UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 10, 2012

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-11331

 

43-1698480

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000,
Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

333-06693

 

43-1742520

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000,
Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

n/a

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-50182

 

43-1698481

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000,
Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

n/a

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-50183

 

14-1866671

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000,
Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  913-661-1500

 

n/a

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


 


 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

The information included in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On December 10, 2012, Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. issued a press release regarding its financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2012. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 99.1 — Press release of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated December 10, 2012, reporting its financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2012.

 

Limitation on Materiality and Incorporation by Reference
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K related to Items 2.02 and 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished herewith, is being furnished to the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and is not deemed to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18. In addition, such information is not to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. or Ferrellgas Finance Corp. or other filings of such entities made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.

 

The furnishing of particular information in this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished herewith, pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. or Ferrellgas Finance Corp. as to the materiality or completeness of any such information that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD of the Exchange Act.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

 

December 10, 2012

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial

 

 

Officer; Treasurer

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of

 

 

Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

 

 

December 10, 2012

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

 

December 10, 2012

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial

 

 

Officer; Treasurer

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of

 

 

Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

 

 

December 10, 2012

By:

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

3



 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated December 10, 2012, reporting its financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2012.

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS’ POSTS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED FIRST-QUARTER RESULTS; ADJUSTED EBITDA NEARLY DOUBLES

 

OVERLAND PARK, KAN., December 10, 2012/PR Newswire/ — Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP), one of the nation’s largest distributors of propane today reported results for the fiscal 2013 first quarter ended October 31. The improved financial performance reflects both margin expansion to more historic levels and the partnership’s focus on further cost reductions throughout its operations.

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased 93% to a near-record $31.6 million, from $16.4 million in the year-earlier quarter. Distributable cash flow improved nearly $21 million to a record $11.0 million for the same time period.  Gross profit rose 9% to a near-record $140.1 million, from $128.7 million a year earlier. Based on these results, the seasonal first-quarter loss decreased 46% to $17.8 million, or $0.22 per unit, from $32.9 million, or $0.42 per unit.

 

As expected, lower wholesale propane prices caused both revenues and cost of product sold to decline.  Revenues were $362.9 million, down 33% compared to $538.4 million in the prior year quarter, while total cost of product sold was $222.9 million, down 46% compared to $409.7 million in the prior year period.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Wambold commented, “Fiscal 2013 is off to an encouraging start, with the positive momentum of fiscal 2012’s fourth quarter carrying over into the first quarter.  We continue to focus on both profitable growth while driving operational efficiencies in our business through more optimal routing and scheduling of our propane deliveries.”

 

- more -

 



 

Propane sales were 179.4 million gallons, reduced by 9% in the quarter primarily due to the partnership’s focus on optimizing delivery efficiencies to residential customers.  Correspondingly, operating expense decreased 3% to $96.4 million, from $99.4 million the year before.  General and administrative expense declined 6% to $8.8 million, from $9.4 million in the year prior.

 

Wambold pointed out, “The full impact of our cost-reduction initiative was even greater on an apples-to-apples basis, as excluding performance-based incentive compensation operating expense and general and administrative expense were down 5% and 13%, respectively.” He added, “We remain on track to surpass our announced $20 million cost savings goal by the end of fiscal 2013.”

 

Wambold continued, “Based on the strength of our underlying fundamentals and a belief that winter temperatures will be more seasonal this year than last, we are projecting Adjusted EBITDA of between $240 million and $260 million for fiscal 2013. Although weather always plays a key role in our performance, we believe that fundamental changes we have made to our pricing and cost structure make financial results in this range possible assuming more normal variations in winter heating season temperatures.”

 

Contributing to the optimistic outlook is a growing pipeline of potential acquisitions, Wambold pointed out. “We made two acquisitions in the first quarter, Capital City Propane, headquartered in Sacramento, and El Paso-based Flores Gas. These acquisitions were perfect geographic fits, strengthening our presence in the key markets of California and Texas, as well as meeting our criterion of being immediately accretive to earnings.”

 

- more -

 



 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., serves approximately one million customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 21.7 million common units of the partnership through an employee stock ownership plan. More information about the partnership can be found online at www.ferrellgas.com.

 

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 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, 2012, and other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Contact:

Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, (913) 661-1530

Scott Brockelmeyer, Media Relations, (913) 661-1830

 

# # #

 



 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

October 31, 2012

 

July 31, 2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8,678

 

$

8,429

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $139,433 and $121,812 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at October 31, 2012 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

146,946

 

124,004

 

Inventories

 

136,813

 

127,598

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

36,681

 

29,315

 

Total Current Assets

 

329,118

 

289,346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

616,921

 

626,551

 

Goodwill

 

248,944

 

248,944

 

Intangible assets, net

 

187,577

 

189,118

 

Other assets, net

 

46,448

 

43,320

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,429,008

 

$

1,397,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

67,865

 

$

47,824

 

Short-term borrowings

 

117,897

 

95,730

 

Collateralized note payable

 

82,000

 

74,000

 

Other current liabilities

 

132,076

 

122,667

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

399,838

 

340,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (a)

 

1,069,261

 

1,059,085

 

Other liabilities

 

29,476

 

25,499

 

Contingencies and commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (79,015,619 and 79,006,619 units outstanding at October 31, 2012 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

(7,799

)

43,701

 

General partner unitholder (798,138 and 798,047 units outstanding at October 31, 2012 and July 31, 2012, respectively)

 

(60,150

)

(59,630

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(2,795

)

(13,159

)

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners’ Deficit

 

(70,744

)

(29,088

)

Noncontrolling Interest

 

1,177

 

1,562

 

Total Partners’ Deficit

 

(69,567

)

(27,526

)

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Deficit

 

$

1,429,008

 

$

1,397,279

 

 


(a)   The principal difference between the Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. balance sheet and that of Ferrellgas, L.P., is $182 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

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2012 AND 2011

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

335,281

 

$

514,219

 

$

1,982,007

 

$

2,357,853

 

Other

 

27,628

 

24,207

 

181,568

 

203,596

 

Total revenues

 

362,909

 

538,426

 

2,163,575

 

2,561,449

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

213,657

 

403,122

 

1,412,421

 

1,755,980

 

Other

 

9,197

 

6,626

 

97,894

 

118,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

140,055

 

128,678

 

653,260

 

687,231

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense (including $626 of non-recurring severance charges for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2012)

 

96,434

 

99,411

 

396,003

 

411,432

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,875

 

20,674

 

84,042

 

82,785

 

General and administrative expense (including $429 of non-recurring severance charges for the twelve month period ended October 31, 2012)

 

8,774

 

9,364

 

36,526

 

51,137

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,923

 

3,529

 

15,042

 

14,315

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,402

 

2,579

 

9,263

 

10,292

 

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b)

 

3,092

 

2,917

 

9,018

 

15,392

 

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets and other

 

271

 

309

 

5,997

 

4,174

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

4,284

 

(10,105

)

97,369

 

97,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(22,435

)

(23,387

)

(92,302

)

(98,395

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

(46,962

)

Other income (expense), net

 

91

 

(33

)

630

 

356

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

(18,060

)

(33,525

)

5,697

 

(47,297

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(264

)

(630

)

1,494

 

1,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

(17,796

)

(32,895

)

4,203

 

(48,390

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (a)

 

(138

)

(291

)

209

 

(181

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

(17,658

)

(32,604

)

3,994

 

(48,209

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner’s interest in net earnings (loss)

 

(177

)

(326

)

40

 

(482

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings (loss)

 

$

(17,481

)

$

(32,278

)

$

3,954

 

$

(47,727

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) Per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unitholders’ interest

 

$

(0.22

)

$

(0.42

)

$

0.05

 

$

(0.65

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding

 

79,013.3

 

75,966.4

 

78,338.3

 

73,928.5

 

 



 

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

$

(17,658

)

$

(32,604

)

$

3,994

 

$

(48,209

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

(264

)

(630

)

1,494

 

1,093

 

Interest expense

 

22,435

 

23,387

 

92,302

 

98,395

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,875

 

20,674

 

84,042

 

82,785

 

EBITDA

 

25,388

 

10,827

 

181,832

 

134,064

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

46,962

 

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,402

 

2,579

 

9,263

 

10,292

 

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge (b)

 

3,092

 

2,917

 

9,018

 

15,392

 

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets and other

 

271

 

309

 

5,997

 

4,174

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

(91

)

33

 

(630

)

(356

)

Nonrecurring severance costs

 

 

 

1,055

 

 

Nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees

 

688

 

 

1,580

 

11,788

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(138

)

(291

)

209

 

(181

)

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

31,612

 

16,374

 

208,324

 

222,135

 

Net cash interest expense (d)

 

(21,075

)

(22,031

)

(86,644

)

(91,662

)

Maintenance capital expenditures (e)

 

(4,275

)

(5,327

)

(14,992

)

(16,352

)

Cash paid for taxes

 

(18

)

(3

)

(779

)

(511

)

Proceeds from asset sales

 

4,771

 

1,363

 

9,150

 

5,279

 

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (f)

 

$

11,015

 

$

(9,624

)

$

115,059

 

$

118,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane gallons sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail - Sales to End Users

 

124,883

 

132,848

 

611,353

 

667,695

 

Wholesale - Sales to Resellers

 

54,555

 

63,421

 

249,946

 

259,920

 

Total propane gallons sales

 

179,438

 

196,269

 

861,299

 

927,615

 

 


(a)

Amounts allocated to the general partner for its 1.0101% interest in the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

(b)

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charges consist of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

 

 

 

October 31

 

October 31

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

Operating expense

 

$

711

 

$

1,167

 

$

2,291

 

4,788

 

 

General and administrative expense

 

2,381

 

1,750

 

6,727

 

10,604

 

 

Total

 

$

3,092

 

$

2,917

 

$

9,018

 

$

15,392

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings (loss) before income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge, loss (gain) on disposal of assets and other, other income (expense), net, nonrecuring serverance costs, nonrecurring litigation reserve and related legal fees and net earnings (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 income (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)

Management considers Distributable cash flow to equity investors a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures used by other corporations and partnerships.