Release Details

STAMFORD, Conn., May 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Gas Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider specializing in heating oil, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 second quarter and the six-month period ended March 31, 2013.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

For the fiscal 2013 second quarter Star reported a 24.7 percent increase in total revenue to $785.1 million, compared with $629.6 million in the prior-year period, driven largely by a 26.0 percent increase in total volume.

Home heating oil and propane volume for the fiscal 2013 second quarter increased by 33.9 million gallons versus the fiscal 2012 second quarter, to 164.4 million gallons, as the impact of colder temperatures and the additional volume provided by acquisitions more than offset the impact of net customer attrition, conservation and other factors. Temperatures in Star's geographic areas of operation for the fiscal 2013 second quarter were 25.6 percent colder than the fiscal 2012 second quarter and 1.8 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

During the fiscal 2013 second quarter, net income increased by $1.2 million to $41.7 million, as the impact of colder temperatures on operating results was partially offset by an unfavorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $13.5 million. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2012 net income was positively impacted by the recording of a $12.5 million benefit under Star's weather hedge contract. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 the Partnership did not record a similar benefit under its weather hedge contract.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $14.2 million to $73.9 million during the fiscal 2013 second quarter as the impact of colder temperatures and an increase in Adjusted EBITDA provided by acquisitions more than offset the impact of net customer attrition. As discussed above, Adjusted EDITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2012 included a $12.5 million benefit recorded under the Partnership's weather hedge contract.

"Star's fiscal second quarter, from a weather standpoint, played out much like the first — with temperatures much colder than 2012 but somewhat warmer than normal," said Dan Donovan, Star Gas Partners' Chief Executive Officer. "The quarter was not without its difficulties, particularly the major snow storm in February, but, as always, we focused on managing customer retention even as oil prices remained high. At the same time, while we did not close on any acquisitions, we were able to continue repurchasing units and recently raised our quarterly distribution to $0.0825 per unit — both moves designed to enhance unitholder value. With winter now behind us, we remain committed to seeking attractive acquisitions and growing our propane business organically in the quarters to come."

Six Months Ended March 31, 2013 Compared to Six Months Ended March 31, 2012

For the six months ended March 31, 2013 Star reported a 19.3 percent increase in total revenue to $1.3 billion, versus $1.1 billion in the prior-year period, driven by an 18.4 percent increase in total volume of 45.7 million gallons.

Home heating oil and propane volume for the first half of fiscal 2013 increased by 39.9 million gallons, to 261.5 million gallons, as colder temperatures and the additional volume provided by acquisitions more than offset the negative impact of net customer attrition, conservation and other factors. Temperatures in Star's geographic areas of operation for the first half of fiscal 2013 were 21.6 percent colder than the prior-year's comparable period and 4.1 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Net income increased by $8.0 million to $51.4 million as the impact of colder weather on operating results was partially offset by the impact of an unfavorable non-cash change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $14.4 million. In addition, net income for the six months ended March 31, 2012 was positively impacted by a $12.5 million benefit recorded under Star's weather hedge contract, and the period-to-period comparison was favorably impacted by a decline in the effective tax rate.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $24.7 million, or 31.2 percent, to $103.7 million as the impact of 21.6 percent colder temperatures, acquisitions, and the favorable impact of the storm "Sandy" on motor fuel sales and service and installation revenue more than offset the volume decline in the base business attributable to net customer attrition, conservation and other factors such as the impact of Sandy on home heating oil and propane volume. Deliveries of home heating oil and propane were less than expected for certain customers who were without power for several weeks subsequent to Sandy, and Star's operating costs also increased due to this storm. In addition, during the six months ended March 31, 2012 the Partnership recorded a $12.5 million benefit under its weather hedge contract due to the abnormally warm weather in fiscal 2012. During the six months ended March 31, 2013 the Partnership did not record a similar benefit under its weather hedge contract.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Financial Measures)

EBITDA (Earnings from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) and Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings from continuing operations before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, (increase) decrease in the fair value of derivatives, gain or loss on debt redemption, goodwill impairment, and other non-cash and non-operating charges) are non-GAAP financial measures that are used as supplemental financial measures by management and external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to assess:

• our compliance with certain financial covenants included in our debt agreements;
   
• our financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure, income taxes or historical cost basis;
   
• our ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and to make distributions to our partners;
   
• our operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to those of other companies in the retail distribution of refined petroleum products, without regard to financing methods and capital structure; and
   
• the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return of alternative investment opportunities.

The method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has its limitations as an analytical tool, should not be considered in isolation and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are:

• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash used for capital expenditures;
   
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated or amortized often will have to be replaced and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash requirements for such replacements;
   
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements;
   
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash necessary to make payments of interest or principal on our indebtedness; and
   
• EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash required to pay taxes.

REMINDER: Star Gas management will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow, May 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call dial-in number is 888-335-0893 or 970-315-0470 (for international callers). A webcast is also available at www.star-gas.com/events.cfm and at www.vcall.com

About Star Gas Partners, L.P.

Star Gas Partners, L.P. is the nation's largest retail distributor of home heating oil, based upon sales volume, operating throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Additional information is available by obtaining the Partnership's SEC filings at www.sec.gov and by visiting Star's website at www.star-gas.com, where unit holders may request a hard copy of Star's complete audited financial statements free of charge.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" which represent the Partnership's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including those associated with the effect of weather conditions on our financial performance; the price and supply of the products we sell; the consumption patterns of our customers; our ability to obtain satisfactory gross profit margins; our ability to obtain new customers and retain existing customers; our ability to make strategic acquisitions; the impact of litigation; our ability to contract for our current and future supply needs; natural gas conversions; future union relations and the outcome of current and future union negotiations; the impact of future governmental regulations, including environmental, health and safety regulations; the ability to attract and retain employees; customer creditworthiness; counterparty creditworthiness; marketing plans; general economic conditions and new technology. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this news release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "seek," "estimate" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Partnership believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" and "Business Strategy" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Form 10-K") for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 and under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Form 10-Q") for the fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2013. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Partnership's expectations ("Cautionary Statements") are disclosed in this news release and in the Form 10-Q and Form 10-K. 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. Unless otherwise required by law, the Partnership undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this news release.

(financials follow)

(tables follow)

CONTACT: Star Gas Partners

         Investor Relations

         203/328-7310



         Chris WittyDarrow Associates

         646/438-9385 or

         cwitty@darrowir.com

News Provided by Acquire Media