Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 28, 202027, 2021

 

 

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission File Number:  1-14222

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

22-3410353

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

240 Route 10 West

Whippany, NJ 07981

(973)  887-5300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol

 

Name of exchange on which registered

Common Units

 

SPH

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.      Yes   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

 

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes      No  

At May 4, 2020,3, 2021, there were 62,131,66962,529,235 Common Units of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. outstanding.

 

 


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 201926, 2020

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital for the three months ended March 28, 202027, 2021
and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital for the six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021
and March 30, 201928, 2020

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

24

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

3534

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

3736

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

3837

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

3837

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

3837

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

 

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

3937

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

 

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

3937

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

 

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

3937

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

3937

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

 

EXHIBITS

 

4038

 

 

 

 

 

SignaturEs

 

4139

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements (“Forward-Looking Statements”) as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to future business expectations and predictions and financial condition and results of operations of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”).  Some of these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “prospects,” “outlook,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “anticipates,” “expects” or “plans” or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussion of trends and conditions, strategies or risks and uncertainties.  These Forward-Looking Statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed or implied in such Forward-Looking Statements (statements contained in this Quarterly Report identifying such risks and uncertainties are referred to as “Cautionary Statements”).  The risks and uncertainties and theirthat could impact on the Partnership’s results include, but are not limited to, the following risks:

The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding government response, including the impact across the Partnership’s businesses on demand and operations, as well as on the operations of the Partnership’s suppliers, customers and other business partners, and the effectiveness of the Partnership’s actions taken in response to these risks;

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 sold 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, including the economic instability resulting from natural disasters such as pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic;

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 ability of the Partnership to continue to combat cybersecurity threats to our networks and information technology;

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 most recent Annual Report under “Risk Factors.”

 


Table of Contents

 

Some of these Forward-Looking Statements are discussed in more detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report.  Reference is also made to the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019, and Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report.26, 2020.  On different occasions, the Partnership or its representatives have made or may make Forward-Looking Statements in other filings with the SEC, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of the Partnership’s authorized executive officers.  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 or Cautionary Statement, except as required by law.  All subsequent written and oral Forward-Looking Statements attributable to the Partnership or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements in this Quarterly Report and in future SEC reports.

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

5,195

 

 

$

2,441

 

 

$

6,729

 

 

$

3,140

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,773 and

$2,573, respectively

 

 

113,615

 

 

 

59,340

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,482 and

$4,473, respectively

 

 

145,442

 

 

 

55,441

 

Inventories

 

 

42,881

 

 

 

45,036

 

 

 

57,020

 

 

 

46,869

 

Other current assets

 

 

17,316

 

 

 

16,623

 

 

 

20,652

 

 

 

10,508

 

Total current assets

 

 

179,007

 

 

 

123,440

 

 

 

229,843

 

 

 

115,958

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

618,189

 

 

 

627,207

 

 

 

584,529

 

 

 

597,454

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets (See Notes 2 and 8)

 

 

115,118

 

 

 

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

123,985

 

 

 

119,594

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,103,781

 

 

 

1,098,085

 

 

 

1,107,026

 

 

 

1,103,781

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

 

112,581

 

 

 

128,437

 

 

 

58,923

 

 

 

84,140

 

Other assets

 

 

31,341

 

 

 

21,179

 

 

 

24,428

 

 

 

26,326

 

Total assets

 

$

2,160,017

 

 

$

1,998,348

 

 

$

2,128,734

 

 

$

2,047,253

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

47,754

 

 

$

34,085

 

 

$

62,495

 

 

$

31,985

 

Accrued employment and benefit costs

 

 

26,754

 

 

 

34,688

 

 

 

32,832

 

 

 

35,214

 

Customer deposits and advances

 

 

57,556

 

 

 

97,854

 

 

 

54,493

 

 

 

104,427

 

Operating lease liabilities (See Notes 2 and 8)

 

 

24,505

 

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

28,094

 

 

 

26,436

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

53,253

 

 

 

49,503

 

 

 

59,595

 

 

 

46,454

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

209,822

 

 

 

216,130

 

 

 

237,509

 

 

 

244,516

 

Long-term borrowings

 

 

1,259,667

 

 

 

1,227,057

 

 

 

1,172,786

 

 

 

1,210,176

 

Accrued insurance

 

 

52,292

 

 

 

51,514

 

 

 

52,728

 

 

 

57,542

 

Operating lease liabilities (See Notes 2 and 8)

 

 

90,194

 

 

 

��

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

95,344

 

 

 

92,668

 

Other liabilities

 

 

76,720

 

 

 

79,817

 

 

 

75,019

 

 

 

79,970

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,688,695

 

 

 

1,574,518

 

 

 

1,633,386

 

 

 

1,684,872

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Unitholders (62,073 and 61,735 units issued and outstanding at

March 28, 2020 and September 28, 2019, respectively)

 

 

496,426

 

 

 

450,016

 

Common Unitholders (62,529 and 62,146 units issued and outstanding at

March 27, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively)

 

 

519,368

 

 

 

388,157

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(25,104

)

 

 

(26,186

)

 

 

(24,020

)

 

 

(25,776

)

Total partners’ capital

 

 

471,322

 

 

 

423,830

 

 

 

495,348

 

 

 

362,381

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

2,160,017

 

 

$

1,998,348

 

 

$

2,128,734

 

 

$

2,047,253

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

1


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

347,686

 

 

$

433,056

 

 

$

481,328

 

 

$

347,686

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

31,502

 

 

 

41,598

 

 

 

32,011

 

 

 

31,502

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

10,198

 

 

 

17,596

 

 

 

10,750

 

 

 

10,198

 

All other

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

12,127

 

 

 

13,149

 

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

401,055

 

 

 

504,377

 

 

 

537,238

 

 

 

401,055

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

150,118

 

 

 

201,522

 

 

 

231,567

 

 

 

150,118

 

Operating

 

 

110,588

 

 

 

108,154

 

 

 

109,188

 

 

 

110,588

 

General and administrative

 

 

13,436

 

 

 

21,988

 

 

 

21,980

 

 

 

13,436

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

29,288

 

 

 

30,623

 

 

 

27,346

 

 

 

29,288

 

 

 

303,430

 

 

 

362,287

 

 

 

390,081

 

 

 

303,430

 

Operating income

 

 

97,625

 

 

 

142,090

 

 

 

147,157

 

 

 

97,625

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

109

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

19,176

 

 

 

19,647

 

 

 

18,092

 

 

 

19,176

 

Other, net

 

 

979

 

 

 

1,175

 

 

 

1,582

 

 

 

979

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

 

77,361

 

 

 

121,268

 

 

 

127,483

 

 

 

77,361

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

267

 

 

 

0

 

Net income

 

$

77,361

 

 

$

121,016

 

 

$

127,216

 

 

$

77,361

 

Net income per Common Unit - basic

 

$

1.24

 

 

$

1.96

 

 

$

2.03

 

 

$

1.24

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic

 

 

62,325

 

 

 

61,776

 

 

 

62,744

 

 

 

62,325

 

Net income per Common Unit - diluted

 

$

1.23

 

 

$

1.94

 

 

$

2.02

 

 

$

1.23

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted

 

 

62,668

 

 

 

62,225

 

 

 

63,088

 

 

 

62,668

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

749,952

 

 

$

633,111

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

47,761

 

 

 

57,393

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

17,626

 

 

 

18,919

 

All other

 

 

27,090

 

 

 

25,510

 

 

 

 

842,429

 

 

 

734,933

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

334,946

 

 

 

268,718

 

Operating

 

 

207,167

 

 

 

217,464

 

General and administrative

 

 

40,110

 

 

 

32,710

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

55,363

 

 

 

58,562

 

 

 

 

637,586

 

 

 

577,454

 

Operating income

 

 

204,843

 

 

 

157,479

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

0

 

 

 

109

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

36,227

 

 

 

38,248

 

Other, net

 

 

2,660

 

 

 

1,957

 

Income before provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

165,956

 

 

 

117,165

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

763

 

 

 

(359

)

Net income

 

$

165,193

 

 

$

117,524

 

Net income per Common Unit - basic

 

$

2.64

 

 

$

1.89

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic

 

 

62,643

 

 

 

62,239

 

Net income per Common Unit - diluted

 

$

2.62

 

 

$

1.88

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted

 

 

62,971

 

 

 

62,578

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

633,111

 

 

$

754,416

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

57,393

 

 

 

70,507

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

18,919

 

 

 

31,000

 

All other

 

 

25,510

 

 

 

25,558

 

 

 

 

734,933

 

 

 

881,481

 

Costs and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

268,718

 

 

 

384,107

 

Operating

 

 

217,464

 

 

 

207,563

 

General and administrative

 

 

32,710

 

 

 

38,493

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58,562

 

 

 

60,694

 

 

 

 

577,454

 

 

 

690,857

 

Operating income

 

 

157,479

 

 

 

190,624

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

38,248

 

 

 

39,135

 

Other, net

 

 

1,957

 

 

 

2,351

 

Income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes

 

 

117,165

 

 

 

149,138

 

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

 

 

(359

)

 

 

403

 

Net income

 

$

117,524

 

 

$

148,735

 

Net income per Common Unit - basic

 

$

1.89

 

 

$

2.41

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic

 

 

62,239

 

 

 

61,711

 

Net income per Common Unit - diluted

 

$

1.88

 

 

$

2.39

 

Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted

 

 

62,578

 

 

 

62,128

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income

 

$

77,361

 

 

$

121,016

 

$

117,524

 

 

$

148,735

 

 

$

127,216

 

 

$

77,361

 

$

165,193

 

 

$

117,524

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service

credits into earnings

 

 

541

 

 

 

552

 

1,082

 

 

 

1,104

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

541

 

1,186

 

 

 

1,082

 

Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement

 

 

570

 

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

541

 

 

 

552

 

 

1,082

 

 

 

1,104

 

 

 

1,163

 

 

 

541

 

 

1,756

 

 

 

1,082

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

77,902

 

 

$

121,568

 

$

118,606

 

 

$

149,839

 

 

$

128,379

 

 

$

77,902

 

$

166,949

 

 

$

118,606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

117,524

 

 

$

148,735

 

 

$

165,193

 

 

$

117,524

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58,562

 

 

 

60,694

 

 

 

55,363

 

 

 

58,562

 

Pension settlement charge

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

109

 

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

4,822

 

 

 

6,575

 

 

 

4,953

 

 

 

4,822

 

Other, net

 

 

681

 

 

 

228

 

 

 

1,825

 

 

 

681

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(53,708

)

 

 

(82,613

)

 

 

(89,984

)

 

 

(53,708

)

Inventories

 

 

2,405

 

 

 

8,769

 

 

 

(10,015

)

 

 

2,405

 

Other current and noncurrent assets

 

 

(20,802

)

 

 

629

 

 

 

(12,800

)

 

 

(20,802

)

Accounts payable

 

 

16,675

 

 

 

17,787

 

 

 

30,929

 

 

 

16,675

 

Accrued employment and benefit costs

 

 

(7,934

)

 

 

(1,365

)

 

 

(2,382

)

 

 

(7,934

)

Customer deposits and advances

 

 

(40,298

)

 

 

(47,785

)

 

 

(49,934

)

 

 

(40,298

)

Contributions to defined benefit pension plan

 

 

(2,030

)

 

 

(3,320

)

 

 

(3,690

)

 

 

(2,030

)

Other current and noncurrent liabilities

 

 

15,313

 

 

 

(7,090

)

 

 

11,801

 

 

 

15,313

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

91,319

 

 

 

101,244

 

 

 

101,829

 

 

 

91,319

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(20,484

)

 

 

(16,552

)

 

 

(14,271

)

 

 

(20,484

)

Acquisitions of businesses

 

 

(21,471

)

 

 

(10,575

)

Investment in and acquisition of businesses

 

 

(6,441

)

 

 

(21,471

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,849

 

 

 

3,095

 

 

 

1,407

 

 

 

1,849

 

Net cash (used in) investing activities

 

 

(40,106

)

 

 

(24,032

)

 

 

(19,305

)

 

 

(40,106

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

 

405,700

 

 

 

234,400

 

 

 

172,400

 

 

 

405,700

 

Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

 

(374,100

)

 

 

(234,500

)

 

 

(210,800

)

 

 

(374,100

)

Issuance costs associated with long-term borrowings

 

 

(2,665

)

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(2,665

)

Partnership distributions

 

 

(74,283

)

 

 

(73,841

)

 

 

(37,401

)

 

 

(74,283

)

Other, net

 

 

(3,111

)

 

 

(2,507

)

 

 

(3,134

)

 

 

(3,111

)

Net cash (used in) financing activities

 

 

(48,459

)

 

 

(76,448

)

 

 

(78,935

)

 

 

(48,459

)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

2,754

 

 

 

764

 

 

 

3,589

 

 

 

2,754

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

2,441

 

 

 

5,164

 

 

 

3,140

 

 

 

2,441

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

5,195

 

 

$

5,928

 

 

$

6,729

 

 

$

5,195

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

 

Three Months Ended March 27, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

62,070

 

 

$

454,079

 

 

$

(25,645

)

 

$

428,434

 

 

 

62,522

 

 

$

408,345

 

 

$

(25,183

)

 

$

383,162

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

127,216

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

127,216

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

593

 

Partnership distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,242

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,242

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18,757

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18,757

)

Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

3

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

7

 

 

 

(31

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(31

)

Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

570

 

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,595

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,595

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

62,073

 

 

$

496,426

 

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

471,322

 

 

 

62,529

 

 

$

519,368

 

 

$

(24,020

)

 

$

495,348

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 30, 2019

 

 

Three Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

61,664

 

 

$

511,042

 

 

$

(24,118

)

 

$

486,924

 

 

 

62,070

 

 

$

454,079

 

 

$

(25,645

)

 

$

428,434

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

121,016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

121,016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77,361

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

552

 

 

 

552

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

541

 

Partnership distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36,998

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36,998

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,242

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,242

)

Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(32

)

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,260

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

61,664

 

 

$

598,614

 

 

$

(23,566

)

 

$

575,048

 

 

 

62,073

 

 

$

496,426

 

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

471,322

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 27, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

62,146

 

 

$

388,157

 

 

$

(25,776

)

 

$

362,381

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

165,193

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

165,193

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,186

 

 

 

1,186

 

Partnership distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,401

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(37,401

)

Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

383

 

 

 

(1,534

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,534

)

Recognition in earnings of net actuarial loss for pension settlement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

570

 

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,953

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,953

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

62,529

 

 

$

519,368

 

 

$

(24,020

)

 

$

495,348

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

61,735

 

 

$

450,124

 

 

$

(26,186

)

 

$

423,938

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

117,524

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

117,524

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,082

 

 

 

1,082

 

Partnership distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(74,283

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(74,283

)

Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

338

 

 

 

(1,761

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,761

)

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,822

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

62,073

 

 

$

496,426

 

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

471,322

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended March 30, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Common

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Partners’

 

 

 

Common Units

 

 

Unitholders

 

 

(Loss)

 

 

Capital

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

 

61,405

 

 

$

518,494

 

 

$

(24,670

)

 

$

493,824

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,735

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,104

 

 

 

1,104

 

Partnership distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(73,841

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(73,841

)

Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

259

 

 

 

(1,349

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,349

)

Compensation costs recognized under Restricted Unit Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,575

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,575

 

Balance, end of period

 

 

61,664

 

 

$

598,614

 

 

$

(23,566

)

 

$

575,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(dollars in thousands, except unit and per unit amounts)

(unaudited)

1.

Partnership Organization and Formation

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership principally engaged, through its operating partnership and subsidiaries, in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets.  In addition, to complement its core marketing and distribution businesses, the Partnership services a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly for heating and ventilation.  The publicly traded limited partner interests in the Partnership are evidenced by common units traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“Common Units”), with 62,073,45262,529,235 Common Units outstanding at March 28, 2020.27, 2021.  The holders of Common Units are entitled to participate in distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), as amended.  Rights and privileges under the Partnership Agreement include, among other things, the election of all members of the Board of Supervisors and voting on the removal of the general partner.

Suburban Propane, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, is the Partnership’s operating subsidiary formed to operate the propane business and assets.  In addition, Suburban Sales & Service, Inc. (the “Service Company”), a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, was formed to operate the service work and appliance and parts businesses of the Partnership.  The Operating Partnership, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, accounts for substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, revenues and earnings.  The Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the Service Company commenced operations in March 1996 in connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering.

The general partner of both the Partnership and the Operating Partnership is Suburban Energy Services Group LLC (the “General Partner”), a Delaware limited liability company, the sole member of which is the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer.  Other than as a holder of 784 Common Units that will remain in the General Partner, the General Partner does not have any economic interest in the Partnership or the Operating Partnership.

The Partnership’s fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and electricity and services businesses are structured as either limited liability companies that are treated as corporations or corporate entities (collectively referred to as the “Corporate Entities”) and, as such, are subject to corporate level U.S. income tax.

Suburban Energy Finance Corp., a direct 100%-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, was formed on November 26, 2003 to serve as co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of the Partnership’s senior notes.

 

2.

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation.  The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated.  The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner interest in the Operating Partnership.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  They include all adjustments that the Partnership considers necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented.  Such adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019.26, 2020.  Due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, the results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year.

 

Fiscal Period.  The Partnership uses a 52/53 week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September.  The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally 13 weeks in duration.  When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long, the corresponding fourth quarter is 14 weeks in duration.

8


Table of Contents

 

Revenue Recognition.  On the first day of fiscal 2019, the Partnership adopted the new accounting guidance regarding revenue recognition under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”) and all related amendments using the full retrospective method.  ASU 2014-09 provides a five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers.  The five steps are to identify the contract(s) with the customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied.  The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Partnership’s condensed consolidated statements of financial position, operations or cash flows.

Revenue is recognized by the Partnership when goods or services promised in a contract with a customer have been transferred, and no further performance obligation on that transfer is required, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received.  Performance obligations are determined and evaluated based on the specific terms of the arrangements and the distinct products and services offered.  Due to the nature of the retail business of the Partnership, there are 0 remaining or unsatisfied performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period, except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, as described below.  The performance obligation associated with sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels is met at the time product is delivered to the customer.  Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when installation is complete, as defined by the performance obligations included within the related customer contract.  Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized upon completion of the service.  Revenue from the sale of natural gas and electricity is recognized based on customer usage as determined by meter readings for amounts delivered, an immaterial amount of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period.

The Partnership defers the recognition of revenue for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration is received at the start of the contract period, establishing contract liabilities which are disclosed as customer deposits and advances on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  Deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceed billings to those customers establish contract assets which are included in accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The Partnership ratably recognizes revenue over the applicable term for tank rent and maintenance service agreements, which is generally one year, and at the time of delivery for fixed price contracts and budgetary programs.  

The Partnership incurs incremental direct costs, such as commissions to its salesforce, to obtain certain contracts.  These costs are expensed as incurred, consistent with the practical expedients issued by the FASB, since the expected amortization period is one year or less.  The Partnership generally determines selling prices based on, among other things, the current weighted average cost and the current replacement cost of the product at the time of delivery, plus an applicable margin.  Except for tank rental agreements, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs, customer payments for the satisfaction of a performance obligation are due upon receipt.

Fair Value Measurements.  The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market.  The principal market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.

The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values.  The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Business Combinations.  The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date.  Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets.  The primary drivers that generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership, and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset.  Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives.  The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the condensed consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date.  The Partnership expenses all acquisition-related costs as incurred.

9


Table of Contents

 

Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Estimates have been made by management in the areas of self-insurance and litigation reserves, pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price allocation for acquired businesses.  The Partnership uses Society of Actuaries life expectancy information when developing the annual mortality assumptions for the pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are used to measure net periodic benefit costs and the obligation under these plans.  Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.

Reclassifications.  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  See Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, below.Pronouncements.

Recently IssuedOn the first day of fiscal 2021, the Partnership adopted the guidance under Accounting Pronouncements.  In January 2017, the FASB issuedStandards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2017-04 “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“Topic 350”). This update eliminateseliminated the requirement to perform a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment.  In testing goodwill for impairment, an entity may elect to utilize a qualitative assessment to evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.  If the qualitative assessment indicates that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. Topic 350 is effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, which will be the Partnership’s first quarter of fiscal 2021.  EarlyThe initial adoption of Topic 350 is permitted.  The Partnership doesdid not expect that the adoption of Topic 350 will have a materialan impact on the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.On September 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020,2021, the Partnership adopted the new leases accounting guidance under ASU 2016-02 “Leases”2016-13 “Financial Instruments - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“Topic 842”326”), including the related amendments thereto.  Topic 842 amended the existing accounting standards for lease accounting,The new guidance introduced an approach based on expected losses rather than incurred losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments including, requiring lesseesbut not limited to, recognize most leases on their balance sheets.trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and net investments in leases. The Partnership adopted the guidance under Topic 842326 using a modified retrospective transition approach for all leasesfinancial instruments existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application. The adoption of Topic 842 resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities326 did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 29, 2019 of approximately $103,100, but did not have an impact on the Partnership’s other condensed consolidated financial statements or on its financial metrics used for debt covenant compliance. See Note 8, “Leases” for more information.statements.

3.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table disaggregates revenue for each customer type.  See Note 18, “Segment Information” for more information on segment reporting wherein it is disclosed that the Partnership’s Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels and Natural Gas and Electricity reportable segments generated approximately 85%89%, 8%6% and 3%2%, respectively, of the Partnership’s revenue from its reportable segments for all periods presented.  The propane segment contributes the majority of the Partnership’s revenue and the concentration of revenue by customer type for the propane segment is not materially different from the consolidated revenue.

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Retail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

$

248,601

 

 

$

312,110

 

$

310,930

 

 

$

248,601

 

Commercial

 

95,328

 

 

 

118,081

 

 

128,886

 

 

 

95,328

 

Industrial

 

28,655

 

 

 

33,477

 

 

35,447

 

 

 

28,655

 

Agricultural

 

10,673

 

 

 

13,867

 

 

13,571

 

 

 

10,673

 

Government

 

17,787

 

 

 

23,339

 

 

23,572

 

 

 

17,787

 

Wholesale

 

12

 

 

 

3,503

 

 

24,832

 

 

 

12

 

Total revenues

$

401,055

 

 

$

504,377

 

$

537,238

 

 

$

401,055

 

10


Table of Contents

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Retail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residential

$

445,487

 

 

$

533,824

 

$

485,641

 

 

$

445,487

 

Commercial

 

178,663

 

 

 

214,659

 

 

208,326

 

 

 

178,663

 

Industrial

 

55,254

 

 

 

62,431

 

 

61,242

 

 

 

55,254

 

Agricultural

 

23,568

 

 

 

27,768

 

 

24,709

 

 

 

23,568

 

Government

 

31,935

 

 

 

39,273

 

 

35,472

 

 

 

31,935

 

Wholesale

 

26

 

 

 

3,526

 

 

27,039

 

 

 

26

 

Total revenues

$

734,933

 

 

$

881,481

 

$

842,429

 

 

$

734,933

 

 

The Partnership recognized $24,920$32,538 and $57,596$64,957 of revenue during the three and six months ended March 28, 2020,27, 2021, respectively, and $25,988$24,920 and $59,146$57,596 during the three and six months ended March 30, 2019,28, 2020, respectively, for annually billed tank rent, maintenance service contracts, fixed price contracts and budgetary programs where customer consideration was received at the start of the contract period, and which was included in contract liabilities as of the beginning of each respective period. Contract assets of $19,285$21,186 and $7,051$4,700 relating to deliveries to customers enrolled in budgetary programs that exceeded billings to those customers were included in accounts receivable as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, respectively.

4.

AcquisitionsInvestments in and Acquisition of Businesses

On December 5, 2019,November 12, 2020, the Operating Partnership acquired the propane assets and operations of a propane retailer headquartered in GeorgiaNorth Carolina for $10,400,$7,685, including $1,250 for non-compete consideration, plus working capital acquired.  As of March 28, 2020, $9,07227, 2021, $5,453 was paid and the remainder of the purchase price will be funded in accordance with the terms of the asset purchase and non-compete agreements.

On October 30, 2019, the Operating Partnership acquired the propane assets and operations of a propane retailer headquartered in California for $13,000, including $1,000 for non-compete consideration, plus working capital acquired. As of March 28, 2020, $11,899 This acquisition was paid and the remainder of the purchase price will be funded in accordance with the terms of the asset purchase and non-compete agreements.

These acquisitions were consummated pursuant to the Partnership’s strategic growth initiatives.  The purchase price allocationsallocation and results of operations of the acquired businesses werebusiness was not material to the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial position and statement of operations.

On September 17, 2020, the Operating Partnership purchased a 39% equity stake in Oberon Fuels, Inc. (“Oberon”) based in San Diego, California and also purchased a secured convertible note issued by Oberon.  Oberon, a development-stage producer of low carbon, renewable dimethyl ether (“rDME”) transportation fuel, is focused on the research and development of practical and affordable pathways to zero-emission transportation through its proprietary production process. These investments were made in line with the Partnership’s Go Green with Suburban Propane corporate pillar which focuses on innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The equity investment in Oberon is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Operating Partnership purchased an additional secured convertible note issued by Oberon as they reached certain development milestones as stated in the agreement.

 

5.

Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  The Partnership considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Commodity Price Risk.  Given the retail nature of its operations, the Partnership maintains a certain level of priced physical inventory to help ensure its field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year.  The Partnership’s strategy is to keep its physical inventory priced relatively close to market for its field operations.  The Partnership enters into a combination of exchange-traded futures and option contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to hedge price risk associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventories, as well as future purchases of propane or fuel oil used in its operations and to help ensure adequate supply during periods of high demand.  In addition, the Partnership sells propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enters into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts.  Under this risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold or delivered as it pertains to fixed price contracts.  All of the Partnership’s derivative instruments are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at their fair values.  In addition, in the course of normal operations, the Partnership routinely enters into contracts such as

11


Table of Contents

forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts.  Such contracts are exempted from the fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract.  The Partnership does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.  Market risks associated with derivative instruments are monitored daily for compliance with the Partnership’s Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open positions.  Priced on-hand inventory is also reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

11


Table of Contents

On the date that derivative instruments are entered into, other than those designated as normal purchases or normal sales, the Partnership makes a determination as to whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period in current period earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge.  For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the Partnership formally assesses, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into earnings during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings.  The mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in earnings immediately.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded within earnings as they occur.  Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk.  A portion of the Partnership’s borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin.  The applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership’s total leverage (the ratio of total debt to income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”)).  Therefore, the Partnership is subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate.  From time to time, the Partnership manages part of its variable interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements.  The Partnership did not enter into any interest rate swap agreements during the first six monthshalf of fiscal 20202021 or in fiscal 2019.2020.

Valuation of Derivative Instruments.  The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange-traded options and futures contracts using quoted market prices found on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the “NYMEX”) (Level 1 inputs); the fair value of its swap contracts using quoted forward prices, and the fair value of its interest rate swaps using model-derived valuations driven by observable projected movements of the 3-month LIBOR (Level 2 inputs); and the fair value of its over-the-counter options contracts using Level 3 inputs.  The Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are valued based on an internal option model.  The inputs utilized in the model are based on publicly available information as well as broker quotes.  The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of the Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are interest rate and market volatility.

The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, respectively:

 

 

As of March 28, 2020

 

 

As of September 28, 2019

 

 

As of March 27, 2021

 

 

As of September 26, 2020

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Derivatives not designated as

hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

Other current assets

 

$

729

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

4,082

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

11,490

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

1,066

 

 

Other assets

 

 

8,697

 

 

Other assets

 

 

167

 

 

Other assets

 

 

44

 

 

Other assets

 

 

461

 

 

 

 

$

9,426

 

 

 

 

$

4,249

 

 

 

 

$

11,534

 

 

 

 

$

1,527

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability Derivatives

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

 

Location

 

Fair Value

 

Derivatives not designated as

hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

9,747

 

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

3,360

 

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

4,440

 

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

2,684

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

2,369

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

0

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

$

12,116

 

 

 

 

$

3,360

 

 

 

 

$

4,440

 

 

 

 

$

2,684

 

12


Table of Contents

 

The following summarizes the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs:

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using Significant

Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

 

Fair Value Measurement Using Significant

Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 28, 2020

 

 

Six Months Ended

March 30, 2019

 

 

March 27, 2021

 

 

March 28, 2020

 

 

Assets

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

Assets

 

 

Liabilities

 

Beginning balance of over-the-counter options

 

$

419

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,546

 

 

$

361

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

419

 

 

$

0

 

Beginning balance realized during the period

 

 

(387

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,179

)

 

 

(287

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(387

)

 

 

0

 

Contracts purchased during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

750

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Change in the fair value of outstanding contracts

 

 

(32

)

 

 

 

 

 

869

 

 

 

(74

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(32

)

 

 

0

 

Ending balance of over-the-counter options

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,236

 

 

$

 

 

$

750

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

12


Table of Contents

 

As of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, the Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives had a weighted average maturity of approximately eightfour and threesix months, respectively.

The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 201928, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

 

Three Months Ended March 30, 2019

 

 

Three Months Ended March 27, 2021

 

 

Three Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

Derivatives Not Designated

as Hedging Instruments

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

(4,714

)

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

8,521

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

1,638

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

(4,714

)

 

 

Six Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

 

Six Months Ended March 30, 2019

 

 

Six Months Ended March 27, 2021

 

 

Six Months Ended March 28, 2020

 

Derivatives Not Designated

as Hedging Instruments

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Unrealized Gains (Losses)

Recognized in Income

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

 

Location

 

Amount

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

(1,938

)

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

(7,390

)

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

6,493

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

$

(1,938

)

 

The following table presents the fair value of the Partnership’s recognized derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis and amounts offset on the condensed consolidated balance sheets subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements:

 

 

As of March 28, 2020

 

 

As of September 28, 2019

 

 

As of March 27, 2021

 

 

As of September 26, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net amounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

presented in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

presented in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

presented in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

presented in the

 

 

Gross amounts

 

 

Effects of netting

 

 

balance sheet

 

 

Gross amounts

 

 

Effects of netting

 

 

balance sheet

 

 

Gross amounts

 

 

Effects of netting

 

 

balance sheet

 

 

Gross amounts

 

 

Effects of netting

 

 

balance sheet

 

Asset Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

$

16,895

 

 

$

(7,469

)

 

$

9,426

 

 

$

10,464

 

 

$

(6,215

)

 

$

4,249

 

 

$

19,725

 

 

$

(8,191

)

 

$

11,534

 

 

$

6,836

 

 

$

(5,309

)

 

$

1,527

 

Liability Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity-related derivatives

 

$

19,585

 

 

$

(7,469

)

 

$

12,116

 

 

$

9,575

 

 

$

(6,215

)

 

$

3,360

 

 

$

12,631

 

 

$

(8,191

)

 

$

4,440

 

 

$

7,993

 

 

$

(5,309

)

 

$

2,684

 

 

The Partnership had $4,713$00- and $5,392$4,718 posted cash collateral as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, respectively, with its brokers for outstanding commodity-related derivatives.

Bank Debt and Senior Notes.  The fair value of the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility (defined below in Note 10) approximates the carrying value since the interest rates are adjusted quarterly to reflect market conditions.  Based upon quoted market prices (a Level 1 input), the fair value of the Senior Notes (also defined below in Note 10) of the Partnership are as follows:

 

 

As of

 

 

As of

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

5.5% senior notes due June 1, 2024

 

$

488,408

 

 

$

540,094

 

 

$

535,500

 

 

$

531,563

 

5.75% senior notes due March 1, 2025

 

 

231,250

 

 

 

253,178

 

 

 

255,625

 

 

 

255,625

 

5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027

 

 

315,875

 

 

 

354,375

 

 

 

364,350

 

 

 

360,063

 

 

$

1,035,533

 

 

$

1,147,647

 

 

$

1,155,475

 

 

$

1,147,251

 

13


Table of Contents

 

6.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using a weighted average method for propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas, and a standard cost basis for appliances, which approximates average cost. Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

As of

 

 

As of

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas

 

$

40,667

 

 

$

43,217

 

 

$

54,105

 

 

$

44,362

 

Appliances

 

 

2,214

 

 

 

1,819

 

 

 

2,915

 

 

 

2,507

 

 

$

42,881

 

 

$

45,036

 

 

$

57,020

 

 

$

46,869

 

13


Table of Contents

 

7.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired.  Goodwill is subject to an impairment review at a reporting unit level, on an annual basis as of the end of fiscal July of each year, or when an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate potential impairment.  Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was not material to the Partnership’s operations or cash flows during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Partnership continues to evaluate the potential future impact of the pandemic to its business.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Partnership assessed if the current and potential future impact of COVID-19 represented an event which necessitated an impairment review.  This assessment included an update of the qualitative factors and quantitative estimates utilized within the annual assessment after which the Partnership concluded such an event had not occurred and an impairment review was not warranted at this time.  The Partnership will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and assess if an impairment review is required.

The Partnership has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.  If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-stepan impairment test is unnecessary.  However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-stepan impairment test.

Under the two-stepan impairment test, the Partnership assesses the carrying value of goodwill at a reporting unit level based on an estimate of the fair value of the respective reporting unit.  Fair value of the reporting unit is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses taking into consideration estimated cash flows in a ten-year projection period and a terminal value calculation at the end of the projection period.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill associated with the reporting unit is not considered to be impaired.  If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of the associated goodwill, if any, exceeds the implied fair value, up to the amount of goodwill allocated to the goodwill.reporting unit.

The carrying values of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel oil and

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel oil and

 

 

Natural gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

 

refined fuels

 

 

and electricity

 

 

Total

 

 

Propane

 

 

refined fuels

 

 

and electricity

 

 

Total

 

Balance as of September 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 26, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

1,085,747

 

 

$

10,900

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,104,547

 

 

$

1,091,443

 

 

$

10,900

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,110,243

 

Accumulated adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

$

1,085,747

 

 

$

4,438

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,098,085

 

 

$

1,091,443

 

 

$

4,438

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,103,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2020 Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2021 Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill acquired (1)

 

$

5,696

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

5,696

 

 

$

3,245

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

3,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 28, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 27, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

1,091,443

 

 

$

10,900

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,110,243

 

 

$

1,094,688

 

 

$

10,900

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,113,488

 

Accumulated adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

(6,462

)

 

$

1,091,443

 

 

$

4,438

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,103,781

 

 

$

1,094,688

 

 

$

4,438

 

 

$

7,900

 

 

$

1,107,026

 

 

14


Table of Contents

 

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

 

As of

 

 

As of

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Customer relationships (1)

 

$

517,676

 

 

$

507,159

 

 

$

519,374

 

 

$

517,676

 

Non-compete agreements (1)

 

 

37,690

 

 

 

35,440

 

 

 

38,940

 

 

 

37,690

 

Other

 

 

1,967

 

 

 

1,967

 

 

 

1,967

 

 

 

1,967

 

 

 

557,333

 

 

 

544,566

 

 

 

560,281

 

 

 

557,333

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: accumulated amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

 

(412,008

)

 

 

(384,507

)

 

 

(466,997

)

 

 

(439,507

)

Non-compete agreements

 

 

(31,257

)

 

 

(30,181

)

 

 

(32,783

)

 

 

(32,154

)

Other

 

 

(1,487

)

 

 

(1,441

)

 

 

(1,578

)

 

 

(1,532

)

 

 

(444,752

)

 

 

(416,129

)

 

 

(501,358

)

 

 

(473,193

)

 

$

112,581

 

 

$

128,437

 

 

$

58,923

 

 

$

84,140

 

(1)

Reflects the impact from acquisitions (See Note 4, “Acquisitions of Businesses”)4).

 

8.

Leases

The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of its vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases all of which were determined to be operating leases.  The Partnership determines if an agreement contains a lease at inception based on the Partnership’s right to the economic benefits of the leased assets and its right to direct the use of the leased asset.  Right-of-use assets represent the Partnership’s right to use an underlying asset, and right-of-use liabilities represent the Partnership’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.  Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term.  As most of the Partnership’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Partnership uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, adjusted for the lease term, to determine the present value of the lease payments.  This rate is calculated based on a collateralized rate for the specific leasing activities of the Partnership.

Some leases include one or more options to renew at the Partnership’s discretion, with renewal terms that can extend the lease from one to fifteen additional years.  The renewal options are included in the measurement of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities if the Partnership is reasonably certain to exercise the renewal options.  Short-term leases are leases having an initial term of twelve months or less.  The Partnership recognizes expenses for short-term leases on a straight-line basis, includes future minimum lease payments in the table below and does not record a lease asset or lease liability for such leases.

When implementing Topic 842, theThe Partnership elected the following practical expedients:expedients related to Topic 842: (1) a package of practical expedients that allows the Partnership to not reassess: (a) whether expired or existing contracts contained leases; (b) the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and (c) the initial direct costs for existing leases; (2) for all underlying asset classes, an expedient that allows the Partnership to not apply the recognition requirements to short-term leases and account for lease and associated non-lease components as a single lease component; (3) an expedient that allows the use of hindsight to determine lease term; and (4) an expedient that allows the Partnership to not evaluate under Topic 842 land easements that existed or expired before the Partnership’s fiscal 2020 adoption of Topic 842, and that were not previously accounted for as leases.

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment. See Note 14, “Guarantees” for more information.

The Partnership does not have any material lease obligations that were signed, but not yet commenced as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021.

15


Table of Contents

 

Quantitative information on the Partnership’s lease population for the three and six months ended March 28, 2020 is as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months

Ended

 

 

Six Months

Ended

 

 

 

March 28, 2020

 

 

March 28, 2020

 

Lease expense

 

$

7,673

 

 

$

14,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments for operating leases

 

 

7,843

 

 

 

15,253

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating

   lease liabilities

 

 

16,114

 

 

 

21,445

 

Other information related to leases as of March 28, 2020 was as follows:

Weighted-average remaining lease term

6.6 years

Weighted-average discount rate

5.1

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Lease expense

 

$

9,358

 

 

$

7,673

 

 

 

$

18,292

 

 

$

14,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments for operating leases

 

 

9,412

 

 

 

7,843

 

 

 

 

18,353

 

 

 

15,253

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating

   lease liabilities

 

 

9,377

 

 

 

16,114

 

 

 

 

21,764

 

 

 

21,445

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.3 years

 

 

6.6 years

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.3

%

 

 

5.1

%

 

 

The following table summarizes future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of March 28, 2020:27, 2021:  

 

Fiscal Year

 

Operating Leases

 

2020 (remaining)

 

$

15,204

 

2021

 

 

27,976

 

2022

 

 

25,387

 

2023

 

 

20,392

 

2024

 

 

15,118

 

2025 and thereafter

 

 

32,000

 

Total future minimum lease payments

 

$

136,077

 

Less: interest

 

 

(21,378

)

Total lease obligations

 

$

114,699

 

As previously disclosed in the Partnership’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K under the previous lease standard (Topic 840), at September 28, 2019, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows:

 

Fiscal Year

 

Operating Leases

 

 

Operating Leases

 

2020

 

$

27,110

 

2021

 

 

23,875

 

2021 (remaining)

 

$

17,602

 

2022

 

 

21,068

 

 

 

32,382

 

2023

 

 

16,267

 

 

 

27,241

 

2024

 

 

10,980

 

 

 

21,322

 

2025 and thereafter

 

 

25,128

 

2025

 

 

16,904

 

2026 and thereafter

 

 

30,989

 

Total future minimum lease payments

 

$

124,428

 

 

$

146,440

 

Less: interest

 

 

(22,480

)

Total lease obligations

 

$

123,960

 

 

9.

Net Income Per Common Unit

Computations of basic income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units, and vested (and unissued) restricted units granted under the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plans, as defined below, to retirement-eligible grantees.  Computations of diluted income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units and unissued restricted units granted under the Restricted Unit Plans.  In computing diluted net income per Common Unit, weighted average units outstanding used to compute basic net income per Common Unit were increased by 342,384344,387 and 339,315327,743 units for the three and six months ended March 28, 2020,27, 2021, respectively, and 448,593342,384 and 417,308339,315 for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019,28, 2020, respectively, to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted units outstanding using the treasury stock method.

 

10.Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

5.5% senior notes, due June 1, 2024

 

$

525,000

 

 

$

525,000

 

5.75% senior notes, due March 1, 2025

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

250,000

 

5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

Revolving Credit Facility, due March 5, 2025

 

 

56,200

 

 

 

94,600

 

Subtotal

 

 

1,181,200

 

 

 

1,219,600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(8,414

)

 

 

(9,424

)

 

 

$

1,172,786

 

 

$

1,210,176

 

16


Table of Contents

 

10.

Long-Term Borrowings

Long-term borrowings consist of the following:

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

5.5% senior notes, due June 1, 2024

 

$

525,000

 

 

$

525,000

 

5.75% senior notes, due March 1, 2025

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

250,000

 

5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

Revolving Credit Facility, due March 5, 2025

 

 

145,100

 

 

 

113,500

 

Subtotal

 

 

1,270,100

 

 

 

1,238,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs

 

 

(10,433

)

 

 

(11,443

)

 

 

$

1,259,667

 

 

$

1,227,057

 

 

Senior Notes

2024 Senior Notes.  On May 27, 2014, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a public offering of $525,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.5% senior notes due June 1, 2024 (the “2024 Senior Notes”).  The 2024 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in June and December.  The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2024 Senior Notes, along with cash on hand, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 7.5% senior notes due in 2018.

2025 Senior Notes.  On February 25, 2015, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a public offering of $250,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due March 1, 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”).  The 2025 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in March and September.  The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2025 Senior Notes, along with cash on hand, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 7.375% senior notes due in 2020.  

2027 Senior Notes.  On February 14, 2017, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed a public offering of $350,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”).  The 2027 Senior Notes were issued at 100% of the principal amount and require semi-annual interest payments in March and September.  The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Notes, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, were used to repurchase, satisfy and discharge all of the Partnership’s then-outstanding 7.375% senior notes due in 2021.

The Partnership’s obligations under the 2024 Senior Notes, 2025 Senior Notes and 2027 Senior Notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) are unsecured and rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness and equally in right of payment with any future senior indebtedness.  The Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to, which means they rank effectively behind, any debt and other liabilities of the Operating Partnership.  The Partnership is permitted to redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at redemption prices and times as specified in the indentures governing the Senior Notes.  The Senior Notes each have a change of control provision that would require the Partnership to offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of the principal amount repurchased, if a change of control, as defined in the indenture, occurs and is followed by a rating decline (a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody’s Investors Service or Standard and Poor’s Rating Group by one or more gradations) within 90 days of the consummation of the change of control.

Credit Agreement.  OnThe Operating Partnership has an amended and restated credit agreement dated March 5, 2020 the Partnership and the Operating Partnership entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that provides for a $500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), of which $145,100$56,200 and $94,600 was outstanding as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively.  The Revolving Credit Facility matures on the earlier of (A)(a) the date that is ninety-one (91) days prior to maturity of the 2024 Senior Notes (unless the notes have been refinanced prior to such date) and (B)(b) March 5, 2025.  At the time of the execution of the Credit Agreement, $183,900 was outstanding under the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit facility of the previous credit agreement, which was rolled into the Revolving Credit Facility under the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement amends and restates the previous credit agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity, lower borrowing costs, and amend certain affirmative and negative covenants, including an increase to the maximum permitted Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio from 5.50x to 5.75x.  Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions.  The Operating Partnership has the right to prepay any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty at any time prior to maturity.  In connection with the execution of the Credit Agreement, the Partnership recognized a non-cash charge of $109 to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs of the previous credit agreement.

17


Table of Contents

The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, as well as certain financial covenants, including (a) requiring the Partnership’s Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter, (b) prohibiting the Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Partnership from being greater than 5.75 to 1.0, and (c) prohibiting the Senior Secured Consolidated Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, of the Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.25 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.   

The Partnership and certain subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership act as guarantors with respect to the obligations of the Operating Partnership under the Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein.  The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by liens on substantially all of the personal property of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries, as well as mortgages on certain real property.

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR plus the Applicable Rate, or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1%, the administrative agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus in each case the Applicable Rate.  The Applicable Rate is dependent upon the Partnership’s Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  As of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, the interest rate for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 4.0%2.5%.  The interest rate and the Applicable Rate will be reset following the end of each calendar quarter.

As of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, the Partnership had standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility of $59,726$53,612 which expire periodically through March 1, 2021.January 28, 2022.

17


Table of Contents

The Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership, its subsidiaries and the Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions.  Under the Credit Agreement and the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Operating Partnership and the Partnership are generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon making such distributions, and with respect to the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Partnership’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1.  The Partnership and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the Senior Notes and the Credit Agreement as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021.

The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to March 28, 202027, 2021 are as follows: fiscal 2020: $-0-; fiscal 2021: $-0-$00-; fiscal 2022: $-0-; fiscal 2023: $-0-; fiscal 2024: $525,000;$581,200; fiscal 2025: $250,000; and thereafter: $745,100.$350,000.

 

11.

Distributions of Available Cash

The Partnership makes distributions to its partners no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter in an aggregate amount equal to its Available Cash for such quarter.  Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements.  These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters.

On April 23, 2020,22, 2021, the Partnership announced a quarterly distribution of $0.60$0.30 per Common Unit, or $2.40$1.20 per Common Unit on an annualized basis, in respect of the second quarter of fiscal 2020,2021, payable on May 12, 202011, 2021 to holders of record on May 5, 2020.4, 2021.

 

12.

Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements

The Partnership recognizes compensation cost over the respective service period for employee services received in exchange for an award of equity, or equity-based compensation, based on the grant date fair value of the award.  The Partnership measures liability awards under an equity-based payment arrangement based on remeasurement of the award’s fair value at the conclusion of each interim and annual reporting period until the date of settlement, taking into consideration the probability that the performance conditions will be satisfied.

18


Table of Contents

Restricted Unit Plans.  On July 22, 2009, the Partnership adopted the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2009 Restricted Unit Plan, as amended (the “2009 Restricted Unit Plan”), which authorizes the issuance of Common Units to executives, managers and other employees and members of the Board of Supervisors of the Partnership.  The total number of Common Units authorized for issuance under the 2009 Restricted Unit Plan was 2,400,000 as of July 31, 2019, the date on which this plan expired.  At the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting held on May 15, 2018, the Unitholders approved the Partnership’s 2018 Restricted Unit Plan authorizing the issuance of up to 1,800,000 Common Units (the “2018 Restricted Unit Plan” and together with the 2009 Restricted Unit Plan, from which there are still unvested awards outstanding, the “Restricted Unit Plans”).  Unless otherwise stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, 33.33% of all outstanding awards under the Restricted Unit Plans will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant date.  Participants in the Restricted Unit Plans are not eligible to receive quarterly distributions on, or vote, their respective restricted units until vested.  Restricted units cannot be sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of each restricted unit is established by the market price of the Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period.  Restricted units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plans. Compensation expense for the unvested awards is recognized ratably over the vesting periods and is net of estimated forfeitures.

During the six months ended March 28, 2020,27, 2021, the Partnership awarded 471,111753,177 restricted units under the Restricted Unit Plans at an aggregate grant date fair value of $8,567.$10,922.  The following is a summary of activity for the Restricted Unit Plans for the six months ended March 28, 2020:27, 2021:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Restricted

 

 

Grant Date Fair

 

 

Restricted

 

 

Grant Date Fair

 

 

Units

 

 

Value Per Unit

 

 

Units

 

 

Value Per Unit

 

Outstanding September 28, 2019

 

 

988,339

 

 

$

18.12

 

Outstanding September 26, 2020

 

 

961,816

 

 

$

17.60

 

Awarded

 

 

471,111

 

 

 

18.19

 

 

 

753,177

 

 

 

14.50

 

Forfeited

 

 

(433

)

 

 

(17.06

)

 

 

(10,960

)

 

 

(15.26

)

Vested (1)

 

 

(414,708

)

 

 

(19.46

)

 

 

(475,168

)

 

 

(18.63

)

Outstanding March 28, 2020

 

 

1,044,309

 

 

$

17.62

 

Outstanding March 27, 2021

 

 

1,228,865

 

 

$

15.32

 

18


Table of Contents

 

(1)

During fiscal 2020,2021, the Partnership withheld 76,45392,336 Common Units from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.

As of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the Restricted Unit Plans amounted to $7,677.$8,692.  Compensation cost associated with unvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1approximately one year.  Compensation expense for the Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures, for the three and six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 was $2,595 and $4,953, respectively, and $2,260 and $4,822 respectively, and $3,554 and $6,575, for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019,28, 2020, respectively.

Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan.  On January 17, 2017, the Partnership adopted the Distribution Equivalent Rights Plan (the “DER Plan”), which gives the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors discretion to award distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) to executive officers of the Partnership.  Once awarded, DERs entitle the grantee to a cash payment each time the Board of Supervisors declares a cash distribution on the Partnership’s Common Units, which cash payment will be equal to an amount calculated by multiplying the number of unvested restricted units which are held by the grantee on the record date of the distribution, by the amount of the declared distribution per Common Unit.  Compensation expense recognized under the DER Plan for the three and six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 was $206 and $413, respectively, and $301 and $605 respectively, and $264 and $520, for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019,28, 2020, respectively.

Long-Term Incentive Plan.  On August 6, 2013, the Partnership adopted the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2014 LTIP”) and on November 10, 2020, the Partnership adopted the 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2021 LTIP” and together with the 2014 LTIP, “the LTIPs”).  The LTIP is aLTIPs are non-qualified, unfunded, long-term incentive planplans for executive officers and key employees that providesprovide for payment, in the form of cash, of an award of equity-based compensation at the end of a three-year performance period.  The 2014 LTIP document governs the terms and conditions of the outstanding fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2020 awards and the 2021 LTIP document governs the terms and conditions of the outstanding fiscal 2021 award and any awards granted in fiscal years thereafter.  The level of compensation earned under the 2014 LTIP is based on the Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio over the three-year measurement period.  The Partnership’s average distribution coverage ratio is calculated as the Partnership’s average distributable cash flow, as defined by the 2014 LTIP document, for each of the three years in the measurement period, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the 2014 LTIP document, divided by the amount of annualized cash distributions to be paid by the Partnership.  The level of compensation earned under the 2021 LTIP is evaluated using two separate measurement components: (i) 75% weight based on the level of average distributable cash flow of the Partnership over the three-year measurement period; and (ii) 25% weight based on the achievement of certain operating and strategic objectives, set by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Supervisors, over the three-year measurement period. The distributable cash flow component and operating/strategic objectives component are defined and described in the 2021 LTIP document.

As a result of the quarterly remeasurement of the liability for awards under the LTIP,LTIPs, compensation expense (income) expense recognized for three and six months ended March 27, 2021 was $1,255 and $3,076, respectively, and ($3,276) and ($1,286) for the three and six months ended March 28, 2020, was $(3,276) and $(1,286), respectively, and $1,361 and $3,199, for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019, respectively.  As of March 28, 202027, 2021, and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, the Partnership had a liability included within accrued employment and benefit costs (or other liabilities, as applicable) of $5,952$7,440 and $10,201,$7,718, respectively, related to estimated future payments under the LTIP.LTIPs.  In the first quarter of fiscal 2020,2021, cash payouts totaling $2,963$3,354 were made relating to the fiscal 2017 award.

19


Table of Contents2018 award granted under the 2014 LTIP.

 

13.

Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Insurance.  The Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies.  As of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $68,472$67,658 and $67,279,$72,942, respectively, representing the total estimated losses for known and anticipated or unasserted general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile claims.  For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted to $17,283$16,290 and $18,110$17,572 as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, respectively.

Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane.  The Partnership has been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of its business.  In this regard, the Partnership’s natural gas and electricity business is currently a defendant in twoa putative class action suitssuit in the federal district courtsNorthern District of New York and Pennsylvania.York.  The complaints allegecomplaint alleges a number of claims under various consumer statutes and common law in New York and Pennsylvania regarding pricing offered to electricity customers in those states.  The complaint in the Pennsylvania action was dismissed in its entirety by the district court, which dismissal is being appealed by the plaintiff.  The complaint in the New York action was dismissed in part by the district court, but causes of action based on the New York consumer statute and breach of contract were allowed to proceed.  Based on the nature of the allegations under these suits,in the suit, the Partnership believes that the suits aresuit is without merit and is defending each of these suitsagainst it vigorously.  With respect to thesethis pending suits,suit, the Partnership has determined, based on the allegations and discovery to date, that 0no reserve for a loss

19


Table of Contents

contingency is required.  The Partnership is unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from either of these 2 actions.the action.  Although any litigation is inherently uncertain, based on past experience, the information currently available to the Partnership, and the amount of its accrued insurance liabilities, the Partnership does not believe that currently pending or threatened litigation matters, or known claims or known contingent claims, will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flowflow..

During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Partnership recorded a charge of $5,000 for the settlement of certain product liability and other legal matters.  The settled claims were paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2020.  

COVID-19 Pandemic.  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve subsequent to the quarter ended March 28, 2020.evolve.  Although the Partnership believes the quarterly and year-to-date financial information included herein properly reflects all facts known at this time, the Partnership is not ableunable to estimate the full financial impact of the pandemic at this pandemic.time.  The Partnership’s supply chain, including its suppliers and business partners, has not been materially impacted and the Partnership has been able to acquire sufficient supplies of the products it sells.  Additionally, the Partnership continues to obtain the necessary liquidity to sustain its operations through collections of accounts receivable as well as access to its Revolving Credit Facility available under the Credit Agreement.  The Partnership will continue to actively monitor and manage the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and, to the extent available, ensure new information is reflected within future financial information.

 

14.

Guarantees

The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to transportation equipment, with remaining lease periods scheduled to expire periodically through fiscal 2028.  Upon completion of the lease period, the Partnership guarantees that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed the guaranteed amount, or the Partnership will pay the lessor the difference.  Although the fair value of equipment at the end of its lease term has historically exceeded the guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments the Partnership could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, was $22,853$28,175 as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021.  The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019.26, 2020.

 

15.

Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs:

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Interest cost

 

$

720

 

 

$

985

 

 

$

1,440

 

 

$

1,971

 

 

$

534

 

 

$

720

 

 

$

1,068

 

 

$

1,440

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(320

)

 

 

(430

)

 

 

(640

)

 

 

(861

)

 

 

(319

)

 

 

(320

)

 

 

(638

)

 

 

(640

)

Amortization of net loss

 

 

862

 

 

 

867

 

 

 

1,724

 

 

 

1,733

 

 

 

898

 

 

 

862

 

 

 

1,796

 

 

 

1,724

 

Pension settlement charge

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

1,262

 

 

$

1,422

 

 

$

2,524

 

 

$

2,843

 

 

$

1,683

 

 

$

1,262

 

 

$

2,796

 

 

$

2,524

 

20


Table of Contents

 

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Interest cost

 

$

38

 

 

$

68

 

 

$

75

 

 

$

137

 

 

$

19

 

 

$

38

 

 

$

38

 

 

$

75

 

Amortization of prior service credits

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(249

)

Amortization of net (gain)

 

 

(196

)

 

 

(190

)

 

 

(393

)

 

 

(380

)

 

 

(180

)

 

 

(196

)

 

 

(361

)

 

 

(393

)

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

(283

)

 

$

(247

)

 

$

(567

)

 

$

(492

)

 

$

(286

)

 

$

(283

)

 

$

(572

)

 

$

(567

)

 

The Partnership expects to contribute approximately $3,800$6,250 to the defined benefit pension plan during fiscal 2020,2021, of which $2,030$3,690 was contributed during the six months ended March 28, 2020.27, 2021.  The projected annual contribution requirements related to the Partnership’s postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plan for fiscal 20202021 is $970,$843, of which $444$374 was contributed during the six months ended March 28, 2020.27, 2021. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, lump sum pension settlement payments exceeded the settlement threshold (combined service and interest costs of net periodic pension cost) of $2,135, which required the Partnership to recognize a non-cash settlement charge of $570.  This non-cash charge was required to accelerate recognition of a portion of cumulative unamortized losses in the defined benefit pension plans. The components of net periodic benefit cost are included in the line item Other, net in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Partnership contributes to multi-employer pension plans (“MEPPs”) in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements covering union employees.  As one of the many participating employers in these MEPPs, the Partnership is responsible with the other

20


Table of Contents

participating employers for any plan underfunding.  As of March 28, 202027, 2021 and September 28, 2019,26, 2020, the Partnership’s estimated obligation to these MEPPs was $20,910$19,876 and $21,441,$20,396, respectively, as a result of its voluntary full withdrawal from certain MEPPs.

 

16.

Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table summarizes amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 and March 30, 2019:28, 2020:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

(32,871

)

 

$

(32,314

)

 

$

(33,733

)

 

$

(33,180

)

 

$

(31,388

)

 

$

(32,871

)

 

$

(32,286

)

 

$

(33,733

)

Reclassifications to earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition of net actuarial loss for pension settlement (1)

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

Amortization of net loss (1)

 

 

862

 

 

 

867

 

 

 

1,724

 

 

 

1,733

 

 

 

898

 

 

 

862

 

 

 

1,796

 

 

 

1,724

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

862

 

 

 

867

 

 

 

1,724

 

 

 

1,733

 

 

 

1,468

 

 

 

862

 

 

 

2,366

 

 

 

1,724

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

(32,009

)

 

$

(31,447

)

 

$

(32,009

)

 

$

(31,447

)

 

$

(29,920

)

 

$

(32,009

)

 

$

(29,920

)

 

$

(32,009

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement Benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

7,226

 

 

$

8,196

 

 

$

7,547

 

 

$

8,510

 

 

$

6,205

 

 

$

7,226

 

 

$

6,510

 

 

$

7,547

 

Reclassifications to earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of net gain and prior service credits (1)

 

 

(321

)

 

 

(315

)

 

 

(642

)

 

 

(629

)

 

 

(305

)

 

 

(321

)

 

 

(610

)

 

 

(642

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(321

)

 

 

(315

)

 

 

(642

)

 

 

(629

)

 

 

(305

)

 

 

(321

)

 

 

(610

)

 

 

(642

)

Balance, end of period

 

$

6,905

 

 

$

7,881

 

 

$

6,905

 

 

$

7,881

 

 

$

5,900

 

 

$

6,905

 

 

$

5,900

 

 

$

6,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

(25,645

)

 

$

(24,118

)

 

$

(26,186

)

 

$

(24,670

)

 

$

(25,183

)

 

$

(25,645

)

 

$

(25,776

)

 

$

(26,186

)

Reclassifications to earnings

 

 

541

 

 

 

552

 

 

 

1,082

 

 

 

1,104

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

1,186

 

 

 

1,082

 

Recognition of net actuarial loss for pension settlement

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

570

 

 

 

0

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

541

 

 

 

552

 

 

 

1,082

 

 

 

1,104

 

 

 

1,163

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

1,756

 

 

 

1,082

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

(23,566

)

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

(23,566

)

 

$

(24,020

)

 

$

(25,104

)

 

$

(24,020

)

 

$

(25,104

)

 

(1)

These amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost.  See Note 15, “Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits.”

 

21


Table of Contents

 

17.

Income Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, as well as for state income tax purposes in the majority of the states in which the Partnership operates, the earnings attributable to the Partnership and the Operating Partnership are not subject to income tax at the partnership level.  With the exception of those states that impose an entity-level income tax on partnerships, the taxable income or loss attributable to the Partnership and to the Operating Partnership, which may vary substantially from the income (loss) before income taxes reported by the Partnership in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, are includable in the federal and state income tax returns of the Common Unitholders.  The aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined as the Partnership does not have access to each Common Unitholder’s basis in the Partnership.

As described in Note 1, “Partnership Organization and Formation”, the earnings of the Corporate Entities are subject to U.S. corporate level federal and state income tax.  However, based upon past performance, the Corporate Entities are currently reporting an income tax provision composed primarily of minimum state income taxes.  A full valuation allowance has been provided against the deferred tax assets (with the exception of the AMT credit carryforward and certain NOLs, each of which are defined and explained below,net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), that arose after the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“2017 Act”))2017) based upon an analysis of all available evidence, both negative and positive at the balance sheet date, which, taken as a whole, indicates that it is more likely than not that sufficient future taxable income will not be available to utilize the assets.  Management’s periodic reviews include, among other things, the nature and amount of the taxable income and expense items, the expected timing of when assets will be used or liabilities will be required to be reported and the reliability of historical profitability of businesses expected to provide future earnings.  Furthermore, management considered tax-planning strategies it could use to increase the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Act was signed into law, which enacted significant changes to U.S. tax and related laws.  Some of the provisions of the 2017 Act that could affect the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and their subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, a reduction of the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, limitations on the deductibility of net business interest expense, restrictions on the use of net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and full expensing for certain qualified property.

In the case of a corporation, the 2017 Act made Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) credit carryforwards fully refundable without regard to future taxable income. Accordingly, the Partnership concluded that the existing valuation allowance on the AMT credit carryforwards of the Corporate Entities should be released as part of accounting for tax reform.  The reversal of the valuation allowance resulted in a $1,086 discrete deferred tax benefit being recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  In addition, also asAs a result of the 2017Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “2017 Act”), NOLs generated by the Corporate Entities beginning in 2018 have an indefinite life.may be carried forward indefinitely.  As a result, the Partnership reversed the valuation allowance on certain of these NOLs generated after the 2017 Act, which resulted in a $496 discrete deferred tax benefit recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

 

18.

Segment Information

The Partnership manages and evaluates its operations in 4 operating segments, 3 of which are reportable segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, and Natural Gas and Electricity. The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance of the operating segments using a number of performance measures, including gross margins and income before interest expense and provision for income taxes (operating profit). Costs excluded from these profit measures are captured in Corporate and include corporate overhead expenses not allocated to the operating segments.  Unallocated corporate overhead expenses include all costs of back office support functions that are reported as general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.  In addition, certain costs associated with field operations support that are reported in operating expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of operations, including purchasing, training and safety, are not allocated to the individual operating segments.  Thus, operating profit for each operating segment includes only the costs that are directly attributable to the operations of the individual segment.  The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019.26, 2020.

The propane segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers and, to a lesser extent, wholesale distribution to large industrial end users.  In the residential and commercial markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying.  Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel burned in internal combustion engines that power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas.  In the agricultural markets, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed control.

The fuel oil and refined fuels segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings.

22


Table of Contents

The natural gas and electricity segment is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania.  Under this operating segment, the Partnership owns the relationship with the end consumer and has agreements with the local distribution companies to deliver the natural gas or electricity from the Partnership’s suppliers to the customer.

Activities in the “all other” category include the Partnership’s service business, which is primarily engaged in the sale, installation and servicing of a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating and ventilation.

22


Table of Contents

The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating segment information to the corresponding consolidated amounts for the periods presented:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

347,686

 

 

$

433,056

 

 

$

633,111

 

 

$

754,416

 

 

$

481,328

 

 

$

347,686

 

 

$

749,952

 

 

$

633,111

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

31,502

 

 

 

41,598

 

 

 

57,393

 

 

 

70,507

 

 

 

32,011

 

 

 

31,502

 

 

 

47,761

 

 

 

57,393

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

10,198

 

 

 

17,596

 

 

 

18,919

 

 

 

31,000

 

 

 

10,750

 

 

 

10,198

 

 

 

17,626

 

 

 

18,919

 

All other

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

12,127

 

 

 

25,510

 

 

 

25,558

 

 

 

13,149

 

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

27,090

 

 

 

25,510

 

Total revenues

 

$

401,055

 

 

$

504,377

 

 

$

734,933

 

 

$

881,481

 

 

$

537,238

 

 

$

401,055

 

 

$

842,429

 

 

$

734,933

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

115,143

 

 

$

162,650

 

 

$

201,265

 

 

$

233,121

 

 

$

172,090

 

 

$

115,143

 

 

$

255,695

 

 

$

201,265

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

6,391

 

 

 

8,071

 

 

 

9,119

 

 

 

11,541

 

 

 

7,608

 

 

 

6,391

 

 

 

10,233

 

 

 

9,119

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

2,778

 

 

 

4,885

 

 

 

5,007

 

 

 

7,713

 

 

 

3,404

 

 

 

2,778

 

 

 

5,363

 

 

 

5,007

 

All other

 

 

(4,846

)

 

 

(4,152

)

 

 

(10,233

)

 

 

(8,796

)

 

 

(4,232

)

 

 

(4,846

)

 

 

(9,293

)

 

 

(10,233

)

Corporate

 

 

(21,841

)

 

 

(29,364

)

 

 

(47,679

)

 

 

(52,955

)

 

 

(31,713

)

 

 

(21,841

)

 

 

(57,155

)

 

 

(47,679

)

Total operating income

 

 

97,625

 

 

 

142,090

 

 

 

157,479

 

 

 

190,624

 

 

 

147,157

 

 

 

97,625

 

 

 

204,843

 

 

 

157,479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation to net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

109

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

109

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

19,176

 

 

 

19,647

 

 

 

38,248

 

 

 

39,135

 

 

 

18,092

 

 

 

19,176

 

 

 

36,227

 

 

 

38,248

 

Other, net

 

 

979

 

 

 

1,175

 

 

 

1,957

 

 

 

2,351

 

 

 

1,582

 

 

 

979

 

 

 

2,660

 

 

 

1,957

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

(359

)

 

 

403

 

 

 

267

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

763

 

 

 

(359

)

Net income

 

$

77,361

 

 

$

121,016

 

 

$

117,524

 

 

$

148,735

 

 

$

127,216

 

 

$

77,361

 

 

$

165,193

 

 

$

117,524

 

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

26,871

 

 

$

27,939

 

 

$

53,851

 

 

$

54,894

 

 

$

24,988

 

 

$

26,871

 

 

$

50,679

 

 

$

53,851

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

468

 

 

 

503

 

 

 

975

 

 

 

1,025

 

 

 

396

 

 

 

468

 

 

 

796

 

 

 

975

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

6

 

All other

 

 

48

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

95

 

 

 

100

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

94

 

 

 

95

 

Corporate

 

 

1,895

 

��

 

2,133

 

 

 

3,635

 

 

 

4,675

 

 

 

1,909

 

 

 

1,895

 

 

 

3,782

 

 

 

3,635

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

29,288

 

 

$

30,623

 

 

$

58,562

 

 

$

60,694

 

 

$

27,346

 

 

$

29,288

 

 

$

55,363

 

 

$

58,562

 

 

 

As of

 

 

As of

 

 

March 28,

 

 

September 28,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

September 26,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

2,031,125

 

 

$

1,904,344

 

 

$

1,999,457

 

 

$

1,934,960

 

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

54,635

 

 

 

44,279

 

 

 

52,698

 

 

 

47,063

 

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

12,341

 

 

 

11,907

 

 

 

12,157

 

 

 

10,594

 

All other

 

 

16,479

 

 

 

2,950

 

 

 

18,367

 

 

 

18,733

 

Corporate

 

 

45,437

 

 

 

34,868

 

 

 

46,055

 

 

 

35,903

 

Total assets

 

$

2,160,017

 

 

$

1,998,348

 

 

$

2,128,734

 

 

$

2,047,253

 

 

 

23


Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership as of and for the three and six months ended March 28, 2020.27, 2021.  The discussion should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019.26, 2020.

Executive Overview

The following are factors that regularly affect our operating results and financial condition.  In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our operating results and financial condition, which we are managing.  As with most businesses in the current pandemic environment, our performance can be expected to remain impacted as, and to the extent, the pandemic continues and there are ongoing restrictions on business activity and social gathering.activity. Our business is furthermore subject to the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 201926, 2020 and in this Quarterly Report.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased unemployment, commodity and stock market volatility, significant government stimulus and uncertainty about economic conditions that will prevail in the months ahead. CertainIn response to temporary government restrictions on businesses, certain of our commercial and industrial customers havewere forced to temporarily curtailedcurtail or suspendedsuspend operations, in light of the pandemic, many in response to temporary governmental measures seeking to manage the progressor otherwise were impacted by lower economic activity as a result of the COVID-19 virus.  We have seen a slowing in cash collections on outstanding accounts receivable as well, which we believe is in response to general economic conditions and uncertainty.pandemic. As a result, we are experiencingexperienced a period of lower revenues and we arein certain customer sectors, particularly during the period from March 2020 through December 2020.  We have also been closely monitoring credit and collections activities.  Weactivities across several customer segments and have also seen restrictions on our ability to decline business or to enforce our collection rights with respect to certain customers who refuse to pay for or negotiate a payment plan for products or services rendered in certain states in which we operate.  In addition, as a resultNotwithstanding those challenges, we have also experienced an increase in usage in our residential and certain other customer segments that benefited from stay-at-home initiatives and the demand for temporary, portable energy solutions.  We took decisive action in the early stages of the current economic environmentpandemic to adapt our business model and modify our operating protocols in order to help protect the impact thathealth and safety of our employees, while ensuring seamless delivery of our essential services to the customers and communities we serve.  As COVID-19 related business restrictions ease, customer demand in those sectors most impacted by the pandemic has had on the global capital and energy markets, our market capitalization has declined.  While the ultimate scope and scalestarted to normalize, although there continues to be a risk of this decline is uncertain, at this time the decline has not negatively impacted our available liquidity, carrying valuespermanent demand destruction if economic conditions deteriorate, or assessments of our long-lived tangible and intangible assets.if businesses are unable to recover. While we expect that many of these effects will not be permanent, it is impossible to predict their duration.  We are developinghave developed, implemented and continue to refine alternative operational plans, inclusive of manpower levels, to address different customer demand scenarios, and evaluatingwe continue to adapt our operational model to shifting demand patterns and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future cash flows and access to adequate liquidity as we progressnavigate through the remainder of2021 fiscal 2020year and plan for a new heating season in fiscal 2021.beyond.

Product Costs and Supply

The level of profitability in the retail propane, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity businesses is largely dependent on the difference between retail sales price and our costs to acquire and transport products.  The unit cost of our products, particularly propane, fuel oil and natural gas, is subject to volatility as a result of supply and demand dynamics or other market conditions, including, but not limited to, economic and political factors impacting crude oil and natural gas supply or pricing.  We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to annual renewal, and also purchase product on the open market.  We attempt to reduce price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis.  Our propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based upon index formulas using the posted prices established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at the time of delivery.

To supplement our annual purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to acquire a portion of the propane that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity prices and to assure adequate physical supply.  The percentage of contract purchases, and the amount of supply contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to year based on market conditions.

Changes in our costs to acquire and transport products can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability.  There is no assurance that we will be able to pass on product acquisition and transportation cost increases fully or immediately, particularly when such costs increase rapidly.  Therefore, average retail sales prices can vary significantly from year to year as our costs fluctuate with the propane, fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas commodity markets and infrastructure conditions.  In addition, periods of sustained higher commodity and/or transportation prices can lead to customer conservation, resulting in reduced demand for our product.

24


Table of Contents

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the wholesale cost of propane was rising, primarily due to a decline in U.S. propane inventory levels resulting from an increase in propane exports and higher domestic consumption, among other things.  According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. inventory levels at the end of March 2021 were 39.2 million barrels, which was 34% lower than March 2020 levels, and 10% lower than the 5-year average for March.  Average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) were 142.8% and 58.3% higher than the prior year second quarter and the prior sequential quarter, respectively.  Consistent with our established practice, we adjusted customer pricing accordingly as market conditions allow.

Seasonality

The retail propane and fuel oil distribution businesses, as well as the natural gas marketing business, are seasonal because these fuels are primarily used for heating in residential and commercial buildings.  Historically, approximately two‑thirds of our retail propane volume is sold during the six-month peak heating season from October through March.  The fuel oil business tends to experience greater seasonality given its more limited use for space heating and approximately three-fourths of our fuel oil volumes are sold between October and March. Consequently, sales and operating profits are concentrated in our first and second fiscal quarters.  Cash flows from operations, therefore, are greatest during the second and third fiscal quarters when customers pay for product purchased during the winter heating season.  We expect lower operating profits and either net losses or lower net income during the period from April through September (our third and fourth fiscal quarters).  To the extent necessary, we will reserve cash from the second and third quarters for distribution to holders of our Common Units in the fourth quarter and the following fiscal year first quarter.

CARES Act

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed and the President of the United States signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) to provide emergency economic assistance to those affected by the novel coronavirus.  We intend to take advantage of certain of the benefits offered under the CARES Act, including but not necessarily limited to:

deferral of our contribution of the employer portion of the social security payroll tax that is otherwise due with respect to wages accrued between March 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020;

acceleration of our ability to recover full refunds for alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards; and

deferral until January 1, 2021, of any, or a portion of, minimum required contributions to our defined pension plan that would otherwise be due during calendar year 2020.

Weather

Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our products, in particular propane, fuel oil and natural gas, for both heating and agricultural purposes.  Many of our customers rely heavily on propane, fuel oil or natural gas as a heating source.  Accordingly, the volume sold is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather in our service areas, which can vary substantially from year to year.  In any given area, sustained warmer than normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane, fuel oil and natural gas consumption, while sustained colder than normal temperatures will tend to result in greater consumption.

Hedging and Risk Management Activities

We engage in hedging and risk management activities to reduce the effect of price volatility on our product costs and to ensure the availability of product during periods of short supply.  We enter into propane forward, options and swap agreements with third parties, and use futures and options contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) to purchase and sell propane, fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas at fixed prices in the future.  The majority of the futures, forward and options agreements are used to hedge price risk associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventory, as well as, in certain instances, forecasted purchases of propane or fuel oil.  In addition, we sell propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts.  Forward contracts are generally settled physically at the expiration of the contract whereas futures, options and swap contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract through a net settlement mechanism.  Although we use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of price volatility associated with priced physical inventory and forecasted transactions, we do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.  Risk management activities are monitored by an internal Commodity Risk Management Committee, made up of six members of management and reporting to the Audit Committee, through enforcement of our Hedging and Risk Management Policy.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” included within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019.26, 2020.

Certain amounts included in or affecting our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures must be estimated, requiring management to make certain assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and

25


Table of Contents

the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  We are also subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from estimated results.  Estimates are used when accounting for depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, employee benefit plans, self-insurance and litigation reserves, environmental reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, asset valuation assessments and valuation of derivative instruments.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Any effects on our

25


Table of Contents

business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known to us.  Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Supervisors.

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 20202021 was $77.4$127.2 million, or $1.24$2.03 per Common Unit, compared to net income of $121.0$77.4 million, or $1.96$1.24 per Common Unit, in the prior year second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and reconciled below) amountedincreased $41.4 million, or 31.7%, to $130.6$172.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2020,2021, compared to $163.0$130.6 million in the prior year second quarter.

Retail propane gallons sold in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 were 145.12021 of 169.1 million gallons 12.2% lower than the prior year second quarter.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, average temperatures (as measured by heating degree days) across all of the Partnership’s service territories for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 were 16% warmer than normal, and 13% warmer than the prior year second quarter.  Unseasonably warm temperatures started at the end of the fiscal 2020 first quarter, with average temperatures in the month of December 2019 that were 10% warmer than normal and, when combined with the second quarter, average temperatures during the most critical months for heat-related demand were 14% warmer than normal  --  on par with the warmest temperatures on record.      

Revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 of $401.1 million decreased $103.3 million, or 20.5%increased 16.5%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to loweran increase in weather-related customer demand, improving economic conditions and organic customer base growth.  Average temperatures across all of our service territories for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were comparable to the ten-year average and 9% cooler than the prior year second quarter, yet 7% warmer than normal (as measured by the thirty-year average of heating degree days utilized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”)).  A sustained and widespread cooler weather pattern throughout most of the second quarter, particularly during the month of February where average temperatures were 3% colder than normal and 16% cooler than February 2020, contributed to an increase in heat-related demand and volumes sold.

Revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 of $537.2 million increased $136.2 million, or 34.0%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to higher volumes sold, coupled with lowerhigher retail selling prices associated with lowerhigher wholesale product costs.  Average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) were 44.3% lower142.8% higher than the prior year second quarter.  Cost of products sold for the second quarter of fiscal 20202021 of $150.1$231.6 million decreased $51.4increased $81.5 million, or 25.5%54.3%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to lowerhigher volumes sold and lowerhigher wholesale product costs.  Cost of products sold included a $4.7$1.6 million unrealized non-cash lossgain attributable to the mark-to-market adjustment for derivative instruments used in risk management activities, compared to an $8.5a $4.7 million unrealized non-cash gainloss in the prior year second quarter.  These unrealized gains and losses were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods in the table below.

Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $124.0$131.2 million decreased $6.1increased $7.1 million, or 4.7%5.8%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to lowerhigher volume-related variable operating costs, and lowerhigher variable compensation, expenses given the lower earnings.

On March 5, 2020 our Operating Partnership entered intoand a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) that provides for a $500.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), of which $145.1 million was outstanding as of March 28, 2020.  The Revolving Credit Facility matures on the earlier of (A) the datenon-cash pension settlement charge that is ninety-one (91) days prior to maturity ofexcluded from Adjusted EBITDA in the 2024 Senior Notes, as defined in Item 1, Note 10 of this Quarterly Report, (unless the notes have been refinanced prior to such date) and (B) March 5, 2025.  The Credit Agreement amends and restates the previous credit agreement to, among other things, extend the maturity, lower borrowing costs, and amend certain affirmative and negative covenants, including an increase to the maximum permitted Total Consolidated Leverage Ratio from 5.50x to 5.75x.table below.    

During the second quarter of fiscal 2020,2021, we repaid approximately $29.4utilized cash flows from operating activities to repay $68.6 million of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility from operating cash flows, which reduced outstanding revolver borrowings to $145.1 million asFacility. As a result of March 28, 2020.  Our Totalthe debt repayment and the increase in Adjusted EBITDA during the second quarter, our Consolidated Leverage Ratio as offor the trailing twelve month period ended March 28, 2020 was 5.22x.27, 2021 improved to 3.95x.      

As previously announced on April 23, 2020,22, 2021, the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors has declared a quarterly distribution of $0.60$0.30 per Common Unit effective for the three months ended March 28, 2020.  Thedistribution payable in respect of the second quarter of fiscal 2021.  This distribution is payable on May 12, 202011, 2021 to Common Unitholders of record as of May 5, 2020.4, 2021.

Our anticipated cash requirements for the remainder of fiscal 20202021 include: (i) maintenance and growth capital expenditures of approximately $14.5$20.7 million; (ii) interest and income tax payments of approximately $36.1$32.7 million; and (iii) cash distributions of approximately $74.6$37.6 million to our Common Unitholders based on the current quarterly distribution rate of $0.60$0.30 per Common Unit.  Based on our liquidity position, which includes cash on hand, availability of funds under our Revolving Credit Facility and expected cash flow from operating activities, we expect to have sufficient funds to meet our current and future obligations.

26


Table of Contents

On the heels of near-record warm temperatures in the fiscal 2020 heating season, we are also now faced with the uncertainties surrounding theThe unprecedented health crisis from COVID-19 continues to represent a complex uncertainty, which has had a profound negative overall impact on employment and the economy.  While our business is considered an essential critical service, our business is not immune to the challenges presented by the dramatic economic slowdown instituted to mitigate the spread of the virus.  The areas of our business that may behave been impacted by the economic slowdown are:

 

The temporary suspension of business operations by certain of our commercial and industrial customers may resulthas resulted in lower demand from these customer markets;

 

Depending on the length and depth of the economic slowdown, or the possibility of an economic recession, we could see demand destruction from businesses that are unable to recover, or from conservation efforts by all customer types;

 

We may experience a slowdown in the rate of cash collections, or a higher amount of bad debts, from all customer types as they deal with their own economic uncertainties;

In certain states, restrictions were placed on our business that would otherwise allow us to decline or refuse to service certain customers who have not or are unwilling to pay for product delivered or services rendered;

26


Table of Contents

 

There may be potential disruptions in the propane supply chain resulting from the combination of lower commodity prices and a lower demand outlook for crude oil, and the resultant impact on propane and fuel oil production and logistics; and

 

The potential for increasing costs to implement additional measures to help protect our employees, customers and local communities as state and federal governments provide and update guidance on re-opening the economy.workplace safety protocols.

Although there is uncertainty related to the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our future results, we believe our efficient and flexible business model, as well as the recent steps taken to strengthen our balance sheet and reduce our cash requirements, leave us well positioned to manage our business through the crisis as it continues to unfold.  Nonetheless, as we progress through the 2021 fiscal 2020 third quarter,year, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the lengthlonger-term economic effects and the scope and duration of governmental policies that have been, or may in the economic slowdownfuture be, instituted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the timing of a potential economic recovery and the potential impact on the ability of our customers to recover from the effects of the slowdown.  

In response, we are developing alternative operational plans inclusiveWe will continue to adapt to the changing circumstances and make decisions to help ensure the long-term sustainability of manpower levels under different customer demand scenarios,our businesses, and evaluating the potential impact on cash flows and access to adequate liquidity as we progress through the remainder of fiscal 2020 and planbe able to be opportunistic for a new heating season in fiscal 2021.  As we gain more visibility into the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations, we may take proactive steps to work with our bank group to evaluate options to gain added financial flexibility and additional liquidity to manage through this period of uncertainty.  This may also include evaluating other levers, including re-evaluating the level of the quarterly distribution to strengthen our balance sheet, manage our cash requirements and ensure adequate liquidity to fund working capital and continue investing in our long-termstrategic growth initiatives.

Three Months Ended March 28, 202027, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended March 30, 201928, 2020

Revenues

 

(Dollars and gallons in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

347,686

 

 

$

433,056

 

 

$

(85,370

)

 

 

(19.7

)%

 

$

481,328

 

 

$

347,686

 

 

$

133,642

 

 

 

38.4

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

31,502

 

 

 

41,598

 

 

 

(10,096

)

 

 

(24.3

)%

 

 

32,011

 

 

 

31,502

 

 

 

509

 

 

 

1.6

%

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

10,198

 

 

 

17,596

 

 

 

(7,398

)

 

 

(42.0

)%

 

 

10,750

 

 

 

10,198

 

 

 

552

 

 

 

5.4

%

All other

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

12,127

 

 

 

(458

)

 

 

(3.8

)%

 

 

13,149

 

 

 

11,669

 

 

 

1,480

 

 

 

12.7

%

Total revenues

 

$

401,055

 

 

$

504,377

 

 

$

(103,322

)

 

 

(20.5

)%

 

$

537,238

 

 

$

401,055

 

 

$

136,183

 

 

 

34.0

%

Retail gallons sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

 

145,098

 

 

 

165,241

 

 

 

(20,143

)

 

 

(12.2

)%

 

 

169,059

 

 

 

145,098

 

 

 

23,961

 

 

 

16.5

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

10,120

 

 

 

13,240

 

 

 

(3,120

)

 

 

(23.6

)%

 

 

11,041

 

 

 

10,120

 

 

 

921

 

 

 

9.1

%

 

As discussed above, average temperatures (as measured in heating degrees days) across all of our service territories during the second quarter of fiscal 20202021 were 16%comparable to the ten-year average and 13% warmer9% cooler than normal and the prior year second quarter, respectively.  Unseasonably warm temperatures started atyet 7% warmer than normal (as measured by the endthirty-year average of heating days utilized by NOAA).  The increase in heating degree days compared to the prior year was attributable to a sustained and widespread cooler weather pattern throughout most of the fiscal 2020 firstsecond quarter, with average temperatures inparticularly during the month of December 2019 thatFebruary where average temperatures were 10% warmer3% colder than normal and when16% cooler than February 2020. The cooler weather pattern, combined with improving economic conditions from the second quarter, average temperatures during the most critical months for heat-relatedeasing of restrictions on certain commercial and industrial businesses and customer base growth contributed to an increase in customer demand were 14% warmer than normal -- on par with the warmest temperatures on record.and volumes sold.

27


Table of Contents

Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $347.7$481.3 million decreased $85.4increased $133.6 million, or 19.7%38.4%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to loweran increase in volumes sold, and lowercoupled with higher average retail selling prices.  As a result of the impact of warmer weather on customer demand,cooler temperatures, retail propane gallons sold decreased 20.1increased 24.0 million gallons, or 12.2%16.5%, compared to the prior year, resulting in a $52.4$57.4 million decreaseincrease in revenues.  Additionally, toward the end of March 2020, as a result of the economic slowdown related to COVID-19, demand in the commercial and industrial segments of our customer base began to soften.  Average propane selling prices decreased 7.8%increased 12.7% compared to the prior year, reflecting lowerhigher average wholesale costs, resulting in a $29.5$51.4 million decreaseincrease in revenues.  Included within the propane segment are revenues from other propane activities, which decreased $3.5increased $24.8 million primarily due to a lowerhigher notional amount of hedging contracts used in risk management activities that were settled physically.

Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $31.5$32.0 million were $10.1$0.5 million, or 24.3%1.6%, lowerhigher than the prior year, primarily due to loweran increase in volumes sold, asmostly offset by lower average retail selling prices were essentially flat to the prior year.prices.  Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold decreased 23.6%increased 0.9 million gallons, or 9.1%, primarily due to warmercooler weather across our service territories in the northeast.northeast, resulting in a $2.8 million increase in revenues.  Average fuel oil and refined fuels selling prices decreased 6.7% compared to the prior year, resulting in a $2.3 million decrease in revenues.    

Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment of $10.2$10.8 million were $7.4$0.6 million, or 42.0%5.4%, lowerhigher than the prior year, primarily due to higher usage attributable to cooler temperatures, offset to an extent by a reduction to the customer base resulting from actions taken by the New York State Public Utility Commission that limited energy service companies, includingto reregulate this segment of our natural gas and electricity business, from servicing certain customers in the statebusiness.

27


Table of New York, and a decrease in usage due to warmer weather in the northeast, along with lower average selling prices.Contents

Cost of Products Sold

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

122,140

 

 

$

160,579

 

 

$

(38,439

)

 

 

(23.9

)%

 

$

202,892

 

 

$

122,140

 

 

$

80,752

 

 

 

66.1

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

19,300

 

 

 

27,146

 

 

 

(7,846

)

 

 

(28.9

)%

 

 

18,972

 

 

 

19,300

 

 

 

(328

)

 

 

(1.7

)%

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

10,447

 

 

 

(4,900

)

 

 

(46.9

)%

 

 

5,985

 

 

 

5,547

 

 

 

438

 

 

 

7.9

%

All other

 

 

3,131

 

 

 

3,350

 

 

 

(219

)

 

 

(6.5

)%

 

 

3,718

 

 

 

3,131

 

 

 

587

 

 

 

18.7

%

Total cost of products sold

 

$

150,118

 

 

$

201,522

 

 

$

(51,404

)

 

 

(25.5

)%

 

$

231,567

 

 

$

150,118

 

 

$

81,449

 

 

 

54.3

%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

37.4

%

 

 

40.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43.1

%

 

 

37.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cost of products sold reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations represents the weighted average unit cost of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, and natural gas and electricity sold, including transportation costs to deliver product from our supply points to storage or to our customer service centers.  Cost of products sold also includes the cost of appliances and related parts sold or installed by our customer service centers computed on a basis that approximates the average cost of the products.  

Given the retail nature of our operations, we maintain a certain level of priced physical inventory to help ensure that our field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year.  Our strategy has been, and will continue to be, to keep our physical inventory priced relatively close to market for our field operations.  Consistent with past practices, we principally utilize futures and/or options contracts traded on the NYMEX to mitigate the price risk associated with our priced physical inventory.  In addition, we sell propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts.  At expiration, the derivative contracts are settled by the delivery of the product to the respective party or are settled by the payment of a net amount equal to the difference between the then market price and the fixed contract price or option exercise price.  Under this risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on futures or options contracts, which are reported in cost of products sold, will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold (which may or may not occur in the same accounting period).  We do not use futures or options contracts, or other derivative instruments, for speculative trading purposes.  Unrealized non-cash gains or losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded within cost of products sold.  Cost of products sold excludes depreciation and amortization; these amounts are reported separately within the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In the commodities markets, average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) and fuel oil prices were 44.3%142.8% and 19.9% lower12.2% higher than the prior year second quarter, respectively.  The net change in the fair value of derivative instruments resulted in a $1.6 million unrealized non-cash gain in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to a $4.7 million unrealized non-cash loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 compared to an $8.5 million unrealized non-cash gain in the prior year second quarter, resulting in an increasea decrease of $13.2$6.3 million in cost of products sold year-over-year, all of which was reported within the propane segment.  These unrealized mark-to-market adjustments are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods.

28


Table of Contents

Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $122.1$202.9 million decreased $38.4increased $80.8 million, or 23.9%66.1%, compared to the prior year second quarter. Lowerquarter, primarily due to higher average wholesale costs, and loweras well as higher volumes soldsold. Higher average wholesale costs contributed to decreasesan increase in cost of products sold of $27.1$49.4 million, and $20.2 million, respectively.higher volumes sold contributed to an increase in cost of products sold of $18.1 million.  Included within the propane segment are costs from other propane activities which decreased $4.3increased $19.6 million compared to the prior year, as well as the $13.2$6.3 million impact of mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments discussed above.

Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $19.3$19.0 million decreased $7.8$0.3 million, or 28.9%1.7%, compared to the prior year second quarter.  Lower volumes sold and lower average wholesale costs contributedled to decreasesa decrease in costcosts of products sold of $6.4$2.1 million, and $1.4 million, respectively.which was substantially offset by the impact of higher volumes sold of $1.8 million.

Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $5.5$6.0 million decreased $4.9increased $0.4 million, or 46.9%7.9%, compared to the prior year primarily due to lower usagedue to higher natural gas and lowerelectricity wholesale costs, for electricity andcoupled with higher natural gas.gas volumes.

Total cost28


Table of products sold as a percent of total revenues decreased 2.6 percentage points to 37.4% from 40.0% primarily due to the year-over-year decline in wholesale propane costs outpacing the year-over-year decline in average propane selling prices, partially offset by the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments.  Contents

 

Operating Expenses

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Operating expenses

 

$

110,588

 

 

$

108,154

 

 

$

2,434

 

 

 

2.3

%

 

$

109,188

 

 

$

110,588

 

 

$

(1,400

)

 

 

(1.3

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

27.6

%

 

 

21.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.3

%

 

 

27.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All costs of operating our retail distribution and appliance sales and service operations are reported within operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.  These operating expenses include the compensation and benefits of field and direct operating support personnel, costs of operating and maintaining our vehicle fleet, overhead and other costs of our purchasing, training and safety departments and other direct and indirect costs of operating our customer service centers.

Operating expenses of $110.6$109.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 increased $2.42021 decreased $1.4 million, or 2.3%1.3%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to an increase in accruals for self-insured liabilities, offset to an extent by loweras the impact of higher volume-related variable operating costs in support of the increase in volumes sold was more than offset by a reduction in product, auto and workers compensation claims, lower variable compensation costs given lower earnings.provisions for doubtful accounts, and operating efficiencies.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

13,436

 

 

$

21,988

 

 

$

(8,552

)

 

 

(38.9

)%

 

$

21,980

 

 

$

13,436

 

 

$

8,544

 

 

 

63.6

%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

%

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All costs of our back office support functions, including compensation and benefits for executives and other support functions, as well as other costs and expenses to maintain finance and accounting, treasury, legal, human resources, corporate development and the information systems functions are reported within general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

General and administrative expenses of $13.4$22.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased $8.62021 increased $8.5 million, or 38.9%63.6%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to loweran increase in variable compensation costs attributable to lowerhigher earnings.  

Depreciation and Amortization

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

29,288

 

 

$

30,623

 

 

$

(1,335

)

 

 

(4.4

)%

 

$

27,346

 

 

$

29,288

 

 

$

(1,942

)

 

 

(6.6

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

7.3

%

 

 

6.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.1

%

 

 

7.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29


Table of Contents

Depreciation and amortization expense of $29.3$27.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 20202021 decreased $1.3$1.9 million, or 4.4%6.6%, compared to the prior year second quarter, primarily due to accelerated depreciation expense recorded in the prior year for assets taken out of service.service, coupled with lower levels of capital expenditures.

Interest Expense, net

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

19,176

 

 

$

19,647

 

 

$

(471

)

 

 

(2.4

)%

 

$

18,092

 

 

$

19,176

 

 

$

(1,084

)

 

 

(5.7

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

3.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest expense of $19.2$18.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 20202021 decreased $0.5$1.1 million compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to a lower average level of borrowings outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility, coupled with a decrease in benchmark interest rates on borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.borrowings.  See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion.

29


Table of Contents

Loss on Debt Extinguishment

In connection with the refinancing of our previous revolving credit facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.1 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

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 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:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income

 

$

77,361

 

 

$

121,016

 

 

$

127,216

 

 

$

77,361

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

252

 

 

 

267

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

19,176

 

 

 

19,647

 

 

 

18,092

 

 

 

19,176

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

29,288

 

 

 

30,623

 

 

 

27,346

 

 

 

29,288

 

EBITDA

 

 

125,825

 

 

 

171,538

 

 

 

172,921

 

 

 

125,825

 

Unrealized non-cash losses (gains) on changes in fair value of derivatives

 

 

4,714

 

 

 

(8,521

)

Unrealized non-cash (gains) losses on changes in fair value of derivatives

 

 

(1,638

)

 

 

4,714

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

185

 

 

 

 

Pension settlement charge

 

 

570

 

 

 

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

109

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

130,648

 

 

$

163,017

 

 

$

172,038

 

 

$

130,648

 

 

30


Table of Contents

Six Months Ended March 28, 202027, 2021 Compared to Six Months Ended March 30, 201928, 2020

Revenues

 

(Dollars and gallons in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

633,111

 

 

$

754,416

 

 

$

(121,305

)

 

 

(16.1

)%

 

$

749,952

 

 

$

633,111

 

 

$

116,841

 

 

 

18.5

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

57,393

 

 

 

70,507

 

 

 

(13,114

)

 

 

(18.6

)%

 

 

47,761

 

 

 

57,393

 

 

 

(9,632

)

 

 

(16.8

)%

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

18,919

 

 

 

31,000

 

 

 

(12,081

)

 

 

(39.0

)%

 

 

17,626

 

 

 

18,919

 

 

 

(1,293

)

 

 

(6.8

)%

All other

 

 

25,510

 

 

 

25,558

 

 

 

(48

)

 

 

(0.2

)%

 

 

27,090

 

 

 

25,510

 

 

 

1,580

 

 

 

6.2

%

Total revenues

 

$

734,933

 

 

$

881,481

 

 

$

(146,548

)

 

 

(16.6

)%

 

$

842,429

 

 

$

734,933

 

 

$

107,496

 

 

 

14.6

%

Retail gallons sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

 

266,249

 

 

 

289,294

 

 

 

(23,045

)

 

 

(8.0

)%

 

 

280,741

 

 

 

266,249

 

 

 

14,492

 

 

 

5.4

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

18,557

 

 

 

22,376

 

 

 

(3,819

)

 

 

(17.1

)%

 

 

17,447

 

 

 

18,557

 

 

 

(1,110

)

 

 

(6.0

)%

 

Average temperatures (as measured in heating degree days) across all of our service territories for the first six months of fiscal 20202021 were 11% and 8%9% warmer than normal and 2% cooler than the prior year first half, respectively.half.  The warmerfiscal 2021 heating season was characterized by widespread unseasonably warm temperatures during the first quarter, followed by sustained and widespread cooler temperatures throughout much of the second quarter. The cooler temperatures compared to the prior year were experienced throughout most of the fiscal 2020 heating season,our operating territories, with exceptionally warmcooler temperatures occurring during December 20192020 through February 20202021, which are the most critical months for heat-related demand.  Average temperatures during the months of December 2019 through February 2020aforementioned period were 14% warmer than normal, which was comparable to the warmest temperatures on record for that period, and 7% warmercooler than the same period of the prior year. The cooler weather pattern, combined with improving economic conditions from the easing of restrictions on certain commercial and industrial businesses and customer base growth contributed to an increase in customer demand and volumes sold.

30


Table of Contents

Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $633.1$750.0 million decreased $121.3increased $116.8 million, or 16.1%18.5%, compared to the prior year first half, primarily due to lower volumes sold and lowerhigher average retail selling prices.prices and an increase in volumes sold. Average propane selling prices increased 8.3% compared to the prior year period, reflecting a rise in average wholesale costs, resulting in a $55.4 million increase in revenues.  Retail propane gallons sold decreased 23.0increased 14.5 million gallons, or 8.0%5.4%, compared to the prior year, resulting in a $59.8$34.4 million decrease in revenues.  Average propane selling prices decreased 8.4% compared to the prior year period reflecting lower average wholesale costs, resulting in a $58.0 million decreaseincrease in revenues.  Included within the propane segment are revenues from other propane activities, which decreased $3.5increased $27.0 million primarily due to a lowerhigher notional amount of hedging contracts used in risk management activities that were settled physically.

Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $57.4$47.8 million decreased $13.1$9.6 million, or 18.6%16.8%, compared to the prior year first half, primarily due to lower volumes sold and lower average selling prices.  Fuel oilprices and refined fuels volumes sold decreased 3.8 million gallons, or 17.1%, resulting in a $12.0 million decrease in revenues.sold.  Average selling prices for fuel oil and refined fuels decreased 1.9%11.5%, resulting in a $1.1$6.1 million decrease in revenues.  Fuel oil and refined fuels volumes sold decreased 1.1 million gallons, or 6.0%, resulting in a $3.5 million decrease in revenues.      

Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment of $18.9$17.6 million were $12.1$1.3 million, or 39.0%6.8%, lower than the prior year first half, resulting from actions taken by the New York State Public Utility Commission that limited energy service companies, including our natural gas and electricity business, from servicing certain customers in the state of New York, and a decrease inYork.  This was partially offset by higher usage due to warmerresulting from cooler weather in the northeast.our northeast service territories.

Cost of Products Sold

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Cost of products sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane

 

$

213,817

 

 

$

310,600

 

 

$

(96,783

)

 

 

(31.2

)%

 

$

290,073

 

 

$

213,817

 

 

$

76,256

 

 

 

35.7

%

Fuel oil and refined fuels

 

 

36,877

 

 

 

47,534

 

 

 

(10,657

)

 

 

(22.4

)%

 

 

27,643

 

 

 

36,877

 

 

 

(9,234

)

 

 

(25.0

)%

Natural gas and electricity

 

 

10,429

 

 

 

18,896

 

 

 

(8,467

)

 

 

(44.8

)%

 

 

9,376

 

 

 

10,429

 

 

 

(1,053

)

 

 

(10.1

)%

All other

 

 

7,595

 

 

 

7,077

 

 

 

518

 

 

 

7.3

%

 

 

7,854

 

 

 

7,595

 

 

 

259

 

 

 

3.4

%

Total cost of products sold

 

$

268,718

 

 

$

384,107

 

 

$

(115,389

)

 

 

(30.0

)%

 

$

334,946

 

 

$

268,718

 

 

$

66,228

 

 

 

24.6

%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

36.6

%

 

 

43.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39.8

%

 

 

36.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31


Table of Contents

In the commodities markets, average posted propane prices (basis Mont Belvieu, Texas) and fuel oil prices were 40.6%78.8% higher and 12.5%10.2% lower than the prior year first half, respectively.  The net change in the fair value of derivative instruments resulted in a $1.9$6.5 million unrealized non-cash gain and $7.4a $1.9 million unrealized non-cash loss in the first six months of fiscal 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively, resulting in a decrease of $5.5$8.4 million in cost of products sold year-over-year, all of which was reported within the propane segment.  These unrealized mark-to-market adjustments are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA for both periods.

Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $213.8$290.1 million increased $76.3 million, or 35.7%, compared to the prior year first half.  Increases in average wholesale costs and an increase in volumes sold contributed to increases in cost of products sold of $51.7 million and $11.0 million, respectively.  Included within the propane segment are costs from other propane activities which increased $22.0 million compared to the prior year, as well as the $8.4 million impact of mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments discussed above.

Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $27.6 million decreased $96.8$9.2 million, or 31.2%25.0%, compared to the prior year first half.  Lower average wholesale costs and lower volumes sold contributed to decreases in cost of products sold of $63.1$7.0 million and $23.8 million, respectively.  Included within the propane segment are costs from other propane activities which decreased $4.4 million compared to the prior year, as well as the $5.5 million impact of mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments discussed above.

Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $36.9 million decreased $10.7 million, or 22.4%, compared to the prior year first half.  Lower volumes sold and lower average wholesale costs contributed to decreases in cost of products sold of $8.1 million and $2.6$2.2 million, respectively.

Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $10.4$9.4 million decreased $8.5$1.1 million, or 44.8%10.1%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower usage given the decline in customers as noted above coupled with lower wholesale costs.

Total cost of products sold as a percent of total revenues decreased 7.0 percentage points to 36.6% from 43.6% primarily due to the year-over-year decline in wholesale propane costs outpacing the decline in average propane selling prices, coupled with the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments.above.

Operating Expenses

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Operating expenses

 

$

217,464

 

 

$

207,563

 

 

$

9,901

 

 

 

4.8

%

 

$

207,167

 

 

$

217,464

 

 

$

(10,297

)

 

 

(4.7

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

29.6

%

 

 

23.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24.6

%

 

 

29.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31


Table of Contents

 

Operating expenses of $217.5$207.2 million for the first half of fiscal 2020 increased $9.92021 decreased $10.3 million, or 4.8%4.7%, compared to the prior year first half.  Thehalf, as the impact of higher volume-related variable operating costs in support of the increase in volumes sold was more than offset by a reduction in product, auto and workers compensation claims, lower provisions for doubtful accounts, and operating expenses was primarily due to higher general insurance costs, whichefficiencies.  The first half of fiscal 2020 included a charge of approximately $5.0 million for the settlement of certain product liability and other legal matters, and higher vehicle expenses, offset to an extent by lower variable volume-related operating cost and lower variable compensation costs given lower earnings.matters.

 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

32,710

 

 

$

38,493

 

 

$

(5,783

)

 

 

(15.0

)%

 

$

40,110

 

 

$

32,710

 

 

$

7,400

 

 

 

22.6

%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

4.5

%

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.8

%

 

 

4.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses of $32.7$40.1 million for the first half of fiscal 2020 decreased $5.82021 increased $7.4 million, or 15.0%22.6%, compared to the prior year period, primarily due to lowerhigher variable compensation expenses attributable to lower earnings, partially offset by higher professional services fees for marketing and advertising initiatives.given the year-over-year increase in earnings.  

Depreciation and Amortization

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

58,562

 

 

$

60,694

 

 

$

(2,132

)

 

 

(3.5

)%

 

$

55,363

 

 

$

58,562

 

 

$

(3,199

)

 

 

(5.5

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

8.0

%

 

 

6.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.6

%

 

 

8.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32


Table of Contents

Depreciation and amortization expense of $58.6$55.4 million in the first half of fiscal 20202021 decreased $2.1$3.2 million, or 3.5%5.5%, primarily as a result of accelerated depreciation recorded in the prior year for assets taken out of service.service, coupled with lower levels of capital expenditures.

Interest Expense, net

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percent

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Decrease

 

 

Decrease

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

38,248

 

 

$

39,135

 

 

$

(887

)

 

 

(2.3

)%

 

$

36,227

 

 

$

38,248

 

 

$

(2,021

)

 

 

(5.3

)%

As a percent of total revenues

 

 

5.2

%

 

 

4.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.3

%

 

 

5.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest expense of $38.2$36.2 million in the first half of fiscal 20202021 decreased $0.9$2.0 million compared to the prior year first half, primarily due to a lower average level of borrowings outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility, coupled with a decrease in benchmark interest rates on outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.borrowings.  See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion.

Loss on Debt Extinguishment

In connection with the refinancing of our previous revolving credit facility during the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.1 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

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

 

32


Table of Contents

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

March 28,

 

 

March 30,

 

 

March 27,

 

 

March 28,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net income

 

$

117,524

 

 

$

148,735

 

 

$

165,193

 

 

$

117,524

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

 

 

(359

)

 

 

403

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

763

 

 

 

(359

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

38,248

 

 

 

39,135

 

 

 

36,227

 

 

 

38,248

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58,562

 

 

 

60,694

 

 

 

55,363

 

 

 

58,562

 

EBITDA

 

 

213,975

 

 

 

248,967

 

 

 

257,546

 

 

 

213,975

 

Unrealized non-cash losses on changes in fair value of derivatives

 

 

1,938

 

 

 

7,390

 

Unrealized non-cash (gains) losses on changes in fair value of derivatives

 

 

(6,493

)

 

 

1,938

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

436

 

 

 

 

Pension settlement charge

 

 

570

 

 

 

 

Loss on debt extinguishment

 

 

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

109

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

216,022

 

 

$

256,357

 

 

$

252,059

 

 

$

216,022

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Analysis of Cash Flows

Although there is uncertainty related to the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our future results, we believe our efficient and flexible business model, as well as the recent steps taken to strengthen our balance sheet leave us well positioned to manage our business through the crisis as it continues to unfold.  Nonetheless, as we progress through the fiscal 2020 third quarter, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the length of the economic slowdown instituted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the timing of a potential economic recovery and the potential impact on the ability of our customers to recover from the effects of the slowdown.  We are assessing alternative operational plans inclusive of manpower levels under different customer demand scenarios, and evaluating the potential impact on our cash flows and access to adequate liquidity as we progress through the remainder of fiscal 2020 and plan for a new heating season in fiscal 2021.  As we gain more visibility into the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations, we may take proactive steps to work with our bank group to evaluate options to provide ourselves with added financial flexibility and additional liquidity to manage through this period of uncertainty.

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the first half of fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 was $91.32021 increased $10.5 million and $101.2 million, respectively. The $9.9 million year-over-year decrease in net cash provided by operating activitiescompared to the corresponding prior year period.  This increase was primarily attributabledue to lowerhigher earnings, (discussed above) offset to an extent by a smallerlarger increase in working capital compared to the prior year stemmingwhich stemmed from the declinerise in average wholesale costs forof propane. Given the seasonal nature of the propane and fuel oil businesses, working capital requirements typically peak towards the end of the heating season, after which accounts receivable becomes a significant source of cash from operating activities.activities during the second half of the fiscal year.

33


Investing Activities.Table  Net cash used in investing activities of Contents$19.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2021 consisted of capital expenditures of $14.3 million (including approximately $7.7 million to support the growth of operations and $6.6 million for maintenance expenditures), $6.4 million used to fund the acquisition of a retail propane business and other investment activities (see Item 1, Note 4 of this Quarterly Report), partially offset by approximately $1.4 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.

Investing Activities.Net cash used in investing activities of $40.1 million for the first half of fiscal 2020 consisted of capital expenditures of $20.5 million (including approximately $12.6 million to support the growth of operations and $7.9 million for maintenance expenditures), and $21.5 million used to fund the acquisitions of two retail propane businesses, (see Item 1, Note 4 of this Quarterly Report), partially offset by approximately $1.8 million in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.

Financing Activities.Net cash used in investingfinancing activities of $24.0 million for the first half of fiscal 2019 consisted of capital expenditures of $16.6 million (including approximately $9.1 million to support the growth of operations and $7.5 million for maintenance expenditures), and $10.6 million used in the acquisition of a business, partially offset by $3.12021 reflected $38.4 million in proceeds fromnet repayments under the saleRevolving Credit Facility, coupled with $37.4 million paid for the quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of property, plant$0.30 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and equipment.first quarter of fiscal 2021, and other financing activities of $3.1 million.

Financing Activities.Net cash used in financing activities for the first half of fiscal 2020 reflected $74.3 million paid for the quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.60 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and first quarter of fiscal 2020, $2.7 million in issuance costs for the refinancing of our previous revolving credit facility and other financing activities of $3.1 million.  These uses of cash for financing activities were partially offset by $31.6 million in net borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, which were used to fund a portion of our seasonal working capital and the two acquisitions noted above.

Net cash used in financing activities for the first half of fiscal 2019 reflected $73.8 million paid for the quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.60 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 and first quarter of fiscal 2019, $0.1 million of net repayments under the Revolving Credit Facility and other financing activities of $2.5 million.

Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations and Revolving Credit Facility

As of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, our long-term debt consisted of $525.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.5% senior notes due June 1, 2024, $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due March 1, 2025, $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027 and $145.1$56.2 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.  See Item 1, Note 10 of this Quarterly Report.

Based upon the Partnership’sour Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Agreement, for the trailing twelve monthtwelve-month period ended March 28, 2020,27, 2021, and outstanding borrowings and letters of credits issued under the Revolving Credit Facility as of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, our borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility was $129.8 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2020.$390.2 million.  

The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to March 28, 202027, 2021 are as follows: fiscal 2020: $-0-; fiscal 2021: $-0-; fiscal 2022: $-0-; fiscal 2023: $-0-; fiscal 2024: $525.0$581.2 million; fiscal 2025: $250.0 million; and thereafter: $745.1$350.0 million.

33


Table of Contents

Partnership Distributions

We are required to make distributions in an amount equal to all of our Available Cash, as defined in our Third Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, as amended (the “Partnership Agreement”), no more than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to holders of record on the applicable record dates.  Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements.  These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of our business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters.  The Board of Supervisors reviews the level of Available Cash on a quarterly basis based upon information provided by management.

On April 23, 2020,22, 2021, we announced a quarterly distribution of $0.60$0.30 per Common Unit, or $2.40$1.20 on an annualized basis, in respect of the second quarter of fiscal 2020,2021, payable on May 12, 202011, 2021 to holders of record on May 5, 2020.4, 2021.

Other Commitments

We have a noncontributory, cash balance format, defined benefit pension plan which was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2000.  Effective January 1, 2003, the defined benefit pension plan was amended such that future service credits ceased and eligible employees would receive interest credits only toward their ultimate retirement benefit.  We also provide postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees under a plan that was frozen to new participants effective March 31, 1998.  At March 28, 2020,27, 2021, we had a liability for the defined benefit pension plan and accrued retiree health and life benefits of $33.3$32.0 million and $9.3$8.6 million, respectively.

34


Table of Contents

We are self-insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined thresholds above which third party insurance applies.  At March 28, 2020,27, 2021, we had accrued insurance liabilities of $68.5$67.7 million, and a receivable of $17.3$16.3 million related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance.

Legal Matters

See Item 1, Note 13, Legal Matters subsection of this Quarterly Report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Guarantees

See Item 1, Note 14 of this Quarterly Report.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Item 1, Note 2, Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements subsection of this Quarterly Report.

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Commodity Price Risk

We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to annual renewal, and also purchase product on the open market.  Our propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based upon index formulas using the posted prices established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at the time of delivery. In addition, to supplement our annual purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to acquire a portion of the propane that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity prices and to ensure adequate physical supply.  The percentage of contract purchases, and the amount of supply contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to year based on market conditions.  In certain instances, and when market conditions are favorable, we are able to purchase product under our supply arrangements at a discount to the market.

Product cost changes can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability. We attempt to reduce commodity price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis.  The level of priced, physical product maintained in storage facilities and at our customer service centers for immediate sale to our customers will vary depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, price, supply and demand dynamics for a given time of the year.  Typically, our on hand priced position does not exceed more than four to eight weeks of our supply needs, depending on the time of the year.  In the course of normal operations, we routinely enter into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that, under accounting rules for derivative instruments and hedging activities, qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts.  Such contracts are exempted from fair value accounting and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract.

Under our hedging and risk management strategies, we enter into a combination of exchange-traded futures and options contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to manage the price risk associated with physical product and with future purchases of the commodities used in our operations, principally propane and fuel oil, as well as to help ensure the availability of product during periods of high demand.  In addition, we sell propane and fuel

34


Table of Contents

oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts.  We do not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes.  Futures and swap contracts require that we sell or acquire propane or fuel oil at a fixed price for delivery at fixed future dates.  An option contract allows, but does not require, its holder to buy or sell propane or fuel oil at a specified price during a specified time period.  However, the writer of an option contract must fulfill the obligation of the option contract, should the holder choose to exercise the option.  At expiration, the contracts are settled by the delivery of the product to the respective party or are settled by the payment of a net amount equal to the difference between the then market price and the fixed contract price or option exercise price.  To the extent that we utilize derivative instruments to manage exposure to commodity price risk and commodity prices move adversely in relation to the contracts, we could suffer losses on those derivative instruments when settled.  Conversely, if prices move favorably, we could realize gains.  Under our hedging and risk management strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory once the product is sold to customers at market prices, or delivered to customers as it pertains to fixed price contracts.

Futures are traded with brokers of the NYMEX and require daily cash settlements in margin accounts.  Forward contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract term by physical delivery, and swap and options contracts are generally settled at expiration through a net settlement mechanism.  Market risks associated with our derivative instruments are monitored daily for compliance with our Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open positions. Open inventory positions are reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market prices.

35


Table of Contents

Credit Risk

Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are guaranteed by the NYMEX and, as a result, have minimal credit risk.  We are subject to credit risk with over-the-counter forward, swap and options contracts to the extent the counterparties do not perform.  We evaluate the financial condition of each counterparty with which we conduct business and establish credit limits to reduce exposure to the risk of non-performance by our counterparties.

Interest Rate Risk

A portion of our borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR, plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin.  The applicable margin is dependent on the level of our total consolidated leverage (the total ratio of debt to consolidated EBITDA).  Therefore, we are subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate.  From time to time, we enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage a part of our variable interest rate risk.  The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.  At March 28, 2020,27, 2021, we were not party to an interest rate swap agreement.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

All of our derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at their fair values.  On the date that derivative instruments are entered into, we make a determination as to whether the derivative instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period in current period earnings or OCI, depending on whether a derivative instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge.  For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, we formally assess, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into earnings during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings.  The mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are immediately recognized in earnings.  Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded in earnings as they occur.  Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Sensitivity Analysis

In an effort to estimate our exposure to unfavorable market price changes in commodities related to our open positions under derivative instruments, we developed a model that incorporates the following data and assumptions:

 

A.

The fair value of open positions as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021.

 

B.

The market prices for the underlying commodities used to determine A. above were adjusted adversely by a hypothetical 10% change and compared to the fair value amounts in A. above to project the potential negative impact on earnings that would be recognized for the respective scenario.

35


Table of Contents

Based on the sensitivity analysis described above, the hypothetical 10% adverse change in market prices for open derivative instruments as of March 28, 202027, 2021 indicates a decrease in potential future net lossesgains of $0.1$2.7 million.  See also Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019.26, 2020.  The above hypothetical change does not reflect the worst case scenario. Actual results may be significantly different depending on market conditions and the composition of the open position portfolio.

To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has not materially adversely affected our product supply agreements or our hedging strategies, and we currently believe that we will continue to have access to sufficient supply to meet customer demand.

36


Table of Contents

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Partnership maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Partnership’s filings and submissions under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Partnership completed an evaluation under the supervision and with participation of the Partnership’s management, including the Partnership’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 28, 2020.27, 2021.  Based on this evaluation, the Partnership’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of March 28, 2020,27, 2021, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide the reasonable assurance described above.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 28, 202027, 2021 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting.

 

3736


Table of Contents

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

None.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019, which is modified by the disclosure below. These risks and uncertainties, along with those previously disclosed, could materially adversely affect our business or financial results.

Deterioration of general economic conditions have harmed and could continue to harm our business and results of operations.

Our business and results of operations have been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by changes in national or global economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates, availability of capital markets, consumer spending rates, unemployment rates, energy availability and costs, the negative impacts caused by pandemics and public health crises (including the COVID-19 outbreak), and the effects of governmental initiatives to manage economic conditions.

Volatility in financial markets and deterioration of national and global economic conditions have impacted, and may continue to impact, our business and operations in a variety of ways, including as follows:26, 2020.

certain of our commercial and industrial customers have temporarily curtailed or suspended operations in light of the pandemic;

our consumers may reduce their discretionary spending, or may forego certain purchases altogether, during economic downturns, and may reduce or delay their payments for our products as a result of significant unemployment due to COVID-19;

if the deterioration of the economy continues to impact our customers, it could lead to increases in customer payment default rates and related challenges in collecting on accounts receivable;

if a significant percentage of our workforce is unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with COVID-19, our operations may be negatively impacted;

a shutdown of one or a multiple of our customer service centers or the production facilities of our suppliers due to government restrictions or illness in connection with COVID-19;

decreased demand in the residential, commercial, industrial, government, agricultural or wholesale markets (including due to COVID-19) may adversely affect our propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, and natural gas and electricity businesses;

as a result of the current economic environment and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the global capital markets, our market capitalization has declined. While the ultimate scope and scale of this decline is uncertain, at this time we do not believe this decline will negatively impact our carrying values or assessments of our long-lived tangible and intangible assets;

volatility in commodity and other input costs could substantially impact our result of operations;

if our indebtedness increases or our Consolidated EBITDA declines, it could adversely affect our liquidity and lead to increased risks of default under our Credit Agreement; and

it may become more costly or difficult to obtain debt or equity financing to fund investment opportunities, or to refinance our debt in the future, in each case on terms and within a time period acceptable to us.

Disruption of our supply chain could have an adverse impact on our business and our operating results.

Damage or disruption to our supply chain, including third-party production or transportation and distribution capabilities, due to weather, including any potential effects of climate change, natural disaster, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics (such as the COVID-19 outbreak), strikes, government action, economic and operational considerations of producers and refineries, or other reasons beyond our control or the control of our suppliers and business partners, could impair our ability to acquire sufficient supplies of the products we sell.

38


Table of Contents

In particular, we are actively monitoring the recent COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact on our supply chain. Although we source our propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, and natural gas from a broad group of suppliers, due to restrictions resulting from the outbreak, global supply of these fuels may become constrained, which may cause the price to increase and/or adversely affect our ability to acquire adequate supplies to meet customer demand.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)

The following table provides information about deemed purchases by the Partnership during the three months ended March 28, 202027, 2021 of its Common Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares

 

Approximate Dollar Value

 

 

Total Number

 

 

Average

 

 

Purchased as Part of

 

of Shares that May

 

 

of Shares

 

 

Price Paid

 

 

Publicly Announced

 

Yet be Purchased

Period

 

Purchased (1)

 

 

per Share

 

 

Program

 

under the Program

December 29, 2019 through January 25, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

January 26, 2020 through February 22, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

February 23, 2020 through March 28, 2020

 

 

2,052

 

 

 

15.38

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

Total

 

 

2,052

 

 

$

15.38

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares

 

Approximate Dollar Value

 

 

Total Number

 

 

Average

 

 

Purchased as Part of

 

of Shares that May

 

 

of Shares

 

 

Price Paid

 

 

Publicly Announced

 

Yet be Purchased

Period

 

Purchased (1)

 

 

per Share

 

 

Program

 

under the Program

December 27, 2020 through January 23, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

January 24, 2021 through February 20, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

February 21, 2021 through March 27, 2021

 

 

2,052

 

 

 

15.10

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

Total

 

 

2,052

 

 

$

15.10

 

 

N/A

 

N/A

(1)

This represents the number of Common Units withheld from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period.  Such restricted units were issued to participants pursuant to the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2009 and 2018 Restricted Unit Plans that were adopted by the Partnership on July 22, 2009 and June 1, 2018, respectively.

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

3937


Table of Contents

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

(a)

Exhibits

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

The exhibits listed on this Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Quarterly Report.  Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, which are not listed below, are not applicable.

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

 

 

 

  10.1

Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among the Operating Partnership, the Partnership and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto, dated March 5, 2020. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 2020).

 

 

 

  31.1

 

Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).

 

 

 

  31.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).

 

 

 

  32.1

 

Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Furnished herewith).

 

 

 

  32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Furnished herewith).

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

4038


Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

 

May 7, 20206, 2021

By:

 

/s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN

Date

 

 

Michael A. Kuglin

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

 

 

 

May 7, 20206, 2021

By:

 

/s/ DANIEL S. BLOOMSTEIN

Date

 

 

Daniel S. Bloomstein

 

 

 

Vice President and Controller

 

4139