Contingencies And Commitments

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2014

Contingencies And Commitments

Contingencies and commitments

Litigation

Ferrellgas' propane and related equipment sales 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. Ferrellgas' propane and related equipment sales and midstream operations face an inherent risk of exposure to general liability claims in the event that the use of these facilities results in injury or destruction of property.As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas is 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.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2014 Ferrellgas reached a settlement with the Offices of the District Attorneys of several counties in California relating to an investigation of labeling and filling practices relating to the amount of propane contained in barbecue cylinders. Ferrellgas already paid and reflected in the consolidated financial statements the settlement reached.

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 has filed an answer to the complaint and believes that the FTC’s claims are without merit and will vigorously defend the claims. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time.

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.  Ferrellgas anticipates that these lawsuits will be consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel.  Ferrellgas believes they have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against them.  Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to these putative class action lawsuits.

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.

Long-term debt-related commitments

Ferrellgas has long and short-term payment obligations under agreements such as senior notes and its credit facility. See Note H – Debt – for a description of these debt obligations and a schedule of future maturities.

Operating lease commitments and buyouts

Ferrellgas leases certain property, plant and equipment under non-cancelable and cancelable operating leases. Amounts shown in the table below represent minimum lease payment obligations under Ferrellgas’ third-party operating leases with terms in excess of one year for the periods indicated. These arrangements include the leasing of transportation equipment, property, computer equipment and propane tanks. Ferrellgas accounts for these arrangements as operating leases.

Ferrellgas is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of guarantees. The only material guarantees Ferrellgas has are associated with residual value guarantees of operating leases. Most of the operating leases involving Ferrellgas’ transportation equipment contain residual value guarantees. These transportation equipment lease arrangements are scheduled to expire over the next 7 fiscal years. Most of these arrangements provide that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed a guaranteed amount, or Ferrellgas will be required to pay the lessor the difference. The fair value of these residual value guarantees was $1.2 million as of July 31, 2014. Although the fair values of the underlying equipment at the end of the lease terms have historically exceeded these guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments Ferrellgas could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is worthless at the end of the lease term, was $5.1 million as of July 31, 2014. Ferrellgas does not know of any event, demand, commitment, trend or uncertainty that would result in a material change to these arrangements.

Operating lease buyouts represent the maximum amount Ferrellgas would pay if it were to exercise its right to buyout the assets at the end of their lease term.

The following table summarizes Ferrellgas’ contractual operating lease commitments and buyout obligations as of July 31, 2014:

	Future minimum rental and buyout amounts by fiscal year
	2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		Thereafter
Operating lease obligations	$	31,635	$	26,182	$	21,120	$	16,456	$	11,798	$	11,884
Operating lease buyouts	$	1,448	$	2,054	$	1,509	$	2,746	$	2,893	$	6,649

Certain property and equipment is leased under non-cancelable operating leases, which require fixed monthly rental payments and which expire at various dates through 2024. Rental expense under these leases totaled $35.6 million, $32.2 million and $31.7 million for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. [Member]

Contingencies And Commitments

Contingencies and commitments

The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.

The senior unsecured notes contain various restrictive covenants applicable to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, the most restrictive relating to additional indebtedness. As of July 31, 2014, the Partnership is in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations and covenants related to this debt agreement.

Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]

Contingencies And Commitments

Contingencies and commitments

Litigation

Ferrellgas L.P.'s propane and related equipment sales 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. Ferrellgas L.P.'s propane and related equipment sales and midstream operations face an inherent risk of exposure to general liability claims in the event that the use of these facilities results in injury or destruction of property.As a result, at any given time, Ferrellgas, L.P. is 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.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2014 Ferrellgas L.P. reached a settlement with the Offices of the District Attorneys of several counties in California relating to an investigation of labeling and filling practices relating to the amount of propane contained in barbecue cylinders. Ferrellgas L.P. already paid and reflected in the consolidated financial statements the settlement reached.

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. has filed an answer to the complaint and believes that the FTC’s claims are without merit and will vigorously defend the claims. Ferrellgas does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time.

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.  Ferrellgas L.P. anticipates that these lawsuits will be consolidated into one case by a multidistrict litigation panel.  Ferrellgas L.P. believes they have strong defenses to the claims and intend to vigorously defend against them.  Ferrellgas L.P. does not believe loss is probable or reasonably estimable at this time related to these putative class action lawsuits.

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 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.

Long-term debt-related commitments

Ferrellgas, L.P. has long and short-term payment obligations under agreements such as senior notes and its credit facility. See Note H – Debt – for a description of these debt obligations and a schedule of future maturities.

Operating lease commitments and buyouts

Ferrellgas, L.P. leases certain property, plant and equipment under non-cancelable and cancelable operating leases. Amounts shown in the table below represent minimum lease payment obligations under Ferrellgas, L.P.’s third-party operating leases with terms in excess of one year for the periods indicated. These arrangements include the leasing of transportation equipment, property, computer equipment and propane tanks. Ferrellgas, L.P. accounts for these arrangements as operating leases. 

Ferrellgas, L.P. is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of guarantees. The only material guarantees Ferrellgas, L.P. has are associated with residual value guarantees of operating leases. Most of the operating leases involving Ferrellgas, L.P.’s transportation equipment contain residual value guarantees. These transportation equipment lease arrangements are scheduled to expire over the next 7 fiscal years. Most of these arrangements provide that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed a guaranteed amount, or Ferrellgas, L.P. will be required to pay the lessor the difference. The fair value of these residual value guarantees was $1.2 million as of July 31, 2014. Although the fair values of the underlying equipment at the end of the lease terms have historically exceeded these guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments Ferrellgas, L.P. could be required to make under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is worthless at the end of the lease term, was $5.1 million as of July 31, 2014. Ferrellgas, L.P. does not know of any event, demand, commitment, trend or uncertainty that would result in a material change to these arrangements.

Operating lease buyouts represent the maximum amount Ferrellgas, L.P. would pay if it were to exercise its right to buyout the assets at the end of their lease term.

The following table summarizes Ferrellgas, L.P.’s contractual operating lease commitments and buyout obligations as of July 31, 2014:

	Future minimum rental and buyout amounts by fiscal year
	2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		Thereafter
Operating lease obligations	$	31,635	$	26,182	$	21,120	$	16,456	$	11,798	$	11,884
Operating lease buyouts	$	1,448	$	2,054	$	1,509	$	2,746	$	2,893	$	6,649

Certain property and equipment is leased under non-cancelable operating leases, which require fixed monthly rental payments and which expire at various dates through 2024. Rental expense under these leases totaled $35.6 million, $32.2 million and $31.7 million for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Ferrellgas Finance Corp. [Member]

Contingencies And Commitments

Contingencies and commitments

The Finance Corp. serves as co-issuer and co-obligor for debt securities of the Partnership.

The senior notes agreements contain various restrictive covenants applicable to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, the most restrictive relating to additional indebtedness. As of July 31, 2014, the Partnership is in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations and covenants related to these debt agreements.