Debt

12 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2020

I. Debt

Short-term borrowings

Prior to April 30, 2020, Ferrellgas classified borrowings on the Revolving Facility portion of its Senior Secured Credit Facility (each, as defined below) as short-term, because they were primarily used to fund working capital needs that management intended to pay down within the twelve month period following the balance sheet date. During the quarter ended April 30, 2020, Ferrellgas repaid all of the outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility and terminated that facility, as discussed below. Accordingly, as of July 31, 2020, no amounts were classified as short-term borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, $43.0 million was classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the “Senior secured notes due 2025 and senior secured credit facility” section below.

Long-term debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:


	July 31, 2020		July 31, 2019
Unsecured senior notes
Fixed rate, 6.50%, due 2021 (1)	$	500,000	$	500,000
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2023 (2)		500,000		500,000
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2022, net of unamortized premium of $937 and $1,633 at July 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (3)		475,937		476,633
Fixed rate, 8.625%, due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $0 and $1,319 at July 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (4)		357,000		355,681

Secured senior notes
Fixed rate, 10.00%, due 2025, net of unamortized premium of $3,573 at July 31, 2020 (5)		703,573		—

Senior secured term loan
Variable interest rate, Term Loan (6)		—		275,000

Notes payable
9.4% and 10.7% weighted average interest rate at July 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, due 2020 to 2029, net of unamortized discount of $537 and $711 at July 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively		4,564		5,962
Total debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance and other costs		2,541,074		2,113,276
Unamortized debt issuance and other costs		(35,583)		(24,516)
Less: current portion of long-term debt		859,095		631,756
Long-term debt	$	1,646,396	$	1,457,004

(1)

During November 2010, the operating partnership issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on May 1, 2021.

(2)

During June 2015, the operating partnership issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2023. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of any subsidiary of the operating partnership that is not a guarantor of these notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due June 15, 2023. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to June 2021.

(3)

During fiscal 2014, the operating partnership issued $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2022, $325.0 million of which was issued at par and $150.0 million of which was issued at 104% of par. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the operating partnership and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of the operating partnership, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due January 15, 2022.

(4)

During January 2017, Ferrellgas Partners issued $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of additional 8.625% unsecured senior notes due 2020, issued at 96% of par. Ferrellgas Partners contributed the net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166.1 million to the operating partnership, which used such amounts to repay borrowings under its previous senior secured credit facility. During April 2010, Ferrellgas Partners issued $280.0 million of these notes. During March 2011, Ferrellgas Partners redeemed $98.0 million of these notes. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas Partners and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas Partners, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the operating partnership and its subsidiaries. The unsecured senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount was due on June 15, 2020 but has not been repaid.

(5)

During April 2020, the operating partnership issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025, $575.0 million of which was issued at par and $125.0 million of which was issued at 103% of par. These notes are senior secured obligations of the operating partnership and the guarantors of such notes, including Ferrellgas Partners, the general partners of the operating partnership and certain subsidiaries of the operating partnership, and are (i) effectively senior to all existing senior unsecured indebtedness of the operating partnership and the guarantors, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a special purpose subsidiary that does not guarantee the notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to April 15, 2024. The outstanding principal amount is due on April 15, 2025.

(6)

During April 2020, the operating partnership used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of its senior secured first lien notes due 2025 to (i) repay all $283.9 million of outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, together with $3.1 million of accrued interest and a $17.5 million prepayment premium, (ii) cash collateralize all of the letters of credit outstanding under its Senior Secured Credit Facility and (iii) make a cash deposit of $11.5 million with the administrative agent under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, after which the facility was terminated. This repayment also resulted in $19.9 million of non-cash write-offs of capitalized debt costs. The prepayment premium payments and the non-cash write-offs of capitalized debt costs are classified as loss on extinguishment of debt on the consolidated statement of operations.

The scheduled annual principal payments on long-term debt are as follows:


	Scheduled
Payment due by fiscal year	principal payments
2021 (a)	$	859,120
2022		476,435
2023		500,999
2024		329
2025		700,199
Thereafter		19
Total	$	2,537,101

(a)

Includes the Ferrellgas Partners Notes, which matured on June 15, 2020 but have not yet been repaid.

Senior secured notes due 2025 and senior secured credit facility

On April 16, 2020, the operating partnership issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025. Ferrellgas utilized a portion of the net proceeds of that offering to repay all $283.9 million of the outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, together with $3.1 million of accrued interest and a $17.5 million prepayment premium and terminated that facility. Additionally, Ferrellgas used a portion of the net proceeds from that offering to cash collateralize all of the letters of credit outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and to make a cash deposit of $11.5 million with the administrative agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility. To the extent the cash deposit is not used to pay any such contingent obligations, it will be returned to the operating partnership in certain circumstances. The operating partnership intends to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.

As of July 31, 2020, the operating partnership had previously terminated its Senior Secured Credit Facility in connection with the issuance of the senior secured first lien notes due 2025. The operating partnership has not entered into a new credit facility as of July 31, 2020. As of July 31, 2019, the operating partnership had outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility of $275.0 million under the term loan (the “Term Loan”) at an interest rate of 8.16%, which was then classified as current, and $43.0 million under the revolving line of credit (the “Revolving Facility”) at an interest rate of 9.47%, which was classified as short-term borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, the operating partnership had available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility of $155.1 million.

Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2020 and 2019 totaled $126.0 million and $101.9 million, respectively, and were used to secure insurance arrangements, product purchases and commodity hedges. At July 31, 2020, due to the termination of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, Ferrellgas did not have in place a credit facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit and had $78.2 million of restricted cash pledged as cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding. During the quarter ended July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas also issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility. At July 31, 2019, Ferrellgas had remaining available letter of credit capacity under the Senior Secured Credit Facility of $23.1 million. Ferrellgas incurred commitment fees of $0.5 million, $1.0 million and $0.7 million in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Forbearance Agreement with respect to Ferrellgas Partners’ 8.625% Unsecured Senior Notes due June 15, 2020

On June 7, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners and additional Ferrellgas entities entered into a Forbearance Agreement (the “Forbearance Agreement”) with the beneficial owners (or nominees, investment managers, advisors or subadvisors for the beneficial owners, collectively referred to as the “Forbearing Noteholders”) of approximately 77% of the aggregate principal amount of Ferrellgas Partners’ 8.625% unsecured senior notes due June 15, 2020, pursuant to which the Forbearing Noteholders agreed to forbear from exercising any default-related rights and remedies with respect to the Ferrellgas Partners Notes and to direct the trustee thereunder not to take any remedial action. The forbearance period under the Forbearance Agreement expired on August 15, 2020. Following the expiration of the forbearance period, discussions with representatives of the Forbearing Noteholders have continued.

Financial covenants

The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the agreements governing the operating partnership’s indebtedness contain various covenants that limit Ferrellgas Partners’ ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. The general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the restricted payments covenants in the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership, which are discussed below.

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., the master limited partnership

The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners due June 15, 2020 contains a covenant that restricts the ability of Ferrellgas Partners to make certain restricted payments, including distributions on its common units. Ferrellgas Partners continues to comply with the restrictive covenants with respect to the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of its unsecured senior notes due June 15, 2020 as it continues to negotiate with the Forbearing Noteholders.

Under this covenant, subject to the limited exception described below, Ferrellgas Partners may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indenture generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas Partners’ consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.40x.

If the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners may make restricted payments of up to $50.0 million in total over a sixteen quarter period. As a result of distributions paid to common unitholders in September 2017, December 2017, March 2018, June 2018 and September 2018, while this ratio was less than 1.75x, Ferrellgas Partners has used substantially all of its capacity under the limited exception and therefore is currently restricted by this covenant from making future restricted payments, including distributions to common unitholders. Accordingly, no distributions have been or will be paid to common unitholders for the three months ended July 31, 2020, and the general partner expects that this covenant will continue to prohibit Ferrellgas Partners from making common unit distributions unless and until the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners due 2020 are restructured, refinanced or otherwise satisfied. While there can be no assurance of success, as part of our debt and interest expense reduction strategy, we are presently considering potential solutions to address the upcoming maturity of the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners due 2020. The potential solutions include, among others, restructuring, refinancing or a transaction to exchange new notes for some or all of these notes.

Ferrellgas, L.P., the operating partnership

Similar to the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners, the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership contain covenants that restrict the ability of the operating partnership to make certain restricted payments, including distributions to Ferrellgas Partners. Under these covenants, in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s notes, subject to the limited exceptions described below, the operating partnership may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indentures generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of July 31, 2020, the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.70x.

Under the covenants in the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes, if the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, the operating partnership may still make restricted payments in limited amounts determined under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes. The distributions made by the operating partnership on June 15, 2019 and December 15, 2019 for payment of interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 2020 were made from capacity under this limited exception to the ratio requirement under the indentures governing the operating partnership’s unsecured notes.

The indenture governing the operating partnership’s senior secured first lien notes due 2025 contains a similar but, in some respects, a different restricted payments covenant. The covenant in the secured notes indenture provides for the same 1.75x consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test as the unsecured notes indentures and a limited exception when that ratio is below 1.75x. In addition, the secured notes indenture also provides that, subject to a separate limited exception, described below, the operating partnership generally may not make a restricted payment unless the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio (defined in the secured notes indenture generally to mean the ratio of consolidated total debt to trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is no greater than 5.5x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. The consolidated leverage ratio test applies regardless of whether the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed coverage ratio is at least 1.75x or below 1.75x. As of July 31, 2020, the operating partnership’s consolidated leverage ratio was substantially in excess of 5.5x. Additionally, the secured notes indenture provides for restricted payments under its limited exception to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test that is less than the capacity available under the similar exception in the unsecured notes indentures. However, the secured notes indenture contains a separate exception to both the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test and the consolidated leverage ratio test that can be utilized to make certain specified restricted payments in a limited amount when the operating partnership does not meet either the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test or the consolidated leverage ratio test. This separate exception under the secured notes indenture currently has capacity for such specified restricted payments that is substantially the same as the capacity under the most restrictive of the operating partnership’s unsecured notes indentures.

As described above, Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured notes due 2020 matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although the operating partnership has some capacity to make distributions under the operating partnership’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due 2020 that was due at the maturity of those notes. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures currently limit the ability of the operating partnership to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders.

Debt and interest expense reduction strategy

Ferrellgas continues to pursue a strategy to reduce its debt and interest expense. Opportunities include the generation of additional cash flows through accretive acquisitions, continued restructuring or refinancing of existing indebtedness, selling additional assets, maintaining the suspension of Ferrellgas’ common unit distributions, issuing equity or executing one or more debt exchanges. Ferrellgas expects to maintain its debt and interest expense reduction strategy until its consolidated leverage ratio reaches a level that it deems appropriate for its business. During fiscal 2019, Ferrellgas engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.

Ferrellgas, L.P. [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

I. Debt

Short-term borrowings

Prior to April 30, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. classified borrowings on the Revolving Facility portion of its Senior Secured Credit Facility (each, as defined below) as short-term because they were primarily used to fund working capital needs that management intended to pay down within the twelve month period following the balance sheet date. During the quarter ended April 30, 2020, Ferrellgas repaid all of the outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility and terminated that facility, as discussed below. Accordingly, as of July 31, 2020, no amounts were classified as short-term borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, $43.0 million was classified as short-term borrowings. For further discussion see the “Senior secured notes due 2025 and senior secured credit facility” section below.

Long-term debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:


	July 31, 2020		July 31, 2019
Unsecured senior notes
Fixed rate, 6.50%, due 2021 (1)	$	500,000	$	500,000
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2023 (2)		500,000		500,000
Fixed rate, 6.75%, due 2022, net of unamortized premium of $937 and $1,633 at July 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (3)		475,937		476,633

Secured senior notes
Fixed rate, 10.00%, due 2025, net of unamortized premium of $3,573 at July 31, 2020 (4)		703,573		—

Senior secured term loan
Variable interest rate, Term Loan (5)		—		275,000

Notes payable
9.4% and 10.7% weighted average interest rate at July 31, 2020 and July 31, 2019, respectively, due 2020 to 2029, net of unamortized discount of $537 and $711 at July 31, 2020 and July 31, 2019, respectively		4,564		5,962
Total debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance and other costs		2,184,074		1,757,595
Unamortized debt issuance and other costs		(35,583)		(23,562)
Less: current portion of long-term debt		502,095		277,029
Long-term debt	$	1,646,396	$	1,457,004

(1)

During November 2010, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2021.These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P., to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of the Ferrellgas, L.P.’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on May 1, 2021.

(2)

During June 2015, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2023. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and certain subsidiaries and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P. and such subsidiaries, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of any subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P. that is not a guarantor of these notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on June 15, 2023. Ferrellgas, L.P. would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to June 15, 2021.

(3)

During fiscal 2014, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $475.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior notes due 2022, $325.0 million of which was issued at par and $150.0 million of which was issued at 104% of par. These notes are general unsecured senior obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and are (i) effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P., to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s subsidiaries. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The outstanding principal amount is due on January 15, 2022.

(4)

During April 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025, $575.0 million of which was issued at par and $125.0 million of which was issued at 103% of par. These notes are senior secured obligations of Ferrellgas, L.P. and the guarantors of such notes, including Ferrellgas Partners, the general partners of Ferrellgas, L.P. and certain subsidiaries, and are (i) effectively senior to all existing senior unsecured indebtedness of Ferrellgas, L.P. and the guarantors, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and (ii) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, a special purpose subsidiary that does not guarantee the notes. The senior notes bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The operating partnership would incur prepayment penalties if it were to repay the notes prior to April 15, 2024. The outstanding principal amount is due on April 15, 2025.

(5)

During April 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of its senior secured first lien notes due 2025 to (i) repay all $283.9 million of outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, together with $3.1 million of accrued interest and a $17.5 million prepayment premium, (ii) cash collateralize all of the letters of credit outstanding under its Senior Secured Credit Facility and (iii) make a cash deposit of $11.5 million with the administrative agent under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, after which the facility was terminated. This repayment also resulted in $19.9 million of non-cash write-offs of capitalized debt costs. The prepayment premium payments and the non-cash write-offs of capitalized debt costs are classified as loss on extinguishment of debt on the consolidated statement of operations.

The scheduled annual principal payments on long-term debt are as follows:


Payment due by fiscal year	Scheduled principal payments
2021	$	502,120
2022		476,435
2023		500,999
2024		329
2025		700,199
Thereafter		19
Total	$	2,180,101

Senior secured credit facilities due 2025 and senior secured credit facility

On April 16, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.00% senior secured first lien notes due 2025, as discussed above. Ferrellgas, L.P. utilized a portion of the net proceeds of that offering to repay all $283.9 million of the outstanding borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, together with $3.1 million of accrued interest and a $17.5 million prepayment premium and terminated that facility. Additionally, Ferrellgas, L.P. used a portion of the net proceeds from that offering to cash collateralize all of the letters of credit outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and to make a cash deposit of $11.5 million with the administrative agent under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, which may be used by the administrative agent to pay contingent obligations arising under the Financing Agreement that governed the Senior Secured Credit Facility. To the extent the cash deposit is not used to pay any such contingent obligations, it will be returned to Ferrellgas, L.P. in certain circumstances. Ferrellgas, L.P. intends to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.

As of July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. had previously terminated its Senior Secured Credit Facility in connection with the issuance of the senior secured first lien notes due 2025. Ferrellgas, L.P. has not entered into a new credit facility as of July 31, 2020. As of July 31, 2019, Ferrellgas, L.P. had borrowings under its Senior Secured Credit Facility of $275.0 million under the term loan (the “Term Loan”) at an interest rate of 8.16%, which was then classified as current, and $43.0 million under the revolving line of credit (the “Revolving Facility”) at an interest rate of 9.47%, which was classified as short-term borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, Ferrellgas, L.P. had available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Facility of $155.1 million.

Letters of credit outstanding at July 31, 2020 and July 31, 2019 totaled $126.0 million and $101.9 million, respectively, and were used to secure insurance arrangements, product purchases and commodity hedges. At July 31, 2020, due to the termination of the Senior Secured Credit Facility Ferrellgas, L.P. did not have in place a credit facility providing for the issuance of letters of credit and had $78.2 million of restricted cash pledged as cash collateral for letters of credit outstanding. During the quarter ended July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P. also issued letters of credit of $50.0 million by utilizing our liquidity available on the accounts receivable securitization facility. At July 31, 2019, Ferrellgas, L.P. had remaining available letter of credit capacity under the Senior Secured Credit Facility of $23.1 million. Ferrellgas incurred commitment fees of $0.5 million, $1.0 million, and $0.7 million in fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

Forbearance Agreement with respect to Ferrellgas Partners’ 8.625% Unsecured Senior Notes due June 15, 2020

Financial covenants

The indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners and the indentures governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas, L.P. contain various covenants that limit Ferrellgas Partners’ ability and the ability of specified subsidiaries to, among other things, make restricted payments and incur additional indebtedness. The general partner believes that the most restrictive of these covenants are the restricted payments covenants discussed below.

Similar to the indenture governing the outstanding notes of Ferrellgas Partners, the indentures governing the outstanding notes of the operating partnership contain covenants that restrict the ability of the operating partnership to make certain restricted payments, including distributions to Ferrellgas Partners. Under these covenants, subject to the limited exception described below, the operating partnership may not make a restricted payment unless its consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio (defined in the indentures generally to mean the ratio of trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is at least 1.75x , on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. As of July 31, 2020, the operating partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.70x.

Under the covenants in the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes, if the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is below 1.75x, Ferrellgas, L.P. may still make restricted payments in limited amounts determined under the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes. The distributions made by Ferrellgas, L.P. on June 15, 2019 and December 15, 2019 for payment of interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due June 2020 were made from capacity under this limited exception to the ratio requirement under the indentures governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes.

The indenture governing Ferrellgas, L.P.’s senior secured first lien notes due 2025 contains a similar but, in some respects, a different restricted payments covenant. The covenant in the secured notes indenture provides for the same 1.75x consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test as the unsecured notes indentures and a limited exception when that ratio is below 1.75x. In addition, the secured notes indenture also provides that, subject to a separate limited exception, described below, Ferrellgas, L.P. generally may not make a restricted payment unless Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated leverage ratio (defined in the secured notes indenture generally to mean the ratio of consolidated total debt to trailing four quarters consolidated EBITDA, both as adjusted for certain, specified items) is no greater than 5.5x, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the restricted payment and, if applicable, certain other specified events. The consolidated leverage ratio test applies regardless of whether Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated fixed coverage ratio is at least 1.75x or below 1.75x. As of July 31, 2020, Ferrellgas, L.P.’s consolidated leverage ratio was substantially in excess of 5.5x. Additionally, the secured notes indenture provides for restricted payments under its limited exception to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test that is less than the capacity available under the similar exception in the unsecured notes indentures. However, the secured notes indenture contains a separate exception to both the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test and the consolidated leverage ratio test that can be utilized to make certain specified restricted payments in a limited amount when Ferrellgas, L.P. does not meet either the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio test or the consolidated leverage ratio test. This separate exception under the secured notes indenture currently has capacity for such specified restricted payments that is substantially the same as the capacity under the most restrictive of Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured notes indentures.

As described above, Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured notes due 2020 matured on June 15, 2020, and the outstanding principal amount of those notes was due to be paid on that date, together with accrued interest to the maturity date. Although Ferrellgas, L.P. has some capacity to make distributions under Ferrellgas, L.P.’s unsecured and secured notes indentures, this capacity will not allow Ferrellgas, L.P. to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners sufficient to pay the principal of and accrued interest on Ferrellgas Partners’ unsecured senior notes due 2020 due at the maturity of those notes. Additionally, the restrictions in these indentures currently limit the ability of Ferrellgas, L.P. to make distributions to Ferrellgas Partners to enable it to pay cash distributions to its unitholders. Ferrellgas Partners continues to comply with restrictive covenants with respect to the $357.0 million aggregate principal amount of its unsecured senior notes due June 15, 2020 as Ferrellgas Partners continues to negotiate with the Forbearing Noteholders.

Debt and interest expense reduction strategy

Ferrellgas, L.P. continues to pursue a strategy to reduce its debt and interest expense. Opportunities include the generation of additional cash flows organically or through accretive acquisitions, restructuring or refinancing existing indebtedness, selling additional assets, maintaining the suspension of Ferrellgas Partners’ common unit distributions, issuing equity or executing one or more debt exchanges. Ferrellgas, L.P. expects to maintain our debt and interest expense reduction strategy until the consolidated leverage ratio reaches a level that we deem appropriate for our business. During fiscal 2019, Ferrellgas, L.P. engaged Moelis & Company LLC as its financial advisor and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs LLP to assist in its ongoing process to reduce existing debt and address its debt maturities.