Exhibit 99.1
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS REPORTS RECORD FOURTH-QUARTER RESULTS;
BALANCED GROSS PROFIT IMPROVEMENT WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE SAVINGS DRIVING PERFORMANCE
OVERLAND PARK, KAN., October 1, 2012/PR Newswire/ — Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the nation’s largest distributors of propane, today reported record fiscal fourth quarter results for the period ended July 31, 2012. The partnership’s Adjusted EBITDA rose 78% to a record $18.1 million from $10.1 million in the year-earlier quarter.
Propane sales increased modestly to 150.9 million gallons from 150.5 million gallons while gross profit increased 3% to a near record $130.0 million, as compared to $126.3 million achieved in the year ago period. The results were achieved despite temperatures in the fiscal quarter that were 38% warmer than experienced in the prior year period.
President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Wambold explained, “Our fourth-quarter results highlight our ongoing efforts to both drive profitable growth and manage expenses in this highly competitive operating environment. We remain committed to driving significant cost savings throughout our operations providing both the opportunity to be more competitive for new business and provide immediate financial returns for investors.” Wambold indicated that the previously announced cost savings goal of $20 million would likely be surpassed by the end of fiscal 2013.
As expected, fourth-quarter revenues declined to $341.8 million from $449.7 million the year before attributable primarily to sharply lower wholesale propane costs. General and administrative expense declined nearly 35% to $8.4 million from $12.9 million the year before while operating expense was practically unchanged at $100.0 million on modestly increased sales volumes. Equipment lease expense rose slightly to $3.8 million from $3.6 million while
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interest expense improved nearly 6% to $22.4 million from $23.7 million. The fourth-quarter seasonal net loss improved to $35.9 million, or $0.45 per common unit from $41.3 million, or $0.53 per common unit in the prior year quarter.
Commenting further on the outlook for fiscal 2013, Wambold noted, “We expect a continuation of our organic gallon growth. In addition, the opportunities for acquisitions seem to be heating up after a lull. Last month Ferrellgas strengthened its presence in California with the acquisition of Capitol City Propane in Sacramento.
For the fiscal year, propane sales volumes declined 2% to 878 million gallons sold despite temperatures that were 18% warmer than experienced in fiscal 2011. Revenues totaled $2.3 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in fiscal 2011 while gross profit declined 7% to $641.9 million on lesser sales volumes and margins. General and administrative decreased 29% to $37.1 million (including a $10.0 million litigation reserve recorded in the prior year quarter) while operating expenses decreased 2% to $399.0 million, matching prior year distribution costs on a cent per gallon sold basis. Equipment lease expense of $14.6 million was materially unchanged from year-ago levels. Interest expense declined more than 8% to $93.3 million. The net loss for the fiscal year improved to $10.9 million, or $0.14 per unit, versus $43.8 million, or $0.60 per unit.
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 21.7 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
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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, 2012, 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
Scott Brockelmeyer, Media Relations, (913) 661-1830
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
| | July 31, 2012 | | July 31, 2011 | |
| | | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Current Assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 8,429 | | $ | 7,437 | |
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $121,812 and $112,509 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively) | | 124,004 | | 159,532 | |
Inventories | | 127,598 | | 136,139 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 29,315 | | 23,885 | |
Total Current Assets | | 289,346 | | 326,993 | |
| | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | | 626,551 | | 642,205 | |
Goodwill | | 248,944 | | 248,944 | |
Intangible assets, net | | 189,118 | | 204,136 | |
Other assets, net | | 43,320 | | 38,308 | |
Total Assets | | $ | 1,397,279 | | $ | 1,460,586 | |
| | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL(DEFICIT) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Current Liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 47,824 | | $ | 67,541 | |
Short-term borrowings | | 95,730 | | 64,927 | |
Collateralized note payable | | 74,000 | | 61,000 | |
Other current liabilities | | 122,667 | | 104,813 | |
Total Current Liabilities | | 340,221 | | 298,281 | |
| | | | | |
Long-term debt (a) | | 1,059,085 | | 1,050,920 | |
Other liabilities | | 25,499 | | 23,068 | |
Contingencies and commitments | | — | | — | |
| | | | | |
Partners’ Capital(Deficit): | | | | | |
Common unitholders (79,006,619 and 75,966,353 units outstanding at July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively) | | 43,701 | | 139,614 | |
General partner unitholder (798,047 and 767,337 units outstanding at July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2011, respectively) | | (59,630 | ) | (58,660 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | (13,159 | ) | 4,633 | |
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Capital(Deficit) | | (29,088 | ) | 85,587 | |
Noncontrolling Interest | | 1,562 | | 2,730 | |
Total Partners’ Capital(Deficit) | | (27,526 | ) | 88,317 | |
Total Liabilities and Partners’ Capital(Deficit) | | $ | 1,397,279 | | $ | 1,460,586 | |
(a) The principal difference between the Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. balance sheet and that of Ferrellgas, L.P., is $182 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
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 2012 AND 2011
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
| | Three months ended | | Twelve months ended | |
| | July 31 | | July 31 | |
| | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2011 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 310,515 | | $ | 421,746 | | $ | 2,160,945 | | $ | 2,212,257 | |
Other | | 31,260 | | 27,912 | | 178,147 | | 210,958 | |
Total revenues | | 341,775 | | 449,658 | | 2,339,092 | | 2,423,215 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cost of product sold: | | | | | | | | | |
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | 196,643 | | 310,341 | | 1,601,886 | | 1,609,344 | |
Other | | 15,112 | | 13,038 | | 95,323 | | 124,470 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | 130,020 | | 126,279 | | 641,883 | | 689,401 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating expense (including $126 and $626 of non-recurring severance charges for the three and twelve month periods ended July 31, 2012, respectively) | | 100,006 | | 100,646 | | 398,980 | | 407,281 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | 21,002 | | 22,091 | | 83,841 | | 82,486 | |
General and administrative expense (including $166 and $429 of non-recurring severance charges for the three and twelve month periods ended July 31, 2012, respectively) | | 8,445 | | 12,889 | | 37,116 | | 52,160 | |
Equipment lease expense | | 3,802 | | 3,593 | | 14,648 | | 14,435 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | | 2,721 | | 2,190 | | 9,440 | | 10,157 | |
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b) | | 3,976 | | (221 | ) | 8,843 | | 13,488 | |
Loss on disposal of assets and other | | 3,983 | | 2,799 | | 6,035 | | 3,633 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss) | | (13,915 | ) | (17,708 | ) | 82,980 | | 105,761 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | | (22,350 | ) | (23,680 | ) | (93,254 | ) | (101,885 | ) |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | — | | — | | — | | (46,962 | ) |
Other income, net | | 258 | | 58 | | 506 | | 567 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income taxes | | (36,007 | ) | (41,330 | ) | (9,768 | ) | (42,519 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | | (157 | ) | (47 | ) | 1,128 | | 1,241 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | (35,850 | ) | (41,283 | ) | (10,896 | ) | (43,760 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (a) | | (321 | ) | (376 | ) | 56 | | (112 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | (35,529 | ) | (40,907 | ) | (10,952 | ) | (43,648 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Less: General partner’s interest in net loss | | (356 | ) | (409 | ) | (110 | ) | (436 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Common unitholders’ interest in net loss | | $ | (35,173 | ) | $ | (40,498 | ) | $ | (10,842 | ) | $ | (43,212 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss Per Unit | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted net loss per common unitholders’ interest | | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | (0.53 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | (0.60 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average common units outstanding | | 78,992.0 | | 75,907.6 | | 77,572.4 | | 72,313.6 | |
Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
| | Three months ended | | Twelve months ended | |
| | July 31 | | July 31 | |
| | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2011 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | $ | (35,529 | ) | $ | (40,907 | ) | $ | (10,952 | ) | $ | (43,648 | ) |
Income tax expense (benefit) | | (157 | ) | (47 | ) | 1,128 | | 1,241 | |
Interest expense | | 22,350 | | 23,680 | | 93,254 | | 101,885 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | | 21,002 | | 22,091 | | 83,841 | | 82,486 | |
EBITDA | | 7,666 | | 4,817 | | 167,271 | | 141,964 | |
Loss on extinguishment of debt | | — | | — | | — | | 46,962 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | | 2,721 | | 2,190 | | 9,440 | | 10,157 | |
Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b) | | 3,976 | | (221 | ) | 8,843 | | 13,488 | |
Loss on disposal of assets and other | | 3,983 | | 2,799 | | 6,035 | | 3,633 | |
Other income, net | | (258 | ) | (58 | ) | (506 | ) | (567 | ) |
Nonrecurring severance costs | | 292 | | — | | 1,055 | | — | |
Nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees | | — | | 987 | | 892 | | 12,120 | |
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | | (321 | ) | (376 | ) | 56 | | (112 | ) |
Adjusted EBITDA (c) | | 18,059 | | 10,138 | | 193,086 | | 227,645 | |
Net cash interest expense (d) | | (20,827 | ) | (21,960 | ) | (87,600 | ) | (93,353 | ) |
Maintenance capital expenditures (e) | | (4,526 | ) | (3,516 | ) | (16,044 | ) | (15,437 | ) |
Cash paid for taxes | | (664 | ) | (557 | ) | (764 | ) | (591 | ) |
Proceeds from asset sales | | 1,428 | | 1,721 | | 5,742 | | 5,994 | |
Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f) | | $ | (6,530 | ) | $ | (14,174 | ) | $ | 94,420 | | $ | 124,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Propane gallons sales | | | | | | | | | |
Retail - Sales to End Users | | 95,031 | | 95,611 | | 619,318 | | 655,408 | |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | | 55,841 | | 54,902 | | 258,812 | | 244,275 | |
Total propane gallons sales | | 150,872 | | 150,513 | | 878,130 | | 899,683 | |
(a) Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.
(b) Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charges consist of the following:
| | Three months ended | | Twelve months ended | |
| | July 31 | | July 31 | |
| | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2011 | |
Operating expense | | $ | 795 | | $ | (75 | ) | $ | 2,747 | | $ | 3,757 | |
General and administrative expense | | 3,181 | | (146 | ) | 6,096 | | 9,731 | |
Total | | $ | 3,976 | | $ | (221 | ) | $ | 8,843 | | $ | 13,488 | |
(c) Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings (loss) before income tax expense(benefit), interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, other income, net, nonrecurring severance costs, nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees and net earnings (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 income, 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.