UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

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Form 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

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)

 

 

Registrants’ telephone number, including area code:
(913) 661-1500

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Limited Partner Interests of Ferrellgas, L.P.
Common Stock of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
Common Stock of Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
(Title of class)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrants are well-known seasoned issuers, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.: Yes x No ¨

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.: Yes ¨  No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrants are not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x

 

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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 ¨

 

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 x No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants’ knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

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):

 

 

 

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 ¨ No x

 

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

 

The aggregate market value as of January 31, 2012, of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.’s common units held by nonaffiliates of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., based on the reported closing price of such units on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, was approximately $897,101,276. There is no aggregate market value of the common equity of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. as their common equity is not sold or traded.

 

At August 31, 2012, the registrants had common units or shares of common stock outstanding as follows:

 

 

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-K WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.

 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

FERRELLGAS, L.P.

FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

 

2012 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.       BUSINESS.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership. Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and our activities are primarily conducted through our operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. We are the sole limited partner of Ferrellgas, L.P. with an approximate 99% limited partner interest.

 

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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;

 

“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 the volume of refined fuel 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 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 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.

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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 27% 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K 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.

 

General

 

We believe 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 as measured by the volume of our retail sales in fiscal 2012, and the largest national provider of propane by portable tank exchange.

 

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 propane distribution business consists principally of transporting propane purchased from third parties to our 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, while our market areas 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.

 

In our past three fiscal years, our total annual propane sales volumes in gallons were:

Our History

 

We were formed in 1994 in connection with our initial public offering. Our operations began in 1939 as a single location propane distributor in Atchison, Kansas. Our initial growth largely resulted from small acquisitions in rural areas of eastern Kansas, northern and central Missouri, Iowa, western Illinois, southern Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas. Since 1986, we have acquired approximately 190 propane distributors. As of July 31, 2012, we distribute product to our propane customers from 924 propane distribution locations. See Item 2. “Properties” for more information about our propane distribution locations.

 

Business Strategy

 

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Our business strategy is to:

 

 

Expand our operations through disciplined acquisitions and internal growth.

 

We expect to continue the expansion of our propane customer base through the acquisition of other propane distributors. We intend to concentrate on acquisition activities in geographical areas within or adjacent to our existing operating areas, and on a selected basis in areas that broaden our geographic coverage. We also intend to focus on acquisitions that can be efficiently combined with our existing propane operations to provide an attractive return on investment after taking into account the economies of scale and cost savings we anticipate will result from those combinations. Our goal is to improve the operations and profitability of our core business as well as the businesses we acquire by integrating best  practices and leveraging our established national organization and technology platforms to help reduce costs and enhance customer service. We believe that our enhanced operational synergies, improved customer service and ability to better track the financial performance of acquired operations provide us a distinct competitive advantage and better analysis as we consider future acquisition opportunities.

 

We believe that we are positioned to successfully compete for growth opportunities within and outside of our existing operating regions. Our efforts will focus on adding density to our existing customer base, providing propane and complementary services to national accounts and providing other product offerings to existing customer relationships. This continued expansion will give us new growth opportunities by leveraging the capabilities of our operating platforms.

 

Capitalize on our national presence and economies of scale.

 

We believe our national presence of 924 propane distribution locations in the United States as of July 31, 2012 gives us advantages over our smaller competitors. These advantages include economies of scale in areas such as:

 

 

We believe that our national presence allows us to be one of the few propane distributors that can competitively serve commercial and portable tank exchange customers on a nationwide basis, including the ability to serve such propane customers through leading home-improvement centers, mass merchants and hardware, grocery and convenience stores. In addition, we believe that our national presence provides us opportunities to make acquisitions of other propane distribution companies whose operations  overlap with ours, providing economies of scale and significant cost savings in these markets.

 

We also believe that investments in technology similar to ours require both a large scale and a national presence, in order to generate sustainable operational savings to produce a sufficient return on investment. For this reason, we believe our technology platforms provide us with an on-going competitive advantage.

 

Maximize operating efficiencies through utilization of our technology platform.

 

We believe our significant investments in technology give us a competitive advantage to operate more efficiently and effectively at a lower cost compared to most of our competitors. We do not believe that many of our competitors will be able to justify similar investments in the near term. Our technology advantage has resulted from significant investments made in our retail propane distribution operating platform together with our state-of-the-art tank exchange operating platform.

 

Our technology platform allows us to efficiently route and schedule our customer deliveries, customer administration and operational workflow for the retail sale and delivery of bulk propane. Our service centers are staffed to provide oversight and management to multiple distribution locations, referred to as service units. Currently we operate a retail distribution network, including portable tank exchange operations, using a structure of 153 service centers and 924 service units. The service unit locations utilize hand-held computers and satellite technology to communicate with management personnel who are typically located at the associated service center. We believe this structure and our technology platform allow us to more efficiently route and schedule customer deliveries and significantly reduce the need for daily on-site management.

 

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The efficiencies gained from operating our technology platform allow us to consolidate our management teams at fewer locations, quickly adjust the sales prices to our customers and manage our personnel and vehicle costs more effectively to meet customer demand.

 

The technology platform has substantially improved the forecasting of our customers’ demand and our routing and scheduling. Our call center support capabilities allow us to accept emergency customer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These combined capabilities provide us cost savings while improving customer service by reducing customer inconvenience associated with multiple, unnecessary deliveries.

 

Align employee interests with our investors through significant employee ownership.

 

In 1998, we established an employee benefit plan that we believe aligns the interests of our employees with those of our investors. Through the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust, our employees beneficially own approximately 27% of our outstanding common units, allowing them to participate directly in our overall success. We believe this plan is unique in the propane distribution industry and that the entrepreneurial culture fostered by employee-ownership provides us with another distinct competitive advantage.

 

Distribution of Propane and Related Equipment and Supplies

 

Our propane distribution business consists principally of transporting propane purchased from third parties to our 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, while our market areas for our industrial/commercial and portable tank exchange customers is generally urban. We utilize marketing programs targeting both new and existing customers by emphasizing:

 

 

The distribution of propane to residential customers generally involves large numbers of small volume deliveries. Our retail deliveries of propane are typically transported from our retail propane distribution locations to our customers by our fleet of bulk delivery trucks, which are generally fitted with a 3,000 gallon tank. Propane storage tanks located on our customers' premises are then filled from these bulk delivery trucks. We also deliver propane to our industrial/commercial and portable tank exchange customers using our fleet of portable tank and portable tank exchange delivery trucks, truck tractors and portable tank exchange delivery trailers.

 

A substantial majority of our gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales is derived from the distribution and sale of propane and related risk management activities, and is derived primarily from the following customer groups:

 

 

Our gross margin from the retail distribution of propane is primarily based on the cents‑per‑gallon difference between the sales 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, including inflation, 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.

 

Approximately 57% of our residential customers rent their tanks from us. Our rental terms and the fire safety regulations in some states require rented bulk tanks to be filled only by the propane supplier owning the tank. The cost and inconvenience of switching bulk tanks helps minimize a customer’s tendency to switch suppliers of propane on the basis of minor variations in price, helping us minimize customer loss.

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In addition, we lease tanks to some of our independent distributors involved with our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange operations. Our owned and independent distributors provide portable tank exchange customers with a national delivery presence that is generally not available from most of our competitors.

 

Some of our propane distribution locations also conduct the retail sale of propane appliances and related parts and fittings, as well as other retail propane related services and consumer products. We also sell gas grills, patio heaters, fireplace and garden accessories, mosquito traps and other outdoor products through Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, Inc.

 

In fiscal 2012, no one customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues.

 

Effect of Weather and Seasonality

 

Weather conditions have a significant impact on demand for propane for heating purposes during the months of November through March (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 strong correlation between weather and customer usage, general economic conditions in the United States and the wholesale price of propane can have a significant impact on this correlation. Additionally, there is a natural time lag between the onset of cold weather and increased sales to customers. If the United States were to experience a cooling trend we could expect nationwide demand for propane to increase which could lead to greater sales, income and liquidity availability. Conversely, if the United States were to experience a warming trend, we could expect nationwide demand for propane to decrease which could lead to a reduction in our sales, income and liquidity availability.

 

The market for propane is seasonal because of increased demand during 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 exchange 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 believe that our broad geographic distribution helps us minimize exposure to regional weather and economic patterns. During times of colder-than-normal winter weather, we have been able to take advantage of our large, efficient distribution network to avoid supply disruptions, thereby providing us a competitive advantage in the markets we serve.

 

Risk Management Activities – Commodity Price Risk

 

We employ risk management activities that 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. 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 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 generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) guidance and are therefore not recorded on our financial statements until settled.

 

Through our supply procurement activities, we purchase propane primarily from major domestic energy companies. Supplies of propane from these sources have traditionally been readily available, although no assurance can be given that they will be readily available in the future. We may purchase and store inventories of propane to avoid delivery interruptions during the periods of increased demand and to take advantage of favorable commodity prices. As a result of our ability to buy large volumes of propane and utilize our national distribution system, we believe we are in a position to achieve product cost savings and avoid shortages during periods of tight supply to

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an extent not generally available to other propane distributors. During fiscal 2012, six suppliers accounted for approximately 56.5% of our total propane purchases. Because there are numerous alternative suppliers available, we do not believe it is reasonably possible that this supplier concentration could cause a near-term severe impact on our ability to procure propane. No other single supplier accounted for more than 10% of our total propane purchases during fiscal 2012. If supplies were interrupted or difficulties in obtaining alternative transportation were to arise, the cost of procuring replacement supplies may materially increase. These transactions are accounted for at cost in “Cost of product sold – propane and other gas liquids sales” in our consolidated statement of earnings.

 

A portion of our propane inventory is purchased under supply contracts that typically have a one-year term and a price that fluctuates based on the spot market prices. In order to limit overall price risk, we will enter into fixed price over-the-counter energy commodity forward and swap contracts that generally have terms of less than 36 months. We may also use options to hedge a portion of our forecasted purchases for up to 36 months in the future.

 

We also incur risks related to the price and availability of propane during periods of much colder-than-normal weather, temporary supply shortages concentrated in certain geographic regions and commodity price distortions between geographic regions. We attempt to mitigate these risks through our transportation activities by utilizing our transport truck and railroad tank car fleet to distribute propane between supply or storage locations and propane distribution locations. The propane we sell to our customers is generally transported from petrochemical processing plants and refineries, pipeline terminals and storage facilities to propane distribution locations or storage facilities by our leased railroad tank cars and our owned or leased highway transport trucks. We use common carrier and owner-operated transport trucks during the peak delivery season in the winter months or to provide service in areas where economic considerations favor their use. We also use a portion of our transport truck fleet during the spring and summer months to transport propane to service our portable tank exchange customers.

 

Industry

 

Natural gas liquids are derived from petroleum products and are sold in compressed or liquefied form. Propane, the predominant natural gas liquid, is typically extracted from natural gas or separated during crude oil refining. Although propane is gaseous at normal pressures, it is compressed into liquid form at relatively low pressures for storage and transportation. Propane is a clean‑burning energy source, recognized for its transportability and ease of use relative to alternative forms of stand-alone energy sources.

 

Based upon industry publications, propane accounts for approximately 3% to 4% of energy consumption in the United States, a level which has remained relatively constant for the past two decades. Propane competes primarily with natural gas, electricity and fuel oil as an energy source principally on the basis of price, availability and portability. Propane serves as an alternative to natural gas in rural and urban areas where natural gas is unavailable or portability of product is required. Propane is generally more expensive than natural gas on an equivalent British Thermal Unit (“BTU”) basis in locations served by natural gas, although propane is often sold in such areas as a standby fuel for use during peak demands and during interruption in natural gas service. The expansion of natural gas into traditional propane markets has historically been inhibited by the capital costs required to expand distribution and pipeline systems. Although the extension of natural gas pipelines tends to displace propane distribution in the neighborhoods affected, we believe that new opportunities for propane sales arise as more geographically remote neighborhoods are developed.

 

Propane has historically been less expensive to use than electricity for space heating, water heating and cooking and competes effectively with electricity in the parts of the country where propane is less expensive than electricity on an equivalent BTU basis. Although propane is similar to fuel oil in application, market demand and price, propane and fuel oil have generally developed their own distinct geographic markets. Because residential furnaces and appliances that burn propane will not operate on fuel oil, a conversion from one fuel to the other requires the installation of new equipment. Residential propane customers will have an incentive to switch to fuel oil only if fuel oil becomes significantly less expensive than propane. Conversely, we may be unable to expand our customer base in areas where fuel oil is widely used, particularly the northeast United States, unless propane becomes significantly less expensive than fuel oil. However, many industrial customers who use propane as a heating fuel have the capacity to switch to other fuels, such as fuel oil, on the basis of availability or minor variations in price.

 

Competition

 

In addition to competing with marketers of other fuels, we compete with other companies engaged in the propane distribution business. Competition within the propane distribution industry stems from two types of participants: the larger, multi‑state marketers, including farmers’ cooperatives, and the smaller, local independent marketers, including rural electric cooperatives. Based on our propane sales volumes in fiscal 2012, we believe that we are the second largest marketer of propane in the United States and the largest national provider of propane by portable tank exchange.

 

Most of our retail propane distribution locations compete with three or more marketers or distributors, primarily on the basis of reliability of service and responsiveness to customer needs, safety and price. Each retail distribution outlet operates in its own competitive environment because propane marketers typically reside in close proximity to their customers to lower the cost of providing service.

 

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Other Activities

 

Our other activities primarily include the following:

 

 

These other activities comprised less than 10% of our total revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010.

 

Employees

 

We have no employees and are managed by our general partner pursuant to our partnership agreement. At August 31, 2012, our general partner had 3,470 full-time employees.

 

Our general partner employed its employees in the following areas:

 

Less than one percent of these employees are represented by an aggregate of five different local labor unions, which are all affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Our general partner has not experienced any significant work stoppages or other labor problems.

 

Governmental Regulation - Environmental and Safety Matters

 

Propane is not currently subject to any price or allocation regulation and has not been defined by any federal or state environment law as an environmentally hazardous substance.

 

In connection with all acquisitions of propane distribution businesses that involve the purchase of real property, we conduct a due diligence investigation to attempt to determine whether any substance other than propane has been sold from, stored on or otherwise come into contact with any such real property prior to its purchase. At a minimum, due diligence includes questioning the sellers, obtaining representations and warranties concerning the sellers' compliance with environmental laws and visual inspections of the real property.

 

With respect to the transportation of propane by truck, we are subject to regulations promulgated under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. These regulations cover the transportation of flammable materials and are administered by the United States Department of Transportation. The National Fire Protection Association Pamphlet No. 58 establishes a national standard for the safe handling and storage of propane. Those rules and procedures have been adopted by us and serve as the industry standard by the states in which we operate.

 

We believe that we are in material compliance with all governmental regulations and industry standards applicable to environmental and safety matters.

 

Trademarks and Service Marks

 

We market our goods and services under various trademarks and trade names, which we own or have a right to use. Those trademarks and trade names include marks or pending marks before the United States Patent and Trademark Office such as Ferrellgas, Ferrell North America, and Ferrellmeter. Our general partner has an option to purchase for a nominal value the trade names “Ferrellgas” and “Ferrell North America” and the trademark “Ferrellmeter” that it contributed to us during 1994, if it is removed as our general partner other than “for cause.” If our general partner ceases to serve as our general partner for any reason other than “for cause,” it will have the option to purchase our other trade names and trademarks from us for fair market value.

 

We believe that the Blue Rhino mark and Blue Rhino’s other trademarks, service marks and patents are an important part of our consistent growth in both tank exchange and outdoor living product categories. Included in the registered and pending trademarks and service marks are the designations Blue Rhino^®, Blue Rhino & Design^®, Rhino Design^™, Grill Gas & Design^®, A Better Way^™, Spark Something Fun^®, America’s Choice for Grill Gas^®, RhinoTUFF^®, Tri-Safe^®, Drop, Swap and Go^™, Rhino Power^™, Uniflame^®, UniGrill^®, Patriot^®, Grill Aficionado^®, Skeetervac^®, Fine Tune^®, Vac & Tac^®, Wavedrawer^®, It’s Your Backyard. Enjoy It More With Skeetervac^®, Less Biting Insects. More Backyard Fun^®, DuraClay^®, Endless Summer^® and Endless Summer Comfort^®. In addition, we have patents issued for a Method for Reconditioning a Propane Gas Tank and an Overflow Protection Valve Assembly, which expire in 2017 and 2018,

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respectively, as well as various other patents and patent applications pending. The protection afforded by our patents furthers our ability to cost-effectively service our customers and to maintain our competitive advantages.

 

Businesses of Other Subsidiaries

 

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is a Delaware corporation formed in 1996 and is our wholly-owned subsidiary. Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. has nominal assets, no employees other than officers and does not conduct any operations, but serves as a co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners. Institutional investors that might otherwise be limited in their ability to invest in debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners because it is a partnership are potentially able to invest in debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners because Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. acts as a co-issuer and co-obligor. Because of its structure and pursuant to the reduced disclosure format, a discussion of the results of operations, liquidity and capital resources of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is not presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note B – Commitment – to Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.’s financial statements for a discussion of the debt securities with respect to which Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is serving as a co-issuer and co-obligor.

 

Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is a Delaware corporation formed in 2003 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Finance Corp. has nominal assets, no employees other than officers and does not conduct any operations, but serves as a co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the operating partnership. Institutional investors that might otherwise be limited in their ability to invest in debt securities of the operating partnership because it is a partnership are potentially able to invest in debt securities of the operating partnership because Ferrellgas Finance Corp. acts as a co-issuer and co-obligor. Because of its structure and pursuant to the reduced disclosure format, a discussion of the results of operations, liquidity and capital resources of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is not presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note B – Commitment – to Ferrellgas Finance Corp.’s financial statements for a discussion of the debt securities with respect to which Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is serving as a co-issuer and co-obligor.

 

We have agreements to transfer, on an ongoing basis, a portion of our trade accounts receivable through Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC (“Ferrellgas Receivables”), a wholly-owned entity that maintains an accounts receivable securitization facility. We retain servicing responsibilities for transferred accounts receivable but have no other continuing involvement with the transferred receivables. The accounts receivable securitization facility is more fully described in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities - Accounts receivable securitization” and in Note F – Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization – to our consolidated financial statements provided herein.

 

We also sell gas grills, patio heaters, fireplace and garden accessories, mosquito traps, and other outdoor products. These products are manufactured by independent third parties in Asia and are sold to mass market retailers in Asia or shipped to the United States, where they are sold under our various trade names. These products are sold through Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, Inc., a taxable corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the operating partnership.

 

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS.

 

Risks Inherent in the Distribution of Propane

 

Weather conditions may reduce the demand for propane; our financial condition is vulnerable to warm winters and poor weather in the grilling season.

 

Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for propane for both heating and agricultural purposes. Many of our customers rely heavily on propane as a heating fuel. Accordingly, our sales volumes of propane are highest during the five-month winter-heating season of November through March and are directly affected by the temperatures during these months. During fiscal 2012, approximately 54% of our propane sales volume was attributable to sales during the winter-heating season. Actual weather conditions can vary substantially from year to year, which may significantly affect our financial performance. Furthermore, variations in weather in one or more regions in which we operate can significantly affect our total propane sales volume and therefore our realized profits. A negative effect on our sales volume may in turn affect our financial position or results of operations. The agricultural demand for propane is also affected by weather, as dry or warm weather during the harvest season may reduce the demand for propane used in some crop drying applications.

 

Our portable tank exchange operations experience higher volumes in the spring and summer, which includes the majority of the grilling season. Sustained periods of poor weather, particularly in the grilling season, can negatively affect our portable tank exchange revenues. In addition, poor weather may reduce consumers’ propensity to purchase and use grills and other propane-fueled appliances thereby reducing demand for portable tank exchange as well as the demand for our outdoor products.

 

Sudden and sharp propane wholesale price increases cannot be passed on to customers with contracted pricing arrangements and these contracted pricing arrangements will adversely affect our profit margins if they are not immediately hedged with an offsetting propane purchase commitment.

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Gross margin from the retail distribution of propane is primarily based on the cents‑per‑gallon difference between the sales price we charge our customers and our costs to purchase and deliver propane to our propane distribution locations. 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. 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. Propane prices tend to correlate primarily with crude oil and natural gas prices. We employ risk management activities that attempt to mitigate risks related to the purchasing, storing, transporting, and selling of propane. However, sudden and sharp propane price increases cannot be passed on to customers with contracted pricing arrangements. Therefore, these commitments expose us to product price risk and reduced profit margins if those transactions are not immediately hedged with an offsetting propane purchase commitment.

 

Sudden and sharp wholesale propane price decreases may result in customers not fulfilling their obligations under contracted pricing arrangements previously entered into with us. The decreased sales volumes of these higher sales price arrangements may adversely affect our profit margins.

 

We may attempt to lock-in a gross margin per gallon on our contracted sales commitments by immediately hedging or entering into a fixed price propane purchase contract. If we were to experience sudden and sharp propane price decreases, our customers may not fulfill their obligation to purchase propane from us at their previously contracted price per gallon and we may not be able to sell the related hedged or fixed price propane at a profitable sales price per gallon in the current pricing environment.

 

Our failure or our counterparties’ failure to perform on obligations under commodity derivative and financial derivative contracts could materially affect our liquidity, cash flows and results of operations.  

 

Volatility in the oil and gas commodities sector for an extended period of time or intense volatility in the near term could impair us or our counterparties’ ability to meet margin calls which could cause us or our counterparties to default on commodity and financial derivative contracts. This could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity or our ability to procure product or procure it at prices reasonable to us.

 

Hurricanes and other natural disasters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can potentially destroy thousands of business structures and homes and, if occurring in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, could disrupt the supply chain for oil and gas products. Disruptions in supply could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Damages and higher prices caused by hurricanes and other natural disasters could have an adverse effect on our financial condition due to the impact on the financial condition of our customers.

 

The propane distribution business is highly competitive, which may negatively affect our sales volumes and/or our results of operations.

 

Our profitability is affected by the competition for customers among all of the participants in the propane distribution business. We compete with a number of large national and regional firms and several thousand small independent firms. Because of the relatively low barriers to entry into the propane market, there is the potential for small independent propane distributors, as well as other companies not previously engaged in propane distribution, to compete with us. Some rural electric cooperatives and fuel oil distributors have expanded their businesses to include propane distribution. As a result, we are subject to the risk of additional competition in the future. Some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than we do. Should a competitor attempt to increase market share by reducing prices, our operating margins and customer base may be negatively impacted. Generally, warmer-than-normal weather and increasing fuel prices further intensifies competition. We believe that our ability to compete effectively depends on our service reliability, our responsiveness to customers, and our ability to maintain competitive propane prices and control our operating expenses.

 

The propane distribution industry is a mature one, which may limit our growth.

 

The propane distribution industry is a mature one. We foresee only limited growth in total national demand for propane in the near future. Year-to-year industry volumes are primarily impacted by fluctuations in temperatures and economic conditions. Our ability to grow our sales volumes within the propane distribution industry is primarily dependent upon our ability to acquire other propane distributors, to integrate those acquisitions into our operations, and upon the success of our marketing efforts to acquire new customers. If we are unable to compete effectively in the propane distribution business, we may lose existing customers or fail to acquire new customers.

 

The propane distribution business faces competition from other energy sources, which may reduce the existing demand for our propane.

 

Propane competes with other sources of energy, some of which can be less costly for equivalent energy value. We compete for customers against suppliers of electricity, natural gas and fuel oil. Electricity is a major competitor of propane, but propane has historically enjoyed a competitive price advantage over electricity. Except for some industrial and commercial applications, propane is generally not

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competitive with natural gas in areas where natural gas pipelines already exist, because such pipelines generally make it possible for the delivered cost of natural gas to be less expensive than the bulk delivery of propane. The expansion of natural gas into traditional propane markets has historically been inhibited by the capital cost required to expand distribution and pipeline systems, however, the gradual expansion of the nation’s natural gas distribution systems has resulted in the availability of natural gas in areas that were previously dependent upon propane. Although propane is similar to fuel oil in some applications and market demand, propane and fuel oil compete to a lesser extent primarily because of the cost of converting from one to the other and due to the fact that both fuel oil and propane have generally developed their own distinct geographic markets. We cannot predict the effect that the development of alternative energy sources might have on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Energy efficiency and technology advances may affect demand for propane; increases in propane prices may cause our residential customers to increase their conservation efforts.

 

The national trend toward increased conservation and technological advances, including installation of improved insulation and the development of more efficient furnaces and other heating devices, has reduced the demand for propane in our industry. We cannot predict the effect of future conservation measures or the effect that any technological advances in heating, conservation, energy generation or other devices might have on our operations. As the price of propane increases, some of our customers tend to increase their conservation efforts and thereby decrease their consumption of propane.

 

The continuing world-wide financial crisis may cause disruptions in the capital and credit markets that may adversely affect our business, including the availability and cost of debt and equity issuances for liquidity requirements, our ability to meet long-term commitments and our ability to hedge effectively; each could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

 

We rely on our ability to access the capital and credit markets at rates and terms reasonable to us. If the world-wide financial crisis were to cause disruptions in the capital and credit markets, our ability to access capital and credit markets at rates and terms reasonable to us may be significantly impaired. This could limit our ability to access capital or credit markets for working capital needs, risk management activities and long-term debt maturities, or could force us to access capital and credit markets at rates or terms normally considered to be unreasonable or force us to take other aggressive actions including the suspension of our quarterly distribution.

 

Current economic and political conditions may harm the energy business disproportionately to other industries.

 

Deteriorating regional and global economic conditions and the effects of ongoing military actions may cause significant disruptions to commerce throughout the world. If those disruptions occur in areas of the world which are tied to the energy industry, such as the Middle East, it is most likely that our industry will be either affected first or affected to a greater extent than other industries. These conditions or disruptions may:

 

 

A significant increase in motor fuel prices may adversely affect our profits.

 

Motor fuel is a significant operating expense for us in connection with the delivery of propane to our customers. Because we do not attempt to hedge motor fuel price risk, a significant increase in motor fuel prices will result in increased transportation costs to us. The price and supply of motor fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events we cannot control, such as geopolitical developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and regions, regional production patterns and weather concerns. As a result, any increases in these prices may adversely affect our profitability and competitiveness. 

 

The revenues received from our portable tank exchange are concentrated with a limited number of retailers under non-exclusive arrangements that may be terminated at will.

 

The propane gallons sales that we generate from our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange are concentrated with a limited number of retailers. If one or more of these retailers were to materially reduce or terminate its business with us, the results from our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange operations may decline. For fiscal 2012, three retailers represented approximately 43% of our portable tank exchange’s net revenues. None of our significant retail accounts associated with our portable tank exchange operations are contractually bound to offer portable tank exchange service or products. Therefore, retailers can discontinue our delivery of propane to them by portable tank exchange service, or sales of our propane related products, at any time and accept a competitor’s delivery of propane by portable tank exchange, or its related propane products or none at all. Continued relations with a retailer depend upon various factors, including price, customer service, consumer demand and competition. In addition, most of our significant retailers have multiple vendor policies and may seek to accept a competitor’s delivery of propane by portable tank exchange, or accept products competitive with our propane related products, at new or existing locations of these significant retailers. If any significant retailer materially reduces, terminates

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or requires price reductions or other adverse modifications in our selling terms, our results from our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange operations may decline.

 

If the independently-owned distributors that some of our customers rely upon for the delivery of propane by portable tank exchange do not perform up to the expectations of such customers, if we encounter difficulties in managing the operations of these distributors or if we or these distributors are not able to manage growth effectively, our relationships with our customers may be adversely impacted and our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange may decline.

 

We rely in part on independently-owned distributors to deliver our propane for a retailer’s portable tank exchange service. Accordingly, our success depends on our ability to maintain and manage distributor relationships and operations and on the distributors’ ability to set up and adequately service accounts. We exercise only limited influence over the resources that the independently-owned distributors devote to the delivery of propane by portable tank exchange. National retailers impose demanding service requirements on us, and we could experience a loss of consumer or retailer goodwill if our distributors do not adhere to our quality control and service guidelines or fail to ensure the timely delivery of an adequate supply of propane by portable tank exchange at retail locations. The poor performance of a single distributor to a national retailer could jeopardize our entire relationship with that retailer and cause our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange to that particular retailer to decline. In addition, the number of retail locations accepting delivery of our propane by portable tank exchange and, subsequently, the retailer’s corresponding sales have historically grown significantly along with the creation of our distributor network. Accordingly, our distributors must be able to adequately service an increasing number of retail accounts. If we or our independent distributors fail to manage growth effectively, our financial results from our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange may decline.

 

Potential retail partners may not be able to obtain necessary permits or may be substantially delayed in obtaining necessary permits, which may adversely impact our ability to increase our delivery of propane by portable tank exchange to new retail locations.

 

Local ordinances, which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, generally require retailers to obtain permits to store and sell propane tanks. These ordinances influence retailers’ acceptance of propane by portable tank exchange, distribution methods, propane tank packaging and storage. The ability and time required to obtain permits varies by jurisdiction. Delays in obtaining permits have from time to time significantly delayed the installation of new retail locations. Some jurisdictions have refused to issue the necessary permits, which has prevented some installations. Some jurisdictions may also impose additional restrictions on our ability to market and our distributors’ ability to transport propane tanks or otherwise maintain its portable tank exchange services.

 

Risks Inherent to Our Business

 

Our substantial debt and other financial obligations could impair our financial condition and our ability to fulfill our obligations.

 

We have substantial indebtedness and other financial obligations. As of July 31, 2012:

 

 

 

 

 

We have long and short-term payment obligations with maturity dates ranging from fiscal 2013 to 2021 that bear interest at rates ranging from 6.5% to 9.125%. As of July 31, 2012, the long-term obligations do not contain any sinking fund provisions but do require the following aggregate principal payments, without premium, during the following fiscal years:

 

 

Our secured credit facility provides $400.0 million in revolving credit for loans and has a $200.0 million sublimit for letters of credit. The obligations under this credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain

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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, L.P. and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership. The secured revolving credit facility will mature in September 2016.  

 

All of the indebtedness and other obligations described above are obligations of the operating partnership except for $182.0 million of senior debt due 2020 issued by Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.

 

Subject to the restrictions governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness and other financial obligations and the indenture governing Ferrellgas Partners’ outstanding senior notes due 2020, we may incur significant additional indebtedness and other financial obligations, which may be secured and/or structurally senior to any debt securities we may issue.

 

Our substantial indebtedness and other financial obligations could have important consequences to our security holders. For example, it could:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may be unable to refinance their indebtedness or pay that indebtedness if it becomes due earlier than scheduled.

 

If Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership is unable to meet their debt service obligations or other financial obligations, they could be forced to:

 

 

They may then be unable to obtain such financing or capital or sell their assets on satisfactory terms, if at all. Their failure to make payments, whether after acceleration of the due date of that indebtedness or otherwise, or our failure to refinance the indebtedness would impair their operating capacity and cash flows.

 

Restrictive covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness and other financial obligations may reduce our operating flexibility.

 

The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness and other financial obligations contain, and any indenture that will govern debt securities issued by Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may contain, various covenants that limit our ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries of ours to, among other things:

 

 

 

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Some of the agreements governing our indebtedness and other financial obligations also require the maintenance of specified financial ratios and the satisfaction of other financial conditions. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and conditions can be affected by unexpected downturns in business operations beyond our control, such as significantly warmer than normal weather, a volatile energy commodity cost environment or an economic downturn. Accordingly, we may be unable to meet these ratios and conditions. This failure could impair our operating capacity and cash flows and could restrict our ability to incur debt or to make cash distributions, even if sufficient funds were available.

 

Our breach of any of these covenants or the operating partnership’s failure to meet any of these ratios or conditions could result in a default under the terms of the relevant indebtedness, which could cause such indebtedness or other financial obligations, and by reason of cross-default provisions, any of Ferrellgas Partners’ or the operating partnership’s other outstanding notes or future debt securities, to become immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders could initiate a bankruptcy proceeding or liquidation proceeding or proceed against the collateral, if any. If the lenders of the operating partnership’s indebtedness or other financial obligations accelerate the repayment of borrowings or other amounts owed, we may not have sufficient assets to repay our indebtedness or other financial obligations, including our outstanding notes and any future debt securities.

 

Our results of operations and our ability to make distributions or pay interest or principal on debt securities could be negatively impacted by price and inventory risk and management of these risks.

 

The amount of gross profit we make depends significantly on the excess of the sales price over our costs to purchase and distribute propane. Consequently, our profitability is sensitive to changes in energy prices, in particular, changes in wholesale propane prices. Propane is a commodity whose market price can fluctuate significantly based on changes in supply, changes in other energy prices or other market conditions. We have no control over these market conditions. In general, product supply contracts permit suppliers to charge posted prices plus transportation costs at the time of delivery or the current prices established at major delivery points. Any increase in the price of product could reduce our gross profit because we may not be able to immediately pass rapid increases in such costs, or costs to distribute product, on to our customers.

 

While we generally attempt to minimize our inventory risk by purchasing product on a short-term basis, we may purchase and store propane or other natural gas liquids depending on inventory and price outlooks. We may purchase large volumes of propane at the then current market price during periods of low demand and low prices, which generally occurs during the summer months. The market price for propane could fall below the price at which we made the purchases, which would adversely affect our profits or cause sales from that inventory to be unprofitable. A portion of our inventory is purchased under supply contracts that typically have a one-year term and at a price that fluctuates based on the prevailing market prices. Our contracts with our independent portable tank exchange distributors provide for a portion of our payment to the distributor to be based upon a price that fluctuates based on the prevailing propane market prices. To

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limit our overall price risk, we may purchase and store physical product and enter into fixed price over-the-counter energy commodity forward contracts, swaps and options that have terms of up to 36 months. This strategy may not be effective in limiting our price risk if, for example, weather conditions significantly reduce customer demand, or market or weather conditions prevent the delivery of physical product during periods of peak demand, resulting in excess physical product after the end of the winter heating season and the expiration of related forward or option contracts.

 

Some of our sales are pursuant to commitments at contracted price agreements. To manage these commitments, we may purchase and store physical product and/or enter into fixed price-over-the-counter energy commodity forward contracts, swaps and options. We may enter into these agreements at volume levels that we believe are necessary to mitigate the price risk related to our anticipated sales volumes under the commitments. If the price of propane declines and our customers purchase less propane than we have purchased from our suppliers, we could incur losses when we sell the excess volumes. If the price of propane increases and our customers purchase more propane than we have purchased from our suppliers, we could incur losses when we are required to purchase additional propane to fulfill our customers’ orders. The risk management of our inventory and contracts for the future purchase of product could impair our profitability if the price of product changes in ways we do not anticipate.

 

The Board of Directors of our general partner has adopted a commodity risk management policy which places specified restrictions on all of our commodity risk management activities such as limits on the types of commodities, loss limits, time limits on contracts and limitations on our ability to enter into derivative contracts. The policy also requires the establishment of a risk management committee that includes senior executives. This committee is responsible for monitoring commodity risk management activities, establishing and maintaining timely reporting and establishing and monitoring specific limits on the various commodity risk management activities. These limits may be waived on a case-by-case basis by a majority vote of the risk management committee and/or Board of Directors, depending on the specific limit being waived. From time to time, for valid business reasons based on the facts and circumstances, authorization has been granted to allow specific commodity risk management positions to exceed established limits. If we sustain material losses from our risk management activities due to our failure to anticipate future events, a failure of the policy, incorrect waivers or otherwise, our ability to make distributions to our unitholders or pay interest or principal of any debt securities may be negatively impacted as a result of such loss.

 

We are dependent on our principal suppliers, which increases the risks from an interruption in supply and transportation.

 

Through our supply procurement activities, we purchased approximately 56.5% of our propane from six suppliers during fiscal 2012. In addition, during extended periods of colder-than-normal weather, suppliers may temporarily run out of propane necessitating the transportation of propane by truck, rail car or other means from other areas. If supplies from these sources were interrupted or difficulties in alternative transportation were to arise, the cost of procuring replacement supplies and transporting those supplies from alternative locations might be materially higher and, at least on a short-term basis, our margins could be reduced.

 

The availability of cash from our credit facility may be impacted by many factors beyond our control.

 

We typically borrow on the operating partnership’s credit facility or sell accounts receivable under its accounts receivable securitization facility to fund our working capital requirements. We may also borrow on the operating partnership’s credit facility to fund debt service payments, distributions to our unitholders, acquisition and capital expenditures. We purchase product from suppliers and make payments with terms that are typically within five to ten days of delivery. We believe that the availability of cash from the operating partnership’s credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility will be sufficient to meet our future working capital needs. However, if we were to experience an unexpected significant increase in working capital requirements or have insufficient funds to fund distributions, this need could exceed our immediately available resources. Events that could cause increases in working capital borrowings or letter of credit requirements may include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As is typical in our industry, our retail customers do not pay upon receipt, but generally pay between 30 and 60 days after delivery. During the winter heating season, we experience significant increases in accounts receivable and inventory levels and thus a significant decline in working capital availability. Although we have the ability to fund working capital with borrowings from the operating

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partnership’s credit facility and sales of accounts receivable under its accounts receivable securitization facility, we cannot predict the effect that increases in propane prices and colder-than-normal winter weather may have on future working capital availability.

 

We may not be successful in making acquisitions and any acquisitions we make may not result in our anticipated results; in either case, this would potentially limit our growth, limit our ability to compete and impair our results of operations.

 

We have historically expanded our business through acquisitions. We regularly consider and evaluate opportunities to acquire local, regional and national propane distributors. We may choose to finance these acquisitions through internal cash flow, external borrowings or the issuance of additional common units or other securities. We have substantial competition for acquisitions of propane companies. Although we believe there are numerous potential large and small acquisition candidates in our industry, there can be no assurance that:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are subject to operating and litigation risks, which may not be covered by insurance.

 

Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to the handling, storing and delivering of combustible liquids such as propane. As a result, we have been, and are likely to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We will maintain insurance policies with insurers in such amounts and with such coverages and deductibles as we believe are reasonable and prudent. However, we cannot guarantee that such insurance will be adequate to protect us from all material expenses related to potential future claims for personal injury and property damage or that such levels of insurance will be available in the future at economical prices.

 

We depend on particular management information systems to effectively manage all aspects of our delivery of propane.

 

We depend on our management information systems to process orders, manage inventory and accounts receivable collections, maintain distributor and customer information, maintain cost-efficient operations and assist in delivering propane on a timely basis. In addition, our staff of management information systems professionals relies heavily on the support of several key personnel and vendors. Any disruption in the operation of those management information systems, loss of employees knowledgeable about such systems, termination of our relationship with one or more of these key vendors or failure to continue to modify such systems effectively as our business expands could negatively affect our business.

 

Risks Inherent to an Investment in Our Debt Securities

 

Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership are required to distribute all of their available cash to their equity holders and Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership are not required to accumulate cash for the purpose of meeting their future obligations to holders of their debt securities, which may limit the cash available to service those debt securities.

 

Subject to the limitations on restricted payments contained in the indenture that governs Ferrellgas Partners’ outstanding notes, the instruments governing the outstanding indebtedness of the operating partnership and any applicable indenture that will govern any debt securities Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may issue, the partnership agreements of both Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership require us to distribute all of our available cash each fiscal quarter to our limited partners and our general partner and do not require us to accumulate cash for the purpose of meeting obligations to holders of any debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts, less cash disbursements and adjustments for net changes in reserves. As a result of these distribution requirements, we do not expect either Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership to accumulate significant amounts of cash. Depending on the timing and amount of our cash distributions and because we are not required to accumulate cash for the purpose of meeting obligations to holders of any debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership, such distributions could significantly reduce the cash available to us in subsequent periods to make payments on any debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership.

 

Debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries.

 

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Debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future claims of creditors of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries, including:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This subordination is due to these creditors’ priority as to the assets of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries over Ferrellgas Partners’ claims as an equity holder in the operating partnership and, thereby, indirectly, the claims of holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ debt securities. As a result, upon any distribution to these creditors in a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding relating to Ferrellgas Partners or its property, the operating partnership’s creditors will be entitled to be paid in full before any payment may be made with respect to Ferrellgas Partners’ debt securities. Thereafter, the holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ debt securities will participate with its trade creditors and all other holders of its indebtedness in the assets remaining, if any. In any of these cases, Ferrellgas Partners may have insufficient funds to pay all of its creditors, and holders of its debt securities may therefore receive less, ratably, than creditors of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries. As of July 31, 2012, the operating partnership had approximately $1,047.3 million of outstanding indebtedness and other liabilities to which any of the debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners will effectively rank junior.

 

All payments on any subordinated debt securities that we may issue will be subordinated to the payments of any amounts due on any senior indebtedness that we may have issued or incurred.

 

The right of the holders of subordinated debt securities to receive payment of any amounts due to them, whether interest, premium or principal, will be subordinated to the right of all of the holders of our senior indebtedness, as such term will be defined in the applicable subordinated debt indenture, to receive payments of all amounts due to them. If an event of default on any of our senior indebtedness occurs, then until such event of default has been cured, we may be unable to make payments of any amounts due to the holders of our subordinated debt securities. Accordingly, in the event of insolvency, creditors who are holders of our senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of our subordinated debt securities.

 

Debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners are expected to be non-recourse to the operating partnership, which will limit remedies of the holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ debt securities.

 

Ferrellgas Partners’ obligations under any debt securities are expected to be non-recourse to the operating partnership. Therefore, if Ferrellgas Partners should fail to pay the interest or principal on the notes or breach any of its other obligations under its debt securities or any applicable indenture, holders of debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners will not be able to obtain any such payments or obtain any other remedy from the operating partnership or its subsidiaries. The operating partnership and its subsidiaries will not be liable for any of Ferrellgas Partners’ obligations under its debt securities or the applicable indenture.

 

Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may be unable to repurchase debt securities upon a change of control; it may be difficult to determine if a change of control has occurred.

 

Upon the occurrence of “change of control” events as may be described from time to time in our filings with the SEC and related to the issuance by Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership of debt securities, the applicable issuer or a third party may be required to make a change of control offer to repurchase those debt securities at a premium to their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The applicable issuer may not have the financial resources to purchase its debt securities in that circumstance, particularly if a change of control event triggers a similar repurchase requirement for, or results in the acceleration of, other indebtedness. The indenture governing Ferrellgas Partners’ outstanding notes contains such a repurchase requirement. Some of the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness currently provide that specified change of control events will result in the acceleration of the indebtedness under those agreements. Future debt agreements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may also contain similar provisions. The obligation to repay any accelerated indebtedness of the operating partnership will be structurally senior to Ferrellgas Partners’ obligations to repurchase its debt securities upon a change of control. In addition, future debt agreements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may contain other restrictions on the ability of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership to repurchase its debt securities upon a change of control. These restrictions could prevent the applicable issuer from satisfying its obligations to purchase its debt securities unless it is able to refinance or obtain waivers under any indebtedness of Ferrellgas Partners or of the operating partnership containing these restrictions. The applicable issuer’s failure to make or consummate a change of control repurchase offer or pay the change of control purchase price when due may give the trustee and the holders of the debt securities particular rights as may be described from time to time in our filings with the SEC.

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In addition, one of the events that may constitute a change of control is a sale of all or substantially all of the applicable issuer’s assets. The meaning of “substantially all” varies according to the facts and circumstances of the subject transaction and has no clearly established meaning under New York law, which is the law that will likely govern any indenture for the debt securities. This ambiguity as to when a sale of substantially all of the applicable issuer’s assets has occurred may make it difficult for holders of debt securities to determine whether the applicable issuer has properly identified, or failed to identify, a change of control.

 

There may be no active trading market for our debt securities, which may limit a holder’s ability to sell our debt securities.

 

We do not intend to list the debt securities we may issue from time to time on any securities exchange or to seek approval for quotations through any automated quotation system. An established market for the debt securities may not develop, or if one does develop, it may not be maintained. Although underwriters may advise us that they intend to make a market in the debt securities, they are not expected to be obligated to do so and may discontinue such market making activity at any time without notice. In addition, market-making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. For these reasons, we cannot assure a debt holder that:

 

 

If a public market for the debt securities did develop, the debt securities could trade at prices that may be higher or lower than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the market for similar debt securities and our financial performance. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt, such as our debt securities, has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial fluctuations in the prices of these securities.

 

Risks Inherent to an Investment in Ferrellgas Partners’ Equity

 

Ferrellgas Partners may sell additional limited partner interests, diluting existing interests of unitholders.

 

The partnership agreement of Ferrellgas Partners generally allows Ferrellgas Partners to issue additional limited partner interests and other equity securities. When Ferrellgas Partners issues additional equity securities, a unitholder’s proportionate partnership interest will decrease. Such an issuance could negatively affect the amount of cash distributed to unitholders and the market price of common units. The issuance of additional common units will also diminish the relative voting strength of the previously outstanding common units.

 

Cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate with our performance and other external factors.

 

Although we are required to distribute all of our “available cash,” we cannot guarantee the amounts of available cash that will be distributed to the holders of our equity securities. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts, less cash disbursements and adjustments for net changes in reserves. The actual amounts of available cash will depend upon numerous factors, including:

 

 

Cash distributions are dependent primarily on cash flow, including from reserves and, subject to limitations, working capital borrowings. Cash distributions are not dependent on profitability, which is affected by non-cash items. Therefore, cash distributions might be made during periods when we record losses and might not be made during periods when we record profits.

 

Our general partner has broad discretion to determine the amount of “available cash” for distribution to holders of our equity securities through the establishment and maintenance of cash reserves, thereby potentially lessening and limiting the amount of “available cash” eligible for distribution.

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Our general partner determines the timing and amount of our distributions and has broad discretion in determining the amount of funds that will be recognized as “available cash.” Part of this discretion comes from the ability of our general partner to establish and make additions to our reserves. Decisions as to amounts to be placed in or released from reserves have a direct impact on the amount of available cash for distributions because increases and decreases in reserves are taken into account in computing available cash. Funds within or added to our reserves are not considered to be “available cash” and are therefore not required to be distributed. Each fiscal quarter, our general partner may, in its reasonable discretion, determine the amounts to be placed in or released from reserves, subject to restrictions on the purposes of the reserves. Reserves may be made, increased or decreased for any proper purpose, including, but not limited to, reserves:

 

 

 

 

The decision by our general partner to establish, increase or decrease our reserves may limit the amount of cash available for distribution to holders of our equity securities. Holders of our equity securities will not receive payments required by such securities unless we are able to first satisfy our own obligations and the establishment of any reserves. See the first risk factor under “Risks Arising from Our Partnership Structure and Relationship with Our General Partner.”

 

The debt agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership may limit their ability to make distributions to holders of their equity securities.

 

The debt agreements governing Ferrellgas Partners’ and the operating partnership’s outstanding indebtedness contain restrictive covenants that may limit or prohibit distributions to holders of their equity securities under various circumstances. Ferrellgas Partners’ existing indenture generally prohibits it from:

 

 

 

 

See the first risk factor under “Risks Arising from Our Partnership Structure and Relationship with Our General Partner” for a description of the restrictions on the operating partnership’s ability to distribute cash to Ferrellgas Partners. Any indenture applicable to future issuances of debt securities by Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership may contain restrictions that are the same as or similar to those in their existing debt agreements.

 

Persons owning 20% or more of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units cannot vote. This limitation does not apply to common units owned by Ferrell Companies, our general partner and its affiliates.

 

All common units held by a person that owns 20% or more of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units cannot be voted. This provision may:

 

 

 

This limitation does not apply to our general partner and its affiliates. Ferrell Companies, the parent of our general partner, beneficially owns all of the outstanding capital stock of our general partner in addition to approximately 27% of our common units.

 

Risks Arising from Our Partnership Structure and Relationship with Our General Partner

 

Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity and has no material operations or assets. Accordingly, Ferrellgas Partners is dependent on distributions from the operating partnership to service its obligations. These distributions are not guaranteed and may be restricted.

 

Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity for our subsidiaries, including the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners has no material operations and only limited assets. Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is Ferrellgas Partners’ wholly-owned finance subsidiary, serves as a

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co-obligor on any of its debt securities, conducts no business and has nominal assets. Accordingly, Ferrellgas Partners is dependent on cash distributions from the operating partnership and its subsidiaries to service obligations of Ferrellgas Partners. The operating partnership is required to distribute all of its available cash each fiscal quarter, less the amount of cash reserves that our general partner determines is necessary or appropriate in its reasonable discretion to provide for the proper conduct of our business, to provide funds for distributions over the next four fiscal quarters or to comply with applicable law or with any of our debt or other agreements. This discretion may limit the amount of available cash the operating partnership may distribute to Ferrellgas Partners each fiscal quarter. Holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ securities will not receive payments required by those securities unless the operating partnership is able to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners after the operating partnership first satisfies its obligations under the terms of its own borrowing arrangements and reserves any necessary amounts to meet its own financial obligations.

 

In addition, the various agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness and other financing transactions permit quarterly distributions only so long as each distribution does not exceed a specified amount, the operating partnership meets a specified financial ratio and no default exists or would result from such distribution. Those agreements include the indentures governing the operating partnership’s existing notes, credit facility and an accounts receivable securitization facility. Each of these agreements contains various negative and affirmative covenants applicable to the operating partnership and some of these agreements require the operating partnership to maintain specified financial ratios. If the operating partnership violates any of these covenants or requirements, a default may result and distributions would be limited. These covenants limit the operating partnership’s ability to, among other things:

 

 

Unitholders have limits on their voting rights; our general partner manages and operates us, thereby generally precluding the participation of our unitholders in operational decisions.

 

Our general partner manages and operates us. Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. Amendments to the agreement of limited partnership of Ferrellgas Partners may be proposed only by or with the consent of our general partner. Proposed amendments must generally be approved by holders of at least a majority of our outstanding common units.

 

Unitholders will have no right to elect our general partner, or any directors of our general partner on an annual or other continuing basis, nor will any proxies be received for such voting. Our general partner may not be removed except pursuant to:

 

 

Because Ferrell Companies is the parent of our general partner and beneficially owns approximately 27% of our outstanding common units and James E. Ferrell, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner, indirectly owns approximately 6% of our outstanding common units, amendments to the agreement of limited partnership of Ferrellgas Partners or the removal of our general partner are unlikely if neither Ferrell Companies nor Mr. Ferrell consent to such action.

 

Our general partner has a limited call right with respect to the limited partner interests of Ferrellgas Partners.

 

If at any time less than 20% of the then-issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any class of Ferrellgas Partners are held by persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, our general partner has the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of such class held by such unaffiliated persons at a price generally equal to the then-current market price of limited partner interests of such class. As a consequence, a unitholder may be required to sell its common units at a time when the unitholder may not desire to sell them or at a price that is less than the price desired to be received upon such sale.

 

Unitholders may not have limited liability in specified circumstances and may be liable for the return of distributions.

 

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The limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some states. If it were determined that we had been conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership statute, or that the right, or the exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group, to:

 

 

In addition, under some circumstances a unitholder may be liable to us for the amount of a distribution for a period of three years from the date of the distribution. Unitholders will not be liable for assessments in addition to their initial capital investment in our common units. Under Delaware General Corporate Law, we may not make a distribution to our unitholders if the distribution causes all our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which recourse is limited to specific property are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted. Delaware law provides that a limited partner who receives such a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated the Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount for three years from the distribution date. Under Delaware law, an assignee that becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership. However, such an assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to that assignee at the time such assignee became a limited partner if the liabilities could not be determined from the partnership agreements.

 

Our general partner’s liability to us and our unitholders may be limited.

 

The partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership contain language limiting the liability of our general partner to us and to our unitholders. For example, those partnership agreements provide that:

 

 

 

 

The modifications of state law standards of fiduciary duty contained in our partnership agreements may significantly limit the ability of unitholders to successfully challenge the actions of our general partner as being a breach of what would otherwise have been a fiduciary duty. These standards include the highest duties of good faith, fairness and loyalty to the limited partners. Such a duty of loyalty would generally prohibit a general partner of a Delaware limited partnership from taking any action or engaging in any transaction for which it has a conflict of interest. Under our partnership agreements, our general partner may exercise its broad discretion and authority in our management and the conduct of our operations as long as our general partner’s actions are in our best interest.

 

Our general partner and its affiliates may have conflicts with us.

 

The directors and officers of our general partner and its affiliates have fiduciary duties to manage itself in a manner that is beneficial to its stockholder. At the same time, our general partner has fiduciary duties to manage us in a manner that is beneficial to us and our unitholders. Therefore, our general partner’s duties to us may conflict with the duties of its officers and directors to its stockholder.

 

Matters in which, and reasons that, such conflicts of interest may arise include:

 

 

 

 

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See “Conflicts of Interest” and “Fiduciary Responsibilities” below.

 

Ferrell Companies may transfer the ownership of our general partner which could cause a change of our management and affect the decisions made by our general partner regarding resolutions of conflicts of interest.

 

Ferrell Companies, the owner of our general partner, may transfer the capital stock of our general partner without the consent of our unitholders. In such an instance, our general partner will remain bound by our partnership agreements. If, however, through share ownership or otherwise, persons not now affiliated with our general partner were to acquire its general partner interest in us or effective control of our general partner, our management and resolutions of conflicts of interest, such as those described above, could change substantially.

 

Our general partner may voluntarily withdraw or sell its general partner interest.

 

Our general partner may withdraw as the general partner of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership without the approval of our unitholders. Our general partner may also sell its general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership without the approval of our unitholders. Any such withdrawal or sale could have a material adverse effect on us and could substantially change the management and resolutions of conflicts of interest, as described above.

 

Our general partner can protect itself against dilution.

 

Whenever we issue equity securities to any person other than our general partner and its affiliates, our general partner has the right to purchase additional limited partner interests on the same terms. This allows our general partner to maintain its partnership interest in us.

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No other unitholder has a similar right. Therefore, only our general partner may protect itself against dilution caused by our issuance of additional equity securities.

 

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.

 

The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in us depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We believe that, under current law, we have been and will continue to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. One of the requirements for such classification is that at least 90% of our gross income for each taxable year has been and will be “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Whether we will continue to be classified as a partnership in part depends on our ability to meet this qualifying income test in the future.

 

If we were classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay tax on our income at corporate rates, currently 35% at the federal level, and we would probably pay additional state income taxes as well. In addition, distributions would generally be taxable to the recipient as corporate dividends and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to our unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, the cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced. Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction in the value of our common units.

 

A change in current law or a change in our business could cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. Our partnership agreements provide that if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, provisions of our partnership agreements will be subject to change. These changes would include a decrease in the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to reflect the impact of such law on us.

 

A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we take may reduce the market value of our common units and the costs of any contest will be borne by us and therefore indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner.

 

The IRS may adopt positions that differ from those expressed herein or from the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings in an effort to sustain some or all of the positions we take, and some or all of these positions ultimately may not be sustained. Any contest with the IRS may materially reduce the market value of our common units and the prices at which our common units trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne by us and therefore indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner.

 

Unitholders may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if unitholders do not receive any cash distributions from us.

 

A unitholder will be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on its share of our taxable income, even if it does not receive cash distributions from us. A unitholder may not receive cash distributions equal to its share of our taxable income or even the tax liability that results from that income. Further, a unitholder may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash it receives upon the sale of its units.

 

The ratio of taxable income to cash distributions could be higher or lower than our estimates, which could result in a material reduction of the market value of our common units.

 

We estimate that a person who acquires common units in the 2012 calendar year and owns those common units through the record dates for all cash distributions payable for all periods within the 2012 calendar year will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income that will be less than 10% of the cumulative cash distributed to such person for those periods. The taxable income allocable to a unitholder for subsequent periods may constitute an increasing percentage of distributable cash. These estimates are based on several assumptions and estimates that are subject to factors beyond our control. Accordingly, the actual percentage of distributions that will constitute taxable income could be higher or lower and any differences could result in a material reduction in the market value of our common units.

 

There are limits on the deductibility of losses.

 

In the case of unitholders subject to the passive loss rules (generally, individuals, closely held corporations and regulated investment companies), any losses generated by us will only be available to offset our future income and cannot be used to offset income from other activities, including passive activities or investments. Unused losses may be deducted when the unitholder disposes of its entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. A unitholder’s share of our net passive income may be offset by unused losses carried over from prior years, but not by losses from other passive activities, including losses from other publicly-traded partnerships.

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Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be different than expected.

 

If a unitholder sells their common units, the unitholder will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and its tax basis in those common units. Prior distributions in excess of the total net taxable income the unitholder was allocated for a common unit, which decreased its tax basis in that common unit, will, in effect, become taxable income to the unitholder if the common unit is sold at a price greater than its tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than its original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing a gain, will likely be ordinary income to that unitholder. Should the IRS successfully contest some positions we take, a selling unitholder could recognize more gain on the sale of units than would be the case under those positions, without the benefit of decreased income in prior years. In addition, if a unitholder sells its units, the unitholder may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash that unitholder receives from the sale.

 

Tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies, and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may result in additional tax liability or reporting requirements for them.

 

An investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts, regulated investment companies, generally known as mutual funds, and non-U.S. persons, raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and thus will be taxable to them. Net income from a “qualified publicly-traded partnership” is qualifying income for a regulated investment company, or mutual fund. However, no more than 25% of the value of a regulated investment company’s total assets may be invested in the securities of one or more qualified publicly-traded partnerships. We expect to be treated as a qualified publicly-traded partnership. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes, at the highest effective tax rate applicable to individuals, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file federal income tax returns and generally pay tax on their share of our taxable income.

 

Certain information relating to a unitholder’s investment may be subject to special IRS reporting requirements.

 

Treasury regulations require taxpayers to report particular information on Form 8886 if they participate in a “reportable transaction.” Unitholders may be required to file this form with the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors. The IRS may impose significant penalties on a unitholder for failure to comply with these disclosure requirements. Disclosure and information maintenance obligations are also imposed on “material advisors” that organize, manage or sell interests in reportable transactions, which may require us or our material advisors to maintain and disclose to the IRS certain information relating to unitholders.

 

An audit of us may result in an adjustment or an audit of a unitholder’s own tax return.

 

We may be audited by the IRS and tax adjustments could be made. The rights of a unitholder owning less than a 1% interest in us to participate in the income tax audit process are very limited. Further, any adjustments in our tax returns will lead to adjustments in the unitholders’ tax returns and may lead to audits of unitholders’ tax returns and adjustments of items unrelated to us. A unitholder will bear the cost of any expenses incurred in connection with an examination of its personal tax return.

 

Reporting of partnership tax information is complicated and subject to audits; we cannot guarantee conformity to IRS requirements.

 

We will furnish each unitholder with a Schedule K-1 that sets forth that unitholder’s allocable share of income, gains, losses and deductions. In preparing these schedules, we will use various accounting and reporting conventions and adopt various depreciation and amortization methods. We cannot guarantee that these schedules will yield a result that conforms to statutory or regulatory requirements or to administrative pronouncements of the IRS. If any of the information on these schedules is successfully challenged by the IRS, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deduction previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

 

Unitholders may lose tax benefits as a result of nonconforming depreciation conventions.

 

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of our common units to a purchaser of common units of the same class must be maintained. To maintain uniformity and for other reasons, we have adopted certain depreciation and amortization conventions which we believe conform to Treasury Regulations under 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could reduce the amount of tax benefits available to our unitholders. A successful challenge could also affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to a unitholder’s tax returns.

 

As a result of investing in our common units, a unitholder will likely be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in jurisdictions where it does not live.

 

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In addition to federal income taxes, unitholders will likely be subject to other taxes, such as state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property. A unitholder will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. We currently conduct business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It is a unitholder’s responsibility to file all required United States federal, state and local tax returns.

 

States may subject partnerships to entity-level taxation in the future; thereby decreasing the amount of cash available to us for distributions and potentially causing a decrease in our distribution levels, including a decrease in the minimum quarterly distribution.

 

Several states have enacted or are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. If additional states were to impose a tax upon us as an entity, the cash available for distribution to unitholders would be reduced. The partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership each provide that if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects one or both partnerships to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects one or both partnerships to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, provisions of one or both partnership agreements will be subject to change. These changes would include a decrease in the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to reflect the impact of those taxes.

 

Unitholders may have negative tax consequences if we default on our debt or sell assets.

 

If we default on any of our debt, the lenders will have the right to sue us for non-payment. That action could cause an investment loss and negative tax consequences for our unitholders through the realization of taxable income by unitholders without a corresponding cash distribution. Likewise, if we were to dispose of assets and realize a taxable gain while there is substantial debt outstanding and proceeds of the sale were applied to the debt, our unitholders could have increased taxable income without a corresponding cash distribution.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Conflicts of interest could arise as a result of the relationships between us, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other. The directors and officers of our general partner have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its stockholder. At the same time, our general partner has fiduciary duties to manage us in a manner beneficial to us and our unitholders. The duties of our general partner to us and our unitholders, therefore, may conflict with the duties of the directors and officers of our general partner to its stockholder.

 

Matters in which, and reasons that, such conflicts of interest may arise include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fiduciary Responsibilities

 

Unless otherwise provided for in a partnership agreement, Delaware law generally requires a general partner of a Delaware limited partnership to adhere to fiduciary duty standards under which it owes its limited partners the highest duties of good faith, fairness and loyalty and which generally prohibit the general partner from taking any action or engaging in any transaction as to which it has a conflict of interest. Our partnership agreements expressly permit our general partner to resolve conflicts of interest between itself or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or our unitholders, on the other, and to consider, in resolving such conflicts of interest, the interests of other parties in addition to the interests of our unitholders. In addition, the partnership agreement of Ferrellgas Partners provides that a purchaser of common units is deemed to have consented to specified conflicts of interest and actions of our general partner and its affiliates that might otherwise be prohibited, including those described above, and to have agreed that such conflicts of interest and actions do not constitute a breach by our general partner of any duty stated or implied by law or equity. Our general partner will not be in breach of its obligations under our partnership agreements or its duties to us or our unitholders if the resolution of such conflict is fair and reasonable to us. Any resolution of a conflict approved by the audit committee of our general partner is conclusively deemed fair and reasonable to us. The latitude given in our partnership agreements to our general partner in resolving conflicts of interest may significantly limit the ability of a unitholder to challenge what might otherwise be a breach of fiduciary duty.

 

The partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership expressly limit the liability of our general partner by providing that our general partner, its affiliates and their respective officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our unitholders or assignees thereof for errors of judgment or for any acts or omissions if our general partner and such other persons acted in good faith. In addition, we are required to indemnify our general partner, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and trustees to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by our general partner or such other persons if our general partner or such persons acted in good faith and in a manner it or they reasonably believed to be in, or (in the case of a person other than our general partner) not opposed to, the best interests of us and, with respect to any criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful.

 

ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

 

None.

   

ITEM 2.PROPERTIES.

 

We own or lease the following transportation equipment that is utilized primarily in propane distribution operations:

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The propane transport trailers have an average capacity of approximately 10,000 gallons. The bulk propane delivery trucks are generally fitted with 3,000 gallon tanks. Each railroad tank car has a capacity of approximately 30,000 gallons.

 

We typically manage our retail propane distribution locations using a structure where one location, referred to as a service center, is staffed to provide oversight and management to multiple distribution locations, referred to as service units. During fiscal 2012, we integrated our portable tank exchange operations with our retail propane distribution locations. Our integrated retail propane distribution locations are comprised of 153 service centers and 924 service units. The service unit locations utilize hand-held computers and satellite technology to communicate with management typically located in the associated service center. We believe this structure together with our technology platform allows us to more efficiently route and schedule customer deliveries and significantly reduces the need for daily on-site management. 

 

We also distribute propane for our portable tank exchange operations from 16 independently-owned distributors.

 

We own approximately 44.4 million gallons of propane storage capacity at our propane distribution locations. We own our land and buildings in the local markets of approximately 60% of our operating locations and lease the remaining facilities on terms customary in the industry.

 

We own approximately 1.0 million propane tanks, most of which are located on customer property and rented to those customers. We also own approximately 3.6 million portable propane tanks, most of which are used by us to deliver propane to our portable tank exchange customers and to deliver propane to our industrial/commercial customers.

 

We lease approximately 54.6 million gallons of propane storage capacity located at underground storage facilities and pipelines at various locations around the United States.

 

We lease 73,988 square feet of office space at separate locations that comprise our corporate headquarters in the Kansas City metropolitan area. We also lease 64,219 square feet of office and warehouse space in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in connection with our portable tank exchange operations.

 

We believe that we have satisfactory title to or valid rights to use all of our material properties. Although some of those properties may be subject to liabilities and leases, liens for taxes not yet currently due and payable and immaterial encumbrances, easements and restrictions, we do not believe that any such burdens will materially interfere with the continued use of such properties in our business. We believe that we have obtained, or are in the process of obtaining, all required material approvals. These approvals include authorizations, orders, licenses, permits, franchises, consents of, registrations, qualifications and filings with, the various state and local governmental and regulatory authorities which relate to our ownership of properties or to our operations.

 

ITEM 3.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. Other than as discussed below, 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

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Western District of Missouri. A settlement agreement has received approval by the Court. We believe these claims will not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows beyond the $10.0 million paid during March 2012 for these claims.

 

We have received notice that the Offices of the District Attorneys of several counties in California and the Federal Trade Commission are investigating cylinder labeling and filling practices and any anti-trust issues relating to the amount of propane contained in propane tanks. They issued administrative subpoenas seeking documents and information relating to those practices and we have responded. We believe that our cylinders were correctly filled and labeled and will defend any claims that may result from this investigation. We do not believe any loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to these investigations. 

 

We have also been named as a defendant in a class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Kansas. The complaint alleges that we violate consumer protection laws in the manner we set prices and fees for our customers. Based on our business practices, we believe that the claims are without merit and intend to defend the claims vigorously. The court has stayed discovery on this matter pending our motion to compel arbitration, and the case has not been certified for class treatment. The court has permitted limited discovery into an individual claim and the case has not been certified for class treatment. We do not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to this class action lawsuit.

 

ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

 

            Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.         MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS’ COMMON EQUITY, RELATED UNITHOLDER AND STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

 

Common Units of Ferrellgas Partners

 

Our common units represent limited partner interests in Ferrellgas Partners and are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FGP.” As of August 31, 2012, we had 731 common unitholders of record. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for our common units on the New York Stock Exchange and the cash distributions declared per common unit for our fiscal periods indicated.

 

 

We make quarterly cash distributions of our available cash. Available cash is defined in our partnership agreement as, generally, the sum of our consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash disbursements and changes in cash reserves established by our general partner for future requirements. To the extent necessary and due to the seasonal nature of our operations, we will generally reserve cash inflows from our second and third fiscal quarters for distributions during our first and fourth fiscal quarters. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a discussion of the financial tests and covenants which place limits on the amount of cash that we can use to pay distributions.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On September 14, 2009, the operating partnership issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.125% senior notes due 2017 at an offering price equal to 98.6% of par. The net proceeds after commissions and fees of $289.0 million were used to redeem

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$152.0 million of existing senior notes and related prepayment premiums and to reduce borrowings on our unsecured credit facility due April 2010. The notes were not registered and were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. During July 2010, the operating partnership completed an offer to exchange $300.0 million principal amount of 9.125% senior notes due 2017, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for a like principal amount of their outstanding and unregistered notes which were issued on September 14, 2009.

 

On November 24, 2010, the operating partnership issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 6.50% senior notes due 2021 at an offering price equal to par. The net proceeds after commissions and fees of $491.3 million were used to redeem $450.0 million of existing senior notes and related make-whole payments and accrued interest and to reduce borrowings on our secured credit facility. The notes were not registered and were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. During July 2011, the operating partnership completed an offer to exchange $500.0 million principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for a like principal amount of their outstanding and unregistered notes which were issued on November 24, 2010.

 

Ferrellgas Partners Tax Matters

 

Ferrellgas Partners is a master limited partnership and thus not subject to federal income taxes. Instead, our common unitholders are required to report for income tax purposes their allocable share of our income, gains, losses, deductions and credits, regardless of whether we make distributions to our common unitholders. Accordingly, each common unitholder should consult its own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, and local tax consequences applicable to its ownership or disposition of our common units. Ferrellgas Partners reports its tax information on a calendar year basis, while financial reporting is based on a fiscal year ending July 31.

 

Common Equity of Other Registrants

 

There is no established public trading market for the common equity of the operating partnership, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. or Ferrellgas Finance Corp. All of the common equity of the operating partnership and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. is held by Ferrellgas Partners and all of the common equity of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is held by the operating partnership. There are no equity securities of the operating partnership, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. or Ferrellgas Finance Corp. authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plan. During fiscal 2012, there were no issuances of securities of the operating partnership, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. or Ferrellgas Finance Corp.  

 

Neither Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. nor Ferrellgas Finance Corp. declared or paid any cash dividends on its common equity during fiscal 2012 or fiscal 2011. The operating partnership distributes cash to its partners four times per fiscal year. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities – Distributions” for a discussion of its distributions during fiscal 2012. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a discussion of the financial tests and covenants which place limits on the amount of cash that the operating partnership can use to pay distributions. 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

See Item 12. “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters – Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.”

 

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

 

The following tables present selected consolidated historical financial and operating data for Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership.

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(1) Working capital is the sum of current assets less current liabilities.

 

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(1) Working capital is the sum of current assets less current liabilities.

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Our capital expenditures fall generally into three categories:

 

 

During fiscal 2011 and 2010, the prepayment of outstanding principal amounts of fixed rate senior notes resulted in amounts recorded as “Loss on extinguishment of debt.”

 

During fiscal 2012 and 2011, a class action lawsuit resulted in a nonrecurring litigation accrual and related legal fees.

 

 

ITEM 7.    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 and the operating partnership.

 

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 and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the operating partnership. 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.

 

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

 

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:

 

 

 

Overview

 

We believe 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 as measured by the volume of our retail sales in fiscal 2012, and the largest national provider of propane by portable tank exchange.

 

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 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, while our market areas 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.

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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 exchange 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 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 strong correlation between weather and customer usage, general economic conditions in the United States and the wholesale price of propane can have a significant impact on this correlation. Additionally, there is a natural time lag between the onset of cold weather and increased sales to customers. If the United States were to experience a cooling trend, we could expect nationwide demand for propane to increase which could lead to greater sales, income and liquidity availability. Conversely, if the United States were to experience a warming trend, we could expect nationwide demand for propane to decrease which could lead to a reduction in our sales, income and liquidity availability. For the twelve months ended July 31, 2012, weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve was 18% warmer than that of the prior year period.

 

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, including inflation, 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. Propane prices continued to be volatile in fiscal 2012 as the average wholesale market price at one of the major supply points, Mt. Belvieu, Texas during the six months ended January 31, 2012 averaged 19% more than the prior period; however, the same average wholesale market price during the six months ended July 31, 2012, averaged 29% less than the prior year period. We believe the effect of this significant increase in the average wholesale market price of propane in the first half of fiscal 2012 caused a decrease in sales volumes and a decrease in gross margin per gallon during the first half of fiscal 2012. In this period of increasing prices, we believe customers conserved and purchased less propane and it was more difficult to maintain gross margins as our ability to increase sales price per gallon did not keep up with the corresponding increase in product prices. Conversely, we believe the effect of this significant decrease in the average wholesale market price of propane during the second half of fiscal 2012 caused an increase in gross margin per gallon. In this period of sharply declining prices, we earned relatively greater gross margin per gallon as our ability to moderate the decline in sales price per gallon did not keep up with the corresponding decline in product prices.

 

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 economically hedged with an offsetting propane purchase commitment. Moreover, customers may not fulfill their purchase agreement due to the effects of warmer than normal weather, customer conservation or other economic conditions.

 

Our open financial derivative purchase commitments are designated as hedges primarily for fiscal 2013 sales commitments and, as of July 31, 2012, have experienced net mark to market losses of approximately $11.0 million. Because these financial derivative purchase commitments qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the resulting asset, liability and related mark to market gains or losses are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets 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 consolidated statements of earnings as the underlying inventory is sold. These financial derivative purchase commitment net losses are expected to be offset by increased margins on propane sales commitments that qualify for the normal purchase normal sale exception. At July 31, 2012, we estimate 88% of currently open financial derivative purchase commitments, the related propane sales commitments, and the resulting gross margin will be realized into earnings during the next twelve months.

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We also enter into interest rate derivative contracts, including swaps, to manage our exposure to interest rate risk associated with our fixed rate senior notes and our floating rate borrowings from both the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility. Fluctuations in interest rates subject us to interest rate risk. Decreases in interest rates increase the fair value of our fixed rate debt, while increases in interest rates subject us to the risk of increased interest expense related to our variable rate borrowings.

 

Our business strategy is to:

 

 

“Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.” in fiscal 2012 was a net loss of $11.0 million as compared to a net loss of $43.6 million in fiscal 2011. This improvement in net earnings of $32.6 million was primarily due to a $47.0 million loss on extinguishment of debt that was not repeated in the current year period and a $11.2 million reduction in litigation accrual and related legal fees . In addition to the elimination of these one-time charges in the prior year period, net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. were negatively impacted by a $43.9 million decrease in “Gross margin – propane and other gas liquids” and a $3.7 million decrease in “Gross margin – other” which were partially offset by a $9.3 million decrease in operating expenses, a $7.5 million decrease in “General and administrative expenses” (exclusive of the litigation accrual and related legal fees discussed above) and a $8.6 million decrease in interest expense.

 

We have completed our goodwill impairment tests for each of our applicable reporting units and believe estimated fair values substantially exceed the carrying values of our reporting units as of January 31, 2012.

 

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.

 

Some of our forward-looking statements include the following:

 

 

 

 

When considering any forward-looking statement, you should also keep in mind the risk factors set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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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 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 or to pay interest on the principal of any of our debt securities.

 

Results of Operations

 

Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2012 compared to July 31, 2011

 

 

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The following table summarizes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively:

 

 

 

Propane sales volumes during fiscal 2012 decreased 21.6 million gallons from that of the prior year period due to 41.8 million of decreased gallon sales to our retail customers, partially offset by 14.5 million of increased gallon sales to our wholesale customers and 5.7 million of acquisition related gallons. We believe wholesale customer sales volume increased due to our emphasis on expanding this portion of our business.

 

Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve was approximately 18% warmer than that of the prior year period, which we believe was the primary factor in the decline of propane sales volumes. We also believe our decrease in sales volume was due to customer conservation resulting from the continuing overall poor economic environment.

 

Our sales price per gallon is impacted by the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at one of the major supply points, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, during fiscal 2012 averaged 7%  less than the prior year period. The wholesale market price averaged $1.25 and $1.35 per gallon during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Propane prices continued to be volatile in fiscal 2012 as the average wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas during the six months ended January 31, 2012 averaged 19% more than the prior period; however, the same average wholesale market price during the six months ended July 31, 2012, averaged 29% less than the prior year period. We believe the effect of this significant increase in the average wholesale market price of propane in the first half of fiscal 2012 caused a decrease in sales volumes and a decrease in gross margin per gallon during the first half of fiscal 2012. In this period of increasing prices, we believe customers conserved and purchased less propane and it was more difficult to maintain gross margins as our ability to increase sales price per gallon did not keep up with the corresponding increase in product prices. Conversely, we believe the effect of this significant decrease in the average wholesale market price of propane during the second half of fiscal 2012 caused an increase in gross margin per gallon. In this period of sharply declining prices, we earned relatively greater gross margin per gallon as our ability to moderate the decline in sales price per gallon did not keep up with the corresponding decline in product prices.

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales decreased $43.3 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $87.9 million decrease in retail propane sales volumes, as discussed above, partially offset by a $30.0 million increase in sales price per gallon and $14.6 million from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, both as discussed above.

 

Wholesale sales increased $13.1 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from $27.5 million of increased sales volumes, partially offset by  $14.4 million of decreased sales price per gallon, both as discussed above.

 

Other gas sales decreased $21.2 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a  $31.4 million decrease in sales volume of excess inventory to third party propane distributors and marketers, partially offset by $10.2 million of increased sales price per gallon, resulting from sales of excess inventory during the first half of fiscal 2012, as discussed above.

 

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales gross margin increased $20.9 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from a $43.4 million increase in gross margin per gallon and $6.0 million from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, partially offset by a $28.5 million decrease in propane sales volumes, each as discussed above.

 

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Wholesale sales gross margin decreased $13.4 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from $19.7 million of decreased gross margin per gallon, partially offset by $6.3 million related to increased sales volumes, both as discussed above.

 

Other gas sales gross margin decreased $51.3 million compared to the prior year period due to losses on sales of excess inventory to other third party propane distributors and marketers in a declining wholesale market price of propane environment as discussed above.

 

Operating income

 

Operating income decreased $22.8 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to $43.9 million of decreased “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquid sales,” as discussed above, and $3.7 million of decreased “Gross margin – Other,” partially offset by a $18.7 million decrease in “General and administrative expense” and a $9.3 million decrease in “Operating expense.”

 

“Gross margin – Other” decreased primarily due to a $3.0 million decrease in material and appliance sales. “General and administrative expense” decreased primarily due to a $11.2 million reduction in litigation accrual and related legal fees, a $3.6 million decrease in noncash stock compensation charges, a $2.7 million reduction in personnel related costs and a $1.6 million reduction in performance-based incentive expenses. “Operating expense” decreased primarily due to management’s focus on long-term cost reductions which resulted in a $6.4 million reduction in personnel related costs, a $4.5 million reduction in plant and office costs and a $3.5 million reduction in vehicle costs, partially offset by $6.9 million in increased fuel costs.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $34.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $43.9 million decrease in “Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales” and a $3.7 million decrease in “Gross margin – Other,” both as discussed above, partially offset by a $8.9 million decrease in “Operating expense” and a $4.2 million decrease in “General and administrative expense.”

 

“Operating expense” decreased primarily due to management’s focus on long-term cost reductions which resulted in a $6.4 million reduction in personnel related costs, a $4.5 million reduction in plant and office costs and a $3.5 million reduction in vehicle costs, partially offset by $6.9 million in increased fuel costs. “General and administrative expense” decreased primarily due to a $2.7 million reduction in personnel related costs and a $1.6 million reduction in performance-based incentive expenses.

 

Interest expense - consolidated

 

Interest expense decreased $8.6 million primarily due to $2.8 million of decreased amortization of discounts and capitalized debt costs and $2.7 million resulting from a decrease in long-term debt borrowings, both of which are the result of refinancings completed during the prior fiscal year, and $2.3 million primarily from lower rates on our secured credit facility and $0.8 million from the effect of interest rate swaps entered into during the current year period.

 

Interest expense - operating partnership

 

Interest expense decreased $2.9 million primarily due to $2.7 million of decreased amortization of discounts and capitalized debt costs, which is the result of refinancings completed during the prior fiscal year and $2.3 million primarily from lower rates on our secured credit facility and $0.8 million from the effect of interest rate swaps entered into during the current year period, partially offset by a $2.9 million increase due to increased borrowings.

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

During fiscal 2011, we prepaid both the outstanding principal amount on our $450.0 million 6.75% fixed rate senior notes due May 1, 2014 and $98.0 million of our $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes due June 15, 2020, incurring a “Loss on extinguishment of debt” of $47.0 million.

 

Forward-looking statements

 

We expect “Net earnings” to increase in fiscal 2013 compared to fiscal 2012 primarily due to our anticipation that a return to more historically normal winter weather, as defined by NOAA, should result in greater propane gallon sales and thus increased “gross margin – propane and other gas liquids.”

 

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Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 2011 compared to July 31, 2010

 

 

 

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The following table summarizes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively:

 

 

Propane sales volumes during fiscal 2011 decreased 22.8 million gallons from that of the prior year period due primarily to 25.6 million of decreased gallon sales to our retail customers, which was partially offset by 2.7 million of increased gallon sales to our wholesale customers.

 

Although weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve was approximately 3% colder than that of the prior year period, we believe retail sales gallons were negatively impacted by the severity and length of the overall poor economic environment and the significantly higher wholesale cost of propane which resulted in customer conservation.

 

In addition to the above, we believe retail sales volumes decreased due to an abnormally wet harvest season during the prior year period which increased gallon sales for agricultural crop drying that was not repeated during the current year period’s abnormally dry harvest season.

 

Our sales price per gallon is impacted by the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at one of the major supply points, Mt. Belvieu, Texas, during fiscal 2011 averaged 24% more than the prior year period. The wholesale market price averaged $1.35 and $1.09 per gallon during fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales increased $84.6 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted primarily from $136.5 million of increased sales price per gallon, as discussed above, and $8.4 million from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, partially offset by $60.3 million of lower propane sales volumes, as discussed above.

 

Wholesale sales increased $49.0 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from $42.9 million of increased sales price per gallon as discussed above and $6.1 million of increased sales volumes.

 

Other gas sales increased $178.4 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to $131.6 million of increased propane sales volumes and $46.8 million of increased sales price per gallon.

 

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales

 

Retail sales gross margin decreased $40.9 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from $18.7 million of decreased propane sales volumes and $24.9 million of decreased gross margin per gallon resulting from the negative impact of higher wholesale market prices for propane, both as discussed above, partially offset by $2.7 million from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months.

 

Wholesale sales gross margin decreased $10.8 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from $12.8 million of decreased gross margin per gallon resulting from the negative impact of higher wholesale market prices for propane, as discussed above.

 

Other gas sales gross margin increased $11.9 million compared to the prior year period due to sales of excess inventory to other third party propane distributors and marketers.

 

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Operating income

 

Operating income decreased $52.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $39.9 million decrease in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales, as discussed above, a $10.1 million increase in “General and administrative expenses” and $3.6 million of decreased “Gross margin – Other.”

 

“General and administrative expenses” increased primarily due to a litigation accrual and related legal fees of $12.1 million and a $4.1 million increase in non-cash stock and unit based compensation, partially offset by $6.1 million of reduced performance-based incentive expense. “Gross margin – Other”  decreased primarily due to a decrease in miscellaneous fees billed to customers. An “Operating expense” decrease of $11.9 million for personnel related costs was offset by a $5.9 million increase in property repairs and maintenance costs and a $5.3 million increase in vehicle fuel costs. 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $38.8million compared to the prior year period primarily due to$39.9 million decrease in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales and $3.6 million of decreased Gross margin - Other primarily due to a decrease in miscellaneous fees billed to customers.  These decreases were partially offset by $6.1 million of decreased “General and administrative expense,” primarily due to reduced performance-based incentive expenses.  An “Operating expense” decrease of $11.9 million for personnel related costs was offset by a $5.9 million increase in property repairs and maintenance costs and a $5.3 million increase in vehicle fuel costs.

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

During fiscal 2011, we prepaid both the outstanding principal amount on our $450.0 million 6.75% fixed rate senior notes due May 1, 2014 and $98.0 million of our $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes due June 15, 2020, incurring a “Loss on extinguishment of debt” of $47.0 million.

 

During fiscal 2010, we prepaid the outstanding principal amount on our $82.0 million 7.24% series D notes due August 1, 2010, our $70.0 million 7.42% series E notes due August 1, 2013 and our $268.0 million 8.75% senior notes due June 15, 2012, incurring a “Loss on extinguishment of debt” of $20.7 million.

 

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 and capital resources may be affected by our ability to access the capital markets or by unforeseen demands on cash, or other events beyond our control.

 

During fiscal 2012, our propane operations were negatively affected by the significantly warmer than normal temperatures in the areas in which we serve and the impact of the sustained increase in the wholesale price of propane during the first half of fiscal 2012, both of which caused us to generate significantly less operating income than in fiscal 2011. We also believe that the continuing economic downturn has caused certain of our retail propane customers to conserve and thereby purchase less propane, shop for lower prices that may be available from other suppliers or begin using alternative energy sources.

 

For fiscal 2012, our distributable cash flow is approximately 60% of the total cash distributions paid for that period. To mitigate this shortfall, we have enacted a series of efficiency initiatives and other cost cutting projects, as well as pricing initiatives designed to improve our sales margins. Until these projects are complete and weather patterns return to a more normal level, we anticipate an ongoing cash flow shortfall to our current distribution level. 

 

Subject to meeting the financial tests discussed below and also subject to the risk factors identified in “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” 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 may 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 from 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,

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significant acquisitions, the weather, customer retention and purchasing patterns 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.

 

A quarterly distribution of $0.50 was paid on September 14, 2012, to all common units that were outstanding on September 7, 2012. This represents the seventy-second consecutive minimum quarterly distribution paid to our common unitholders dating back to October 1994.

 

Our secured credit facility, public 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 secured credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities and limitations on the payment of distributions within our 8.625% senior notes due 2020.

 

As of July 31, 2012, we met all of our 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 our required quarterly financial tests and covenants in fiscal 2013. However, we may not meet the applicable financial tests in future quarters if we were to experience:

 

 

Failure to meet applicable financial tests could have a material 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 “Financing 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:

 

 

 

Operating Activities

 

Fiscal 2012 v 2011

Net cash provided by operating activities was $124.4 million for fiscal 2012, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $117.6 million for fiscal 2011. This increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $7.2 million decrease in working capital requirements and a $0.5 million increase in cash flow from operations.

 

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The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to a  $59.2 million decrease in accounts receivable resulting from the significant decrease in the wholesale costs of propane during the second half of fiscal 2012 as well as the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable and $12.6 million from the timing of customers’ uses of their deposits and advances. These increases were partially offset by $37.8 million from the timing of accounts payable purchases and disbursements and  $22.2 million from the timing of inventory purchases.

 

The increase in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $19.5 million decrease in make-whole payments and an $11.2 million decrease in “Litigation accrual and related legal fees” both paid in fiscal 2011 and not repeated in fiscal 2012, a $8.3 million decrease in “Operating expense” and an $8.6 million reduction in “Interest expense” which were offset primarily by a $43.9 million decrease in “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquids sales.”

 

Fiscal 2011 v 2010

Net cash provided by operating activities was $117.6 million for fiscal 2011, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $134.6 million for fiscal 2010. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $53.1 million decrease in cash flow from operations and a $10.0 million decrease in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility, which were partially offset by a $47.2 million decrease in working capital requirements.

 

The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $39.9 million decrease in gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales and a $3.6 million decrease in “Gross margin – Other,” both as discussed above.

 

The $10.0 million decrease in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility is due to a change in accounting principle which requires us, on a prospective basis, to disclose cash flows related to the accounts receivable securitization facility as “net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings” in the “Cash flows from financing activities” section of the consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to $67.9 million from the timing of inventory purchases and $18.9 million from the timing of accounts payable disbursements, which were somewhat offset by $31.3 million due to the impact of higher propane sales prices and the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable and a $10.0 million litigation accrual.

 

The operating partnership

 

Fiscal 2012 v 2011

Net cash provided by operating activities was $140.5 million for fiscal 2012, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $148.8 million for fiscal 2011. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $13.4 million decrease in cash flow from operations, partially offset by a $6.0 million decrease in working capital requirements.

 

The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $43.9 million decrease in “Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales,” partially offset by an $11.2 million decrease in “Litigation accrual and related legal fees” a $11.0 million decrease in make-whole payments both paid in fiscal 2011 and not repeated in fiscal 2012 and a $8.3 million decrease in “Operating expense.”

 

The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to a  $59.2 million decrease in accounts receivable resulting from the significant decrease in the wholesale costs of propane during the second half of fiscal 2012 as well as the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable and $12.6 million from the timing of customers’ uses of their deposits and advances. These increases were partially offset by $37.8 million from the timing of accounts payable purchases and disbursements and $22.2 million from the timing of inventory purchases. 

 

Fiscal 2011 v 2010

Net cash provided by operating activities was $148.8 million for fiscal 2011, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $162.5 million for fiscal 2010. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $51.3 million decrease in cash flow from operations and a $10.0 million decrease in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility, which were partially offset by a $48.7 million decrease in working capital requirements.

 

The decrease in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $39.9 million decrease in gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales, a $6.3 million increase in “Loss on extinguishment of debt” and a $3.6 million decrease in “Gross margin – Other,” each as discussed above.   

 

The $10.0 million decrease in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility is due to a change in accounting principle which requires us, on a prospective basis, to disclose cash flows related to the accounts receivable securitization facility as “net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings” in the “Cash flows from financing activities” section of the consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

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The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to $67.9 million from the timing of inventory purchases and $18.9 million from the timing of accounts payable disbursements, which were somewhat offset by $31.3 million due to the impact of higher propane sales prices and the timing of billings and collections on accounts receivable and a $10.0 million litigation accrual.

 

Investing Activities

 

Fiscal 2012 v 2011

Net cash used in investing activities was $53.9 million for fiscal 2012, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $51.1 million for fiscal 2011. This slight increase in net cash used in investing activities is primarily due to increases of $3.1 million in capital expenditures related to acquisitions.

 

Fiscal 2011 v 2010

Net cash used in investing activities was $51.1 million for fiscal 2011, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $81.3 million for fiscal 2010. This decrease in net cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a $33.6 million decrease in capital expenditures related to acquisitions.

 

Financing Activities

 

Fiscal 2012 v 2011

Net cash used in financing activities was $69.4 million for fiscal 2012, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $70.5 million for fiscal 2011. This slight decrease in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to a $32.1 million net increase in secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility short-term borrowings, partially offset by a net $25.0 million decrease in proceeds from both common unit issuances and long-term debt borrowings that were used to refinance long-term debt during fiscal 2011 that was not repeated in fiscal 2012 and a $11.5 million increase in common unit distributions related to equity issuances during the prior twelve month period.

 

Fiscal 2011 v 2010

Net cash used in financing activities was $70.5 million for fiscal 2011, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $49.0 million for fiscal 2010. This increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to a $177.4 million net decrease in long-term borrowings and a $5.2 million increase in distributions paid. This decrease in long-term borrowings and increase in distributions paid was primarily due to the refinancing of long-term debt with equity offering proceeds during fiscal 2011. These cash decreases were somewhat offset by a $137.3 million increase in proceeds from equity offerings as discussed above, a $14.0 million increase in net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings due to a change in accounting principle which requires us, on a prospective basis, to no longer disclose cash flows related to the accounts receivable securitization facility as “Accounts receivable securitization” in the “Cash flows from operating activities” section of the consolidated statements of cash flows and a $12.2 million decrease in cash used to fund transaction costs.

 

The $14.0 million increase in net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings should be viewed in conjunction with the $10.0 million decrease in net funding from our accounts receivable securitization facility, as discussed in Operating Activities above. This net $4.0 million cash increase was principally used in the $3.3 million decrease in short-term borrowings.

 

The $177.4 million net decrease in long-term borrowings is due primarily to the timing of long-term debt refinancings and a decrease in capital expenditures, as discussed in Investing Activities above.

 

Distributions

 

Ferrellgas Partners paid a $0.50 per unit quarterly distribution on all common units, as well as the related general partner distributions, totaling $156.5 million during fiscal 2012 in connection with the distributions declared for the three months ended July 31, 2011, October 31, 2011, January 31, 2012 and April 30, 2012. The quarterly distribution on all common units and the related general partner distributions for the three months ended July 31, 2012 of $39.9 million was paid on September 14, 2012 to holders of record on September 7, 2012.

 

Ferrellgas Partners paid a $0.50 per unit quarterly distribution on all common units, as well as the related general partner distributions, totaling $145.0 million during fiscal 2011 in connection with the distributions declared for the three months ended July 31, 2010, October 31, 2010, January 31, 2011 and April 30, 2011.

 

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Secured credit facility

 

During September 2011, we executed an amendment to our secured credit facility extending the maturity date to September 2016 and changed the applicable margins for base rate and Eurodollar loans. There was no change to the size of the facility which remains at $400.0 million with a letter of credit sublimit of $200.0 million. Borrowings on the amended secured credit facility bear interest at rates ranging from 1.25% to 1.50% lower than the previous secured credit facility.

 

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 July 31, 2012, we had total borrowings outstanding under this secured credit facility of $160.0 million, of which $64.3 million was classified as long-term debt. Additionally, Ferrellgas had $175.5 million of available borrowing capacity under this facility as of July 31, 2012.

 

Borrowings outstanding at July 31, 2012 under the secured credit facility had a weighted average interest rate of 4.2%. All borrowings under the secured credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to either:

 

 

As of July 31, 2012, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 0.13% and 3.25 %, respectively. As of July 31, 2012, the one-month and three-month Eurodollar Rates were 0.31% and 0.43%, 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 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.

 

Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2012 totaled $64.5 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, commodity hedges and product purchases. At July 31, 2012, we had available letter of credit remaining capacity of $135.5 million.

 

All standby letter of credit commitments under our secured credit facility bear a per annum rate varying from 2.00% to 3.00% (as of July 31, 2012, the rate was 3.00%) 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.

 

Accounts receivable securitization

 

Ferrellgas Receivables is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary. Expenses associated with accounts receivable securitization transactions are recorded in “Interest expense” in the consolidated statements of earnings. Additionally, borrowings and repayments associated with these transactions are recorded in “Cash flows from financing activities” in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

Cash flows from our accounts receivable securitization facility decreased $1.0 million. We received net funding of $13.0 million from this facility during fiscal 2012 as compared to receiving net funding of $14.0 million from 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 secured credit facility. See additional discussion about the 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 securitize according to the facility agreement. During January 2012, we executed a new accounts receivable securitization facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank. This new accounts receivable securitization facility has $225.0 million of capacity, matures on January 19, 2017 and replaces the previous 364-day facility which was to expire on April 4, 2013. This agreement allows for proceeds of up to $225.0 million during the months of January, February, March and December, $175.0 million during the months of April and May and $145.0 million for all other months, depending on available undivided interests in our accounts receivable from certain customers. Borrowings on the new accounts receivable securitization facility bear interest at rates ranging from 1.45% to 1.20% lower than the previous facility. As of July 31, 2012, we had received cash proceeds of $74.0 million related to the securitization of our trade accounts receivable, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of July 31, 2012, the weighted average

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interest rate was 2.6%. 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.

 

Common unit issuances

 

During fiscal 2012, we completed a non-brokered registered direct offering to Ferrell Companies of 1.4 million common units. Net proceeds of approximately $25.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility.

 

During fiscal 2012, we entered into an agreement with an institutional investor relating to a non-brokered registered direct offering of 1.5 million common units. Net proceeds of approximately $25.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility.

 

During fiscal 2011, we completed a registered public offering of 5.1 million common units representing limited partner interests. This transaction was comprised of both an original offering of 4.4 million common units and an over-allotment offering of 0.7 million common units. Net proceeds of approximately $127.3 million were used to redeem $98.0 million of our $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes due 2020, to pay the related $8.4 million make-whole payment, to pay $2.4 million of accrued interest and to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our secured credit facility

 

During fiscal 2011, we entered into an agreement with an institutional investor relating to a non-brokered registered direct offering of 1.2 million common units. Net proceeds of approximately $30.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under our secured credit facility.

 

Ferrellgas issued $1.3 million and $2.9 million of common units in connection with acquisitions during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Ferrellgas issued $0.9 million and $0.6 million of common units pursuant to its unit option plan during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Debt issuances and repayments

 

During November 2010, we issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new 6.50% senior notes due 2021 at an offering price equal to par. The notes were not registered and were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. We received $491.3 million of net proceeds after deducting expenses of the offering. These proceeds were used to redeem all of our $450.0 million 6.75% fixed rate senior notes due 2014, to fund the related $11.1 million make-whole payments and to pay $2.4 million of accrued interest. The remaining proceeds were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility. During July 2011, we completed an offer to exchange $500.0 million principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for a like principal amount of their outstanding and unregistered notes which were issued on November 24, 2010.

 

During March 2011, we redeemed $98.0 million of our $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes due 2020, paid an $8.4 million make-whole payment and paid $2.4 million of accrued interest.

 

These fiscal 2011 debt redemption transactions resulted in $19.5 million of make-whole payments and $27.5 million of non-cash write-offs of unamortized discount on debt and related capitalized debt costs for a total loss on extinguishment of debt of $47.0 million.

 

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 in fiscal 2013. See “Accounts Receivable Securitization” 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:

 

 

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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 a discussion of related risk factors in the section in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

 

The operating partnership

 

The financing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership except for cash flows related to the redemption of $98.0 million of our $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes in fiscal 2011, cash flows related to common unit issuances and cash flows related to distributions and contributions received, as discussed below.

 

Distributions

 

The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $174.0 million and $275.6 million during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively. The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $40.3 million on September 14, 2012.

 

Contributions received by the operating partnership

 

During fiscal 2012, the operating partnership received cash contributions of $50.7 million from Ferrellgas Partners. The proceeds were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the credit facility. During fiscal 2012, the operating partnership received asset contributions from Ferrellgas Partners of $1.3 million in connection with acquisitions. The general partner made cash contributions of $0.5 million and non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to the operating partnership to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest in connection with these contributions from Ferrellgas Partners.

 

During fiscal 2011, Ferrellgas Partners contributed $157.7 million of proceeds from equity offerings to the operating partnership. The operating partnership used these proceeds to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility. The operating partnership then distributed $107.9 million of these proceeds to Ferrellgas Partners to fund the redemption of $98.0 million of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P’s $280.0 million 8.625% fixed rate senior notes due 2020 and related make-whole and interest payments.

 

During fiscal 2011, the operating partnership received asset contributions from Ferrellgas Partners of $2.9 million in connection with acquisitions. The general partner made cash contributions of $1.6 million and non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to the operating partnership to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest in connection with these contributions from Ferrellgas Partners.

 

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 $224.8 million for fiscal 2012, 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 and severance costs.  

 

Related party common unitholder information consisted of the following:

 

 

During fiscal 2012, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership together paid the general partner distributions of $3.3 million.

 

On September 14, 2012, Ferrellgas Partners paid distributions to Ferrell Companies, FCI Trading Corp., Ferrell Propane, Inc., James E. Ferrell (indirectly) and the general partner of $10.7 million, $0.1 million, $26 thousand, $2.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

 

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During fiscal 2012, we completed a non-brokered registered direct offering to Ferrell Companies of 1.4 million common units. Net proceeds of approximately $25.0 million were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

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

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at July 31, 2012:

 

 

The components of other noncurrent liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets principally consist of property and casualty liabilities. These liabilities are not included in the table above because they are estimates of future payments and not contractually fixed as to timing or amount.

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The operating partnership

 

The contractual obligation table above also applies to the operating partnership, except for long-term debt, including current portion and fixed rate interest obligations, which are summarized in the table below:

 

 

The components of other noncurrent liabilities included in our consolidated balance sheets principally consist of property and casualty liabilities. These liabilities are not included in the table above because they are estimates of future payments and not contractually fixed as to timing or amount.

 

Off-balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

 

In this section we discuss our off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. An off-balance sheet arrangement is any transaction, agreement or other contractual arrangement involving an unconsolidated entity under which a company has:

 

 

Our off-balance sheet arrangements include the leasing of transportation equipment, property and computer equipment and letters of credit available under our secured credit facility.

 

The leasing of transportation equipment, property and computer equipment is accounted for as operating leases. We believe these arrangements are a cost-effective method for financing our equipment needs. These off-balance sheet arrangements enable us to lease equipment from third parties rather than, among other options, purchasing the equipment using on-balance sheet financing.

 

Most of the operating leases involving our transportation equipment contain residual value guarantees. These transportation equipment lease arrangements are scheduled to expire over the next seven years. Most of these arrangements provide that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed a guaranteed amount, or we will be required to pay the lessor the difference. Although the fair values at the end of the lease terms have historically exceeded these guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments we could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is worthless at the end of the lease term, was $3.7 million as of July 31, 2012. We do not know of any event, demand, commitment, trend or uncertainty that would result in a material change to these arrangements.

 

See discussion about our letters of credit available under our secured credit facility and the sale of accounts receivable to our accounts receivable securitization facility both in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

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Below is a listing of a recently issued accounting pronouncement that we have not yet adopted as of July 31, 2012. See Note B – Summary of significant accounting policies – to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of these pronouncements.

 

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to establish accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. These financial statements include some estimates and assumptions that are based on informed judgments and estimates of management. We evaluate our policies and estimates on an on-going basis and discuss the development, selection and disclosure of critical accounting policies with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of our general partner. Predicting future events is inherently an imprecise activity and as such requires the use of judgment. Our consolidated financial statements may differ based upon different estimates and assumptions.

 

We discuss our significant accounting policies in Note B – Summary of significant accounting policies – to our consolidated financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are subject to judgments and uncertainties that affect the application of such policies. We believe these financial statements include the most likely outcomes with regard to amounts that are based on our judgment and estimates. Our financial position and results of operations may be materially different when reported under different conditions or when using different assumptions in the application of such policies. In the event estimates or assumptions prove to be different from the actual amounts, adjustments are made in subsequent periods to reflect more current information. We believe the following accounting policies are critical to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements due to the estimation process and business judgment involved in their application:

 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

 

We calculate depreciation on property, plant and equipment using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from two to 30 years. Changes in the estimated useful lives of our property, plant and equipment could have a material effect on our results of operations. The estimates of the assets’ useful lives require our judgment regarding assumptions about the useful life of the assets being depreciated. When necessary, the depreciable lives are revised and the impact on depreciation is treated on a prospective basis. There were no such revisions to depreciable lives in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.

 

Residual value of customer and storage tanks

 

We use an estimated residual value when calculating depreciation for our customer and bulk storage tanks. Customer and bulk storage tanks are classified as property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheets. The depreciable basis of these tanks is calculated using the original cost less the residual value. Depreciation is calculated using straight-line method based on the tanks’ estimated useful life of 30 years. Changes in the estimated residual value could have a material effect on our results of operations. The estimates of the tanks’ residual value require our judgment of the value of the tanks at the end of their useful life or retirement. When necessary, the tanks’ residual values are revised and the impact on depreciation is treated on a prospective basis. There were no such revisions to residual values in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.

 

Valuation methods, amortization methods and estimated useful lives of intangible assets

 

The specific, identifiable intangible assets of a business enterprise depend largely upon the nature of its operations. Potential intangible assets include intellectual property such as trademarks and trade names, customer lists and relationships, and non-compete agreements, as well as other intangible assets. The approach to the valuation of each intangible asset will vary depending upon the nature of the asset, the business in which it is utilized, and the economic returns it is generating or is expected to generate. During fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, we did not find it necessary to adjust the valuation methods used for any acquired intangible assets.

 

Our recorded intangible assets primarily include the estimated value assigned to certain customer-related and contract-based assets representing the rights we own arising from the acquisition of propane distribution companies and related contractual agreements. A customer-related or contract-based intangible with a finite useful life is amortized over its estimated useful life, which is the period over which the asset is expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the entity. We believe that trademarks and trade names have an indefinite useful life due to our intention to utilize all acquired trademarks and trade names. When necessary, the intangible assets’ useful lives are revised and the impact on amortization will be reflected on a prospective basis. The determination of the fair market value of the intangible asset and the estimated useful life are based on an analysis of all pertinent factors including (1) the use of widely-accepted valuation approaches, the income approach or the cost approach, (2) the expected use of the asset by the entity, (3) the expected

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useful life of related assets, (4) any legal, regulatory or contractual provisions, including renewal or extension periods that would not cause substantial costs or modifications to existing agreements, (5) the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors and (6) the level of maintenance required to obtain the expected future cash flows.

 

If the underlying assumption(s) governing the amortization of an intangible asset were later determined to have significantly changed (either favorably or unfavorably), then we may be required to adjust the amortization period of such asset to reflect any new estimate of its useful life. Such a change would increase or decrease the annual amortization charge associated with the asset at that time. During fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, we did not find it necessary to adjust the valuation method, estimated useful life or amortization period of any of our intangible assets.

 

Should any of the underlying assumptions indicate that the value of the intangible asset might be impaired, we may be required to reduce the carrying value and subsequent useful life of the asset. Any such write-down of the value and unfavorable change in the useful life (i.e., amortization period) of an intangible asset would increase operating costs and expenses at that time.

 

As of July 31, 2012 and 2011, the carrying value of our intangible asset portfolio was $189.1 million and $204.1 million, respectively. We did not recognize any impairment losses related to our intangible assets during fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010. For additional information regarding our intangible assets, see Note B - Summary of significant accounting policies - and Note G - Goodwill and intangible assets, net - to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounting for Risk Management Activities and Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We enter into commodity forward, futures, swaps and options contracts involving propane and related products to hedge exposures to price risk. These derivative contracts are reported in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in cost of product sold in the consolidated statements of earnings or in other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of partners’ capital. We utilize published settlement prices for exchange-traded contracts, quotes provided by brokers and estimates of market prices based on daily contract activity to estimate the fair value of these contracts. Changes in the methods used to determine the fair value of these contracts could have a material effect on our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of earnings. For further discussion of derivative commodity contracts, see Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” Note B – Summary of significant accounting policies, Note J – Fair value measurements and Note K – Derivative instruments and hedging activities – to our consolidated financial statements. We do not anticipate future changes in the methods used to determine the fair value of these derivative contracts.

 

Stock and unit-based compensation

 

We utilize a binomial valuation tool to compute an estimated fair value of stock and unit-based awards at each balance sheet date. This valuation tool requires a number of inputs, some of which require an estimate to be made by management. Significant estimates include our computation of volatility, the number of groups of employees, the expected term of awards and the forfeiture rate of awards.

 

 

 

 

 

Litigation accruals and environmental liabilities

 

We are involved in litigation regarding pending claims and legal actions that arise in the normal course of business and may own sites at which hazardous substances may be present. In accordance with GAAP, we establish reserves for pending claims and legal actions or

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environmental remediation liabilities when it is probable that a liability exists and the amount or range of amounts can be reasonably estimated. Reasonable estimates involve management judgments based on a broad range of information and prior experience. These judgments are reviewed quarterly as more information is received and the amounts reserved are updated as necessary. Such estimated reserves may differ materially from the actual liability and such reserves may change materially as more information becomes available and estimated reserves are adjusted.

 

ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

We did not enter into any risk management trading activities during fiscal 2012. 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 on our financial statements until settled.

 

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 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 July 31, 2012 and 2011, 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 $8.8 million and $7.5 million as of July 31, 2012 and 2011, 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

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At July 31, 2012, we had $234.0 million, in variable rate secured credit facility and collateralized note payable borrowings. Thus, assuming a one percent increase in our variable interest rate, our interest rate risk related to these borrowings would result in a loss in future earnings of $2.3 million for fiscal 2013. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in interest rates may or may not equal one percent, thus actual results may differ. We manage a portion of our interest rate exposure by utilizing interest rate swaps. To the extent that we have debt with variable interest rates that is not hedged, our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected by significant increases in interest rates. We have the following interest rate swaps outstanding as of July 31, 2012, all of which are designated as hedges for accounting purposes:

 

 

A hypothetical one percent change in interest rates would result in a net change in earnings of $2.8 million in fiscal 2013. There would be no effect on cash flows due to a hypothetical change in interest rates on the $175.0 million swap because its forward start date is August 2015. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in interest rates may or may not equal one percent, thus, actual results may differ.

 

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

 

Our consolidated financial statements and the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Reports thereon and the Supplementary Financial Information listed on the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules are hereby incorporated by reference. See Note O – Quarterly data (unaudited) – to our consolidated financial statements for Selected Quarterly Financial Data.

 

ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

 

On September 6, 2012, the Audit Committee of Ferrellgas, Inc., approved the dismissal of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the independent registered public accounting firm of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (collectively the “Registrants”), effective as of the date of Deloitte’s completion of audit services for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 and the filing of the Registrants’ Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Deloitte completed its procedures on October 1, 2012, coincident with the filing of this Form 10-K.

 

Deloitte’s reports on the financial statements of the Registrants as of and for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012 and 2011 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012 and 2011, and through October 1, 2012, (1) there were no disagreements with Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or audit scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte, would have caused Deloitte to make reference thereto in connection with its reports on the financial statements of the Registrants for such years, and (2) there were no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

Also as previously announced, on September 6, 2012, the Audit Committee of Ferrellgas, Inc., approved the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP (“Grant Thornton”) to serve as the Registrants’ independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2013. During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012 and 2011, and through October 1, 2012, the Registrants did not consult with Grant Thornton regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 9A.    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 July 31, 2012, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in achieving that level of reasonable assurance.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of July 31, 2012.

 

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., as of July 31, 2012, has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

 

During the most recent fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2012, 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.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To the Partners of

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries

Overland Park, Kansas

 

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries (the "Partnership") as of July 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Partnership's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, the Partnership maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of July 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended July 31, 2012 of the Partnership and our report dated October 1, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedules and included an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of new accounting guidance with respect to transfers of financial assets and the consolidation of variable interest entities effective August 1, 2010.

 

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Kansas City, Missouri

October 1, 2012

 

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ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

 

Directors and Executive Officers of our General Partner

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the directors and executive officers of our general partner as of September 27, 2012. Officers are appointed to their respective office or offices either annually or as needed. Directors are appointed to their respective office or offices annually.

 

James E. Ferrell – Mr. Ferrell has been with Ferrell Companies or its predecessors and its affiliates in various executive capacities since 1965, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ferrellgas, Inc. Under his leadership, Ferrellgas has grown from a small, independently owned propane company to one of the nation’s largest propane retailers. An active member of the retail propane industry, Mr. Ferrell is a past President of the World LP Gas Association and a former Chairman of the Propane Vehicle Council.

 

Stephen L. Wambold – Mr. Wambold joined our general partner as a General Manager in 1997, became Region Vice President in 2003, became Senior Vice President of Operations in 2005, became President and Chief Operating Officer in 2006 and became Chief Executive Officer and President and was appointed to the board of directors in 2009. Mr. Wambold obtained his Bachelors degree from Purdue University.

 

Mr. Wambold’s experience as a retail propane operations manager brings to the Board a unique and well-developed understanding of our industry and the opportunities within the industry to drive unitholder value. Mr. Wambold contributes to the Board his strategic vision for growth, brand building experience and a consumer focus. Mr. Wambold also adds strong leadership capabilities, operating expertise, business strategy expertise and strategic planning skills.

 

J. Ryan VanWinkle – Mr. VanWinkle joined our general partner in 1999, became Director of Finance and Treasury in 2004, became Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development in 2007, became Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer in 2008, became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer in 2009 and became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer in 2012. Mr. VanWinkle also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired in Kansas City, Missouri and for the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America. Mr. VanWinkle obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

 

Tod D. Brown –  Mr. Brown joined our general partner as Senior Director of Sales, Blue Rhino in 2004, became Vice President of Sales, Blue Rhino in 2005, became Vice President, Blue Rhino in 2006, became Senior Vice President, Ferrellgas and President, Blue Rhino in 2008 and became Executive Vice President, Ferrellgas and President, Blue Rhino in 2012. Mr. Brown obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ball State University.

 

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Eric J. Bruun – Mr. Bruun was appointed to the Board of Directors in September 2011 and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee. Mr. Bruun is currently the Managing Partner at CID Capital, a private equity capital firm. Mr. Bruun joined CID Capital in 2000 and helps guide that firm through all facets of the investment cycle, including origination, valuation, due diligence, financing and negotiation of terms and conditions with all parties. Prior to joining CID Capital, Mr. Bruun held supervisory and management positions and led operational improvement projects for new acquisitions for the Conseco Companies. Mr. Bruun is Chairman of Salon Grafix and a Director of GT Exhaust. Mr. Bruun obtained his Master’s degree in Business Administration and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Purdue University. Mr. Bruun brings to the Board significant experience in capital markets, growth strategies and acquisitions.

 

A. Andrew Levison – Mr. Levison has served on the Board of Directors since 1994 and is a member of the Board’s Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. For the past five years Mr. Levison has served as the Managing Partner of Southfield Capital Advisors, LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based, private merchant banking firm and serves on the Boards of Directors of Presidio Partners, LLC, and the Levison/Present Foundation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Mr. Levison obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Babson College.

 

Mr. Levison founded Levison & Co., the predecessor of Southfield Capital Advisors, LLC, in 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Levison was the Head of Leveraged Finance at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (“DLJ”), where he oversaw banking and origination activities for all of DLJ’s investment banking products for leveraged companies. In particular, Mr. Levison focused on high yield securities, leveraged bank loans, bridge loans and mezzanine/equity investments. Under Mr. Levison’s leadership, DLJ became the number one ranked firm for high yield underwriting throughout the 1990’s. While at DLJ, Mr. Levison also served as Co-Chairman of the Credit Committee and as a member of the Management Committee of the Investment Banking Division and the Banking Review Committee. Prior to joining DLJ, Mr. Levison was a Managing Director of the Leveraged Buyout Group at Drexel Burnham Lambert and a Vice-President of the Special Finance Group at Manufacturers Hanover Trust.

 

While serving on the Board of Directors of our general partner, Mr. Levison’s firm DLJ acted as an underwriter with regard to the initial public offering in 1994 which coincided with the formation of our master limited partnership. Mr. Levison brings to the Board significant experience in capital markets, corporate finance and investment banking. We consider Mr. Levison to be a financial expert.

 

John R. Lowden – Mr. Lowden was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2003 and chairs the Board’s Compensation Committee and serves on the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. For the past five years Mr. Lowden has served as the President of NewCastle Partners, LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based private investment firm. Mr. Lowden also serves as Chairman and CEO of World Dryer Corporation and Metpar Industries, Inc. and serves on the Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University. Mr. Lowden obtained his Master’s degree in Business Administration and his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Wake Forest University. 

 

Mr. Lowden was a founding partner of NewCastle Partners, LLC in 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Lowden had served as a partner of The Jordan Company, a New York City-based private equity firm. Mr. Lowden was responsible for sourcing, structuring, negotiating and closing investments and monitoring portfolio companies. Mr. Lowden was also an investment banker with Ferris & Company in Washington, DC where he was engaged in mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, private placements and venture capital. During his 25 years in private equity, Mr. Lowden has been a principal investor and participated in the acquisitions of over 35 manufacturing, retail and distribution businesses.

 

Mr. Lowden brings to the Board significant experience in capital markets, corporate finance and investment banking. We consider Mr. Lowden to be a financial expert.

 

Michael F. Morrissey – Mr. Morrissey has served on the Board of Directors since 1999 and chairs the Board’s Audit Committee and serves on the Board’s Compensation Committee. Mr. Morrissey has been selected as the presiding director for non-management executive sessions of the Board. Mr. Morrissey retired as the Managing Partner of Ernst & Young’s Kansas City, Missouri office in 1999. For the past five years Mr. Morrissey has served as a board member on the boards of directors of various companies, and currently serves on the Board of Directors and as Audit Committee Chairman of Westar Energy, Inc. (since 2003), serves on the Board of Directors and as Audit Committee Chairman of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (since 2010), and the boards of several private companies and not-for-profit organizations.

 

Mr. Morrissey served as a partner of Ernst & Young for seventeen years. Prior to that, Mr. Morrissey worked for twelve years for two major accounting firms, one of which was Ernst & Young (for seven years). Mr. Morrissey has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1972. Mr. Morrissey brings to the Board substantial experience as the chairman of the audit committees of public companies, many years of experience as an audit partner of a major accounting firm and extensive experience as a director of other large private and public companies. We consider Mr. Morrissey to be a financial and accounting expert. Mr. Morrissey has a high level of understanding of the Board’s role and responsibilities based on his service on other company boards. Mr. Morrissey obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and obtained his Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Temple University.

 

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Daniel G. Kaye  – Mr. Kaye joined the Board of Directors during August 2012, as chairman of the Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. He is the recently retired Ernst & Young Midwest Managing Partner of Assurance in Chicago, where he was responsible for more than 1,600 professionals in 10 offices serving 12 states. Mr. Kaye enjoyed a track record of increasing leadership and responsibilities over his 35-year career at Ernst & Young which included serving as the New England Area Managing Partner. He has served on the Board of Directors of several not-for-profit organizations including the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Catholic Charities, Junior Achievement and the The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Kaye is a CPA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We consider Mr. Kaye to be a financial and accounting expert.

 

Corporate Governance

 

The limited partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership provide for each partnership to be governed by a general partner rather than a board of directors. Through these partnership agreements, Ferrellgas, Inc. acts as the general partner of both Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership and thereby manages and operates the activities of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas, Inc. anticipates that its activities will be limited to the management and operation of the partnerships. Neither Ferrellgas Partners nor the operating partnership directly employs any of the persons responsible for the management or operations of the partnerships, rather, these individuals are employed by the general partner.

 

The Board of Directors of our general partner has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines for the Board and charters for its Audit Committee, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Compensation Committee. A current copy of these Corporate Governance Guidelines and charters, each of which were adopted and approved by the entire Board, are available, free of charge, to our security holders and other interested parties on our website at www.ferrellgas.com (under the caption “Corporate Governance” within “Investor Information”) and are also available in print to any unitholder or other interested parties who request it. Requests for print copies should be directed to:

 

Ferrellgas, Inc.

Attention: Investor Relations

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

913-661-1533

investors@ferrellgas.com. 

 

Please note that the information and materials found on our website, except for SEC filings expressly incorporated by reference into this report herein, are not part of this report and are not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

Additionally, the Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Bruun, Levison, Lowden Morrissey and Kaye, who constitute a majority of its Directors, are “independent” as described by the New York Stock Exchange’s (“NYSE”) corporate governance rules. In conjunction with regular Board meetings, these five non-management directors also meet in a regularly scheduled executive session without members of management present. A non-management director presides over each executive session of non-management directors. Mr. Morrissey has been selected as the presiding director for non-management executive sessions. If Mr. Morrissey is not present then the other non-management directors shall select the presiding director. Additional executive sessions may be scheduled by a majority of the non-management directors in consultation with the presiding director and the Chairman of the Board.

 

The NYSE requires the Chief Executive Officer of each listed company to submit a certification indicating that the company is not in violation of the Corporate Governance listing standards of the NYSE on an annual basis. The last CEO certification to the NYSE was submitted on October 7, 2011.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board has a designated Audit Committee established in accordance with the Exchange Act comprised of Messrs. Morrissey, Bruun and Kaye. Mr. Morrissey is the chairman of the Audit Committee.  Mr. Morrissey and Mr. Kaye each have been determined by the board to be an “audit committee financial expert.” The Audit Committee charter, as well as the rules of the NYSE and the SEC, requires that members of the Audit Committee satisfy “independence” requirements as set out by the NYSE. The Board has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are “independent” as described under the relevant standards.

 

The Audit Committee charter requires the Audit Committee to pre-approve all engagements with any independent auditor, including all engagements regarding the audit of the financial statements of each Ferrellgas Party and all permissible non-audit engagements with the independent auditor.

 

Limitation on Directors Participating on Audit Committees

 

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The Board has adopted a policy limiting the number of public-company audit committees its directors may serve on to three at any point in time. If a director desires to serve on more than three public-company audit committees, he or she must first obtain the written permission of the Board.

 

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

 

The Board has a designated Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, comprised of Messrs. Kaye, Levison and Lowden. Mr. Kaye is the chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee charter requires that members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee satisfy particular “independence” requirements. The Board has determined that all of the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are “independent” as described under relevant standards.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Board has a designated Compensation Committee, comprised of Messrs. Lowden, Morrissey and Levison. Mr. Lowden is the chairman of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee charter requires that members of the Compensation Committee satisfy particular “independence” requirements. The Board has determined that all of the members of the Compensation Committee are “independent” as described under relevant standards. The Compensation Committee has the authority to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibility to effectively compensate the senior management of the general partner in a manner consistent with the growth strategy of the general partner. Toward that end, the Compensation Committee oversees the review process of all compensation, equity and benefit plans of Ferrellgas. In discharging this oversight role, the Compensation Committee has full power to consult with, retain and compensate independent legal, financial and/or other advisors as it deems necessary or appropriate.

 

Disclosure about our Security Holders’ and Interested Parties’ Ability to Communicate with the Board of Directors of our General Partner

 

The Board of Directors of our general partner has a process by which security holders and interested parties can communicate with it. Security holders and interested parties can send communications to the Board by contacting our Investor Relations department by mail, telephone or e-mail at:

 

Ferrellgas, Inc.

Attention: Investor Relations

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas  66210

913-661-1533

investors@ferrellgas.com.

 

Any communications directed to the Board of Directors from employees or others that concern complaints regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be handled in accordance with procedures adopted by the Audit Committee. All other communications directed to the Board of Directors are initially reviewed by the Investor Relations Department. The Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is advised promptly of any such communication that alleges misconduct on the part of management or raises legal, ethical or compliance concerns about the policies or practices of the general partner. On a periodic basis, the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee receives updates on other communications that raise issues related to the affairs of the Partnership but do not fall into the two prior categories. The Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee determines which of these communications require further review. The Corporate Secretary maintains a log of all such communications that is available for review for one year upon request of any member of the Board. Typically, the general partner does not forward to the Board of Directors communications from unitholders or other parties which are of a personal nature or are not related to the duties and responsibilities of the Board, including junk mail, customer complaints, job inquiries, surveys and polls, and business solicitations.

 

Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Financial Officers and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

The Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for our general partner’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or those persons performing similar functions. Additionally, the Board has adopted a general Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all of our general partner’s directors, officers and employees. These codes, which were adopted and approved by the entire Board, are available to our security holders and other interested parties at no charge on our website at www.ferrellgas.com (under the caption “Corporate Governance” within “Investor Information”) and are also available in print to any security holder or other interested parties who requests it. Requests for print copies should be directed to:

 

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Ferrellgas, Inc.

Attention: Investor Relations

7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

913-661-1533

investors@ferrellgas.com. 

 

Please note that the information and materials found on our website, except for SEC filings expressly incorporated by reference into this report herein, are not part of this report and are not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

We intend to disclose, within four business days, any amendment to the code of business conduct and the Code of Ethics on our website. Any waivers from the Code of Ethics will also be disclosed on our website.

 

Compensation of our General Partner

 

 

The selling, general and administrative expenses reimbursed include specific employee benefits and incentive plans for the benefit of the executive officers and employees of our general partner.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our general partner’s officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common units, to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of our common units with the SEC. These persons are also required by the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC to furnish our general partner with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by them. These forms include Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto.

 

Based solely on its review of the copies of such Section 16(a) forms received by our general partner and, to the extent applicable, written representations from certain reporting persons that no Annual Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 5 were required to be filed by those persons, our general partner believes that during fiscal 2012 all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the officers, directors of our general partner and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common units were met in a timely manner.

 

 

ITEM 11.    Executive Compensation.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

As of September 27, 2012, the Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on its review and discussion with management, the compensation committee has determined that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis should be included in this report.

 

Submitted by:

            John R. Lowden

            A. Andrew Levison

            Michael F. Morrissey

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Compensation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Lowden, Morrissey and Levison. None of the members were officers or employees of the general partner or any of its subsidiaries prior to or during fiscal 2012. None of the members has any relationship required to be disclosed under this caption under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Overview of Executive Officer Compensation

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Throughout this section, each person who served as the Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) during fiscal 2012, each person who served as the Principal Financial Officer (“PFO”) during fiscal 2012, the three most highly compensated executive officers other than the PEO and PFO serving at July 31, 2012 and up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer at July 31, 2012 are referred to as the Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”). We do not directly employ our NEOs. Rather, we are managed by our general partner who serves as the employer of our NEOs. We reimburse our general partner for all NEO compensation. 

 

Compensation Objectives

 

We believe an effective executive compensation package should link total compensation to overall financial performance and to the achievement of both short and long term strategic, operational and financial goals. The elements of our compensation program are intended to provide a total reward package to our NEOs that (i) provides competitive compensation opportunities, (ii) recognizes and rewards individual contribution, (iii) attracts, motivates and retains highly-talented executives, and (iv) aligns executive performance toward the creation of sustained unitholder value rather than the achievement of short-term goals that might be inconsistent with the creation of long-term unitholder value.

 

Components of Named Executive Officer Compensation

 

Stephen L. Wambold, with the assistance of J. Ryan VanWinkle, formulates preliminary compensation recommendations for all NEOs, including themselves. These recommendations are subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. To assist Stephen L. Wambold and the Compensation Committee, J. Ryan VanWinkle utilizes compensation survey data provided by the consulting firm Mercer Human Resources Consulting (“Mercer”) to provide market data that is used to create salary range benchmarks for overall NEO compensation. The compensation survey data provided by Mercer assisted in establishing these salary ranges based not only on the 16 peer group companies identified below, but also a broader industry sample identified by Mercer. This broader index was comprised of 78 companies in the Energy, Materials, Industrials and Utility industries with revenue between $1 and $4 billion.

 

We use the following benchmarking components in setting compensation levels, determining awards under our option plans and setting director compensation levels:

 

 

Companies included in the above benchmarking groups are as follows:

 

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During fiscal 2012, elements of compensation for our NEOs consisted of the following:

 

 

Base Salary

 

Stephen L. Wambold, with the assistance of J. Ryan VanWinkle, formulates preliminary base salary recommendations for all NEOs, including themselves. These recommendations are subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. To assist Stephen L. Wambold and the Compensation Committee, J. Ryan VanWinkle utilizes compensation survey data provided by Mercer to provide market data that is used to create benchmarks for each NEO’s base salary. These benchmarks refer to the high and low end of the ranges provided by Mercer, rather than a specific point within the range. The following table identifies the low and high ends of the range included in the Mercer base salary market data for each of our NEOs:

 

 

Additionally, other factors such as performance and other executive responsibilities are taken into consideration when determining the base salaries of our NEOs.

 

The amount of salary paid to each NEO during fiscal year 2012 is displayed in the “Salary” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Discretionary Bonus

 

Stephen L. Wambold has the authority to recommend for Compensation Committee review and approval, discretionary cash bonuses to any NEO, including himself. These awards are designed to reward performance by an NEO that Stephen L. Wambold believes exceeded expectations in operational or strategic objectives during the last fiscal year. The amount of discretionary bonus paid to each NEO for fiscal 2012 is displayed in the “Bonus” column of the Summary Compensation Table.  During fiscal 2012, there were no discretionary bonuses paid to our NEOs.

 

Non-Equity Incentive Plan

 

Each NEO participates in the general partner’s Corporate Incentive Plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide an incentive for NEOs to meet or exceed annual profitability targets that are consistent with the company’s overall long term strategy to increase unitholder value. Our Compensation Committee utilizes compensation survey data provided by Mercer to assist in assigning an appropriate incentive target for each NEO. The amount of corporate incentive plan paid to each NEO for fiscal 2012 is displayed in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

This plan awards a cash payment to the NEO if distributable cash flow (“DCF”) targets are achieved for the fiscal year. DCF has been selected in order to align performance measures for NEOs with how our investors evaluate our performance. Each NEO’s incentive target is computed as a percentage of their base salary. For fiscal 2012 this percentage was as follows:

 

 

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For Stephen L. Wambold, J. Ryan VanWinkle and James E. Ferrell, awards under the plan are based on total company DCF. Total company actual DCF as a percentage of total company target DCF will result in incentive target potential payouts as provided in the table below. No payout will be made if actual DCF is less than 85% of targeted DCF.

 

For Tod D. Brown, awards under the plan are based 80% on DCF performance of the internal departments under his control and 20% on total company DCF. The internal departments’ actual DCF as a percentage of the internal departments’ target DCF and total company actual DCF as a percentage of total company target DCF will result in incentive target potential payouts as provided in the table below. No payout will be made if actual DCF is less than 85% of targeted DCF.

 

In accordance with an agreement and release incorporated by reference in Exhibit 10.16 to this Form 10-K, George Koloroutis is not eligible for participation in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan.

 

For fiscal 2012, the percent of targeted total company DCF achieved fell below the 85% range, resulting in no total company corporate incentive plan payout for Stephen L. Wambold, J. Ryan VanWinkle, Tod D. Brown and James E. Ferrell. For Incentive Plan purposes, total company actual DCF was computed as follows:

 

 

Tod D. Brown’s internal departments’ percent of targeted DCF achieved was less than 85% of plan, resulting in no incentive payment.  

 

Stock-based and Unit Option Plans

 

We have two equity-based incentive plans available for participation by our NEOs, the “Ferrell Companies Incentive Compensation Plan” and the “Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan.” The amount of compensation cost related to these plans incurred for each NEO during fiscal 2012 is displayed in the “Option Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Ferrell Companies Incentive Compensation Plan (“ICP”) – The Ferrell Companies, Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan was established by Ferrell Companies to allow upper-middle and senior level managers, including NEOs, and directors of our general partner to participate in the equity growth of Ferrell Companies. Pursuant to this ICP, eligible participants may be granted stock options to purchase shares of common stock of Ferrell Companies, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), performance shares or other incentives payable in cash or in stock. Neither Ferrellgas Partners nor the operating partnership contributes, directly or indirectly, to the ICP. The ICP awards vest ratably over periods ranging from zero to 12 years or 100% upon a change of control of Ferrell Companies, or upon the death, disability or retirement at the age of 65 of the participant. All awards expire 10 or 15 years from the date of issuance.

 

The ICP awards are granted periodically throughout the year at strike prices equal to the most recently published semi-annual valuation by an independent third party valuation firm that is performed on Ferrell Companies, which is a privately held company, for the purposes of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. All other terms of these awards granted to the NEOs, including the quantity awarded, vesting life and expiration date of awards are discretionary and must be approved by the ICP Option Committee, which consists of Stephen L. Wambold and J. Ryan VanWinkle. Awards granted to NEOs must also be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. To assist the ICP Option Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors in determining the quantity of awards to grant to an NEO, J. Ryan VanWinkle utilizes compensation survey data provided by Mercer to provide market data that is used to create recommended ranges of current year ICP award grants by executive position. Utilizing the Mercer data, the compensation committee approved ICP awards to NEOs in fiscal 2012 taking into account each NEO’s responsibilities, performance and respective holdings of such ICP awards previously granted by the committee to ensure the appropriate level of equity as a component of the NEO’s total compensation package.

 

Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan (“UOP”) – The Second Amended and Restated Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan grants employees of our general partner unit options to purchase our common units. The purpose of the UOP is to encourage certain employees of our general partner to develop a proprietary interest in our growth and performance; to generate an increased incentive to contribute to our future success and prosperity, thereby enhancing our value for the benefit of our unitholders; and to enhance our ability to attract and retain key individuals who are essential to our progress, growth and profitability, by giving these individuals the opportunity to acquire our common units.

 

This plan is authorized to issue options in common units to employees of the general partner or its affiliates. The Board of Directors of the general partner in its sole discretion administers the authorization of grants and sets the unit option price and vesting terms. The options currently outstanding vest over a five year period and expire on the tenth anniversary date of the grant.

 

During fiscal 2012, no new awards were granted to any NEOs under the UOP.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

 

On July 17, 1998, pursuant to the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, an employee stock ownership trust purchased all of the outstanding common stock of Ferrell Companies. The purpose of the ESOP is to provide all employees of our general partner, including NEOs, an opportunity for ownership in Ferrell Companies, and indirectly, in us. Ferrell Companies makes contributions to the ESOP, which allows a portion of the shares of Ferrell Companies owned by the ESOP to be allocated to employees’ accounts over time. The value of the shares allocated to each NEO for compensation related to fiscal 2012 is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Twice per year and in accordance with the ESOP, each NEO’s ESOP account receives an allocation of Ferrell Companies shares. This allocation, as determined by the ESOP, is based on the following:  a) the percentage of the NEO’s base salary, discretionary bonus, and corporate incentive plan paid during the period, subject to certain Section 415 IRS limitations, and b) shares owned from previous allocations. NEOs vest in their account balances as follows:

 

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NEOs are entitled to receive a distribution for the vested portion of their accounts at specified times in accordance with the ESOP for normal or late retirement, disability, death, resignation, or dismissal.

 

Deferred Compensation Plans

 

Two deferred compensation plans are available for participation by our NEOs, the “Defined Contribution Profit Sharing Plan,” a tax-qualified retirement plan, and the “Supplemental Savings Plan,” a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The amount of company match related to these plans credited to each NEO’s account during fiscal 2012 is included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

Defined Contribution Profit Sharing Plan (“401(k) Plan”) – The Ferrell Companies, Inc. Profit Sharing and 401(k) Investment Plan is a qualified defined contribution plan, which includes both employee contributions and employer matching contributions. All full‑time employees including NEOs, or any of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries are eligible to participate in this plan. This plan has a 401(k) feature allowing all full-time employees to specify a portion of their pre‑tax and/or after‑tax compensation to be contributed to this plan. This plan provides for matching contributions under a cash or deferred arrangement based upon participant salaries and employee contributions to this plan.

 

Our contributions to the profit sharing portion of this plan are discretionary and no profit sharing contributions were made to this plan for fiscal 2012. However, this plan also provides for matching contributions under a cash or deferred arrangement based upon the participant salary and employee contributions to this plan. Due to Internal Revenue Code “Highly Compensated Employee” rules and regulations, NEOs may only contribute up to approximately 5% of their eligible compensation to this plan. We will provide a 50% matching contribution of the first 8% of all eligible contributions made to this plan and the Supplemental Savings Plan (see below) combined. Employee contributions are 100% vested, while the company’s matching contribution vests ratably over the first 5 years of employment. Employee and our matching contributions can be directed, at the employee’s option, to be invested in a number of investment options that are offered by this plan. 

 

Supplemental Savings Plan (“SSP”) – The Ferrell Companies, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan was established October 1, 1994 in order to provide certain management or highly compensated employees with supplemental retirement income which is approximately equal in amount to the retirement income that would have been provided to members of the select group of employees under the terms of the 401(k) feature of the 401(k) Plan (see above) based on such members' deferral elections thereunder, but which could not be provided under the 401(k) feature of the 401(k) Plan due to the application of certain “Highly Compensated Employee” IRS rules and regulations. 

 

This non-qualified plan is available to all employees who have been designated as “Highly Compensated” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. NEOs are allowed to make, subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations, pre-tax contributions to the SSP of up to 25% of their eligible compensation. We will provide a 50% matching contribution of the first 8% of all eligible contributions made to this plan and the 401(k) Plan (see above) combined. Employee contributions are 100% vested, while our matching contribution vests ratably over the first 5 years of employment. Employee and our matching contributions can be directed, at the employee’s option, to be invested in a number of investment options that are offered by the SSP. 

 

Employment and Change-in-Control Agreements

 

The independent members of the Board of Directors of our general partner have authorized the general partner to enter into an Employment, Confidentiality and Non-compete agreement and a Change-in-Control agreement with James E. Ferrell. The purpose for entering into these agreements is to secure James E. Ferrell’s employment and protect the confidentiality of our proprietary information.

 

The independent members of the Board of Directors of our general partner have authorized the general partner to enter into Employment Agreements with each of our NEOs other than James E. Ferrell. The purpose for entering into these agreements is to (i) encourage and motivate NEOs to remain employed and focused on the business during a potential change in control, (ii) motivate NEOs to make business decisions that are in the best interest of the company, (iii) ensure that NEOs conduct appropriate due diligence and effectively integrate companies in the event of an acquisition, and (iv) secure the long-term employment of the NEO. The initial term of

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these agreements ends on December 31, 2012. Thereafter, each agreement automatically renews for successive 12-month periods, unless one party to the agreement provides notice of non-renewal to the other at least 180 days before the last day of then current agreement term.

 

The specific terms of these agreements are described under “Other Potential Post-Employment Payments” below.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the compensation for the last three fiscal years of our general partner's NEOs:

 

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

The following table lists information on our general partner’s NEOs grants of plan based awards during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012:

 

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During fiscal 2012 there were no options awarded to NEOs under the Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

 

The following tables list information concerning our general partner’s NEOs outstanding equity awards as of July 31, 2012:

 

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Option Exercises

 

The following tables list information concerning our general partner’s NEO’s outstanding equity awards that were exercised during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012:

 

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

The following table lists information concerning our general partner’s NEOs nonqualified SSP account activity during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012:

 

 

Amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table above.

The portion of this amount representing registrant contributions made in years prior was previously reported as compensation to the NEO in the Summary Compensation Table for previous years.

 

Other Potential Post-Employment Payments

 

The independent members of the Board of Directors of our general partner have authorized our general partner to enter into an employment agreement with James E. Ferrell. Pursuant to the employment agreement Mr. Ferrell is entitled to:

 

 

 

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The incentive bonus is payable upon the termination of Mr. Ferrell’s employment agreement. The value of this bonus at July 31, 2012 was $1.1 million.

 

In addition to the compensation described above, Mr. Ferrell participates in our various employee benefit plans, with the exception of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

 

Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Ferrell’s employment agreement, in the event of death, permanent disability, a termination without cause, resignation for cause or a change of control of Ferrell Companies or our general partner, Mr. Ferrell is entitled to health, accident and life insurance benefits for a period of six months, a cash termination benefit payable within 30 days equal to three times the greater of 125% of his current base salary or the average compensation paid to him for the prior three fiscal years and is entitled to additional gross-up payments on any payment subject to excise tax. The value of this termination benefit at July 31, 2012 was approximately $3.6 million.

 

Mr. Ferrell’s agreement also contains a non-compete provision for five years following his termination of employment. The non-compete provision provides that he shall not directly or indirectly own, manage, control, or engage in any business with any person whose business is substantially similar to ours and that he shall not directly or indirectly attempt to induce any employee (subject to modifications made for certain employees in the Waiver to Employment Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreement dated December 19, 2006) of Ferrellgas to leave the employ of Ferrellgas or in any way interfere with the relationship between Ferrellgas and any employee.

 

The members of the Board of Directors Compensation Committee have authorized us and our general partner to enter into a Change-in-Control Agreement with Mr. Ferrell. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, a change in control is defined as:

 

 

Should a termination of employment occur resulting from a change in control, Mr. Ferrell will be entitled to:

 

 

 

 

The payments to Mr. Ferrell under the Change-in-Control Agreement are in addition to any payments to which Mr. Ferrell would be entitled under the terms of his separate employment agreement.

 

The independent members of the Board of Directors of our general partner have authorized our general partner to enter into an Employment Agreement with each of our NEOs other than James E. Ferrell. Pursuant to these employment agreements, during the agreement term, while the NEO is employed by the general partner, each NEO is compensated for his services as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, if the NEO’s employment is terminated for any reason, the NEO will be entitled to the following payments:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, in the event of death, disability, a termination for cause, voluntary resignation or mutual agreement, neither the NEO nor any other person will have any right to payments or benefits other than those listed above for periods after the NEO’s termination date.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, the term “Cause” means:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreements, the term “Good Reason” means any of the following which occur after the effective date of the employment agreement without the consent of the NEO:

 

 

Should a termination of employment occur resulting from a termination other than for Cause or from a termination for Good Reason, each as defined above, each of our NEOs will be entitled to:

 

 

 

 

 

The value of the cash severance payments under Mr. Ferrell’s Change-in-Control Agreement and under the employment agreements for all of the other NEOs above at September 1, 2012 would be:

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As discussed above, James E. Ferrell’s employment agreement contains a separate benefit payable upon certain qualifying terminations of employment or a change-in-control which is valued as of July 31, 2012 at an additional $3.6 million.

 

In accordance with an agreement and release incorporated by reference in Exhibit 10.16 to this Form 10-K, Mr. Koloroutis remains in an advisory capacity as a Ferrellgas employee at his current salary of $350,000 per annum through January 18, 2016. Mr. Koloroutis also is reimbursed for COBRA continuation of benefits coverage payments for 48 months. All existing stock options and stock appreciation rights that Mr. Koloroutis holds will, through the term of his employment and thereafter, continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the FCI and FGP incentive compensation plan documents.

 

Compensation of Non-Employee Directors

 

We believe our non-employee director compensation package should compensate our non-employee directors in a manner that is competitive within the marketplace. Our compensation package includes a combination of annual director fees and option awards. Total compensation awarded to our non-employee directors varies depending upon their level of activity within the Board. Participation in and chairing of committees within the Board will increase the level of compensation paid to an individual board member.

 

ICP awards for non-employee members of the Board of Directors are determined utilizing competitive compensation data that is gathered on an annual basis. Annually we compare the compensation of our Board of Directors with the compensation levels and practices of companies that are of similar size and operate in similar industries. We utilize that data to analyze the compensation of our non-employee members of the Board of Directors and ensure that we are competitive in the marketplace for compensating our Board. ICP awards are one element of that compensation, and the actual awards that are granted are determined on a discretionary basis. During fiscal 2012, we granted SARs to each non-employee director. All SAR awards granted to our non-employee directors have an exercise price equal to the most recently published semi-annual valuation that is performed on Ferrell Companies for the purposes of the ESOP.

 

With the assistance of J. Ryan VanWinkle, Stephen L. Wambold formulates preliminary annual director fee and SAR awards recommendations for each board member. These recommendations are subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee. To assist Stephen L. Wambold and the Compensation Committee, J. Ryan VanWinkle utilizes publicly available board of director compensation data within our industry, as compiled by Mercer, to provide market data that is used to create benchmarks for each director’s annual director fee and total compensation package.

 

The following table sets forth the compensation for the last completed fiscal year of our general partner's Board of Directors.

 

 

 

At July 31, 2012, non-employee directors held no UOP awards.

 

 

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ITEM 12.      SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIALOWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS.

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of August 31, 2012, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common units by:

 

 

Other than those persons listed below, our general partner knows of no other person beneficially owning more than 5% of our common units.

 

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

 

*              Less than one percent

 

Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the foregoing table is defined by Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Under that rule, a person is generally considered to be the beneficial owner of a security if he has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting thereof, and/or to dispose or direct the disposition thereof, or has the right to acquire either of those powers within 60 days. See the “Executive Compensation – Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End – Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan” table above for the number of common units that could be acquired by each named executive officer through exercising common unit options.

 

All common stock of Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“FCI shares”) held in the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (“Trust”) is ultimately voted by the appointed trustee. The current independent trustee of the Trust is GreatBanc Trust Company. Each participant in the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) may be entitled to direct the Trustee as to the exercise of any voting rights attributable to FCI shares allocated to their ESOP account, but only to the extent required by Sections 401(a)(22) and 409(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder (the “Code”). The ESOP plan administrator shall direct the Trustee how to vote both FCI shares not allocated to plan participants (i.e., held in a Trust suspense account) and any allocated FCI shares in the Trust as to which no voting instructions have been received from participants. In all cases, the Trustee may vote the shares as it determines is necessary to fulfill its fiduciary duties under ERISA.

 

As it relates to the Trust, the Code provides that an ESOP participant may be entitled to direct the Trustee as to the exercise of any voting rights attributable to FCI shares then allocated to their ESOP account with respect to any corporate matters which involves the voting of such shares with respect to the approval or disapproval of any corporate merger or consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation, dissolution, sale of substantially all assets of a trade or business, or such similar transaction as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.

 

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The common units owned by the Employee Stock Ownership Trust at August 31, 2012 includes 21,469,664 common units owned by Ferrell Companies which is 100% owned by the Employee Stock Ownership Trust, 195,686 common units owned by FCI Trading Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies and 51,204 common units owned by Ferrell Propane, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of our general partner. 

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The table below provides information about our Second Amended and Restated Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan as of July 31, 2012. This plan is our only equity compensation plan that grants equity of Ferrellgas Partners to its participants. In addition to the information set forth below, see Note B – Summary of significant accounting policies (17) Stock based and unit-option plans – to our consolidated financial statements for additional information about the plan.

 

 

 

The Second Amended and Restated Ferrellgas Unit Option Plan was initially adopted by the Board of Directors of our general partner. The plan is intended to meet the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange equity holder approval policy for option plans not approved by the equity holders of a company, and thus approval of the plan by our common unitholders was not required.

 

The purpose of the plan is to encourage selected employees of our general partner to:

 

The plan is to be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of our general partner. The Compensation Committee has designated an employee committee to recommend to it at various times throughout the year the number of unit options to be granted and to whom such unit options should be granted. The Compensation Committee then votes upon such recommendations.

 

Subject to the terms of the plan and applicable law, the administrator of the plan has the sole power, authority and discretion to:

 

Generally, all of the directors, officers, and other employees of our general partner, or an affiliate of our general partner, are eligible for participation in the plan. Grants to a member of the Board or the option committee are permitted provided that the grantee recuses themselves from the vote relating to such unit option grant. Grants may be made to the same employee on more than one occasion and the terms and provisions of grants to the same employee or to different employees need not be the same. The plan allows for the granting of only non-qualified unit options and in no event shall the term of any unit option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant. Unit options, to the extent vested as of the date the holder thereof ceases to be an employee of our general partner or one of its affiliates, will remain the property of the holder until the unit options are exercised or expire. Unit options, to the extent not vested as of the date the holder ceases to be an employee, are automatically canceled. Unit options or rights thereunder are not assignable, alienable, saleable or transferable by a holder otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. It is intended that the plan and any unit option granted to a person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act meet all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

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To comply with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, no single officer or director of our general partner may acquire under the plan more than 314,895 common units. In addition, all common units available for issuance under this plan, whether to directors or officers of our general partner or to any other persons, together with any common units available for issuance under any other employee benefit plan, of which there are currently none, may not exceed an aggregate total of 1,574,475 common units.

 

Although the number of unit options currently available for issuance under the plan is limited to 1,350,000, under particular circumstances that would result in a significant dilution of the rights of the participants in the plan, the administrator of the plan may make appropriate adjustments in the maximum number of common units issuable under the plan to reflect the effect of such circumstance and may make appropriate adjustments to the number of common units subject to, and/or the exercise price of, each outstanding unit option.

 

The administrator of the plan has the discretion to cancel all or part of any outstanding unit options at any time. Upon any such cancellation we will pay to the holder with respect to each cancelled unit option an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the fair market value of a common unit, at the effective date of such cancellation, over (ii) the unit option exercise price. In addition, the administrator has the right to alter or amend the plan or any part thereof from time to time; provided, however, that no change in any unit option already granted may be made which would impair the rights of the holder thereof without the consent of the holder. The administrator may also in its discretion terminate the plan at any time with respect to any common units for which a unit option has not yet been granted. There is currently no fixed termination date for the plan. If a plan for our complete dissolution is adopted or our unitholders approve an agreement for our sale or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, then upon such adoption or approval all or a portion, in the sole discretion of the administrator, of a holder’s unit options outstanding as of the date of that adoption or approval shall be immediately and fully vested and exercisable and may be exercised within one year from the date of that adoption or approval.

 

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Our written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to our directors, officers and employees. It deals with conflicts of interest, confidential information, use of company assets, business dealings, and other similar topics. The Code prohibits any transaction that raises questions of possible ethical or legal conflict between the interests of the company and an employee’s personal interests.

 

The board of directors maintains an affiliate trading policy and other policies that govern specific related party transactions. Each of these policies contain guidelines on what entities or natural persons are considered related parties or an affiliate and the related procedures that are to be followed if transactions occur with these parties. On a quarterly basis, or more frequently if required by the policies, management provides the board with a discussion of any related party or affiliate trading transactions. Annually, these policies are reviewed by the board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and considered for approval by the board of directors.

 

Our directors and officers are required each year to respond to a detailed questionnaire. The questionnaire requires each director and officer to identify every non-Company organization of any type of which they or their family (as defined by the SEC) are a director, partner, member, trustee, officer, employee, representative, consultant or significant shareholder. The questionnaire also requires disclosure of any transaction, relationship or arrangement with the Company. The information obtained from these questionnaires is then evaluated to determine the nature and amount of any transactions or relationships. If significant, the results are provided to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and Board for their use in determining director and officer independence and related party disclosure obligations.

 

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 $224.8 million for fiscal 2012, 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:

 

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During fiscal 2012, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership together paid the general partner distributions of $3.3 million.

 

On September 14, 2012, Ferrellgas Partners paid distributions to Ferrell Companies, FCI Trading Corp., Ferrell Propane, Inc., James E. Ferrell (indirectly) and the general partner of $10.7 million, $0.1 million, $26 thousand, $2.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

 

Certain Business Relationships

 

None.

 

Indebtedness of Management

 

None.

 

Transactions with Promoters

 

None.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Bruun, Levison, Lowden, Kaye and Morrissey, who constitute a majority of its Directors, are “independent” as described by the NYSE’s corporate governance rules.

 

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

 

The following table presents fees billed for professional audit services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements and for other services for fiscal 2012 and 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

The Audit Committee of our general partner reviewed and approved all audit and non-audit services provided to us by Deloitte & Touche LLP during fiscal 2012 and 2011 prior to the commencement of such services. See “Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrants–Audit Committee” for a description of the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures related to the engagement by us of an independent accountant.

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Supplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. has not registered securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Act and files reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Act.  As of the date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, no annual report or proxy material has been sent to the holders of the securities of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., however, a copy of this Annual Report will be furnished to the holders of the securities of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. subsequent to the date of filing of this Annual Report.

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SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.