AmeriGas Propane, Inc., general partner of AmeriGas Partners, L.P. ("the Partnership," NYSE: APU), today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS

  • GAAP net income of $162.1 million and adjusted net income of $198.5 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $551.3 million, in line with revised guidance issued in May

"This year presented a challenge as we faced a second consecutive year of exceedingly warm weather that was 13.5% warmer than normal," said Jerry E. Sheridan, president and chief executive officer of AmeriGas. "We met the challenge by implementing our warm weather plan and maintaining a resolute focus on controlling costs and retaining balance sheet capacity. We were pleased to be able to deliver results in line with our revised guidance and I would like to thank the entire AmeriGas family for their outstanding efforts in connection with meeting this challenge.”

Sheridan continued, “We made significant progress on our growth initiatives as reflected in several accomplishments including increasing our distribution and growing our ACE and National Accounts programs to record levels. The technology tools we have deployed in our operations over the past few years ensure that our business has never been better positioned than it is today."

STRATEGIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Advanced the Partnership's efforts in deploying industry-leading technology across our operating footprint that will improve the customer experience and reduce costs
  • Delivered record operating results in ACE and National Accounts programs
  • Completed five tuck-in acquisitions
  • Completed the refinancing of all long-term debt, reducing our average interest rate by more than 100 basis points
  • Increased Partnership distribution for the 13th consecutive year

EQUITY COMMITMENT FROM UGI

On November 7, the Partnership entered into a $225 million standby equity commitment agreement ("SECA") with UGI Corporation for the potential issuance of Class B common units. Key provisions of the commitment include:

  • Commitment period: November 8, 2017 through July 1, 2019
  • Minimum issuance of Class B common units: $50 million
  • Distributions: Paid in cash or additional Class B units
  • Conversion: Convertible into AmeriGas common units at UGI's option in five years and at AmeriGas' option in six years subject to certain conditions
  • IDRs: Not subject to IDRs until conversion to common units

Although the Partnership does not intend to call on this facility at the present time, this capital commitment provides balance sheet flexibility to continue our strategic initiatives following two historically warm years and underscores the Partnership's commitment to providing long-term value to its investors while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

A report on Form 8-K describing the SECA in greater detail will be filed on November 9, 2017.

2018 OUTLOOK

AmeriGas provided Adjusted EBITDA guidance in the range of $650 - $690 million for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.1 This guidance range assumes normal weather and excludes mark-to-market gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments. Given recent trends in weather, the Partnership determined that using an average of 15 years is a more accurate indicator of normal weather than the previously used 30-year average, and is moving to this metric in fiscal 2018. The 15-year average is approximately 3% warmer than the 30-year average and the impact has been reflected in the Partnership’s guidance for 2018.

1 See Note on Guidance and Use of Forward Looking Statements

EARNINGS CALL and WEBCAST

AmeriGas Partners, L.P. will hold a live Internet Audio Webcast of its conference call to discuss fiscal 2017 earnings and other current activities at 9:00 AM ET on Thursday, November 9, 2017. Interested parties may listen to the audio webcast both live and in replay on the Internet at http://investors.amerigas.com/investor-relations/events-presentations or at the company website http://www.amerigas.com under Investor Relations. A telephonic replay will be available from 12:00 PM ET on November 9 through 11:59 PM on November 16. The replay may be accessed at (855) 859-2056, and internationally at 1-404-537-3406, conference ID 5917897.

ABOUT AMERIGAS

AmeriGas is the nation’s largest retail propane marketer, serving approximately two million customers in all 50 states from approximately 1,900 distribution locations. UGI Corporation, through subsidiaries, is the sole General Partner and owns 26% of the Partnership and the public owns the remaining 74%. Comprehensive information about AmeriGas is available on the Internet at http://www.amerigas.com.

NOTE ON GUIDANCE and USE OF FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Because we are unable to predict certain potentially material items affecting net income on a GAAP basis, principally mark-to-market gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments, we cannot reconcile 2018 Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to net income attribute to AmeriGas Partners, L.P., the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in reliance on the “unreasonable efforts” exception set forth in SEC rules. Adjustments that management can reasonably estimate are provided below.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that management believes to be reasonable as of today’s date only. Actual results may differ significantly because of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. You should read the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more extensive list of factors that could affect results. Among them are adverse weather conditions, cost volatility and availability of propane, increased customer conservation measures, the capacity to transport propane to our market areas, the impact of pending and future legal proceedings, political, economic and regulatory conditions in the U.S. and abroad, the availability, timing and success of our acquisitions, commercial initiatives and investments to grow our business, our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and achieve anticipated synergies, and the interruption, disruption, failure, malfunction or breach of our information technology systems, including due to cyber-attack. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to release revisions to its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after today.

USE OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Partnership’s management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted total margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P., when evaluating the Partnership’s overall performance. These financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measures.

Management believes earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as adjusted for the effects of gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions and other gains and losses that competitors do not necessarily have ("Adjusted EBITDA"), is a meaningful non-GAAP financial measure used by investors to (1) compare the Partnership’s operating performance with that of other companies within the propane industry and (2) assess the Partnership’s ability to meet loan covenants. The Partnership’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA may be different from those used by other companies. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to compare year-over-year profitability of the business without regard to capital structure as well as to compare the relative performance of the Partnership to that of other master limited partnerships without regard to their financing methods, capital structure, income taxes, the effects of gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions or historical cost basis. In view of the omission of interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions and other gains and losses that competitors do not necessarily have from Adjusted EBITDA, management also assesses the profitability of the business by comparing net income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. for the relevant periods. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess the Partnership’s profitability because its parent, UGI Corporation, uses the Partnership’s Adjusted EBITDA to assess the profitability of the Partnership, which is one of UGI Corporation’s industry segments. UGI Corporation discloses the Partnership’s Adjusted EBITDA as the profitability measure for its domestic propane segment.

Management believes the presentation of other non-GAAP financial measures, comprised of adjusted total margin and adjusted net income (loss) attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P., provide useful information to investors to more effectively evaluate the period-over-period results of operations of the Partnership. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures because they eliminate the impact of (1) gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments that are not associated with current-period transactions and (2) other gains and losses that competitors do not necessarily have to provide insight into the comparison of period-over-period profitability to that of other master limited partnerships.

Reconciliations of adjusted total margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are presented at the end of this press release.

REPORT OF EARNINGS

 

AMERIGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Thousands, except per unit and where otherwise indicated)

(Unaudited)

 
    Three Months Ended
September 30,		     Twelve Months Ended
September 30,
2017     2016 2017     2016
Revenues:
Propane $ 379,722 $ 334,412 $ 2,183,538 $ 2,053,160
Other 65,451   59,136   269,957   258,657  
445,173   393,548   2,453,495   2,311,817  
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales – propane 128,730 128,487 891,261 719,842
Cost of sales – other 20,335 19,684 80,611 78,857
Operating and administrative expenses 220,953 242,208 915,133 928,786
Depreciation 43,850 35,998 147,741 146,805
Amortization 10,891 10,947 42,764 43,175
Other operating income, net (1,086 ) (6,173 ) (11,873 ) (28,252 )
423,673   431,151   2,065,637   1,889,213  
Operating income (loss) 21,500 (37,603 ) 387,858 422,604
Loss on extinguishments of debt — (11,803 ) (59,729 ) (48,889 )
Interest expense (39,630 ) (41,426 ) (160,226 ) (164,095 )
(Loss) income before income taxes (18,130 ) (90,832 ) 167,903 209,620
Income tax benefit (expense) 95   3,680   (2,034 ) 1,573  
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interest (18,035 ) (87,152 ) 165,869 211,193
(Deduct net income) add net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (196 ) 324   (3,810 ) (4,209 )
Net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ (18,231 ) $ (86,828 ) $ 162,059   $ 206,984  
General partner’s interest in net income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ 11,146   $ 9,564   $ 45,146   $ 40,227  
Limited partners’ interest in net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ (29,377 ) $ (96,392 ) $ 116,913   $ 166,757  
Income (loss) per limited partner unit (a)
Basic $ (0.32 ) $ (1.04 ) $ 1.25   $ 1.77  
Diluted $ (0.32 ) $ (1.04 ) $ 1.25   $ 1.77  
Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding:
Basic 93,011   92,962   92,996   92,949  
Diluted 93,011   92,962   93,050   93,023  
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Retail gallons sold (millions) 183.5 181.8 1,046.9 1,065.5
Wholesale gallons sold (millions) 10.6 9.7 49.1 49.7
Total margin (b) $ 296,108 $ 245,377 $ 1,481,623 $ 1,513,118
Adjusted total margin (c) $ 256,193 $ 240,969 $ 1,450,561 $ 1,447,039
EBITDA (c) $ 76,045 $ (2,137 ) $ 514,824 $ 559,486
Adjusted EBITDA (c) $ 36,533 $ 5,302 $ 551,274 $ 542,963
Adjusted net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (c) $ (57,743 ) $ (79,389 ) $ 198,509 $ 190,461
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment:
Maintenance capital expenditures $ 12,180 $ 15,829 $ 52,034 $ 52,104
Growth capital expenditures $ 11,473 $ 11,392 $ 46,130 $ 49,589
 
 
(a)    

Income (loss) per limited partner unit is computed in accordance with accounting guidance regarding the application of the two-class method for determining earnings per share as it relates to master limited partnerships. Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the AmeriGas Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

 
(b) Total margin represents "total revenues" less "cost of sales – propane" and "cost of sales – other."
 
(c) The Partnership’s management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted total margin, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA.
 
 

GAAP / NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

(Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 
      Three Months Ended
September 30, 		    Twelve Months Ended
September 30,
2017     2016 2017     2016
Adjusted total margin:
Total revenues $ 445,173 $ 393,548 $ 2,453,495 $ 2,311,817
Cost of sales – propane (128,730 ) (128,487 ) (891,261 ) (719,842 )
Cost of sales – other (20,335 ) (19,684 ) (80,611 ) (78,857 )
Total margin 296,108 245,377 1,481,623 1,513,118
Subtract net gains on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions (39,915 ) (4,408 ) (31,062 ) (66,079 )
Adjusted total margin $ 256,193   $ 240,969   $ 1,450,561   $ 1,447,039  
 
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P.:
Net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ (18,231 ) $ (86,828 ) $ 162,059 $ 206,984
Subtract net gains on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions (39,915 ) (4,408 ) (31,062 ) (66,079 )
Noncontrolling interest in net gains on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions 403 44 238 667
Loss on extinguishments of debt — 11,803 59,729 48,889
MGP environmental accrual —   —   7,545   —  
Adjusted net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ (57,743 ) $ (79,389 ) $ 198,509   $ 190,461  
 
 
      Three Months Ended
September 30, 		    Twelve Months Ended
September 30,
2017     2016 2017     2016
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
Net (loss) income attributable to AmeriGas Partners, L.P. $ (18,231 ) $ (86,828 ) $ 162,059 $ 206,984
Income tax (benefit) expense (95 ) (3,680 ) 2,034 (1,573 )
Interest expense 39,630 41,426 160,226 164,095
Depreciation 43,850 35,998 147,741 146,805
Amortization 10,891   10,947   42,764   43,175  
EBITDA 76,045 (2,137 ) 514,824 559,486
Subtract net gains on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions (39,915 ) (4,408 ) (31,062 ) (66,079 )
Noncontrolling interest in net gains on commodity derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions 403 44 238 667
Loss on extinguishments of debt — 11,803 59,729 48,889
MGP environmental accrual —   —   7,545   —  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 36,533   $ 5,302   $ 551,274   $ 542,963  
 
The following table includes a quantification of interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization included in the calculation of forecasted Adjusted EBITDA guidance range for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018:
 
     

Forecast Fiscal Year Ending
September 30, 2018

(Low End)     (High End)
Adjusted EBITDA (estimate) $ 650,000 $ 690,000
Interest expense (estimate) 161,000 159,000
Income tax expense (estimate) 3,500 3,500
Depreciation (estimate) 139,000 139,000
Amortization (estimate) 43,000 43,000