .