Close
Back to mobile site

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Reports Results for Fiscal 2017

September 28, 2017 7:00 AM EDT

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Sept. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2017. The Company reported net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $54.2 million, compared to net loss of $665.4 million for the same period in 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA was $230.1 million compared to $344.7 million in the prior year period primarily due to decreased contributions from the midstream operations segment.

“Weather for fiscal 2017 was a stunning 18% warmer than normal, and significantly affected our financial results,” said James E. Ferrell, the Company’s interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our strategy is to increase market share as reflected in our 2% increase in retail gallons sold, exceeding those of prior year on an absolute and weather adjusted basis. Overall gross margin was lower than the prior year period due to customer mix and an increase in the overall wholesale cost of propane.”

Propane gallons sold were 791.1 million gallons, compared to 778.9 million gallons in the prior year. Operating income generated by the propane operations and related equipment sales segment was $187.9 million, compared to $204.9 million in the prior year period.

Our midstream operations segment generated an operating loss of $26.3 million this year compared to $648.3 million in fiscal 2016 primarily due to the impairment charge of $658.1 million recorded last year.

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, and provides midstream services to major energy companies in the United States. 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 September 28, 2017. 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. These statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “position,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to: Ferrellgas’ debt reduction plans, Ferrellgas’ leverage ratio reduction plans, statements regarding future unitholder returns, growth and improved results, plans to increase the utilization of certain assets, the anticipated impact of Ferrellgas’ actions on its balance sheet and liquidity position, and the anticipated impact of Ferrellgas’ leadership changes. While Ferrellgas believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. Among the factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: risks related to Ferrellgas’ ability to generate sufficient cash flow to pay distributions, to make payments on its debt obligations and to execute its business plan; Ferrellgas’ ability to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing its indebtedness or otherwise; local, regional and national economic conditions and the impact they may have on Ferrellgas and its customers; the effect of weather conditions on the demand for propane; the prices of wholesale propane, motor fuel and crude oil; disruptions to the supply of propane; the termination or non-renewal of certain arrangements or agreements; adverse changes in our relationships with our national propane customers; significant delays in the collection of, or uncollectibility of, accounts or notes receivable; the financial condition of Ferrellgas’ customers; and the failure of any customer to perform its contractual obligations. 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, 2017, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, Ferrellgas undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise. 

Contacts

Jack Herrold, Investor Relations — [email protected], 913-661-1851 Jim Saladin, Media Relations — [email protected], 913-661-1833 

 
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
     
ASSETS July 31, 2017 July 31, 2016
     
Current Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $5,760  $4,965 
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $109,407 and $106,464 of    
accounts receivable pledged as collateral at July 31, 2017 and    
July 31, 2016, respectively and net of allowance for doubtful accounts of    
$1,976 and $5,067 at 2017 and 2016, respectively)  165,084   149,583 
Inventories  92,552   90,594 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  33,388   39,973 
Total Current Assets  296,784   285,115 
     
Property, plant and equipment, net  731,923   774,680 
Goodwill  256,103   256,103 
Intangible assets, net  251,102   280,185 
Other assets, net  74,057   87,223 
Total Assets $1,609,969  $1,683,306 
     
     
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT    
     
Current Liabilities:    
Accounts payable $85,561  $67,928 
Short-term borrowings  59,781   101,291 
Collateralized note payable  69,000   64,000 
Other current liabilities  126,224   128,958 
Total Current Liabilities  340,566   362,177 
     
Long-term debt (a)  1,995,795   1,941,335 
Other liabilities  31,118   31,574 
Contingencies and commitments    
     
Partners Deficit:     
Common unitholders (97,152,665 and 98,002,665 units outstanding at    
July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016)  (701,188)  (570,754)
General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016)  (66,991)  (65,835)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  14,601   (10,468)
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners' Deficit  (753,578)  (647,057)
Noncontrolling Interest  (3,932)  (4,723)
Total Partners' Deficit  (757,510)  (651,780)
Total Liabilities and Partners' Deficit $1,609,969  $1,683,306 
     
     
     
(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 
  July 31 July 31
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Revenues:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales $269,201  $241,282  $1,318,412  $1,202,368 
Midstream operations  135,196   137,811   466,703   625,238 
Other  28,979   30,418   145,162   211,761 
Total revenues  433,376   409,511   1,930,277   2,039,367 
         
Cost of sales:        
Propane and other gas liquids sales  142,427   115,592   694,155   564,433 
Midstream operations  129,006   97,335   429,439   471,234 
Other  14,054   14,812   67,267   126,237 
         
Gross profit   147,889   181,772   739,416   877,463 
         
Operating expense  109,477   111,326   431,751   457,910 
Depreciation and amortization expense  25,805   37,815   103,351   150,513 
General and administrative expense  13,091   11,923   46,980   48,579 
Equipment lease expense  7,089   7,279   29,124   28,833 
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge  3,692   9,220   15,088   27,595 
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge (a)  -   2,567   3,298   9,324 
Asset impairments  -   628,802   -   658,118 
Loss on asset sales and disposal  5,596   7,615   14,457   30,835 
         
Operating income (loss)  (16,861)  (634,775)  95,367   (534,244)
         
Interest expense  (40,378)  (35,048)  (152,485)  (137,937)
Other income (expense), net  41   199   1,474   110 
         
Loss before income taxes  (57,198)  (669,624)  (55,644)  (672,071)
         
Income tax benefit  (949)  (1,482)  (1,143)  (36)
         
Net loss  (56,249)  (668,142)  (54,501)  (672,035)
         
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)  (481)  (6,708)  (294)  (6,620)
         
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.  (55,768)  (661,434)  (54,207)  (665,415)
         
Less: General partner's interest in net loss  (558)  (6,614)  (542)  (6,654)
         
Common unitholders' interest in net loss $(55,210) $(654,820) $(53,665) $(658,761)
         
Loss Per Common Unit        
Basic and diluted net loss per common unitholders' interest $(0.57) $(6.68) $(0.55) $(6.68)
         
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic  97,152.7   98,002.7   97,229.5   98,682.8 
         
         
Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
         
  Three months ended  Twelve months ended 
  July 31 July 31
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
         
         
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. $(55,768) $(661,434) $(54,207) $(665,415)
Income tax benefit  (949)  (1,482)  (1,143)  (36)
Interest expense  40,378   35,048   152,485   137,937 
Depreciation and amortization expense  25,805   37,815   103,351   150,513 
EBITDA  9,466   (590,053)  200,486   (377,001)
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge  3,692   9,220   15,088   27,595 
Non-cash stock based compensation charge (a)  -   2,567   3,298   9,324 
Asset impairments  -   628,802   -   658,118 
Loss on asset sales and disposal  5,596   7,615   14,457   30,835 
Other (income) expense, net  (41)  (199)  (1,474)  (110)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration (included in operating expense)  -   -   -   (100)
Severance expense $414 included in operating expense for the twelve months ended period July 31, 2017        
and $1,545 included in general and administrative expense for the twelve months ended July 31, 2017.        
Also includes $128 and $1,329 in operating expense for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2017        
and $124 general and administrative expense for the twelve months ended July 31, 2017.  -   128   1,959   1,453 
Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes in fair value of derivatives $1,751, and $540        
included in cost of sales for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2017, respectively, and        
$(1,849) and $(448) for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. Also includes $(759) and        
$(3,997) included in operating expense for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2017, respectively, and        
$(7) and $1,585 for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2016, respectively.  992   (1,856)  (3,457)  1,137 
Acquisition and transition expenses (included in general and administrative expense)  -   -   -   99 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)  (481)  (6,708)  (294)  (6,620)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)  19,224   49,516   230,063   344,730 
Net cash interest expense (d)  (38,118)  (33,604)  (143,588)  (132,860)
Maintenance capital expenditures (e)  (6,417)  (3,549)  (16,935)  (17,137)
Cash paid for taxes  (282)  (345)  (310)  (777)
Proceeds from asset sales  3,789   51   7,952   6,023 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors (f)  (21,804)  12,069   77,182   199,979 
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest  (436)  241   1,544   4,000 
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders  (21,368)  11,828   75,638   195,979 
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders  9,715   50,226   78,936   202,119 
Distributable cash flow shortage $(31,083) $(38,398) $(3,298) $(6,140)
         
Propane gallons sales        
Retail - Sales to End Users  91,778   87,625   564,872   552,771 
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers  56,218   56,129   226,251   226,121 
Total propane gallons sales  147,996   143,754   791,123   778,892 
         
Midstream operations barrels        
Crude oil hauled  12,700   14,587   49,249   79,411 
Crude oil sold  2,242   1,891   7,470   6,860 
         
(a)  Non-cash stock-based compensation charges consist of the following:        
         
  Three months ended Twelve months ended
  July 31 July 31
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Operating expense $-  $385  $661  $1,268 
General and administrative expense  -   2,182   2,637   8,056 
Total $-  $2,567  $3,298  $9,324 
       
       
(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 benefit, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, asset impairments, loss on asset sales and disposal, other (income) expense, net, change in fair value of contingent consideration, severance expense, unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes in fair value of derivatives, acquisition and transition expenses 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, maintenance capital expenditures, cash paid for taxes, and proceeds from 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 interests. 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.
 

Source: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.


Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

You May Also Be Interested In





Related Categories

Press Releases

Related Entities

Crude Oil, Earnings, Definitive Agreement