UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
| |
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| |
| For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2021 |
or
| |
☐ | 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, 333-06693-02, 000-50182 and 000-50183
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
Delaware | | 43-1698480 |
Delaware | | 43-1742520 |
Delaware | | 43-1698481 |
Delaware | | 14-1866671 |
(States or other jurisdictions of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Nos.) |
| | |
7500 College Boulevard, | | 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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ 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 ☐ | Accelerated Filer ☐ | Non-accelerated Filer ☒ | Smaller Reporting Company ☒ |
| | | Emerging Growth Company ☐ |
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp, Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.: | | ||
Large Accelerated Filer ☐ | Accelerated Filer ☐ | Non-accelerated Filer ☒ | Smaller Reporting Company ☒ |
| | | 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 ☒
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. Yes ☒ No ☐
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class: |
| Trading Symbol |
| Name of each exchange on which registered: |
N/A | | N/A | | N/A |
At February 28, 2021, 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. (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) |
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents (including $109,049 and $95,759 of restricted cash at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | | $ | 326,483 | | $ | 333,761 |
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $200,443 and $103,703 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | |
| 206,280 | |
| 101,438 |
Inventories | |
| 90,473 | |
| 72,664 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 72,914 | |
| 35,944 |
Total current assets | |
| 696,150 | |
| 543,807 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| 587,870 | |
| 591,042 |
Goodwill, net | |
| 246,946 | |
| 247,195 |
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $427,695 and $423,290 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | |
| 99,644 | |
| 104,049 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | 97,249 | | | 107,349 |
Other assets, net | |
| 91,159 | |
| 74,748 |
Total assets | | $ | 1,819,018 | | $ | 1,668,190 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT | |
|
| |
|
|
Current liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Accounts payable | | $ | 79,224 | | $ | 33,944 |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 501,865 | | | 859,095 |
Current operating lease liabilities | | | 27,895 | | | 29,345 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 191,908 | |
| 167,466 |
Total current liabilities | | | 800,892 | | | 1,089,850 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Long-term debt | |
| 1,650,410 | |
| 1,646,396 |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 80,901 | | | 89,022 |
Other liabilities | |
| 49,541 | |
| 51,190 |
Total liabilities not subject to compromise | |
| 2,581,744 | |
| 2,876,458 |
Liabilities subject to compromise | | | 390,101 | | | — |
Total liabilities | | | 2,971,845 | | | 2,876,458 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Partners' deficit: | |
|
| |
|
|
Common unitholders (97,152,665 units outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020) | |
| (1,107,979) | |
| (1,126,452) |
General partner unitholder (989,926 units outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020) | |
| (71,100) | |
| (71,287) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 33,762 | |
| (2,303) |
Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. partners' deficit | |
| (1,145,317) | |
| (1,200,042) |
Noncontrolling interest | |
| (7,510) | |
| (8,226) |
Total partners' deficit | |
| (1,152,827) | |
| (1,208,268) |
Total liabilities and partners' deficit | | $ | 1,819,018 | | $ | 1,668,190 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 528,434 | | $ | 485,247 | | $ | 809,483 | | $ | 758,632 | |
Other | |
| 25,126 | | | 25,586 | |
| 44,971 | |
| 45,415 | |
Total revenues | |
| 553,560 | |
| 510,833 | |
| 854,454 | |
| 804,047 | |
| |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Costs and expenses: | |
| | |
|
| |
| | |
|
| |
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 270,777 | |
| 237,843 | |
| 408,404 | |
| 371,871 | |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 3,504 | |
| 3,353 | |
| 7,171 | |
| 7,034 | |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 115,247 | |
| 128,233 | |
| 224,274 | |
| 242,776 | |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | | | 6,862 | | | 8,261 | | | 13,692 | |
| 16,649 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| 19,795 | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 | |
General and administrative expense | |
| 20,475 | |
| 14,192 | |
| 33,555 | |
| 23,887 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| 630 | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 | |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| 2,148 | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 | |
| |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Operating income | |
| 114,604 | |
| 96,378 | |
| 122,356 | |
| 97,008 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (52,595) | |
| (47,548) | |
| (106,821) | |
| (93,245) | |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 3,508 | |
| 76 | |
| 3,616 | |
| (56) | |
Reorganization expense - professional fees | | | (1,200) | | | — | | | (1,200) | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings before income taxes | |
| 64,317 | |
| 48,906 | |
| 17,951 | |
| 3,707 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 326 | |
| 115 | |
| 413 | |
| 633 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | |
| 63,991 | |
| 48,791 | |
| 17,538 | |
| 3,074 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | |
| 724 | |
| 584 | |
| 333 | |
| 211 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | |
| 63,267 | |
| 48,207 | |
| 17,205 | |
| 2,863 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings | |
| 633 | |
| 482 | |
| 172 | |
| 29 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings | | $ | 62,634 | | $ | 47,725 | | $ | 17,033 | | $ | 2,834 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted net earnings per common unit | | $ | 0.64 | | $ | 0.49 | | $ | 0.18 | | $ | 0.03 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 63,991 | | $ | 48,791 | | $ | 17,538 | | $ | 3,074 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in value of risk management derivatives | |
| 36,957 | |
| (11,212) | |
| 42,724 | |
| (24,839) | |
Reclassification of (gains) losses on derivatives to earnings, net | |
| (8,441) | |
| 8,766 | |
| (6,291) | |
| 16,245 | |
Pension liability adjustment | |
| — | |
| (109) | |
| — | |
| (109) | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 28,516 | |
| (2,555) | |
| 36,433 | |
| (8,703) | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 92,507 | |
| 46,236 | |
| 53,971 | |
| (5,629) | |
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest | |
| 288 | |
| 557 | |
| 368 | |
| 122 | |
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | $ | 92,219 | | $ | 45,679 | | $ | 53,603 | | $ | (5,751) | |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Number of units |
| | |
| | |
| Accumulated |
| Total Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | | ||||
| | | | General | | | | | General | | other | | Partner, L.P. | | | | | | | |||
| | Common | | partner | | Common | | partner | | comprehensive | | partners’ | | Non-controlling | | Total partners’ | ||||||
|
| unitholders |
| unitholder |
| unitholders |
| unitholder |
| income (loss) |
| deficit |
| interest |
| deficit | ||||||
Balance at July 31, 2020 |
| 97,152.7 |
| 989.9 | | $ | (1,126,452) | | $ | (71,287) | | $ | (2,303) | | $ | (1,200,042) | | $ | (8,226) | | $ | (1,208,268) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges |
| — |
| — | |
| 694 | |
| 7 | |
| — | |
| 701 | |
| 7 | |
| 708 |
Net loss |
| — |
| — | |
| (45,601) | |
| (461) | |
| — | |
| (46,062) | |
| (391) | |
| (46,453) |
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 7,837 | |
| 7,837 | |
| 80 | |
| 7,917 |
Balance at October 31, 2020 |
| 97,152.7 |
| 989.9 | |
| (1,171,359) | |
| (71,741) | |
| 5,534 | |
| (1,237,566) | |
| (8,530) | |
| (1,246,096) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges |
| — |
| — | |
| 746 | |
| 8 | |
| — | |
| 754 | |
| 8 | |
| 762 |
Net earnings |
| — |
| — | |
| 62,634 | |
| 633 | |
| — | |
| 63,267 | |
| 724 | |
| 63,991 |
Other comprehensive income |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 28,228 | |
| 28,228 | |
| 288 | |
| 28,516 |
Balance at January 31, 2021 |
| 97,152.7 |
| 989.9 | | $ | (1,107,979) | | $ | (71,100) | | $ | 33,762 | | $ | (1,145,317) | | $ | (7,510) | | $ | (1,152,827) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Number of units |
| | |
| | |
| Accumulated |
| Total Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | | ||||
| | | | General | | | | | General | | other | | Partner, L.P. | | | | | | | |||
| | Common | | partner | | Common | | partner | | comprehensive | | partners’ | | Non-controlling | | Total partners’ | ||||||
|
| unitholders |
| unitholder |
| unitholders |
| unitholder |
| loss |
| deficit |
| interest |
| deficit | ||||||
Balance at July 31, 2019 |
| 97,152.7 |
| 989.9 | | $ | (1,046,245) | | $ | (70,476) | | $ | (14,512) | | $ | (1,131,233) | | $ | (7,705) | | $ | (1,138,938) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges |
| — |
| — | |
| 779 | |
| 8 | |
| — | |
| 787 | |
| 8 | |
| 795 |
Distributions |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (1) | |
| (1) |
Cumulative adjustment for lease accounting standard |
| — |
| — | |
| (1,347) | |
| (14) | |
| — | |
| (1,361) | |
| (14) | |
| (1,375) |
Net loss |
| — |
| — | |
| (44,891) | |
| (453) | |
| — | |
| (45,344) | |
| (373) | |
| (45,717) |
Other comprehensive loss |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (6,086) | |
| (6,086) | |
| (62) | |
| (6,148) |
Balance at October 31, 2019 |
| 97,152.7 |
| 989.9 | |
| (1,091,704) | |
| (70,935) | |
| (20,598) | |
| (1,183,237) | |
| (8,147) | |
| (1,191,384) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges | | — | | — | | | 618 | | | 6 | | | — | | | 624 | | | 6 | | | 630 |
Distributions | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (157) | | | (157) |
Net earnings | | — | | — | | | 47,725 | | | 482 | | | — | | | 48,207 | | | 584 | | | 48,791 |
Other comprehensive loss | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,528) | | | (2,528) | | | (27) | | | (2,555) |
Balance at January 31, 2020 | | 97,152.7 | | 989.9 | | $ | (1,043,361) | | $ | (70,447) | | $ | (23,126) | | $ | (1,136,934) | | $ | (7,741) | | $ | (1,144,675) |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: | | |
| | |
|
Net earnings | | $ | 17,538 | | $ | 3,074 |
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 |
Provision for doubtful accounts | |
| 2,166 | |
| 974 |
Deferred income tax expense | |
| — | |
| 552 |
Other | |
| 3,995 | |
| 7,498 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions: | |
| | |
|
|
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization | |
| (107,008) | |
| (68,322) |
Inventories | |
| (17,809) | |
| 1,980 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| (7,296) | |
| (7,039) |
Accounts payable | |
| 45,380 | |
| 12,678 |
Accrued interest expense | |
| 13,843 | |
| 2,019 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 45,062 | |
| 2,095 |
Other assets and liabilities | |
| 3,578 | |
| 237 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | |
| 44,451 | |
| 568 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | |
| — | |
| (6,400) |
Capital expenditures | |
| (35,333) | |
| (33,422) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | |
| 3,144 | |
| 1,659 |
Cash payments to construct assets in connection with future lease transactions | | | — | | | (30,307) |
Cash receipts in connection with leased vehicles | | | — | | | 19,929 |
Net cash used in investing activities | |
| (32,189) | |
| (48,541) |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Payments on long-term debt | |
| (1,120) | |
| (972) |
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | |
| — | |
| (3,000) |
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | |
| — | |
| 59,000 |
Cash paid for financing costs | |
| (14,960) | |
| (3,925) |
Noncontrolling interest activity | |
| — | |
| (158) |
Cash payments for principal portion of finance lease liability | |
| (3,460) | |
| (320) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | |
| (19,540) | |
| 50,625 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | |
| (7,278) | |
| 2,652 |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | |
| 333,761 | |
| 11,054 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period | | $ | 326,483 | | $ | 13,706 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
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 on 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, 2021, Ferrell Companies, Inc., a Kansas corporation (“Ferrell Companies”), beneficially owns 22.8 million of Ferrellgas Partners’ outstanding common units.
Ferrellgas, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, is the sole general partner of Ferrellgas Partners and one of three general partners of the operating partnership. Ferrellgas, Inc. has retained an approximate 1% general partner economic interest in Ferrellgas Partners and also holds an approximate 1% general partner economic interest in the operating partnership, representing an effective 2% general partner economic interest in Ferrellgas on a combined basis. As the sole general partner of Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas, Inc. performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas Partners. Unless contractually provided for, creditors of the operating partnership have no recourse with regards to Ferrellgas Partners.
The term “general partner” (i) with respect to Ferrellgas Partners refers to Ferrellgas, Inc. and (ii) with respect to the operating partnership refers to (a) Ferrellgas, Inc., in the case of any economic general partner interest and (b) Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC, collectively, in the case of any voting general partner interest.
Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of any debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners. The operating partnership is the only operating subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners.
Ferrellgas is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane and related equipment sales. 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.
Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending July 31, 2021.
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal recurring nature. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Ferrellgas’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020.
8
Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due June 15, 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020”), which Ferrellgas Partners failed to repay when due at maturity. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were classified as current on the consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined and described below under “—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases”), the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were reclassified as liabilities subject to compromise on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2021. Additionally, the operating partnership has outstanding $500.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due May 1, 2021, that are classified as current in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The ability of Ferrellgas Partners to restructure, refinance or otherwise satisfy these notes is uncertain. Given these concerns, Ferrellgas Partners believes there is substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities. See Note F – Debt below for further discussion of the outstanding debt.
Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases
On December 10, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC, Ferrellgas GP III, LLC and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Ferrellgas Parties”) entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (the “TSA”) with certain holders of, or investment advisors, sub-advisors, or managers of discretionary accounts that hold, claims (collectively, the “Consenting Noteholders”) arising under, derived from or based upon the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020.
The TSA sets forth (i) a restructuring process to satisfy the obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. under the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Transactions”), which would be effectuated through pre-packaged voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) to be filed by only Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the confirmation of a pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Plan”), and (ii) a refinancing process of the operating partnership, including but not limited to, replacement of the operating partnership’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 (the “operating partnership Transactions” and, together with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions, the “TSA Transactions”), which would be consummated on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Plan implementing the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions and would close simultaneously with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions effectuated under the Plan.
Generally, the TSA contemplates, among other things, the TSA Transactions and certain changes to the capital structure and governance of the Ferrellgas Parties as described in more detail in the TSA.
Pursuant to the TSA, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the parties thereto agreed to support, act in good faith and take all steps reasonably necessary and desirable to implement and consummate the TSA Transactions until the TSA Transactions are consummated or the TSA is terminated. The Consenting Noteholders agreed, among other things, (i) to forbear from taking actions with respect to any default or event of default by the Ferrellgas Parties under the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 which arises solely as a result of the failure to make payments of the principal due on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, and (ii) to vote in favor of any matter requiring approval to the extent necessary to implement the TSA Transactions and the Plan.
The TSA contains certain milestones relating to the commencement of the solicitation of acceptances of the Plan (the “Solicitation”) from holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units, the refinancing process and the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the dates by which Ferrellgas Partners was required to commence the Solicitation and, thereafter, commence the Chapter 11 Cases or obtain certain approval orders of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, the milestones include the obligation of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. to emerge from chapter 11 protection no later than April 4, 2021, unless that deadline is extended pursuant to the terms of the TSA.
9
The TSA also provides that the TSA may be terminated by the Required Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) with respect to the Consenting Noteholders or by any Ferrellgas Party with respect to the Ferrellgas Parties upon the occurrence of certain events set forth therein. In particular, the Ferrellgas Parties may terminate the TSA in the event the governing body of any Ferrellgas Party determines, after consulting with counsel, (i) that continuing to pursue any of the TSA Transactions in the manner contemplated by the TSA would be inconsistent with the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties or applicable law or (ii) in the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties, to pursue an alternative transaction proposal.
Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Solicitation on December 21, 2020 and by January 22, 2021 received sufficient votes from the requisite holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the requisite holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units to obtain approval of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court. Subject to any changes, the Solicitation process is complete. The Plan remains subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
On January 11, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021. Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. have continued, and plan to continue, to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and order of the Bankruptcy Court.
There is no assurance that the Plan will be approved by the Bankruptcy Court or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain. Additionally, see Note F – Debt below for further discussion of the outstanding debt.
Term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas, L.P.
On January 8, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners entered into a term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas, L.P., pursuant to which Ferrellgas, L.P. extended to Ferrellgas Partners an unsecured non-amortizing loan in aggregate principal amount of $19.9 million. The term loan bears interest at a rate of 20% per annum, and all interest on the term loan will be added to the outstanding principal amount of the term loan. The term loan will mature on July 1, 2022. The proceeds of the term loan will be used to pay costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases in a manner consistent with a budget and cash flow forecast acceptable to Ferrellgas, L.P. See Note N – Condensed parent only debtor-in-possession financial information for further detail.
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 condensed consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment, 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 expected credit losses, fair value of reporting units, recoverability of long-lived assets, assumptions used to value business combinations, determination of incremental borrowing rate used to measure right-of-use asset and lease liability, fair values of derivative contracts and stock-based compensation calculations.
Update to accounting estimates:
On August 1, 2020 Ferrellgas adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). As a result, we updated our significant accounting policies for the measurement of expected credit losses below.
10
Allowance for expected credit losses
Ferrellgas closely monitors accounts receivable balances and estimates the allowance for expected credit losses. The estimate is primarily based on historical collection experience and other factors, including those related to current market conditions and events. The expected credit losses associated with accounts receivable have not historically been material and the adoption impact on Ferrellgas’ allowance for expected credit losses was immaterial as of January 31, 2021.
(2) New accounting standards:
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 adopted the amended guidance effective August 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
C. Leases
The following table provides the operating and financing ROU assets and lease liabilities as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | |
Leases | | Classification | | | January 31, 2021 | | | July 31, 2020 |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Operating lease assets | | Operating lease right-of-use assets | | $ | 97,249 | | $ | 107,349 |
Financing lease assets | | Other assets, net | | | 38,045 | | | 41,426 |
Total leased assets | | | | $ | 135,294 | | $ | 148,775 |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | | | | | | |
Operating | | Current operating lease liabilities | | $ | 27,895 | | $ | 29,345 |
Financing | | Other current liabilities | | | 7,405 | | | 6,955 |
Noncurrent | | | | | | | | |
Operating | | Operating lease liabilities | | | 80,901 | | | 89,022 |
Financing | | Other liabilities | | | 30,537 | | | 33,473 |
Total leased liabilities | | | | $ | 146,738 | | $ | 158,795 |
11
The following table provides the lease expenses for the three and six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
Leases expense |
| Classification | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2020 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating lease expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | $ | 1,497 | | $ | 1,664 | | $ | 3,280 | | $ | 3,405 |
| | Operating expense - equipment lease expense | | | 6,513 | | | 8,156 | | | 12,955 | | | 15,763 |
| | Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | | | 492 | | | 324 | | | 1,018 | | | 713 |
| | General and administrative expense | | | 194 | | | 697 | | | 476 | | | 963 |
Total operating lease expense | | | | | 8,696 | | | 10,841 | | | 17,729 | | | 20,844 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | | 1,873 | | | 2,012 | | | 3,905 | | | 3,966 |
| | General and administrative expense | | | 123 | | | 141 | | | 364 | | | 251 |
Total short-term expense | | | | | 1,996 | | | 2,153 | | | 4,269 | | | 4,217 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Variable lease expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | | 798 | | | 671 | | | 1,544 | | | 1,346 |
| | Operating expense - equipment lease expense | | | 349 | | | 153 | | | 737 | | | 886 |
Total variable lease expense | | | | | 1,147 | | | 824 | | | 2,281 | | | 2,232 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance lease expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization of leased assets | | Depreciation and amortization expense | | | 2,189 | | | 435 | | | 4,354 | | | 475 |
Interest on lease liabilities | | Interest expense | | | 963 | | | 318 | | | 1,908 | | | 360 |
Total finance lease expense | | | | | 3,152 | | | 753 | | | 6,262 | | | 835 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total lease expense (a) | | | | $ | 14,991 | | $ | 14,571 | | $ | 30,541 | | $ | 28,128 |
(a) | For the three and six months ended January 31, 2021 Ferrellgas also recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense related to the accretion of lease exit costs associated with a crude oil storage agreement that is no longer being utilized, primarily due to various Midstream dispositions, and for which Ferrellgas does not anticipate any future economic benefit. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2020 Ferrellgas also recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense related to the accretion of lease exit costs associated with a crude oil storage agreement that is no longer being utilized, primarily due to various Midstream dispositions, and for which Ferrellgas does not anticipate any future economic benefit. |
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Minimum annual payments under existing operating and finance lease liabilities as of January 31, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | |
Maturities of lease liabilities | | | Operating leases | | | Finance leases | | | Total |
2021 | | $ | 17,114 | | $ | 7,186 | | $ | 24,300 |
2022 | | | 28,110 | | | 9,851 | | | 37,961 |
2023 | | | 35,875 | | | 7,851 | | | 43,726 |
2024 | | | 19,055 | | | 7,262 | | | 26,317 |
2025 | | | 13,616 | | | 7,273 | | | 20,889 |
Thereafter | | | 21,886 | | | 10,892 | | | 32,778 |
Total lease payments | | $ | 135,656 | | $ | 50,315 | | $ | 185,971 |
Less: Imputed interest | | | 26,860 | | | 12,373 | | | 39,233 |
Present value of lease liabilities | | $ | 108,796 | | $ | 37,942 | | $ | 146,738 |
The following table represents the weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate as of January 31, 2021:
| | | | |
| | As of January 31, 2021 | ||
Lease type | | Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) | | Weighted-average discount rate |
Operating leases | | 5.1 | | 8.3% |
Finance leases | | 5.6 | | 8.7% |
Cash flow information is presented below:
| | | | | |
| For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
| 2021 | | 2020 | ||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for operating leases: | | | | | |
Operating cash flows | $ | 17,546 | | $ | 21,647 |
| | | | | |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for financing leases: | | | | | |
Operating cash flows | $ | 1,729 | | $ | 360 |
Financing cash flows | $ | 3,460 | | $ | 320 |
D. Supplemental financial statement information
Inventories consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Propane gas and related products | | $ | 76,843 | | $ | 58,733 |
Appliances, parts and supplies, and other | |
| 13,630 | |
| 13,931 |
Inventories | | $ | 90,473 | | $ | 72,664 |
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, 2021, Ferrellgas had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 2.7 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Broker margin deposit assets | | $ | 19,410 | | $ | 14,398 |
Price risk management asset | | | 32,270 | | | 2,846 |
Other | |
| 21,234 | |
| 18,700 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 72,914 | | $ | 35,944 |
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Other current liabilities consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accrued interest | | $ | 34,583 | | $ | 53,841 |
Customer deposits and advances | |
| 33,144 | |
| 32,257 |
Accrued payroll | |
| 23,902 | |
| 18,375 |
Accrued insurance | |
| 11,416 | |
| 14,796 |
Other | |
| 88,863 | |
| 48,197 |
Other current liabilities | | $ | 191,908 | | $ | 167,466 |
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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | $ | 56,723 | | $ | 64,987 | | $ | 104,253 | | $ | 113,002 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 1,958 | |
| 2,036 | |
| 6,481 | |
| 3,876 | |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 5,793 | |
| 7,984 | |
| 11,676 | |
| 15,626 | |
| | $ | 64,474 | | $ | 75,007 | | $ | 122,410 | | $ | 132,504 | |
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 217,434 | | $ | 238,002 |
Restricted cash (1) | |
| 109,049 | |
| 95,759 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | $ | 326,483 | | $ | 333,761 |
(1) | As of January 31, 2021, the $109.0 million of restricted cash includes $91.5 million of pledged cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, an $11.5 million cash deposit made with the administrative agent under the terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and $6.0 million of additional pledged collateral. As of July 31, 2020, the $95.8 million of restricted cash includes $78.2 million of pledged cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, an $11.5 million cash deposit made with the administrative agent under the terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and $6.1 million of additional pledged collateral. For additional discussion see Note F – Debt. |
For purposes of the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, Ferrellgas considers cash equivalents to include all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash paid for: |
| |
|
| |
|
Interest | | $ | 88,107 | | $ | 83,826 |
Income taxes | | $ | 305 | | $ | 1 |
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | | |
| |
|
|
Liability incurred in connection with Financing Agreement amendment | | $ | — | | $ | 8,863 |
Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions | | $ | — | | $ | 520 |
Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions | | $ | (178) | | $ | 268 |
Lease liabilities arising from operating right-of-use assets | | $ | 4,262 | | $ | 21,606 |
Lease liabilities arising from finance right-of-use assets | | $ | 972 | | $ | 12,241 |
14
E. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral | | $ | 200,443 | | $ | 103,703 |
Accounts receivable not pledged as collateral (including other reserves) | |
| 8,307 | |
| (825) |
Note receivable | |
| 15,148 | |
| 12,648 |
Other | |
| 37 | |
| 36 |
Less: Allowance for expected credit losses | |
| (17,655) | |
| (14,124) |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | | $ | 206,280 | | $ | 101,438 |
At January 31, 2021, $200.4 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral, but Ferrellgas had no outstanding collateralized notes payable due to a commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2020, $103.7 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral, but Ferrellgas had no outstanding collateralized notes payable due to a 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, 2021, Ferrellgas had received no cash proceeds from trade accounts receivables securitized, with $87.0 million remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds or issue letters of credit. As of July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas had received no cash proceeds from trade accounts receivables securitized, with $11.0 million remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds or issue letters of credit.
The agreement governing the accounts receivable securitization facility (the “Purchase Agreement”) requires the operating partnership to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00x and a senior secured leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00x. The operating partnership was in compliance with these financial ratio requirements as of January 31, 2021. However, if at any time the operating partnership is not in compliance with these financial ratio requirements, Ferrellgas will be unable to access the facility for working capital or other cash requirements and the facility may be terminated. This facility matures in May 2021 and includes an option, at Ferrellgas’ request and consent, for the purchasers in their sole discretion to extend the facility for up to an additional three years.
15
F. Debt
Long-term debt
Long-term debt consists of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Unsecured senior notes |
| |
|
| |
|
Fixed rate, 6.50%, due 2021 (1) | | $ | 500,000 | | $ | 500,000 |
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2023 (2) | |
| 500,000 | |
| 500,000 |
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2022, net of unamortized premium of $605 and $937 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively (3) | |
| 475,605 | |
| 475,937 |
Fixed rate, 8.625%, due 2020 (4) | |
| 357,000 | |
| 357,000 |
| | | | | | |
Secured senior notes | |
|
| |
|
|
Fixed rate, 10.00%, due 2025, net of unamortized premium of $3,270 at January 31, 2021 and $3,573 at July 31, 2020, respectively (5) | | | 703,270 | | | 703,573 |
| | | | | | |
Notes payable | |
|
| |
|
|
7.7% and 9.4% weighted average interest rate at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively, due 2021 to 2029, net of unamortized discount of $374 and $537 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively | |
| 3,607 | |
| 4,564 |
Total debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance and other costs | |
| 2,539,482 | |
| 2,541,074 |
Unamortized debt issuance and other costs | |
| (30,207) | |
| (35,583) |
Less: current portion of long-term debt | |
| 501,865 | |
| 859,095 |
Less: debt subject to compromise | | | 357,000 | | | — |
Long-term debt | | $ | 1,650,410 | | $ | 1,646,396 |
(1) | During November 2010, the operating partnership issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on May 1, 2021. These notes are classified as current in the condensed consolidated financial statements. |
(2) | During June 2015, the operating partnership issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2023. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of any subsidiary of the operating partnership that is not a guarantor of these notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due June 15, 2023. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to June 15, 2021. |
(3) | During fiscal 2014, the operating partnership issued $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2022, $325.0 million of which was issued at par and $150.0 million of which was issued at 104% of par. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due January 15, 2022. |
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(4) | During January 2017, Ferrellgas Partners issued $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 8.625% unsecured senior notes due 2020 (referred to herein as the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020), issued at 96% of par. Ferrellgas Partners contributed the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166.1 million to the operating partnership, which used such amounts to repay borrowings under its previous senior secured credit facility. During April 2010, Ferrellgas Partners issued $280.0 million of these notes. During March 2011, Ferrellgas Partners redeemed $98.0 million of these notes. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas Partners, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries. These notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount was due on June 15, 2020, but has not been repaid. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were classified as current on the consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were reclassified as liabilities subject to compromise on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2021. |
(5) | During April 2020, the operating partnership issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025, $575.0 million of which was issued at par and $125.0 million of which was issued at 103% of par. These notes are senior secured obligations of the operating partnership and the guarantors of such notes, including Ferrellgas Partners, the general partners of the operating partnership and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership, and are (i) effectively senior to all existing senior unsecured indebtedness of the operating partnership and the guarantors, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a special purpose subsidiary that does not guarantee the notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to April 15, 2024. The outstanding principal amount is due on April 15, 2025. |
The scheduled principal payments on long-term debt are as follows:
| | | |
| | Scheduled | |
Payment due by fiscal year |
| principal payments | |
2021 (a) | | $ | 858,000 |
2022 | |
| 476,435 |
2023 | |
| 500,999 |
2024 | |
| 329 |
2025 | |
| 700,199 |
Thereafter | |
| 19 |
Total | | $ | 2,535,981 |
(a) | Includes the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, which matured on June 15, 2020, but have not yet been repaid. |
Additionally, see the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above.
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 totaled $138.8 million and $126.0 million, respectively, and were used to secure insurance arrangements, product purchases and commodity hedges. At January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas did not have in place a credit facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit and had $91.5 million and $78.2 million, respectively, of restricted cash pledged as cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding. Additionally, at both January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas also issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility.
17
Financial covenants
The indenture governing the outstanding Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 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 restricted payments covenants in the indenture governing the outstanding Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership, which are discussed below.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the master limited partnership
Following the failure to repay the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 when due at maturity, Ferrellgas Partners has continued to comply with the restrictive covenants set forth in the indenture governing those notes as it continues its efforts to address the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, reduce existing indebtedness and address its other debt maturities.
The indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 contains a covenant that restricts the ability of Ferrellgas Partners to make certain restricted payments, including distributions on its common units.
Under this covenant, subject to the limited exception described below, Ferrellgas Partners may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indenture generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of January 31, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners’ consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.44x.
If the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners may make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a sixteen quarter period. As a result of distributions paid to common unitholders in September 2017, December 2017, March 2018, June 2018, and September 2018, while this ratio was less than 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners has used substantially all of its capacity under the limited exception and therefore is currently restricted by this covenant from making future restricted payments, including distributions to common unitholders. Further, regardless of whether Ferrellgas Partners had any capacity to make restricted payments under the limited exception, the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 generally prohibits Ferrellgas Partners from making restricted payments if a default or event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing, and the failure to repay the principal amount of and accrued interest on these notes at maturity constitutes an event of default. Accordingly, no distributions have been or will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2021, and the general partner expects that this covenant will continue to prohibit Ferrellgas Partners from making common unit distributions, unless and until the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners due 2020 are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan or otherwise. See “—Debt and interest expense reduction strategy” below.
Ferrellgas, L.P., the operating partnership
Similar to the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership contain covenants that restrict the ability of the operating partnership to make certain restricted payments, including distributions to Ferrellgas Partners. Under these covenants, subject to the limited exceptions described below, the operating partnership may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indentures generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of January 31, 2021, the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.67x.
18
Under the covenants in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, if the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, the operating partnership may still make restricted payments in limited amounts determined under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes. The distributions made by the operating partnership on June 15, 2019 and December 15, 2019 for payment of interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 2020 were made from capacity under this limited exception to the ratio requirement under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes. Under the most restrictive of the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, as of February 1, 2021, the remaining capacity under this limited exception will be reduced significantly, because, as of that date, the operating partnership will no longer be permitted to include the amount of the capital contribution made by Ferrellgas Partners to the operating partnership in January 2017 (from the proceeds of Ferrellgas Partners’ issuance of additional Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 in January 2017, as described above) in the calculation of the amount of restricted payments it is able to make under the exception.
The indenture governing the operating partnership’s senior secured first lien notes due 2025 contains a similar but, in some respects, a different restricted payments covenant. The covenant in the secured notes indenture provides for the same 1.75x consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test as the unsecured notes indentures and a limited exception when that ratio is below 1.75x. In addition, the secured notes indenture also provides that, subject to a separate limited exception, described below, the operating partnership generally may not make a restricted payment unless the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio (defined in the secured notes indenture generally to mean the ratio of consolidated total debt to trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is no greater than 5.5x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. The consolidated leverage ratio test applies regardless of whether the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed coverage ratio is at least 1.75x or below 1.75x. As of January 31, 2021, the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio was substantially in excess of 5.5x. Additionally, the secured notes indenture provides for restricted payments under its limited exception to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test that is less than the capacity available under the similar exception in the unsecured notes indentures. However, the secured notes indenture contains a separate exception to both the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test and the consolidated leverage ratio test that can be utilized to make certain specified restricted payments in a limited amount when the operating partnership does not meet either the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test or the consolidated leverage ratio test. As of January 31, 2021, this separate exception under the secured notes indenture had capacity for such specified restricted payments that is substantially the same as the capacity under the most restrictive of the operating partnership’s unsecured notes indentures as of January 31, 2021. This capacity under the secured notes indenture, as well as the capacity under the less restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures, will not be reduced as of February 1, 2021 as described above with respect to the capacity under the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures; however, the amount of restricted payments the operating partnership may make will be limited by the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures for so long as the notes issued under those indentures remain outstanding.
As described above, the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although the operating partnership has some capacity to make distributions under the operating partnership’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 that was due at the maturity of those notes. Further, as noted above, the remaining capacity of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners will be reduced significantly as of February 1, 2021. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures currently limit, and as of February 1, 2021 will further limit significantly, the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders.
19
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
Ferrellgas continues to pursue a strategy to reduce its debt and interest expense. Currently, these efforts are focused on consummation of the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan. See “—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above. Other opportunities include the generation of additional cash flows through accretive acquisitions, restructuring or refinancing of existing indebtedness other than pursuant to the TSA Transactions, maintaining the suspension of Ferrellgas’ common unit distributions, issuing equity or executing one or more debt exchanges. Ferrellgas expects to maintain its debt and interest expense reduction strategy until its consolidated leverage ratio reaches a level that it deems appropriate for its business. Ferrellgas engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.
There is no assurance that the transactions contemplated by the TSA will be consummated or that Ferrellgas otherwise will be successful in pursuing its debt and interest expense reduction strategy.
G. Partners’ deficit
As of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, limited partner units were beneficially owned by the following:
| | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 |
Public common unitholders (1) |
| 69,612,939 |
| 69,612,939 |
Ferrell Companies (2) |
| 22,529,361 |
| 22,529,361 |
FCI Trading Corp. (3) |
| 195,686 |
| 195,686 |
Ferrell Propane, Inc. (4) |
| 51,204 |
| 51,204 |
James E. Ferrell (5) |
| 4,763,475 |
| 4,763,475 |
(1) | These common units are traded on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol “FGPRQ”. |
(2) | Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and 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’ total beneficial ownership to 23.4%. |
(3) | FCI Trading is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party. |
(4) | Ferrell Propane is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party. |
(5) | James E. Ferrell is the Chief Executive Officer and President of our general partner; and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner and a related party. JEF Capital Management owns 4,758,859 of these common units and is owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust Two and other family trusts, all of which James E. Ferrell and/or his family members are the trustees and beneficiaries. James E. Ferrell holds all voting common stock of JEF Capital Management. The remaining 4,616 common units are held by Ferrell Resources Holdings, Inc., which is wholly-owned by the James E. Ferrell Revocable Trust One, for which James E. Ferrell is the trustee and sole beneficiary. |
Partnership distributions
No distributions will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2021.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)
See Note J – 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, 2021 and 2020.
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.
20
During the six months ended January 31, 2021, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $30.0 to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.
During the six months ended January 31, 2020, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $28.0 to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.
H. Revenue from contracts with customers
Disaggregation of revenue
Ferrellgas disaggregates revenues based upon the type of customer and on the type of revenue. The following table presents retail propane revenues, wholesale propane revenues and other revenues. Retail revenues result from sales to end use customers, wholesale revenues result from sales to or through resellers and all other revenues include sales of appliances and other materials, other fees charged to customers and equipment rental charges.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
| | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | | $ | 378,350 | | $ | 374,069 | | $ | 552,995 | | $ | 554,486 | |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | |
| 138,730 | |
| 105,055 | |
| 241,342 | |
| 187,759 | |
Other Gas Sales | |
| 11,354 | |
| 6,123 | |
| 15,146 | |
| 16,387 | |
Other | |
| 25,126 | |
| 25,586 | |
| 44,971 | |
| 45,415 | |
Propane and related equipment revenues | | $ | 553,560 | | $ | 510,833 | | $ | 854,454 | | $ | 804,047 | |
Contract assets and liabilities
Ferrellgas’ performance obligations are generally limited to the delivery of propane for our retail and wholesale contracts. Ferrellgas’ performance obligations with respect to sales of appliances and other materials and other revenues are limited to the delivery of the agreed upon good or service. Ferrellgas does not have material performance obligations that are delivered over time, thus all of our revenue is recognized at the time the goods, including propane, are delivered or installed. Ferrellgas offers “even pay” billing programs that can create customer deposits or advances, depending on whether Ferrellgas has delivered more propane than the customer has paid for or whether the customer has paid for more propane than what has been delivered. Revenue is recognized from these customer deposits or advances to customers at the time product is delivered. The advance or deposit is considered to be a contract asset or liability. Additionally, from time to time, we have customers that pay in advance for goods or services, and such amounts result in contract liabilities.
Ferrellgas incurs incremental commissions directly related to the acquisition or renewal of customer contracts. The commissions are calculated and paid based upon the number of gallons sold to the acquired or renewed customer. The total amount of commissions that we incur is not material, and the commissions are expensed commensurate with the deliveries to which they relate; therefore, Ferrellgas does not capitalize these costs.
The following table presents the opening and closing balances of Ferrellgas’ receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accounts receivable | | $ | 214,288 | | $ | 108,483 |
Contract assets | | $ | 9,647 | | $ | 7,079 |
Contract liabilities | |
| | |
|
|
Deferred revenue (1) | | $ | 44,801 | | $ | 42,911 |
(1) | Of the beginning balance of deferred revenue, $24.7 million was recognized as revenue during the six months ended January 31, 2021. |
21
Remaining performance obligations
Ferrellgas’ remaining performance obligations are generally limited to situations where its customers have remitted payment but have not yet received deliveries of propane. This most commonly occurs in Ferrellgas’ even pay billing programs and Ferrellgas expects that these balances will be recognized within a year or less as the customer takes delivery of propane.
I. 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, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||
| | Quoted Prices in Active |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | Markets for Identical | | Significant Other | | | | | | | ||
| | Assets and Liabilities | | Observable Inputs | | Unobservable Inputs | | | | |||
|
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) |
| Total | ||||
January 31, 2021: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Assets: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Derivative financial instruments: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | 34,433 | | $ | — | | $ | 34,433 |
Liabilities: | |
|
| |
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | (313) | | $ | — | | $ | (313) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
July 31, 2020: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Assets: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | 3,112 | | $ | — | | $ | 3,112 |
Liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | (5,425) | | $ | — | | $ | (5,425) |
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.
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. At January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas’ long-term debt instruments was $2,409.8 million and $2,177.1 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of Ferrellgas’ 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.
22
J. 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.
Derivative instruments and hedging activity
During the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, 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.
The following tables provide a summary of the fair value of derivatives within Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Final | January 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| | Maturity | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives | ||||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Date | Location |
| Fair value |
| Location |
| Fair value | ||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | | December 2022 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 32,270 | | Other current liabilities | | $ | 209 |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Other assets, net | |
| 2,163 |
| Other liabilities | |
| 104 |
|
| | Total | | $ | 34,433 |
| Total | | $ | 313 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Final | July 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| | Maturity | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives | ||||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Date | Location |
| Fair value |
| Location |
| Fair value | ||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments |
| December 2021 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 2,846 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 5,029 |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Other assets, net | |
| 266 |
| Other liabilities | |
| 396 |
|
| | Total | | $ | 3,112 |
| Total | | $ | 5,425 |
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, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively:
23
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | January 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| | Assets | | Liabilities | ||||||
Description |
| Location |
| Amount |
| Location |
| Amount | ||
Margin Balances |
| Prepaid expense and other current assets | | $ | 19,410 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 39,774 |
|
| Other assets, net | |
| 1,447 |
| Other liabilities | |
| 2,095 |
| | | | $ | 20,857 |
|
| | $ | 41,869 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | July 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| | Assets | | Liabilities | ||||||
Description |
| Location |
| Amount |
| Location |
| Amount | ||
Margin Balances |
| Prepaid expense and other current assets | | $ | 14,398 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 510 |
|
| Other assets, net | |
| 1,433 |
| Other liabilities | |
| — |
| | | | $ | 15,831 |
|
| | $ | 510 |
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, 2021 and 2020 due to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, 2021 | |||||||||
|
| | |
| |
| Amount of Gain (Loss) | ||||
| | Amount of Gain | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | |||||
| | (Loss) Recognized in | | Reclassified from | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| AOCI |
| AOCI into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | 36,957 |
| Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 8,441 | | $ | — |
| | $ | 36,957 | | | | $ | 8,441 | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | |||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | |||||
| | Recognized in | | Reclassified from | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| AOCI |
| AOCI into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | (11,212) |
| Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | (8,766) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (11,212) | | | | $ | (8,766) | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2021 | |||||||||
| | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | |||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | |||||
| | Recognized in | | Reclassified from | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| AOCI |
| AOCI into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | 42,724 |
| Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 6,291 | | $ | — |
| | $ | 42,724 | | | | $ | 6,291 | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | |||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | |||||
| | Recognized in | | Reclassified from | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| AOCI |
| AOCI into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | (24,839) |
| Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | (16,245) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (24,839) | | | | $ | (16,245) | | $ | — |
24
The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Beginning balance | | $ | (2,313) | | $ | (14,756) |
Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives | |
| 42,724 | |
| (24,839) |
Reclassification of (gains) losses on commodity hedges to cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales, net | |
| (6,291) | |
| 16,245 |
Ending balance | | $ | 34,120 | | $ | (23,350) |
Ferrellgas expects to reclassify net gains of approximately $32.1 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 sale exception.
During the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, 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, 2021, Ferrellgas had financial derivative contracts covering 3.8 million barrels of propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.
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 reduce 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, parental 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, 2021, the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that Ferrellgas would incur based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments is zero.
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, 2021.
K. Transactions with related parties
Ferrellgas has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas’ business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas’ behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Operating expense | | $ | 70,655 | | $ | 73,084 | | $ | 131,635 | | $ | 136,555 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expense | | $ | 10,375 | | $ | 7,476 | | $ | 17,094 | | $ | 13,963 | |
See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note G – Partners’ deficit.
25
L. 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, prior to the sales of midstream operations during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2018, 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 coordinated for pretrial purposes by the 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 resulted in the court of appeals affirming the dismissal of the federal claims and remanding the case to the district court to decide whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. Thereafter, in August 2019, Ferrellgas reached a settlement with the direct customers, pursuant to which it agreed to pay a total of $6.25 million to resolve all claims asserted by the putative direct purchaser class. With respect to the indirect customers, the district court exercised supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims, but then granted in part Ferrellgas’ pleadings-based motion and dismissed 11 of the 24 remaining state law claims. As a result, there are 13 remaining state law claims brought by a putative class of indirect customers. Ferrellgas believes it has strong defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these remaining claims. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
Ferrellgas and Bridger Logistics, LLC (“Bridger”), 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 in or settled an arbitration against Jamex Transfer Services (“JTS”), previously named Bridger Transfer Services, a former subsidiary of 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 as a result of the arbitration. Eddystone also alleges that JTS was an “alter ego” of Bridger and Ferrellgas and that Bridger and Ferrellgas breached fiduciary duties owed to Eddystone as a creditor of JTS. Ferrellgas believes that Ferrellgas and Bridger have valid defenses to these claims and to Eddystone’s primary claim against JTS for breach of contract. The lawsuit does not specify a specific amount of damages that Eddystone is seeking; however, Ferrellgas believes that the amount of such damages, if ultimately owed to Eddystone, could be material to Ferrellgas. Ferrellgas intends to vigorously defend this claim. 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. On June 25, 2018, Ferrellgas entered into an agreement with the Third-Party Defendants which, among other things, resulted in a dismissal of the claims against the Third-Party Defendants from the lawsuit. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage; as such, management does not currently believe a loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time.
26
M. Net earnings (loss) per unitholders’ interest
Below is a calculation of the basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
| | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
| | (in thousands, except per common unit amounts) | | ||||||||||
Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings | | $ | 62,634 | | $ | 47,725 | | $ | 17,033 | | $ | 2,834 | |
Weighted average common units outstanding (in thousands) | |
| 97,152.7 | |
| 97,152.7 | |
| 97,152.7 | |
| 97,152.7 | |
Basic and diluted net earnings per common unit | | $ | 0.64 | | $ | 0.49 | | $ | 0.18 | | $ | 0.03 | |
A. |
N. Condensed parent only debtor-in-possession financial information
The following financial statements represent the unaudited condensed combined financial statements of the Debtor. The results of the non-debtor entities are not included in these financial statements.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
PARENT ONLY
BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | |
| | January 31, | | |
|
| 2021 |
| |
ASSETS |
| |
|
|
| | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 19,906 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 269 | |
Total assets | | $ | 20,175 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT | |
|
| |
| | | | |
Other current liabilities | | $ | 1,661 | |
Loan payable to Ferrellgas, L.P | | | 19,900 | |
Accrued interest payable on Ferrellgas, L.P. loan | | | 251 | |
Total liabilities not subject to compromise | | | 21,812 | |
Liabilities subject to compromise | | | 390,101 | |
Total liabilities | | | 411,913 | |
| | | | |
Investment in Ferrellgas, L.P. | |
| 753,579 | |
| | | | |
Partners’ deficit | |
|
| |
Total partners’ deficit attributable to debtors | |
| (1,145,317) | |
Total liabilities and partners’ deficit | | $ | 20,175 | |
27
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
PARENT ONLY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||
|
| 2021 |
| 2021 |
| ||
Expenses: | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expense | | $ | 221 | | $ | 225 | |
Interest expense | | | 6,324 | | | 14,022 | |
Reorganization expense - professional fees | |
| 1,200 | |
| 1,200 | |
Total expenses | | | 7,745 | | | 15,447 | |
| | | | | | | |
Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-debtor entities | |
| (7,745) | |
| (15,447) | |
| | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 14 | |
| 14 | |
Equity in earnings of non-debtor entities | | | 71,750 | | | 32,999 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | | 63,991 | | | 17,538 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | | | 724 | | | 333 | |
| | | | | | | |
Net earnings attributable to the debtor | | | 63,267 | | | 17,205 | |
| | | | | | | |
Total other comprehensive income | | | — | |
| — | |
| | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income attributable to debtor | | $ | 63,267 | | $ | 17,205 | |
| | | | | | | |
28
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
PARENT ONLY
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | | |
|
| 2021 |
| |
| | | | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | — | |
| | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | |
Net cash provided by investing activities | |
| — | |
| | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | |
Proceeds from loan from Ferrellgas, L.P. | |
| 19,900 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | |
| 19,900 | |
| | | | |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | |
| 19,900 | |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | |
| 6 | |
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year | | $ | 19,906 | |
O. Subsequent events
Ferrellgas has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements, except as follows.
As previously disclosed on January 11, 2021 Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan. The effectiveness of the Plan is conditioned on certain requirements such as the operating partnership completing its refinancing. There is no assurance that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
For more information, refer to the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above.
29
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 1,000 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| — | |
| 1,850 |
Total assets | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 2,850 |
| | | | | | |
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 | |
| 39,145 | |
| 38,846 |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (39,145) | |
| (36,996) |
Total stockholder’s equity | | $ | 1,000 | | $ | 2,850 |
See notes to condensed financial statements.
30
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
General and administrative expense | | $ | 225 |
| $ | — | | $ | 2,149 | | $ | 891 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (225) | | $ | — | | $ | (2,149) | | $ | (891) | |
See notes to condensed financial statements.
31
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: | | |
| | |
|
Net loss | | $ | (2,149) | | $ | (891) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 1,850 | |
| 838 |
Cash used in operating activities | |
| (299) | |
| (53) |
| | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Capital contribution | |
| 299 | |
| 53 |
Cash provided by financing activities | |
| 299 | |
| 53 |
| | | | | | |
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.
32
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
(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. (“Ferrellgas Partners”).
Ferrellgas Partners contributed $1,000 to the Finance Corp. on April 8, 1996 in exchange for 1,000 shares of common stock.
The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.
Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As discussed in Note B – Contingencies and commitments, the Finance Corp serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners. Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due June 15, 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020”), which Ferrellgas Partners failed to repay when due at maturity. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were classified as current on Ferrellgas Partners’ consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020. These obligations are only reported on Ferrellgas Partners’ condensed consolidated balance sheet. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined and described below under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases”), the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were reclassified as liabilities subject to compromise on Ferrellgas Partners’ condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2021. Additionally, the operating partnership has outstanding $500.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due May 1, 2021, that are classified as current in the operating partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The ability of Ferrellgas Partners to restructure, refinance or otherwise satisfy these notes is uncertain. Additionally, the Finance Corp. does not have sufficient cash reserves or the ability to generate sufficient future cash flows to satisfy its obligations as co-obligor of the debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners. Given these concerns, we believe there is substantial doubt about the Finance Corp.’s ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.
Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases
On December 10, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners, the Finance Corp., the operating partnership Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC, Ferrellgas GP III, LLC and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Ferrellgas Parties”) entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (the “TSA”) with certain holders of, or investment advisors, sub-advisors, or managers of discretionary accounts that hold, claims (collectively, the “Consenting Noteholders”) arising under, derived from or based upon the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020
The TSA sets forth (i) a restructuring process to satisfy the obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. under the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Transactions”), which would be effectuated through pre-packaged voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) to be filed by only Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. and the confirmation of a pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. (the “Plan”), and (ii) a refinancing process of the operating partnership, including but not limited to, replacement of the operating partnership’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 (the “operating partnership Transactions” and, together with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions, the “TSA Transactions”), which would be consummated on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Plan implementing the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions and would close simultaneously with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions effectuated under the Plan.
33
Generally, the TSA contemplates, among other things, the TSA Transactions and certain changes to the capital structure and governance of the Ferrellgas Parties as described in more detail in the TSA.
Pursuant to the TSA, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the parties thereto agreed to support, act in good faith and take all steps reasonably necessary and desirable to implement and consummate the TSA Transactions until the TSA Transactions are consummated or the TSA is terminated. The Consenting Noteholders agreed, among other things, (i) to forbear from taking actions with respect to any default or event of default by the Ferrellgas Parties under the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 which arises solely as a result of the failure to make payments of the principal due on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, and (ii) to vote in favor of any matter requiring approval to the extent necessary to implement the TSA Transactions and the Plan.
The TSA contains certain milestones relating to the commencement of the solicitation of acceptances of the Plan (the “Solicitation”) from holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units, the refinancing process and the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the dates by which Ferrellgas Partners was required to commence the Solicitation and, thereafter, commence the Chapter 11 Cases or obtain certain approval orders of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, the milestones include the obligation of Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. to emerge from chapter 11 protection no later than April 4, 2021, unless that deadline is extended pursuant to the terms of the TSA.
The TSA also provides that the TSA may be terminated by the Required Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) with respect to the Consenting Noteholders or by any Ferrellgas Party with respect to the Ferrellgas Parties upon the occurrence of certain events set forth therein. In particular, the Ferrellgas Parties may terminate the TSA in the event the governing body of any Ferrellgas Party determines, after consulting with counsel, (i) that continuing to pursue any of the TSA Transactions in the manner contemplated by the TSA would be inconsistent with the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties or applicable law or (ii) in the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties, to pursue an alternative transaction proposal.
Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. commenced the Solicitation on December 21, 2020 and by January 22, 2021 received sufficient votes from the requisite holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the requisite holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units to obtain approval of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court. Subject to any changes, the Solicitation process is complete. The Plan remains subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
On January 11, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021. Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. have continued, and plan to continue, to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and order of the Bankruptcy Court.
There is no assurance that the Plan will be approved by the Bankruptcy Court or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
B. Contingencies and commitments
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners. The Finance Corp. is liable as co-issuer and co-obligor for the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 15, 2020, which Ferrellgas Partners failed to repay, and which obligation is only reported on Ferrellgas Partners’ condensed consolidated balance sheet.
34
C. Subsequent events
The Finance Corp. has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date the Finance Corp.’s condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements, except as follows.
As previously disclosed, on January 11, 2021 Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan. The effectiveness of the Plan is conditioned on certain requirements such as the operating partnership completing its refinancing. There is no assurance that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
For more information, refer to the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Formation above.
35
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
ASSETS | | | | | | |
Current assets: |
| |
|
| |
|
Cash and cash equivalents (including $109,049 and $95,759 of restricted cash at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | | $ | 306,577 | | $ | 333,755 |
Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $200,443 and $103,703 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | |
| 206,280 | |
| 101,438 |
Inventories | |
| 90,473 | |
| 72,664 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 73,106 | |
| 35,897 |
Total current assets | |
| 676,436 | |
| 543,754 |
| | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| 587,870 | |
| 591,042 |
Goodwill, net | |
| 246,946 | |
| 247,195 |
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $427,695 and $423,290 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively) | |
| 99,644 | |
| 104,049 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | 97,249 | | | 107,349 |
Loan receivable - Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | | 20,151 | | | — |
Other assets, net | |
| 91,159 | |
| 74,748 |
Total assets | | $ | 1,819,455 | | $ | 1,668,137 |
| | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT | |
|
| |
|
|
| | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Accounts payable | | $ | 79,224 | | $ | 33,944 |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 501,865 | | | 502,095 |
Current operating lease liabilities | | | 27,895 | | | 29,345 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 190,708 | |
| 148,136 |
Total current liabilities | | | 799,692 | | | 713,520 |
| | | | | | |
Long-term debt | |
| 1,650,410 | |
| 1,646,396 |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 80,901 | | | 89,022 |
Other liabilities | |
| 49,541 | |
| 51,190 |
| | | | | | |
Partners’ deficit: | |
|
| |
|
|
Limited partner | |
| (787,341) | |
| (821,462) |
General partner | |
| (7,868) | |
| (8,216) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 34,120 | |
| (2,313) |
Total partners’ deficit | |
| (761,089) | |
| (831,991) |
Total liabilities and partners’ deficit | | $ | 1,819,455 | | $ | 1,668,137 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
36
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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 528,434 | | $ | 485,247 | | $ | 809,483 | | $ | 758,632 | |
Other | |
| 25,126 | |
| 25,586 | |
| 44,971 | |
| 45,415 | |
Total revenues | |
| 553,560 | |
| 510,833 | |
| 854,454 | |
| 804,047 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 270,777 | |
| 237,843 | |
| 408,404 | |
| 371,871 | |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 3,504 | |
| 3,353 | |
| 7,171 | |
| 7,034 | |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 115,247 | |
| 128,233 | |
| 224,274 | |
| 242,776 | |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 6,862 | |
| 8,261 | |
| 13,692 | |
| 16,649 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| 19,795 | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 | |
General and administrative expense | |
| 20,254 | |
| 14,085 | |
| 33,330 | |
| 23,781 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| 630 | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 | |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| 2,148 | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income | |
| 114,825 | |
| 96,485 | |
| 122,581 | | | 97,114 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (46,522) | |
| (38,690) | |
| (93,050) | |
| (75,567) | |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 3,759 | |
| 76 | |
| 3,867 | |
| (56) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings before income taxes | |
| 72,062 | |
| 57,871 | |
| 33,398 | | | 21,491 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 312 | |
| 115 | |
| 399 | |
| 633 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 71,750 | | $ | 57,756 | | $ | 32,999 | | $ | 20,858 | |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
37
FERRELLGAS, 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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 71,750 | | $ | 57,756 | | $ | 32,999 | | $ | 20,858 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss): | |
|
| |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
Change in value of risk management derivatives | |
| 36,957 | |
| (11,212) | | | 42,724 | |
| (24,839) | |
Reclassification of (gains) losses on derivatives to earnings, net | |
| (8,441) | |
| 8,766 | |
| (6,291) | |
| 16,245 | |
Pension liability adjustment | |
| — | |
| (109) | |
| — | |
| (109) | |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | |
| 28,516 | |
| (2,555) | |
| 36,433 | |
| (8,703) | |
Comprehensive income | | $ | 100,266 | | $ | 55,201 | | $ | 69,432 | | $ | 12,155 | |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
38
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Accumulated | | | | |
| | | | | | | | other | | Total | ||
| | Limited | | General | | comprehensive | | partners’ | ||||
|
| partner |
| partner |
| income (loss) |
| deficit | ||||
Balance at July 31, 2020 | | $ | (821,462) | | $ | (8,216) | | $ | (2,313) | | $ | (831,991) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges | |
| 701 | |
| 7 | |
| — | |
| 708 |
Net loss | |
| (38,360) | |
| (391) | |
| — | |
| (38,751) |
Other comprehensive income | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 7,917 | |
| 7,917 |
Balance at October 31, 2020 | | | (859,121) | | | (8,600) | | | 5,604 | | | (862,117) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges | |
| 754 | |
| 8 | |
| — | |
| 762 |
Net earnings | |
| 71,026 | |
| 724 | |
| — | |
| 71,750 |
Other comprehensive income | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 28,516 | |
| 28,516 |
Balance at January 31, 2021 | | $ | (787,341) | | $ | (7,868) | | $ | 34,120 | | $ | (761,089) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Accumulated | | | | |
| | | | | | | | other | | Total | ||
| | Limited | | General | | comprehensive | | partners’ | ||||
|
| partner |
| partner |
| loss |
| deficit | ||||
Balance at July 31, 2019 | | $ | (758,186) | | $ | (7,570) | | $ | (14,647) | | $ | (780,403) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges | |
| 787 | |
| 8 | |
| — | |
| 795 |
Cumulative adjustment for lease accounting standard | | | (1,361) | |
| (14) | |
| — | |
| (1,375) |
Distributions | |
| (100) | |
| (1) | |
| — | |
| (101) |
Net loss | |
| (36,525) | |
| (373) | |
| — | |
| (36,898) |
Other comprehensive loss | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (6,148) | |
| (6,148) |
Balance at October 31, 2019 | | | (795,385) | | | (7,950) | | | (20,795) | | | (824,130) |
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP compensation charges | | | 624 | | | 6 | | | — | | | 630 |
Distributions | | | (15,396) | | | (157) | | | — | | | (15,553) |
Net earnings | | | 57,172 | | | 584 | | | — | | | 57,756 |
Other comprehensive loss | | | — | | | — | | | (2,555) | | | (2,555) |
Balance at January 31, 2020 | | $ | (752,985) | | $ | (7,517) | | $ | (23,350) | | $ | (783,852) |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
39
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net earnings | | $ | 32,999 | | $ | 20,858 |
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 |
Provision for doubtful accounts | |
| 2,166 | |
| 974 |
Deferred income tax expense | |
| — | |
| 552 |
Other | |
| 3,996 | |
| 5,216 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions: | |
|
| |
|
|
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization | |
| (107,008) | |
| (68,322) |
Inventories | |
| (17,809) | |
| 1,980 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| (7,535) | |
| (7,109) |
Accounts payable | |
| 45,380 | |
| 12,678 |
Accrued interest expense | |
| 72 | |
| 2,019 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 43,861 | |
| 2,095 |
Other assets and liabilities | |
| 3,327 | |
| 237 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | |
| 44,451 | |
| 16,000 |
| | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | |
| — | |
| (6,400) |
Capital expenditures | |
| (35,333) | |
| (33,422) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | |
| 3,144 | |
| 1,659 |
Cash payments to construct assets in connection with future lease transactions | | | — | | | (30,307) |
Cash receipts in connection with leased vehicles | | | — | | | 19,929 |
Loan to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | | (19,900) | | | — |
Net cash used in investing activities | |
| (52,089) | |
| (48,541) |
| | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Distributions | |
| — | |
| (15,654) |
Payments on long-term debt | |
| (1,120) | |
| (972) |
Net reductions in short-term borrowings | |
| — | |
| (3,000) |
Cash payments for principal portion of finance lease liability | |
| (3,460) | |
| (320) |
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | |
| — | |
| 59,000 |
Cash paid for financing costs | |
| (14,960) | |
| (3,916) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | |
| (19,540) | |
| 35,138 |
| | | | | | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | |
| (27,178) | | | 2,597 |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | |
| 333,755 | |
| 11,046 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period | | $ | 306,577 | | $ | 13,643 |
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
40
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. 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., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc., a Kansas corporation (“Ferrell Companies”), is the sole general partner of Ferrellgas Partners and one of three general partners of Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, Inc. has retained an approximate 1% general partner economic interest in Ferrellgas Partners and also holds an approximate 1% general partner economic interest in Ferrellgas, L.P., representing an effective 2% general partner economic interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. on a combined basis.
As the sole general partner of Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas, Inc. performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas Partners. Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas, L.P., collectively referred to as “Ferrellgas,” are governed by their respective partnership agreements. These agreements contain specific provisions for the allocation of net earnings and loss to each of the partners for purposes of maintaining the partner capital accounts.
The term “general partner” (i) with respect to Ferrellgas Partners refers to Ferrellgas, Inc. and (ii) with respect to Ferrellgas, L.P. refers to (a) Ferrellgas, Inc., in the case of any economic general partner interest and (b) Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC, collectively, in the case of any voting general partner interest. As the general partners of Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC each have an equal vote and all general partner matters of Ferrellgas, L.P. are determined by the vote or consent of a majority of such entities. The general partners perform all management functions required by Ferrellgas, L.P. The general partner interests held by Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC are strictly voting and non-economic. Unless contractually provided for, creditors of Ferrellgas, L.P. have no recourse with regards to Ferrellgas Partners.
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 primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane and related equipment sales. 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.
Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending July 31, 2021.
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas, L.P. and subsidiaries reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed consolidated financial statements were of a normal recurring nature. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with (i) the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and (ii) the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020.
41
Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Ferrellgas, L.P. has $500.0 million in unsecured notes due May 1, 2021, that are classified as current in its condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due June 15, 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020”), which Ferrellgas Partners failed to repay when due at maturity. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were classified as current on the consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined and described below under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases”), the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 were reclassified as liabilities subject to compromise on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2021. The ability of Ferrellgas Partners to restructure, refinance or otherwise satisfy these notes is uncertain. Given these concerns, Ferrellgas Partners believes there is substantial doubt about Ferrellgas, L.P.’s ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities. See Note F – Debt below for further discussion of the outstanding debt.
Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases
On December 10, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC, Ferrellgas GP III, LLC and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Ferrellgas Parties”) entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (the “TSA”) with certain holders of, or investment advisors, sub-advisors, or managers of discretionary accounts that hold, claims (collectively, the “Consenting Noteholders”) arising under, derived from or based upon the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020.
The TSA sets forth (i) a restructuring process to satisfy the obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. under the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Transactions”), which would be effectuated through pre-packaged voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) to be filed by only Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the confirmation of a pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.(the “Plan”), and (ii) a refinancing process of Ferrellgas, L.P., including but not limited to, replacement of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 (the “operating partnership Transactions” and, together with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions, the “TSA Transactions”), which would be consummated on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Plan implementing the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions and would close simultaneously with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions effectuated under the Plan.
Generally, the TSA contemplates, among other things, the TSA Transactions and certain changes to the capital structure and governance of the Ferrellgas Parties as described in more detail in the TSA.
Pursuant to the TSA, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the parties thereto agreed to support, act in good faith and take all steps reasonably necessary and desirable to implement and consummate the TSA Transactions until the TSA Transactions are consummated or the TSA is terminated. The Consenting Noteholders agreed, among other things, (i) to forbear from taking actions with respect to any default or event of default by the Ferrellgas Parties under the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 which arises solely as a result of the failure to make payments of the principal due on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, and (ii) to vote in favor of any matter requiring approval to the extent necessary to implement the TSA Transactions and the Plan.
The TSA contains certain milestones relating to the commencement of the solicitation of acceptances of the Plan (the “Solicitation”) from holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units, the refinancing process and the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the dates by which Ferrellgas Partners was required to commence the Solicitation and, thereafter, commence the Chapter 11 Cases or obtain certain approval orders of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, the milestones include the obligation of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. to emerge from chapter 11 protection no later than April 4, 2021, unless that deadline is extended pursuant to the terms of the TSA.
42
The TSA also provides that the TSA may be terminated by the Required Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) with respect to the Consenting Noteholders or by any Ferrellgas Party with respect to the Ferrellgas Parties upon the occurrence of certain events set forth therein. In particular, the Ferrellgas Parties may terminate the TSA in the event the governing body of any Ferrellgas Party determines, after consulting with counsel, (i) that continuing to pursue any of the TSA Transactions in the manner contemplated by the TSA would be inconsistent with the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties or applicable law or (ii) in the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties, to pursue an alternative transaction proposal.
Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Solicitation on December 21, 2020 and by January 22, 2021 received sufficient votes from the requisite holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the requisite holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units to obtain approval of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court. Subject to any changes, the Solicitation process is complete. The Plan remains subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
On January 11, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021. Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. have continued, and plan to continue, to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and order of the Bankruptcy Court.
There is no assurance that the Plan will be approved by the Bankruptcy Court or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain. Additionally, see Note F – Debt below for further discussion of the outstanding debt.
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 condensed consolidated financial statements include accruals that have been established for contingent liabilities, pending claims and legal actions arising in the normal course of business, useful lives of property, plant and equipment, 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 expected credit losses, fair value of reporting units, recoverability of long-lived assets, assumptions used to value business combinations, determination of incremental borrowing rate used to measure right-of-use asset and lease liability, fair values of derivative contracts and stock-based compensation calculations.
Update to accounting estimates:
On August 1, 2020 Ferrellgas, L.P. adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). As a result, we updated our significant accounting policies for the measurement of expected credit losses below.
Allowance for expected credit losses
Ferrellgas, L.P. closely monitors accounts receivable balances and estimates the allowance for expected credit losses. The estimate is primarily based on historical collection experience and other factors, including those related to current market conditions and events. The expected credit losses associated with accounts receivable have not historically been material and the adoption impact on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s allowance for expected credit losses was immaterial as of January 31, 2021.
43
(2) New accounting standards:
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. adopted the amended guidance effective August 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
.
C. Leases
The following table provides the operating and financing ROU assets and lease liabilities as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | |
Leases | | Classification | | | January 31, 2021 | | | July 31, 2020 |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Operating lease assets | | Operating lease right-of-use assets | | $ | 97,249 | | $ | 107,349 |
Financing lease assets | | Other assets, net | | | 38,045 | | | 41,426 |
Total leased assets | | | | $ | 135,294 | | $ | 148,775 |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Current | | | | | | | | |
Operating | | Current operating lease liabilities | | $ | 27,895 | | $ | 29,345 |
Financing | | Other current liabilities | | | 7,405 | | | 6,955 |
Noncurrent | | | | | | | | |
Operating | | Operating lease liabilities | | | 80,901 | | | 89,022 |
Financing | | Other liabilities | | | 30,537 | | | 33,473 |
Total leased liabilities | | | | $ | 146,738 | | $ | 158,795 |
44
The following table provides the lease expenses for the three and six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| For the three months ended January 31, |
| For the six months ended January 31, | ||||||||
Leases expense |
| Classification | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2020 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating lease expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | $ | 1,497 | | $ | 1,664 | | $ | 3,280 | | $ | 3,405 |
| | Operating expense - equipment lease expense | | | 6,513 | | | 8,156 | | | 12,955 | | | 15,763 |
| | Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | | | 492 | | | 324 | | | 1,018 | | | 713 |
| | General and administrative expense | | | 194 | | | 697 | | | 476 | | | 963 |
Total operating lease expense | | | | | 8,696 | | | 10,841 | | | 17,729 | | | 20,844 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Short-term expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | | 1,873 | | | 2,012 | | | 3,905 | | | 3,966 |
| | General and administrative expense | | | 123 | | | 141 | | | 364 | | | 251 |
Total short-term expense | | | | | 1,996 | | | 2,153 | | | 4,269 | | | 4,217 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Variable lease expense | | Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | | 798 | | | 671 | | | 1,544 | | | 1,346 |
| | Operating expense - equipment lease expense | | | 349 | | | 153 | | | 737 | | | 886 |
Total variable lease expense | | | | | 1,147 | | | 824 | | | 2,281 | | | 2,232 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance lease expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization of leased assets | | Depreciation and amortization expense | | | 2,189 | | | 435 | | | 4,354 | | | 475 |
Interest on lease liabilities | | Interest expense | | | 963 | | | 318 | | | 1,908 | | | 360 |
Total finance lease expense | | | | | 3,152 | | | 753 | | | 6,262 | | | 835 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total lease expense (a) | | | | $ | 14,991 | | $ | 14,571 | | $ | 30,541 | | $ | 28,128 |
(a) | For the three and six months ended January 31, 2021 Ferrellgas, L.P. also recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense related to the accretion of lease exit costs associated with a crude oil storage agreement that is no longer being utilized, primarily due to various Midstream dispositions, and for which Ferrellgas does not anticipate any future economic benefit. For the three and six months ended January 31, 2020 Ferrellgas, L.P. also recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense related to the accretion of lease exit costs associated with a crude oil storage agreement that is no longer being utilized, primarily due to various Midstream dispositions, and for which Ferrellgas does not anticipate any future economic benefit. |
45
Minimum annual payments under existing operating and finance lease liabilities as of January 31, 2021 are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | |
Maturities of lease liabilities | | | Operating leases | | | Finance leases | | | Total |
2021 | | $ | 17,114 | | $ | 7,186 | | $ | 24,300 |
2022 | | | 28,110 | | | 9,851 | | | 37,961 |
2023 | | | 35,875 | | | 7,851 | | | 43,726 |
2024 | | | 19,055 | | | 7,262 | | | 26,317 |
2025 | | | 13,616 | | | 7,273 | | | 20,889 |
Thereafter | | | 21,886 | | | 10,892 | | | 32,778 |
Total lease payments | | $ | 135,656 | | $ | 50,315 | | $ | 185,971 |
Less: Imputed interest | | | 26,860 | | | 12,373 | | | 39,233 |
Present value of lease liabilities | | $ | 108,796 | | $ | 37,942 | | $ | 146,738 |
The following table represents the weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate as of January 31, 2021:
| | | | |
| | As of January 31, 2021 | ||
Lease type | | Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) | | Weighted-average discount rate |
Operating leases | | 5.1 | | 8.3% |
Finance leases | | 5.6 | | 8.7% |
Cash flow information is presented below:
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
| | 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for operating leases: | | | | | | |
Operating cash flows | | $ | 17,546 | | $ | 21,647 |
| | | | | | |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for financing leases: | | | | | | |
Operating cash flows | | $ | 1,729 | | $ | 360 |
Financing cash flows | | $ | 3,460 | | $ | 320 |
D. Supplemental financial statement information
Inventories consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Propane gas and related products | | $ | 76,843 | | $ | 58,733 |
Appliances, parts and supplies, and other | |
| 13,630 | |
| 13,931 |
Inventories | | $ | 90,473 | | $ | 72,664 |
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, 2021, Ferrellgas, L.P. had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 2.7 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Broker margin deposit assets | | $ | 19,410 | | $ | 14,398 |
Price risk management asset | | | 32,270 | | | 2,846 |
Other | |
| 21,426 | | | 18,653 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 73,106 | | $ | 35,897 |
46
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accrued interest | | $ | 34,583 | | $ | 34,511 |
Customer deposits and advances | |
| 33,144 | |
| 32,257 |
Accrued payroll | |
| 23,902 | |
| 18,375 |
Accrued insurance | |
| 11,416 | |
| 14,796 |
Other | |
| 87,663 | |
| 48,197 |
Other current liabilities | | $ | 190,708 | | $ | 148,136 |
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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | | ||||
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | | $ | 56,723 | | $ | 64,987 | | $ | 104,253 | | $ | 113,002 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 1,958 | |
| 2,036 | |
| 6,481 | |
| 3,876 | |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 5,793 | |
| 7,984 | |
| 11,676 | |
| 15,626 | |
| | $ | 64,474 | | $ | 75,007 | | $ | 122,410 | | $ | 132,504 | |
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 197,528 | | $ | 237,996 |
Restricted cash (1) | |
| 109,049 | |
| 95,759 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | $ | 306,577 | | $ | 333,755 |
(1) | As of January 31, 2021, the $109.0 million of restricted cash includes $91.5 million of pledged cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, an $11.5 million cash deposit made with the administrative agent under the terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and $6.0 million of additional pledged collateral. As of July 31, 2020, the $95.8 million of restricted cash includes $78.2 million of pledged cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, an $11.5 million cash deposit made with the administrative agent under the terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility, and $6.1 million of additional pledged collateral. For additional discussion see Note F – Debt. |
For purposes of the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, Ferrellgas, L.P. considers cash equivalents to include all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. Certain cash flow and significant non-cash activities are presented below:
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash paid for: | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 88,107 | | $ | 68,430 |
Income taxes | | $ | 290 | | $ | 1 |
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
|
Liability incurred in connection with Financing Agreement amendment | | $ | — | | $ | 8,863 |
Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions | | $ | — | | $ | 520 |
Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions | | $ | (178) | | $ | 268 |
Lease liabilities arising from operating right-of-use assets | | $ | 4,262 | | $ | 21,606 |
Lease liabilities arising from finance right-of-use assets | | $ | 972 | | $ | 12,241 |
47
E. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral | | $ | 200,443 | | $ | 103,703 |
Accounts receivable not pledged as collateral (including other reserves) | |
| 8,307 | |
| (825) |
Note receivable | |
| 15,148 | |
| 12,648 |
Other | |
| 37 | |
| 36 |
Less: Allowance for expected credit losses | |
| (17,655) | |
| (14,124) |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | | $ | 206,280 | | $ | 101,438 |
At January 31, 2021, $200.4 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral, but Ferrellgas, L.P. had no outstanding collateralized notes payable due to a commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2020, $103.7 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral, but Ferrellgas, L.P. had no outstanding collateralized notes payable due to a commercial paper conduit. These 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, 2021, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received no cash proceeds from trade accounts receivables securitized, with $87.0 million remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds or issue letters of credit. As of July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received no cash proceeds from trade accounts receivables securitized, with $11.0 million remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds or issue letters of credit.
The agreement governing the accounts receivable securitization facility (the “Purchase Agreement”) requires the operating partnership to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00x and a senior secured leverage ratio of not greater than 3.00x. The operating partnership was in compliance with these financial ratio requirements as of January 31, 2021. However, if at any time the operating partnership is not in compliance with these financial ratio requirements, Ferrellgas, L.P. will be unable to access the facility for working capital or other cash requirements and the facility may be terminated. This facility matures in May 2021 and includes an option, at Ferrellgas, L.P.’s request and consent, for the purchasers in their sole discretion to extend the facility for up to an additional three years.
48
F. Debt
Long-term debt
Long-term debt consists of the following:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Unsecured senior notes |
| |
|
| |
|
Fixed rate, 6.50%, due 2021 (1) | | $ | 500,000 | | $ | 500,000 |
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2023 (2) | |
| 500,000 | |
| 500,000 |
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2022, net of unamortized premium of $605 and $937 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively (3) | |
| 475,605 | |
| 475,937 |
| | | | | | |
Secured senior notes | |
|
| |
|
|
Fixed rate, 10.00%, due 2025, net of unamortized premium of $3,270 and $3,573 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively (4) | |
| 703,270 | |
| 703,573 |
| | | | | | |
Notes payable | |
|
| |
|
|
7.7% and 9.4% weighted average interest rate at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively, due 2021 to 2029, net of unamortized discount of $374 and $537 at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively | |
| 3,607 | |
| 4,564 |
Total debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance and other costs | |
| 2,182,482 | |
| 2,184,074 |
Unamortized debt issuance and other costs | |
| (30,207) | |
| (35,583) |
Less: current portion of long-term debt | |
| 501,865 | |
| 502,095 |
Long-term debt | | $ | 1,650,410 | | $ | 1,646,396 |
(1) | During November 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021.These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P., to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the Ferrellgas, L.P.’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on May 1, 2021.These notes are classified as current in the condensed consolidated financial statements. |
(2) | During June 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2023. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and certain subsidiaries and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P. and such subsidiaries, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of any subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. that is not a guarantor of these notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on June 15, 2023. Ferrellgas, L.P. would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to June 15, 2021. |
(3) | During fiscal 2014, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2022, $325.0 million of which was issued at par and $150.0 million of which was issued at 104% of par. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P., to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on January 15, 2022. |
49
(4) | During April 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025, $575.0 million of which was issued at par and $125.0 million of which was issued at 103% of par. These notes are senior secured obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and the guarantors of such notes, including Ferrellgas Partners, the general partners of Ferrellgas, L.P. and certain subsidiaries, and are (i) effectively senior to all existing senior unsecured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P. and the guarantors, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a special purpose subsidiary that does not guarantee the notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to April 15, 2024. The outstanding principal amount is due on April 15, 2025. |
The scheduled principal payments on long-term debt are as follows:
| | | |
Payment due by fiscal year |
| Scheduled | |
2021 | | $ | 501,000 |
2022 | |
| 476,435 |
2023 | |
| 500,999 |
2024 | |
| 329 |
2025 | |
| 700,199 |
Thereafter | |
| 19 |
Total | | $ | 2,178,981 |
Additionally, see the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above.
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 totaled $138.8 million and $126.0 million, respectively, and were used to secure insurance arrangements, product purchases and commodity hedges. At January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. did not have in place a credit facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit and had $91.5 million and $78.2 million, respectively, of restricted cash pledged as cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding. Additionally, at both January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. also issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility.
Financial covenants
The indenture governing the outstanding Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the agreements governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas, L.P. 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 restricted payments covenants discussed below.
Similar to the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership contain covenants that restrict the ability of the operating partnership to make certain restricted payments, including distributions to Ferrellgas Partners. Under these covenants, subject to the limited exception described below, the operating partnership may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indentures generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x , on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of January 31, 2021, the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.67x.
50
Under the covenants in the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes, if the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, Ferrellgas, L.P. may still make restricted payments in limited amounts determined under the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes. The distributions made by Ferrellgas, L.P. on June 15, 2019 and December 15, 2019 for payment of interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 2020 were made from capacity under this limited exception to the ratio requirement under the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes. Under the most restrictive of the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, as of February 1, 2021, the remaining capacity under this limited exception will be reduced significantly, because, as of that date, the operating partnership will no longer be permitted to include the amount of the capital contribution made by Ferrellgas Partners to the operating partnership in January 2017 (from the proceeds of Ferrellgas Partners’ issuance of additional Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 in January 2017, as described above) in the calculation of the amount of restricted payments it is able to make under the exception.
The indenture governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s senior secured first lien notes due 2025 contains a similar but, in some respects, a different restricted payments covenant. The covenant in the secured notes indenture provides for the same 1.75x consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test as the unsecured notes indentures and a limited exception when that ratio is below 1.75x. In addition, the secured notes indenture also provides that, subject to a separate limited exception, described below, Ferrellgas, L.P. generally may not make a restricted payment unless Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated leverage ratio (defined in the secured notes indenture generally to mean the ratio of consolidated total debt to trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is no greater than 5.5x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. The consolidated leverage ratio test applies regardless of whether Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated fixed coverage ratio is at least 1.75x or below 1.75x. As of January 31, 2021, Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated leverage ratio was substantially in excess of 5.5x. Additionally, the secured notes indenture provides for restricted payments under its limited exception to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test that is less than the capacity available under the similar exception in the unsecured notes indentures. However, the secured notes indenture contains a separate exception to both the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test and the consolidated leverage ratio test that can be utilized to make certain specified restricted payments in a limited amount when Ferrellgas, L.P. does not meet either the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test or the consolidated leverage ratio test. This separate exception under the secured notes indenture currently has capacity for such specified restricted payments that is substantially the same as the capacity under the most restrictive of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes indentures as of January 31, 2021. This capacity under the secured notes indenture, as well as the capacity under the less restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures, will not be reduced as of February 1, 2021 as described above with respect to the capacity under the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures; however, the amount of restricted payments the operating partnership may make will be limited by the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures for so long as the notes issued under those indentures remain outstanding.
As described above, the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although Ferrellgas, L.P. has some capacity to make distributions under Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow Ferrellgas, L.P. to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 that was due at the maturity of those notes. Further, as noted above, the remaining capacity of Ferrellgas, L.P. to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners will be reduced significantly as of February 1, 2021. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures currently limit, and as of February 1, 2021 will further limit significantly, the ability of Ferrellgas, L.P. to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders. Ferrellgas Partners continues to comply with the restrictive covenants with respect to the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of Ferrellgas Partners Notes due June 15, 2020 as Ferrellgas Partners continues to negotiate with the Forbearing Noteholders.
51
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
Ferrellgas, L.P. continues to pursue a strategy to reduce its debt and interest expense. Currently, these efforts are focused on consummation of the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan. See “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above. Other opportunities include the generation of additional cash flows through accretive acquisitions, restructuring or refinancing of existing indebtedness other than pursuant to the TSA Transactions, maintaining the suspension of Ferrellgas Partners’ common unit distributions, issuing equity or executing one or more debt exchanges. Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to maintain its debt and interest expense reduction strategy until the consolidated leverage ratio reaches a level that it deems appropriate for its business. Ferrellgas, L.P. engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.
There is no assurance that the transactions contemplated by the TSA will be consummated or that Ferrellgas otherwise will be successful in pursuing its debt and interest expense reduction strategy.
G. Partners’ deficit
Partnership distributions
Ferrellgas, L.P. has recognized the following distributions:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | | ||||
Ferrellgas Partners | | $ | — | | $ | 15,396 | | $ | — | | $ | 15,496 | |
General partner | |
| — | |
| 157 | |
| — | |
| 158 | |
See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note K – Transactions with related parties.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)
See Note J – 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, 2021 and 2020.
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, 2021, the general partner made non-cash contributions of zero to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.
During the six months ended January 31, 2020, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $14.0 to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.
52
H. Revenue from contracts with customers
Disaggregation of revenue
Ferrellgas, L.P. disaggregates revenues based upon the type of customer and on the type of revenue. The following table presents retail propane revenues, wholesale propane revenues and other revenues. Retail revenues result from sales to end use customers, wholesale revenues result from sales to or through resellers and all other revenues include sales of appliances and other materials, other fees charged to customers and equipment rental charges.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
| | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Retail - Sales to End Users | | $ | 378,350 | | $ | 374,069 | | $ | 552,995 | | $ | 554,486 | |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | |
| 138,730 | |
| 105,055 | |
| 241,342 | |
| 187,759 | |
Other Gas Sales | |
| 11,354 | |
| 6,123 | |
| 15,146 | |
| 16,387 | |
Other | |
| 25,126 | |
| 25,586 | |
| 44,971 | |
| 45,415 | |
Propane and related equipment revenues | | $ | 553,560 | | $ | 510,833 | | $ | 854,454 | | $ | 804,047 | |
Contract assets and liabilities
Ferrellgas, L.P.’s performance obligations are generally limited to the delivery of propane for our retail and wholesale contracts. Ferrellgas, L.P.’s performance obligations with respect to sales of appliances and other materials and other revenues are limited to the delivery of the agreed upon good or service. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not have material performance obligations that are delivered over time, thus all of our revenue is recognized at the time the goods, including propane, are delivered or installed. Ferrellgas, L.P. offers “even pay” billing programs that can create customer deposits or advances, depending on whether Ferrellgas, L.P. has delivered more propane than the customer has paid for or whether the customer has paid for more propane than what has been delivered. Revenue is recognized from these customer deposits or advances to customers at the time product is delivered. The advance or deposit is considered to be a contract asset or liability. Additionally, from time to time, we have customers that pay in advance for goods or services, and such amounts result in contract liabilities.
Ferrellgas, L.P. incurs incremental commissions directly related to the acquisition or renewal of customer contracts. The commissions are calculated and paid based upon the number of gallons sold to the acquired or renewed customer. The total amount of commissions that we incur is not material and the commissions are expensed commensurate with the deliveries to which they relate; therefore, Ferrellgas, L.P. does not capitalize these costs.
The following table presents the opening and closing balances of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities:
| | | | | | |
|
| January 31, 2021 |
| July 31, 2020 | ||
Accounts receivable | | $ | 214,288 | | $ | 108,483 |
Contract assets | | $ | 9,647 | | $ | 7,079 |
Contract liabilities | |
| | |
|
|
Deferred revenue (1) | | $ | 44,801 | | $ | 42,911 |
(1) | Of the beginning balance of deferred revenue, $24.7 million was recognized as revenue during the six months ended January 31, 2021. |
53
Remaining performance obligations
Ferrellgas, L.P.’s remaining performance obligations are generally limited to situations where its customers have remitted payment but have not yet received deliveries of propane. This most commonly occurs in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s even pay billing programs and Ferrellgas, L.P. expects that these balances will be recognized within a year or less as the customer takes delivery of propane.
I. 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, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Asset (Liability) | ||||||||||
| | Quoted Prices in Active | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Markets for Identical | | Significant Other | | | | | | | ||
| | Assets and Liabilities | | Observable Inputs | | Unobservable Inputs | | | | |||
|
| (Level 1) |
| (Level 2) |
| (Level 3) |
| Total | ||||
January 31, 2021: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Derivative financial instruments: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | 34,433 | | $ | — | | $ | 34,433 |
Liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | (313) | | $ | — | | $ | (313) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
July 31, 2020: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Assets: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | 3,112 | | $ | — | | $ | 3,112 |
Liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Derivative financial instruments: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Commodity derivatives | | $ | — | | $ | (5,425) | | $ | — | | $ | (5,425) |
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.
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. At January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s long-term debt instruments was $2,236.9 million and $2,054.4 million, respectively. Ferrellgas, L.P. estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s 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.
54
| | | | | | | | | | | |
J. 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.
Derivative instruments and hedging activity
During the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, 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.
The following tables provide a summary of the fair value of derivatives within Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Final | January 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| | Maturity | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives | ||||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Date | Location |
| Fair value |
| Location |
| Fair value | ||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | | December 2022 | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 32,270 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 209 |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Other assets, net | |
| 2,163 |
| Other liabilities | | | 104 |
|
| | Total | | $ | 34,433 |
| Total | | $ | 313 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Final | July 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| | Maturity | Asset Derivatives | | Liability Derivatives | ||||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Date | Location |
| Fair value |
| Location |
| Fair value | ||
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments | | December 2021 | | | | | | | | | |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | $ | 2,846 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 5,029 |
Commodity derivatives-propane |
| | Other assets, net | |
| 266 |
| Other liabilities | |
| 396 |
|
| | Total | | $ | 3,112 |
| Total | | $ | 5,425 |
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, 2021 and July 31, 2020, respectively:
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | January 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| | Assets | | Liabilities | ||||||
Description |
| Location |
| Amount |
| Location |
| Amount | ||
Margin Balances |
| Prepaid expense and other current assets | | $ | 19,410 |
| Other current liabilities | | $ | 39,774 |
|
| Other assets, net | |
| 1,447 |
| Other liabilities | |
| 2,095 |
| | | | $ | 20,857 |
|
| | $ | 41,869 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | July 31, 2020 | ||||||||
| | Assets | | Liabilities | ||||||
Description |
| Location |
| Amount |
| Location |
| Amount | ||
Margin Balances |
| Prepaid expense and other current assets | | $ | 14,398 | | Other current liabilities | | $ | 510 |
|
| Other assets, net | |
| 1,433 | | Other liabilities | |
| — |
| | | | $ | 15,831 | |
| | $ | 510 |
55
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, 2021 and 2020 due to derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, 2021 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | ||||
| | | | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | ||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from AOCI | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Recognized in AOCI |
| into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | 36,957 |
| Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 8,441 | | $ | — |
| | $ | 36,957 |
|
| | $ | 8,441 | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | ||||
| | | | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | ||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from AOCI | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Recognized in AOCI |
| into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | (11,212) |
| Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | (8,766) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (11,212) | | | | $ | (8,766) | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2021 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | ||||
| | | | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | ||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from AOCI | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Recognized in AOCI |
| into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | 42,724 |
| Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 6,291 | | $ | — |
| | $ | 42,724 | | | | $ | 6,291 | | $ | — |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2020 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | Amount of Gain (Loss) | ||||
| | | | | Location of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from | ||||
| | Amount of Gain (Loss) | | Reclassified from AOCI | | AOCI into Income | |||||
Derivative Instrument |
| Recognized in AOCI |
| into Income |
| Effective portion |
| Ineffective portion | |||
Commodity derivatives | | $ | (24,839) |
| Cost of sales-propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | (16,245) | | $ | — |
| | $ | (24,839) | | | | $ | (16,245) | | $ | — |
The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI |
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Beginning balance | | $ | (2,313) | | $ | (14,756) |
Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives | |
| 42,724 | |
| (24,839) |
Reclassification of losses on commodity hedges to cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales, net | |
| (6,291) | |
| 16,245 |
Ending balance | | $ | 34,120 | | $ | (23,350) |
Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to reclassify net gains of approximately $32.1 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 sale exception.
During the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, 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, 2021, Ferrellgas, L.P. had financial derivative contracts covering 3.8 million barrels of propane that were entered into as cash flow hedges of forward and forecasted purchases of propane.
56
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 reduce 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, parental 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, 2021, the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that Ferrellgas, L.P. would incur based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments is zero.
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, 2021.
K. Transactions with related parties
Ferrellgas, L.P. has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s partnership agreement, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas, L.P. and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas, L.P. or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas, L.P.’s business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the three months ended January 31, | | For the six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
| | 2021 | | 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Operating expense |
| $ | 70,655 |
| $ | 73,084 | | $ | 131,635 | | $ | 136,555 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expense | | $ | 10,375 | | $ | 7,476 | | $ | 17,094 | | $ | 13,963 | |
See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note G – Partners’ deficit.
Term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
On January 8, 2021, Ferrellgas, L.P. entered into a term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., pursuant to which Ferrellgas, L.P. extended to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. an unsecured, non-amortizing term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $19.9 million. The term loan bears interest at a rate of 20% per annum, and all interest on the term loan will be added to the outstanding principal amount of the term loan. The term loan will mature on July 1, 2022. Interest income totaled $0.3 million and is classified in the “Other income (expense), net” line item on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
57
L. 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, prior to the sales of midstream operations during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2018, 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 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 coordinated for pretrial purposes by the 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 resulted in the court of appeals affirming the dismissal of the federal claims and remanding the case to the district court to decide whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. Thereafter, in August 2019, Ferrellgas, L.P. reached a settlement with the direct customers, pursuant to which it agreed to pay a total of $6.25 million to resolve all claims asserted by the putative direct purchaser class. With respect to the indirect customers, the district court exercised supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims, but then granted in part Ferrellgas’ pleadings-based motion and dismissed 11 of the 24 remaining state law claims. As a result, there are 13 remaining state law claims brought by a putative class of indirect customers. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes it has strong defenses and intends to vigorously defend itself against these remaining claims. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
Ferrellgas, L.P. and Bridger Logistics, LLC (“Bridger”), 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 in or settled an arbitration against Jamex Transfer Services (“JTS”), previously named Bridger Transfer Services, a former subsidiary of 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 as a result of the arbitration. Eddystone also alleges that JTS was an “alter ego” of Bridger and Ferrellgas and that Bridger and Ferrellgas breached fiduciary duties owed to Eddystone as a creditor of JTS. Ferrellgas believes that Ferrellgas and Bridger have valid defenses to these claims and to Eddystone’s primary claim against JTS for breach of contract. The lawsuit does not specify a specific amount of damages that Eddystone is seeking; however, Ferrellgas believes that the amount of such damages, if ultimately owed to Eddystone, could be material to Ferrellgas. Ferrellgas intends to vigorously defend this claim. 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. On June 25, 2018, Ferrellgas entered into an agreement with the Third-Party Defendants which, among other things, resulted in a dismissal of the claims against the Third-Party Defendants from the lawsuit. The lawsuit is in the discovery stage; as such, management does not currently believe a loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time.
58
M. Guarantor financial information
The $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of registered 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.
59
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| As of January 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 300,436 | | $ | 1 | | $ | — | | $ | 6,140 | | $ | — | | $ | 306,577 |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | |
| 5,837 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 200,443 | |
| — | |
| 206,280 |
Intercompany receivables | |
| 169,668 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (169,668) | |
| — |
Inventories | |
| 90,473 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 90,473 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 73,106 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 73,106 |
Total current assets | |
| 639,520 | |
| 1 | |
| — | |
| 206,583 | |
| (169,668) | |
| 676,436 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| 587,870 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 587,870 |
Goodwill, net | |
| 246,946 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 246,946 |
Intangible assets, net | |
| 99,644 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 99,644 |
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries | |
| 39,143 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (39,143) | |
| — |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | 97,249 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 97,249 |
Loan receivable - Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | | 20,151 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 20,151 |
Other assets, net | |
| 88,784 | |
| — | |
| 2,255 | |
| 120 | |
| — | |
| 91,159 |
Total assets | | $ | 1,819,307 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 2,255 | | $ | 206,703 | | $ | (208,811) | | $ | 1,819,455 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT) | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Current liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Accounts payable | | $ | 79,224 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 79,224 |
Intercompany payables | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 169,668 | |
| (169,668) | |
| — |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 501,865 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 501,865 |
Current operating lease liabilities | | | 27,895 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 27,895 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 190,560 | |
| — | |
| (3) | |
| 151 | |
| — | |
| 190,708 |
Total current liabilities | |
| 799,544 | |
| — | |
| (3) | |
| 169,819 | |
| (169,668) | |
| 799,692 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt | | | 1,650,410 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,650,410 |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 80,901 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 80,901 |
Other liabilities | |
| 49,541 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 49,541 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Partners' capital (deficit): | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Partners' equity | |
| (795,209) | |
| 1 | |
| 2,258 | |
| 36,884 | |
| (39,143) | |
| (795,209) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | |
| 34,120 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 34,120 |
Total partners' capital (deficit) | |
| (761,089) | |
| 1 | |
| 2,258 | |
| 36,884 | |
| (39,143) | |
| (761,089) |
Total liabilities and partners' capital (deficit) | | $ | 1,819,307 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 2,255 | | $ | 206,703 | | $ | (208,811) | | $ | 1,819,455 |
60
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| As of July 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
ASSETS | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Current assets: | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 332,244 | | $ | 1 | | $ | — | | $ | 1,510 | | $ | — | | $ | 333,755 |
Accounts and notes receivable, net | |
| 11,879 | |
| — | |
| 24 | |
| 89,535 | |
| — | ��� |
| 101,438 |
Intercompany receivables | |
| 69,980 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (69,980) | |
| — |
Inventories | |
| 72,664 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| . | |
| 72,664 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 35,897 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 35,897 |
Total current assets | |
| 522,664 | |
| 1 | |
| 24 | |
| 91,045 | |
| (69,980) | |
| 543,754 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | |
| 591,042 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 591,042 |
Goodwill, net | |
| 247,195 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 247,195 |
Intangible assets, net | |
| 104,049 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 104,049 |
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries | |
| 37,662 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (37,662) | |
| — |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | 107,349 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 107,349 |
Other assets, net | |
| 72,137 | |
| — | |
| 2,255 | |
| 356 | |
| — | |
| 74,748 |
Total assets | | $ | 1,682,098 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 2,279 | | $ | 91,401 | | $ | (107,642) | | $ | 1,668,137 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT) | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Current liabilities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Accounts payable | | $ | 33,944 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 33,944 |
Intercompany payables | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 69,980 | | | (69,980) | | | — |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 502,095 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 502,095 |
Current operating lease liabilities | | | 29,345 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 29,345 |
Other current liabilities | |
| 162,097 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (13,961) | |
| — | |
| 148,136 |
Total current liabilities | |
| 727,481 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 56,019 | |
| (69,980) | |
| 713,520 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt | |
| 1,646,396 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,646,396 |
Operating lease liabilities | | | 89,022 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 89,022 |
Other liabilities | |
| 51,190 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 51,190 |
Contingencies and commitments | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Partners' capital (deficit): | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Partners' equity | | | (829,678) | | | 1 | | | 2,279 | | | 35,382 | | | (37,662) | | | (829,678) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | |
| (2,313) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (2,313) |
Total partners' capital (deficit) | |
| (831,991) | |
| 1 | |
| 2,279 | |
| 35,382 | |
| (37,662) | |
| (831,991) |
Total liabilities and partners' capital (deficit) | | $ | 1,682,098 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 2,279 | | $ | 91,401 | | $ | (107,642) | | $ | 1,668,137 |
61
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| For the three months ended January 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 528,434 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 528,434 |
Other | |
| 25,126 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 25,126 |
Total revenues | |
| 553,560 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 553,560 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 270,777 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 270,777 |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 3,504 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,504 |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 115,247 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,437 | |
| (2,437) | |
| 115,247 |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 6,862 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 6,862 |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 21,249 |
General and administrative expense | |
| 20,254 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 20,254 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 762 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 80 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss) | |
| 114,825 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (2,437) | |
| 2,437 | |
| 114,825 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (45,958) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (564) | |
| — | |
| (46,522) |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 3,774 | |
| — | |
| (15) | |
| 1,614 | |
| (1,614) | |
| 3,759 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | |
| 72,641 | |
| — | |
| (15) | |
| (1,387) | |
| 823 | |
| 72,062 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 312 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 312 |
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries | |
| (1,402) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,402 | |
| — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) | |
| 70,927 | |
| — | |
| (15) | |
| (1,387) | |
| 2,225 | |
| 71,750 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income | |
| 28,516 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 28,516 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 99,443 | | $ | — | | $ | (15) | | $ | (1,387) | | $ | 2,225 | | $ | 100,266 |
62
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| For the three months ended January 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 485,247 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 485,247 |
Other | |
| 25,586 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 25,586 |
Total revenues | |
| 510,833 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 510,833 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 237,843 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 237,843 |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 3,353 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,353 |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 128,233 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,050 | |
| (1,050) | |
| 128,233 |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 8,261 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 8,261 |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 19,684 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 111 | |
| — | |
| 19,795 |
General and administrative expense | |
| 14,082 | |
| 3 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 14,085 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 630 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 630 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 2,148 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,148 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss) | |
| 96,599 | |
| (3) | |
| — | |
| (1,161) | |
| 1,050 | |
| 96,485 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (37,778) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (912) | |
| — | |
| (38,690) |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 76 | |
| — | | | — | |
| 1,882 | |
| (1,882) | |
| 76 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | |
| 58,897 | |
| (3) | |
| — | |
| (191) | |
| (832) | |
| 57,871 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 115 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 115 |
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | |
| (194) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 194 | |
| — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) | |
| 58,588 | |
| (3) | |
| — | |
| (191) | |
| (638) | |
| 57,756 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive loss | |
| (2,555) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (2,555) |
| | | �� | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 56,033 | | $ | (3) | | $ | — | | $ | (191) | | $ | (638) | | $ | 55,201 |
63
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 809,483 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 809,483 |
Other | |
| 44,971 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 44,971 |
Total revenues | |
| 854,454 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 854,454 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 408,404 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 408,404 |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 7,171 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 7,171 |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 224,274 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,174 | |
| (3,174) | |
| 224,274 |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 13,692 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 13,692 |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 42,639 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 42,639 |
General and administrative expense | |
| 33,328 | |
| 2 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 33,330 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 1,470 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,470 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 893 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 893 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss) | |
| 122,583 | |
| (2) | |
| — | |
| (3,174) | |
| 3,174 | |
| 122,581 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (91,859) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (1,191) | |
| — | |
| (93,050) |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 3,903 | |
| — | |
| (36) | |
| 3,293 | |
| (3,293) | |
| 3,867 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | |
| 34,627 | |
| (2) | |
| (36) | |
| (1,072) | |
| (119) | |
| 33,398 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 399 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 399 |
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiary | |
| (1,110) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | | | 1,110 | |
| — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) | |
| 33,118 | |
| (2) | |
| (36) | |
| (1,072) | |
| 991 | |
| 32,999 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive loss | |
| 36,433 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 36,433 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 69,551 | | $ | (2) | | $ | (36) | | $ | (1,072) | | $ | 991 | | $ | 69,432 |
64
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| For the six months ended January 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues: | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Propane and other gas liquids sales | | $ | 758,632 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 758,632 |
Other | |
| 45,415 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 45,415 |
Total revenues | |
| 804,047 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 804,047 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Costs and expenses: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Cost of sales - propane and other gas liquids sales | |
| 371,871 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 371,871 |
Cost of sales - other | |
| 7,034 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 7,034 |
Operating expense - personnel, vehicle, plant and other | |
| 242,776 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,935 | |
| (1,935) | |
| 242,776 |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 16,649 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 16,649 |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 38,791 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 223 | |
| — | |
| 39,014 |
General and administrative expense | |
| 23,777 | |
| 4 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 23,781 |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 1,425 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,425 |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 4,383 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 4,383 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income (loss) | |
| 97,341 | |
| (4) | |
| — | |
| (2,158) | |
| 1,935 | |
| 97,114 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense | |
| (73,469) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (2,098) | |
| — | |
| (75,567) |
Other income (expense), net | |
| (56) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,602 | |
| (2,602) | |
| (56) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | |
| 23,816 | |
| (4) | |
| — | |
| (1,654) | |
| (667) | |
| 21,491 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | |
| 633 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 633 |
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries | |
| (1,658) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,658 | |
| — |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net earnings (loss) | |
| 21,525 | |
| (4) | |
| — | |
| (1,654) | |
| 991 | |
| 20,858 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive loss | |
| (8,703) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (8,703) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income (loss) | | $ | 12,822 | | $ | (4) | | $ | — | | $ | (1,654) | | $ | 991 | | $ | 12,155 |
65
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | $ | 44,691 | | $ | (6) | | $ | (9) | | $ | (4,856) | | $ | 4,631 | | $ | 44,451 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Capital expenditures | |
| (35,333) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (35,333) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | |
| 3,144 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 3,144 |
Cash collected for purchase of interest in accounts receivable | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 422,498 | |
| (422,498) | |
| — |
Cash remitted to Ferrellgas, L.P. for accounts receivable | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (417,867) | |
| 417,867 | |
| — |
Intercompany loan to affiliate | | | (4,870) | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,870 | | | |
Other - Loan to MLP | | | (19,900) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (19,900) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | |
| (56,959) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 4,631 | |
| 239 | |
| (52,089) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Payments on long-term debt | |
| (1,120) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (1,120) |
Net changes in advances with consolidated entities | |
| — | | | 6 | |
| 9 | |
| 4,855 | | | (4,870) | |
| — |
Cash payments for principal portion of finance lease liability | |
| (3,460) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (3,460) |
Cash paid for financing costs and other | | | (14,960) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | | | — | |
| (14,960) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | |
| (19,540) | |
| 6 | |
| 9 | |
| 4,855 | |
| (4,870) | |
| (19,540) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | |
| (31,808) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 4,630 | |
| — | |
| (27,178) |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | |
| 332,244 | |
| 1 | |
| — | |
| 1,510 | |
| — | |
| 333,755 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of year | | $ | 300,436 | | $ | 1 | | $ | — | | $ | 6,140 | | $ | — | | $ | 306,577 |
66
FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
|
| Ferrellgas, L.P. |
| Ferrellgas |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | ||
| | (Parent and | | Finance Corp. | | Guarantor | | Non-Guarantor | | | | | | | ||||
| | Co-Issuer) | | (Co-Issuer) | | Subsidiaries | | Subsidiaries | | Eliminations | | Consolidated | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | $ | 80,433 | | $ | (4) | | $ | 512 | | $ | (5,941) | | $ | (59,000) | | $ | 16,000 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired | |
| (6,400) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (6,400) |
Capital expenditures | |
| (33,422) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (33,422) |
Proceeds from sale of assets | |
| 1,659 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,659 |
Cash collected for purchase of interest in accounts receivable | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 416,325 | |
| (416,325) | |
| — |
Cash remitted to Ferrellgas, L.P. for accounts receivable | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (475,325) | |
| 475,325 | |
| — |
Intercompany loan to affiliate | |
| (5,433) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 5,433 | |
| — |
Cash payment to construct assets in connection with future lease transactions | | | (30,307) | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (30,307) |
Cash receipts in connection with leased vehicles | | | 19,929 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 19,929 |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | |
| (53,974) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (59,000) | |
| 64,433 | |
| (48,541) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Distributions | |
| (15,654) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (15,654) |
Reductions in long-term debt | |
| (972) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (972) |
Net reductions to short-term borrowings | |
| (3,000) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (3,000) |
Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 59,000 | |
| — | |
| 59,000 |
Net changes in advances with consolidated entries | |
| — | |
| 4 | |
| (512) | |
| 5,941 | |
| (5,433) | |
| — |
Cash paid for financing costs and other | |
| (4,236) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (4,236) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | |
| (23,862) | |
| 4 | |
| (512) | |
| 64,941 | |
| (5,433) | |
| 35,138 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | |
| 2,597 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 2,597 |
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year | |
| 11,045 | |
| 1 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 11,046 |
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year | | $ | 13,642 | | $ | 1 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 13,643 |
67
N. Subsequent events
Ferrellgas, L.P. has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements, except as follows.
As previously disclosed, on January 11, 2021 Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan. The effectiveness of the Plan is conditioned on certain requirements such as the operating partnership completing its refinancing. There is no assurance that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
For more information, refer to the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A – Partnership organization and formation above.
68
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | January 31, 2021 | | July 31, 2020 | ||
ASSETS |
| |
|
| |
|
Cash | | $ | 1,100 | | $ | 1,100 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| 5,250 | |
| 1,500 |
Total assets | | $ | 6,350 | | $ | 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 | |
| 89,740 | |
| 84,187 |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (84,390) | |
| (82,587) |
Total stockholder's equity | | $ | 6,350 | | $ | 2,600 |
See notes to condensed financial statements.
69
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, | | ||||||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
General and administrative expense | | $ | 250 | | $ | 2,888 | | $ | 1,803 | | $ | 3,906 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (250) | | $ | (2,888) | | $ | (1,803) | | $ | (3,906) | |
See notes to condensed financial statements.
70
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | For the six months ended January 31, | ||||
|
| 2021 |
| 2020 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (1,803) | | $ | (3,906) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| (3,750) | |
| 3 |
Cash used in operating activities | |
| (5,553) | |
| (3,903) |
| | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | |
Capital contribution | |
| 5,553 | |
| 3,903 |
Cash provided by financing activities | |
| 5,553 | |
| 3,903 |
| | | | | | |
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 “operating partnership”).
The operating partnership contributed $1,000 to the Finance Corp. on January 24, 2003 in exchange for 1,000 shares of common stock.
The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.
Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As discussed in Note B – Contingencies and commitments, the Finance Corp serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the operating partnership. The operating partnership has outstanding $500.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due May 1, 2021, that are classified as current in the operating partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements. This obligation is only reported on the operating partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The ability of the operating partnership to restructure, refinance or otherwise satisfy these notes is uncertain. Additionally, the Finance Corp. does not have sufficient cash reserves or the ability to generate sufficient future cash flows to satisfy its obligations as co-obligor of the debt securities of the operating partnership. Given these concerns, we believe there is substantial doubt about the Finance Corp.’s ability to continue as a going concern. Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.
Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases
On December 10, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., the operating partnership, the Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC, Ferrellgas GP III, LLC and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Ferrellgas Parties”) entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (the “TSA”) with certain holders of, or investment advisors, sub-advisors, or managers of discretionary accounts that hold, claims (collectively, the “Consenting Noteholders”) arising under, derived from or based upon the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020.
The TSA sets forth (i) a restructuring process to satisfy the obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. under the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 (the “Ferrellgas Partners Transactions”), which would be effectuated through pre-packaged voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) to be filed by only Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the confirmation of a pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Plan”), and (ii) a refinancing process of the operating partnership and the Finance Corp., including but not limited to, replacement of the operating partnership’s and the Finance Corp.’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 (the “operating partnership Transactions” and, together with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions, the “TSA Transactions”), which would be consummated on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Plan implementing the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions and would close simultaneously with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions effectuated under the Plan.
Generally, the TSA contemplates, among other things, the TSA Transactions and certain changes to the capital structure and governance of the Ferrellgas Parties as described in more detail in the TSA.
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Pursuant to the TSA, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the parties thereto agreed to support, act in good faith and take all steps reasonably necessary and desirable to implement and consummate the TSA Transactions until the TSA Transactions are consummated or the TSA is terminated. The Consenting Noteholders agreed, among other things, (i) to forbear from taking actions with respect to any default or event of default by the Ferrellgas Parties under the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 which arises solely as a result of the failure to make payments of the principal due on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, and (ii) to vote in favor of any matter requiring approval to the extent necessary to implement the TSA Transactions and the Plan.
The TSA contains certain milestones relating to the commencement of the solicitation of acceptances of the Plan (the “Solicitation”) from holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units, the refinancing process and the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the dates by which Ferrellgas Partners was required to commence the Solicitation and, thereafter, commence the Chapter 11 Cases or obtain certain approval orders of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, the milestones include the obligation of Ferrellgas Partners and the Finance Corp. to emerge from chapter 11 protection no later than April 4, 2021, unless that deadline is extended pursuant to the terms of the TSA.
The TSA also provides that the TSA may be terminated by the Required Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) with respect to the Consenting Noteholders or by any Ferrellgas Party with respect to the Ferrellgas Parties upon the occurrence of certain events set forth therein. In particular, the Ferrellgas Parties may terminate the TSA in the event the governing body of any Ferrellgas Party determines, after consulting with counsel, (i) that continuing to pursue any of the TSA Transactions in the manner contemplated by the TSA would be inconsistent with the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties or applicable law or (ii) in the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties, to pursue an alternative transaction proposal.
Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Solicitation on December 21, 2020 and by January 22, 2021 received sufficient votes from the requisite holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 and the requisite holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units to obtain approval of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court. Subject to any changes, the Solicitation process is complete. The Plan remains subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
On January 11, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021. Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. have continued, and plan to continue, to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and order of the Bankruptcy Court.
There is no assurance that the Plan will be approved by the Bankruptcy Court or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
B. Contingencies and commitments
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the operating partnership. The Finance Corp. is liable as co-issuer and co-obligor for (i) the $500 million aggregate principal amount of the operating partnership’s unsecured senior notes due 2021, (ii) the $475 million aggregate principal amount of the operating partnership’s unsecured senior notes due 2022, and (iii) the $500 million aggregate principal amount of the operating partnership’s unsecured senior notes due 2023, which obligations are only reported on the operating partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.
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C. Subsequent events
The Finance Corp. has evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date the Finance Corp.’s condensed consolidated financial statements were issued and concluded that there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that require recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements, except as follows.
As previously disclosed on January 11, 2021 Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan. The effectiveness of the Plan is conditioned on certain requirements such as the operating partnership completing its refinancing. There is no assurance that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
For more information, refer to the discussion of the TSA and the Chapter 11 Cases under “Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” in Note A –Formation above.
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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 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 (except where the context indicates otherwise) with its consolidated subsidiaries, including Ferrellgas Finance Corp.; |
● | our “general partner” (i) with respect to Ferrellgas Partners refers to Ferrellgas, Inc. and (ii) with respect to the operating partnership refers to (a) Ferrellgas, Inc., in the case of any economic general partner interest and (b) Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC, collectively, in the case of any voting general partner interest; |
● | “Ferrell Companies” refers to Ferrell Companies, Inc., the sole shareholder or sole member, as applicable, of our general partners; |
● | “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; |
● | “Ferrellgas Partners Notes” refers to the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% unsecured senior notes due June 15, 2020 co-issued by Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.; |
● | “Notes” refers to the notes of the condensed consolidated financial statements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership, as applicable; and |
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● | “fiscal 2021” means the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 and “fiscal 2020” means the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. |
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 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 traded on the OTC Pink Market 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 an approximate 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 23.4% of our outstanding common units. Ferrell Companies is owned 100% by an employee stock ownership trust.
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports and other 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. Our SEC filings are also 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 audited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying Notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020 and in our unaudited 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 exists two material differences between Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership:
● | Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes, and, accordingly, has interest expense that the operating partnership does not have. Ferrellgas Partners’ access to liquidity is dependent on distributions from the operating partnership. See the statements of operations in their respective condensed consolidated financial statements. |
● | Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. entered into a term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas, L.P., pursuant to which Ferrellgas, L.P. extended to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. an unsecured, non-amortizing term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $19.9 million. The term loan bears interest at a rate of 20% per annum, and all interest on the term loan will be added to the outstanding principal amount of the term loan. The term loan will mature on July 1, 2022. |
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.
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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:
● | 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; |
● | adverse changes in our relationships with our national tank exchange customers; |
● | significant delays in the collection of accounts or notes receivable; |
● | customer, counterparty, supplier or vendor defaults; |
● | changes in demand for, and production of, hydrocarbon products; |
● | disruptions to railroad operations on the railroads we use; |
● | increased trucking and rail regulations; |
● | inherent operating and litigation risks in gathering, transporting, handling and storing propane; |
● | 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; |
● | disruptions in the capital and credit markets; |
● | access to available capital to meet our operating and debt-service requirements; |
● | our ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Support Agreement described under “—Recent Developments—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” below or otherwise address the past maturity of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes and upcoming maturities of other debt instruments and successfully execute on our debt and interest expense reduction strategy; and |
● | the impact of the inclusion of an “emphasis of matter” paragraph regarding substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern in the report of our auditor on our consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2020. |
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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 2020 and in “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.
Recent developments
COVID-19
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has been declared by the World Health Organization as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” continues to spread and severely impact the economy of the United States and other countries around the world. COVID-19 poses the risk that we or our employees, contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners may be prevented from or limited in conducting business activities for an indefinite period of time. The outbreak of COVID-19 has already resulted in significant governmental measures being implemented to control the spread of the virus, including quarantines, travel restrictions, manufacturing restrictions, declarations of national emergency and states of emergency, business shutdowns and restrictions on the movement of people throughout the United States and the world. While some of our business operations and support systems are deemed essential in many jurisdictions, we are continuing to assess the impact that COVID-19 may have on our results of operations and financial condition and cannot at this time accurately predict what effects these conditions will have on our operations and sales due to uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the disease, the duration of the outbreak and the length of the travel restrictions and business closures imposed by governments in different jurisdictions. Additionally, initiatives we have implemented or may implement to slow and/or reduce the impact of COVID-19, such as using staggered start times for drivers, may increase our operating expenses and reduce the efficiency of our operations. Any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health epidemics may have further adverse impacts on U.S. and global economic conditions, including a general slowdown in the U.S. economy, which could decrease demand for our products and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases
On December 10, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., the operating partnership, Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC, Ferrellgas GP III, LLC and certain of their affiliates (collectively, the “Ferrellgas Parties”) entered into a Transaction Support Agreement (the “TSA”) with certain holders of, or investment advisors, sub-advisors, or managers of discretionary accounts that hold, claims (collectively, the “Consenting Noteholders”) arising under, derived from or based upon the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes.
The TSA sets forth (i) a restructuring process to satisfy the obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. under the Ferrellgas Partners Notes (the “Ferrellgas Partners Transactions”), which would be effectuated through pre-packaged voluntary cases (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) to be filed by only Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the confirmation of a pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Plan”), and (ii) a refinancing process of the operating partnership, including but not limited to, replacement of the operating partnership’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 (the “operating partnership Transactions” and, together with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions, the “TSA Transactions”), which would be consummated on the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Plan implementing the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions and would close simultaneously with the Ferrellgas Partners Transactions effectuated under the Plan.
Generally, the TSA contemplates, among other things, the TSA Transactions and certain changes to the capital structure and governance of the Ferrellgas Parties as described in more detail in the TSA.
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Pursuant to the TSA, and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, the parties thereto agreed to support, act in good faith and take all steps reasonably necessary and desirable to implement and consummate the TSA Transactions until the TSA Transactions are consummated or the TSA is terminated. The Consenting Noteholders agreed, among other things, (i) to forbear from taking actions with respect to any default or event of default by the Ferrellgas Parties under the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes which arises solely as a result of the failure to make payments of the principal due on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes, and (ii) to vote in favor of any matter requiring approval to the extent necessary to implement the TSA Transactions and the Plan.
The TSA contains certain milestones relating to the commencement of the solicitation of acceptances of the Plan (the “Solicitation”) from holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes and holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units, the refinancing process and the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the dates by which Ferrellgas Partners was required to commence the Solicitation and, thereafter, commence the Chapter 11 Cases or obtain certain approval orders of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). In addition, the milestones include the obligation of Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. to emerge from chapter 11 protection no later than April 4, 2021, unless that deadline is extended pursuant to the terms of the TSA.
The TSA also provides that the TSA may be terminated by the Required Consenting Noteholders (as defined therein) with respect to the Consenting Noteholders or by any Ferrellgas Party with respect to the Ferrellgas Parties upon the occurrence of certain events set forth therein. In particular, the Ferrellgas Parties may terminate the TSA in the event the governing body of any Ferrellgas Party determines, after consulting with counsel, (i) that continuing to pursue any of the TSA Transactions in the manner contemplated by the TSA would be inconsistent with the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties or applicable law or (ii) in the exercise of its contractual or fiduciary duties, to pursue an alternative transaction proposal.
Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Solicitation on December 21, 2020 and by January 22, 2021 received sufficient votes from the requisite holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes and the requisite holders of Ferrellgas Partners’ common units to obtain approval of the Plan from the Bankruptcy Court. Subject to any changes, the Solicitation process is complete.
On January 11, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021. Following the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. have continued, and plan to continue, to operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and order of the Bankruptcy Court.
On March 1, 2021, the Company entered into a commitment letter with an investment firm pursuant to which the investment firm (on behalf of certain affiliated funds, investment vehicles and managed accounts) committed to purchase an aggregate amount of $700 million of the New Senior Preferred Units (as defined in the TSA).
On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the Plan. The effectiveness of the Plan is conditioned on certain requirements such as the operating partnership completing its refinancing. There is no assurance that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated, and the outcome of Ferrellgas’ debt reduction strategy continues to remain uncertain.
Financial covenants
The indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit our ability to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. Our general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the restricted payments covenants discussed below.
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Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the master limited partnership
Following the failure to repay the Ferrellgas Partners Notes when due at maturity, Ferrellgas Partners has continued to comply with the restrictive covenants set forth in the indenture governing those notes as it continues its efforts to address the Ferrellgas Partners Notes, reduce existing indebtedness and address its other debt maturities.
The indenture governing the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020 contains a covenant that restricts the ability of Ferrellgas Partners to make certain restricted payments, including distributions on its common units. Under this covenant, subject to the limited exception described below, Ferrellgas Partners may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indenture generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of January 31, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners’ consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.44x.
If the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners may make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a sixteen quarter period. As a result of distributions paid to common unitholders in September 2017, December 2017, March 2018, June 2018 and September 2018, while this ratio was less than 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners has used substantially all of its capacity under the limited exception and therefore is currently restricted by this covenant from making future restricted payments, including distributions to common unitholders. Further, regardless of whether Ferrellgas Partners had any capacity to make restricted payments under the limited exception, the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes generally prohibits Ferrellgas Partners from making restricted payments if a default or event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing, and the failure to repay the principal amount of and accrued interest on these notes at maturity constitutes an event of default. Accordingly, no distributions have been or will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2021, and the general partner expects that this covenant will continue to prohibit Ferrellgas Partners from making common unit distributions, unless and until the Ferrellgas Partners Notes are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan or otherwise. See “—Debt and interest expense reduction strategy” below.
Ferrellgas, L.P., the operating partnership
Similar to the indenture governing the Ferrellgas Partners Notes, the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership contain covenants that restrict the ability of the operating partnership to make certain restricted payments, including distributions to Ferrellgas Partners. Under these covenants in the indentures, subject to the limited exceptions described below, the operating partnership may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indentures generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of January 31, 2021, the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.67x.
Under the covenants in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, if the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, the operating partnership may still make restricted payments in limited amounts determined under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes. The distributions made by the operating partnership on June 15, 2019 and December 15, 2019 for payment of interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 2020 were made from capacity under this limited exception to the ratio requirement under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes. Under the most restrictive of the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, as of February 1, 2021, the remaining capacity under this limited exception was reduced significantly, because, as of that date, the operating partnership was no longer permitted to include the amount of the capital contribution made by Ferrellgas Partners to the operating partnership in January 2017 (from the proceeds of Ferrellgas Partners’ issuance of additional Ferrellgas Partners Notes in January 2017, as described above) in the calculation of the amount of restricted payments it is able to make under the exception.
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The indenture governing the operating partnership’s senior secured first lien notes due 2025 contains a similar but, in some respects, different restricted payments covenant. The covenant in the secured notes indenture provides for the same 1.75x consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test as the unsecured notes indentures and a limited exception when that ratio is below 1.75x. In addition, the secured notes indenture also provides that, subject to a separate limited exception, described below, the operating partnership generally may not make a restricted payment unless the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio (defined in the secured notes indenture generally to mean the ratio of consolidated total debt to trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is no greater than 5.5x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. The consolidated leverage ratio test applies regardless of whether the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed coverage ratio is at least 1.75x or below 1.75x. As of January 31, 2021, the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio was substantially in excess of 5.5x. Additionally, the secured notes indenture provides for restricted payments under its limited exception to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test that is less than the capacity available under the similar exception in the unsecured notes indentures. However, the secured notes indenture contains a separate exception to both the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test and the consolidated leverage ratio test that can be utilized to make certain specified restricted payments in a limited amount when the operating partnership does not meet either the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test or the consolidated leverage ratio test. As of January 31, 2021, this separate exception under the secured notes indenture had capacity for such specified restricted payments that is substantially the same as the capacity under the most restrictive of the operating partnership’s unsecured notes indentures as of January 31, 2021. This capacity under the secured notes indenture, as well as the capacity under the less restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures, was not reduced as of February 1, 2021 as described above with respect to the capacity under the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures; however, the amount of restricted payments the operating partnership may make is limited by the most restrictive of the unsecured notes indentures for so long as the notes issued under those indentures remain outstanding.
As described above, the Ferrellgas Partners Notes matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although the operating partnership has some capacity to make distributions under the operating partnership’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes that was due at the maturity of those notes. Further, as noted above, the remaining capacity of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners was reduced significantly as of February 1, 2021. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures had already limited, and as of February 1, 2021 significantly further limited, the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders.
Debt and interest expense reduction strategy
We continue to pursue a strategy to reduce its debt and interest expense. Currently, these efforts are focused on consummation of the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan. See “—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases” above. Other opportunities include the generation of additional cash flows through accretive acquisitions, restructuring or refinancing of existing indebtedness other than pursuant to the TSA Transactions, maintaining the suspension of our common unit distributions, issuing equity or executing one or more debt exchanges. We expect to maintain its debt and interest expense reduction strategy until our consolidated leverage ratio reaches a level that it deems appropriate for our business. We engaged Moelis & Company LLC as our financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in our ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address our debt maturities.
There is no assurance that the transactions contemplated by the TSA will be consummated or that we otherwise will be successful in pursuing its debt and interest expense reduction strategy.
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Distributions
As discussed above, no distributions will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2021, and the general partner expects that Ferrellgas Partners will continue to be prohibited from making common unit distributions unless and until the Ferrellgas Partners Notes are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan or otherwise. Further, as described above, the restrictions in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s outstanding notes limit significantly the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to common unitholders.
How We Evaluate Our Operations
We evaluate our overall business performance based primarily on a metric we refer to as “Adjusted EBITDA”, which is not defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to earnings measures defined by GAAP. 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. For the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the most directly comparable GAAP measure, see the subheading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Based on our propane sales volumes in fiscal 2020, 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 retail 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 computed by us are the average of the last 10 years of information published by the 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.
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Our open financial derivative propane purchase commitments are designated as hedges primarily for fiscal 2021 sales commitments and, as of January 31, 2021, we have experienced net mark-to-market gains of approximately $34.1 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 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, 2021, we estimate 73% 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.
Summary Discussion of Results of Operations:
Executive Overview
For the three months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020
Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the three months ended January 31, 2021 was approximately 7% warmer than normal, and 3% warmer than the prior year period. We estimate that this warmer weather slightly decreased retail gallons compared to the prior year.
During the three months ended January 31, 2021, we recognized net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $63.3 million, compared to net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $48.2 million during the three months ended January 31, 2020. This increase reflects a $13.0 million decrease in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle plant and other” and a $10.2 million increase in “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquid sales”, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in interest expense and a $6.3 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “General and administrative expense” reflect the effects of legal fees and settlements related to non-core business of $3.6 million and $2.5 million during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively.
Interest expense increased $5.0 million primarily due to the net additional borrowings incurred in April 2020 related to the refinancing of our terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility with the issuance of the $700.0 million of notes due 2025 and to a lesser extent, increased interest rates on the new notes.
Distributable cash flow excess increased to $86.9 million in the current period from $72.0 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a $19.5 million increase to our Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $4.9 million increase in our net cash interest expense.
For the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020
Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the six months ended January 31, 2021 was approximately 5% warmer than normal, and 2% warmer than the prior year period. We estimate that this warmer weather slightly decreased retail gallons compared to the prior year.
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During the six months ended January 31, 2021, we recognized net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $17.2 million, compared to net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. of $2.9 million during the six months ended January 31, 2020. This increase reflects an $18.5 million decrease in “Operating expenses – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” and a $14.3 million increase in “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquid sales”, partially offset by a $13.6 million increase in interest expense and a $9.7 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “General and administrative expense” reflect the effects of legal fees and settlement related to non-core businesses of $6.1 million and $4.6 million during fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively.
Interest expense increased $13.6 million primarily due to the net additional borrowings incurred in April 2020 related to the refinancing of our terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility with the issuance of the $700.0 million of notes due 2025 and to a lesser extent, increased interest rates on the new notes.
Distributable cash flow excess increased to $65.1 million in the current period from $49.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a $28.3 million increase to our Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by a $14.1 million increase in our net cash interest expense.
Consolidated Results of Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended January 31, | | Six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| 2021 |
| 2020 |
| ||||
Total revenues | | $ | 553,560 | | $ | 510,833 | | $ | 854,454 | | $ | 804,047 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total cost of sales | |
| 274,281 | |
| 241,196 | |
| 415,575 | |
| 378,905 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expense | |
| 115,247 | |
| 128,233 | |
| 224,274 | |
| 242,776 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| 19,795 | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 | |
General and administrative expense | |
| 20,475 | |
| 14,192 | |
| 33,555 | |
| 23,887 | |
Equipment lease expense | |
| 6,862 | |
| 8,261 | |
| 13,692 | |
| 16,649 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| 630 | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 | |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| 2,148 | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 | |
Operating income | |
| 114,604 | |
| 96,378 | |
| 122,356 | |
| 97,008 | |
Interest expense | |
| (52,595) | |
| (47,548) | |
| (106,821) | |
| (93,245) | |
Other income (expense), net | |
| 3,508 | |
| 76 | |
| 3,616 | |
| (56) | |
Reorganization expense - professional fees | | | (1,200) | | | — | | | (1,200) | | | — | |
Earnings before income taxes | |
| 64,317 | |
| 48,906 | |
| 17,951 | |
| 3,707 | |
Income tax expense | |
| 326 | |
| 115 | |
| 413 | |
| 633 | |
Net earnings | |
| 63,991 | |
| 48,791 | |
| 17,538 | |
| 3,074 | |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | |
| 724 | |
| 584 | |
| 333 | |
| 211 | |
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | |
| 63,267 | |
| 48,207 | |
| 17,205 | |
| 2,863 | |
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings | |
| 633 | |
| 482 | |
| 172 | |
| 29 | |
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings | | $ | 62,634 | | $ | 47,725 | | $ | 17,033 | | $ | 2,834 | |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this Quarterly Report we present the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, and Distributable cash flow excess.
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Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA for Ferrellgas Partners is calculated as net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., plus the sum of the following: income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, loss on asset sales and disposals, other income (expense), net, reorganization expense – professional fees, severance costs, legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses, provision for doubtful accounts related to non-core businesses, lease accounting standard adjustment and other and net earnings 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 make 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 comparable to Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA 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 certain 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 companies. 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 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 companies. 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 should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
Distributable Cash Flow Excess. Distributable cash flow excess is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders minus Distributions paid to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow excess, if any, is retained to establish reserves to reduce debt, fund capital expenditures and for other partnership purposes and any shortage is funded from previously established reserves, cash on hand or borrowings under our accounts receivable securitization facility. Management considers Distributable cash flow excess a meaningful measure of the partnership’s ability to effectuate those purposes. Distributable cash flow excess, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow excess or similarly titled measurements used by other companies. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow excess that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow excess should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
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The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA, Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders and Distributable cash flow excess to Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the three and six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended January 31, | | Six months ended January 31, | | ||||||||
(amounts in thousands) | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2021 | | 2020 | | ||||
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. | | $ | 63,267 | | $ | 48,207 | | $ | 17,205 | | $ | 2,863 | |
Income tax expense | |
| 326 | |
| 115 | |
| 413 | |
| 633 | |
Interest expense | |
| 52,595 | |
| 47,548 | |
| 106,821 | |
| 93,245 | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| 19,795 | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 | |
EBITDA | |
| 137,437 | |
| 115,665 | |
| 167,078 | |
| 135,755 | |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| 630 | |
| 1,470 | |
| 1,425 | |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| 2,148 | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 | |
Other income (expense), net | |
| (3,508) | |
| (76) | |
| (3,616) | |
| 56 | |
Reorganization expense - professional fees | | | 1,200 | | | — | | | 1,200 | | | — | |
Severance costs | | | 1,077 | | | — | | | 1,761 | | | — | |
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses | | | 3,628 | | | 2,519 | | | 6,136 | | | 4,562 | |
Provision for doubtful accounts related to non-core businesses | | | (500) | | | — | | | (500) | | | — | |
Lease accounting standard adjustment and other | |
| — | |
| (116) | |
| — | |
| 54 | |
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest | |
| 724 | |
| 584 | |
| 333 | |
| 211 | |
Adjusted EBITDA | |
| 140,900 | |
| 121,354 | |
| 174,755 | |
| 146,446 | |
Net cash interest expense (a) | |
| (48,243) | |
| (43,316) | |
| (99,959) | |
| (85,899) | |
Maintenance capital expenditures (b) | |
| (5,282) | |
| (5,430) | |
| (10,459) | |
| (11,897) | |
Cash paid for income taxes | |
| (270) | |
| (1) | |
| (305) | |
| (1) | |
Proceeds from certain asset sales | |
| 1,737 | |
| 824 | |
| 2,437 | |
| 1,659 | |
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors | |
| 88,842 | |
| 73,431 | |
| 66,469 | |
| 50,308 | |
Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest | |
| (1,904) | |
| (1,468) | |
| (1,329) | |
| (1,006) | |
Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders | |
| 86,938 | |
| 71,963 | |
| 65,140 | |
| 49,302 | |
Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
Distributable cash flow excess | | $ | 86,938 | | $ | 71,963 | | $ | 65,140 | | $ | 49,302 | |
(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, and may include the purchase of assets that are typically leased. |
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Operating Results for the three months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020
The following table summarizes propane sales volumes and Adjusted EBITDA results for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2021 | | 2020 | | Increase (Decrease) | | |||||
As of January 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Retail customers | | | 727,739 | | | 725,525 | | | 2,214 |
| 0 | % |
Tank exchange selling locations | | | 62,566 | | | 57,504 | | | 5,062 |
| 9 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Three months ended January 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Propane sales volumes (gallons): |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users |
| | 218,078 |
| | 236,264 |
| | (18,186) |
| (8) | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers |
| | 67,252 |
| | 68,996 |
| | (1,744) |
| (3) | % |
|
| | 285,330 |
| | 305,260 |
| | (19,930) |
| (7) | % |
Revenues - |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Propane and other gas liquids sales: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users | | $ | 378,350 |
| $ | 374,069 | | $ | 4,281 |
| 1 | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | |
| 138,730 |
| | 105,055 | |
| 33,675 |
| 32 | % |
Other Gas Sales (a) | |
| 11,354 |
| | 6,123 | |
| 5,231 |
| 85 | % |
Other (b) | |
| 25,126 |
| | 25,586 | |
| (460) |
| (2) | % |
Propane and related equipment revenues | | $ | 553,560 | | $ | 510,833 | | $ | 42,727 |
| 8 | % |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Gross Margin - | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Propane and other gas liquids sales gross margin: (c) | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users (a) | | $ | 192,609 | | $ | 198,224 | | $ | (5,615) |
| (3) | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers (a) | |
| 65,048 | |
| 49,180 | |
| 15,868 |
| 32 | % |
Other (b) | |
| 21,622 | |
| 22,233 | |
| (611) |
| (3) | % |
Propane and related equipment gross profit | | $ | 279,279 | | $ | 269,637 | | $ | 9,642 |
| 4 | % |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Operating, general and administrative expense (d) | | $ | 135,722 | | $ | 142,425 | | $ | (6,703) |
| (5) | % |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 6,862 | |
| 8,261 | |
| (1,399) |
| (17) | % |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Operating income | | $ | 114,604 | | $ | 96,378 | | $ | 18,226 |
| 19 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 21,249 | |
| 19,795 | |
| 1,454 |
| 7 | % |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | |
| 762 | |
| 630 | |
| 132 |
| 21 | % |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 80 | |
| 2,148 | |
| (2,068) |
| (96) | % |
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses | |
| 3,628 | |
| 2,519 | |
| 1,109 |
| 44 | % |
Provision for doubtful accounts | | | (500) | | | — | | | (500) | | NM | |
Severance costs | |
| 1,077 | |
| — | |
| 1,077 |
| NM | |
Lease accounting standard adjustment and other (e) | | | — | | | (116) | | | 116 | | NM | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 140,900 | | $ | 121,354 | | $ | 19,546 |
| 16 | % |
NM – Not meaningful
(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 various customer fee income and to a lesser extent appliance and material sales. |
(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 expense” above includes both the “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” and the “General and administrative expense” captions in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. |
(e) | Lease accounting standard adjustment and other reflects the additional expense recognized in excess of cash paid. |
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Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the three months ended January 31, 2021 was approximately 7% warmer than normal, and 3% warmer than the prior year period. We estimate that this warmer weather slightly decreased retail gallons compared to the prior year.
Propane sales volumes during the three months ended January 31, 2021 decreased 7%, or 19.9 million gallons, from the prior year period due to decreased sales volumes to retail customers. The decrease in propane sales volumes to retail customers was primarily due to the implementation of strategic initiatives that resulted in significant operating expense savings, but also resulted in fewer gallons delivered in the current period. These initiatives focus on more efficient deliveries that increase average gallons per stop but are not expected to impact gallons over time. Tank exchange gallons (which are classified as a “wholesale – sales to reseller” transaction) increased 44% due to increased residential demand for tank exchanges in connection with the change in customer usage, as well as increased sales of spare cylinder tanks, both influenced by the COVID-19 environment. This increase was offset by a 35% decline in volumes of bulk propane sold to our wholesale customers primarily due to the widespread slowdown of the economy due to COVID-19.
Our wholesale sales price per gallon partially correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas during the three months ended January 31, 2021 averaged 44% more than the prior year period, while at the Conway, Kansas major supply point prices averaged 43% more than the prior year period. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.69 and $0.48 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.66 and $0.46 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This increase in the wholesale cost of propane contributed to our increase in sales price per gallon and therefore revenues.
Revenues
Retail sales increased $4.3 million compared to the prior year period. This increase resulted from a $33.1 million increase in sales price per gallon, substantially offset by a $28.8 million decrease in sales volume, both as discussed above.
Wholesale sales increased $33.7 million compared to the prior year period. The increase in sales was primarily due to the increases in tank exchange sales volumes as discussed above.
Other gas sales increased $5.2 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in sales price per gallon.
Other revenues decreased $0.5 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $2.5 million one-time refund of federal fuel excise tax received in fiscal 2020 that was not repeated in fiscal 2021, partially offset by increased miscellaneous fees billed to customers and increased tank rental income.
Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
Gross margin increased $10.2 million primarily due to increased tank exchange sales volumes and to a lesser extent increased retail gross margin per gallon, partially offset by the decreased volumes sales, each as discussed above. The $15.8 million increase in wholesale gross margin primarily relates to increased tank exchange sales volumes, as discussed above and to a lesser extent increased gross margin per gallon due to the change in sales mix due to increased spare cylinder sales. The decrease in retail gross margin of $5.6 million resulted primarily from a $15.3 million decrease in sales volumes, as discussed above, partially offset by a $9.7 million increase in gross margin per gallon.
Gross margin - other
Gross margin increased $0.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $2.5 million one-time refund of federal fuel excise tax received in fiscal 2020 that was not repeated in fiscal 2021, partially offset by increased miscellaneous fees billed to customers and increased tank rental income.
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Operating income
Operating income increased $18.2 million primarily due to a $10.2 million increase in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", as discussed above, and a $6.8 million decrease in “Operating, general and administrative expense”. “Operating, general and administrative expense” decreased due to a $13.0 million decrease in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other”, partially offset by a $6.3 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” decreased primarily due to a $5.9 million decrease in general liability and workers compensation costs, a $2.8 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs, a $1.7 million decrease in field personnel costs and $1.5 million in decreased plant and office costs. “General and administrative expense” increased primarily due to a $4.1 million increase in personnel incentives and a $1.9 million increase in legal costs.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $19.5 million primarily due to a $10.2 million increase in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", as discussed above, and a $8.4 million decrease in “Operating, general and administrative expense”. “Operating, general and administrative expense” decreased due to a $13.4 million decrease in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other”, partially offset by a $5.0 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” decreased primarily due to a $5.9 million increase in general liability and workers compensation costs, a $2.8 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs, a $2.1 million decrease in field personnel costs and $1.5 million in decreased plant and office costs. “General and administrative expense” increased primarily due to a $4.1 million increase in personnel incentives and a $0.8 million increase in legal costs.
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Operating Results for the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2021 |
| 2020 |
| Increase (Decrease) | | |||||
As of January 31, | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Retail customers | | | 727,739 | | | 725,525 | | | 2,214 |
| 0 | % |
Tank exchange selling locations | | | 62,566 | | | 57,504 | | | 5,062 |
| 9 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(amounts in thousands) | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Six months ended January 31, |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Propane sales volumes (gallons): |
| | |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users |
| | 336,096 |
| | 366,165 |
| | (30,069) |
| (8) | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers |
| | 116,842 |
| | 119,035 |
| | (2,193) |
| (2) | % |
|
| | 452,938 |
| | 485,200 |
| | (32,262) |
| (7) | % |
Revenues - |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Propane and other gas liquids sales: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users | | $ | 552,995 | | $ | 554,486 | | $ | (1,491) |
| (0) | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers | |
| 241,342 | |
| 187,759 | |
| 53,583 |
| 29 | % |
Other Gas Sales (a) | |
| 15,146 | |
| 16,387 | |
| (1,241) |
| (8) | % |
Other (b) | |
| 44,971 | |
| 45,415 | |
| (444) |
| (1) | % |
Propane and related equipment revenues | | $ | 854,454 | | $ | 804,047 | | $ | 50,407 |
| 6 | % |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Gross Margin - | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Propane and other gas liquids sales gross margin: (c) | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Retail - Sales to End Users (a) | | $ | 283,343 | | $ | 296,169 | | $ | (12,826) |
| (4) | % |
Wholesale - Sales to Resellers (a) | |
| 117,736 | |
| 90,601 | |
| 27,135 |
| 30 | % |
Other (b) | |
| 37,800 | |
| 38,381 | |
| (581) |
| (2) | % |
Propane and related equipment gross profit | | $ | 438,879 | | $ | 425,151 | | $ | 13,728 |
| 3 | % |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Operating, general and administrative expense (d) | | $ | 257,829 | | $ | 266,663 | | $ | (8,834) |
| (3) | % |
Operating expense - equipment lease expense | |
| 13,692 | |
| 16,649 | |
| (2,957) |
| (18) | % |
| |
|
| |
| | |
|
|
|
| |
Operating income | | $ | 122,356 | | $ | 97,008 | | $ | 25,348 |
| 26 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization expense | |
| 42,639 | |
| 39,014 | |
| 3,625 |
| 9 | % |
Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge | | | 1,470 | | | 1,425 | | | 45 | | 3 | % |
Loss on asset sales and disposals | |
| 893 | |
| 4,383 | |
| (3,490) |
| (80) | % |
Legal fees and settlements related to non-core businesses | |
| 6,136 | |
| 4,562 | |
| 1,574 | | 35 | % |
Provision for doubtful accounts related to non-core businesses | |
| (500) | |
| — | |
| (500) | | NM | |
Severance costs | | | 1,761 | |
| — | |
| 1,761 | | NM | |
Lease accounting standard adjustment and other (e) | | | — | |
| 54 | |
| (54) | | NM | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 174,755 | | $ | 146,446 | | $ | 28,309 |
| 19 | % |
NM – Not meaningful
(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 various customer fee income and to a lesser extent appliance and material sales. |
(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 expense” above includes both the “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” and the “General and administrative expense” captions in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. |
(e) | Lease accounting standard adjustment and other reflects the additional expense recognized in excess of cash paid. |
90
Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the six months ended January 31, 2021 was approximately 5% warmer than normal, and 2% warmer than the prior year period. We estimate that this warmer weather slightly decreased retail gallons compared to the prior year.
Propane sales volumes during the six months ended January 31, 2021 decreased 7%, or 32.3 million gallons, from the prior year period due to decreased sales volumes to retail customers. The decrease in propane sales volumes to retail customers was primarily due to the implementation of strategic initiatives that resulted in significant operating expense savings, but also resulted in fewer gallons delivered in the current period. These initiatives focus on more efficient deliveries that increase average gallons per stop but are not expected to impact gallons over time. Tank exchange gallons (which are classified as a “wholesale – sales to reseller” transaction) increased 36% due to increased residential demand for tank exchanges in connection with the change in customer usage, as well as increased sales of spare cylinder tanks, both influenced by the COVID-19 environment. This increase was offset by a 32% decline in volumes of bulk propane sold to our wholesale customers primarily due to the widespread slowdown of the economy due to COVID-19.
Our wholesale sales price per gallon partially correlates to the change in the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas during the six months ended January 31, 2021 averaged 28% more than the prior year period, while at the Conway, Kansas major supply point prices averaged 36% more than the prior year period. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.59 and $0.46 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.57 and $0.42 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. This increase in the wholesale cost of propane contributed to our increase in sales price per gallon and therefore revenues.
Revenues
Retail sales decreased $1.5 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted from a $45.5 million decrease in sales volume, offset by a $44.0 million increase in sales price per gallon, both as discussed above.
Wholesale sales increased $53.6 million compared to the prior year period. The increase in sales was primarily due to the increases in tank exchange sales volumes as discussed above.
Other gas sales decreased $1.3 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to decreased gallon sales for inventory management purposes, partially offset by an increase in sales price per gallon.
Other revenues decreased $0.4 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $2.5 million one-time refund of federal fuel excise tax received in fiscal 2020 that was not repeated in fiscal 2021, partially offset by increased miscellaneous fees billed to customers and increased tank rental income.
Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
Gross margin increased $14.3 million primarily due to increased tank exchange sales volumes and to a lesser extent increased retail gross margin per gallon, partially offset by the decreased volumes sales, each as discussed above. The $27.1 million increase in wholesale gross margin primarily relates to increased tank exchange sales volumes, as discussed above and to a lesser extent increased gross margin per gallon due to the change in sales mix due to increased spare cylinder sales. The decrease in retail gross margin of $12.8 million resulted primarily from a $24.3 million decrease in sales volumes, as discussed above, partially offset by an $11.5 million increase in gross margin per gallon.
Gross margin - other
Gross margin decreased $0.6 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $2.5 million one-time refund of federal fuel excise tax received in fiscal 2020 that was not repeated in fiscal 2021, partially offset by increased miscellaneous fees billed to customers and increased tank rental income.
91
Operating income
Operating income increased $25.3 million primarily due to a $14.3 million increase in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", as discussed above, and an $8.8 million decrease in “Operating, general and administrative expense”. “Operating, general and administrative expense” decreased due to an $18.5 million decrease in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other”, partially offset by a $9.7 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” decreased primarily due to a $6.4 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs, $4.9 million decrease in field personnel costs, $3.3 million in decreased plant and office costs and a $3.0 million decrease in general insurance and workers compensation costs. “General and administrative expense” increased primarily due to $5.1 million increase in legal costs and a $4.3 million increase in personnel incentives.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $28.3 million primarily due to a $14.3 million increase in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", as discussed above, and a $11.7 million decrease in “Operating, general and administrative expense”. “Operating, general and administrative expense” decreased due to a $19.5 million decrease in “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other”, partially offset by a $7.8 million increase in “General and administrative expense”. “Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other” decreased primarily due to a $6.4 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs, a $5.8 million decrease in field personnel costs, $3.3 million in decreased plant and office costs and a $3.0 million decrease in general insurance and workers compensation costs. “General and administrative expense” increased primarily due to a $4.3 million increase in personnel incentives and a $3.6 million increase in legal costs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash flows from operating activities, our accounts receivable securitization facility and funds received from sales of debt and equity securities. As of January 31, 2021, our total liquidity was $304.4 million, which is comprised of $217.4 million in unrestricted cash and $87.0 million of availability under our accounts receivable securitization facility. These sources of liquidity and short term capital resources are intended to fund our working capital requirements, acquisitions and capital expenditures, and may be used to repay or redeem outstanding indebtedness to the extent permitted by the covenants under the indentures governing our outstanding senior notes, including the covenants described under the “Financial Covenants” subheading above. As of January 31, 2021, letters of credit outstanding totaled $138.8 million. Our access to long term capital resources, in order to address our leverage, may be affected by our ability to access the capital markets, covenants in our debt agreements, unforeseen demands on cash, or other events beyond our control.
As of January 31, 2021, we had $109.0 million of restricted cash, which includes $91.5 million of pledged cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, an $11.5 million cash deposit made with the administrative agent under the terminated Senior Secured Credit Facility, and $6.0 million of additional pledged collateral.
92
We believe that the liquidity available from cash flows from operating activities, unrestricted cash, the accounts receivable securitization facility and proceeds from sales of debt and equity securities, combined with our debt and interest expense reduction initiatives, will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and letter of credit requirements. However, as discussed above, Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $357.0 million principal amount of Ferrellgas Partners Notes due 2020, which Ferrellgas Partners failed to repay when due at maturity. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes were classified as current on the consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases (as defined and described above under “—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases”), the Ferrellgas Partners Notes were reclassified as liabilities subject to compromise on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2021. Additionally, the operating partnership has outstanding $500.0 million principal amount of unsecured notes due May 1, 2021, that are classified as current in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The ability of Ferrellgas Partners to restructure, refinance or otherwise satisfy these notes is uncertain. Ferrellgas has engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.
Financial Covenants
As more fully described in this Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the subheading “Financial Covenants” above, 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 of these covenants, we continue to pursue a strategy to reduce our debt and interest expense. If we are unsuccessful with our strategy to reduce debt and interest expense, we will continue to be restricted from making distribution payments to our common unitholders.
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. |
We may seek additional capital as part of our debt reduction strategy.
93
As discussed above, no distributions will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2021, and the general partner expects that Ferrellgas Partners will continue to be prohibited from making common unit distributions unless and until the Ferrellgas Partners Notes are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan or otherwise. Further, as described above, the restrictions in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s outstanding notes limit significantly the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to common unitholders.
Distributable Cash Flow
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors is reconciled to net earnings (loss) attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in this Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under the subheading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" above. A comparison of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors to cash distributions paid to equity investors for the twelve months ended January 31, 2021 to the twelve months ended October 31, 2020 is as follows (in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Distributable |
| Cash reserves |
| Cash distributions |
| | |||
| | cash flow attributable | | (deficiency) approved | | paid to | | DCF ratio | |||
| | to equity investors | | by our General Partner | | equity investors | | (a) (b) | |||
Six months ended January 31, 2021 | | $ | 66,469 | | $ | 66,469 | | $ | — | | |
Fiscal 2020 | | | 63,702 | | | 63,544 | | | 158 | | |
Less: Six months ended January 31, 2020 | | | 50,308 | | | 50,150 | | | 158 | | |
Twelve months ended January 31, 2021 | | $ | 79,863 | | $ | 79,863 | | $ | — | | NM |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Twelve months ended October 31, 2020 | | | 64,452 | | | 64,295 | | | 157 | | NM |
Change | | $ | 15,411 | | $ | 15,568 | | $ | (157) |
| NM |
(a) | DCF ratio is calculated as Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors divided by Cash distributions paid to equity investors. |
(b) | NM – Not Meaningful. |
For the twelve months ended January 31, 2021, distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors increased $15.4 million compared to the twelve months ended October 31, 2020. No cash distributions have been paid to our common unitholders since the three months ended October 31, 2018. Thus, cash reserves, which we utilize to meet future anticipated expenditures, increased by $79.9 million during the twelve months ended January 31, 2021, compared to an increase of $64.3 million in the twelve months ended October 31, 2020.
During periods of high volatility, our risk management activities may expose us to the risk of counterparty margin calls in amounts greater than we have the capacity to fund. Likewise, our counterparties may not be able to fulfill their margin calls from us or may default on the settlement of positions with us.
Our working capital requirements are subject to, among other things, the price of propane, delays in the collection of receivables, volatility in energy commodity prices, liquidity imposed by insurance providers, downgrades in our credit ratings, decreased trade credit, significant acquisitions, the weather, customer retention and purchasing patterns and other changes in the demand for propane. Relatively colder weather or higher propane prices during the winter heating season are factors that could significantly increase our working capital requirements.
Our ability to satisfy our obligations is dependent upon our future performance, which will be subject to prevailing 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 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 operations.
94
Operating Activities
Ferrellgas Partners
Net cash provided by operating activities was $44.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 2021, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $0.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 2020. This increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $28.8 million decrease in working capital requirements, an $11.8 million increase in cash flow from operations and a $3.3 million inflow associated with other assets and other liabilities.
The decrease in working capital requirements for the six months ended January 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2020 was primarily due to a $43.0 million decrease in requirements for other current liabilities, a $32.7 million decrease in accounts payable and an $11.8 million decrease in accrued interest expense, partially offset by a $38.7 million increase in requirements for accounts and notes receivable due to rising propane prices in the quarter that was partially offset by slight decreases in volume of propane sold, and a $19.8 million increase in requirements for inventory partially due to rising propane prices in the current period.
The increase in cash flow from operations was primarily due to a net decrease in "Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other" and "Operating expense – equipment lease expense" of $21.5 million, as well as a $13.7 million increase in gross profit, partially offset by a $13.6 million increase in "Interest expense" and a $9.7 million increase in "General and administrative expense".
The operating partnership
Net cash provided by operating activities was $44.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 2021, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $16.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 2020. This increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $13.6 million decrease in working capital requirements, a $11.7 million increase in cash flow from operations and a $3.1 million inflow associated with other assets and other liabilities.
The decrease in working capital requirements for the six months ended January 31, 2021 compared to the six months ended January 31, 2020 was primarily due to a $41.8 million decrease in requirements for other current liabilities and a $32.7 million decrease in accounts payable, partially offset by a $38.7 million increase in requirements for accounts and notes receivable due to rising propane prices in the quarter that was partially offset by slight decreases in volume of propane sold, and a $19.8 million increase in requirements for inventory partially due to rising propane prices in the current period.
The increase in cash flow from operations was primarily due to a net decrease in "Operating expense – personnel, vehicle, plant and other" and "Operating expense – equipment lease expense" of $21.5 million, as well as a $13.7 million increase in gross profit, partially offset by a $17.5 million increase in "Interest expense" and a $9.5 million increase in "General and administrative expense".
95
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, and from time to time may include the purchase of assets that are typically leased, 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 $32.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2021, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $48.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 2020. This decrease in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to a $30.3 million decrease in “Cash payments to construct assets in connection with future lease transactions” and a $6.4 million decrease in “Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired”, partially offset by a $19.9 million decrease in “Cash receipts in connection with leased vehicles” and a $1.9 million increase in “Capital expenditures”.
The increase in "Capital expenditures" was primarily due to an increase in growth capital expenditures, as maintenance capital expenditures declined slightly during the six months ended January 31, 2021. The increase in growth capital expenditures was primarily due to expenditures related to increased residential demand for tank exchanges in connection with the change in customer usage, as well as increased sales of spare cylinder tanks, both influenced by the COVID-19 environment.
Due to the mature nature of our operations we do not anticipate significant fluctuations in maintenance capital expenditures, with the exception of future decisions regarding lease versus buy financing options. However, future fluctuations in growth capital expenditures could occur due to the opportunistic nature of these projects.
The operating partnership
The investing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership, other than the $19.9 million term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. See “Disclosures about Effects of Transactions with Related Parties” below for further discussion.
Financing Activities
Ferrellgas Partners
Net cash used in financing activities was $19.5 million for the six months ended January 31, 2021, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $50.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 2020. This decrease in cash flow provided by financing activities was primarily due to a $56.0 million net decrease in short-term borrowings, an $11.0 million increase in cash paid for financing costs and a $3.1 million increase in cash payments for the principal portion of finance lease liabilities.
96
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 totaled $138.8 million and $126.0 million, respectively, and were used to secure insurance arrangements, product purchases and commodity hedges. At January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020 we had $91.5 million and $78.2 million of restricted cash pledged as cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding, respectively. Additionally, at both January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, we also issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility.
Accounts receivable securitization facility
We utilize an accounts receivable securitization facility for the purpose of providing additional short-term working capital funding, especially during the winter heating months. As part of this facility, we transfer an interest in a pool of our trade accounts receivable to Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a consolidated and wholly-owned, qualifying special purpose subsidiary, which in turn sells this interest to certain financial institutions. We remit daily to Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC funds collected on its pool of trade accounts receivables. Expenses associated with these 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 decreased $59.0 million, as we reduced our net funding to zero from this facility during the six months ended January 31, 2021 as compared to receiving net funding of $59.0 million from this facility during the six months ended January 31, 2020. As noted above, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility. These letters of credit remain outstanding.
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 agreement governing our accounts receivable securitization facility (the “Purchase Agreement”). As our trade accounts receivable increase during the winter heating season, the facility permits us to receive greater proceeds as eligible trade accounts receivable increase, thereby providing additional cash for working capital needs. Specifically, the aggregate amount of proceeds we are able to receive under the facility is equal to the lesser of (1) the balance of our eligible trade accounts receivable (reduced in certain circumstances based on the concentration of customers owing such accounts receivable) less specified reserve amounts and (2) the seasonally adjusted total commitments of the purchasers under the facility. The total commitments of the purchasers are $250.0 million during the months of December through March, $200.0 million during the months of November, April and May, and $150.0 million during the months of June through October. This facility matures in May 2021 and includes an option, at our request and consent, for the purchasers in their sole discretion to extend the facility for up to an additional three years.
As of January 31, 2021, we had no cash proceeds from our trade accounts receivables securitized, with $87.0 million remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds or issue letters of credit.
Distributions
No distribution will be made for the three months ended January 31, 2021.
The general partner expects that Ferrellgas Partners will continue to be prohibited from making common unit distributions for any future quarterly period unless and until the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners due 2020 are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the TSA and the Plan or otherwise. Further, as described above, the restrictions in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s outstanding notes limit significantly the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to common unitholders.
The operating partnership
The financing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership except for cash flows related to distributions paid, as discussed below.
97
Cash distributions paid
The operating partnership did not pay cash distributions during the six months ended January 31, 2021. The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $15.7 million during the six months ended January 31, 2020.
As described above, the Ferrellgas Partners Notes matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although the operating partnership has some capacity to make distributions under the operating partnership’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes that was due at the maturity of those notes. Further, as noted above, the remaining capacity of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners will be reduced significantly as of February 1, 2021. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures currently limit, and as of February 1, 2021 will further limit significantly, the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders.
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, 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 $148.7 million for the six months ended January 31, 2021, 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.
During the three months ended January 31, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership did not pay distributions.
As discussed previously, Ferrellgas Partners continues to be not in compliance with the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio under note indenture, and thus remains unable to make restricted payments, including distributions to unitholders.
Term loan credit agreement between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P.
As discussed in Note K – Transactions with related parties in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements of the operating partnership, on January 8, 2021 Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. entered into a term loan credit agreement with Ferrellgas, L.P., pursuant to which Ferrellgas, L.P. extended to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. an unsecured, non-amortizing term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $19.9 million. The term loan bears interest at a rate of 20% per annum, and all interest on the term loan will be added to the outstanding principal amount of the term loan. The term loan will mature on July 1, 2022.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We did not enter into any risk management trading activities during the three months ended January 31, 2021. Our remaining market risk sensitive instruments and positions have been determined to be “other than trading.”
Commodity price risk management
Our risk management activities primarily attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies. 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.
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Our risk management activities include the use of financial derivative instruments including, but not limited to, price futures, swaps, options and basis swaps to seek protection from adverse price movements and to minimize potential losses. We enter into these financial derivative instruments with brokers who are clearing members with the Intercontinental Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and, to a lesser extent, directly with third parties in the over-the-counter market. We also enter into forward propane purchase and sales contracts with counterparties. These forward contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sale 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, 2021 and July 31, 2020, 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 $11.2 million and $8.0 million as of January 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, 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 reduce overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring of counterparties’ financial condition (including credit ratings), and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit guidelines.
Our other counterparties principally consist of major energy companies that are suppliers, marketers, wholesalers, retailers and end users; and major U.S. financial institutions. The overall impact due to certain changes in economic, regulatory and other events may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that counterparties may be similarly impacted. Based on our policies, exposures, credit and other reserves, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance.
Interest rate risk
At January 31, 2021, we had no variable rate or collateralized note payable borrowings, as we do not have a credit facility in place and had no outstanding collateralized notes payable on our accounts receivable securitization facility.
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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 as of January 31, 2021.
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, 2021, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in achieving that level of reasonable assurance.
During the most recent fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2021, progress continued on a plan that calls for modifications and enhancements to our internal controls over financial reporting in relation to our implementation of Salesforce.com applications and the impacts on our revenue cycle. Specifically, we implemented/modified internal controls surrounding revenue recognition.
Except as disclosed above, 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) during the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note L “Contingencies and commitments” in our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1. “Financial Statements.”
The following risk factors are provided to update and supplement the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2020.
The TSA is subject to significant conditions and milestones that may be difficult for us to satisfy.
There are certain material conditions we must satisfy under the TSA, including the timely satisfaction of milestones in the Chapter 11 Cases, which include the consummation of the financing transactions. Our ability to timely complete such milestones is subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent Developments—Transaction Support Agreement and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Cases.”
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Delays in the Chapter 11 Cases may increase the risk of us being unable to reorganize our business and emerge from bankruptcy and increase our costs associated with the bankruptcy process.
There can be no assurances that the Plan will become effective or that the TSA Transactions will be consummated on the timeline we anticipate, or at all. Prolonged Chapter 11 proceedings could adversely affect our relationships with customers and employees, among other parties, which in turn could adversely affect our business, competitive position, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations and our ability to continue as a going concern. A weakening of our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations could adversely affect our ability to implement the Plan (or any other Chapter 11 plan). If we are unable to consummate a plan of reorganization, we may be forced to liquidate our assets.
Trading in our common units during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases is highly speculative and poses substantial risks.
Trading in our existing common units during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases is highly speculative and poses substantial risks. Trading prices for our existing common units may bear little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by holders of our existing common units in the Chapter 11 Cases. We expect that holders of our existing common units could experience a significant or complete loss on their investment, depending on the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases.
The Chapter 11 Cases may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Chapter 11 Cases could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. During the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, our management may be required to spend a significant amount of time and effort dealing with restructuring matters rather than focusing exclusively on our business operations. Bankruptcy Court protection and operating as debtors-in-possession also may make it more difficult to retain management and the key personnel necessary to the success of our business. In addition, during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases, our customers might lose confidence in our ability to reorganize our business successfully and may seek to establish alternative commercial relationships, renegotiate the terms of our agreements, terminate their relationships with us or require financial assurances from us. Customers may lose confidence in our ability to provide them the level of service they expect, resulting in a significant decline in our revenues, profitability and cash flow.
Other significant risks include or relate to the following:
● | Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases, including with respect to our motions and third-party motions, as well as the outcome of other pending litigation; |
● | our ability to maintain strategic control as debtors-in-possession during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases; |
● | the length of time that we will operate with Chapter 11 protection and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases; |
● | our ability to satisfy the conditions precedent to consummation of a plan of reorganization; |
● | the ultimate outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases in general; and |
● | the potential material adverse effects of claims that are not discharged in the Chapter 11 Cases. |
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
Confirmation of the Plan
As previously reported, Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. commenced the Chapter 11 Cases on January 11, 2021 by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption and case numbers, In re: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Chapter 11 Case Nos. 21-10020 and 21-10021.
On March 5, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”) confirming the pre-packaged joint plan of reorganization for Ferrellgas Partners and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Item 5 have the meanings given to them in the Plan. We expect that the effective date of the Plan will occur as soon as all conditions precedent to the Plan have been satisfied (the “Effective Date”), which include, among others, the operating partnership completing its refinancing. Although we are targeting occurrence of the Effective Date as soon as reasonably practicable, we can make no assurances as to when, or ultimately if, the Plan will become effective or the transactions contemplated thereunder will be consummated. It is also possible that technical amendments could be made to the Plan prior to the Effective Date.
Summary of the Plan
Under the terms of the Plan, (i) each holder of an allowed claim based on the Ferrellgas Partners Notes will receive, in full satisfaction of such claim, such holder’s pro rata share of 100% of the new “Class B” units to be issued by Ferrellgas Partners on the Effective Date (the “New Class B Units”); (ii) each holder of existing common units of Ferrellgas Partners (the “Existing LP Units”) will receive or retain such holder’s pro rata share of the new “Class A” common units to be issued by Ferrellgas Partners on the Effective Date (the “New Class A Units”), subject to dilution by the New Class A Units issued upon conversion of the New Class B Units; (iii) any allowed secured guarantee claim on account of the guarantee of payment by Ferrellgas Partners of the 10.00% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2025 co-issued by the operating partnership and Ferrellgas Finance Corp (the “2025 Notes”) will not be impaired and will be reinstated; and (iv) any allowed claim on account of the pending litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the caption Eddystone Rail Company, LLC v. Bridger Logistics, LLC, et al, No. 2:17-cv-00495 (E.D. Pa) will not be impaired and will be reinstated.
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Under the terms of the Ferrellgas Partners transactions contemplated by the Plan, (i) Ferrellgas Partners will issue New Class A Units to all current holders of the Existing LP Units and may, upon the consent of the Required Consenting Noteholders, issue additional New Class A Units to such parties as determined at the discretion of Ferrellgas Partners; (ii) Ferrellgas Partners will issue 100% of the New Class B Units to the holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes; (iii) distributions to the New Class A Units and the New Class B Units shall be made at a ratio of no less than 6:1 in favor of the New Class B Units on an aggregate basis until holders of the New Class B Units receive distributions in the aggregate amount equaling $357,000,000 (which is the outstanding principal amount of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes), upon which the New Class B Units will automatically be converted to New Class A Units at the applicable conversion rate set forth in the following table for the year following the Effective Date in which the conversion occurs:
| |
Year Post-Emergence | Conversion Factor |
Y1 | 1.75x |
Y2 | 2.00x |
Y3 | 3.50x |
Y4 | 4.00x |
Y5 | 5.00x |
Y6 | 6.00x |
Y7 | 7.00x |
Y8 | 10.00x |
Y9 | 12.00x |
Y10 | 25.00x |
The New Class B Units will be callable at Ferrellgas Partners’ option in the first five years after issuance at a price no less than a certain internal rate of return on $357,000,000, subject to receipt of a certain minimum amount if called in the first year after issuance. The holders of the New Class B Units will, at the time of issuance, receive the right to acquire all general partner units held by the general partner of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership if the New Class B Units are still outstanding and have not been converted to New Class A Units by the earlier of (i) a material breach of the covenants in favor of the New Class B Units under the partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners or the operating partnership that is not cured within the time period specified therein and (ii) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
Under the terms of the operating partnership transactions contemplated by the Plan, (i) the operating partnership will issue $1,475 million of new or additional notes in a manner that will not result in the acceleration of obligations under the Indenture governing the 2025 Notes (the “2025 Indenture”), or the ability of any holder of 2025 Notes to accelerate amounts owed thereunder or cause the 2025 Notes to be in default, subject to certain terms acceptable to the Required Consenting Noteholders; (ii) the operating partnership will enter into a revolving credit facility, which will contain terms and conditions that are acceptable to the Required Consenting Noteholders; (iii) either the operating partnership or Ferrellgas Partners will issue $700 million of new unregistered preferred equity (the “New Senior Preferred Units”), which will not constitute Redeemable Capital Stock under the 2025 Indenture (as defined therein), in a manner that will not result in the acceleration of obligations under the 2025 Indenture or the ability of any holder of 2025 Notes to accelerate amounts owed thereunder or cause the 2025 Notes to be in default; (iv) the operating partnership’s existing unsecured notes due 2021, 2022 and 2023 will be redeemed, with the sources and uses for such redemption consented to by the Required Consenting Noteholders; and (v) the operating partnership or Ferrellgas Partners, as applicable, will provide the holders of the Ferrellgas Partners Notes with the opportunity to participate in the marketing process for the New Senior Preferred Units and to acquire up to 35% of the total amount of the New Senior Preferred Units issued.
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On the Effective Date, the partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership will be amended to provide certain covenants for the benefit of holders of the New Class B Units, including, among others, requirements for cash distribution to unitholders and restrictions on issuance of equity, incurrence of indebtedness, related party transactions, asset sales, investments, contributions or other transfers of assets, amendments of partnership agreements and changes in governance. In addition, the holders of the New Class B Units will be permitted to designate one independent director to the board of directors of Ferrellgas, Inc. (the “New Class B Independent Director”). The New Class B Independent Director will not be affiliated with any Consenting Noteholder and will be acceptable to the operating partnership and Ferrellgas Partners. Further, beneficial owners of more than 20% of the Class A Units will not be permitted to vote that portion of their Class A Units that is greater than 20% during certain periods with respect to certain matters, so long as James E. Ferrell remains Chairman of the board of directors of Ferrellgas, Inc. or James E. Ferrell designates a successor as Chairman of the board of directors, which is approved by a majority of the board of directors, which majority includes the New Class B Independent Director voting to approve such successor and such New Class B Independent Director cannot unreasonably withhold such approval.
The Plan also provides releases and exculpations for the benefit of the Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnerships, certain of their claimholders, other parties in interest and various parties related thereto, each in their capacity as such, from various claims and causes of action, as further set forth in Article VII of the Plan.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Existing LP Units outstanding prior to the Effective Date will be cancelled as of the Effective Date. As of February 28, 2021, there were 97,152,665 Existing LP Units outstanding. The amended partnership agreements of Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership will become effective on the Effective Date, and the Company will issue the New Class A Units and the New Class B Units pursuant to the Plan in the amounts and on the terms described above and set forth in the Plan. The New Class A Units and the New Class B Units issued pursuant to the Plan will be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), provided by section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code or, only to the extent such exemption under section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code is not available, any other available exemption from registration under the Securities Act and such similar federal, state and local laws.
The existing general partner units in Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership (the “Existing GP Units”) are unimpaired under the Plan. On the Effective Date, all Existing GP Units will be reinstated and will be subject to the governance terms as described above and set forth in the Plan.
The foregoing description of the Plan is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan and the Confirmation Order, copies of which are attached to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as Exhibits 2.1 and 99.1, respectively.
Certain Information Regarding Assets and Liabilities
As set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as of January 31, 2021, Ferrellgas Partners had total assets of $1,819.0 million and total liabilities of $2,971.8 million (including $390.1 million of liabilities subject to compromise) and Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. had no substantial assets and no liabilities. The Ferrellgas Partners Notes are only reported on Ferrellgas Partners’ condensed consolidated balance sheet.
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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 |
| Description |
*2.1 | | |
2.2 | | |
3.1 | | |
3.2 | | |
3.3 | | |
3.4 | | |
3.5 | | |
3.6 | | |
3.7 | | |
3.8 | | |
3.9 | | |
3.10 | | |
4.1 | | |
4.2 | | |
4.3 | | |
4.4 | | |
4.5 | | |
4.6 | | Indenture dated as of November 24, 2010, by and among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and |
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4.7 | | |
4.8 | | |
+10.1 | | |
10.2 | | |
10.3 | | |
10.4 | | |
10.5 | | |
10.6 | | |
10.7 | | |
10.8 | | |
+ 10.9 | | |
10.10 | | |
10.11 | |
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# 10.12 | | |
# 10.13 | | |
# 10.14 | | |
# 10.15 | | |
# 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 | | Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2021, between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., as the |
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* 31.1 | | |
* 31.2 | | |
* 31.3 | | Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act. |
* 31.4 | | |
* 32.1 | | Certification of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
* 32.2 | | Certification of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
* 32.3 | | Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
* 32.4 | | Certification of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. |
* 99.1 | | |
* 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. |
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
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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., its general partner | |
| | | |
Date: | March 8, 2021 | By | /s/ Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | |
| | | Interim Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| | | |
| | | |
| | FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP. | |
| | | |
Date: | March 8, 2021 | By | /s/ Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
| | | |
| | | |
| | FERRELLGAS, L.P. | |
| | By Ferrellgas, Inc., Ferrellgas GP II, LLC and Ferrellgas GP III, LLC, its general partners | |
| | | |
Date: | March 8, 2021 | By | /s/ Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Interim Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| | | |
| | | |
| | FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. | |
| | | |
Date: | March 8, 2021 | By | /s/ Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Brian W. Herrmann |
| | | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
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