SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS LP

Current report

We face risks related to our current and future debt obligations that may limit our ability to make distributions to Unitholders, as well as our financial flexibility

Current report

As of December 28, 2024, our long-term debt consisted of $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due March 1, 2027, $650.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.0% senior notes due June 1, 2031, $80.6 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.5% green bonds due October 1, 2028 through October 1, 2033 (“Green Bonds”) and $242.7 million outstanding under our $500.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The payment of principal and interest on our debt will reduce the cash available to make distributions on our Common Units. In addition, we will not be able to make any distributions to holders of our Common Units if there is, or after giving effect to such distribution, there would be, an event of default under the indentures governing the senior notes, the senior secured revolving credit facility or the Green Bonds. The amount of distributions that we may make to holders of our Common Units is limited by the senior notes, and the amount of distributions that the Operating Partnership may make to us is limited by our revolving credit facility. The amount of distributions that our subsidiary WOF SW GGP 1, LLC (“SuburbanRNG - Stanfield”) may make to us is limited by the Green Bonds. The revolving credit facility and the senior notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to us, the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries, respectively, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. The revolving credit facility contains certain financial covenants:

Current report

requiring our consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined therein, to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;

Current report

prohibiting our total consolidated leverage ratio, as defined therein, from being greater than 5.75 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; and

Current report

prohibiting the senior secured consolidated leverage ratio, as defined therein, of the Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.25 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.

Current report

Under the indentures governing the senior notes, we are generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon making such distributions, and our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1. We and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the senior notes and the revolving credit facility as of September 28, 2024.

Current report

The Green Bonds contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants applicable to SuburbanRNG - Stanfield, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. The Green Bonds contain a financial covenant requiring SuburbanRNG - Stanfield’s debt service coverage ratio, as defined therein, to be not less than 1.00 to 1.00 for any fiscal quarter. SuburbanRNG – Stanfield did not comply with this ratio for the period ended December 28, 2024, September 28, 2024 and the interim periods during fiscal 2024 which, if not waived, would constitute an event of default under the terms of the Green Bonds. SuburbanRNG – Stanfield and the Partnership obtained a waiver of this non-compliance from the holders of a majority of the outstanding Green Bonds. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, certain events of default under the terms of the Green Bonds constitute an event of default under the Credit Agreement. The Partnership obtained a waiver from the lenders and the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement for the corresponding event of default under the Credit Agreement resulting from the event of default under the Green Bonds.

Current report

While we currently anticipate that SuburbanRNG – Stanfield will regain compliance with the debt service coverage ratio prior to the end of our second fiscal quarter of 2025, the next compliance measurement date, if SuburbanRNG – Stanfield is unable to regain compliance it will be required to seek another waiver from the holders of at least a majority of the Green Bonds to avoid an event of default under the Green Bonds.

Current report

The amount and terms of our debt may also adversely affect our ability to finance future operations and capital needs, limit our ability to pursue acquisitions and other business opportunities and make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic and industry conditions. In addition to our outstanding indebtedness, we may in the future require additional debt to finance acquisitions or for general business purposes; however, credit market conditions may impact our ability to access such financing. If we are unable to access needed financing or to generate sufficient cash from operations, we may be required to abandon certain projects or curtail capital expenditures. Additional debt, where it is available, could result in an increase in our leverage. Our ability to make principal and interest payments depends on our future performance, which is subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the risks discussed elsewhere in this section. As interest expense increases (whether due to an increase in interest rates and/or the size of aggregate outstanding debt), our ability to fund distributions on our Common Units may be impacted, depending on the level of revenue generation, which is not assured.

Current report

Our renewable fuel investments are subject to a number of risks, including the willingness of customers to adopt these fuels, the financing, construction and development of facilities, our ability to generate a sufficient return on our investments, our dependence on third-party partners, increased or changing regulation, and dependence on government incentives for commercial viability.

Current report

We have expanded our Go Green with Suburban Propane corporate pillar with our investments in renewable and low-carbon energy sources offered through our investments in Oberon and IH, our agreement to build an anaerobic digester at Adirondack Farms, our purchase of RNG production and distribution assets through SuburbanRNG – Columbus and SuburbanRNG – Stanfield and our sales of renewable propane. The success of these businesses and investments is subject to a number of factors and risks, including unpredictability and uncertainty as to the willingness of customers in their intended markets to adopt the use of these fuels, which will be dependent upon perceptions about the benefits of these fuels relative to other alternative fuels; increases, decreases or volatility in demand; on-site operational constraints such as the availability of feedstock or the reliable operation of anaerobic digesters with respect to production of renewable fuels; use and prices of crude oil, gasoline and other fuels and energy sources; the adoption or expansion of government policies, programs, funding or incentives in favor of these or alternative fuels; the ability for development stage entities such as Oberon and IH to raise capital to fund their operations and strategic growth initiatives, as well as potential changes in market valuations for these or similar assets, has resulted in impairment charges from time to time, and may result in future impairment charges. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Partnership recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $10,213 for Oberon and $9,595 for IH, both of which were recognized in “Other, net” on the condensed consolidated statement of operations, to write down the carrying values of the investments in Oberon and IH to their estimated fair values of $0 and $21,589, respectively. The Partnership will continue to monitor IH’s financial condition and other available information to determine if future adjustments are necessary, as discussed in more detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Current report

We may also face increasing competition from other companies seeking to produce fuels from alternative sources. If we are unable to establish feedstock supplies and production and sales channels that allow us to offer comparable products at attractive prices, we may not be able to compete effectively with these companies.

Current report

The success of our existing and future investments in our renewable energy platform will depend on our ability to successfully develop, market and distribute the specific renewable energy products. In addition, the acquisition, financing, construction, development and operation of these projects involves numerous risks, including:

Current report

the ability to obtain financing for a project on acceptable terms or at all;

Current report

difficulties in identifying, obtaining, and permitting suitable sites for new projects;

Current report

failure to obtain all necessary rights to land access and use;

Current report

inaccuracy of assumptions with respect to the cost and schedule for completing construction;

Current report

project delays, including delays in deliveries or increases in the price of labor, equipment or feedstock;

Current report

on-site operational issues relating to the availability of feedstock for the anaerobic digesters or other issues relating to the reliable production of projectable quantities of renewable natural gas; labor shortages; and

Current report

legal challenges by local populations, permitting and other regulatory issues, license revocation and changes in legal requirements.

Current report

We will compete with other companies and private equity sponsors for acquisition opportunities, which may increase our costs or cause us to refrain from making acquisitions. We are constructing a natural gas upgrade system at SuburbanRNG – Columbus that requires capital expenditures and there is no guarantee that the project will be completed on time or on budget, and our operations could be adversely affected by disruptions or delays which could have a negative impact on revenues and operations. The development of these products may also be negatively affected by production risks resulting from mechanical breakdowns, faulty technology, competitive markets, labor shortages or changes to the laws and regulations that mandate the use of renewable energy sources, and the other regulatory risks discussed above under the caption, “The adoption of climate change legislation could negatively impact our operations and result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the products and services we provide,” included in the “Risk Factor” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Current report

(c) The following table provides information about deemed purchases by the Partnership during the three months ended December 28, 2024 of its Common Units:

Current report

(1) This represents the number of Common Units withheld from participants for income tax withholding purposes for those executive officers of the Partnership whose shares of restricted units vested during the period. Such restricted units were issued to participants pursuant to the Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2018 Restricted Unit Plan.

Previous report

None.