Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2010

 

 

 

or

 

 

 

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the transition period from          to              

 

Commission file numbers: 001-11331, 333-06693, 000-50182 and 000-50183

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

Ferrellgas, L.P.

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)

 

Delaware

 

43-1698480

Delaware

 

43-1742520

Delaware

 

43-1698481

Delaware

 

14-1866671

(States or other jurisdictions of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Nos.)

 

 

 

7500 College Boulevard,
Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas

 

66210

(Address of principal executive office)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrants’ telephone number, including area code:

(913) 661-1500

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files).  Yes o     No  x*

 

* The registrants have not yet been phased into the interactive data requirements.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, non-accelerated filers, or smaller reporting companies. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.:

 

Large accelerated filer x

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer o

Smaller reporting company o

 

 

(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp, Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.:

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer x

Smaller reporting company o

 

 

(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P.  Yes o     No x

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.  Yes x     No o

 

At May 28, 2010, the registrants had common units or shares of common stock outstanding as follows:

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

69,521,818

 

Common Units

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

1,000

 

Common Stock

Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

n/a

 

n/a

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

 

1,000

 

Common Stock

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None

 

EACH OF FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. AND FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. MEET THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION I (1)(A) AND (B) OF FORM 10-K AND ARE THEREFORE, WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH REGISTRANT, FILING THIS FORM 10-Q WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

FERRELLGAS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

 

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2010

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings — Three and nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital — Nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

4

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets — April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009

17

 

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Earnings — Three and nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

17

 

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

18

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

18

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. and Subsidiaries

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009

19

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings — Three and nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

20

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Capital — Nine months ended April 30, 2010

21

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

22

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

23

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets — April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009

33

 

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Earnings — Three and nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

33

 



Table of Contents

 

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

34

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements

34

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

35

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

53

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

54

 

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

55

 

 

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

55

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

56

 

 

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

56

 

 

 

ITEM 4.

(REMOVED AND RESERVED)

56

 

 

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

56

 

 

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

57

 



Table of Contents

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

10,591

 

$

7,066

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

135,872

 

106,910

 

Inventories

 

139,540

 

129,808

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

18,689

 

15,031

 

Total current assets

 

304,692

 

258,815

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $544,076 and $521,044 at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

665,068

 

666,535

 

Goodwill

 

248,939

 

248,939

 

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $276,245 and $263,855 at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

226,400

 

212,037

 

Other assets, net

 

37,817

 

18,651

 

Total assets

 

$

1,482,916

 

$

1,404,977

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

70,540

 

$

49,337

 

Short-term borrowings

 

32,847

 

66,159

 

Other current liabilities

 

93,033

 

108,763

 

Total current liabilities

 

196,420

 

224,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

1,104,059

 

1,010,073

 

Other liabilities

 

21,098

 

19,300

 

Contingencies and commitments (Note I)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders (69,521,818 and 68,236,755 units outstanding at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

210,254

 

206,255

 

General partner unitholder (702,241 and 689,260 units outstanding at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

(57,948

)

(57,988

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

4,252

 

(1,194

)

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. partners’ capital

 

156,558

 

147,073

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

4,781

 

4,272

 

Total partners’ capital

 

161,339

 

151,345

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

1,482,916

 

$

1,404,977

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1



Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three months ended
April 30,

 

For the nine months ended
April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

536,024

 

$

461,850

 

$

1,588,038

 

$

1,546,274

 

Other

 

79,266

 

99,283

 

157,174

 

210,558

 

Total revenues

 

615,290

 

561,133

 

1,745,212

 

1,756,832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales

 

355,316

 

295,881

 

1,060,216

 

1,042,153

 

Cost of product sold - other

 

51,132

 

75,714

 

82,520

 

136,153

 

Operating expense

 

106,560

 

94,993

 

308,000

 

296,920

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,848

 

20,635

 

62,022

 

62,170

 

General and administrative expense

 

11,893

 

8,520

 

37,017

 

29,367

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,259

 

4,282

 

10,160

 

14,418

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,698

 

1,460

 

6,961

 

4,865

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

2,696

 

2,323

 

5,480

 

8,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

60,888

 

57,325

 

172,836

 

161,862

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(25,933

)

(22,027

)

(74,844

)

(69,090

)

Debt prepayment premiums

 

(3,408

)

 

(20,716

)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

(529

)

(190

)

(1,085

)

(1,351

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

31,018

 

35,108

 

76,191

 

91,421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

1,754

 

1,847

 

2,006

 

2,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

29,264

 

33,261

 

74,185

 

88,708

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

401

 

397

 

976

 

1,079

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

28,863

 

32,864

 

73,209

 

87,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner’s interest in net earnings

 

289

 

329

 

732

 

876

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings

 

$

28,574

 

$

32,535

 

$

72,477

 

$

86,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest

 

$

0.41

 

$

0.48

 

$

1.05

 

$

1.34

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of units

 

 

 

 

 

comprehensive income (loss)

 

Ferrellgas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General

 

 

 

General

 

 

 

Currency

 

 

 

Partners, L.P.

 

Non-

 

Total

 

 

 

Common

 

partner

 

Common

 

partner

 

Risk

 

translation

 

Pension

 

partners’

 

controlling

 

partners’

 

 

 

unitholders

 

unitholder

 

unitholders

 

unitholder

 

management

 

adjustments

 

liability

 

capital

 

interest

 

capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31, 2008

 

62,961.7

 

636.0

 

$

201,618

 

$

(58,036

)

$

18,749

 

$

26

 

$

(233

)

$

162,124

 

$

4,220

 

$

166,344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions in connection with ESOP and stock-based compensation charges

 

 

 

5,855

 

59

 

 

 

 

5,914

 

60

 

5,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units issued in public offering

 

4,985.6

 

50.4

 

69,447

 

702

 

 

 

 

70,149

 

716

 

70,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unit distribution

 

 

 

(97,166

)

(981

)

 

 

 

(98,147

)

(1,121

)

(99,268

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units issued in connection with acquisition

 

230.8

 

2.3

 

4,465

 

45

 

 

 

 

4,510

 

46

 

4,556

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

 

 

86,753

 

876

 

 

 

 

87,629

 

1,079

 

88,708

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss on risk management derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

(172,942

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification of derivatives to earnings

 

 

 

 

 

120,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(19

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect on foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension liability adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

(52,532

)

 

 

(52,532

)

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

35,097

 

1,079

 

36,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 30, 2009

 

68,178.1

 

688.7

 

$

270,972

 

$

(57,335

)

$

(33,778

)

$

15

 

$

(227

)

$

179,647

 

$

5,000

 

$

184,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31, 2009

 

68,236.8

 

689.3

 

$

206,255

 

$

(57,988

)

$

(989

)

$

22

 

$

(227

)

$

147,073

 

$

4,272

 

$

151,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions in connection with ESOP and stock-based compensation charges

 

 

 

10,927

 

110

 

 

 

 

11,037

 

112

 

11,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

 

 

(103,604

)

(1,047

)

 

 

 

(104,651

)

(1,188

)

(105,839

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units issued in offering, net of issuance costs

 

1,058.4

 

10.7

 

19,949

 

202

 

 

 

 

20,151

 

204

 

20,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units issued in connection with acquisition

 

155.1

 

1.5

 

3,061

 

31

 

 

 

 

3,092

 

31

 

3,123

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common units issued in connection with option exercises

 

71.5

 

0.7

 

1,189

 

12

 

 

 

 

1,201

 

8

 

1,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General partner contribution in connection with cash contribution to Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

311

 

311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

 

 

72,477

 

732

 

 

 

 

73,209

 

976

 

74,185

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings on risk management derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

15,039

 

 

 

 

 

153

 

 

 

Reclassification of derivatives to earnings

 

 

 

 

 

(9,597

)

 

 

 

 

(98

)

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax effect on foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

5,446

 

 

 

5,501

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

78,655

 

1,031

 

79,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 30, 2010

 

69,521.8

 

702.2

 

$

210,254

 

$

(57,948

)

$

4,453

 

$

26

 

$

(227

)

$

156,558

 

$

4,781

 

$

161,339

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the nine months

 

 

 

ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

74,185

 

$

88,708

 

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

62,022

 

62,170

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

6,961

 

4,865

 

Stock-based compensation charge

 

4,188

 

1,109

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

3,161

 

2,977

 

Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

6,699

 

9,084

 

Deferred tax expense

 

247

 

404

 

Other

 

8,297

 

5,752

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization

 

(82,819

)

(22,952

)

Inventories

 

(9,732

)

42,303

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(2,791

)

(3,236

)

Accounts payable

 

21,023

 

10,956

 

Accrued interest expense

 

621

 

9,133

 

Other current liabilities

 

(13,097

)

(8,258

)

Other liabilities

 

1,342

 

(1,273

)

Accounts receivable securitization:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations

 

124,000

 

109,000

 

Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations

 

1,104,352

 

1,001,169

 

Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations

 

(1,179,352

)

(1,118,169

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

129,307

 

193,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(40,883

)

(213

)

Capital expenditures

 

(33,557

)

(43,549

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

4,597

 

6,878

 

Other

 

(3,686

)

(3,668

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(73,529

)

(40,552

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

(104,651

)

(98,147

)

Proceeds from increase in long-term debt

 

894,274

 

198,234

 

Reductions in long-term debt

 

(807,830

)

(238,839

)

Net reductions in short-term borrowings

 

(33,312

)

(84,149

)

Cash paid for financing costs

 

(21,413

)

(3,945

)

Noncontrolling interest activity

 

(665

)

(405

)

Proceeds from equity offering, net of issuance costs

 

19,949

 

69,447

 

Proceeds from exercise of common unit options

 

1,189

 

 

Cash contribution from general partner in connection with equity offering

 

202

 

702

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(52,257

)

(157,102

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

4

 

(11

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

3,525

 

(3,923

)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

 

7,066

 

16,614

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

 

$

10,591

 

$

12,691

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2010

(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data, unless otherwise designated)

(unaudited)

 

A.            Partnership organization and formation

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”) is a publicly traded limited partnership, owning an approximate 99% limited partner interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “operating partnership”). Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership are collectively referred to as “Ferrellgas.” Ferrellgas, Inc. (the “general partner”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“Ferrell Companies”), has retained a 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and also holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership, representing an effective 2% general partner interest in Ferrellgas on a combined basis. As general partner, it performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas. At April 30, 2010, Ferrell Companies beneficially owned 20.3 million of Ferrellgas Partners’ outstanding common units.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal, recurring nature. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, each as set forth in Ferrellgas’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2009.

 

B.    Summary of significant accounting policies

 

(1) Nature of operations:

 

Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of any debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners. The operating partnership is the only operating subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners.

 

The operating partnership is engaged primarily in the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies in the United States. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Therefore, the results of operations for the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year. The operating partnership serves approximately one million residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

 

(2) Accounting estimates:

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates impacting the condensed consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment assets, residual values of tanks, capitalization of customer tank installation costs, amortization methods of intangible assets, valuation methods used to value sales returns and allowances, allowance for doubtful accounts, financial derivative contracts and stock and unit-based compensation calculations.

 

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(3) Supplemental cash flow information:

 

Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

CASH PAID FOR:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

66,979

 

$

54,325

 

Income taxes

 

942

 

869

 

NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common units in connection with acquisitions

 

$

3,061

 

$

4,515

 

Issuance of liabilities in connection with acquisitions

 

5,494

 

1,002

 

Property, plant and equipment additions

 

868

 

1,604

 

 

(4) Accounts receivable securitization:

 

The operating partnership has agreements to transfer, on an ongoing basis, a portion of its trade accounts receivable through Ferrellgas Receivables, an accounts receivable securitization facility that is a wholly-owned unconsolidated special purpose entity. The operating partnership retains servicing responsibilities as well as a retained interest in the transferred receivables. The operating partnership also holds a note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables to the extent that expected cash proceeds from the sales of accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables have not been received. The operating partnership has no other continuing involvement with the transferred receivables, other than servicing the receivables. The related receivables are transferred from the condensed consolidated balance sheets and a retained interest and note receivable are recorded for the amount of receivables sold in excess of cash received and a related loss on the transfer is recorded, which represents the discount on the sale. The retained interest and note receivable are included in “Accounts and notes receivable, net” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

The operating partnership determines the fair value of its retained interest and note receivable based on the present value of future expected cash flows using management’s best estimates of various factors, including credit loss experience and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. These assumptions are updated periodically based on actual results; therefore, the estimated credit loss and discount rates utilized are materially consistent with historical performance. Due to the short-term nature of the operating partnership’s trade receivables, variations in the credit and discount assumptions would not significantly impact the fair value of the retained interests and note receivable. Costs associated with the sale of receivables are included in “Loss on disposal of assets and other” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. See Note D — Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization — for further discussion of these transactions.

 

(5) New accounting standards:

 

Transfers of Financial Assets

 

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that amends the previous derecognition guidance to improve the accounting for transfers of financial assets. This guidance is effective for financial asset transfers that occur in annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance on August 1, 2010, will require Ferrellgas to consolidate Ferrellgas Receivables, a wholly-owned unconsolidated special purpose entity. As a result of the derecognition guidance amendments, beginning August 1, 2010, trade receivables owned by Ferrellgas Receivables will be recorded with a corresponding short-term liability on Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated balance sheets. Ferrellgas does not expect the consolidation of Ferrellgas Receivables to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance that changes the approach to determining a variable interest

 

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entity’s primary beneficiary and requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. Ferrellgas does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

FASB Codification

 

In June 2009, the FASB approved its Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the exclusive authoritative reference for U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. The Codification, which changes the referencing of accounting standards, is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of the Codification effective August 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on Ferrellgas’ financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Business Combinations

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, how the acquirer recognizes and measures goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase (formerly negative goodwill) and how the acquirer determines what information to disclose. This guidance is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this guidance effective August 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on Ferrellgas’ financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (formerly minority interest) in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary and it clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Ferrellgas adopted this guidance effective August 1, 2009 and updated the condensed consolidated financial statements accordingly, including a retrospective application to the prior period presentation of the condensed consolidated statement of partners’ capital. This retrospective application did not materially affect the condensed consolidated statement of partners’ capital.

 

Application of the Two-Class Method to Master Limited Partnerships

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued guidance that addresses the computation of incentive distribution rights and the appropriate allocation of these rights to current period earnings in the computation of earnings per share. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. The adoption of this guidance effective August 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on Ferrellgas’ financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

C.   Supplemental financial statement information

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Propane gas and related products

 

$

119,761

 

$

109,606

 

Appliances, parts and supplies

 

19,779

 

20,202

 

Inventories

 

$

139,540

 

$

129,808

 

 

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In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas enters into contracts primarily to buy propane for supply procurement purposes. Most of these contracts have terms of less than one year and call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. All supply procurement fixed price contracts have terms of fewer than 24 months. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take net delivery of approximately 24.2 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.

 

Other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Accrued interest

 

$

20,340

 

$

19,719

 

Accrued payroll

 

16,513

 

23,395

 

Customer deposits and advances

 

17,608

 

23,115

 

Other

 

38,572

 

42,534

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

93,033

 

$

108,763

 

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other consists of the following:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

$

1,802

 

$

(53

)

$

3,161

 

$

2,977

 

Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

2,731

 

3,563

 

6,699

 

9,084

 

Service income related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

(1,837

)

(1,187

)

(4,380

)

(3,137

)

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

$

2,696

 

$

2,323

 

$

5,480

 

$

8,924

 

 

Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of earnings line items:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating expense

 

$

50,724

 

$

42,581

 

$

142,091

 

$

134,193

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

1,431

 

1,256

 

4,132

 

3,689

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,438

 

4,176

 

10,677

 

13,498

 

 

 

$

55,593

 

$

48,013

 

$

156,900

 

$

151,380

 

 

D.   Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

65,000

 

$

33,903

 

Note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables

 

46,285

 

52,038

 

Retained interest

 

29,022

 

24,979

 

Other

 

260

 

284

 

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(4,695

)

(4,294

)

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

$

135,872

 

$

106,910

 

 

During April 2010, the operating partnership executed a new accounts receivable securitization facility

 

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with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank and BNP Paribas. This new accounts receivable securitization facility has $145.0 million of capacity, matures on April 4, 2013 and replaces the operating partnership’s previous 364-day facility which was to expire on April 14, 2010. As part of this new facility, the operating partnership transfers a portion of its trade accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables, which finances its acquisition of the trade receivable assets by issuing beneficial interests in (securitizing) the receivables to a commercial paper conduit for proceeds of up to $145.0 million. The operating partnership does not provide any guarantee or similar support to the collectability of these receivables. The operating partnership structured the facility using a wholly-owned, unconsolidated special purpose entity in order to facilitate the transaction while complying with Ferrellgas’ various debt covenants. If the covenants are compromised, funding from the facility could be restricted or suspended, or its costs could increase. As a servicer, the operating partnership remits daily to this special purpose entity funds collected on the trade receivables held by Ferrellgas Receivables.

 

The operating partnership transfers a portion of its trade accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables and retains an interest and a note receivable related to these transferred receivables. As these transferred receivables are subsequently collected, the funding from the accounts receivable securitization facility is reduced. Ferrellgas Receivables recorded the following on its balance sheet:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Trade accounts receivable transferred from the operating partnership

 

$

164,905

 

$

118,982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to the operating partnership

 

46,285

 

52,038

 

 

The operating partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheets do not include trade accounts receivables transferred, but do include a note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables which represents expected cash proceeds from the sale of accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables that have not yet been received. As of April 30, 2010, the operating partnership had received proceeds from trade accounts receivable sales of $86.0 million with the ability to receive proceeds of an additional $15.0 million.

 

Other accounts receivable securitization activity consists of the following:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net non-cash activity

 

$

894

 

$

2,376

 

$

2,319

 

$

5,947

 

Bad debt expense

 

 

300

 

(500

)

600

 

 

The net non-cash activity reported in “Loss on disposal of assets and other” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings approximates the financing cost of issuing commercial paper backed by these accounts receivable transferred to Ferrellgas Receivables. See details of the net non-cash activity disclosed in Note C — Supplemental financial statement information — “Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization” and “Service income related to the accounts receivable securitization.” The weighted average discount rate used to value the retained interest in the transferred receivables was 3.4% and 3.6% as of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively.

 

E.   Debt

 

Short-term borrowings

 

Ferrellgas classified a portion of its credit facility borrowings as short-term because it was used to fund

 

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working capital needs that management had intended to pay down within the 12 month period following each balance sheet date. As of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, $32.8 million and $66.2 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.

 

Long-term debt

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate, 6.75% due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $23,137 and $26,458 at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively

 

$

426,863

 

$

423,542

 

Fixed rate, 9.125%, due 2017, net of unamortized discount of $3,964

 

296,036

 

 

Fixed rate, 8.625%, due 2020

 

280,000

 

 

Fixed rate, 8.75%, due 2012, net of unamortized premium of $77 and $1,091 at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively

 

34,180

 

269,091

 

Fixed rate, Series D-E, ranging from 7.24% to 7.42% due 2010-2013

 

 

152,000

 

Fixed rate, Series C, 8.87%, due 2009

 

 

73,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

Secured, variable interest rate, expiring 2012 (net of $32.8 million classified as short-term borrowings)

 

59,653

 

 

Unsecured, variable interest rate, expiring 2010 (net of $66.2 million classified as short-term borrowings)

 

 

88,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, 9.5% and 8.4% weighted average interest rate at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively, due 2010 to 2016, net of unamortized discount of $3,224 and $1,301 at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively

 

9,706

 

5,321

 

 

 

1,106,438

 

1,011,495

 

Less: current portion, included in other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets

 

2,379

 

1,422

 

Long-term debt

 

$

1,104,059

 

$

1,010,073

 

 

Senior notes

 

During August 2009, Ferrellgas made scheduled principal payments of $73.0 million on the 8.87% Series C senior notes.

 

During September 2009, Ferrellgas issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 9.125% senior notes due 2017 at an offering price equal to 98.6% of par with the proceeds used to fund the October 2009 note payments discussed below and to reduce borrowings on the unsecured credit facility due April 2010.

 

During October 2009, Ferrellgas prepaid the outstanding principal amount on its $82.0 million 7.24% series D notes due August 1, 2010 and its $70.0 million 7.42% series E notes due August 1, 2013 and the related prepayment premiums of $17.3 million.

 

During April 2010, Ferrellgas Partners completed a public offering of $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020. Ferrellgas Partners applied the net proceeds of approximately $273.4 million to a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and to redeem any such notes that remain outstanding after April 30,

 

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Table of Contents

 

2010. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas Partners had purchased $233.9 million of the senior notes pursuant to the cash tender offer. Ferrellgas Partners contributed $30.5 million of the remaining proceeds to the operating partnership to pay down borrowings on the secured credit facility.

 

Secured credit facility

 

During November 2009, Ferrellgas closed on a new secured credit facility that provides $400.0 million in revolving credit for loans and has a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit. This secured credit facility replaced Ferrellgas’ unsecured credit facility due April 2010 and will mature in November 2012.

 

The secured credit facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants and default provisions, as well as requirements with respect to the maintenance of specified financial ratios and limitations on the making of loans and investments.

 

As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas had total borrowings outstanding under this secured credit facility due November 2012 of $92.5 million, of which $59.7 million was classified as long-term debt.

 

Borrowings under the secured credit facility due November 2012 had a weighted average interest rate of 4.63% at April 30, 2010. All borrowings under the facility bear interest, at Ferrellgas’ option, at a rate equal to either:

 

·                  for Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, the Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, ii) Bank of America’s prime rate; or iii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1%; plus a margin varying from 2.50% to 3.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 3.00%); or

·                  for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate, which is defined as the LIBOR Rate plus a margin varying from 3.50% to 4.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 4.00%).

 

As of April 30, 2010, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 0.20% and 3.25%, respectively. As of April 30, 2010, the one-month and three-month Eurodollar Rates were 0.30% and 0.40%, respectively.

 

In addition, an annual commitment fee is payable at a per annum rate of 0.50% times the actual daily amount by which the facility exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding amount of revolving credit loans and (ii) the outstanding amount of letter of credit obligations.

 

The obligations under this secured credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to the operating partnership’s receivables securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership.

 

Letters of credit outstanding at April 30, 2010 totaled $47.1 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2009 totaled $44.4 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. At April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas had available letter of credit remaining capacity of $152.9 million. At July 31, 2009, Ferrellgas had available letter of credit remaining capacity of $105.6 million.

 

F.   Partners’ capital

 

Common unit issuances

 

During October 2009, Ferrellgas completed an offering of 1.1 million common units representing limited partner interests. The net proceeds of $20.0 million were used to reduce borrowings under Ferrellgas’ unsecured credit facility. Ferrellgas also issued $3.1 million of common units in connection

 

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with the acquisition of propane distribution assets.

 

Partnership distributions paid

 

Ferrellgas Partners has paid the following distributions:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Public common unit holders

 

$

22,421

 

$

21,758

 

$

66,582

 

$

60,174

 

Ferrell Companies (1)

 

10,040

 

10,040

 

30,121

 

30,121

 

FCI Trading Corp. (2)

 

98

 

98

 

294

 

294

 

Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3)

 

26

 

26

 

77

 

77

 

James E. Ferrell (4)

 

2,176

 

2,167

 

6,530

 

6,500

 

General partner

 

351

 

344

 

1,047

 

981

 

 

 

$

35,112

 

$

34,433

 

$

104,651

 

$

98,147

 

 


(1)         Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and a 29% beneficial owner of Ferrellgas’ common units and thus a related party.

(2)         FCI Trading Corp. (“FCI Trading”) is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party.

(3)         Ferrell Propane, Inc. (“Ferrell Propane”) is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party.

(4)         James E. Ferrell is the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the general partner and thus a related party.

 

On May 27, 2010, Ferrellgas Partners declared a cash distribution of $0.50 per common unit for the three months ended April 30, 2010, which is expected to be paid on June 14, 2010.

 

Included in this cash distribution are the following amounts expected to be paid to related parties:

 

Ferrell Companies

 

$

10,040

 

FCI Trading Corp.

 

98

 

Ferrell Propane, Inc.

 

26

 

James E. Ferrell

 

2,177

 

General partner

 

351

 

 

See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note H — Transactions with related parties.

 

Other comprehensive income (“OCI”)

 

See Note G — Derivatives — for details regarding changes in fair value on risk management financial derivatives recorded within OCI for the nine months ended April 30, 2010.

 

G.    Derivatives

 

Commodity Price Risk Management

 

Ferrellgas’ risk management activities primarily attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies on a short-term basis. Ferrellgas attempts to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments and forward propane purchase and sales contracts.

 

Ferrellgas’ risk management strategy involves taking positions in the forward or financial markets that are equal and opposite to Ferrellgas’ positions in the physical products market in order to minimize the risk of financial loss from an adverse price change. This risk management strategy is successful when Ferrellgas’ gains or losses in the physical product markets are offset by its losses or gains in the

 

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forward or financial markets. These financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges.

 

Ferrellgas’ risk management activities include the use of financial derivative instruments including, but not limited to, price swaps, options, futures and basis swaps to seek protection from adverse price movements and to minimize potential losses. Ferrellgas enters into these financial derivative instruments directly with third parties in the over-the-counter market and with brokers who are clearing members with the New York Mercantile Exchange. Ferrellgas also enters into forward propane purchase and sales contracts with counterparties. These forward contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception within GAAP guidance and are therefore not recorded by Ferrellgas prior to settlement.

 

Cash Flow Hedging Activity

 

Ferrellgas uses financial derivative instruments for risk management purposes to hedge a portion of its exposure to market fluctuations in propane prices. These financial derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedging instruments, thus the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the financial derivatives are recorded in OCI prior to settlement and are subsequently recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings in “Cost of goods sold — propane and other gas liquids sales” when the forward or forecasted propane sales transaction impacts earnings. The effectiveness of cash flow hedges is evaluated at inception and on an on-going basis. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges due to hedge ineffectiveness, if any, are recognized in “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.” During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas did not recognize any gain or loss in earnings related to hedge ineffectiveness and did not exclude any component of the financial derivative contract gain or loss from the assessment of hedge effectiveness related to these cash flow hedges.

 

The fair value of the financial derivative instruments below are included within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Other current liabilities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

April 30,
2010

 

July 31,
2009

 

Derivatives — Price risk management assets

 

$

4,595

 

$

3,391

 

Derivatives — Price risk management liabilities

 

87

 

4,380

 

 

Ferrellgas had the following cash flow hedge activity included in OCI in the condensed consolidated statement of partners’ capital:

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Fair value gain (loss) adjustment classified as OCI with offset in Price risk management assets and Price risk management liabilities

 

$

15,192

 

$

(172,942

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification of net gains (losses) originally recorded within OCI to Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids

 

9,695

 

(120,415

)

 

Ferrellgas expects to reclassify net gains of approximately $4.5 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net gains are expected to be offset by margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas had no reclassifications to earnings resulting from discontinuance of any cash flow hedges arising from the probability of the original forecasted transactions not occurring within the originally specified period of time defined within the hedging relationship.

 

As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas had financial derivative contracts covering 0.8 million barrels of

 

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propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, four counterparties represented 76% and 82%, respectively, of net settled cash flow hedging positions reported in “Cost of goods sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.” During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas neither held nor entered into financial derivative contracts that contained credit risk related contingency features.

 

In accordance with GAAP, Ferrellgas determines the fair value of its assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement by using the highest possible “Level” as defined within the GAAP hierarchy. The three levels defined by the GAAP hierarchy are as follows:

 

·                  Level 1 — Quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

·                  Level 2 — Pricing inputs not quoted in active markets but either directly or indirectly observable.

·                  Level 3 — Significant inputs to pricing that have little or no transparency with inputs requiring significant management judgment or estimation.

 

Ferrellgas considers over-the-counter derivative instruments entered into directly with third parties as Level 2 valuation since the values of these derivatives are quoted by third party brokers and are on an exchange for similar transactions. The market prices used to value Ferrellgas’ derivatives have been determined using independent third party prices, readily available market information, broker quotes, and appropriate valuation techniques.

 

At April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, all derivative assets and liabilities qualified for classification as Level 2 - other observable inputs as defined by the GAAP hierarchy. All financial derivatives assets and liabilities were non-trading positions.

 

H.   Transactions with related parties

 

Ferrellgas has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas’ business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas’ behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating expense

 

$

57,690

 

$

50,122

 

$

169,642

 

$

158,929

 

General and administrative expense

 

6,442

 

5,879

 

18,624

 

17,622

 

 

During fiscal 2009, Ferrellgas had a subleasing and a shared services agreement with Samson Dental Practice Management, LLC (“Samson”), a company wholly-owned by James E. Ferrell. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2009, Ferrellgas received payments totaling $75 thousand and $195 thousand, respectively, for services provided to and sublease revenue receipts from Samson. This agreement was terminated during March 2010.

 

Elizabeth Solberg, a member of the general partner’s Board of Directors, serves as the General Manager of Fleishman-Hillard Inc. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas paid Fleishman-Hillard Inc. $50 thousand and $142 thousand, respectively, for marketing and communications services. Ms. Solberg did not serve as the General Manager of Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. in 2009 and thus was not a related party during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2009.

 

See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note F — Partners’ capital.

 

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I.    Contingencies

 

Ferrellgas’ operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas is threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, Ferrellgas is not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Ferrellgas.

 

Ferrellgas has been named as a defendant in lawsuits filed in multiple federal and state courts that seek to certify nationwide or statewide classes related to its Blue Rhino branded propane tank exchange activities. The plaintiffs in each case generally allege that Ferrellgas failed to inform consumers of the amount of propane contained in propane tanks they purchased and that Ferrellgas violated anti-trust laws by allegedly conspiring with a competitor. The federal cases have been coordinated for multidistrict treatment in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Based on Ferrellgas’ business and consumer notification practices in its Blue Rhino tank exchange operations, Ferrellgas believes that all of these claims are without merit and intends to defend the claims vigorously.

 

J.    Net earnings per common unitholders’ interest

 

Below is a calculation of the basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the periods indicated. In accordance with guidance issued by the FASB regarding participating securities and the two-class method, Ferrellgas calculates net earnings per common unitholders’ interest for each period presented according to distributions declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings, as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed. In periods with undistributed earnings above certain levels, the calculation according to the two-class method results in an increased allocation of undistributed earnings to the general partner and a dilution of the earnings to the limited partners. Due to the seasonality of the propane business, the dilution effect of the guidance on the two-class method typically impacts only the three months ending January 31. There was not a dilutive effect resulting from this guidance on basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest for the three months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009 or for the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009.

 

In periods with year-to-date net losses, the allocation of the net losses to the limited partners and the general partner will be determined based on the same allocation basis specified in the Ferrellgas Partners’ partnership agreement that would apply to periods in which there were no undistributed earnings. Ferrellgas typically incurs net losses in the three month period ended October 31.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings

 

$

28,574

 

$

32,535

 

$

72,477

 

$

86,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding (in thousands)

 

69,495.2

 

67,809.3

 

69,147.4

 

64,650.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dilutive securities

 

129.7

 

40.5

 

131.5

 

70.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common units outstanding plus dilutive securities

 

69,624.9

 

67,849.8

 

69,278.9

 

64,720.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest

 

$

0.41

 

$

0.48

 

$

1.05

 

$

1.34

 

 

K.   Subsequent events

 

Ferrellgas has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, and concluded that, other than the event described below, there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that required recognition or disclosure in its financial statements.

 

During May 2010, Ferrellgas issued an irrevocable notice to redeem at par the entire $34.1 million outstanding principal amount of the 8.75% senior notes due 2012 prior to the end of fiscal 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)

 

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

Total assets

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid in capital

 

5,917

 

5,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(5,917

)

(5,594

)

Total stockholder’s equity

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expense

 

$

126

 

$

400

 

$

323

 

$

445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(126

)

$

(400

)

$

(323

)

$

(445

)

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(323

)

$

(445

)

Cash used in operating activities

 

(323

)

(445

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital contribution

 

323

 

445

 

Cash provided by financing activities

 

323

 

445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in cash

 

 

 

 

Cash — beginning of period

 

1,000

 

1,000

 

Cash — end of period

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2010

(unaudited)

 

A.            Formation

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 28, 1996, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P (the “Partnership”).

 

The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal, recurring nature.

 

The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations, has no employees and serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.

 

B.            Commitment

 

During April 2010, the Partnership completed a public offering of $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020. The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for the senior notes.

 

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Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

10,568

 

$

7,050

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

135,872

 

106,910

 

Inventories

 

139,540

 

129,808

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

19,020

 

14,356

 

Total current assets

 

305,000

 

258,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $544,076 and $521,044 at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

665,068

 

666,535

 

Goodwill

 

248,939

 

248,939

 

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $276,245 and $263,855 at 2010 and 2009, respectively)

 

226,400

 

212,037

 

Other assets, net

 

31,684

 

17,414

 

Total assets

 

$

1,477,091

 

$

1,403,049

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

70,540

 

$

49,337

 

Short-term borrowings

 

32,847

 

66,159

 

Other current liabilities

 

90,493

 

105,661

 

Total current liabilities

 

193,880

 

221,157

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

789,879

 

740,982

 

Other liabilities

 

21,098

 

19,300

 

Contingencies and commitments (Note I)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partner

 

463,201

 

418,532

 

General partner

 

4,726

 

4,272

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

4,307

 

(1,194

)

Total partners’ capital

 

472,234

 

421,610

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

1,477,091

 

$

1,403,049

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

$

536,024

 

$

461,850

 

$

1,588,038

 

$

1,546,274

 

Other

 

79,266

 

99,283

 

157,174

 

210,558

 

Total revenues

 

615,290

 

561,133

 

1,745,212

 

1,756,832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales

 

355,316

 

295,881

 

1,060,216

 

1,042,153

 

Cost of product sold - other

 

51,132

 

75,714

 

82,520

 

136,153

 

Operating expense

 

106,398

 

94,925

 

307,649

 

296,715

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,848

 

20,635

 

62,022

 

62,170

 

General and administrative expense

 

11,893

 

8,520

 

37,017

 

29,367

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,259

 

4,282

 

10,160

 

14,418

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,698

 

1,460

 

6,961

 

4,865

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

2,696

 

2,323

 

5,480

 

8,924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

61,050

 

57,393

 

173,187

 

162,067

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(19,875

)

(16,100

)

(56,934

)

(51,311

)

Debt prepayment premiums

 

 

 

(17,308

)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

214

 

(190

)

(342

)

(1,351

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

41,389

 

41,103

 

98,603

 

109,405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

1,728

 

1,810

 

1,980

 

2,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

39,661

 

$

39,293

 

$

96,623

 

$

106,776

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Limited

 

General

 

Risk

 

translation

 

Pension

 

partners’

 

 

 

partner

 

partner

 

management

 

adjustments

 

liability

 

capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31, 2009

 

$

418,532

 

$

4,272

 

$

(989

)

$

22

 

$

(227

)

$

421,610

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions in connection with ESOP and stock-based compensation charges

 

11,037

 

112

 

 

 

 

11,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions in connection with acquisitions

 

3,061

 

31

 

 

 

 

3,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash contributed by Ferrellgas Partners and general partner

 

51,300

 

523

 

 

 

 

51,823

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly distributions

 

(116,376

)

(1,188

)

 

 

 

(117,564

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

95,647

 

976

 

 

 

 

96,623

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings on risk management derivatives

 

 

 

15,192

 

 

 

 

 

Reclassification of derivatives to earnings

 

 

 

(9,695

)

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

Tax effect on foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

5,501

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 30, 2010

 

$

463,201

 

$

4,726

 

$

4,508

 

$

26

 

$

(227

)

$

472,234

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

96,623

 

$

106,776

 

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

62,022

 

62,170

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

6,961

 

4,865

 

Stock-based compensation charge

 

4,188

 

1,109

 

Loss on disposal of assets

 

3,161

 

2,977

 

Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

6,699

 

9,084

 

Deferred tax expense

 

247

 

404

 

Other

 

7,572

 

5,567

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization

 

(82,819

)

(22,952

)

Inventories

 

(9,732

)

42,303

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(3,287

)

(3,218

)

Accounts payable

 

21,288

 

10,956

 

Accrued interest expense

 

1,280

 

3,270

 

Other current liabilities

 

(13,046

)

(8,210

)

Other liabilities

 

1,342

 

(1,273

)

Accounts receivable securitization:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from new accounts receivable securitizations

 

124,000

 

109,000

 

Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving period accounts receivable securitizations

 

1,104,352

 

1,001,169

 

Remittances of amounts collected as servicer of accounts receivable securitizations

 

(1,179,352

)

(1,118,169

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

151,499

 

205,828

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(40,914

)

(258

)

Capital expenditures

 

(33,557

)

(43,549

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

 

4,597

 

6,878

 

Other

 

(3,686

)

(3,668

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(73,560

)

(40,597

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions

 

(117,564

)

(110,993

)

Proceeds from increase in long-term debt

 

614,274

 

198,234

 

Reductions in long-term debt

 

(573,933

)

(238,839

)

Net reductions in short-term borrowings

 

(33,312

)

(84,149

)

Contributions from partners

 

51,823

 

70,564

 

Cash paid for financing costs

 

(15,713

)

(3,945

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(74,425

)

(169,128

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

4

 

(11

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

3,518

 

(3,908

)

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

 

7,050

 

16,545

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

 

$

10,568

 

$

12,637

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2010

(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise designated)

(unaudited)

 

A.            Partnership organization and formation

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. is a limited partnership that owns and operates propane distribution and related assets. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”), a publicly traded limited partnership, owns an approximate 99% limited partner interest in, and consolidates, Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, Inc. (the “general partner”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“Ferrell Companies”), holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. and performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of any debt issued by Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas, L.P. and subsidiaries reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal, recurring nature. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, each as set forth in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2009.

 

B.    Summary of significant accounting policies

 

(1) Nature of operations:

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. is engaged primarily in the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies in the United States. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Therefore, the results of operations for the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year. We serve approximately one million residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

 

(2) Accounting estimates:

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates impacting the condensed consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment assets, residual values of tanks, capitalization of customer tank installation costs, amortization methods of intangible assets, valuation methods used to value sales returns and allowances, allowance for doubtful accounts, financial derivative contracts and stock and unit-based compensation calculations.

 

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(3) Supplemental cash flow information:

 

Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

CASH PAID FOR:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

48,547

 

$

42,599

 

Income taxes

 

916

 

786

 

NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Assets contributed from Ferrellgas Partners in connection with acquisitions

 

$

3,061

 

$

4,515

 

Issuance of liabilities in connection with acquisitions

 

5,494

 

1,002

 

Property, plant and equipment additions

 

868

 

1,604

 

 

(4) Accounts receivable securitization:

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. has agreements to transfer, on an ongoing basis, a portion of its trade accounts receivable through Ferrellgas Receivables, an accounts receivable securitization facility that is a wholly-owned unconsolidated special purpose entity. Ferrellgas, L.P. retains servicing responsibilities as well as a retained interest in the transferred receivables. Ferrellgas, L.P. also holds a note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables to the extent that expected cash proceeds from the sales of accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables have not been received. Ferrellgas, L.P. has no other continuing involvement with the transferred receivables, other than servicing the receivables. The related receivables are transferred from the condensed consolidated balance sheets and a retained interest and note receivable are recorded for the amount of receivables sold in excess of cash received and a related loss on the transfer is recorded, which represents the discount on the sale. The retained interest are included in “Accounts and notes receivable, net” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. determines the fair value of its retained interest and note receivable based on the present value of future expected cash flows using management’s best estimates of various factors, including credit loss experience and discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. These assumptions are updated periodically based on actual results; therefore, the estimated credit loss and discount rates utilized are materially consistent with historical performance. Due to the short-term nature of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s trade receivables, variations in the credit and discount assumptions would not significantly impact the fair value of the retained interests and note receivable. Costs associated with the sale of receivables are included in “Loss on disposal of assets and other” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. See Note D — Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization — for further discussion of these transactions.

 

(5) New accounting standards:

 

Transfers of Financial Assets

 

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued guidance that amends the previous derecognition guidance to improve the accounting for transfers of financial assets. This guidance is effective for financial asset transfers that occur in annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance on August 1, 2010, will require Ferrellgas, L.P. to consolidate Ferrellgas Receivables, a wholly-owned unconsolidated special purpose entity. As a result of the derecognition guidance amendments, beginning August 1, 2010, trade receivables owned by Ferrellgas Receivables will be recorded with a corresponding short-term liability on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not expect the consolidation of Ferrellgas Receivables to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance that changes the approach to determining a variable interest entity’s primary beneficiary and requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the

 

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primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

FASB Codification

 

In June 2009, the FASB approved its Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the exclusive authoritative reference for U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. The Codification, which changes the referencing of accounting standards, is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of the Codification effective August 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Business Combinations

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance that establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, how the acquirer recognizes and measures goodwill or a gain from a bargain purchase (formerly negative goodwill) and how the acquirer determines what information to disclose. This guidance is effective for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this guidance effective August 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

C.   Supplemental financial statement information

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Propane gas and related products

 

$

119,761

 

$

109,606

 

Appliances, parts and supplies

 

19,779

 

20,202

 

Inventories

 

$

139,540

 

$

129,808

 

 

In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas, L.P. enters into contracts primarily to buy propane for supply procurement purposes. Most of these contracts have terms of less than one year and call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. All supply procurement fixed price contracts have terms of fewer than 24 months. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take net delivery of approximately 24.2 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.

 

Other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Accrued interest

 

$

18,003

 

$

16,723

 

Accrued payroll

 

16,513

 

23,395

 

Customer deposits and advances

 

17,608

 

23,115

 

Other

 

38,369

 

42,428

 

Other current liabilities

 

$

90,493

 

$

105,661

 

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other consists of the following:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

$

1,802

 

$

  (53

)

$

3,161

 

$

2,977

 

Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

2,731

 

3,563

 

6,699

 

9,084

 

Service income related to the accounts receivable securitization

 

(1,837

)

(1,187

)

(4,380

)

(3,137

)

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

$

2,696

 

$

2,323

 

$

5,480

 

$

8,924

 

 

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Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of earnings line items:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating expense

 

$

50,724

 

$

42,581

 

$

142,091

 

$

134,193

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

1,431

 

1,256

 

4,132

 

3,689

 

Equipment lease expense

 

3,438

 

4,176

 

10,677

 

13,498

 

 

 

$

55,593

 

$

48,013

 

$

156,900

 

$

151,380

 

 

D.    Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

65,000

 

$

  33,903

 

Note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables

 

46,285

 

52,038

 

Retained interest

 

29,022

 

24,979

 

Other

 

260

 

284

 

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(4,695

)

(4,294

)

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

$

135,872

 

$

106,910

 

 

During April 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. executed a new accounts receivable securitization facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank and BNP Paribas. This new accounts receivable securitization facility has $145.0 million of capacity, matures on April 4, 2013 and replaces Ferrellgas, L.P.’s previous 364-day facility which was to expire on April 14, 2010. As part of this new facility, Ferrellgas, L.P. transfers a portion of its trade accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables, which finances its acquisition of the trade receivable assets by issuing beneficial interests in (securitizing) the receivables to a commercial paper conduit for proceeds of up to $145.0 million. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not provide any guarantee or similar support to the collectability of these receivables. Ferrellgas, L.P. structured the facility using a wholly-owned, unconsolidated special purpose entity in order to facilitate the transaction while complying with Ferrellgas, L.P.’s various debt covenants. If the covenants are compromised, funding from the facility could be restricted or suspended, or its costs could increase. As a servicer, Ferrellgas, L.P. remits daily to this special purpose entity funds collected on the trade receivables held by Ferrellgas Receivables.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. transfers a portion of its trade accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables and retains an interest and a note receivable related to these transferred receivables. As these transferred receivables are subsequently collected, the funding from the accounts receivable securitization facility is reduced. Ferrellgas Receivables recorded the following on its balance sheet:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Trade accounts receivable transferred from Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

$

164,905

 

$

118,982

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

46,285

 

52,038

 

 

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Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets do not include trade accounts receivables transferred, but do include a note receivable from Ferrellgas Receivables which represents expected cash proceeds from the sale of accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables that have not yet been received. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received proceeds from trade accounts receivable sales of $86.0 million with the ability to receive proceeds of an additional $15.0 million.

 

Other accounts receivable securitization activity consists of the following:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net non-cash activity

 

$

894

 

$

2,376

 

$

2,319

 

$

5,947

 

Bad debt expense

 

 

300

 

(500

)

600

 

 

The net non-cash activity reported in “Loss on disposal of assets and other” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings approximates the financing cost of issuing commercial paper backed by these accounts receivable transferred to Ferrellgas Receivables. See details of the net non-cash activity disclosed in Note C — Supplemental financial statement information — “Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization” and “Service income related to the accounts receivable securitization.” The weighted average discount rate used to value the retained interest in the transferred receivables was 3.4% and 3.6% as of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively.

 

E.   Debt

 

Short-term borrowings

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. classified a portion of its credit facility borrowings as short-term because it was used to fund working capital needs that management had intended to pay down within the 12 month period following each balance sheet date. As of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, $32.8 million and $66.2 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.

 

Long-term debt

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Senior notes

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate, 6.75% due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $23,137 and $26,458 at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively

 

$

426,863

 

$

423,542

 

Fixed rate, 9.125%, due 2017, net of unamortized discount of $3,964

 

296,036

 

 

Fixed rate, Series D-E, ranging from 7.24% to 7.42% due 2010-2013

 

 

152,000

 

Fixed rate, Series C, 8.87%, due 2009

 

 

73,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit facility

 

 

 

 

 

Secured, variable interest rate, expiring 2012 (net of $32.8 million classified as short-term borrowings)

 

59,653

 

 

Unsecured, variable interest rate, expiring 2010 (net of $66.2 million classified as short-term borrowings)

 

 

 88,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, 9.5% and 8.4% weighted average interest rate at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively, due 2010 to 2016, net of unamortized discount of $3,224 and $1,301 at April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively

 

9,706

 

5,321

 

 

 

792,258

 

742,404

 

Less:  current portion, included in other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets

 

2,379

 

 1,422

 

Long-term debt

 

$

789,879

 

$

740,982

 

 

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Senior notes

 

During August 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. made scheduled principal payments of $73.0 million on the 8.87% Series C senior notes.

 

During September 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 9.125% senior notes due 2017 at an offering price equal to 98.6% of par with the proceeds used to fund the October 2009 note payments discussed below and to reduce borrowings on the unsecured credit facility due April 2010.

 

During October 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. prepaid the outstanding principal amount on its $82.0 million 7.24% series D notes due August 1, 2010 and its $70.0 million 7.42% series E notes due August 1, 2013 and the related prepayment premiums of $17.3 million.

 

Secured credit facility

 

During November 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. closed on a new secured credit facility that provides $400.0 million in revolving credit for loans and has a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit. This secured credit facility replaced Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured credit facility due April 2010 and will mature in November 2012.

 

The secured credit facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants and default provisions, as well as requirements with respect to the maintenance of specified financial ratios and limitations on the making of loans and investments.

 

During April 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. received a cash contribution of $30.5 million and $0.3 million from Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner, respectively, which was used to reduce borrowings under the secured credit facility. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. had total borrowings outstanding under this secured credit facility due November 2012 of $92.5 million, of which $59.7 million was classified as long-term debt.

 

Borrowings under the secured credit facility due November 2012 had a weighted average interest rate of 4.63% at April 30, 2010. All borrowings under the facility bear interest, at Ferrellgas, L.P.’s option, at a rate equal to either:

 

·                  for Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, the Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, ii) Bank of America’s prime rate; or iii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1%; plus a margin varying from 2.50% to 3.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 3.00%); or

 

·                  for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate, which is defined as the LIBOR Rate plus a margin varying from 3.50% to 4.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 4.00%).

 

As of April 30, 2010, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 0.20% and 3.25%, respectively. As of April 30, 2010, the one-month and three-month Eurodollar Rates were 0.30% and 0.40%, respectively).

 

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In addition, an annual commitment fee is payable at a per annum rate of 0.50% times the actual daily amount by which the facility exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding amount of revolving credit loans and (ii) the outstanding amount of letter of credit obligations.

 

The obligations under this secured credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of Ferrellgas, L.P., the general partner and certain subsidiaries of Ferrellgas, L.P. but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s receivables securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

Letters of credit outstanding at April 30, 2010 totaled $47.1 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2009 totaled $44.4 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. At April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. had available letter of credit remaining capacity of $152.9 million. At July 31, 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. had available letter of credit remaining capacity of $105.6 million.

 

F.             Partners’ capital

 

Partnership contributions

 

During October 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. received cash contributions of $20.0 million and $0.2 million from Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner, respectively. The proceeds were used to reduce borrowings outstanding under the unsecured credit facility. Ferrellgas, L.P. also received asset contributions of $3.1 million in connection with the acquisition of propane distribution assets.

 

During April 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. received cash contributions of $30.5 million and $0.3 million from Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner, respectively. The proceeds were used to reduce borrowings outstanding under the secured credit facility.

 

Partnership distributions paid

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. has paid the following distributions:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Ferrellgas Partners

 

$

35,112

 

$

34,433

 

$

116,376

 

$

109,872

 

General partner

 

359

 

351

 

1,188

 

1,121

 

 

 

$

35,471

 

$

34,784

 

$

117,564

 

$

110,993

 

 

On May 27, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. declared distributions for the three months ended April 30, 2010 to Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner of $75.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, which is expected to be paid on June 14, 2010.

 

See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note H — Transactions with related parties.

 

Other comprehensive income (“OCI”)

 

See Note G — Derivatives — for details regarding changes in fair value on risk management financial derivatives recorded within OCI for the nine months ended April 30, 2010.

 

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G.           Derivatives

 

Commodity Price Risk Management

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s risk management activities primarily attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies on a short-term basis. Ferrellgas, L.P. attempts to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments and forward propane purchase and sales contracts.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s risk management strategy involves taking positions in the forward or financial markets that are equal and opposite to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s positions in the physical products market in order to minimize the risk of financial loss from an adverse price change. This risk management strategy is successful when Ferrellgas, L.P.’s gains or losses in the physical product markets are offset by its losses or gains in the forward or financial markets. These financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s risk management activities include the use of financial derivative instruments including, but not limited to, price swaps, options, futures and basis swaps to seek protection from adverse price movements and to minimize potential losses. Ferrellgas, L.P. enters into these financial derivative instruments directly with third parties in the over-the-counter market and with brokers who are clearing members with the New York Mercantile Exchange. Ferrellgas, L.P. also enters into forward propane purchase and sales contracts with counterparties. These forward contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception within GAAP guidance and are therefore not recorded by Ferrellgas, L.P. prior to settlement.

 

Cash Flow Hedging Activity

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. uses financial derivative instruments for risk management purposes to hedge a portion of its exposure to market fluctuations in propane prices. These financial derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedging instruments, thus the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the financial derivatives are recorded in OCI prior to settlement and are subsequently recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings in “Cost of goods sold — propane and other gas liquids sales” when the forward or forecasted propane sales transaction impacts earnings. The effectiveness of cash flow hedges is evaluated at inception and on an on-going basis. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges due to hedge ineffectiveness, if any, are recognized in “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.” During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. did not recognize any gain or loss in earnings related to hedge ineffectiveness and did not exclude any component of the financial derivative contract gain or loss from the assessment of hedge effectiveness related to these cash flow hedges.

 

The fair value of the financial derivative instruments below are included within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Other current liabilities” on the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

April 30,
2010

 

July 31,
2009

 

Derivatives — Price risk management assets

 

$

4,595

 

$

3,391

 

Derivatives — Price risk management liabilities

 

87

 

4,380

 

 

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Ferrellgas, L.P. had the following cash flow hedge activity included in OCI in the condensed consolidated statement of partners’ capital:

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Fair value gain (loss) adjustment classified as OCI with offset in Price risk management assets and Price risk management liabilities

 

$

15,192

 

$

(172,942

)

Reclassification of net gains (losses) originally recorded within OCI to Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids

 

9,695

 

(120,415

)

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to reclassify net gains of approximately $4.5 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net gains are expected to be offset by margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas, L.P. has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. had no reclassifications to earnings resulting from discontinuance of any cash flow hedges arising from the probability of the original forecasted transactions not occurring within the originally specified period of time defined within the hedging relationship.

 

As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. had financial derivative contracts covering 0.8 million barrels of propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, four counterparties represented 76% and 82%, respectively, of net settled cash flow hedging positions reported in “Cost of goods sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.” During the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. neither held nor entered into financial derivative contracts that contained credit risk related contingency features.

 

In accordance with GAAP, Ferrellgas, L.P. determines the fair value of its assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement by using the highest possible “Level” as defined within the GAAP hierarchy. The three levels defined by the GAAP hierarchy are as follows:

 

·                  Level 1 — Quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

·                  Level 2 — Pricing inputs not quoted in active markets but either directly or indirectly observable.

·                  Level 3 — Significant inputs to pricing that have little or no transparency with inputs requiring significant management judgment or estimation.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. considers over-the-counter derivative instruments entered into directly with third parties as Level 2 valuation since the values of these derivatives are quoted by third party brokers and are on an exchange for similar transactions. The market prices used to value Ferrellgas, L.P.’s derivatives have been determined using independent third party prices, readily available market information, broker quotes, and appropriate valuation techniques.

 

At April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, all derivative assets and liabilities qualified for classification as Level 2 - other observable inputs as defined by the GAAP hierarchy. All financial derivatives assets and liabilities were non-trading positions.

 

H.           Transactions with related parties

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s partnership agreement, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas, L.P., and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas, L.P. or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas, L.P.’s business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as

 

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follows:

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

Operating expense

 

$

57,690

 

$

50,122

 

$

169,642

 

$

158,929

 

General and administrative expense

 

6,442

 

5,879

 

18,624

 

17,622

 

 

During fiscal 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. had a subleasing and a shared services agreement with Samson Dental Practice Management, LLC (“Samson”), a company wholly-owned by James E. Ferrell. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. received payments totaling $75 thousand and $195 thousand, respectively, for services provided to and sublease revenue receipts from Samson. This agreement was terminated during March 2010.

 

Elizabeth Solberg, a member of the general partner’s Board of Directors, serves as the General Manager of Fleishman—Hillard Inc. During the three and nine months ended April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. paid Fleishman-Hillard Inc. $50 thousand and $142 thousand, respectively, for marketing and communications services. Ms. Solberg did not serve as the General Manager of Fleishman-Hillard Inc. in 2009 and thus was not a related party during the three and nine months ended April 30, 2009.

 

See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note F — Partners’ capital.

 

I.                Contingencies

 

Ferrellgas, L.P.’s operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas, L.P. is threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, Ferrellgas, L.P. is not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. has been named as a defendant in lawsuits filed in multiple federal and state courts that seek to certify nationwide or statewide classes related to its Blue Rhino branded propane tank exchange activities. The plaintiffs in each case generally allege that Ferrellgas, L.P. failed to inform consumers of the amount of propane contained in propane tanks they purchased and that Ferrellgas, L.P. violated anti-trust laws by allegedly conspiring with a competitor. The federal cases have been coordinated for multidistrict treatment in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Based on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s business and consumer notification practices in its Blue Rhino tank exchange operations, Ferrellgas, L.P. believes that all of these claims are without merit and intends to defend the claims vigorously.

 

J.             Subsequent events

 

Ferrellgas, L.P. has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, and concluded that there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that required recognition or disclosure in its financial statements.

 

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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)

 

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

April 30,

 

July 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

1,100

 

$

1,100

 

Total assets

 

$

1,100

 

$

1,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding

 

$

1,000

 

$

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid in capital

 

10,055

 

6,757

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(9,955

)

(6,657

)

Total stockholder’s equity

 

$

1,100

 

$

1,100

 

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the three months
ended April 30,

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expense

 

$

126

 

$

445

 

$

3,298

 

$

3,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(126

)

$

(445

)

$

(3,298

)

$

(3,445

)

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

(A wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the nine months
ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,298

)

$

(3,445

)

Cash used in operating activities

 

(3,298

)

(3,445

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital contribution

 

3,298

 

3,445

 

Cash provided by financing activities

 

3,298

 

3,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in cash

 

 

 

Cash — beginning of period

 

1,100

 

1,100

 

Cash — end of period

 

$

1,100

 

$

1,100

 

 

See notes to condensed financial statements.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2010

(unaudited)

 

A.           Formation

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on January 16, 2003 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P (the “Partnership”).

 

The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal, recurring nature.

 

The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations, has no employees and serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.

 

B.           Commitment

 

During September 2009, the Partnership issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 9.125% senior unsecured notes due 2017 at an offering price equal to 98.6% of par. The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for the senior notes.

 

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ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations relates to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P.

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. have nominal assets, do not conduct any operations and have no employees other than officers. Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas, L.P. Accordingly, and due to the reduced disclosure format, a discussion of the results of operations, liquidity and capital resources of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is not presented in this section.

 

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context indicates otherwise:

 

·                  “us,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” or “consolidated” are references exclusively to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp., except when used in connection with “common units,” in which case these terms refer to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. without its consolidated subsidiaries;

 

·                  “Ferrellgas Partners” refers to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. itself, without its consolidated subsidiaries;

 

·                  the “operating partnership” refers to Ferrellgas, L.P., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Ferrellgas Finance Corp.;

 

·                  our “general partner” refers to Ferrellgas, Inc.;

 

·                  “Ferrell Companies” refers to Ferrell Companies, Inc., the sole shareholder of our general partner;

 

·                  “unitholders” refers to holders of common units of Ferrellgas Partners;

 

·                  “customers” refers to customers other than our wholesale customers or our other bulk propane distributors or marketers;

 

·                  “retail sales” refers to Propane and other gas liquid sales: Retail — Sales to End Users or the volume of propane sold primarily to our residential, industrial/commercial and agricultural customers;

 

·                  “wholesale sales” refers to Propane and other gas liquid sales: Wholesale — Sales to Resellers or the volume of propane sold primarily to our portable tank exchange customers and bulk propane sold to wholesale customers;

 

·                  “other gas sales” refers to Propane and other gas liquid sales: Other Gas Sales or the volume of bulk propane sold to other third party propane distributors or marketers and refined fuel volumes sold;

 

·                  “propane sales volume” refers to the volume of propane sold to our retail sales and wholesale sales customers; and

 

·                  “Notes” refers to the notes of the condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership, as applicable.

 

Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two direct subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners’ only significant assets are its approximate 99% limited partnership interest in the operating partnership and its 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. The common units of Ferrellgas Partners are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and our activities are primarily conducted through the operating

 

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partnership.

 

The operating partnership was formed on April 22, 1994, and accounts for substantially all of our consolidated assets, sales and operating earnings, except for interest expense related to the senior notes co-issued by Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

Our general partner performs all management functions for us and our subsidiaries and holds a 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership. The parent company of our general partner, Ferrell Companies, beneficially owns approximately 29% of our outstanding common units. Ferrell Companies is owned 100% by an employee stock ownership trust.

 

We file annual, quarterly, and other reports and information with the SEC. You may read and download our SEC filings over the Internet from several commercial document retrieval services as well as at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy our SEC filings at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information concerning the Public Reference Room and any applicable copy charges. Because our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol of “FGP,” we also provide our SEC filings and particular other information to the New York Stock Exchange. You may obtain copies of these filings and such other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange located at 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, our SEC filings are available on our website at www.ferrellgas.com at no cost as soon as reasonably practicable after our electronic filing or furnishing thereof with the SEC. Please note that any Internet addresses provided in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be hyperlinks. Accordingly, no information found and/or provided at such Internet addresses is intended or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.

 

The following is a discussion of our historical financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with our historical condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

The discussions set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections generally refer to Ferrellgas Partners and its consolidated subsidiaries. However, in these discussions there exist two material differences between Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership. Those material differences are:

 

·                  because Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $34.1 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.75% senior notes due fiscal 2012 and $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior notes due fiscal 2020, the two partnerships incur different amounts of interest expense on their outstanding indebtedness; see the statements of earnings in their respective condensed consolidated financial statements and Note E — Debt in the respective notes to their condensed consolidated financial statements; and

 

·                  Ferrellgas Partners issued common units during both fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010.

 

Overview

 

We are a leading distributor of propane and related equipment and supplies to customers primarily in the United States and conduct our business as a single reportable operating segment. We believe that we are the second largest retail marketer of propane in the United States, and the largest national provider of propane by portable tank exchange, as measured by our propane sales volumes in fiscal 2009.

 

We serve approximately one million residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Our operations primarily include the distribution and sale of propane and related equipment and supplies with concentrations in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest regions of the United States. Our

 

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propane distribution business consists principally of transporting propane purchased from third parties to propane distribution locations and then to tanks on customers’ premises or to portable propane tanks delivered to nationwide and local retailers. Our portable tank exchange operations, nationally branded under the name Blue Rhino, are conducted through a network of independent and partnership-owned distribution outlets. Our market areas for our residential and agricultural customers are generally rural, but also include urban areas for industrial applications. Our market area for our industrial/commercial and portable tank exchange customers is generally urban.

 

In the residential and industrial/commercial markets, propane is primarily used for space heating, water heating, cooking and other propane fueled appliances. In the portable tank exchange market, propane is used primarily for outdoor cooking using gas grills. In the agricultural market, propane is primarily used for crop drying, space heating, irrigation and weed control. In addition, propane is used for a variety of industrial applications, including as an engine fuel which is burned in internal combustion engines that power vehicles and forklifts, and as a heating or energy source in manufacturing and drying processes.

 

The market for propane is seasonal because of increased demand during the months of November through March (the “winter heating season”) primarily for the purpose of providing heating in residential and commercial buildings. Consequently, sales and operating profits are concentrated in our second and third fiscal quarters, which are during the winter heating season. However, our propane by portable tank exchanges sales volume provides us increased operating profits during our first and fourth fiscal quarters due to its counter-seasonal business activities. These sales also provide us the ability to better utilize our seasonal resources at our propane distribution locations. Other factors affecting our results of operations include competitive conditions, volatility in energy commodity prices, demand for propane, timing of acquisitions and general economic conditions in the United States.

 

We use information on temperatures to understand how our results of operations are affected by temperatures that are warmer or colder than normal. We use the definition of “normal” temperatures based on information published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”). Based on this information we calculate a ratio of actual heating degree days to normal heating degree days. Heating degree days are a general indicator of weather impacting propane usage.

 

Weather conditions have a significant impact on demand for propane for heating purposes during the winter heating season. Accordingly, the volume of propane used by our customers for this purpose is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather in the regions we serve and can vary substantially from year to year. In any given region, sustained warmer-than-normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane usage, while sustained colder-than-normal temperatures will tend to result in greater usage. Although there is a direct correlation between weather and customer usage, there is a natural time lag between the onset of cold weather and increased sales to customers. Although nationwide temperatures during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 are slightly warmer as compared to the prior year and normal, we have experienced an overall cooling trend over the past three years. If this cooling trend were to continue toward normal or become cooler than normal, we could expect nationwide demand for propane to increase which could lead to greater sales, income and liquidity availability. Conversely, if this trend were to reverse toward warmer than normal temperatures we could expect nationwide demand for propane to decrease which could lead to a reduction in our sales, income and liquidity availability.

 

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Our gross margin from the retail distribution of propane is primarily based on the cents-per-gallon difference between the sale price we charge our customers and our costs to purchase and deliver propane to our propane distribution locations. Our residential customers and portable tank exchange customers typically provide us a greater cents-per-gallon margin than our industrial/commercial, agricultural, wholesale and other customers. We track “Propane sales volumes,” “Revenues — Propane and other gas liquids sales” and “Gross margin — Propane and other gas liquids sales” by customer; however, we are not able to specifically allocate operating and other costs in a manner that would determine their specific profitability with a high degree of accuracy. The wholesale propane price per gallon is subject to various market conditions and may fluctuate based on changes in demand, supply and other energy commodity prices, primarily crude oil and natural gas, as propane prices tend to correlate with the fluctuations of these underlying commodities.

 

We employ risk management activities that attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane. We enter into propane sales commitments with a portion of our customers that provide for a contracted price agreement for a specified period of time. These commitments can expose us to product price risk if not immediately hedged with an offsetting propane purchase commitment.

 

Our open financial derivative purchase commitments are designated as hedges primarily for fiscal 2010 sales commitments and, as of April 30, 2010, have experienced a net mark to market gain of approximately $4.5 million. Because these financial derivative purchase commitments qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the resulting asset, liability and related net mark to market gains are recorded on the balance sheet as “prepaid expenses and other current assets,” “other current liabilities” and “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” respectively, until settled. Upon settlement, realized gains or losses on these contracts will be reclassified to “Cost of product sold-propane and other gas liquid sales” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings. These financial derivative purchase commitment net gains are expected to be offset by reduced margins on propane sales commitments that qualify for the normal purchase normal sale exception. At April 30, 2010 we estimate 77% of currently open financial derivative purchase commitments, the related propane sales commitments, and the resulting gross margin will be realized into earnings during the remainder of fiscal 2010.

 

Our business strategy is to:

 

·                  expand our operations through disciplined acquisitions and internal growth;

·                  capitalize on our national presence and economies of scale;

·                  maximize operating efficiencies through utilization of our technology platform; and

·                  align employee interests with our investors through significant employee ownership.

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

Statements included in this report include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “position,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or comparable terminology. These statements often discuss plans, strategies, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future and are based upon the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on the information currently available to them. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning our future operating results or our ability to generate sales, income or cash flow are forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will affect our future results are beyond our ability to control or predict.

 

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Some of our forward-looking statements include the following:

 

·                  whether the operating partnership will have sufficient funds to meet its obligations, including its obligations under its debt securities, and to enable it to distribute to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient funds to permit Ferrellgas Partners to meet its obligations with respect to its existing debt and equity securities;

 

·                  whether Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership will continue to meet all of the quarterly financial tests required by the agreements governing their indebtedness; and

 

·                  our expectation that higher propane prices will continue causing “Revenues — propane and other gas liquids sales” and “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales” to increase during the remainder of fiscal 2010 compared to our prior fiscal year.

 

When considering any forward-looking statement, you should also keep in mind the risk factors set forth in both the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these risks could impair our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any such impairment may affect our ability to make distributions to our unitholders or pay interest on the principal of any of our debt securities. In addition, the trading price, if any, of our securities could decline as a result of any such impairment.

 

Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or risk factors after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

In addition, the classification of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership as partnerships for federal income tax purposes means that we do not generally pay federal income taxes. We do, however, pay taxes on the income of our subsidiaries that are corporations. We rely on a legal opinion from our counsel, and not a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, as to our proper classification for federal income tax purposes. See the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors — Tax Risks.” The IRS could treat us as a corporation for tax purposes or changes in federal or state laws could subject us to entity-level taxation, which would substantially reduce the cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three months ended April 30, 2010 compared to April 30, 2009

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Three months ended April 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Favorable
(Unfavorable)
Variance

 

Propane sales volumes (gallons):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

188,630

 

183,683

 

4,947

 

3

%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

58,916

 

55,523

 

3,393

 

6

%

 

 

247,546

 

239,206

 

8,340

 

3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

$

376,628

 

$

343,712

 

$

32,916

 

10

%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

124,522

 

110,590

 

13,932

 

13

%

Other Gas Sales

 

34,874

 

7,548

 

27,326

 

362

%

 

 

$

536,024

 

$

461,850

 

$

74,174

 

16

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin — Propane and other gas liquids sales: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

$

137,476

 

$

124,708

 

$

12,768

 

10

%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

43,390

 

40,979

 

2,411

 

6

%

Other Gas Sales

 

(158

)

282

 

(440

)

(156

)%

 

 

$

180,708

 

$

165,969

 

$

14,739

 

9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin - Other

 

$

28,134

 

$

23,569

 

$

4,565

 

19

%

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

 

88,154

 

82,195

 

 

5,959

 

7

%

Operating income

 

60,888

 

57,325

 

3,563

 

6

%

Interest expense

 

25,933

 

22,027

 

(3,906

)

(18

)%

Interest expense - operating partnership

 

19,875

 

16,100

 

(3,775

)

(23

)%

 


(a)   Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales represents “Propane and other gas liquids sales” less “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.”

 

(b)   Management considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a chief measurement of the partnership’s overall economic performance and return on invested capital. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, unit and stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, and other income (expense), net. Management believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership’s performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. In addition, management believes this measure is consistent with the manner in which the partnership’s lenders and investors measure its overall performance, including its ability to pay quarterly equity distributions, service its long-term debt and other fixed obligations and fund its capital expenditures and working capital requirements. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

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The following table summarizes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively:

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

For the three months

 

 

 

ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

$

28,863

 

$

32,864

 

Income tax expense

 

1,754

 

1,847

 

Interest expense

 

25,933

 

22,027

 

Debt prepayment premiums

 

3,408

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

20,848

 

20,635

 

Other income (expense), net

 

529

 

190

 

EBITDA

 

$

81,335

 

$

77,563

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

2,698

 

1,460

 

Unit and stock-based compensation charge

 

1,024

 

452

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

2,696

 

2,323

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

401

 

397

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

88,154

 

$

82,195

 

 

Propane sales volumes during the three months ended April 30, 2010 increased 8.3 million gallons from that of the prior year period due to 4.9 million of increased gallon sales to our retail customers and 3.4 million increased gallon sales to our wholesale customers.

 

Retail sales volumes increased 5.9 million gallons through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months. These gallon gains were somewhat offset by the impact of weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve that was 3% warmer than that of the prior year period.

 

We believe wholesale sales volumes increased due to our emphasis on expanding this portion of our business.

 

The wholesale market price at one of the major supply points, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, during the three months ended April 30, 2010, averaged 82% higher than the prior year period. The wholesale market price averaged $1.18 and $0.65 per gallon during the three months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales increased $32.9 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $23.0 million increase in sales price per gallon primarily due to the increased wholesale market pricing environment and $10.7 million from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, both as discussed above.

 

Wholesale sales increased $13.9 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $7.2 million increase due to greater propane sales volumes and a $6.8 million increase in sales price per gallon, both as discussed above.

 

Other gas sales increased $27.3 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $14.7 million increase due to greater propane sales volumes and a $12.1 million increase in sales price per gallon.

 

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales gross margin increased $12.8 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $9.2 million increase in gross margin per gallon primarily due to our ability to expand margins despite the increased wholesale market pricing environment and $3.5 million from gallons gained through acquisitions as discussed above.

 

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Wholesale sales gross margin increased $2.4 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $2.5 million increase due to greater propane sales volumes as discussed above.

 

Gross margin - Other

 

Gross margin — Other increased $4.6 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily due to a $6.6 million increase in miscellaneous fees, somewhat offset by a $2.2 million decrease in propane appliance sales.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased $6.0 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $14.7 million increase in gross margin from “Gross margin: Propane and other gas liquids sales” and a $4.6 million increase in gross margin from “Gross margin: Other” both as discussed above, which were somewhat offset by a $11.5 million increase in “Operating expense” and a $2.9 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. Operating expense increased primarily due to $4.9 million of performance based incentive expense, $2.6 million of increased fuel costs, $2.0 million of operating costs associated with acquisitions and $1.7 million of increased bad debt expense. General and administrative expense increased primarily due to $2.5 million of performance based incentive expense.

 

Operating income

 

Operating income increased $3.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to the $6.0 million increase in adjusted EBITDA as discussed above, which was somewhat offset by a $1.2 million increase in “Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge” due to the effect of higher Ferrellgas common unit prices during the current year period.

 

Interest expense - consolidated

 

Interest expense increased $3.9 million primarily due to a $2.7 million increase due to the issuance of new senior debt at higher interest rates than the debt retired and higher interest rates on borrowings on our secured credit facility and $0.7 million increase due to the amortization of capitalized debt costs.

 

Interest expense - operating partnership

 

Interest expense increased $3.8 million primarily due to a $2.5 million increase due to the issuance of new senior debt at higher interest rates than the debt retired and higher interest rates on borrowings on our secured credit facility and $0.8 million increase due to the amortization of capitalized debt costs.

 

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Nine months ended April 30, 2010 compared to April 30, 2009

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

Nine months ended April 30,

 

2010

 

2009

 

Favorable
(Unfavorable)
Variance

 

Propane sales volumes (gallons):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

590,905

 

556,078

 

34,827

 

6

%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

189,872

 

169,293

 

20,579

 

12

%

 

 

780,777

 

725,371

 

55,406

 

8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

$

1,084,290

 

$

1,149,969

 

$

(65,679

)

(6

)%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

363,250

 

353,098

 

10,152

 

3

%

Other Gas Sales

 

140,498

 

43,207

 

97,291

 

225

%

 

 

$

1,588,038

 

$

1,546,274

 

$

41,764

 

3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin — Propane and other gas liquids sales: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail — Sales to End Users

 

$

392,722

 

$

403,513

 

$

(10,791

)

(3

)%

Wholesale — Sales to Resellers

 

125,091

 

100,320

 

24,771

 

25

%

Other Gas Sales

 

10,009

 

288

 

9,721

 

NM

 

 

 

$

527,822

 

$

504,121

 

$

23,701

 

5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin - Other

 

$

74,654

 

$

74,405

 

$

249

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

 

251,487

 

238,930

 

12,557

 

5

%

Operating income

 

172,836

 

161,862

 

10,974

 

7

%

Interest expense

 

74,844

 

69,090

 

(5,754

)

(8

)%

Interest expense - operating partnership

 

56,934

 

51,311

 

(5,623

)

(11

)%

Debt prepayment premiums

 

20,716

 

 

(20,716

)

NM

 

 


NM — Not meaningful

 

(a) Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales represents “Propane and other gas liquids sales” less “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales.”

 

(b)   Management considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a chief measurement of the partnership’s overall economic performance and return on invested capital. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, unit and stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, and other income (expense), net. Management believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership’s performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. In addition, management believes this measure is consistent with the manner in which the partnership’s lenders and investors measure its overall performance, including its ability to pay quarterly equity distributions, service its long-term debt and other fixed obligations and fund its capital expenditures and working capital requirements. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

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The following table summarizes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively:

 

(amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

For the nine months

 

 

 

ended April 30,

 

 

 

2010

 

2009

 

Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

$

73,209

 

$

87,629

 

Income tax expense

 

2,006

 

2,713

 

Interest expense

 

74,844

 

69,090

 

Debt prepayment premiums

 

20,716

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

62,022

 

62,170

 

Other income (expense), net

 

1,085

 

1,351

 

EBITDA

 

$

233,882

 

$

222,953

 

Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 

6,961

 

4,865

 

Unit and stock-based compensation charge

 

4,188

 

1,109

 

Loss on disposal of assets and other

 

5,480

 

8,924

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

976

 

1,079

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

251,487

 

$

238,930

 

 

Propane sales volumes during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 increased 55.4 million gallons from that of the prior year period due to 34.8 million of increased gallon sales to our retail customers and 20.6 million of increased gallon sales to our wholesale customers.

 

Retail sales volumes increased 21.4 million gallons through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months and due to gallons gained from our focus on expanding our operations through an internal growth strategy. These gallon gains were somewhat offset by the impact of weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve that was 2% warmer than that of the prior year period.

 

We believe wholesale sales volumes increased due to our emphasis on expanding this portion of our business.

 

The wholesale market price at one of the major supply points, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 averaged 21% more than the prior year period. The wholesale market price averaged $1.11 and $0.92 per gallon during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Although the average wholesale market price increased significantly between the two periods, a competitive pricing environment did not allow us to increase our sales price as the wholesale market price increased. Additionally, volatility in the wholesale market price of propane during the first six months of fiscal 2010 and 2009 caused the movement in prices within those periods to be different. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu averaged $1.40 during the three months ended October 31, 2008 and $0.69 during the three months ended January 31, 2009. During that six month period, we decreased our sales price at a slower rate than the wholesale market price. Conversely, the wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu averaged $0.95 during the three months ended October 31, 2009 and $1.20 during the three months ended January 31, 2010. During this six month period the competitive pricing environment discussed above did not allow us to increase our sales price at a similar rate as the wholesale market price increased.

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales decreased $65.7 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $129.6 million decrease in sales price per gallon primarily due to a competitive pricing environment and volatility experienced in the wholesale market price of propane as well as decreased volumes due to warmer weather, each as discussed above. These decreases were partially offset by a $33.9 million increase from gallons gained through acquisitions and a $30.0 million increase from greater propane sales volumes due to the internal growth strategy.

 

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Wholesale sales increased $10.2 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from a $39.4 million increase due to greater propane sales volumes, offset by a $29.2 million decrease in sales price per gallon.

 

Other gas sales increased $97.3 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to an $87.6 million increase in propane sales volumes and a $10.5 million increase in sales price per gallon.

 

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales gross margin decreased $10.8 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $33.9 million decrease in gross margin per gallon primarily due to a competitive pricing environment and volatility experienced in the wholesale market price of propane, as well as decreased volumes due to warmer weather, each as discussed above. These decreases were partially offset by a $12.7 million increase in propane sales volumes due to the internal growth strategy and $10.5 million from gallons gained through acquisitions, each as discussed above.

 

Wholesale sales gross margin increased $24.8 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from both a $13.6 million increase due to greater propane sales volumes and an $11.2 million increase in gross margin per gallon as discussed above.

 

Other gas sales gross margin increased $9.7 million compared to the prior year period due to sales of excess inventory to other third-party customers.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased $12.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $23.7 million increase in gross margin from “Gross margin : Propane and other gas liquids sales” as discussed above and a $4.3 million decrease in “Equipment lease expense” which were somewhat offset by a $10.3 million increase in “Operating expense” and a $5.4 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. Equipment lease expense decreased primarily due to a $3.0 million decrease in computer related lease expense. Operating expense increased primarily due to $5.4 million of personnel related costs and $5.3 million of operating costs associated with acquisitions. General and administrative expense increased primarily due to $4.6 million from the timing of performance based incentive expense.

 

Operating income

 

Operating income increased $11.0 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to the $12.6 million increase in adjusted EBITDA as discussed above and a 3.4 million decrease in “Loss on disposal of assets and other”, which was somewhat offset by a $3.1 million increase in “Unit and stock based compensation charge” and a $2.1 million increase “Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge. Loss on disposal of assets and other decreased primarily due to a $2.4 million decrease in “Loss on transfer of accounts receivable related to the accounts receivable securitization facility” primarily due to a one time loss on the sale of certain receivables to the facility during the prior year period that was not repeated during the current year period. The $3.1 million increase in “unit and stock based compensation charge” is due to an increase in non-cash stock option issuance expense allocated from Ferrell Companies. The $2.1 million increase in “Employee stock ownership plan compensation charge” is due to the effect of higher Ferrellgas common unit prices during the current year period.

 

Interest expense - consolidated

 

Interest expense increased $5.8 million primarily due to a $5.8 million increase due to the issuance of new senior debt at higher interest rates than the debt retired and higher interest rates on borrowings on our secured credit facility and a $1.6 million increase due to the amortization of capitalized debt costs. These increases were partially offset by $0.9 million decrease in letter of credit fees and a $0.8 million reduction in expense due to decreased borrowings on our secured credit facility.

 

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Interest expense - operating partnership

 

Interest expense increased $5.6 million primarily due to a $5.6 million increase due to the issuance of new senior debt at higher interest rates than the debt retired and higher interest rates on borrowings on our secured credit facility and a $1.7 million increase due to the amortization of capitalized debt costs. These increases were partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in letter of credit fees and $0.8 million reduction in expense due to decreased borrowings on our secured credit facility.

 

Debt prepayment premiums

 

During October 2009, we prepaid the outstanding principal amount on our $82.0 million 7.24% series D notes due August 1, 2010 and our $70.0 million 7.42% series E notes due August 1, 2013, and the related prepayment premiums of $17.3 million.

 

During April 2010, we prepaid $233.9 million of our $268.0 million 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and the related prepayment premium of $3.4 million.

 

Forward looking statements

 

We expect that higher propane prices will continue causing “Revenues — propane and other gas liquids sales” and “Cost of product sold — propane and other gas liquids sales” to increase during the remainder of fiscal 2010 compared to our prior fiscal year.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

General

 

Our liquidity and capital resources enable us to fund our working capital requirements, letter of credit requirements, debt service payments, acquisition and capital expenditures and distributions to our unitholders. Our liquidity may be affected by an inability to access the capital markets or by unforeseen demands on cash, or other events beyond our control, such as the general market disruption experienced during fiscal 2009. We believe a return of the general market disruption discussed above could limit our future access to capital markets or to access those markets at rates acceptable to us. Conversely, if general market conditions continue to improve, we would expect our access to capital markets and rates associated with those markets to return to normal as well.

 

During fiscal 2010, we completed $580.0 million in debt offerings, made scheduled principal payments of $73.0 million on senior notes, prepaid $385.9 million of senior notes and plan to redeem $34.1 million of senior notes at par in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. We also entered into a new accounts receivable securitization facility with capacity of up to $145.0 million that replaced our previous securitization facility and entered into a new secured credit facility that replaced our unsecured credit facility and provides for a $400.0 million revolving credit capacity with the entire amount available for loans and with a sublimit of $200.0 million for letters of credit. Additionally, we issued $20.0 million of common units for which the proceeds were used to reduce borrowings on our credit facility. With these financings and the application of the proceeds, we will have addressed all of our significant outstanding debt maturities through 2014 and increased our liquidity to finance ongoing business strategies. Furthermore, our only interest rate sensitive financing will be borrowings on our $400.0 million revolving credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility scheduled to expire in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

 

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance that amends the previous derecognition guidance to improve the accounting for transfers of financial assets. This guidance is effective for financial asset transfers that occur in annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance on August 1, 2010, will require Ferrellgas to consolidate Ferrellgas Receivables, a wholly-owned unconsolidated special purpose entity. As a result of the derecognition guidance amendments, beginning August 1, 2010, trade receivables owned by Ferrellgas Receivables will be recorded with a corresponding short-term liability on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We

 

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do not expect the consolidation of Ferrellgas Receivables to have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity or debt compliance ratios.

 

Currently, we believe we will continue to have sufficient access to capital markets at yields acceptable to us to support our expected growth expenditures and refinancing of debt maturities. Our disciplined approach to fund necessary capital spending and other partnership needs, combined with sufficient trade credit to operate our business efficiently and available credit under our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility should provide us the means to meet our anticipated liquidity and capital resource requirements.

 

During periods of high volatility our risk management activities expose us to the risk of counterparty margin calls in amounts greater than we have the capacity to fund. Likewise our counterparties may not be able to fulfill their margin calls to us or may default on the settlement of positions with us.

 

Our working capital requirements are subject to, among other things, the price of propane, delays in the collection of receivables, volatility in energy commodity prices, liquidity imposed by insurance providers, downgrades in our credit ratings, decreased trade credit, significant acquisitions, the weather and other changes in the demand for propane. Relatively colder weather or higher propane prices during the winter heating season are factors that could significantly increase our working capital requirements.

 

Our ability to satisfy our obligations is dependent upon our future performance, which will be subject to prevailing economic, financial, business and weather conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Due to the seasonality of the retail propane distribution business, a significant portion of our cash flow from operations is generated during the winter heating season. Our net cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects earnings from our business activities adjusted for depreciation and amortization and changes in our working capital accounts. Historically, we generate significantly lower net cash from operating activities in our first and fourth fiscal quarters as compared to the second and third fiscal quarters due to the seasonality of our business. Subject to meeting the financial tests discussed below, our general partner believes that the operating partnership will have sufficient funds available to meet its obligations, and to distribute to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient funds to permit Ferrellgas Partners to meet its obligations in the remainder of fiscal 2010 and in fiscal 2011.

 

Subject to the risk factors identified in both the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our general partner believes the operating partnership will have sufficient funds available to distribute to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient cash to pay the minimum quarterly distribution on all of its common units in the remainder of fiscal 2010 and in fiscal 2011. A quarterly distribution of $0.50 is expected to be paid on June 14, 2010, to all common units that were outstanding on June 7, 2010. This represents the sixty-third consecutive minimum quarterly distribution paid to our common unitholders dating back to October 1994. Prior to April 30, 2010, the publicly-held common units had certain distribution preference rights over the common units held by Ferrell Companies. Ferrell Companies had granted Ferrellgas Partners the ability to defer future distributions on the common units held by it up to an aggregate outstanding amount of $36.0 million. This distribution deferral agreement, which had not been utilized, expired April 30, 2010. See discussion of related risk factor in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

 

Our secured credit facility, public debt, private debt and accounts receivable securitization facility contain several financial tests and covenants restricting our ability to pay distributions, incur debt and engage in certain other business transactions. In general, these tests are based on our debt-to-cash flow ratio and cash flow-to-interest expense ratio. Our general partner currently believes that the most restrictive of these tests are debt incurrence limitations under the terms of our credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities and limitations on the payment of distributions within our 8.625% senior notes due 2020. The credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities generally limit the operating partnership’s ability to incur debt if it exceeds prescribed ratios of either debt to cash flow or cash flow to interest expense. Our 8.625% senior notes restrict payments if a minimum ratio of cash flow to interest expense is not met, assuming certain exceptions to this ratio limit have previously been exhausted. This restriction places limitations on our ability to make restricted payments such as the payment of cash

 

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distributions to our unitholders. The cash flow used to determine these financial tests generally is based upon our most recent cash flow performance giving pro forma effect for acquisitions and divestitures made during the test period. Our secured credit facility, public debt, private debt and accounts receivable securitization facility do not contain early repayment provisions related to a potential decline in our credit rating.

 

As of April 30, 2010, we met all the required quarterly financial tests and covenants. Based upon current estimates of our cash flow, our general partner believes that we will be able to continue to meet all of the required quarterly financial tests and covenants during the remainder of fiscal 2010 and in fiscal 2011. However, we may not meet the applicable financial tests in future quarters if we were to experience:

 

·                  significantly warmer than normal winter temperatures;

·                  a continued volatile energy commodity cost environment;

·                  an unexpected downturn in business operations;

·                  a change in customer purchasing patterns due to economic factors in the United States; or

·                  a material downturn in the credit and/or equity markets.

 

Failure to meet applicable financial tests could have a materially adverse effect on our operating capacity and cash flows and could restrict our ability to incur debt or to make cash distributions to our unitholders, even if sufficient funds were available. Depending on the circumstances, we may consider alternatives to permit the incurrence of debt or the continued payment of the quarterly cash distribution to our unitholders. No assurances can be given, however, that such alternatives can or will be implemented with respect to any given quarter.

 

We expect our future capital expenditures and working capital needs to be provided by a combination of cash generated from future operations, existing cash balances, the secured credit facility or the accounts receivable securitization facility. See additional information about the accounts receivable securitization facility in “Operating Activities — Accounts receivable securitization.” In order to reduce existing indebtedness, fund future acquisitions and expansive capital projects, we may obtain funds from our facilities, we may issue additional debt to the extent permitted under existing financing arrangements or we may issue additional equity securities, including, among others, common units.

 

Toward this purpose, the following registration statements were effective upon filing or declared effective by the SEC:

 

·                  a shelf registration statement for the periodic sale of up to $750.0 million in common units, debt securities and/or other securities; Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. may, at our election, be the co-issuer and co-obligor on any debt securities issued by Ferrellgas Partners under this shelf registration statement; as of April 30, 2010, we had $450.0 million available under this shelf registration statement; and

 

·                  an “acquisition” shelf registration statement for the periodic sale of up to $250.0 million in common units to fund acquisitions; as of April 30, 2010 we had $231.5 million available under this shelf agreement.

 

During December 2009, a shelf registration statement with availability of $200.0 million in common units in connection with Ferrellgas Partners direct purchase and distribution reinvestment plan expired and was not renewed. We believe the availability remaining under our other shelf registration statements will provide us with adequate access to liquidity and capital resources.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $129.3 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2010, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $193.7 million for the prior year period. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $114.7 million increase in working capital requirements and a $9.3 million decrease in cash flow from operations which were partially offset

 

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by a $57.0 million increase in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility. The increase in working capital requirements was primarily due to $59.9 million from the impact of increased sales volumes as well as the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable, $52.0 million from the timing of inventory purchases and $8.5 million from the timing of interest payments. These increases in working capital requirements were somewhat offset by $10.1 million due to the timing of accounts payable disbursements. The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a decrease in net earnings resulting from the debt prepayment premiums of $20.7 million on the early redemption of our series D and E senior notes and our early redemption of $233.9 million of our 8.75% senior notes, which was somewhat offset by an $11.0 million increase in operating income. The $57.0 million increase in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility is primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable sales to the facility to fund the working capital requirements discussed above.

 

Accounts receivable securitization

 

Cash flows from our accounts receivable securitization facility increased $57.0 million. We received net funding of $49.0 million from this facility during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 as compared to remitting net funding of $8.0 million to this facility in the prior year period.

 

Our strategy is to maximize liquidity by utilizing the accounts receivable securitization facility along with borrowings under the operating partnership’s secured credit facility. See additional discussion about the operating partnership’s secured credit facility in “Financing Activities — Secured credit facility.” Our utilization of the accounts receivable securitization facility is limited by the amount of accounts receivable that we are permitted to transfer according to the facility agreement. During April 2010 the operating partnership executed a new accounts receivable securitization facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank and BNP Paribas that allows for the proceeds of up to $145.0 million from the sale of accounts receivable, depending on the available undivided interests in our accounts receivable from certain customers. This facility matures in April 2013 and replaces the operating partnership’s previous 364-day facility which was to expire in April 2010. At April 30, 2010, we had received cash proceeds of $86.0 million related to the transfer of our trade accounts receivable to the accounts receivable securitization facility with the ability to receive cash proceeds, at our option, of an additional $15.0 million. As our trade accounts receivable increase during the winter heating season, the securitization facility permits us to receive greater proceeds as eligible trade accounts receivable increases, thereby providing additional cash for working capital needs. This transaction is reflected in our condensed consolidated financial statements as a sale of accounts receivable and a retained interest in transferred accounts receivable.

 

The operating partnership

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $151.5 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2010, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $205.8 million for the prior year period. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $108.5 million increase in working capital requirements and a $5.5 million decrease in cash flow from operations, which was partially offset by a $57.0 million increase in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility. The increase in working capital requirements was primarily due to $59.9 million from the impact of increased sales volumes as well as the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable and a $52.0 million increase from the timing of inventory purchases. These increases in working capital requirements were somewhat offset by $10.3 million due to the timing of accounts payable disbursements. The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a decrease in net earnings resulting from the debt prepayment premiums of $17.3 million on the early redemption of our series D and E senior notes which was somewhat offset by an $11.1 million increase in operating income. The $57.0 million increase in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility is primarily due to an increase in accounts receivable sales to the facility to fund the working capital requirements discussed above.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $73.6 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2010, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $40.6 million for the prior year period. This increase in

 

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net cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a $40.7 million increase in capital expenditures related to the acquisition of propane distribution assets, which is somewhat offset by a $10.0 million decrease in growth and maintenance capital expenditures.

 

Financing Activities

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010, net cash used in financing activities was $52.3 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $157.1 million for the prior year period. The decrease in net cash used by financing activities was primarily due to a $127.0 million net increase in long-term borrowings and a $50.8 million decrease in repayments on short term borrowings. These cash increases were somewhat offset by a $49.5 million reduction in proceeds from equity offerings and a $17.5 million use of cash to fund transaction costs associated with the issuance of new term debt, the accounts receivable securitization facility and secured credit facility.

 

Distributions

 

Ferrellgas Partners paid a $0.50 per unit quarterly distribution on all common units, as well as the related general partner distributions, totaling $104.7 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2010 in connection with the distributions declared for the three months ended July 31, 2009, October 31, 2009 and January 31, 2010. The quarterly distribution on all common units and the related general partner distributions for the three months ended April 30, 2010 of $35.1 million is expected to be paid on June 14, 2010 to holders of record on June 7, 2010.

 

Secured credit facility

 

During November 2009, we closed on a new secured credit facility that provides $400.0 million in revolving credit for loans and has a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit. This secured credit facility replaced our unsecured credit facility due April 2010 and will mature in November 2012.

 

The secured credit facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants and default provisions, as well as requirements with respect to the maintenance of specified financial ratios and limitations on the making of loans and investments.

 

As of April 30, 2010, we had total borrowings outstanding under this secured credit facility due November 2012 of $92.5 million, of which $59.7 million was classified as long-term debt.

 

Borrowings under the secured credit facility had a weighted average interest rate of 4.63% at April 30, 2010. All borrowings under the secured credit facility bear interest, at Ferrellgas, L.P.’s option, at a rate equal to either:

 

·                  for Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, the Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, ii) Bank of America’s prime rate; or iii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1%; plus a margin varying from 2.50% to 3.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 3.00%); or

 

·                  for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate, which is defined as the LIBOR Rate plus a margin varying from 3.50% to 4.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the margin was 4.00%).

 

As of April 30, 2010, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 0.20% and 3.25%, respectively. As of April 30, 2010, the one-month and three-month Eurodollar Rates were 0.30% and 0.40%, respectively.

 

In addition, an annual commitment fee is payable at a per annum rate of 0.50% times the actual daily amount by which the facility exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding amount of revolving credit loans and (ii) the outstanding amount of letter of credit obligations.

 

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All standby letter of credit commitments under our secured credit facility bear a per annum rate varying from 3.5% to 4.25% (as of April 30, 2010, the rate was 4.00%) times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit. Letter of credit fees are computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.

 

The obligations under this secured credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to the operating partnership’s accounts receivable securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership.

 

Availability under our secured and unsecured credit facilities are shown below:

 

 

 

Secured
Credit Facility

 

Unsecured
Credit Facility

 

 

 

April 30,
2010

 

July 31,
2009

 

Total borrowing capacity

 

$

400,000

 

$

448,000

 

Less: Letters of credit outstanding

 

(47,077

)

(44,444

)

 Cash borrowings outstanding

 

(92,500

)

(154,700

)

Credit facility availability

 

$

260,423

 

$

248,856

 

 

Debt issuances and repayments

 

During August 2009, the operating partnership made scheduled principal payments of $73.0 million on the 8.87% Series C senior notes.

 

During September 2009, the operating partnership issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 9.125% senior notes due 2017 at an offering price equal to 98.6% of par. The proceeds from this transaction were used to fund the October 2009 note payments discussed below and to reduce credit facility borrowings.

 

During October 2009, the operating partnership prepaid the outstanding principal amount on its $82.0 million 7.24% series D notes due August 1, 2010 and its $70.0 million 7.42% series E notes due August 1, 2013 and the related prepayment premiums of $17.3 million.

 

During April 2010, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. completed a public offering of $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 8.625% senior unsecured notes due 2020. Ferrellgas Partners applied the net proceeds of approximately $273.4 million to a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of its 8.75% senior notes due 2012 and to redeem any such notes that remain outstanding after April 30, 2010. As of April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas Partners had purchased $233.9 million of the senior notes pursuant to the cash tender offer. Ferrellgas Partners contributed $30.5 million of the remaining proceeds to the operating partnership to pay down borrowings on the secured credit facility. During May 2010, we issued an irrevocable notice to redeem at par the entire $34.1 million outstanding principal amount of the 8.75% senior notes due 2012 prior to the end of fiscal 2010.

 

We believe that the liquidity available from our secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and letter of credit requirements for the remainder of fiscal 2010 and in fiscal 2011. See “Operating Activities” for discussion about our accounts receivable securitization facility. However, if we were to experience an unexpected significant increase in these requirements, our needs could exceed our immediately available resources. Events that could cause increases in these requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

 

·                  a significant increase in the wholesale cost of propane;

 

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·                  a significant delay in the collections of accounts receivable;

·                  increased volatility in energy commodity prices related to risk management activities;

·                  increased liquidity requirements imposed by insurance providers;

·                  a significant downgrade in our credit rating leading to decreased trade credit; or

·                  a significant acquisition.

 

If one or more of these or other events caused a significant use of available funding, we may consider alternatives to provide increased liquidity and capital funding. No assurances can be given, however, that such alternatives would be available, or, if available, could be implemented. See discussion of related risk factors in both the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

The operating partnership

 

The financing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership except for cash flows related to the redemption of $233.9 million of our 8.75% senior notes and the issuance of $280.0 million 8.625% senior notes and cash flows related to distributions and contributions received, as discussed below.

 

Distributions

 

The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $117.6 million during the nine months ended April 30, 2010. The operating partnership expects to pay cash distributions of $76.3 million on June 14, 2010.

 

Disclosures about Effects of Transactions with Related Parties

 

We have no employees and are managed and controlled by our general partner. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, our general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on our behalf, and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to us or otherwise reasonably incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business. These reimbursable costs, which totaled $188.3 million for the nine months ended April 30, 2010, include operating expenses such as compensation and benefits paid to employees of our general partner who perform services on our behalf, as well as related general and administrative expenses.

 

Related party common unitholder information consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Common unit
ownership at
April 30, 2010

 

Distributions paid during
the nine months ended
April 30, 2010

 

Ferrell Companies (1)

 

20,080,776

 

$

30,121

 

FCI Trading Corp. (2)

 

195,686

 

294

 

Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3)

 

51,204

 

77

 

James E. Ferrell (4)

 

4,353,475

 

6,530

 

 


(1)   Ferrell Companies is the sole shareholder of our general partner.

(2)   FCI Trading Corp. is an affiliate of the general partner and is wholly-owned by Ferrell Companies.

(3)   Ferrell Propane, Inc. is wholly-owned by our general partner.

(4)   James E. Ferrell is the Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership together paid the general partner distributions of $2.2 million.

 

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On June 14, 2010 Ferrellgas Partners expects to pay distributions to Ferrell Companies, FCI Trading Corp., Ferrell Propane, Inc., James E. Ferrell (indirectly) and the general partner of $10.0 million, $0.1 million, $26 thousand, $2.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

 

During the nine months ended April 30, 2010, we paid Fleishman-Hillard Inc. $142 thousand for marketing and communications services. Elizabeth Solberg, a member of our general partner’s Board of Directors, serves as the General Manager of Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

 

See Note H — Transactions with related parties — and Note F — Partners’ capital — to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding the effects of transactions with related parties.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

In the performance of our operations, we are bound by certain contractual obligations.

 

The only material changes outside the ordinary course of our business for our contractual obligations at July 31, 2009, related to adjustments for the effect of our April 2010 issuance of $280.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 8.625% senior notes due 2020 and our early redemption of our $268.0 million 8.75% senior notes due 2012. The early redemption of the senior notes will be complete by the end of fiscal 2010. The change in the fixed rate interest obligations due to such issuance and redemption will be an additional $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, $0.7 million in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012, $24.2 million in each of fiscal years 2013 and 2014, and $144.9 million thereafter.

 

ITEM 3.             QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

We did not enter into any risk management trading activities during the nine months ended April 30, 2010. Our remaining market risk sensitive instruments and positions have been determined to be “other than trading.”

 

Commodity Price Risk Management

 

Our risk management activities primarily attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies on a short-term basis. We attempt to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments and forward propane purchase and sales contracts.

 

Our risk management strategy involves taking positions in the forward or financial markets that are equal and opposite to our positions in the physical products market in order to minimize the risk of financial loss from an adverse price change. This risk management strategy is successful when our gains or losses in the physical product markets are offset by our losses or gains in the forward or financial markets. These financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges.

 

Our risk management activities include the use of financial derivative instruments including, but not limited to, price swaps, options, futures and basis swaps to seek protection from adverse price movements and to minimize potential losses. We enter into these financial derivative instruments directly with third parties in the over-the-counter market and with brokers who are clearing members with the New York Mercantile Exchange. We also enter into forward propane purchase and sales contracts with counterparties. These forward contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception within GAAP guidance and are therefore not recorded prior to settlement on our financial statements.

 

Market risks associated with energy commodities are monitored daily by senior management for compliance with our commodity risk management policy. This policy includes an aggregate dollar loss limit and limits on the term of various contracts. We also utilize volume limits for various energy commodities

 

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and review our positions daily where we remain exposed to market risk, so as to manage exposures to changing market prices.

 

We have prepared a sensitivity analysis to estimate the exposure to market risk of our energy commodity positions. Forward contracts, futures, swaps and options outstanding as of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, that were used in our risk management activities were analyzed assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse change in prices for the delivery month for all energy commodities. The potential loss in future earnings from these positions due to a 10% adverse movement in market prices of the underlying energy commodities was estimated at $0.7 million and $7.2 million as of April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, respectively. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in prices may or may not equal 10%, thus actual results may differ.

 

Our sensitivity analysis includes designated hedging and the anticipated transactions associated with these hedging transactions. These hedging transactions are anticipated to be 100% effective; therefore, there is no effect on our sensitivity analysis from these hedging transactions. To the extent option contracts are used as hedging instruments for anticipated transactions we have included the offsetting effect of the anticipated transactions, only to the extent the option contracts are in the money, or would become in the money as a result of the 10% hypothetical movement in prices. All other anticipated transactions for risk management activities have been excluded from our sensitivity analysis.

 

Credit Risk

 

We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties for propane procurement that we believe significantly minimize overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of counterparties’ financial condition (including credit ratings), and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit guidelines.

 

These counterparties consist of major energy companies who are suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, end users and financial institutions. The overall impact due to certain changes in economic, regulatory and other events may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that counterparties may be similarly impacted. Based on our policies, exposures, credit and other reserves, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

At April 30, 2010 and July 31, 2009, we had $92.5 million and $154.7 million, respectively, in variable rate credit facility borrowings. Thus, assuming a one percent increase in our variable interest rate, our interest rate risk related to the borrowings on our variable rate credit facility would result in a loss in future earnings of $0.9 million for the twelve months ending April 30, 2011. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in interest rates may or may not equal one percent, thus actual results may differ.

 

ITEM 4.             CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

An evaluation was performed by the management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp., with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, were effective.

 

The management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all fraud. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Based on the inherent

 

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limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the above mentioned Partnerships and Corporations have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Therefore, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide such reasonable assurances of achieving our desired control objectives, and the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner have concluded, as of April 30, 2010, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in achieving that level of reasonable assurance.

 

During the most recent fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2010, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. As a result, at any given time, we are threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Currently, we are not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We have been named as a defendant in lawsuits filed in multiple federal and state courts that seek to certify nationwide or statewide classes related to our Blue Rhino branded propane tank exchange activities. The plaintiffs in each case generally allege that we failed to inform consumers of the amount of propane contained in propane tanks they purchased and that we violated anti-trust laws by allegedly conspiring with a competitor. The federal cases have been coordinated for multidistrict treatment in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Based on our business and consumer notification practices in our Blue Rhino tank exchange operations, we believe that all of these claims are without merit and intend to defend the claims vigorously.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

 

The following risk factor set forth in the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” is no longer a current risk factor. As of April 30, 2010, the distribution priority expired.

 

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The distribution priority to our common units owned by the public terminates no later than April 30, 2010.

 

Assuming that the restrictions under our debt agreements are met, our partnership agreements require us to distribute 100% of our available cash to our unitholders on a quarterly basis. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts, less cash disbursements and adjustments for net changes in reserves. Currently, the common units owned by the public have a right to receive distributions of available cash before any distributions of available cash are made on the common units owned by Ferrell Companies. We must pay a distribution on the publicly-held common units before we pay a distribution on the common units held by Ferrell Companies. If there exists an outstanding amount of deferred distributions on the common units held by Ferrell Companies of $36.0 million, the common units held by Ferrell Companies will be paid in the same manner as the publicly-held common units. While there are any deferred distributions outstanding on common units held by Ferrell Companies, we may not increase the distribution to our public common unitholders above the highest quarterly distribution paid on our common units for any of the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters. After payment of all required distributions, we will use remaining available cash to reduce any amount previously deferred on the common units held by Ferrell Companies.

 

This distribution priority right is scheduled to end April 30, 2010, or earlier if there is a change of control, we dissolve or Ferrell Companies sells all of our common units held by it. Whether an extension of the expiration of the distribution priority is likely or unlikely involves several factors that are not currently known and/or cannot be assessed until a time closer to the expiration date. The termination of this distribution priority may lower the market price for our common units.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report, readers should carefully consider the factors discussed in the section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal 2009 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” which could materially affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. The risks described in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

 

ITEM 2.    UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.    (REMOVED AND RESERVED).

 

ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION.

 

None.

 

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ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS.

 

The exhibits listed below are furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, which are not listed, are not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of February 18, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of March 8, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.3

 

Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of June 29, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

 

Third Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of October 11, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.5

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations on March 28, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.6

 

Bylaws of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.7

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas, L.P. dated as of April 7, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.8

 

Certificate of Incorporation of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations on January 16, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.9

 

Bylaws of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. adopted as of January 16, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen Certificate evidencing Common Units representing Limited Partner Interests. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Exhibit 3.1 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Indenture dated as of September 24, 2002, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $170,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Registrant’s 8 ¾% Senior Notes due 2012. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

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4.3

 

Indenture dated as of April 20, 2004, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas Escrow LLC, Ferrellgas Finance Escrow Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $250 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 6 ¾% Senior Notes due 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.4

 

Indenture dated as of August 4, 2008, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $200 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 6 ¾% Senior Notes due 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 5, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.5

 

Indenture dated as of September 14, 2009, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $300 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 9 1/8% Senior Notes due 2017. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 14, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.6

 

Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010, among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $280 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2020. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.7

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $280 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2020. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.8

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 14, 2009, by and among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and the initial purchasers named therein. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 14, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.9

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 4, 2008, by and among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and the initial purchasers named therein. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 5, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.10

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 17, 1999, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.11

 

First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 14, 2000, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.12

 

Second Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 6, 2001, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and The Williams Companies, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

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*

 

4.13

 

Third Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 29, 2005, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and JEF Capital Management, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2009, among Ferrellgas, L.P. as the borrower, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the general partner of the borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party hereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 4, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Receivable Sale Agreement dated as of April 6, 2010, between Ferrellgas, L.P., as originator, and Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, as buyer. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 7, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of April 6, 2010, among Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, as seller, Ferrellgas, L.P., as servicer, the purchasers from time to time party hereto, Fifth Third Bank and BNP Paribas, as co-agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 7, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.4

 

Ferrell Companies, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.5

 

Amended and Restated Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.6

 

Ferrell Companies, Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective October 11, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 28, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

*

 

10.7

 

Amendment to Ferrell Companies, Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan, dated as of March 7, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.8

 

Employment, Confidentiality, and Noncompete Agreement dated as of July 17, 1998 by and among Ferrell Companies, Inc. as the company, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company, James E. Ferrell as the executive and LaSalle National Bank as trustee of the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.9

 

Waiver to Employment, Confidentiality, and Noncompete Agreement dated as of December 19, 2006 by and among Ferrell Companies, Inc. as the company, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company, James E. Ferrell as the executive and Greatbanc Trust Company as successor trustee to LaSalle National Bank. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 9, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.10

 

Amended and Restated Change In Control Agreement dated as of March 5, 2008 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Patrick J. Walsh as the executive. Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.25 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 7, 2008.

 

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#

 

 

 

10.11

 

Change In Control Agreement dated as of March 5, 2008 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Richard V. Mayberry as the executive. Incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.28 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 7, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.12

 

Change In Control Agreement dated as of October 9, 2006 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and James E. Ferrell as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed October 12, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.13

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Stephen L. Wambold as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.14

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and James R. VanWinkle as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.15

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Jennifer Boren as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.16

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Tod Brown as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.17

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Eugene D. Caresia as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.18

 

Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and George L. Koloroutis as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.19

 

Agreement and release dated as of December 4, 2007 by and among Ferrell Companies, Inc., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas Partners L.P., Ferrellgas L.P. and Brian J. Kline as the employee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed December 6, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.20

 

Agreement and release dated as of March 28, 2008 by and among Ferrell Companies, Inc., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas Partners L.P., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Kevin T. Kelly as the employee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 28, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

 

 

10.21

 

Services Agreement dated as of September 26, 2008 between Samson Dental Practice Management, LLC as the client and Ferrellgas, L.P. as the provider. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2008.

 

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#

 

 

 

10.22

 

Amendment No. 1 to Services Agreement dated as of May 1, 2009 between Samson Dental Practice Management, LLC as the client and Ferrellgas, L.P. as the provider. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 4, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

*

 

10.23

 

Termination of Agreements dated as of March 12, 2010, by and between Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas, Inc. and Samson Dental Practice Management, LLC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

31.3

 

Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

31.4

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

32.3

 

Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

32.4

 

Certification of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

*

 

Filed herewith

 

 

#

 

Management contracts or compensatory plans.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

 

 

 

By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner)

 

 

 

 

Date:    June 9, 2010

By

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

Date:    June 9, 2010

By

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS, L.P.

 

 

 

By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner)

 

 

 

 

Date:    June 9, 2010

By

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

 

 

 

 

Date:    June 9, 2010

By

/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

J. Ryan VanWinkle

 

Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director

 

62