UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): May 1, 2019  

STAR GROUP, L.P.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware001-1412906-1437793
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

9 West Broad Street, Suite 310, Stamford, CT 06902
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(203) 328-7310
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 [ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 [ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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. [   ]

 
 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 1, 2019, Star Group, L.P., a Delaware partnership, issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2019.  A copy of the press release is furnished within this report as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this report is being furnished and is not deemed as "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically stated so therein.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1. Press release dated May 1, 2019


SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 STAR GROUP, L.P.
By: Kestrel Heat, LLC (General Partner)
   
  
Date: May 1, 2019By: /s/ Richard F. Ambury        
  Richard F. Ambury
  Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer
  

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

Star Group, L.P. Reports Fiscal 2019 Second Quarter Results

STAMFORD, Conn., May 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Star Group, L.P. (the "Company" or "Star") (NYSE:SGU), a home energy distributor and services provider, today announced financial results for the fiscal 2019 second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2019.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
For the fiscal 2019 second quarter, Star reported a 2.3 percent increase in total revenue to $699.6 million compared with revenue of $684.0 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to higher wholesale per-gallon product costs.

The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the fiscal 2019 second quarter decreased by 6.8 million gallons, or 3.8 percent, to 173.3 million gallons, as the impact of colder temperatures and acquisitions was more than offset by net customer attrition, a year-over-year delivery scheduling variance, and other factors. Temperatures in Star's geographic areas of operation for the fiscal 2019 second quarter were 2.9 percent colder than during the fiscal 2018 second quarter but 2.6 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The aforementioned delivery scheduling variance year-over-year reflects the fact that the volume of home heating oil and propane delivered in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 was positively impacted by the extremely cold weather experienced near the end of that year’s fiscal first quarter (ended December 31, 2017). Volume of other petroleum products sold in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 increased by 8.9 million gallons, or 29.6 percent, to 39.0 million, largely due to acquisitions.

Net income increased by $17.5 million, or 32.0 percent, to $72.3 million in the fiscal 2019 second quarter as a non-cash favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $25.0 million more than offset a decline in Adjusted EBITDA of $5.3 million, described below. Regarding the favorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments, during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 a non-cash gain of $13.4 million was recorded while, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, a non-cash charge of $11.6 million was recorded. The Company also benefited from a decline in its effective income tax rate to 28.8 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 from 33.8 percent during the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $5.3 million, or 5.1%, to $99.5 million in the fiscal 2019 second quarter as the additional Adjusted EBITDA provided by acquisitions of $3.4 million was more than offset by an $8.7 million decline in Adjusted EBITDA within the base business. The impact of colder temperatures and higher home heating oil and propane margins in the base business more than offset greater total operating expenses and the impact of the previously-described delivery scheduling volume variance, improving year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA by $0.7 million prior to the following exceptional items: i) $3.8 million due to implementation of a new revenue recognition accounting standard (the majority of which is expected to be reversed by the end of fiscal 2019); ii) $2.1 million of higher legal and professional expenses; iii) a charge of $1.5 million related to the discontinued use of a tank monitoring system; iv) a $0.6 million net Adjusted EBITDA loss associated with the Company’s concierge program, which was greatly curtailed this past January; and v) $1.3 million of expense tied to an increase in the amount due under Star’s weather hedge contracts.

“With a new management team now in place, I am pleased to reaffirm our commitment to being the most reputable firm in the home energy services space and providing long-term returns to our shareholders,” said Jeffrey M. Woosnam, Star Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Rich Ambury, Jeff Hammond, Joe McDonald and I – along with our talented team here at Star – are ready to take the Company to the next level in terms of growth, quality service, and market presence. That said, the second quarter was negatively impacted by greater-than-expected net customer attrition due to our decision not to renew certain low-margin accounts, credit issues and, lastly, the price of home heating oil and propane. We are dedicated to limiting the loss of customers as much as possible.

“In the coming months, we will be evaluating all of Star’s operations to determine our best path forward and align the organization with core strategic objectives. While accomplishing a great deal over the past decade, we need to focus on improved business execution so that we remain the premier energy services provider we are today – strengthening customer satisfaction, reducing attrition, streamlining our operations where appropriate, and utilizing technology to effectively compete. We believe these actions will position Star to continue as a major force in the industry for years to come.”

Six Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared to the Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
Star reported a 10.1 percent increase in total revenue to $1.2 billion compared with revenue of $1.1 billion in the prior-year period, reflecting higher wholesale per-gallon product costs and an increase in total volume sold.

The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the first half of fiscal 2019 increased by 3.1 million gallons, or 1.1 percent, to 286.6 million gallons, as the impact of colder temperatures and acquisitions was largely offset by net customer attrition and other factors. Temperatures in Star's geographic areas of operation for the first six months of fiscal 2019 were 4.0 percent colder than during the prior year comparable period but 1.8 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Volume of other petroleum products sold increased by 20.2 million gallons, or 33.3 percent, to 80.9 million gallons, largely due to acquisitions.

Net income decreased by $10.3 million, or 12.1 percent, to $74.6 million as a non-cash unfavorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $17.4 million and a higher effective income tax rate was partially offset by an increase in Adjusted EBITDA of $12.1 million, described below. Regarding the unfavorable change in the fair value of derivative instruments, during the first half of fiscal 2019 a non-cash charge of $17.6 million was recorded versus a non-cash charge of $0.2 million during the first half of fiscal 2018. The Company also recorded a $3.7 million income tax benefit during the six months ended March 31, 2018 to reflect the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered its effective income tax rate during that period to 23.8 percent. The effective income tax rate for the first half of fiscal 2019, in contrast, was 28.8 percent.

Adjusted EBITDA for the six months increased by $12.1 million, or 9.2 percent, to $144.3 million year-over-year. Acquisitions provided $5.1 million of the increase in Adjusted EBITDA while, in the base business, Adjusted EBITDA rose by $7.0 million. The impact of colder temperatures and higher home heating oil and propane margins in the base business more than offset greater total operating expenses, improving year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA by $17.5 million prior to the following exceptional items: i) $3.2 million due to the implementation of a new revenue recognition accounting standard (the majority of which is expected to be reversed by the end of fiscal 2019); ii) $2.6 million of higher legal and professional expenses; iii) a charge of $1.5 million related to the discontinued use of a tank monitoring system; iv) a $3.0 million net Adjusted EBITDA loss associated with the Company’s concierge program, which was greatly curtailed this past January; and v) $0.2 million of expense tied to an increase in the amount due under Star’s weather hedge contracts.

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, multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, net other income, 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 operating performance and return on invested capital compared to those of other companies in the retail distribution of refined petroleum products, without regard to financing methods and capital structure;
  • our ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and to make distributions to our partners; 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 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA both have limitations as analytical tools and so should not be viewed in isolation but 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:
Members of Star's management team will host a webcast and conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 2019. The webcast will be accessible on the company’s website, at www.stargrouplp.com, and the telephone number for the conference call is 877-327-7688 (or 412-317-5112 for international callers).

About Star Group, L.P.
Star Group, L.P. is a full service provider specializing in the sale of home heating products and services to residential and commercial customers to heat their homes and buildings. The Company also sells and services heating and air conditioning equipment to its home heating oil and propane customers and, to a lesser extent, provides these offerings to customers outside of its home heating oil and propane customer base. In certain of Star's marketing areas, the Company provides plumbing services, primarily to its home heating oil and propane customer base. Star also sells diesel, gasoline and home heating oil on a delivery only basis. Star is the nation's largest retail distributor of home heating oil based upon sales volume. Including its propane locations, Star serves customers in the more northern and eastern states within the Northeast, Central and Southeast U.S. regions. Additional information is available by obtaining the Company's SEC filings at www.sec.gov and by visiting Star's website at www.stargrouplp.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 Company’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 Company 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, 2018. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations ("Cautionary Statements") are disclosed in this news release and in the Form 10-Q. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company 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)
 
 
 
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
  March 31, September 30,
  2019 2018
(in thousands) (unaudited)  
ASSETS  
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $  16,372  $  14,531 
Receivables, net of allowance of $9,804 and $8,002, respectively    286,997     132,668 
Inventories    60,119     56,377 
Fair asset value of derivative instruments    -     17,710 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets    32,288     35,451 
Total current assets    395,776     256,737 
Property and equipment, net    89,346     87,618 
Goodwill    239,294     228,436 
Intangibles, net    89,489     98,444 
Restricted cash    250     250 
Captive insurance collateral    54,148     45,419 
Deferred charges and other assets, net    18,539     13,067 
Total assets $  886,842  $  729,971 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable $  33,459  $  35,796 
Revolving credit facility borrowings     115,000     1,500 
Fair liability value of derivative instruments    1,518     - 
Current maturities of long-term debt    10,000     7,500 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    157,524     116,436 
Unearned service contract revenue    63,718     60,700 
Customer credit balances    22,781     61,256 
Total current liabilities    404,000     283,188 
Long-term debt    86,857     91,780 
Deferred tax liabilities, net    15,872     21,206 
Other long-term liabilities    24,692     24,012 
Partners’ capital    
Common unitholders    373,748     329,129 
General partner    (1,146)    (1,303)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes    (17,181)    (18,041)
Total partners’ capital    355,421     309,785 
Total liabilities and partners’ capital $  886,842  $  729,971 
     

 

 
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  Three Months
Ended March 31,
 Six Months
Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per unit data - unaudited) 2019 2018 2019 2018
Sales:        
Product $  637,400  $  622,962  $  1,096,107  $  989,696 
Installations and services    62,182     61,069     138,502     131,169 
Total sales    699,582     684,031     1,234,609     1,120,865 
Cost and expenses:        
Cost of product    415,639     403,293     721,865     646,073 
Cost of installations and services    65,394     64,659     139,711     134,214 
(Increase) decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments    (13,401)    11,609     17,638     209 
Delivery and branch expenses    110,684     106,605     213,357     197,809 
Depreciation and amortization expenses    7,858     7,703     15,603     15,444 
General and administrative expenses    9,849     6,221     17,664     12,872 
Finance charge income    (1,443)    (1,532)    (2,294)    (2,295)
Operating income    105,002     85,473     111,065     116,539 
Interest expense, net    (3,194)    (2,383)    (5,710)    (4,470)
Amortization of debt issuance costs    (244)    (307)    (503)    (616)
Income before income taxes    101,564     82,783     104,852     111,453 
Income tax expense    29,239     28,005     30,212     26,493 
Net income $  72,325  $  54,778  $  74,640  $  84,960 
General Partner’s interest in net income    454     319     469     494 
Limited Partners’ interest in net income $  71,871  $  54,459  $  74,171  $  84,466 
         
Basic and diluted income per Limited Partner Unit: $  1.15  $  0.81  $  1.19  $  1.26 
Weighted average number of Limited Partner units outstanding:        
Basic and Diluted    51,427     55,642     52,174     55,766 
         


 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months
Ended March 31,
(in thousands) 2019 2018
Net income $  72,325  $  54,778 
Plus:    
Income tax expense    29,239     28,005 
Amortization of debt issuance cost    244     307 
Interest expense, net    3,194     2,383 
Depreciation and amortization    7,858     7,703 
EBITDA    112,860     93,176 
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments    (13,401)    11,609 
Adjusted EBITDA    99,459     104,785 
Add / (subtract)    
Income tax expense    (29,239)    (28,005)
Interest expense, net    (3,194)    (2,383)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable    3,439     3,154 
Increase in accounts receivables    (63,506)    (74,337)
Decrease in inventories    16,446     11,778 
Decrease in customer credit balances    (24,356)    (27,890)
Change in deferred taxes    (8,719)    29,994 
Change in other operating assets and liabilities    30,200     (14,135)
Net cash provided by operating activities $  20,530  $  2,961 
Net cash used in investing activities $  (19,198) $  (3,326)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $  (8,749) $  14,655 
     
     
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold    173,300     180,100 
Other petroleum products    39,000     30,100 
  Total all products    212,300     210,200 
     

 

 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Six Months
Ended March 31,
(in thousands) 2019 2018
Net income $  74,640  $  84,960 
Plus:    
Income tax expense    30,212     26,493 
Amortization of debt issuance cost    503     616 
Interest expense, net    5,710     4,470 
Depreciation and amortization    15,603     15,444 
EBITDA    126,668     131,983 
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments    17,638     209 
Adjusted EBITDA    144,306     132,192 
Add / (subtract)    
Income tax expense    (30,212)    (26,493)
Interest expense, net    (5,710)    (4,470)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable    4,968     3,465 
Increase in accounts receivables    (159,249)    (170,530)
Increase in inventories    (3,741)    (108)
Decrease in customer credit balances    (38,476)    (42,184)
Change in deferred taxes    (9,335)    27,254 
Change in other operating assets and liabilities    55,088     20,599 
Net cash used in operating activities $  (42,361) $  (60,275)
Net cash used in investing activities $  (27,310) $  (41,217)
Net cash provided by financing activities $  71,512  $  84,463 
     
     
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold    286,600     283,500 
Other petroleum products    80,900     60,700 
  Total all products    367,500     344,200 
     

CONTACT:
Star Group, L.P.
Investor Relations 
203/328-7310 

Chris Witty 
Darrow Associates
646/438-9385 or cwitty@darrowir.com 

Source: Star Group, L.P.