Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2017

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements

Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table presents Ferrellgas’ financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of July 31, 2017 and 2016:

	Asset (Liability)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
July 31, 2017:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	583		$	—	$	583
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	16,212		$	—	$	16,212
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(707	)	$	—	$	(707	)
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	(1,258	)	$	—	$	(1,258	)
July 31, 2016:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	5,830		$	—	$	5,830
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	8,241		$	—	$	8,241
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(3,553	)	$	—	$	(3,553	)
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	(17,689	)	$	—	$	(17,689	)

Methodology

The fair values of Ferrellgas’ non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Jamex note receivable, a financial instrument classified in "Other assets, net" on the consolidated balance sheet, is approximately $38.4 million, or $4.3 million less than its carrying amount as of July 31, 2017. The estimated fair value of the Jamex note receivable was calculated using a discounted cash flow method which relied on significant unobservable inputs. At July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas’ long-term debt instruments was $1,966.6 million and $1,920.1 million, respectively. Ferrellgas estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of Ferrellgas' consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.

At July 31, 2016, Ferrellgas had receivables from Jamex totaling $44.8 million. As described in Note D – Significant transactions, on September 1, 2016, Ferrellgas entered into a group of agreements with Jamex which, among other things, Jamex agreed to execute and deliver a secured promissory note ("Jamex Secured Promissory Note") in favor of Bridger in satisfaction of all obligations owed to Bridger under the Jamex TLA, including the $44.8 million owed to Ferrellgas on July 31, 2016. The Jamex Secured Promissory Note is guaranteed pursuant to a guaranty agreement, jointly by James Ballengee and Bacchus (up to a maximum aggregate amount of $20.0 million), and fully guaranteed by the other Jamex entities. The obligations of Jamex and the other Jamex entities under the Notes are secured, pursuant to a Security Agreement, by a lien on certain of those entities’ assets, actively traded marketable securities and cash, which are held in a controlled account that can be seized by Ferrellgas in the event of default.

Ferrellgas has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.

Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]

Fair Value Measurements

Derivative Financial Instruments

The following table presents Ferrellgas, L.P.’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis for each of the fair value hierarchy levels, including both current and noncurrent portions, as of July 31, 2017 and 2016:

	Asset (Liability)
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
July 31, 2017:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	583		$	—	$	583
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	16,212		$	—	$	16,212
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(707	)	$	—	$	(707	)
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	(1,258	)	$	—	$	(1,258	)
July 31, 2016:
Assets:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	5,830		$	—	$	5,830
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	8,241		$	—	$	8,241
Liabilities:
Derivative financial instruments:
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(3,553	)	$	—	$	(3,553	)
Commodity derivatives	$	—	$	(17,689	)	$	—	$	(17,689	)

Methodology

The fair values of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s non-exchange traded commodity derivative contracts are based upon indicative price quotations available through brokers, industry price publications or recent market transactions and related market indicators. The fair values of interest rate swap contracts are based upon third-party quotes or indicative values based on recent market transactions.

Other Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of other financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities (except for current maturities of long-term debt) approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Jamex note receivable, a financial instrument classified in "Other assets, net" on the consolidated balance sheet, is approximately $38.4 million, or $4.3 million less than its carrying amount as of July 31, 2017. The estimated fair value of the Jamex note receivable was calculated using a discounted cash flow method which relied on significant unobservable inputs. At July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2016, the estimated fair value of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s long-term debt instruments was $1,645.3 million and $1,736.2 million, respectively. Ferrellgas, L.P. estimates the fair value of long-term debt based on quoted market prices. The fair value of our consolidated debt obligations is a Level 2 valuation based on the observable inputs used for similar liabilities.

At July 31, 2016, Ferrellgas, L.P. had receivables from Jamex totaling $44.8 million. As described in Note D – Significant transactions, as well as elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, on September 1, 2016, Ferrellgas, L.P. entered into a group of agreements with Jamex which, among other things, Jamex agreed to execute and deliver a secured promissory note ("Jamex Secured Promissory Note") in favor of Bridger in satisfaction of all obligations owed to Bridger under the Jamex TLA, including the $44.8 million owed to Ferrellgas, L.P. on July 31, 2016. The Jamex Secured Promissory Note is guaranteed pursuant to a guaranty agreement, jointly by James Ballengee and Bacchus (up to a maximum aggregate amount of $20.0 million), and fully guaranteed by the other Jamex entities. The obligations of Jamex and the other Jamex entities under the Notes are secured, pursuant to a Security Agreement, by a lien on certain of those entities’ assets, actively traded marketable securities and cash, which are held in a controlled account that can be seized by Ferrellgas in the event of default.

Ferrellgas, L.P.  has other financial instruments such as trade accounts receivable which could expose it to concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk from trade accounts receivable is limited because of a large customer base which extends across many different U.S. markets.