FGP Ferrellgas Partners LP

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2017. The Company reported net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $38.1 million, compared to net earnings of $57.1 million for the same period in 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA was $105.0 million, compared to $138.3 million in the prior year period primarily due to decreased contributions from the midstream crude oil logistics segment. Propane gallons sold were up 7% to 267.7 million gallons, compared to 250.2 million gallons in the prior year period. Operating income generated by the propane and related equipment sales segment was $95.3 million, compared to $97.8 million in the prior year period.           “Weather for the second fiscal quarter was 4% colder than last year but a stunning 14% warmer than normal,” said James E. Ferrell, the Company’s interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our efforts to increase market share resulted in gallons increasing approximately 7%, but resulted in overall margins lower than the prior year period, due to customer mix and location.” Mr. Ferrell continued, “The leadership changes we announced earlier this year are going to reap significant benefits. Dan Giannini at Bridger and Geoff Berger at Blue Rhino are going to drive growth and improved results. In addition, Randy Schott, a 28-year veteran of Ferrellgas and Sr. Vice President in charge of our large Retail propane business has also instilled a growth mindset in his people. Morale in the company could not be higher.” At the end of the second fiscal quarter, the Company’s leverage ratio was 5.81x, which was lower than the limit allowed under its secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, as amended in September 2016. Mr. Ferrell added, “We were pleased to be able to upsize the Company’s recent note issuance to $175 million. Our goal is to return to a leverage ratio of 4.5x or a level we deem appropriate for our business.”

About FerrellgasFerrellgas 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, 2016. 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, 2016, the Form 10-Q of these entities for the fiscal quarter ended January 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.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
FOR THE THREE, SIX AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2017 AND 2016
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
		Three months ended								Six months ended									Twelve months ended
		January 31								January 31									January 31
			2017				2016				2017				2016					2017				2016
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales		$	437,375			$	376,856			$	679,774			$	622,157				$	1,259,985			$	1,323,945
Midstream operations			96,787				188,333				204,831				382,003					448,066				474,123
Other			45,088				84,049				74,187				116,224					169,724				237,378
Total revenues			579,250				649,238				958,792				1,120,384					1,877,775				2,035,446
Cost of sales:
Propane and other gas liquids sales			235,029				174,829				354,241				296,580					622,094				678,298
Midstream operations			87,024				148,443				181,666				302,047					350,853				374,450
Other			20,657				55,774				32,403				70,222					88,418				150,956
Gross profit			236,540				270,192				390,482				451,535					816,410				831,742
Operating expense			112,509				116,463				217,501				231,444					443,967				453,696
Depreciation and amortization expense			25,607				37,367				51,809				74,346					127,976				125,673
General and administrative expense			11,429				12,062				23,911				24,302					48,188				59,284
Equipment lease expense			7,416				7,278				14,765				14,310					29,288				27,256
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge			2,945				3,141				6,699				8,397					25,897				24,948
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge (a)			1,417				(2,456	)			3,298				5,666					6,956				15,218
Asset impairments			-				-				-				29,316					628,802				29,316
Loss on asset sales and disposal			45				2,524				6,468				17,441					19,862				22,165
Operating income (loss)			75,172				93,813				66,031				46,313					(514,526	)			74,186
Interest expense			(36,819	)			(34,730	)			(72,247	)			(68,518	)				(141,666	)			(120,627	)
Other income (expense), net			763				(298	)			1,271				(420	)				1,801				(143	)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes			39,116				58,785				(4,945	)			(22,625	)				(654,391	)			(46,584	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			588				1,030				(2	)			186					(224	)			(660	)
Net earnings (loss)			38,528				57,755				(4,943	)			(22,811	)				(654,167	)			(45,924	)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)			430				628				32				(145	)				(6,443	)			(295	)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.			38,098				57,127				(4,975	)			(22,666	)				(647,724	)			(45,629	)
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss)			381				571				(50	)			(227	)				(6,477	)			(456	)
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss)		$	37,717			$	56,556			$	(4,925	)		$	(22,439	)			$	(641,247	)		$	(45,173	)
Earnings (loss) Per Unit
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders' interest		$	0.39			$	0.58			$	(0.05	)		$	(0.23	)			$	(6.57	)		$	(0.48	)
Weighted average common units outstanding			97,152.7				98,334.4				97,305.1				99,355.6					97,652.0				93,169.4
Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
		Three months ended								Six months ended									Twelve months ended
		January 31								January 31									January 31
			2017				2016				2017				2016					2017				2016
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.		$	38,098			$	57,127			$	(4,975	)		$	(22,666	)			$	(647,724	)		$	(45,629	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			588				1,030				(2	)			186					(224	)			(660	)
Interest expense			36,819				34,730				72,247				68,518					141,666				120,627
Depreciation and amortization expense			25,607				37,367				51,809				74,346					127,976				125,673
EBITDA			101,112				130,254				119,079				120,384					(378,306	)			200,011
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge			2,945				3,141				6,699				8,397					25,897				24,948
Non-cash stock based compensation charge (a)			1,417				(2,456	)			3,298				5,666					6,956				15,218
Asset impairments			-				-				-				29,316					628,802				29,316
Loss on asset sales and disposal			45				2,524				6,468				17,441					19,862				22,165
Other (income) expense, net			(763	)			298				(1,271	)			420					(1,801	)			143
Change in fair value of contingent consideration (included in operating expense)			-				-				-				(100	)				-				(100	)
Severance costs $414 and $938 included in operating costs for the six and twelve months ended period January 31, 2017 and $490, $1,545 and $1,618 included in general and administrative costs for the three, six and twelve months ended January 31, 2017. Also includes $805 in operating costs for the six and twelve months ended January 31, 2016 and $51 in general and administrative costs for the six and twelve months ended January 31, 2016.
			490				-				1,959				856					2,556				856
Litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit (included in general and administrative expense)			-				-				-				-					-				83
Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes in fair value of derivatives $(1,134), $(3,011) and $(6,160) included in operating expense for the three, six and twelve months ended January 31, 2017 and $3,696, $4,734 and $7,146 for the three, six and twelve months ended January 31, 2016. Also includes $488, $796 and $174 included in midstream operations cost of sales for the three, six and twelve months ended January 31, 2017, respectively and $174 for each of the three, six and twelve months ended January 31, 2016.			(646	)			3,870				(2,215	)			4,908					(5,986	)			7,320
Acquisition and transition expenses (included in general and administrative expense)			-				70				-				85					14				16,458
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)			430				628				32				(145	)				(6,443	)			(295	)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)			105,030				138,329				134,049				187,228					291,551				316,123
Net cash interest expense (d)			(34,712	)			(33,905	)			(68,330	)			(66,407	)				(134,783	)			(116,380	)
Maintenance capital expenditures (e)			(3,754	)			(3,214	)			(7,076	)			(9,429	)				(14,784	)			(19,329	)
Cash paid for taxes			(25	)			(5	)			(26	)			(5	)				(798	)			(451	)
Proceeds from asset sales			2,313				1,863				4,033				2,876					7,180				6,052
Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)			68,852				103,068				62,650				114,263					148,366				186,015
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest			1,377				2,061				1,253				2,285					2,968				3,720
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders			67,475				101,007				61,397				111,978					145,398				182,295
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders			9,715				50,223				59,506				101,666					159,959				184,384
Distributable cash flow excess/(shortage)		$	57,760			$	50,784			$	1,891			$	10,312				$	(14,561	)		$	(2,089	)
Propane gallons sales
Retail - Sales to End Users			201,580				189,460				312,768				300,433					565,106				569,071
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers			66,152				60,781				118,142				111,347					232,916				238,167
Total propane gallons sales			267,732				250,241				430,910				411,780					798,022				807,238
Midstream operations barrels
Salt water volume processed			4,002				4,222				7,705				8,956					15,292				17,272
Crude oil hauled			13,005				24,345				24,269				48,609					55,071				59,056
Crude oil sold			1,326				1,593				3,118				3,103					6,875				3,599
(a)  Non-cash stock-based compensation charges consist of the following:
		Three months ended								Six months ended									Twelve months ended
		January 31								January 31									January 31
			2017				2016				2017				2016					2017				2016
Operating expense		$	567			$	(466	)		$	661			$	752					1,177			$	2,315
General and administrative expense			850				(1,990	)			2,637				4,914					5,779				12,903
Total		$	1,417			$	(2,456	)		$	3,298			$	5,666				$	6,956			$	15,218
(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, 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 costs, litigation accrual, and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit, 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.

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
ASSETS		January 31, 2017				July 31, 2016
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	14,710			$	4,965
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $181,851 and $106,464 of
accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2017 and
July 31, 2016, respectively)			223,978				149,583
Inventories			114,862				90,594
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			37,729				39,973
Total Current Assets			391,279				285,115
Property, plant and equipment, net			747,045				774,680
Goodwill, net			256,103				256,103
Intangible assets, net			264,165				280,185
Other assets, net			87,028				87,223
Total Assets		$	1,745,620			$	1,683,306
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	108,271			$	67,928
Short-term borrowings			65,599				101,291
Collateralized note payable			133,000				64,000
Other current liabilities			134,945				128,958
Total Current Liabilities			441,815				362,177
Long-term debt (a)			1,966,909				1,941,335
Other liabilities			33,428				31,574
Contingencies and commitments
Partners' Capital (Deficit):
Common unitholders (97,152,665 and 98,002,665 units outstanding at
January 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016)			(641,239	)			(570,754	)
General partner unitholder (989,926 and 989,926 units outstanding at
January 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016)			(66,387	)			(65,835	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			14,430				(10,468	)
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners' Deficit			(693,196	)			(647,057	)
Noncontrolling Interest			(3,336	)			(4,723	)
Total Partners' Deficit			(696,532	)			(651,780	)
Total Liabilities and Partners' Deficit		$	1,745,620			$	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.

Contacts

Jack Herrold, Investor Relations – jackherrold@ferrellgas.com, 913-661-1851

Jim Saladin, Media Relations – jimsaladin@ferrellgas.com, 913-661-1833