WHIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH), a nationwide distributor of propane, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity, today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 24, 2011.

Fiscal Year 2011 Results

Net income for fiscal 2011 amounted to $115.0 million, or $3.24 per Common Unit, compared to $115.3 million, or $3.26 per Common Unit, in fiscal 2010. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for fiscal 2011 amounted to $178.9 million, compared to $174.7 million for fiscal 2010.

Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2011 included a $2.0 million charge for severance costs associated with the realignment of the Partnership's field operations, as well as a non-cash charge of $2.9 million to accelerate depreciation expense on assets taken out of service. By comparison, net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2010 included: (i) a loss on debt extinguishment of $9.5 million associated with a refinancing of the Partnership's senior notes; (ii) a non-cash pension settlement charge of $2.8 million; and (iii) a non-cash charge of $1.8 million to accelerate depreciation expense on assets taken out of service. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) amounted to $179.4 million in fiscal 2011, compared to $192.4 million in fiscal 2010.

In announcing the full-year results, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Dunn, Jr., said, "Fiscal 2011 was every bit as challenging as we expected it to be, with continued weakness in the economy and rising commodity prices putting pressure on both volumes and margins. In response to the challenging business environment facing the industry, we continue to adapt our operating model and invest in technology to put our people in the best position to focus on quality customer service and growing our customer base.  Following the realignment efforts implemented in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we have already started to see some of the operational and financial benefits that we anticipated, ending the fiscal year with two consecutive quarters of year-over-year improvement in Adjusted EBITDA."

Mr. Dunn added, "At the same time, our balance sheet remains strong.  We continued to fund all working capital needs from cash on hand, and we ended the quarter with nearly $150 million of cash.  While we expect many of the challenges to persist into fiscal 2012, we believe we are well positioned to leverage our strengths to be opportunistic in the marketplace."  

Retail propane gallons sold for fiscal 2011 decreased 19.0 million gallons, or 6.0%, to 298.9 million gallons from 317.9 million gallons in fiscal 2010. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels decreased 6.0 million gallons, or 13.9%, to 37.2 million gallons compared to 43.2 million gallons in the prior year. Sales volumes in both segments continued to be negatively affected by weakness in the economy, coupled with customer conservation attributable to the high commodity price environment relative to historical levels. Average posted prices for propane and fuel oil were 26.7% and 36.6% higher, respectively, compared to fiscal 2010, as commodity prices continued to rise throughout much of fiscal 2011.  From a weather perspective, average temperatures for fiscal 2011 were 1% warmer than normal, compared to 4% warmer than normal in the prior year.  

Revenues for fiscal year 2011 of $1,190.6 million increased $53.9 million, or 4.7%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher average selling prices attributable to higher base commodity prices, offset to an extent by lower volumes sold. Cost of products sold for fiscal 2011 of $678.7 million increased $80.2 million, or 13.4%, compared to $598.5 million in the prior year as a result of higher wholesale product costs. Cost of products sold in fiscal 2011 included a $1.4 million unrealized (non-cash) gain attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to a $5.4 million unrealized (non-cash) loss in the prior year; these unrealized gains and losses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods in the table below.  

Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $331.0 million for fiscal year 2011 were $20.2 million, or 5.8%, lower than the prior fiscal year, primarily due to lower variable compensation attributed to lower earnings and continued savings in payroll and benefit related expenses, offset to an extent by higher fuel costs to operate our fleet. Depreciation and amortization expense of $35.6 million increased $4.8 million, or 15.6%, primarily due to the impact of prior year acquisitions, as well as from the non-cash charges related to the accelerated depreciation referenced above.

Net interest expense of $27.4 million for fiscal 2011 was flat with the prior year. For the fifth consecutive year, the Partnership funded all working capital requirements with cash on hand without the need to borrow under its working capital facility and ended the year with $149.6 million of cash.

Fourth Quarter 2011 Results

Consistent with the seasonal nature of the propane and fuel oil businesses, the Partnership typically reports a net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter. Net loss in the three months ended September 24, 2011 was $21.7 million, or $0.61 per Common Unit, compared to a net loss of $24.8 million, or $0.70 per Common Unit, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Net loss and EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 included the non-cash pension settlement charge of $2.8 million referenced in the discussion of full year results. Excluding the one-time charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and the effects of the unrealized (non-cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments used in risk management activities in both quarters, Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 improved $2.0 million to a loss of $4.6 million, compared to a loss of $6.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Retail propane gallons sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 decreased 3.4 million gallons, or 7.2%, to 44.0 million gallons, compared to 47.4 million gallons in the prior year fourth quarter. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels decreased 1.1 million gallons, to 4.0 million gallons compared to 5.1 million gallons during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Cost of products sold for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 of $107.2 million increased $14.2 million, or 15.3%, compared to the prior year fourth quarter primarily as a result of higher wholesale product costs. Costs of product sold for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 included a $0.8 million unrealized (non-cash) loss attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to an unrealized (non-cash) loss of $0.5 million in the prior year fourth quarter. Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $79.7 million decreased $2.5 million, or 3.0%, compared to the prior year fourth quarter, primarily due to lower variable compensation and continued savings in payroll and benefits related expenses.

On October 20, 2011, the Partnership announced that its Board of Supervisors had declared a quarterly distribution of $0.8525 per Common Unit for the three months ended September 24, 2011. On an annualized basis, this distribution rate equates to $3.41 per Common Unit. The $0.8525 per Common Unit distribution will be paid on November 8, 2011 to Common Unitholders of record as of November 1, 2011.

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 750,000 residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 300 locations in 30 states.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to future business expectations and financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership, based on management's current good faith expectations and beliefs concerning future developments.  These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including the following:

• The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;
• Volatility in the unit cost of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas, the impact of the Partnership's hedging and risk management activities, and the adverse impact of price increases on volumes as a result of customer conservation;
• The ability of the Partnership to compete with other suppliers of propane, fuel oil and other energy sources;
• The impact on the price and supply of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels from the political, military or economic instability of the oil producing nations, global terrorism and other general economic conditions;
• The ability of the Partnership to acquire and maintain reliable transportation for its propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels;
• The ability of the Partnership to retain customers or acquire new customers;
• The impact of customer conservation, energy efficiency and technology advances on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;
• The ability of management to continue to control expenses;
• The impact of changes in applicable statutes and government regulations, or their interpretations, including those relating to the environment and global warming, derivative instruments and other regulatory developments on the Partnership's business;
• The impact of changes in tax regulations that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes;
• The impact of legal proceedings on the Partnership's business;  
• The impact of operating hazards that could adversely affect the Partnership's operating results to the extent not covered by insurance;
• The Partnership's ability to make strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate them;
• The impact of current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures; and
• Other risks referenced from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and those factors listed or incorporated by reference into the Partnership's Annual Report under "Risk Factors."  

Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 25, 2010 and other periodic reports filed with the SEC.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date made. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.