FERRELLGAS PARTNERS L P - Quarter Report: 2018 January (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2018 | |
or | |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to |
Commission file numbers: 001-11331, 333-06693, 000-50182 and 000-50183
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
Delaware Delaware Delaware Delaware | 43-1698480 43-1742520 43-1698481 14-1866671 | |
(States or other jurisdictions of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Nos.) | |
7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas | 66210 | |
(Address of principal executive office) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants’ telephone number, including area code: (913) 661-1500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.: | ||||||
Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o | |||
Emerging growth company ☐ |
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp, Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.: | ||||||
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer x (do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o | |||
Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P. ¨
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. ¨
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 ¨
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At February 28, 2018, the registrants had common units or shares of common stock outstanding as follows:
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | 97,152,665 | Common Units | ||
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. | 1,000 | Common Stock | ||
Ferrellgas, L.P. | n/a | n/a | ||
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. | 1,000 | Common Stock |
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
EACH OF FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. AND FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. MEET THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION
H(1)(A) AND (B) OF FORM 10-Q AND ARE THEREFORE, WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH REGISTRANT, FILING THIS FORM 10-Q WITH THE REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
(in thousands, except unit data) | ||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,173 | $ | 5,760 | ||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $235,150 and $109,407 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively) | 255,978 | 165,084 | ||||||
Inventories | 110,092 | 92,552 | ||||||
Assets held for sale | 52,200 | — | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 41,400 | 33,388 | ||||||
Total current assets | 473,843 | 296,784 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 646,327 | 731,923 | ||||||
Goodwill, net | 246,098 | 256,103 | ||||||
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $452,283 and $436,428 at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively) | 243,079 | 251,102 | ||||||
Other assets, net | 77,712 | 74,057 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,687,059 | $ | 1,609,969 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 82,072 | $ | 85,561 | ||||
Short-term borrowings | 261,200 | 59,781 | ||||||
Collateralized note payable | 166,000 | 69,000 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | 140,510 | 126,224 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 649,782 | 340,566 | ||||||
Long-term debt | 1,811,617 | 1,995,795 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 35,422 | 31,118 | ||||||
Contingencies and commitments (Note J) | ||||||||
Partners' deficit: | ||||||||
Common unitholders (97,152,665 units outstanding at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017) | (762,046 | ) | (701,188 | ) | ||||
General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017) | (67,604 | ) | (66,991 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 24,332 | 14,601 | ||||||
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. partners' deficit | (805,318 | ) | (753,578 | ) | ||||
Noncontrolling interest | (4,444 | ) | (3,932 | ) | ||||
Total partners' deficit | (809,762 | ) | (757,510 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities and partners' deficit | $ | 1,687,059 | $ | 1,609,969 | ||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | ||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except unit data) | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 592,239 | $ | 437,375 | $ | 894,997 | $ | 679,774 | ||||||||
Midstream operations | 117,276 | 96,787 | 238,036 | 204,831 | ||||||||||||
Other | 45,641 | 45,088 | 76,778 | 74,187 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | 755,156 | 579,250 | 1,209,811 | 958,792 | ||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 362,918 | 235,029 | 542,433 | 354,241 | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | 107,067 | 87,024 | 215,192 | 181,666 | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 20,787 | 20,657 | 34,489 | 32,403 | ||||||||||||
Operating expense | 123,716 | 113,076 | 234,178 | 218,162 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 14,891 | 12,279 | 28,055 | 26,548 | ||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,954 | 7,416 | 13,695 | 14,765 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | 40,053 | 75,172 | 32,410 | 66,031 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (42,673 | ) | (36,819 | ) | (83,480 | ) | (72,247 | ) | ||||||||
Other income, net | 684 | 763 | 1,195 | 1,271 | ||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (1,936 | ) | 39,116 | (49,875 | ) | (4,945 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (162 | ) | 588 | 215 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | (1,774 | ) | 38,528 | (50,090 | ) | (4,943 | ) | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 69 | 430 | (332 | ) | 32 | |||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | (1,843 | ) | 38,098 | (49,758 | ) | (4,975 | ) | |||||||||
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss) | (19 | ) | 381 | (498 | ) | (50 | ) | |||||||||
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss) | $ | (1,824 | ) | $ | 37,717 | $ | (49,260 | ) | $ | (4,925 | ) | |||||
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unit | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.39 | $ | (0.51 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | |||||
Cash distributions declared per common unit | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.20 | ||||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | (1,774 | ) | $ | 38,528 | $ | (50,090 | ) | $ | (4,943 | ) | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||
Change in value of risk management derivatives | 1,072 | 15,262 | 23,521 | 20,400 | |||||||||||||
Reclassification of (gains) losses on derivatives to earnings, net | (9,743 | ) | 514 | (13,692 | ) | 4,752 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (8,671 | ) | 15,776 | 9,829 | 25,152 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | (10,445 | ) | 54,304 | (40,261 | ) | 20,209 | |||||||||||
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | (19 | ) | 590 | (234 | ) | 286 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | $ | (10,426 | ) | $ | 53,714 | $ | (40,027 | ) | $ | 19,923 | |||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' DEFICIT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of units | Accumulated other comprehensive income | Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. partners' deficit | Total partners' deficit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common unitholders | General partner unitholder | Common unitholders | General partner unitholder | Non-controlling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at July 31, 2017 | 97,152.7 | 989.9 | $ | (701,188 | ) | $ | (66,991 | ) | $ | 14,601 | $ | (753,578 | ) | $ | (3,932 | ) | $ | (757,510 | ) | ||||||||||
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock-based compensation charges | — | — | 7,833 | 81 | — | 7,914 | 79 | 7,993 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | — | — | (19,431 | ) | (196 | ) | — | (19,627 | ) | (357 | ) | (19,984 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | (49,260 | ) | (498 | ) | — | (49,758 | ) | (332 | ) | (50,090 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | 9,731 | 9,731 | 98 | 9,829 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at January 31, 2018 | 97,152.7 | 989.9 | $ | (762,046 | ) | $ | (67,604 | ) | $ | 24,332 | $ | (805,318 | ) | $ | (4,444 | ) | $ | (809,762 | ) | ||||||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (50,090 | ) | $ | (4,943 | ) | |
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 51,217 | 51,809 | |||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 7,993 | 6,699 | |||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge | — | 3,298 | |||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | |||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 40,144 | 6,468 | |||||
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments | (91 | ) | (1,862 | ) | |||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 1,688 | (283 | ) | ||||
Deferred income tax expense | 364 | 35 | |||||
Other | 4,482 | 2,659 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions: | |||||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization | (102,315 | ) | (74,403 | ) | |||
Inventories | (17,275 | ) | (24,268 | ) | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (4,682 | ) | 7,060 | ||||
Accounts payable | 11,510 | 40,444 | |||||
Accrued interest expense | 304 | 1,916 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 13,372 | 19,951 | |||||
Other assets and liabilities | (2,920 | ) | 4,757 | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (36,294 | ) | 39,337 | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (14,862 | ) | — | ||||
Capital expenditures | (35,693 | ) | (19,768 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 4,207 | 4,591 | |||||
Other | — | (37 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (46,348 | ) | (15,214 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Distributions | (19,627 | ) | (60,107 | ) | |||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 23,580 | 204,444 | |||||
Payments on long-term debt | (1,267 | ) | (172,790 | ) | |||
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | (7,879 | ) | (35,692 | ) | |||
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | 97,000 | 69,000 | |||||
Cash paid for financing costs | (395 | ) | (4,382 | ) | |||
Noncontrolling interest activity | (357 | ) | 1,000 | ||||
Repurchase of common units | — | (15,851 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 91,055 | (14,378 | ) | ||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 8,413 | 9,745 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | 5,760 | 4,965 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period | $ | 14,173 | $ | 14,710 | |||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data, unless otherwise designated)
(unaudited)
A. Partnership organization and formation
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”) was formed April 19, 1994, and is a publicly traded limited partnership, owning an approximate 99% limited partner interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. (the "operating partnership"). Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership, collectively referred to as “Ferrellgas,” are both Delaware limited partnerships and are governed by their respective partnership agreements. Ferrellgas Partners was formed to acquire and hold a limited partner interest in the operating partnership. As of January 31, 2018, Ferrell Companies, Inc. ("Ferrell Companies") beneficially owns 22.8 million Ferrellgas Partners common units. Ferrellgas, Inc. (the "general partner"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, has retained an approximate 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and also holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership, representing an effective 2% general partner interest in Ferrellgas on a combined basis. As general partner, it performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas. Unless contractually provided for, creditors of the operating partnership have no recourse with regards to Ferrellgas Partners.
Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners. The operating partnership is the only operating subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners.
Ferrellgas is engaged in the following primary businesses:
• | Propane operations and related equipment sales consists of the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Ferrellgas serves residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. |
• | Midstream operations consists of crude oil logistics and water solutions. Crude oil logistics primarily generates income by providing crude oil transportation and logistics services on behalf of producers and end-users of crude oil. Water solutions generates income primarily through the operation of salt water disposal wells in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. |
Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending July 31, 2018.
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal recurring nature. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Ferrellgas' Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017.
B. Summary of significant accounting policies
(1) Accounting estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates impacting the consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment assets, residual values of tanks, capitalization of customer tank installation costs, amortization methods of intangible assets, valuation methods used to value sales returns and allowances, allowance for doubtful accounts, fair value of reporting units, recoverability of long-lived assets, assumptions used to value business combinations, fair values of derivative contracts and stock-based compensation calculations.
(2) Assets held for sale: Assets held for sale represent rail cars that have met the criteria of “held for sale” accounting. During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, Ferrellgas committed to a plan to sell certain rail cars held by the Midstream operations segment. These assets were reclassified from Rail cars within "Property, plant and equipment, net" to "Assets held for sale" in the accompanying balance sheet as of January 31, 2018. Ferrellgas ceased depreciation on these assets during January 2018. Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. For further discussion of assets held for sale, see Note C - Supplemental financial statement information.
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(3) New accounting standards:
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The issuance is part of a joint effort by the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") to enhance financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, thereby, improving the consistency of requirements, comparability of practices and usefulness of disclosures. The new standard will supersede much of the existing authoritative literature for revenue recognition. The standard and related amendments will be effective for Ferrellgas for its annual reporting period beginning August 1, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Entities are allowed to transition to the new standard by either recasting prior periods or recognizing the cumulative effect. Ferrellgas is in the final stages of analyzing the impact of the new guidance using an integrated approach which includes evaluating differences in the amount and timing of revenue recognition from applying the requirements of the new guidance, reviewing its accounting policies and practices, and assessing the need for changes to its processes, accounting systems and design of internal controls. Ferrellgas has completed the assessment of a significant number of its contracts with customers under the new guidance to determine the effect of the adoption of the new guidance. Although Ferrellgas has not completed its assessment of the impact of the new guidance, it does not expect its adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2015-11
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires that inventory within the scope of the guidance be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We adopted ASU 2015-11 effective August 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-02
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Ferrellgas is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the consolidated financial statements. Ferrellgas has formed an implementation team, completed training on the new standard, and is working on an initial assessment.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) which requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities will apply the standard's provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. Ferrellgas is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-12
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Financial Instruments - Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities which is intended to improve the financial reporting for hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Ferrellgas is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.
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C. Supplemental financial statement information
Inventories consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Propane gas and related products | $ | 81,644 | $ | 67,049 | ||||
Appliances, parts and supplies, and other | 28,448 | 25,503 | ||||||
Inventories | $ | 110,092 | $ | 92,552 |
In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas enters into contracts to take delivery of propane for supply procurement purposes with terms that generally do not exceed 36 months. Most of these contracts call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 81.9 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
Other assets, net consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Notes receivable, less current portion | $ | 36,371 | $ | 32,500 | ||||
Other | 41,341 | 41,557 | ||||||
Other assets, net | $ | 77,712 | $ | 74,057 |
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Accrued interest | $ | 18,975 | $ | 18,671 | ||||
Customer deposits and advances | 24,676 | 25,541 | ||||||
Other | 96,859 | 82,012 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | $ | 140,510 | $ | 126,224 |
Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of operations line items:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Operating expense | $ | 54,613 | $ | 47,157 | $ | 97,928 | $ | 88,883 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,123 | 996 | 2,235 | 2,022 | ||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,296 | 6,652 | 12,364 | 13,318 | ||||||||||||
Total shipping and handling expenses | $ | 62,032 | $ | 54,805 | $ | 112,527 | $ | 104,223 |
During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas committed to a plan to dispose of all of its rail cars utilized in the Midstream operations segment and as a result, reclassified 1,292 rail cars from "Property, plant and equipment, net" to "Assets held for sale" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2018. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2018, "Loss on asset sales and disposals" includes a loss of $35.5 million related to the write-down of these rail cars classified as "Assets held for sale". On February 20, 2018, Ferrellgas completed the sale of 1,072 of these rail cars and received approximately $47.0 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce outstanding debt on Ferrellgas' secured credit facility.
During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas completed the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC in the Midstream operations segment in exchange for an $8.5 million secured promissory note due in May 2020. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2018, "Loss on asset sales and disposals" includes a loss of $3.6 million related to this sale.
"Loss on asset sales and disposals" during the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 consists of:
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For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Loss on assets held for sale | $ | 35,515 | $ | — | $ | 35,515 | $ | — | ||||||||
Loss on sale of assets and other | 3,734 | 45 | 4,629 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | $ | 39,249 | $ | 45 | $ | 40,144 | $ | 6,468 |
Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:
For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Cash paid for: | ||||||||
Interest | $ | 78,682 | $ | 69,572 | ||||
Income taxes | $ | 12 | $ | 26 | ||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions | $ | 1,508 | $ | — | ||||
Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions | $ | 47 | $ | (100 | ) |
D. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral | $ | 235,150 | $ | 109,407 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 13,596 | 47,346 | ||||||
Note receivable - current portion | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
Other | 284 | 307 | ||||||
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts | (3,052 | ) | (1,976 | ) | ||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net | $ | 255,978 | $ | 165,084 |
Consolidated leverage ratio
The consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt of the operating partnership to trailing four quarters earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense ("EBITDA") (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas' secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current maximum consolidated leverage covenant ratios are as follows:
Date | Maximum consolidated leverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 5.50 |
Ferrellgas' consolidated leverage ratio was 6.96x as of January 31, 2018. See additional disclosure about Ferrellgas' financial covenants in Note E - Debt.
Consolidated interest coverage ratio
The consolidated interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas' secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
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The current minimum consolidated interest coverage ratios are as follows:
Date | Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 2.50 |
Ferrellgas' consolidated interest coverage ratio was 2.14x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $25.3 million of additional interest expense or approximately $44.3 million less EBITDA. See additional disclosure about Ferrellgas' financial covenants in Note E - Debt.
This accounts receivable securitization facility matures on July 29, 2019 unless the secured credit facility matures or terminates at an earlier date. If Ferrellgas replaces the senior secured credit facility prior to the October 2018 maturity date, Ferrellgas will need to amend the accounts receivable securitization facility to modify the maturity date, or replace it with a new facility. Ferrellgas is working to renew or replace the accounts receivable securitization facility. Potential options include extending the current accounts receivable securitization facility, entering into a new accounts receivable securitization facility or securing alternative financing from a different source. Ferrellgas believes it is probable that it will be able to obtain sufficient capital to meet anticipated liquidity demands.
At January 31, 2018, $235.2 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $166.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2017, $109.4 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $69.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the commercial paper conduit. These accounts receivable pledged as collateral are bankruptcy remote from the operating partnership. The operating partnership does not provide any guarantee or similar support to the collectability of these accounts receivable pledged as collateral.
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas had received cash proceeds of $166.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas had received cash proceeds of $69.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization facility had a weighted average interest rate of 4.0% and 4.0% as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively.
E. Debt
Short-term borrowings
Since October 31, 2017, Ferrellgas classified all of its secured credit facility borrowings as short-term because the facility matures in October 2018. Prior to October 31, 2017, Ferrellgas classified as short-term the portion of its secured credit facility borrowings that were used to fund working capital needs that management intended to pay down within the 12 month period following the balance sheet date. As of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, $261.2 million and $59.8 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.
Financial covenants
The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit Ferrellgas Partners' ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. The general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners, and the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined in the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility.
Before a restricted payment (as defined in the secured credit facility and the operating partnership indentures) can be made by the operating partnership, the operating partnership must be in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio covenants under the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility and in compliance with the covenants under the operating partnership's indentures. If the operating partnership is unable to make restricted payments, Ferrellgas Partners will not have the ability to make semi-annual interest payments on its $357.0 million 8.625% unsecured senior notes due 2020 or distributions to Ferrellgas Partners common unitholders. If Ferrellgas Partners does not make interest payments on its unsecured notes, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The
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accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If Ferrellgas' debt obligations are accelerated, Ferrellgas may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
Before a restricted payment (as defined in the Ferrellgas Partners indenture) can be made by Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners must be in compliance with the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio covenant under the Ferrellgas Partners indenture. If Ferrellgas Partners is unable to make restricted payments, Ferrellgas Partners will not have the ability to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners common unitholders.
A breach of the consolidated leverage ratio covenant or the consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant under the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility would result in an event of default under those facilities resulting in the operating partnership’s inability to obtain funds under those facilities and would give the lenders and receivables purchasers the right to accelerate the operating partnership's obligations under those facilities and to exercise remedies to collect the outstanding amounts under those facilities. If the lenders and receivables purchasers accelerated the operating partnership's obligations, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If Ferrellgas' debt obligations are accelerated, Ferrellgas may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
Consolidated leverage ratio
The consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt of the operating partnership to trailing four quarters EBITDA (both as adjusted for certain, defined items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas' secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current maximum consolidated leverage covenant ratios are as follows:
Date | Maximum consolidated leverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 5.50 |
Ferrellgas' consolidated leverage ratio was 6.96x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $193.2 million of additional borrowing capacity or approximately $24.9 million less EBITDA. This covenant also restricts Ferrellgas' ability to make distribution payments as discussed above.
Consolidated interest coverage ratio
The consolidated interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas' secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current minimum consolidated interest coverage ratios are as follows:
Date | Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 2.50 |
Ferrellgas' consolidated interest coverage ratio was 2.14x at January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $25.3 million of additional interest expense or approximately $44.3 million less EBITDA.
Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio
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The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners includes a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test for the incurrence of debt and the making of restricted payments. This covenant requires that the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of Ferrellgas Partners be at least 1.75x before a restricted payment (as defined in the indenture) can be made by Ferrellgas Partners. If this ratio were to drop below 1.75x, the indenture allows Ferrellgas Partners to make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a 16 quarter period while below this ratio. As of January 31, 2018, the ratio was 1.59x. As a result, the $9.8 million distribution to be paid to common unitholders on March 16, 2018 will be taken from the $50.0 million restricted payment limitation, which after considering the $9.8 million deductions taken as a result of the distributions paid in September 2017 and December 2017, leaves $20.6 million for future restricted payments. Unless the indenture governing the outstanding notes is amended or refinanced, if our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio does not improve to at least 1.75x and we continue our current quarterly distribution rate of $0.10 per common unit, this covenant will not allow us to make common unit distributions for our quarter ending October 31, 2018 and beyond.
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
Ferrellgas continues to execute on a strategy to further reduce its debt and interest expense. This strategy may include amending or refinancing existing debt agreements, additional asset sales, a reduction in Ferrellgas Partners' annual distribution rate or the issuance of equity. Ferrellgas believes any debt and interest expense reduction strategies would remain in effect until Ferrellgas' consolidated leverage ratio reaches 4.5x or a level Ferrellgas deems appropriate for its business.
If Ferrellgas is unsuccessful with its strategy to further reduce debt and interest expense, is unsuccessful in renegotiating its secured credit facility, which matures in October 2018, or is unable to secure alternative liquidity sources, it may not have the liquidity to fund its operations after that maturity date.
Failure to maintain compliance with these and other covenants in our agreements or failure to renew or replace liquidity available under the secured credit facility could have a material, adverse effect on Ferrellgas' operating capacity and cash flows and could further restrict Ferrellgas' ability to incur debt, pay interest on the notes or to make cash distributions to unitholders. An inability to pay interest on the notes could result in an event of default that would permit the acceleration of all of Ferrellgas' indebtedness. The accelerated debt would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration under other debt. If the payment of Ferrellgas' debt is accelerated, Ferrellgas' assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full and Ferrellgas may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt, in which case investors in common units and our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
As a result of the October 2018 maturity date of Ferrellgas' secured credit facility, the entire balance outstanding at January 31, 2018 has been classified as a current liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2018. The absence of a plan to renew or refinance this debt would raise substantial doubt about Ferrellgas' ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas is working to renew or replace the secured credit facility. Potential options include extending the current secured credit facility, entering into a new secured credit facility or securing alternative financing from a different source. Ferrellgas believes it is probable that it will be able to obtain sufficient capital to meet anticipated liquidity demands and, therefore, does not believe there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Secured credit facility
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $261.2 million, all of which was classified as short-term. Ferrellgas had $125.8 million of capacity under the secured credit facility as of January 31, 2018. As of July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $245.5 million, of which $185.7 million was classified as long-term debt. Ferrellgas had $190.3 million of capacity under the secured credit facility as of July 31, 2017. However, the consolidated leverage ratio covenant under this facility limited additional borrowings to $67.5 million as of July 31, 2017. Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017 under the secured credit facility had weighted average interest rates of 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively.
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2018 totaled $188.0 million and were used to secure commodity hedges, product purchases, and insurance arrangements. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2017 totaled $139.2 million and were used to secure commodity hedges, product purchases, and insurance arrangements. At January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas had remaining letter of credit capacity of $12.0 million. At July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas had remaining letter of credit capacity of $60.8 million.
F. Partners' deficit
As of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas Partners limited partner units, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FGP,” were beneficially owned by the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||
Public common unitholders | 69,612,939 | 69,612,939 | ||||
Ferrell Companies (1) | 22,529,361 | 22,529,361 | ||||
FCI Trading Corp. (2) | 195,686 | 195,686 | ||||
Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3) | 51,204 | 51,204 | ||||
James E. Ferrell (4) | 4,763,475 | 4,763,475 |
(1) Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and is an approximate 23% direct owner of Ferrellgas Partners' common units and thus a related party. Ferrell Companies also beneficially owns 195,686 and 51,204 common units of Ferrellgas Partners held by FCI Trading Corp. ("FCI Trading") and Ferrell Propane, Inc. ("Ferrell Propane"), respectively, bringing Ferrell Companies' beneficial ownership to 23.4% at January 31, 2018.
(2) FCI Trading is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party.
(3) Ferrell Propane is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party.
(4) James E. Ferrell is the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the general partner; and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the general partner and thus a related party. JEF Capital Management owns 4,758,859 of these common units and is wholly-owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust Two for which James E. Ferrell is the trustee and sole beneficiary. The remaining 4,616 common units are held by Ferrell Resources Holding, Inc., which is wholly-owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust One, for which James E. Ferrell is the trustee and sole beneficiary.
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Partnership distributions paid
Ferrellgas Partners has paid the following distributions:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Public common unitholders | $ | 6,962 | $ | 6,961 | $ | 13,923 | $ | 42,639 | ||||||||
Ferrell Companies | 2,253 | 2,253 | 4,506 | 13,799 | ||||||||||||
FCI Trading Corp. | 20 | 20 | 40 | 120 | ||||||||||||
Ferrell Propane, Inc. | 5 | 5 | 10 | 31 | ||||||||||||
James E. Ferrell | 476 | 476 | 952 | 2,917 | ||||||||||||
General partner | 98 | 98 | 196 | 601 | ||||||||||||
$ | 9,814 | $ | 9,813 | $ | 19,627 | $ | 60,107 |
On February 22, 2018, Ferrellgas Partners declared a cash distribution of $0.10 per common unit for the three months ended January 31, 2018, which is expected to be paid on March 16, 2018. Included in this cash distribution are the following amounts to be paid to related parties:
Ferrell Companies | $ | 2,253 | ||
FCI Trading Corp. | 20 | |||
Ferrell Propane, Inc. | 5 | |||
James E. Ferrell | 476 | |||
General partner | 98 |
See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note I – Transactions with related parties.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)
See Note H – Derivative instruments and hedging activities – for details regarding changes in the fair value of risk management financial derivatives recorded within AOCI for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017.
General partner’s commitment to maintain its capital account
Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements allow the general partner to have an option to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest concurrent with the issuance of other additional equity.
During the six months ended January 31, 2018, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.
During the six months ended January 31, 2017, the general partner made cash contributions of $1.7 million and non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.
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G. Fair value measurements
Derivative financial instruments
The following table presents Ferrellgas’ financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017:
Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||||||||
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||
January 31, 2018: | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 25,725 | $ | — | $ | 25,725 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | (2,423 | ) | $ | — | $ | (2,423 | ) | ||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (1,417 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,417 | ) | ||||||
July 31, 2017: | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | 583 | $ | — | $ | 583 | ||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 16,212 | $ | — | $ | 16,212 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | (707 | ) | $ | — | $ | (707 | ) | ||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (1,258 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,258 | ) |
Methodology
The fair values of Ferrellgas’ non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.
As discussed in Note C - Supplemental financial statement information, during the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas committed to a plan to dispose of all of its rail cars in the Midstream operations segment. Ferrellgas measures long-lived assets held for sale at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell. Ferrellgas recorded a loss on assets held for sale of $35.5 million during the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 to reduce the carrying amount of the rail cars to their estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell. At January 31, 2018, the estimated fair value less costs to sell was approximately $52.2 million. The fair value of the rail cars classified as assets held for sale is a Level 3 valuation based on the unobservable inputs used for this expected sale.
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Other financial instruments
The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of various notes receivable, financial instruments classified in "Other assets, net" on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, are approximately $32.1 million, or $4.3 million less than their carrying amount as of January 31, 2018. The estimated fair values of these notes receivable were calculated using a discounted cash flow method which relied on significant unobservable inputs. At January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas’ long-term debt instruments was $1,728.3 million and $1,966.6 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.
Ferrellgas has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.
H. Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Ferrellgas is exposed to certain market risks related to its ongoing business operations. These risks include exposure to changing commodity prices as well as fluctuations in interest rates. Ferrellgas utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices. Of these, the propane commodity derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges. Prior to the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC in January 2018, all other commodity derivative instruments neither qualified nor were designated as cash flow hedges, therefore, changes in their fair value were recorded currently in earnings. Ferrellgas also periodically utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.
Derivative instruments and hedging activity
During the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, Ferrellgas did not recognize any gain or loss in earnings related to hedge ineffectiveness and did not exclude any component of financial derivative contract gains or losses from the assessment of hedge effectiveness related to commodity cash flow hedges.
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The following tables provide a summary of the fair value of derivatives in Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017:
January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location | Fair value | Location | Fair value | ||||||||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 18,188 | Other current liabilities | $ | 1,417 | ||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Other assets, net | 7,537 | Other liabilities | — | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | — | Other current liabilities | 319 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Other assets, net | — | Other liabilities | 2,104 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 25,725 | Total | $ | 3,840 | |||||||
July 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location | Fair value | Location | Fair value | ||||||||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 11,061 | Other current liabilities | $ | 415 | ||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Other assets, net | 4,413 | Other liabilities | 15 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 583 | Other current liabilities | 595 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Other assets, net | — | Other liabilities | 112 | ||||||||
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-crude oil | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 738 | Other current liabilities | 828 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 16,795 | Total | $ | 1,965 |
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Ferrellgas' exchange traded commodity derivative contracts require cash margin deposit as collateral for contracts that are in a negative mark-to-market position. These cash margin deposits will be returned if mark-to-market conditions improve or will be applied against cash settlement when the contracts are settled. Liabilities represent cash margin deposits received by Ferrellgas for contracts that are in a positive mark-to-market position. The following tables provide a summary of cash margin balances as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively:
January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||
Description | Location | Amount | Location | Amount | ||||||||
Margin Balances | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 3,018 | Other current liabilities | $ | 12,201 | ||||||
Other assets, net | 1,404 | Other liabilities | 5,216 | |||||||||
$ | 4,422 | $ | 17,417 |
July 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||
Description | Location | Amount | Location | Amount | ||||||||
Margin Balances | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 1,778 | Other current liabilities | $ | 7,729 | ||||||
Other assets, net | 1,631 | Other liabilities | 3,073 | |||||||||
$ | 3,409 | $ | 10,802 |
The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas' condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments:
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative | Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rate Debt (Related Hedged Item) | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location of Amounts Recognized on Derivative | For the three months ended January 31, | For the three months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Interest expense | $ | 88 | $ | 328 | $ | (2,275 | ) | $ | (2,275 | ) | |||||||
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative | Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rate Debt (Related Hedged Item) | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location of Amounts Recognized on Derivative | For the six months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Interest expense | $ | 226 | $ | 748 | $ | (4,550 | ) | $ | (4,550 | ) | |||||||
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The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 960 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 9,886 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 112 | Interest expense | (143 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 1,072 | $ | 9,743 | $ | — | |||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 14,699 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 73 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 563 | Interest expense | (587 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 15,262 | $ | (514 | ) | $ | — | ||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 23,283 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 14,018 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 238 | Interest expense | (326 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 23,521 | $ | 13,692 | $ | — | |||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 19,572 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | (3,523 | ) | $ | — | ||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 828 | Interest expense | (1,229 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 20,400 | $ | (4,752 | ) | $ | — |
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The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas' condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to the change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (2,080 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
For the three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (1,007 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
Commodity derivatives - vehicle fuel | $ | 489 | Operating expense | |||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (3,470 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (2,248 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
Commodity derivatives - vehicle fuel | $ | 1,516 | Operating expense |
The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 14,648 | $ | (9,815 | ) | |||
Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives | 23,283 | 19,572 | ||||||
Reclassification of (gains) and losses on commodity hedges to cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales, net | (14,018 | ) | 3,523 | |||||
Change in value of risk management interest rate derivatives | 238 | 828 | ||||||
Reclassification of losses on interest rate hedges to interest expense | 326 | 1,229 | ||||||
Ending balance | $ | 24,477 | $ | 15,337 |
Ferrellgas expects to reclassify net gains related to the risk management commodity derivatives of approximately $16.8 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net gains are expected to be offset by decreased margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.
During the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, Ferrellgas had no reclassifications to operations resulting from the discontinuance of any cash flow hedges arising from the probability of the original forecasted transactions not occurring within the originally specified period of time defined within the hedging relationship.
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas had financial derivative contracts covering 2.6 million barrels of propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.
22
Derivative financial instruments credit risk
Ferrellgas is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative financial and commodity instruments. Ferrellgas’ counterparties principally consist of major energy companies and major U.S. financial institutions. Ferrellgas maintains credit policies with regard to its counterparties that it believes reduces its overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring its counterparties’ financial condition, including their credit ratings, and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit limits. Certain of these agreements call for the posting of collateral by the counterparty or by Ferrellgas in the forms of letters of credit, parent guarantees or cash. Ferrellgas has concentrations of credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments held by certain derivative financial instrument counterparties. If these counterparties that make up the concentration failed to perform according to the terms of their contracts at January 31, 2018, the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments, Ferrellgas would incur is $7.5 million.
From time to time Ferrellgas enters into derivative contracts that have credit-risk-related contingent features which dictate credit limits based upon Ferrellgas' debt rating. There were no open derivative contracts with credit-risk-related contingent features as of January 31, 2018.
I. Transactions with related parties
Ferrellgas has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas or otherwise reasonably incurred by the general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas’ business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas’ behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Operating expense | $ | 65,291 | $ | 61,492 | $ | 122,642 | $ | 117,206 | ||||||||
General and administrative expense | $ | 8,422 | $ | 8,217 | $ | 15,930 | $ | 16,800 |
See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note F – Partners’ deficit.
J. Contingencies and commitments
Litigation
Ferrellgas’ operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane and crude oil. As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas can be threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than as discussed below, Ferrellgas is not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Ferrellgas.
Ferrellgas has been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The lawsuits, which were consolidated in the Western District of Missouri on October 16, 2014, allege that Ferrellgas and a competitor coordinated in 2008 to reduce the fill level in barbeque cylinders and combined to persuade a common customer to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to direct customers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws. The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class. These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. The Federal Court for the Western District of Missouri initially dismissed all claims brought by direct and indirect customers other than state law claims of indirect customers under Wisconsin, Maine and Vermont law. The direct customer plaintiffs filed an appeal, which resulted in a reversal of the district court’s dismissal. We filed a petition for a writ of certiorari which was denied. An appeal by the indirect customer plaintiffs remains pending. Ferrellgas believes it has strong defenses to the claims and intends to vigorously defend against the consolidated case. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
23
Ferrellgas has been named, along with several current and former officers, in several class action lawsuits alleging violations of certain securities laws based on alleged materially false and misleading statements in certain of our public disclosures. The lawsuits, the first of which was filed on October 6, 2016 in the Southern District of New York, seek unspecified compensatory damages. Derivative lawsuits with similar allegations have been filed naming Ferrellgas and several current and former officers and directors as defendants. Ferrellgas believes that it has defenses and will vigorously defend these cases. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuits or the derivative actions.
Ferrellgas and Bridger Logistics, LLC, have been named, along with two former officers, in a lawsuit filed by Eddystone Rail Company ("Eddystone") on February 2, 2017 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (the "EDPA Lawsuit"). Eddystone indicated that it has prevailed or settled an arbitration against Jamex Transfer Services (“JTS”), then named Bridger Transfer Services, a former subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, LLC (“Bridger”). The arbitration involved a claim against JTS for money due for deficiency payments under a contract for the use of an Eddystone facility used to offload crude from rail onto barges. Eddystone alleges that Ferrellgas transferred assets out of JTS prior to the sale of the membership interest in JTS to Jamex Transfer Holdings, and that those transfers should be avoided so that the assets can be used to satisfy the amount owed by JTS to Eddystone under the arbitration. Eddystone also alleges that JTS was an “alter ego” of Bridger and Ferrellgas. Ferrellgas believes that Ferrellgas and Bridger have valid defenses to these claims and to Eddystone’s primary claim against JTS on the contract claim. The lawsuit does not specify a specific amount of damages that Eddystone is seeking; however, Ferrellgas believes that the amount of such damage claims, if ultimately owed to Eddystone, could be material to Ferrellgas. Ferrellgas intends to vigorously defend this claim. The lawsuit is in its early stages; as such, management does not currently believe a loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time. On August 24, 2017, Ferrellgas filed a third-party complaint against JTS, Jamex Transfer Holdings, and other related persons and entities (the "Third-Party Defendants"), asserting claims for breach of contract, indemnification of any losses in the EDPA Lawsuit, tortious interference with contract, and contribution. The Third-Party Defendants have filed motions to dismiss the third-party complaint for alleged lack of personal jurisdiction, failure to state claim, and forum non-conveniens. Ferrellgas is vigorously opposing these motions.
K. Net earnings (loss) per common unit
Below is a calculation of the basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unit in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated. Ferrellgas calculates net earnings (loss) per common unit for each period presented according to distributions declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings, as if all of the earnings or loss for the period had been distributed according to the incentive distribution rights in the Ferrellgas partnership agreement. Due to the seasonality of the propane business, the dilutive effect of the two-class method typically impacts only the three months ending January 31. In periods with undistributed earnings above certain levels, the calculation according to the two-class method results in an increased allocation of undistributed earnings to the general partner and a dilution of the earnings to the limited partners as follows:
Ratio of total distributions payable to: | ||||||
Quarterly distribution per common unit | Common unitholder | General partner | ||||
$0.56 to $0.63 | 86.9 | % | 13.1 | % | ||
$0.64 to $0.82 | 76.8 | % | 23.2 | % | ||
$0.83 and above | 51.5 | % | 48.5 | % |
There was no dilutive effect resulting from this method based on basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unit for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 or 2017.
In periods with net losses, the allocation of the net losses to the limited partners and the general partner will be determined based on the same allocation basis specified in Ferrellgas Partners’ partnership agreement that would apply to periods in which there were no undistributed earnings. Additionally, there are no dilutive securities in periods with net losses.
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For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per common unit amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings (loss) | $ | (1,824 | ) | $ | 37,717 | $ | (49,260 | ) | $ | (4,925 | ) | |||||
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic and diluted | 97,152.7 | 97,152.7 | 97,152.7 | 97,305.1 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per common unit | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.39 | $ | (0.51 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) |
25
L. Segment reporting
Ferrellgas has two primary operations that result in two reportable operating segments: propane operations and related equipment sales and midstream operations. During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas recorded a goodwill impairment of $10.0 million related to a decline in future expected cash flows of an immaterial reporting unit of our Propane operations and related equipment sales segment.
Following is a summary of segment information for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017:
Three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 637,880 | $ | 117,276 | $ | — | $ | 755,156 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 507,386 | 114,929 | 12,214 | 634,529 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 130,494 | $ | 2,347 | $ | (12,214 | ) | $ | 120,627 | |||||||
Three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 482,463 | $ | 96,787 | $ | — | $ | 579,250 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 370,175 | 93,718 | 10,327 | 474,220 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 112,288 | $ | 3,069 | $ | (10,327 | ) | $ | 105,030 | |||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 971,775 | $ | 238,036 | $ | — | $ | 1,209,811 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 810,715 | 228,830 | 23,423 | 1,062,968 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 161,060 | $ | 9,206 | $ | (23,423 | ) | $ | 146,843 | |||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 753,961 | $ | 204,831 | $ | — | $ | 958,792 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 607,189 | 196,491 | 21,063 | 824,743 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 146,772 | $ | 8,340 | $ | (21,063 | ) | $ | 134,049 | |||||||
(1) Direct costs are comprised of "cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales", "cost of products sold-midstream operations", "cost of products sold-other", "operating expense", "general and administrative expense", and "equipment lease expense" less , "severance charge", "professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit", and "unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments".
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Following is a reconciliation of Ferrellgas' total segment performance measure to condensed consolidated net earnings (loss):
Three months ended January 31, | Six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | $ | (1,843 | ) | $ | 38,098 | $ | (49,758 | ) | $ | (4,975 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (162 | ) | 588 | 215 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 42,673 | 36,819 | 83,480 | 72,247 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA | 66,153 | 101,112 | 85,154 | 119,079 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge | — | 1,417 | — | 3,298 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Other income, net | (684 | ) | (763 | ) | (1,195 | ) | (1,271 | ) | ||||||||
Severance costs | — | 490 | 1,663 | 1,959 | ||||||||||||
Professional fees | 2,118 | — | 2,118 | — | ||||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | (314 | ) | (646 | ) | 1,293 | (2,215 | ) | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 69 | 430 | (332 | ) | 32 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 120,627 | $ | 105,030 | $ | 146,843 | $ | 134,049 |
Following are total assets by segment:
Assets | January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | ||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | $ | 1,361,856 | $ | 1,194,905 | ||||
Midstream operations | 309,952 | 399,356 | ||||||
Corporate | 15,251 | 15,708 | ||||||
Total consolidated assets | $ | 1,687,059 | $ | 1,609,969 |
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Following are capital expenditures by segment:
Six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Capital expenditures: | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance | $ | 12,016 | $ | 182 | $ | 1,245 | $ | 13,443 | ||||||||
Growth | 18,311 | 1,013 | — | 19,324 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 30,327 | $ | 1,195 | $ | 1,245 | $ | 32,767 | ||||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Capital expenditures: | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance | $ | 5,551 | $ | 204 | $ | 1,484 | $ | 7,239 | ||||||||
Growth | 9,857 | — | — | 9,857 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 15,408 | $ | 204 | $ | 1,484 | $ | 17,096 |
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M. Subsequent events
Ferrellgas evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas' condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that, other than as discussed below, there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements.
On February 20, 2018, Ferrellgas completed the sale of 1,072 rail cars utilized in the Midstream operations segment and received approximately $47.0 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce outstanding debt on Ferrellgas' secured credit facility. See additional discussions on the completed rail car sale in Note C - Supplemental financial statement information.
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. | |||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.) | |||||||
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
Total assets | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
Contingencies and commitments (Note B) | |||||||
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
Additional paid in capital | 25,330 | 25,055 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (25,330 | ) | (25,055 | ) | |||
Total stockholder's equity | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. | |||||||||||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.) | |||||||||||||||
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | $ | 225 | $ | — | $ | 275 | $ | 92 | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (225 | ) | $ | — | $ | (275 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | ||||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
30
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. | |||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.) | |||||||
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (275 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | |
Cash used in operating activities | (275 | ) | (92 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Capital contribution | 275 | 92 | |||||
Cash provided by financing activities | 275 | 92 | |||||
Net change in cash | — | — | |||||
Cash - beginning of period | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||
Cash - end of period | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
(unaudited)
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Formation
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 28, 1996 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”).
The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal recurring nature.
The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.
B. Contingencies and commitments
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.
The indenture governing the senior unsecured notes contains various restrictive covenants applicable to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, the most restrictive relating to additional indebtedness and restricted payments. As of January 31, 2018, the Partnership is in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations and covenants related to this debt agreement, except for the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.
The indenture governing the outstanding notes of the Partnership includes a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test for the incurrence of debt and the making of restricted payments. This covenant requires that the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the Partnership be at least 1.75x before a restricted payment (as defined in the indenture) can be made by the Partnership. If this ratio were to drop below 1.75x, the indenture allows the Partnership to make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a 16 quarter period while below this ratio. As of January 31, 2018, the ratio was 1.59x. As a result, the $9.8 million distribution to be paid to common unitholders on March 16, 2018 will be taken from the $50.0 million restricted payment limitation, which after considering the $9.8 million deductions taken as a result of the distributions paid in September 2017 and December 2017, leaves $20.6 million for future restricted payments. Unless the indenture governing the outstanding notes is amended or refinanced, if the Partnership's consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio does not improve to at least 1.75x and the Partnership continues its current quarterly distribution rate of $0.10 per common unit, this covenant will not allow the Partnership to make common unit distributions for the quarter ending October 31, 2018 and beyond.
32
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,171 | $ | 5,701 | |||
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $235,150 and $109,407 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively) | 255,978 | 165,084 | |||||
Inventories | 110,092 | 92,552 | |||||
Assets held for sale | 52,200 | — | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 41,393 | 33,426 | |||||
Total current assets | 473,834 | 296,763 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 646,327 | 731,923 | |||||
Goodwill, net | 246,098 | 256,103 | |||||
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $452,283 and $436,428 at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively) | 243,079 | 251,102 | |||||
Other assets, net | 77,712 | 74,057 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,687,050 | $ | 1,609,948 | |||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 82,072 | $ | 85,561 | |||
Short-term borrowings | 261,200 | 59,781 | |||||
Collateralized note payable | 166,000 | 69,000 | |||||
Other current liabilities | 136,591 | 122,016 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 645,863 | 336,358 | |||||
Long-term debt | 1,462,973 | 1,649,270 | |||||
Other liabilities | 35,422 | 31,118 | |||||
Contingencies and commitments (Note J) | |||||||
Partners' deficit: | |||||||
Limited partner | (477,096 | ) | (417,467 | ) | |||
General partner | (4,705 | ) | (4,095 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 24,593 | 14,764 | |||||
Total partners' deficit | (457,208 | ) | (406,798 | ) | |||
Total liabilities and partners' deficit | $ | 1,687,050 | $ | 1,609,948 | |||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 592,239 | $ | 437,375 | $ | 894,997 | $ | 679,774 | |||||||||
Midstream operations | 117,276 | 96,787 | 238,036 | 204,831 | |||||||||||||
Other | 45,641 | 45,088 | 76,778 | 74,187 | |||||||||||||
Total revenues | 755,156 | 579,250 | 1,209,811 | 958,792 | |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 362,918 | 235,029 | 542,433 | 354,241 | |||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | 107,067 | 87,024 | 215,192 | 181,666 | |||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 20,787 | 20,657 | 34,489 | 32,403 | |||||||||||||
Operating expense | 123,716 | 113,076 | 234,178 | 218,162 | |||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 14,890 | 12,278 | 28,054 | 26,547 | |||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,954 | 7,416 | 13,695 | 14,765 | |||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | |||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | |||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | |||||||||||||
Operating income | 40,054 | 75,173 | 32,411 | 66,032 | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | (34,058 | ) | (32,748 | ) | (66,254 | ) | (64,146 | ) | |||||||||
Other income, net | 684 | 763 | 1,195 | 1,271 | |||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 6,680 | 43,188 | (32,648 | ) | 3,157 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (167 | ) | 588 | 204 | (3 | ) | |||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 6,847 | $ | 42,600 | $ | (32,852 | ) | $ | 3,160 | ||||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
34
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS | |||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 6,847 | $ | 42,600 | $ | (32,852 | ) | $ | 3,160 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||
Change in value of risk management derivatives | 1,072 | 15,262 | 23,521 | 20,400 | |||||||||||||
Reclassification of (gains) losses on derivatives to earnings, net | (9,743 | ) | 514 | (13,692 | ) | 4,752 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | (8,671 | ) | 15,776 | 9,829 | 25,152 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (1,824 | ) | $ | 58,376 | $ | (23,023 | ) | $ | 28,312 | |||||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
35
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' DEFICIT | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||
other | Total | ||||||||||||||
Limited | General | comprehensive | partners' | ||||||||||||
partner | partner | income | deficit | ||||||||||||
Balance at July 31, 2017 | $ | (417,467 | ) | $ | (4,095 | ) | $ | 14,764 | $ | (406,798 | ) | ||||
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock-based compensation charges | 7,914 | 79 | — | 7,993 | |||||||||||
Distributions | (35,023 | ) | (357 | ) | — | (35,380 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss | (32,520 | ) | (332 | ) | — | (32,852 | ) | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income | — | — | 9,829 | 9,829 | |||||||||||
Balance at January 31, 2018 | $ | (477,096 | ) | $ | (4,705 | ) | $ | 24,593 | $ | (457,208 | ) | ||||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
36
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | (32,852 | ) | $ | 3,160 | ||
Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 51,217 | 51,809 | |||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 7,993 | 6,699 | |||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge | — | 3,298 | |||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | |||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 40,144 | 6,468 | |||||
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments | (91 | ) | (1,862 | ) | |||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 1,688 | (283 | ) | ||||
Deferred income tax expense | 364 | 35 | |||||
Other | 2,650 | 2,448 | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions: | |||||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization | (102,315 | ) | (74,403 | ) | |||
Inventories | (17,275 | ) | (24,268 | ) | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (4,637 | ) | 6,924 | ||||
Accounts payable | 11,510 | 40,444 | |||||
Accrued interest expense | 304 | (12 | ) | ||||
Other current liabilities | 13,662 | 20,087 | |||||
Other assets and liabilities | (3,208 | ) | 4,757 | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | (20,841 | ) | 45,301 | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (14,862 | ) | — | ||||
Capital expenditures | (35,693 | ) | (19,768 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 4,207 | 4,591 | |||||
Other | — | (37 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (46,348 | ) | (15,214 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Distributions | (35,380 | ) | (84,500 | ) | |||
Contributions from partners | — | 167,640 | |||||
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | 23,580 | 36,444 | |||||
Payments on long-term debt | (1,267 | ) | (172,790 | ) | |||
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | (7,879 | ) | (35,692 | ) | |||
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | 97,000 | 69,000 | |||||
Cash paid for financing costs | (395 | ) | (1,422 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 75,659 | (21,320 | ) | ||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 8,470 | 8,767 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | 5,701 | 4,890 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period | $ | 14,171 | $ | 13,657 | |||
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise designated)
(unaudited)
A. Partnership organization and formation
Ferrellgas, L.P. is a limited partnership that owns and operates propane distribution and related assets, crude oil transportation and logistics related assets and salt water disposal wells in south Texas. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”), a publicly traded limited partnership, holds an approximate 99% limited partner interest in, and consolidates, Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, Inc. (the “general partner”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“Ferrell Companies”), holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. and performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas, L.P. owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of debt issued by Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas, L.P. is engaged in the following primary businesses:
• | Propane operations and related equipment sales consists of the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Ferrellgas, L.P. serves residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. |
• | Midstream operations consists of crude oil logistics and water solutions. Crude oil logistics primarily generates income by providing crude oil transportation and logistics services on behalf of producers and end-users of crude oil. Water solutions generates income primarily through the operation of salt water disposal wells in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. |
Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending July 31, 2018.
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas, L.P. and subsidiaries reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal recurring nature. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017.
B. Summary of significant accounting policies
(1) Accounting estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates impacting the consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment assets, residual values of tanks, capitalization of customer tank installation costs, amortization methods of intangible assets, valuation methods used to value sales returns and allowances, allowance for doubtful accounts, fair value of reporting units, recoverability of long-lived assets, assumptions used to value business combinations, fair values of derivative contracts and stock-based compensation calculations.
(2) Assets held for sale: Assets held for sale represent rail cars that have met the criteria of “held for sale” accounting. During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. committed to a plan to sell certain rail cars held by the Midstream operations segment. These assets were reclassified from Rail cars within "Property, plant and equipment, net" to "Assets held for sale" in the accompanying balance sheet as of January 31, 2018. Ferrellgas, L.P. ceased depreciation on these assets during January 2018. Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. For further discussion of assets held for sale, see Note C - Supplemental financial statement information.
(3) New accounting standards:
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2014-09
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The issuance is part of a joint effort by the FASB and the International Accounting
38
Standards Board ("IASB") to enhance financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, thereby, improving the consistency of requirements, comparability of practices and usefulness of disclosures. The new standard will supersede much of the existing authoritative literature for revenue recognition. The standard and related amendments will be effective for Ferrellgas, L.P. for its annual reporting period beginning August 1, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. Entities are allowed to transition to the new standard by either recasting prior periods or recognizing the cumulative effect. Ferrellgas, L.P. is in the final stages of analyzing the impact of the new guidance using an integrated approach which includes evaluating differences in the amount and timing of revenue recognition from applying the requirements of the new guidance, reviewing its accounting policies and practices, and assessing the need for changes to its processes, accounting systems and design of internal controls. Ferrellgas, L.P. has completed the assessment of a significant number of its contracts with customers under the new guidance to determine the effect of the adoption of the new guidance. Although Ferrellgas, L.P. has not completed its assessment of the impact of the new guidance, it does not expect its adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2015-11
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330) - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires that inventory within the scope of the guidance be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We adopted ASU 2015-11 effective August 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-02
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Ferrellgas, L.P. is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the consolidated financial statements. Ferrellgas, L.P. has formed an implementation team, completed training on the new standard, and is working on an initial assessment.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) which requires financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Entities will apply the standard's provisions as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. Ferrellgas, L.P. is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.
FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2017-12
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Financial Instruments - Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities which is intended to improve the financial reporting for hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Ferrellgas, L.P. is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.
C. Supplemental financial statement information
Inventories consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Propane gas and related products | $ | 81,644 | $ | 67,049 | ||||
Appliances, parts and supplies, and other | 28,448 | 25,503 | ||||||
Inventories | $ | 110,092 | $ | 92,552 |
In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas, L.P. enters into contracts to take delivery of propane for supply procurement purposes with terms that generally do not exceed 36 months. Most of these contracts call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 81.9 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
Other assets, net consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Notes receivable, less current portion | $ | 36,371 | $ | 32,500 | ||||
Other | 41,341 | 41,557 | ||||||
Other assets, net | $ | 77,712 | $ | 74,057 |
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Other current liabilities consist of the following:
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Accrued interest | $ | 15,041 | $ | 14,737 | ||||
Customer deposits and advances | 24,676 | 25,541 | ||||||
Other | 96,874 | 81,738 | ||||||
Other current liabilities | $ | 136,591 | $ | 122,016 |
Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of operations line items:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Operating expense | $ | 54,613 | $ | 47,157 | $ | 97,928 | $ | 88,883 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,123 | 996 | 2,235 | 2,022 | ||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,296 | 6,652 | 12,364 | 13,318 | ||||||||||||
Total shipping and handling expenses | $ | 62,032 | $ | 54,805 | $ | 112,527 | $ | 104,223 |
During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. committed to a plan to dispose of all of its rail cars utilized in the Midstream operations segment and as a result, reclassified 1,292 rail cars from "Property, plant and equipment, net" to "Assets held for sale" on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2018. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2018, "Loss on asset sales and disposals" includes a loss of $35.5 million related to the write-down of these rail cars classified as "Assets held for sale". On February 20, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. completed the sale of 1,072 of these rail cars and received approximately $47.0 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce outstanding debt on Ferrellgas L.P.'s secured credit facility.
During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. completed the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC in the Midstream operations segment in exchange for an $8.5 million secured promissory note due in May 2020. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2018, "Loss on asset sales and disposals" includes a loss of $3.6 million related to this sale.
"Loss on asset sales and disposals" during the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 consists of:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Loss on assets held for sale | $ | 35,515 | $ | — | 35,515 | — | ||||||||||
Loss on sale of assets and other | 3,734 | 45 | 4,629 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | $ | 39,249 | $ | 45 | $ | 40,144 | $ | 6,468 |
Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:
For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Cash paid for: | ||||||||
Interest | $ | 63,286 | $ | 61,723 | ||||
Income taxes | $ | 1 | $ | 25 | ||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions | $ | 1,508 | $ | — | ||||
Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions | $ | 47 | $ | (100 | ) |
D. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
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January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | |||||||
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral | $ | 235,150 | $ | 109,407 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 13,596 | 47,346 | ||||||
Note receivable - current portion | 10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
Other | 284 | 307 | ||||||
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts | (3,052 | ) | (1,976 | ) | ||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net | $ | 255,978 | $ | 165,084 |
Consolidated leverage ratio
The consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt of the operating partnership to trailing four quarters earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense ("EBITDA") (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas, L.P.'s secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current maximum consolidated leverage covenant ratios are as follows:
Date | Maximum consolidated leverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 5.50 |
Ferrellgas, L.P.'s consolidated leverage ratio was 6.96x as of January 31, 2018. See additional disclosure about Ferrellgas' financial covenants in Note E - Debt.
Consolidated interest coverage ratio
The consolidated interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas, L.P.'s secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current minimum consolidated interest coverage ratios are as follows:
Date | Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 2.50 |
Ferrellgas, L.P.'s consolidated interest coverage ratio was 2.14x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $25.3 million of additional interest expense or approximately $44.3 million less EBITDA. See additional disclosure about Ferrellgas' financial covenants in Note E - Debt.
This accounts receivable securitization facility matures on July 29, 2019 unless the secured credit facility matures or terminates at an earlier date. If Ferrellgas, L.P. replaces the senior secured credit facility prior to the October 2018 maturity date, Ferrellgas, L.P. will need to amend the accounts receivable securitization facility to modify the maturity date, or replace it with a new facility. Ferrellgas, L.P. is working to renew or replace the accounts receivable securitization facility. Potential options include extending the current accounts receivable securitization facility, entering into a new accounts receivable securitization facility or securing alternative financing from a different source. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes it is probable that it will be able to obtain sufficient capital to meet anticipated liquidity demands.
At January 31, 2018, $235.2 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $166.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to a commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2017, $109.4 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $69.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the commercial paper conduit. These
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accounts receivable pledged as collateral are bankruptcy remote from Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not provide any guarantee or similar support to the collectability of these accounts receivable pledged as collateral.
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received cash proceeds of $166.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received cash proceeds of $69.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization facility had a weighted average interest rate of 4.0% and 4.0% as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively.
E. Debt
Short-term borrowings
Since October 31, 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. classified all of its secured credit facility borrowings as short-term because the facility matures in October 2018. Prior to October 31, 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. classified as short-term the portion of its secured credit facility borrowings that were used to fund working capital needs that management intended to pay down within the 12 month period following the balance sheet date. As of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, $261.2 million and $59.8 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.
Financial covenants
The agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit our ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. Our general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined in our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility.
Before a restricted payment (as defined in the secured credit facility and the operating partnership indentures) can be made by the operating partnership, the operating partnership must be in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio covenants under the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility and in compliance with the covenants under the operating partnerships indentures. If the operating partnership is unable to make restricted payments, Ferrellgas Partners will not have the ability to make semi-annual interest payments on its $357.0 million 8.625% unsecured senior notes due 2020 or distributions to Ferrellgas Partners common unitholders. If Ferrellgas Partners does not make interest payments on its unsecured notes, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If Ferrellgas, L.P.'s debt obligations are accelerated, Ferrellgas, L.P. may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case Ferrellgas Partners' unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
A breach of the consolidated leverage ratio covenant or the consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant under the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility would result in an event of default under those facilities resulting in the operating partnership’s inability to obtain funds under those facilities and would give the lenders and receivables purchasers the right to accelerate the operating partnership’s obligations under those facilities and to exercise remedies to collect the outstanding amounts under those facilities. If the lenders and receivables purchasers accelerated the operating partnership's obligations, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If Ferrellgas, L.P.'s debt obligations are accelerated, Ferrellgas, L.P. may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case Ferrellgas Partners unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
Consolidated leverage ratio
The consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt of the operating partnership to trailing four quarters EBITDA (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas, L.P.'s secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current maximum consolidated leverage covenant ratios are as follows:
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Date | Maximum consolidated leverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 5.50 |
Ferrellgas, L.P.'s consolidated leverage ratio was 6.96x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $193.2 million of additional borrowing capacity or approximately $24.9 million less EBITDA. This covenant also restricts Ferrellgas, L.P.'s ability to make payments to Ferrellgas Partners for purposes of funding distribution payments as discussed above.
Consolidated interest coverage ratio
The consolidated interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in Ferrellgas' secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current minimum consolidated interest coverage ratios are as follows:
Date | Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 2.50 |
Ferrellgas, L.P.'s consolidated interest coverage ratio was 2.14x at January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $25.3 million of additional interest expense or approximately $44.3 million less EBITDA.
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
Ferrellgas, L.P. continues to execute on a strategy to further reduce its debt and interest expense. This strategy may include amending or refinancing existing debt agreements, additional asset sales, a reduction in the operating partnership's funding of Ferrellgas Partners' annual distribution rate or the issuance of equity. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes any debt and interest expense reduction strategies would remain in effect until Ferrellgas, L.P.'s consolidated leverage ratio reaches 4.5x or a level Ferrellgas, L.P. deems appropriate for its business.
If Ferrellgas, L.P. is unsuccessful with its strategy to further reduce debt and interest expense, or is unsuccessful in renegotiating its secured credit facility, which matures in October 2018, or is unable to secure alternative liquidity sources, it may not have the liquidity to fund its operations after that maturity date.
Failure to maintain compliance with these and other covenants in our agreements or failure to renew or replace liquidity available under the secured credit facility could have a material, adverse effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.'s operating capacity and cash flows and could further restrict Ferrellgas, L.P.'s ability to incur debt, pay interest on the notes or to make cash distributions to its limited and general partners, which could result in an event of default that would permit the acceleration of all of Ferrellgas, L.P.'s indebtedness. The accelerated debt would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration under other debt. If the payment of Ferrellgas, L.P.'s debt is accelerated, Ferrellgas, L.P.'s assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full and Ferrellgas, L.P. may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt, in which case the limited and general partners and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
As a result of the October 2018 maturity date of Ferrellgas, L.P.'s secured credit facility, the entire balance outstanding at January 31, 2018 has been classified as a current liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2018. The absence of a plan to renew or refinance this debt would raise substantial doubt about Ferrellgas, L.P.'s ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas, L.P. is working to renew or replace the secured credit facility. Potential options include extending the current secured credit facility, entering into a new secured credit facility or securing alternative financing from a different source. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes it is probable that it will be able to obtain sufficient capital to meet anticipated liquidity demands and, therefore, does not believe there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
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Secured credit facility
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $261.2 million, all of which was classified as short-term. Ferrellgas, L.P. had $125.8 million of capacity under the secured credit facility as of January 31, 2018. As of July 31, 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $245.5 million, of which $185.7 million was classified as long-term debt. Ferrellgas, L.P. had $190.3 million of capacity under our secured credit facility as of July 31, 2017. However, the consolidated leverage ratio covenant under this facility limited additional borrowings to $67.5 million as of July 31, 2017. Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017 under the secured credit facility had weighted average interest rates of 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively.
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2018 totaled $188.0 million and were used to secure commodity hedges, product purchases, and insurance arrangements. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2017 totaled $139.2 million and were used to secure commodity hedges, product purchases, and insurance arrangements. At January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. had remaining letter of credit capacity of $12.0 million. At July 31, 2017 Ferrellgas, L.P. had remaining letter of credit capacity of $60.8 million.
F. Partners’ deficit
Partnership distributions paid
Ferrellgas, L.P. has paid the following distributions:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Ferrellgas Partners | $ | 25,210 | $ | 17,662 | $ | 35,023 | $ | 83,807 | ||||||||
General partner | 257 | 180 | 357 | 693 | ||||||||||||
$ | 25,467 | $ | 17,842 | $ | 35,380 | $ | 84,500 |
On February 22, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. declared distributions for the three months ended January 31, 2018 to Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner of $9.8 million and $0.1 million, respectively, which are expected to be paid on March 16, 2018.
See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note I – Transactions with related parties.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)
See Note H – Derivative instruments and hedging activities – for details regarding changes in the fair value of risk management financial derivatives recorded within AOCI for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017.
General partner’s commitment to maintain its capital account
Ferrellgas, L.P.’s partnership agreement allows the general partner to have an option to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest concurrent with the issuance of other additional equity.
During the six months ended January 31, 2018, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $0.1 million to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.
During the six months ended January 31, 2017, the general partner made cash contributions of $1.7 million and non-cash contributions of $0.1 million to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.
G. Fair value measurements
Derivative financial instruments
The following table presents Ferrellgas, L.P.’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017:
Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||||||||
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total | |||||||||||||
January 31, 2018: | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 25,725 | $ | — | $ | 25,725 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | (2,423 | ) | $ | — | $ | (2,423 | ) | ||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (1,417 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,417 | ) | ||||||
July 31, 2017: | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | 583 | $ | — | $ | 583 | ||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | 16,212 | $ | — | $ | 16,212 | ||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | $ | — | $ | (707 | ) | $ | — | $ | (707 | ) | ||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | — | $ | (1,258 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,258 | ) |
Methodology
The fair values of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.
As discussed in Note C - Supplemental financial statement information, during the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. committed to a plan to dispose of all of its rail cars in the Midstream operations segment. Ferrellgas, L.P. measures long-lived assets held for sale at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell. Ferrellgas, L.P. recorded a loss on assets held for sale of $35.5 million during the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 to reduce the carrying amount of the rail cars to their estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell. At January 31, 2018, the estimated fair value less costs to sell was approximately $52.2 million. The fair value of the rail cars classified as assets held for sale is a Level 3 valuation based on the unobservable inputs used for this expected sale.
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Other financial instruments
The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of various notes receivable, financial instruments classified in "Other assets, net" on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, are approximately $32.1 million, or $4.3 million less than their carrying amount as of January 31, 2018. The estimated fair values of these notes receivable were calculated using a discounted cash flow method which relied on significant unobservable inputs. At January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s long-term debt instruments was $1,410.6 million and $1,645.3 million, respectively. Ferrellgas, L.P. estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.
Ferrellgas, L.P. has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.
H. Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Ferrellgas, L.P. is exposed to certain market risks related to its ongoing business operations. These risks include exposure to changing commodity prices as well as fluctuations in interest rates. Ferrellgas, L.P. utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices. Of these, the propane commodity derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges. Prior to the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC in January 2018, all other commodity derivative instruments neither qualified nor were designated as cash flow hedges, therefore, changes in their fair value were recorded currently in earnings. Ferrellgas, L.P. also periodically utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.
Derivative instruments and hedging activity
During the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. did not recognize any gain or loss in earnings related to hedge ineffectiveness and did not exclude any component of financial derivative contract gains or losses from the assessment of hedge effectiveness related to commodity cash flow hedges.
45
The following tables provide a summary of the fair value of derivatives in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017:
January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location | Fair value | Location | Fair value | ||||||||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 18,188 | Other current liabilities | $ | 1,417 | ||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Other assets, net | 7,537 | Other liabilities | — | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | — | Other current liabilities | 319 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Other assets, net | — | Other liabilities | 2,104 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 25,725 | Total | $ | 3,840 | |||||||
July 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location | Fair value | Location | Fair value | ||||||||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 11,061 | Other current liabilities | $ | 415 | ||||||
Commodity derivatives-propane | Other assets, net | 4,413 | Other liabilities | 15 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 583 | Other current liabilities | 595 | ||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Other assets, net | — | Other liabilities | 112 | ||||||||
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | ||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives-crude oil | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 738 | Other current liabilities | 828 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 16,795 | Total | $ | 1,965 |
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Ferrellgas, L.P.'s exchange traded commodity derivative contracts require cash margin deposit as collateral for contracts that are in a negative mark-to-market position. These cash margin deposits will be returned if mark-to-market conditions improve or will be applied against cash settlement when the contracts are settled. Liabilities represent cash margin deposits received by Ferrellgas, L.P. for contracts that are in a positive mark-to-market position. The following tables provide a summary of cash margin balances as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, respectively:
January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||
Description | Location | Amount | Location | Amount | ||||||||
Margin Balances | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 3,018 | Other current liabilities | $ | 12,201 | ||||||
Other assets, net | 1,404 | Other liabilities | 5,216 | |||||||||
$ | 4,422 | $ | 17,417 |
July 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Assets | Liabilities | |||||||||||
Description | Location | Amount | Location | Amount | ||||||||
Margin Balances | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 1,778 | Other current liabilities | $ | 7,729 | ||||||
Other assets, net | 1,631 | Other liabilities | 3,073 | |||||||||
$ | 3,409 | $ | 10,802 |
The following tables provides a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments:
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative | Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rate Debt (Related Hedged Item) | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location of Amounts Recognized on Derivative | For the three months ended January 31, | For the three months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Interest expense | $ | 88 | $ | 328 | $ | (2,275 | ) | $ | (2,275 | ) | |||||||
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative | Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rate Debt (Related Hedged Item) | |||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Location of Amounts Recognized on Derivative | For the six months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | Interest expense | $ | 226 | $ | 748 | $ | (4,550 | ) | $ | (4,550 | ) |
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The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 960 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 9,886 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 112 | Interest expense | (143 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 1,072 | $ | 9,743 | $ | — | |||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 14,699 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 73 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 563 | Interest expense | (587 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 15,262 | $ | (514 | ) | $ | — | ||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 23,283 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 14,018 | $ | — | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 238 | Interest expense | (326 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 23,521 | $ | 13,692 | $ | — | |||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||
Derivative Instrument | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income | |||||||||||
Effective portion | Ineffective portion | |||||||||||||
Commodity derivatives | $ | 19,572 | Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | (3,523 | ) | $ | — | ||||||
Interest rate swap agreements | 828 | Interest expense | (1,229 | ) | — | |||||||||
$ | 20,400 | $ | (4,752 | ) | $ | — |
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The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.'s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 due to the change in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (2,080 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
For the three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (1,007 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
Commodity derivatives - vehicle fuel | $ | 489 | Operating expense | |||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (3,470 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income | ||||
Commodity derivatives - crude oil | $ | (2,248 | ) | Cost of sales - midstream operations | ||
Commodity derivatives - vehicle fuel | $ | 1,516 | Operating expense |
The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Beginning balance | $ | 14,648 | $ | (9,815 | ) | |||
Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives | 23,283 | 19,572 | ||||||
Reclassification of (gains) and losses on commodity hedges to cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales, net | (14,018 | ) | 3,523 | |||||
Change in value of risk management interest rate derivatives | 238 | 828 | ||||||
Reclassification of losses on interest rate hedges to interest expense | 326 | 1,229 | ||||||
Ending balance | $ | 24,477 | $ | 15,337 |
Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to reclassify net gains related to the risk management commodity derivatives of approximately $16.8 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net gains are expected to be offset by decreased margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas, L.P. has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.
During the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. had no reclassifications to operations resulting from the discontinuance of any cash flow hedges arising from the probability of the original forecasted transactions not occurring within the originally specified period of time defined within the hedging relationship.
As of January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. had financial derivative contracts covering 2.6 million barrels of propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.
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Derivative financial instruments credit risk
Ferrellgas, L.P. is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative financial and commodity instruments. Ferrellgas, L.P.’s counterparties principally consist of major energy companies and major U.S. financial institutions. Ferrellgas, L.P. maintains credit policies with regard to its counterparties that it believes reduces its overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring its counterparties’ financial condition, including their credit ratings, and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit limits. Certain of these agreements call for the posting of collateral by the counterparty or by Ferrellgas, L.P. in the forms of letters of credit, parent guarantees or cash. Ferrellgas, L.P. has concentrations of credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments held by certain derivative financial instrument counterparties. If these counterparties that make up the concentration failed to perform according to the terms of their contracts at January 31, 2018, the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments, Ferrellgas, L.P. would incur is $7.5 million.
From time to time Ferrellgas, L.P. enters into derivative contracts that have credit-risk-related contingent features which dictate credit limits based upon Ferrellgas, L.P.’s debt rating. There were no open derivative contracts with credit-risk-related contingent features as of January 31, 2018.
I. Transactions with related parties
Ferrellgas, L.P. has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s partnership agreement, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas, L.P. and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas, L.P. or otherwise reasonably incurred by the general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas, L.P.’s business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Operating expense | $ | 65,291 | $ | 61,492 | $ | 122,642 | $ | 117,206 | ||||||||
General and administrative expense | $ | 8,422 | $ | 8,217 | $ | 15,930 | $ | 16,800 |
See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note F – Partners’ deficit.
J. Contingencies and commitments
Litigation
Ferrellgas, L.P.’s operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane and crude oil. As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas, L.P. can be threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than as discussed below, Ferrellgas, L.P. is not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas, L.P. has been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The lawsuits, which were consolidated in the Western District of Missouri on October 16, 2014, allege that Ferrellgas, L.P. and a competitor coordinated in 2008 to reduce the fill level in barbeque cylinders and combined to persuade a common customer to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to direct customers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws. The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class. These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. The Federal Court for the Western District of Missouri initially dismissed all claims brought by direct and indirect customers other than state law claims of indirect customers under Wisconsin, Maine and Vermont law. The direct customer plaintiffs filed an appeal, which resulted in a reversal of the district court’s dismissal. We filed a petition for a writ of certiorari which was denied. An appeal by the indirect customer plaintiffs remains pending. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes it has strong defenses to the claims and intends to vigorously defend against the consolidated case. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
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Ferrellgas, L.P. has been named, along with several current and former officers, in several class action lawsuits alleging violations of certain securities laws based on alleged materially false and misleading statements in certain of our public disclosures. The lawsuits, the first of which was filed on October 6, 2016 in the Southern District of New York, seek unspecified compensatory damages. Derivative lawsuits with similar allegations have been filed naming Ferrellgas, L.P. and several current and former officers and directors as defendants. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes that it has defenses and will vigorously defend these cases. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuits or the derivative actions.
Ferrellgas, L.P. and Bridger Logistics, LLC, have been named, along with two former officers, in a lawsuit filed by Eddystone Rail Company ("Eddystone") on February 2, 2017 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (the "EDPA Lawsuit"). Eddystone indicated that it has prevailed or settled an arbitration against Jamex Transfer Services (“JTS”), then named Bridger Transfer Services, a former subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, LLC (“Bridger”). The arbitration involved a claim against JTS for money due for deficiency payments under a contract for the use of an Eddystone facility used to offload crude from rail onto barges. Eddystone alleges that Ferrellgas, L.P. transferred assets out of JTS prior to the sale of the membership interest in JTS to Jamex Transfer Holdings, and that those transfers should be avoided so that the assets can be used to satisfy the amount owed by JTS to Eddystone under the arbitration. Eddystone also alleges that JTS was an “alter ego” of Bridger and Ferrellgas. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes that Ferrellgas, L.P. and Bridger have valid defenses to these claims and to Eddystone’s primary claim against JTS on the contract claim. The lawsuit does not specify a specific amount of damages that Eddystone is seeking; however, Ferrellgas, L.P. believes that the amount of such damage claims, if ultimately owed to Eddystone, could be material to Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, L.P. intends to vigorously defend this claim. The lawsuit is in its early stages; as such, management does not currently believe a loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time. On August 24, 2017, Ferrellgas, L.P. filed a third-party complaint against JTS, Jamex Transfer Holdings, and other related persons and entities (the "Third-Party Defendants"), asserting claims for breach of contract, indemnification of any losses in the EDPA Lawsuit, tortious interference with contract, and contribution. The Third-Party Defendants have filed motions to dismiss the third-party complaint for alleged lack of personal jurisdiction, failure to state claim, and forum non-conveniens. Ferrellgas, L.P. is vigorously opposing these motions.
K. Segment reporting
Ferrellgas, L.P. has two primary operations that result in two reportable operating segments: Propane operations and related equipment sales and Midstream operations. During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. recorded a goodwill impairment of $10.0 million related to a decline in future expected cash flows of an immaterial reporting unit of our Propane operations and related equipment sales segment.
Following is a summary of segment information for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017:
Three months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 637,880 | $ | 117,276 | $ | — | $ | 755,156 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 507,386 | 114,929 | 12,213 | 634,528 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 130,494 | $ | 2,347 | $ | (12,213 | ) | $ | 120,628 | |||||||
Three months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 482,463 | $ | 96,787 | $ | — | $ | 579,250 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 370,175 | 93,718 | 10,326 | 474,219 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 112,288 | $ | 3,069 | $ | (10,326 | ) | $ | 105,031 | |||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 971,775 | $ | 238,036 | $ | — | $ | 1,209,811 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 810,715 | 228,830 | 23,422 | 1,062,967 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 161,060 | $ | 9,206 | $ | (23,422 | ) | $ | 146,844 | |||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Segment revenues | $ | 753,961 | $ | 204,831 | $ | — | $ | 958,792 | ||||||||
Direct costs (1) | 607,189 | 196,490 | 21,063 | 824,742 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 146,772 | $ | 8,341 | $ | (21,063 | ) | $ | 134,050 | |||||||
(1) Direct costs are comprised of "cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales", "cost of products sold-midstream operations", "cost of products sold-other", "operating expense", "general and administrative expense", and "equipment lease expense" less , "severance charge", "professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit", and "unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments".
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Following is a reconciliation of Ferrellgas, L.P.'s total segment performance measure to condensed consolidated net earnings (loss):
Three months ended January 31, | Six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 6,847 | $ | 42,600 | $ | (32,852 | ) | $ | 3,160 | |||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (167 | ) | 588 | 204 | (3 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 34,058 | 32,748 | 66,254 | 64,146 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA | 66,223 | 101,543 | 84,823 | 119,112 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge | — | 1,417 | — | 3,298 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Other income, net | (684 | ) | (763 | ) | (1,195 | ) | (1,271 | ) | ||||||||
Severance costs | — | 490 | 1,663 | 1,959 | ||||||||||||
Professional fees | 2,118 | — | 2,118 | — | ||||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | (314 | ) | (646 | ) | 1,293 | (2,215 | ) | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 120,628 | $ | 105,031 | $ | 146,844 | $ | 134,050 |
Following are total assets by segment:
Assets | January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | ||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | $ | 1,361,856 | $ | 1,194,905 | ||||
Midstream operations | 309,952 | 399,356 | ||||||
Corporate | 15,242 | 15,687 | ||||||
Total consolidated assets | $ | 1,687,050 | $ | 1,609,948 |
Following are capital expenditures by segment:
Six months ended January 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Capital expenditures: | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance | $ | 12,016 | $ | 182 | $ | 1,245 | $ | 13,443 | ||||||||
Growth | 18,311 | 1,013 | — | 19,324 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 30,327 | $ | 1,195 | $ | 1,245 | $ | 32,767 | ||||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
Propane operations and related equipment sales | Midstream operations | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Capital expenditures: | ||||||||||||||||
Maintenance | $ | 5,551 | $ | 204 | $ | 1,484 | $ | 7,239 | ||||||||
Growth | 9,857 | — | — | 9,857 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 15,408 | $ | 204 | $ | 1,484 | $ | 17,096 |
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L. Guarantor financial information
The $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2023 co-issued by Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. are fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed by all of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s 100% owned subsidiaries except: (i) Ferrellgas Finance Corp; (ii) certain special purposes subsidiaries formed for use in connection with our accounts receivable securitization; and (iii) foreign subsidiaries. Guarantees of these senior notes will be released under certain circumstances, including (i) in connection with any sale or other disposition of (a) all or substantially all of the assets of a guarantor or (b) all of the capital stock of such guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation), in each case, to a person that is not Ferrellgas, L.P. or a restricted subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P., (ii) if Ferrellgas, L.P. designates any restricted subsidiary that is a guarantor as an unrestricted subsidiary, (iii) upon defeasance or discharge of the notes, (iv) upon the liquidation or dissolution of such guarantor, or (v) at such time as such guarantor ceases to guarantee any other indebtedness of either of the issuers and any other guarantor.
The guarantor financial information discloses in separate columns the financial position, results of operations and the cash flows of Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent), Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (co-issuer), Ferrellgas, L.P.’s guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis, and Ferrellgas, L.P.’s non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis. The dates and the periods presented in the guarantor financial information are consistent with the periods presented in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
As of January 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 13,954 | $ | 1 | $ | 216 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 14,171 | |||||||||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net | (3,004 | ) | — | 23,832 | 235,150 | — | 255,978 | ||||||||||||||||
Intercompany receivables | 37,988 | — | — | — | (37,988 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Inventories | 95,097 | — | 14,995 | — | — | 110,092 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets held for sale | — | — | 52,200 | — | — | 52,200 | |||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 33,630 | — | 7,762 | 1 | — | 41,393 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 177,665 | 1 | 99,005 | 235,151 | (37,988 | ) | 473,834 | ||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 547,441 | — | 98,886 | — | — | 646,327 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill, net | 246,098 | — | — | — | — | 246,098 | |||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 127,316 | — | 115,763 | — | — | 243,079 | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany receivables | 450,000 | — | — | — | (450,000 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries | (80,685 | ) | — | — | — | 80,685 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Other assets, net | 39,847 | — | 37,432 | 433 | — | 77,712 | |||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,507,682 | $ | 1 | $ | 351,086 | $ | 235,584 | $ | (407,303 | ) | $ | 1,687,050 | ||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 78,054 | $ | — | $ | 3,926 | $ | 92 | $ | — | $ | 82,072 | |||||||||||
Short-term borrowings | 261,200 | — | — | — | — | 261,200 | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized note payable | — | — | — | 166,000 | — | 166,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany payables | — | — | 44,259 | (6,271 | ) | (37,988 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 132,047 | — | 4,074 | 470 | — | 136,591 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 471,301 | — | 52,259 | 160,291 | (37,988 | ) | 645,863 | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 1,462,936 | — | 450,037 | — | (450,000 | ) | 1,462,973 | ||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 30,653 | — | 4,769 | — | — | 35,422 | |||||||||||||||||
Contingencies and commitments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners' capital (deficit): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners' equity | (481,801 | ) | 1 | (155,979 | ) | 75,293 | 80,685 | (481,801 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 24,593 | — | — | — | — | 24,593 | |||||||||||||||||
Total partners' capital (deficit) | (457,208 | ) | 1 | (155,979 | ) | 75,293 | 80,685 | (457,208 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and partners' capital (deficit) | $ | 1,507,682 | $ | 1 | $ | 351,086 | $ | 235,584 | $ | (407,303 | ) | $ | 1,687,050 | ||||||||||
54
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
As of July 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 5,327 | $ | 1 | $ | 373 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,701 | |||||||||||
Accounts and notes receivable, net | (3,132 | ) | — | 58,618 | 109,598 | — | 165,084 | ||||||||||||||||
Intercompany receivables | 39,877 | — | — | — | (39,877 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Inventories | 78,963 | — | 13,589 | — | — | 92,552 | |||||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 26,106 | — | 7,314 | 6 | — | 33,426 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 147,141 | 1 | 79,894 | 109,604 | (39,877 | ) | 296,763 | ||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 537,582 | — | 194,341 | — | — | 731,923 | |||||||||||||||||
Goodwill, net | 246,098 | — | 10,005 | — | — | 256,103 | |||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 128,209 | — | 122,893 | — | — | 251,102 | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany receivables | 450,000 | — | — | — | (450,000 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries | (53,915 | ) | — | — | — | 53,915 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Other assets, net | 35,862 | — | 37,618 | 577 | — | 74,057 | |||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 1,490,977 | $ | 1 | $ | 444,751 | $ | 110,181 | $ | (435,962 | ) | $ | 1,609,948 | ||||||||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 44,026 | $ | — | $ | 41,345 | $ | 190 | $ | — | $ | 85,561 | |||||||||||
Short-term borrowings | 59,781 | — | — | — | — | 59,781 | |||||||||||||||||
Collateralized note payable | — | — | — | 69,000 | — | 69,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Intercompany payables | — | — | 41,645 | (1,768 | ) | (39,877 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 118,039 | — | 3,776 | 201 | — | 122,016 | |||||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 221,846 | — | 86,766 | 67,623 | (39,877 | ) | 336,358 | ||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 1,649,139 | — | 450,131 | — | (450,000 | ) | 1,649,270 | ||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 26,790 | — | 4,300 | 28 | — | 31,118 | |||||||||||||||||
Contingencies and commitments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners' capital (deficit): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners' equity | (421,562 | ) | 1 | (96,446 | ) | 42,530 | 53,915 | (421,562 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 14,764 | — | — | — | — | 14,764 | |||||||||||||||||
Total partners' capital (deficit) | (406,798 | ) | 1 | (96,446 | ) | 42,530 | 53,915 | (406,798 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and partners' capital (deficit) | $ | 1,490,977 | $ | 1 | $ | 444,751 | $ | 110,181 | $ | (435,962 | ) | $ | 1,609,948 | ||||||||||
55
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 592,275 | $ | — | $ | (36 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 592,239 | ||||||||||
Midstream operations | — | — | 117,276 | — | — | 117,276 | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 22,707 | — | 22,934 | — | — | 45,641 | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 614,982 | — | 140,174 | — | — | 755,156 | |||||||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 362,927 | — | (9 | ) | — | — | 362,918 | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | — | — | 107,067 | — | — | 107,067 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 2,853 | — | 17,934 | — | — | 20,787 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expense | 114,096 | — | 9,795 | 1,833 | (2,008 | ) | 123,716 | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 18,521 | — | 6,893 | 71 | — | 25,485 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 13,833 | 3 | 1,054 | — | — | 14,890 | |||||||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,862 | — | 92 | — | — | 6,954 | |||||||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | — | — | — | — | 4,031 | |||||||||||||||||
Asset impairments | — | — | 10,005 | — | — | 10,005 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 555 | — | 38,694 | — | — | 39,249 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 91,304 | (3 | ) | (51,351 | ) | (1,904 | ) | 2,008 | 40,054 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (21,212 | ) | — | (11,739 | ) | (1,107 | ) | — | (34,058 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 408 | — | 276 | 2,008 | (2,008 | ) | 684 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 70,500 | (3 | ) | (62,814 | ) | (1,003 | ) | — | 6,680 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 82 | — | (249 | ) | — | — | (167 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | (63,571 | ) | — | — | — | 63,571 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | 6,847 | (3 | ) | (62,565 | ) | (1,003 | ) | 63,571 | 6,847 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive loss | (8,671 | ) | — | — | — | — | (8,671 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (1,824 | ) | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (62,565 | ) | $ | (1,003 | ) | $ | 63,571 | $ | (1,824 | ) | ||||||
56
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 437,375 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 437,375 | |||||||||||
Midstream operations | — | — | 96,787 | — | — | 96,787 | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 21,609 | — | 23,479 | — | — | 45,088 | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 458,984 | — | 120,266 | — | — | 579,250 | |||||||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 235,029 | — | — | — | — | 235,029 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | — | — | 87,024 | — | — | 87,024 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 2,571 | — | 18,086 | — | — | 20,657 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expense | 103,986 | — | 9,642 | 539 | (1,091 | ) | 113,076 | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 18,014 | — | 7,527 | 66 | — | 25,607 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 11,093 | 3 | 1,182 | — | — | 12,278 | |||||||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 7,267 | — | 149 | — | — | 7,416 | |||||||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 2,945 | — | — | — | — | 2,945 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 73 | — | (28 | ) | — | — | 45 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 78,006 | (3 | ) | (3,316 | ) | (605 | ) | 1,091 | 75,173 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (21,089 | ) | — | (11,002 | ) | (657 | ) | — | (32,748 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 304 | — | 459 | 1,091 | (1,091 | ) | 763 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 57,221 | (3 | ) | (13,859 | ) | (171 | ) | — | 43,188 | ||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 103 | — | 485 | — | — | 588 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | (14,518 | ) | — | — | — | 14,518 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | 42,600 | (3 | ) | (14,344 | ) | (171 | ) | 14,518 | 42,600 | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | 15,776 | — | — | — | — | 15,776 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 58,376 | $ | (3 | ) | $ | (14,344 | ) | $ | (171 | ) | $ | 14,518 | $ | 58,376 | ||||||||
57
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 894,392 | $ | — | $ | 605 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 894,997 | |||||||||||
Midstream operations | — | — | 238,036 | — | — | 238,036 | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 39,384 | — | 37,394 | — | — | 76,778 | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 933,776 | — | 276,035 | — | — | 1,209,811 | |||||||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 541,746 | — | 687 | — | — | 542,433 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | — | — | 215,192 | — | — | 215,192 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 5,562 | — | 28,927 | — | — | 34,489 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expense | 215,328 | — | 19,058 | 3,015 | (3,223 | ) | 234,178 | ||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 36,868 | — | 14,206 | 143 | — | 51,217 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 24,588 | 5 | 3,461 | — | — | 28,054 | |||||||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 13,510 | — | 185 | — | — | 13,695 | |||||||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 7,993 | — | — | — | — | 7,993 | |||||||||||||||||
Asset impairments | — | — | 10,005 | — | — | 10,005 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 1,463 | — | 38,681 | — | — | 40,144 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 86,718 | (5 | ) | (54,367 | ) | (3,158 | ) | 3,223 | 32,411 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (41,606 | ) | — | (22,924 | ) | (1,724 | ) | — | (66,254 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 623 | — | 572 | 3,223 | (3,223 | ) | 1,195 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 45,735 | (5 | ) | (76,719 | ) | (1,659 | ) | — | (32,648 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 72 | — | 132 | — | — | 204 | |||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | (78,515 | ) | — | — | — | 78,515 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | (32,852 | ) | (5 | ) | (76,851 | ) | (1,659 | ) | 78,515 | (32,852 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | 9,829 | — | — | — | — | 9,829 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (23,023 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (76,851 | ) | $ | (1,659 | ) | $ | 78,515 | $ | (23,023 | ) | ||||||
58
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales | $ | 679,774 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 679,774 | |||||||||||
Midstream operations | — | — | 204,831 | — | — | 204,831 | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 38,935 | — | 35,252 | — | — | 74,187 | |||||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 718,709 | — | 240,083 | — | — | 958,792 | |||||||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | 354,241 | — | — | — | — | 354,241 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - midstream operations | — | — | 181,666 | — | — | 181,666 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales - other | 5,001 | — | 27,402 | — | — | 32,403 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating expense | 201,641 | — | 19,888 | (1,566 | ) | (1,801 | ) | 218,162 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 36,291 | — | 15,399 | 119 | — | 51,809 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 23,956 | 5 | 2,586 | — | — | 26,547 | |||||||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 14,477 | — | 288 | — | — | 14,765 | |||||||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 6,699 | — | — | — | — | 6,699 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 1,520 | — | 4,948 | — | — | 6,468 | |||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 74,883 | (5 | ) | (12,094 | ) | 1,447 | 1,801 | 66,032 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (41,441 | ) | — | (21,675 | ) | (1,027 | ) | (3 | ) | (64,146 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense), net | 257 | — | 1,014 | 1,798 | (1,798 | ) | 1,271 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 33,699 | (5 | ) | (32,755 | ) | 2,218 | — | 3,157 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | 74 | — | (77 | ) | — | — | (3 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | (30,465 | ) | — | — | — | 30,465 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | 3,160 | (5 | ) | (32,678 | ) | 2,218 | 30,465 | 3,160 | |||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income | 25,152 | — | — | — | — | 25,152 | |||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 28,312 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (32,678 | ) | $ | 2,218 | $ | 30,465 | $ | 28,312 | |||||||||
59
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | (57,734 | ) | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 13,335 | $ | 120,563 | $ | (97,000 | ) | $ | (20,841 | ) | |||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (14,862 | ) | — | — | — | — | (14,862 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (34,391 | ) | — | (1,302 | ) | — | — | (35,693 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 4,207 | — | — | — | — | 4,207 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash collected for purchase of interest in accounts receivable | — | — | — | 574,783 | (574,783 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Cash remitted to Ferrellgas, L.P for accounts receivable | — | — | — | (671,783 | ) | 671,783 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net changes in advances with consolidated entities | 132,748 | — | — | — | (132,748 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 87,702 | — | (1,302 | ) | (97,000 | ) | (35,748 | ) | (46,348 | ) | |||||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | (35,380 | ) | — | — | — | — | (35,380 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt | 23,580 | — | — | — | — | 23,580 | |||||||||||||||||
Payments on long-term debt | (1,267 | ) | — | — | — | — | (1,267 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | (7,879 | ) | — | — | — | — | (7,879 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | — | — | — | 97,000 | — | 97,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Net changes in advances with parent | — | 5 | (12,190 | ) | (120,563 | ) | 132,748 | — | |||||||||||||||
Cash paid for financing costs | (395 | ) | — | — | — | — | (395 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (21,341 | ) | 5 | (12,190 | ) | (23,563 | ) | 132,748 | 75,659 | ||||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 8,627 | — | (157 | ) | — | — | 8,470 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | 5,327 | 1 | 373 | — | — | 5,701 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year | $ | 13,954 | $ | 1 | $ | 216 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 14,171 | |||||||||||
60
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended January 31, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ferrellgas, L.P. (Parent and Co-Issuer) | Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Co-Issuer) | Guarantor Subsidiaries | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 85,916 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | (47,221 | ) | $ | 75,611 | $ | (69,000 | ) | $ | 45,301 | ||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (19,686 | ) | — | (82 | ) | — | — | (19,768 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 4,591 | — | — | — | — | 4,591 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash collected for purchase of interest in accounts receivable | — | — | — | 469,600 | (469,600 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Cash remitted to Ferrellgas, L.P for accounts receivable | — | — | — | (538,600 | ) | 538,600 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net changes in advances with consolidated entities | 28,408 | — | — | — | (28,408 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Other | (37 | ) | — | — | — | — | (37 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 13,276 | — | (82 | ) | (69,000 | ) | 40,592 | (15,214 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | (84,500 | ) | — | — | — | — | (84,500 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Contributions from Partners | 167,640 | — | — | — | — | 167,640 | |||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from increase in long-term debt | 36,444 | — | — | — | — | 36,444 | |||||||||||||||||
Payments on long-term debt | (172,790 | ) | — | — | — | — | (172,790 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | (35,692 | ) | — | — | — | — | (35,692 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | — | — | — | 69,000 | — | 69,000 | |||||||||||||||||
Net changes in advances with parent | — | 5 | 47,198 | (75,611 | ) | 28,408 | — | ||||||||||||||||
Cash paid for financing costs | (1,422 | ) | — | — | — | — | (1,422 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (90,320 | ) | 5 | 47,198 | (6,611 | ) | 28,408 | (21,320 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 8,872 | — | (105 | ) | — | — | 8,767 | ||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | 4,472 | 1 | 417 | — | — | 4,890 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year | $ | 13,344 | $ | 1 | $ | 312 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 13,657 | |||||||||||
M. Subsequent events
Ferrellgas, L.P. evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas L.P.'s condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that, other than as discussed below, there were no
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events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements.
On February 20, 2018, Ferrellgas, L.P. completed the sale of 1,072 rail cars utilized in the Midstream operations segment and received approximately $47.0 million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce outstanding debt on Ferrellgas L.P.'s secured credit facility. See additional discussions on the completed rail car sale in Note C - Supplemental financial statement information.
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. | |||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.) | |||||||
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
January 31, 2018 | July 31, 2017 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Cash | $ | 1,100 | $ | 1,100 | |||
Other current assets | — | 1,500 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 1,100 | $ | 2,600 | |||
Contingencies and commitments (Note B) | |||||||
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY | |||||||
Common stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 1,000 shares issued and outstanding | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
Additional paid in capital | 71,052 | 67,336 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (70,952 | ) | (65,736 | ) | |||
Total stockholder's equity | $ | 1,100 | $ | 2,600 | |||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. | ||||||||||||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.) | ||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended January 31, | For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | $ | 3,666 | $ | 3,400 | $ | 5,216 | $ | 4,950 | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (3,666 | ) | $ | (3,400 | ) | $ | (5,216 | ) | $ | (4,950 | ) | ||||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. | |||||||
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.) | |||||||
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
For the six months ended January 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (5,216 | ) | $ | (4,950 | ) | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Other current assets | 1,500 | 1,500 | |||||
Cash used in operating activities | (3,716 | ) | (3,450 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Capital contribution | 3,716 | 3,450 | |||||
Cash provided by financing activities | 3,716 | 3,450 | |||||
Net change in cash | — | — | |||||
Cash - beginning of period | 1,100 | 1,100 | |||||
Cash - end of period | $ | 1,100 | $ | 1,100 | |||
See notes to condensed financial statements. |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
(unaudited)
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Formation
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on January 16, 2003 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “Partnership”).
The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal recurring nature.
The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.
B. Contingencies and commitments
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.
The indentures governing the senior notes agreements contains various restrictive covenants applicable to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, the most restrictive relating to additional indebtedness and restricted payments. As of January 31, 2018, the Partnership is in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations and covenants related to these debt agreements.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Overview
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 while 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 Item 2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context indicates otherwise:
• | “us,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “consolidated,” or "Ferrellgas" 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; |
• | "GAAP" refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; |
• | “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; |
• | “water solutions revenues” refers to fees charged for the processing and disposal of salt water as well as the sale of skimming oil; |
• | "crude oil logistics revenues" refers to fees charged for crude oil transportation and logistics services on behalf of producers and end-users of crude oil; |
• | "crude oil sales" refers to crude oil purchased and sold in connection with crude oil transportation and logistics services on behalf of producers and end-users of crude oil; |
• | "crude oil hauled" refers to the crude oil volume in barrels transported through our operation of a fleet of trucks, tank trailers, rail cars and a barge; |
• | "Jamex" refers to Jamex Marketing, LLC; |
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• | “salt water volume” refers to the number of barrels of salt water processed at our disposal sites; |
• | “skimming oil” refers to the oil collected from the process used at our salt water disposal wells through a combination of gravity and chemicals to separate crude oil that is dissolved in the salt water; |
• | “Notes” refers to the notes of the condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership, as applicable; |
• | "MBbls/d" refers to one thousand barrels per day; and |
Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two direct subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners’ only significant assets are its approximate 99% limited partnership interest in the operating partnership and its 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. The common units of Ferrellgas Partners are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and our activities are primarily conducted through the operating partnership.
The operating partnership was formed on April 22, 1994, and accounts for substantially all of our consolidated assets, sales and operating earnings, except for interest expense related to the senior notes co-issued by Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
Our general partner performs all management functions for us and our subsidiaries and holds a 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership. The parent company of our general partner, Ferrell Companies, beneficially owns approximately 23% 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (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 “FGP,” we also provide our SEC filings and particular other information to the New York Stock Exchange. You may obtain copies of these filings and such other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange located at 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, our SEC filings are available on our website at www.ferrellgas.com at no cost as soon as reasonably practicable after our electronic filing or furnishing thereof with the SEC. Please note that any Internet addresses provided in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be hyperlinks. Accordingly, no information found and/or provided at such Internet addresses is intended or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.
The following is a discussion of our historical financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with our historical condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The discussions set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections generally refer to Ferrellgas Partners and its consolidated subsidiaries. However, in these discussions there exist two material differences between Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership. Those material differences are:
• | because Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior notes due fiscal 2020, the two partnerships incur different amounts of interest expense on their outstanding indebtedness; see the statements of operations in their respective condensed consolidated financial statements; and |
• | Ferrellgas Partners repurchased common units in fiscal 2017. |
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Cautionary Note Regarding 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 the risk factors that may affect our business, financial condition or results of operations include:
• | Ferrellgas' ability to refinance or replace its secured credit facility and/or its accounts receivable securitization facility; |
• | the effect of weather conditions on the demand for propane; |
• | the prices of wholesale propane, motor fuel and crude oil; |
• | disruptions to the supply of propane; |
• | competition from other industry participants and other energy sources; |
• | energy efficiency and technology advances; |
• | the termination or non-renewal of certain arrangements or agreements; |
• | adverse changes in our relationships with our national tank exchange customers; |
• | significant delays in the collection of, or uncollectibility of, accounts or notes receivable; |
• | customer, counterparty, supplier or vendor defaults; |
• | changes in demand for, and production of, hydrocarbon products; |
• | capacity overbuild of midstream energy infrastructure in our midstream operational areas; |
• | increased trucking regulations; |
• | cost increases that exceed contractual rate increases for our logistics services; |
• | inherent operating and litigation risks in gathering, transporting, handling and storing propane and crude oil; |
• | our inability to complete acquisitions or to successfully integrate acquired operations; |
• | costs of complying with, or liabilities imposed under, environmental, health and safety laws; |
• | the impact of pending and future legal proceedings; |
• | the interruption, disruption, failure or malfunction of our information technology systems including due to cyber attack; |
• | the impact of changes in tax law that could adversely affect the tax treatment of Ferrellgas Partners for federal income tax purposes; |
• | economic and political instability, particularly in areas of the world tied to the energy industry; and |
• | disruptions in the capital and credit markets. |
When considering any forward-looking statement, you should also keep in mind the risk factors set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017 and under Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these risks could impair our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any such impairment may affect our ability to make distributions to our unitholders or pay interest on the principal of any of our debt securities. In addition, the trading price of our securities could decline as a result of any such impairment.
Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or risk factors after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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Recent developments
Rail car sale
During the quarter ended January 31, 2018, we committed to a plan to dispose of all of our rail cars utilized in the Midstream operations segment and as a result, reclassified 1,292 rail cars from "Property, plant and equipment, net" to "Assets held for sale" on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2018. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2018, "Loss on asset sales and disposals" includes a loss of $35.5 million related to the write-down of these rail cars classified as "Assets held for sale".
In February 2018 we sold 1,072 rail cars and received approximately $47.0 million in cash, which we used to reduce borrowings under our senior secured credit facility. We expect that the sale will reduce our interest expense in future periods, improve our credit metrics, and lessen our reliance on our senior secured credit facility as we move forward with growth efforts. We expect that the liquidity benefits from the sale of these assets will be achieved without impacting our forecasted Adjusted EBTIDA.
Bridger Energy, LLC sale
In January 2018 we completed the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, which is a subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. With the sale, we exited Bridger Energy's oil purchase and sale activity, and as a result will be able to realize a near-term reduction of approximately $80 million in letters of credit issued on our senior secured credit facility to support Bridger Energy.
Financial covenants
The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit our ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. Our general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined in the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners, and the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined in our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility.
Before a restricted payment (as defined in the secured credit facility and the operating partnership indentures) can be made by the operating partnership, the operating partnership must be in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated interest coverage ratio covenants under the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility and in compliance with the covenants under the operating partnership's indentures. If the operating partnership is unable to make restricted payments, Ferrellgas Partners will not have the ability to make semi-annual interest payments on its $357.0 million 8.625% unsecured senior notes due 2020 or distributions to Ferrellgas Partners common unitholders. If Ferrellgas Partners does not make interest payments on its unsecured notes, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If Ferrellgas' debt obligations are accelerated, Ferrellgas may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
Before a restricted payment (as defined in the Ferrellgas Partners indenture) can be made by Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners must be in compliance with the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio covenant under the Ferrellgas Partners indenture. If Ferrellgas Partners is unable to make restricted payments, Ferrellgas Partners will not have the ability to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners common unitholders.
A breach of the consolidated leverage ratio covenant or the consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant under the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility would result in an event of default under those facilities resulting in the operating partnership’s inability to obtain funds under those facilities and would give the lenders and receivables purchasers the right to accelerate the operating partnership’s obligations under those facilities and to exercise remedies to collect the outstanding amounts under those facilities. If the lenders and receivables purchasers accelerated the operating partnership's obligations, that would constitute an event of default which would permit the acceleration of the obligations underlying the Ferrellgas Partners indenture, including all outstanding principal owed. The accelerated obligations would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross acceleration of other debt. If our debt obligations are accelerated, we may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt in which case unitholders and investors in our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
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Consolidated leverage ratio
Our consolidated leverage ratio is defined as the ratio of total debt of the operating partnership to trailing four quarters EBITDA (both as adjusted for certain, defined items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current maximum consolidated leverage covenant ratios are as follows:
Date | Maximum leverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 7.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 5.50 |
Our consolidated leverage ratio was 6.96x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $193.2 million of additional borrowing capacity or approximately $24.9 million less EBITDA. This covenant also restricts the operating partnership's ability to make payments to Ferrellgas Partners for purposes of funding quarterly common unit distributions as discussed above.
Consolidated interest coverage ratio
The consolidated interest coverage ratio is defined as the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of the operating partnership, as detailed in our secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility.
The current minimum consolidated interest coverage ratios are as follows:
Date | Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio | ||
January 31, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
April 30, 2018 | 1.75 | ||
July 31, 2018 & thereafter | 2.50 |
Our consolidated interest ratio was 2.14x as of January 31, 2018; the margin allows for approximately $25.3 million of additional interest expense or approximately $44.3 million less EBITDA.
Consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio
The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners includes a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test for the incurrence of debt and the making of restricted payments. This covenant requires that the ratio of trailing four quarters EBITDA to interest expense (both as adjusted for certain, specified items) of Ferrellgas Partners be at least 1.75x before a restricted payment (as defined in the indenture) can be made by Ferrellgas Partners. If this ratio were to drop below 1.75x, the indenture allows us to make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a 16 quarter period while below this ratio. As of January 31, 2018, the ratio was 1.59x. As a result, the $9.8 million distribution to be paid to common unitholders on March 16, 2018 will be taken from the $50.0 million restricted payment limitation, which after considering the $9.8 million deductions taken as a result of the distributions paid in September 2017 and December 2017, leaves $20.6 million for future restricted payments. Unless the indenture governing the outstanding notes is amended or refinanced, if our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio does not improve to at least 1.75x and we continue our current quarterly distribution rate of $0.10 per common unit, this covenant will not allow us to make common unit distributions for our quarter ending October 31, 2018 and beyond.
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
We continue to execute on a strategy to further reduce our debt and interest expense. This strategy may include amending or refinancing existing debt agreements, additional asset sales (see Recent Developments above for such actions taken since October 31, 2017), a reduction in Ferrellgas Partners' annual distribution rate or the issuance of equity. We believe any debt and interest expense reduction strategies would remain in effect until our consolidated leverage ratio reaches 4.5x or a level that we deem appropriate for our business.
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If we are unsuccessful with our strategy to further reduce debt and interest expense, or are unsuccessful in renegotiating our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility, which both mature in October 2018, or are unable to secure alternative liquidity sources, we may not have the liquidity to fund our operations after that maturity date.
Failure to maintain compliance with these and other covenants in our agreements or failure to renew or replace liquidity available under the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility could have a material, adverse effect on our operating capacity and cash flows and could further restrict our ability to incur debt, pay interest on the notes or to make cash distributions to unitholders. An inability to pay interest on the notes could result in an event of default that would permit the acceleration of all of our indebtedness. The accelerated debt would become immediately due and payable, which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration under other debt. If the payment of our debt is accelerated, our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full and we may be unable to borrow sufficient funds to refinance debt, in which case investors in common units and our debt instruments could experience a partial or total loss of their investment.
As a result of the October 2018 maturity date of Ferrellgas' secured credit facility, the entire balance outstanding at January 31, 2018 has been classified as a current liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2018. The absence of a plan to renew or refinance this debt would raise substantial doubt about Ferrellgas' ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas is working to renew or replace the secured credit facility and the accounts receivable securitization facility. Potential options include extending the current secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, entering into a new secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, or securing alternative financing from different sources. Ferrellgas believes it is probable that it will be able to obtain sufficient capital to meet anticipated liquidity demands and, therefore, does not believe there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Distributions
On February 22, 2018 the board of directors of our general partner announced a quarterly distribution of $0.10, payable on March 16, 2018, to all unitholders of record as of March 9, 2018, which equates to an annual distribution rate of $0.40. On December 15, 2017 and September 14, 2017, we also paid a quarterly distribution of $0.10.
U.S. Tax Reform
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“2017 Act”) was signed into law, which enacted significant changes to U.S. tax and related laws. Some of the provisions of the 2017 Act that could affect Ferrellgas and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, a reduction of the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, limitations on the deductibility of interest expense, and full expensing for certain qualified property.
Ferrellgas has adjusted all federal net deferred tax assets of its corporate subsidiaries using the lower federal corporate income tax rate. Since the corporate subsidiaries are fiscal year tax filers with a tax year straddling the effective date of the 2017 Act, a blended corporate tax federal rate has been applied in accordance with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 15.
While we do not expect the 2017 Act to have a material impact on our results, Ferrellgas will continue to analyze the 2017 Act to determine the full effects of the new law on its consolidated financial statements.
How We Evaluate Our Operations
We evaluate our overall business performance based primarily on Adjusted EBITDA. We do not utilize depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in our key measures, because we focus our performance management on cash flow generation and our revenue generating assets have long useful lives.
Segment disclosure
Propane operations and related equipment sales
Based on our propane sales volumes in fiscal 2017, we believe that we are the second largest retail marketer of propane in the United States and a leading national provider of propane by portable tank exchange. We serve 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.
We use information on temperatures to understand how our results of operations are affected by temperatures that are warmer or colder than normal. Normal temperatures are the average of the last 30 years of information published by the
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 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 primarily 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 continued warming trend, we could expect nationwide demand for propane for heating purposes to decrease which could lead to a reduction in our sales, income and liquidity availability as well as impact our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants.
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. 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 open financial derivative propane purchase commitments are designated as hedges primarily for fiscal 2018 and 2019 sales commitments and, as of January 31, 2018, have experienced net mark-to-market gains of approximately $24.3 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 condensed consolidated balance sheets as “Prepaid expenses and other current assets,” "Other assets, net," “Other current liabilities,” "Other liabilities" and “Accumulated other comprehensive income,” respectively, until settled. Upon settlement, realized gains or losses on these contracts will be reclassified to “Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquid sales” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as the underlying inventory is sold. These financial derivative purchase commitment net gains are expected to be offset by decreased margins on propane sales commitments that qualify for the normal purchase normal sale exception. At January 31, 2018, we estimate 72% 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.
Midstream Operations
Our midstream operations primarily include crude oil logistics ("Bridger Logistics"). Bridger Logistics primarily generates income by providing crude oil transportation and logistics services on behalf of producers and end-users of crude oil. Bridger Logistics services include transportation through its operation of a fleet of trucks, tank trailers and pipeline injection terminals. We primarily operate in major oil and gas basins across the continental United States. Additionally, midstream operations includes water solutions which generates income primarily through the operation of salt water disposal wells in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas.
Summary Discussion of Results of Operations:
For the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017
During the three months ended January 31, 2018, we generated net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners L.P. of $1.8 million, compared to net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners L.P. of $38.1 million during the three months ended January 31, 2017.
Our propane operations and related equipment sales segment generated operating income of $101.8 million during the three months ended January 31, 2018, compared to operating income of $95.3 million during the three months ended January 31, 2017. Due to the seasonal nature of demand for propane, sales volumes of our propane operations and related equipment sales segment typically are higher during the second and third quarters of the fiscal year than during the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. The increase in operating income resulted from a $27.0 million increase in gross margin largely offset by a
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$10.7 million increase in operating expenses and a $10.0 million impairment of goodwill related to an immaterial reporting unit.
Our midstream operations segment generated an operating loss of $42.3 million during the three months ended January 31, 2018 compared to an operating loss of $4.4 million during the three months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to a $35.5 million loss on the disposal of rail car assets recognized in fiscal 2018.
Corporate operations recognized an operating loss of $19.4 million during the three months ended January 31, 2018, compared to an operating loss of $15.8 million recognized during the three months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to a $4.5 million increase in legal costs, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in corporate personnel costs.
“Interest expense” for Ferrellgas increased $5.9 million primarily due to increased interest rates on the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, as well as increased interest rates associated with the $175.0 million of debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners in January 2017, which replaced a portion of the borrowings under the secured credit facility.
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors increased to $79.2 million in the current period from $68.9 million in the prior period primarily due to a $15.6 million increase in our Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in net cash interest expense.
Distributable cash flow excess increased to $67.9 million in the current period from $57.8 million in the prior period, primarily due to a $15.6 million increase in our Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in net cash interest expense.
For the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017
During the six months ended January 31, 2018, we generated net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners L.P. of $49.8 million, compared to $5.0 million during the six months ended January 31, 2017.
Our propane operations and related equipment sales segment generated operating income of $113.0 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to operating income of $111.9 million during the six months ended January 31, 2017. Due to the seasonal nature of demand for propane, sales volumes of our propane operations and related equipment sales segment typically are higher during the second and third quarters of the fiscal year than during the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. The slight increase in operating income resulted from the $27.5 million increase in gross margin being largely offset by a $17.1 million increase in operating expenses and a $10.0 million impairment of goodwill related to an immaterial reporting unit.
Our midstream operations segment generated an operating loss of $45.1 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018 compared to an operating loss of $11.9 million during the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to a $35.5 million loss on disposal of rail car assets recognized in fiscal 2018.
Corporate operations recognized an operating loss of $35.5 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to an operating loss of $33.9 million recognized during the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to a $6.1 million increase in legal costs, partially offset by $2.0 million of decreased non-cash compensation charges and a $2.7 million decrease in corporate personnel costs.
“Interest expense” for Ferrellgas increased $11.2 million primarily due to increased interest rates on the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, as well as increased interest rates associated with the $175.0 million of debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners in January 2017, which replaced a portion of the borrowings under the secured credit facility.
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors of $59.9 million in the current period decreased from $62.7 million in the prior period primarily due to a $9.5 million increase in net cash interest expense, a $6.3 million increase in maintenance capital expenditures, partially offset by a $12.8 million increase in our Adjusted EBITDA. The increase in maintenance capital expenditures was primarily for the purchase of new propane delivery trucks.
Distributable cash flow excess increased to $39.3 million in the current period from $1.9 million in the prior period, primarily due to a $40.1 million decrease in distributions paid to common unitholders and a $12.8 million increase in our Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $9.5 million increase in net cash interest expense and a $6.3 million increase in maintenance capital expenditures.
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Consolidated Results of Operations
Three months ended January 31, | Six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 755,156 | $ | 579,250 | $ | 1,209,811 | $ | 958,792 | ||||||||
Total cost of sales | 490,772 | 342,710 | 792,114 | 568,310 | ||||||||||||
Operating expense | 123,716 | 113,076 | 234,178 | 218,162 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expense | 14,891 | 12,279 | 28,055 | 26,548 | ||||||||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,954 | 7,416 | 13,695 | 14,765 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Operating income | 40,053 | 75,172 | 32,410 | 66,031 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (42,673 | ) | (36,819 | ) | (83,480 | ) | (72,247 | ) | ||||||||
Other income, net | 684 | 763 | 1,195 | 1,271 | ||||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (1,936 | ) | 39,116 | (49,875 | ) | (4,945 | ) | |||||||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (162 | ) | 588 | 215 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | (1,774 | ) | 38,528 | (50,090 | ) | (4,943 | ) | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 69 | 430 | (332 | ) | 32 | |||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | (1,843 | ) | 38,098 | (49,758 | ) | (4,975 | ) | |||||||||
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings (loss) | (19 | ) | 381 | (498 | ) | (50 | ) | |||||||||
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings (loss) | $ | (1,824 | ) | $ | 37,717 | $ | (49,260 | ) | $ | (4,925 | ) |
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Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this Quarterly Report we present three primary non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, and Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders.
Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., less the sum of the following: income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, asset impairments, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income, net, severance costs, professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit, unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, and net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. Management believes the presentation of this measure is relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership's performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
Distributable Cash Flow Attributable to Equity Investors. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus net cash interest expense, maintenance capital expenditures and cash paid for taxes, plus proceeds from asset sales. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to equity investors. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
Distributable Cash Flow Attributable to Common Unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors minus distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and noncontrolling interest. Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table summarizes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors and Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders for the three and six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively:
Three months ended January 31, | Six months ended January 31, | |||||||||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | $ | (1,843 | ) | $ | 38,098 | $ | (49,758 | ) | $ | (4,975 | ) | |||||
Income tax expense (benefit) | (162 | ) | 588 | 215 | (2 | ) | ||||||||||
Interest expense | 42,673 | 36,819 | 83,480 | 72,247 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 25,485 | 25,607 | 51,217 | 51,809 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA | 66,153 | 101,112 | 85,154 | 119,079 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 7,993 | 6,699 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash stock-based compensation charge | — | 1,417 | — | 3,298 | ||||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | — | ||||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 39,249 | 45 | 40,144 | 6,468 | ||||||||||||
Other income, net | (684 | ) | (763 | ) | (1,195 | ) | (1,271 | ) | ||||||||
Severance costs | — | 490 | 1,663 | 1,959 | ||||||||||||
Professional fees (d) | 2,118 | — | 2,118 | — | ||||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | (314 | ) | (646 | ) | 1,293 | (2,215 | ) | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 69 | 430 | (332 | ) | 32 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 120,627 | 105,030 | 146,843 | 134,049 | ||||||||||||
Net cash interest expense (a) | (39,734 | ) | (34,712 | ) | (77,791 | ) | (68,330 | ) | ||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures (b) | (4,640 | ) | (3,754 | ) | (13,344 | ) | (7,076 | ) | ||||||||
Cash paid for taxes | (6 | ) | (25 | ) | (12 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from asset sales | 2,999 | 2,313 | 4,207 | 4,033 | ||||||||||||
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors | 79,246 | 68,852 | 59,903 | 62,650 | ||||||||||||
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest | 1,585 | 1,377 | 1,198 | 1,253 | ||||||||||||
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders | 77,661 | 67,475 | 58,705 | 61,397 | ||||||||||||
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders | 9,716 | 9,715 | 19,431 | 59,506 | ||||||||||||
Distributable cash flow excess (c) | $ | 67,945 | $ | 57,760 | $ | 39,274 | $ | 1,891 |
(a) | Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income (expense), net. This amount includes interest expense related to the accounts receivable securitization facility. |
(b) | Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment. |
(c) | Distributable cash flow excess is retained to establish reserves for future distributions, reduce debt, fund capital expenditures and for other partnership purposes. Distributable cash flow shortages are funded from previously established reserves, cash on hand or borrowings under our secured credit facility or accounts receivable securitization facility. |
(d) | Professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit. |
Segment Operating Results for the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017
Items Impacting the Comparability of Our Financial Results
Our current and future results of operations may not be comparable to our historical results of operations for the periods presented due to the following transactions. In January 2018, we completed the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, which is a subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. After January 2018, we will no longer report oil purchase and sale activity within the midstream reporting segment. In February 2018, we announced the sale of 1,072 rail cars from our crude oil logistics operations. Most of these rail cars were in storage and incurring storage fees, while fewer were leased to a
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third party under a multi-year contract. The sale of these rail cars will not significantly affect future revenues or operating income within the midstream reporting segment.
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Propane operations and related equipment sales
The following table summarizes propane sales volumes and the Adjusted EBITDA results of our propane operations and related equipment sales segment for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Three months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Propane sales volumes (gallons): | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | 235,071 | 201,580 | 33,491 | 17 | % | ||||||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | 74,942 | 66,152 | 8,790 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
310,013 | 267,732 | 42,281 | 16 | % | |||||||||||
Revenues - | |||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales: | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | $ | 417,472 | $ | 313,169 | $ | 104,303 | 33 | % | |||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | 128,654 | 103,223 | 25,431 | 25 | % | ||||||||||
Other Gas Sales (a) | 46,113 | 20,983 | 25,130 | 120 | % | ||||||||||
Other (b) | 45,641 | 45,088 | 553 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
Propane and related equipment revenues | $ | 637,880 | $ | 482,463 | $ | 155,417 | 32 | % | |||||||
Gross Margin - | |||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales: (c) | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users (a) | $ | 182,129 | $ | 158,369 | $ | 23,760 | 15 | % | |||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers (a) | 47,192 | 43,977 | 3,215 | 7 | % | ||||||||||
Other (b) | 24,854 | 24,431 | 423 | 2 | % | ||||||||||
Propane and related equipment gross margin | $ | 254,175 | $ | 226,777 | $ | 27,398 | 12 | % | |||||||
Operating, general and administrative expense (d) | $ | 117,306 | $ | 106,651 | $ | 10,655 | 10 | % | |||||||
Equipment lease expense | 6,375 | 6,704 | (329 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 101,767 | $ | 95,332 | $ | 6,435 | 7 | % | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 18,167 | 18,017 | 150 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 555 | 73 | 482 | 660 | % | ||||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | NM | |||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | — | (1,134 | ) | 1,134 | 100 | % | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 130,494 | $ | 112,288 | $ | 18,206 | 16 | % |
(a) Gross margin for Other Gas Sales is allocated to Gross margin "Retail - Sales to End Users" and "Wholesale - Sales to Resellers" based on the volumes in each respective category.
(b) Other primarily includes appliance and material sales, and to a lesser extent various customer fee income.
(c) Gross margin from "Propane and other gas liquids sales" represents "Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales" less "Cost of sales - Propane and other gas liquids sales" and does not include depreciation and amortization.
(d) Operating, general, and administrative expenses are included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. General and administrative expenses include only certain items that were directly attributable to the propane operations and related equipment sales segment.
Propane sales volumes during the three months ended January 31, 2018 increased 16% or 42.3 million gallons, from that of the prior year period due to 33.5 million and 8.8 million of increased gallon sales to retail and wholesale customers, respectively.
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Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the three months ended January 31, 2018 was approximately 5% warmer than normal, but 12% colder than the prior year period. Retail and wholesale gallons increased due to a combination of efforts to increase market share and colder weather.
Our wholesale sales price per gallon largely correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas and Conway, Kansas during the three months ended January 31, 2018 averaged 46% and 45% greater than the prior year period, respectively. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.95 and $0.65 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.90 and $0.62 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Revenues
Retail sales increased $104.3 million compared to the prior period. This increase resulted from a $52.3 million increase in sales price per gallon and $52.0 million from increased sales volumes, both as discussed above.
Wholesale sales increased $25.4 million compared to the prior period. This increase resulted from a $13.9 million increase in sales volumes and an $11.5 million increase in sales price per gallon, both as discussed above.
Other gas sales increased $25.1 million compared to the prior year period due to both an increase in sales volumes and sales price per gallon, as discussed above.
Other revenues increased $0.6 million compared to the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in the sales of certain lower margin equipment.
Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
Gross margin increased $27.0 million primarily due to the 42.3 million increase in gallon sales as discussed above, partially offset by a slight decrease in gross margin per gallon. The increase in retail gross margin of $23.8 million resulted from efforts to increase market share and to a lesser extent colder weather. The increase in wholesale gross margin primarily relates to increased volumes related to colder weather, partially offset by decreased gross margin per gallon.
Operating income
Operating income increased $6.4 million primarily due to a $27.0 million increase in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales, partially offset by a $10.7 million increase in "Operating, general and administrative expense" and a $10.0 million "Asset impairments". "Operating, general and administrative expense" increased primarily due to a $5.6 million increase in personnel costs and a $3.8 million increase in vehicle costs, both related to the increase in gallons sold as discussed above, and a $1.3 million increase in bad debt expense. The "Asset impairments" relates to an impairment of goodwill of an immaterial reporting unit.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $18.2 million primarily due to a $27.0 million increase in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales, partially offset by a $9.5 million increase in "Operating, general and administrative expense"" "Operating, general and administrative expense" increased primarily due to a $5.6 million increase in personnel costs and a $2.7 million increase in vehicle costs, both related to the increase in gallons sold as discussed above and a $1.3 million increase in bad debt expense.
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Midstream operations
The following table summarizes the volume of product hauled, sold and processed, as well as Adjusted EBITDA results of our midstream operations segment for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Three months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Volumes (barrels): | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil hauled | 11,065 | 13,005 | (1,940 | ) | (15 | )% | |||||||||
Crude oil sold | 1,556 | 1,326 | 230 | 17 | % | ||||||||||
Salt water volume processed | 4,851 | 4,002 | 849 | 21 | % | ||||||||||
Revenues - | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil and other logistics | $ | 15,886 | $ | 19,573 | $ | (3,687 | ) | (19 | )% | ||||||
Crude oil sales | 97,646 | 74,794 | 22,852 | 31 | % | ||||||||||
Other | 3,744 | 2,510 | 1,234 | 49 | % | ||||||||||
$ | 117,276 | $ | 96,877 | $ | 20,399 | 21 | % | ||||||||
Gross margin - (a) | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil and other logistics | $ | 6,550 | $ | 3,829 | $ | 2,721 | 71 | % | |||||||
Crude oil sales | 2,365 | 4,888 | (2,523 | ) | (52 | )% | |||||||||
Other | 1,294 | 1,046 | 248 | 24 | % | ||||||||||
$ | 10,209 | $ | 9,763 | $ | 446 | 5 | % | ||||||||
Operating, general, and administrative expenses (b) | $ | 7,464 | $ | 7,041 | $ | 423 | 6 | % | |||||||
Equipment lease expense | 84 | 141 | (57 | ) | (40 | )% | |||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (42,299 | ) | $ | (4,400 | ) | $ | (37,899 | ) | NM | |||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 6,266 | 7,009 | (743 | ) | (11 | )% | |||||||||
Loss (gain) on asset sales and disposals | 38,694 | (28 | ) | 38,722 | NM | ||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) loss (gain) on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | (314 | ) | 488 | (802 | ) | NM | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 2,347 | $ | 3,069 | $ | (722 | ) | (24 | )% |
NM - Not meaningful
(a) Gross margin represents "Revenues - Midstream operations" less "Cost of sales - Midstream operations" and does not include depreciation and amortization.
(b) Operating, general, and administrative expenses are included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. General and administrative expenses include only certain items that were directly attributable to the midstream operations segment.
Crude oil hauled during the three months ended January 31, 2018 decreased 15%, or 1.9 million barrels, from that of the prior period primarily due to decreased short haul trucking volumes.
Revenues
Crude oil sales increased 31% or $22.9 million compared to the prior period, while crude oil and other logistics revenue decreased 19% or $3.7 million. The increase in crude oil sales reflects $13.0 million related to the increase in the crude oil volumes sold and a $9.9 million increase due to the increase in the market price of crude oil. The decrease in crude oil and other logistics revenues is driven by the trucking industry related labor shortages.
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Gross margin
Gross margin increased 5% or $0.4 million compared to the prior period, primarily due to a $2.7 million increase related to crude oil and other logistics hauling, partially offset by a $2.5 million decrease related to crude oil sales. Despite decreased volumes and revenues, crude oil and other logistics gross margin increased primarily due to the benefits from the cessation of barge operations related to a transportation and logistics agreement with Jamex Marketing, LLC (the "Jamex TLA"). Crude oil sales gross margin decreased primarily due to smaller margins on contracted physical crude deals from market conditions in the Niobrara region.
Operating loss
Operating loss increased by $37.9 million during the three months ended January 31, 2018 as compared to the three months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss was primarily due to a $35.5 million loss on disposal of rail car assets recognized in fiscal 2018, partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in gross margin as discussed above.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA decreased $0.7 million primarily due to $0.4 million decrease in gross margin, as discussed above.
Corporate
The following table summarizes the financial results of our corporate operations for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Three months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Operating, general and administrative expense (a) | $ | 13,837 | $ | 11,664 | $ | 2,173 | 19 | % | |||||||
Equipment lease expense | 495 | 570 | (75 | ) | (13 | )% | |||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (19,415 | ) | $ | (15,760 | ) | $ | (3,655 | ) | (23 | )% | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,052 | 581 | 471 | 81 | % | ||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 4,031 | 2,945 | 1,086 | 37 | % | ||||||||||
Non-cash stock based compensation charge | — | 1,417 | (1,417 | ) | (100 | )% | |||||||||
Severance costs | — | 490 | (490 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
Professional fees (b) | 2,118 | — | 2,118 | NM | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (12,214 | ) | $ | (10,327 | ) | $ | (1,887 | ) | (18 | )% |
(a) Some general and administrative expenses have been allocated to other segments.
(b) Professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit.
Operating loss
Corporate recognized an operating loss of $19.4 million during the three months ended January 31, 2018, compared to an operating loss of $15.8 million recognized during the three months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to a $4.5 million increase in legal costs, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in corporate personnel costs.
Adjusted EBITDA
The Adjusted EBITDA loss within "Corporate" increased by $1.9 million primarily due to $2.4 million in increased legal costs, partially offset by a $0.5 million reduction in corporate personnel expenses, both as discussed above.
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Segment Operating Results for the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017
Items Impacting the Comparability of Our Financial Results
Our current and future results of operations may not be comparable to our historical results of operations for the periods presented due to the following transactions. In January 2018, we completed the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, which is a subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. After January 2018, we will no longer report oil purchase and sale activity within the midstream reporting segment. In February 2018, we announced the sale of 1,072 rail cars from our crude oil logistics operations. Most of these rail cars were in storage and incurring storage fees, while fewer were leased to a third party under a multi-year contract. Thus, this sale of rail cars will not significantly affect future revenues or operating income within the midstream reporting segment.
Propane operations and related equipment sales
The following table summarizes propane sales volumes and the Adjusted EBITDA results of our propane operations and related equipment sales segment for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Six months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Propane sales volumes (gallons): | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | 354,365 | 312,768 | 41,597 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | 128,371 | 118,142 | 10,229 | 9 | % | ||||||||||
482,736 | 430,910 | 51,826 | 12 | % | |||||||||||
Revenues - | |||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales: | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | $ | 601,266 | $ | 461,786 | $ | 139,480 | 30 | % | |||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | 227,083 | 187,442 | 39,641 | 21 | % | ||||||||||
Other Gas Sales (a) | 66,648 | 30,546 | 36,102 | 118 | % | ||||||||||
Other (b) | 76,778 | 74,187 | 2,591 | 3 | % | ||||||||||
Propane and related equipment other revenues | $ | 971,775 | $ | 753,961 | $ | 217,814 | 29 | % | |||||||
Gross Margin - | |||||||||||||||
Propane and other gas liquids sales: (c) | |||||||||||||||
Retail - Sales to End Users (a) | $ | 260,560 | $ | 239,754 | $ | 20,806 | 9 | % | |||||||
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers (a) | 92,004 | 85,779 | 6,225 | 7 | % | ||||||||||
Other (b) | 42,289 | 41,784 | 505 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
Propane and related equipment gross margin | $ | 394,853 | $ | 367,317 | $ | 27,536 | 7 | % | |||||||
Operating, general and administrative expense (d) | $ | 221,571 | $ | 204,510 | $ | 17,061 | 8 | % | |||||||
Equipment lease expense | 12,580 | 13,277 | (697 | ) | (5 | )% | |||||||||
Operating income | $ | 112,979 | $ | 111,860 | $ | 1,119 | 1 | % | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 36,255 | 36,150 | 105 | — | % | ||||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 1,463 | 1,520 | (57 | ) | (4 | )% | |||||||||
Asset impairments | 10,005 | — | 10,005 | NM | |||||||||||
Severance costs | 358 | 253 | 105 | 42 | % | ||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | — | (3,011 | ) | 3,011 | NM | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 161,060 | $ | 146,772 | $ | 14,288 | 10 | % |
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(a) Gross margin for Other Gas Sales is allocated to Gross margin "Retail - Sales to End Users" and "Wholesale - Sales to Resellers" based on the volumes in each respective category.
(b) Other primarily includes appliance and material sales, and to a lesser extent various customer fee income.
(c) Gross margin from "Propane and other gas liquids sales" represents "Revenues - Propane and other gas liquids sales" less "Cost of sales - Propane and other gas liquids sales" and does not include depreciation and amortization.
(d) Operating, general, and administrative expenses are included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. General and administrative expenses include only certain items that were directly attributable to the propane operations and related equipment sales segment.
Propane sales volumes during the six months ended January 31, 2018 increased 12% or 51.8 million gallons, from that of the prior year period due to 41.6 million and 10.2 million of increased gallon sales to retail and wholesale customers, respectively.
Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the six months ended January 31, 2018 was approximately 7% warmer than normal, but 13% colder than the prior year period. Retail and wholesale gallons increased due to a combination of efforts to increase market share and colder weather.
Our wholesale sales price per gallon largely correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas and Conway, Kansas during the six months ended January 31, 2018 averaged 58% and 62% greater than the prior year period, respectively. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.90 and $0.57 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.86 and $0.53 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Revenues
Retail sales increased $139.5 million compared to the prior period. This increase resulted from a $78.1 million increase in sales price per gallon and $61.4 million from increased sales volumes, both as discussed above.
Wholesale sales increased $39.6 million compared to the prior period. This increase resulted from a $23.4 million increase in sales price per gallon and $16.2 million from increased sales volumes, both as discussed above.
Other gas sales increased $36.1 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to increased sales price per gallon and to a lesser extent an increase in sales volumes, as discussed above.
Other revenues increased $2.6 million compared to the prior year period, primarily due to an increase in the sales of certain lower margin equipment.
Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
Gross margin increased $27.0 million primarily due to the 51.8 million increase in gallon sales as discussed above, partially offset by a slight decrease in gross margin per gallon. The increase in retail gross margin of $20.8 million resulted from efforts to increase market share and to a lesser extent colder weather, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin per gallon. The increase in wholesale gross margin primarily relates to increased volumes related to colder weather, partially offset by a slight decreased gross margin per gallon.
Operating income
Operating income increased $1.1 million primarily due to a $27.0 million increase in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales offset by a $17.1 million increase in "Operating, general and administrative expense" and a $10.0 million "Asset impairment". "Operating, general and administrative expense" increased primarily due to a $7.4 million increase in personnel costs and a $5.7 million increase in vehicle costs, both related to the increase in gallons sold as discussed above and a $1.9 million increase in bad debt expense. The "Asset impairments" relates to an impairment of goodwill of an immaterial reporting unit.
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Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $14.3 million primarily due to a $27.0 million increase in Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales offset by a $13.9 million increase in "Operating, general and administrative expense." "Operating, general and administrative expense" increased primarily due to a $7.3 million increase in personnel costs related to the increase in gallons sold as discussed above, a $2.7 million increase in vehicle costs and a $1.9 million increase in bad debt expense.
Midstream operations
The following table summarizes the volume of product hauled, sold and processed, as well as Adjusted EBITDA results of our midstream operations segment for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Six months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Volumes (barrels): | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil hauled | 23,215 | 24,269 | (1,054 | ) | (4 | )% | |||||||||
Crude oil sold | 3,385 | 3,118 | 267 | 9 | % | ||||||||||
Salt water volume processed | 9,791 | 7,705 | 2,086 | 27 | % | ||||||||||
Revenues - | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil logistics | $ | 33,227 | $ | 40,614 | $ | (7,387 | ) | (18 | )% | ||||||
Crude oil sales | 196,665 | 159,481 | 37,184 | 23 | % | ||||||||||
Other | 8,144 | 4,736 | 3,408 | 72 | % | ||||||||||
$ | 238,036 | $ | 204,831 | $ | 33,205 | 16 | % | ||||||||
Gross margin (a) | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil logistics | $ | 17,506 | $ | 10,994 | $ | 6,512 | 59 | % | |||||||
Crude oil sales | 3,014 | 10,292 | (7,278 | ) | (71 | )% | |||||||||
Other | 2,324 | 1,879 | 445 | 24 | % | ||||||||||
$ | 22,844 | $ | 23,165 | $ | (321 | ) | (1 | )% | |||||||
Operating, general, and administrative expenses (b) | $ | 16,068 | $ | 15,578 | $ | 490 | 3 | % | |||||||
Equipment lease expense | 168 | 270 | (102 | ) | (38 | )% | |||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (45,053 | ) | $ | (11,947 | ) | $ | (33,106 | ) | (277 | )% | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 12,980 | 14,316 | (1,336 | ) | (9 | )% | |||||||||
Loss on asset sales and disposals | 38,681 | 4,948 | 33,733 | 682 | % | ||||||||||
Severance costs | 1,305 | 227 | 1,078 | 475 | % | ||||||||||
Unrealized (non-cash) loss on changes in fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments | 1,293 | 796 | 497 | NM | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 9,206 | $ | 8,340 | $ | 866 | 10 | % |
NM - Not meaningful
(a) Gross margin represents "Revenues - Midstream operations" less "Cost of sales - Midstream operations" and does not include depreciation and amortization.
(b) Operating, general, and administrative expenses are included in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. General and administrative expenses include only certain items that were directly attributable to the midstream operations segment.
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Crude oil hauled during the six months ended January 31, 2018 decreased 4%, or 1.1 million barrels, from that of the prior period primarily due to decreased short haul trucking volumes.
Revenues
Crude oil sales increased 23% or $37.2 million compared to the prior period, while crude oil and other logistics revenue decreased 18% or $7.4 million. The increase in crude oil sales reflects a $23.6 million increase related to the increase in the market price of crude oil and a $13.6 million increase related to increased sales volumes. The decrease in crude oil and other logistics revenues is driven by the trucking industry related labor shortages.
Gross margin
Gross margin decreased 1% or $0.3 million compared to the prior period, primarily due to a $7.3 million decrease related to crude oil sales, partially offset by a $6.5 million increase related to crude oil and other logistics hauling. Crude oil sales gross margin decreased primarily due to smaller margins on contracted physical crude deals from market conditions in the Niobrara region. Despite decreased volumes and revenues, crude oil and other logistics gross margin increased primarily due to the benefits from the cessation of barge operations related to the Jamex TLA.
Operating loss
Operating loss increased by $33.1 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018 as compared to the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss was primarily due to a $35.5 million loss on disposal of rail car assets recognized in fiscal 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $0.9 million primarily due to a $0.6 million decrease in operating, general and administrative costs. Operating, general and administrative costs decreased $0.6 million primarily due to a $0.3 million decrease in personnel costs.
Corporate
The following table summarizes the financial results of our corporate operations for the periods indicated:
(amounts in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Six months ended January 31, | 2018 | 2017 | Increase (Decrease) | ||||||||||||
Operating, general and administrative expense (a) | $ | 24,594 | $ | 24,623 | $ | (29 | ) | — | % | ||||||
Equipment lease expense | 947 | 1,217 | (270 | ) | (22 | )% | |||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (35,516 | ) | $ | (33,882 | ) | $ | (1,634 | ) | (5 | )% | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,982 | 1,343 | 639 | 48 | % | ||||||||||
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | 7,993 | 6,699 | 1,294 | 19 | % | ||||||||||
Non-cash stock based compensation charge | — | 3,298 | (3,298 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
Severance costs | — | 1,479 | (1,479 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
Professional fees (b) | 2,118 | — | 2,118 | NM | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (23,423 | ) | $ | (21,063 | ) | $ | (2,360 | ) | (11 | )% |
(a) Some general and administrative expenses have been allocated to other segments.
(b) Professional fees incurred related to a lawsuit.
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Operating loss
Corporate recognized an operating loss of $35.5 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to an operating loss of $33.9 million recognized during the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in operating loss is primarily due to an increase of $6.1 million in legal costs, partially offset by $2.0 million of decreased non-cash compensation charges and a $2.7 million decrease in corporate personnel costs.
Adjusted EBITDA
The Adjusted EBITDA loss within "Corporate" increased by $2.4 million primarily due to a $4.0 million increase in legal costs, partially offset by a $1.2 million reduction in corporate personnel expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash flows from operating activities, borrowings under our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility and funds received from sales of debt and equity securities. These liquidity and capital resources are intended 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 renegotiate our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility or secure alternative liquidity sources, access the capital markets, covenants in our debt agreements, unforeseen demands on cash, or other events beyond our control.
Financial Covenants
As more fully described in Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis under the subheading “Financial Covenants”, the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and make distribution payments to our common unitholders. Given the limitations and the lack of headroom on these covenants, we continue to execute on a strategy to reduce our debt and interest expense. If we are unsuccessful with our strategy to further reduce debt and interest expense, or in renegotiating our secured credit facility and/or our accounts receivable securitization facility, which both mature in October 2018, or are unable to secure alternative liquidity sources, we may not have the liquidity to fund our operations after that maturity date.
We may not meet the applicable financial tests in future quarters if we were to experience:
• | significantly warmer than normal temperatures during the winter heating season; |
• | significant and sustained increases in the wholesale cost of propane that we are unable to pass along to our customers; |
• | a more volatile energy commodity cost environment; |
• | an unexpected downturn in business operations; |
• | a significant delay in the collection of accounts or notes receivable; |
• | a failure to execute our debt and interest expense reduction initiatives; |
• | a change in customer retention or purchasing patterns due to economic or other factors in the United States; |
• | a material downturn in the credit and/or equity markets; or |
• | a large uninsured, unfavorable lawsuit judgment or settlement. |
As described in financing activities below, on February 22, 2018, the board of directors of our general partner announced a quarterly distribution of $0.10 per common unit, payable on March 16, 2018, to all unitholders of record as of March 9, 2018, which equates to an annual distribution rate of $0.40 per common unit.
Distributable Cash Flow
Distributable cash flow to equity investors is reconciled to net loss attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. in Item 2. Management's Discuss and Analysis under the subheading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." A comparison of distributable cash flow to distributions paid for the twelve months ended January 31, 2018 to the twelve months ended October 31, 2017 is as follows (in thousands):
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Distributable Cash Flow to equity investors | Cash reserves (deficiency) approved by our General Partner | Cash distributions paid to equity investors | DCF ratio | |||||||||||
Six months ended January 31, 2018 | $ | 59,903 | $ | 39,919 | $ | 19,984 | ||||||||
For the year ended July 31, 2017 | 77,182 | (3,601 | ) | 80,783 | ||||||||||
Less: Six months ended January 31, 2017 | 62,650 | 1,850 | 60,800 | |||||||||||
Twelve months ended January 31, 2018 | $ | 74,435 | $ | 34,468 | $ | 39,967 | 1.86 | |||||||
Twelve months ended October 31, 2017 | 64,041 | 24,152 | 39,889 | 1.61 | ||||||||||
Change | $ | 10,394 | $ | 10,316 | $ | 78 | 0.25 |
For the twelve months ended January 31, 2018, distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors increased $10.4 million compared to the twelve months ended October 31, 2017 primarily due to a $15.6 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in interest paid. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to an $18.2 million increase in our Propane operations and related equipment sales segment, partially offset by a $1.9 million decrease in Corporate, both as discussed above. The increase in interest paid is primarily due to increased interest rates on the secured credit facility and accounts receivable securitization facility, as well as increased interest expense associated with the $175.0 million of debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners in January 2017, which replaced a portion of the borrowings under the secured credit facility. Cash distributions paid to equity investors were unchanged because the number of common units outstanding and our annual distribution rate has not changed. Our distribution coverage ratio increased to 1.86 for the twelve months ended January 31, 2018. Cash reserves, which we utilize to meet future anticipated expenditures, increased by $34.5 million during the twelve months ended January 31, 2018 compared to an increase of $24.2 million in the twelve months ended October 31, 2017.
We believe that the liquidity available from our cash flows from operating activities, our secured credit facility, the accounts receivable securitization facility, combined with our other debt and interest expense reduction initiatives, which may include issuance of equity, restructuring existing debt agreements, asset sales or a further reduction in our annualized distribution, will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and letter of credit requirements. If we are unsuccessful with our strategy to further reduce debt and interest expense, or are unsuccessful in renegotiating our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility, which mature in October 2018, or are unable to secure alternative liquidity sources, we may not have the liquidity to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and letter of credit 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 and crude oil, delays in the collection of receivables, volatility in energy commodity prices, liquidity imposed by insurance providers, downgrades in our credit ratings, decreased trade credit, significant acquisitions, the weather, customer retention and purchasing patterns and other changes in the demand for propane and crude oil.
Our ability to satisfy our obligations is dependent upon our future performance, which will be subject to prevailing weather, economic, financial and business 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 propane operations and related products cash flows from operations is generated during the winter heating season. Our Midstream operations segment is not expected to experience seasonality. 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 propane operations and related equipment sales segment.
Operating Activities
Ferrellgas Partners
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Net cash used in operating activities was $36.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $39.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2017. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $69.8 million increase in working capital requirements and a $7.7 million unfavorable impact in other assets, net, primarily due to an increase in crude oil barrels in linefill during the six months ended January 31, 2018, partially offset by a $1.8 million increase in cash flow from operations.
The increase in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $12.8 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above by segment, partially offset by an $11.2 million increase in "Interest expense", as discussed above.
The increase in working capital requirements for the six months ended January 31, 2018 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2017 was primarily due to a $27.9 million increase in requirements for accounts receivable due to increases in the the number of gallons sold and the average selling price of propane gas, an $11.7 million increase in requirements for prepaid expenses and other assets due primarily to a decrease in margin deposits returned to us by our counterparties during the six months ended January 31, 2018 and a $28.9 million increase in requirements for accounts payable largely due to a decrease in days outstanding for our purchases of propane.
The operating partnership
Net cash used in operating activities was $20.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $45.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2017. This decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $67.5 million increase in working capital requirements and an $8.0 million unfavorable impact in other assets, net, primarily due to an increase in crude oil barrels in linefill during the six months ended January 31, 2018, partially offset by a $9.3 million increase in cash flow from operations.
The increase in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $12.8 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above by segment, partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in "Interest expense" due to increased interest rates on the secured credit facility.
The increase in working capital requirements for the six months ended January 31, 2018 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2017 was primarily due to a $27.9 million increase in requirements for accounts receivable due to increases in the the number of gallons sold and the average selling price of propane gas, an $11.6 million increase in requirements for prepaid expenses and other assets due primarily to a decrease in margin deposits returned to us by our counterparties during the six months ended January 31, 2018 and a $28.9 million increase in requirements for accounts payable largely due to a decrease in days outstanding for our purchases of propane.
Investing Activities
Ferrellgas Partners
Capital Requirements
Our business requires continual investments to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Capital expenditures for our business consist primarily of:
• | Maintenance capital expenditures. These capital expenditures include expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment rather than to generate incremental distributable cash flow. Examples of maintenance capital expenditures include a routine replacement of a worn-out asset or replacement of major vehicle components; and |
• | Growth capital expenditures. These expenditures are undertaken primarily to generate incremental distributable cash flow. Examples include expenditures for purchases of both bulk and portable propane tanks and other equipment to facilitate expansion of our customer base and operating capacity. |
Net cash used in investing activities was $46.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $15.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in net cash used in investing activities is primarily due to a $15.9 million increase in "Capital expenditures" and a $14.9 million increase in "Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired."
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The increase in "Capital expenditures" is primarily due to increases in maintenance and growth capital expenditures in our Propane operations and related equipment sales segment during the six months ended January 31, 2018. The increase in maintenance capital expenditures is primarily related to the purchase of new propane delivery trucks. The increase in growth capital expenditures is primarily related to an increase in the number of cylinders purchased to support increases in tank exchange sales and selling locations.
The increase in "Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired" is attributable to four acquisitions by our Propane operations and related equipment sales segment during the six months ended January 31, 2018.
Due to the mature nature of our Propane operations and related equipment sales operations segment, we do not anticipate significant fluctuations in maintenance capital expenditures. However, future fluctuations in growth capital expenditures could occur due to the opportunistic nature of these projects.
Financing Activities
Ferrellgas Partners
Net cash provided by financing activities was $91.1 million for the six months ended January 31, 2018, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $14.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 2017. This increase in cash flow provided by financing activities was primarily due to a $40.5 million reduction in distributions, a $15.9 million reduction in common unit repurchases, a $55.8 million net increase in proceeds from short-term borrowings, and a $4.0 million reduction in cash paid for financing costs, partially offset by a $9.3 million net reduction in proceeds from long-term debt.
Distributions
During the six months ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas Partners paid quarterly per unit distributions on all common units of $0.10 in connection with the distributions declared for the three month periods ended July 31, 2017 and October 31, 2017. Total distributions paid to common unitholders during the six months ended January 31, 2018, including the related general partner distributions, was $19.6 million. The quarterly distribution of $0.10 on all common units and the related general partner distribution for the three months ended January 31, 2018 totaling $9.8 million are expected to be paid on March 16, 2018 to holders of record on March 9, 2018.
Secured credit facility
Refer to discussions of covenants in our debt agreements within the "Recent Developments" section and the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section, both under the heading "Financial Covenants".
Since October 31, 2017, we classified all borrowings outstanding under our secured credit facility of $261.2 million as short-term because the facility matures in October 2018. Additionally, Ferrellgas had $125.8 million of capacity under our secured credit facility as of January 31, 2018. As of March 5, 2018, Ferrellgas had $234.5 million of capacity under our secured credit facility. The increase from January 31, 2018 is primarily attributable to using cash proceeds of approximately $47.0 million from the sale of 1,072 rail cars to reduce borrowings under our senior secured credit facility and a reduction in outstanding letters of credit of approximately $42.4 million.
Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2018 under the secured credit facility had a weighted average interest rate of 6.5%. All borrowings under the secured credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to either:
• | for Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, the Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s prime rate; or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.00%; plus a margin varying from 0.75% to 3.00%; or |
• | for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate, which is defined as the LIBOR Rate plus a margin varying from 1.75% to 4.00%. |
As of January 31, 2018, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 1.34% and 4.50%, respectively. As of January 31, 2018, the one-month and three-month LIBOR Rates were 1.58% and 1.78%, respectively.
In addition, an annual commitment fee is payable at a per annum rate ranging from 0.35% to 0.50% times the actual daily amount by which the secured credit facility exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding amount of revolving credit loans and (ii) the outstanding amount of letter of credit obligations.
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The obligations under this secured credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to the operating partnership’s accounts receivable securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership.
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2018 totaled $188.0 million and were used to secure commodity hedges, product purchases, and insurance arrangements. At January 31, 2018, we had remaining letter of credit capacity of $12.0 million. As a result of the sale of Bridger Energy, LLC on January 16, 2018, we anticipate near-term reductions in outstanding letters of credit of approximately $80.0 million.
All standby letter of credit commitments under our secured credit facility bear a per annum rate varying from 1.75% to 4.00% (as of January 31, 2018, the rate was 4.0%) 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
Refer to discussions of covenants in our debt agreements within the "Recent Developments" section and the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section, both under the heading "Financial Covenants".
Ferrellgas Receivables is a consolidated subsidiary. Expenses associated with accounts receivable securitization transactions are recorded in “Interest expense” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, borrowings and repayments associated with these transactions are recorded in “Cash flows from financing activities” in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Cash flows from our accounts receivable securitization facility increased $28.0 million. We received net funding of $97.0 million from this facility during the six months ended January 31, 2018 as compared to receiving net funding of $69.0 million from this facility during the six months ended January 31, 2017.
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. As of January 31, 2018, we had received cash proceeds of $166.0 million related to the securitization of our trade accounts receivable, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of January 31, 2018, the weighted average interest rate was 4.0%. 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 increase, thereby providing additional cash for working capital needs.
Common unit repurchase
On September 1, 2016, utilizing borrowings under our secured credit facility, Ferrellgas Partners paid approximately $16.9 million to Jamex and in return received 0.9 million of Ferrellgas Partners' common units, which were cancelled upon receipt, and approximately 23 thousand barrels of crude oil.
The operating partnership
The financing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership except for the repurchase of common units discussed above, and cash flows related to distributions, as discussed below.
Distributions
The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $35.4 million and $84.5 million during the six months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The operating partnership expects to pay cash distributions of $9.9 million on March 16, 2018.
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 agreements, our general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on our behalf,
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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 $138.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 2018, include operating expenses such as compensation and benefits paid to employees of our general partner who perform services on our behalf as well as related general and administrative expenses.
Related party common unitholder information consisted of the following:
Common unit ownership at | Distributions (in thousands) paid during the six months ended | ||||||
January 31, 2018 | January 31, 2018 | ||||||
Ferrell Companies (1) | 22,529,361 | $ | 4,506 | ||||
FCI Trading Corp. (2) | 195,686 | 40 | |||||
Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3) | 51,204 | 10 | |||||
James E. Ferrell (4) | 4,763,475 | 952 |
(1) Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and is an approximate 23% direct owner of Ferrellgas Partners' common units and thus a related party. Ferrell Companies also beneficially owns 195,686 and 51,204 common units of Ferrellgas Partners held by FCI Trading Corp. ("FCI Trading") and Ferrell Propane, Inc. ("Ferrell Propane"), respectively, bringing Ferrell Companies' beneficial ownership to 23.4% at January 31, 2018.
(2) FCI Trading is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party.
(3) Ferrell Propane is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party.
(4) James E. Ferrell is the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the general partner; and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the general partner and thus a related party. JEF Capital Management owns 4,758,859 of these common units and is wholly-owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust Two for which James E. Ferrell is the trustee and sole beneficiary. The remaining 4,616 common units are held by Ferrell Resources Holding, Inc., which is wholly-owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust One, for which James E. Ferrell is the trustee and sole beneficiary.
During the six months ended January 31, 2018, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership together paid the general partner distributions of $0.6 million.
On March 16, 2018, Ferrellgas Partners expects to pay distributions to Ferrell Companies, FCI Trading Corp., Ferrell Propane, Inc., James E. Ferrell (indirectly), and the general partner of $2.3 million, $20 thousand, $5 thousand, $0.5 million, and $0.1 million, respectively.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We did not enter into any risk management trading activities during the six months ended January 31, 2018. Our remaining market risk sensitive instruments and positions have been determined to be “other than trading.”
We are no longer subject to price risks related to crude oil line fill and inventory as result of our January 2018 sale of Bridger Energy, LLC. This sale resulted in our exit from crude oil purchase and sale activity.
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. 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. Propane related 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 Intercontinental Exchange or the Chicago 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.
Transportation Fuel Price Risk
From time to time, our risk management activities also attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel for use in the transport of propane from retail fueling stations. When employed, we attempt to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments.
When employed, our risk management strategy involves taking positions in the financial markets that are not more than the forecasted purchases of fuel for our internal use in the retail and supply propane delivery fleet in order to minimize the risk of decreased earnings from an adverse price change. This risk management strategy locks in our purchase price and is successful when our gains or losses in the physical product markets are offset by our losses or gains in the financial markets. Our transport fuel financial derivatives are not designated as cash flow hedges.
Risk Policy and Sensitivity Analysis
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 January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, 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 $14.8 million and $16.8 million as of January 31, 2018 and July 31, 2017, 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 does not include the anticipated transactions associated with these transactions, which we anticipate will be 100% effective.
Credit risk
We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties 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.
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Our other counterparties consist of major energy companies who are suppliers, marketers, 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.
On September 1, 2016, we entered into a group of agreements with Jamex which, among other things, Jamex agreed to execute and deliver a secured promissory note ("Jamex Secured Promissory Note") in favor of Bridger in satisfaction of all obligations owed to Bridger under the Jamex TLA. The Jamex Secured Promissory Note is guaranteed, pursuant to a Guaranty Agreement, jointly by James Ballengee and Bacchus Capital Trading, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Ballengee (up to a maximum aggregate amount of $20.0 million), and pursuant to Guaranty Agreements, by the other Jamex entities. The obligations of Jamex and the other Jamex entities under the Note are secured, pursuant to a Security Agreement, by a lien on certain of those entities’ assets, actively traded marketable securities and cash, which are held in a controlled account that can be seized by Ferrellgas in the event of default. The sum of the amounts available under the controlled account and the $20.0 million guarantee approximate the $37.5 million note receivable as of January 31, 2018.
Interest rate risk
At January 31, 2018, we had $427.2 million in variable rate secured credit facility and collateralized note payable borrowings. We also have an interest rate swap that hedges a portion of the interest rate risk associated with these variable rate borrowings, as discussed in the table below. Thus, assuming a one percent increase in our variable interest rate, our interest rate risk related to these borrowings would result in a reduction to future earnings of $3.8 million for the twelve months ending January 31, 2019. 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 also manage a portion of our interest rate exposure associated with our fixed rate debt by utilizing an interest rate swap. A hypothetical one percent change in interest rates would result in a reduction to future earnings of $1.4 million for the twelve months ending January 31, 2019.
As discussed above, the following interest rate swaps are outstanding as of January 31, 2018, and are all designated as hedges for accounting purposes:
Term | Notional Amount(s) (in thousands) | Type | ||
May 2021 | $140,000 | Pay a floating rate and receive a fixed rate of 6.50% | ||
Aug 2018 | $100,000 | Pay a fixed rate of 1.95% and receive a floating rate |
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
An evaluation was performed by the management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp., with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, were effective.
The management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all fraud. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Based on the inherent 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 January 31, 2018, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in achieving that level of reasonable assurance.
During the most recent fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2018, 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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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane and crude oil. As a result, at any given time, we can be 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 consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We have been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The lawsuits, which were consolidated in the Western District of Missouri on October 16, 2014, allege that we and a competitor coordinated in 2008 to reduce the fill level in barbeque cylinders and combined to persuade a common customer to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to direct customers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws. The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class. These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. The Federal Court for the Western District of Missouri initially dismissed all claims brought by direct and indirect customers other than state law claims of indirect customers under Wisconsin, Maine and Vermont law. The direct customer plaintiffs filed an appeal, which resulted in a reversal of the district court’s dismissal. We filed a petition for a writ of certiorari which was denied. An appeal by the indirect customer plaintiffs remains pending. We believe we have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against the consolidated case. We do not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
We have been named, along with several current and former officers, in several class action lawsuits alleging violations of certain securities laws based on alleged materially false and misleading statements in certain of our public disclosures. The lawsuits, the first of which was filed on October 6, 2016 in the Southern District of New York, seek unspecified compensatory damages. Derivative lawsuits with similar allegations have been filed naming Ferrellgas and several current and former officers and directors as defendants. We believe that we have defenses and will vigorously defend these cases. We do not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuits or the derivative actions.
We and Bridger Logistics, LLC, have been named, along with two former officers, in a lawsuit filed by Eddystone Rail Company ("Eddystone") on February 2, 2017 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (the "EDPA Lawsuit"). Eddystone indicated that it has prevailed or settled an arbitration against Jamex Transfer Services (“JTS”), then named Bridger Transfer Services, a former subsidiary of Bridger Logistics, LLC (“Bridger”). The arbitration involved a claim against JTS for money due for deficiency payments under a contract for the use of an Eddystone facility used to offload crude from rail onto barges. Eddystone alleges that we transferred assets out of JTS prior to the sale of the membership interest in JTS to Jamex Transfer Holdings, and that those transfers should be avoided so that the assets can be used to satisfy the amount owed by JTS to Eddystone under the arbitration. Eddystone also alleges that JTS was an “alter ego” of Bridger and Ferrellgas. We believe that we and Bridger have valid defenses to these claims and to Eddystone’s primary claim against JTS on the contract claim. The lawsuit does not specify a specific amount of damages that Eddystone is seeking; however we believe that the amount of such damage claims, if ultimately owed to Eddystone, could be material. We intend to vigorously defend this claim. The lawsuit is in its early stages; as such, management does not currently believe a loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time. On August 24, 2017, we filed a third-party complaint against JTS, Jamex Transfer Holdings, and other related persons and entities (the "Third-Party Defendants"), asserting claims for breach of contract, indemnification of any losses in the EDPA Lawsuit, tortious interference with contract, and contribution. The Third-Party Defendants have filed motions to dismiss the third-party complaint for alleged lack of personal jurisdiction, failure to state claim, and forum non-conveniens. Ferrellgas is vigorously opposing these motions.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2017.
You may be required to pay taxes on your share of our taxable income even if you do not receive cash distributions from us.
You may be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on your share of our taxable income, including our taxable income associated with a disposition of property or cancellation of debt, whether or not
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you receive cash distributions from us. You may not receive cash distributions from us equal to your share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability which results from that income.
We are currently undertaking a debt and interest expense reduction strategy. As such, we may engage in transactions that could have significant adverse tax consequences to our unitholders. For example, we may sell some of our assets and use the proceeds to pay down debt or fund capital expenditures rather than distributing the proceeds to our unitholders, and some or all of our unitholders may be allocated substantial taxable income and gain resulting from the sale without receiving a cash distribution. We may also engage in transactions to further reduce our existing debt, such as debt exchanges, debt repurchases, or modifications of our existing debt, that could result in cancellation of indebtedness income (COD income), or other income, being allocated to our unitholders as taxable income. This may cause a unitholder to be allocated taxable income with respect to our units with no corresponding distribution of cash to fund the payment of the resulting tax liability to the unitholder.
The ultimate effect of any such allocations will depend on the unitholder's individual tax position with respect to its units. Unitholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the consequences to them of this income.
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers
On March 8, 2018, Randy V. Schott, resigned as Senior Vice President of Retail Operations of Ferrellgas, Inc. Ferrellgas, Inc. is the general partner of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P.
Pursuant to a voluntary retirement and release agreement (the “Release”) effective March 8, 2018 between Mr. Schott and Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrell Companies, Inc., Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P., Mr. Schott will serve in an advisory role for a two-year period. In consideration for his advisory services, Mr. Schott will receive $0.5 million to be paid in bi-weekly installments over the next 24 months, and Ferrellgas, Inc. will cover the employer share of Mr. Schott's medical insurance premiums for 24 months. All existing stock options that Mr. Schott has will, through the term of his employment and thereafter, continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Ferrell Companies, Inc. incentive compensation plan documents. The description of the Release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreement, a copy of which is attached as an Exhibit to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The exhibits listed below are furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, which are not listed, are not applicable.
Exhibit Number | Description | |||
3.1 | ||||
3.2 | ||||
3.3 | ||||
3.4 | ||||
3.5 | ||||
3.6 | ||||
3.7 | ||||
3.8 | ||||
3.9 | ||||
3.10 | ||||
3.11 | ||||
3.12 | ||||
3.13 | ||||
4.1 | ||||
4.2 | ||||
4.3 | ||||
4.4 | ||||
4.5 | ||||
4.6 | ||||
4.7 |
E-1
4.8 | ||||
4.9 | ||||
4.10 | ||||
4.11 | ||||
4.12 | ||||
4.13 | ||||
4.14 | ||||
10.1 | ||||
10.2 | ||||
10.3 | ||||
10.4 | ||||
10.5 | ||||
10.6 | ||||
10.7 | ||||
10.8 | ||||
10.9 | ||||
10.10 | ||||
# | 10.11 | |||
# | 10.12 | |||
# | 10.13 | |||
# | 10.14 | |||
# | 10.15 |
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# | 10.16 | |||
# | 10.17 | |||
# | 10.18 | |||
# | 10.19 | . | ||
# | 10.20 | |||
# | 10.21 | |||
10.22 | ||||
# | 10.23 | |||
# | 10.24 | |||
+ | 10.25 | |||
10.26 | ||||
10.27 | ||||
10.28 | ||||
10.29 | ||||
10.30 | ||||
10.31 | ||||
10.32 | ||||
10.33 | ||||
10.34 | ||||
10.35 | ||||
10.36 | ||||
10.37 | ||||
10.38 | ||||
# | 10.39 | |||
# | 10.40 |
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10.41 | ||||
10.42 | ||||
10.43 | ||||
# | 10.44 | |||
* | # | 10.45 | ||
* | 31.1 | |||
* | 31.2 | |||
* | 31.3 | |||
* | 31.4 | |||
* | 32.1 | |||
* | 32.2 | |||
* | 32.3 | |||
* | 32.4 | |||
* | 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document. | ||
* | 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | ||
* | 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | ||
* | 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | ||
* | 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | ||
* | 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | ||
* | Filed herewith | |||
# | Management contracts or compensatory plans. | |||
+ | Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the SEC. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. | |||
By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner) | |||
Date: | March 8, 2018 | By | /s/ Doran N. Schwartz |
Doran N. Schwartz | |||
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. | |||
Date: | March 8, 2018 | By | /s/ Doran N. Schwartz |
Doran N. Schwartz | |||
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director | |||
FERRELLGAS, L.P. | |||
By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner) | |||
Date: | March 8, 2018 | By | /s/ Doran N. Schwartz |
Doran N. Schwartz | |||
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. | |||
Date: | March 8, 2018 | By | /s/ Doran N. Schwartz |
Doran N. Schwartz | |||
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
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