WHIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 4, 2016 /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 earnings for its third quarter ended June 25, 2016.

Consistent with the seasonal nature of the propane and fuel oil businesses, the Partnership typically experiences a net loss in the third quarter of its fiscal year.  Net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was $29.6 million, or $0.49 per Common Unit, compared to a net loss of $41.0 million, or $0.67 per Common Unit, in the prior year third quarter. 

Net loss and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 included a $9.8 million gain from the sale of certain assets and operations in a non-strategic market of the propane segment; partially offset by a $6.6 million charge related to the Partnership's voluntary full withdrawal from a multi-employer pension plan covering certain employees acquired in the Inergy Propane acquisition. Net loss and EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 included expenses of $1.1 million related to the integration of Inergy Propane. Excluding the effects of the foregoing items and unrealized (non-cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments in both years, Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) amounted to $18.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $12.1 million in the prior year third quarter.

In announcing these results, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Stivala said, "We are very pleased to report an increase in our Adjusted EBITDA by $6.3 million, or 52%, compared to the prior year third quarter. As we exited what was reported as the warmest winter on record, we continued to focus on the things within our control – solid customer base management, prudent margin management and further operating efficiencies to drive cost savings.  The improvement in earnings for the quarter was driven by a combination of higher volumes sold and continued expense reductions.  In addition, once again we funded all working capital requirements from cash on hand without the need to borrow under our revolving credit facility, and ended the quarter with more than $67.0 million of cash."

Retail propane gallons sold of 80.2 million gallons in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 increased 2.6 million gallons, or 3.4%, compared to the prior year third quarter. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels of 5.8 million gallons in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 decreased 0.4 million gallons compared to the prior year third quarter.  Although weather during the third quarter typically has less of an impact on volumes sold than it does during the heating season, volumes for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 benefitted from cooler average temperatures compared to the prior year third quarter.  From an overall weather perspective, average temperatures across all of our service territories (as measured by heating degree days) for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 were 9% warmer than normal and 7% cooler than the prior year third quarter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Revenues of $205.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 decreased $15.2 million, or 6.9%, compared to the prior year third quarter, primarily due to lower average selling prices, offset to an extent by higher volumes sold. Average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) and fuel oil prices were 5.0% higher and 26.7% lower than the prior year third quarter, respectively. Cost of products sold for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 of $75.5 million decreased $18.7 million, or 19.9%, compared to $94.2 million in the prior year third quarter, primarily due to lower average costs of inventory coming into the quarter. Cost of products sold for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 included a $0.1 million unrealized (non-cash) loss attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to a nominal unrealized (non-cash) loss in the prior year third quarter. These unrealized losses are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods in the table below. 

Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $117.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2016 were $2.7 million, or 2.3%, higher than the prior year third quarter. Excluding the impact of the items discussed above in the computation of Adjusted EBITDA from both periods, combined operating and general and administrative expenses decreased $2.8 million, or 2.5%, compared to the prior year third quarter.  The savings were due to lower payroll and benefit related expenses attributable to a lower headcount and lower vehicle expenses stemming from a reduction in the quantity of vehicles in use.   

Depreciation and amortization expense of $32.3 million was $0.4 million, or 1.2%, lower than the prior year third quarter. Net interest expense of $18.6 million decreased $0.3 million, or 1.6%, primarily due to savings from the refinancing of the Partnership's revolving credit facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

Mr. Stivala concluded, "Despite the challenges presented by record warm temperatures in our first and second fiscal quarters of 2016, our balance sheet and liquidity position remain strong and the fundamentals of our business are unchanged.  We continue to be well positioned to focus on our growth initiatives – both internally through refinements to our business model and externally through strategic acquisitions."

As previously announced on July 21, 2016, the Partnership's Board of Supervisors had declared a quarterly distribution of $0.8875 per Common Unit for the three months ended June 25, 2016. On an annualized basis, this distribution rate equates to $3.55 per Common Unit. The distribution is payable on August 9, 2016 to Common Unitholders of record as of August 2, 2016.

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 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through 700 locations in 41 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, natural gas and electricity, 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 sufficient volumes of, and the costs to the Partnership of acquiring, transporting and storing, propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels;
• 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 climate change, derivative instruments and other regulatory developments on the Partnership's business;
• The impact of changes in tax laws that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for 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;
• The operating, legal and regulatory risks the Partnership may face; 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 26, 2015 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. 

(a)     EBITDA represents net income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss on mark-to-market activity for derivative instruments and other items, as applicable, as provided in the table below. Our management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures of operating performance and we are including them because we believe that they provide our investors and industry analysts with additional information that we determined is useful to evaluate our operating results.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with US GAAP.  Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, they may not be comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following table sets forth our calculations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

The unaudited financial information included in this document is intended only as a summary provided for your convenience, and should be read in conjunction with the complete consolidated financial statements of the Partnership (including the Notes thereto, which set forth important information) contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed by the Partnership with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Such report, once filed, will be available on the public EDGAR electronic filing system maintained by the SEC.

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SOURCE Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.