WHIPPANY, N.J., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Suburban Propane
Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH), a marketer of propane gas, heating oil and related
products and services nationwide, today reported record earnings for the
second quarter of fiscal 2004 ended March 27, 2004. Its Board of Supervisors
also declared the previously announced increase in the quarterly distribution
from $0.5875 per Common Unit to $0.60 per Common Unit -- $2.40 per Common Unit
annualized.
The second quarter of fiscal 2004 ended March 27, 2004 is the first full
quarter that includes the results from the acquisition of substantially all of
the assets and operations of Agway Energy. Net income for the three months
ended March 27, 2004 of $92.6 million, or $2.97 per Common Unit, increased
$34.3 million, or 58.8%, compared to the prior year quarter of $58.3 million,
or $2.31 per Common Unit. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization ("EBITDA") increased $38.6 million, or 52.2%, to $112.6 million
for the three months ended March 27, 2004 compared to $74.0 million in the
prior year quarter.
EBITDA and net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 were favorably
impacted by the net result of certain significant items, mainly relating to
(i) a $14.2 million gain from the sale of ten customer service centers in
Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas considered to be non-strategic, compared
to a $2.4 million gain from the sale of five customer service centers during
the second quarter of fiscal 2003; (ii) a non-cash charge of $5.6 million
included within cost of products sold relating to purchase accounting for the
Agway Energy acquisition; and, (iii) a $2.2 million restructuring charge
related to the Partnership's initial efforts to integrate certain management
and back office functions of Agway Energy.
Temperatures nationwide, as reported by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA"), averaged 3% warmer than normal in the
second quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to 2% colder than normal in the prior
year quarter, or 5% warmer temperatures year-over-year. Retail propane gallons
sold in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 increased 36.9 million gallons, or
20.2%, to 219.9 million gallons compared to 183.0 million gallons in the prior
year quarter, primarily as a result of the addition of the Agway Energy
operations in the northeast. Sales of heating oil and other refined fuels
amounted to 110.6 million gallons during the second quarter of fiscal 2004.
Revenues for the three months ended March 27, 2004 amounted to $574.6 million,
an increase of $286.9 million compared to revenues in the prior year quarter
of $287.7 million. The increase in revenue results from increased propane
volumes, as described above, coupled with higher average selling prices on
propane volumes as a result of higher propane costs during the quarter
compared to the prior year quarter. Additionally, with the acquisition of
Agway Energy, revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 were favorably
impacted by the addition of heating oil and other refined fuels, as well as
increased service activities.
Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $127.2
million were $52.3 million, or 69.8%, above the prior year quarter of $74.9
million. Operating expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 included a
$1.1 million unrealized (non-cash) gain attributable to the mark-to-market on
derivative instruments ("FAS 133"), compared to a $0.4 million unrealized loss
attributable to FAS 133 in the prior year period. The increase in combined
operating and general and administrative expenses is primarily attributable to
the addition of the Agway Energy operations, as well as increased professional
services and travel expenses associated with integration activities during the
quarter. In addition, higher employee compensation and benefit related
expenses associated with the increased business activities and higher profit
levels and higher pension and insurance costs were experienced during the
second quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to the prior year quarter. As was the
case in this second fiscal quarter, the Partnership expects to incur
additional restructuring charges and other costs to integrate the combined
operations during the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2004 in order to
achieve the anticipated synergies from the Agway Energy acquisition.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.4 million, or 35.3%, to
$9.2 million as a result of the impact of the tangible and intangible assets
acquired. Net interest expense increased $1.9 million, or 21.3%, to $10.8
million in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to $8.9 million in the
prior year quarter. The increase in net interest expense is a result of the
net impact of the addition of $175.0 million of 6.875% senior notes associated
with financing for the acquisition of Agway Energy, offset by $42.5 million
lower amounts outstanding under our 7.54% senior notes.
In announcing these results, President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A.
Alexander said, "We are extremely pleased with these record results achieved
during the first full quarter of operation following our December 2003
acquisition of Agway Energy. This record performance provides an initial
indicator of the potential opportunity and added strength of the combined
operations. To mark this successful beginning, we are pleased to reaffirm our
previously announced distribution increase, the eighth such increase since the
Partnership's recapitalization five years ago."
The Partnership's quarterly distribution of $0.60 per Common Unit for the
three months ended March 27, 2004 will be payable on May 11, 2004, to Common
Unitholders of record as of May 4, 2004.
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 approximately 1,100,000 residential,
commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 400
customer service centers in 35 states.
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Six Months Ended March 27, 2004 and March 29, 2003
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
March 27, March 29, March 27, March 29,
2004 2003 2004 2003
Revenues
Propane and refined fuels $463,512 $266,423 $650,712 $439,730
Other (a) 111,066 21,231 144,535 47,164
574,578 287,654 795,247 486,894
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold 346,736 142,231 457,035 234,712
Operating 109,840 64,709 172,594 123,234
General and administrative 17,392 10,149 27,894 19,170
Restructuring costs 2,179 - 2,179 -
Depreciation and
amortization 9,223 6,800 16,452 13,773
485,370 223,889 676,154 390,889
Income before interest
expense and provision
for income taxes 89,208 63,765 119,093 96,005
Interest expense, net 10,770 8,876 20,481 17,732
Income before provision for
income taxes 78,438 54,889 98,612 78,273
Provision for income taxes 83 37 166 167
Income from continuing
operations 78,355 54,852 98,446 78,106
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of customer
service centers 14,205 2,404 14,205 2,404
Income from discontinued
customer service centers - 1,050 - 1,050
Net income $92,560 $58,306 $112,651 $81,560
General Partner's interest
in net income $2,616 $1,484 $3,124 $2,075
Limited Partners' interest
in net income $89,944 $56,822 $109,527 $79,485
Income from continuing
operations per Common Unit
- basic $2.52 $2.17 $3.31 $3.09
Net income per Common Unit -
basic $2.97 $2.31 $3.78 $3.23
Weighted average number of
Common Units outstanding -
basic 30,257 24,631 28,942 24,631
Income from continuing
operations per Common Unit
- diluted $2.51 $2.16 $3.29 $3.08
Net income per Common Unit -
diluted $2.96 $2.30 $3.77 $3.22
Weighted average number of
Common Units outstanding -
diluted 30,372 24,692 29,053 24,688
Supplemental Information:
EBITDA (b) $112,636 $74,019 $149,750 $113,232
Retail gallons sold:
Propane 219,945 182,956 351,862 322,890
Refined fuels 110,580 - 112,451 -
(a) Other revenues principally represent amounts generated from the sales
of appliances, parts and related services.
(b) EBITDA represents net income before deducting interest expense,
income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Our management uses
EBITDA as a measure of liquidity and we are including it because we
believe that it provides 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 Common Units. Moreover, our senior note agreements and our
revolving credit agreement require us to use EBITDA as a component in
calculating our leverage and interest coverage ratios. EBITDA is not
a recognized term under generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") and should not be considered as an alternative to net income
or net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance
with GAAP. Because EBITDA, as determined by us, excludes some, but
not all, items that affect net income, it may not be comparable to
EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies. The
following table sets forth (i) our calculation of EBITDA and (ii) a
reconciliation of EBITDA, as so calculated, to our net cash provided
by operating activities:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
March 27, March 29, March 27, March 29,
2004 2003 2004 2003
Net income $92,560 $58,306 $112,651 $81,560
Add:
Provision for income
taxes 83 37 166 167
Interest expense, net 10,770 8,876 20,481 17,732
Depreciation and
amortization 9,223 6,800 16,452 13,773
EBITDA 112,636 74,019 149,750 113,232
Add / (subtract):
Provision for income
taxes (83) (37) (166) (167)
Interest expense, net (10,770) (8,876) (20,481) (17,732)
(Gain) / loss on disposal
of property, plant and
equipment, net (79) 26 (161) (320)
Gain on sale of customer
service centers (14,205) (2,404) (14,205) (2,404)
Changes in working
capital and other assets
and liabilities (75,477) (47,740) (91,154) (69,243)
Net cash provided by
operating activities $12,022 $14,988 $23,583 $23,366
Net cash provided by /
(used in) investing
activities $14,204 $3,235 $(200,791) $674
Net cash (used in) /
provided by financing
activities $(17,446) $(14,533) $222,869 $(29,124)
SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
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CONTACT:
Robert M. Plante, Vice President & Chief
Financial Officer of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.,
+1-973-503-9252
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