FGP Ferrellgas Partners LP

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE:FGP) (“Ferrellgas” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended October 31, 2018.

For the quarter, the Company reported a net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $57.0 million, or $.58 per common unit, compared to prior year period net loss of $47.9 million, or $.49 per common unit.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $17.8 million compared to $26.2 million in the prior year. The following table represents the contribution to adjusted EBITDA from ongoing propane operations as well as from assets that were sold during 2018.

(in millions)	Q1 2019			Q1 2018
Propane Operations and Corporate Support	$17.8			$19.0
Results from Assets Sold in 2018	-			$7.2
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA	$17.8			$26.2

On a trailing twelve month basis, adjusted EBITDA from on going propane operations and corporate support as of October 31, 2018 is $226.5 million compared to $227.7 million as of July 31, 2018.

The Company’s propane operations reported that total gallons sold increased 5.9 million gallons, or three percent, over prior year. Margins were over two percent higher than the prior year despite increased competitive pressure in the tank exchange business. The Company continues its aggressive approach to gaining market share.  This strategic focus resulted in approximately 24,500 new customers, or approximately four percent more than prior year. Additionally, the Company’s current Blue Rhino tank exchange sales locations have increased over 12 percent from prior year to over 53,800 locations. Overall, the increase in sales volume growth and margins per gallon resulted in an increase in gross margin dollars of $4.4 million.  The Company’s ongoing commitment to investing in the business led to higher operating expenses during the quarter which were largely the result of new locations established to be in closer proximity to current and potential customers as the company looks to continue increasing market share and customer density.  As a result of this investment and the growth in sales volumes, operating, general and administractive expenses in our Propane segment were $6.1 million higher than the prior year.

Liquidity of $250.1 million at October 31, 2018 resulted from $186.9 million of available borrowing capacity on the Company’s secured credit facility and $63.2 million of cash.

“We are extremely pleased with the quarterly results as our strategy to invest in the growth of the business is paying dividends even faster than anticipated,” said James E. Ferrell, Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Ferrellgas.  “We are committed to growing market share organically and through acquisition.  As expected, operating expenses would exceed growth in gross margin dollars leading into the quarter, however, we were able recover those investments almost completely with an extremely strong month of October.  We have momentum leading into the winter heating season with a stronger customer base, larger footprint and committed employee owners.”

As previously announced, the Company indefinitely suspended its quarterly cash distribution resulting from a failure to meet the required fixed charge coverage ratio within the senior unsecured notes due 2020.

In addition to solidifying the Company’s liquidity with the fourth quarter 2018 closing of the $575 million secured credit facility and extension of its accounts receivable securitization facility and cash from 2018 announced asset sales, the Company  is in the process of engaging a financial advisor to assist in evaluating all available options to address its leverage. 

“Our Company is focused on growth.” said Ferrell.  “We have the liquidity to continue executing on this strategy and I expect that we will resolve our leverage situation in the near future to position our Company for continued success.”

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. 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 27, 2018. 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 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, 2018, and in other documents filed from time to time by these entities with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts William Ruisinger, Interim Chief Financial Officer – billruisinger@ferrellgas.com 816-792-7914

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.  AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
ASSETS		October 31, 2018				July 31, 2018
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	63,188			$	119,311
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $137,560 and $120,079 of accounts
receivable pledged as collateral at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018, respectively)			136,189				126,054
Inventories			106,560				83,694
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			34,003				34,862
Total Current Assets			339,940				363,921
Property, plant and equipment, net			566,078				557,723
Goodwill, net			247,478				246,098
Intangible assets, net			117,452				120,951
Other assets, net			72,842				74,588
Total Assets		$	1,343,790			$	1,363,281
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	59,664			$	46,820
Short-term borrowings			-				32,800
Collateralized note payable			90,000				58,000
Other current liabilities			185,968				142,025
Total Current Liabilities			335,632				279,645
Long-term debt (a)			2,081,243				2,078,637
Other liabilities			38,654				39,476
Contingencies and commitments
Partners' Deficit:
Common unitholders (97,152,665 units outstanding at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018)			(1,041,971	)			(978,503	)
General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at October 31, 2018 and July 31, 2018)			(70,433	)			(69,792	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			8,050				20,510
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. Partners' Deficit			(1,104,354	)			(1,027,785	)
Noncontrolling interest			(7,385	)			(6,692	)
Total Partners' Deficit			(1,111,739	)			(1,034,477	)
Total Liabilities and Partners' Deficit		$	1,343,790			$	1,363,281
(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.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
		Three months ended								Twelve months ended
		October 31								October 31
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Revenues:
Propane and other gas liquids sales		$	334,966			$	302,758			$	1,675,184			$	1,378,771
Midstream operations		-				120,760				161,559				479,419
Other		17,343				31,137				134,053				147,200
Total revenues		352,309				454,655				1,970,796				2,005,390
Cost of sales:
Propane and other gas liquids sales		204,136				179,515				998,035				754,458
Midstream operations		-				108,125				147,434				442,922
Other		3,047				13,702				57,999				69,223
Gross profit		145,126				153,313				767,328				738,787
Operating expense		110,331				110,462				471,617				437,221
Depreciation and amortization expense		18,992				25,732				95,055				102,881
General and administrative expense		14,179				13,164				55,416				47,662
Equipment lease expense		7,863				6,741				29,394				28,516
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge		2,748				3,962				12,645				15,296
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge (a)		-				-				-				1,417
Asset impairments		-				-				10,005				-
Loss on asset sales and disposals		4,504				895				191,008				8,929
Operating income (loss)		(13,491		)		(7,643		)			(97,812	)		96,865
Interest expense		(43,878		)		(40,807		)			(171,538	)			(157,864	)
Other income, net		19				511				436					1,477
Loss before income tax benefit		(57,350		)		(47,939		)			(268,914	)			(59,522	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		158				377					(2,897	)			(176	)
Net loss		(57,508		)		(48,316		)			(266,017	)			(59,346	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)		(493		)		(401		)			(2,336	)			(297	)
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.		(57,015		)		(47,915		)			(263,681	)			(59,049	)
Less: General partner's interest in net loss		(570		)		(479		)			(2,637	)			(590	)
Common unitholders' interest in net loss		$	(56,445	)		$	(47,436	)		$	(261,044	)		$	(58,459	)
Loss Per Common Unit
Basic and diluted net loss per common unitholders' interest		$	(0.58	)		$	(0.49	)		$	(2.69	)		$	(0.60	)
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic		97,152.7				97,152.7					97,152.7			97,443.7

Supplemental Data and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items:
		Three months ended								Twelve months ended
		October 31								October 31
		2018				2017				2018				2017
Net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.		$	(57,015	)		$	(47,915	)		$	(263,681	)		$	(59,049	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		158				377				(2,897		)		(176		)
Interest expense		43,878				40,807				171,538				157,864
Depreciation and amortization expense		18,992				25,732				95,055				102,881
EBITDA		6,013				19,001				15				201,520
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge		2,748				3,962				12,645				15,296
Non-cash stock based compensation charge (a)		-				-				-				1,417
Asset impairments		-				-				10,005				-
Loss on asset sales and disposals		4,504				895				191,008				8,929
Other income, net		(19		)		(511		)		(436		)		(1,477		)
Severance expense $358 included in operating expense for both the three and twelve months ended periods ending October 31, 2017. Also includes $1,305 and $1,795 included in general and administrative expense for the three and twelve months ended October 31, 2017, respectively.		-				1,663				-				2,153
Legal fees and settlements		3,564				-				9,629				-
Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement		1,524				-				1,524				-
Exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions						-				11,804
Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives $(314) and $1,839 included in cost of sales for the twelve months ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Also includes in cost of sales $1,607 for the three months ended October 31, 2017. Also includes $(2,120) included in operating expense for the twelve months ended October 31, 2017.		-				1,607				(314		)		(281		)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (b)		(493		)		(401		)		(2,336		)		(297		)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)		17,841				26,216				233,544				227,260
Net cash interest expense (d)		(40,899		)		(38,057		)		(163,734		)		(148,027		)
Maintenance capital expenditures (e)		(5,385		)		(8,704		)		(24,298		)		(22,317		)
Cash refund from (paid for) taxes		(2		)		(6		)		295				(315		)
Proceeds from certain asset sales		1,061				1,208				9,056				7,440
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors (f)		(27,384		)		(19,343		)		54,863				64,041
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest		(548		)		(387		)		1,097				1,281
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders (g)		(26,836		)		(18,956		)		53,766				62,760
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders		9,715				9,715				38,861				38,860
Distributable cash flow excess/(shortage)		$	(36,551	)		$	(28,671	)		$	14,905			$	23,900
Propane gallons sales
Retail - Sales to End Users		129,667				119,294				647,341				572,978
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers		48,960				53,429				235,741				227,690
Total propane gallons sales		178,627				172,723				883,082				800,668
(a)  Non-cash stock-based compensation charges consist of the following:

		Three months ended						Twelve months ended
		October 31						October 31
			2018			2017			2018			2017
Operating expense		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	567
General and administrative expense			-			-			-			850
Total		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	1,417

(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 disposals, other income, net, severance expense, legal fees and settlements, multi-employer pension plan withdrawal settlement, exit costs associated with contracts - Midstream dispositions,  unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value  of derivatives, 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 expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash refund from (paid for) for 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. 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.
(g)	Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors minus distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and noncontrolling interest. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added to our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to common unit holders that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP .