Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. Announces Third Quarter Results and Successful Completion of the Acquisition of Inergy, L.P.’s Retail Propane Operations
WHIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH) (the “Partnership”), a nationwide distributor of propane, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity, today announced results for its third quarter ended June 23, 2012. The Partnership also today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Inergy L.P.’s retail propane operations, effective August 1, 2012 (the “Inergy Propane Acquisition”).
Third Quarter Results
Consistent with the seasonal nature of the propane and fuel oil businesses, the Partnership typically experiences a net loss in the third quarter. Net loss for the three months ended June 23, 2012 was $9.3 million, or $0.26 per Common Unit, compared to a net loss of $6.8 million, or $0.19 per Common Unit, in the prior year third quarter. Net loss for the fiscal 2012 third quarter included $5.9 million in acquisition-related costs associated with the aforementioned acquisition of Inergy, L.P.’s retail propane operations which was announced on April 26, 2012. Excluding the effects of these acquisition-related costs from the fiscal 2012 third quarter, as well as the unrealized (non-cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments used in risk management activities in both quarters, Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $3.5 million for the fiscal 2012 third quarter, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $10.3 million in the prior year third quarter.
Retail propane gallons sold in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased approximately 5.6 million gallons, or 10.3%, to 49.0 million gallons compared to 54.6 million gallons in the prior year third quarter. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels decreased approximately 1.3 million gallons, or 23.2%, to 4.3 million gallons during the third quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to 5.6 million gallons in the prior year third quarter. The most significant factor impacting volumes in both segments during the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was a near-record warm April 2012, which added to the effects of a record warm second quarter of fiscal 2012, across the Partnership’s service territories. The month of April 2012 was the third warmest on record for the contiguous United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has been keeping records since 1895. Average temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) across all of the Partnership’s service territories for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were 16% warmer than both normal and the prior year third quarter.
Revenues of $179.6 million decreased $37.0 million, or 17.1%, compared to the prior year third quarter, primarily due to lower volumes sold and, to a lesser extent, lower average selling prices in the propane segment attributable to lower wholesale propane costs. Average posted prices for propane and fuel oil during the fiscal 2012 third quarter were 34.8% and 5.0% lower, respectively, compared to the prior year third quarter.
Cost of products sold for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $88.8 million decreased $36.4 million, or 29.1%, compared to $125.2 million in the prior year third quarter. Cost of products sold in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 included an $8.2 million unrealized (non-cash) gain attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to a $0.3 million unrealized (non-cash) loss in the prior year third quarter. These unrealized gains and losses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods in the table below.
Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $79.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $2.3 million, or 2.8%, lower than the prior year third quarter, primarily due to continued savings in payroll and benefit related expenses and lower variable compensation attributable to lower earnings.
Once again, the Partnership funded all working capital requirements with cash on hand without the need to borrow under its working capital facility and ended the third quarter of fiscal 2012 with approximately $116 million of cash. On July 18, 2012, the Partnership announced that its Board of Supervisors had declared a quarterly distribution of $0.8525 per Common Unit for the three months ended June 23, 2012. On an annualized basis, this distribution rate equates to $3.41 per Common Unit. The $0.8525 per Common Unit distribution will be paid on August 7, 2012 to Common Unitholders of record as of July 31, 2012.
As previously announced on April 26, 2012, the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors approved an increase in the annualized distribution rate to $3.50 per Common Unit (conditioned on the closing of the Inergy Propane Acquisition) which represents an increase of $0.09 per Common Unit, or 2.6%, compared to our current annualized distribution rate. With today’s announcement of the closing of this acquisition, the Partnership reaffirms the distribution at the increased rate, which will be effective for the quarterly distribution paid in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2013 ending December 29, 2012.
Acquisition of Inergy, L.P.’s Retail Propane Operations
The Partnership also announced today that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Inergy L.P.’s (“Inergy”) retail propane operations, effective August 1, 2012. The stated purchase price of the acquisition was approximately $1.8 billion. The acquisition adds approximately 600,000 propane customers and nearly 300 million retail propane gallons sold. With this acquisition, Suburban believes that it is now the third largest retail marketer of propane in the United States, as measured by retail gallons sold by both companies in the calendar year 2011.
In connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition, the Partnership successfully completed on August 1, 2012, its previously announced offers to exchange (“Exchange Offers”) and related consent solicitations in connection with certain outstanding notes of Inergy, pursuant to which it issued $496.6 million principal amount of new unsecured 7 ½% Senior Notes due 2018 and $503.4 million principal amount of new unsecured 73/8% Senior Notes due 2021, and paid $184.8 million in cash to Inergy noteholders pursuant to the Exchange Offers. Additionally, the Partnership distributed 14.2 million new Suburban common units to Inergy, of which all but 0.1 million common units will subsequently be distributed by Inergy to its unitholders.
In announcing the closing of this transaction, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Dunn, Jr., said, “We are extremely pleased to complete the Inergy Propane Acquisition, which brings together two of the largest and finest retail propane businesses in the propane industry. We welcome the employees of Inergy’s retail propane business to the Suburban family and look forward to achieving extraordinary things together in our quest to provide unparalleled service to our customers and value for our unitholders. We would also like to thank all of the Suburban and Inergy employees who have worked tirelessly over the last few months to prepare for this day.”
Mr. Dunn added, “Our integration plans are well established, and we are poised, starting today, to begin combining operations into one company that serves approximately 1.3 million customers in 41 states. We will continue to follow the path that has brought us to this point, by leveraging the investments we have made in people and technology across our newly expanded service territories and customer base, in order to further strengthen our operating platform and achieve our ultimate goal of delivering sustainable, profitable growth for our valued unitholders.”
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. is a publicly-traded master limited partnership listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Headquartered in Whippany, New Jersey, Suburban has been in the customer service business since 1928. The Partnership now serves the energy needs of approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 750 locations in 41 states.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to future business expectations and financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership, based on management’s current good faith expectations and beliefs concerning future developments. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including the following:
- The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;
- Volatility in the unit cost of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas, the impact of the Partnership’s hedging and risk management activities, and the adverse impact of price increases on volumes as a result of customer conservation;
- The ability of the Partnership to compete with other suppliers of propane, fuel oil and other energy sources;
- The impact on the price and supply of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels from the political, military or economic instability of the oil producing nations, global terrorism and other general economic conditions;
- The ability of the Partnership to acquire and maintain reliable transportation for its propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels;
- The ability of the Partnership to retain customers or acquire new customers;
- The impact of customer conservation, energy efficiency and technology advances on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;
- The ability of management to continue to control expenses;
- The impact of changes in applicable statutes and government regulations, or their interpretations, including those relating to the environment and global warming, derivative instruments and other regulatory developments on the Partnership’s business;
- The impact of changes in tax regulations that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes;
- The impact of legal proceedings on the Partnership’s business;
- The impact of operating hazards that could adversely affect the Partnership’s operating results to the extent not covered by insurance;
- The Partnership’s ability to make strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate them;
- The impact of current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures; and
- Other risks referenced from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and those factors listed or incorporated by reference into the Partnership’s Annual Report under “Risk Factors.”
In addition, cautionary statements include statements regarding the timing, impact on our results of operations, liquidity and capital resources, along with and the tangible and intangible expected benefits of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, and also include statements relating to or regarding:
- the cost savings, transaction costs or integration costs that the Partnership anticipates to arise from the Inergy Propane Acquisition;
- various actions to be taken or requirements to be met in connection with completing the Inergy Propane Acquisition or integrating the acquired operations into the Partnership’s operations;
- revenue, income and operations of the combined company after the Inergy Propane Acquisition is consummated;
- future issuances of debt and equity securities and the Partnership’s ability to achieve financing in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition or otherwise; and
- other objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.
The following factors, among others, including those discussed above could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements:
- expected cost savings from the Inergy Propane Acquisition may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame;
- the Partnership’s revenue following the Inergy Propane Acquisition may be lower than expected;
- weather conditions resulting in reduced demand;
- costs related to the integration of the acquired businesses and the Partnership may be greater than expected;
- general economic conditions, either internationally or nationally or in the jurisdictions in which the Partnership is doing business, may be less favorable than expected;
- inability to retain key personnel after the Inergy Propane Acquisition; and
- operating, legal and regulatory risks.
Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 24, 2011 and other periodic reports filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date made. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as otherwise required by law.
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Nine Months Ended June 23, 2012 and June 25, 2011
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------ -----------------
June 23, 2012 June 25, 2011 June 23, 2012 June 25, 2011
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Revenues
Propane $142,681 $169,258 $666,796 $786,968
Fuel oil and refined fuels 17,533 22,528 92,262 124,448
Natural gas and electricity 12,119 16,691 51,878 68,348
All other 7,268 8,086 26,177 29,208
----- ----- ------ ------
179,601 216,563 837,113 1,008,972
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold 88,776 125,175 480,751 571,511
Operating 65,369 68,747 202,604 213,831
General and administrative 13,778 12,618 40,231 37,399
Severance charges - - - 2,000
Acquisition-related costs 5,950 - 5,950 -
Depreciation and amortization 8,472 9,670 23,906 26,304
----- ----- ------ ------
182,345 216,210 753,442 851,045
Operating (loss) income (2,744) 353 83,671 157,927
Loss on debt extinguishment - - 507 -
Interest expense, net 6,479 6,867 19,742 20,532
----- ----- ------ ------
(Loss) income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes (9,223) (6,514) 63,422 137,395
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 100 273 (60) 737
--- --- --- ---
Net (loss) income $(9,323) $(6,787) $63,482 $136,658
======= ======= ======= ========
Net (loss) income per Common Unit - basic $(0.26) $(0.19) $1.78 $3.85
====== ====== ===== =====
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic 35,653 35,540 35,616 35,517
------ ------ ------ ------
Net (loss) income per Common Unit - diluted $(0.26) $(0.19) $1.77 $3.83
====== ====== ===== =====
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted 35,653 35,540 35,794 35,712
------ ------ ------ ------
Supplemental Information:
EBITDA (a) $5,728 $10,023 $107,070 $184,231
Adjusted EBITDA (a) $3,460 $10,336 $108,435 $183,994
Retail gallons sold:
49,014 54,629 213,234 254,949
Propane
4,314 5,621 22,574 33,263
Refined fuels
Capital expenditures:
Maintenance $2,629 $2,162 $7,856 $7,398
$2,388 $3,662 $6,528 $9,843
Growth
EBITDA represents net income
before deducting interest
expense, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization.
Adjusted EBITDA represents
EBITDA excluding the unrealized
net gain or loss on mark-to-
market activity for derivative
instruments, loss on debt
extinguishment, loss on asset
disposal, severance charges and
acquisition-related charges.
Our management uses EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA as measures of
liquidity and we are including
them because we believe that
they provide our investors and
industry analysts with
additional information to
evaluate our ability to meet
our debt service obligations
and to pay our quarterly
distributions to holders of our
(a) Common Units.
In addition, certain of our
incentive compensation plans
covering executives and other
employees utilize Adjusted
EBITDA as the performance
target. Moreover, our
revolving credit agreement
requires us to use Adjusted
EBITDA as a component in
calculating our leverage and
interest coverage ratios.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are
not recognized terms under
accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States
of America ("US GAAP") and
should not be considered as an
alternative to net income or
net cash provided by operating
activities determined in
accordance with US GAAP.
Because EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA as determined by us
excludes some, but not all,
items that affect net income,
they may not be comparable to
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or
similarly titled measures used
by other companies.
The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, as so calculated,
to our net cash provided by operating activities:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------ -----------------
June 23, 2012 June 25, 2011 June 23, 2012 June 25, 2011
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net (loss) income $(9,323) $(6,787) $63,482 $136,658
Add:
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 100 273 (60) 737
Interest expense, net 6,479 6,867 19,742 20,532
Depreciation and amortization 8,472 9,670 23,906 26,304
EBITDA 5,728 10,023 107,070 184,231
Unrealized (non-cash) (gains) losses on changes in fair value of derivatives (8,218) 313 (7,170) (2,237)
Loss on debt extinguishment - - 507 -
Loss on asset disposal - - 2,078 -
Severance charges - - - 2,000
Acquisition-related costs 5,950 - 5,950 -
Adjusted EBITDA 3,460 10,336 108,435 183,994
Add / (subtract):
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes (100) (273) 60 (737)
Interest expense, net (6,479) (6,867) (19,742) (20,532)
Unrealized (non-cash) gains (losses) on changes in fair value of derivatives 8,218 (313) 7,170 2,237
Severance charges - - - (2,000)
Acquisition-related costs (5,950) - (5,950) -
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net (35) 67 (246) (2,844)
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans 911 737 3,261 3,136
Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities 56,177 56,316 (19,738) (53,413)
Net cash provided by operating activities $56,202 $60,003 $73,250 $109,841
The unaudited financial information included in this document is intended only as a summary provided for your convenience, and should be read in conjunction with the complete consolidated financial statements of the Partnership (including the Notes thereto, which set forth important information) contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed by
the Partnership with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such report, once filed, will be available on the public EDGAR electronic filing system maintained by the SEC.
SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
