Form 8-K
0001002590 False 0001002590 2020-12-07 2020-12-07 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares
 

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):  December 7, 2020

_______________________________

STAR GROUP, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Delaware 001-14129 06-1437793
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

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))

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

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Units SGU New York Stock Exchange

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

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 December 7, 2020, Star Group, L.P., a Delaware partnership, issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2020. 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   A copy of the Star Group, L.P. Press Release dated December 7, 2020.
Exhibit 104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 

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: December 7, 2020 By:  /s/ Richard F. Ambury        
    Richard F. Ambury
    Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer
   

 

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

Star Group, L.P. Reports Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter Results

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 07, 2020 (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 2020 fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2020.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
For the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter, Star reported a 22.3 percent decrease in total revenue to $183.3 million compared with $235.9 million in the prior-year period, reflecting a decline in selling prices in response to lower wholesale product costs and a decrease in total volume sold.

The volume of home heating oil and propane sold during the fiscal 2020 fourth quarter decreased by 2.9 million gallons, or 13.2 percent, to 19.0 million gallons due to net customer attrition, summertime staffing levels, the timing of certain non winter deliveries and other factors. The volume of other petroleum products sold decreased by 4.6 million gallons, or 10.4 percent, to 39.6 million gallons due to a decline in motor fuel sales, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on overall economic activity, and the loss of certain accounts.

Star’s net loss declined by $3.7 million in the quarter, to $30.2 million, due to a $1.6 million decrease in the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA loss (a non-GAAP measure defined below) and a $5.1 million favorable non-cash change in the fair value of derivative instruments. The positive impact from these factors was partially offset by a non-cash charge of $5.7 million relating to the sale of certain non-strategic assets, completed in October 2020.

The fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA loss decreased by $1.6 million, to $27.3 million, due to an increase in home heating oil and propane margins, a $1.5 million improvement in net service and installation profitability, and $3.7 million lower operating expenses, partially offset by the impact from lower volumes sold.

“I’m pleased to announce that, in the face of many economic uncertainties this year, Star Group finished fiscal 2020 with solid performance, well positioned for the future,” said Jeff Woosnam, Star Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “For the full year, Adjusted EBITDA rose 37 percent, to $130.3 million, reflecting $46.4 million of lower operating expenses in the base business, higher heating oil and propane margins, and increased service profitability. These results – in the middle of an ongoing pandemic – clearly demonstrate the value of our services and excellent, dedicated staff. I appreciate everything that’s gone into Star’s performance these past four quarters, which includes a significant reduction in net customer attrition from the prior year’s higher levels. With everything we’ve done to improve service and streamline the business, I feel confident the Company is prepared and can react appropriately to any new challenges as we begin fiscal 2021.”

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019
Star reported a 16.3 percent decrease in total revenue to $1.5 billion for fiscal 2020 compared with revenue of $1.8 billion in the prior-year period, largely due to lower average selling prices in response to a decline in wholesale product costs and a 9.3 percent decrease in total volume sold.

The volume of home heating oil and propane sold decreased by 31.9 million gallons, or 9.2 percent, to 313.6 million gallons, as the impact from acquisitions was more than offset by warmer weather, net customer attrition, and other factors. Temperatures in Star's geographic areas of operation were 6.0 percent warmer than during the prior-year period and 10.2 percent warmer than normal, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The volume of other petroleum products sold decreased by 15.6 million gallons, or 9.3 percent, to 151.8 million gallons, as the additional volume provided by acquisitions of 9.2 million gallons was more than offset by lower wholesale sales (due to warmer weather) and a reduction in motor fuel sales reflecting, in part, the impact of COVID-19 on economic activity, and the loss of certain accounts.

Net income increased by $38.3 million, to $55.9 million, due to an increase in Adjusted EBITDA of $35.0 million and a favorable non-cash change in the fair value of derivative instruments of $22.4 million.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $35.0 million, or 36.7 percent, to $130.3 million. Recent acquisitions provided $9.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA, while Adjusted EBITDA in the base business increased by $25.7 million. In the base business, the impact of 6.6 cents higher per gallon home heating oil and propane margins, $46.4 million lower operating expenses (reflecting reduced volumes and various streamlining initiatives), a $12.2 million favorable change in the impact from the Company’s weather hedge, and a $5.3 million improvement in net service and installation profitability more than offset the impact from a decrease in volume of home heating oil and propane sold and the decline in Star’s motor fuel business. With regard to the Company’s weather hedge, warmer temperatures during the fiscal 2020 winter hedge period (November through March) resulted in fewer degree days and, per the terms of Star’s weather hedge contracts, the collection of $10.1 million. By contrast, the third quarter of fiscal 2020 was colder than normal and resulted in the Company selling more volume than anticipated. If the additional degree days in the third quarter had occurred during the winter hedge period, the payout would have been less than $2.0 million.

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, other income (loss), net, 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 the Company’s financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to assess Star’s position with regard to the following:

  • compliance with certain financial covenants included in our debt agreements;
  • financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure, income taxes or historical cost basis;
  • 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;
  • 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 as follows:

  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect 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, working capital requirements;
  • EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the cash necessary to make payments of interest or principal on 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 tomorrow, December 8, 2020. 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. We believe 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 severity and duration of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. and global economies, the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic, the effect of weather conditions on our financial performance; the price and supply of the products that 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 current and future governmental regulations, including climate change, environmental, health and safety regulations; the ability to attract and retain employees; customer creditworthiness; counterparty creditworthiness; marketing plans; potential cyber-attacks; 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, 2020. 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, the Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Currently, one of the most significant factors, however, is the potential adverse effect of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, on the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance of the Company and its customers and counterparties and the global economy and financial markets. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts us and our customers will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the scope, severity and duration of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and containment measures, among others. 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
 
  September 30, September 30,
   2020   2019 
(in thousands)    
ASSETS        
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $56,911  $4,899 
Receivables, net of allowance of $6,121 and $8,378, respectively  83,594   120,245 
Inventories  50,256   64,788 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  29,554   36,898 
Assets held for sale  6,030   -- 
Total current assets  226,345   226,830 
Property and equipment, net  93,495   98,239 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  99,776   -- 
Goodwill  240,327   244,574 
Intangibles, net  90,293   107,688 
Restricted cash  250   250 
Captive insurance collateral  69,787   58,490 
Deferred charges and other assets, net  18,343   16,635 
Total assets $838,616  $752,706 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL        
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable  30,827  $33,973 
Liabilities held for sale  1,265   -- 
Revolving credit facility borrowings  --   24,000 
Fair liability value of derivative instruments  11,437   8,262 
Current maturities of long-term debt  13,000   9,000 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities  19,139   -- 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  127,286   120,839 
Unearned service contract revenue  58,430   61,213 
Customer credit balances  83,471   68,270 
Total current liabilities  344,855   325,557 
Long-term debt  109,805   120,447 
Long-term operating lease liabilities  85,908   -- 
Deferred tax liabilities, net  17,227   20,116 
Other long-term liabilities  25,001   25,746 
Partners' capital        
Common unitholders  273,283   279,709 
General partner  (2,506)  (1,968)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes  (14,957)  (16,901)
Total partners' capital  255,820   260,840 
Total liabilities and partners' capital $838,616  $752,706 
         


STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Twelve Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands, except per unit data)  2020   2019   2020   2019 
  (unaudited) (unaudited)    
Sales:        
Product $106,881  $159,281  $1,186,026  $1,466,045 
Installations and services  76,414   76,606   281,432   287,827 
Total sales  183,295   235,887   1,467,458   1,753,872 
Cost and expenses:                
Cost of product  72,427   121,639   738,714   998,559 
Cost of installations and services  64,050   65,766   253,724   267,607 
(Increase) decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  781   5,845   2,755   25,113 
Delivery and branch expenses  68,428   73,007   323,373   369,033 
Depreciation and amortization expenses  8,037   9,073   34,623   32,901 
General and administrative expenses  6,190   5,278   25,072   28,414 
Finance charge income  (520)  (939)  (3,771)  (5,105)
Operating income (loss)  (36,098)  (43,782)  92,968   37,350 
Interest expense, net  (1,959)  (2,487)  (9,702)  (11,164)
Amortization of debt issuance costs  (270)  (276)  (999)  (1,032)
Other income (loss), net  (5,724)  --   (5,724)  -- 
Income (loss) before income taxes  (44,051)  (46,545)  76,543   25,154 
Income tax expense (benefit)  (13,852)  (12,640)  20,625   7,517 
Net income (loss) $(30,199) $(33,905) $55,918  $17,637 
General Partner's interest in net income (loss)  (223)  (224)  377   95 
Limited Partners' interest in net income (loss) $(29,976) $(33,681) $55,541  $17,542 
         
         
Per unit data (Basic and Diluted):                
Net income (loss) available to limited partners $(0.68) $(0.69) $1.22  $0.35 
Dilutive impact of theoretical distribution of earnings  --   --   0.15   -- 
Basic and diluted income (loss) per Limited Partner Unit: $(0.68) $(0.69) $1.07  $0.35 
         
Weighted average number of Limited Partner units outstanding (Basic and Diluted)  43,875   48,986   45,656   50,814 
         


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
(in thousands)  2020   2019 
Net loss $(30,199) $(33,905)
Plus:        
Income tax benefit  (13,852)  (12,640)
Amortization of debt issuance costs  270   276 
Interest expense, net  1,959   2,487 
Depreciation and amortization  8,037   9,073 
EBITDA  (33,785)  (34,709)
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  781   5,845 
Other loss (income), net  5,724   -- 
Adjusted EBITDA  (27,280)  (28,864)
Add / (subtract)        
Income tax benefit  13,852   12,640 
Interest expense, net  (1,959)  (2,487)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable  (1,115)  1,041 
Decrease in accounts receivables  29,621   44,930 
Increase in inventories  (6,547)  (8,264)
Increase in customer credit balances  33,312   29,792 
Change in deferred taxes  (2,390)  6,080 
Change in other operating assets and liabilities  (18,123)  (19,808)
Net cash provided by operating activities $19,371  $35,060 
Net cash used in investing activities $(9,423) $(1,588)
Net cash used in financing activities $(19,755) $(34,290)
         
         
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold  19,000   21,900 
Other petroleum products  39,600   44,200 
Total all products  58,600   66,100 
         


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
STAR GROUP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
 
  Twelve Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)  2020   2019 
Net income $55,918  $17,637 
Plus:        
Income tax expense  20,625   7,517 
Amortization of debt issuance costs  999   1,032 
Interest expense, net  9,702   11,164 
Depreciation and amortization  34,623   32,901 
EBITDA  121,867   70,251 
(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments  2,755   25,113 
Other loss (income), net  5,724   -- 
Adjusted EBITDA  130,346   95,364 
Add / (subtract)        
Income tax expense  (20,625)  (7,517)
Interest expense, net  (9,702)  (11,164)
Provision for losses on accounts receivable  3,441   9,541 
Decrease in accounts receivables  34,366   10,137 
Decrease (increase) in inventories  14,588   (6,306)
Increase in customer credit balances  14,775   3,615 
Change in deferred taxes  (3,544)  (5,126)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities  12,023   8,838 
Net cash provided by operating activities $175,668  $97,382 
Net cash used in investing activities $(28,141) $(82,166)
Net cash used in financing activities $(95,515) $(24,848)
         
         
Home heating oil and propane gallons sold  313,600   345,500 
Other petroleum products  151,800   167,400 
Total all products  465,400   512,900 
     

Source: Star Group, L.P.

  
CONTACT:
Star Group, L.P.
Investor Relations
203/328-7310
Chris Witty
Darrow Associates
646/438-9385 or cwitty@darrowir.com