PORTSMOUTH, N.H., May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprague Resources LP (“Sprague”) (NYSE: SRLP) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.

First Quarter 2019 Highlights

  • Net sales were $1,258.3 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to net sales of $1,331.1 million for the first quarter of 2018.

  • GAAP net income was $33.9 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to net income of $74.9 million for the first quarter of 2018.

  • Adjusted gross margin* was $95.4 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to adjusted gross margin of $109.5 million for the first quarter of 2018.

  • Adjusted EBITDA* was $50.9 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $55.1 million for the first quarter of 2018.

"Strong Materials Handling results were offset by weakness in our Refined Products and Natural Gas businesses," said Mr. David Glendon, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Refined Products

  • Volumes in the Refined Products segment decreased 5% to 549.5 million gallons in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 576.2 million gallons in the first quarter of 2018.

  • Adjusted gross margin in the Refined Products segment decreased $11.6 million, or 21%, to $44.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, compared to $56.3 million in the first quarter of 2018.

“Declines in our Refined Products business were primarily driven by a weak distillate market structure, limited blending opportunities and lower marine bunker sales," stated Mr. Glendon.

Natural Gas

  • Natural Gas segment volumes decreased 2% to 19.8 million Bcf in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 20.3 million Bcf in the first quarter of 2018.

  • Natural Gas adjusted gross margin decreased $5.6 million, or 15%, to $32.3 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to $37.9 million for the first quarter of 2018.

"Natural Gas results were impacted by lower adjusted unit margins due to increased competitive intensity and fewer logistics optimization opportunities than the first quarter of 2018, " added Mr. Glendon.

Materials Handling

  • Materials Handling adjusted gross margin increased by $3.3 million, or 25%, to $16.5 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to $13.1 million for the first quarter of 2018.

"Revenue growth at Kildair was the primary driver of the increase in Materials Handling adjusted gross margin," said Mr. Glendon.  "Our U.S. operations also experienced modest growth this quarter primarily due to higher asphalt and clay slurry activity."

2019 Guidance

With regard to Sprague's anticipated 2019 financial results, and assuming normal weather and market structure conditions, we expect to achieve the following:

  • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $105 million to $125 million.

  • Sprague expects to maintain the 2019 quarterly distributions at the current distribution level of $0.6675 per unit.

Quarterly Distribution

On April 26, 2019, the Board of Directors of Sprague’s general partner, Sprague Resources GP LLC, announced a cash distribution of $0.6675 per unit for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, consistent with the distribution declared for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.  The distribution will be paid on May 14, 2019, to unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 7, 2019.

Financial Results Conference Call

Management will review Sprague’s first quarter 2019 financial results in a teleconference call for analysts and investors today, May 8, 2019.

Date and Time:              May 8, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET

Dial-in Numbers:            (866) 516-2130 (U.S. and Canada)

                                       (678) 509-7612 (International)

Participation Code:         3674055

The conference call may also be accessed live by a webcast available on the "Investor Relations - Calendar of Events" page of Sprague's website at www.spragueenergy.com and will be archived on the website for one year.

About Sprague Resources LP
Sprague Resources LP is a master limited partnership engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products and natural gas. Sprague also provides storage and handling services for a broad range of materials.

*Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin are measures not defined by GAAP.  Sprague defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA increased for unrealized hedging losses and decreased by unrealized hedging gains (in each case with respect to refined products and natural gas inventory, prepaid forward contracts and natural gas transportation contracts), changes in fair value of contingent consideration, adjusted for the impact of acquisition related expenses, and when applicable, adjusted for the net impact of retroactive legislation that reinstates an excise tax credit program available for certain of our biofuel blending activities that had previously expired.

We define adjusted gross margin as net sales less cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) decreased by total commodity derivative gains and losses included in net income (loss) and increased by realized commodity derivative gains and losses included in net income (loss), in each case with respect to refined products and natural gas inventory, prepaid forward contracts and natural gas transportation contracts. Adjusted gross margin has no impact on reported volumes or net sales.

To manage Sprague's underlying performance, including its physical and derivative positions, management utilizes adjusted gross margin. Adjusted gross margin is also used by external users of our consolidated financial statements to assess our economic results of operations and its commodity market value reporting to lenders.  EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are used as supplemental financial measures by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, trade suppliers, research analysts and commercial banks to assess the financial performance of our assets, operations and return on capital without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; the ability of our assets to generate sufficient revenue, that when rendered to cash, will be available to pay interest on our indebtedness and make distributions to our equity holders; repeatable operating performance that is not distorted by non-recurring items or market volatility; and, the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects.

Sprague believes that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that are used by its management and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing its operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations. The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin data presented by Sprague may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies.  Please see the attached reconciliations of net income to adjusted EBITDA and operating income to adjusted gross margin.

With regard to guidance, reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to the closest corresponding GAAP measure (expected net income (loss)) is not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the inherent difficulty and impracticality of forecasting certain amounts required by GAAP such as unrealized gains and losses on derivative hedges, which can have a significant and potentially unpredictable impact on our future GAAP financial results.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Sprague Resources LP or about Sprague Resources LP’s future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. Although Sprague believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks that may affect our business prospects and performance causing actual results to differ from those discussed in the foregoing release.  Such risks and uncertainties include, by way of example and not of limitation: increased competition for our products or services; adverse weather conditions; changes in supply or demand for our products or services; nonperformance by major customers or suppliers; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction and unexpected capital expenditures; our ability to complete organic growth and acquisition projects; our ability to integrate acquired assets; potential labor issues; the legislative or regulatory environment; terminal construction/repair delays; political and economic conditions; and, the impact of security risks including terrorism, international hostilities and cyber-risk. These are not all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements.  Other applicable risks and uncertainties have been described more fully in Sprague’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 14, 2019 and in the Partnership's subsequent Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. Sprague undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

(Financial Tables Below)


Sprague Resources LP
Summary Financial Data
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
 (unaudited) (unaudited)
 ($ in thousands)
Income Statements Data: 
Net sales$1,258,308  $1,331,148 
Operating costs and expenses:   
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and
 amortization)		1,159,112  1,183,982 
Operating expenses23,789  23,209 
Selling, general and administrative20,913  27,864 
Depreciation and amortization8,388  8,425 
Total operating costs and expenses1,212,202  1,243,480 
Operating income46,106  87,668 
Interest income187  112 
Interest expense(11,959) (9,884)
Income before income taxes34,334  77,896 
Income tax provision(413) (2,975)
Net income33,921  74,921 
Incentive distributions declared(2,055) (1,714)
Limited partners’ interest in net income$31,866  $73,207 
Net income per limited partner unit:   
Common - basic$1.40  $3.22 
Common - diluted$1.40  $3.21 
Units used to compute net income per limited partner unit:  
Common - basic22,733,977  22,725,346 
Common - diluted22,739,609  22,786,889 
Distribution declared per unit$0.6675  $0.6525 


Sprague Resources LP
Volume, Net Sales and Adjusted Gross Margin by Segment
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
 (unaudited) (unaudited)
 ($ and volumes in thousands)
Volumes:  
Refined products (gallons)549,492  576,240 
Natural gas (MMBtus)19,804  20,257 
Materials handling (short tons)922  793 
Materials handling (gallons)106,223  69,972 
Net Sales:   
Refined products$1,120,123  $1,180,860 
Natural gas114,167  129,927 
Materials handling16,481  13,148 
Other operations7,537  7,213 
Total net sales$1,258,308  $1,331,148 
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Gross Margin:  
Operating income$46,106  $87,668 
Operating costs and expenses not allocated to operating segments:  
Operating expenses23,789  23,209 
Selling, general and administrative20,913  27,864 
Depreciation and amortization8,388  8,425 
Add/(deduct):   
  Change in unrealized gain on inventory4,236  (23,561)
  Change in unrealized value on natural gas
    transportation contracts		(7,988) (14,068)
Total adjusted gross margin:$95,444  $109,537 
Adjusted Gross Margin:   
Refined products$44,739  $56,335 
Natural gas32,322  37,948 
Materials handling16,451  13,148 
Other operations1,932  2,106 
Total adjusted gross margin$95,444  $109,537 


Sprague Resources LP
Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Measures
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018

 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2019 2018
 (unaudited) (unaudited)
 ($ in thousands)
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, Adjusted
  EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow:		  
Net income$33,921  $74,921 
Add/(deduct):   
  Interest expense, net11,772  9,772 
  Tax provision413  2,975 
  Depreciation and amortization8,388  8,425 
EBITDA$54,494  $96,093 
Add/(deduct):   
Change in unrealized gain on inventory4,236  (23,561)
Change in unrealized value on natural gas transportation
 contracts		(7,988) (14,068)
Biofuel tax credit—  (4,022)
Acquisition related expenses (1)8  443 
Other adjustments (2)171  194 
Adjusted EBITDA$50,921  $55,079 
Add/(deduct):   
Cash interest expense, net(10,453) (8,433)
Cash taxes611  (2,369)
Maintenance capital expenditures(1,466) (2,262)
Elimination of expense relating to incentive
compensation and directors fees expected to be paid in
common units		(197) 838 
Other1  304 
Distributable cash flow$39,417  $43,157 

(1)    We incur expenses in connection with acquisitions and given the nature, variability of amounts, and the fact that these expenses would not have otherwise been incurred as part of our continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA excludes the impact of acquisition related expenses.
(2)    Represents the change in fair value of contingent consideration related to the 2017 Coen Energy acquisition and other expense.

Investor Contact:
Susan Kelly Trahan
+1 800.225.1560
investorrelations@spragueenergy.com

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