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8-K - 8-K - Sprague Resources LPsrlp8-k4q2016earnings.htm


Exhibit 99.1


spraguelogoa07.jpg


News Release

Investor Contact:
Kory Arthur
+1 603.766.7401
karthur@spragueenergy.com
Sprague Resources LP Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results
Partnership issues 2017 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance of $115 to $130 Million
Portsmouth, NH (March 10, 2017) - Sprague Resources LP (“Sprague”) (NYSE: SRLP) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2016.
Fourth Quarter 2016 Highlights

Net sales were $766.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to net sales of $663.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
GAAP net loss was $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to net income of $28.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
Adjusted gross margin was $69.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to adjusted gross margin of $70.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
Adjusted EBITDA was $30.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $30.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
Full Year 2016 Highlights

Net sales were $2.4 billion in 2016, compared to net sales of $3.5 billion in 2015.
GAAP net income was $10.2 million in 2016, compared to net income of $78.3 million in 2015.
Adjusted gross margin was $259.3 million in 2016, compared to adjusted gross margin of $276.0 million in 2015.
Adjusted EBITDA was $109.0 million in 2016, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $110.4 million in 2015.






“I am pleased to report that Sprague delivered another year of solid financial performance in 2016. We grew distributions to unitholders by 12% and posted distribution coverage of 1.6 times for the year,” said David Glendon, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our recent acquisitions highlight our commitment to continue that growth. Sprague's strong balance sheet, lender support and ability to access capital markets provides us with a unique opportunity to continue executing our growth strategy. Based on the expected impact of these transactions, combined with results to date in the first quarter, we're issuing a 2017 adjusted EBITDA guidance range of between $115 and $130 million,” said Mr. Glendon.
Refined Products

Volumes in the Refined Products segment increased 10% to 417.8 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 381.1 million gallons in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Adjusted gross margin in the Refined Products segment decreased $7.8 million, or 17%, to $38.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $46.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Volumes in the Refined Products segment decreased 288.1 million gallons, or 17%, to 1.4 billion gallons in 2016 compared to 2015.
Refined Products adjusted gross margin decreased 16% to $142.6 million in 2016, compared to $170.4 million in 2015.

“Sprague’s Refined Products adjusted gross margin declined 17% for the quarter, mainly due to the benefit of the retroactive reinstatement of the bio-diesel blenders tax credit that occurred in the fourth quarter of last year," said Mr. Glendon. “The extreme warm weather we saw in the first quarter was primarily responsible for the adjusted gross margin decline of 16% for the year."

Natural Gas
 
Natural Gas segment volumes increased 20% to 16.9 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to 14.1 Bcf in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Natural Gas adjusted gross margin increased $8.3 million, or 79%, to $18.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $10.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
Volumes in the Natural Gas segment increased 4.8 Bcf, or 9%, to 61.7 Bcf in 2016 compared to 2015.
Natural Gas adjusted gross margin increased 22% to $62.4 million in 2016, compared to $51.0 million in 2015.

“The Santa Energy acquisition exceeded expectations on multiple dimensions and was a primary driver of the significant improvement in our 2016 results. Combined with an overall increase in unit margins, our Natural Gas adjusted gross margin improved dramatically for the year. We believe our recent experience validates the Natural Gas roll-up strategy and we remain optimistic regarding the Global acquisition," said Mr. Glendon.





Materials Handling
 
Materials Handling adjusted gross margin decreased by $1.8 million, or 15%, to $9.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to $11.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2015.
Materials Handling adjusted gross margin increased 0.3% to $45.7 million in 2016 compared to $45.6 million in 2015.

"Sprague's Materials Handling adjusted gross margin improved slightly for the full year, demonstrating the reliability and stable earnings we expect this business to deliver," reported Mr. Glendon.
Quarterly Distribution Increase

On January 27, 2017, the Board of Directors of Sprague’s general partner, Sprague Resources GP LLC, announced its eleventh consecutive distribution increase and approved a cash distribution of $0.5775 per unit for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, representing a 3% increase over the distribution declared for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The distribution was paid on February 14, 2017 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on February 8, 2017.
Sprague Resources LP Schedule K-1s Now Available
 
Sprague has finalized 2016 tax packages for its unitholders, including Schedule K-1 and made available via Sprague’s website at www.spragueenergy.com under “Investor Relations / K-1 Tax Information”. The tax packages will be mailed by March 17, 2017. For additional information, unitholders may call 855-521-8150 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CDT, or visit www.taxpackagesupport.com/SRLP.
Financial Results Conference Call
Management will review Sprague’s fourth quarter 2016 financial results in a teleconference call for analysts and investors today, March 10, 2017.
Date and Time:
March 10, 2017 at 1:00 PM ET
 
 
Dial-in numbers:
(866) 516-2130 (U.S. and Canada)
 
 
 
(678) 509-7612 (International)
 
 
Participation Code:
60243639
The conference call may also be accessed live by a webcast available on the "Investor Relations" 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
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin are measures not defined by GAAP. We define EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA increased by 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. We define adjusted gross margin as net sales less cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) and 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.
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 guidance 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.





Forward Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements that we believe to be reasonable as of today's date. 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; changes in supply or demand for our products; changes in operating conditions and costs; changes in the level of environmental remediation spending; potential equipment malfunction; potential labor issues; the legislative or regulatory environment; terminal construction/repair delays; nonperformance by major customers or suppliers; and political and economic conditions, including the impact of potential terrorist acts and international hostilities. These and 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 10, 2016, and in our subsequent Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and other documents filed with or furnished to 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.
*****
This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Sprague’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Sprague’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.
###
(Financial Tables Below)






Sprague Resources LP
Summary Financial Data
Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
($ in thousands)
Statement of Operations Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
766,825

 
$
663,791

 
$
2,389,998

 
$
3,481,914

Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and
 amortization)
715,151

 
583,955

 
2,179,089

 
3,188,924

Operating expenses
16,804

 
17,074

 
65,882

 
71,468

Selling, general and administrative
22,158

 
23,210

 
84,257

 
94,403

Depreciation and amortization
5,236

 
4,977

 
21,237

 
20,342

Total operating costs and expenses
759,349

 
629,216

 
2,350,465

 
3,375,137

Operating income
7,476

 
34,575

 
39,533

 
106,777

Other (expense) income

 
(216
)
 
(114
)
 
298

Interest income
9

 
89

 
388

 
456

Interest expense
(7,354
)
 
(6,743
)
 
(27,533
)
 
(27,367
)
Income before income taxes
131

 
27,705

 
12,274

 
80,164

Income tax (provision) benefit
(1,247
)
 
674

 
(2,108
)
 
(1,816
)
Net (loss) income
(1,116
)
 
28,379

 
10,166

 
78,348

Incentive distributions declared
(598
)
 
(167
)
 
(1,742
)
 
(321
)
Limited partners’ interest in net (loss) income
$
(1,714
)
 
$
28,212

 
$
8,424

 
$
78,027

Net (loss) income per limited partner unit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common - basic
$
(0.08
)
 
$
1.34

 
$
0.40

 
$
3.71

Common - diluted
$
(0.08
)
 
$
1.32

 
$
0.38

 
$
3.65

Subordinated - basic and diluted
$
(0.08
)
 
$
1.34

 
$
0.40

 
$
3.71

Units used to compute net (loss) income per limited partner unit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common - basic
11,239,476

 
11,007,220

 
11,202,427

 
10,975,941

Common - diluted
11,239,476

 
11,187,570

 
11,560,617

 
11,141,333

Subordinated - basic and diluted
10,071,970

 
10,071,970

 
10,071,970

 
10,071,970








Sprague Resources LP
Volume, Net Sales and Adjusted Gross Margin by Segment
Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
($ and volumes in thousands)
Volumes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refined products (gallons)
417,816

 
381,066

 
1,396,080

 
1,684,158

Natural gas (MMBtus)
16,933

 
14,147

 
61,732

 
56,894

Materials handling (short tons)
507

 
807

 
2,523

 
2,666

Materials handling (gallons)
41,664

 
79,296

 
276,402

 
266,280

Net Sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refined products
$
657,400

 
$
564,523

 
$
1,988,597

 
$
3,063,858

Natural gas
93,747

 
81,648

 
334,003

 
347,453

Materials handling
9,886

 
11,665

 
45,734

 
45,570

Other operations
5,792

 
5,955

 
21,664

 
25,033

Total net sales
$
766,825

 
$
663,791

 
$
2,389,998

 
$
3,481,914

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Gross Margin:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
$
7,476

 
$
34,575

 
$
39,533

 
$
106,777

Operating costs and expenses not allocated to operating segments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
16,804

 
17,074

 
65,882

 
71,468

Selling, general and administrative
22,158

 
23,210

 
84,257

 
94,403

Depreciation and amortization
5,236

 
4,977

 
21,237

 
20,342

Add: unrealized loss (gain) on inventory derivatives
4,712

 
(3,023
)
 
31,304

 
2,079

Add: unrealized (gain) loss on prepaid
  forward contract derivatives
(391
)
 
380

 
(1,552
)
 
2,628

Add: unrealized loss (gain) on natural gas
  transportation contracts
13,391

 
(6,395
)
 
18,612

 
(21,695
)
Total adjusted gross margin:
$
69,386

 
$
70,798

 
$
259,273

 
$
276,002

Adjusted Gross Margin:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refined products
$
38,511

 
$
46,347

 
$
142,581

 
$
170,448

Natural gas
18,701

 
10,448

 
62,435

 
51,004

Materials handling
9,886

 
11,665

 
45,712

 
45,564

Other operations
2,288

 
2,338

 
8,545

 
8,986

Total adjusted gross margin
$
69,386

 
$
70,798

 
$
259,273

 
$
276,002








Sprague Resources LP
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Measures
Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
(unaudited)
 
($ in thousands)
Reconciliation of net (loss) income to EBITDA, Adjusted
  EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) income
$
(1,116
)
 
$
28,379

 
$
10,166

 
$
78,348

Add/(deduct):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Interest expense, net
7,345

 
6,654

 
27,145

 
26,911

     Tax provision
1,247

 
(674
)
 
2,108

 
1,816

     Depreciation and amortization
5,236

 
4,977

 
21,237

 
20,342

EBITDA
$
12,712

 
$
39,336

 
$
60,656

 
$
127,417

Add: unrealized loss (gain) on inventory derivatives
4,712

 
(3,023
)
 
31,304

 
2,079

Add: unrealized (gain) loss on prepaid forward contract
 derivatives
(391
)
 
380

 
(1,552
)
 
2,628

Add: unrealized loss (gain) on natural gas transportation
 contracts
13,391

 
(6,395
)
 
18,612

 
(21,695
)
Adjusted EBITDA
$
30,424

 
$
30,298

 
$
109,020

 
$
110,429

Add/(deduct):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash interest expense, net
(6,330
)
 
(5,771
)
 
(23,170
)
 
(23,359
)
Cash taxes
(789
)
 
49

 
(1,719
)
 
(1,668
)
Maintenance capital expenditures
(2,314
)
 
(1,689
)
 
(9,379
)
 
(8,855
)
Elimination of expense relating to incentive compensation and directors fees expected to be paid in common units
1,411

 
3,206

 
3,075

 
8,437

Other
227

 
1,866

 
1,225

 
4,701

Distributable cash flow
$
22,629

 
$
27,959

 
$
79,052

 
$
89,685