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Segment Reporting Segment Reporting
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Disclosure
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 earnings before 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 and unit-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, other income (expense), net, change in fair value of contingent consideration, litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit and net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests. 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 (loss) 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 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. Revenue is derived from fees charged to customers to dispose of salt water at the disposal facilities and crude oil sales from the skimming oil process.

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 2013 and 2012 are not provided.
 
Following is a summary of segment information for the year ended July 31, 2014.
 
 
 
Year Ended July 31, 2014
 
 
 
Propane and related equipment sales
 
Midstream operations
 
Corporate and other
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 

 
Segment revenues
 
$
2,398,425

 
$
7,435

 
$

 
$
2,405,860

 
Direct costs (1)
 
 
2,067,133

 
 
3,997

 
 
46,582

 
 
2,117,712

 
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
331,292

 
$
3,438

 
$
(46,582
)
 
$
288,148

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(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 and unit-based compensation charge", "change in fair value of contingent consideration", "litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit" and "severance costs".

Following is a reconciliation of our total segment performance measure to consolidated net earnings:


Year Ended July 31,


2014



 
Net earnings attributable to Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.

$
33,211

Income tax expense


2,516

Interest expense


86,502

Depreciation and amortization expense


84,202

EBITDA


206,431

Loss on extinguishment of debt


21,202

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge


21,789

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge


24,508

Loss on disposal of assets


6,486

Other expense (income), net


479

Change in fair value of contingent consideration


5,000

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


1,749

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest


504

Adjusted EBITDA

$
288,148



Following are total assets by segment:


July 31,
2014



 
Assets



Propane and related equipment sales

$
1,400,603

Midstream operations


136,116

Corporate and unallocated


35,551

Total consolidated assets

$
1,572,270



Following are capital expenditures by segment:
 


Year Ended July 31, 2014
 


Propane and related equipment sales

Midstream operations

Corporate and other

Total
 
 
 



 
Maintenance

$
14,682


$
181


$
3,275


$
18,138

 
Growth


30,501



1,715



627



32,843

 
Total

$
45,183


$
1,896


$
3,902


$
50,981

 













Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]
 
Segment Reporting Disclosure
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 earnings before 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 and unit-based compensation charge, loss on disposal of assets and other, other income (expense), net, change in fair value of contingent consideration, litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit and net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests. 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 (loss), 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 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. Revenue is derived from fees charged to customers to dispose of salt water at the disposal facilities and crude oil sales from the skimming oil process.

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 2013 and 2012 are not provided.
 
Following is a summary of segment information for the year ended July 31, 2014.
 


Year Ended July 31, 2014
 


Propane and related equipment sales

Midstream operations

Corporate and other

Total
 
 
 



 
Segment revenues

$
2,398,425


$
7,435


$


$
2,405,860

 
Direct costs (1)


2,067,156



3,997



46,582



2,117,735

 
Adjusted EBITDA

$
331,269


$
3,438


$
(46,582
)

$
288,125

 













(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 and unit-based compensation charge", "change in fair value of contingent consideration", "litigation accrual and related legal fees associated with a class action lawsuit" and "severance costs".

Following is a reconciliation of our total segment performance measure to consolidated net earnings:


Year Ended July 31,


2014



 
Net earnings

$
49,907

Income tax expense


2,471

Interest expense


70,332

Depreciation and amortization expense


84,202

EBITDA


206,912

Loss on extinguishment of debt


21,202

Non-cash employee stock ownership plan compensation charge


21,789

Non-cash stock and unit-based compensation charge


24,508

Loss on disposal of assets


6,486

Other expense (income), net


479

Change in fair value of contingent consideration


5,000

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


1,749

Adjusted EBITDA

$
288,125



Following are total assets by segment:


July 31,
2014



 
Assets



Propane and related equipment sales

$
1,400,603

Midstream operations


136,116

Corporate and unallocated


33,114

Total consolidated assets

$
1,569,833



Following are capital expenditures by segment:
 


Year Ended July 31, 2014
 


Propane and related equipment sales

Midstream operations

Corporate and other

Total
 
 
 



 
Maintenance

$
14,682


$
181


$
3,275


$
18,138

 
Growth


30,501



1,715



627



32,843

 
Total

$
45,183


$
1,896


$
3,902


$
50,981