Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

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Financial Highlights
- Gross Profit for the second fiscal quarter decreased $3.9 million, or 1%, compared to the prior year period, driven by decreases of $74.1 million and $70.2 million in revenue and cost of sales, respectively. The revenue and cost of sales changes were primarily due to wholesale propane prices that were 10.1% lower from Mt. Belvieu, Texas and 15.0% lower from Conway, Kansas compared to the prior year period.
- Margin per gallon for the second fiscal quarter increased $0.05, or 4%, compared to the prior year period. Likewise, operating income per gallon also increased $0.02, or 5%, compared to the prior year period.
- Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. decreased $2.3 million, or 2%, compared to the prior year period.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the second fiscal quarter decreased by $9.0 million, or 6%, compared to the prior year period.
Company Highlights
- The Company acquired Eastern Sierra Propane, based in California, during the second fiscal quarter.
- Ferrellgas’ focus on technology continues with a digital welcome package for its customers, installation of tank monitoring equipment and its ongoing Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system implementation.
- Blue Rhino, the Company’s tank exchange brand, celebrated its 30^th birthday. Blue Rhino is working with leading influencers in backyard grilling reaching over 17 million people through the second fiscal quarter.

LIBERTY, Mo., March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTC: FGPR) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2024.

“Ferrellgas account managers are one of many high performing teams within Ferrellgas. In the second fiscal quarter, our account managers provided millions of gallons of new business,” said Tamria Zertuche, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferrellgas. “We believe our General Managers are the best in the industry. Teamed up with the account managers they have grown retail EBITDA, all the while navigating one of the warmest winters on record.”

Gross profit decreased by $3.9 million, or 1%, for the second fiscal quarter compared to the prior year period. The $74.1 million decrease in revenue was partially offset by a decrease of $70.2 million in cost of product as compared to the prior year period. Our wholesale sales price per gallon partially correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at our two major supply points averaged 10.1% and 15.0% less in the second fiscal quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. These decreases impacted both the revenue and cost of product changes for the period. As expected, propane market cost reduction and stabilization impacted our current period gross profit. Margin per gallon was $1.26 per gallon and $1.21 per gallon for the second fiscal quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. Operating income per gallon was $0.46 per gallon and $0.44 per gallon for the second fiscal quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Gallons sold for the second fiscal quarter of 2024 decreased 13.6 million, or 5%, primarily due to customer attrition related to the impact of continued inflationary conditions across the nation and warmer weather during the quarter as compared to the prior year period.

We recognized net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $95.8 million and $98.1 million in the second fiscal quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. Operating expense as a percentage of total revenue increased 13% for the second fiscal quarter compared to the prior year period. Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and office increased $2.3 million, or 1%. Lower legal costs compared to the prior year period drove the majority of the $5.9 million decrease in General and administrative expense, partially offset by costs related to the technology investments described above.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, decreased by $9.0 million, or 6%, to $146.9 million in the second fiscal quarter compared to $155.9 million in the prior year quarter. The change was primarily due to a $3.9 million decrease in gross profit and, after adjusting for a $9.0 million decrease in Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses, a $5.4 million increase in Operating, general and administrative expense.

In conjunction with our focus on growth, we acquired Eastern Sierra Propane in January 2024 with seller advising support from Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. This additional 150-mile service area in the Eastern Sierra mountains was cultivated by owner Tom Sigler over 30 years and complements our existing California service units. The strategic propane gas storage acquired through the sale will benefit our distribution network.

Technology remains a strategic priority as we advance various business initiatives such as the design and implementation of the ERP system noted above. Our digital welcome package and tank monitoring installations are other customer service enhancements. As a nationwide logistics company, we will benefit from having better data, miles and minutes management and pricing tools which in turn will allow us to deliver product to our customers timely and efficiently.

Blue Rhino celebrated its 30^th birthday this year. A special edition tank sleeve is rolling out nationally to commemorate the occasion. Blue Rhino fans have the opportunity to enter a nationwide sweepstakes to become an honorary Chief Grilling Officer and receive a BBQ master class for up to 30 friends. Grilling enthusiasts can also view favorite grilling recipes on our 30^th anniversary e-cookbook in addition to participating in other events.

On Friday, March 8, 2024, the Company will conduct a teleconference at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5po8ehpw to discuss the results of operations for the second fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2024. The webcast of the teleconference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Central Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Time). Questions may be submitted via the investor relations e-mail box at InvestorRelations@ferrellgas.com.

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. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at 65,000 locations nationwide. Blue Rhino is proudly celebrating its 30^th birthday this year with an exclusive sweepstakes, prizes, and more. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2023. 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. 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 include those discussed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Investor Relations – InvestorRelations@ferrellgas.com

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

ASSETS	January 31, 2024			July 31, 2023

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (including $10,789 and $11,126 of restricted cash at January 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023, respectively)	$	139,154		$	137,347
Accounts and notes receivable, net		226,920			159,379
Inventories		100,253			98,104
Price risk management asset		15,276			11,966
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		33,729			29,135
Total current assets		515,332			435,931

Property, plant and equipment, net		622,935			615,174
Goodwill, net		257,006			257,006
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $354,139 and $349,614 at January 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023, respectively)		116,911			106,615
Operating lease right-of-use assets		54,034			57,839
Other assets, net		54,735			58,838
Total assets	$	1,620,953		$	1,531,403


LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	67,912		$	35,115
Current portion of long-term debt		2,977			2,597
Current operating lease liabilities		24,983			24,600
Other current liabilities		203,785			197,030
Total current liabilities		299,657			259,342

Long-term debt		1,458,693			1,456,184
Operating lease liabilities		30,345			34,235
Other liabilities		25,563			29,084

Contingencies and commitments

Mezzanine equity:
Senior preferred units, net of issue discount and offering costs (700,000 units outstanding at January 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023)		651,349			651,349

Equity (Deficit):
Limited partner unitholders
Class A (4,857,605 Units outstanding at January 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023)		(1,158,241	)		(1,205,103	)
Class B (1,300,000 Units outstanding at January 31, 2024 and July 31,2023)		383,012			383,012
General partner Unitholder (49,496 Units outstanding at January 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023)		(70,092	)		(70,566	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		7,313			1,059
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. deficit		(838,008	)		(891,598	)
Noncontrolling interest		(6,646	)		(7,193	)
Total deficit		(844,654	)		(898,791	)
Total liabilities, mezzanine and deficit	$	1,620,953		$	1,531,403

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per unit data) (unaudited)

	Three months ended						Six months ended						Twelve months ended
	January 31,						January 31,						January 31,
	2024			2023			2024			2023				2024			2023
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales	$	584,209		$	651,886		$	923,143		$	1,037,730		$	1,802,305		$	2,025,401
Other		25,668			32,057			57,747			59,502			107,818			106,927
Total revenues		609,877			683,943			980,890			1,097,232			1,910,123			2,132,328

Cost of sales:
Propane and other gas liquids sales		277,838			347,492			450,018			560,573			892,802			1,130,826
Other		3,730			4,243			8,171			9,019			15,065			14,361

Gross profit		328,309			332,208			522,701			527,640			1,002,256			987,141

Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant & other		159,638			157,355			304,284			287,095			594,709			562,573
Operating expense - equipment lease expense		5,343			5,586			10,719			11,610			22,361			22,992
Depreciation and amortization expense		24,435			23,069			48,839			45,700			96,509			93,358
General and administrative expense		17,191			23,115			30,016			37,948			62,806			62,369
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge		900			722			1,620			1,445			3,110			2,955
Loss on asset sales and disposals		382			290			1,717			1,970			5,438			3,217

Operating income		120,420			122,071			125,506			141,872			217,323			239,677

Interest expense		(24,359	)		(23,177	)		(48,520	)		(48,186	)		(98,046	)		(97,745	)
Other income, net		849			544			2,185			1,013			3,797			1,539

Earnings before income tax expense		96,910			99,438			79,171			94,699			123,074			143,471

Income tax expense		309			503			471			521			931			925

Net earnings		96,601			98,935			78,700			94,178			122,143			142,546

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest⁽¹⁾		812			835			467			623			584			797

Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.	$	95,789		$	98,100		$	78,233		$	93,555		$	121,559		$	141,749

Class A unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss)	$	11,226		$	11,557		$	6,421		$	8,592		$	8,000		$	(19,532	)

Net loss per unitholders' interest
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per Class A Unit	$	2.31		$	2.38		$	1.32		$	1.77		$	1.65		$	(4.02	)
Weighted average Class A Units outstanding - basic and diluted		4,858			4,858			4,858			4,858			4,858			4,858

(1)	Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest (excluding the economic interest attributable to the preferred unitholders) in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

	Three months ended						Six months ended						Twelve months ended
	January 31,						January 31,						January 31,
	2024			2023			2024			2023				2024			2023
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.	$	95,789		$	98,100		$	78,233		$	93,555		$	121,559		$	141,749
Income tax expense		309			503			471			521			931			925
Interest expense		24,359			23,177			48,520			48,186			98,046			97,745
Depreciation and amortization expense		24,435			23,069			48,839			45,700			96,509			93,358
EBITDA		144,892			144,849			176,063			187,962			317,045			333,777
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge		900			722			1,620			1,445			3,110			2,955
Loss on asset sales and disposal		382			290			1,717			1,970			5,438			3,217
Other income, net		(849	)		(544	)		(2,185	)		(1,013	)		(3,797	)		(1,539	)
Severance costs		—			634			—			644			-			725
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses		103			9,107			1,157			13,979			8,929			16,979
Business transformation costs ⁽¹⁾		691			—			965			—			3,053			-
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest ⁽²⁾		812			835			467			623			584			797
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽³⁾		146,931			155,893			179,804			205,610			334,362			356,911
Net cash interest expense⁽⁴⁾		(21,424	)		(20,265	)		(42,171	)		(42,871	)		(85,995	)		(95,498	)
Maintenance capital expenditures⁽⁵⁾		(4,039	)		(4,375	)		(8,569	)		(10,207	)		(18,531	)		(19,587	)
Cash paid for income taxes		(256	)		(447	)		(359	)		(496	)		(955	)		(1,107	)
Proceeds from certain asset sales		900			736			1,380			1,488			2,044			2,875
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors⁽⁶⁾		122,112			131,542			130,085			153,524			230,925			243,594
Less: Distributions accrued or paid to preferred unitholders		16,250			16,222			32,501			32,473			64,342			64,438
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest		(2,443	)		(2,631	)		(2,602	)		(3,070	)		(4,619	)		(4,872	)
Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders ⁽⁷⁾		103,419			112,689			94,982			117,981			161,964			174,284
Less: Distributions paid to Class A and B Unitholders ⁽⁸⁾		—			—			—			—			49,998			49,998
Distributable cash flow excess ⁽⁹⁾	$	103,419		$	112,689		$	94,982		$	117,981		$	111,966		$	124,286

Propane gallons sales
Retail - Sales to End Users		203,054			213,662			317,494			332,058			587,579			625,273
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers		57,978			60,945			105,743			104,814			206,819			205,318
Total propane gallons sales		261,032			274,607			423,237			436,872			794,398			830,591

(1)	Non-recurring costs included in “Operating, general and administrative expense” primarily related to the implementation of an ERP system as part of our business transformation initiatives.
(2)	Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest (excluding the economic interest attributable to the preferred unitholders) in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.
(3)	Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., plus the sum of the following: income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income, net, severance costs, legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses, business transformation costs, and net earnings 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 make it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. Adjusted EBITDA, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Adjusted EBITDA should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
(4)	Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income, net.
(5)	Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment, and may from time to time include the purchase of assets that are typically leased.
(6)	Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus net cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash paid for income taxes plus proceeds from certain 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, including holders of the operating partnership’s Preferred Units. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. 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 should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
(7)	Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors minus distributions accrued or paid on the Preferred Units and distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and noncontrolling interest. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to Class A and B Unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added to our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
(8)	The Company did not pay any distributions to Class A Unitholders during any of the periods in fiscal 2024 or fiscal 2023.
(9)	Distributable cash flow excess is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to Class A and B Unitholders minus Distributions paid to Class A and B Unitholders. Distributable cash flow excess, if any, is retained to establish reserves, to reduce debt, to fund capital expenditures and for other partnership purposes, and any shortage is funded from previously established reserves, cash on hand or borrowings under our Credit Facility. Management considers Distributable cash flow excess a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to effectuate those purposes. Distributable cash flow excess, as management defines it, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow excess that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow excess should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.