StoneMor Partners L.P. Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results


LEVITTOWN, Pa., Aug. 9, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneMor Partners L.P. (Nasdaq:STON) announced its results of operations and various critical financial measures (non-GAAP) today for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Measures released include both GAAP measures as provided for in our quarterly financial statements and other financial measures that we believe help to understand our results of operations, financial position and decision making process:

Critical financial measures (non-GAAP):

  Three months ended
  June 30,
  2010 2009
  (In thousands)
     
Adjusted operating profit (a)  $ 11,882  $ 11,074
Total value of cemetery contracts written, funeral home revenues and
investment and other income (a)
 63,424  57,401
Adjusted operating cash generated (a)  10,249  11,591
Distributable free cash flow (a)  9,646  11,448
     
(a) This is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please see the reconciliation to GAAP measures within this press release.


Financial measures (GAAP):

 

  Three months ended
  June 30,
  2010 2009
  (In thousands)
     
Operating cash flows (deficits)  $ (1,442)  $ 4,894
Operating profit (loss)  1,964  4,744
Total revenues  48,737  47,802
Net income   2,821  1,639



Acquisition

In June, 2010, we completed the purchase of eight cemeteries and five funeral homes for an aggregate price of approximately $32.7 million. This consisted of approximately $23.1 million in cash, of which $12.5 million was to fund merchandise trust shortfalls which will eventually be returned to us as we deliver the underlying merchandise and services that these amounts fund, $5.8 million in common units representing limited partner interests in us, and $4.0 million in liabilities that will be paid in future years. This acquisition is consistent with our growth strategy and provides for further utilization of our national operating platform. These properties are expected to significantly contribute to the value of contracts written and production-based revenue. Although there is no assurance of future performance or increased distributions to unit holders, historically, we have been able to improve revenues and operating profits of acquired properties, and our prior acquisitions have contributed to increases in distributions to its unit holders.

Production Based Revenue

We have presented as a critical financial measure the production-based revenue because we believe it is the best measure of revenues generated during a period and is the measure used by our senior management in evaluating periodic results.

The table below details the components of production based revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and reconciles it to GAAP revenues.
 

  Three months ended June 30, Increase Increase
  2010 2009 (Decrease) ($) (Decrease) (%)
  (In thousands)    
         
Value of pre-need cemetery contracts written  $ 29,845  $ 27,050  $ 2,795 10.3%
Value of at-need cemetery contracts written  18,224  16,502  1,722 10.4%
Investment income from trusts  7,656  5,871  1,785 30.4%
Interest income  1,460  1,528  (68) -4.5%
Funeral home revenues  5,923  5,914  9 0.2%
Other cemetery revenues  316  536  (220) -41.0%
         
Total  $ 63,424  $ 57,401  $ 6,023 10.5%
         
Less:        
         
Increase in deferred sales revenue and investment income  14,687  9,599  $ 5,088 53.0%
         
Total GAAP revenues  $ 48,737  $ 47,802  $ 935 2.0%

While GAAP revenues increased by just $0.9 million, or 2.0%, to $48.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010, production based revenue increased by $6.0 million, or 10.5%, to $63.4 million. This increase was attributable to an increase in the value of pre-need cemetery contracts written ($2.8 million or 10.3%), the value of at-need cemetery contracts written ($1.7 million or 10.4%) and investment income from trusts ($1.8 million or 30.4%).

Adjusted Operating Profit and Profit Margin

During a period of growth, operating profits as defined by GAAP will tend to lag adjusted operating profits because accounting rules require the deferral of all revenues and a portion of the costs associated with these revenues until such time that merchandise is delivered or services are performed. This creates a non-cash liability on our financial statements and delays the recognition of revenues and profit. Adjusted operating profits ignore these delays and present results based upon economic performance. Over time, operating profits and adjusted operating profits will match.

The table below presents adjusted operating profits and reconciles this amount to GAAP operating profits for the three months ended June 30, 2010:
 

    Three months ended June 30, Increase Increase
    2010 2009 (Decrease) ($) (Decrease) (%)
    (In thousands)      
           
Operating profit     $ 1,964  $ 4,744    
           
Increase (decrease) in applicable deferred revenues  14,687 9,599    
           
(Increase) decrease in deferred cost of goods sold
and selling and obtaining costs
  (4,769) (3,269)    
           
Adjusted operating profit    $ 11,882  $ 11,074  $ 808 7.3%
           
Adjusted operating profit margin (a)   18.7% 19.3%   -2.9%
           
(a) Based upon the ratio of adjusted operating profits to production based revenues.      

Adjusted operating profits increased by $0.8 million, or 7.3%, to $11.9 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010. This increase was caused by the previously discussed increase in production based revenue ($6.0 million) offset by a $5.2 million increase in costs. The ratio of adjusted operating profit to production based revenue declined slightly to 18.7% during the three months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to 19.3% during the same period last year.

Adjusted Operating Cash Flows and Distributable Free Cash Flow 

We define adjusted operating cash flows as operating cash flows plus or (minus):

  • Net inflows (outflows) to our merchandise trust.
  • Increases (decreases) in accounts receivable and other cash flow timing differences.

We define distributable free cash flow as adjusted operating cash flow plus or (minus):

  • Acquisition related costs.
  • (Maintenance capital expenditures).
  • Other investing cash inflows (outflows).

When determining partner distributions we consider operating cash flows, adjusted operating cash flows and distributable free cash flows. Distributions in excess of operating cash flows but less than adjusted operating cash flows and distributable free cash flows recognizes the fact that ultimate cash flows generated are temporarily tied up either in trust or in cash flow timing changes and represents a business decision on our part to not delay partner distributions until such time that these issues have settled.

The table below adjusts operating cash flows to adjusted operating cash flows and ultimately to distributable free cash flows for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009:
 

  Three months ended June 30, Increase Increase
  2010 2009 (Decrease) ($) (Decrease) (%)
  (In thousands)    
         
Operating cash flows (deficits)  $ (1,442)  $ 4,894    
         
Add: net cash inflows into the merchandise trust  (45)  657    
Add: net increase in accounts receivable  7,034  5,279    
Add (subtract): net decrease (increase) in merchandise liabilities  (739)  2,098    
Add (deduct): net decrease (increase) in accounts payable and accrued expenses   2,029  (3,231)    
Other float related changes  3,412  1,893    
         
Adjusted operating cash generated  10,249  11,591  $ (1,342) -11.6%
         
Less: maintenance capital expenditures  (2,269)  (685)    
Plus: Acquisition related costs paid (a)  1,666  542    
Less (plus): other investing cash flow items   --  --    
         
Distributable free cash flow generated  9,646  11,448  $ (1,802) -15.7%
         
Partner distributions made  $ 7,757  $ 6,813    
         
(a) We maintain an acquisition line of credit from which to make acquisitions and pay acquisition related costs. We utilize this line for these costs. Accordingly, distributable free cash flow is not negatively impacted by amounts spent on acquisitions that are recorded as expenses.

Adjusted operating cash generated declined by 11.6% to $10.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010. A significant contributing factor to this was the increase in interest of approximately $2.0 million.

Distributable free cash flow decreased by 15.7% to $9.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010. This was primarily attributable to the aforementioned decline in adjusted operating cash flow and a $1.6 million increase in maintenance capital expenditures.

Both our adjusted operating cash flow and distributable free cash flow exceeded partnership distributions made during the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Discussion of GAAP Results

GAAP accounting requires that we defer the value of contracts written and investment income earned from trusts until such time as the underlying merchandise is delivered or service is performed. Accordingly, periodic changes in GAAP revenue are not necessarily indicative of changes in either the volume or pricing on contracts originated during the period, but rather changes in the timing of when merchandise is delivered or services are performed.

Revenues

Revenues increased by $0.9 million, or 2.0%, to $48.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2010. The increase was primarily attributable to a $4.5 million increase in the value of cemetery contracts written and a $1.8 million increase in trust revenue as measured before deferral offset by a $5.1 million increase in the amount of revenue deferred.

Operating Profit

Operating profit declined by $2.8 million, or 58.6%, to $2.0 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. The decline was primarily related to a $3.7 million increase in expenses offset by the previously mentioned $0.9 million revenue increase.

Net Income (Loss)

Net income increased 72.1%, to $2.8 million during the second quarter of 2010.

The primary reason for the increase was the recognition of a gain on an acquisition ($4.2 million) that we made in the second quarter of 2009 for which we finalized the accounting during this quarter. Also contributing to the change was a $1.6 million increase in the value of our interest rate swaps offset by the previously mentioned $2.8 million decline in operating profits.

Backlog

 Backlog is a measurement of the future operating profit benefit that will be derived from customer contracts that have been executed for which we have not as of yet met the GAAP-based revenue recognition criteria and is equal to:

  • deferred cemetery revenues and investment income;
  • less deferred selling and obtaining costs.

Backlog does not include deferred unrealized gains and losses on merchandise trust assets.

We believe there are no material costs or significant uncertainties remaining to be determined or accrued for us to be able to realize the cash benefit of this future operating profit.

At June 30, 2010 our backlog was $279.7 million. This is an increase of $43.2 million from $236.5 million at December 31, 2009. $30.4 million of this increase was related to our 2010 acquisitions, while the remainder was related to ongoing operations. This build up in backlog will be reflected in GAAP revenue as we deliver the underlying merchandise and perform the underlying services

Investor Conference Call

An investors' conference call to review the second quarter 2010 results (which will be released before this call) will be held on Monday, August 9, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by calling (800) 895-8134. An audio replay of the conference call will be available by calling (800) 633-8284 through 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 23, 2010. The reservation number for the audio replay is as follows: 21477466. The audio replay of the conference call will also be archived on StoneMor's website at http://www.stonemor.com.

About StoneMor Partners L.P.

StoneMor Partners L.P., headquartered in Levittown, Pennsylvania, is an owner and operator of cemeteries and funeral homes in the United States, with 255 cemeteries and 63 funeral homes. StoneMor is the only publicly traded deathcare company structured as a partnership. StoneMor's cemetery products and services, which are sold on both a pre-need (before death) and at-need (at death) basis, include: burial lots, lawn and mausoleum crypts, burial vaults, caskets, memorials, and all services which provide for the installation of this merchandise. 

For additional information about StoneMor Partners L.P., please visit StoneMor's website, and the Investor Relations section, at http://stonemor.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, information regarding the status and progress of the company's operating activities, the plans and objectives of the company's management, assumptions regarding the company's future performance and plans, and any financial guidance provided, as well as certain information in other filings with the SEC and elsewhere, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A(i) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continues," "anticipate," "intend," "project," "expect," "predict," and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, but not limited to, the following: uncertainties associated with future revenue and revenue growth; the effect of the current economic downturn; the impact of the company's significant leverage on its operating plans; the ability of the company to service its debt; the decline in the fair value of certain equity and debt securities held in the company's merchandise trust; the company's ability to attract, train and retain an adequate number of sales people; uncertainties associated with the volume and timing of pre-need sales of cemetery services and products; variances in death rates; variances in the use of cremation; changes in political or regulatory environments, including potential changes in tax accounting and trusting policies; the company's ability to successfully implement a strategic plan relating to producing operating improvement, strong cash flows and further deleveraging; uncertainties associated with the integration or the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of assets in September 2006; and various other uncertainties associated with the deathcare industry and the company's operations in particular.

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Operating Profit

We present Adjusted Operating Profit because management believes it provides for a useful measure of economic value added by presenting an effective matching of the value of current and future revenue sources generated within a given period to the cost of producing such revenue and managing our day to day operations within that same period. It is a significant measure that we believe is an indicator of eventual profit generated within a given period of time.

Adjusted Operating Profit is a non-GAAP financial measure that may not be consistent with other similar non-GAAP financial measures presented by other publicly traded companies.

Distributable Free Cash Flow

We present Distributable Free Cash Flow because management believes this information is a useful adjunct to Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities under GAAP. Distributable Free Cash Flow is a significant liquidity metric that we believe is an indicator of our ability to generate cash flow during any quarter at a level sufficient to pay the minimum quarterly cash distribution to the holders of our common units and subordinated units and for other purposes, such as repaying debt and expanding through strategic investments.

Distributable Free Cash Flow is similar to quantitative standards of free cash flow used throughout the deathcare industry and to quantitative standards of distributable cash flow used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships, but is not intended to be a prediction of the future. However, our calculation of distributable free cash flow may not be consistent with calculations of free cash flow, distributable cash flow or other similarly titled measures of other companies. Distributable Free Cash Flow is not a measure of financial performance and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities.

Production Based Revenue

We present production based revenue because management believes it provides for a useful measure of both the value of contracts written and investment and other income generated during a given period and is a critical component of adjusted operating profit.

Production based revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure that may not be consistent with other similar non-GAAP financial measures presented by other publicly traded companies.

Adjusted Operating Cash Generated

We present adjusted operating cash generated revenue because management believes it provides for a useful measure of the amount of cash generated that is available to make capital expenditures and partner distribution once all cash flow timing issues have been settled.

Adjusted operating cash generated is a non-GAAP financial measure that may not be consistent with other similar non-GAAP financial measures presented by other publicly traded companies.

 

StoneMor Partners L.P.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
     
     
  June 30, December 31,
  2010 2009
  (unaudited)  
     
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 13,450 $ 13,479
Accounts receivable, net of allowance 43,102 37,113
Prepaid expenses 3,477 3,531
Other current assets 9,815 4,502
Total current assets 69,844 58,625
     
Long-term accounts receivable - net of allowance 59,685 48,015
Cemetery property 294,120 235,357
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 85,448 52,265
Merchandise trusts, restricted, at fair value 266,909 203,885
Perpetual care trusts, restricted, at fair value 215,429 196,295
Deferred financing costs - net of accumulated amortization 10,697 12,020
Deferred selling and obtaining costs 55,759 49,782
Deferred tax assets 519 451
Fair value of interest rate swap 559 --
Other assets 5,847 2,194
Total assets $ 1,064,816 $ 858,889
     
Liabilities and partners' capital    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 24,190 $ 26,574
Accrued interest 1,546 1,829
Current portion, long-term debt 523 378
Total current liabilities 26,259 28,781
     
Other long-term liabilities 5,731 2,912
Fair value of interest rate swap -- 2,681
Long-term debt 237,186 182,821
Deferred cemetery revenues, net 313,301 258,978
Deferred tax liabilities 28,348 5,290
Merchandise liability 104,076 65,883
Perpetual care trust corpus 215,429 196,295
Total liabilities 930,330 743,641
     
Partners' capital    
General partner 2,155 1,904
General partner incentive distribution rights 6,199 --
Common partner 126,132 113,344
Total partners' capital 134,862 115,248
     
Total liabilities and partners' capital $ 1,064,816 $ 858,889

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on the Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.


 

StoneMor Partners L.P.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
         
         
  Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
  2010 2009 2010 2009
         
Revenues:        
Cemetery        
Merchandise $ 24,031 $ 23,456 $ 42,826 $ 42,732
Services  10,034  9,534  18,025  18,772
Investment and other  8,898  9,049  16,905  16,865
Funeral home        
Merchandise 2,363 2,320 4,862 4,929
Services 3,411 3,443 6,789 7,102
Total revenues 48,737 47,802 89,407 90,400
         
Costs and Expenses:        
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below):        
Perpetual care 1,270 1,423 2,357 2,428
Merchandise 4,077 4,736 7,422 8,531
Cemetery expense 12,086 10,412 21,333 19,851
Selling expense 9,467 8,618 17,083 16,444
General and administrative expense 6,161 5,411 11,759 10,890
Corporate overhead (including $177 and $383 in unit-based compensation for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and $353 and $757 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009) 5,605 5,497 10,694 10,863
Depreciation and amortization 1,799 1,708 3,657 3,018
Funeral home expense        
Merchandise 953 944 1,866 1,911
Services 2,247 2,296 4,335 4,702
Other 1,442 1,471 2,872 2,899
Acquisition related costs 1,666 542 2,656 2,128
Total cost and expenses 46,773 43,058 86,034 83,665
         
Operating profit (loss) 1,964 4,744 3,373 6,735
         
Other income and expense        
Gain on sale of funeral homes -- -- -- 475
Gain on acquisitions 4,173 -- 27,485 --
Increase in fair value of interest rate swap 1,568 -- 3,239 --
Interest expense 5,238 3,202 10,097 6,371
         
Income before income taxes 2,467 1,542 24,000 839
         
Income taxes:        
State  27 39 55 201
Federal (381) (136) (909) (136)
Total income taxes  (354) (97) (854) 65
         
Net income  $ 2,821  $ 1,639  $ 24,854  $ 774
         
General partner's interest in net income for the period $ 56 $ 33 $ 369 $ 15
General partner's IDR interest in net income for the period $ -- $ -- $ 6,382 $ --
         
Limited partners' interest in net income for the period        
Common $ 2,765 $ 1,320 $ 18,103 $ 623
Subordinated $ -- $ 286 $ -- $ 136
         
Net income per limited partner unit (basic and diluted) $ .23 $ .14 $ 1.35 $ .06
         
Weighted average number of limited partners' units outstanding (basic and diluted)        
  13,537 11,891 13,448 11,891

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on the Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.


 

StoneMor Partners L.P.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
         
  Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
  2010 2009 2010 2009
         
Operating activities:        
Net income (loss)  $ 2,821  $ 1,639  $ 24,854  $ 774
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activity:
       
Cost of lots sold  1,559  1,432  3,030  2,616
Depreciation and amortization  1,799  1,708  3,657  3,018
Unit-based compensation  178  383  353  757
Accretion of debt discount  84  --  166  --
Previously capitalized acquisition costs  --  --  --  1,365
Previously capitalized financing fees  --  141  --  141
Gain on sale of funeral home  --  --  --  (475)
Increase in value of interest rate swap  (1,568)  --  (3,239)  --
Gain on acquisition  (3,790)  --  (27,485)  --
Changes in assets and liabilities that provided (used) cash:      
Accounts receivable  (7,352)  (5,691)  (14,656)  (11,361)
Allowance for doubtful accounts  318  412  1,481  1,649
Merchandise trust fund  45  (657)  (3,981)  (2,119)
Prepaid expenses  (801)  (1,442)  54  (431)
Other current assets  (2,726)  (193)  (2,767)  320
Other assets  115  (258)  234  (414)
Accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities  (2,029)  3,231  640  460
Deferred selling and obtaining costs  (2,668)  (2,185)  (5,977)  (4,745)
Deferred cemetery revenue  12,641  8,679  26,101  17,626
Deferred taxes (net)  (425)  (207)  (996)  (207)
Merchandise liability  739  (2,098)  1,116  (870)
Net cash provided by operating activities  (1,442)  4,894  2,587  8,104
Investing activities:        
Additions to cemetery property  (488)  (1,209)  (903)  (2,240)
Purchase of subsidiaries, net of common units issued  (22,947)  (2,727)  (36,962)  (2,727)
Divestiture of funeral home  --  --    475
Additions of property and equipment  (2,269)  (685)  (2,657)  (1,061)
Net cash used in investing activities  (25,704)  (4,621)  (40,522)  (5,553)
Financing activities:        
Cash distribution  (7,757)  (6,813)  (15,410)  (13,626)
Additional borrowings on long-term debt  35,689  92,852  53,889  101,667
Repayments of long-term debt  (527)  (80,497)  (684)  (81,053)
General partner contribution  118  --  186  --
Cost of financing activities  (6)  (4,947)  (75)  (5,332)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  27,517  595  37,906  1,656
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  371  868  (29)  4,207
Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of period  13,079  10,407  13,479  7,068
Cash and cash equivalents - End of period  $ 13,450  $ 11,275  $ 13,450  $ 11,275
         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information        
Cash paid during the period for interest  $ 9,423  $ 2,410  $ 10,380  $ 5,587
Cash paid during the period for income taxes  $ 1,349  $ 1,240  $ 1,530  $ 1,520
         
Non-cash investing and financing activities        
Issuance of note payable for acquisition  $ 1,305  $ --  $ 1,305  $ --
Issuance of limited partner units for cemetery acquisition  $ 5,785  $ --  $ 5,785  $ --

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on the Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.



            

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