Derivatives and Hedging-Fair Value Measurements and Accounting for the Offsetting of Certain Contracts

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Derivatives and Hedging-Fair Value Measurements and Accounting for the Offsetting of Certain Contracts

4) Derivatives and Hedging - Fair Value Measurements and Accounting for the Offsetting of Certain Contracts

The Partnership uses derivative instruments such as futures, options and swap agreements in order to mitigate exposure to market risk associated with the purchase of home heating oil for price-protected customers, physical inventory on hand, inventory in transit, priced purchase commitments and internal fuel usage. The Partnership has elected not to designate its derivative instruments as hedging derivatives, but rather as economic hedges whose change in fair value is recognized in its statement of operations in the line item (Increase) decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments. Depending on the risk being economically hedged, realized gains and losses are recorded in cost of product, cost of installations and service, or delivery and branch expenses.

To hedge a substantial majority of the purchase price associated with heating oil gallons anticipated to be sold to its price-protected customers as of June 30, 2014, the Partnership held 0.1 million gallons of physical inventory and had bought 6.3 million gallons of swap contracts, 1.6 million gallons of call options, 4.0 million gallons of put options and 48.7 million net gallons of synthetic calls, all in future months to match anticipated sales. To hedge the inter-month differentials for its price-protected customers, its physical inventory on hand and inventory in transit, the Partnership, as of June 30, 2014, had bought 52.2 million gallons of future contracts, and had sold 60.2 million gallons of future contracts. In addition to the previously described hedging instruments, the Partnership as of June 30, 2014, had bought corresponding long and short 20.7 million net gallons of swap contracts to lock-in the differential between high sulfur home heating oil and ultra low sulfur diesel. To hedge a majority of its internal fuel usage for the remainder of fiscal 2014, the Partnership as of June 30, 2014, had bought 1.8 million gallons of future swap contracts.

To hedge a substantial majority of the purchase price associated with heating oil gallons anticipated to be sold to its price-protected customers as of June 30, 2013, the Partnership held 1.0 million gallons of physical inventory and had bought 4.3 million gallons of swap contracts, 1.3 million gallons of call options, 3.1 million gallons of put options and 47.1 million net gallons of synthetic calls, all in future months to match anticipated sales. To hedge the inter-month differentials for its price-protected customers, its physical inventory on hand and inventory in transit, the Partnership, as of June 30, 2013, had bought 27.3 million gallons of future contracts, had sold 34.0 million gallons of future contracts and had sold 4.4 million gallons of future swap contracts. To hedge a majority of its internal fuel usage for the remainder of fiscal 2013 the Partnership as of June 30, 2013, had bought 2.0 million gallons of future swap contracts.

The Partnership’s derivative instruments are with the following counterparties: Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Montreal, Cargill, Inc., Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Key Bank, N.A., Regions Financial Corporation, Societe Generale, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The Partnership assesses counterparty credit risk and considers it to be low. We maintain master netting arrangements that allow for the non-conditional offsetting of amounts receivable and payable with counterparties to help manage our risks and record derivative positions on a net basis. The Partnership generally does not receive cash collateral from its counterparties and does not restrict the use of cash collateral it maintains at counterparties. At June 30, 2014, the aggregate cash posted as collateral in the normal course of business at counterparties was $0.8 million. Positions with counterparties who are also parties to our revolving credit facility are collateralized under that facility. As of June 30, 2014, $0.4 million of hedge positions and payable amounts were secured under the credit facility.

FASB ASC 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which classified the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. The Partnership’s Level 1 derivative assets and liabilities represent the fair value of commodity contracts used in its hedging activities that are identical and traded in active markets. The Partnership’s Level 2 derivative assets and liabilities represent the fair value of commodity contracts used in its hedging activities that are valued using either directly or indirectly observable inputs, whose nature, risk and class are similar. No significant transfers of assets or liabilities have been made into and out of the Level 1 or Level 2 tiers. All derivative instruments were non-trading positions and were either a Level 1 or Level 2 instrument. The fair market value of our Level 1 and Level 2 derivative assets and liabilities are calculated by our counter-parties and are independently validated by the Partnership. The Partnership’s calculations are, for Level 1 derivative assets and liabilities, based on the published New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) market prices for the commodity contracts open at the end of the period. For Level 2 derivative assets and liabilities the calculations performed by the Partnership are based on a combination of the NYMEX published market prices and other inputs, including such factors as present value, volatility and duration.

The Partnership had no assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition. The Partnership’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are listed on the following table.

(In thousands)					Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using:
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Under FASB ASC 815-10	Balance Sheet Location	Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Level 1			Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2			Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3
Asset Derivatives at June 30, 2014
Commodity contracts	Fair asset and fair liability value of derivative instruments	$	10,035		$	3,855		$	6,180		$	—
Commodity contract assets at June 30, 2014		$	10,035		$	3,855		$	6,180		$	—
Liability Derivatives at June 30, 2014
Commodity contracts	Fair liability and fair asset value of derivative instruments	$	(9,571	)	$	(4,348	)	$	(5,223	)	$	—
Commodity contract liabilities at June 30, 2014		$	(9,571	)	$	(4,348	)	$	(5,223	)	$	—
Asset Derivatives at September 30, 2013
Commodity contracts	Fair asset and fair liability value of derivative instruments	$	14,467		$	1,175		$	13,292		$	—
Commodity contract assets at September 30, 2013		$	14,467		$	1,175		$	13,292		$	—
Liability Derivatives at September 30, 2013
Commodity contracts	Fair liability and fair asset value of derivative instruments	$	(17,820	)	$	(519	)	$	(17,301	)	$	—
Commodity contract liabilities at September 30, 2013		$	(17,820	)	$	(519	)	$	(17,301	)	$	—

The Partnership’s derivative assets (liabilities) offset by counterparty and subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement are listed on the following table.

(In thousands)									Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
Offsetting of Financial Assets (Liabilities) and Derivative Assets (Liabilities)	Gross Assets Recognized		Gross Liabilities Offset in the Statement of Financial Position			Net Assets (Liabilities) Presented in the Statement of Financial Position			Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Received		Net Amount
Fair asset value of derivative instruments	$	1,928	$	(856	)	$	1,072		$	—	$	—	$	1,072
Fair liability value of derivative instruments		8,107		(8,715	)		(608	)		—		—		(608	)
Total at June 30, 2014	$	10,035	$	(9,571	)	$	464		$	—	$	—	$	464
Fair asset value of derivative instruments	$	7,254	$	(6,608	)	$	646		$	—	$	—	$	646
Fair liability value of derivative instruments		7,213		(11,212	)		(3,999	)		—		—		(3,999	)
Total at September 30, 2013	$	14,467	$	(17,820	)	$	(3,353	)	$	—	$	—	$	(3,353	)

(In thousands)	The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations
		Amount of (Gain) or Loss Recognized
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Under  FASB ASC 815-10	Location of (Gain) or Loss Recognized in Income on Derivative	Three Months Ended  June 30, 2014			Three Months Ended  June 30, 2013			Nine Months Ended  June 30, 2014			Nine Months Ended  June 30, 2013
Closed Positions
Commodity contracts	Cost of product (a)	$	2,718		$	2,531		$	11,245		$	15,951
Commodity contracts	Cost of installations and service (a)	$	(82	)	$	(67	)	$	(177	)	$	(401	)
Commodity contracts	Delivery and branch expenses (a)	$	(5	)	$	(43	)	$	(119	)	$	(246	)
(a)    Represents realized closed positions and includes the cost of options as they expire.
Open Positions
Commodity contracts	(Increase) / decrease in the fair value of derivative instruments	$	(3,308	)	$	1,910		$	(4,661	)	$	6,428