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) January 29,
2003
STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware |
33-98490 |
06-1437793 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT 06902 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code (203) 328-7300
| Not Applicable |
| (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) |
Item 5. Other Events
On January 29, 2003, Star Gas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), issued a Press Release to announce that the Fitch Rating Service has placed the
ratings of its Petro and Star Gas Propane subsidiaries on Ratings Watch Negative pending a review of the proposed $200 million of senior notes offering by the Partnership.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
1. Press Release
dated January 29, 2003.
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 GAS PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
| By: Star Gas LLC (General Partner) | ||
| By: |
/S/ JAMES BOTTIGLIERI | |
| Name: James Bottiglieri | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| Date: January 29, 2003 | ||
News Announcement
| CONTACT: Richard F. Ambury Treasurer 203/328-7300 |
Robert L. Rinderman, Purdy Tran Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
212/835-8500 or SGU@jcir.com |
 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FITCH UPDATES RATINGS OF STAR GAS DEBT
STAMFORD, CT (January 29, 2003)—Star Gas Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership” or “Star”) (NYSE:
SGU, SGH), a diversified home energy distributor and services provider specializing in heating oil, propane, natural gas and electricity, announced today that Fitch Ratings has placed the ratings of its Petro and Star Gas Propane subsidiaries on
Ratings Watch Negative pending a review of the proposed $200 million of senior notes offering by the Partnership. Petro’s senior secured notes and Star Gas Propane’s first mortgage notes are rated BBB by Fitch Ratings. Fitch analysts
expect to meet with the Partnership’s senior management in coming weeks to assess the credit implications of the proposed offering and application of the proceeds.
Star Gas Partners, L.P., is a leading distributor of home heating oil, propane and deregulated natural gas and electricity. The Partnership is the nation’s largest retail distributor of home
heating oil and the nation’s seventh largest retail propane distributor. Star, through its wholly owned subsidiary Total Gas & Electric, also sells natural gas and electricity in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida.
This news announcement contains certain forward-looking information that is subject to certain risks and uncertainties as indicated from time to time
in the Partnership’s 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Included risks and uncertainties are the effects of the weather on the Partnership’s financial results, competitive and propane and heating
oil pricing pressures and other factors impacting the propane, home heating oil, natural gas and electricity distribution industries.