Suburban Propane®
PARTNERSHIP PROFILE
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH) has been in the customer service business since 1928. A
Master Limited Partnership since 1996, Suburban is a value-oriented company managed for long-term,
consistent performance.
Headquartered in Whippany, New Jersey, Suburban is a nationwide marketer and distributor of a diverse array of
products to meet the energy needs of our customers, specializing in propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as
the marketing of natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets. With nearly 2,600 full-time employees,
Suburban maintains business operations in 30 states, providing prompt, reliable service to approximately 800,000
residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 300 locations.
Suburban is the fifth largest retail propane distributor in the United States based on the volume of propane
gallons distributed annually. According to Department of Energy statistics, of the 111.1 million households
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
NYSE Composite Index
Peer Group Index
$300
$250
$200
$150
$100
S
R
A
L
L
O
D
$50
9/24/2005
9/30/2006
9/29/2007
9/27/2008
9/26/2009
9/25/2010
AASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEP. 25, 2005
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEP. 25, 2010
in the United States, 12.6 million
depend on propane for various uses
and 8.4 million use fuel oil as their
main heating fuel. Propane is a
derivative of natural gas processing
and petroleum refining. It is clean
burning, abundant and available
through an infrastructure of rail,
barge, pipeline and truck
transportation. Propane is stored in
caverns, terminals and bulk storage
plants before it is delivered to end
users. Approximately 90% of the
propane used in the United States is
produced domestically. Fuel oil comes
from domestic wells and refineries in
addition to imports from foreign countries. Approximately 85% of the fuel oil consumed in the United States
is refined domestically as part of the “distillate fuel oil” product family, which includes fuel oil and diesel
fuel. Fuel oil is transported via barge, pipeline and truck transportation through terminals and bulk storage
plants before being delivered to end users.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number: 1-14222
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
22-3410353
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
240 Route 10 West
Whippany, NJ 07981
(973) 887-5300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Units
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive
Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer (do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes [ ]
No [X]
The aggregate market value as of March 26, 2010 of the registrant’s Common Units held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the
reported closing price of such units on the New York Stock Exchange on such date ($46.75 per unit), was approximately $1,649,823,000.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
Total number of pages (excluding Exhibits): 126
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
PART I
Page
ITEM 1.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 4.
BUSINESS......................................................................................................................
1
RISK FACTORS............................................................................................................. 11
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS........................................................................... 21
PROPERTIES.................................................................................................................. 21
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS................................................................................................ 21
REMOVED AND RESERVED...................................................................................... 22
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9B.
MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON UNITS, RELATED
UNITHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF UNITS......................... 22
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA................................................................................... 23
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.......................................................
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK..................................................................................…..................….. 44
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA...........................…. 47
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE….......................................…...… 50
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES................................................................................ 50
OTHER INFORMATION............................................................................................... 51
26
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 14.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE...... 51
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION............................................................…................... 56
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS........................ 81
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE….................................................................................... 83
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.............................................…. 84
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES............................................... 85
SIGNATURES............................................................…........................................................................... 86
PART IV
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements (“Forward-Looking Statements”) as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to future business expectations and predictions and financial condition and results of
operations of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”). Some of these statements can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as “prospects,” “outlook,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,”
“may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “expects” or “plans” or the negative or other variation of these or similar
words, or by discussion of trends and conditions, strategies or risks and uncertainties. These Forward-Looking
Statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
discussed or implied in such Forward-Looking Statements (statements contained in this Annual Report
identifying such risks and uncertainties are referred to as “Cautionary Statements”). The risks and uncertainties
and their impact on the Partnership’s results include, but are not limited to, the following risks:
• The impact of weather conditions on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and
electricity;
• Volatility in the unit cost of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas, the impact of the
Partnership’s hedging and risk management activities, and the adverse impact of price increases on volumes
as a result of customer conservation;
• The ability of the Partnership to compete with other suppliers of propane, fuel oil and other energy sources;
• The impact on the price and supply of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels from the political, military or
economic instability of the oil producing nations, global terrorism and other general economic conditions;
• The ability of the Partnership to acquire and maintain reliable transportation for its propane, fuel oil and
other refined fuels;
• The ability of the Partnership to retain customers or acquire new customers;
• The impact of customer conservation, energy efficiency and technology advances on the demand for propane,
fuel oil and other refined fuels, natural gas and electricity;
• The ability of management to continue to control expenses;
• The impact of changes in applicable statutes and government regulations, or their interpretations, including
those relating to the environment and global warming, derivative instruments and other regulatory
developments on the Partnership’s business;
• The impact of changes in tax regulations that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for
federal income tax purposes;
• The impact of legal proceedings on the Partnership’s business;
• The impact of operating hazards that could adversely affect the Partnership’s operating results to the extent
not covered by insurance;
• The Partnership’s ability to make strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate them;
• The impact of current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures;
and
• Other risks referenced from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
and those factors listed or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report under “Risk Factors.”
Some of these Forward-Looking Statements are discussed in more detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report. On different occasions, the Partnership or its representatives have
made or may make Forward-Looking Statements in other filings with the SEC, press releases or oral statements made by or with the
approval of one of the Partnership’s authorized executive officers. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Forward-
Looking Statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date made. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to
update any Forward-Looking Statement or Cautionary Statement, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral
Forward-Looking Statements attributable to the Partnership or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety
by the Cautionary Statements in this Annual Report and in future SEC reports. For a more complete discussion of specific factors
which could cause actual results to differ from those in the Forward-Looking Statements or Cautionary Statements, see “Risk
Factors” in this Annual Report.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Development of Business
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”), a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, is a
nationwide marketer and distributor of a diverse array of products meeting the energy needs of our customers. We
specialize in the distribution of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and
electricity in deregulated markets. In support of our core marketing and distribution operations, we install and
service a variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating and ventilation. We believe,
based on LP/Gas Magazine dated February 2010, that we are the fifth largest retail marketer of propane in the
United States, measured by retail gallons sold in the calendar year 2009. As of September 25, 2010, we were
serving the energy needs of approximately 800,000 active residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural
customers through approximately 300 locations in 30 states located primarily in the east and west coast regions of
the United States, including Alaska. We sold approximately 317.9 million gallons of propane and 43.2 million
gallons of fuel oil and refined fuels to retail customers during the year ended September 25, 2010. Together with our
predecessor companies, we have been continuously engaged in the retail propane business since 1928.
We conduct our business principally through Suburban Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, which
operates our propane business and assets (the “Operating Partnership”), and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
Our general partner, and the general partner of our Operating Partnership, is Suburban Energy Services Group
LLC (the “General Partner”), a Delaware limited liability company. Since October 19, 2006, the General Partner
has had no economic interest in either the Partnership or the Operating Partnership other than as a holder of 784
Common Units of the Partnership. Prior to October 19, 2006, the General Partner was majority-owned by senior
management of the Partnership and owned an approximate combined 1.75% general partner interest in the
Partnership and the Operating Partnership.
On October 19, 2006, the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the General Partner consummated an
Exchange Agreement by and among the parties dated July 27, 2006 (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to
which the Partnership issued 2,300,000 Common Units to the General Partner in exchange for the cancellation of
the General Partner’s incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), the economic interest in the Partnership included in
the general partner interest therein and the economic interest in the Operating Partnership included in the general
partner interest therein (the “GP Exchange Transaction”). Pursuant to a Distribution, Release and Lockup
Agreement dated July 27, 2006 by and among the Partnership, the Operating Partnership, the General Partner and
the then individual members of the General Partner (the “Distribution Agreement”), the Common Units received
by the General Partner (other than 784 Common Units that will remain in the General Partner) were distributed to
the then members of the General Partner in exchange for their interests in the General Partner.
In addition to the GP Exchange Transaction, the Partnership adopted the Third Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), which amended the previous partnership
agreement to, among other things, effectuate the GP Exchange Transaction. Under the Partnership Agreement,
the General Partner will continue to be the general partner of both the Partnership and the Operating Partnership,
but its general partner interests will have no economic value (which means that such general partner interests do
not entitle the holder thereof to any cash distributions of either partnership, or to any cash payment upon the
liquidation of either partnership, or any other economic rights in either partnership). Following the GP Exchange
Transaction and the consummation of the Distribution Agreement, the sole member of the General Partner is the
Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership and the General Partner holds 784 Common Units received in the GP
Exchange Transaction. The Partnership continues to own (directly and indirectly) all of the limited partner
interests in the Operating Partnership. Additionally, under the Partnership Agreement no IDRs are outstanding
and no provisions for future IDRs are contained in the Partnership Agreement. The Common Units represent
100% of the limited partner interests in the Partnership.
1
Subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership include Suburban Sales and Service, Inc. (the “Service Company”),
which conducts a portion of the Partnership’s service work and appliance and parts businesses. The Service
Company is the sole member of Gas Connection, LLC (d/b/a HomeTown Hearth & Grill), and Suburban
Franchising, LLC. HomeTown Hearth & Grill sells and installs natural gas and propane gas grills, fireplaces and
related accessories and supplies through two retail stores in the northwest and northeast regions as of September
25, 2010. Suburban Franchising creates and develops propane related franchising business opportunities.
Through an acquisition in fiscal 2004, we transformed our business from a marketer of a single fuel into one
that provides multiple energy solutions, with expansion into the marketing and distribution of fuel oil and refined
fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and electricity. Our fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and
electricity and services businesses are structured as corporate entities (collectively referred to as “Corporate
Entities”) and, as such, are subject to corporate level income tax.
Suburban Energy Finance Corporation, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, was formed on
November 26, 2003 to serve as co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of the Partnership’s
unsecured 6.875% senior notes due December 2013 (all of which were repurchased by the Partnership on March
23, 2010) and, subsequently, of the Partnership’s unsecured 7.375% senior notes issued on March 23, 2010 and
due March 15, 2020. Suburban Energy Finance Corporation has nominal assets and conducts no business
operations.
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise indicated, the terms “Partnership,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are used to
refer to Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.
The Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the Service Company commenced operations in March 1996 in
connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering of Common Units.
We currently file Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on
Form 8-K with the SEC. You may read and receive copies of any materials that we file with the SEC at the
SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on
the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Any information filed by us
is also available on the SEC’s EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
Upon written request or through a link from our website at www.suburbanpropane.com, we will provide,
without charge, copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2010, each of the
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports filed or furnished on Form 8-K and all amendments to such
reports as soon as is reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the
SEC. Requests should be directed to: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Investor Relations, P.O. Box 206,
Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206.
Our Strategy
Our business strategy is to deliver increasing value to our Unitholders through initiatives, both internal and
external, that are geared toward achieving sustainable profitable growth and increased quarterly distributions. The
following are key elements of our strategy:
Internal Focus on Driving Operating Efficiencies, Right-Sizing Our Cost Structure and Enhancing Our
Customer Mix. We focus internally on improving the efficiency of our existing operations, managing our cost
structure and improving our customer mix. Through investments in our technology infrastructure, we continue to
seek to improve operating efficiencies and the return on assets employed. We have developed a streamlined
operating footprint and management structure to facilitate effective resource planning and decision making. Our
internal efforts are particularly focused in the areas of route optimization, forecasting customer usage, inventory
control, cash management and customer tracking.
2
Growing Our Customer Base by Improving Customer Retention and Acquiring New Customers. We set
clear objectives to focus our employees on seeking new customers and retaining existing customers by providing
highly responsive customer service. We believe that customer satisfaction is a critical factor in the growth and
success of our operations. “Our Business is Customer Satisfaction” is one of our core operating philosophies. We
measure and reward our customer service centers based on a combination of profitability of the individual customer
service center and net customer growth.
Selective Acquisitions of Complementary Businesses or Assets. Externally, we seek to extend our presence or
diversify our product offerings through selective acquisitions. Our acquisition strategy is to focus on businesses
with a relatively steady cash flow that will extend our presence in strategically attractive markets, complement our
existing business segments or provide an opportunity to diversify our operations with other energy-related assets.
While we are active in this area, we are also very patient and deliberate in evaluating acquisition candidates.
During fiscal 2010, we completed four acquisitions of mid-sized propane operations in markets in which we
already have a strong presence. These acquisitions complemented our existing operations, expanded our
customer base and, with our focus on operational efficiencies, provided synergies through the blending of
operations and assets into our existing facilities. There were no acquisitions completed during fiscal 2009 or 2008.
Selective Disposition of Non-Strategic Assets. We continuously evaluate our existing facilities to identify
opportunities to optimize our return on assets by selectively divesting operations in slower growing markets,
generating proceeds that can be reinvested in markets that present greater opportunities for growth. Our objective is
to maximize the growth and profit potential of all of our assets. In that regard, in fiscal 2008 we completed the sale
of our Tirzah, South Carolina underground granite propane storage cavern, and associated 62-mile pipeline, for
approximately $53.7 million in net proceeds.
Business Segments
We manage and evaluate our operations in five operating segments, three of which are reportable segments:
Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels and Natural Gas and Electricity. These business segments are described
below. See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report for financial
information about our business segments.
Propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. It is a clean burning energy source
recognized for its transportability and ease of use relative to alternative forms of stand-alone energy sources.
Propane use falls into three broad categories:
Propane
•
•
•
residential and commercial applications;
industrial applications; and
agricultural uses.
In the residential and commercial markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, clothes
drying and cooking. Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel to power over-the-road vehicles,
forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces, as a cutting gas and in other process applications. In the
agricultural market, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed control.
Propane is extracted from natural gas or oil wellhead gas at processing plants or separated from crude oil during
the refining process. It is normally transported and stored in a liquid state under moderate pressure or refrigeration
for ease of handling in shipping and distribution. When the pressure is released or the temperature is increased,
propane becomes a flammable gas that is colorless and odorless, although an odorant is added to allow its detection.
Propane is clean burning and, when consumed, produces only negligible amounts of pollutants.
3
Product Distribution and Marketing
We distribute propane through a nationwide retail distribution network consisting of approximately 300
locations in 30 states as of September 25, 2010. Our operations are concentrated in the east and west coast regions
of the United States, including Alaska. As of September 25, 2010, we serviced approximately 644,000 active
propane customers. Typically, our customer service centers are located in suburban and rural areas where natural
gas is not readily available. Generally, these customer service centers consist of an office, appliance showroom,
warehouse and service facilities, with one or more 18,000 to 30,000 gallon storage tanks on the premises. Most of
our residential customers receive their propane supply through an automatic delivery system. These deliveries are
scheduled through computer technology, based upon each customer’s historical consumption patterns and prevailing
weather conditions. Additionally, as is common practice in the industry, we offer our customers a budget payment
plan whereby the customer’s estimated annual propane purchases and service contracts are paid for in a series of
estimated equal monthly payments over a twelve-month period. From our customer service centers, we also sell,
install and service equipment to customers who purchase propane from us including heating and cooking
appliances, hearth products and supplies and, at some locations, propane fuel systems for motor vehicles.
We sell propane primarily to six customer markets: residential, commercial, industrial (including engine fuel),
agricultural, other retail users and wholesale. Approximately 97% of the propane gallons sold by us in fiscal 2010
were to retail customers: 45% to residential customers, 28% to commercial customers, 7% to industrial customers,
5% to agricultural customers and 15% to other retail users. The balance of approximately 3% of the propane
gallons sold by us in fiscal 2010 was for risk management activities and wholesale customers. No single customer
accounted for 10% or more of our propane revenues during fiscal 2010.
Retail deliveries of propane are usually made to customers by means of bobtail and rack trucks. Propane is
pumped from bobtail trucks, which have capacities ranging from 2,125 gallons to 2,975 gallons of propane, into a
stationary storage tank on the customers’ premises. The capacity of these storage tanks ranges from approximately
100 gallons to approximately 1,200 gallons, with a typical tank having a capacity of 300 to 400 gallons. As is
common in the propane industry, we own a significant portion of the storage tanks located on our customers’
premises. We also deliver propane to retail customers in portable cylinders, which typically have a capacity of 5 to
35 gallons. When these cylinders are delivered to customers, empty cylinders are refilled in place or transported for
replenishment at our distribution locations. We also deliver propane to certain other bulk end users in larger trucks
known as transports, which have an average capacity of approximately 9,000 gallons. End users receiving transport
deliveries include industrial customers, large-scale heating accounts, such as local gas utilities that use propane as a
supplemental fuel to meet peak load delivery requirements, and large agricultural accounts that use propane for crop
drying.
Supply
Our propane supply is purchased from approximately 57 oil companies and natural gas processors at
approximately 110 supply points located in the United States and Canada. We make purchases primarily under one-
year agreements that are subject to annual renewal, and also purchase propane on the spot market. Supply contracts
generally provide for pricing in accordance with posted prices at the time of delivery or the current prices
established at major storage points, and some contracts include a pricing formula that typically is based on
prevailing market prices. Some of these agreements provide maximum and minimum seasonal purchase guidelines.
Propane is generally transported from refineries, pipeline terminals, storage facilities (including our storage facility
in Elk Grove, California) and coastal terminals to our customer service centers by a combination of common
carriers, owner-operators and railroad tank cars. See Item 2 of this Annual Report.
Historically, supplies of propane have been readily available from our supply sources. Although we make no
assurance regarding the availability of supplies of propane in the future, we currently expect to be able to secure
adequate supplies during fiscal 2011. During fiscal 2010, Targa Liquids Marketing and Trade (“Targa”) and
Enterprise Products Operating L.P. (“Enterprise”) provided approximately 19% and 11% of our total propane
4
purchases, respectively. The availability of our propane supply is dependent on several factors, including the
severity of winter weather and the price and availability of competing fuels, such as natural gas and fuel oil. We
believe that if supplies from Targa or Enterprise were interrupted, we would be able to secure adequate propane
supplies from other sources without a material disruption of our operations. Nevertheless, the cost of acquiring such
propane might be higher and, at least on a short-term basis, margins could be affected. Approximately 95% of our
total propane purchases were from domestic suppliers in fiscal 2010.
We seek to reduce the effect of propane price volatility on our product costs and to help ensure the availability
of propane during periods of short supply. We are currently a party to forward and option contracts with various
third parties to purchase and sell propane at fixed prices in the future. These activities are monitored by our senior
management through enforcement of our Hedging and Risk Management Policy. See Items 7 and 7A of this Annual
Report.
We own and operate a large propane storage facility in California. We also operate smaller storage facilities in
other locations and have rights to use storage facilities in additional locations. These storage facilities enable us to
buy and store large quantities of propane particularly during periods of low demand, which generally occur during
the summer months. This practice helps ensure a more secure supply of propane during periods of intense demand
or price instability. As of September 25, 2010, the majority of our storage capacity in California was leased to third
parties.
Competition
According to the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook Model Documentation
(November 2009), propane ranks as the fourth most important source of residential energy in the nation, with about
5% of all households using propane as their primary space heating fuel. This level has not changed materially over
the previous two decades. As an energy source, propane competes primarily with natural gas, electricity and fuel
oil, principally on the basis of price, availability and portability.
Propane is more expensive than natural gas on an equivalent British Thermal Unit (“BTU”) basis in locations
serviced by natural gas, but it is an alternative to natural gas in rural and suburban areas where natural gas is
unavailable or portability of product is required. Historically, the expansion of natural gas into traditional propane
markets has been inhibited by the capital costs required to expand pipeline and retail distribution systems. Although
the recent extension of natural gas pipelines to previously unserved geographic areas tends to displace propane
distribution in those areas, we believe new opportunities for propane sales will arise as new neighborhoods are
developed in geographically remote areas.
We also have some relative advantages over suppliers of other energy sources. For example, propane is
generally less expensive to use than electricity for space heating, water heating, clothes drying and cooking. Fuel oil
has not been a significant competitor due to the current geographical diversity of our operations, and propane and
fuel oil are not significant competitors because of the cost of converting from one to the other.
In addition to competing with suppliers of other energy sources, our propane operations compete with other
retail propane distributors. The retail propane industry is highly fragmented and competition generally occurs on a
local basis with other large full-service multi-state propane marketers, thousands of smaller local independent
marketers and farm cooperatives. Based on industry statistics contained in 2008 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and
Liquefied Refinery Gases, as published by the American Petroleum Institute in December 2009, and LP/Gas
Magazine dated February 2010, the ten largest retailers, including us, account for approximately 38% of the total
retail sales of propane in the United States. For fiscal years 2010 and 2009, no single marketer had a greater than
10% share of the total retail propane market in the United States. For fiscal year 2008 one marketer had more
than a 10% share of the total retail propane market in the United States. Most of our customer service centers
compete with five or more marketers or distributors. However, each of our customer service centers operates in its
own competitive environment because retail marketers tend to locate in close proximity to customers in order to
5
lower the cost of providing service. Our typical customer service center has an effective marketing radius of
approximately 50 miles, although in certain rural areas the marketing radius may be extended by one or more
satellite offices.
Product Distribution and Marketing
Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels
We market and distribute fuel oil, kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline to approximately 55,000 residential and
commercial customers in the northeast region of the United States. Sales of fuel oil and refined fuels for fiscal
2010 amounted to 43.2 million gallons. Approximately 67% of the fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold by us in
fiscal 2010 were to residential customers, principally for home heating, 4% were to commercial customers, 1%
were to agricultural and 4% to other users. Sales of diesel and gasoline accounted for the remaining 24% of total
volumes sold in this segment during fiscal 2010. Fuel oil has a more limited use, compared to propane, for space
and water heating in residential and commercial buildings. We sell diesel fuel and gasoline to commercial and
industrial customers for use primarily to propel motor vehicles.
Approximately 49% of our fuel oil customers receive their fuel oil under an automatic delivery system.
These deliveries are scheduled through computer technology, based upon each customer’s historical consumption
patterns and prevailing weather conditions. Additionally, as is common practice in the industry, we offer our
customers a budget payment plan whereby the customer’s estimated annual fuel oil purchases are paid for in a
series of estimated equal monthly payments over a twelve-month period. From our customer service centers, we
also sell, install and service equipment to customers who purchase fuel oil from us including heating appliances.
Deliveries of fuel oil are usually made to customers by means of tankwagon trucks, which have capacities
ranging from 2,500 gallons to 3,000 gallons. Fuel oil is pumped from the tankwagon truck into a stationary storage
tank that is located on the customer’s premises, which is owned by the customer. The capacity of customer storage
tanks ranges from approximately 275 gallons to approximately 1,000 gallons. No single customer accounted for
10% or more of our fuel oil revenues during fiscal 2010.
Supply
We obtain fuel oil and other refined fuels in either pipeline, truckload or tankwagon quantities, and have
contracts with certain pipeline and terminal operators for the right to temporarily store fuel oil at 13 terminal
facilities we do not own. We have arrangements with certain suppliers of fuel oil, which provide open access to
fuel oil at specific terminals throughout the northeast. Additionally, a portion of our purchases of fuel oil are
made at local wholesale terminal racks. In most cases, the supply contracts do not establish the price of fuel oil
in advance; rather, prices are typically established based upon market prices at the time of delivery plus or minus
a differential for transportation and volume discounts. We purchase fuel oil from more than 25 suppliers at
approximately 60 supply points. While fuel oil supply is more susceptible to longer periods of supply constraint
than propane, we believe that our supply arrangements will provide us with sufficient supply sources. Although
we make no assurance regarding the availability of supplies of fuel oil in the future, we currently expect to be able to
secure adequate supplies during fiscal 2011.
Competition
The fuel oil industry is a mature industry with total demand expected to remain relatively flat to moderately
declining. The fuel oil industry is highly fragmented, characterized by a large number of relatively small,
independently owned and operated local distributors. We compete with other fuel oil distributors offering a
broad range of services and prices, from full service distributors to those that solely offer the delivery service.
We have developed a wide range of sales programs and service offerings for our fuel oil customer base in an
attempt to be viewed as a full service energy provider and to build customer loyalty. For instance, like most
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companies in the fuel oil business, we provide home heating equipment repair service to our fuel oil customers
on a 24-hour a day basis. The fuel oil business unit also competes for retail customers with suppliers of
alternative energy sources, principally natural gas, propane and electricity.
Natural Gas and Electricity
We market natural gas and electricity through our wholly-owned subsidiary Agway Energy Services, LLC
(“AES”) in the deregulated markets of New York and Pennsylvania primarily to residential and small
commercial customers. Historically, local utility companies provided their customers with all three aspects of
electric and natural gas service: generation, transmission and distribution. However, under deregulation, public
utility commissions in several states are licensing energy service companies, such as AES, to act as alternative
suppliers of the commodity to end consumers. In essence, we make arrangements for the supply of electricity or
natural gas to specific delivery points. The local utility companies continue to distribute electricity and natural
gas on their distribution systems. The business strategy of this business segment is to expand its market share by
concentrating on growth in the customer base and expansion into other deregulated markets that are considered
strategic markets.
We serve nearly 86,000 natural gas and electricity customers in New York and Pennsylvania. During fiscal
2010, we sold approximately 3.5 million dekatherms of natural gas and 597.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity
through the natural gas and electricity segment. Approximately 69% of our customers were residential
households and the remainder were small commercial and industrial customers. New accounts are obtained
through numerous marketing and advertising programs, including telemarketing and direct mail initiatives. Most
local utility companies have established billing service arrangements whereby customers receive a single bill
from the local utility company which includes distribution charges from the local utility company, as well as
product charges for the amount of natural gas or electricity provided by AES and utilized by the customer. We
have arrangements with several local utility companies that provide billing and collection services for a fee.
Under these arrangements, we are paid by the local utility company for all or a portion of customer billings after
a specified number of days following the customer billing with no further recourse to AES.
Supply of natural gas is arranged through annual supply agreements with major national wholesale
suppliers. Pricing under the annual natural gas supply contracts is based on posted market prices at the time of
delivery, and some contracts include a pricing formula that typically is based on prevailing market prices. The
majority of our electricity requirements is purchased through the New York Independent System Operator
(“NYISO”) under an annual supply agreement, as well as purchase arrangements through other national
wholesale suppliers on the open market. Electricity pricing under the NYISO agreement is based on local market
indices at the time of delivery. Competition is primarily with local utility companies, as well as other marketers
of natural gas and electricity providing similar alternatives as AES.
All Other
We sell, install and service various types of whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, hearth
products and space heaters to the customers of our propane, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity businesses. Our
supply needs are filled through supply arrangements with several large regional equipment manufacturers and
distribution companies. Competition in this business segment is primarily with small, local heating and
ventilation providers and contractors, as well as, to a lesser extent, other regional service providers. The focus of
our ongoing service offerings are in support of the service needs of our existing customer base within our
propane, refined fuels and natural gas and electricity business segments. Additionally, we have entered into
arrangements with third-party service providers to complement and, in certain instances, supplement our existing
service capabilities.
In addition, activities from our HomeTown Hearth & Grill and Suburban Franchising subsidiaries are also
included in the all other business category.
7
Seasonality
The retail propane and fuel oil distribution businesses, as well as the natural gas marketing business, are
seasonal because the primary use of these fuels is for heating residential and commercial buildings.
Historically, approximately two-thirds of our retail propane volume is sold during the six-month peak heating
season from October through March. The fuel oil business tends to experience greater seasonality given its
more limited use for space heating and approximately three-fourths of our fuel oil volumes are sold between
October and March. Consequently, sales and operating profits are concentrated in our first and second fiscal
quarters. Cash flows from operations, therefore, are greatest during the second and third fiscal quarters when
customers pay for product purchased during the winter heating season. We expect lower operating profits and
either net losses or lower net income during the period from April through September (our third and fourth
fiscal quarters).
Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our products, in particular propane, fuel oil
and natural gas, for both heating and agricultural purposes. Many of our customers rely heavily on propane, fuel
oil or natural gas as a heating source. Accordingly, the volume sold is directly affected by the severity of the
winter weather in our service areas, which can vary substantially from year to year. In any given area, sustained
warmer than normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane, fuel oil and natural gas consumption,
while sustained colder than normal temperatures will tend to result in greater consumption.
Trademarks and Tradenames
We utilize a variety of trademarks and tradenames owned by us, including “Suburban Propane,” “Gas
Connection,” “Suburban Cylinder Express” and “HomeTown Hearth & Grill.” Additionally, we hold rights to
certain trademarks and tradenames, including “Agway Propane,” “Agway” and “Agway Energy Products” in
connection with the distribution of petroleum-based fuel and sales and service of heating and ventilation
products. We regard our trademarks, tradenames and other proprietary rights as valuable assets and believe that
they have significant value in the marketing of our products and services.
Government Regulation; Environmental and Safety Matters
We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
Generally, these laws impose limitations on the discharge of pollutants and establish standards for the handling
of solid and hazardous wastes and can require the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination.
These laws include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), the Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, the Clean Water Act and comparable state statutes.
CERCLA, also known as the “Superfund” law, imposes joint and several liability without regard to fault or the
legality of the original conduct on certain classes of persons that are considered to have contributed to the release
or threatened release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. Propane is not a hazardous substance
within the meaning of CERCLA, whereas some constituents contained in fuel oil are considered hazardous
substances. We own real property at locations where such hazardous substances may be present as a result of
prior activities.
We expect that we will be required to expend funds to participate in the remediation of certain sites,
including sites where we have been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as a potentially
responsible party under CERCLA and at sites with aboveground and underground fuel storage tanks. We will
also incur other expenses associated with environmental compliance. We continually monitor our operations
with respect to potential environmental issues, including changes in legal requirements and remediation
technologies.
8
Through an acquisition in fiscal 2004, we acquired certain properties with either known or probable
environmental exposure, some of which are currently in varying stages of investigation, remediation or
monitoring. Additionally, we identified that certain active sites acquired contained environmental conditions
which required further investigation, future remediation or ongoing monitoring activities. The environmental
exposures included instances of soil and/or groundwater contamination associated with the handling and storage
of fuel oil, gasoline and diesel fuel. As of September 25, 2010, we had accrued environmental liabilities of $0.7
million representing the total estimated future liability for remediation and monitoring.
Estimating the extent of our responsibility at a particular site, and the method and ultimate cost of
remediation of that site, requires making numerous assumptions. As a result, the ultimate cost to remediate any
site may differ from current estimates, and will depend, in part, on whether there is additional contamination, not
currently known to us, at that site. However, we believe that our past experience provides a reasonable basis for
estimating these liabilities. As additional information becomes available, estimates are adjusted as necessary.
While we do not anticipate that any such adjustment would be material to our financial statements, the result of
ongoing or future environmental studies or other factors could alter this expectation and require recording
additional liabilities. We currently cannot determine whether we will incur additional liabilities or the extent or
amount of any such liabilities.
National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) Pamphlet Nos. 54 and 58, which establish rules and
procedures governing the safe handling of propane, or comparable regulations, have been adopted, in whole, in
part or with state addenda, as the industry standard for propane storage, distribution and equipment installation
and operation in all of the states in which we operate. In some states these laws are administered by state
agencies, and in others they are administered on a municipal level. Pamphlet No. 58 has adopted storage tank
valve retrofit requirements due to be completed by June 2011 or later depending on when each state adopts the
2001 edition of NFPA Pamphlet No. 58. We have a program in place to meet this deadline.
NFPA Pamphlet Nos. 30, 30A, 31, 385 and 395, which establish rules and procedures governing the safe
handling of distillates (fuel oil, kerosene and diesel fuel) and gasoline, or comparable regulations, have been
adopted, in whole, in part or with state addenda, as the industry standard for fuel oil, kerosene, diesel fuel and
gasoline storage, distribution and equipment installation/operation in all of the states in which we sell those
products. In some states these laws are administered by state agencies and in others they are administered on a
municipal level.
With respect to the transportation of propane, distillates and gasoline by truck, we are subject to regulations
promulgated under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. These regulations cover the transportation of
hazardous materials and are administered by the United States Department of Transportation or similar state
agencies. We conduct ongoing training programs to help ensure that our operations are in compliance with
applicable safety regulations. We maintain various permits that are necessary to operate some of our facilities,
some of which may be material to our operations. We believe that the procedures currently in effect at all of our
facilities for the handling, storage and distribution of propane, distillates and gasoline are consistent with
industry standards and are in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable laws and regulations.
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has published regulations under 6 CFR Part 27 Chemical
Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards. Our facilities are registered with the DHS – we have 468 facilities
determined to be “Not a High Risk Chemical Facility”. 36 facilities have been determined by DHS to be Tier 4
(lowest level of security risk). Security Vulnerability Assessments for 30 facilities are under review by DHS and
6 facilities have been verified as Tier 4 with Site Security Plans under development for submission to DHS by
January 2011. Because our facilities are currently operating under the security programs developed under
guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation, Department of Labor and Environmental Protection
Agency, we do not anticipate that we will incur significant costs in order to comply with these DHS regulations.
9
On June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved adoption of the “American Clean Energy
and Security Act of 2009,” also known as the “Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation” (“ACESA”). The
purpose of ACESA is to control and reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” (“GHGs”) in the United States.
GHGs are certain gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, that may contribute to the warming of the Earth’s
atmosphere and other climatic changes. ACESA would establish an economy-wide cap on emissions of GHGs in
the United States and would require certain regulated entities to obtain GHG emission “allowances”
corresponding to the annual emission of GHGs attributable to their products or operations. Regulated entities
under ACESA include producers of natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), local natural gas distribution companies and
certain industrial facilities. Under ACESA, the number of authorized emission allowances would decline each
year, resulting in an expected and progressive increase in the cost or value of the allowances. The net effect of
maintaining emission allowances under ACESA would be to increase the costs associated with the combusting of
carbon-based fuels such as natural gas, NGLs (including propane), and refined petroleum products. We cannot
predict whether or in what form the cap-and-trade provisions and renewable energy standards in the bill passed
by the U.S. House of Representatives will become law.
Although it is not possible at this time to predict the impact of the climate change regulatory and legislative
initiatives described above, any adopted laws or regulations, or judicial determinations, that restrict or reduce
GHG emissions could require us to incur increased operating and product costs and could adversely affect
demand for certain of the products and services we provide.
Future developments, such as stricter environmental, health or safety laws and regulations thereunder, could
affect our operations. We do not anticipate that the cost of our compliance with environmental, health and safety
laws and regulations, including CERCLA, as currently in effect and applicable to known sites will have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. To the extent we discover any
environmental liabilities presently unknown to us or environmental, health or safety laws or regulations are made
more stringent, however, there can be no assurance that our financial condition or results of operations will not
be materially and adversely affected.
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”)
was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act regulates derivative transactions, which include certain instruments
used by the Partnership for risk management activities.
The Dodd-Frank Act contemplates that most swaps will be required to be cleared through a registered
clearing facility and traded on a designated exchange or swap execution facility. There are some exceptions to
these requirements for entities that use swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk. While the Partnership may
ultimately be eligible for such exceptions, the scope of these exceptions currently is somewhat uncertain,
pending further definition through rulemaking proceedings.
Among the other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that may affect derivative transactions are those relating
to establishment of capital and margin requirements for certain derivative participants; establishment of business
conduct standards, recordkeeping and reporting requirements; and imposition of position limits.
Although the Dodd-Frank Act includes significant new provisions regarding the regulation of derivatives, the
impact of those requirements will not be known definitely until regulations have been adopted by the SEC and
the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The new legislation and any new regulations could increase the
operational and transactional cost of derivatives contracts and affect the number and/or creditworthiness of
available counterparties to the Partnership.
Employees
As of September 25, 2010, we had 2,598 full time employees, of whom 508 were engaged in general and
administrative activities (including fleet maintenance), 45 were engaged in transportation and product supply
10
activities and 2,045 were customer service center employees. As of September 25, 2010, 58 of our employees were
represented by 6 different local chapters of labor unions. We believe that our relations with both our union and
non-union employees are satisfactory. From time to time, we hire temporary workers to meet peak seasonal
demands.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the specific risk factors set forth below as well as the other information
contained or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report. Some factors in this section are Forward-Looking
Statements. See “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above.
Risks Inherent in our Business Operations
Since weather conditions may adversely affect demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and
natural gas, our results of operations and financial condition are vulnerable to warm winters.
Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels
and natural gas for both heating and agricultural purposes. Many of our customers rely heavily on propane, fuel
oil or natural gas as a heating source. The volume of propane, fuel oil and natural gas sold is at its highest during
the six-month peak heating season of October through March and is directly affected by the severity of the
winter. Typically, we sell approximately two-thirds of our retail propane volume and approximately three-fourths
of our retail fuel oil volume during the peak heating season.
Actual weather conditions can vary substantially from year to year, significantly affecting our financial
performance. For example, average temperatures in our service territories were 5%, 1% and 6% warmer than
normal for fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, respectively, as measured by the number of heating degree
days reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Furthermore, variations in weather in
one or more regions in which we operate can significantly affect the total volume of propane, fuel oil and other
refined fuels and natural gas we sell and, consequently, our results of operations. Variations in the weather in the
northeast, where we have a greater concentration of propane accounts and substantially all of our fuel oil and
natural gas operations, generally have a greater impact on our operations than variations in the weather in other
markets. We can give no assurance that the weather conditions in any quarter or year will not have a material
adverse effect on our operations, or that our available cash will be sufficient to pay principal and interest on our
indebtedness and distributions to unitholders.
Sudden increases in the price of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas due to, among other
things, our inability to obtain adequate supplies from our usual suppliers, may adversely affect our operating
results.
Our profitability in the retail propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas businesses is largely
dependent on the difference between our product cost and retail sales price. Propane, fuel oil and other refined
fuels and natural gas are commodities, and the unit price we pay is subject to volatile changes in response to
changes in supply or other market conditions over which we have no control, including the severity of winter
weather and the price and availability of competing alternative energy sources. In general, product supply
contracts permit suppliers to charge posted prices at the time of delivery or the current prices established at major
supply points, including Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas. In addition, our supply from our usual
sources may be interrupted due to reasons that are beyond our control. As a result, the cost of acquiring propane,
fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas from other suppliers might be materially higher at least on a short-
term basis. Since we may not be able to pass on to our customers immediately, or in full, all increases in our
wholesale cost of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas, these increases could reduce our
profitability. We engage in transactions to manage the price risk associated with certain of our product costs
11
from time to time in an attempt to reduce cost volatility and to help ensure availability of product. We can give
no assurance that future volatility in propane, fuel oil and natural gas supply costs will not have a material
adverse effect on our profitability and cash flow, or that our available cash will be sufficient to pay principal and
interest on our indebtedness and distributions to our unitholders.
High prices for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas can lead to customer conservation,
resulting in reduced demand for our product.
Prices for propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas are subject to fluctuations in response to
changes in wholesale prices and other market conditions beyond our control. Therefore, our average retail sales
prices can vary significantly from year to year as wholesale prices fluctuate with propane, fuel oil and natural gas
commodity market conditions. During periods of high propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural gas
product costs our selling prices generally increase. High prices can lead to customer conservation, resulting in
reduced demand for our product.
Because of the highly competitive nature of the retail propane and fuel oil businesses, we may not be able to
retain existing customers or acquire new customers, which could have an adverse impact on our operating
results and financial condition.
The retail propane and fuel oil industries are mature and highly competitive. We expect overall demand for
propane to remain relatively constant over the next several years, while we expect the overall demand for fuel oil
to be relatively flat to moderately declining during the same period. Year-to-year industry volumes of propane
and fuel oil are expected to be primarily affected by weather patterns and from competition intensifying during
warmer than normal winters, as well as from the impact of a sustained higher commodity price environment on
customer conservation or the impact of continued weakness in the economy on customer buying habits.
Propane and fuel oil compete in the alternative energy sources market with electricity, natural gas and other
existing and future sources of energy, some of which are, or may in the future be, less costly for equivalent
energy value. For example, natural gas is a significantly less expensive source of energy than propane and fuel
oil on an equivalent BTU basis. As a result, except for some industrial and commercial applications, propane
and fuel oil are generally not economically competitive with natural gas in areas where natural gas pipelines
already exist. The gradual expansion of the nation’s natural gas distribution systems has made natural gas
available in many areas that previously depended upon propane or fuel oil. Propane and fuel oil compete to a
lesser extent with each other due to the cost of converting from one to the other.
In addition to competing with other sources of energy, our propane and fuel oil businesses compete with
other distributors principally on the basis of price, service, availability and portability. Competition in the retail
propane business is highly fragmented and generally occurs on a local basis with other large full-service multi-
state propane marketers, thousands of smaller local independent marketers and farm cooperatives. Our fuel oil
business competes with fuel oil distributors offering a broad range of services and prices, from full service
distributors to those offering delivery only. In addition, our existing fuel oil customers, unlike our existing
propane customers, generally own their own tanks, which can result in intensified competition for these
customers.
As a result of the highly competitive nature of the retail propane and fuel oil businesses, our growth within
these industries depends on our ability to acquire other retail distributors, open new customer service centers, add
new customers and retain existing customers. We can give no assurance that we will be able to acquire other
retail distributors, add new customers and retain existing customers.
12
Energy efficiency, general economic conditions and technological advances have affected and may continue
to affect demand for propane and fuel oil by our retail customers.
The national trend toward increased conservation and technological advances, including installation of
improved insulation and the development of more efficient furnaces and other heating devices, has adversely
affected the demand for propane and fuel oil by our retail customers which, in turn, has resulted in lower sales
volumes to our customers. In addition, continued weakness in the economy may lead to additional conservation
by retail customers seeking to further reduce their heating costs, particularly during periods of sustained higher
commodity prices. Future technological advances in heating, conservation and energy generation may adversely
affect our volumes sold, which, in turn, may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures, may adversely
affect our financial position and results of operations.
Our business and operating results are materially affected by worldwide economic conditions. Current
conditions in the global capital and credit markets and general economic pressures have led to declining
consumer and business confidence, increased market volatility and widespread reduction of business activity
generally. As a result of this turmoil, coupled with increasing energy prices, our customers may experience cash
flow shortages which may lead to delayed or cancelled plans to purchase our products, and affect the ability of
our customers to pay for our products. In addition, disruptions in the U.S. residential mortgage market, increases
in mortgage foreclosure rates and failures of lending institutions may adversely affect retail customer demand for
our products (in particular, products used for home heating and home comfort equipment) and our business and
results of operations.
Our operating results and ability to generate sufficient cash flow to pay principal and interest on our
indebtedness, and to pay distributions to unitholders, may be affected by our ability to continue to control
expenses.
The propane and fuel oil industries are mature and highly fragmented with competition from other multi-
state marketers and thousands of smaller local independent marketers. Demand for propane and fuel oil is
expected to be affected by many factors beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the severity of weather
conditions during the peak heating season, customer conservation driven by high energy costs and other
economic factors, as well as technological advances impacting energy efficiency. Accordingly, our propane and
fuel oil sales volumes and related gross margins may be negatively affected by these factors beyond our control.
Our operating profits and ability to generate sufficient cash flow may depend on our ability to continue to control
expenses in line with sales volumes. We can give no assurance that we will be able to continue to control
expenses to the extent necessary to reduce the effect on our profitability and cash flow from these factors.
The risk of terrorism and political unrest and the current hostilities in the Middle East or other energy
producing regions may adversely affect the economy and the price and availability of propane, fuel oil and
other refined fuels and natural gas.
Terrorist attacks and political unrest and the current hostilities in the Middle East or other energy producing
regions may adversely impact the price and availability of propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels and natural
gas, as well as our results of operations, our ability to raise capital and our future growth. The impact that the
foregoing may have on our industry in general, and on us in particular, is not known at this time. An act of terror
could result in disruptions of crude oil or natural gas supplies and markets (the sources of propane and fuel oil),
and our infrastructure facilities could be direct or indirect targets. Terrorist activity may also hinder our ability to
transport propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels if our means of supply transportation, such as rail or pipeline,
become damaged as a result of an attack. A lower level of economic activity could result in a decline in energy
consumption, which could adversely affect our revenues or restrict our future growth. Instability in the financial
markets as a result of terrorism could also affect our ability to raise capital. Terrorist activity and hostilities in the
13
Middle East or other energy producing regions could likely lead to increased volatility in prices for propane, fuel
oil and other refined fuels and natural gas. We have opted to purchase insurance coverage for terrorist acts within
our property and casualty insurance programs, but we can give no assurance that our insurance coverage will be
adequate to fully compensate us for any losses to our business or property resulting from terrorist acts.
Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by governmental regulation and
associated environmental and health and safety costs.
Our business is subject to a wide range of federal, state and local laws and regulations related to
environmental and health and safety matters including those concerning, among other things, the investigation
and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater and transportation of hazardous materials. These
requirements are complex, changing and tend to become more stringent over time. In addition, we are required to
maintain various permits that are necessary to operate our facilities, some of which are material to our operations.
There can be no assurance that we have been, or will be, at all times in complete compliance with all legal,
regulatory and permitting requirements or that we will not incur significant costs in the future relating to such
requirements. Violations could result in penalties, or the curtailment or cessation of operations.
Moreover, currently unknown environmental issues, such as the discovery of additional contamination, may
result in significant additional expenditures, and potentially significant expenditures also could be required to
comply with future changes to environmental laws and regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof.
Such expenditures, if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
We are subject to operating hazards and litigation risks that could adversely affect our operating results to the
extent not covered by insurance.
Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally associated with handling, storing and
delivering combustible liquids such as propane, fuel oil and other refined fuels. We have been, and are likely to
continue to be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business,
both as a result of these operating hazards and risks and as a result of other aspects of our business. We are self-
insured for general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts
above which third-party insurance applies. We cannot guarantee that our insurance will be adequate to protect us
from all material expenses related to potential future claims for personal injury and property damage or that these
levels of insurance will be available at economical prices, or that all legal matters that arise will be covered by
our insurance programs.
If we are unable to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms or effectively integrate such
acquisitions into our operations, our financial performance may be adversely affected.
The retail propane and fuel oil industries are mature. We foresee only limited growth in total retail demand
for propane and flat to moderately declining retail demand for fuel oil. With respect to our retail propane
business, it may be difficult for us to increase our aggregate number of retail propane customers except through
acquisitions. As a result, we expect the success of our financial performance to depend, in part, upon our ability
to acquire other retail propane and fuel oil distributors or other energy-related businesses and to successfully
integrate them into our existing operations and to make cost saving changes. The competition for acquisitions is
intense and we can make no assurance that we will be able to acquire other propane and fuel oil distributors or
other energy-related businesses on economically acceptable terms or, if we do, to integrate the acquired
operations effectively.
14
The adoption of climate change legislation by Congress could result in increased operating costs and reduced
demand for the products and services we provide.
On June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved adoption of the “American Clean Energy
and Security Act of 2009,” also known as the “Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation” (“ACESA”). The
purpose of ACESA is to control and reduce emissions of “greenhouse gases” (“GHGs”) in the United States.
GHGs are certain gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, that may contribute to the warming of the Earth’s
atmosphere and other climatic changes. ACESA would establish an economy-wide cap on emissions of GHGs in
the United States and would require certain regulated entities to obtain GHG emission “allowances”
corresponding to the annual emission of GHGs attributable to their products or operations. Regulated entities
under ACESA include producers of natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), local natural gas distribution companies and
certain industrial facilities. Under ACESA, the number of authorized emission allowances would decline each
year, resulting in an expected and progressive increase in the cost or value of the allowances. The net effect of
maintaining emission allowances under ACESA would be to increase the costs associated with the combusting of
carbon-based fuels such as natural gas, NGLs (including propane), and refined petroleum products.
We cannot predict whether or in what form the cap-and-trade provisions and renewable energy standards in
the bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives will become law.
Although it is not possible at this time to predict the impact of the climate change regulatory and legislative
initiatives described above, any adopted laws or regulations, or judicial determinations, that restrict or reduce
GHG emissions could require us to incur increased operating and product costs and could adversely affect
demand for certain of the products and services we provide.
The adoption of derivatives legislation by Congress could have an adverse impact on our ability to hedge risks
associated with our business.
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank
Act”) was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act regulates derivative transactions, which include certain
instruments used in our risk management activities.
The Dodd-Frank Act contemplates that most swaps will be required to be cleared through a registered
clearing facility and traded on a designated exchange or swap execution facility. There are some exceptions to
these requirements for entities that use swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk. While we may ultimately be
eligible for such exceptions, the scope of these exceptions currently is somewhat uncertain, pending further
definition through rulemaking proceedings.
Among the other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that may affect derivative transactions are those
relating to establishment of capital and margin requirements for certain derivative participants; establishment of
business conduct standards, recordkeeping and reporting requirements; and imposition of position limits.
Although the Dodd-Frank Act includes significant new provisions regarding the regulation of derivatives,
the impact of those requirements will not be known definitely until regulations have been adopted by the SEC
and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The new legislation and any new regulations could increase
the operational and transactional cost of derivatives contracts and affect the number and/or creditworthiness of
available counterparties to us.
15
Risks Inherent in the Ownership of Our Common Units
Cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate with our performance and other external factors.
Cash distributions on our common units are not guaranteed, and depend primarily on our cash flow and our
cash on hand. Because they are not dependent on profitability, which is affected by non-cash items, our cash
distributions might be made during periods when we record losses and might not be made during periods when
we record profits.
The amount of cash we generate may fluctuate based on our performance and other factors, including:
•
•
•
the impact of the risks inherent in our business operations, as described above;
required principal and interest payments on our debt and restrictions contained in our debt instruments;
issuances of debt and equity securities;
• our ability to control expenses;
•
•
•
fluctuations in working capital;
capital expenditures; and
financial, business and other factors, a number which will be beyond our control.
Our Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as amended (“Partnership
Agreement”), gives our Board of Supervisors broad discretion in establishing cash reserves for, among other
things, the proper conduct of our business. These cash reserves will affect the amount of cash available for
distributions.
We have substantial indebtedness. Our debt agreements may limit our ability to make distributions to
unitholders, as well as our financial flexibility.
As of September 25, 2010, we had total outstanding borrowings of $350.0 million, including $250.0 million
of senior notes issued by the Partnership and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance
Corporation, and $100.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Operating Partnership’s revolving credit
facility. The payment of principal and interest on our debt will reduce the cash available to make distributions on
our common units. In addition, we will not be able to make any distributions to our unitholders if there is, or after
giving effect to such distribution, there would be, an event of default under the indenture governing the senior
notes. The amount of distributions that the Partnership makes to its unitholders is limited by the senior notes, and
the amount of distributions that the Operating Partnership may make to the Partnership is limited by the
revolving credit facility.
The revolving credit facility and the senior notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative covenants
applicable to us and the Operating Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on the incurrence of
additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans, advances, payments,
mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. The revolving credit facility
contains certain financial covenants: (a) requiring our consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined, to be not
less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; (b) prohibiting our total consolidated leverage ratio, as
defined, from being greater than 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; and (c) prohibiting the senior
secured consolidated leverage ratio, as defined, of the Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.0 to 1.0 as
of the end of any fiscal quarter. Under the senior note indenture, we are generally permitted to make cash
16
distributions equal to available cash, as defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of
default exists or would exist upon making such distributions, and our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as
defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1. We and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and
terms of the senior notes and the revolving credit facility as of September 25, 2010.
The amount and terms of our debt may also adversely affect our ability to finance future operations and
capital needs, limit our ability to pursue acquisitions and other business opportunities and make our results of
operations more susceptible to adverse economic and industry conditions. In addition to our outstanding
indebtedness, we may in the future require additional debt to finance acquisitions or for general business
purposes; however, credit market conditions may impact our ability to access such financing. If we are unable to
access needed financing or to generate sufficient cash from operations, we may be required to abandon certain
projects or curtail capital expenditures. Additional debt, where it is available, could result in an increase in our
leverage. Our ability to make principal and interest payments depends on our future performance, which is
subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Unitholders have limited voting rights.
A Board of Supervisors manages our operations. Our unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters
affecting our business, including the right to elect the members of our Board of Supervisors every three years and
the right to vote on the removal of the general partner.
It may be difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our unitholders.
Some provisions of our Partnership Agreement may discourage, delay or prevent third parties from
acquiring us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our unitholders. For example, our Partnership Agreement
contains a provision, based on Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, that generally prohibits
the Partnership from engaging in a business combination with a 15% or greater unitholder for a period of three
years following the date that person or entity acquired at least 15% of our outstanding common units, unless
certain exceptions apply. Additionally, our Partnership Agreement sets forth advance notice procedures for a
unitholder to nominate a Supervisor to stand for election, which procedures may discourage or deter a potential
acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of Supervisors or otherwise
attempting to obtain control of the Partnership. These nomination procedures may not be revised or repealed,
and inconsistent provisions may not be adopted, without the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding common units. These provisions may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not
approved in advance by our Board of Supervisors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium
over the market price of the common units held by our unitholders.
Unitholders may not have limited liability in some circumstances.
A number of states have not clearly established limitations on the liabilities of limited partners for the
obligations of a limited partnership. Our unitholders might be held liable for our obligations as if they were
general partners if:
•
a court or government agency determined that we were conducting business in the state but had not
complied with the state’s limited partnership statute; or
• unitholders’ rights to act together to remove or replace the General Partner or take other actions under
our Partnership Agreement are deemed to constitute “participation in the control” of our business for
purposes of the state’s limited partnership statute.
17
Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.
Unitholders will not be liable for assessments in addition to their initial capital investment in the common
units. Under specific circumstances, however, unitholders may have to repay to us amounts wrongfully returned
or distributed to them. Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution
causes our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership
interests and nonrecourse liabilities are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is
permitted. Delaware law provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution of this kind and knew at the
time of the distribution that the distribution violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the
distribution amount for three years from the distribution date. Under Delaware law, an assignee who becomes a
substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of the assignor to make
contributions to the partnership. However, such an assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the
time he or she became a limited partner if the liabilities could not be determined from the partnership agreement.
If we issue additional limited partner interests or other equity securities as consideration for acquisitions or
for other purposes, the relative voting strength of each unitholder will be diminished over time due to the
dilution of each unitholder’s interests and additional taxable income may be allocated to each unitholder.
Our Partnership Agreement generally allows us to issue additional limited partner interests and other equity
securities without the approval of our unitholders. Therefore, when we issue additional common units or
securities ranking on a parity with the common units, each unitholder’s proportionate partnership interest will
decrease, and the amount of cash distributed on each common unit and the market price of common units could
decrease. The issuance of additional common units will also diminish the relative voting strength of each
previously outstanding common unit. In addition, the issuance of additional common units will, over time, result
in the allocation of additional taxable income, representing built-in gains at the time of the new issuance, to those
unitholders that existed prior to the new issuance.
Tax Risks to Unitholders
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The Internal
Revenue Service (“IRS”) could treat us as a corporation, which would substantially reduce the cash available
for distribution to unitholders.
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our common units depends largely on our
being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We believe that, under current law, we will be
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a
ruling from the IRS on this or any other tax matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the
positions we take. In addition, current law may change so as to cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level federal income taxation. Members of Congress have
proposed substantive changes to the current federal income tax laws that would affect certain publicly traded
partnerships and legislation that would eliminate partnership tax treatment for certain publicly traded
partnerships. Although no legislation is currently pending that would affect our tax treatment as a partnership,
we are unable to predict whether any such changes or other proposals will ultimately be enacted. Any
modification to the U.S. tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively. If we were
treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would be required to pay tax on our income at
corporate tax rates (currently a maximum of U.S. federal rate of 35%) and likely would be required to pay state
income tax at varying rates. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for
distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced. Therefore, our treatment as a corporation would
result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders, likely causing a
substantial reduction in the value of our common units. In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits
and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the
imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. Any such changes could negatively impact our
18
ability to make distributions and also impact the value of an investment in our common units.
A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we take may adversely affect the market for our
common units, and the cost of any IRS contest will reduce our cash available for distribution to our
unitholders.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes or any other matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions
we take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the
positions we take. A court may not agree with the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS may materially
and adversely impact the market for our common units and the price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of
any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders because the costs will reduce our cash
available for distribution.
A unitholder’s tax liability could exceed cash distributions on its common units.
Because our unitholders are treated as partners to whom we allocate taxable income which could be
different in amount than the cash we distribute, a unitholder is required to pay federal income taxes and, in some
cases, state and local income taxes on its allocable share of our income, even if it receives no cash distributions
from us. We cannot guarantee that a unitholder will receive cash distributions equal to its allocable share of our
taxable income or even the tax liability to it resulting from that income.
Ownership of common units may have adverse tax consequences for tax-exempt organizations and foreign
investors.
Investment in common units by certain tax-exempt entities and foreign persons raises issues specific to
them. For example, virtually all of our taxable income allocated to organizations exempt from federal income tax,
including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income
and thus will be taxable to the unitholder. Distributions to foreign persons will be reduced by withholding taxes
at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and foreign persons will be required to file United States federal tax
returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income. Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons should consult
their own tax advisors before investing in our common units.
There are limits on a unitholder’s deductibility of losses.
In the case of taxpayers subject to the passive loss rules (generally, individuals and closely held
corporations), any losses generated by us will only be available to offset our future income and cannot be used to
offset income from other activities, including other passive activities or investments. Unused losses may be
deducted when the unitholder disposes of its entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an
unrelated party. A unitholder’s share of our net passive income may be offset by unused losses from us carried
over from prior years, but not by losses from other passive activities, including losses from other publicly-traded
partnerships.
The tax gain or loss on the disposition of common units could be different than expected.
A unitholder who sells common units will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount realized and its adjusted tax basis in the common units. Prior distributions in excess of cumulative net
taxable income allocated to a common unit which decreased a unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit will, in
effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s tax basis in that
common unit, even if the price is less than the original cost of the common unit. A portion of the amount
realized, if the amount realized exceeds the unitholder’s adjusted basis in that common unit, will likely be
characterized as ordinary income. Furthermore, should the IRS successfully contest some conventions used by
19
us, a unitholder could recognize more gain on the sale of common units than would be the case under those
conventions, without the benefit of decreased income in prior years.
Reporting of partnership tax information is complicated and subject to audits.
We furnish each unitholder with a Schedule K-1 that sets forth its allocable share of income, gains, losses
and deductions. In preparing these schedules, we use various accounting and reporting conventions and adopt
various depreciation and amortization methods. We cannot guarantee that these conventions will yield a result
that conforms to statutory or regulatory requirements or to administrative pronouncements of the IRS. Further,
our income tax return may be audited, which could result in an audit of a unitholder’s income tax return and
increased liabilities for taxes because of adjustments resulting from the audit.
We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual
common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the
common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons,
uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the common units to a purchaser of common units of the
same class must be maintained. To maintain uniformity and for other reasons, we have adopted certain
depreciation and amortization conventions which may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulations. A successful
IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to a unitholder. It
also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from the sale of common units, and could
have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to a unitholder’s income
tax return.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our units
each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of
the date a particular unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the
allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our units
each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the
date a particular unit is transferred. The use of this proration method may not be permitted under existing
Treasury Regulations. If the IRS were to challenge this method or new Treasury Regulations were issued, we
may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
Unitholders may have negative tax consequences if we default on our debt or sell assets.
If we default on any of our debt obligations, our lenders will have the right to sue us for non-payment. This
could cause an investment loss and negative tax consequences for unitholders through the realization of taxable
income by unitholders without a corresponding cash distribution. Likewise, if we were to dispose of assets and
realize a taxable gain while there is substantial debt outstanding and proceeds of the sale were applied to the
debt, unitholders could have increased taxable income without a corresponding cash distribution.
The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our common units during any twelve-month period will result in a
deemed termination (and reconstitution) of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes which would
cause unitholders to be allocated an increased amount of taxable income.
We will be deemed to have terminated (and reconstituted) for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale
or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our common units within a twelve-month period. Were this
to occur, it would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders and could result
in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income. This would result in
20
unitholders being allocated an increased amount of taxable income.
There are state, local and other tax considerations for our unitholders.
In addition to United States federal income taxes, unitholders will likely be subject to other taxes, such as
state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed
by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property, even if the unitholder does not reside in
any of those jurisdictions. A unitholder will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay
state and local income taxes in some or all of the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property
and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. It is the responsibility of each
unitholder to file all United States federal, state and local income tax returns that may be required of such
unitholder.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of September 25, 2010, we owned approximately 75% of our customer service center and satellite locations
and leased the balance of our retail locations from third parties. We own and operate a 22 million gallon
refrigerated, aboveground propane storage facility in Elk Grove, California. Additionally, we own our principal
executive offices located in Whippany, New Jersey.
The transportation of propane requires specialized equipment. The trucks and railroad tank cars utilized for this
purpose carry specialized steel tanks that maintain the propane in a liquefied state. As of September 25, 2010, we
had a fleet of 6 transport truck tractors, of which we owned two, and 23 railroad tank cars, of which we owned none.
In addition, as of September 25, 2010 we had 722 bobtail and rack trucks, of which we owned 38%, 95 fuel oil
tankwagons, of which we owned 29%, and 962 other delivery and service vehicles, of which we owned 47%. We
lease the vehicles we do not own. As of September 25, 2010, we also owned 219,528 customer propane storage
tanks with typical capacities of 100 to 500 gallons, 654,150 customer propane storage tanks with typical capacities
of over 500 gallons and 140,695 portable propane cylinders with typical capacities of five to ten gallons.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Litigation
Our operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks normally incidental to handling, storing and
delivering combustible liquids such as propane. We have been, and will continue to be, a defendant in various
legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, both as a result of these operating
hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of our business. We are self-insured for general and product,
workers’ compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party
insurance applies. We believe that the self-insured retentions and coverage we maintain are reasonable and
prudent. Although any litigation is inherently uncertain, based on past experience, the information currently
available to us, and the amount of our self-insurance reserves for known and unasserted self-insurance claims
(which was approximately $55.4 million at September 25, 2010), we do not believe that these pending or
threatened litigation matters, or known claims or known contingent claims, will have a material adverse effect on
our future results of operations, financial condition or cash flow, after considering our self-insurance reserves for
known and unasserted claims, as well as existing insurance policies in force. For the portion of our estimated
21
self-insurance liability that exceeds our deductibles, we record a corresponding asset related to the amount of the
liability covered by insurance (which was approximately $18.0 million at September 25, 2010).
ITEM 4. REMOVED AND RESERVED
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON UNITS, RELATED UNITHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF UNITS
(a) Our Common Units, representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, are listed and traded on the
New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol SPH. As of November 22, 2010, there were 869
Common Unitholders of record (based on the number of record holders and nominees for those Common Units
held in street name). The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per
Common Unit, as reported on the NYSE, and the amount of quarterly cash distributions declared and paid per
Common Unit in respect of each quarter.
Fiscal 2010
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Fiscal 2009
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Common Unit Price Range
High
Low
$
47.12
50.00
49.46
55.01
$
41.10
42.53
39.16
45.85
Cash Distribution
Declared per
Common Unit
$
0.8350
0.8400
0.8450
0.8500
$
35.46
41.60
42.98
46.41
$
20.40
31.00
35.81
39.79
$
0.8100
0.8150
0.8250
0.8300
We make quarterly distributions to our partners in an aggregate amount equal to our Available Cash (as
defined in our Partnership Agreement as adopted effective October 19, 2006, as amended) with respect to such
quarter. Available Cash generally means all cash on hand at the end of the fiscal quarter plus all additional cash
on hand as a result of borrowings subsequent to the end of such quarter less cash reserves established by the
Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements.
We are a publicly traded limited partnership and, other than certain corporate subsidiaries, we are not subject
to federal income tax. Instead, Unitholders are required to report their allocable share of our earnings or loss,
regardless of whether we make distributions.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) None.
22
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents our selected consolidated historical financial data as derived from our audited
consolidated financial statements, certain of which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report. All amounts in
the table below, except per unit data, are in thousands.
Statement of Operations Data
Revenues
Costs and expenses
Restructuring charges and severance costs (b)
Pension settlement charge (c)
Income before interest expense, loss on debt
extinguishment and provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Loss on debt extinguishment (d)
Provision for income taxes
Income from continuing operations
Discontinued operations:
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (e)
Income from discontinued operations
Net income
Income from continuing operations per Common
Unit - basic
Net income per Common Unit - basic (f)
Net income per Common Unit - diluted (f)
Cash distributions declared per unit
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalents
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities, excluding short-term borrowings
and current portion of long-term borrowings
Total debt
Total liabilities
Partners' capital - Common Unitholders
Partner's (deficit) - General Partner
Statement of Cash Flows Data
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
September
25, 2010
September
26, 2009
Year Ended
September
27, 2008
September
29, 2007
September
30, 2006 (a)
$
1,136,694
980,508
-
2,818
$
1,143,154
932,539
-
-
$
1,574,163
1,424,035
-
-
$
1,439,563
1,270,213
1,485
3,269
$
1,657,130
1,516,879
6,076
4,437
153,368
27,397
9,473
1,182
115,316
-
-
115,316
210,615
38,267
4,624
2,486
165,238
-
-
165,238
150,128
37,052
-
1,903
111,173
43,707
-
154,880
164,596
35,596
-
5,653
123,347
1,887
2,053
127,287
129,738
40,680
-
764
88,294
-
2,446
90,740
3.26
3.26
3.24
3.35
$
4.99
4.99
4.96
3.26
$
3.39
4.72
4.70
3.09
$
3.79
3.91
3.89
2.76
$
2.76
2.84
2.83
2.48
$
$
156,908
296,427
970,260
$
163,173
307,556
977,514
$
137,698
359,551
1,035,713
$
96,586
295,940
988,947
$
60,571
236,027
945,566
164,514
347,953
605,423
422,063
$
-
181,930
349,415
617,797
421,005
$
-
226,780
531,772
815,637
264,231
$
-
206,633
548,538
822,670
208,230
$
-
191,748
548,304
844,865
170,151
(1,969)
$
$
$
155,797
(30,111)
(131,951)
$
$
246,551
(16,852)
(204,224)
$
$
120,517
36,630
(116,035)
$
$
145,957
(19,689)
(90,253)
$
$
170,321
(19,092)
(105,069)
Other Data
Depreciation and amortization - continuing operations
Depreciation and amortization - discontinued operations
EBITDA (g)
Adjusted EBITDA (g)
Capital expenditures - maintenance and growth (h)
Retail gallons sold
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
$
30,834
-
174,729
192,420
19,131
$
30,343
-
236,334
239,245
21,837
$
28,394
-
222,229
220,465
21,819
$
28,790
452
197,778
208,602
26,756
$
32,653
498
165,335
155,300
23,057
317,906
43,196
343,894
57,381
386,222
76,515
432,526
104,506
466,779
145,616
23
(a) Fiscal 2006 includes 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in each of fiscal 2010, 2009, 2008 and
2007.
(b) During fiscal 2007, we incurred $1.5 million in charges associated with severance for positions eliminated
unrelated to any specific plan of restructuring. During fiscal 2006, we incurred $6.1 million in restructuring
charges associated primarily with severance costs from our field realignment efforts initiated during the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2005, including the restructuring of our services business.
(c) We incurred non-cash pension settlement charges of $2.8 million, $3.3 million and $4.4 million during fiscal
2010, 2007, and 2006, respectively, to accelerate the recognition of actuarial losses in our defined benefit
pension plan as a result of the level of lump sum retirement benefit payments made.
(d) During fiscal 2010 we completed the issuance of $250.0 million of 7.375% senior notes maturing in March
2020 to replace the previously existing 6.875% senior notes that were set to mature in December 2013. In
connection with the refinancing, we recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of $9.5 million in the second
quarter of fiscal 2010, consisting of $7.2 million for the repurchase premium and related fees, as well as the
write-off of $2.2 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized discount. During fiscal
2009, we purchased $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.875% senior notes through a cash
tender offer. In connection with the tender offer, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $4.6
million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, consisting of $2.8 million for the tender premium and related
fees, as well as the write-off of $1.8 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized discount.
(e) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations for fiscal 2008 of $43.7 million reflects the October 2, 2007 sale
of our Tirzah, South Carolina underground granite propane storage cavern, and associated 62-mile pipeline,
for $53.7 million in net proceeds (the “Tirzah Sale”). Gain on disposal of discontinued operations for fiscal
2007 of $1.9 million reflects the exchange, in a non-cash transaction, of nine non-strategic customer service
centers for three customer service centers of another company in Alaska, as well as the sale of three
additional customer service centers for net cash proceeds of $1.3 million. The gains on disposal have been
accounted for within discontinued operations. Prior period results of operations attributable to the customer
service centers sold during fiscal 2007 were not significant and, as such, prior period results were not
reclassified to remove financial results from continuing operations. The prior period results of operations
attributable to the sale of our Tirzah, South Carolina storage cavern and associated pipeline have been
reclassified to remove their financial results from continuing operations.
(f) Computations of basic earnings per Common Unit for the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26,
2009, September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007 were performed by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of outstanding Common Units, and restricted units granted under our restricted unit plans to
retirement-eligible grantees. Computations of diluted earnings per Common Unit for fiscal 2010, 2009, 2008
and 2007 were performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common
Units and unvested restricted units granted under our restricted unit plans. For fiscal 2006, earnings per
Common Unit were performed using the two-class method, as applicable, when participating securities other
than Common Units exist. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that computes earnings
per unit for each class participating security according to distributions declared and rights to participate in
undistributed earnings, as if all of the earnings for the period were distributed. The General Partner interest,
inclusive of the previously outstanding IDRs of the General Partner was considered a participating security
for purposes of the two-class method. Net income was allocated to the Common Unitholders and the
General Partner in accordance with their respective partnership ownership interests, after giving effect to any
priority income allocations for IDRs of the General Partner. As a result of the GP Exchange Transaction on
October 19, 2006, the two-class method of computing income per Common Unit is no longer applicable.
Application of the two-class method had a dilutive effect on income per Common Unit of $0.07 for the year
ended September 30, 2006. For purposes of the computation of income per Common Unit for the year ended
September 29, 2007, earnings that would have been allocated to the General Partner for the period prior to
24
the GP Exchange Transaction were not significant.
(g) EBITDA represents net income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss from mark-to-
market activity for derivative instruments, loss on debt extinguishment and pension settlement charge. Our
management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of liquidity and we are including them
because we believe that they provide our investors and industry analysts with additional information to
evaluate our ability to meet our debt service obligations and to pay our quarterly distributions to holders of
our Common Units. In addition, certain of our incentive compensation plans covering executives and other
employees utilize Adjusted EBITDA as the performance target. Moreover, our revolving credit agreement
requires us to use Adjusted EBITDA in calculating our leverage and interest coverage ratios. EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (“US-GAAP”) and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash
provided by operating activities determined in accordance with US-GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA as determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, they may not be
comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies.
The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation
of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as so calculated, to our net cash provided by operating activities
(amounts in thousands):
Net income
Add:
Provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
EBITDA
Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on
changes in fair value of derivatives
Loss on debt extinguishment
Pension settlement charge
Adjusted EBITDA
Add (subtract):
Provision for income taxes - current
Interest expense, net
Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on
changes in fair value of derivatives
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plan
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant
and equipment, net
Gain on disposal of
discontinued operations
Changes in working capital and other
assets and liabilities
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
Fiscal
2007
Fiscal
2006
$
115,316
$
165,238
$
154,880
$
127,287
$
90,740
1,182
27,397
30,834
-
174,729
5,400
9,473
2,818
192,420
(1,182)
(27,397)
(5,400)
4,005
38
-
2,486
38,267
30,343
-
236,334
(1,713)
4,624
-
239,245
(1,101)
(38,267)
1,713
2,396
1,903
37,052
28,394
-
222,229
(1,764)
-
-
220,465
(626)
(37,052)
1,764
2,156
5,653
35,596
28,790
452
197,778
7,555
-
3,269
208,602
(1,853)
(35,596)
764
40,680
32,653
498
165,335
(14,472)
-
4,437
155,300
(764)
(40,680)
(7,555)
14,472
3,014
2,221
(650)
(2,252)
(2,782)
(1,000)
-
(43,707)
(1,887)
-
(6,687)
43,215
(20,231)
(15,986)
40,772
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
155,797
$
246,551
$
120,517
$
145,957
$
170,321
25
(h) Our capital expenditures fall generally into two categories: (i) maintenance expenditures, which include
expenditures for repair and replacement of property, plant and equipment; and (ii) growth capital expenditures
which include new propane tanks and other equipment to facilitate expansion of our customer base and
operating capacity.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is a discussion of our financial condition and results of operations, which should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Executive Overview
The following are factors that regularly affect our operating results and financial condition. In addition, our
business is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A of this Annual Report.
Product Costs and Supply
The level of profitability in the retail propane, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity businesses is largely
dependent on the difference between retail sales price and product cost. The unit cost of our products,
particularly propane, fuel oil and natural gas, is subject to volatility as a result of product supply or other market
conditions, including, but not limited to, economic and political factors impacting crude oil and natural gas
supply or pricing. We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to
annual renewal, and we also purchase product on the open market. We attempt to reduce our exposure to volatile
product costs by short-term pricing arrangements, rather than long-term fixed price supply arrangements. Our
propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based upon index formulas using the posted prices
established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at
the time of delivery.
To supplement our annual purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to
acquire a portion of the propane that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to
unfavorable changes in commodity prices and to assure adequate physical supply. The percentage of contract
purchases, and the amount of supply contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to
year based on market conditions.
Product cost changes can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability. There is no
assurance that we will be able to pass on product cost increases fully or immediately, particularly when product
costs increase rapidly. Therefore, average retail sales prices can vary significantly from year to year as product
costs fluctuate with propane, fuel oil, crude oil and natural gas commodity market conditions. In addition, in
periods of sustained higher commodity prices, as has been experienced over the past several fiscal years, retail
sales volumes have been negatively impacted by customer conservation efforts.
Seasonality
The retail propane and fuel oil distribution businesses, as well as the natural gas marketing business, are
seasonal because of the primary use for heating in residential and commercial buildings. Historically,
approximately two-thirds of our retail propane volume is sold during the six-month peak heating season from
October through March. The fuel oil business tends to experience greater seasonality given its more limited use
for space heating and approximately three-fourths of our fuel oil volumes are sold between October and March.
Consequently, sales and operating profits are concentrated in our first and second fiscal quarters. Cash flows
from operations, therefore, are greatest during the second and third fiscal quarters when customers pay for
26
product purchased during the winter heating season. We expect lower operating profits and either net losses or
lower net income during the period from April through September (our third and fourth fiscal quarters). To the
extent necessary, we will reserve cash from the second and third quarters for distribution to holders of our
Common Units in the first and fourth fiscal quarters.
Weather
Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our products, in particular propane, fuel oil
and natural gas, for both heating and agricultural purposes. Many of our customers rely heavily on propane, fuel
oil or natural gas as a heating source. Accordingly, the volume sold is directly affected by the severity of the
winter weather in our service areas, which can vary substantially from year to year. In any given area, sustained
warmer than normal temperatures will tend to result in reduced propane, fuel oil and natural gas consumption,
while sustained colder than normal temperatures will tend to result in greater consumption.
Hedging and Risk Management Activities
We engage in hedging and risk management activities to reduce the effect of price volatility on our product
costs and to ensure the availability of product during periods of short supply. We enter into propane forward and
option agreements with third parties, and use fuel oil and crude oil futures and option contracts traded on the
New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) to purchase and sell propane, fuel oil and crude oil at fixed prices
in the future. The majority of the futures, forward and option agreements are used to hedge price risk associated
with propane and fuel oil physical inventory, as well as, in certain instances, forecasted purchases of propane or
fuel oil. Forward contracts are generally settled physically at the expiration of the contract whereas futures and
option contracts are generally settled in cash at the expiration of the contract. Although we use derivative
instruments to reduce the effect of price volatility associated with priced physical inventory and forecasted
transactions, we do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes. Risk management activities
are monitored by an internal Commodity Risk Management Committee, made up of five members of
management and reporting to our Audit Committee, through enforcement of our Hedging and Risk Management
Policy.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies,” included within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements section elsewhere in this Annual
Report.
Certain amounts included in or affecting our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures must
be estimated, requiring management to make certain assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot
be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US-
GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We are also subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from estimated results. Estimates are used when accounting
for depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets, employee benefit plans, self-insurance and litigation
reserves, environmental reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts, asset valuation assessments and valuation of
derivative instruments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments
about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Any effects on
our business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in
the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known to us. Management has reviewed these
critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Supervisors. We
27
believe that the following are our critical accounting estimates:
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts. We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses
resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. We estimate our allowances for
doubtful accounts using a specific reserve for known or anticipated uncollectible accounts, as well as an
estimated reserve for potential future uncollectible accounts taking into consideration our historical write-offs. If
the financial condition of one or more of our customers were to deteriorate resulting in an impairment in their
ability to make payments, additional allowances could be required. As a result of our large customer base, which
is comprised of approximately 800,000 customers, no individual customer account is material. Therefore, while
some variation to actual results occurs, historically such variability has not been material. Schedule II, Valuation
and Qualifying Accounts, provides a summary of the changes in our allowances for doubtful accounts during the
period.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. We estimate the rate of return on plan assets, the discount rate used
to estimate the present value of future benefit obligations and the expected cost of future health care benefits in
determining our annual pension and other postretirement benefit costs. While we believe that our assumptions
are appropriate, significant differences in our actual experience or significant changes in market conditions may
materially affect our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and our future expense. See “Liquidity
and Capital Resources - Pension Plan Assets and Obligations” below for additional disclosure regarding pension
benefits.
With other assumptions held constant, an increase or decrease of 100 basis points in the discount rate would
have an immaterial impact on net pension and postretirement benefit costs.
Self-Insurance Reserves. Our accrued self-insurance reserves represent the estimated costs of known and
anticipated or unasserted claims under our general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile
insurance policies. Accrued insurance provisions for unasserted claims arising from unreported incidents are
based on an analysis of historical claims data. For each unasserted claim, we record a self-insurance provision
up to the estimated amount of the probable claim utilizing actuarially determined loss development factors
applied to actual claims data. Our self-insurance provisions are susceptible to change to the extent that actual
claims development differs from historical claims development. We maintain insurance coverage wherein our
net exposure for insured claims is limited to the insurance deductible, claims above which are paid by our
insurance carriers. For the portion of our estimated self-insurance liability that exceeds our deductibles, we
record an asset related to the amount of the liability expected to be paid by the insurance companies.
Historically, we have not experienced significant variability in our actuarial estimates for claims incurred but not
reported. Accrued insurance provisions for reported claims are reviewed at least quarterly, and our assessment of
whether a loss is probable and/or reasonably estimable is updated as necessary. Due to the inherently uncertain
nature of, in particular, product liability claims, the ultimate loss may differ materially from our estimates.
However, because of the nature of our insurance arrangements, those material variations historically have not,
nor are they expected in the future to have, a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Net income for fiscal 2010 amounted to $115.3 million, or $3.26 per Common Unit, compared to net income
of $165.2 million, or $4.99 per Common Unit, in fiscal 2009. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), as defined and reconciled below, amounted to $192.4
million, compared to $239.2 million for fiscal 2009. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2010 were negatively
impacted by certain items, including: (i) a loss on debt extinguishment of $9.5 million associated with the
refinancing of senior notes completed during the second quarter; (ii) a non-cash pension settlement charge of
$2.8 million during the fourth quarter; and (iii) a non-cash charge of $1.8 million during the third quarter to
accelerate depreciation expense on certain assets taken out of service. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2009
included a loss on debt extinguishment of $4.6 million associated with the debt tender offer completed during the
28
fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
Fiscal 2010 presented a challenging operating environment characterized by the continued adverse effects of
the weak economy, relatively mild temperatures during the peak winter heating season and a volatile commodity
price environment. The prior year benefited from a rapid and dramatic decline in commodity prices which
resulted in higher gross margins.
Fiscal 2010 also included several notable achievements, including: (i) the refinancing of our senior notes,
extending maturities on all $250.0 million outstanding until March 2020 at attractive rates; (ii) the acquisition of
four independent propane operators which expanded our footprint in strategic markets where we already have a
strong presence; (iii) from a liquidity standpoint, the funding of all of our working capital needs, our capital
expenditures, and the four acquisitions from cash on hand and ending the fiscal year with nearly $157.0 million
of cash; and (iv) the increase in the annualized distribution rate by $0.02 per Common Unit each quarter to an
annualized distribution rate of $3.40 per Common Unit at the end of the fourth quarter – a growth rate of 2.4%
compared to the annualized rate at the end of the prior year.
Retail propane gallons sold for fiscal 2010 decreased 26.0 million gallons, or 7.6%, to 317.9 million gallons
from 343.9 million gallons in fiscal 2009. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels decreased 14.2 million gallons,
or 24.7%, to 43.2 million gallons compared to 57.4 million gallons in the prior year. Sales volumes were
negatively affected by the impact of the weak economy, particularly in our non-residential customer base, which
accounted for 60.6% of the overall decline in propane sales volumes. Erratic weather patterns, particularly in our
northeast and western territories, also contributed to the decline in sales volumes. During the peak heating
months from October 2009 through March 2010, average temperatures in our northeast service territories were
5% and 6% warmer than normal and prior year, respectively. Overall, average temperatures during fiscal 2010
throughout all service territories were 5% warmer than normal and 4% warmer than the prior year.
Revenues of $1,136.7 million decreased $6.5 million, or 0.6%, compared to $1,143.2 million in the prior
year, primarily due to the aforementioned decrease in volumes sold substantially offset by the impact of higher
average selling prices associated with higher product costs. Overall, in the commodities markets, average posted
prices for propane and fuel oil during fiscal 2010 were 46.3% and 26.1% higher, respectively, compared to fiscal
2009. Therefore, notwithstanding the decline in volumes, cost of products sold increased $58.1 million, or
10.7%, to $598.5 million in fiscal 2010, compared to $540.4 million in the prior year. Cost of products sold for
fiscal 2010 also included $5.4 million in net unrealized (non-cash) losses attributable to the mark-to-market
adjustment for derivative instruments used in our commodity price risk management activities, compared to $1.7
million in net unrealized (non-cash) gains in the prior year, both of which are excluded from the computation of
Adjusted EBITDA in both years.
Combined operating and general and administrative expenses of $351.2 million decreased $10.6 million, or
2.9%, compared to $361.8 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower variable compensation associated with
lower earnings, lower insurance costs and continued savings in payroll and vehicle expenses attributable to
further operating efficiencies.
Net interest expense decreased $10.9 million, or 28.5%, to $27.4 million in fiscal 2010, compared to $38.3
million in fiscal 2009, primarily as a result of lower debt levels attributable to our $183.0 million debt reduction
in the second half of fiscal 2009.
As we look ahead to fiscal 2011, our anticipated cash requirements include: (i) maintenance and growth capital
expenditures of approximately $25.0 million; (ii) approximately $29.5 million of interest and income tax payments;
and (iii) assuming distributions remain at the current annualized level of $3.40 per Common Unit, approximately
$120.4 million of distributions to Common Unitholders. Based on our current cash position, availability under the
Revolving Credit Agreement (unused borrowing capacity of $91.5 million at September 25, 2010) and expected
cash flow from operating activities, we expect to have sufficient funds to meet our current and future obligations.
29
Based on our current forecast of working capital requirements for fiscal 2011, we currently do not expect to
borrow under our credit facility to fund those requirements.
Fiscal Year 2010 Compared to Fiscal Year 2009
Revenues
(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Total revenues
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
Increase/
(Decrease)
$
885,459
135,059
77,587
38,589
1,136,694
$
$
864,012
159,596
76,832
42,714
1,143,154
$
$
21,447
(24,537)
755
(4,125)
(6,460)
$
Percent
Increase/
(Decrease)
2.5%
(15.4)%
1.0%
(9.7)%
(0.6)%
Total revenues decreased $6.5 million, or 0.6%, to $1,136.7 million for the year ended September 25, 2010
compared to $1,143.2 million for the year ended September 26, 2009, due to lower volumes, partially offset by
higher average selling prices associated with higher product costs. Volumes for the fiscal 2010 were lower than
the prior year due to the negative impact of adverse economic conditions, particularly on our commercial and
industrial accounts, as well as the unfavorable impact of warmer average temperatures, particularly in our
northeastern and western service territories, and ongoing residential customer conservation. From a weather
perspective, average temperatures as measured in heating degree days, as reported by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), in our service territories during fiscal 2010 were 5% warmer than
normal and 4% warmer than the prior year. In our northeastern territories, which is where we have a higher
concentration of residential propane customers and all of our fuel oil customers, average temperatures during
fiscal 2010 were 9% warmer than both normal and the prior year. The unfavorable weather pattern occurred
primarily during the peak heating months (from October through March) and therefore, contributed to the lower
volumes sold.
Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $885.5 million for the year ended
September 25, 2010 increased $21.4 million, or 2.5%, compared to $864.0 million for the year ended September
26, 2009, primarily as a result of higher average selling prices associated with higher product costs, partially
offset by lower volumes, particularly in our commercial and industrial accounts. Average propane selling prices
in fiscal 2010 increased 9.8% compared to the prior year due to higher product costs, thereby having a positive
impact on revenues. This increase was partially offset by lower retail propane gallons sold in fiscal 2010 which
decreased 26.0 million gallons, or 7.6%, to 317.9 million gallons from 343.9 million gallons in the prior year.
The volume decline was primarily attributable to lower commercial and industrial volumes resulting from
adverse economic conditions, an unfavorable weather pattern and, to a lesser extent, continued residential
customer conservation. Lower volumes sold in the non-residential customer base accounted for approximately
60% of the decline in propane sales volume. Additionally, included within the propane segment are revenues
from wholesale and other propane activities of $52.7 million in fiscal 2010, which increased $9.3 million
compared to the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $135.1 million for the year ended September
25, 2010 decreased $24.5 million, or 15.4%, from $159.6 million in the prior year primarily due to lower
volumes, partially offset by higher average selling prices. Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold in fiscal 2010
decreased 14.2 million gallons, or 24.7%, to 43.2 million gallons from 57.4 million gallons in the prior year.
Lower volumes in our fuel oil and refined fuels segment were attributable to the aforementioned warmer average
30
temperatures in the northeast region, as well as the impact of ongoing residential customer conservation driven
by adverse economic conditions. Average selling prices in our fuel oil and refined fuels segment in fiscal 2010
increased 12.2% compared to the prior year due to higher product costs, thereby having a positive impact on
revenues.
Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment increased $0.8 million, or 1.0%, to $77.6 million for the
year ended September 25, 2010 compared to $76.8 million in the prior year as a result of higher electricity
volumes, partially offset by lower natural gas volumes. Revenues in our all other businesses decreased 9.7% to
$38.6 million in fiscal 2010 from $42.7 million in the prior year, primarily due to reduced installation service
activities as a result of the general market decline in residential and commercial construction and other adverse
economic conditions.
Cost of Products Sold
(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of products sold
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Total cost of products sold
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
Increase/
(Decrease)
$
$
$
436,825
92,037
57,892
11,697
598,451
367,016
104,634
57,216
11,519
540,385
$
$
$
69,809
(12,597)
676
178
58,066
Percent
Increase/
(Decrease)
19.0%
(12.0)%
1.2%
1.5%
10.7%
As a percent of total revenues
52.6%
47.3%
The cost of products sold reported in the consolidated statements of operations represents the weighted
average unit cost of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and electricity sold, including transportation
costs to deliver product from our supply points to storage or to our customer service centers. Cost of products
sold also includes the cost of appliances and related parts sold or installed by our customer service centers
computed on a basis that approximates the average cost of the products. Unrealized (non-cash) gains or losses
from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded
within cost of products sold. Cost of products sold excludes depreciation and amortization; these amounts are
reported separately within the consolidated statements of operations.
Cost of products sold increased $58.1 million, or 10.7%, to $598.5 million for the year ended September 25,
2010 compared to $540.4 million in the prior year due to higher average product costs and, to a lesser extent, the
unfavorable impact of non-cash mark-to-market adjustments from our risk management activities in fiscal 2010
compared to the prior year, partially offset by lower volumes sold. Average posted prices for propane and fuel
oil in fiscal 2010 were 46.3% and 26.1% higher, respectively, compared to the prior year. Cost of products sold
in fiscal 2010 included a $5.4 million unrealized (non-cash) loss representing the net change in the fair value of
derivative instruments during the period, compared to a $1.7 million unrealized (non-cash) gain in the prior year
resulting in an increase of $7.1 million in cost of products sold in fiscal 2010 compared to the prior year ($1.3
million decrease reported within the propane segment and $8.4 million increase reported within the fuel oil and
refined fuels segment).
Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $436.8 million for
the year ended September 25, 2010 increased $69.8 million, or 19.0%, compared to the prior year. Higher
propane product costs resulted in an increase of $89.2 million in cost of products sold in fiscal 2010 compared to
the prior year. This increase was partially offset by lower propane volumes, which resulted in a decrease of
31
$27.5 million in cost of products sold in fiscal 2010 compared to the prior year. Cost of products sold from
wholesale and other propane activities increased $9.4 million compared to the prior year.
Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $92.0 million for the year
ended September 25, 2010 decreased $12.6 million, or 12.0%, compared to the prior year primarily due to lower
volumes, offset to an extent by higher product costs and the unfavorable impact of non-cash mark-to-market
adjustments from our risk management activities. Lower fuel oil volumes resulted in a decrease of $26.2 million
in cost of products sold, and higher product costs resulted in an increase of $5.2 million in cost of products sold
during fiscal 2010 compared to the prior year.
Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $57.9 million for the year ended
September 25, 2010 increased $0.6 million, or 1.2%, compared to the prior year primarily due to higher
electricity volumes, partially offset by lower natural gas volumes. Cost of products sold in our all other
businesses of $11.7 million was relatively flat compared to the prior year.
For fiscal 2010, total cost of products sold as a percent of total revenues increased 5.3 percentage points to
52.6% from 47.3% in the prior year. The year-over-year increase in cost of products sold as a percentage of
revenues was primarily attributable to the favorable margins reported in the prior year that were attributable to
the declining commodity price environment during that period, which situation was not repeated in the current
year due to the rising commodity price environment in the current year. The declining commodity price
environment in the prior year favorably impacted our risk management activities in fiscal 2009, and contributed
to a reduction in product costs that outpaced the decline in average selling prices. Conversely, the volatile and
rising commodity price environment in the current fiscal year presented challenges in managing pricing and, as a
result, average product costs increased at a faster pace than average selling prices in fiscal 2010.
Operating Expenses
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating expenses
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2010
289,567
25.5%
$
Fiscal
2009
304,767
26.7%
$
(Decrease)
$
(15,200)
Percent
(Decrease)
(5.0)%
All costs of operating our retail distribution and appliance sales and service operations are reported within
operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. These operating expenses include the
compensation and benefits of field and direct operating support personnel, costs of operating and maintaining our
vehicle fleet, overhead and other costs of our purchasing, training and safety departments and other direct and
indirect costs of operating our customer service centers.
Operating expenses of $289.6 million for the year ended September 25, 2010 decreased $15.2 million, or
5.0%, compared to $304.8 million in the prior year as a result of lower variable compensation associated with
lower earnings, lower payroll and benefit related expenses resulting from operating efficiencies, and lower
insurance costs.
32
General and Administrative Expenses
(Dollars in thousands)
General and administrative expenses
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
$
61,656
5.4%
$
57,044
5.0%
Increase
$
4,612
Percent
Increase
8.1%
All costs of our back office support functions, including compensation and benefits for executives and other
support functions, as well as other costs and expenses to maintain finance and accounting, treasury, legal, human
resources, corporate development and the information systems functions are reported within general and
administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
General and administrative expenses of $61.6 million for the year ended September 25, 2010 increased $4.6
million, or 8.1%, compared to $57.0 million during the prior year as savings from lower variable compensation
associated with lower earnings were more than offset by an unfavorable judgment in a legal matter and an
increase in accruals for uninsured legal matters, as well as higher advertising costs.
Depreciation and Amortization
(Dollars in thousands)
Depreciation and amortization
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
$
30,834
2.7%
$
30,343
2.7%
Increase
$
491
Percent
Increase
1.6%
Depreciation and amortization expense of $30.8 million for the year ended September 25, 2010 increased
$0.5 million, or 1.6%, compared to $30.3 million in the prior year primarily as a result of accelerating
depreciation expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 for certain assets retired.
Interest Expense, net
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest expense, net
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
$
27,397
2.4%
$
38,267
3.3%
(Decrease)
$
(10,870)
Percent
(Decrease)
(28.4)%
Net interest expense decreased $10.9 million, or 28.4%, to $27.4 million for the year ended September 25,
2010, compared to $38.3 million in the prior year primarily due to the reduction of $183.0 million in long-term
borrowings during the second half of fiscal 2009, coupled with a lower effective interest rate for borrowings
under our revolving credit facility. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion on the
reduction and changes in long-term borrowings.
33
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
On March 23, 2010, we repurchased $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Senior Notes
through a cash tender offer. In connection with the repurchase, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of
debt of $9.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010, consisting of $7.2 million for the repurchase premium
and related fees, as well as the write-off of $2.3 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
discount.
On September 9, 2009, we purchased $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2013 Senior Notes
through a cash tender offer. In connection with the repurchase, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of
debt of $4.6 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, consisting of $2.8 million for the tender premium and related
fees, as well as the write-off of $1.8 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized discount.
Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
We reported net income of $115.3 million, or $3.26 per Common Unit, for the year ended September 25,
2010 compared to net income of $165.2 million, or $4.99 per Common Unit, in the prior year. Adjusted
EBITDA amounted to $192.4 million, compared to $239.2 million for fiscal 2009.
Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2010 were negatively impacted by certain items, including: (i) a loss on
debt extinguishment of $9.5 million associated with the refinancing of senior notes completed during the second
quarter; (ii) a non-cash pension settlement charge of $2.8 million during the fourth quarter; and (iii) a non-cash
charge of $1.8 million during the third quarter to accelerate depreciation expense on certain assets taken out of
service. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2009 included a loss on debt extinguishment of $4.6 million
associated with the debt tender offer completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss from mark-to-market
activity for derivative instruments, loss on debt extinguishment and pension settlement charge. Our management
uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of liquidity and we are including them because we believe that
they provide our investors and industry analysts with additional information to evaluate our ability to meet our
debt service obligations and to pay our quarterly distributions to holders of our Common Units. In addition,
certain of our incentive compensation plans covering executives and other employees utilize Adjusted EBITDA
as the performance target. Moreover, our revolving credit agreement requires us to use Adjusted EBITDA as a
component in calculating our leverage and interest coverage ratios. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not
recognized terms under US-GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash
provided by operating activities determined in accordance with US-GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA as determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, they may not be
comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies.
34
The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation of EBITDA, as so
calculated, to our net cash provided by operating activities:
(Dollars in thousands)
Net income
Add:
Provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes
in fair value of derivatives
Loss on debt extinguishment
Pension settlement charge
Adjusted EBITDA
Add (subtract):
Provision for income taxes - current
Interest expense, net
Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes
in fair value of derivatives
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net
Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities
Year Ended
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
115,316
$
165,238
1,182
27,397
30,834
174,729
5,400
9,473
2,818
192,420
(1,182)
(27,397)
(5,400)
4,005
38
(6,687)
2,486
38,267
30,343
236,334
(1,713)
4,624
-
239,245
(1,101)
(38,267)
1,713
2,396
(650)
43,215
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
155,797
$
246,551
Fiscal Year 2009 Compared to Fiscal Year 2008
Revenues
(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Total revenues
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
(Decrease)
Percent
(Decrease)
$
864,012
159,596
76,832
42,714
1,143,154
$
$
1,132,950
288,078
103,745
49,390
1,574,163
$
$
(268,938)
(128,482)
(26,913)
(6,676)
(431,009)
$
(23.7)%
(44.6)%
(25.9)%
(13.5)%
(27.4)%
Total revenues decreased $431.0 million, or 27.4%, to $1,143.2 million for the year ended September 26,
2009 compared to $1,574.2 million for the year ended September 27, 2008, due to a combination of lower
35
volumes and lower average selling prices associated with lower product costs. Volumes for the fiscal 2009 were
lower than the prior year due to the negative impact of adverse economic conditions, particularly on our
commercial and industrial accounts, as well as ongoing customer conservation, partially offset by the favorable
impact of colder temperatures. From a weather perspective, average heating degree days, as reported by the
NOAA, in our service territories were 99% of normal for fiscal 2009 and 5% colder compared to the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $864.0 million for the year ended
September 26, 2009 decreased $268.9 million, or 23.7%, compared to $1,133.0 million for the year ended
September 27, 2008, primarily due to lower average selling prices, as well as lower volumes in our commercial
and industrial accounts and, to a lesser extent, our residential accounts. Retail propane gallons sold in fiscal 2009
decreased 42.3 million gallons, or 11.0%, to 343.9 million gallons from 386.2 million gallons in the prior year.
The average propane selling prices during fiscal 2009 decreased approximately 14.0% compared to the prior year
due to lower product costs, thereby having a negative impact on revenues. Additionally, revenues from wholesale
and other propane activities of $43.4 million for the year ended September 26, 2009 decreased $18.3 million
compared to the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $159.6 million for the year ended September
26, 2009 decreased $128.5 million, or 44.6%, from $288.1 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower
volumes and lower average selling prices. Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold in fiscal 2009 decreased 19.1
million gallons, or 25.0%, to 57.4 million gallons from 76.5 million gallons in the prior year. Lower volumes in
our fuel oil and refined fuels segment were primarily attributable to the impact of ongoing customer conservation
driven by adverse economic conditions and continued high energy prices relative to historical averages. The
average fuel oil and refined fuels selling prices during fiscal 2009 decreased approximately 26.9% compared to
the prior year due to lower product costs, thereby having a negative impact on revenues.
Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment decreased $26.9 million, or 25.9%, to $76.8 million for
the year ended September 26, 2009 compared to $103.7 million in the prior year as a result of lower average
selling prices and lower volumes. Revenues in our all other businesses decreased 13.5% to $42.7 million in
fiscal 2009 from $49.4 million in the prior year, primarily due to reduced installation service activities as a result
of the market decline in residential and commercial construction and other adverse economic conditions.
Cost of Products Sold
(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of products sold
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Total cost of products sold
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
(Decrease)
Percent
(Decrease)
$
$
367,016
104,634
57,216
11,519
540,385
$
689,921
247,310
87,600
14,605
1,039,436
$
$
(322,905)
(142,676)
(30,384)
(3,086)
(499,051)
$
(46.8)%
(57.7)%
(34.7)%
(21.1)%
(48.0)%
As a percent of total revenues
47.3%
66.0%
Cost of products sold decreased $499.0 million, or 48.0%, to $540.4 million for the year ended September
26, 2009 compared to $1,039.4 million in the prior year due to the impact of the decline in product costs, lower
volumes sold and the favorable impact from our risk management activities (during fiscal 2008 we reported
realized losses from risk management activities that were not fully offset by sales of the physical product,
resulting in a $10.8 million reduction to cost of products sold in fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year). Cost of
36
products sold in fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008 included a $1.7 million and $1.8 million unrealized (non-cash) gain,
respectively, representing the net change in the fair value of derivative instruments during the period ($3.1
million increase in cost of products sold reported within the propane segment, offset by a $3.0 million decrease
in cost of products sold within the fuel oil and refined fuels segment).
Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $367.0 million for
the year ended September 26, 2009 decreased $322.9 million, or 46.8%, compared to the prior year. Lower
average propane costs and lower propane volumes resulted in a decrease of $234.1 million and $71.8 million,
respectively, in cost of products sold during fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year. Cost of products sold from
wholesale and other propane activities decreased $20.1 million compared to the prior year due to lower product
costs and lower sales volumes.
Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $104.6 million for the
year ended September 26, 2009 decreased $142.7 million, or 57.7%, compared to the prior year. Lower average
fuel oil and refined fuels costs and lower volumes resulted in decreases of $72.7 million and $56.2 million,
respectively, in cost of products sold during fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year. In addition, during fiscal
2008 we reported realized losses from risk management activities that were not fully offset by sales of the
physical product, resulting in a $10.8 million reduction to cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and
refined fuels segment in fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year.
Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $57.2 million for the year ended
September 26, 2009 decreased $30.4 million, or 34.7%, compared to the prior year due to lower product costs
and lower sales volumes. Cost of products sold in our all other businesses of $11.5 million for the year ended
September 26, 2009 decreased $3.1 million, or 21.1%, compared to the prior year primarily due to lower sales
volumes.
For the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009, total cost of products sold represented 47.3% of revenues
compared to 66.0% in the prior year. The decrease in costs as a percentage of revenues was primarily
attributable to the decline in product costs which outpaced the decline in average selling prices, and, to a much
lesser extent, the favorable variance attributable to risk management activities discussed above.
Operating Expenses
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating expenses
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2009
304,767
26.7%
$
Fiscal
2008
308,071
19.6%
$
(Decrease)
$
(3,304)
Percent
(Decrease)
(1.1)%
Operating expenses of $304.8 million for year ended September 26, 2009 decreased $3.3 million, or 1.1%,
compared to $308.1 million in the prior year as higher variable compensation expense associated with higher
earnings was more than offset by our continued efforts to drive operational efficiencies and reduce costs across
all operating segments. Savings were primarily attributable to payroll and benefit related expenses as a result of
lower headcount, lower fuel costs to operate our fleet and lower bad debt expense.
37
General and Administrative Expenses
(Dollars in thousands)
General and administrative expenses
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
$
57,044
5.0%
$
48,134
3.1%
Increase
$
8,910
Percent
Increase
18.5%
General and administrative expenses of $57.0 million for the year ended September 26, 2009 increased $8.9
million, or 18.5%, compared to $48.1 million during the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to
higher variable compensation expense resulting from higher earnings in fiscal 2009 compared to the prior year,
and higher compensation costs recognized under certain long-term incentive plans.
Depreciation and Amortization
(Dollars in thousands)
Depreciation and amortization
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
$
30,343
2.7%
$
28,394
1.8%
Increase
$
1,949
Percent
Increase
6.9%
Depreciation and amortization expense of $30.4 million for the year ended September 26, 2009 increased
$1.9 million, or 6.9%, compared to $28.4 million in the prior year primarily as a result of accelerating
depreciation expense for certain assets retired in the second half of fiscal 2009.
Interest Expense, net
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest expense, net
As a percent of total revenues
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
$
38,267
3.3%
$
37,052
2.4%
Increase
$
1,215
Percent
Increase
3.3%
Net interest expense increased $1.2 million, or 3.3%, to $38.3 million for the year ended September 26, 2009,
compared to $37.1 million in the prior year as a result of lower market interest rates for short-term investments,
which contributed to less interest income earned, and a non-cash charge of $0.4 million to write-off the
unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the previous credit agreement which was terminated in the third
quarter of fiscal 2009.
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
On September 9, 2009, we purchased $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2003 Senior Notes
through a cash tender offer. In connection with the tender offer, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of
debt of $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, consisting of $2.8 million for the tender premium and
related fees, as well as the write-off of $1.8 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
discount.
38
Discontinued Operations
On October 2, 2007, the Operating Partnership completed the sale of its Tirzah, South Carolina underground
granite propane storage cavern, and associated 62-mile pipeline, for approximately $53.7 million in cash, after
taking into account certain adjustments. As part of the agreement, we entered into a long-term storage
arrangement, not to exceed 7 million propane gallons, with the purchaser of the cavern that will enable us to
continue to meet the needs of our retail operations, consistent with past practices. As a result of this sale, we
reported a $43.7 million gain on disposal of discontinued operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2008.
Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
We reported net income of $165.2 million, or $4.99 per Common Unit, for the year ended September 26,
2009 compared to net income of $154.9 million, or $4.72 per Common Unit, in the prior year. Adjusted
EBITDA for fiscal 2009 of $234.6 million increased $14.1 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $220.5
million in the prior year.
Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2009 included a $4.6 million charge for the loss on extinguishment of
$175.0 million of our 6.875% Senior Notes. By comparison, net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2008 included a
gain (reported within discontinued operations) of $43.7 million from our sale of its Tirzah, South Carolina
underground storage cavern and associated 62-mile pipeline. The following table sets forth (i) our calculations
of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, as so calculated, to our net
cash provided by operating activities:
(Dollars in thousands)
Net income
Add:
Provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Unrealized (non-cash) (gains) on changes in
fair value of derivatives
Loss on debt extinguishment
Adjusted EBITDA
Add (subtract):
Provision for income taxes - current
Interest expense, net
Unrealized (non-cash) gains on changes in fair
value of derivatives
Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities
Year Ended
September 26,
2009
September 27,
2008
$
165,238
$
154,880
2,486
38,267
30,343
236,334
(1,713)
4,624
239,245
(1,101)
(38,267)
1,713
2,396
(650)
-
43,215
1,903
37,052
28,394
222,229
(1,764)
-
220,465
(626)
(37,052)
1,764
2,156
(2,252)
(43,707)
(20,231)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
246,551
$
120,517
39
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Analysis of Cash Flows
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2010 amounted to $155.8 million, a
decrease of $90.8 million compared to the prior year. The decrease was attributable to a $40.9 million decrease in
earnings, after adjusting for non-cash items in both periods, coupled with a $49.9 million increase in our
investment in working capital as a result of the increase in propane and fuel oil product costs as a result in the
increase in commodity prices. Despite the year-over-year increase in working capital requirements, we continued
to fund working capital through cash on hand without the need to access the revolving credit facility.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities of $30.1 million for the year ended September 25,
2010 consisted of capital expenditures of $19.1 million (including $9.7 million for maintenance expenditures and
$9.4 million to support the growth of operations) and business acquisitions of $14.5 million, partially offset by
investing
the net proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $3.5 million. Net cash used
activities of $16.9 million for the year ended September 26, 2009 consisted of capital expenditures of $21.8
million (including $12.2 million for maintenance expenditures and $9.6 million to support the growth of
operations), partially offset by the net proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $4.9 million.
in
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2010 of $132.0 million reflects $118.3
million in quarterly distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.83 per Common Unit paid in respect of
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, $0.835 per Common Unit paid in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2010,
$0.84 per Common Unit paid in respect of the second quarter of fiscal 2010, and $0.845 per Common Unit paid
in respect of the third quarter of fiscal 2010. In addition, financing activities for fiscal 2010 also reflects the
repurchase of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.875% senior notes due 2013 for $256.5 million
(including repurchase premiums and fees), which was substantially funded by the net proceeds of $247.8 million
from the issuance of 7.375% senior notes due 2020, as well as the $5.0 million payment of debt issuance costs
associated with the issuance of the 2020 senior notes.
Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2009 of $204.2 million reflects $106.7 million in quarterly
distributions to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.805 per Common Unit in respect of the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2008, at a rate of $0.81 per Common Unit in respect of the first quarter of fiscal 2009, at a rate of $0.815
per Common Unit in respect of the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and at a rate of $0.825 per Common Unit in
respect of the third quarter of fiscal 2009. In addition, financing activities for fiscal 2009 also reflects $110.0
million of repayments on our term loan, which was partially funded by borrowings of $100.0 million under the
revolving credit facility executed on June 26, 2009; the $5.5 million payment of debt issuance costs associated
with the execution of the new revolving credit facility; and the repurchase of $175.0 million aggregate principal
amount of our 6.875% senior notes due 2013 for $177.8 million, which was partially funded by the proceeds of
$95.9 million from the issuance of 2,430,934 of our Common Units.
Equity Offering
On August 10, 2009, we sold 2,200,000 Common Units in a public offering (the “Equity Offering”) at a price
of $41.50 per Common Unit, realizing proceeds of $86.7 million, net of underwriting commissions and other
offering expenses. On August 24, 2009, we announced that the underwriters had given notice of their exercise of
their over-allotment option, in part, to acquire 230,934 Common Units at the Equity Offering price of $41.50 per
Common Unit. Net proceeds from the over-allotment exercise amounted to $9.2 million. The aggregate net
proceeds from the Equity Offering of $95.9 million were used, along with cash on hand, to fund the purchase of
$175.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.875% senior notes due 2013. These transactions increased
the total number of Common Units outstanding by 2,430,934 to 35,227,954.
40
Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations and Revolving Credit Lines
On March 23, 2010, we completed a public offering of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of
7.375% senior notes due 2020 (the “2020 Senior Notes”). The 2020 Senior Notes were issued at 99.136% of the
principal amount. The net proceeds from the issuance, along with cash on hand, were used to repurchase the
6.875% senior notes due 2013 (the “2013 Senior Notes”) on March 23, 2010 through a redemption and tender
offer. In connection with the repurchase of the 2013 Senior Notes, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of
debt of $9.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2010, consisting of $7.2 million for the repurchase premium
and related fees, as well as the write-off of $2.3 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
discount.
As of September 25, 2010, our long-term borrowings and revolving credit lines consist of the 2020 Senior
Notes and a $250.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility at the Operating Partnership level (the
“Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility was executed on June 26, 2009 and replaced the
Operating Partnership’s previous credit facility which, as amended, provided for a $108.0 million term loan (the
“Term Loan”) and a separate $175.0 million working capital facility both of which were scheduled to mature in
March 2010. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes,
including working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions until maturity on June 25, 2013. Our Operating
Partnership has the right to prepay loans under the Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without penalty
at any time prior to maturity. At closing, the Operating Partnership borrowed $100.0 million under the
Revolving Credit Facility and, with cash on hand, repaid the $108.0 million then outstanding under the Term
Loan and terminated the previous credit agreement. We have standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving
Credit Facility in the aggregate amount of $58.5 million primarily in support of retention levels under our self-
insurance programs, which expire periodically through April 15, 2011. Therefore, as of September 25, 2010 we
had available borrowing capacity of $91.5 million under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The 2020 Senior Notes mature on March 15, 2020 and require semi-annual interest payments in March and
September. We are permitted to redeem some or all of the 2020 Senior Notes any time at redemption prices
specified in the indenture governing the notes. In addition, the 2020 Senior Notes have a change of control
provision that would require us to offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of the principal amount repurchased, if
the change of control is followed by a rating decline (a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody’s
Investors Service or Standard and Poor’s Rating group by one or more gradations) within 90 days of the
consummation of the change of control.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at our
Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR plus the applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the
Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1%, the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus in each case the
applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent upon our ratio of total debt to EBITDA on a consolidated
basis, as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 25, 2010, the interest rate for the Revolving
Credit Facility was approximately 3.5%. The interest rate and the applicable margin will be reset at the end of
each calendar quarter.
On July 31, 2009, our Operating Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement with an effective
date of March 31, 2010 and a termination date of June 25, 2013. Under the interest rate swap agreement, our
Operating Partnership will pay a fixed interest rate of 3.12% to the issuing lender on the notional principal
amount outstanding, effectively fixing the LIBOR portion of the interest rate at 3.12%. In return, the issuing
lender will pay to our Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR, on the same notional principal
amount. This interest rate swap agreement replaced the previous interest rate swap agreement which terminated
on March 31, 2010.
The Revolving Credit Facility and the 2020 Senior Notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative
covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership and the Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on
41
the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans,
advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. The Revolving
Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants (a) requiring the consolidated interest coverage ratio, as
defined, at the Partnership level to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; (b) prohibiting
the total consolidated leverage ratio, as defined, at the Partnership level from being greater than 4.5 to 1.0 as of
the end of any fiscal quarter; and (c) prohibiting the senior secured consolidated leverage ratio, as defined, of the
Operating Partnership from being greater than 3.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. Under the 2020
Senior Note indenture, we are generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as defined,
as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon making such
distributions, and the Partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1.
We were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the 2020 Senior Notes and the Revolving Credit Facility
as of September 25, 2010.
Partnership Distributions
We are required to make distributions in an amount equal to all of our Available Cash, as defined in the
Partnership Agreement, as amended, no more than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to holders of
record on the applicable record dates. Available Cash, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, generally means
all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the
Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements. These reserves are retained for the
proper conduct of our business, the payment of debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next
four quarters. The Board of Supervisors reviews the level of Available Cash on a quarterly basis based upon
information provided by management.
On October 21, 2010, we announced a quarterly distribution of $0.85 per Common Unit, or $3.40 on an
annualized basis, in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 payable on November 9, 2010 to holders of record
on November 2, 2010. This quarterly distribution included an increase of $0.005 per Common Unit, or $0.02 per
Common Unit on an annualized basis, from the previous quarterly distribution rate representing the twenty-
seventh increase since our recapitalization in 1999 and a 2.4% increase in the quarterly distribution rate
compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year.
Pension Plan Assets and Obligations
Our defined benefit pension plan was frozen to new participants effective January 1, 2000 and, in furtherance
of our effort to minimize future increases in our benefit obligations, effective January 1, 2003, all future service
credits were eliminated. Therefore, eligible participants will receive interest credits only toward their ultimate
defined benefit under the defined benefit pension plan. There were no minimum funding requirements for the
defined benefit pension plan during fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008. As of September 25, 2010 and September 26,
2009 the plan’s projected benefit obligation exceeded the fair value of plan assets by $17.7 million and $17.1
million, respectively. As a result, the funded status of the defined benefit pension plan declined $0.6 million
during fiscal 2010, which was primarily attributable to an increase in the present value of the benefit obligation
due to a general decrease in market interest rates, partially offset by a positive return on plan assets during fiscal
2010. The funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans are recognized as an asset or liability
on our balance sheets and the changes in the funded status are recognized in comprehensive income (loss) in the
year the changes occur.
Our investment policies and strategies, as set forth in the Investment Management Policy and Guidelines, are
monitored by a Benefits Committee comprised of five members of management. The Benefits Committee employs
a liability driven investment strategy, which seeks to increase the correlation of the plan’s assets and liabilities to
reduce the volatility of the plan’s funded status. The execution of this strategy has resulted in an asset allocation
that is largely comprised of fixed income securities. A liability driven investment strategy is intended to reduce
investment risk and, over the long-term, generate returns on plan assets that largely fund the annual interest on
42
the accumulated benefit obligation. However, as we experienced in fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, significant
declines in interest rates relevant to our benefit obligations, or poor performance in the broader capital markets in
which our plan assets are invested, could have an adverse impact on the funded status of the defined benefit
pension plan. For purposes of measuring the projected benefit obligation as of September 25, 2010 and
September 26, 2009, we used a discount rate of 4.750% and 5.125%, respectively, reflecting current market rates
for debt obligations of a similar duration to our pension obligations.
During fiscal 2010, lump sum settlement payments of $7.9 million exceeded the interest cost component of
the net periodic pension cost. As a result, we recorded a non-cash settlement charge of $2.8 million during the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 in order to accelerate recognition of a portion of cumulative unrecognized losses in
the defined benefit pension plan. These unrecognized losses were previously accumulated as a reduction to
partners’ capital and were being amortized to expense as part of our net periodic pension cost. During fiscal
2009 and fiscal 2008, the amount of the pension benefit obligation settled through lump sum payments did not
exceed the settlement threshold; therefore, a settlement charge was not required to be recognized for fiscal 2009
or fiscal 2008. Additional pension settlement charges may be required in future periods depending on the level
of lump sum benefit payments made in future periods.
We also provide postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired employees.
Partnership employees who were hired prior to July 1993 and retired prior to March 1998 are eligible for health care
benefits if they reached a specified retirement age while working for the Partnership. Partnership employees hired
prior to July 1993 are eligible for postretirement life insurance benefits if they reach a specified retirement age while
working for the Partnership. Effective January 1, 2000, we terminated our postretirement health care benefit plan
for all eligible employees retiring after March 1, 1998. All active and eligible employees who were to receive health
care benefits under the postretirement plan subsequent to March 1, 1998 were provided an increase to their
accumulated benefits under the defined benefit pension plan. Our postretirement health care and life insurance
benefit plans are unfunded. Effective January 1, 2006, we changed our postretirement health care plan from a self-
insured program to one that is fully insured under which we pay a portion of the insurance premium on behalf of the
eligible participants.
Long-Term Debt Obligations and Operating Lease Obligations
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes payments due under our known contractual obligations as of September 25,
2010.
(Dollars in thousands)
Fiscal
2011
Fiscal
2012
Fiscal
2013
Fiscal
2014
Fiscal
2015
Fiscal
2016 and
thereafter
Long-term debt obligations
Future interest payments
Operating lease obligations (a)
Self-insurance obligations (b)
Other contractual obligations (c)
Total
-
$
25,015
15,112
16,087
9,565
65,779
$
$
-
25,015
11,916
10,360
6,877
54,168
$
$
100,000
25,015
9,844
7,366
3,704
145,929
$
-
$
18,438
8,357
5,108
1,470
33,373
$
-
$
18,437
6,063
3,105
2,280
29,885
$
$
250,000
82,969
4,830
13,420
16,220
367,439
$
(a) Payments exclude costs associated with insurance, taxes and maintenance, which are not material to the
operating lease obligations.
(b) The timing of when payments are due for our self-insurance obligations is based on estimates that may
43
differ from when actual payments are made. In addition, the payments do not reflect amounts to be
recovered from our insurance providers, which was $18.0 million as of September 25, 2010 and included
in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
(c) Primarily includes payments for postretirement and long-term incentive benefits as well as periodic
settlements of our interest rate swap agreement.
Additionally, we have standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $58.5 million, in support of
retention levels under our casualty insurance programs and certain lease obligations, which expire periodically
through April 15, 2011.
Operating Leases
We lease certain property, plant and equipment for various periods under noncancelable operating leases,
including 57% of our vehicle fleet, approximately 25% of our customer service centers and portions of our
information systems equipment. Rental expense under operating leases was $17.6 million, $17.3 million and $17.7
million for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable
operating lease agreements as of September 25, 2010 are presented in the table above.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Guarantees
Certain of our operating leases, primarily those for transportation equipment with remaining lease periods
scheduled to expire periodically through fiscal 2017, contain residual value guarantee provisions. Under those
provisions, we guarantee that the fair value of the equipment will equal or exceed the guaranteed amount upon
completion of the lease period, or we will pay the lessor the difference between fair value and the guaranteed
amount. Although the fair value of equipment at the end of its lease term has historically exceeded the
guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential amount of aggregate future payments we could be required to make
under these leasing arrangements, assuming the equipment is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, is
approximately $8.2 million. The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de
minimis as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Commodity Price Risk
We enter into product supply contracts that are generally one-year agreements subject to annual renewal, and
also purchase product on the open market. Our propane supply contracts typically provide for pricing based
upon index formulas using the posted prices established at major supply points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas, or
Conway, Kansas (plus transportation costs) at the time of delivery. In addition, to supplement our annual
purchase requirements, we may utilize forward fixed price purchase contracts to acquire a portion of the propane
that we resell to our customers, which allows us to manage our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity
prices and to ensure adequate physical supply. The percentage of contract purchases, and the amount of supply
contracted for under forward contracts at fixed prices, will vary from year to year based on market conditions. In
certain instances, and when market conditions are favorable, we are able to purchase product under our supply
arrangements at a discount to the market.
Product cost changes can occur rapidly over a short period of time and can impact profitability. We attempt
to reduce commodity price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis. The level of priced, physical product
maintained in storage facilities and at our customer service centers for immediate sale to our customers will vary
44
depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, price, availability of supply, and demand for a given
time of the year. Typically, our on hand priced position does not exceed more than four to eight weeks of our
supply needs, depending on the time of the year. In the course of normal operations, we routinely enter into
contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and fuel oil that, under
accounting rules for derivative instruments and hedging activities, qualify for and are designated as normal
purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are exempted from fair value accounting and are accounted for
at the time product is purchased or sold under the related contract.
Under our hedging and risk management strategies, we enter into a combination of exchange-traded futures
and option contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter option contracts (collectively, “derivative
instruments”) to manage the price risk associated with priced, physical product and with future purchases of the
commodities used in our operations, principally propane and fuel oil, as well as to ensure the availability of
product during periods of high demand. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading
purposes. Futures contracts require that we sell or acquire propane or fuel oil at a fixed price for delivery at
fixed future dates. An option contract allows, but does not require, its holder to buy or sell propane or fuel oil at
a specified price during a specified time period. However, the writer of an option contract must fulfill the
obligation of the option contract, should the holder choose to exercise the option. At expiration, the contracts are
settled by the delivery of the product to the respective party or are settled by the payment of a net amount equal
to the difference between the then current price and the fixed contract price or option exercise price. To the
extent that we utilize derivative instruments to manage exposure to commodity price risk and commodity prices
move adversely in relation to the contracts, we could suffer losses on those derivative instruments when settled.
Conversely, if prices move favorably, we could realize gains. Under our hedging and risk management strategy,
realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical inventory
once the product is sold to customers at market prices.
Market Risk
We are subject to commodity price risk to the extent that propane or fuel oil market prices deviate from fixed
contract settlement amounts. Futures traded with brokers of the NYMEX require daily cash settlements in
margin accounts. Forward and option contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract term either
by physical delivery or through a net settlement mechanism. Market risks associated with futures, options and
forward contracts are monitored daily for compliance with our Hedging and Risk Management Policy which
includes volume limits for open positions. Open inventory positions are reviewed and managed daily as to
exposures to changing market prices.
Credit Risk
Exchange traded futures and option contracts are guaranteed by the NYMEX and, as a result, have minimal
credit risk. We are subject to credit risk with over-the-counter forward and propane option contracts to the extent
the counterparties do not perform. We evaluate the financial condition of each counterparty with which we
conduct business and establish credit limits to reduce exposure to the risk of non-performance by our
counterparties.
Interest Rate Risk
A portion of our borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the Operating
Partnership’s option, LIBOR, plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the Federal
Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus the applicable margin. The
applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership’s total leverage (the total of debt to EBITDA).
Therefore, we are subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. We manage our
interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The interest rate swaps have been designated as
a cash flow hedge. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive
45
income (“OCI”) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. At September 25, 2010, the fair value of the
interest rate swaps was $6.3 million representing an unrealized loss and is included within other current liabilities
and other liabilities, as applicable, with a corresponding debit in OCI.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
All of our derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at their fair values. On the date that
futures, forward and option contracts are entered into, we make a determination as to whether the derivative
instrument qualifies for designation as a hedge. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded
each period in current period earnings or OCI, depending on whether a derivative instrument is designated as a
hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, we formally
assess, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly
effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments
designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective and reclassified into cost of products
sold during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The mark-to-market gains or losses on
ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are immediately recognized in cost of products sold. Changes in the fair
value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges, and that do not meet the normal
purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded within cost of products sold as they occur. Cash flows
associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the consolidated statement of
cash flows.
Sensitivity Analysis
In an effort to estimate our exposure to unfavorable market price changes in commodities related to our open
positions under derivative instruments, we developed a model that incorporates the following data and
assumptions:
A. The fair value of open positions as of September 25, 2010.
B. The estimated forward market prices of open positions as of September 25, 2010 as derived from the
NYMEX.
C. The market prices determined in B. above were adjusted adversely by a hypothetical 10% change in
the forward prices and compared to the fair value amounts in A. above to project the potential
negative impact on earnings that would be recognized for the respective scenario.
Based on the sensitivity analysis described above, the hypothetical 10% adverse change in market prices for
each of the future months for which a future or option contract exists indicates a reduction in potential future net
gains of $3.5 million as of September 25, 2010. The above hypothetical change does not reflect the worst case
scenario. Actual results may be significantly different depending on market conditions and the composition of the
open position portfolio.
46
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
thereon listed on the accompanying Index to Financial Statements (see page F-1) and the Supplemental Financial
Information listed on the accompanying Index to Financial Statement Schedule (see page S-1) are included herein.
Selected Quarterly Financial Data
Due to the seasonality of the retail propane, fuel oil and other refined fuel and natural gas businesses, our first and
second quarter revenues and earnings are consistently greater than third and fourth quarter results. The following
presents our selected quarterly financial data for the last two fiscal years (unaudited; in thousands, except per unit
amounts).
Fiscal 2010
Revenues
Cost of products sold
Pension settlement charge
Income (loss) before interest expense, loss on debt
extinguishment and provision for income taxes
Loss on debt extinguishment (a)
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per common unit - basic (b)
Net income (loss) per common unit - diluted (b)
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
EBITDA (c)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)
Retail gallons sold
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Fiscal 2009
Revenues
Cost of products sold
Income (loss) before interest expense, loss on debt
extinguishment and provision for income taxes
Loss on debt extinguishment (a)
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per common unit - basic (b)
Net income (loss) per common unit - diluted (b)
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
EBITDA (c)
Adjusted EBITDA (c)
Retail gallons sold
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Total
Year
$
301,432
150,366
-
$
469,163
248,459
-
$
198,070
106,627
-
$
168,029
92,999
2,818
1,136,694
$
598,451
2,818
55,757
-
48,375
1.37
1.36
114,797
9,473
98,388
2.78
2.76
555
-
(6,616)
(0.19)
(0.19)
(17,741)
-
(24,831)
(0.70)
(0.70)
153,368
9,473
115,316
3.26
3.24
(14,726)
(3,663)
(29,288)
62,841
66,249
$
$
72,057
(3,487)
(43,154)
112,466
123,671
$
$
72,393
(13,614)
(29,665)
9,423
9,142
$
$
26,073
(9,347)
(29,844)
(10,001)
(6,642)
$
$
155,797
(30,111)
(131,951)
174,729
192,420
$
$
89,981
13,056
124,457
18,381
56,037
6,631
47,431
5,128
317,906
43,196
$
363,315
174,230
$
445,225
208,259
$
184,372
87,463
$
150,242
70,433
1,143,154
$
540,385
90,229
-
80,688
2.46
2.45
125,194
-
114,866
3.50
3.48
3,793
-
(7,435)
(0.23)
(0.23)
(8,601)
(4,624)
(22,881)
(0.67)
(0.67)
210,615
(4,624)
165,238
4.99
4.96
25,004
(3,724)
(28,390)
97,252
82,246
$
$
133,948
(2,515)
(26,564)
132,325
142,015
$
$
64,546
(3,632)
(40,272)
11,506
17,654
$
$
23,053
(6,981)
(108,998)
$
(4,749)
$
(7,294)
246,551
(16,852)
(204,224)
236,334
234,621
$
$
99,047
16,716
134,512
24,125
61,212
9,677
49,123
6,863
343,894
57,381
47
(a) During the second quarter of fiscal 2010 we completed the issuance of $250.0 million of 7.375% senior
notes maturing in March 2020 to replace the previously existing 6.875% senior notes that were set to mature
in December 2013. In connection with the refinancing, we recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of $9.5
million, consisting of $7.2 million for the repurchase premium and related fees, as well as the write-off of
$2.2 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized discount. During the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2009, we purchased $175.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.875% senior notes through a
cash tender offer. In connection with the tender offer, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of
$4.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, consisting of $2.8 million for the tender premium and
related fees, as well as the write-off of $1.8 million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
discount.
(b) Basic net income (loss) per Common Unit is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average
number of outstanding Common Units, and restricted units granted under the restricted unit plans to
retirement-eligible grantees. Computations of diluted net income per Common Unit are performed by
dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units and unvested restricted
units granted under our restricted unit plans. Diluted loss per Common Unit for the periods where a net loss
was reported does not include unvested restricted units granted under our restricted unit plans as their effect
would be anti-dilutive
(c) EBITDA represents net income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss from mark-to-
market activity for derivative instruments, loss on debt extinguishment and pension settlement charge. Our
management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as measures of liquidity and we are including them
because we believe that they provide our investors and industry analysts with additional information to
evaluate our ability to meet our debt service obligations and to pay our quarterly distributions to holders of
our Common Units. In addition, certain of our incentive compensation plans covering executives and other
employees utilize Adjusted EBITDA as the performance target. Moreover, our revolving credit agreement
requires us to use Adjusted EBITDA as a component in calculating our leverage and interest coverage ratios.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under US-GAAP and should not be considered as
an alternative to net income or net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with US-
GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that
affect net income, they may not be comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled
measures used by other companies. The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and (ii) a
reconciliation of EBITDA, as so calculated, to our net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(amounts in thousands):
48
Fiscal 2010
Net income (loss)
Add:
Provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes in
fair value of derivatives
Loss on debt extinguishment
Pension settlement charge
Adjusted EBITDA
Add (subtract):
Provision for income taxes - current
Interest expense, net
Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes
in fair value of derivatives
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plans
(Gain) loss on disposal of property,
plant and equipment, net
Changes in working capital and other
assets and liabilities
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Total
Year
$
48,375
$
98,388
$
(6,616)
$
(24,831)
$
115,316
199
7,183
7,084
62,841
3,408
-
-
66,249
328
6,608
7,142
112,466
1,732
9,473
-
123,671
363
6,808
8,868
9,423
(281)
-
-
9,142
(199)
(7,183)
(328)
(6,608)
(363)
(6,808)
292
6,798
7,740
(10,001)
541
-
2,818
(6,642)
(292)
(6,798)
1,182
27,397
30,834
174,729
5,400
9,473
2,818
192,420
(1,182)
(27,397)
(3,408)
(1,732)
281
(541)
(5,400)
992
1,025
1,136
852
4,005
(427)
293
283
(111)
38
(70,750)
(44,264)
68,722
39,605
(6,687)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
$
(14,726)
$
72,057
$
72,393
$
26,073
$
155,797
Fiscal 2009
Net income (loss)
Add:
Provision for income taxes
Interest expense, net
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Unrealized (non-cash) (gains) losses on changes in
fair value of derivatives
Loss on debt extinguishment
Adjusted EBITDA
Add (subtract):
Provision for income taxes - current
Interest expense, net
Unrealized (non-cash) (gains) losses on changes
in fair value of derivatives
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plans
(Gain) loss on disposal of property,
plant and equipment, net
Changes in working capital and other
assets and liabilities
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Total
Year
$
80,688
$
114,866
$
(7,435)
$
(22,881)
$
165,238
138
9,403
7,023
97,252
(15,006)
-
82,246
(138)
(9,403)
886
9,442
7,131
132,325
9,690
-
142,015
1,160
10,068
7,713
11,506
6,148
-
17,654
(426)
(9,442)
(240)
(10,068)
302
9,354
8,476
(4,749)
(2,545)
4,624
(2,670)
(297)
(9,354)
15,006
(9,690)
(6,148)
2,545
569
672
644
(230)
(393)
(147)
511
120
2,486
38,267
30,343
236,334
(1,713)
4,624
239,245
(1,101)
(38,267)
1,713
2,396
(650)
(63,046)
11,212
62,851
32,198
43,215
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
25,004
$
133,948
$
64,546
$
23,053
$
246,551
49
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. The Partnership maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”)) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the
Partnership’s filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods
specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the
Partnership’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as
appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Before filing this Annual Report, the Partnership completed an evaluation under the supervision and with the
participation of the Partnership’s management, including the Partnership’s principal executive officer and
principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Partnership’s disclosure
controls and procedures as of September 25, 2010. Based on this evaluation, the Partnership’s principal
executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Partnership’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 25, 2010.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING. There have not been any
changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the
Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 25, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Management’s Report on Internal
Control over Financial Reporting is included below.
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON
Management of the Partnership is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting. The Partnership's internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable
assurance as to the reliability of the Partnership's financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Partnership’s management has assessed the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over
financial reporting as of September 25, 2010. In making this assessment, the Partnership used the criteria
established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in “Internal
Control-Integrated Framework.” These criteria are in the areas of control environment, risk assessment, control
activities, information and communication, and monitoring. The Partnership's assessment included documenting,
evaluating and testing the design and operating effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.
Based on the Partnership’s assessment, as described above, management has concluded that, as of September
25, 2010, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, issued an attestation
report dated November 24, 2010 on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which is
included herein.
50
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Partnership Management
Our Partnership Agreement provides that all management powers over our business and affairs are exclusively
vested in our Board of Supervisors and, subject to the direction of the Board of Supervisors, our officers. No
Unitholder has any management power over our business and affairs or actual or apparent authority to enter into
contracts on behalf of or otherwise to bind us. There are currently six Supervisors, who serve on the Board of
Supervisors pursuant to the terms of the Partnership Agreement. Under the current Partnership Agreement, all
Supervisors are elected by the Common Unitholders for three-year terms. All six current Supervisors were elected
to their current three-year terms at the Tri-Annual Meeting held on July 22, 2009.
Five Supervisors, who are not officers or employees of the Partnership or its subsidiaries, serve on the Audit
Committee with authority to review, at the request of the Board of Supervisors specific matters as to which the
Board of Supervisors believes there may be a conflict of interest, or which may be required to be disclosed pursuant
to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, in order to determine if the
resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict proposed by the Board of Supervisors is fair and reasonable
to us. Under the Partnership Agreement, any matter that receives the “Special Approval” of the Audit Committee
(i.e., approval by a majority of the members of the Audit Committee) is conclusively deemed to be fair and
reasonable to us, is deemed approved by all of our partners and shall not constitute a breach of the Partnership
Agreement or any duty stated or implied by law or equity as long as the material facts known to the party having the
potential conflict of interest regarding that matter were disclosed to the Audit Committee at the time it gave Special
Approval. The Audit Committee also assists the Board of Supervisors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities
relating to (a) integrity of the Partnership’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting; (b)
the Partnership’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations and its code of conduct; (c) independence and
qualifications of the independent registered public accounting firm; (d) performance of the internal audit function
and the independent registered public accounting firm; and (e) accounting complaints.
The Board of Supervisors has determined that all five members of the Audit Committee, Harold R. Logan,
Jr., John Hoyt Stookey, Dudley C. Mecum, John D. Collins and Jane Swift are independent and (with the
exception of Ms. Swift) are audit committee financial experts within the meaning of the NYSE corporate
governance listing standards and in accordance with Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, Item 407 of Regulation S-
K and the Partnership’s criteria for Supervisor independence (as discussed in Item 13, herein) as of the date of
this Annual Report. Mr. Logan, Chairman of the Board, presides at the regularly scheduled executive sessions of
the non-management Supervisors, all of whom are independent, held as part of the meetings of the Audit
Committee. Investors and other parties interested in communicating directly with the non-management
Supervisors as a group may do so by writing to the Non-Management Members of the Board of Supervisors, c/o
Company Secretary, Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., P.O. Box 206, Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206.
51
Board of Supervisors and Executive Officers of the Partnership
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the members of the Board of Supervisors and
our executive officers as of November 22, 2010. Officers are appointed by the Board of Supervisors for one-year
terms and Supervisors are elected by the Unitholders for three-year terms.
Name
Age
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. ………………. 61
Michael A. Stivala………………… 41
Michael M. Keating……………….. 57
46
A. Davin D’Ambrosio……………..
57
Paul Abel………………………….
53
Mark Anton, II…………………….
46
Steven C. Boyd……………………
49
Douglas T. Brinkworth……………
45
Neil Scanlon……………………….
Mark Wienberg……………………
48
40
Michael Kuglin……………………
Harold R. Logan, Jr. ……………… 66
80
John Hoyt Stookey….……………..
Dudley C. Mecum…………………
John D. Collins……………………
75
72
Jane Swift…………………………
45
Position With the Partnership
President and Chief Executive Officer; Member of the
Board of Supervisors
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President - Administration
Vice President and Treasurer
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Vice President – Business Development
Vice President – Field Operations
Vice President – Product Supply
Vice President – Information Services
Vice President – Operational Support and Analysis
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Member of the Board of Supervisors (Chairman)
Member of the Board of Supervisors (Chairman of the
Compensation Committee)
Member of the Board of Supervisors
Member of the Board of Supervisors (Chairman of the
Audit Committee)
Member of the Board of Supervisors
Mr. Dunn has served as President since May 2005 and as Chief Executive Officer since September 2009. From
June 1998 until May 2005 he was Senior Vice President, becoming Senior Vice President – Corporate Development
in November 2002. Mr. Dunn has served as a Supervisor since July 1998. He was Vice President – Procurement
and Logistics from March 1997 until June 1998. Before joining the Partnership, Mr. Dunn was Vice President of
Commodity Trading for the investment banking firm of Goldman Sachs & Company (“Goldman Sachs”). Mr. Dunn
is the sole member of the General Partner.
Mr. Dunn’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his more than 13 years of experience in the propane
industry, including as our President for the past 5 years and Chief Executive Officer for the past year, which day to
day leadership roles have provided him with intimate knowledge of our operations.
Mr. Stivala has served as Chief Financial Officer since November 2009, and Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Accounting Officer since October 2007. Prior to that he was Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
since May 2005 and Controller since December 2001. Before joining the Partnership, he held several positions
with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an international accounting firm, most recently as Senior Manager in the
Assurance practice. Mr. Stivala is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Keating has served as Senior Vice President – Administration since July 2009. From July 1996 to that date
he was Vice President – Human Resources and Administration. He previously held senior human resource positions
at Hanson Industries (the United States management division of Hanson plc, a global diversified industrial
conglomerate) and Quantum Chemical Corporation (“Quantum”), a predecessor of the Partnership.
Mr. D’Ambrosio has served as Treasurer since November 2002 and was additionally made a Vice President
in October 2007. He served as Assistant Treasurer from October 2000 to November 2002 and as Director of
Treasury Services from January 1998 to October 2000. Mr. D’Ambrosio joined the Partnership in May 1996
52
after ten years in the commercial banking industry.
Mr. Abel has served as General Counsel and Secretary since June 2006 and was additionally made a Vice
President in October 2007. From May 2005 until June 2006, Mr. Abel was Assistant General Counsel of
Velocita Wireless, L.P., the owner and operator of a nationwide wireless data network. From 1998 until May
2005, Mr. Abel was Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of AXS-One Inc. (formerly known as
Computron Software, Inc.), an international business software company.
Mr. Anton has served as Vice President – Business Development since he joined the Partnership in 1999.
Prior to joining the Partnership, Mr. Anton worked as an Area Manager for another large multi-state propane
marketer and was a Vice President at several large investment banking organizations.
Mr. Boyd has served as Vice President – Field Operations (formerly Vice President – Operations) since
October 2008. Prior to that he was Southeast and Western Area Vice President since March 2007, Managing
Director – Area Operations since November 2003 and Regional Manager – Northern California since May 1997.
Mr. Boyd held various managerial positions with predecessors of the Partnership from 1986 through 1996.
Mr. Brinkworth has served as Vice President – Product Supply (formerly Vice President – Supply) since
May 2005. Mr. Brinkworth joined the Partnership in April 1997 after a nine year career with Goldman Sachs
and, since joining the Partnership, has served in various positions in the product supply area.
Mr. Scanlon became Vice President – Information Services in November 2008. Prior to that he served as
Assistant Vice President – Information Services since November 2007, Managing Director – Information
Services from November 2002 to November 2007 and Director – Information Services from April 1997 until
November 2002. Prior to joining the Partnership, Mr. Scanlon spent several years with JP Morgan & Co., most
recently as Vice President – Corporate Systems and earlier held several positions with Andersen Consulting
(“Accenture”), an international systems consulting firm, most recently as Manager.
Mr. Wienberg has served as Vice President – Operational Support and Analysis (formerly Vice President –
Operational Planning) since October 2007. Prior to that he served as Managing Director, Financial Planning and
Analysis from October 2003 to October 2007 and as Director, Financial Planning and Analysis from July 2001 to
October 2003. Prior to joining the Partnership, Mr. Wienberg was Assistant Vice President – Finance of
International Home Foods Corp., a consumer products manufacturer.
Mr. Kuglin has served as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since November 2009, and Controller
since October 2007. For the eight years prior to joining the Partnership he held several financial and managerial
positions with Alcatel-Lucent, a global communications solutions provider. Prior to Alcatel-Lucent, Mr. Kuglin
held several positions with the international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, most recently
Manager in the Assurance practice. Mr. Kuglin is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Logan has served as a Supervisor since March 1996 and was elected as Chairman of the Board of
Supervisors in January 2007. Mr. Logan is a Co-Founder and, from 2006 to the present has been serving as a
Director of Basic Materials and Services LLC, an investment company that has invested in companies that
provide specialized infrastructure services and materials for the pipeline construction industry and the sand/silica
industry. From 2003 to September 2006, Mr. Logan was a Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee of
the Board of Directors of TransMontaigne Inc., which provided logistical services (i.e. pipeline, terminaling and
marketing) to producers and end-users of refined petroleum products. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Logan was
Executive Vice President/Finance, Treasurer and a Director of TransMontaigne Inc. From 1987 to 1995, Mr.
Logan served as Senior Vice President of Finance and a Director of Associated Natural Gas Corporation, an
independent gatherer and marketer of natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil. Mr. Logan is also a Director
of Cimarex Energy Co., Graphic Packaging Holding Company and Hart Energy Publishing LLP.
53
Over the past 39 years, Mr. Logan’s education, investment banking/venture capital experience and
business/financial management experience have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of business
and finance. Most of Mr. Logan’s business experience has been in the energy industry, both in investment
banking and as a senior financial officer and director of publicly-owned energy companies. Mr. Logan’s
expertise and experience have been relevant to his responsibilities of providing oversight and advice to the
managements of public companies, and is of particular benefit in his role as our Chairman. Since 1996, Mr.
Logan has been a director of nine public companies and has served on audit, compensation and governance
committees.
Mr. Stookey has served as a Supervisor since March 1996. He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
from March 1996 through January 2007. From 1986 until September 1993, he was the Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Quantum. He served as non-executive Chairman and a Director of Quantum from its
acquisition by Hanson plc in September 1993 until October 1995, at which time he retired. Since then, Mr.
Stookey has served as a trustee for a number of non-profit organizations, including founding and serving as non-
executive Chairman of Per Scholas Inc. (a non-profit organization dedicated to using technology to improve the
lives of residents of the South Bronx) and Landmark Volunteers (places high school students in volunteer
positions with non-profit organizations during summer vacations) and has also served on the Board of Directors
of The Clark Foundation, The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation and The Berkshire Taconic Community
Foundation.
Mr. Stookey’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his extensive experience as Chief Executive Officer of
4 corporations (including a predecessor of the Partnership) and his many years of service as a director of publicly-
owned corporations and non-profit organizations.
Mr. Mecum has served as a Supervisor since June 1996. He has been a Managing Director of Capricorn
Holdings, LLC (a sponsor of and investor in leveraged buyouts) since June 1997. Mr. Mecum was a partner of G.L.
Ohrstrom & Co. (a sponsor of and investor in leveraged buyouts) from 1989 to June 1996. Until 2007, Mr. Mecum
was a director of Citigroup, Inc.
Mr. Mecum’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his 20 years in public accounting, rising to the level of
Vice Chairman of KPMG LLP, a public accounting firm, his service as Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Installations and Logistics and his 15 years of service overseeing or managing various companies. Mr. Mecum has
20 years of service as a director of various publicly-owned companies.
Mr. Collins has served as a Supervisor since April 2007. He served with KPMG LLP, an international
accounting firm, from 1962 until 2000, most recently as senior audit partner of its New York office. He has
served as a United States representative on the International Auditing Procedures Committee, a committee of
international accountants responsible for establishing international auditing standards. Mr. Collins is a Director
of Montpelier Re, Mrs. Fields Original Cookies, Inc. and Columbia Atlantic Funds, and serves as a Trustee of
LeMoyne College.
Mr. Collins’ qualifications to sit on our Board, and serve as Chairman of its Audit Committee, include his 40
years of experience in public accounting, including 31 years as a partner supervising the audits of public
companies. Mr. Collins has served on a number of AICPA and international accounting and auditing standards
bodies.
Ms. Swift has served as a Supervisor since April 2007. She is the founder of WNP Consulting, LLC,
providing expert advice and guidance to early stage education companies. From 2003 to 2006 she was a General
Partner at Arcadia Partners, a venture capital firm focused on the education industry. She currently serves on the
boards of K12, Inc., Animated Speech Company and Sally Ride Science Inc. and several not-for-profit boards,
including The Republican Majority for Choice and Landmark Volunteers, Inc. Prior to joining Arcadia, Ms.
Swift served for 15 years in Massachusetts state government, becoming Massachusetts’ first woman governor in
2001.
54
Ms. Swift’s qualifications to sit on our Board include her strong skills in public policy and government
relations and her extensive knowledge of regulatory matters arising from her 15 years in state government.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our Supervisors, executive officers and holders of ten percent or
more of our Common Units to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our
Common Units with the SEC. Supervisors, executive officers and ten percent Unitholders are required to furnish
the Partnership with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based on a review of these filings, we
believe that all such filings were timely made during fiscal 2010.
Codes of Ethics and of Business Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer
and principal accounting officer, and a Code of Business Conduct that applies to all of our employees, officers
and Supervisors. A copy of our Code of Ethics and our Code of Business Conduct is available without charge
from our website at www.suburbanpropane.com or upon written request directed to: Suburban Propane Partners,
L.P., Investor Relations, P.O. Box 206, Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206. Any amendments to, or waivers
from, provisions of our Code of Ethics or our Code of Business Conduct that apply to our principal executive
officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer will be posted on our website.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines and Policies in accordance with the NYSE corporate
governance listing standards in effect as of the date of this Annual Report. A copy of our Corporate Governance
Guidelines is available without charge from our website at www.suburbanpropane.com or upon written request
directed to: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Investor Relations, P.O. Box 206, Whippany, New Jersey 07981-
0206.
Audit Committee Charter
We have adopted a written Audit Committee Charter in accordance with the NYSE corporate governance
listing standards in effect as of the date of this Annual Report. The Audit Committee Charter is reviewed
periodically to ensure that it meets all applicable legal and NYSE listing requirements. A copy of our Audit
Committee Charter is available without charge from our website at www.suburbanpropane.com or upon written
request directed to: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Investor Relations, P.O. Box 206, Whippany, New Jersey
07981-0206.
Compensation Committee Charter
Five Supervisors, who are not officers or employees of the Partnership or its subsidiaries, serve on the
Compensation Committee. We have adopted a Compensation Committee Charter in accordance with the NYSE
corporate governance listing standards in effect as of the date of this Annual Report. A copy of our
Compensation Committee Charter is available without charge from our website at www.suburbanpropane.com or
upon written request directed to: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Investor Relations, P.O. Box 206, Whippany,
New Jersey 07981-0206.
NYSE Annual CEO Certification
The NYSE requires the Chief Executive Officer of each listed company to submit a certification indicating
that the company is not in violation of the Corporate Governance listing standards of the NYSE on an annual
basis. Mr. Dunn submitted his Annual CEO Certification for 2010 to the NYSE without qualification.
55
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis explains our executive compensation philosophy, policies and
practices with respect to the following executive officers of the Partnership (the “named executive officers”): the
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the other three most highly compensated
executive officers. At the beginning of fiscal 2010, Michael J. Dunn, Jr., our President since May 2005, assumed
the additional role of Chief Executive Officer.
Executive Compensation Philosophy and Components
The objectives of our executive compensation program are as follows:
• The attraction and retention of talented executives who have the skills and experience required to
achieve our goals; and
• The alignment of the short-term and long-term interests of our executive officers with the short-term
and long-term interests of our Unitholders.
We accomplish these objectives by providing our executives with compensation packages that combine
various components that are specifically linked to either short-term or long-term performance measures.
Therefore, our executive compensation packages are designed to achieve our overall goal of sustainable,
profitable growth by rewarding our executive officers for behaviors that facilitate our achievement of this goal.
The principal components of the compensation we provide to our named executive officers are as follows:
• Base salary;
• Cash incentives paid under a performance-based annual bonus plan;
• Long-Term Incentive Plan awards; and
• Awards of restricted units under the Restricted Unit Plans.
We align the short-term and long-term interests of our executive officers with the short-term and long-term
interests of our Unitholders by:
• Providing our executive officers with an annual incentive target that encourages them to achieve or
exceed targeted financial results and operating performance for the fiscal year;
• Providing a long-term incentive plan that encourages our executive officers to implement activities
and practices conducive to sustainable, profitable growth; and
• Providing our executive officers with restricted units in order to retain the services of the
participating executive officers over a five-year period while simultaneously encouraging behaviors
conducive to the long-term appreciation of our Common Units.
Establishing Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible for overseeing our executive compensation
program. In accordance with its charter, available on our website at www.suburbanpropane.com, the Committee
ensures that the compensation packages provided to our executive officers are designed in accordance with our
compensation philosophy. The Committee reviews and approves the compensation packages of our managing
directors, assistant vice presidents, vice presidents and our named executive officers.
Annually, our Senior Vice President of Administration prepares a comprehensive analysis of each executive
officer’s past and current compensation to assist the Committee in the assessment and determination of executive
56
compensation packages for the subsequent fiscal year. The Committee considers a number of factors in
establishing the compensation packages for each executive officer, including, but not limited to, tenure, scope of
responsibility and individual performance. The relative importance assigned to each of these factors by the
Committee may differ from executive to executive. The performance of each of our executive officers is
continually assessed by the Committee and by our highest-ranking executive officers and also factors into the
decision-making process, particularly in relation to promotions and increases in base compensation. In addition,
as part of the Committee’s annual review of each executive officer’s total compensation package, the Committee
was provided with benchmarking data for comparison. The benchmarking data is just one of a number of factors
considered by the Committee, but is not necessarily the most persuasive factor.
The benchmarking data provided to the Committee for the 2010 fiscal year was derived from the Mercer
Human Resource Consulting, Inc. (“Mercer”) Benchmark Database containing information obtained from
surveys of over 2,200 organizations and approximately 200 positions which may include similarly-sized national
propane marketers. The Committee does not base its benchmarking solely on a peer group of other propane
marketers. The use of the Mercer database provides a broad base of compensation benchmarking information for
companies of a similar size to Suburban. The benchmarking information used by the Committee consisted of
organizations included in the Mercer database that report median annual revenues of between $1.7 billion and
$4.2 billion per year.
The Committee believes that using the Mercer database to evaluate “total cash compensation opportunities”
is appropriate because of the proximity of the Partnership’s headquarters to New York City and the need to
realistically compete for skilled executives in an environment shared by numerous other enterprises that seek
skilled employees. The Committee chooses not to base its benchmarking on the compensation practices of other
propane marketers due to the fact that the other, similarly-sized propane marketers compete for executives in
vastly different economic environments.
Conversely, for the reasons set forth under the subheading “2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan” below, the
Committee decided to include all other propane marketers, structured as publicly traded partnerships, in the peer
group it selected for the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Earning a payment under the 2003 Long-Term
Incentive Plan is dependent upon the performance (referred to in the plan document as “total return to
unitholders”) of our Common Units relative to the unit performance of a peer group of eleven other master
limited partnerships over a three-year measurement period.
Similar to the procedure the Committee utilized for fiscal 2009, in making their decisions regarding our fiscal
2010 executive compensation packages, during the Committee’s November 10, 2009 meeting, the members of
the Committee reviewed the total cash compensation opportunities that we provided to our executive officers
during fiscal 2009. Each executive officer’s “total cash compensation opportunity” consists of base salary, an
annual cash bonus, and 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan awards. The Committee then compared each executive
officer’s total cash compensation opportunity to the total mean cash compensation opportunity for the parallel
position in the Mercer database. By focusing on each executive officer’s total cash compensation opportunity as
a whole, instead of on single components of compensation such as base salary, the Committee created fiscal 2010
compensation packages for our executive officers that emphasize the performance-based components of
compensation.
Role of Executive Officers and the Compensation Committee in the Compensation Process
The Committee establishes and enforces our general compensation philosophy in consultation with our
President and Chief Executive Officer. The role of our President and Chief Executive Officer in the executive
compensation process is to recommend individual pay adjustments for the executive officers, other than himself,
to the Committee based on market conditions, our performance, and individual performance. With the assistance
of our Senior Vice President of Administration, our President and Chief Executive Officer presents the
Committee with information comparing each executive officer’s compensation to the mean compensation figures
57
provided in the Mercer database.
The Partnership’s sole use of the Mercer database was to provide the Committee with benchmarking data.
Therefore, neither our President and Chief Executive Officer nor our Senior Vice President of Administration
met with representatives from Mercer. The information provided by Mercer was derived from a proprietary
database maintained by Mercer and, as such, there was no formal consultancy role played by them. The
Committee believes that the Mercer benchmarking data, which is provided to the Committee by our Senior Vice
President of Administration, can be used by the Committee as an objective benchmark on which decisions
relative to executive compensation can be based. In the course of its deliberations, the Committee compares the
objective data obtained from the Mercer database to the internal analyses prepared by our Senior Vice President
of Administration.
Among other duties, the Committee has overall responsibility for:
• Reviewing and approving compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and our other executive officers;
• Reporting to the Board of Supervisors any and all decisions regarding compensation changes for our
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our other executive officers;
• Evaluating and approving our annual cash bonus plan, long-term incentive plan, restricted unit plan,
as well as all other executive compensation policies and programs;
• Administering and interpreting the compensation plans that constitute each component of our
executive officers’ compensation packages; and
• Engaging consultants, when appropriate, to provide independent, third-party advice on executive
officer-related compensation.
Allocation Among Components
Under our compensation structure, the mix of base salary, cash bonus and long-term compensation provided
to each executive officer varies depending on his or her position. The base salary for each executive officer is
the only fixed component of compensation. All other cash compensation, including annual cash bonuses and
long-term incentive compensation, is variable in nature as it is dependent upon achievement of certain
performance measures. The following table summarizes the components as percentages of each named executive
officer’s total cash compensation opportunity in fiscal 2010 (as determined at the Committee’s November 10,
2009 meeting).
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Base Salary
Cash
Bonus Target
Long-Term
Incentive
39%
46%
46%
48%
46%
39%
35%
35%
33%
35%
22%
19%
19%
19%
19%
In allocating compensation among these components, we believe that the compensation of our senior-most
levels of management - the levels of management having the greatest ability to influence our performance -
should be at least 50% performance-based, while lower levels of management should receive a greater portion of
their compensation in base salary. Additionally, our short-term and long-term incentive plans do not provide for
minimum payments and are, thus, truly pay-for-performance compensation plans.
58
Internal Pay Equity
In determining the different compensation packages for each of our named executive officers, the Committee
takes into consideration a number of factors, including the level of responsibility and influence that each named
executive officer has over the affairs of the Partnership, tenure with the Partnership, individual performance and
years of experience in his or her current position. The relative importance assigned to each of these factors by
the Committee may differ from executive to executive. The Committee will also consider the existing level of
equity ownership of each of our named executive officers when granting awards under our Restricted Unit Plans
(see below for a description of these plans). As a result, different weight may be given to different components
of compensation among each of our named executive officers. In addition, as discussed in the section above titled
“Allocation Among Components,” the compensation packages that we provide to our senior-most levels of
management are, at a minimum, 50% performance-based. In order to align the interests of senior management
with the interests of our Common Unitholders, we consider it requisite to accentuate the performance-based
elements of the compensation packages that we provide to these individuals.
Base Salary
Base salaries for the named executive officers and all of our other executive officers, are reviewed and
approved annually by the Committee. In order to determine the fiscal 2010 base salary increases, the Committee
compared each executive officer’s fiscal 2009 base salary with the corresponding mean salary provided in the
Mercer database. The Committee determined base salary adjustments, which may be higher or lower than the
comparative data, following an assessment of our overall results as well as each executive officer’s position,
performance and scope of responsibility, while at the same time considering each executive officer’s previous
total cash compensation opportunities. At the beginning of fiscal 2010, each named executive officer received
adjustments to his base salary in accordance with the philosophy and process described above, ranging from 0%
to 6%. In the event of a promotion, a significant increase in an executive officer’s responsibilities, or a new hire,
the Committee reviews and takes action at its next meeting.
The fiscal 2010 adjustments to each named executive officer’s base salary were as follows:
Michael J. Dunn, Jr
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
0%(1)
0%(1)
4%
0%(1)
0%(1)
(1) Because Mr. Dunn’s, Mr. Stivala’s, Mr. Keating’s and Mr. Brinkworth’s base salaries were adjusted at the
Committee’s July 22, 2009 meeting (as a result of these executive officers assuming additional responsibilities at that
time), the Committee decided not to consider fiscal 2010 base salary adjustments for these individuals.
The total base salary paid to each named executive officer in fiscal 2010 is reported in the column titled
“Salary ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Annual Cash Bonus Plan
Annual cash bonuses (which fall within the SEC’s definition of “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”
for the purposes of the Summary Compensation Table and otherwise) are earned by our executive officers in
accordance with the objective performance provisions of our annual cash bonus plan.
Although our annual cash bonus plan is generally administered using the formula described below,
occasionally the Committee may exercise its broad discretionary powers to decrease or increase the annual cash
bonus paid to a particular executive officer when the Committee recognizes that a particular executive officer’s
performance warrants a decreased or an increased bonus. Such adjustments, if any, are recommended to the
59
Committee by our President and Chief Executive Officer. During fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, no
such discretionary adjustments were recommended or made to the annual cash bonuses earned by our executives.
The terms of our annual cash bonus plan provide for cash payments of a specified percentage (which, in
fiscal 2010, ranged from 70% to 100%) of our named executive officers’ annual base salaries (“target cash
bonus”) if, for the fiscal year, actual EBITDA (as defined in Item 6 in this annual report on Form 10-K) equals
the Partnership’s budgeted EBITDA. For purposes of calculating the annual cash bonus, the Committee
customarily adjusts both budgeted and actual EBITDA for various items considered to be non-recurring in
nature; including, but not limited to, unrealized (non-cash) gains or losses on derivative instruments reported
within cost of products sold in our statement of operations and gains or losses on the disposal of discontinued
operations (“cash bonus plan EBITDA”). Executive officers have the opportunity to earn between 90% and
110% of their target cash bonuses, in accordance with the terms of the plan, paralleling the percentage of actual
cash bonus plan EBITDA in relationship to budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA. Under the annual cash bonus
plan, no bonuses are earned if actual cash bonus plan EBITDA is less than 90% of budgeted cash bonus plan
EBITDA and cash bonuses cannot exceed 110% of the target cash bonus even if actual cash bonus plan EBITDA
is more than 110% of budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA.
For fiscal 2010, our budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA was $193 million (“Budgeted EBITDA”). Our
actual cash bonus plan EBITDA was such that each of our executive officers earned 100% of his or her target
cash bonus. The following table provides the fiscal 2010 budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA targets that were
established at the November 10, 2009, Compensation Committee meeting:
Fiscal 2010 Budgeted Cash
Bonus Plan EBITDA
(in Millions)
$212.3
$202.7
$193.0 (1)
$183.4
$173.7
Target Bonus Percentage that
would have been Earned if
Actual Cash Bonus Plan
EBITDA Equaled the Figure
in the Previous Column
110%
105%
100%
95%
90%
(1) Budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA for fiscal 2010.
The bonuses earned under the annual cash bonus plan by each of our named executive officers are reported
in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
The fiscal 2010 target cash bonus percentages and target cash bonuses established for each named executive
officer and the actual cash bonuses earned by each of them during fiscal 2010 are summarized as follows:
Name
2010 Target Cash
Bonus as a % of
Base Salary
2010 Target Cash
Bonus
2010 Actual Cash
Bonus Earned
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
100%
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
75%
75%
70%
75%
$475,000
$206,250
$202,500
$182,000
$475,000
$206,250
$202,500
$182,000
$183,750
$183,750
For purposes of establishing the cash bonus targets for fiscal 2010, the Committee reviewed and approved
our fiscal 2010 budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA at its November 10, 2009 meeting. The budgeted cash bonus
60
plan EBITDA is developed annually using a bottom-up process factoring in reasonable growth targets from the
prior year’s performance, while at the same time attempting to reach a good balance between a target that is
reasonably achievable, yet not assured. As described above, executive officers have the opportunity to earn
between 90% and 110% of their target cash bonuses, paralleling the percentage of actual cash bonus plan
EBITDA in relationship to budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA. Over the past three years, our actual cash bonus
plan EBITDA was such that each of our executive officers earned 100%, 110%, and 95% of their respective
target cash bonus for fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, respectively.
At its November 10, 2009 meeting, the Committee approved changes to the cash bonus plan that will become
effective at the commencement of fiscal 2011. In summary, these changes will provide for a smaller percentage
of payments when achieving between 90% through 99% of budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA, but will allow
for a maximum payment of 120% of target when achieving 120% of budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA (instead
of the current cap of 110% of target for achieving 110% of budgeted EBITDA).
2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan
At the beginning of fiscal 2003, we adopted the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), a phantom unit
plan, as a principal component of our executive compensation program. While the annual cash bonus plan is a
pay-for-performance plan that focuses on our short-term financial goals, the LTIP is designed to motivate our
executive officers to focus on long-term financial goals. The LTIP measures the market performance of our
Common Units on the basis of total return to our Unitholders (“TRU”) during a three-year measurement period
commencing on the first day of the fiscal year in which an unvested award was granted and compares our TRU to
the TRU of each of the other members of a predetermined peer group, consisting solely of other master limited
partnerships, approved by the Committee. The predetermined peer group may vary from year-to-year, but for all
outstanding awards, includes AmeriGas Partners, L.P., Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. and Inergy, L.P. (the other
propane master limited partnerships). Unvested awards are granted at the beginning of each fiscal year as a
Committee-approved percentage of each executive officer’s salary. Cash payouts, if any, are earned and paid at
the end of the three-year measurement period.
The LTIP is designed to:
• Align a portion of our executive officers’ compensation opportunities with the long-term goals of our
Unitholders;
• Provide long-term compensation opportunities consistent with market practice;
• Reward long-term value creation; and
• Provide a retention incentive for our executive officers and other key employees.
At the beginning of the three-year measurement period, each executive officer’s unvested award of phantom
units is calculated by dividing a predetermined percentage (i.e., 52%), established upon adoption of the LTIP, of
the executive officer’s target cash bonus by the average of the closing prices of our Common Units for the twenty
days preceding the beginning of the fiscal year. At the end of the three-year measurement period, depending on
the quartile ranking within which our TRU falls relative to the other members of the peer group, our executive
officers, as well as the other participants, all of whom are key employees, will receive a cash payout equal to:
• The quantity of the participant’s phantom units multiplied by the average of the closing prices of our
Common Units for the twenty days preceding the conclusion of the three-year measurement period;
• The quantity of the participant’s phantom units multiplied by the sum of the distributions that would
have inured to one of our outstanding Common Units during the three-year measurement period; and
• The sum of the products of the two preceding calculations multiplied by: zero if our performance
falls within the lowest quartile of the peer group; 50% if our performance falls within the second
lowest quartile; 100% if our performance falls within the second highest quartile; and 125% if our
performance falls within the top quartile.
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The three-year measurement period of the fiscal 2008 award ended simultaneously with the conclusion of
fiscal 2010. The TRU for the fiscal 2008 award fell within the second highest quartile. The following is a
summary of the cash payouts related to the fiscal 2008 award earned by our named executive officers at the
conclusion of fiscal 2010.
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
$ 299,934(1)
$ 114,666(1)
$ 103,757(1)
$ 100,938(1)
$ 113,808(1)
(1) The cash payouts related to our named executive officers’ fiscal 2008 awards earned at the conclusion of fiscal 2010
is an additional disclosure that bears no meaningful relationship to the estimated probable outcomes reported in
column (e) of the Summary Compensation Table below.
The following is a summary of the quantity of phantom units that signify the unvested awards granted to our
named executive officers during fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010 that will be used to calculate cash payments at the
end of each award’s respective three-year measurement period (i.e., at the end of fiscal 2011 for the fiscal 2009
award and at the end of fiscal 2012 for the fiscal 2010 award):
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Fiscal
2010 Award
5,981
2,597
2,550
2,292
2,314
Fiscal
2009 Award
6,142
2,818
2,818
2,114
2,439
The members of the peer groups selected by the Committee for the fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008
awards consist entirely of publicly-traded partnerships. The Committee decided upon these peer groups because
all publicly-traded partnerships have similar tax attributes and can, as a result, distribute more cash than
similarly-sized corporations generating similar revenues. At its November 10, 2009 meeting, the Committee
reviewed the performance of each of the members of the peer group used for the fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008
LTIP awards and, as a result, replaced two of the members of the peer group for the fiscal 2010 LTIP awards.
Among other factors, in reaching its decision to replace two members of the current peer group, the Committee
considered distributions and price fluctuations.
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The following tables list, in alphabetical order, the names and ticker symbols of the peer group used to
measure our performance during the fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008 LTIP awards’ three-year
measurement periods:
Fiscal 2010 LTIP Award Peer Group
Peer Group Member Name
AmeriGas Partners, L.P.
Copano Energy, LLC
Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Global Partners, L.P.
Inergy, L.P.
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P.
Ticker Symbol
APU
CPNO
DMLP
EEP
ETP
FGP
GLP
NRGY
MWE
PAA
SXL
Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008 LTIP Awards Peer Group
Peer Group Member Name
AmeriGas Partners, L.P.
Copano Energy, LLC
Crosstex Energy, L.P.
Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Inergy, L.P.
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
Star Gas Partners, L.P.
Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P.
Ticker Symbol
APU
CPNO
XTEX
DMLP
ETP
FGP
NRGY
MWE
PAA
SGU
SXL
On January 24, 2008, the Committee amended the retirement provisions of the plan document to provide that
a retirement-eligible participant’s outstanding awards vest as of the retirement-eligible date, but such awards
remain subject to the same three-year measurement period for purposes of determining the eventual cash payout,
if any, at the conclusion of the measurement period.
The grant date values based on the probable outcomes of the LTIP awards granted during the fiscal year are
reported in the column titled “Unit Awards ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Restricted Unit Plans
2000 and 2009 Restricted Unit Plans (collectively referred to hereafter as the “RUP”)
We adopted the 2000 Restricted Unit Plan effective November 1, 2000. Upon adoption, this plan authorized
the issuance of 487,805 Common Units to our executive officers, managers and other employees and to the
members of our Board of Supervisors. On October 17, 2006, following approval by our Unitholders, we adopted
amendments to this plan which, among other things, increased the number of Common Units authorized for
issuance under this plan by 230,000 for a total of 717,805. As this plan terminated by its terms on October 31,
2010, no future awards can be made under this plan; however such termination will not affect the continued
validity of any awards granted under the plan prior to its termination.
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At our July 22, 2009 Tri-Annual Meeting, our Unitholders approved our adoption of the 2009 Restricted
Unit Plan effective August 1, 2009. Upon adoption, this plan authorized the issuance of 1,200,000 Common
Units to our executive officers, managers and other employees and to the members of our Board of Supervisors.
The provisions of both restricted unit plans are substantially identical. At the conclusion of fiscal 2010, there
remained 1,091,304 restricted units available under the RUP for future awards.
When the Committee authorizes an award of restricted units, the unvested units underlying an award do not
provide the grantee with voting rights and do not receive distributions or accrue rights to distributions during the
vesting period. Restricted unit awards normally vest as follows: 25% on each of the third and fourth
anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50% on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. Unvested awards
are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the applicable RUP document. Upon vesting,
restricted units are automatically converted into our Common Units, with full voting rights and rights to receive
distributions.
The 2000 Restricted Unit Plan previously contained a retirement provision that provided for the immediate
vesting of all unvested awards held by a retiring participant who met all three of the following conditions on his
or her retirement date:
1. The unvested award has been held by the grantee for at least six months;
2. The grantee is age 55 or older; and
3. The grantee has worked for us or one of our predecessors for at least 10 years.
On October 31, 2007, in order to comply with the regulations promulgated under Internal Revenue Code
(“IRC”) Section 409A, the Board of Supervisors amended the retirement provision to require a six-month delay
between a retirement eligible participant’s retirement date and the date on which unvested restricted unit awards
vest.
All RUP awards are approved by the Committee. Because individual circumstances differ, the Committee
has not adopted a formulaic approach to making RUP awards. Although the reasons for granting an award can
vary, the objective of granting an award to a recipient is to retain the services of the recipient over the five-year
vesting period while, at the same time providing the type of motivation that further aligns the long-term interests
of the recipient with the long-term interests of our Unitholders. The reasons for which the Committee grants
RUP awards include, but are not limited to, the following:
• To attract skilled and capable candidates to fill vacant positions;
• To retain the services of an employee;
• To provide an adequate compensation package to accompany an internal promotion; and
• To reward outstanding performance.
In determining the quantity of restricted units to grant to executive officers and other key employees, the
Committee considers, without limitation:
• The executive officer’s scope of responsibility, performance and contribution to meeting our
objectives;
• The total cash compensation opportunity provided to the executive officer for whom the award is
being considered;
• The value of similar equity awards to executive officers of similarly sized enterprises; and
• The current value of a similar quantity of outstanding Common Units.
In addition, in establishing the level of restricted units to grant to our executive officers, the Committee
considers the existing level of outstanding unvested RUP awards held by our executive officers.
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When the Committee decides to grant an equity award, it approves a dollar amount of equity compensation
that it wants to provide to a particular employee. This dollar amount is then converted into a quantity of
restricted units by dividing that dollar amount by the average of the closing prices of our Common Units for the
twenty trading days preceding the grant date. The Committee generally approves these awards at their first
meeting each year following the availability of the financial results for the prior fiscal year; however,
occasionally the Committee grants awards at other times of the year, particularly when the need arises to grant
awards because of promotions and new hires.
Until October 17, 2007, the grant date for restricted unit awards usually coincided with the Committee’s
approval date. However, on October 31, 2007, the Committee adopted a general policy with respect to the
effective grant date of subsequent awards of restricted units under the RUP which states that:
Unless the Committee expressly determines otherwise for a particular award at the time of its approval of
such award, the effective date of grant of all awards of restricted units under the RUP in a given calendar
year will be the first business day in the month of December of that calendar year. If, at the discretion of
the Committee, an award is expressed as a dollar amount, then such award will be converted into the
number of restricted units, as of the effective date of grant, obtained by dividing the dollar amount of the
award by the average of the closing prices, on the New York Stock Exchange, of one Common Unit of
the Partnership for the 20 trading days immediately prior to that effective date of grant.
During fiscal 2010, RUP awards were granted to the following named executive officers:
Name
Grant Date Quantity
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
11,348
5,107
5,107
5,107
5,107
At its November 10, 2009 meeting, the Committee concluded an extensive review of Mr. Dunn’s
compensation relative to his assumption of additional responsibilities as the Partnership’s Chief Executive
Officer at the commencement of fiscal 2010. Because the Committee believes that equity compensation is a
critical component of executive compensation that helps to retain and motivate our executives, the Committee
concluded, after comparing the cash components of Mr. Dunn’s compensation to the Mercer database, that it
would be prudent to provide Mr. Dunn with a RUP award as of December 1, 2009, equal in value to $500,000.
This RUP award was converted into 11,348 restricted units on the grant date using the formula set forth above.
The terms of Mr. Dunn’s fiscal 2010 award are such that the entire award will vest on the last day of fiscal 2012
and at no time between the grant date and this vesting date will this award be subject to the vesting upon
retirement provisions of the RUP described above. In determining the fiscal 2010 awards for Mr. Stivala, Mr.
Boyd, Mr. Keating and Mr. Brinkworth, the Committee relied upon information provided by the Mercer database
to conclude that these awards were necessary to remediate shortfalls perceived by the Committee in the cash
compensation of these named executive officers as well as in recognition of their individual achievements.
The aggregate grant date fair values of RUP awards made during the fiscal year computed in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America is reported in the column titled “Unit
Awards ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
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Equity Holding Policy
Effective April 22, 2010, the Committee adopted an Equity Holding Policy which establishes guidelines for
the level of Partnership equity holdings that members of the Board and our executives are expected to maintain.
The Equity Holding Policy can be accessed
the Partnership’s website at
www.suburbanpropane.com under the “Investors” tab.
through a
link on
The Partnership’s equity holding requirements are as follows:
Position
Member of the Board of Supervisors
Chief Executive Officer
President
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President
Senior Vice President
Vice President
Assistant Vice President
Managing Director
Recoupment of Incentive Compensation
Amount
2 x Annual Fee
5 x Base Salary
5 x Base Salary
3 x Base Salary
3 x Base Salary
3 x Base Salary
2.5 x Base Salary
1.5 x Base Salary
1 x Base Salary
1 x Base Salary
On April 25, 2007, upon recommendation by the Committee, the Board of Supervisors approved an Incentive
Compensation Recoupment Policy which permits the Committee to seek the reimbursement from certain
executives of the Partnership and Operating Partnership of incentive compensation (i.e., payments/awards
pursuant to the annual cash bonus plan, LTIP and RUP) paid to those executives in connection with any fiscal
year for which there is a significant restatement of the published financial statements of the Partnership triggered
by a material accounting error, which results in less favorable results than those originally reported by the
Partnership. Such reimbursement can be sought from executives even if they had no responsibility for the
restatement. In addition to the foregoing, if the Committee determines that any fraud or intentional misconduct
by an executive was a contributing factor to the Partnership having to make a significant restatement, then the
Committee is authorized to take appropriate action against such executive, including disciplinary action, up to,
and including, termination, and requiring reimbursement of all, or any part, of the compensation paid to that
executive in excess of that executive’s base salary, including cancellation of any unvested restricted units. The
Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy is available on our website at www.suburbanpropane.com under the
“Investors” tab.
Pension Plan
We sponsor a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan that was originally designed to cover all of our
eligible employees who met certain criteria relative to age and length of service. Effective January 1, 1998, we
amended the plan in order to provide for a cash balance format rather than the final average pay format that was
in effect prior to January 1, 1998. The cash balance format is designed to evenly spread the growth of a
participant’s earned retirement benefit throughout his or her career rather than the final average pay format,
under which a greater portion of a participant’s benefits were earned toward the latter stages of his or her career.
Effective January 1, 2000, we amended the plan to limit participation in this plan to existing participants and no
longer admit new participants to the plan. On January 1, 2003, we amended the plan to cease future service and
pay-based credits on behalf of the participants and, from that point on, participants’ benefits have increased only
due to interest credits.
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Each of our named executive officers, with the exception of Mr. Stivala, participates in the plan. The
changes in the actuarial value relative to each named executive officer’s participation in the plan is reported in
the column titled “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)” in the
Summary Compensation Table below.
Deferred Compensation
All employees, including the named executive officers, who satisfy certain service requirements, are entitled
to participate in our IRC Section 401(k) Plan (the “401(k) Plan”), in which participants may defer a portion of
their eligible cash compensation up to the limits established by law. We offer the 401(k) Plan to attract and
retain talented employees by providing them with a tax-advantaged opportunity to save for retirement.
For fiscal 2010, all of our named executive officers participated in the 401(k) Plan. The benefits provided to
our named executive officers under the 401(k) Plan are provided on the same basis as to our other exempt
employees. Amounts deferred by our named executive officers under the 401(k) Plan are included in the column
titled “Salary ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
In order to be competitive with other employers, if certain performance criteria are met, we will match our
employee-participants’ contributions up to the lesser of 6% of their base salary or $245,000, at a rate determined
based on a performance-based scale. The following chart shows the performance target criteria that must be met
for each level of matching contribution:
If We Meet This
Percentage of
Budgeted EBITDA(1)…
The Participating Employee
Will Receive this Matching
Contribution for the Year…
115% or higher
100% to 114%
90% to 99%
Less than 90%
100%
50%
25%
0%
(1) For additional information regarding the non-GAAP term “Budgeted EBITDA,” refer to the explanation
provided under the subheading “Annual Cash Bonus Plan” above.
For fiscal 2010, our budgeted 401(k) Plan EBITDA was $193.0 million. Based on actual fiscal 2010 401(k)
Plan EBITDA results, each of our executive officers earned a matching contribution of 50%. As a result, we will
provide participants with a match equal to 50% of their calendar year 2010 contributions that did not exceed 6%
of their total base pay up to a maximum base pay of $245,000. The matching contributions that we will make on
behalf of our named executive officers are reported in the column titled “All Other Compensation ($)” in the
Summary Compensation Table below.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
In 1998, we adopted a non-qualified, unfunded supplemental retirement plan known as the Suburban Propane
Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”). The purpose of the SERP was to provide
certain of our executive officers with a level of retirement income from us, without regard to statutory
maximums, including the IRC’s limitation for defined benefit plans. In light of the conversion of the Pension
Plan to a cash balance formula as described under the subheading “Pension Plan” above, the SERP was amended
and restated effective January 1, 1998. The annual retirement benefit under the SERP represents the amount of
annual benefits that the participants in the SERP would otherwise be eligible to receive, calculated using the
same pay-based credits referenced in the “Pension Plan” section above, applied to the amount of annual
compensation that exceeds the IRC’s statutory maximums for defined benefit plans, which was $200,000 in
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2002. Effective January 1, 2003, the SERP was discontinued with a frozen benefit determined for the remaining
participants.
At the conclusion of fiscal 2010, Mr. Dunn was the only remaining participant in the SERP. Due to the
actuarial costs and administrative burdens associated with maintaining this plan for one participant, at its
November 9, 2010 meeting, the Committee terminated the SERP and made arrangements for the payment of Mr.
Dunn’s accrued benefit of $57,611 on December 1, 2010. During fiscal 2010, Mr. Dunn received no above-
market interest credits relative to the SERP; therefore, nothing related to Mr. Dunn’s participation in the SERP is
reported in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Other Benefits
As part of his total compensation package, each named executive officer is eligible to participate in all of our
other employee benefit plans, such as the medical, dental, group life insurance and disability plans, on the same
basis as other exempt employees. These benefit plans are offered to attract and retain talented employees by
providing them with competitive benefits.
Other than to Mr. Dunn, in accordance with the terms of his letter agreement (described below in the section
titled “Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn”), there are no post-termination or other special rights provided to any
named executive officer to participate in these benefit programs other than the right to participate in such plans
for a fixed period of time following termination of employment, on the same basis as is provided to other exempt
employees, as required by law.
The costs of all such benefits incurred on behalf of our named executive officers are reported in the column
titled “All Other Compensation ($)” in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Perquisites
Perquisites represent a minor component of our executive officers’ compensation. Each of the named
executive officers is eligible for tax preparation services, a company-provided vehicle, and an annual physical.
The following table summarizes both the value and the utilization of these perquisites by the named executive
officers in fiscal 2010.
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Tax Preparation
Services
$6,500
$ -0-
$3,600
$5,300
$3,600
Employer-
Provided
Vehicle
$13,868
$12,903
$ 6,251
$12,205
$11,966
Physical
$1,300
$1,300
$ -0-
$1,300
$1,300
Perquisite-related costs are reported in the column titled “All Other Compensation ($)” in the Summary
Compensation Table below.
Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatments of Executive Compensation
As we are a partnership and not a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we are not subject to the
limitations of IRC Section 162(m) with respect to tax deductible executive compensation. Accordingly, none of
the compensation paid to our named executive officers is subject to a limitation as to tax deductibility. However,
if such tax laws related to executive compensation change in the future, the Committee will consider the
implication of such changes to us.
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Although it is the Partnership’s practice to comply with the statutory and regulatory provisions of IRC
Section 409A, on November 2, 2005, the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the Suburban
Propane, L.P. Severance Protection Plan for Key Employees (the “Severance Plan”) to provide that if any
payment under the Severance Plan subjects a participant to the 20% federal excise tax under IRC Section 409A,
the payment will be grossed up to permit such participant to retain a net amount on an after-tax basis equal to
what he or she would have received had the excise tax not been payable.
Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn
Simultaneous with the commencement of fiscal 2010, Mr. Dunn’s then existing employment agreement was
terminated by mutual agreement and replaced with a letter agreement governing retirement and the
implementation of a mutually agreed upon succession plan. The letter agreement between Mr. Dunn and us is
summarized as follows:
• Mr. Dunn will participate in our Severance Protection Plan at the 78-week participation level.
•
If on or after the last day of fiscal 2012, Mr. Dunn retires or leaves as a result of an agreed-upon
succession plan, he will receive the following:
o A lump sum payment equal to two years of base salary.
o Payment of medical benefits until attainment of age 65 (Mr. Dunn will be 63 at the conclusion of
fiscal 2012).
o Payment of unvested LTIP awards held by Mr. Dunn at separation in accordance with the terms
and conditions of the LTIP plan document.
o Transfer of ownership of employer-provided vehicle to Mr. Dunn.
o Receipt of other vested and certain unvested benefits including his unvested RUP awards, his
earned cash bonus and his vested pension plan balance in accordance with each plan’s terms and
conditions.
In return for the foregoing, Mr. Dunn agreed to provide us with a release of all claims he might have against
us at the time of his departure. Mr. Dunn also agreed to provide us with transition consultation services for a
period not to exceed two years following his departure. Mr. Dunn will not be deemed to have retired or
terminated his employment if he simply relinquishes the title and responsibilities of President but remains our
Chief Executive Officer.
Severance Benefits
We believe that, in most cases, employees should be paid reasonable severance benefits. Therefore, it is the
general policy of the Committee to provide executive officers and other key employees who are terminated by us
without cause or who choose to terminate their employment with us for good reason with a severance payment
equal to, at a minimum, one year’s base salary, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. This policy was adopted
because it may be difficult for former executive officers and other key employees to find comparable
employment within a short period of time. However, depending upon individual facts and circumstances,
particularly the severed employee’s tenure with us, the Committee may make exceptions to this general policy.
A “key employee” is an employee who has attained a director level pay-grade or higher. “Cause” will be
deemed to exist where the individual has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, has stolen from us,
has violated his or her non-competition or confidentiality obligations, or has been grossly negligent in fulfillment
of his or her responsibilities. “Good reason” generally will exist where an executive officer’s position or
compensation has been decreased or where the employee has been required to relocate.
69
Change of Control
Our executive officers and other key employees have built the Partnership into the successful enterprise that
it is today; therefore, we believe that it is important to protect them in the event of a change of control. Further,
it is our belief that the interests of our Unitholders will be best served if the interests of our executive officers are
aligned with them, and that providing change of control benefits should eliminate, or at least reduce, the
reluctance of our executive officers to pursue potential change of control transactions that may be in the best
interests of our Unitholders. Additionally, we believe that the severance benefits provided to our executive
officers and to our key employees are consistent with market practice and appropriate because these benefits are
an inducement to accepting employment and because the executive officers have agreed to and are subject to
non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for a period following termination of employment. Therefore,
our executive officers and other key employees are provided with employment protection following a change of
control (the “Severance Protection Plan”). During fiscal 2010, our Severance Protection Plan covered all
executive officers, including the named executive officers.
The Severance Protection Plan provides for severance payments of either sixty-five or seventy-eight weeks of
base salary and target cash bonuses for such officers and key employees following a change of control and
termination of employment. All named executive officers who participate in the Severance Protection Plan are
eligible for seventy-eight weeks of base salary and target bonuses. The cash components of any change of control
benefits are paid in a lump sum.
In addition, upon a change of control, without regard to whether a participant’s employment is terminated, all
unvested awards granted under the RUP will vest immediately and become distributable to the participants and
all outstanding, unvested LTIP awards will vest immediately as if the three-year measurement period for each
outstanding award concluded on the date the change of control occurred and our TRU was such that, in relation
to the performance of the other members of the peer group, it fell within the top quartile.
For purposes of these benefits, a change of control is deemed to occur, in general, if:
• An acquisition of our Common Units or voting equity interests by any person immediately after
which such person beneficially owns more than 30% of the combined voting power of our then
outstanding Common Units, unless such acquisition was made by (a) us or our subsidiaries, or any
employee benefit plan maintained by us, our Operating Partnership or any of our subsidiaries, or (b)
any person in a transaction where (A) the existing holders prior to the transaction own at least 50%
of the voting power of the entity surviving the transaction and (B) none of the Unitholders other than
Suburban, our subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan maintained by us, our Operating Partnership,
or the surviving entity, or the existing beneficial owner of more than 25% of the outstanding
Common Units owns more than 25% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (such
transaction, a “Non-Control Transaction”); or
• The consummation of (a) a merger, consolidation or reorganization involving Suburban other than a
Non-Control Transaction; (b) a complete liquidation or dissolution of Suburban; or (c) the sale or
other disposition of 40% or more of the gross fair market value of all the assets of Suburban to any
person (other than a transfer to a subsidiary).
Although the SERP (as discussed above in the section titled “Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan”) was
terminated on November 9, 2010, if a change of control had occurred prior to its termination, it would have
automatically terminated at the close of business thirty days following the date of the change of control. Mr.
Dunn, the only remaining SERP participant, would have been deemed to have retired and his respective benefits
would have been determined as of the date the plan was terminated with payment of his benefits no later than
ninety days after the date of the change of control. He would have received a lump sum payment equivalent to the
present value of his benefit payable under the plan utilizing the lesser of the prime rate of interest as published in
the Wall Street Journal as of the date of the change of control or one percent, as the discount rate to determine
70
the present value of the accrued benefit.
For purposes of the SERP, a change of control would have been deemed to occur, in general, if:
• An acquisition of our Common Units or voting equity interests by any person immediately after
which such person beneficially owns more than 25% of the combined voting power of our then
outstanding Common Units, unless such acquisition was made by (a) us or our subsidiaries,
Suburban Energy Services Group, LLC, or any employee benefit plan maintained by us, our
Operating Partnership or any of our subsidiaries, or (b) any person in a transaction where (A) the
existing holders prior to the transaction own at least 60% of the voting power of the entity surviving
the transaction and (B) none of the Unitholders other than the Partnership, our subsidiaries, any
employee benefit plan maintained by us, our Operating Partnership, or the surviving entity, or the
existing beneficial owner of more than 25% of the outstanding Common Units owns more than 25%
of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (such transaction, a “Non-Control
Transaction”); or
• Approval by our partners of (a) a merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Partnership
other than a Non-Control Transaction; (b) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership; or
(c) the sale or other disposition of 50% or more of our net assets to any person (other than a transfer
to a subsidiary).
For additional information pertaining to severance payable to our named executive officers following a
change of control-related termination, see the tables titled “Potential Payments Upon Termination” below.
Report of the Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management this Compensation Discussion
and Analysis. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Committee recommended to the Board
of Supervisors that this Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
for fiscal 2010.
The Compensation Committee:
John Hoyt Stookey, Chairman
John D. Collins
Harold R. Logan, Jr.
Dudley C. Mecum
Jane Swift
71
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal 2010
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the compensation of each named executive
officer during the fiscal years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009, and September 27, 2008:
Name and Principal
Position
(a)
Year
(b)
Salary
($)(1)
(c )
Bonus
($)
(d)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensati
on ($)(3)
(g)
Unit
Awards
($)(2)
(e)
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(4)
(h)
All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
(i)
Total
($)
(j)
2010
$475,000
-
$ 768,484
$475,000
$ 31,661
$ 49,330
$1,799,475
2009
$433,333
-
$ 314,197
$467,500
$ 56,050
$ 48,065
$1,319,145
2008
$425,000
-
$1,263,123
$403,750
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Michael A. Stivala
Chief Financial Officer
Steven C. Boyd
Vice President of Field
Operations
Michael M. Keating
Senior Vice President of
Administration
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Vice President of Product
Supply
2010
$275,000
2009
$262,500
2008
$250,000
2010
$270,000
2009
$260,000
2008
$245,000
2010
$260,000
2009
$230,833
2008
$220,000
2010
$245,000
2009
$228,333
2008
$215,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
$320,699
$206,250
$231,333
$214,500
$165,128
$154,375
-
-
-
-
$ 38,976
$2,130,849
$ 37,569
$ 839,518
$ 41,728
$ 750,061
$ 32,589
$ 602,092
$317,799
$202,500
$ 21,101
$ 34,762
$ 846,162
$190,660
$214,500
$ 53,577
$ 39,811
$ 758,548
$197,061
$139,650
-
$ 26,406
$ 608,117
$301,879
$182,000
$ 48,822
$ 43,887
$ 836,588
$195,320
$160,875
$ 107,821
$ 45,583
$ 740,432
$194,970
$135,850
-
$ 35,109
$ 585,929
$303,237
$183,750
$ 12,959
$ 41,767
$ 786,713
$182,883
$185,625
$ 31,679
$ 43,440
$ 671,960
$204,519
$153,188
-
$ 34,881
$ 607,588
(1) Includes amounts deferred by named executive officers as contributions to the qualified 401(k) Plan.
For more information on the relationship between salaries and other cash compensation (i.e., annual cash incentives and 2003 Long-Term Incentive
Plan awards), refer to the subheading titled “Allocation Among Components” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
(2) The amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of RUP awards made during fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008, as
well as the value at the grant date of LTIP awards based on the probable outcome with respect to satisfaction of the performance conditions, with
respect to LTIP awards made in fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008. The specific details regarding these plans are provided in the preceding
“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the subheadings “Restricted Unit Plans” and “2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan.” The breakdown for
each plan with respect to each named executive officer is as follows:
Plan Name
2010
RUP
LTIP
Total
Mr. Dunn
Mr. Stivala
Mr. Boyd
Mr. Keating
Mr. Brinkworth
$ 399,438
369,046
$ 768,484
$ 160,456
160,243
$ 320,699
$ 160,456
157,343
$ 317,799
$ 160,456
141,423
$ 301,879
$ 160,456
142,781
$ 303,237
72
2009
RUP
LTIP
Total
2008
RUP
LTIP
Totals
$ -
314,197
$ 314,197
$ 87,177
144,156
$ 231,333
$ 46,504
144,156
$ 190,660
$ 87,177
108,143
$ 195,320
$ 58,115
124,768
$ 182,883
$ 1,040,593
222,530
$ 1,263,123
$ 80,054
85,074
$ 165,128
$ 120,081
76,980
$ 197,061
$ 120,081
74,889
$ 194,970
$ 120,081
84,438
$ 204,519
(3) The amounts reported in this column represent each named executive officer's annual cash bonus earned in accordance with the performance measures
discussed under the subheading “Annual Cash Bonus Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
(4) The amounts reported in this column represent each named executive officer’s Cash Balance Plan earnings and for Mr. Dunn, SERP earnings for fiscal
years 2009 and 2008. The decline in values of pension and nonqualified deferred compensation balances for fiscal 2008 were ($23,157), ($29,043),
($57,881) and ($17,463) for Messrs. Dunn, Boyd, Keating and Brinkworth, respectively. These amounts have been omitted from the table because
they are negative. Mr. Stivala is not a participant in these plans.
(5) The amounts reported in this column consist of the following:
Type of Compensation
401(k) Match
Value of Annual Physical Examination
Value of Partnership Provided Vehicle
Tax Preparation Services
Cash Balance Plan Administrative Fees
Insurance Premiums
Totals
Type of Compensation
401(k) Match
Value of Annual Physical Examination
Value of Partnership Provided Vehicle
Tax Preparation Services
Cash Balance Plan Administrative Fees
Insurance Premiums
Totals
Type of Compensation
401(k) Match
Value of Annual Physical Examination
Value of Partnership Provided Vehicle
Tax Preparation Services
Cash Balance Plan Administrative Fees
Insurance Premiums
Totals
2010
Mr. Stivala
$ 7,350
1,300
12,903
N/A
N/A
16,016
$ 37,569
2009
Mr. Stivala
$ 14,700
1,300
11,318
N/A
N/A
14,410
$ 41,728
2008
Mr. Stivala
$ 3,450
1,500
12,647
N/A
N/A
14,992
$ 32,589
Mr. Dunn
$ 7,350
1,300
13,868
6,500
1,500
18,812
$ 49,330
Mr. Dunn
$ 14,700
N/A
12,205
3,000
1,500
16,660
$ 48,065
Mr. Dunn
$ 3,450
1,500
12,888
2,500
1,500
17,138
$ 38,976
Mr. Boyd
$ 7,350
N/A
6,251
3,600
1,500
16,061
$ 34,762
Mr. Boyd
$ 14,700
N/A
6,205
3,000
1,500
14,406
$ 39,811
Mr. Keating
$ 7,350
1,300
12,205
5,300
1,500
16,232
$ 43,887
Mr. Keating
$ 14,200
1,300
11,015
3,000
1,500
14,568
$ 45,583
Mr. Boyd
$ 3,450
N/A
6,549
900
1,500
14,007
$ 26,406
Mr. Keating
$ 3,300
1,200
11,522
2,500
1,500
15,087
$ 35,109
Mr.
Brinkworth
$ 7,350
1,300
11,966
3,600
1,500
16,051
$ 41,767
Mr.
Brinkworth
$ 13,825
N/A
10,610
3,000
1,500
14,505
$ 43,440
Mr.
Brinkworth
$ 3,248
1,200
11,395
2,500
1,500
15,038
$ 34,881
Note: Column (f) was omitted from the Summary Compensation Table because the Partnership does not grant options to its employees.
73
Grants of Plan Based Awards Table for Fiscal 2010
The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of awards made to each named executive
officer during the fiscal year ended September 25, 2010:
Estimated Future Payments
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
Estimated Future Payments
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
(d)
(e)
(g)
(h)
$475,000
$522,500
$369,046
$461,291
$206,250
$226,875
$160,243
$200,288
$202,500
$222,750
$157,343
$196,709
$182,000
$200,200
$141,423
$176,779
$183,750
$202,125
$142,781
$178,507
Phantom
Units
Underlying
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards
(LTIP)(4)
5,981
2,597
2,550
2,292
2,314
All Other stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of Stock
or Units
(#)
Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($) (5)
(i)
11,348
(l)
$399,438
5,107
$160,456
5,107
$160,456
5,107
$160,456
5,107
$160,456
Name
(a)
Michael Dunn, Jr.
Michael Stivala
Steven Boyd
Michael Keating
Douglas. Brinkworth
Plan
Name
Grant
Date
Approval
Date
RUP (1)
Bonus(2)
LTIP(3)
RUP(1)
Bonus(2)
LTIP(3)
RUP (1)
Bonus(2)
LTIP(3)
RUP (1)
Bonus(2)
LTIP(3)
RUP (1)
Bonus(2)
LTIP(3)
(b)
1 Dec 09
27 Sep 09
27 Sep 09
1 Dec 09
27 Sep 09
27 Sep 09
1 Dec 09
27 Sep 09
27 Sep 09
1 Dec 09
27 Sep 09
27 Sep 09
1 Dec 09
27 Sep 09
27 Sep 09
10 Nov 09
10 Nov 09
10 Nov 09
10 Nov 09
10 Nov 09
(1) The quantities reported on these lines represent awards granted under the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plans. Generally, RUP awards vest as
follows: 25% of the award on the third anniversary of the grant date; 25% of the award on the fourth anniversary of the grant date; and 50% of
the award on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. If a recipient has held an unvested award for at least six months; is 55 years or older; and
has worked for the Partnership for at least ten years, an award held by such participant will vest six months following such participant’s
retirement if the participant retires prior to the conclusion of the normal vesting schedule unless the Committee exercises its authority to alter the
applicability of the plan’s retirement provisions in regard to a particular award. On September 25, 2010, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Keating were the
only named executive officers who held RUP awards and, at the same time, satisfied all three retirement eligibility criteria. However, the terms
of Mr. Dunn’s fiscal 2010 award are such that the entire award will vest on the last day of fiscal 2012 and at no time between the grant date and
the vesting date will this award be subject to the normative retirement provisions of the 2000 or 2009 RUP documents. Detailed discussions of
the general terms of the RUP and the facts and circumstances considered by the Committee in authorizing the fiscal 2010 awards to the named
executive officers is included in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the subheading “Restricted Unit Plans.”
(2) Amounts reported on these lines are the targeted and maximum annual cash bonus compensation potential for each named executive officer
under the annual cash bonus plan as described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the subheading “Annual Cash Bonus
Plan.” Actual amounts earned by the named executive officers for fiscal 2010 were equal to 100% of the “Target” amounts reported on this line.
Column (c) (“Threshold $”) was omitted because the annual cash bonus plan does not provide for a minimum cash payment. Because these plan
awards were granted to, and 100% of the “Target” awards were earned by, our named executive officers during fiscal 2010, 100% of the
“Target” amounts reported under column (d) have been reported in the Summary Compensation Table above.
(3) The LTIP is a phantom unit plan. Payments, if earned, are based on a combination of (1) the fair market value of our Common Units at the end
of a three-year measurement period, which, for purposes of the plan, is the average of the closing prices for the twenty business days preceding
the conclusion of the three-year measurement period, and (2) cash equal to the distributions that would have inured to the same quantity of
outstanding Common Units during the same three-year measurement period. The fiscal 2010 award “Target ($)” and “Maximum ($)” amounts
are estimates based upon (1) the fair market value (the average of the closing prices of our Common Units for the twenty business days
preceding September 25, 2010) of our Common Units at the end of fiscal 2010, and (2) the estimated distributions over the course of the award’s
three-year measurement period. Column (f) (“Threshold $”) was omitted because the LTIP does not provide for a minimum cash payment. The
“Target ($)” amount represents a hypothetical payment at 100% of target and the “Maximum ($)” amount represents a hypothetical payment at
125% of target. Detailed descriptions of the plan and the calculation of awards are included in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”
under the subheading “2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan.”
(4) This column is frequently used when non-equity incentive plan awards are denominated in units; however, in this case, the numbers reported
represent the phantom units each named executive officer was awarded under the LTIP during fiscal 2010.
(5) The dollar amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate fair value of the RUP awards on the grant date, net of estimated future
distributions during the vesting period. The fair value shown may not be indicative of the value realized in the future upon vesting due to the
variability in the trading price of our Common Units.
Note: Columns (j) and (k) were omitted from the Grants of Plan Based Awards Table because the Partnership does not award options to its employees.
74
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2010 Table
The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding equity awards under our Restricted
Unit Plans and phantom equity awards under our 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan for each named executive
officer as of September 25, 2010:
Stock Awards
Number of
Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested
(#)(6)
(g)
40,881
18,657
18,407
14,981
16,551
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
($)(7)
(h)
$2,216,568
$1,011,583
$ 998,028
$ 812,270
$ 897,395
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
that Have Not
Vested
(#)(8)
(i)
12,123
5,415
5,368
4,406
4,753
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards: Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other Rights
That Have Not Vested
($)(9)
(j)
$747,258
$333,770
$330,870
$271,599
$292,969
Name
(a)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. (1)
Michael A. Stivala(2)
Steven C. Boyd(3)
Michael M. Keating(4)
Douglas T. Brinkworth(5)
(1) Despite Mr. Dunn’s having met the plan’s retirement criteria (explained under the subheading “Restricted Unit Plans” in the “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis”), Mr. Dunn’s fiscal 2008 RUP award of 29,533 unvested units will not be subject to the plan’s retirement provisions
until December 3, 2010. The terms of Mr. Dunn’s fiscal 2010 RUP award of 11,348 unvested units are such that the entire award will vest on
the last day of fiscal 2012 and at no time between the grant date and the vesting date will this award be subject to the normative retirement
provisions of the 2000 or 2009 RUP documents. For more information on this and the retirement provisions, refer to the subheading “Restricted
Unit Plans” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.” If Mr. Dunn does not retire prior to the conclusion of the normal vesting schedule
of his fiscal 2008 RUP award, his RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting
Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 3,
2010
Dec 3,
2011
Sep 29,
2012
Dec 3,
2012
7,384
7,384
11,348
14,765
(2) Mr. Stivala’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Oct 1,
2010
Nov 1,
2010
Dec 3,
2010
Apr 25,
2011
Dec 1,
2011
Dec 3,
2011
Apr 25,
2012
Dec 1,
2012
Dec 3,
2012
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
1,738
600
568
1,374
1,205
568
2,748
2,482
1,136
3,685
2,553
(3) Mr. Boyd’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Nov 1,
2010
Dec 3,
2010
Apr 25,
2011
Dec 1,
2011
Dec 3,
2011
Apr 25,
2012
Dec 1,
2012
Dec 3,
2012
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
3,200
852
1,374
643
852
2,748
1,920
1,704
2,561
2,553
(4) Mr. Keating met the retirement eligibility criteria (explained under the subheading “Restricted Unit Plans” in the “Compensation Discussion and
Analysis”) during fiscal 2008. If he does not retire prior to the conclusion of the normal vesting schedule of his RUP awards, his RUP awards
will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 3,
2010
Apr 25,
2011
Dec 1,
2011
Dec 3,
2011
Apr 25,
2012
Dec 1,
2012
Dec 3,
2012
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
852
550
1,205
852
1,098
2,482
1,704
3,685
2,553
(5) Mr. Brinkworth’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Oct 1,
2010
Nov 1,
2010
Dec 3,
2010
Apr 25,
2011
Dec 1,
2011
Dec 3,
2011
Apr 25,
2012
Dec 1,
2012
Dec 3,
2012
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
1,738
1,850
852
413
803
852
823
2,080
1,704
2,883
2,553
75
(6) The figures reported in this column represent the total quantity of each of our named executive officer’s unvested RUP awards.
(7) The figures reported in this column represent the figures reported in column (g) multiplied by the average of the highest and the lowest trading
prices of our Common Units on September 24, 2010, the last trading day of fiscal 2010.
(8) The amounts reported in this column represent the quantities of phantom units that underlie the outstanding and unvested fiscal 2010 and fiscal
2009 awards under the LTIP. Payments, if earned, will be made to participants at the end of a three-year measurement period and will be based
upon our total return to Common Unitholders in comparison to the total return provided by a predetermined peer group of eleven other
companies, all of which are publicly-traded partnerships, to their unitholders. For more information on the LTIP, refer to the subheading “2003
Long-Term Incentive Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
(9) The amounts reported in this column represent the estimated future target payouts of the fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 LTIP-awards. These
amounts were computed by multiplying the quantities of the unvested phantom units in column (i) by the average of the closing prices of our
Common Units for the twenty business days preceding September 25, 2010 (in accordance with the plan’s valuation methodology), and by
adding to the product of that calculation the product of each year’s underlying phantom units times the sum of the distributions that are
estimated to inure to an outstanding Common Unit during each award’s three-year measurement period. Due to the variability in the trading
prices of our Common Units, as well as our performance relative to the peer group, actual payments, if any, at the end of the three-year
measurement period may differ. The following chart provides a breakdown of each year’s awards:
Fiscal 2010 Phantom Units
Value of Fiscal 2010 Phantom
Units
Estimated Distributions over
Measurement Period
Fiscal 2009 Phantom Units
Value of Fiscal 2009 Phantom
Units
Estimated Distributions over
Measurement Period
Mr. Dunn
5,981
Mr. Stivala
2,597
Mr. Boyd
2,550
Mr. Keating
2,292
Mr. Brinkworth
2,314
$ 308,578
$ 133,987
$ 131,562
$ 118,251
$ 119,386
$ 60,468
$ 26,256
$ 25,781
$ 23,172
$ 23,395
6,142
2,818
2,818
2,114
2,439
$ 316,884
$ 145,389
$ 145,389
$ 109,068
$ 125,835
$ 61,328
$ 28,138
$ 28,138
$ 21,108
$ 24,353
Note: Columns (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), all of which are for the reporting of option-related compensation, have been omitted from the Outstanding
Equity Awards At Fiscal Year End Table because we do not grant options to our employees.
Equity Vested Table for Fiscal 2010
Awards under the Restricted Unit Plans are settled in Common Units upon vesting. Awards under the 2003
Long-Term Incentive Plan, a phantom-equity plan, are settled in cash. The following two tables set forth certain
information concerning the vesting of awards under our Restricted Unit Plans and the vesting of the fiscal 2008
award under our 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan for each named executive officer during the fiscal year ended
September 25, 2010:
Restricted Unit Plans
Unit Awards
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Number of
Common
Units
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
-
3,144
3,574
550
2,808
Value
Realized on
Vesting
($)(1)
-
$143,002
$163,552
$ 27,024
$123,067
(1) The value realized is equal to the average of the high and low trading prices of our Common Units on the vesting date, multiplied by the number
of units that vested.
2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan –
Fiscal 2008(2) Award
Cash Awards
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Michael M. Keating
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Number of
Phantom
Units
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)(3)
4,894
1,871
1,693
1,647
1,857
76
Value Realized on
Vesting ($)(4)
$299,934
$114,666
$103,757
$100,938
$113,808
(2) The fiscal 2008 award’s three-year measurement period concluded on September 25, 2010.
(3)
In accordance with the formula described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” under the subheading “2003 Long-Term Incentive
Plan,” these quantities were calculated at the beginning of the three-year measurement period and were, therefore, based upon each individual’s
salary and target cash bonus at that time.
(4) The value (i.e., cash payment) realized was calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the LTIP. For more information, refer to
the subheading “2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
Pension Benefits Table for Fiscal 2009
The following table sets forth certain information concerning each plan that provides for payments or other
benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement for each named executive officer as of the end of the
fiscal year ended September 25, 2010:
Name
Plan Name
Number
of Years
Credited
Service
(#)
Present Value
of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)
Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
($)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
SERP (1)
Cash Balance Plan (2)
LTIP (4)
RUP (5)
6
6
N/A
N/A
$ 57,611
$ 246,358
$ 686,078
N/A
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
Michael A. Stivala(3)
N/A
N/A
$ -
$ -
Steven C. Boyd
Cash Balance Plan (2)
Michael M. Keating
Cash Balance Plan (2)
LTIP (4)
RUP (5)
15
15
N/A
N/A
$ 141,423
$ -
$ 436,985
$ 248,983
$ 812,270
$ -
$ -
$ -
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Cash Balance Plan (2)
6
$ 88,675
$ -
(1) Mr. Dunn is the sole remaining SERP participant. Due to the actuarial costs and administrative burdens associated with maintaining this plan
for one participant, at its November 9, 2010 meeting, the Committee terminated the SERP and made arrangements for the payment of Mr.
Dunn’s accrued benefit of $57,611 on December 1, 2010. For more information on the SERP, refer to the subheading “Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
(2) For more information on the Cash Balance Plan, refer to the subheading “Pension Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
(3) Because Mr. Stivala commenced employment with the Partnership after January 1, 2000, the date on which the Cash Balance Plan was closed to
new participants, he does not participate in the Cash Balance Plan.
(4) Currently, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Keating are the only named executive officers who meet the retirement criteria of the LTIP. For such participants,
upon retirement, outstanding but unvested LTIP awards become fully vested. However, payouts on those awards are deferred until the
conclusion of each outstanding award’s three-year measurement period, based on the outcome of the TRU relative to the peer group. The
number reported on this line represents a projected payout of Mr. Dunn’s and Mr. Keating’s outstanding fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 LTIP
awards. Because the ultimate payout, if any, is predicated on the trading prices of the Partnership’s Common Units at the end of the three-year
measurement period, as well as where within the peer group our TRU falls, the value reported may not be indicative of the value realized in the
future upon vesting due to the variability in the trading price of our Common Units.
(5) Currently, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Keating are the only named executive officers who meet the retirement criteria of the RUP. Despite Mr. Dunn’s
having met the plan’s retirement criteria, his fiscal 2008 award will not be subject to the plan’s retirement provisions until December 3, 2010.
For more information on this and the retirement provisions, refer to the subheading “Restricted Unit Plans” in the “Compensation Discussion
and Analysis.” For participants who meet the retirement criteria, upon retirement, outstanding RUP awards vest six months and one day after
retirement. The value reported in this table on behalf of Mr. Keating represents the value of 14,981 Common Units using the average of the
highest and the lowest trading prices of our Common Units on September 24, 2010, the last trading day of fiscal 2010.
77
Potential Payments Upon Termination
The following table sets forth certain information containing potential payments to the named executive
officers in accordance with the provisions of the Severance Protection Plan, the RUP and the LTIP for the
circumstances listed in the table assuming a September 25, 2010 termination date:
Executive Payments and Benefits Upon Termination
Death
Disability
Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
by the
Partnership or
by the
Executive for
Good Reason
without a
Change of
Control Event
Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
by the
Partnership or
by the
Executive for
Good Reason
with a Change
of Control
Event
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Cash Compensation(1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2009 and 2010 LTIP Awards(5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards(6)
SERP(7)
Medical Benefits
Total
Michael A. Stivala
Cash Compensation(1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2009 and 2010 LTIP Awards(5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards(6)
Medical Benefits(3)
Total
Steven C. Boyd
Cash Compensation(1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2009 and 2010 LTIP Awards(5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards(6)
Medical Benefits(3)
Total
Michael M. Keating
Cash Compensation(1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2009 and 2010 LTIP Awards(5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards(6)
Medical Benefits(3)
Total
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Cash Compensation(1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2009 and 2010 LTIP Awards(5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards(6)
Medical Benefits(3)
Total
$ -0-
N/A
N/A
32,400
N/A
$ 32,400
$ -0-
N/A
1,601,279
57,300
N/A
$ 1,658,579
$ 475,000
N/A
N/A
53,900
12,595
$ 541,495
$ 1,425,000
857,598
2,216,568
57,300
N/A
$ 4,556,466
$ -0-
N/A
N/A
N/A
$ 0
$ -0-
N/A
734,681
N/A
$ 734,681
$ 275,000
N/A
N/A
12,595
$ 287,595
$ 721,875
383,377
1,011,583
N/A
$ 2,116,835
$ -0-
N/A
N/A
N/A
$ 0
$ -0-
N/A
721,126
N/A
$ 721,126
$ 270,000
N/A
N/A
12,304
$ 282,304
$ 708,750
380,189
998,028
N/A
$ 2,086,967
$ -0_
N/A
N/A
N/A
$ 0
$ -0-
N/A
535,368
N/A
$ 535,368
$ 260,000
N/A
N/A
12,595
$ 271,595
$ 663,000
311,229
812,270
N/A
$ 1,786,499
$ -0_
N/A
N/A
N/A
$ 0
$ -0-
N/A
620,494
N/A
$ 620,494
$ 245,000
N/A
N/A
12,595
$ 257,595
$ 643,125
336,396
897,395
N/A
$ 1,876,916
(1)
In the event of death, the named executive officer’s estate is entitled to a payment equal to the decedent’s earned but unpaid salary and pro-rata
cash bonus.
(2)
In the event of disability, the named executive officer is entitled to a payment equal to his earned but unpaid salary and pro-rata cash bonus.
(3) Any severance benefits, unrelated to a change of control event, payable to these officers would be determined by the Committee on a case-by-
case basis in accordance with prior treatment of other similarly situated executives and may, as a result, differ from this hypothetical
presentation. For purposes of this table, we have assumed that each of these named executive officers would, upon termination of employment
without cause or for resignation for good reason, receive accrued salary and benefits through the date of termination plus one times annual salary
and continued participation, at active employee rates, in the Partnership’s health insurance plans for one year.
78
(4)
(5)
In the event of a change of control followed by a termination without cause or by a resignation with good reason, each of the named executive
officers will receive 78 weeks of base pay plus a sum equal to their annual target cash bonus divided by 52 and multiplied by 78 in accordance
with the terms of the Severance Protection Plan. For more information on the Severance Protection Plan, refer to the subheading “Change of
Control” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
In the event of a change of control, all LTIP awards will vest immediately regardless of whether termination immediately follows. If a change of
control event occurs, the calculation of the LTIP payment will be made as if our total return to Common Unitholders was higher than that
provided by any of the other members of the peer group to their unitholders. For more information, refer to the subheading “2003 Long-Term
Incentive Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
In the event of death, the inability to continue employment due to permanent disability, or a termination without cause or a good reason
resignation unconnected to a change of control event, awards will vest in accordance with the normal vesting schedule and will be subject to the
same requirements as awards held by individuals still employed by the Partnership and will be subject to the same risks as awards held by all
other participants.
(6) The RUP document makes no provisions for the vesting of awards held by recipients who die prior to the completion of the vesting schedule. If
a recipient of a RUP award becomes permanently disabled, only those awards that have been held for at least one year on the date that the
employee’s employment is terminated as a result of his or her permanent disability will immediately vest; all awards held by the recipient for less
than one year will be forfeited by the recipient. Because Mr. Dunn, Mr. Stivala, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Keating and Mr. Brinkworth each received a
RUP award during fiscal 2010, if any or all of the five named executive officers had become permanently disabled on September 25, 2010, the
following quantities of unvested restricted units would have vested: Dunn, 29,533: Stivala, 13,550; Boyd, 13,300; Keating, 9,874; Brinkworth,
11,444. The following quantities would have been forfeited: Dunn, 11,348; Stivala, 5,107; Boyd, 5,107; Keating, 5,107; Brinkworth, 5,107.
Under circumstances unrelated to a change of control, if a RUP award recipient’s employment is terminated without cause or he or she resigns
for good reason, any RUP awards held by such recipient will be forfeited.
In the event of a change of control, as defined in the RUP document, all unvested RUP awards will vest immediately on the date the change of
control is consummated, regardless of the holding period and regardless of whether the recipient’s employment is terminated.
(7) Mr. Dunn is the sole remaining SERP participant. Due to the actuarial costs and administrative burdens associated with maintaining this plan
for one participant, at its November 9, 2010 meeting, the Committee terminated the SERP and made arrangements for the payment of Mr.
Dunn’s accrued benefit of $57,611 on December 1, 2010. For more information on the SERP, refer to the subheading “Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan” in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”
SUPERVISORS’ COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation of the non-employee members of the Board of Supervisors
of the Partnership during fiscal 2010.
Supervisor
John D. Collins
Harold R. Logan, Jr.
Dudley C. Mecum
John Hoyt Stookey
Jane Swift
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($) (1)
Unit Awards
($) (2)
Total
($)
$ 75,000
100,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
$ 126,216
126,216
126,216
126,216
126,216
$ 201,216
226,216
201,216
201,216
201,216
(1) This includes amounts earned for fiscal 2010, including quarterly retainer installments for the fourth quarter of 2010 that were paid in November
2010. Does not include amounts paid in fiscal 2010 for fiscal 2009 quarterly retainer installments.
(2) This represents the aggregate grant date fair values of RUP awards made during the fiscal year. All awards were made in accordance with the
provisions of our Restricted Unit Plans and vest accordingly. As of September 25, 2010, each non-employee member of the Board of
Supervisors held the following quantities of unvested restricted unit awards: Mr. Collins, 7,722 units; Mr. Logan, 5,850 units; Mr. Mecum,
5,850 units; Mr. Stookey, 5,850 units; and Ms. Swift, 7,722 units.
Note: The columns for reporting option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation, changes in pension value and non-qualified deferred
compensation plan earnings and all other forms of compensation were omitted from the Supervisor’s Compensation Table because the Partnership does not
provide these forms of compensation to its non-employee supervisors.
79
Fees and Benefit Plans for Non-Employee Supervisors
Annual Cash Retainer Fees. As the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Logan receives an annual
retainer of $100,000, payable in quarterly installments of $25,000 each. Each of the other non-employee
Supervisors receives an annual cash retainer of $75,000, payable in quarterly installments of $18,750 each.
Meeting Fees. The members of our Board of Supervisors receive no additional remuneration for attendance
at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board or its Committees, other than reimbursement of reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with such attendance.
Restricted Unit Plans. Each non-employee Supervisor participates in the Restricted Unit Plans. All awards
vest in accordance with the provisions of the plan document (see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”
section titled “Restricted Unit Plans” for a description of the vesting schedule). Upon vesting, all awards are
settled by issuing Common Units. During fiscal 2004, Messrs. Logan, Mecum and Stookey were granted
unvested restricted unit plan awards of 8,500 units each; during fiscal 2007, each of them received an additional
unvested award of 3,000 units. Upon commencement of their terms as supervisors in fiscal 2007, Mr. Collins
and Ms. Swift each received an award of 5,496 units. During fiscal 2010, each non-employee Supervisor
received a grant of 3,600 units. Messrs. Logan, Mecum and Stookey are the only non-employee Supervisors who
have satisfied the retirement provisions of the Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plans.
Additional Supervisor Compensation. Non-employee Supervisors receive no other forms of remuneration
from us. The only perquisite provided to the members of the Board of Supervisors is the ability to purchase
propane at the same discounted rate that we offer propane to our employees, the value of which was less than
$10,000 in fiscal 2010 for each Supervisor.
80
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of November 22, 2010 regarding the beneficial
ownership of Common Units by each member of the Board of Supervisors, each executive officer named in the
Summary Compensation Table in Item 11 of this Annual Report, and all members of the Board of Supervisors
and executive officers as a group. Based upon filings under Section 13(d) or (g) under the Exchange Act, the
Partnership does not know of any person or group who beneficially owns more than 5% of the outstanding
Common Units. Except as set forth in the notes to the table, each individual or entity has sole voting and
investment power over the Common Units reported.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. (a)
Michael A. Stivala (b)
Steven C. Boyd (c)
Michael M. Keating (d)
Douglas T. Brinkworth (e)
John Hoyt Stookey (f)
Harold R. Logan, Jr.(f)
Dudley C. Mecum (f)
John D. Collins (g)
Jane Swift (g)
All Members of the Board
of Supervisors and Executive
Officers,
as a Group (16 persons) (h)
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership (1)
Percent
of Class
66,331
10,012
14,992
76,402
22,348
5,316
15,980
14,884
13,824
-0-
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
324,635
1%
(1) With the exception of the 784 units held by the General Partner (see (a) below), there is a possibility that any
of the above listed units could be pledged as security.
* Less than 1%.
(a) Includes 784 Common Units held by the General Partner, of which Mr. Dunn is the sole member. Excludes
33,497 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 22, 2010.
(b) Excludes 15,751 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
22, 2010.
(c) Excludes 14,355 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
22, 2010.
(d) Excludes 14,129 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
22, 2010.
(e) Excludes 12,111 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
22, 2010.
(f) Excludes 5,850 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
22, 2010.
(g) Excludes 7,722 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November
81
22, 2010.
(h) Inclusive of the units referred to in footnotes (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above, the reported number of
units excludes 191,407 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60 day period following
November 22, 2010, owned by certain executive officers, whose restricted units vest on the same basis as
described in footnotes (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) above.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under the Restricted Unit Plans
The following table sets forth certain information, as of September 25, 2010, with respect to the
Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plans, under which restricted units of the Partnership, as described in the Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report, are authorized for issuance.
Number of Common
Units to be issued upon
vesting of restricted
units
(a)
481,267 (2)
--
481,267
Weighted-average grant
date fair value per
restricted unit
(b)
$29.67
--
$29.67
Number of restricted units
remaining available for
future issuance under the
Restricted Unit Plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
(c)
1,091,304
--
1,091,304
Plan
Category
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
Total
(1) Relates to the Restricted Unit Plans.
(2) Represents number of restricted units that, as of September 25, 2010, had been granted under the Restricted
Unit Plan but had not yet vested.
82
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
Related Person Transactions
None.
Supervisor Independence
The Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles adopted by the Board of Supervisors provide that a
Supervisor is deemed to be lacking a material relationship to the Partnership and is therefore independent of
management if the following criteria are satisfied:
1. Within the past three years, the Supervisor:
a. has not been employed by the Partnership and has not received more than $100,000 per year in direct
compensation from the Partnership, other than Supervisor and committee fees and pension or other forms
of deferred compensation for prior service;
b. has not provided significant advisory or consultancy services to the Partnership, and has not been
affiliated with a company or a firm that has provided such services to the Partnership in return for
aggregate payments during any of the last three fiscal years of the Partnership in excess of the greater of
2% of the other company’s consolidated gross revenues or $1 million;
c. has not been a significant customer or supplier of the Partnership and has not been affiliated with a
company or firm that has been a customer or supplier of the Partnership and has either made to the
Partnership or received from the Partnership payments during any of the last three fiscal years of the
Partnership in excess of the greater of 2% of the other company’s consolidated gross revenues or $1
million;
d. has not been employed by or affiliated with an internal or external auditor that within the past three years
provided services to the Partnership; and
e. has not been employed by another company where any of the Partnership’s current executives serve on
that company’s compensation committee;
2. The Supervisor is not a spouse, parent, sibling, child, mother- or father-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law or
brother- or sister-in-law of a person having a relationship described in 1. above nor shares a residence with
such person;
3. The Supervisor is not affiliated with a tax-exempt entity that within the past 12 months received significant
contributions from the Partnership (contributions of the greater of 2% of the entity’s consolidated gross
revenues or $1 million are considered significant); and
4. The Supervisor does not have any other relationships with the Partnership or with members of senior
management of the Partnership that the Board determines to be material.
83
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for services related to fiscal years 2010 and 2009 provided
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm.
Audit Fees (a)
Tax Fees (b)
All Other Fees (c)
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
$
2,162,500
728,223
1,605
$
2,265,000
840,030
1,605
(a) Audit Fees consist of professional services rendered for the integrated audit of our annual consolidated
financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting, including reviews of our quarterly
financial statements, as well as the issuance of consents in connection with other filings made with the SEC.
(b) Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services related to tax reporting, tax compliance and transaction
services assistance.
(c) All Other Fees represent fees for the purchase of a license to an accounting research software tool.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Supervisors has adopted a formal policy concerning the approval of
audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The policy requires that all services PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP may provide to
us, including audit services and permitted audit-related and non-audit services, be pre-approved by the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit and non-audit services provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009.
84
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
1. Financial Statements
See “Index to Financial Statements” set forth on page F-1.
2. Financial Statement Schedule
See “Index to Financial Statement Schedule” set forth on page S-1.
3. Exhibits
See “Index to Exhibits” set forth on page E-1.
85
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
Date: November 24, 2010
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: /s/ MICHAEL J. DUNN, JR.
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Supervisor
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by
the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
Title
Date
By: /s/ MICHAEL J. DUNN, JR.
(Michael J. Dunn, Jr.)
President, Chief Executive
Officer and Supervisor
November 24, 2010
By: /s/ HAROLD R. LOGAN, JR.
Chairman and Supervisor
November 24, 2010
(Harold R. Logan, Jr.)
By: /s/ JOHN HOYT STOOKEY
Supervisor
November 24, 2010
(John Hoyt Stookey)
By: /s/ DUDLEY C. MECUM
(Dudley C. Mecum)
By: /s/ JOHN D. COLLINS
(John D. Collins)
By: /s/ JANE SWIFT
(Jane Swift)
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
November 24, 2010
November 24, 2010
November 24, 2010
By: /s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
Chief Financial Officer
November 24, 2010
(Michael A. Stivala)
By /s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer November 24, 2010
(Michael A. Kuglin)
86
The exhibits listed on this Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Annual Report. Exhibits required to be filed by
Item 601 of Regulation S-K, which are not listed below, are not applicable.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
2.1
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
Description
Exchange Agreement dated as of July 27, 2006 by and among the Partnership, the Operating
Partnership and the General Partner. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 28, 2006).
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated as of
October 19, 2006, as amended as of July 31, 2007. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2007).
Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating
Partnership dated as of October 19, 2006, as amended as of June 24, 2009. (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 30, 2009).
Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
dated May 26, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Partnership’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed August 6, 2009).
Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Suburban Partners, L.P. dated
May 26, 1999 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Partnership’s Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q filed August 6, 2009).
Description of Common Units of the Partnership. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 19, 2006).
Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2003, by and among Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.,
Suburban Energy Finance Corp. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, including Form of
Senior Global Exchange Note. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the
Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 27,
2003).
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2010, by and among Suburban Propane
Partners, L.P., Suburban Energy Finance Corp. and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly
known as The Bank of New York), as Trustee, to the Indenture dated as of December 23,
2003. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed March 19, 2010).
Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2010, related to the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020, by and
among Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Suburban Energy Finance Corporation and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, including the form of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed March 23, 2010).
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 23, 2010, related to the 7.375% Senior
Notes due 2020, by and among Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Suburban Energy Finance
E-1
10.1
10.2
10.3
Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 23, 2010).
Agreement between Michael J. Dunn, Jr. and the Partnership, effective as of September 27,
2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed November 10, 2009).
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2000 Restricted Unit Plan, as amended and restated effective
October 17, 2006 and as further amended on July 31, 2007, October 31, 2007, January 24,
2008, January 20, 2009 and November 10, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009).
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2009 Restricted Unit Plan, effective August 1, 2009.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form
S-8 filed on July 24, 2009).
10.4
Suburban Propane, L.P. Severance Protection Plan, as amended on January 24, 2008,
January 20, 2009 and November 10, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the
Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 2009).
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
21.1
23.1
Suburban Propane L.P. 2003 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended on October 17, 2006
and as further amended on July 31, 2007, October 31, 2007, January 24, 2008 and January
20, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Partnership’s Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2008).
Amended and Restated Retirement Savings and Investment Plan of Suburban Propane effective
as of January 1, 1998). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Partnership’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2001).
Amendment No. 1 to the Retirement Savings and Investment Plan of Suburban Propane
(effective January 1, 2002). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Partnership’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002).
Credit Agreement dated June 26, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2009).
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated March 9, 2010, by and among Suburban Propane,
L.P., Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., each lender signatory thereto and Bank of America,
N.A., as the administrative agent for the lenders therein. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2010).
Non-Competition Agreement, dated September 17, 2007, between Suburban Propane, L.P.
and Plains LPG Services, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Partnership’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 20, 2007).
Propane Storage Agreement, dated September 17, 2007, between Suburban Propane, L.P.
and Plains LPG Services, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Partnership’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 20, 2007).
Subsidiaries of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (Filed herewith).
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. (Filed herewith).
E-2
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
99.1
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed
herewith).
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (Filed herewith).
Equity Holding Policy for Supervisors and Executives of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K
dated May 10, 2010).
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document (Furnished herewith). *
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (Furnished herewith). *
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (Furnished herewith). *
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (Furnished herewith). *
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (Furnished herewith). *
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (Furnished herewith). *
* XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or
a part of a registration or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act
of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and otherwise is not subject to liability under these actions.
E-3
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.......................................................................…... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets –
As of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009......................................................................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations –
Years Ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008...….................................. F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –
Years Ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008......................................... F-5
Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital –
Years Ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008......................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........................…............................................................................. F-7
F-1
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $5,403 and $4,374, respectively
Inventories
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill
Other assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued employment and benefit costs
Accrued insurance
Customer deposits and advances
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term borrowings
Accrued insurance
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
156,908
$
163,173
60,383
61,047
18,089
296,427
350,420
277,244
46,169
970,260
$
$
39,886
28,624
10,480
63,579
21,945
164,514
347,953
44,965
47,991
605,423
52,035
70,158
22,190
307,556
357,187
274,897
37,874
977,514
$
$
35,677
40,875
10,410
69,789
25,179
181,930
349,415
41,838
44,614
617,797
Partners' capital:
Common Unitholders (35,318 and 35,228 units issued and outstanding at
September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, respectively)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total partners' capital
Total liabilities and partners' capital
422,063
(57,226)
364,837
970,260
$
421,005
(61,288)
359,717
977,514
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
Revenues
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold
Operating
General and administrative
Pension settlement charge
Depreciation and amortization
Income before loss on debt extinguishment, interest expense
and provision for income taxes
Loss on debt extinguishment
Interest income
Interest expense
Income before provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Income from continuing operations
Discontinued operations:
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
September
25, 2010
Year Ended
September
26, 2009
September
27, 2008
$
885,459
135,059
77,587
38,589
1,136,694
$
864,012
159,596
76,832
42,714
1,143,154
$
1,132,950
288,078
103,745
49,390
1,574,163
598,451
289,567
61,656
2,818
30,834
983,326
153,368
(9,473)
61
(27,458)
116,498
1,182
540,385
304,767
57,044
-
30,343
932,539
210,615
(4,624)
802
(39,069)
167,724
2,486
1,039,436
308,071
48,134
-
28,394
1,424,035
150,128
-
2,787
(39,839)
113,076
1,903
115,316
165,238
111,173
-
-
43,707
Net income
$
115,316
$
165,238
$
154,880
Income per Common Unit - basic
Income from continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic
Income per Common Unit - diluted
Income from continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net income
Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted
$
$
$
$
$
$
3.26
-
3.26
35,374
3.24
-
3.24
35,613
4.99
-
4.99
33,134
4.96
-
4.96
33,315
$
$
$
$
$
$
3.39
1.33
4.72
32,783
3.37
1.33
4.70
32,950
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization expense
Pension settlement charge
Loss on debt extinguishment
Deferred tax provision
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
Other, net
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
(Increase) decrease in inventories
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
Increase (decrease) in accrued employment and benefit costs
Increase (decrease) in accrued insurance
Increase (decrease) in customer deposits and advances
(Increase) decrease in other current and noncurrent assets
Increase (decrease) in other current and noncurrent liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
Acquisitions of businesses
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term borrowings
Proceeds from long-term borrowings
Issuance costs associated with long-term borrowings
Repayments of short-term borrowings
Net proceeds from issuance of Common Units
Partnership distributions
Net cash (used in) financing activities
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
September
25, 2010
Year Ended
September
26, 2009
September
27, 2008
$
115,316
$
165,238
$
154,880
30,834
2,818
9,473
-
-
6,120
(7,709)
9,555
3,376
(12,251)
3,127
(6,328)
1,479
(13)
155,797
(19,131)
(14,500)
3,520
-
(30,111)
30,343
-
4,624
1,385
-
3,895
42,898
9,664
(22,402)
13,822
(20,785)
(5,437)
19,121
4,185
246,551
(21,837)
-
4,985
-
(16,852)
28,394
-
-
1,277
(43,707)
1,466
(9,663)
1,424
1,080
(10,587)
27,240
(4,188)
(24,125)
(2,974)
120,517
(21,819)
-
4,734
53,715
36,630
(256,510)
247,840
(5,018)
-
-
(118,263)
(131,951)
(6,265)
163,173
156,908
$
(177,821)
100,000
(5,543)
(110,000)
95,880
(106,740)
(204,224)
25,475
137,698
163,173
$
(15,000)
-
-
-
-
(101,035)
(116,035)
41,112
96,586
137,698
$
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
$
28,362
$
39,153
$
35,217
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(in thousands)
Number of
Common
Units
Common
Unitholders
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Common
Units Held
in Trust
Accumulated
Other
Compre-
hensive
(Loss) Income
Total
Partners'
Capital
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Balance at September 29, 2007
32,674
$
208,230
$
5,660
$
(5,660)
$
(41,953)
$
166,277
Net income
Other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
Reclassification of realized gains on
cash flow hedges into earnings
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior
service credits into earnings and net
change in funded status of benefit plans
Total comprehensive income
Partnership distributions
Common Units issued under
Restricted Unit Plans
Common Units distributed from trust
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plan, net of forfeitures
154,880
154,880
$
154,880
(2,916)
(2,916)
(1,377)
(1,377)
(2,916)
(1,377)
2,091
2,091
$
2,091
152,678
(101,035)
51
2,156
(5,660)
5,660
(101,035)
-
2,156
Balance at September 27, 2008
32,725
$
264,231
$
-
$
-
$
(44,155)
$
220,076
Net income
Other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior
service credits into earnings and net
change in funded status of benefit plans
Total comprehensive income
Partnership distributions
Common Units issued under
Restricted Unit Plans
Sale of Common Units under
public offering, net of offering expenses
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures
165,238
165,238
$
165,238
(106,740)
72
2,431
95,880
2,396
(991)
(991)
(991)
(16,142)
(16,142)
$
(16,142)
148,105
(106,740)
95,880
2,396
Balance at September 26, 2009
35,228
$
421,005
$
-
$
-
$
(61,288)
$
359,717
Net income
Other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges
Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior
service credits into earnings and net
change in funded status of benefit plans
Recognition in earnings of net actuarial
loss for pension settlement
Total comprehensive income
Partnership distributions
Common Units issued under
Restricted Unit Plans
Compensation cost recognized under
Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures
115,316
115,316
$
115,316
(2,109)
(2,109)
(2,109)
3,353
2,818
3,353
2,818
3,353
$
2,818
119,378
(118,263)
4,005
90
(118,263)
4,005
Balance at September 25, 2010
35,318
$
422,063
$
-
$
-
$
(57,226)
$
364,837
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts)
1. Partnership Organization and Formation
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership principally
engaged, through its operating partnership and subsidiaries, in the retail marketing and distribution of propane,
fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the marketing of natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets. In
addition, to complement its core marketing and distribution businesses, the Partnership services a wide variety of
home comfort equipment, particularly for heating and ventilation. The publicly traded limited partner interests in
the Partnership are evidenced by common units traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“Common Units”),
with 35,318,060 Common Units outstanding at September 25, 2010. The holders of Common Units are entitled
to participate in distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under the Third
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), adopted on October
19, 2006 following approval by Common Unitholders at the Partnership’s Tri-Annual Meeting and as thereafter
amended by the Board of Supervisors on July 31, 2007, pursuant to the authority granted to the Board in the
Partnership Agreement. Rights and privileges under the Partnership Agreement include, among other things, the
election of all members of the Board of Supervisors and voting on the removal of the general partner.
Suburban Propane, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership, is the Partnership’s
operating subsidiary formed to operate the propane business and assets. In addition, Suburban Sales & Service,
Inc. (the “Service Company”), a subsidiary of the Operating Partnership, was formed to operate the service work
and appliance and parts businesses of the Partnership. The Operating Partnership, together with its direct and
indirect subsidiaries, accounts for substantially all of the Partnership’s assets, revenues and earnings. The
Partnership, the Operating Partnership and the Service Company commenced operations in March 1996 in
connection with the Partnership’s initial public offering.
The general partner of both the Partnership and the Operating Partnership is Suburban Energy Services Group LLC
(the “General Partner”), a Delaware limited liability company, the sole member of which is the Partnership’s Chief
Executive Officer. Other than as a holder of 784 Common Units that will remain in the General Partner, the General
Partner does not have any economic interest in the Partnership or the Operating Partnership.
The Partnership’s fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas and electricity and services businesses are structured as
corporate entities (collectively referred to as the “Corporate Entities”) and, as such, are subject to corporate level
income tax.
Suburban Energy Finance Corporation, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, was formed on
November 26, 2003 to serve as co-issuer, jointly and severally with the Partnership, of the Partnership’s senior
notes.
The Partnership serves approximately 800,000 active residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural
customers from approximately 300 locations in 30 states. The Partnership’s operations are concentrated in the
east and west coast regions of the United States, including Alaska. No single customer accounted for 10% or
more of the Partnership’s revenues during fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership, the
Operating Partnership and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions
and account balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial
F-7
condition and cash flows of the Operating Partnership as a result of the Partnership’s 100% limited partner
interest in the Operating Partnership.
Fiscal Period. The Partnership’s fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in September.
Revenue Recognition. Sales of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels are recognized at the time product is delivered to
the customer. Revenue from the sale of appliances and equipment is recognized at the time of sale or when
installation is complete, as applicable. Revenue from repairs, maintenance and other service activities is recognized
upon completion of the service. Revenue from service contracts is recognized ratably over the service period.
Revenue from the natural gas and electricity business is recognized based on customer usage as determined by
meter readings for amounts delivered, some of which may be unbilled at the end of each accounting period.
Revenue from annually billed tank fees is deferred at the time of billings and recognized on a straight-line basis over
one year.
Fair Value Measurements. The Partnership measures certain of its assets and liabilities at fair value, which is
defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants – in either the principal market or the most advantageous market. The principal
market is the market with the greatest level of activity and volume for the asset or liability.
The common framework for measuring fair value utilizes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in
the valuation techniques to derive fair values. The basis for fair value measurements for each level within the
hierarchy is described below with Level 1 having the highest priority and Level 3 having the lowest.
• Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
• Level 2: Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices for identical or similar
instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are
observable in active markets.
• Level 3: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are
unobservable.
Business Combinations. At the beginning of fiscal 2010, the Partnership adopted revised accounting guidance
concerning business combinations. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the purchase
method and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entities are recorded at their estimated fair
values at the acquisition date. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net
assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. The primary drivers that
generate goodwill are the value of synergies between the acquired entities and the Partnership and the acquired
assembled workforce, neither of which qualifies as an identifiable intangible asset. Identifiable intangible assets
with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. The results of operations of acquired businesses are
included in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the acquisition date. The Partnership expenses all
acquisition-related costs as incurred. Certain provisions of the revised guidance, in particular one related to the
accounting for acquired tax benefits, are required to be applied regardless of when the business combination
occurred. Therefore, to the extent the Partnership’s Corporate Entities generate taxable profits that enable the
utilization of tax benefits acquired in prior business combinations, the corresponding reduction in the valuation
allowance will be recorded as a reduction in the provision for income taxes. Previously, such valuation
allowances were recorded as a reduction to goodwill.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“US-GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Estimates have been made by management in the areas of self-insurance and litigation reserves,
F-8
pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities and costs, valuation of derivative instruments, depreciation
and amortization of long-lived assets, asset impairment assessments, tax valuation allowances and allowances for
doubtful accounts. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible that a material
change in these estimates could occur in the near term.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Partnership considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount approximates fair value because of
the short maturity of these instruments.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using a weighted average
method for propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas, and a standard cost basis for appliances, which
approximates average cost.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
Commodity Price Risk. Given the retail nature of its operations, the Partnership maintains a certain level of
priced physical inventory to ensure its field operations have adequate supply commensurate with the time of year.
The Partnership’s strategy is to keep its physical inventory priced relatively close to market for its field
operations. The Partnership enters into a combination of exchange-traded futures and option contracts and, in
certain instances, over-the-counter option contracts (collectively, “derivative instruments”) to hedge price risk
associated with propane and fuel oil physical inventories, as well as future purchases of propane or fuel oil used
in its operations and to ensure adequate supply during periods of high demand. Under this risk management
strategy, realized gains or losses on derivative instruments will typically offset losses or gains on the physical
inventory once the product is sold. All of the Partnership’s derivative instruments are reported on the
consolidated balance sheet at their fair values. In addition, in the course of normal operations, the Partnership
routinely enters into contracts such as forward priced physical contracts for the purchase or sale of propane and
fuel oil that qualify for and are designated as normal purchase or normal sale contracts. Such contracts are
exempted from the fair value accounting requirements and are accounted for at the time product is purchased or
sold under the related contract. The Partnership does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading
purposes. Market risks associated with futures, options and forward contracts are monitored daily for
compliance with the Partnership’s Hedging and Risk Management Policy which includes volume limits for open
positions. Priced on-hand inventory is also reviewed and managed daily as to exposures to changing market
prices.
On the date that futures, options and forward contracts are entered into, other than those designated as normal
purchases or normal sales, the Partnership makes a determination as to whether the derivative instrument
qualifies for designation as a hedge. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded each period
in current period earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative
instrument is designated as a hedge and, if so, the type of hedge. For derivative instruments designated as cash
flow hedges, the Partnership formally assesses, both at the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis,
whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. Changes in
the fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are reported in OCI to the extent effective
and reclassified into cost of products sold during the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The
mark-to-market gains or losses on ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are recognized in cost of products
sold immediately. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow
hedges, and that do not meet the normal purchase and normal sale exemption, are recorded within cost of
products sold as they occur. Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are reported as operating
activities within the consolidated statement of cash flows.
Interest Rate Risk. A portion of the Partnership’s borrowings bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon,
at the Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR plus an applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of
the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% or the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus the applicable
F-9
margin. The applicable margin is dependent on the level of the Partnership’s total leverage (the ratio of total
debt to income before deducting interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”)).
Therefore, the Partnership is subject to interest rate risk on the variable component of the interest rate. The
Partnership manages part of its variable interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swap agreements. The
interest rate swaps have been designated as, and are accounted for as, cash flow hedges. The fair value of the
interest rate swaps are determined using an income approach, whereby future settlements under the swaps are
converted into a single present value, with fair value being based on the value of current market expectations
about those future amounts. Changes in the fair value are recognized in OCI until the hedged item is recognized
in earnings. However, due to changes in the underlying interest rate environment, the corresponding value in
OCI is subject to change prior to its impact on earnings.
Long-Lived Assets.
Property, plant and equipment. Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and
routine repairs are expensed as incurred while betterments are capitalized as additions to the related assets and
depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. The Partnership capitalizes costs incurred in the acquisition and
modification of computer software used internally, including consulting fees and costs of employees dedicated
solely to a specific project. At the time assets are retired, or otherwise disposed of, the asset and related
accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is recognized within
operating expenses. Depreciation is determined under the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful life
of the asset as follows:
Buildings
Building and land improvements
Transportation equipment
Storage facilities
Office equipment
Tanks and cylinders
Computer software
40 Years
20-40 Years
4-20 Years
7-40 Years
5-10 Years
15-40 Years
3-7 Years
The weighted average estimated useful life of the Partnership’s tanks and cylinders is approximately 25 years.
The Partnership reviews the recoverability of long-lived assets when circumstances occur that indicate that the
carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Such circumstances include a significant adverse change in the
manner in which an asset is being used, current operating losses combined with a history of operating losses
experienced by the asset or a current expectation that an asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of before the end of
its previously estimated useful life. Evaluation of possible impairment is based on the Partnership’s ability to
recover the value of the asset from the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual
disposition of the asset. If the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of such asset, an
impairment loss is recorded as the amount by which the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its fair value. The fair
value of an asset will be measured using the best information available, including prices for similar assets or the
result of using a discounted cash flow valuation technique.
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill
is subject to an impairment review at a reporting unit level, on an annual basis in August of each year, or when
an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate potential impairment. The Partnership assesses the
carrying value of goodwill at a reporting unit level based on an estimate of the fair value of the respective
reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses taking into
consideration estimated cash flows in a ten-year projection period and a terminal value calculation at the end of
the projection period. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill associated
with the reporting unit is not considered to be impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its
fair value, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of the associated goodwill, if
F-10
any, exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill.
Other Intangible Assets. Other intangible assets consist of customer lists, tradenames, non-compete agreements
and leasehold interests. Customer lists and tradenames are amortized under the straight-line method over the
estimated period for which the assets are expected to contribute to the future cash flows of the reporting entities
to which they relate, ending periodically between fiscal years 2012 and 2021. Non-compete agreements are
amortized under the straight-line method over the periods of the related agreements. Leasehold interests are
amortized under the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the related assets,
through fiscal 2025.
Accrued Insurance. Accrued insurance represents the estimated costs of known and anticipated or unasserted
claims for self-insured liabilities related to general and product, workers’ compensation and automobile liability.
Accrued insurance provisions for unasserted claims arising from unreported incidents are based on an analysis of
historical claims data. For each claim, the Partnership records a provision up to the estimated amount of the
probable claim utilizing actuarially determined loss development factors applied to actual claims data. The
Partnership maintains insurance coverage such that its net exposure for insured claims is limited to the insurance
deductible, claims above which are paid by the Partnership’s insurance carriers. For the portion of the estimated
liability that exceeds insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset related to the amount of the liability
expected to be covered by insurance.
Customer Deposits and Advances. The Partnership offers different payment programs to its customers including
the ability to prepay for usage and to make equal monthly payments on account under a budget payment plan. The
Partnership establishes a liability within customer deposits and advances for amounts collected in advance of
deliveries.
Income Taxes. As discussed in Note 1, the Partnership structure consists of two limited partnerships, the
Partnership and the Operating Partnership, and the Corporate Entities. For federal income tax purposes, as well as
for state income tax purposes in the majority of the states in which the Partnership operates, the earnings attributable
to the Partnership and the Operating Partnership are included in the tax returns of the individual partners. As a
result, except for certain states that impose an income tax on partnerships, no income tax expense is reflected in the
Partnership’s consolidated financial statements relating to the earnings of the Partnership and the Operating
Partnership. The earnings attributable to the Corporate Entities are subject to federal and state income taxes. Net
earnings for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to Common
Unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and
the taxable income allocation requirements under the Partnership Agreement.
Income taxes for the Corporate Entities are provided based on the asset and liability approach to accounting for
income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax
consequences of differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted
tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and
liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted. A valuation
allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that the
full amount will not be realized.
Asset Retirement Obligations. Asset retirement obligations apply to legal obligations associated with the
retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal
operation of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. The Partnership has recognized asset
retirement obligations for certain costs to remove and properly dispose of underground and aboveground fuel oil
storage tanks and contractually mandated removal of leasehold improvements.
The Partnership records a liability at fair value for the estimated cost to settle an asset retirement obligation at the
time that liability is incurred, which is generally when the asset is purchased, constructed or leased. The
F-11
Partnership records the liability, which is referred to as the asset retirement obligation, when it has a legal
obligation to incur costs to retire the asset and when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be
made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made at the time the liability is incurred, the Partnership records the
liability when sufficient information is available to estimate the liability’s fair value.
Unit-Based Compensation. The Partnership recognizes compensation cost over the respective service period for
employee services received in exchange for an award of equity or equity-based compensation based on the grant
date fair value of the award. The Partnership measures liability awards under an equity-based payment
arrangement based on remeasurement of the award’s fair value at the conclusion of each interim and annual
reporting period until the date of settlement, taking into consideration the probability that the performance
conditions will be satisfied.
Costs and Expenses. The cost of products sold reported in the consolidated statements of operations represents
the weighted average unit cost of propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as the cost of natural gas and
electricity sold, including transportation costs to deliver product from the Partnership’s supply points to storage
or to the Partnership’s customer service centers. Cost of products sold also includes the cost of appliances,
equipment and related parts sold or installed by the Partnership’s customer service centers computed on a basis
that approximates the average cost of the products. Unrealized (non-cash) gains or losses from changes in the
fair value of derivative instruments that are not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in each reporting
period within cost of products sold. Cost of products sold is reported exclusive of any depreciation and
amortization as such amounts are reported separately within the consolidated statements of operations.
All other costs of operating the Partnership’s retail propane, fuel oil and refined fuels distribution and appliance
sales and service operations, as well as the natural gas and electricity marketing business, are reported within
operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. These operating expenses include the
compensation and benefits of field and direct operating support personnel, costs of operating and maintaining the
vehicle fleet, overhead and other costs of the purchasing, training and safety departments and other direct and
indirect costs of operating the Partnership’s customer service centers.
All costs of back office support functions, including compensation and benefits for executives and other support
functions, as well as other costs and expenses to maintain finance and accounting, treasury, legal, human
resources, corporate development and the information systems functions are reported within general and
administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
Net Income Per Unit. Computations of basic income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income
by the weighted average number of outstanding Common Units, and restricted units granted under the
Partnership’s Restricted Unit Plans, as defined below, to retirement-eligible grantees. Computations of diluted
income per Common Unit are performed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding
Common Units and unvested restricted units granted under the Restricted Unit Plans. In computing diluted net
income per Common Unit, weighted average units outstanding used to compute basic net income per Common
Unit were increased by 238,589, 180,789 and 166,308 units for the years ended September 25, 2010, September
26, 2009 and September 27, 2008, respectively, to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted
units outstanding using the treasury stock method.
Comprehensive Income. The Partnership reports comprehensive (loss) income (the total of net income and all
other non-owner changes in partners’ capital) within the consolidated statement of partners’ capital.
Comprehensive (loss) income includes unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments accounted for as
cash flow hedges, amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and changes in the
funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans.
Reclassifications. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period
presentation.
F-12
Subsequent Events. The Partnership has evaluated all subsequent events that occurred after the balance sheet
date through the date its financial statements were issued, and concluded there were no events or transactions
occurring during this period that required recognition or disclosure in its financial statements.
3. Distributions of Available Cash
The Partnership makes distributions to its partners no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the
Partnership in an aggregate amount equal to its Available Cash for such quarter. Available Cash, as defined in
the Partnership Agreement, generally means all cash on hand at the end of the respective fiscal quarter less the
amount of cash reserves established by the Board of Supervisors in its reasonable discretion for future cash
requirements. These reserves are retained for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, the payment of
debt principal and interest and for distributions during the next four quarters.
The following summarizes the quarterly distributions per Common Unit declared and paid in respect of each of
the quarters in the three fiscal years in the period ended September 25, 2010:
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Fiscal
2010
Fiscal
2009
Fiscal
2008
$
0.8350
0.8400
0.8450
0.8500
$
0.8100
0.8150
0.8250
0.8300
$
0.7625
0.7750
0.8000
0.8050
On October 20, 2010, the Board of Supervisors declared a quarterly distribution of $0.85 per Common Unit, or
$3.40 per Common Unit on an annualized basis, in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, which was paid on
November 9, 2010 to holders of record on November 2, 2010. This quarterly distribution included an increase of
$0.02 per Common Unit on an annualized basis, from the previous distribution rate established in July, 2010, and
a growth rate of 2.4% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
4. Selected Balance Sheet Information
Inventories consist of the following:
Propane and refined fuels
Natural gas
Appliances and related parts
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
$
59,729
107
1,211
61,047
67,293
219
2,646
70,158
$
$
The Partnership enters into contracts to buy propane, fuel oil and natural gas for supply purposes. Such contracts
generally have a term of one year subject to annual renewal, with costs based on market prices at the date of
delivery.
F-13
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
Land and improvements
Buildings and improvements
Transportation equipment
Storage facilities
Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders
Computer systems
Construction in progress
Less: accumulated depreciation
$
$
28,250
80,072
22,959
78,176
481,423
44,705
5,290
740,875
390,455
350,420
28,452
78,189
33,231
76,594
471,787
43,538
2,657
734,448
377,261
357,187
$
$
Depreciation expense for the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008
amounted to $28,411, $28,123 and $26,170, respectively. During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the Partnership
recorded a $1,800 adjustment to accelerate depreciation expense on certain assets taken out of service.
5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Partnership’s fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 annual goodwill impairment review resulted in no adjustments to
the carrying amount of goodwill. During fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, the Partnership reversed $1,385 and $1,277
of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, respectively, which was established through purchase accounting,
as a reduction to goodwill. As a result of the adoption of revised accounting guidance concerning business
combinations, reversals of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance during fiscal 2010 are reflected as a
reduction of deferred tax expense. This adjustment resulted from the utilization of a portion of the net operating
losses established in purchase accounting.
The changes in carrying value of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:
Propane
Fuel oil and
refined fuels
Natural gas
and electricity
Total
Balance as of September 26, 2009
Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses
Balance as of September 25, 2010
Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses
$
$
$
$
262,559
-
262,559
10,900
(6,462)
4,438
7,900
-
7,900
281,359
(6,462)
274,897
$
$
$
$
264,906
-
264,906
$
10,900
(6,462)
4,438
$
7,900
-
7,900
$
283,706
(6,462)
277,244
$
Goodwill acquired during fiscal 2010
2,347
-
-
2,347
F-14
Other intangible assets consist of the following:
Customer lists
Non-compete agreements
Tradenames
Other
Less: accumulated amortization
Customer lists
Non-compete agreements
Tradenames
Other
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
25,761
3,156
1,499
1,967
32,383
$
22,316
-
1,499
1,967
25,782
(12,671)
(107)
(1,012)
(617)
(14,407)
17,976
$
(10,596)
-
(862)
(526)
(11,984)
13,798
$
Aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets for the years ended September 25, 2010,
September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008 was $2,423, $2,220 and $2,224, respectively. Aggregate
amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years related to other intangible assets held as of
September 25, 2010 is as follows: 2011 - $3,113; 2012 - $2,638; 2013 - $2,480; 2014 - $2,145 and 2015 - $1,984.
6. Income Taxes
For federal income tax purposes, as well as for state income tax purposes in the majority of the states in which the
Partnership operates, the earnings attributable to the Partnership, as a separate legal entity, and the Operating
Partnership are not subject to income tax at the partnership level. Rather, the taxable income or loss attributable
to the Partnership, as a separate legal entity, and to the Operating Partnership, which may vary substantially from
the income (loss) before income taxes reported by the Partnership in the consolidated statement of operations, are
includable in the federal and state income tax returns of the individual partners. The aggregate difference in the
basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined as the
Partnership does not have access to information regarding each partner’s basis in the Partnership.
The earnings of the Corporate Entities that do not qualify under the Internal Revenue Code for partnership status
are subject to federal and state income taxes. However, a number of those corporate entities have experienced
operating losses in recent years, therefore, a full valuation allowance has been provided against the deferred tax
assets. As a result, at present, many of those Corporate Entities do not report a tax provision. The conclusion
that a full valuation allowance is necessary was based upon an analysis of all available evidence, both negative and
positive at the balance sheet date, which, taken as a whole, indicates that it is more likely than not that sufficient
future taxable income will not be available to utilize the Partnership’s deferred tax assets. Management’s periodic
reviews include, among other things, the nature and amount of the taxable income and expense items, the expected
timing when assets will be used or liabilities will be required to be reported and the reliability of historical
profitability of businesses expected to provide future earnings. Furthermore, management considered tax-planning
strategies it could use to increase the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realized.
F-15
The income tax provision of all the legal entities included in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of
operations consists of the following:
September 25,
2010
Year Ended
September 26,
2009
September 27,
2008
Current
Federal
State and local
Deferred
$
$
$
177
1,004
1,181
-
1,181
173
928
1,101
1,385
2,486
73
553
626
1,277
1,903
$
$
$
The provision for income taxes differs from income taxes computed at the United States federal statutory rate as
a result of the following:
Income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate
Impact of Partnership income not subject to
federal income taxes
Permanent differences
Change in valuation allowance
State income taxes
Other
Provision for income taxes - current and deferred
September 25,
2010
Year Ended
September 26,
2009
September 27,
2008
$
40,361
$
58,704
$
39,577
(38,808)
2,051
(4,806)
2,247
136
1,181
$
(56,294)
719
(2,048)
1,262
143
2,486
$
(45,323)
1,240
6,930
(572)
51
1,903
$
F-16
The components of net deferred taxes and the related valuation allowance using currently enacted tax rates are as
follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Inventory
Intangible assets
Deferred revenue
Derivative instruments
AMT credit carryforward
Other accruals
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Derivative instruments
Property, plant and equipment
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets
7. Long-Term Borrowings
Short-term and long-term borrowings consist of the following:
7.375% senior notes, due March 15, 2020, net of
unamortized discount of $2,047
6.875% senior notes, due December 15, 2013, net of
unamortized discount of $585
Revolving Credit Agreement, due June 25, 2013
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
33,214
713
1,423
1,362
1,408
700
925
1,726
41,471
$
38,995
679
833
1,523
1,613
-
789
2,915
47,347
-
815
815
40,656
(40,656)
$
-
1,282
603
1,885
45,462
(45,462)
$
-
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
247,953
$
-
-
100,000
347,953
$
249,415
100,000
349,415
$
On March 23, 2010, the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corporation,
completed a public offering of $250,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due March 15,
2020 (the “2020 Senior Notes”). The 2020 Senior Notes were issued at 99.136% of the principal amount. The
net proceeds from the issuance, along with cash on hand, were used to repurchase the 6.875% senior notes due in
2013 (the “2013 Senior Notes”) on March 23, 2010 through a redemption and tender offer. In connection with
the repurchase of the 2013 Senior Notes, the Partnership recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of
$9,473 in fiscal 2010, consisting of $7,231 for the repurchase premium and related fees, as well as the write-off
of $2,242 in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized discount.
The Partnership’s obligations under the 2020 Senior Notes are unsecured and rank senior in right of payment to
any future subordinated indebtedness and equally in right of payment with any future senior indebtedness. The
2020 Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to, which means they rank effectively behind, any debt and other
F-17
liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The 2020 Senior Notes mature on March 15, 2020 and require semi-
annual interest payments in March and September. The Partnership is permitted to redeem some or all of the
2020 Senior Notes any time at redemption prices specified in the indenture governing the 2020 Senior Notes. In
addition, the 2020 Senior Notes have a change of control provision that would require the Partnership to offer to
repurchase the notes at 101% of the principal amount repurchased, if a change of control as defined in the
indenture occurs and is followed by a rating decline (a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody’s
Investors Service or Standard and Poor’s Rating group by one or more gradations) within 90 days of the
consummation of the change of control.
On June 26, 2009, the Operating Partnership executed a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) to provide a
four-year $250,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Credit Agreement replaced the
Operating Partnership’s previous credit facility, which provided for a $108,000 term loan (the “Term Loan”) and
a separate $175,000 working capital facility both of which, as amended, were scheduled to mature in March
2010. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including
working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions until maturity on June 25, 2013. The Operating
Partnership has the right to prepay any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, in whole or in part,
without penalty at any time prior to maturity. At closing, the Operating Partnership borrowed $100,000 under
the Revolving Credit Facility and, along with cash on hand, repaid the $108,000 then outstanding under the Term
Loan and terminated the previous credit facility. In addition, the Partnership has standby letters of credit issued
under the Revolving Credit Facility in the aggregate amount of $58,481 primarily in support of retention levels
under its self-insurance programs, which expire periodically through April 15, 2011. Therefore, as of September
25, 2010 the Partnership had available borrowing capacity of $91,519 under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at prevailing interest rates based upon, at the
Operating Partnership’s option, LIBOR plus the applicable margin or the base rate, defined as the higher of the
Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1%, the agent bank’s prime rate, or LIBOR plus 1%, plus in each case the
applicable margin. The applicable margin is dependent upon the Partnership’s ratio of total debt to EBITDA on
a consolidated basis, as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 25, 2010, the interest rate for
the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 3.5%. The interest rate and the applicable margin will be reset
at the end of each calendar quarter.
The Partnership acts as a guarantor with respect to the obligations of the Operating Partnership under the Credit
Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The obligations under the Credit Agreement
are secured by liens on substantially all of the personal property of the Partnership, the Operating Partnership and
their subsidiaries, as well as mortgages on certain real property.
On July 31, 2009, our Operating Partnership entered into an interest rate swap agreement with an effective date
of March 31, 2010 and termination date of June 25, 2013. Under the interest rate swap agreement, the Operating
Partnership will pay a fixed interest rate of 3.12% to the issuing lender on the notional principal amount
outstanding, effectively fixing the LIBOR portion of the interest rate at 3.12%. In return, the issuing lender will
pay to the Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR, on the same notional principal amount. This
interest rate swap agreement replaced the previous interest rate swap agreement which terminated on March 31,
2010. The interest rate swaps have been designated as a cash flow hedge.
The Revolving Credit Facility and the 2020 Senior Notes both contain various restrictive and affirmative
covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership and the Partnership, respectively, including (i) restrictions on
the incurrence of additional indebtedness, and (ii) restrictions on certain liens, investments, guarantees, loans,
advances, payments, mergers, consolidations, distributions, sales of assets and other transactions. The Revolving
Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants (a) requiring the Partnership’s consolidated interest coverage
ratio, as defined, to be not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; (b) prohibiting the total
consolidated leverage ratio, as defined, of the Partnership from being greater than 4.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any
fiscal quarter; and (c) prohibiting the Operating Partnership’s senior secured consolidated leverage ratio, as
F-18
defined, from being greater than 3.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. Under the indenture governing the
2020 Senior Notes, the Partnership is generally permitted to make cash distributions equal to available cash, as
defined, as of the end of the immediately preceding quarter, if no event of default exists or would exist upon
making such distributions, and the Partnership’s consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined, is greater
than 1.75 to 1. The Partnership and the Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms
of the 2020 Senior Notes and the Revolving Credit Facility as of September 25, 2010.
Debt origination costs representing the costs incurred in connection with the placement of, and the subsequent
amendment to, long-term borrowings are capitalized within other assets and amortized on a straight-line basis
over the term of the respective debt agreements. Other assets at September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009
include debt origination costs with a net carrying amount of $9,157 and $7,136, respectively. In connection with
the repurchase of the 2013 Senior Notes, $1,722 and $1,385 of debt origination costs were written-off in the
second quarter of fiscal 2010 and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, respectively.
The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to September 25, 2010 are as follows: 2010
through 2012: $-0-; 2013: $100,000; 2014: $-0-; and thereafter: $250,000.
Under the previous credit facility, proceeds from the sale, transfer or other disposition of any asset of the
Operating Partnership, other than the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business, in excess of $15,000
was required to be used to acquire productive assets within twelve months of receipt of the proceeds. Any
proceeds not used within twelve months of receipt to acquire productive assets were required to be used to
prepay the outstanding principal of the Term Loan. On September 26, 2008 and November 10, 2008, the
Operating Partnership prepaid $15,000 and $2,000, respectively, on the Term Loan with the net proceeds from
the sale of the Tirzah storage facility that were not used to acquire productive assets within twelve months of
receipt.
8. Unit-Based Compensation Arrangements
As described in Note 2, the Partnership recognizes compensation cost over the respective service period for
employee services received in exchange for an award of equity, or equity-based compensation, based on the grant
date fair value of the award. The Partnership measures liability awards under an equity-based payment
arrangement based on remeasurement of the award’s fair value at the conclusion of each interim and annual
reporting period until the date of settlement, taking into consideration the probability that the performance
conditions will be satisfied.
Restricted Unit Plans. In fiscal 2000 and fiscal 2009, the Partnership adopted the Suburban Propane Partners,
L.P. 2000 Restricted Unit Plan and 2009 Restricted Unit Plan (collectively, the “Restricted Unit Plans”),
respectively, which authorizes the issuance of Common Units to executives, managers and other employees and
members of the Board of Supervisors of the Partnership. The total number of Common Units authorized for
issuance under the Restricted Unit Plans was 1,917,805 as of September 25, 2010. Unless otherwise stipulated
by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, Restricted
Units issued under the Restricted Unit Plans vest over time with 25% of the Common Units vesting at the end of
each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date and the remaining 50% of the Common Units vesting
at the end of the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The Restricted Unit Plans participants are not eligible to
receive quarterly distributions on, or vote their respective restricted units until vested. Restricted units cannot be
sold or transferred prior to vesting. The value of the restricted unit is established by the market price of the
Common Unit on the date of grant, net of estimated future distributions during the vesting period. Restricted
units are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances as defined in the Restricted Unit Plans. Compensation
expense for the unvested awards is recognized ratably over the vesting periods and is net of estimated forfeitures.
F-19
The following is a summary of activity in the Restricted Unit Plans:
Outstanding September 29, 2007
Granted
Forfeited
Vested
Outstanding September 27, 2008
Granted
Forfeited
Vested
Outstanding September 26, 2009
Granted
Forfeited
Vested
Outstanding September 25, 2010
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Unit
$28.85
35.19
(27.17)
(30.52)
30.57
18.10
(31.92)
(27.81)
28.89
32.11
(30.31)
(30.37)
$29.67
Units
383,090
125,912
(11,359)
(51,128)
446,515
68,799
(28,382)
(71,637)
415,295
160,771
(4,693)
(90,106)
481,267
As of September 25, 2010, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under
the Restricted Unit Plans amounted to $5,564. Compensation cost associated with the unvested awards is
expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. Compensation expense for the Restricted
Unit Plans for years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008 was $4,005, $2,396
and $2,156, respectively.
Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Partnership has a non-qualified, unfunded long-term incentive plan for officers
and key employees (the “LTIP”) which provides for payment, in the form of cash, for an award of equity-based
compensation at the end of a three-year performance period. The level of compensation earned under the LTIP is
based on the market performance of the Partnership’s Common Units on the basis of total return to Unitholders
(“TRU”) compared to the TRU of a predetermined peer group comprised of other publicly traded partnerships
(master limited partnerships), as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of
Supervisors, over the same three-year performance period. Compensation expense, which includes adjustments to
previously recognized compensation expense for current period changes in the fair value of unvested awards, for
the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008 was $3,058, $3,402 and
$1,859, respectively. The cash payouts in fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, which related to the fiscal
2007, fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 awards, were $2,697, $2,741 and $2,720, respectively.
9. Compensation Deferral Plan
The Compensation Deferral Plan provided eligible employees of the Partnership the ability to defer receipt of all
or a portion of vested restricted units granted under a prior restricted unit award plan. These units were held in
trust on behalf of the individuals. During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, the remaining 292,682 Common
Units were distributed to the participants resulting in the satisfaction of the deferred compensation obligation of
$5,660, classified in partners’ capital and a corresponding reduction to common units held in trust, classified as a
contra-equity balance within partners’ capital.
10. Employee Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plan. The Partnership has an employee Retirement Savings and Investment Plan (the
“401(k) Plan”) covering most employees. Employer matching contributions relating to the 401(k) Plan are a
percentage of the participating employees’ elective contributions. The percentage of the Partnership’s contributions
F-20
are based on a sliding scale depending on the Partnership’s achievement of annual performance targets. These
contributions totaled $2,504, $5,676 and $1,190 for the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and
September 27, 2008, respectively.
Defined Pension and Retiree Health and Life Benefits Arrangements
Pension Benefits. The Partnership has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which was originally
designed to cover all eligible employees of the Partnership who met certain requirements as to age and length of
service. Effective January 1, 1998, the Partnership amended its defined benefit pension plan to provide benefits
under a cash balance formula as compared to a final average pay formula which was in effect prior to January 1,
1998. Effective January 1, 2000, participation in the defined benefit pension plan was limited to eligible existing
participants on that date with no new participants eligible to participate in the plan. On September 20, 2002, the
Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the defined benefit pension plan whereby, effective January 1,
2003, future service credits ceased and eligible employees receive interest credits only toward their ultimate
retirement benefit.
Contributions, as needed, are made to a trust maintained by the Partnership. Contributions to the defined benefit
pension plan are made by the Partnership in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
minimum funding standards plus additional amounts made at the discretion of the Partnership, which may be
determined from time to time. There were no minimum funding requirements for the defined benefit pension plan
for fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008. During the last decade, cash balance plans came under increased scrutiny which
resulted in litigation pertaining to the cash balance feature and the IRS issued additional regulations governing
these types of plans. In fiscal 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its review of the
Partnership’s defined benefit pension plan and issued a favorable determination letter pertaining to the cash
balance formula. However, there can be no assurances that future legislative developments will not have an
adverse effect on the Partnership’s results of operations or cash flows.
Retiree Health and Life Benefits. The Partnership provides postretirement health care and life insurance benefits
for certain retired employees. Partnership employees hired prior to July 1993 are eligible for postretirement life
insurance benefits if they reach a specified retirement age while working for the Partnership. Partnership employees
hired prior to July 1993 and who retired prior to March 1998 are eligible for postretirement health care benefits if
they reached a specified retirement age while working for the Partnership. Effective January 1, 2000, the Partnership
terminated its postretirement health care benefit plan for all eligible employees retiring after March 1, 1998. All
active employees who were eligible to receive health care benefits under the postretirement plan subsequent to
March 1, 1998, were provided an increase to their accumulated benefits under the cash balance pension plan. The
Partnership’s postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plans are unfunded. Effective January 1, 2006,
the Partnership changed its postretirement health care plan from a self-insured program to one that is fully insured
under which the Partnership pays a portion of the insurance premium on behalf of the eligible participants.
The Partnership recognizes the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans as an asset or
liability on the balance sheet and recognizes changes in the funded status in comprehensive income (loss) in the
year the changes occur. The Partnership uses the date of its consolidated financial statements as the
measurement date of plan assets and obligations.
Projected Benefit Obligation, Fair Value of Plan Assets and Funded Status. The following tables provide a
reconciliation of the changes in the benefit obligations and the fair value of the plan assets for each of the years
ended September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009 and a statement of the funded status for both years. Under the
Partnership’s cash balance defined benefit pension plan, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected
benefit obligation are the same.
F-21
Reconciliation of benefit obligations:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Settlement payments
Benefits paid
Benefit obligation at end of year
Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Employer contributions
Settlement payments
Benefits paid
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status:
Funded status at end of year
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance
sheets consist of:
Net amount recognized at end of year
Less: Current portion
Non-current benefit liability
Pension Benefits
Retiree Health and Life
Benefits
2010
2009
2010
2009
$
$
$
$
157,187
-
7,503
9,059
(7,889)
(8,234)
157,626
140,055
15,957
-
(7,889)
(8,234)
139,889
$
$
135,195
-
9,488
26,888
(6,130)
(8,254)
157,187
135,327
19,112
-
(6,130)
(8,254)
140,055
$
$
$
$
21,127
7
1,013
285
-
(1,500)
20,932
19,076
5
1,381
2,409
-
(1,744)
21,127
$
$
-
$
-
1,500
-
(1,500)
$
-
-
$
-
1,744
-
(1,744)
-
$
$
(17,737)
$
(17,132)
$
(20,932)
$
(21,127)
$
$
(17,737)
-
(17,737)
$
$
(17,132)
-
(17,132)
$
$
(20,932)
1,620
(19,312)
$
$
(21,127)
1,748
(19,379)
Amounts not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost and
included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Actuarial net (loss) gain
Prior service credits
Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive
(loss) income
$
(56,267)
-
$
(63,278)
-
$
2,492
2,848
$
2,842
3,338
$
(56,267)
$
(63,278)
$
5,340
$
6,180
The losses (gains) in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 25, 2010 that are expected to be
recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs during fiscal 2011 are $4,721 and ($525) for pension and
postretirement benefits, respectively.
Plan Assets. The Partnership’s investment policies and strategies, as set forth in the Investment Management
Policy and Guidelines, are monitored by a Benefits Committee comprised of five members of management. The
Partnership employs a liability driven investment strategy, which seeks to increase the correlation of the plan’s
assets and liabilities to reduce the volatility of the plan’s funded status. This strategy has resulted in an asset
allocation that is largely comprised of investments in funds of fixed income securities. The target asset mix is as
follows: (i) fixed income securities portion of the portfolio should range between 75% and 95%; and (ii) equity
securities portion of the portfolio should range between 5% and 25%.
F-22
The following table presents the actual allocation of assets held in trust as of September 25, 2010 and September
26, 2009:
Fixed income securities
Equity securities
2010
86%
14%
100%
2009
92%
8%
100%
In September 2010, the Partnership adopted a new accounting standard requiring expanded disclosures for assets of
defined benefit pension plans. The fair values of the Partnership’s pension plan assets are measured using Level 2
inputs. The assets of the defined benefit pension plan have no significant concentration of risk and there are no
restrictions on these investments.
The following table describes the measurement of the Partnership’s pension plan assets by asset category:
Short term investments (1)
Equity securities: (1) (2)
Domestic
International
Fixed income securities (1) (3)
As of September
25, 2010
$
1,259
13,042
6,563
119,025
139,889
$
(1) Includes funds which are not publicly traded and are valued at the net asset value of the units provided by
the fund issuer.
(2) Includes funds which invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of publicly traded US and Non-US common
stock.
(3) Includes funds which invest primarily in government bonds and publicly traded and non-publicly traded,
investment grade corporate bonds and asset-backed securities.
Projected Contributions and Benefit Payments. There are no projected minimum funding requirements under
the Partnership’s defined benefit pension plan for fiscal 2011. Estimated future benefit payments for both pension
and retiree health and life benefits are as follows:
Fiscal Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016 through 2020
Pension
Benefits
$
25,844
13,682
13,379
12,820
12,198
52,927
Retiree
Health and
Life
Benefits
$
1,620
1,571
1,502
1,436
1,361
5,519
F-23
Effect on Operations. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs included in
operating expenses for the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008:
Pension Benefits
2009
2008
2010
Retiree Health and Life Benefits
2010
2008
2009
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service credit
Settlement charge
Recognized net actuarial loss
Net periodic benefit costs
$
-
7,503
(8,080)
-
2,818
5,374
7,615
$
$
-
9,487
(9,205)
-
-
4,050
4,332
$
$
-
8,749
(9,082)
-
-
3,375
3,042
$
$
7
1,013
-
(490)
-
(65)
465
$
$
4
1,381
-
(490)
-
(312)
583
$
$
8
1,399
-
(490)
-
-
917
$
During fiscal 2010, lump sum pension settlement payments to either terminated or retired individuals amounted
to $7,889, which exceeded the settlement threshold (combined service and interest costs of net periodic pension
cost) of $7,503 for fiscal 2010, and as a result, the Partnership was required to recognize a non-cash settlement
charge of $2,818 during fiscal 2010. The non-cash charge was required to accelerate recognition of a portion of
cumulative unamortized losses in the defined benefit pension plan. During fiscal 2009 and 2008, the amount of
the pension benefit obligation settled through lump sum payments did not exceed the settlement threshold;
therefore, a settlement charge was not required to be recognized in either of those fiscal years.
Actuarial Assumptions. The assumptions used in the measurement of the Partnership’s benefit obligations as of
September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009 are shown in the following table:
Pension Benefits
2010
2009
Retiree Health and
Life Benefits
2010
2009
Weighted-average discount rate
Average rate of compensation increase
4.750%
n/a
5.125%
n/a
4.250%
n/a
5.000%
n/a
The assumptions used in the measurement of net periodic pension benefit and postretirement benefit costs for the
years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008 are shown in the following table:
Pension Benefits
2009
2008
2010
Retiree Health and Life Benefits
2010
2008
2009
Weighted-average discount rate
Average rate of compensation
increase
Weighted-average expected long-
term rate of return on plan assets
Health care cost trend
5.125%
7.625%
6.000%
5.000%
7.625%
6.000%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
6.250%
n/a
7.390%
n/a
6.000%
n/a
n/a
8.150%
n/a
9.000%
n/a
9.500%
The discount rate assumption takes into consideration current market expectations related to long-term interest
rates and the projected duration of the Partnership’s pension obligations based on a benchmark index with similar
characteristics as the expected cash flow requirements of the Partnership’s defined benefit pension plan over the
long-term. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption reflects estimated future performance
in the Partnership’s pension asset portfolio considering the investment mix of the pension asset portfolio and
historical asset performance. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term
rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets. The market-related value of pension
plan assets is the fair value of the assets. Unrecognized actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10% of the greater
F-24
of the projected benefit obligation and the market-related value of plan assets are amortized over the expected
average remaining service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.
The 7.95% increase in health care costs assumed at September 25, 2010 is assumed to decrease gradually to 4.48%
in fiscal 2028 and to remain at that level thereafter. An increase or decrease of the assumed health care cost trend
rates by 1.0% in each year would have no material impact to the Partnership’s benefit obligation as of September 25,
2010 nor the aggregate of service and interest components of net periodic postretirement benefit expense for the
year ended September 25, 2010. The Partnership has concluded that the prescription drug benefits within the retiree
medical plan do not entitle the Partnership to an available Medicare subsidy.
11. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is not materially different from their
carrying amount because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The notional amount of the Partnership’s outstanding
derivative instruments includes the following (gallons in thousands):
Transaction Type
Commodity Options
Commodity Futures
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
1,192
18,270
6,467
15,330
The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange-traded options and futures contracts using Level 1 inputs,
the fair value of its interest rate swaps using Level 2 inputs and the fair value of its over-the-counter options
contracts using Level 3 inputs. The Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are valued based on an
internal option model. The inputs utilized in the model are based on publicly available information as well as
broker quotes.
F-25
The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the
consolidated balance sheet as of September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, respectively:
Asset Derivatives
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments:
Commodity options
As of September 25, 2010
Location
Fair Value
As of September 26, 2009
Location
Fair Value
Other current assets
Other assets
$
2,601
-
Other current assets
Other assets
$
6,398
241
Commodity futures
Other current assets
Other assets
22
-
2,623
$
Other current assets
Other assets
2,845
248
9,732
$
Liability Derivatives
Derivatives designated as hedging
instruments:
Interest rate swaps
Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments:
Commodity options
Location
Fair Value
Location
Fair Value
Other current liabilities
Other liabilities
$
$
2,740
3,561
6,301
Other current liabilities
Other liabilities
$
$
3,351
840
4,191
Other current liabilities
Other liabilities
641
$
-
Other current liabilities
Other liabilities
$
4,060
175
Commodity futures
Other current liabilities
1,838
2,479
$
Other current liabilities
784
5,019
$
The following summarizes the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of assets and liabilities
measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs:
Fair Value Measurement Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fiscal 2010
Fiscal 2009
Beginning balance of over-the-counter options
Beginning balance realized during the period
Change in the fair value of beginning balance
Contracts purchased during the period
Change in the fair value of contracts purchased during the period
Ending balance of over-the-counter options
Assets
$
1,675
(1,434)
(241)
2,029
(520)
1,509
$
Liabilities
$
844
(844)
-
142
(112)
30
$
Assets
$
-
-
-
2,536
(861)
1,675
$
Liabilities
$
-
-
-
926
(82)
844
$
As of September 25, 2010, the Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives mature during fiscal
2011, and have a weighted average maturity of approximately 3 months. As of September 26, 2009, the
Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives were scheduled to mature between fiscal 2010 and
fiscal 2011, and had a weighted average maturity of approximately 7 months.
F-26
The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the consolidated statement of operations for the years
ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008 are as follows:
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:
Year ended 9/25/2010
Interest rate swap
Year ended 9/26/2009
Interest rate swap
Year ended 9/27/2008
Interest rate swap
Forwards
OCI (Effective
Portion)
(Effective Portion)
Location
Amount
$
(2,109)
Interest expense
$
-
$
(991)
Interest expense
$
-
$
$
(2,916)
-
(2,916)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Year ended 9/25/2010
Options
Futures
Year ended 9/26/2009
Options
Futures
Year ended 9/27/2008
Options
Futures
Location of Gains
(Losses) Recognized in
Income
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold
Cost of products sold
Interest expense
Cost of products sold
-
$
1,377
1,377
$
Amount of
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
Recognized in
Income
$ (1,275)
(4,125)
$ (5,400)
$ (589)
2,302
$ 1,713
$ 2,011
(247)
$ 1,764
Credit Risk. The Partnership’s principal customers are residential and commercial end users of propane and
fuel oil and refined fuels served by approximately 300 locations in 30 states. No single customer accounted for
more than 10% of revenues during fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008 and no concentration of receivables exists as of
September 25, 2010 or September 26, 2009. During fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, three suppliers provided
approximately 38%, 40% and 35%, respectively, of the Partnership’s total propane supply. The Partnership believes
that, if supplies from any of these three suppliers were interrupted, it would be able to secure adequate propane
supplies from other sources without a material disruption of its operations.
Exchange traded futures and options contracts are traded on and guaranteed by the New York Mercantile
Exchange (the “NYMEX”) and as a result, have minimal credit risk. Futures contracts traded with brokers of the
NYMEX require daily cash settlements in margin accounts. The Partnership is subject to credit risk with over-
the-counter option contracts entered into with various third parties to the extent the counterparties do not
perform. The Partnership evaluates the financial condition of each counterparty with which it conducts business
and establishes credit limits to reduce exposure to credit risk based on non-performance. The Partnership does
not require collateral to support the contracts.
F-27
Bank Debt and Senior Notes. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility approximates the carrying value
since the interest rates are adjusted quarterly to reflect market conditions. Based upon quoted market prices, the
fair value of the Partnership’s 2020 Senior Notes was $269,375 as of September 25, 2010.
12. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments. The Partnership leases certain property, plant and equipment, including portions of the
Partnership’s vehicle fleet, for various periods under noncancelable leases. Rental expense under operating leases
was $17,561, $17,254 and $17,739 for the years ended September 25, 2010, September 26, 2009 and September 27,
2008, respectively.
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 25, 2010 are
as follows:
Fiscal Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016 and thereafter
Contingencies.
Minimum
Lease
Payments
$ 15,112
11,916
9,844
8,357
6,063
4,830
Self Insurance. As discussed in Note 2, the Partnership is self-insured for general and product, workers’
compensation and automobile liabilities up to predetermined amounts above which third party insurance applies. At
September 25, 2010 and September 26, 2009, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $55,445 and $52,248,
respectively, representing the total estimated losses under these self-insurance programs. The Partnership is also
involved in various legal actions which have arisen in the normal course of business, including those relating to
commercial transactions and product liability. Management believes, based on the advice of legal counsel, that the
ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial position or
future results of operations, after considering its self-insurance liability for known and unasserted self-insurance
claims, as well as existing insurance policies in force. For the portion of the estimated liability that exceeds
insurance deductibles, the Partnership records an asset within other assets (or prepaid expenses and other current
assets, as applicable) related to the amount of the liability expected to be covered by insurance which amounted
to $17,990 and $14,812 as of September 25, 2010 and September 26 2009, respectively.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Partnership agreed to settle a litigation involving alleged product
liability for approximately $30,000. The settlement was covered by insurance above the level of the Partnership’s
deductible. As a result of this settlement, in which the Partnership denied any liability, the Partnership increased
the portion of its estimated self-insurance liability that exceeded the insurance deductible and established a
corresponding asset of $30,000 as of September 27, 2008 to accrue for the settlement and subsequent
reimbursement from the Partnership’s third party insurance carrier. During fiscal 2009, the Partnership fully paid
the $30,000 to the claimants in this matter and was reimbursed for the same amount from the Partnership’s third
party insurance carrier.
13. Guarantees
The Partnership has residual value guarantees associated with certain of its operating leases, related primarily to
transportation equipment, with remaining lease periods scheduled to expire periodically through fiscal 2017.
Upon completion of the lease period, the Partnership guarantees that the fair value of the equipment will equal or
F-28
exceed the guaranteed amount, or the Partnership will pay the lessor the difference. Although the fair value of
equipment at the end of its lease term has historically exceeded the guaranteed amounts, the maximum potential
amount of aggregate future payments the Partnership could be required to make under these leasing
arrangements, assuming the equipment is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, is approximately $8,183.
The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of September 25,
2010 and September 26, 2009.
14. Public Offerings
On August 10, 2009, the Partnership sold 2,200,000 Common Units in a public offering at a price of $41.50 per
Common Unit realizing proceeds of $86,700, net of underwriting commissions and other offering expenses. On
August 24, 2009, following the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option, the Partnership sold
an additional 230,934 Common Units at $41.50 per Common Unit, generating additional net proceeds of $9,180.
The aggregate net proceeds of $95,880, along with cash on hand, were used to fund the purchase of $175,000
aggregate principal amount of 2003 Senior Notes pursuant to a cash tender offer. These transactions increased
the total number of Common Units outstanding by 2,430,934 to 35,227,954.
15. Discontinued Operations and Disposition
The Partnership continuously evaluates its existing operations to identify opportunities to optimize the return on
assets employed and selectively divests operations in slower growing or non-strategic markets and seeks to
reinvest in markets that are considered to present more opportunities for growth. In line with that strategy, on
October 2, 2007, the Operating Partnership completed the sale of its Tirzah, South Carolina underground granite
propane storage cavern, and associated 62-mile pipeline, for $53,715 in cash, after taking into account certain
adjustments. The 57.5 million gallon underground storage cavern is connected to the Dixie Pipeline and provides
propane storage for the eastern United States. As part of the agreement, the Operating Partnership entered into a
long-term storage arrangement, not to exceed 7 million propane gallons, with the purchaser of the cavern that
will enable the Operating Partnership to continue to meet the needs of its retail operations, consistent with past
practices. As a result of this sale, a gain of $43,707 was reported as a gain from the disposal of discontinued
operations in the Partnership’s results for the first quarter of fiscal 2008.
16. Segment Information
The Partnership manages and evaluates its operations in five operating segments, three of which are reportable
segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels and Natural Gas and Electricity. The chief operating decision
maker evaluates performance of the operating segments using a number of performance measures, including
gross margins and income before interest expense and provision for income taxes (operating profit). Costs
excluded from these profit measures are captured in Corporate and include corporate overhead expenses not
allocated to the operating segments. Unallocated corporate overhead expenses include all costs of back office
support functions that are reported as general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of
operations. In addition, certain costs associated with field operations support that are reported in operating
expenses within the consolidated statements of operations, including purchasing, training and safety, are not
allocated to the individual operating segments. Thus, operating profit for each operating segment includes only
the costs that are directly attributable to the operations of the individual segment. The accounting policies of the
operating segments are otherwise the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies
in Note 2.
The propane segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane to residential, commercial,
industrial and agricultural customers and, to a lesser extent, wholesale distribution to large industrial end users.
In the residential and commercial markets, propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating, cooking
and clothes drying. Industrial customers use propane generally as a motor fuel burned in internal combustion
engines that power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts and stationary engines, to fire furnaces and as a cutting gas.
F-29
In the agricultural markets, propane is primarily used for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding and weed
control.
The fuel oil and refined fuels segment is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene
and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and
buildings.
The natural gas and electricity segment is engaged in the marketing of natural gas and electricity to residential
and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. Under this
operating segment, the Partnership owns the relationship with the end consumer and has agreements with the
local distribution companies to deliver the natural gas or electricity from the Partnership’s suppliers to the
customer.
Activities in the “all other” category include the Partnership’s service business, which is primarily engaged in the
sale, installation and servicing of a wide variety of home comfort equipment, particularly in the areas of heating
and ventilation, and activities from the Partnership’s HomeTown Hearth & Grill and Suburban Franchising
subsidiaries.
F-30
The following table presents certain data by reportable segment and provides a reconciliation of total operating
segment information to the corresponding consolidated amounts for the periods presented:
September 25,
2010
Year Ended
September 26,
2009
September 27,
2008
Revenues:
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Total revenues
Income (loss) before interest expense and
provision for income taxes:
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Corporate
Total income before interest expense and
provision for income taxes
Reconciliation to income from continuing
operations
Loss on debt extinguishment
Interest expense, net
Provision for income taxes
Depreciation and amortization:
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Corporate
Income from continuing operations
$
Assets:
Propane
Fuel oil and refined fuels
Natural gas and electricity
All other
Corporate
Eliminations
Total assets
$
$
$
885,459
135,059
77,587
38,589
1,136,694
864,012
159,596
76,832
42,714
1,143,154
$
$
$
1,132,950
288,078
103,745
49,390
1,574,163
$
230,717
11,589
11,629
(17,995)
(82,572)
$
268,969
17,950
12,791
(16,346)
(72,749)
$
219,546
(2,825)
9,812
(16,044)
(60,361)
153,368
210,615
150,128
9,473
27,397
1,182
115,316
4,624
38,267
2,486
165,238
$
-
37,052
1,903
111,173
$
$
$
$
15,515
3,381
1,008
391
8,099
28,394
15,951
4,253
1,008
436
8,695
30,343
681,809
83,416
17,540
2,876
279,854
(87,981)
977,514
As of
September 25,
2010
September 26,
2009
$
$
$
$
17,505
3,277
970
261
8,821
30,834
693,699
57,681
21,552
3,042
282,267
(87,981)
970,260
F-31
Total depreciation and amortization
$
$
$
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts – Years Ended September 25, 2010,
September 26, 2009 and September 27, 2008...........................................................................
S-2
Page
S-1
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in thousands)
SCHEDULE II
Balance at
Beginning
of Period
Charged
(credited) to Costs
and Expenses
Other
Additions
Deductions (a)
Balance
at End
of Period
Year Ended September 27, 2008
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
$
5,041
43,296
$
9,166
6,930
-
$
-
$
(7,629)
(1,331)
$
6,578
48,895
Year Ended September 26, 2009
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
$
6,578
48,895
$
3,284
(2,048)
-
$
-
$
(5,488)
(1,385)
$
4,374
45,462
Year Ended September 25, 2010
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
$
4,374
45,462
$
5,141
(4,806)
-
$
-
$
(4,112)
-
$
5,403
40,656
(a) Represents amounts that did not impact earnings.
S-2
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
(as of November 24, 2010)
SUBURBAN LP HOLDING, INC. (Delaware)
SUBURBAN LP HOLDING, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN PROPANE, L. P. (Delaware)
SUBURBAN SALES & SERVICE, INC. (Delaware)
GAS CONNECTION, LLC (Oregon) (d/b/a HomeTown Hearth & Grill)
SUBURBAN FRANCHISING, LLC (Nevada)
SUBURBAN ENERGY FINANCE CORP. (Delaware)
SUBURBAN PLUMBING NEW JERSEY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN HEATING OIL PARTNERS, LLC (Delaware) (d/b/a Suburban Propane)
AGWAY ENERGY SERVICES, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN ALBANY PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN BUTLER MONROE STREET PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN CANTON ROUTE 11 PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN CHAMBERSBURG FIFTH AVENUE PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN ELLENBURG DEPOT PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN GETTYSBURG PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN LEWISTOWN PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN MA SURPLUS PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN MARCY PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN MIDDLETOWN NORTH STREET PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN NEW MILFORD SMITH STREET PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN NJ PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN NJ SURPLUS PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN NY PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN NY SURPLUS PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN PA PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN PA SURPLUS PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN ROCHESTER PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN SODUS PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN TEMPLE PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN TOWANDA PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN VERBANK PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN VINELAND PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN VT PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN WALTON PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN WASHINGTON PROPERTY, LLC (Delaware)
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-
161221 and 333-165368) and Form S-8 (No. 333-160768) of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. of our report dated
November 24, 2010 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, New Jersey
November 24, 2010
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
EXHIBIT 31.1
I, Michael J. Dunn, Jr., certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during
the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Supervisors:
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
November 24, 2010
By: /s/ MICHAEL J. DUNN, JR.
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
EXHIBIT 31.2
I, Michael A. Stivala, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the
periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during
the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s Board of Supervisors:
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
November 24, 2010
By: /s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
Michael A. Stivala
Chief Financial Officer
Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
EXHIBIT 32.1
In connection with the Annual Report of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-K for
the period ended September 25, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
(the “Report”), I, Michael J. Dunn, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership, certify, pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
and results of operations of the Partnership.
By: /s/ MICHAEL J. DUNN, JR.
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 24, 2010
This certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
EXHIBIT 32.2
In connection with the Annual Report of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-K for
the period ended September 25, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
(the “Report”), I, Michael A. Stivala, Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
and results of operations of the Partnership.
By: /s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
Michael A. Stivala
Chief Financial Officer
November 24, 2010
This certification shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
SUBURBAN EXECUTIVE
MANAGEMENT
UNITHOLDER
INFORMATION
Executive Management
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael A. Stivala
Chief Financial Officer
Michael M. Keating
Senior Vice President — Administration
A. Davin D'Ambrosio
Vice President and Treasurer
Paul Abel
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Mark Anton II
Vice President — Business Development
Steven C. Boyd
Vice President — Field Operations
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Vice President — Product Supply
Neil E. Scanlon
Vice President — Information Services
Mark Wienberg
Vice President — Operational Support and Analysis
Michael A. Kuglin
Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Board of Supervisors
Harold R. Logan, Jr.*
Chairman
John D. Collins*
Dudley C. Mecum*
John Hoyt Stookey*
Jane Swift*
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
* Member of both the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee
Exchange Listing
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. common units are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker
symbol SPH.
Transfer Agent/Unitholder Records
Computershare Investor Services
By Mail:
Computershare Investor Services
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
United States of America
By Overnight Delivery:
Computershare Investor Services
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
United States of America
Telephone: +1 781-575-2724
Web Address: www.computershare.com
Investor Information
Copies of Annual Reports, Interim Reports and other
publications are available without charge from:
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
Investor Relations
P.O. Box 206
Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206
Telephone: 973-503-9252
Web Address: www.suburbanpropane.com
Refer to our website for:
(cid:129) Company news, including the scheduling of analyst calls
(cid:129) Earnings releases
(cid:129) K-1’s
It is anticipated that K-1’s will be available on our website and
mailed to each Unitholder in late February 2011.
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
One Suburban Plaza (cid:129) 240 Route 10 West
P.O. Box 206
Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206
www.suburbanpropane.com