Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results

WHIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH), 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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 29, 2012.

Fiscal Year 2012 Results

Record warm temperatures across much of the country had a significant negative affect on volumes sold and overall profitability during fiscal 2012. Nonetheless, the Partnership had several notable achievements during fiscal 2012, including: (i) the completion of the acquisition of Inergy, L.P.'s retail propane business ("Inergy Propane") for approximately $1.9 billion on August 1, 2012 (the "Inergy Propane Acquisition"), including the subsequent issuance of approximately 7.2 million Common Units in a secondary public offering, the net proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of the Inergy Propane Acquisition; (ii) the amendment and restatement of the Partnership's revolving credit facility to a new five-year facility at lower interest rates, as well as to increase the capacity under the facility by $150.0 million; and (iii) for the sixth consecutive year, the Partnership funded all of its cash needs from cash on hand without the need to borrow under its working capital facility and ended the year with $134.3 million of cash.

Fiscal 2012 included 53 weeks of operations, compared to 52 weeks in the prior year, and includes the results of operations for Inergy Propane from the date of acquisition. Net income for fiscal 2012 amounted to $1.9 million, or $0.05 per Common Unit, compared to $115.0 million, or $3.24 per Common Unit, in fiscal 2011. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for fiscal 2012 amounted to $86.4 million, compared to $178.9 million for fiscal 2011. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) amounted to $108.5 million in fiscal 2012, compared to $179.4 million in fiscal 2011.

Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2012 were negatively affected by several significant items, including: (i) $17.9 million in acquisition-related costs associated with the Inergy Propane Acquisition; (ii) a charge of $4.5 million associated with a legal settlement reached during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 included within general and administrative expenses; (iii) losses on debt extinguishment of $2.2 million associated with the refinancing of the Partnership's revolving credit facility and certain financing activities for the Inergy Propane Acquisition; and (iv) a $2.1 million non-cash charge from a loss on disposal of an asset in the Partnership's natural gas and electricity business. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2011 included a $2.0 million charge for severance costs associated with the realignment of the Partnership's field operations.

In announcing the full year results, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Dunn, Jr., said, "While the record warm temperatures this fiscal year certainly created a very challenging operating environment, the steps we have taken over the past several years to streamline our operating model and strengthen our balance sheet put us in a position to be opportunistic.  The Inergy Propane Acquisition was a transformative event for Suburban by effectively doubling the size of the company, expanding our geographic reach into eleven more states and providing us with an opportunity to apply our customer-oriented focus on a much broader customer base.  Given the execution of our acquisition financing strategy, we have preserved our cash balance, which amounted to $134.3 million at the end of fiscal 2012, and have more than adequate liquidity to fund our cash needs."

Mr. Dunn added, "Our integration plans are well underway as we combine operations and cultures while, at the same time, maintaining our focus on delivering the highest quality customer service to our combined customer base and pursuing our internal initiatives to grow our customer base and drive operating efficiencies."   

Retail propane gallons sold for fiscal 2012 decreased 15.1 million gallons, or 5.1%, to 283.8 million gallons from 298.9 million gallons in fiscal 2011. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels decreased 8.7 million gallons, or 23.4%, to 28.5 million gallons compared to 37.2 million gallons in the prior year. As reported throughout fiscal 2012, the most significant factor impacting volumes in both segments was the record warm weather experienced throughout most of the country, particularly during the critical heating months from October 2011 through March 2012. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, average temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) across the Partnership's service territories during fiscal 2012 were 14% warmer than normal and 13% warmer than fiscal 2011. The impact of record warm temperatures on volumes sold was offset to an extent by the addition of propane and refined fuels volumes from Inergy Propane since August 1, 2012.

Revenues for fiscal year 2012 of $1,063.5 million decreased $127.1 million, or 10.7%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to the lower volumes sold and lower average propane selling prices. Cost of products sold for fiscal 2012 of $599.1 million decreased $79.6 million, or 11.7%, compared to $678.7 million in the prior year as a result of lower volumes sold and lower wholesale product costs. Cost of products sold in fiscal 2012 and 2011 included a $4.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively, unrealized (non-cash) gain attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities which are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods in the table below. Average posted prices for propane during fiscal 2012 were 19.7% lower than the prior year, while average posted prices for fuel oil were 7.4% higher than the prior year.    

Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $357.8 million for fiscal year 2012 were $26.8 million, or 8.1%, higher than the prior year, primarily as a result of the Inergy Propane operations and the legal settlement referred to above, offset to an extent by lower variable compensation attributable to lower earnings and continued savings in payroll and benefit related expenses. Depreciation and amortization expense of $45.8 million increased $10.2 million, or 28.7%, primarily due to the impact of the Inergy Propane Acquisition. Net interest expense of $38.6 million for fiscal 2012 increased $11.2 million, or 40.9%, compared to the prior year as a result of higher debt levels associated with the financing for the Inergy Propane Acquisition.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

Consistent with the seasonal nature of the propane and fuel oil businesses, the Partnership typically reports a net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter. The fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 included 14 weeks of operations, compared to 13 weeks in the prior year fourth quarter, and includes the results of operations for Inergy Propane since August 1, 2012.  Net loss in the three months ended September 29, 2012 was $61.6 million, or $1.29 per Common Unit, compared to a net loss of $21.7 million, or $0.61 per Common Unit, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Net loss and EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 included the following significant items:  (i) $12.0 million in acquisition-related costs; (ii) the $4.5 million charge associated with a legal settlement referenced in the discussion of full year results; and (iii) a loss on debt extinguishment of $1.7 million. Excluding these items and the effects of the unrealized (non-cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments used in risk management activities in both quarters, Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 improved to $0.1 million, compared to a loss of $4.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

Retail propane gallons sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 26.6 million gallons, to 70.6 million gallons compared to 44.0 million gallons in the prior year fourth quarter. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels increased 1.9 million gallons, to 5.9 million gallons during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.  The increase in volumes sold in both segments was primarily attributable to the addition of Inergy Propane, which contributed 27.0 million gallons of propane and 2.5 million gallons of fuel oil and other refined fuels in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

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 serves the energy needs of more than 1.2 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 expected cost savings from the Inergy Propane Acquisition may not be fully realized or realized within the expected timeframe;
• The Partnership's revenue from the Inergy Propane Acquisition may be lower than expected;
• Costs of the integration of the business of Inergy Propane and the Partnership may be greater than expected;
• 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, including but not limited to Inergy Propane;
• The impact of current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures;
• The operating, legal and regulatory risks the Partnership may face; 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." 

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.

SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.