Acquisitions

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

Note 4 — Acquisitions

During Fiscal 2011, the Partnership acquired a number of retail propane distribution businesses for total net cash consideration of $34,032. During Fiscal 2010, the Partnership acquired a number of retail propane distribution businesses for total net cash consideration of $34,345. During Fiscal 2009, the Partnership acquired several retail propane distribution businesses, including all of the assets of the retail propane business of Penn Fuel Propane, LLC (see Note 14), for total net cash consideration of $50,092. In conjunction with these acquisitions, liabilities of $9,487 in Fiscal 2011, $8,956 in Fiscal 2010 and $3,786 in Fiscal 2009 were incurred. The operating results of these businesses have been included in our operating results from their respective dates of acquisition.

The total purchase price of these acquisitions has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows:

	2011		2010		2009
Net current assets	$	2,462	$	3,578	$	1,916
Property, plant and equipment		15,998		15,812		17,646
Goodwill		13,053		12,930		24,048
Customer relationships and noncompete agreements (estimated useful life of 10 and 5 years, respectively)		12,006		10,981		10,268
Total	$	43,519	$	43,301	$	53,878

The goodwill above is primarily the result of synergies between the acquired businesses and our existing propane businesses. The pro forma effects of these transactions were not material.