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Form 10-Q FERRELLGAS PARTNERS L P For: Jan 31

March 11, 2015 7:05 AM
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2015
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from         to         
 
Commission file numbers: 001-11331, 333-06693, 000-50182 and 000-50183
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charters)
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
 
43-1698480
43-1742520
43-1698481
14-1866671
(States or other jurisdictions of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Nos.)
 
 
 
7500 College Boulevard,
Suite 1000, Overland Park, Kansas
 
66210
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrants’ telephone number, including area code: (913) 661-1500
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are large accelerated filers, accelerated filers, non-accelerated filers, or smaller reporting companies. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.:
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer o
(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp, Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp.:
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer x
(do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Ferrellgas, L.P. Yes ¨ No x
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. Yes x No ¨

At March 2, 2015, the registrants had common units or shares of common stock outstanding as follows:
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
 
82,717,620
 
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


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

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
 
 

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except unit data)
(unaudited)
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
12,356

 
$
8,289

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $256,112 and $159,003 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
 
273,645

 
178,602

Inventories
 
132,273

 
145,969

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
66,615

 
32,071

Total current assets
 
484,889

 
364,931

 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $629,230 and $626,831 at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
 
611,008

 
611,787

Goodwill
 
285,617

 
273,210

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $357,017 and $370,108 at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
 
308,132

 
276,171

Other assets, net
 
57,391

 
46,171

Total assets
 
$
1,747,037

 
$
1,572,270

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' DEFICIT
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Accounts payable
 
$
101,191

 
$
69,360

Short-term borrowings
 
67,431

 
69,519

Collateralized note payable
 
175,000

 
91,000

Other current liabilities
 
147,627

 
125,161

Total current liabilities
 
491,249

 
355,040

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
1,343,463

 
1,292,214

Other liabilities
 
40,360

 
36,662

Contingencies and commitments (Note J)
 


 


 
 
 
 
 
Partners' deficit:
 
 

 
 

Common unitholders (82,717,620 and 81,228,237 units outstanding at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
 
(22,412
)
 
(57,893
)
General partner unitholder (835,532 and 820,487 units outstanding at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
 
(60,295
)
 
(60,654
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(45,883
)
 
6,181

Total Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. partners' deficit
 
(128,590
)
 
(112,366
)
Noncontrolling interest
 
555

 
720

Total partners' deficit
 
(128,035
)
 
(111,646
)
Total liabilities and partners' deficit
 
$
1,747,037

 
$
1,572,270

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(unaudited)
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
560,867

 
$
789,446

 
$
955,228

 
$
1,171,669

Other
 
105,106

 
80,237

 
154,100

 
113,044

Total revenues
 
665,973

 
869,683

 
1,109,328

 
1,284,713

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales
 
330,692

 
551,506

 
595,506

 
810,260

Cost of product sold - other
 
70,290

 
48,709

 
94,150

 
62,055

Operating expense (includes $0.1 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $3.6 million and $2.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for non-cash stock-based compensation)
 
107,214

 
118,282

 
213,642

 
222,046

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
23,943

 
20,643

 
47,252

 
40,858

General and administrative expense (includes $0.3 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $12.8 million and $8.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for non-cash stock-based compensation)
 
10,872

 
16,475

 
34,267

 
30,889

Equipment lease expense
 
5,795

 
4,274

 
11,327

 
8,340

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
 
3,788

 
3,636

 
8,162

 
6,679

Loss on disposal of assets
 
1,414

 
1,337

 
2,375

 
1,694

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
111,965

 
104,821

 
102,647

 
101,892

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
(24,375
)
 
(22,090
)
 
(48,287
)
 
(44,183
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
 

 
(20,901
)
 

 
(21,202
)
Other income (expense), net
 
(178
)
 
57

 
(627
)
 
273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
 
87,412

 
61,887

 
53,733

 
36,780

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
 
1,041

 
764

 
531

 
714

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
86,371

 
61,123

 
53,202

 
36,066

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
913

 
659

 
619

 
445

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
 
85,458

 
60,464

 
52,583

 
35,621

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less: General partner's interest in net earnings
 
11,955

 
3,663

 
526

 
356

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common unitholders' interest in net earnings
 
$
73,503

 
$
56,801

 
$
52,057

 
$
35,265

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders' interest
 
$
0.89

 
$
0.72

 
$
0.63

 
$
0.45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash distributions declared per common unit
 
$
0.50

 
$
0.50

 
$
1.00

 
$
1.00


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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$
86,371

 
$
61,123

 
$
53,202

 
$
36,066

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in value of risk management derivatives
 
(45,127
)
 
5,783

 
(59,024
)

16,387

Reclassification of gains and losses of derivatives to earnings, net
 
7,559

 
(3,826
)
 
6,431


(4,755
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 

 
(14
)
 
(2
)

(135
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(37,568
)
 
1,943

 
(52,595
)

11,497

Comprehensive income
 
48,803

 
63,066

 
607


47,563

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
536

 
679

 
88


561

Comprehensive income attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, LP
 
$
48,267

 
$
62,387

 
$
519


$
47,002

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' DEFICIT
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of units
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
Total
Ferrellgas
Partners, L.P. partners'
deficit
 
 
 
Total partners'
deficit
 

Common
unitholders
 
General Partner unitholder
 
Common
unitholders
 
General Partner unitholder
 
 
 
Non-controlling
interest
 
Balance at July 31, 2014
81,228.2

 
820.5

 
$
(57,893
)
 
$
(60,654
)
 
$
6,181

 
$
(112,366
)
 
$
720

 
$
(111,646
)
Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock-based compensation charges

 

 
24,100

 
244

 

 
24,344

 
248

 
24,592

Distributions

 

 
(82,715
)
 
(836
)
 

 
(83,551
)
 
(932
)
 
(84,483
)
Common units issued
1,489.4

 
15.0

 
42,039

 
425

 

 
42,464

 
431

 
42,895

Net earnings

 

 
52,057

 
526

 

 
52,583

 
619

 
53,202

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 
(52,064
)
 
(52,064
)
 
(531
)
 
(52,595
)
Balance at January 31, 2015
82,717.6

 
835.5

 
$
(22,412
)
 
$
(60,295
)
 
$
(45,883
)
 
$
(128,590
)
 
$
555

 
$
(128,035
)
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
53,202

 
$
36,066

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
47,252

 
40,858

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
8,162

 
6,679

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge
16,430

 
10,350

Loss on disposal of assets
2,375

 
1,694

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
6,526

Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(6,300
)


Provision for doubtful accounts
1,859

 
2,105

Deferred income tax expense
157

 
616

Other
1,698

 
1,823

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
 
 
 
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization
(96,797
)
 
(227,911
)
Inventories
13,696

 
(18,526
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(38,477
)
 
(10,134
)
Accounts payable
32,126

 
87,395

Accrued interest expense
47

 
(3,809
)
Other current liabilities
(9,905
)
 
(4,615
)
Other assets and liabilities
(11,817
)
 
721

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
13,708

 
(70,162
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(68,655
)
 
(5,227
)
Capital expenditures
(29,413
)
 
(22,873
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
2,729

 
2,482

Other

 
(8
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(95,339
)
 
(25,626
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Distributions
(83,551
)
 
(79,907
)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
90,643


369,493

Payments on long-term debt
(45,063
)
 
(327,563
)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings
(2,088
)
 
16,991

Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings
84,000

 
137,000

Cash paid for financing costs
(204
)
 
(7,473
)
Noncontrolling interest activity
(501
)
 
(896
)
Proceeds from exercise of common unit options
91

 
106

Proceeds from equity offering, (net of issuance costs of $52 for the six months ended January 31, 2015)
41,948



Cash contribution from general partner in connection with common unit issuances
425

 

Net cash provided by financing activities
85,700

 
107,751

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(2
)
 
(135
)
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
4,067

 
11,828

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
8,289

 
6,464

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$
12,356

 
$
18,292

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data, unless otherwise designated)
 (unaudited)
A.  Partnership organization and formation
 
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”) 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, 2015, Ferrell Companies, Inc. ("Ferrell Companies") beneficially owns 22.8 million Ferrellgas Partners common units. Ferrellgas, Inc. (the "general partner"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, has retained a 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and also holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership, representing an effective 2% general partner interest in Ferrellgas on a combined basis. As general partner, it performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas. Creditors of the operating partnership have no recourse with regards to Ferrellgas Partners.
 
Ferrellgas Partners is a holding entity that conducts no operations and has two subsidiaries, Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and the operating partnership. Ferrellgas Partners owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of debt issued by Ferrellgas Partners. The operating partnership is the only operating subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners.

Ferrellgas is engaged in the following reportable business segment activities:
Propane and related equipment sales consists of the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Ferrellgas serves residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Midstream operations consists of eight salt water disposal wells in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. Salt water disposal wells are a critical component of the oil and natural gas well drilling industry. Oil and natural gas wells generate significant volumes of salt water that is transported by truck to Ferrellgas' disposal wells.

Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year.
 
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 2014.


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 assets, residual values of tanks, capitalization of customer tank installation costs, amortization methods of intangible assets, valuation methods used to value sales returns and allowances, allowance for doubtful accounts, fair value of reporting units, assumptions used to value business combinations, fair values of derivative contracts and stock based compensation calculations.
 

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(2)    Supplemental cash flow information: 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,
 
2015
 
2014
CASH PAID FOR:
 
 
 
Interest
$
46,440

 
$
45,648

Income taxes
$
267

 
$
178

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Issuance of common units in connection with acquisitions
$

 
$
1,500

Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions
$

 
$
682

Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions
$
1,216

 
$
1,082


 
 
C. Supplemental financial statement information
 
Inventories consist of the following:
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Propane gas and related products
 
$
104,169

 
$
121,111

Appliances, parts and supplies
 
28,104

 
24,858

Inventories
 
$
132,273

 
$
145,969


In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas enters into contracts primarily to buy propane for supply procurement purposes with terms up to 36 months. Most of these contracts call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. As of January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 41.4 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
 
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Accrued interest
 
$
12,229

 
$
12,182

Accrued payroll
 
17,465

 
37,120

Customer deposits and advances
 
24,772

 
25,412

Price risk management liabilities
 
34,488

 
83

Other
 
58,673

 
50,364

Other current liabilities
 
$
147,627

 
$
125,161


Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of earnings line items:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Operating expense
 
$
48,125

 
$
54,755

 
$
93,915

 
$
100,733

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
1,327

 
1,440

 
2,777

 
2,855

Equipment lease expense
 
5,713

 
3,767

 
10,578

 
7,394

 
 
$
55,165

 
$
59,962

 
$
107,270

 
$
110,982




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D. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
 
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral
$
256,112

 
$
159,003

Accounts receivable
22,691

 
24,108

Other
183

 
247

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
(5,341
)
 
(4,756
)
Accounts and notes receivable, net
$
273,645

 
$
178,602


At January 31, 2015, $256.1 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $175.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2014, $159.0 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $91.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the commercial paper conduit. These accounts receivable pledged as collateral are bankruptcy remote from the operating partnership. The operating partnership does not provide any guarantee or similar support to the collectability of these accounts receivable pledged as collateral. 
 
As of January 31, 2015, the operating partnership had received cash proceeds of $175.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of July 31, 2014, the operating partnership had received cash proceeds of $91.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization facility had a weighted average interest rate of 2.0% and 2.1% as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively.

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E.    Debt
 
Short-term borrowings
 
Ferrellgas classified a portion of its secured credit facility borrowings as short-term because it was used to fund working capital needs that management had intended to pay down within the 12 month period following each balance sheet date. As of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, $67.4 million and $69.5 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.
 
Secured credit facility

As of January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $239.2 million, of which $171.8 million was classified as long-term debt. As of July 31, 2014, Ferrellgas had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $193.3 million, of which $123.8 million was classified as long-term debt. Additionally, Ferrellgas had $292.7 million and $350.4 million of available borrowing capacity under our secured credit facility as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively.
 
Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014 under the secured credit facilities had weighted average interest rates of 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively.
  
The obligations under the credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to the operating partnership’s accounts receivable securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership.
 
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2015 totaled $68.1 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and, to a lesser extent, product purchases. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2014 totaled $56.3 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and, to a lesser extent, product purchases. At January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas had remaining letter of credit capacity of $131.9 million. At July 31, 2014, Ferrellgas had remaining letter of credit capacity of $143.7 million.

F.  Partners' deficit

Partnership distributions paid
 
Ferrellgas Partners has paid the following distributions:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Public common unitholders
 
$
27,791

 
$
26,534

 
$
55,579

 
$
53,032

Ferrell Companies (1)
 
11,265

 
10,735

 
22,530

 
21,470

FCI Trading Corp. (2)
 
98

 
98

 
196

 
196

Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3)
 
26

 
26

 
52

 
52

James E. Ferrell (4)
 
2,179

 
2,179

 
4,358

 
4,358

General partner
 
418

 
400

 
836

 
799

 
 
$
41,777

 
$
39,972

 
$
83,551

 
$
79,907


(1) Ferrell Companies is the owner of the general partner and is an approximate 27.2% direct owner of Ferrellgas Partners' common units and thus a related party.
(2) FCI Trading Corp. is an affiliate of the general partner and thus a related party.
(3) Ferrell Propane, Inc. is controlled by the general partner and thus a related party.
(4) James E. Ferrell is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the general partner and a related party.

On February 26, 2015, Ferrellgas Partners declared a cash distribution of $0.50 per common unit for the three months ended January 31, 2015, which is expected to be paid on March 17, 2015. Included in this cash distribution are the following amounts to be paid to related parties:

13

Table of Contents

Ferrell Companies
$
11,265

FCI Trading Corp.
98

Ferrell Propane, Inc.
26

James E. Ferrell
2,179

General partner
418


See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note I – Transactions with related parties.

Common unit issuances

During September 2014, in a non-brokered registered direct offering, which units are subject to certain contractual transfer restrictions, Ferrellgas issued to Ferrell Companies, Inc. and the former owners of two salt water disposal wells from C&E Production, LLC ("C&E") and its affiliates an aggregate of 1.5 million common units for an aggregate purchase price of $42.0 million. Ferrellgas used these proceeds to pay down a portion of the borrowing under the secured credit facility used to fund the C&E salt water disposal wells acquisition as well as propane and related equipment sales acquisitions completed in fiscal 2014.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)
 
See Note H – Derivative instruments and hedging activities – for details regarding changes in the fair value of risk management financial derivatives recorded within AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
General partner’s commitment to maintain its capital account
 
Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements allow the general partner to have an option to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest concurrent with the issuance of other additional equity.

During the six months ended January 31, 2015, the general partner made cash contributions of $0.9 million and non-cash contributions of $0.5 million to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.

During the six months ended January 31, 2014, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $0.3 million to Ferrellgas to maintain its effective 2% general partner interest.



14

Table of Contents

G.    Fair value measurements
 
Derivative financial instruments and contingent consideration
 
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, 2015 and July 31, 2014:
 
 
Asset (Liability)
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Total
January 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
3,382

 
$

 
$
3,382

Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
2,081

 
$

 
$
2,081

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
(3,796
)
 
$

 
$
(3,796
)
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
(44,593
)
 
$

 
$
(44,593
)
Contingent consideration

$


$


$
(100
)

$
(100
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
2,101

 
$

 
$
2,101

Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
7,006

 
$

 
$
7,006

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
(5,075
)
 
$

 
$
(5,075
)
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
(83
)
 
$

 
$
(83
)
Contingent consideration

$


$


$
(6,400
)

$
(6,400
)

The following is a reconciliation of the opening and closing balances for the liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the period ended January 31, 2015:



Contingent consideration liability
Balance at July 31, 2014

$
6,400

     Increase in fair value related to accretion

400

     Change in fair value included in earnings

(6,700
)
Balance at January 31, 2015

$
100


Quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements

15

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Fair value at January 31, 2015

Valuation technique

Unobservable input

Range
 
Weighted average
Contingent consideration liability

$
100


Discounted cash flow
A.
Weighted average cost of capital (WACC)

N/A
 
20
%






B.
Probability of forecast

5% - 80%
 
N/A


The valuation of the contingent consideration is based on unobservable inputs such as Ferrellgas' weighted average cost of capital and the likelihood of the acquired company meeting earnings thresholds. As of January 31, 2015, fluctuations in these inputs could have the following effect (in thousands):

 
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
 
5% increase in WACC
 
5% decrease in WACC
 
10% increase in best earnings forecast probability
 
10% decrease in best earnings forecast probability
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

$
(20
)

$


$
170


$
(100
)

Methodolgy

The fair values of Ferrellgas’ non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

The fair value of Ferrellgas' contingent consideration for the acquisition of Sable Environmental, LLC and Sable SWD 2, LLC (collectively, "Sable") is based upon our estimate of the likelihood that the target EBITDA metric will be met and exceeded and the amount by which it could be exceeded then discounting that value at a risk- and inflation-adjusted rate. The inputs to this model are the likelihood of meeting and exceeding the target EBITDA metric and discount rate. Management and the sellers prepared an operating forecast based on Sable's operating capacities, historical performance, and projected oil and water volumes and set a target EBITDA metric. Management then assessed the likelihood of this target EBITDA metric being achieved and exceeded and assigned probabilities to various potential outcomes. To determine the appropriate discount rate, management used observable inputs such as inflation rates, short and long-term yields for U.S. government securities and our nonperformance risk. Due to the significant unobservable inputs required in this measurement, management determined that the fair value measurement of the contingent consideration liability is level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
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, 2015 and July 31, 2014, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas’ long-term debt instruments was $1,379.7 million and $1,408.2 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.
 
Ferrellgas has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.


H.  Derivative instruments and hedging activities
 
Ferrellgas is exposed to certain market risks related to its ongoing business operations. These risks include exposure to changing commodity prices as well as fluctuations in interest rates. Ferrellgas utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices. Ferrellgas also periodically utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.
 
Derivative instruments and hedging activities

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During the six months ended January 31, 2015 Ferrellgas recognized a $0.2 million loss 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. During the six months ended January 31, 2014, 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 fair value derivatives that were designated as hedging instruments in Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014:  
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Derivative Instrument
 
Location
 
 Fair value
 
Location
 
 Fair value
Propane commodity derivatives
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
1,837

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
33,423

Propane commodity derivatives
 
Other assets, net
 
243

 
Other liabilities
 
11,170

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,053

 
Other current liabilities
 
1,065

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Other assets, net
 
1,329

 
Other liabilities
 
2,731

 
 
Total
 
$
5,462

 
Total
 
$
48,389

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 31, 2014
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Derivative Instrument
 
Location
 
 Fair value
 
Location
 
 Fair value
Propane commodity derivatives
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
5,301

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
83

Propane commodity derivatives
 
Other assets, net
 
1,705

 
Other liabilities
 

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,101

 
Other current liabilities
 

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Other assets, net
 

 
Other liabilities
 
5,075


 
Total
 
$
9,107

 
Total
 
$
5,158


Ferrellgas' exchange traded propane 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. The following tables provide a summary of cash margin deposit balances as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively:

 
 
January 31, 2015
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Description
 
Location
 
Amount
 
Location
 
Amount
Margin Deposits
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
31,207

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
15

 
 
Other assets, net
 
12,343

 
Other liabilities
 

 
 
 
 
$
43,550

 
 
 
$
15


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Table of Contents

 
 
July 31, 2014
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Description
 
Location
 
Amount
 
Location
 
Amount
Margin Deposits
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
156

 
Other current liabilities
 
$

 
 
Other assets, net
 
189

 
Other liabilities
 

 
 
 
 
$
345

 
 
 
$





The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas' condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 due to derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments:  
 
 
 
 
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rated Debt (Related Hedged Item)
Derivative Instrument
 
Location of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest rate swap agreements
 
Interest expense
 
$
587

 
$
489

 
$
(2,275
)
 
$
(2,275
)

 
 
 
 
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rated Debt (Related Hedged Item)
Derivative Instrument
 
Location of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest rate swap agreements
 
Interest expense
 
$
1,043

 
$
1,321

 
$
(4,550
)
 
$
(7,640
)



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Table of Contents

The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas’ condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 due to the effective portion of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31, 2015
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
(42,910
)
 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
(7,360
)
Interest rate swap agreements
 
(2,217
)
 
Interest expense
 
(199
)
 
 
$
(45,127
)
 
 
 
$
(7,559
)

 
 
For the three months ended January 31, 2014
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
5,846

 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
3,826

Interest rate swap agreements
 
(63
)
 
Interest expense
 

 
 
$
5,783

 
 
 
$
3,826


 
 
For the six months ended January 31, 2015
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
(55,668
)
 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
(6,232
)
Interest rate swap agreements
 
(3,356
)
 
Interest expense
 
(199
)
 
 
$
(59,024
)
 
 
 
$
(6,431
)

 
 
For the six months ended January 31, 2014
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
17,463

 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
4,755

Interest rate swap agreements
 
(1,076
)
 
Interest expense
 

 
 
$
16,387

 
 
 
$
4,755



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The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:  

 
 
For the six months ended January 31,
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
 
$
6,483

 
$
2,066

Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives
 
(55,668
)
 
17,463

Reclassification of gains and losses on commodity hedges to cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales, net
 
6,232

 
(4,755
)
Change in value of risk management interest rate derivatives
 
(3,356
)
 
(1,076
)
Reclassification of gains and losses on interest rate hedges to interest expense
 
$
199

 
$

Ending balance
 
$
(46,110
)
 
$
13,698


Ferrellgas expects to reclassify net losses of approximately $31.6 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net losses are expected to be offset by increased margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.
 
During the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, Ferrellgas had no reclassifications to earnings 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, 2015, Ferrellgas had financial derivative contracts covering 3.5 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 reduces its overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring its counterparties’ financial condition, including their credit ratings, and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit limits. Certain of these agreements call for the posting of collateral by the counterparty or by Ferrellgas in the forms of letters of credit, parental guarantees or cash. Although Ferrellgas, L.P. has concentrations of credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments held by certain derivative financial instrument counterparties, at January 31, 2015 Ferrellgas, L.P. had no exposure to losses due to credit risk, based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments, if these counterparties that make up the concentration failed to perform according to the terms of their contracts.  
 
Ferrellgas holds certain derivative contracts that have credit-risk-related contingent features which dictate credit limits based upon the operating partnership’s debt rating. At January 31, 2015, there were $1.1 million of derivatives with credit-risk-related contingent features in a liability position for which Ferrellgas had no collateral posted in the normal course of business related to such derivatives.


I.    Transactions with related parties
 
Ferrellgas has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas’ partnership agreements, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas’ business. These costs primarily include compensation and
benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas’ behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Operating expense
 
$
59,142

 
$
61,412

 
$
110,262

 
$
109,570

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expense
 
$
8,068

 
$
9,200

 
$
14,665

 
$
15,101

 
 

See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note F – Partners’ deficit.

J.    Contingencies and commitments

Litigation
 
Ferrellgas’ operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. 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.
 
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) initiated an investigation into certain practices related to the filling of portable propane cylinders. On March 27, 2014, the FTC filed an administrative complaint alleging that Ferrellgas and one of its competitors colluded in 2008 to persuade a customer to accept the cylinder fill reduction from 17 pounds to 15 pounds.  The complaint does not seek monetary remedies.  Ferrellgas reached a settlement with the FTC during the three months ended October 31, 2014

20

Table of Contents

without any financial payment; the settlement has been approved by a vote of the Commission and is in a public comment period.

Ferrellgas has also been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The complaints, filed on behalf of direct and indirect customers of our tank exchange business, reference the FTC complaint mentioned above.  The lawsuits 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 retailers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws.  The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class.  These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. We believe we have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against the consolidated case.  Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.
 
Ferrellgas has also been named as a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Kansas. The complaint was the subject of a motion to dismiss which was granted, in part, in August 2011. The surviving claims allege breach of contract and breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, both of which allegedly arise from the existence of an oral contract for continuous propane service. Ferrellgas believes the claims are without merit and intends to defend them vigorously. The case has not been certified for class treatment. Ferrellgas recently prevailed on an appeal before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the appellate court ordered the trial court to determine whether the case must be arbitrated. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to this putative class action lawsuit.

K.    Net earnings per common unitholders’ interest
 
Below is a calculation of the basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the periods indicated. In accordance with guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") regarding participating securities and the two-class method, Ferrellgas calculates net earnings (loss) per common unitholders’ interest for each period presented according to distributions declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings, as if all of the earnings or loss for the period had been distributed according to the incentive distribution rights in our Partnership Agreement. Due to the seasonality of the propane business, the dilutive effect of the two-class method typically impacts only the three months ending January 31. In periods with undistributed earnings above certain levels, the calculation according to the two-class method results in an increased allocation of undistributed earnings to the general partner and a dilution of the earnings to the limited partners as follows:
 


Ratio of total distributions payable to:
Quarterly distribution per common unit

Common unitholder

General partner
$0.56 to $0.63

86.9
%

13.1
%
$0.64 to $0.82

76.8
%

23.2
%
$0.83 and above

51.5
%

48.5
%

The dilutive effect on net earnings per common unitholders' interest was $0.13 and $0.04 for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There was no dilutive effect for either the six months ended January 31, 2015 or 2014.

 
In periods with net losses, the allocation of the net losses to the limited partners and the general partner will be determined based on the same allocation basis specified in Ferrellgas Partners’ partnership agreement that would apply to periods in which there were no undistributed earnings. Additionally, there are no dilutive securities in periods with net losses.

21

Table of Contents

 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(in thousands, except per unitholders' interest amounts)
Common unitholders’ interest in net earnings
 
$
73,503

 
$
56,801

 
$
52,057

 
$
35,265

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic
 
82,716.9

 
79,129.4

 
82,448.3

 
79,102.6

Dilutive securities
 
7.4

 
29.3

 
8.0

 
29.9

Weighted average common units outstanding - diluted
 
82,724.3

 
79,158.7

 
82,456.3

 
79,132.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net earnings per common unitholders’ interest
 
$
0.89

 
$
0.72

 
$
0.63

 
$
0.45



L.    Segment reporting

During May 2014, Ferrellgas entered into a membership interest purchase agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Sable, a fluid logistics provider in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. With this acquisition Ferrellgas established a new operating and reportable segment referred to as “Midstream Operations” in addition to the existing reportable segment of propane and related equipment sales. The chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating segments using an Adjusted EBITDA performance measure which is based on net earnings before income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets, other income (expense), net, change in fair value of contingent consideration and litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit. This performance measure is not a GAAP measure but the components are computed using amounts that are determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of this performance measure to net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners L.P., which is its nearest comparable GAAP measure, is included in the tables below. In management's evaluation of performance, certain costs, such as compensation for administrative staff and executive management, are not allocated by segment and, accordingly, the following reportable segment results do not include such unallocated costs. The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note B.
Assets reported within a segment are those assets that can be identified to a segment and primarily consist of trade receivables, property, plant and equipment, inventories, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Cash, certain prepaid assets and other assets are not allocated to segments. Although Ferrellgas can and does identify long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets to reportable segments, Ferrellgas does not allocate the related depreciation and amortization to the segment as management evaluates segment performance exclusive of these non-cash charges.
The propane and related equipment sales segment primarily includes the distribution and sale of propane and related equipment and supplies with concentrations in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest regions of the United States. Sales from propane distribution are generated principally from transporting propane purchased from third parties to propane distribution locations and then to tanks on customers’ premises or to portable propane tanks delivered to nationwide and local retailers. Sales from portable tank exchanges, nationally branded under the name Blue Rhino, are generated through a network of independent and partnership-owned distribution outlets.

Salt water disposal wells are a critical component of the oil and natural gas well drilling industry. Oil and gas wells generate significant volumes of salt water known as “flowback” and “production” water. Flowback is a water based solution that flows back to the surface during and after the completion of the hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) process whereby large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressures into rock formations to stimulate production. Flowback contains clays, chemicals, dissolved metal ions, total dissolved solids and oil/condensate. Production water is salt water from underground formations that are brought to the surface during the normal course of oil or gas production. Because this water has been in contact with hydrocarbon-bearing formations, it contains some of the chemical characteristics of the formations and the hydrocarbons. In the oil and gas fields that Ferrellgas services, these volumes of water are transported by truck away from the fields to salt water disposal wells where it is injected into underground geologic formations using high-pressure pumps. Revenue is derived from fees charged to customers to dispose of salt water at the disposal facilities and crude oil sales from a process we use to separate crude oil from salt water, known as "skimming oil".


22

Table of Contents

Prior to the Sable acquisition in May 2014, Ferrellgas managed and evaluated its operations as a single reportable segment. As the current two reportable segment structure is the result of the Sable acquisition completed during May 2014, comparative historical segment information for fiscal 2014 does not exist.

Following is a summary of segment information for the three months ended January 31, 2015.

 
 
 
Three months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment revenues
 
$
658,820

 
$
7,153

 
$

 
$
665,973

 
Direct costs (1)
 
 
513,006

 
 
5,137

 
 
10,902

 
 
529,045

 
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
145,814

 
$
2,016

 
$
(10,902
)
 
$
136,928

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Following is a summary of segment information for the six months ended January 31, 2015.
 
 
 
Six months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment revenues

$
1,094,259


$
15,069


$


$
1,109,328

 
Direct costs (1)


906,811



9,870



21,358



938,039

 
Adjusted EBITDA

$
187,448


$
5,199


$
(21,358
)

$
171,289

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Direct costs are comprised of "cost of products sold-propane and other gas liquids sales", "cost of products sold-other", "operating expense", "general and administrative expense", and "equipment lease expense" less "non-cash stock-based compensation charge", "change in fair value of contingent consideration" and "litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit".


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Table of Contents

Following is a reconciliation of Ferrellgas total segment performance measure to consolidated net earnings:
 
 
Three months ended January 31,
 
Six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

$
85,458

 
$
52,583

Income tax expense

 
1,041

 

531

Interest expense

 
24,375

 

48,287

Depreciation and amortization expense

 
23,943

 

47,252

EBITDA

 
134,817

 

148,653

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 
3,788

 

8,162

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge

 
318

 

16,430

Loss on disposal of assets

 
1,414

 

2,375

Other expense (income), net

 
178

 

627

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 
(4,500
)
 

(6,300
)
Litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit

 

 

723

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

 
913

 

619

Adjusted EBITDA

$
136,928

 
$
171,289

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Following are total assets by segment:
 
 
January 31,
 
July 31,
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 


Assets



 


Propane and related equipment sales

$
1,508,347

 
$
1,400,603

Midstream operations


201,902

 

136,116

Corporate and unallocated


36,788

 

35,551

Total consolidated assets

$
1,747,037

 
$
1,572,270


Following are capital expenditures by segment:
 
 
 
For the six months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance

$
8,873


$
350


$
676


$
9,899

 
Growth


14,324



2,910






17,234

 
Total

$
23,197


$
3,260


$
676


$
27,133

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

M. Subsequent events
 

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Table of Contents

Ferrellgas 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.






25

Table of Contents


FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
ASSETS


 


Cash
$
909

 
$
969

Total assets
$
909

 
$
969

 
 
 
 
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
15,196

 
15,106

Accumulated deficit
(15,287
)
 
(15,137
)
Total stockholder's equity
$
909

 
$
969

See notes to condensed financial statements.


FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expense
$

 
$

 
$
150

 
$
50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$

 
$

 
$
(150
)
 
$
(50
)
See notes to condensed financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(150
)
 
$
(50
)
Cash used in operating activities
(150
)
 
(50
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
 
 
 
Capital contribution
90

 
50

Cash provided by financing activities
90

 
50

 
 
 
 
Net change in cash
(60
)
 

Cash - beginning of period
969

 
969

Cash - end of period
$
909

 
$
969

See notes to condensed financial statements.

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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.)
 (unaudited)
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A.    Formation
 
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 28, 1996 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”).
 
The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal recurring nature.

The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.


B.    Contingencies and commitments
 
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for the Partnership's $182.0 million, 8.625% senior notes due 2020.

 


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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
12,164

 
$
8,283

Accounts and notes receivable, net (including $256,112 and $159,003 of accounts receivable pledged as collateral at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
273,645

 
178,602

Inventories
132,273

 
145,969

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
66,572

 
32,079

Total current assets
484,654

 
364,933

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $629,230 and $626,831 at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
611,008

 
611,787

Goodwill
285,617

 
273,210

Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $357,017 and $370,108 at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively)
308,132

 
276,171

Other assets, net
55,171

 
43,732

Total assets
$
1,744,582

 
$
1,569,833

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
101,191

 
$
69,360

Short-term borrowings
67,431

 
69,519

Collateralized note payable
175,000

 
91,000

Other current liabilities
145,620

 
123,153

Total current liabilities
489,242

 
353,032

 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
1,161,463

 
1,110,214

Other liabilities
40,360

 
36,662

Contingencies and commitments (Note J)


 


 
 
 
 
Partners' capital:
 

 
 

Limited partner
98,845

 
63,024

General partner
1,009

 
643

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(46,337
)
 
6,258

Total partners' capital
53,517

 
69,925

Total liabilities and partners' capital
$
1,744,582

 
$
1,569,833

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Propane and other gas liquids sales
$
560,867

 
$
789,446

 
$
955,228

 
$
1,171,669

Other
105,106

 
80,237

 
154,100

 
113,044

Total revenues
665,973

 
869,683

 
1,109,328

 
1,284,713

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales
330,692

 
551,506

 
595,506

 
810,260

Cost of product sold - other
70,290

 
48,709

 
94,150

 
62,055

Operating expense (includes $0.1 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $3.6 million and $2.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for non-cash stock-based compensation)
107,214

 
118,277

 
213,645

 
222,166

Depreciation and amortization expense
23,943

 
20,643

 
47,252

 
40,858

General and administrative expense (includes $0.3 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $12.8 million and $8.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for non-cash stock-based compensation)
10,872

 
16,475

 
34,267

 
30,889

Equipment lease expense
5,795

 
4,274

 
11,327

 
8,340

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
3,788

 
3,636

 
8,162

 
6,679

Loss on disposal of assets
1,414

 
1,337

 
2,375

 
1,694

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
111,965

 
104,826

 
102,644

 
101,772

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(20,341
)
 
(18,047
)
 
(40,219
)
 
(36,096
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
(20,901
)
 

 
(21,202
)
Other income (expense), net
(178
)
 
57

 
(627
)
 
273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
91,446

 
65,935

 
61,798

 
44,747

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
1,037

 
764

 
526

 
714

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
90,409

 
$
65,171

 
$
61,272

 
$
44,033

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
 
$
90,409

 
$
65,171

 
$
61,272

 
$
44,033

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in value of risk management derivatives
 
(45,127
)
 
5,783

 
(59,024
)
 
16,387

Reclassification of gains and losses of derivatives to earnings, net
 
7,559

 
(3,826
)
 
6,431

 
(4,755
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 

 
(14
)
 
(2
)
 
(135
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(37,568
)
 
1,943

 
(52,595
)
 
11,497

Comprehensive income
 
$
52,841

 
$
67,114

 
$
8,677

 
$
55,530

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
other
 
Total
 
Limited
 
General
 
comprehensive
 
partners'
 
partner
 
partner
 
income (loss)
 
capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at July 31, 2014
$
63,024

 
$
643

 
$
6,258

 
$
69,925

Contributions in connection with non-cash ESOP and stock-based compensation charges
24,344

 
248

 

 
24,592

Contributions from partners
42,224

 
431

 

 
42,655

Distributions
(91,400
)
 
(932
)
 

 
(92,332
)
Net earnings
60,653

 
619

 

 
61,272

Other comprehensive income


 

 
(52,595
)
 
(52,595
)
Balance at January 31, 2015
$
98,845

 
$
1,009

 
$
(46,337
)
 
$
53,517

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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Table of Contents

FERRELLGAS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
61,272

 
$
44,033

Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense
47,252

 
40,858

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge
8,162

 
6,679

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge
16,430

 
10,350

Loss on disposal of assets
2,375

 
1,694

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 
6,526

Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(6,300
)


Provision for doubtful accounts
1,859

 
2,105

Deferred income tax expense
157

 
616

Other
1,479

 
1,582

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
 
 
 
Accounts and notes receivable, net of securitization
(96,797
)
 
(227,911
)
Inventories
13,696

 
(18,526
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(38,426
)
 
(10,120
)
Accounts payable
32,126

 
87,395

Accrued interest expense
47

 
(3,810
)
Other current liabilities
(9,904
)
 
(4,595
)
Other assets and liabilities
(11,817
)
 
721

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
21,611

 
(62,403
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(68,655
)
 
(5,242
)
Capital expenditures
(29,413
)
 
(22,873
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
2,729

 
2,482

Other

 
(8
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(95,339
)
 
(25,641
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Distributions
(92,332
)
 
(88,652
)
Contributions from partners
42,655

 
252

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
90,643


369,493

Payments on long-term debt
(45,063
)
 
(327,563
)
Net additions to (reductions in) short-term borrowings
(2,088
)
 
16,991

Net additions to collateralized short-term borrowings
84,000

 
137,000

Cash paid for financing costs
(204
)
 
(7,473
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
77,611

 
100,048

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(2
)
 
(135
)
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
3,881

 
11,869

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
8,283

 
6,307

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$
12,164

 
$
18,176

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

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 as well as salt water disposal wells in south Texas. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (“Ferrellgas Partners”), a publicly traded limited partnership, holds an approximate 99% limited partner interest in, and consolidates, Ferrellgas, L.P. Ferrellgas, Inc. (the “general partner”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrell Companies, Inc. (“Ferrell Companies”), holds an approximate 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas, L.P. and performs all management functions required by Ferrellgas, L.P.
 
Ferrellgas, L.P. owns a 100% equity interest in Ferrellgas Finance Corp., whose only business activity is to act as the co-issuer and co-obligor of debt issued by Ferrellgas, L.P.

Ferrellgas, L.P. is engaged in the following reportable business segment activities:
Propane and related equipment sales consists of the distribution of propane and related equipment and supplies. The propane distribution market is seasonal because propane is used primarily for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Ferrellgas serves residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Midstream operations consists of eight salt water disposal wells in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. Salt water disposal wells are a critical component of the oil and natural gas well drilling industry. Oil and natural gas wells generate significant volumes of salt water that is transported by truck to Ferrellgas, L.P.'s disposal wells.

Due to seasonality, the results of operations for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year.
 
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 2014.


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, valuation methods used to value intangibles and goodwill in business combinations, allowance for doubtful accounts, fair value of reporting units, fair value of derivative contracts, and stock based compensation calculations.
 
(2)    Supplemental cash flow information: 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:

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Table of Contents

 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
CASH PAID FOR:
 
 
 
Interest
$
38,591

 
$
37,800

Income taxes
$
262

 
$
179

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Assets contributed from Ferrellgas Partners in connection with acquisitions
$

 
$
1,500

Liabilities incurred in connection with acquisitions
$

 
$
682

Change in accruals for property, plant and equipment additions
$
1,216

 
$
1,082


C.    Supplemental financial statement information
 
Inventories consist of the following:
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Propane gas and related products
 
$
104,169

 
$
121,111

Appliances, parts and supplies
 
28,104

 
24,858

Inventories
 
$
132,273

 
$
145,969


In addition to inventories on hand, Ferrellgas, L.P. enters into contracts primarily to buy propane for supply procurement purposes with terms up to 36 months. Most of these contracts call for payment based on market prices at the date of delivery. As of January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. had committed, for supply procurement purposes, to take delivery of approximately 41.4 million gallons of propane at fixed prices.
 
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Accrued interest
 
$
10,223

 
$
10,176

Accrued payroll
 
17,465

 
37,120

Customer deposits and advances
 
24,772

 
25,412

Price risk management liabilities
 
34,488

 
83

Other
 
58,672

 
50,362

Other current liabilities
 
$
145,620

 
$
123,153


Shipping and handling expenses are classified in the following condensed consolidated statements of earnings line items:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Operating expense
 
$
48,125

 
$
54,755

 
$
93,915

 
$
100,733

Depreciation and amortization expense
 
1,327

 
1,440

 
2,777

 
2,855

Equipment lease expense
 
5,713

 
3,767

 
10,578

 
7,394

 
 
$
55,165

 
$
59,962

 
$
107,270

 
$
110,982



D. Accounts and notes receivable, net and accounts receivable securitization
 
Accounts and notes receivable, net consist of the following:
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
Accounts receivable pledged as collateral
$
256,112

 
$
159,003

Accounts receivable
22,691

 
24,108

Other
183

 
247

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
(5,341
)
 
(4,756
)
Accounts and notes receivable, net
$
273,645

 
$
178,602

 
 

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At January 31, 2015, $256.1 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $175.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to a commercial paper conduit. At July 31, 2014, $159.0 million of trade accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against $91.0 million of collateralized notes payable due to the 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, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received cash proceeds of $175.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of July 31, 2014, Ferrellgas, L.P. had received cash proceeds of $91.0 million from trade accounts receivables securitized, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. Borrowings under the accounts receivable securitization facility had a weighted average interest rate of 2.0% and 2.1% as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively.


E.    Debt
 
Short-term borrowings
 
Ferrellgas, L.P. classified a portion of its secured credit facility borrowings as short-term because it was used to fund working capital needs that management had intended to pay down within the 12 month period following each balance sheet date. As of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, $67.4 million and $69.5 million, respectively, were classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the secured credit facility section below.

Secured credit facility
 
As of January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $239.2 million, of which $171.8 million was classified as long-term debt. As of July 31, 2014, Ferrellgas, L.P. had total borrowings outstanding under its secured credit facility of $193.3 million, of which $123.8 million was classified as long-term debt. Additionally, Ferrellgas had $292.7 million and $350.4 million of available borrowing capacity under our secured credit facility as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively.
 
Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014 under the secured credit facilities had weighted average interest rates of 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively.

The obligations under this credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of Ferrellgas, L.P., the general partner and certain subsidiaries of Ferrellgas, L.P. but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s accounts receivable securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of Ferrellgas, L.P.
 
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2015 totaled $68.1 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2014 totaled $56.3 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and to a lesser extent, product purchases. At January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. had remaining letter of credit capacity of $131.9 million. At July 31, 2014 Ferrellgas, L.P. had remaining letter of credit capacity of $143.7 million

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Table of Contents

F.  Partners’ capital
 
Partnership distributions paid
 
Ferrellgas, L.P. has paid the following distributions:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Ferrellgas Partners
 
$
49,626

 
$
47,821

 
$
91,400

 
$
87,756

General partner
 
506

 
488

 
932

 
896

 
 
$
50,132

 
$
48,309

 
$
92,332

 
$
88,652


On February 26, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. declared distributions for the three months ended January 31, 2015 to Ferrellgas Partners and the general partner of $41.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively, which are expected to be paid on March 17, 2015.

During six months ended January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. received cash contributions of $42.2 million from Ferrellgas Partners. The proceeds were used to reduce outstanding indebtedness under Ferrellgas, L.P.’s secured credit facility.
 
See additional discussions about transactions with related parties in Note I – Transactions with related parties.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”)

See Note H – Derivative instruments and hedging activities – for details regarding changes in the fair value of risk management financial derivatives recorded within AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014.
 
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, 2015, the general partner made cash contributions of $0.4 million and non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.
 
During the six months ended January 31, 2014, the general partner made non-cash contributions of $0.2 million to Ferrellgas, L.P. to maintain its 1.0101% general partner interest.



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G.    Fair value measurements
 
Derivative financial instruments and contingent consideration
 
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, 2015 and July 31, 2014:
 
 
Asset (Liability)
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Total
January 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
3,382

 
$

 
$
3,382

Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
2,081

 
$

 
$
2,081

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
(3,796
)
 
$

 
$
(3,796
)
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
(44,593
)
 
$

 
$
(44,593
)
  Contingent consideration

$


$


$
(100
)

$
(100
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
2,101

 
$

 
$
2,101

Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
7,006

 
$

 
$
7,006

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative financial instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap agreements
 
$

 
$
(5,075
)
 
$

 
$
(5,075
)
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$

 
$
(83
)
 
$

 
$
(83
)
Contingent consideration

$


$


$
(6,400
)

$
(6,400
)

The following is a reconciliation of the opening and closing balances for the liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the period ended January 31, 2015:


Contingent consideration liability
Balance at July 31, 2014

$
6,400

     Increase in fair value related to accretion

400

     Change in fair value included in earnings

(6,700
)
Balance at January 31, 2015

$
100

Quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements


Fair value at January 31, 2015

Valuation technique

Unobservable input

Range
 
Weighted average
Contingent consideration liability

$
100


Discounted cash flow
A.
Weighted average cost of capital (WACC)

N/A
 
20
%






B.
Probability of forecast

5% - 80%
 
N/A



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The valuation of the contingent consideration is based on unobservable inputs such as Ferrellgas, L.P.'s weighted average cost of capital and the likelihood of the acquired company meeting earnings thresholds. As of January 31, 2015, fluctuations in these inputs could have the following effect (in thousands):

 
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
 
5% increase in WACC
 
5% decrease in WACC
 
10% increase in best earnings forecast probability
 
10% decrease in best earnings forecast probability
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

$
(20
)

$


$
170


$
(100
)

Methodology

The fair values of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

The fair value of Ferrellgas L.P.'s contingent consideration for the acquisition of Sable Environmental, LLC and Sable SWD 2, LLC (collectively, "Sable") is based upon our estimate of the likelihood that the target EBITDA metric will be met and exceeded and the amount by which it could be exceeded then discounting that value at a risk- and inflation-adjusted rate. The inputs to this model are the likelihood of meeting and exceeding the target EBITDA metric and discount rate. Management and the sellers prepared an operating forecast based on Sable's operating capacities, historical performance, and projected oil and water volumes and set a target EBITDA metric. Management then assessed the likelihood of this target EBITDA metric being achieved and exceeded and assigned probabilities to various potential outcomes. To determine the appropriate discount rate, management used observable inputs such as inflation rates, short and long-term yields for U.S. government securities and our nonperformance risk. Due to the significant unobservable inputs required in this measurement, management determined that the fair value measurement of the contingent consideration liability is level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
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, 2015 and July 31, 2014, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas L.P.’s long-term debt instruments was $1,194.5 million and $1,215.3 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.

Ferrellgas L.P.  has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.

H.   Derivative instruments and hedging activities
 
Ferrellgas, L.P. is exposed to certain market risks related to its ongoing business operations. These risks include exposure to changing commodity prices as well as fluctuations in interest rates. Ferrellgas, L.P. utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices. Ferrellgas, L.P. also periodically utilizes derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.
 
Derivative instruments and hedging activities  
 
During the six months ended January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. recognized a $0.2 million loss 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. During the six months ended January 31, 2014, 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 derivatives that were designated as hedging instruments in Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014

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January 31, 2015
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Derivative Instrument
 
Location
 
 Fair value
 
Location
 
 Fair value
Propane commodity derivatives
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
1,837

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
33,423

Propane commodity derivatives
 
Other assets, net
 
243

 
Other liabilities
 
11,170

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,053

 
Other current liabilities
 
1,065

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Other assets, net
 
1,329

 
Other liabilities
 
2,731

 
 
Total
 
$
5,462

 
Total
 
$
48,389

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July 31, 2014
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Derivative Instrument
 
Location
 
 Fair value
 
Location
 
 Fair value
Propane commodity derivatives
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
5,301

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
83

Propane commodity derivatives
 
Other assets, net
 
1,705

 
Other liabilities
 

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
2,101

 
Other current liabilities
 

Interest rate swap agreements
 
Other assets, net
 

 
Other liabilities
 
5,075

 
 
Total
 
$
9,107

 
Total
 
$
5,158


Ferrellgas, L.P.'s exchange traded propane 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. The following tables provide a summary of cash margin deposit balances as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively:

 
 
January 31, 2015
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Description
 
Location
 
Amount
 
Location
 
Amount
Margin Deposits
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
31,207

 
Other current liabilities
 
$
15

 
 
Other assets, net
 
12,343

 
Other liabilities
 

 
 
 
 
$
43,550

 
 
 
$
15

 
 
July 31, 2014
 
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
Description
 
Location
 
Amount
 
Location
 
Amount
Margin Deposits
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
156

 
Other current liabilities
 
$

 
 
Other assets, net
 
189

 
Other liabilities
 

 
 
 
 
$
345

 
 
 
$





The following table provides a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 due to derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments:  

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Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative

Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rated Debt (Related Hedged Item)
Derivative Instrument
 
Location of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest rate swap agreements
 
Interest expense
 
$
587

 
$
489

 
$
(2,275
)
 
$
(2,275
)

 
 
 
 
Amount of Gain Recognized on Derivative

Amount of Interest Expense Recognized on Fixed-Rated Debt (Related Hedged Item)
Derivative Instrument
 
Location of Gain Recognized on Derivative
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Interest rate swap agreements
 
Interest expense
 
$
1,043

 
$
1,321

 
$
(4,550
)
 
$
(7,640
)

The following tables provide a summary of the effect on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 due to the effective portion of derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:  
 
 
For the three months ended January 31, 2015
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
(42,910
)
 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
(7,360
)
Interest rate swap agreements
 
(2,217
)
 
Interest expense
 
(199
)
 
 
$
(45,127
)
 
 
 
$
(7,559
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended January 31, 2014
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
5,846

 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
3,826

Interest rate swap agreements
 
(63
)
 
Interest expense
 

 
 
$
5,783

 
 
 
$
3,826



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For the six months ended January 31, 2015
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
(55,668
)
 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
(6,232
)
Interest rate swap agreements
 
(3,356
)
 
Interest expense
 
(199
)
 
 
$
(59,024
)
 
 
 
$
(6,431
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the six months ended January 31, 2014
Derivative Instrument
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income
Propane commodity derivatives
 
$
17,463

 
Cost of product sold- propane and other gas liquids sales
 
$
4,755

Interest rate swap agreements
 
(1,076
)
 
Interest expense
 

 
 
$
16,387

 
 
 
$
4,755


The changes in derivatives included in AOCI for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows: 
 
 
For the six months ended January 31,
Gains and losses on derivatives included in AOCI
 
2015
 
2014
Beginning balance
 
$
6,483

 
$
2,066

Change in value of risk management commodity derivatives
 
(55,668
)
 
17,463

Reclassification of gains and losses on commodity hedges to cost of product sold - propane and other gas liquids sales, net
 
6,232

 
(4,755
)
Change in value of risk management interest rate derivatives
 
(3,356
)
 
(1,076
)
Reclassification of gains and losses on interest rate hedges to interest expense
 
$
199

 
$

Ending balance
 
$
(46,110
)
 
$
13,698


Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to reclassify net losses of approximately $31.6 million to earnings during the next 12 months. These net losses are expected to be offset by increased margins on propane sales commitments Ferrellgas, L.P. has with its customers that qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception.
 
During the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, Ferrellgas, L.P. had no reclassifications to earnings 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, 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. had financial derivative contracts covering 3.5 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, L.P. is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to derivative financial and commodity instruments. Ferrellgas, L.P.’s counterparties principally consist of major energy companies and major U.S. financial institutions. Ferrellgas, L.P. maintains credit policies with regard to its counterparties that it believes reduces its overall credit risk. These policies include evaluating and monitoring its counterparties’ financial condition, including their credit ratings, and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit limits. Certain of these agreements call for the posting of collateral by the counterparty or by Ferrellgas, L.P. in the forms of letters of credit, parental guarantees or cash. Although Ferrellgas, L.P. has concentrations of credit risk associated with derivative financial instruments held by certain derivative financial instrument counterparties, at January 31, 2015 Ferrellgas, L.P. had no exposure to losses due to credit risk, based upon the gross fair values of the derivative financial instruments, if these counterparties that make up the concentration failed to perform according to the terms of their contracts.  
 

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Ferrellgas, L.P. holds certain derivative contracts that have credit-risk-related contingent features which dictate credit limits based upon the Ferrellgas, L.P.’s debt rating. At January 31, 2015, there were $1.1 million of derivatives with credit-risk-related contingent features in a liability position for which Ferrellgas, L.P. had no posted collateral in the normal course of business related to such derivatives.


I.    Transactions with related parties 
 
Ferrellgas, L.P. has no employees and is managed and controlled by its general partner. Pursuant to Ferrellgas, L.P.’s partnership agreement, the general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on behalf of Ferrellgas, L.P. and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to Ferrellgas, L.P. or otherwise reasonably incurred by its general partner in connection with operating Ferrellgas, L.P.’s business. These costs primarily include compensation and benefits paid to employees of the general partner who perform services on Ferrellgas, L.P.’s behalf and are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as follows:
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Operating expense
 
$
59,142

 
$
61,412

 
$
110,262

 
$
109,570

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expense
 
$
8,068

 
$
9,200

 
$
14,665

 
$
15,101


See additional discussions about transactions with the general partner and related parties in Note F – Partners’ capital.


J.    Contingencies and commitments
 
Litigation
 
Ferrellgas, L.P.’s operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. 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.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) initiated an investigation into certain practices related to the filling of portable propane cylinders. On March 27, 2014, the FTC filed an administrative complaint alleging that Ferrellgas, L.P. and one of its competitors colluded in 2008 to persuade a customer to accept the cylinder fill reduction from 17 pounds to 15 pounds.  The complaint does not seek monetary remedies.  Ferrellgas, L.P. reached a settlement with the FTC during the three months ended October 31, 2014 without any financial payment; the settlement has been approved by a vote of the Commission and is in a public comment period.

Ferrellgas L.P. has also been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The complaints, filed on behalf of direct and indirect customers of our tank exchange business, reference the FTC complaint mentioned above.  The lawsuits allege that Ferrellgas L.P. and a competitor coordinated in 2008 to reduce the fill level in barbeque cylinders and combined to persuade a common customer to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to retailers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws.  The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class.  These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. We believe we have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against the consolidated case.  Ferrellgas L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.

Ferrellgas, L.P. has also been named as a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Kansas. The complaint was the subject of a motion to dismiss which was granted, in part, in August 2011. The surviving claims allege breach of contract and breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, both of which allegedly arise from the existence of an oral contract for continuous propane service. Ferrellgas, L.P. believes the claims are without merit and intends to defend them vigorously. The case has not been certified for class treatment. Ferrellgas, L.P. recently prevailed on an appeal

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before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the appellate court ordered the trial court to determine whether the case must be arbitrated. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to this putative class action lawsuit.

K.    Segment reporting

During May 2014, Ferrellgas L.P. entered into a membership interest purchase agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Sable, a fluid logistics provider in the Eagle Ford shale region of south Texas. With this acquisition Ferrellgas L.P. established a new operating and reportable segment referred to as “Midstream Operations” in addition to the existing reportable segment of propane and related equipment sales. The chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating segments using an Adjusted EBITDA performance measure which is based on net earnings before income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets, other income (expense), net, change in fair value of contingent consideration and litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit. This performance measure is not a GAAP measure, however, the components are computed using amounts that are determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of this performance measure to net earnings, which is its nearest comparable GAAP measure, is included in the tables below. In management's evaluation of performance, certain costs, such as compensation for administrative staff and executive management, are not allocated by segment and, accordingly, the following reportable segment results do not include such unallocated costs. The accounting policies of the operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note B.
Assets reported within a segment are those assets that can be identified to a segment and primarily consist of trade receivables, property, plant and equipment, inventories, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Cash, certain prepaid assets and other assets are not allocated to segments. Although Ferrellgas L.P. can and does identify long-lived assets such as property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangible assets to reportable segments, Ferrellgas L.P. does not allocate the related depreciation and amortization to the segment as management evaluates segment performance exclusive of these non-cash charges.
The propane and related equipment sales segment primarily includes the distribution and sale of propane and related equipment and supplies with concentrations in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest regions of the United States. Sales from propane distribution are generated principally from transporting propane purchased from third parties to propane distribution locations and then to tanks on customers’ premises or to portable propane tanks delivered to nationwide and local retailers. Sales from portable tank exchanges, nationally branded under the name Blue Rhino, are generated through a network of independent and partnership-owned distribution outlets.

Salt water disposal wells are a critical component of the oil and natural gas well drilling industry. Oil and gas wells generate significant volumes of salt water known as “flowback” and “production” water. Flowback is a water based solution that flows back to the surface during and after the completion of the hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) process whereby large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressures into rock formations to stimulate production. Flowback contains clays, chemicals, dissolved metal ions, total dissolved solids and oil/condensate. Production water is salt water from underground formations that are brought to the surface during the normal course of oil or gas production. Because this water has been in contact with hydrocarbon-bearing formations, it contains some of the chemical characteristics of the formations and the hydrocarbons. In the oil and gas fields that Ferrellgas L.P.'s services, these volumes of water are transported by truck away from the fields to salt water disposal wells where it is injected into underground geologic formations using high-pressure pumps. Revenue is derived from fees charged to customers to dispose of salt water at the disposal facilities and crude oil sales from a process we use to separate crude oil from salt water, known as "skimming oil".

Prior to the Sable acquisition in May 2014, Ferrellgas managed and evaluated its operations as a single reportable segment. As the current two reportable segment structure is the result of the Sable acquisition completed during May 2014, comparative historical segment information for fiscal 2014 does not exist.

Following is a summary of segment information for the three months ended January 31, 2015.


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Three months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment revenues
 
$
658,820

 
$
7,153

 
$

 
$
665,973

 
Direct costs (1)
 
 
513,006

 
 
5,137

 
 
10,902

 
 
529,045

 
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
145,814

 
$
2,016

 
$
(10,902
)
 
$
136,928

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Following is a summary of segment information for the six months ended January 31, 2015.
 
 
 
Six months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment revenues

$
1,094,259


$
15,069


$


$
1,109,328

 
Direct costs (1)


906,814



9,870



21,358



938,042

 
Adjusted EBITDA

$
187,445


$
5,199


$
(21,358
)

$
171,286

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Direct costs are comprised of "cost of products sold-propane and other gas liquids sales", "cost of products sold-other", "operating expense", "general and administrative expense", and "equipment lease expense" less "non-cash stock-based compensation charge", "change in fair value of contingent consideration" and "litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit".

Following is a reconciliation of our total segment performance measure to consolidated net earnings:
 
 
Three months ended January 31,
 
Six months ended January 31,
 
 
2015
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings

$
90,409

 
$
61,272

Income tax expense

 
1,037

 

526

Interest expense

 
20,341

 

40,219

Depreciation and amortization expense

 
23,943

 

47,252

EBITDA

 
135,730

 

149,269

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

 
3,788

 

8,162

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge

 
318

 

16,430

Loss on disposal of assets

 
1,414

 

2,375

Other expense (income), net

 
178

 

627

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 
(4,500
)
 

(6,300
)
Litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit

 

 

723

Adjusted EBITDA

$
136,928

 
$
171,286


Following are total assets by segment:

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January 31,
July 31,
2015
2014
 
 
 
 


Assets





Propane and related equipment sales

$
1,508,347

$
1,400,603

Midstream operations


201,902


136,116

Corporate and unallocated


34,333


33,114

Total consolidated assets

$
1,744,582

$
1,569,833


Following are capital expenditures by segment:
 
 
 
For the six months ended January 31, 2015
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maintenance

$
8,873


$
350


$
676


$
9,899

 
Growth


14,324



2,910






17,234

 
Total

$
23,197


$
3,260


$
676


$
27,133

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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







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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
 
January 31, 2015
 
July 31, 2014
ASSETS


 


Cash
$
990

 
$
1,100

Total assets
$
990

 
$
1,100

 
 
 
 
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
52,609

 
49,159

Accumulated deficit
(52,619
)
 
(49,059
)
Total stockholder's equity
$
990

 
$
1,100

See notes to condensed financial statements.


FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the three months ended January 31,
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative expense
$
3,400

 
$
4,790

 
$
3,560

 
$
4,840

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(3,400
)
 
$
(4,790
)
 
$
(3,560
)
 
$
(4,840
)
See notes to condensed financial statements.
 
 
 
 

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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(3,560
)
 
$
(4,840
)
Cash used in operating activities
(3,560
)
 
(4,840
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
 
 
 
Capital contribution
3,450

 
4,840

Cash provided by financing activities
3,450

 
4,840

 
 
 
 
Net change in cash
(110
)
 

Cash - beginning of period
1,100

 
1,100

Cash - end of period
$
990

 
$
1,100

See notes to condensed financial statements.

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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
(a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P.)
  (unaudited)

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
A.    Formation
 
Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (the “Finance Corp.”), a Delaware corporation, was formed on January 16, 2003 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “Partnership”).
 
The condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the interim periods presented. All adjustments to the condensed financial statements were of a normal recurring nature.

The Finance Corp. has nominal assets, does not conduct any operations and has no employees.


B.    Contingencies and commitments
 
The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for the following debt securities of the Partnership:

$500.0 million, 6.50% senior notes due 2021; and
$475.0 million, 6.75% senior notes due 2022.



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ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations relates to Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership.
 
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. have nominal assets, do not conduct any operations and have no employees other than officers. Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of Ferrellgas Partners while Ferrellgas Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the operating partnership. Accordingly, and due to the reduced disclosure format, a discussion of the results of operations, liquidity and capital resources of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. is not presented.

In this Item 2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context indicates otherwise:

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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;

“midstream sales” refers to fees charged for the processing and disposal of salt water as well as the sale of crude oil recovered from our skimming oil process;

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

“salt water volume” refers to the number of barrels of salt water processed at our disposal sites;

“skimming oil” refers to a process our salt water disposal wells use to separate crude oil from salt water; and

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

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

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

Our general partner performs all management functions for us and our subsidiaries and holds a 1% general partner interest in Ferrellgas Partners and an approximate 1% general partner interest in the operating partnership. The parent company of our general partner, Ferrell Companies, beneficially owns approximately 27.5% of our outstanding common units. Ferrell Companies is owned 100% by an employee stock ownership trust.
 
We file annual, quarterly, and other reports and information with the SEC. You may read and download our SEC filings over the Internet from several commercial document retrieval services as well as at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy our SEC filings at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information concerning the Public Reference Room and any applicable copy charges. Because our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FGP,” we also provide our SEC filings and particular other information to the New York Stock Exchange. You may obtain copies of these filings and such other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange located at 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. In addition, our SEC filings are available on our website at www.ferrellgas.com at no cost as soon as reasonably practicable after our electronic filing or furnishing thereof with the SEC. Please note that any Internet addresses provided in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be hyperlinks. Accordingly, no information found and/or provided at such Internet addresses is intended or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.
 
The following is a discussion of our historical financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with our historical condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
The discussions set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections generally refer to Ferrellgas Partners and its consolidated subsidiaries. However, in these discussions there exist two material differences between Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership. Those material differences are:
 
because Ferrellgas Partners has outstanding $182.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior notes due fiscal 2020, the two partnerships incur different amounts of interest expense on their outstanding indebtedness; see the statements of earnings in their respective condensed consolidated financial statements; and
Ferrellgas Partners issued common units during both fiscal 2014 and 2015.

Overview
 
Strategic Diversification Acquisition

During May 2014, we entered into a membership interest purchase agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding membership interests in each of Sable Environmental, LLC and Sable SWD 2, LLC (collectively, "Sable"), a fluid logistics provider that operates salt water disposal wells. Also during May 2014, we purchased the assets of a salt water disposal well in Dietert, Texas. During September 2014, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire two salt water disposal wells from C&E Production, LLC and its affiliates ("C&E sellers") based in Bryan, Texas. All of these acquired salt water disposal wells operate in the Eagle Ford shale region of South Texas. With these acquisitions we have added a new operating and reportable segment referred to as our “Midstream Operations” and now have two reportable operating segments: propane and related equipment sales and midstream operations.

 Propane and related equipment sales

We believe we are a leading distributor of propane and related equipment and supplies to customers in the United States as measured by the volume of our retail sales in fiscal 2014 and a leading national provider of propane by portable tank exchange. We serve residential, industrial/commercial, portable tank exchange, agricultural, wholesale and other customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Our operations primarily include the distribution and sale of propane and related equipment and supplies with concentrations in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest regions of the United States.


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We use information on temperatures to understand how our results of operations are affected by temperatures that are warmer or colder than normal. We use the definition of “normal” temperatures based on information published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”). Based on this information we calculate a ratio of actual heating degree days to normal heating degree days. Heating degree days are a general indicator of weather impacting propane usage.
 
Weather conditions have a significant impact on demand for propane for heating purposes during the months of November through March (the “winter heating season”). Accordingly, the volume of propane used by our customers for this purpose is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather in the regions we serve and can vary substantially from year to year. In any given region, sustained warmer-than-normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane usage, while sustained colder-than-normal temperatures will tend to result in greater usage. Although there is a strong correlation between weather and customer usage, general economic conditions in the United States and the wholesale price of propane can have a significant impact on this correlation. Additionally, there is a natural time lag between the onset of cold weather and increased sales to customers. If the United States were to experience a cooling trend we could expect nationwide demand for propane to increase which could lead to greater sales, income and liquidity availability. Conversely, if the United States were to experience a warming trend, we could expect nationwide demand for propane to decrease which could lead to a reduction in our sales, income and liquidity availability.
      
We employ risk management activities that attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies on a short-term basis. We attempt to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments and forward propane purchase and sales contracts. We enter into propane sales commitments with a portion of our customers that provide for a contracted price agreement for a specified period of time. These commitments can expose us to product price risk if not immediately hedged with an offsetting propane purchase commitment.
 
Our open financial derivative purchase commitments are designated as hedges primarily for fiscal 2015 and 2016 sales commitments and, as of January 31, 2015, have experienced net mark to market losses of approximately $42.5 million. Because these financial derivative purchase commitments qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the resulting asset, liability and related mark to market gains or losses are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as “Prepaid expenses and other current assets,” "Other assets, net," “Other current liabilities,” "Other liabilities" and “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” respectively, until settled. Upon settlement, realized gains or losses on these contracts will be reclassified to “Cost of product sold-propane and other gas liquid sales” in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings as the underlying inventory is sold. These financial derivative purchase commitment net losses are expected to be offset by increased margins on propane sales commitments that qualify for the normal purchase normal sale exception. At January 31, 2015, we estimate 60% 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.

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

Business Strategy

Our business strategy is to:
 
expand our operations through disciplined acquisitions and internal growth, as accretive opportunities become available;
capitalize on our national presence and economies of scale; and
maximize operating efficiencies through utilization of our technology platform. 

Midstream Operations - Disposal Wells
We currently own and operate eight salt water disposal wells in and around the Eagle Ford shale in south Texas. Salt water disposal wells are a critical component of the oil and natural gas well drilling industry. Oil and gas wells generate significant volumes of salt water known as “flowback” and “production” water. Flowback is a water based solution that flows back to the surface during and after the completion of the hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) process whereby large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressures into rock formations to stimulate production. Flowback contains clays, chemicals, dissolved metal ions, total dissolved solids and oil/condensate. Production water is salt water from underground formations that are brought to the surface during the normal course of oil or gas production. Because this water

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has been in contact with hydrocarbon-bearing formations, it contains some of the chemical characteristics of the formations and the hydrocarbons. In the oil and gas fields we service, these volumes of water are transported by truck away from the fields to salt water disposal wells where it is injected into underground geologic formations using high-pressure pumps. Our revenue is derived from fees we charge our customers to dispose of salt water at our facilities and crude oil sales from a process we use to separate crude oil from salt water, known as "skimming oil".
Our gross margin is highly dependent on production activity in the Eagle Ford shale and thus from the volume of salt water delivered to our wells for disposal. We do not attempt to hedge the price of crude oil sales from our skimming activities.
 
Business Strategy

Our business strategy is to expand our operations and diversify our business through disciplined acquisitions and internal growth as accretive opportunities become available. We anticipate these growth opportunities will leverage our expertise in transportation, storage and terminaling of energy related products.

Financial Summary

Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.” in the six months ended January 31, 2015 was $52.6 million compared to $35.6 million in the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to:

a $21.2 loss on extinguishment of debt that occurred in the prior year period; and

a $5.2 million increase in “Adjusted EBITDA – Midstream operations”; and

partially offset by a $6.4 million increase in “Depreciation and amortization expense” due primarily to the addition of the assets associated with the Midstream operations segment.

We completed our last annual goodwill impairment test on January 31, 2015 and did not incur an impairment loss.

Forward-looking Statements
 
Statements included in this report include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements often use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “position,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms or other variations of them or comparable terminology. These statements often discuss plans, strategies, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future and are based upon the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on the information currently available to them. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning our future operating results or our ability to generate sales, income or cash flow are forward-looking statements.
 
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will affect our future results are beyond our ability to control or predict.
 
Some of our forward-looking statements include the following:

that we will continue to have sufficient access to capital markets at yields acceptable to us to support our expected growth expenditures and refinancing of debt maturities;
that Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership will continue to meet all of the quarterly financial tests required by the agreements governing their indebtedness; and
that our future capital expenditures and working capital needs will be provided by a combination of cash generated from future operations, existing cash balances, the secured credit facility or the accounts receivable securitization facility.
 
When considering any forward-looking statement, keep in mind the risk factors set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014 as well as any changes to these risk factors set forth in "Part II, Item 1A" of this Quarterly Report on From 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 to pay interest on the principal of our debt securities. In addition, the trading price, if any, of our securities could decline as a result of any such impairment.
 
Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or risk factors after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

    


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Results of Operations
 
Three months ended January 31, 2015 compared to January 31, 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
(Unfavorable)
Three months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Propane sales volumes (gallons):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Retail – Sales to End Users
 
215,996

 
246,929

 
(30,933
)
 
(13
)%
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers
 
81,310

 
95,922

 
(14,612
)
 
(15
)%
 
 
297,306

 
342,851

 
(45,545
)
 
(13
)%
Midstream operations (barrels processed)
 
4,722

 

 
4,722

 
NM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Revenues -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Propane and other gas liquids sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Retail – Sales to End Users
 
$
402,451

 
$
545,670

 
$
(143,219
)
 
(26
)%
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers
 
127,164

 
193,093

 
(65,929
)
 
(34
)%
Other Gas Sales (a)
 
31,252

 
50,683

 
(19,431
)
 
(38
)%
Other
 
97,953

 
80,237

 
17,716

 
22
 %
Propane and related equipment revenues
 
658,820

 
869,683

 
(210,863
)
 
(24
)%
Midstream operations
 
7,153

 

 
7,153

 
NM

 
 
$
665,973

 
$
869,683

 
$
(203,710
)
 
(23
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Gross margin -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Propane and other gas liquids sales: (b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Retail – Sales to End Users (a)
 
$
189,538

 
$
187,081

 
$
2,457

 
1
 %
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers (a)
 
40,637

 
50,859

 
(10,222
)
 
(20
)%
Other
 
29,882

 
31,528

 
(1,646
)
 
(5
)%
Propane and related equipment gross margin
 
260,057

 
269,468

 
(9,411
)
 
(3
)%
Midstream operations (d)
 
4,934

 

 
4,934

 
NM

 
 
$
264,991

 
$
269,468

 
$
(4,477
)
 
(2
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Operating income
 
$
111,965

 
$
104,821

 
$
7,144

 
7
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Propane and related equipment
 
$
145,814

 
$
148,971

 
$
(3,157
)
 
(2
)%
Midstream operations
 
2,016

 

 
2,016

 
NM

Corporate and other
 
(10,902
)
 
(12,615
)
 
1,713

 
14
 %
Adjusted EBITDA (c)
 
$
136,928

 
$
136,356

 
$
572

 
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Interest expense
 
$
(24,375
)
 
$
(22,090
)
 
$
(2,285
)
 
(10
)%
Interest expense - operating partnership
 
(20,341
)
 
(18,047
)
 
(2,294
)
 
(13
)%
Loss on extinguishment of debt



(20,901
)

20,901


NM

NM - Not Meaningful
a)
Gross margin from 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)
Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales represents “Revenues - propane and other gas liquids sales” less “Cost of product sold – propane and other gas liquids sales” and does not include depreciation and amortization.
c)
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets, other expense (income), net,

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change in fair value of contingent consideration 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 makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
d)
Gross margin from Midstream operations represents “Revenues - Midstream operations” less “Cost of product sold – Midstream operations” and does not include depreciation and amortization.

The following table summarizes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders for the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively:
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Three months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

$
85,458


$
60,464

Income tax expense

1,041


764

Interest expense

24,375


22,090

Depreciation and amortization expense

23,943


20,643

EBITDA

134,817


103,961

Loss on extinguishment of debt



20,901

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

3,788


3,636

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge

318


5,919

Loss on disposal of assets

1,414


1,337

Other expense (income), net

178


(57
)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration

(4,500
)


Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

913


659

Adjusted EBITDA
 
136,928


136,356

Net cash interest expense (a)

(23,287
)

(20,980
)
Maintenance capital expenditures (b)

(4,624
)

(4,446
)
Cash paid for taxes

(6
)

(178
)
Proceeds from asset sales

1,312


1,165

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (c)
 
110,323

 
111,917

Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest

2,206


2,238

Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders (d)
 
108,117

 
109,679

Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders

41,359


39,573

Distributable cash flow surplus
 
$
66,758

 
$
70,106


 
 
(a)
Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income (expense), net. This amount includes interest expense related to the accounts receivable securitization facility.

(b)
Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment.

(c)
Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to equity investors. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(d) Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may

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have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

Propane and related equipment sales

Propane sales volumes during the three months ended January 31, 2015 decreased 13% or 45.5 million gallons, from that of the prior year period primarily due to 34.5 million and 14.6 million of decreased gallon sales to retail and wholesale customers, respectively, partially offset by 3.6 million of acquisition related gallons.

Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the three months ended January 31, 2015 was approximately 9% warmer than that of the prior year period and 4% warmer than normal. We believe retail and wholesale customer sales volumes decreased due to warmer weather.

Our wholesale sales price per gallon correlates to the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas and Conway, Kansas during the three months ended January 31, 2015 averaged 53% and 62% less than the prior year period, respectively. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.60 and $1.29 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.60 and $1.58 per gallon during the three months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

We believe the effect of this significant decrease in the average wholesale market price of propane resulted in an increase in our gross margin per gallon. During this period of significantly lower prices, we earned a relatively greater gross margin per gallon as our ability to maintain sales price per gallon did not decline at the same rate as the corresponding decline in wholesale propane prices.

Revenues
 
Retail sales decreased $143.2 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $78.9 million decrease in sales price per gallon and from a $73.0 million decrease in retail propane volumes, partially offset by a $8.7 million increase resulting from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, each as discussed above.
 
Wholesale sales decreased $65.9 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from $44.2 million of decreased sales price per gallon and a $21.7 million decrease resulting from decreased sales volumes.
 
Other gas sales decreased $19.4 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to $34.3 million of decreased sales price per gallon, partially offset by a $14.9 million increase resulting from greater sales volumes.

Other revenues increased $17.7 million compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the timing of certain lower margin equipment sales.

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
 
Gross margin decreased $7.8 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $29.0 million decrease in propane sales volumes, as discussed above, partially offset by a $21.2 million increase in gross margin per gallon nationally, as discussed above.

Gross margin - Other
 
Gross margin decreased $1.6 million primarily due to a $1.8 million decrease in miscellaneous fees billed to customers.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA decreased $3.2 million primarily due to a $7.8 million decrease in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", and a $1.6 million decrease in Gross margin - Other, each as discussed above, partially offset by an $8.0 million decrease in "Operating expense". "Operating expense" decreased due to a $4.4 million decrease in personnel related costs, primarily due to the timing of performance-based incentive expenses, a $2.9 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs and a $1.8 million decrease in general liability and workers compensation costs, partially offset by $1.4 million of expense related to gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months.

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Midstream operations - Disposal wells

Our midstream operations began with our May 2014 acquisition of Sable, thus there are no comparable results for the three months ended January 31, 2015.

Revenues

Our midstream operations segment generated $7.2 million of skimming oil and salt water disposal revenues.

Gross margin

Our midstream operations segment generated $4.9 million of skimming oil and salt water gross margin.

Adjusted EBITDA

Our midstream operations segment Adjusted EBITDA of $2.0 million during three months ended January 31, 2015 was due to the $4.9 million of gross margin discussed above, partially offset by $2.9 million of operating expenses.

Consolidated

Operating income
 
"Operating income" increased $7.1 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $11.1 million decrease in "Operating expense" and a $5.6 million decrease in "General and administrative expense", partially offset by a $4.5 million decrease in total gross margin as discussed above and a $3.3 million increase in “Depreciation and amortization expense”.
 
"Operating expense" decreased $8.0 million due to decreased operating expenses in our propane and related equipment sales segment, as discussed above, $4.5 million due to a decrease in the fair value of contingent consideration related to our Midstream operations - Disposal wells segment and a $1.5 million decrease in non-cash stock based compensation charges, which were partially offset by $2.9 million of increased operating expenses in our Midstream operations - Disposal wells segment. “General and administrative expense” decreased primarily due to $4.1 million of decreased non-cash stock based compensation charges. “Depreciation and amortization expense” increased primarily due to assets acquired in our Midstream operations - Disposal well segment.
 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors
 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors decreased from $111.9 million in the prior period to $110.3 million in the current period primarily due to a $2.3 million increase in net cash interest expense paid.

Interest expense - consolidated
 
“Interest expense” increased $2.3 million primarily due to the issuance of new debt incurred to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures.
 
Interest expense - operating partnership
 
“Interest expense” increased $2.3 million primarily due to the issuance of new debt incurred to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures.

Loss on extinguishment of debt
    
During the three months ended January 31, 2014, we redeemed the outstanding principal amount on our $300.0 million 9.125% fixed rate senior notes due October 1, 2017, incurring a loss on extinguishment of debt of $20.9 million.


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Six months ended January 31, 2015 compared to January 31, 2014

 
 
 
 
 
 
Favorable
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
(Unfavorable)
Six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Variance
Propane sales volumes (gallons):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Retail – Sales to End Users
 
340,143


372,181


(32,038
)

(9
)%
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers
 
143,245


161,701


(18,456
)

(11
)%
 
 
483,388


533,882


(50,494
)

(9
)%
Midstream operations (barrels processed)
 
8,719




8,719


NM

 
 








 
 








Revenues -
 











Propane and other gas liquids sales:
 











Retail – Sales to End Users
 
$
635,204


$
769,924


$
(134,720
)

(17
)%
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers
 
245,738


318,240


(72,502
)

(23
)%
Other Gas Sales (a)
 
74,286


83,505


(9,219
)

(11
)%
Other
 
139,031


113,044


25,987


23
 %
Propane and related equipment revenues
 
1,094,259


1,284,713


(190,454
)

(15
)%
Midstream operations
 
15,069




15,069


NM

 
 
$
1,109,328


$
1,284,713


$
(175,385
)

(14
)%
 
 











Gross margin -
 











Propane and other gas liquids sales: (b)
 











Retail – Sales to End Users (a)
 
$
278,206


$
268,481


$
9,725


4
 %
Wholesale – Sales to Resellers (a)
 
81,516


92,928


(11,412
)

(12
)%
Other
 
49,068


50,989


(1,921
)

(4
)%
Propane and related equipment gross margin
 
408,790


412,398


(3,608
)

(1
)%
Midstream operations (d)
 
10,882




10,882


NM

 
 
$
419,672


$
412,398


$
7,274


2
 %
 
 











Operating income
 
$
102,647


$
101,892


$
755


1
 %
 
 











Adjusted EBITDA
 











Propane and related equipment
 
$
187,448


$
185,343


$
2,105


1
 %
Midstream operations
 
5,199




5,199


NM

Corporate and other
 
(21,358
)

(22,545
)

1,187


5
 %
Adjusted EBITDA (c)
 
$
171,289


$
162,798


$
8,491


5
 %
 
 











Interest expense
 
$
(48,287
)

$
(44,183
)

$
(4,104
)

(9
)%
Interest expense - operating partnership
 
(40,219
)

(36,096
)

(4,123
)

(11
)%
Loss on extinguishment of debt



(21,202
)

21,202


NM

NM - Not Meaningful
a)
Gross margin from 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)
Gross margin from propane and other gas liquids sales represents “Revenues - propane and other gas liquids sales” less “Cost of product sold – propane and other gas liquids sales” and does not include depreciation and amortization.
c)
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge, non-cash stock-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets, other expense (income), net, change in fair value of contingent consideration, litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit, and net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest. Management believes the presentation of this measure is

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relevant and useful because it allows investors to view the partnership's performance in a manner similar to the method management uses, adjusted for items management believes makes it easier to compare its results with other companies that have different financing and capital structures. This method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.
d)
Gross margin from Midstream operations represents “Revenues - Midstream operations” less “Cost of product sold – Midstream operations” and does not include depreciation and amortization.

The following table summarizes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders for the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively:
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
For the six months ended January 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

$
52,583


$
35,621

Income tax expense

531


714

Interest expense

48,287


44,183

Depreciation and amortization expense

47,252


40,858

EBITDA

148,653


121,376

Loss on extinguishment of debt



21,202

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge

8,162


6,679

Non-cash stock-based compensation charge

16,430


10,350

Loss on disposal of assets

2,375


1,694

Other expense (income), net

627


(273
)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration

(6,300
)


Litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit

723


1,325

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

619


445

Adjusted EBITDA
 
171,289


162,798

Net cash interest expense (a)

(46,177
)

(41,566
)
Maintenance capital expenditures (b)

(9,712
)

(8,583
)
Cash paid for taxes

(266
)

(178
)
Proceeds from asset sales

2,729


2,482

Distributable cash flow to equity investors (c)
 
117,863

 
114,953

Distributable cash flow attributable to general partner and non-controlling interest

2,357


2,299

Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders (d)
 
115,506

 
112,654

Less: Distributions paid to common unitholders

82,715


79,109

Distributable cash flow surplus
 
$32,791
 
$
33,545


 
 
(a)
Net cash interest expense is the sum of interest expense less non-cash interest expense and other income (expense), net. This amount includes interest expense related to the accounts receivable securitization facility.

(b)
Maintenance capital expenditures include capitalized expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment.

(c)
Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to equity investors. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors that will not occur on a continuing basis may have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

(d) Management considers distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders a meaningful non-GAAP measure of the partnership’s ability to declare and pay quarterly distributions to common unitholders. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders, as management defines it, may not be comparable to distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders or similarly titled measurements used by other corporations and partnerships. Items added into our calculation of distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders that will not occur on a continuing basis may

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have associated cash payments. Distributable cash flow attributable to common unitholders may not be consistent with that of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP.

Propane and related equipment sales

Propane sales volumes during the six months ended January 31, 2015 decreased 9% or 50.5 million gallons, from that of the prior year period primarily due to 37.7 million and 18.5 million of decreased gallon sales to retail and wholesale customers, respectively, partially offset by 5.7 million of acquisition related gallons.

Weather in the more highly concentrated geographic areas we serve for the six months ended January 31, 2015 was approximately 9% warmer than that of the prior year period and 7% warmer than normal. We believe retail and wholesale customer sales volumes decreased due to warmer weather.

Our wholesale sales price per gallon correlates to the wholesale market price of propane. The wholesale market price at major supply points in Mt. Belvieu, Texas and Conway, Kansas during the six months ended January 31, 2015 averaged 32% and 39% less than the prior year period, respectively. The wholesale market price at Mt. Belvieu, Texas averaged $0.81 and $1.19 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, while the wholesale market price at Conway, Kansas averaged $0.81 and $1.32 per gallon during the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
    
We believe the effect of this significant decrease in the average wholesale market price of propane resulted in an increase in our gross margin per gallon. During this period of significantly lower prices, we earned relatively greater gross margin per gallon as our ability to maintain sales price per gallon did not decline at the same rate as the corresponding decline in wholesale propane prices.

Revenues
 
Retail sales decreased $134.7 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $79.1 million decrease in retail propane sales volumes and a $68.4 million decrease in sales price per gallon, partially offset by a $12.8 million increase resulting from gallons gained through acquisitions completed during the last twelve months, each as discussed above.
 
Wholesale sales decreased $72.5 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from $46.2 million of decreased sales price per gallon and $26.4 million of decreased sales volumes.

     Other gas sales decreased $9.2 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to $38.3 million of decreased sales price per gallon, partially offset by $29.1 million of increased sales volumes.

Other revenues increased $26.0 million compared to the prior year period, primarily due to the timing of certain lower margin equipment sales.

Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquids sales
 
Gross margin decreased $1.7 million compared to the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a $26.5 million decrease in propane sales volumes, as discussed above, partially offset by a $24.8 million increase in gross margin per gallon, as discussed above.
 
Gross margin - Other
 
Gross margin decreased $1.9 million primarily due to a $2.4 million decrease in miscellaneous fees billed to customers.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA increased $2.1 million primarily due to an $9.1 million decrease in "Operating expense", substantially offset by a $3.3 million increase in "Equipment lease expense", a $1.9 million decrease in Gross margin - Other, as discussed above, and a $1.7 million decrease in "Gross margin - Propane and other gas liquid sales", as discussed above. "Operating expense" decreased due to a $4.8 million decrease in general liability and workers compensation costs, a $3.9 million decrease in vehicle fuel and other vehicle costs, a $3.1 million decrease in personnel related costs, primarily due to the timing of performance-based incentive expenses, partially offset by $3.0 million of expense related to gallons gained through

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acquisitions completed during the last twelve months. "Equipment lease expense" increased $3.3 million due to an increase in the number of vehicles leased during the current year period.

Midstream operations - Disposal wells

Our midstream operations began with our May 2014 acquisition of Sable, thus there are no comparable results for the six months ended January 31, 2014.

Revenues

Our midstream operations segment generated $15.1 million of skimming oil and salt water disposal revenues.

Gross margin

Our midstream operations segment generated $10.9 million of skimming oil and salt water gross margin.

Adjusted EBITDA

Our midstream operations segment Adjusted EBITDA of $5.2 million during the six months ended January 31, 2015 was due to the $10.9 million of gross margin discussed above, partially offset by $5.7 million of operating expenses.

Consolidated

Operating income
 
"Operating income" increased $0.8 million compared to the prior year period primarily due to a $8.4 million decrease in "Operating expense" and  a $7.3 million increase in total gross margin, as discussed above, partially offset by $6.4 million increase in "Depreciation and amortization expense"  a $3.4 million increase in "General and administrative expense" and a $3.0 million increase in equipment lease expense, as discussed above.

"Operating expense" decreased $9.1 million primarily due to decreased operating expenses in our propane and related equipment sales segment, as discussed above, and $6.3 million due to a decrease in the fair value of contingent consideration related to our Midstream operations - Disposal well segment, which were partially offset by $5.7 million of increased operating expenses in our Midstream operations - Disposal wells segment and a $1.3 million increase in non-cash stock based compensation charges. “General and administrative expense” increased primarily due to $4.8 million of increased non-cash stock based compensation charges which were somewhat offset by the timing of performance-based incentive expenses . “Depreciation and amortization increased primarily due to assets acquired in our Midstream operations - Disposal well segment.
            
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors
 
Distributable cash flow attributable to equity investors increased from $115.0 million in the prior period to $117.9 million in the current period primarily due to the $5.2 million and $2.1 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA in midstream operations and propane and related equipment sales, respectively, both as discussed above. This increase was partially offset by a $4.6 million increase in net cash interest expense paid.

Interest expense - consolidated
 
“Interest expense” increased $4.1 million primarily due to a $6.8 million increase from the issuance of new debt incurred to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures, partially offset by a $3.2 million decrease due to lower rates on the new senior debt issued in fiscal 2014.
 
Interest expense - operating partnership
 
“Interest expense” increased $4.1 million primarily due to a $6.8 million increase from the issuance of new debt incurred to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures, partially offset by a $3.2 million decrease due to lower rates on the new senior debt issued in fiscal 2014.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

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During the six months ended January 31, 2014, we redeemed the outstanding principal amount on our $300.0 million 9.125% fixed rate senior notes due October 1, 2017, incurring a loss on extinguishment of debt of $20.9 million. We incurred an additional $0.3 million loss on extinguishment of debt related to the write-off of capitalized financing costs as a result of amending our secured credit facility.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
General
 
Our liquidity and capital resources enable us to fund our working capital requirements, letter of credit requirements, debt service payments, acquisition and capital expenditures and distributions to our unitholders. Our liquidity and capital resources may be affected by our ability to access the capital markets or by unforeseen demands on cash, or other events beyond our control.

Distributable Cash Flow

A reconciliation of distributable cash flow to distributions paid for the twelve months ended January 31, 2015 to the twelve months ended October 31, 2014 is as follows (in thousands):


Distributable Cash Flow
 
Changes in cash reserves approved by our General Partner
 
Cash distributions paid
 
DCF ratio
Six months ended January 31, 2015
$
117,863

 
$
(33,380
)
 
$
84,483

 

For the year ended July 31, 2014
190,497

 
(27,769
)
 
162,728

 

Less: Six months ended January 31, 2014
114,953

 
(34,150
)
 
80,803

 

Twelve months ended January 31, 2015
$
193,407

 
$
(26,999
)
 
$
166,408

 
1.16



 

 

 

Twelve months ended October 31, 2014
195,001

 
(30,416
)
 
164,585

 
1.18



 

 

 

Increase (decrease)
$
(1,594
)
 
$
3,417

 
$
1,823

 
(0.02
)


For the twelve months ended January 31, 2015 distributable cash flow decreased $1.6 million and cash distributions paid increased $1.8 million primarily due to the issuance of 3.6 million common units during the twelve months ended January 31, 2015. These changes resulted in a decrease in our distribution coverage ratio to 116% for the twelve months ended January 31, 2015 as compared to 118% for the twelve months ended October 31, 2014. The changes in cash reserves of $27.0 million and $30.4 million in the twelve months ended January 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively, were established to meet future anticipated expenditures.
    
Subject to meeting the financial tests discussed below and also subject to the risk factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014 entitled, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” as well as any changes to these risk factors set forth in "Part II, Item 1A" of this Quarterly Report on From 10-Q, we believe we will continue to have sufficient access to capital markets at yields acceptable to us to support our expected growth expenditures and refinancing of debt maturities. Our disciplined approach to fund necessary capital spending and other partnership needs, combined with sufficient trade credit to operate our business efficiently and available credit under our secured credit facility and our accounts receivable securitization facility should provide us the means to meet our anticipated liquidity and capital resource requirements.
 
During periods of high volatility, our risk management activities may expose us to the risk of counterparty margin calls in amounts greater than we have the capacity to fund. Likewise our counterparties may not be able to fulfill their margin calls from us or may default on the settlement of positions with us.
 
Our working capital requirements are subject to, among other things, the price of propane, delays in the collection of receivables, volatility in energy commodity prices, liquidity imposed by insurance providers, downgrades in our credit ratings,

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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 economic, financial, business and weather conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Due to the seasonality of the retail propane distribution business, a significant portion of our cash flow from operations is generated during the winter heating season. Our net cash provided by operating activities primarily reflects earnings from our business activities adjusted for depreciation and amortization and changes in our working capital accounts. Historically, we generate significantly lower net cash from operating activities in our first and fourth fiscal quarters as compared to the second and third fiscal quarters due to the seasonality of our propane and related equipment sales segment.
 
A quarterly distribution of $0.50 will be paid on March 17, 2015 to all common units that were outstanding on March 10, 2015. This represents the eighty-second consecutive minimum quarterly distribution paid to our common unitholders dating back to October 1994.
 
Our secured credit facility, publicly-held debt and accounts receivable securitization facility contain several financial tests and covenants restricting our ability to pay distributions, incur debt and engage in certain other business transactions. In general, these tests are based on our debt-to-cash flow ratio and cash flow-to-interest expense ratio. Our general partner currently believes that the most restrictive of these tests are debt incurrence limitations under the terms of our secured credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities and limitations on the payment of distributions within our 8.625% senior notes due 2020.
 
As of January 31, 2015, we met all of our required quarterly financial tests and covenants. Based upon current estimates of our cash flow, our general partner believes that we will be able to continue to meet all of our required quarterly financial tests and covenants in fiscal 2015. However, 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;
a more volatile energy commodity cost environment;
an unexpected downturn in business operations;
a change in customer retention or purchasing patterns due to economic or other factors in the United States; or
a material downturn in the credit and/or equity markets.
 
Failure to meet applicable financial tests could have a material effect on our operating capacity and cash flows and could restrict our ability to incur debt or to make cash distributions to our unitholders, even if sufficient funds were available. Depending on the circumstances, we may consider alternatives to permit the incurrence of debt or the continued payment of the quarterly cash distribution to our unitholders. No assurances can be given, however, that such alternatives can or will be implemented with respect to any given quarter.
 
We expect our future capital expenditures and working capital needs to be provided by a combination of cash generated from future operations, existing cash balances, the secured credit facility or the accounts receivable securitization facility. See additional information about the accounts receivable securitization facility in “Financing Activities – Accounts receivable securitization.” In order to reduce existing indebtedness, fund future acquisitions and expansive capital projects, we may obtain funds from our facilities, we may issue additional debt to the extent permitted under existing financing arrangements or we may issue additional equity securities, including, among others, common units.
 
Toward this purpose, the following registration statements were effective upon filing or declared effective by the SEC:

a shelf registration statement for the periodic sale of up to $750.0 million in common units, debt securities and/or other securities; Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. may, at our election, be the co-issuer and co-obligor on any debt securities issued by Ferrellgas Partners under this shelf registration statement; as of March 2, 2015, these two registrants collectively had $658.0 million available under this shelf registration statement; and
an “acquisition” shelf registration statement for the periodic sale of up to $500.0 million in common units to fund acquisitions; as of March 2, 2015, Ferrellgas Partners had $500.0 million available under this shelf registration statement.
 
Operating Activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $13.7 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $70.2 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014. This increase in cash provided

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by operating activities was primarily due to a $78.3 million decrease in working capital requirements and a $17.4 million increase in cash flow from operations which was somewhat offset by a $11.8 million increase in other assets, net, used to fund margin deposits made toward price risk management activities.

The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to a $131.1 million decrease in accounts receivable resulting primarily from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as the timing of billing and collections on accounts receivable and a $32.2 million decrease in inventory from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as the timing of inventory purchases and a $3.9 million decrease in accrued interest expense due to the timing of interest payments. These decreases in working capital requirements were partially offset by a $55.3 million decrease in accounts payable resulting primarily from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as from the timing of purchases and disbursements, a $28.3 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets primarily due to margin deposits made toward price risk management activities and a $5.3 million decrease in other current liabilities, primarily due to the timing of payments and collections of customer deposits.

The increase in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $14.7 million decrease in "Loss on extinguishment of debt, a $9.0 million increase in “Gross margin – Other,” as discussed above and a $3.4 million decrease in "Operating expense" partially offset by a $4.1 million increase in "Interest expense", a $3.0 million increase in "Equipment lease expense" and a $1.7 million of decreased “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquid sales”, as discussed above.

The operating partnership
 
Net cash provided by operating activities was $21.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $62.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014. This increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $78.3 million decrease in working capital requirements and a $17.5 million increase in cash flow from operations which was somewhat offset by a $11.8 million increase in other assets, net, used to fund margin deposits made toward price risk management activities.

The decrease in working capital requirements was primarily due to a $131.1 million decrease in accounts receivable resulting primarily from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as the timing of billing and collections on accounts receivable and a $32.2 million decrease in inventory from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as the timing of inventory purchases and a $3.9 million decrease in accrued interest expense due to the timing of interest payments. These decreases in working capital requirements were partially offset by a $55.3 million decrease in accounts payable resulting primarily from the decrease in the wholesale price of propane as well as from the timing of purchases and disbursements, a $28.3 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets primarily due to margin deposits made toward price risk management activities and a $5.3 million decrease in other current liabilities, primarily due to the timing of payments and collections of customer deposits.

The increase in cash flow from operations is primarily due to a $14.7 million decrease in "Loss on extinguishment of debt, a $9.0 million increase in “Gross margin – Other,” as discussed above and a $3.5 million decrease in "Operating expense" partially offset by a $4.1 million increase in "Interest expense", a $3.0 million increase in "Equipment lease expense" and a $1.7 million of decreased “Gross margin – Propane and other gas liquid sales”, as discussed above.
 
Investing Activities
 
Capital Requirements

Our business requires continual investments to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations. Capital expenditures for our business consist primarily of:

Maintenance capital expenditures. These capital expenditures include expenditures for betterment and replacement of property, plant and equipment rather than to generate incremental distributable cash flow. Examples of maintenance capital expenditures include a routine replacement of a worn-out asset or replacement of major vehicle components;

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 $95.3 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $25.6 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014. This increase in net cash used in investing activities is due to an increase of $63.4 million in "Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired" and a $6.5 million increase in "Capital expenditures".

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The increase in "Capital expenditures" is primarily due to the timing of $2.6 million in Propane and related equipment sales growth and maintenance capital expenditures and $3.3 million of Midstream operations growth and maintenance projects.

Due to the mature nature of our Propane and related equipment sales operations, we have not incurred and do not anticipate significant fluctuations in maintenance capital expenditures. However, future fluctuations in growth capital expenditures could occur due to the opportunistic nature of these projects.

Due to the relatively new nature of our Midstream operations, we may experience significant fluctuations in maintenance capital expenditures as our facilities age and future fluctuations in growth capital expenditures could occur due to the opportunistic nature of these projects.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $85.7 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $107.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 2014. This decrease in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to a $72.1 million decrease in net credit facility and accounts receivable short term borrowings due to the decrease in working capital requirements resulting from the decrease in the wholesale cost of propane, partially offset by $42.0 million in proceeds from equity offerings, which was primarily used to fund acquisitions during the period and a $7.3 million decrease in cash paid for financing costs.

Distributions
 
Ferrellgas Partners paid a $0.50 per unit quarterly distribution on all common units, as well as the related general partner distributions, totaling $83.6 million during the six months ended January 31, 2015 in connection with the distributions declared for the three months ended October 31, 2014 and July 31, 2014. The quarterly distribution on all common units and the related general partner distribution for the three months ended January 31, 2015 of $41.8 million are expected to be paid on March 17, 2015 to holders of record on March 10, 2015.
     
Secured credit facility
     
As of January 31, 2015, we had total borrowings outstanding under our secured credit facility of $239.2 million, of which $171.8 million was classified as long-term debt. Additionally, Ferrellgas had $292.7 million and $350.4 million of available borrowing capacity under our secured credit facility as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, respectively.
 
Borrowings outstanding at January 31, 2015 under the secured credit facility had a weighted average interest rate of 3.2%. All borrowings under the secured credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to either:

for Base Rate Loans or Swing Line Loans, the Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, ii) Bank of America’s prime rate; or iii) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.00%; plus a margin varying from 0.75% to 1.75%; or
for Eurodollar Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate, which is defined as the LIBOR Rate plus a margin varying from 1.75% to 2.75%.
 
As of January 31, 2015, the federal funds rate and Bank of America’s prime rate were 0.11% and 3.25%, respectively. As of January 31, 2015, the one-month and three-month Eurodollar Rates were 0.19% and 0.30%, respectively.
 
In addition, an annual commitment fee is payable at a per annum rate ranging from 0.35% to 0.50% times the actual daily amount by which the facility exceeds the sum of (i) the outstanding amount of revolving credit loans and (ii) the outstanding amount of letter of credit obligations.
 
The obligations under this credit facility are secured by substantially all assets of the operating partnership, the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership but specifically excluding (a) assets that are subject to the operating partnership’s accounts receivable securitization facility, (b) the general partner’s equity interest in Ferrellgas Partners and (c) equity interest in certain unrestricted subsidiaries. Such obligations are also guaranteed by the general partner and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership.
 
Letters of credit outstanding at January 31, 2015 totaled $68.1 million and were used primarily to secure insurance arrangements and, to a lesser extent, product purchases. At January 31, 2015, we had remaining letter of credit capacity of $131.9 million.
 

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All standby letter of credit commitments under our secured credit facility bear a per annum rate varying from 1.75% to 2.75% (as of January 31, 2015, the rate was 2.50%) times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit. Letter of credit fees are computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.
 
Accounts receivable securitization
 
Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary. Expenses associated with accounts receivable securitization transactions are recorded in “Interest expense” in the consolidated statements of earnings. Additionally, borrowings and repayments associated with these transactions are recorded in “Cash flows from financing activities” in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
 
Cash flows from our accounts receivable securitization facility decreased $53.0 million. We received net funding of $84.0 million from this facility during the six months ended January 31, 2015 as compared to receiving net funding of $137.0 million from this facility in the prior year period.
 
Our strategy is to maximize liquidity by utilizing the accounts receivable securitization facility along with borrowings under the secured credit facility. See additional discussion about the secured credit facility in “Financing Activities – Secured credit facility.” Our utilization of the accounts receivable securitization facility is limited by the amount of accounts receivable that we are permitted to securitize according to the facility agreement. As of January 31, 2015, we had received cash proceeds of $175.0 million related to the securitization of our trade accounts receivable, with no remaining capacity to receive additional proceeds. As of January 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate was 2.0%. As our trade accounts receivable increase during the winter heating season, the securitization facility permits us to receive greater proceeds as eligible trade accounts receivable increases, thereby providing additional cash for working capital needs.

Common unit issuances
 
During September 2014, in a non-brokered registered direct offering which units are subject to certain contractual transfer restrictions, we issued to Ferrell Companies Inc. and the former owners of the salt water disposal wells we acquired from C&E Production, LLC and their affiliates, an aggregate of 1.5 million common units for an aggregate purchase price of $42.0 million. We used these proceeds to pay down a portion of the borrowings under our secured credit facility that funded the acquisition of the disposal wells and other propane and related equipment sales acquisitions completed during fiscal 2014.

The operating partnership
 
The financing activities discussed above also apply to the operating partnership except for cash flows related to distributions and contributions received, as discussed below.
 
Distributions
 
The operating partnership paid cash distributions of $92.3 million and $88.7 million during the six months ended January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The operating partnership expects to pay cash distributions of $42.2 million on March 17, 2015.

Contributions received by the operating partnership
 
During September 2014, the operating partnership received cash contributions of $42.2 million from Ferrellgas Partners pursuant to a registered direct offering as discussed above and a related $0.4 million from the general partner. The proceeds were used to pay down a portion of outstanding indebtedness under the secured credit facility that funded the acquisition of salt water disposal wells from C&E Production, LLC and their affiliates and other propane and related equipment sales acquisitions completed during fiscal 2014.

Disclosures about Effects of Transactions with Related Parties
 
We have no employees and are managed and controlled by our general partner. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, our general partner is entitled to reimbursement for all direct and indirect expenses incurred or payments it makes on our behalf, and all other necessary or appropriate expenses allocable to us or otherwise reasonably incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business. These reimbursable costs, which totaled $124.9 million for the six months ended January 31, 2015, include operating expenses such as compensation and benefits paid to employees of our general partner who perform services on our behalf as well as related general and administrative expenses.
 
Related party common unitholder information consisted of the following:

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Common unit ownership at
 
Distributions (in thousands) paid during the six months ended
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Ferrell Companies (1)
 
22,529,361

 
$
22,530

FCI Trading Corp. (2)
 
195,686

 
196

Ferrell Propane, Inc. (3)
 
51,204

 
52

James E. Ferrell (4)
 
4,358,475

 
4,358

 
(1)
Ferrell Companies is the sole shareholder of our general partner.
(2)
FCI Trading Corp. is an affiliate of the general partner and is wholly-owned by Ferrell Companies.
(3)
Ferrell Propane, Inc. is wholly-owned by our general partner.
(4)
James E. Ferrell is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner and a former employee.

During the six months ended January 31, 2015, Ferrellgas Partners and the operating partnership together paid the general partner distributions of $1.8 million.
 
On March 17, 2015, Ferrellgas Partners expects to pay distributions to Ferrell Companies, FCI Trading Corp., Ferrell Propane, Inc., James E. Ferrell (indirectly) and the general partner of $11.3 million, $0.1 million, $26 thousand, $2.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

ITEM 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
We did not enter into any risk management trading activities during the six months ended January 31, 2015. Our remaining market risk sensitive instruments and positions have been determined to be “other than trading.”
 
Commodity price risk management
 
Our risk management activities primarily attempt to mitigate price risks related to the purchase, storage, transport and sale of propane generally in the contract and spot markets from major domestic energy companies on a short-term basis. We attempt to mitigate these price risks through the use of financial derivative instruments and forward propane purchase and sales contracts. We do not conduct any risk management activities related to our Midstream operations.

Our risk management strategy involves taking positions in the forward or financial markets that are equal and opposite to our positions in the physical products market in order to minimize the risk of financial loss from an adverse price change. This risk management strategy is successful when our gains or losses in the physical product markets are offset by our losses or gains in the forward or financial markets. These financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges.
 
Our risk management activities include the use of financial derivative instruments including, but not limited to, price swaps, options, futures and basis swaps to seek protection from adverse price movements and to minimize potential losses. We enter into these financial derivative instruments directly with third parties in the over-the-counter market and with brokers who are clearing members with the New York Mercantile Exchange. We also enter into forward propane purchase and sales contracts with counterparties. These forward contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exception within GAAP guidance and are therefore not recorded on our financial statements until settled.
 
Market risks associated with energy commodities are monitored daily by senior management for compliance with our commodity risk management policy. This policy includes an aggregate dollar loss limit and limits on the term of various contracts. We also utilize volume limits for various energy commodities and review our positions daily where we remain exposed to market risk, so as to manage exposures to changing market prices.
 
We have prepared a sensitivity analysis to estimate the exposure to market risk of our energy commodity positions. Forward contracts, futures, swaps and options outstanding as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, 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 $9.5 million and $9.0 million as of January 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014, 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 hedging transactions, which we anticipate will be 100% effective.
 
Credit risk
 
We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties for propane procurement that we believe significantly minimize overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of counterparties’ financial condition (including credit ratings), and entering into agreements with counterparties that govern credit guidelines.
 
These counterparties consist of major energy companies who are suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, end users and financial institutions. The overall impact due to certain changes in economic, regulatory and other events may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that counterparties may be similarly impacted. Based on our policies, exposures, credit and other reserves, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance. 
 
Interest rate risk

At January 31, 2015, we had $414.2 million in variable rate secured credit facility and collateralized note payable borrowings. Thus, assuming a one percent increase in our variable interest rate, our interest rate risk related to these borrowings would result in a loss in future earnings of $4.1 million for the twelve months ending January 31, 2016. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in interest rates may or may not equal one percent, thus actual results may differ. We manage a portion of our interest rate exposure by utilizing interest rate swaps. To the extent that we have debt with variable interest rates that is not hedged, our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected by significant increases in interest rates.

We have the following interest rate swaps outstanding as of January 31, 2015, all of which are designated as hedges for accounting purposes:
Term
 
Notional Amount(s) (in thousands)
 
Type
May-21
 
$140,000
 
Pay a floating rate and receive a fixed rate of 6.50%
Aug-18 (1)
 
$175,000 and $100,000
 
Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 1.95% and receive a floating rate
 
(1)
These forward starting swaps have an effective date of August 2015 and a term of three years.
 
A hypothetical one percent change in interest rates would result in a net change in earnings of $1.4 million on the $140.0 million swap and ($0.7 million) on the $175.0 million swap for the twelve months ending January 31, 2015. The preceding hypothetical analysis is limited because changes in interest rates may or may not equal one percent, thus actual results may differ.
 
ITEM 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
An evaluation was performed by the management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp., with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, were effective.
 
The management of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., Ferrellgas, L.P., and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all fraud. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Based on the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the above mentioned Partnerships and Corporations have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Therefore, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide such reasonable assurances of achieving our desired control objectives, and the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner have concluded, as of January 31, 2015, that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in achieving that level of reasonable assurance.
 
During the most recent fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2015, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a–15(f) or Rule 15d–15(f) of the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing, transporting and otherwise providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. As a result, at any given time, we are threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. Other than as discussed below, we are not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. It is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of these matters; however, management is of the opinion that there are no known claims or contingent claims that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) initiated an investigation into certain practices related to the filling of portable propane cylinders. On March 27, 2014, the FTC filed an administrative complaint alleging that Ferrellgas and one of its competitors colluded in 2008 to persuade a customer to accept the cylinder fill reduction from 17 pounds to 15 pounds.  The complaint does not seek monetary remedies.  Ferrellgas reached a settlement with the FTC during the three months ended October 31, 2014 without any financial payment; the settlement has been approved by a vote of the Commission and is in a public comment period.
    
We have also been named as a defendant, along with a competitor, in putative class action lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions. The complaints, filed on behalf of direct and indirect customers of our tank exchange business, reference the FTC complaint mentioned above.  The lawsuits allege that we and a competitor coordinated in 2008 to reduce the fill level in barbeque cylinders and combined to persuade a common customer to accept that fill reduction, resulting in increased cylinder costs to retailers and end-user customers in violation of federal and certain state antitrust laws.  The lawsuits seek treble damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief and costs on behalf of the putative class.  These lawsuits have been consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel. We believe we have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against the consolidated case.  We do not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to the putative class action lawsuit.

    We have also been named as a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court in Kansas. The complaint was the subject of a motion to dismiss which was granted, in part, in August, 2011. The surviving claims allege breach of contract and breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, both of which allegedly arise from the existence of an oral contract for continuous propane service. We believe that the claims are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously. The case has not been certified for class treatment. Ferrellgas recently prevailed on an appeal before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the appellate court ordered the trial court to determine whether the case must be arbitrated. We do not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to this putative class action lawsuit.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS
 
There have been no material changes from the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014.

ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
None.


ITEM 3.     DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.
 
 
ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.
 

ITEM 5.     OTHER INFORMATION
None.

 

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ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS
The exhibits listed below are furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, which are not listed, are not applicable.
 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
 
 
Description
 
 
3.1
 
Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of February 18, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.2
 
First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of March 8, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.3
 
Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of June 29, 2005. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.4
 
Third Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. dated as of October 11, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.5
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations on March 28, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.6
 
Bylaws of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. adopted as of April 1, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.7
 
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ferrellgas, L.P. dated as of April 7, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.8
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations on January 16, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
3.9
 
Bylaws of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. adopted as of January 16, 2003. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009. 
 
 
4.1
 
Specimen Certificate evidencing Common Units representing Limited Partner Interests. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Exhibit 3.1 to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed March 6, 2009.
 
 
4.2
 
Indenture dated as of November 4, 2013 with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $475 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 6 3/4% Senior Notes due 2022. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 5, 2013.
 
 
4.3
 
Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010, among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $280 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2020. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2010.
 
 
4.4
 
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 13, 2010, with form of Note attached, among Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $280 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2020. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2010.
 
 
4.5
 
Indenture dated as of November 24, 2010, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to $500 million aggregate amount of the Registrant’s 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2021. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 30, 2010.
 
 
4.6
 
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 17, 1999, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
 
4.7
 
First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 14, 2000, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Williams Natural Gas Liquids, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
 
4.8
 
Second Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of April 6, 2001, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and The Williams Companies, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
 
4.9
 
Third Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 29, 2005, by and between Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and JEF Capital Management, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed June 9, 2010.
 
 
10.1
 
Credit Agreement dated as of November 2, 2009, among Ferrellgas, L.P. as the borrower, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the general partner of the borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party hereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
 
10.2
 
First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 2011, among Ferrellgas, L.P. as the borrower, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the general partner of the borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party hereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 26, 2011.
 
 
10.3
 
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2013, among Ferrellgas, L.P. as the borrower, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the general partner of the borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party hereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 23, 2013.
 
 
10.4
 
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2014, among Ferrellgas, L.P. as the borrower, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the general partner of the borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, and the lenders party hereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2014.
 
 
10.5
 
Amended and Restated Receivable Sale Agreement dated as of January 19, 2012, between Ferrellgas, L.P. and Blue Rhino Global Sourcing, Inc., as originators, and Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, as buyer. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2012.
 
 
10.6
 
Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of January 19, 2012, among Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, as seller, Ferrellgas, L.P., as servicer, the purchasers from time to time party hereto, Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank, as co-agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2012.

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Table of Contents

 
 
10.7
 
First Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of April 30, 2012, among Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, as seller, Ferrellgas, L.P., as servicer, the purchasers from time to time party hereto, Fifth Third Bank and SunTrust Bank, as co-agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed June 8, 2012.
 
#
10.8
 
Ferrell Companies, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 10, 2010.
 
#
10.9
 
Ferrell Companies, Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective October 11, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
#
10.10
 
Amendment to Ferrell Companies, Inc. 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan, dated as of March 7, 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed June 9, 2010.
 
#
10.11
 
Employment, Confidentiality, and Noncompete Agreement dated as of July 17, 1998 by and among Ferrell Companies, Inc. as the company, Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company, James E. Ferrell as the executive and LaSalle National Bank as trustee of the Ferrell Companies, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
#
10.12
 
Change In Control Agreement dated as of October 9, 2006 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and James E. Ferrell as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed December 9, 2011.
 
#
10.13
 
Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Stephen L. Wambold as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
#
10.14
 
Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and James R. VanWinkle as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
#
10.15
 
Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and Tod Brown as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
#
10.16
 
Employment Agreement dated as of August 10, 2009 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and George L. Koloroutis as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 29, 2014.
 
 
#
10.17
 
Agreement and Release dated as of January 19, 2012 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and George L. Koloroutis as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2012.
 
#
10.18
 
Employment Agreement dated as of September 25, 2013 by and between Ferrell Companies, Inc. as the company and Boyd H. McGathey as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 26, 2013. 
 
 
10.19
 
ISDA 2002 Master Agreement and Schedule to the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement both dated as of May 3, 2012 together with three Confirmation of Swap Transaction documents each dated as of May 8, 2012, all between SunTrust Bank and Ferrellgas, L.P. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed June 8, 2012. 
 
#
10.20
 
Form of Director/Officer Indemnification Agreement, by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. and each director and executive officer. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed March 9, 2012.
 
 
10.21
 
Membership interest purchase agreement dated May 1, 2014, among Ferrellgas, L.P. and the former members of Sable Environmental LLC and Sable SWD 2 LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 1, 2014.
 
 
10.22
 
Agreement and Release dated as of January 27, 2015 by and between Ferrellgas, Inc. as the company and J. Ryan VanWinkle as the executive. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 28, 2015.

*
 
31.1
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
*
 
31.2
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
*
 
31.3
 
Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
*
 
31.4
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
*
 
32.1
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
*
 
32.2
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
*
 
32.3
 
Certification of Ferrellgas, L.P. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
*
 
32.4
 
Certification of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
*
 
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. 


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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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

 
 
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.
 
 
By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner)
 
 
 
 
Date:
March 11, 2015
By
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
 
 
 
 
Date:
March 11, 2015
By
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
 
 
By Ferrellgas, Inc. (General Partner)
 
 
 
 
Date:
March 11, 2015
By
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
 
 
 
 
Date:
March 11, 2015
By
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Alan C. Heitmann
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director


E-3

EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

I, Stephen L. Wambold, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2015                         /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President of
Ferrellgas, Inc., general partner of the Registrant



CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS, L.P.

I, Alan C. Heitmann, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2015                         /s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., general partner of the Registrant
    


EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.
 
I, Stephen L. Wambold, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2015         /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President





CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS PARTNERS FINANCE CORP.

I, Alan C. Heitmann, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date: March 11, 2015                        /s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director


EXHIBIT 31.3
CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
 
I, Stephen L. Wambold, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
Date: March 11, 2015                        /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President of
Ferrellgas, Inc., general partner of the Registrant




CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
 
I, Alan C. Heitmann, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 

Date: March 11, 2015                        /s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., general partner of the Registrant


EXHIBIT 31.4
CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
 
I, Stephen L. Wambold, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 11, 2015                            /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President
 



CERTIFICATIONS
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
 
I, Alan C. Heitmann, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2015 of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (the “Registrant”);

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5)
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 11, 2015                        /s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director


EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906
OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) for the period ended January 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and
2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership at the dates and for the periods indicated within the Report.
The foregoing certification is made solely for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and is subject to the “knowledge” and “willfulness” qualifications contained in 18 U.S.C. 1350(c).
This certification is being furnished to the SEC and is not to be deemed “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of Section 18. In addition, this certification is not to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement of the Partnership or other filing of the Partnership made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.
 

Dated:  March 11, 2015                        /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President of Ferrellgas, Inc., the Partnership’s general partner
 
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the Partnership’s general partner

*As required by 18 U.S.C. 1350, a signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Partnership.


EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906
OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. for the period ended January 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and
2.     The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. at the dates and for the periods indicated within the Report.
The foregoing certification is made solely for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and is subject to the “knowledge” and “willfulness” qualifications contained in 18 U.S.C. 1350(c).
This certification is being furnished to the SEC and is not to be deemed “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of Section 18. In addition, this certification is not to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. or other filing of Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.
 
Dated:  March 11, 2015                        /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President
 
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director
 

*As required by 18 U.S.C. 1350, a signed original of this written statement has been provided to Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.


EXHIBIT 32.3
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906
OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ferrellgas, L.P. (the “Partnership”) for the period ended January 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and
2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership at the dates and for the periods indicated within the Report.
The foregoing certification is made solely for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and is subject to the “knowledge” and “willfulness” qualifications contained in 18 U.S.C. 1350(c).
This certification is being furnished to the SEC and is not to be deemed “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of Section 18. In addition, this certification is not to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement of the Partnership or other filing of the Partnership made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.
 
Dated:  March 11, 2015                        /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President of Ferrellgas, Inc., the Partnership’s general partner
 
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the Partnership’s general partner


*As required by 18 U.S.C. 1350, a signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Partnership.


EXHIBIT 32.4
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906
OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. for the period ended January 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned, in the capacity and on the date indicated below, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.    The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); and
2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. at the dates and for the periods indicated within the Report.
The foregoing certification is made solely for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and is subject to the “knowledge” and “willfulness” qualifications contained in 18 U.S.C. 1350(c).
This certification is being furnished to the SEC and is not to be deemed “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of Section 18. In addition, this certification is not to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. or other filing of Ferrellgas Finance Corp. made pursuant to the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated therein by reference.
 
Dated:  March 11, 2015                        /s/ Stephen L. Wambold
Stephen L. Wambold
Chief Executive Officer and President
 
/s/ Alan C. Heitmann
Alan C. Heitmann
Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director
 
*As required by 18 U.S.C. 1350, a signed original of this written statement has been provided to Ferrellgas Finance Corp.

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