Nature of Operations

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Nature of Operations [Abstract]

Nature of Operations

1. Nature of Operations

UGI Corporation (“UGI”) is a holding company that, through subsidiaries and affiliates, distributes and markets energy products and related services. In the United States, we own and operate (1) a retail propane marketing and distribution business; (2) natural gas and electric distribution utilities; (3) electricity generation facilities; and (4) an energy marketing, midstream infrastructure, storage and energy services business. Internationally, we market and distribute propane and other liquefied petroleum gases (“LPG”) in Europe and China. We refer to UGI and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively as “the Company” or “we.”

We conduct a domestic propane marketing and distribution business through AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (“AmeriGas Partners”), a publicly traded limited partnership, and its principal operating subsidiary AmeriGas Propane, L.P. (“AmeriGas OLP”), and beginning January 12, 2012, also through AmeriGas OLP’s principal operating subsidiaries Heritage Operating, L.P. (“HOLP”) and Titan Propane LLC (“Titan LLC”). AmeriGas OLP, HOLP and Titan LLC are collectively referred to herein as the “Operating Partnerships.” On January 12, 2012, AmeriGas Partners completed the acquisition of the subsidiaries of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ETP”), that operated ETP’s propane distribution business (“Heritage Propane”) (see Note 4, “Partnership Acquisition of Heritage Propane”). AmeriGas Partners, AmeriGas OLP and HOLP are Delaware limited partnerships, and Titan LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. UGI’s wholly owned second-tier subsidiary, AmeriGas Propane, Inc. (the “General Partner”), serves as the general partner of AmeriGas Partners and AmeriGas OLP. We refer to AmeriGas Partners and its subsidiaries together as “the Partnership” and the General Partner and its subsidiaries, including the Partnership, as “AmeriGas Propane.” At March 31, 2012, the General Partner held a 1% general partner interest and 25.4% limited partner interest in AmeriGas Partners and an effective 27.1% ownership interest in AmeriGas OLP. Our limited partnership interest in AmeriGas Partners comprises 23,756,882 AmeriGas Partners Common Units (“Common Units”). The remaining 73.6% interest in AmeriGas Partners comprises 39,437,073 publicly held Common Units and 29,567,362 Common Units held by ETP as a result of the acquisition of Heritage Propane.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, UGI Enterprises, Inc. (“Enterprises”), through subsidiaries (1) conducts LPG distribution businesses in France and, subsequent to the Shell Acquisition described below, in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (collectively “Antargaz”); (2) conducts LPG distribution businesses in 11 central and eastern European countries including, subsequent to the Shell Acquisition, Norway, Sweden and Finland (collectively referred to as “Flaga”); (3) conducts an LPG distribution business in the United Kingdom subsequent to the Shell Acquisition; and (4) conducts an LPG distribution business in the Nantong region of China. On October 14, 2011, UGI, through subsidiaries, acquired Shell’s LPG distribution businesses in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden for approximately €133.6 ($179.0) in cash (the “Shell Acquisition”). We refer to our foreign LPG operations collectively as “International Propane.” Enterprises, through UGI Energy Services, Inc. (“Energy Services”) and its subsidiaries, conducts an energy marketing, midstream infrastructure, storage and energy services business primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. In addition, Energy Services’ wholly owned subsidiary, UGI Development Company (“UGID”), owns all or a portion of electric generation facilities located in Pennsylvania. The businesses of Energy Services and its subsidiaries, including UGID, are referred to herein collectively as “Midstream & Marketing.” Enterprises also conducts heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration and electrical contracting businesses in the Mid-Atlantic region through first-tier subsidiaries.

Our natural gas and electric distribution utility businesses are conducted through our wholly owned subsidiary UGI Utilities, Inc. (“UGI Utilities”) and its subsidiaries UGI Penn Natural Gas, Inc. (“PNG”) and UGI Central Penn Gas, Inc. (“CPG”). UGI Utilities, PNG and CPG own and operate natural gas distribution utilities in eastern, northeastern and central Pennsylvania and in a portion of one Maryland county. UGI Utilities also owns and operates an electric distribution utility in northeastern Pennsylvania (“Electric Utility”). UGI Utilities’ natural gas distribution utility is referred to as “UGI Gas;” PNG’s natural gas distribution utility is referred to as “PNG Gas;” and CPG’s natural gas distribution utility is referred to as “CPG Gas.” UGI Gas, PNG Gas and CPG Gas are collectively referred to as “Gas Utility.” Gas Utility is subject to regulation by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) and, with respect to a small service territory in one Maryland county, the Maryland Public Service Commission, and Electric Utility is subject to regulation by the PUC. Gas Utility and Electric Utility are collectively referred to as “Utilities.”