WHIPPANY, N.J., July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH), a marketer of propane gas and related products and services nationwide, today announced its results for the third quarter ended June 28, 2003. The Partnership also announced the seventh increase in its quarterly distribution from $0.5750 to $0.5875 per Common Unit -- $2.35 per Common Unit annualized. The increased distribution will be payable on August 12, 2003, to Common Unitholders of record as of August 5, 2003.
Consistent with the seasonal nature of the propane industry, the Partnership typically experiences a net loss in the third quarter. For the third quarter of fiscal 2003, Suburban's net loss was $11.9 million, or $0.47 per Common Unit, compared to a net loss of $11.0 million, or $0.44 per Common Unit, for the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") amounted to $3.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2003, compared to $4.5 million for the prior year period.
Retail gallons sold increased 2.9 million gallons, or 3.3%, to 89.6 million gallons in the fiscal 2003 third quarter, compared to 86.7 million gallons in the prior year period. The increase in retail volumes is primarily attributable to cooler temperatures that extended well into the spring, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the country.
Revenues increased $8.6 million, or 6.3%, to $146.2 million for the three months ended June 28, 2003, compared to $137.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues is primarily the result of an increase in average selling prices in line with the significant increase in product costs compared to the prior year quarter, coupled with the aforementioned increase in retail sales volumes.
Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $69.7 million increased $1.1 million, or 1.6%, compared to the prior year quarter of $68.6 million. Operating expenses in the fiscal 2003 third quarter included a $0.1 million unrealized gain attributable to the mark to market on derivative instruments ("FAS 133"), compared to a $1.0 million unrealized loss in the prior year quarter attributable to FAS 133. Offsetting the impact of FAS 133, combined operating and general and administrative expenses increased $2.2 million compared to the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily attributable to higher bad debt expense and vehicle costs (primarily fuel costs) reflecting increased business activity throughout the fiscal 2003 winter heating season, a higher commodity price environment and general economic conditions, as well as higher pension and insurance costs.
In announcing these results, President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Alexander said, "In addition to achieving solid results for the quarter, we took additional steps to further strengthen our balance sheet with the successful completion of our follow-on equity offering of approximately 2.6 million Common Units. We used the net proceeds from the offering of $72.4 million, in combination with our strong cash flow from operations, to pay down debt of approximately $88.5 million in a conscious effort to reduce our leverage. With these accomplishments, we are also pleased to announce yet another increase in our quarterly distribution, our seventh increase in four years. This history of steady distribution increases is proof of our commitment to providing continued value and growth opportunities to our Unitholders."
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 approximately 750,000 residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 320 customer service centers in 40 states.
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Nine Months Ended June 28, 2003 and June 29, 2002
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
June 28, June 29, June 28, June 29,
2003 2002 2003 2002
Revenues
Propane $126,144 $115,571 $577,006 $482,166
Other (a) 20,027 22,064 69,069 73,220
146,171 137,635 646,075 555,386
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold 73,325 64,444 314,213 241,033
Operating 61,193 60,589 190,211 177,996
General and administrative 8,534 8,053 27,704 23,369
Depreciation and amortization 6,717 7,048 20,490 21,379
Gain on sale of storage facility - - - (6,768)
149,769 140,134 552,618 457,009
(Loss) / income before interest
expense and provision for
income taxes (3,598) (2,499) 93,457 98,377
Interest expense, net 8,480 8,339 26,212 26,373
(Loss) / income before provision
for income taxes (12,078) (10,838) 67,245 72,004
(Benefit) / provision for income
taxes (64) 190 103 518
(Loss) / income from continuing
operations (12,014) (11,028) 67,142 71,486
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of customer service
centers 79 - 2,483 -
Net (loss) / income $(11,935) $(11,028) $69,625 $71,486
General Partner's interest in net
(loss) / income $(320) $(281) $1,755 $1,482
Limited Partners' interest in net
(loss) / income $(11,615) $(10,747) $67,870 $70,004
(Loss) / income from continuing
operations per unit - basic $(0.47) $(0.44) $2.65 $2.84
Net (loss) / income per unit -
basic $(0.47) $(0.44) $2.74 $2.84
Weighted average number of units
outstanding - basic 24,918 24,631 24,727 24,631
(Loss) / income from continuing
operations per unit - diluted $(0.47) $(0.44) $2.64 $2.84
Net (loss) / income per unit -
diluted $(0.47) $(0.44) $2.74 $2.84
Weighted average number of units
outstanding - diluted 24,918 24,631 24,793 24,665
Supplemental Information:
EBITDA (b) $3,198 $4,549 $116,430 $119,756
Retail gallons sold 89,600 86,730 412,490 379,309
(a) Other revenues principally represent amounts generated from the sales
of appliances, parts and related services.
(b) EBITDA represents 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 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 Nine Months Ended
June 28, June 29, June 28, June 29,
2003 2002 2003 2002
Net (loss) / income $(11,935) $(11,028) $69,625 $71,486
Add:
(Benefit) / provision for income
taxes (64) 190 103 518
Interest expense, net 8,480 8,339 26,212 26,373
Depreciation and amortization 6,717 7,048 20,490 21,379
EBITDA 3,198 4,549 116,430 119,756
Add / (subtract):
Benefit / (provision) for income
taxes 64 (190) (103) (518)
Interest expense, net (8,480) (8,339) (26,212) (26,373)
(Gain) / loss on disposal of
property, plant and equipment,
net (166) 63 (486) (213)
Gain on sale of customer service
centers (79) - (2,483) -
Gain on sale of storage facility - - - (6,768)
Changes in working capital and
other assets and liabilities 51,020 33,823 (18,223) (19,856)
Net cash provided by operating
activities $45,557 $29,906 $68,923 $66,028
SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
-0- 07/24/2003
/CONTACT: Robert M. Plante, Vice President - Finance, Suburban Propane
Partners, L.P., +1-973-503-9252/
/Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/112074.html/
/Web site: http://suburbanpropane.com/
(SPH)
CO: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
ST: New Jersey
IN: OIL
SU: ERN DIV
MW
-- NYTH019 --
6184 07/24/2003 07:27 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com