2013 Annual Report
Our Business is Customer Satisfaction
Partnership Profile
A Master Limited Partnership since 1996, Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH) has been in the
customer service business since 1928. A value and growth-oriented company headquartered in Whippany, New
Jersey, Suburban is managed for long-term, consistent performance.
Suburban is a nationwide marketer and distributor of a diverse array of energy-related products, specializing
in propane, fuel oil and refined fuels, as well as marketing natural gas and electricity in deregulated markets.
With approximately 4,000 full-time employees, Suburban maintains business operations in 41 states, providing
dependable service to more than 1.2 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers
through more than 750 company-owned locations.
According to Department of Energy statistics, approximately 5 percent of U.S. households depend on propane
as their primary space heating fuel and about 6 percent utilize fuel oil as their main heating fuel. Propane is an
abundant, clean-burning, environmentally safe fuel with 100 percent of Suburban’s supply produced in North
America.
As one of the largest retail marketers of propane in the United States, Suburban had retail propane sales of 534.6
million gallons in fiscal 2013. In addition, Suburban sold 53.7 million gallons of fuel oil and other refined fuels.
It is the mission of Suburban Propane to:
• Lead the industry in customer satisfaction by offering the highest level of total value
• Treat employees fairly and create a work environment that offers challenge, opportunity and rewards
• Maintain the highest level of safety standards for the well-being of our employees, customers and
communities
• Deliver sustainable, profitable growth opportunities and increasing value to our investors
The graph to the right compares the
performance of our Common Units with the
performance of the S&P 500 Index, the Alerian
MLP Index and a peer group index for the
period of the five fiscal years commencing
September 27, 2008. The graph assumes
that at the beginning of the period, $100 was
invested in each of (1) our Common Units, (2)
the S&P 500 Index, (3) the Alerian MLP Index,
and (4)the peer group, and that all distributions
or dividends were reinvested.
We do not believe that any published industry
or line-of-business index accurately reflects
our business. Accordingly, we have created a
special peer group index consisting of other
propane-marketing companies whose common
units are publicly traded on the NYSE. The
peer group is composed of the following
2 companies: Amerigas Partners, L.P. and
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
$0$63$125$188$2509/27/20089/26/20099/25/20109/24/20119/29/20129/28/2013Comparison of Cumulative ReturnSuburban Propane Partners LPS&P 500 IndexNYSE Composite IndexAlerian MLP IndexPeer Group Index$0$63$125$188$250200820092010201120122013Comparison of Cumulative ReturnSuburban Propane Partners LPS&P 500 IndexAlerian MLP IndexPeer Group IndexASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEP. 27, 2008ASSUMES DIVIDENDS REINVESTEDFISCAL YEAR ENDING SEP. 28, 2013ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON SEP. 27, 2008ASSUMES DIVIDENDS REINVESTEDFISCAL YEAR ENDING SEP. 28, 2013 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 28, 2013
[ ] 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. [ ]
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 30, 2013 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 ($44.50 per unit), was approximately $2,541,902,000.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
Total number of pages (excluding Exhibits): 138
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.
1
BUSINESS......................................................................................................................
RISK FACTORS.............................................................................................................
10
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS........................................................................... 22
PROPERTIES.................................................................................................................. 22
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS................................................................................................ 22
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES...................................................................................... 23
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......................... 24
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA................................................................................... 25
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.......................................................
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK..................................................................................…..................…..
49
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA...........................…. 52
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE….......................................…...… 55
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES................................................................................ 55
56
OTHER INFORMATION...............................................................................................
28
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 14.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE...... 57
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION............................................................…................... 63
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS........................ 87
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE….................................................................................... 89
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.............................................…. 90
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES............................................... 91
SIGNATURES............................................................…........................................................................... 92
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 cost savings expected from the Partnership’s acquisition of the retail propane operations formerly owned by
Inergy, L.P. (the ―Inergy Propane Acquisition‖) may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time
frame;
The revenue gained by the Partnership from the Inergy Propane Acquisition may be lower than expected;
The costs of integrating the business acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition into the Partnership’s existing
operations may be greater than expected;
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 laws that could adversely affect the tax treatment of the Partnership for 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, including but not limited
to Inergy Propane;
The impact of current conditions in the global capital and credit markets, and general economic pressures;
The operating, legal and regulatory risks Suburban may face; 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.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Development of Business
PART I
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 2013, and after considering the effect of, among other transactions in the propane industry, the
Inergy Propane Acquisition (as defined below), that we are the third largest retail marketer of propane in the United
States, measured by retail gallons sold in the calendar year 2012. As of September 28, 2013, we were serving the energy
needs of more than 1.2 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through approximately 750
locations in 41 states. Our operations are concentrated in the east and west coast regions of the United States, including
Alaska and, as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we have expanded our operating territories in the midwest
region of the United States. We sold approximately 534.6 million gallons of propane and 53.7 million gallons of fuel oil
and refined fuels to retail customers during the year ended September 28, 2013. 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 whose sole member is the Chief Executive Officer of the
Partnership. Since October 19, 2006, the General Partner has no economic interest in either the Partnership or the
Operating Partnership (which means that the General Partner is not entitled to any cash distributions of either
partnership, nor to any cash payment upon the liquidation of either partnership, nor any other economic rights in
either partnership) other than as a holder of 784 Common Units of the Partnership. Additionally, under the Third
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the ―Partnership Agreement‖) of the Partnership, there are
no incentive distribution rights for the benefit of the General Partner. The Partnership owns (directly and indirectly)
all of the limited partner interests in the Operating Partnership. The Common Units represent 100% of the limited
partner interests in the Partnership.
On August 1, 2012 (the ―Acquisition Date‖), we acquired the sole membership interest in Inergy Propane, LLC,
including certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Inergy Propane LLC, and the assets of Inergy Sales and Service, Inc.
(the ―Inergy Propane Acquisition‖). The acquired interests and assets are collectively referred to as ―Inergy Propane.‖
As of the Acquisition Date, Inergy Propane consisted of the former retail propane assets and operations, as well as the
assets and operations of the refined fuels business, of Inergy, L.P. (―Inergy‖), a publicly traded limited partnership at
the time of the acquisition. On the Acquisition Date, Inergy Propane and its remaining wholly-owned subsidiaries
which we acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition became subsidiaries of our Operating Partnership, but were
merged into the Operating Partnership on April 30, 2013. The results of operations of Inergy Propane are included in
the Partnership’s results of operations beginning on the Acquisition Date.
With the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we effectively doubled the size of our customer base and have expanded
our geographic reach into eleven (11) new states, including establishing a presence in portions of the midwest region
of the United States. The Inergy Propane Acquisition is consistent with key elements of our business strategy to focus
on businesses that complement our existing business segments and that can extend our presence in strategically attractive
markets. This acquisition has provided, and will continue to provide, us with an opportunity to apply our operational
expertise and customer-oriented initiatives to a much larger enterprise in order to enhance our growth prospects and
cash flow profile. The total cost of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, as measured by the fair value of the total
consideration was approximately $1.9 billion.
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Direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership include Suburban Heating Oil Partners, LLC, which
owns and operates the assets of our fuel oil and refined fuels business; Agway Energy Services, LLC, which owns
and operates the assets of our natural gas and electricity business; and, Suburban Sales and Service, Inc., which
conducts a portion of our service work and appliance and parts business. Our fuel oil and refined fuels, natural gas
and electricity and services businesses are structured as either limited liability companies that are treated as
corporations or corporate entities (collectively referred to as ―Corporate Entities‖) and, as such, are subject to
corporate level income tax.
Suburban Energy Finance Corp., a direct 100%-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. Suburban
Energy Finance Corp. has nominal assets and conducts no business operations.
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise indicated, the terms ―Partnership,‖ ―Suburban,‖ ―we,‖ ―us,‖ and ―our‖ are
used to refer to Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating
Partnership. The Partnership and the Operating Partnership 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 an information request 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 28, 2013, 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. The information contained on our website is not included as part of, or incorporated by reference
into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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 steady or 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. In connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we have developed, and are implementing, a
detailed integration plan to combine the best practices of the two companies while, at the same time, continuing to
pursue efficiencies and operational excellence. Our strategy will include continuing to execute on our integration
plans and staying focused on providing exceptional service to the combined customer base. We will pursue
opportunities to drive operational efficiencies across a broader geography. Our systems platform is advanced and
scalable and we will seek to leverage that technology for enhanced routing, forecasting and customer relationship
management, as well as centralizing certain back office functions within the former Inergy Propane operations.
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
2
reward our customer service centers based on a combination of profitability of the individual customer service center
and net customer growth. We have made investments in training our people both on techniques to provide exceptional
customer service to our existing customer base, as well as advanced sales training focused on growing our customer
base.
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. We are very
patient and deliberate in evaluating acquisition candidates. Consistent with this strategy, the Inergy Propane
Acquisition, completed on August 1, 2012, was a transformative event for Suburban by expanding our geographic reach,
doubling the size of our customer base and providing us with opportunities to achieve operational synergies by
combining operations in overlapping territories and implementing our operating model and systems platform on a much
larger business.
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.
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.
Product Distribution and Marketing
We distribute propane through a nationwide retail distribution network consisting of approximately 750 locations in
41 states as of September 28, 2013. Our operations are concentrated in the east and west coast regions of the United
States, including Alaska and, as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we expanded our operating territories into
the midwest region of the United States. As of September 28, 2013, we serviced approximately 1,062,000 propane
customers. Typically, our customer service centers are located in suburban and rural areas where natural gas is not
3
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, 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 2013 were
to retail customers: 49% to residential customers, 29% to commercial customers, 6% to industrial customers, 5% to
agricultural customers and 11% to other retail users. The balance of approximately 3% of the propane gallons sold by
us in fiscal 2013 was for risk management activities and wholesale customers. No single customer accounted for 10%
or more of our propane revenues during fiscal 2013.
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 65 oil companies and natural gas processors at approximately
160 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 2014. During fiscal 2013, Inergy Services (a subsidiary of Inergy) and Targa Liquids
Marketing and Trade (―Targa‖) provided approximately 34% and 12% of our total propane purchases, respectively. No
other single supplier accounted for more than 10% of our propane purchases in fiscal 2013. In connection with the
Inergy Propane Acquisition, we entered into a supply agreement with Inergy for the supply of propane to the majority of
the acquired Inergy Propane operations through April 2014. Pricing under the supply agreement with Inergy is similar
to our existing annual supply arrangements in that it provides for formula pricing at the time of delivery based on major
supply points. We expect Inergy to remain one of our largest propane suppliers in fiscal 2014. 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 the aforementioned suppliers 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, our
margins could be affected. Approximately 99% of our total propane purchases were from domestic suppliers in fiscal
4
2013.
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 28, 2013, the majority of our storage capacity in California was leased to third parties.
Competition
According to the US Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey, 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 or supplement 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 may arise as new neighborhoods are developed in
geographically remote areas. However, over the last few years, fewer new housing developments have been started in
our service areas as a result of recent economic circumstances.
Propane has some relative advantages over other energy sources. For example, in certain geographic areas, propane
is generally less expensive to use than electricity for space heating, water heating, clothes drying and cooking.
Utilization of fuel oil is geographically limited (primarily in the northeast), and even in that region, 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 2011 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Refinery
Gases, as published by the American Petroleum Institute in February 2013, and LP/Gas Magazine dated February
2013, the ten largest retailers, including us, account for approximately 35% of the total retail sales of propane in the
United States. 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 lower the cost of providing service. Our typical
customer service center has an effective marketing radius of approximately 50 miles, although in certain areas the
marketing radius may be extended by one or more satellite offices. Most of our customer service centers compete with
five or more marketers or distributors.
Product Distribution and Marketing
Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels
We market and distribute fuel oil, kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline to approximately 68,000 residential and
commercial customers primarily in the northeast region of the United States. Sales of fuel oil and refined fuels for
fiscal 2013 amounted to 53.7 million gallons. Approximately 65% of the fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold by us
in fiscal 2013 were to residential customers, principally for home heating, 11% were to commercial customers, and
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2% to other users. Sales of diesel and gasoline accounted for the remaining 22% of total volumes sold in this segment
during fiscal 2013. Fuel oil has a more limited use, compared to propane, and is used almost exclusively 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 operate motor vehicles.
Approximately 43% 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, 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 2013.
Supply
We obtain fuel oil and other refined fuels in pipeline, truckload or tankwagon quantities, and have contracts with
certain pipeline and terminal operators for the right to temporarily store fuel oil at 14 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 approximately 40 suppliers at approximately 50 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
2014.
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 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 100%-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.
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We serve nearly 87,000 natural gas and electricity customers in New York and Pennsylvania. During fiscal
2013, we sold approximately 4.2 million dekatherms of natural gas and 550.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity
through the natural gas and electricity segment. Approximately 82% 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 are 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.
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 on propane, fuel oil or natural gas
primarily 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‖ and ―Suburban
Cylinder Express.‖ As part of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we acquired a number of different tradenames, such as
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―Yates Gas,‖ under which Inergy Propane conducted its business as of the Acquisition Date. Additionally, we hold
rights to certain trademarks and tradenames, including ―Agway‖ 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 hazardous materials and pollutants and establish
standards for the handling, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal 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 as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or comparable state statutes
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.
Through an acquisition in fiscal 2004, and in the Inergy Propane Acquisition, 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, certain of the 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. With respect to certain of the properties acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition,
Inergy is contractually obligated to indemnify us for the costs associated with the investigation, monitoring,
remediation and/or resolution of identified conditions. As of September 28, 2013, we had accrued environmental
liabilities of $0.7 million representing the total estimated future liability for remediation and monitoring of all of our
properties.
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, or the extent to
which such additional liabilities would be subject to the contractual indemnification of Inergy.
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.
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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 Improvement 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 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,
transportation 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. We have 1,180 facilities registered with the DHS, of which 1,161 facilities have been
determined to be ―Not a High Risk Chemical Facility‖. Nineteen facilities have been determined by DHS to be High
Risk, Tier 4 (lowest level of security risk). Security Vulnerability Assessments for the 19 facilities have been
submitted to the DHS and Site Security Plans are being prepared when deemed necessary by the DHS. 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.
In December 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (―EPA‖) issued an ―Endangerment Finding‖ under
the Clean Air Act, determining that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases (―GHGs‖)
present an endangerment to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases may be contributing
to warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. Based on these findings, the EPA has begun
adopting and implementing regulations to restrict emissions of GHGs and require reporting by certain regulated
facilities on an annual basis.
Both Houses of the United States Congress also have considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of
GHGs. However, Congress has not yet enacted federal climate change legislation.
The adoption of federal or state climate change legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs
could require us to incur increased capital and operating costs, with resulting impact on product price and demand.
We cannot predict whether or in what form climate change legislation provisions and renewable energy standards
may be enacted. In addition, a possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal
temperatures. It is difficult to predict how the market for our fuels would be affected by increased temperature
volatility, although if there is an overall trend of warmer temperatures, it could adversely affect our business.
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 requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ―CFTC‖) and the SEC to
promulgate rules and regulations relating to, among other things, swaps, participants in the derivatives markets,
9
clearing of swaps and reporting of swap transactions. In general, the Dodd-Frank Act subjects swap transactions and
participants to greater regulation and supervision by the CFTC and the SEC and will require many swaps to be
cleared through a registered CFTC- or SEC-clearing facility and executed on a designated exchange or swap
execution facility.
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.
The new legislation and regulations promulgated thereunder could increase the operational and transactional cost
of derivatives contracts and affect the number and/or creditworthiness of counterparties available to us.
Employees
As of September 28, 2013, we had 3,933 full time employees, of whom 683 were engaged in general and
administrative activities (including fleet maintenance), 39 were engaged in transportation and product supply activities
and 3,211 were customer service center employees. As of September 28, 2013, 127 of our employees were represented
by 16 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
Investing in our common units involves a high degree of risk. The most significant risks include those described
below; however, additional risks that we currently do not know about may also impair our business operations. You
should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information in this Annual Report. If any of the
following risks actually occurs, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely
affected. In this case, the trading price of our common units would likely decline and you might lose part or all of the
value in our common units. 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 Related to Our Business and Industry
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 on propane, fuel oil or natural gas
primarily 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 4%, 14% and 1% warmer than
normal for fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, respectively, as measured by the number of heating degree days
reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (―NOAA‖). 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.
10
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 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 within a heating season or 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 and fuel oil to be relatively flat to moderately declining over the next several years. 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 and the impact of continued weakness in the economy on customer buying
habits.
Propane and fuel oil compete 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. We expect this trend to continue. 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 of those respective products principally on the basis of price, service and availability. 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
11
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. For additional risks relating to customer retention, see
―—Risks Related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition and the Related Transactions – We may not be able to
successfully integrate Inergy’s Propane’s operations with our operations, which could cause our business to suffer.‖
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 and continued economic weakness 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, 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, 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
12
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, political unrest and hostilities in the 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 and ever increasing 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 expect overall demand for propane and fuel oil to be
relatively flat to moderately declining over the next several years. 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.
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The adoption of climate change legislation could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the
products and services we provide.
In December 2009, the EPA issued an ―Endangerment Finding‖ under the Clean Air Act, determining that
emissions of GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases
may be contributing to warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. Based on these findings, the
EPA has begun adopting and implementing regulations to restrict emissions of GHGs and require reporting by certain
regulated facilities on an annual basis.
Both Houses of the United States Congress also have considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of
GHGs. However, Congress has not yet enacted federal climate change legislation.
The adoption of federal or state climate change legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs
could require us to incur increased capital and operating costs, with resulting impact on product price and demand.
We cannot predict whether or in what form climate change legislation provisions and renewable energy standards
may be enacted. In addition, a possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal
temperatures. It is difficult to predict how the market for our fuels would be affected by increased temperature
volatility, although if there is an overall trend of warmer temperatures, it could adversely affect our business.
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 requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ―CFTC‖) and the SEC to
promulgate rules and regulations relating to, among other things, swaps, participants in the derivatives markets,
clearing of swaps and reporting of swap transactions. In general, the Dodd-Frank Act subjects swap transactions and
participants to greater regulation and supervision by the CFTC and the SEC and will require many swaps to be
cleared through a CFTC- or SEC-registered clearing facility and executed on a designated exchange or swap
execution facility.
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.
The new legislation and regulations promulgated thereunder could increase the operational and transactional
cost of derivatives contracts and affect the number and/or creditworthiness of counterparties available to us.
We depend on particular management information systems to effectively manage all aspects of our delivery of
propane.
We depend on our management information systems to process orders, manage inventory and accounts
receivable collections, maintain distributor and customer information, maintain cost-efficient operations and assist in
delivering our products on a timely basis. In addition, our staff of management information systems professionals
relies heavily on the support of several key personnel and vendors. Any disruption in the operation of those
management information systems, loss of employees knowledgeable about such systems, termination of our
relationship with one or more of these key vendors or failure to continue to modify such systems effectively as our
business expands could negatively affect our business.
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Risks Related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition and the Related Transactions
We may not be able to successfully integrate Inergy Propane’s operations with our operations, which could cause
our business to suffer.
In order to obtain all of the anticipated benefits of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we will need to combine and
integrate the businesses and operations of Inergy Propane with ours. Although we have developed, and are
implementing, a detailed integration plan, the combination of two large businesses is a complex and costly process.
We will be required to continue to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating the business
practices and operations of Suburban and Inergy Propane. Although we believe that it has not yet done so, the
integration process may, in the future, divert the attention of our executive officers and management from day-to-day
operations and disrupt the business of Suburban and, if implemented ineffectively, may preclude realization of the
expected benefits of the transaction.
Our failure to meet the challenges involved in successfully completing the integration of Inergy Propane’s
operations with our operations or otherwise to realize any of the anticipated benefits of the Inergy Propane
Acquisition could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, the overall integration of Suburban and
Inergy Propane may yet result in unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities and competitive responses. The loss of
customer relationships may be above historical norms not only with respect to existing Suburban customers but also
as to the Inergy Propane customers who are now being serviced by Suburban. Although not yet experienced to any
significant degree, possible difficulties that may yet arise from our continuing efforts to combine our two operations
could include, among others:
• operating a significantly larger combined company with operations in more geographic areas;
• maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees;
• developing and implementing employment polices to facilitate workforce integration, and, where applicable,
labor and union relations;
• preserving important strategic and customer relationships;
• the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns;
• the integration of multiple information systems;
• regulatory, legal, taxation and other unanticipated issues in integrating operating and financial systems;
• coordinating marketing functions;
• consolidating corporate and administrative infrastructures and eliminating duplicative operations; and
• integrating the cultures of Suburban and Inergy Propane.
In addition, even if we are able to successfully complete the integration of our businesses and operations, we may
not fully realize the expected benefits of the Inergy Propane Acquisition within the intended time frame, or at all.
Further, our post-acquisition results of operations may be affected by factors different from those existing prior to the
Inergy Propane Acquisition and may suffer as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition. As a result, we can give no
assurance that the combination of our business and operations with Inergy Propane will result in the realization of the
full benefits anticipated from the Inergy Propane Acquisition.
We incurred and continue to incur substantial expenses related to the integration of Inergy Propane.
We have incurred and expect to continue to incur substantial expenses in connection with the Inergy Propane
Acquisition and integrating the business, operations, networks, systems, technologies, policies and procedures of
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Suburban and Inergy Propane. There are a large number of systems that must be integrated, including billing,
management information, information systems, purchasing, accounting and finance, sales, payroll and benefits, fixed
assets, lease administration and regulatory compliance. Although Suburban has assumed that a certain level of
transaction and integration expenses would be incurred, there are a number of factors beyond our control that could
affect the total amount or the timing of these integration expenses. Although integration expenses have been, to date,
within the expected range, many of the expenses yet to be incurred are, by their nature, difficult to accurately estimate
at the present time. Due to these factors, the total transaction and integration expenses associated with the Inergy
Propane Acquisition could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that we expect to achieve from the
elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale and cost savings related to the
integration of the businesses. As a result of these expenses, Suburban has taken, and expects to continue to take,
charges against its earnings relating to the acquisition and integration of Inergy Propane. The charges relating to the
acquisition and integration of Inergy Propane have been and expect to continue to be significant, although the
aggregate amount and timing of all such charges are uncertain at present.
The integration of Inergy Propane could cause disruptions in our business, which could have an adverse effect on
both our business and financial results.
In response to the integration activities related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition, our or Inergy Propane’s
customers may delay or defer purchasing decisions, or choose to switch to another competitor for the supply of
propane. Any such delay, deferral or change of supplier by customers could negatively affect our business and results
of operations. Similarly, our employees may experience uncertainty about their future roles with us until Inergy
Propane is fully integrated. This may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain key management, marketing and
technical personnel.
During and following the integration of Inergy Propane, we may be unable to retain key employees.
Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to retain key Suburban employees, including employees
of Inergy Propane who became Suburban employees upon completion of the Inergy Propane Acquisition. Key
employees may hereafter depart because of issues relating to the uncertainty and difficulty of integration, a desire not
to remain with us or otherwise. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that Suburban will be able to retain key
employees to the same extent as in the past.
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
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financial, business and other factors, a number which will be beyond our control.
Our 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 28, 2013, our long-term debt borrowings consisted of $496.6 million in aggregate principal
amount of 7.5% senior notes due October 1, 2018 (excluding unamortized premium of $28.6 million), $250.0 million
in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due March 15, 2020 (excluding unamortized discount of $1.4
million), $346.2 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due August 1, 2021 (excluding
unamortized premium of $25.3 million), and $100.0 million under our senior secured 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 holders of our common units if there is, or after
giving effect to such distribution, there would be, an event of default under the indentures governing the senior notes.
The amount of distributions that we may make to holders of our common units is limited by the senior notes, and the
amount of distributions that the Operating Partnership may make to us is limited by our 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 2.0 to 1.0 as
of the end of any fiscal quarter (and commencing with the third quarter of fiscal 2014, such minimum ratio will be 2.5
to 1.0); (b) prohibiting our total consolidated leverage ratio, as defined, from being greater than 4.75 to 1.0 (or 5.0 to
1.0 during an acquisition period, as defined in the credit agreement governing the credit facility) 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 indentures governing the
senior notes, 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
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 28, 2013.
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. As interest expense increases (whether due to an increase in interest rates and/or the size of aggregate
outstanding debt), our ability to fund common unit distributions may be impacted, depending on the level of revenue
generation, which is not assured.
Unitholders have limited voting rights.
A Board of Supervisors governs our operations. 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.
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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.
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.
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Tax Risks to Unitholders
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for U.S. 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 U.S. federal income tax purposes. If less than 90% of the gross income of a publicly traded
partnership, such as Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., for any taxable year is ―qualifying income‖ within the meaning
of Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code, that partnership will be taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes for that taxable year and all subsequent years.
If we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then we would pay U.S. federal income
tax on our income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay additional
state income tax at varying rates. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for
distribution to Unitholders would be substantially reduced. Treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material
reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to Unitholders and thus would likely result in a substantial
reduction in the value of our Common Units.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our Common Units could be subject to
potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations thereof, possibly on a
retroactive basis.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including Suburban Propane
Partners, L.P., or an investment in our Common Units may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative
changes and differing interpretations thereof at any time. Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws or
interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively. Moreover, any such modification could make it more
difficult or impossible for us to meet the exception that allows publicly traded partnerships that generate qualifying
income to be treated as partnerships (rather than as corporations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, affect or cause
us to change our business activities, or affect the tax consequences of an investment in our Common Units. For
example, legislation proposed by members of Congress and the President has considered substantive changes to the
definition of qualifying income. One of the requirements for such classification is that at least 90% of our gross
income for each taxable year has been and will be ―qualifying income‖ within the meaning of Section 7704 of the
Internal Revenue Code. Whether we will continue to be classified as a partnership in part depends on our ability to
meet this qualifying income test in the future. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the
IRS on this or any other tax matter affecting us. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other
proposals, will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our
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.
A successful IRS contest of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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.
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A Unitholder’s tax liability could exceed cash distributions on its Common Units.
Because our Unitholders are treated as partners, a Unitholder is required to pay U.S. federal income taxes and
state and local income taxes on its allocable share of our income, without regard to whether we make cash
distributions to the Unitholder. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. federal income tax returns and
pay tax on their share of our taxable income. Tax-exempt organizations and foreign persons should consult, and
should depend on, their own tax advisors in analyzing the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax and other
tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of Common Units.
The ability of a Unitholder to deduct its share of our losses may be limited.
Various limitations may apply to the ability of a Unitholder to deduct its share of our losses. For example, in the
case of taxpayers subject to the passive activity 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. Such unused losses may be deducted when the
Unitholder disposes of its entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party, such as a sale
by a Unitholder of all of its Common Units in the open market. A Unitholder’s share of any 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 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. In addition, because the amount realized will include a holder’s share of our
nonrecourse liabilities, if a Unitholder sells its Common Units, such Unitholder may incur a tax liability in excess of
the amount of cash it receives from the sale.
Reporting of partnership tax information is complicated and subject to audits.
We intend to furnish to each Unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax
information, including a Schedule K-1 that sets forth its allocable share of income, gains, losses and deductions for
our preceding taxable year. 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.
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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 that 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 Common
Units each month based upon the ownership of our Common Units on the first day of each month, instead of on
the basis of the date a particular Common 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 Common
Units each month based upon the ownership of our Common Units on the first day of each month, instead of on the
basis of the date a particular Common Unit is transferred. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued proposed
Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which publicly traded partnerships may use a similar
monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferors and transferees of our common units.
However, if the IRS were to challenge our proration method, 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 capital and profits interests during any twelve-month period will
result in the termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes.
We will be considered to have terminated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale
or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. Our
termination 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. In the case of a Unitholder reporting
on a taxable year other than the calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may also result in more than twelve
months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. Our
termination currently would not affect our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but
instead, after our termination we would be treated as a new partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If
treated as a new partnership, we must make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if we are unable to
determine that a termination occurred.
There are state, local and other tax considerations for our Unitholders.
In addition to U.S. 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 U.S.
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federal, state and local income tax returns that may be required of each Unitholder.
A Unitholder whose Common Units are loaned to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of Common Units may be
considered as having disposed of those Common Units. If so, that Unitholder would no longer be treated for tax
purposes as a partner with respect to those Common Units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or
loss from the disposition.
Because there is no tax concept of loaning a partnership interest, a Unitholder whose Common Units are loaned to
a ―short seller‖ to cover a short sale of Common Units may be considered as having disposed of the loaned Common
Units. In that case, a Unitholder may no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those Common
Units during the period of the loan to the short seller and may recognize gain or loss from such disposition. Moreover,
during the period of the loan to the short seller, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those Common
Units may not be reportable by the Unitholder and any cash distribution received by the Unitholder as to those Common
Units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to ensure their status as partners and avoid the risk
of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller should consult their own tax advisors to discuss whether it is advisable to
modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their Common Units.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of September 28, 2013, we owned approximately 70% 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 28, 2013, we had a
fleet of 19 transport truck tractors, of which we owned 12, and 23 railroad tank cars, of which we owned none. In
addition, as of September 28, 2013 we had 1,466 bobtail and rack trucks, of which we owned 56%, 150 fuel oil
tankwagons, of which we owned 71%, and 1,587 other delivery and service vehicles, of which we owned 62%. We
lease the vehicles we do not own. As of September 28, 2013, we also owned 981,468 customer propane storage tanks
with typical capacities of 100 to 500 gallons, 83,890 customer propane storage tanks with typical capacities of over 500
gallons and 304,390 portable propane cylinders with typical capacities of five to ten gallons.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Litigation
Our operations are subject to 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 as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a result of other aspects of our business. During
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we entered into an agreement to settle a California action, in which were alleged
several claims relating to two fees charged by us, on a classwide basis in return for the payment of a monetary sum
and certain non-monetary consideration, and established an accrual of $4.5 million for the estimated cost of the
settlement. This settlement, entered into to avoid both the continued expenses and burden of defending that action
and the uncertainty inherent in all litigation, was approved by the trial court in May 2013, and we completed
distribution of the settlement proceeds to the class members in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. We are currently a
defendant in a putative class action in which the court has denied class certification without prejudice. We believe
such suit is without merit. In the putative class action, we have been successful in eliminating several of the claims
22
such that only certain contractual and consumer statute claims remain. The subject matter jurisdiction of the court to
adjudicate certain of the contractual claims is on appeal. We are contesting this putative class action vigorously and
have determined, based on the allegations and discovery to date, that no reserve for a loss contingency other than for
legal defense fees and expenses is required. We are unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if
any, arising from this litigation.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
23
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 25, 2013, there were 706 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.
We make quarterly distributions to our partners in an aggregate amount equal to our Available Cash (as defined in
our Partnership Agreement) 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. The amount of distributions that we may make to holders of our Common Units is limited by the
senior notes, and the amount of distributions that the Operating Partnership may make to us is limited by our
revolving credit facility. See ―Risk Factors—We have substantial indebtedness. Our debt agreements may limit
our ability to make distributions to Unitholders, as well as our financial flexibility‖ and ―Management’s
Discussion and Analysis—Liquidity and Capital Resources.‖
We are a publicly traded limited partnership and, other than certain corporate subsidiaries that are taxed as
corporations, we are not subject to corporate level 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.
24
Cash DistributionDeclared per High LowCommon UnitFiscal 2013First Quarter44.82$ 36.69$ 0.8750$ Second Quarter44.80 38.09 0.8750 Third Quarter50.25 41.93 0.8750 Fourth Quarter49.50 44.21 0.8750 Fiscal 2012First Quarter49.19$ 44.50$ 0.8525$ Second Quarter48.25 40.25 0.8525 Third Quarter44.52 34.58 0.8525 Fourth Quarter45.61 36.75 0.8525 Common Unit Price Range
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.
(a) Fiscal 2012 includes 53 weeks of operations compared to 52 weeks in each of fiscal 2013, 2011, 2010, and 2009. In
addition, on August 1, 2012, we acquired Inergy Propane. The results of operations of Inergy Propane have been
included in the consolidated results from the Acquisition Date through September 29, 2012 and all of fiscal 2013,
and the assets and liabilities of Inergy Propane have been included in the consolidated balance sheet since
September 29, 2012. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition of Inergy Propane included within the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements section elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(b) Due to the Inergy Propane Acquisition on August 1, 2012 we recorded acquisition-related costs of $17.9 million
during fiscal 2012. These costs were primarily attributable to investment banker, legal, accounting and other
consulting fees.
25
SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember28, 201329, 2012 (a)24, 201125, 201026, 2009Statement of Operations DataRevenues 1,703,606$ 1,063,458$ 1,190,552$ 1,136,694$ 1,143,154$ Costs and expenses1,526,630 1,003,885 1,047,324 980,508 932,539 Acquisition-related costs (b)- 17,916 - - - Pension settlement charge (c)- - - 2,818 - Operating income176,976 41,657 143,228 153,368 210,615 Interest expense, net95,427 38,633 27,378 27,397 38,267 Loss on debt extinguishment (d)2,144 2,249 - 9,473 4,624 Provision for income taxes607 137 884 1,182 2,486 Net income78,798 638 114,966 115,316 165,238 Net income per Common Unit - basic (e)1.35 0.02 3.24 3.26 4.99 Net income per Common Unit - diluted (e)1.34 0.02 3.22 3.24 4.96 Cash distributions declared per unit3.50$ 3.41$ 3.41$ 3.35$ 3.26$ Balance Sheet DataCash and cash equivalents107,232$ 134,317$ 149,553$ 156,908$ 163,173$ Current assets293,322 337,515 297,822 296,427 307,556 Total assets2,727,987 2,883,850 956,459 970,914 978,168 Current liabilities233,894 253,715 151,514 164,514 181,930 Total debt1,245,237 1,422,078 348,169 347,953 349,415 Total liabilities1,598,861 1,793,351 598,241 608,258 620,632 Partners' capital - Common Unitholders1,176,479$ 1,151,606$ 418,134$ 419,882$ 418,824$ Statement of Cash Flows DataCash provided by (used in) Operating activities214,306$ 110,973$ 132,786$ 155,797$ 246,551$ Investing activities(14,663) (239,758) (19,505) (30,111) (16,852) Financing activities(226,728)$ 113,549$ (120,636)$ (131,951)$ (204,224)$ Other DataDepreciation and amortization130,384$ 47,034$ 35,628$ 30,834$ 30,343$ EBITDA (f)305,216 86,442 178,856 174,729 236,334 Adjusted EBITDA (f)329,253 108,536 179,425 192,420 239,245 Capital expenditures - maintenance and growth (g)27,823$ 17,476$ 22,284$ 19,131$ 21,837$ Retail gallons sold Propane534,621 283,841 298,902 317,906 343,894 Fuel oil and refined fuels53,710 28,491 37,241 43,196 57,381 Year Ended
(c) We incurred non-cash pension settlement charges of $2.8 million during fiscal 2010 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) On August 2, 2013, we repurchased pursuant to optional redemption $133.4 million of our 7.375% Senior Notes
due August 1, 2021 using net proceeds from our May 2013 public offering and net proceeds from the
underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option to purchase additional Common Units. In addition, on
August 6, 2013, we repurchased $23.9 million of our 2021 Senior Notes in a private transaction using cash on
hand. In connection with these repurchases, which totaled $157.3 million in aggregate principal amount, we
recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million consisting of $11.7 million for the repurchase
premium and related fees, as well as the write-off of $2.1 million and ($11.7) million in unamortized debt
origination costs and unamortized premium, respectively. During fiscal 2012 we amended the Credit Agreement
(the ―Amended Credit Agreement‖) to increase the five-year $250.0 million revolving credit facility (the
―Revolving Credit Facility‖) to $400.0 million, of which, $100.0 million was outstanding as of September 28,
2013, and also to extend the maturity date from June 25, 2013 to January 5, 2017. In connection with the
execution of the Amended Credit Agreement, we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.5 million for the write-off
of previously incurred debt origination costs associated with lenders who did not participate, or whose lending
capacity decreased, in the amended facility. On August 1, 2012, we amended the Amended Credit Agreement to
provide for a $250.0 million senior secured 364-day incremental term loan facility (the ―364-Day Facility‖). On
August 1, 2012, in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we drew $225.0 million on the 364-Day
Facility and on August 14, 2012, using the proceeds of our secondary offering of common units, we repaid the
$225.0 million term loan facility, and wrote off $1.7 million of unamortized commitment fees associated with the
364-Day Facility. 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) Computations of basic earnings per Common Unit were performed by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of outstanding Common Units, and restricted units granted under our 2000 and 2009 Restricted
Unit Plans (which we collectively refer to as the ―Restricted Unit Plans‖ or the ―RUP‖) to retirement-eligible
grantees. Computations of diluted earnings per Common Unit 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. On May 17, 2013, we sold 2.7 million Common Units in a public offering. On May 22,
2013, following the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, we sold an additional 0.4 million
Common Units. On August 1, 2012, in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we issued 14.2 million
Common Units, and on August 14, 2012, we sold 7.2 million Common Units in a secondary offering. Those
Common Units have been included in basic and diluted earnings per common unit from the respective dates of
issuance.
(f) 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 and other certain items as provided in the table below. 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. 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.
26
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):
(g) 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.
27
FiscalFiscalFiscalFiscalFiscal20132012201120102009Net income78,798$ 638$ 114,966$ 115,316$ 165,238$ Add:Provision for income taxes607 137 884 1,182 2,486 Interest expense, net95,427 38,633 27,378 27,397 38,267 Depreciation and amortization130,384 47,034 35,628 30,834 30,343 EBITDA305,216 86,442 178,856 174,729 236,334 Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) onchanges in fair value of derivatives4,318 (4,649) (1,431) 5,400 (1,713) Integration-related costs10,575 - - - - Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal charge7,000 - - - - 2,144 2,249 - 9,473 4,624 Acquisition-related costs- 17,916 - - - - 4,500 - - - - 2,078 - - - Severance charges- - 2,000 - - - - - 2,818 - Adjusted EBITDA329,253 108,536 179,425 192,420 239,245 Add (subtract):Provision for income taxes - current(607) (137) (884) (1,182) (1,101) Interest expense, net(95,427) (38,633) (27,378) (27,397) (38,267) Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives(4,318) 4,649 1,431 (5,400) 1,713 Integration-related costs(10,575) - - - - Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal charge(7,000) - - - - Acquisition-related costs- (17,916) - - - Loss on legal settlement- (4,500) - - - Severance charges- - (2,000) - - Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans3,888 4,059 3,922 4,005 2,396 (Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net(3,543) (727) (2,772) 38 (650) Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities2,635 55,642 (18,958) (6,687) 43,215 Net cash provided by operating activities214,306$ 110,973$ 132,786$ 155,797$ 246,551$ Loss on debt extinguishmentPension settlement chargeLoss on asset disposalLoss on legal settlement
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 supply and demand dynamics 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 also
purchase product on the open market. We attempt to reduce price risk by pricing product on a short-term basis. 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, periods of
sustained higher commodity prices can lead to customer conservation, resulting in reduced demand for our product.
Seasonality
The retail propane and fuel oil distribution businesses, as well as the natural gas marketing business, are seasonal
because these fuels are primarily used 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 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 fourth quarter and
following fiscal year first quarter.
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
28
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, options and
swap agreements with third parties, and use futures and options 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 options 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. In addition, we sell
propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our
exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. Forward contracts are
generally settled physically at the expiration of the contract whereas futures, options and swap 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 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 more than 1.2 million
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
29
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. 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. See ―Liquidity and Capital Resources - Pension Plan Assets
and Obligations‖ below for additional disclosure regarding pension benefits.
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.
Loss Contingencies. In the normal course of business, we are involved in various claims and legal proceedings. We
record a liability for such matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably
estimated. The liability includes probable and estimable legal costs to the point in the legal matter where we believe a
conclusion to the matter will be reached. When only a range of possible loss can be established, the most probable
amount in the range is accrued. If no amount within this range is a better estimate than any other amount within the
range, the minimum amount in the range is accrued.
Fair Values of Acquired Assets and Liabilities. From time to time, we enter into material business combinations. In
accordance with accounting guidance associated with business combinations, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed
are recorded at their estimated fair value as of the acquisition date. Fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
are based upon available information and may involve us engaging an independent third party to perform an appraisal.
Estimating fair values can be complex and subject to significant business judgment. Estimates most commonly impact
property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, including goodwill. Generally, we have, if necessary, up to one
year from the acquisition date to finalize our estimates of acquisition date fair values.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
For comparative purposes, fiscal 2013 included 52 weeks of operations compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 2012. In
addition, the variances in year-over-year results were primarily attributable to the inclusion of Inergy Propane,
acquired on August 1, 2012, as well as improvements in the operating performance in our legacy operations. Net
income for fiscal 2013 amounted to $78.8 million, or $1.35 per Common Unit, compared to $0.6 million, or $0.02 per
Common Unit, in fiscal 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (―EBITDA‖) for fiscal
2013 amounted to $305.2 million, compared to $86.4 million for fiscal 2012.
Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2013 included: (i) $10.6 million in expenses related to the ongoing integration
of Inergy Propane; (ii) $7.0 million in charges related to our voluntary withdrawal from multi-employer pension plans
covering certain employees acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition; and (iii) a loss on debt extinguishment of
$2.1 million. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2012 included: (i) $17.9 million in acquisition-related costs
associated with the Inergy Propane Acquisition; (ii) a charge of $4.5 million associated with a legal settlement; (iii) a
$2.1 million non-cash charge from a loss on disposal of an asset in our natural gas and electricity business; and (iv) a
loss on debt extinguishment of $2.2 million. Excluding the effects of these charges, as well as the unrealized (non-
30
cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments in both years, Adjusted EBITDA (as defined and
reconciled below) amounted to $329.3 million for fiscal 2013, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $108.5 million in
fiscal 2012.
Retail propane gallons sold for fiscal 2013 increased 250.8 million gallons, or 88.4%, to 534.6 million gallons
from 283.8 million gallons in fiscal 2012. Sales of fuel oil and other refined fuels also increased 88.4%, to 53.7
million gallons from 28.5 million gallons in the prior year. The increase in volumes sold was primarily attributable to
the inclusion of the Inergy Propane operations for a full year, as well as increases in our legacy operations resulting
from average temperatures that were closer to normal compared to the prior year’s near record warm temperatures.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (―NOAA‖), average temperatures (as measured
by heating degree days) across all of our service territories during fiscal 2013 were 4% warmer than normal and
characterized by unseasonably warm temperatures during the most critical months of the fiscal 2013 heating season,
followed by colder than normal temperatures late in the heating season. In Fiscal 2012, average temperatures across
our service territories were 14% warmer than normal.
During fiscal 2013, we made notable progress in our integration efforts and in executing our strategic financing
initiatives, all of which have better positioned us operationally and financially to continue to pursue further growth
opportunities. To highlight a few key accomplishments for fiscal 2013:
Key regional management positions were put in place to oversee the combined operations prior to the
start of the 2012/2013 heating season;
Regular and ongoing communication was established with the entire Inergy Propane customer base, as
well as the combined employee base in order to manage change;
We defined our local operating footprint and identified management teams across the entire platform;
Substantial progress was made on our retail system conversions that support our new operating footprint;
and
We reduced our overall leverage by $157.3 million through a combination of net proceeds from a
successful issuance of Common Units, as well as cash on hand.
Despite the increased size of our business and the increased working capital needs, for the seventh consecutive
year we continued to fund all of our working capital requirements from on hand cash without the need to borrow
under our revolving credit facility and ended the fiscal year with $107.2 million of cash. Additionally, as previously
reported, we took steps to further strengthen our balance sheet by redeeming $157.3 million of debt in fiscal 2013
with a combination of proceeds from a successful equity offering and cash on hand.
As we look ahead to fiscal 2014, our anticipated cash requirements include: (i) maintenance and growth capital
expenditures of approximately $30.0 million; (ii) approximately $88.1 million of interest and income tax payments; and
(iii) approximately $211.1 million of distributions to Unitholders, assuming distributions at the current annualized rate
of $3.50 per Common Unit. Based on our current cash position, availability under the Revolving Credit Facility
(unused borrowing capacity of $253.3 million at September 28, 2013) and expected cash flow from operating
activities, we expect to have sufficient funds to meet our current and future obligations.
31
Fiscal Year 2013 Compared to Fiscal Year 2012
Revenues
Total revenues increased $640.1 million, or 60.2%, to $1,703.6 million for fiscal 2013 compared to $1,063.5 million
for the prior year due to higher volumes sold, offset to an extent by lower average propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and
natural gas selling prices. The increase in sales volumes was primarily due to the addition of the Inergy Propane
business, as well as increases in our legacy operations resulting from colder average temperatures. As discussed above,
average temperatures (as measured in heating degree days) across all of our service territories for fiscal 2013 were 4%
warmer than normal, compared to 14% warmer than normal for the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $1,357.1 million for fiscal 2013 increased $513.5
million, or 60.9%, compared to $843.6 million for the prior year, primarily due to higher volumes sold, partially offset
by lower average selling prices associated with lower product costs. Retail propane gallons sold in fiscal 2013 increased
250.8 million gallons, or 88.4%, to 534.6 million gallons from 283.8 million gallons in the prior year, primarily as a
result of the addition of Inergy Propane, as well as increases in our legacy operations resulting from colder average
temperatures. Higher retail propane volumes sold resulted in an increase in revenues of $679.8 million for fiscal 2013
compared to the prior year. Average propane selling prices for fiscal 2013 decreased 11.5% compared to the prior year
due to lower wholesale product costs, resulting in a $166.9 million decrease in revenues year-over-year. Included within
the propane segment are revenues from risk management activities and other propane activities of $74.7 million for
fiscal 2013, which increased $0.6 million compared to the prior year as higher volumes from other propane activities
were substantially offset by lower volumes from wholesale and risk management activities.
Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $209.0 million for fiscal 2013 increased $94.7 million,
or 82.8%, from $114.3 million for the prior year, primarily due to higher volumes sold, partially offset by lower average
selling prices. Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold in fiscal 2013 increased 25.2 million gallons, or 88.4%, to 53.7
million gallons from 28.5 million gallons in the prior year, primarily as a result of the addition of Inergy Propane, as well
as increases in our legacy operations resulting from colder average temperatures. Higher fuel oil and refined fuels
volumes sold resulted in an increase in revenues of $100.5 million for fiscal 2013 compared to the prior year. Average
selling prices in our fuel oil and refined fuels segment in fiscal 2013 decreased 2.6% compared to the prior year,
resulting in a $5.8 million decrease in revenues year-over-year.
Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment increased $12.0 million, or 17.8%, to $79.4 million in fiscal
2013 compared to $67.4 million in the prior year as a result of higher natural gas volumes sold, and higher electricity
average selling prices. The increase in volumes sold was primarily attributable to the more favorable weather pattern in
fiscal 2013, compared to the unseasonably warm weather in the prior year.
32
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseRevenues Propane1,357,102$ 843,648$ 513,454$ 60.9% Fuel oil and refined fuels208,957 114,288 94,669 82.8% Natural gas and electricity79,432 67,419 12,013 17.8% All other58,115 38,103 20,012 52.5% Total revenues1,703,606$ 1,063,458$ 640,148$ 60.2%
Cost of Products Sold
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.
Average posted prices for propane for fiscal 2013 were 19.2% lower than the prior year, and fuel oil prices were
essentially flat year-over-year. Total cost of products sold increased $262.8 million, or 43.9%, to $861.9 million in
fiscal 2013 compared to $599.1 million in the prior year due to higher volumes sold, partially offset by lower average
propane product costs. The net change in the fair value of derivative instruments during the period resulted in unrealized
(non-cash) losses of $4.3 million and unrealized (non-cash) gains of $4.6 million reported in cost of products sold in
fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively, resulting in an increase of $8.9 million in cost of products sold in fiscal 2013
compared to the prior year, all of which was reported in the propane segment.
Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $612.2 million for fiscal
2013 increased $164.1 million, or 36.6%, compared to the prior year. Higher retail propane volumes sold resulted in an
increase of $368.4 million in cost of products sold during fiscal 2013 compared to the prior year. The impact of the
increase in volumes sold was partially offset by lower average propane costs, which resulted in a $190.0 million
decrease in cost of products sold year-over-year. Cost of products sold from other propane activities decreased $23.2
million in fiscal 2013 compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower sales from wholesale and risk management
activities.
Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $172.0 million for fiscal 2013
increased $80.8 million, or 88.5%, compared to the prior year primarily due to higher fuel oil and refined fuels volumes
sold.
Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $56.0 million for fiscal 2013 increased $9.1
million, or 19.4%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher natural gas volumes sold, and higher electricity
product costs.
Total cost of products sold as a percent of total revenues decreased 5.7 percentage points to 50.6% in fiscal 2013
from 56.3% in the prior year, primarily due to the decline in propane wholesale product costs outpacing the decline in
propane average selling prices. In addition, colder average temperatures and the inclusion of Inergy Propane operations
resulted in a higher concentration of residential volumes sold in fiscal 2013 compared to the prior year, which had a
favorable impact on overall gross margins.
33
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseCost of products sold Propane612,240$ 448,120$ 164,120$ 36.6% Fuel oil and refined fuels172,022 91,239 80,783 88.5% Natural gas and electricity55,995 46,915 9,080 19.4% All other21,648 12,785 8,863 69.3% Total cost of products sold861,905$ 599,059$ 262,846$ 43.9%As a percent of total revenues50.6%56.3%
Operating Expenses
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 $469.5 million for fiscal 2013 increased $170.7 million, or 57.1%, compared to $298.8
million in the prior year, primarily due to the addition of Inergy Propane, offset to an extent by lower payroll and benefit
related expenses in our legacy operations resulting from operating efficiencies. In addition, operating expenses for fiscal
2013 included a $7.0 million charge related to our voluntary partial withdrawal from a multi-employer pension plan and
full withdrawal from four multi-employer pension plans, and a charge of $4.6 million primarily for severance costs, both
charges were associated with the integration of the Inergy Propane operations. These charges were excluded from our
calculation of Adjusted EBITDA below.
As a result of the progress on our efforts to integrate the operations of Inergy Propane, including the initial process
of blending geographic territories and systems, which commenced at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2013, we
have realized certain synergies in the combined operating expenses of Inergy Propane and our legacy operations.
General and Administrative Expenses
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 $64.8 million for fiscal 2013 increased $5.8 million compared to $59.0
million for the prior year, primarily due to higher variable compensation associated with higher earnings, offset to an
extent by a $2.2 million gain on the sale of an asset in fiscal 2013. In addition, general and administrative expenses for
fiscal 2013 included $6.0 million of professional services and other expenses associated with the integration of the
Inergy Propane operations. General and administrative expenses for fiscal 2012 included a $4.5 million charge
associated with a legal settlement (see Item 3 and Note 12 included within the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements section elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional discussion), and a $2.1 million non-cash charge from a
loss on disposal of an asset used in our natural gas and electricity business. These items were excluded from our
calculation of Adjusted EBITDA below.
34
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseOperating expenses469,496$ 298,772$ 170,724$ 57.1%As a percent of total revenues27.6%28.1%(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseGeneral and administrative expenses64,845$ 59,020$ 5,825$ 9.9%As a percent of total revenues3.8%5.5%
Acquisition-related Costs
During fiscal 2012 we recorded acquisition-related costs of $17.9 million related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition.
These costs were primarily attributable to investment banker, legal, accounting and other consulting fees.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense of $130.4 million in fiscal 2013 increased $83.4 million, primarily as a
result of the acquired tangible and identifiable intangible assets of Inergy Propane.
Interest Expense, net
Net interest expense of $95.4 million for fiscal 2013 increased $56.8 million compared to $38.6 million in the prior
year, primarily due to the issuance of $496.6 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due October 1,
2018 and $503.4 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due August 1, 2021 in connection with
the Inergy Propane Acquisition on August 1, 2012. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional
discussion.
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
On August 2, 2013, we repurchased, pursuant to an optional redemption, $133.4 million of our 7.375% senior
notes due August 1, 2021 using net proceeds from our May 2013 public offering and net proceeds from the
underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option to purchase additional Common Units. In addition, on August 6,
2013, we repurchased $23.9 million of our 2021 senior notes in a private transaction using cash on hand. In
connection with these repurchases, which totaled $157.3 million in aggregate principal amount, we recognized a loss
on the extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million consisting of $11.7 million for the repurchase premium and related fees,
as well as the write-off of $2.1 million and ($11.7) million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
premium, respectively.
During fiscal 2012, in connection with the execution of the amendment of our credit agreement on January 5, 2012,
we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.5 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs associated
with the credit agreement during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. In addition, in connection with the repayment, on
August 14, 2012, of borrowings under our 364-Day Facility (defined below) which was used as short-term financing to
fund a portion of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we recognized a non-cash charge of $1.7 million to write off
unamortized debt origination costs associated with the 364-Day Facility during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. See
Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion on the amendment to the credit agreement and other
financing activities.
35
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseDepreciation and amortization130,384$ 47,034$ 83,350$ 177.2%As a percent of total revenues7.7%4.4%(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20132012IncreaseIncreaseInterest expense, net95,427$ 38,633$ 56,794$ 147.0%As a percent of total revenues5.6%3.6%
Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
Net income for fiscal 2013 amounted to $78.8 million, or $1.35 per Common Unit, compared to $0.6 million, or
$0.02 per Common Unit, in fiscal 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (―EBITDA‖)
for fiscal 2013 amounted to $305.2 million, compared to $86.4 million for fiscal 2012.
Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2013 included: (i) $10.6 million in expenses related to the ongoing integration
of Inergy Propane; (ii) $7.0 million in charges related to our voluntary withdrawal from multi-employer pension plans
covering certain employees acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition; and (iii) a loss on debt extinguishment of
$2.1 million. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2012 included: (i) $17.9 million in acquisition-related costs
associated with the Inergy Propane Acquisition; (ii) a charge of $4.5 million associated with a legal settlement; (iii) a
$2.1 million non-cash charge from a loss on disposal of an asset in our natural gas and electricity business; and (iv) a
loss on debt extinguishment of $2.2 million. Excluding the effects of these charges, as well as the unrealized (non-
cash) mark-to-market adjustments on derivative instruments in both years, Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $329.3
million for fiscal 2013, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $108.5 million in fiscal 2012.
Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding the unrealized net gain or loss from mark-to-market activity for
derivative instruments and other certain items as provided in the table below. Our management uses EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA as measures of liquidity and we are including them because we believe that they provide our
investors and industry analysts with additional information to evaluate our ability to meet our debt service obligations
and to pay our quarterly distributions to holders of our Common Units. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not
recognized terms under US GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or net cash provided
by operating activities determined in accordance with US GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as
determined by us excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income, they may not be comparable to EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures used by other companies.
The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation of EBITDA, as so
calculated, to our net cash provided by operating activities:
36
37
(Dollars in thousands)September 28,September 29,20132012Net income78,798$ 638$ Add:Provision for income taxes607 137 Interest expense, net95,427 38,633 Depreciation and amortization130,384 47,034 EBITDA305,216 86,442 Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changesin fair value of derivatives4,318 (4,649) Integration-related costs10,575 - Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal charge7,000 - 2,144 2,249 - 17,916 - 4,500 - 2,078 Adjusted EBITDA329,253 108,536 Add (subtract):Provision for income taxes(607) (137) Interest expense, net(95,427) (38,633) Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives(4,318) 4,649 Integration-related costs(10,575) - Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal charge(7,000) - Acquisition-related costs- (17,916) Loss on legal settlement- (4,500) Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans3,888 4,059 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net(3,543) (727) Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities2,635 55,642 Net cash provided by operating activities214,306$ 110,973$ Year EndedLoss on asset disposalAcquisition-related costsLoss on legal settlementLoss on debt extinguishment
Fiscal Year 2012 Compared to Fiscal Year 2011
Revenues
Total revenues decreased $127.1 million, or 10.7%, to $1,063.5 million in fiscal 2012 compared to $1,190.6
million for fiscal 2011, primarily due to lower volumes sold and, to a much lesser extent, lower average propane
selling prices. From a weather perspective, average temperatures as measured in heating degree days, as reported by
the NOAA, in our service territories during fiscal 2012 were 14% and 13% warmer than normal and the prior year,
respectively. Record warm temperatures were experienced throughout much of the northeast and significantly warmer
than normal temperatures were reported throughout the east coast. Average temperatures in the northeast and
southeast regions for fiscal 2012 were 18% and 26%, respectively, warmer than the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of propane and related activities of $843.6 million for fiscal 2012 decreased $85.9
million, or 9.2%, compared to $929.5 million for the prior year, primarily due to lower volumes sold and lower average
propane selling prices. Retail propane gallons sold in fiscal 2012 decreased 15.1 million gallons, or 5.1%, to 283.8
million gallons from 298.9 million gallons in the prior year. The volume decline was more pronounced within our
residential customer base as the impact of weather has a greater effect on our residential customers’ propane
consumption, which, during the winter, is primarily for space heating. The impact of record warm temperatures on
volumes sold was offset to an extent by the addition of propane volumes sold from Inergy Propane since August 1,
2012, which contributed 27.0 million gallons of propane gallons sold in fiscal 2012. Average propane selling prices
for fiscal 2012 decreased 5.0% compared to the prior year due to lower wholesale product costs. Included within the
propane segment are revenues from other propane activities of $74.2 million for fiscal 2012, which decreased $2.3
million compared to the prior year.
Revenues from the distribution of fuel oil and refined fuels of $114.3 million for fiscal 2012 decreased $25.3
million, or 18.1%, from $139.6 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower volumes sold, partially offset by higher
average selling prices associated with higher wholesale product costs. Fuel oil and refined fuels gallons sold in fiscal
2012 decreased 8.7 million gallons, or 23.5%, to 28.5 million gallons from 37.2 million gallons in the prior year.
Average selling prices in our fuel oil and refined fuels segment for fiscal 2012 increased 6.6% compared to the prior
year due to higher wholesale product costs.
Revenues in our natural gas and electricity segment decreased $17.3 million, or 20.4%, to $67.4 million in fiscal
2012 compared to $84.7 million in the prior year as a result of lower natural gas and electricity volumes sold, which was
primarily attributable to the record warm weather in the northeast, discussed above.
38
(Dollars in thousands)PercentFiscalFiscalIncrease/Increase/20122011(Decrease)(Decrease)Revenues Propane843,648$ 929,492$ (85,844)$ (9.2%) Fuel oil and refined fuels114,288 139,572 (25,284) (18.1%) Natural gas and electricity67,419 84,721 (17,302) (20.4%) All other38,103 36,767 1,336 3.6% Total revenues1,063,458$ 1,190,552$ (127,094)$ (10.7%)
Cost of Products Sold
Average posted prices for propane for fiscal 2012 were 19.7% lower than the prior year, and average fuel oil prices
for fiscal 2012 were 7.4% higher than the prior year. Total cost of products sold decreased $79.7 million, or 11.7%, to
$599.1 million in fiscal 2012, compared to $678.7 million in the prior year due to lower volumes sold and lower propane
average product costs, partially offset by higher fuel oil average product costs. The net change in the fair value of
derivative instruments resulted in unrealized (non-cash) gains reported in cost of product sold of $4.6 million and $1.4
million during fiscal 2012 and 2011, respectively, resulting in a decrease of $3.2 million in cost of products sold in fiscal
2012 compared to the prior year ($4.8 million decrease and $1.6 million increase in cost of products sold reported in the
propane segment and fuel oil and refined fuels segment, respectively).
Cost of products sold associated with the distribution of propane and related activities of $448.1 million for fiscal
2012 decreased $58.4 million, or 11.5%, compared to the prior year. Lower average propane costs and lower propane
volumes sold resulted in a decrease in cost of products sold of $30.5 million and $23.7 million, respectively, in fiscal
2012 compared to the prior year. Cost of products sold from other propane activities increased $0.6 million in fiscal
2012 compared to the prior year.
Cost of products sold associated with our fuel oil and refined fuels segment of $91.2 million for fiscal 2012
decreased $9.7 million, or 9.6%, compared to the prior year. Lower fuel oil and refined fuels volumes sold resulted in a
decrease of $22.6 million in cost of products sold during fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year. The impact of the
decrease in volumes sold was partially offset by higher average fuel oil and refined fuels costs, which resulted in an
$11.3 million increase in cost of products sold during fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year.
Cost of products sold in our natural gas and electricity segment of $46.9 million for fiscal 2012 decreased $14.6
million, or 23.7%, compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower natural gas and electricity volumes sold.
Cost of products sold as a percent of revenues of 56.3% for fiscal 2012 decreased 0.7 percentage points, compared
to 57.0% for the prior year. The decrease in cost of products sold as a percentage of revenues was primarily attributable
to wholesale propane product costs declining at a slightly faster pace than the decline in average propane selling prices.
39
(Dollars in thousands)PercentFiscalFiscalIncrease/Increase/20122011(Decrease)(Decrease)Cost of products sold Propane448,120$ 506,481$ (58,361)$ (11.5%) Fuel oil and refined fuels91,239 100,908 (9,669) (9.6%) Natural gas and electricity46,915 61,495 (14,580) (23.7%) All other12,785 9,835 2,950 30.0% Total cost of products sold599,059$ 678,719$ (79,660)$ (11.7%)As a percent of total revenues56.3%57.0%
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses of $298.7 million for fiscal 2012 increased $17.4 million, or 6.2%, compared to $281.3
million in the prior year as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, offset to an extent by lower payroll and benefit
related expenses resulting from a lower headcount and other operating efficiencies, as well as lower bad debt expense
and insurance costs. During fiscal 2011 we recorded severance charges of $2.0 million related to the realignment of
our operating footprint.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses of $59.0 million for fiscal 2012 increased approximately $7.4 million
compared to $51.6 million in the prior year. General and administrative expenses for fiscal 2012 included a $4.5 million
charge associated with a legal settlement (see Item 3 and Note 12 included within the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements section elsewhere in this Annual Report for additional discussion), and a $2.1 million non-cash
charge from a loss on disposal of an asset used in our natural gas and electricity business. General and administrative
expenses for fiscal 2011 included a $2.5 million gain on sale of an asset. Excluding the impact of these items, general
and administrative expenses decreased $1.8 million primarily due to lower variable compensation associated with lower
earnings, offset to an extent by the addition of Inergy Propane.
Acquisition-related Costs
During fiscal 2012 we recorded acquisition-related costs of $17.9 million related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition.
These costs were primarily attributable to investment banker, legal, accounting and other consulting fees.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense of $47.0 million in fiscal 2012 increased $11.4 million, or 32.0%,
compared to $35.6 million in the prior year, primarily as a result of tangible and intangible long-lived assets acquired
in the Inergy Propane Acquisition.
40
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20122011IncreaseIncreaseOperating expenses298,772$ 281,329$ 17,443$ 6.2%As a percent of total revenues28.1%23.6%(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20122011IncreaseIncreaseGeneral and administrative expenses59,020$ 51,648$ 7,372$ 14.3%As a percent of total revenues5.5%4.3%(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20122011IncreaseIncreaseDepreciation and amortization47,034$ 35,628$ 11,406$ 32.0%As a percent of total revenues4.4%3.0%
Interest Expense, net
Net interest expense of $38.6 million for fiscal 2012 increased $11.2 million compared to $27.4 million in the
prior year, primarily due to higher debt levels associated with the financing for the Inergy Propane Acquisition. See
Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion on the debt issued in connection with the Inergy
Propane Acquisition.
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
In connection with the execution of the amendment of our credit agreement on January 5, 2012, we recognized a
non-cash charge of $0.5 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs associated with the credit
agreement during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. In addition, in connection with the repayment, on August 14, 2012, of
borrowings under our 364-Day Facility which was used as short-term financing to fund a portion of the Inergy Propane
Acquisition, we recognized a non-cash charge of $1.7 million to write off unamortized debt origination costs associated
with the 364-Day Facility during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for
additional discussion on the amendment to the credit agreement.
Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA
We reported net income of $0.6 million, or $0.02 per Common Unit in fiscal 2012 compared to net income of
$115.0 million, or $3.24 per Common Unit in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to $108.5 million in fiscal
2012, compared to $179.4 million in fiscal 2011.
Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2012 were negatively affected by several significant items, including: (i)
$17.9 million in acquisition-related costs associated with the Inergy Propane Acquisition; (ii) a charge of $4.5 million
associated with a legal settlement reached during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 included within general and
administrative expenses; (iii) a loss on debt extinguishment of $2.2 million; and (iv) a $2.1 million non-cash charge
from a loss on disposal of an asset in our natural gas and electricity business. Net income and EBITDA for fiscal 2011
included a $2.0 million charge for severance costs associated with the realignment of our field operations.
The following table sets forth (i) our calculations of EBITDA and (ii) a reconciliation of EBITDA, as so
calculated, to our net cash provided by operating activities:
41
(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalPercent20122011IncreaseIncreaseInterest expense, net38,633$ 27,378$ 11,255$ 41.1%As a percent of total revenues3.6%2.3%
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Analysis of Cash Flows
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2013 amounted to $214.3 million, an
increase of $103.3 million compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in
earnings, after adjusting for non-cash items in both periods. In addition, average posted prices for propane during
fiscal 2013 decreased 19.2% compared to the prior year, which resulted in a substantial reduction in working capital
requirements year-over-year. Also, cash flows from operating activities for fiscal 2013 benefited to an extent by the
realization of working capital acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities of $14.7 million for fiscal 2013 consisted of capital
expenditures of $27.8 million (including $8.3 million for maintenance expenditures and $19.5 million to support the
growth of operations), partially offset by the net proceeds of $7.3 million from the sale of property, plant and
equipment, and net proceeds of $5.8 million from Inergy as a result of a purchase price adjustment attributable to the
working capital of Inergy Propane. Net cash used in investing activities of $239.8 million for fiscal 2012 consisted of
capital expenditures of $17.5 million (including $9.3 million for maintenance expenditures and $8.2 million to
support the growth of operations) and business acquisitions of $223.7 million, partially offset by the net proceeds
42
(Dollars in thousands)September 29,September 24,20122011Net income638$ 114,966$ Add:Provision for income taxes137 884 Interest expense, net38,633 27,378 Depreciation and amortization47,034 35,628 EBITDA86,442 178,856 Unrealized (non-cash) (gains) losses on changesin fair value of derivatives(4,649) (1,431) 17,916 - 4,500 - 2,249 - 2,078 - Severance charges- 2,000 Adjusted EBITDA108,536 179,425 Add (subtract):Provision for income taxes(137) (884) Interest expense, net(38,633) (27,378) Unrealized (non-cash) gains (losses) on changes in fair value of derivatives4,649 1,431 Severance charges- (2,000) Acquisition-related costs(17,916) - Loss on legal settlement(4,500) - Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans4,059 3,922 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net(727) (2,772) Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities55,642 (18,958) Net cash provided by operating activities110,973$ 132,786$ Year EndedLoss on asset disposalLoss on debt extinguishmentAcquisition-related costsLoss on legal settlement
from the sale of property, plant and equipment of $1.4 million.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2013 of $226.7 million reflects the quarterly
distribution to Common Unitholders at a rate of $0.8525 per Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal
2012 and at a rate of $0.8750 per Common Unit paid in respect of the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2013. In
addition, net cash used in financing activities for fiscal 2013 includes proceeds of $143.4 million from the issuance of
3,105,000 of our Common Units in May 2013. The net proceeds from the equity offering, along with cash on hand,
were used to redeem $157.3 million of our 2021 Senior Notes in August 2013.
Net cash provided by financing activities for fiscal 2012 of $113.5 million reflects the net proceeds of $259.8
million from the issuance of 7.2 million Common Units in a public offering, net of $25.2 million in debt origination
costs, consisting of $10.3 million in debt origination costs associated with the amendments to our credit agreement
and $14.9 million in debt origination costs associated with the issuance of new senior notes in connection with the
Inergy Propane Acquisition, and $121.1 million in quarterly distributions to Unitholders at a rate of $0.8525 per
Common Unit paid in respect of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and the first, second and third quarters of fiscal
2012. With the execution of the amendment of our credit agreement on January 5, 2012, we rolled the $100.0 million
then-outstanding under the revolving credit facility of the previous credit agreement into the Revolving Credit Facility
(defined below) of the Amended Credit Agreement (defined below). This resulted in the repayment of the $100.0
million then-outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility of the previous credit agreement with proceeds from
borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of the amended credit agreement.
See Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations and Revolving Credit Lines below for additional discussion.
Equity Offering
On May 17, 2013, we sold 2,700,000 Common Units in a public offering at a price of $48.16 per Common Unit
realizing proceeds of $124.7 million, net of underwriting commissions and other offering expenses. On May 22,
2013, following the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, we sold an additional 405,000 Common
Units at $48.16 per Common Unit, generating additional proceeds of $18.7 million, net of underwriting commissions.
The net proceeds from the offering, including the net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment
option, were used to redeem $133.4 million of our 2021 senior notes in August 2013, including prepayment premiums
and other expenses.
Summary of Long-Term Debt Obligations and Revolving Credit Lines
As of September 28, 2013, our long-term debt consisted of $496.6 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.5%
senior notes due October 1, 2018, $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due March 15,
2020, $346.2 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior notes due August 1, 2021 and $100.0 million
under our senior secured Revolving Credit Facility.
Senior Notes
2018 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes
On August 1, 2012, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., issued
$496.6 million in aggregate principal amount of unregistered 7.5% senior notes due October 1, 2018 (the ―2018
Senior Notes‖) and $503.4 million in aggregate principal amount of unregistered 7.375% senior notes due August 1,
2021 (the ―2021 Senior Notes‖) in a private placement in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition. Based on
market rates for similar issues, the 2018 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes were valued at 106.875% and
108.125%, respectively, of the principal amount, on the Acquisition Date as they were issued in exchange for Inergy’s
outstanding notes, not for cash. The 2018 Senior Notes require semi-annual interest payments in April and October,
and the 2021 Senior Notes require semi-annual interest payments in February and August.
The 2018 Senior Notes are redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, at any time after October 1, 2014, in
each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the
43
date of the redemption.
The 2021 Senior Notes are redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, at any time after August 1, 2016, in
each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to date
of the redemption.
On December 19, 2012, we completed an offer to exchange our existing unregistered 7.5% senior notes due 2018
and 7.375% senior notes due 2021 (the ―Old Notes‖) for an equal principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due 2018 and
7.375% senior notes due 2021 (the ―Exchange Notes‖), respectively, that have been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects (including principal,
interest rate, maturity and redemption rights) to the Old Notes for which they were exchanged, except that the
Exchange Notes generally will not be subject to transfer restrictions.
On August 2, 2013, we repurchased, pursuant to optional redemption, $133.4 million of our 2021 Senior Notes
using net proceeds from our May 2013 public offering and net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their over-
allotment option to purchase additional Common Units. In addition, on August 6, 2013, we repurchased $23.9
million of our 2021 Senior Notes in a private transaction using cash on hand. In connection with these repurchases,
which totaled $157.3 million in aggregate principal amount, we recognized a loss on the extinguishment of debt of
$2.1 million consisting of $11.7 million for the repurchase premium and related fees, as well as the write-off of $2.1
million and ($11.7) million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized premium, respectively.
2020 Senior Notes
On March 23, 2010, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., completed
a public offering of $250.0 million 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 and require semi-
annual interest payments in March and September.
The 2020 Senior Notes are redeemable, at our option, in whole or in part, at any time after March 15, 2015, in
each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the
date of the redemption.
Our obligations under the 2018 Senior Notes, 2020 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes (collectively, the ―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 Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to, which means
they rank effectively behind, any debt and other liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The 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 a change of control, as defined in the indenture, occurs and is followed by a rating decline (a decrease
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YearPercentage2014………………………………………..103.750%2015………………………………………..101.875%2016 and thereafter…………………………100.000%YearPercentage2016………………………………………..103.688%2017………………………………………..102.459%2018………………………………………..101.229%2019 and thereafter…………………………100.000%YearPercentage2015………………………………………..103.688%2016………………………………………..102.459%2017………………………………………..101.229%2018 and thereafter…………………………100.000%
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.
Credit Agreement
Our Operating Partnership has a credit agreement, as amended on January 5, 2012 and August 1, 2012 (the
―Amended Credit Agreement‖) that provides for a five-year $400.0 million revolving credit facility (the ―Revolving
Credit Facility‖), of which $100.0 million was outstanding as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including working
capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions. Our 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.
The amendment to the credit agreement on January 5, 2012 amended the previous credit agreement to, among
other things, extend the maturity date from June 25, 2013 to January 5, 2017, reduce the borrowing rate and
commitment fees, and amend certain affirmative and negative covenants. As of January 5, 2012, our Operating
Partnership had borrowings of $100.0 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility of the previous credit
agreement, and rolled those borrowings into the Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement. Also,
at such time, our Operating Partnership had letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility of the previous
credit agreement primarily in support of retention levels under its self-insurance programs, all of which have been
rolled into the Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement.
On August 1, 2012, our Operating Partnership executed an amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement to,
among other things, provide for (i) a $250.0 million senior secured 364-Day Facility and (ii) an increase in our revolving
credit facility under the Amended Credit Agreement from $250.0 million to $400.0 million. On the Acquisition Date,
our Operating Partnership drew $225.0 million on the 364-Day Facility, which was used to fund a portion of the
Inergy Propane Acquisition, including costs and expenses related to the acquisition. We repaid the $225.0 million of
borrowings under the 364-Day Facility on August 14, 2012 with the net proceeds from the public issuance of
Common Units on August 14, 2012.
The amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement on August 1, 2012 also amended certain restrictive and
affirmative covenants applicable to our Operating Partnership and to us, as well as certain financial covenants, including
(a) requiring our consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined in the amendment, to be not less than 2.0 to 1.0 as of the
end of any fiscal quarter; (b) prohibiting the total consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the amendment, of the
Partnership from being greater than 7.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. The minimum consolidated interest
coverage ratio increases over time, and commencing with the third quarter of fiscal 2014, such minimum ratio will be
2.5 to 1.0. The maximum consolidated leverage ratio decreases over time, as well as upon the occurrence of certain
events (such as the issuance of Common Units where the net proceeds from the issuance exceed certain thresholds).
Commencing with the second quarter of fiscal 2013, such maximum ratio will be 4.75 to 1.0 (or 5.0 to 1.0 during an
acquisition period as defined in the amendment) as a result of the issuance of Common Units in August 2012. As of
September 28, 2013 the minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio and maximum consolidated leverage ratio was
2.25 to 1.0 and 4.75 to 1.0, respectively.
We act as a guarantor with respect to the obligations of our Operating Partnership under the Amended Credit
Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The obligations under the Amended 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.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement 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 Consolidated
Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Revolving Credit Facility. As of September 28, 2013, the
interest rate for the Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 2.8%. The interest rate and the applicable margin
will be reset at the end of each calendar quarter.
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In connection with the previous revolving credit facility, the Operating Partnership entered into an interest rate
swap agreement with a notional amount of $100.0 million, an effective date of March 31, 2010 and termination date
of June 25, 2013. Under the interest rate swap agreement, the Operating Partnership paid 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 paid to the Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR,
on the same notional principal amount. The interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. In connection
with the Amended Credit Agreement, our Operating Partnership entered into a forward starting interest rate swap
agreement with a notional amount of $100.0 million, and effective date of June 25, 2013 and a termination date of
January 5, 2017. Under this forward starting interest rate swap agreement, our Operating Partnership will pay a fixed
interest rate of 1.63% to the issuing lender on the notional principal amount outstanding, and the issuing lender will
pay our Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR, on the same notional principal amount. The forward
starting interest rate swap has been designated as a cash flow hedge.
As of September 28, 2013, our Operating Partnership had standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving
Credit Facility in the aggregate amount of $46.7 million which expire periodically through April 3, 2014. Therefore,
as of September 28, 2013 we had available borrowing capacity of $253.3 million under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Amended Credit Agreement and the 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. Under the Amended Credit Agreement
and the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Operating Partnership and the Partnership 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 with respect to the indentures governing
the Senior Notes, our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined, is greater than 1.75 to 1. We and our
Operating Partnership were in compliance with all covenants and terms of the Senior Notes and the Amended Credit
Agreement as of September 28, 2013.
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. During fiscal 2013, we recognized charges of $2.1 million to write-off
unamortized debt origination costs associated with the repurchase of our 2021 Senior Notes. During fiscal 2012, we
capitalized $14.9 million and $10.3 million for costs incurred in connection with issuance of new senior notes and the
amendments to our Amended Credit Agreement, respectively. We recognized charges of $2.2 million to write-off
unamortized debt origination costs associated with the amendment to our Amended Credit Agreement on January 5,
2012 and the repayment of borrowings under our 364-Day Facility. Other assets at September 28, 2013 and
September 29, 2012 include debt origination costs with a net carrying amount of $21.3 million and $28.1 million,
respectively.
The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to September 28, 2013 are as follows: fiscal 2014
through fiscal 2016: $-0-; fiscal 2017: $100.0 million; fiscal 2018: $496.6 million; and thereafter: $596.2 million.
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 24, 2013, we announced that our Board of Supervisors had declared a quarterly distribution of
$0.8750 per Common Unit for the three months ended September 28, 2013. This quarterly distribution rate equates to
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an annualized rate of $3.50 per Common Unit, which represents a growth rate of 2.6% when compared to the
annualized rate of $3.41 per Common Unit as of the end of fiscal year 2012. The distribution was paid on November
12, 2013 to Common Unitholders of record as of November 5, 2013.
Pension Plan Assets and Obligations
We have 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,
we amended the 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. 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 2013, 2012 or 2011. As of
September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 the plan’s projected benefit obligation exceeded the fair value of plan
assets by $27.9 million and $32.0 million, respectively. As a result, the net liability recognized in the consolidated
financial statements for the defined benefit pension plan decreased by $4.1 million during fiscal 2013, which was
primarily attributable to a decrease in the present value of the benefit obligation due to a general increase in market
interest rates, partially offset by a decline in the value of plan assets as a result of investment losses during fiscal
2013. As discussed below, plan assets are largely invested in fixed income securities and, as such, an increase in
market interest rates will generally result in negative returns on plan assets.
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 the accumulated
benefit obligation. However, as we experienced in fiscal 2012, 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 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, we used a discount rate of 4.375%
and 3.5%, respectively, reflecting current market rates for debt obligations of a similar duration to our pension
obligations.
During fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011, the amount of the pension benefit obligation settled through lump
sum payments did not exceed the settlement threshold (combined service and interest costs of net periodic pension
cost); therefore, a settlement charge was not required to be recognized in either of those fiscal years.
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.
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Long-Term Debt Obligations and Operating Lease Obligations
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes payments due under our known contractual obligations as of September 28,
2013:
(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 differ
from when actual payments are made. In addition, the payments do not reflect amounts to be recovered from
our insurance providers, which amount to $4.3 million, $3.5 million, $2.8 million, $1.5 million, $1.0 million
and $5.3 million for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter, respectively, and are included in other
assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
(c) These amounts are included in our consolidated balance sheet and primarily include payments for
postretirement and long-term incentive benefits.
Additionally, we have standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $46.7 million, in support of retention
levels under our casualty insurance programs and certain lease obligations, which expire periodically through April
15, 2014.
Operating Leases
We lease certain property, plant and equipment for various periods under noncancelable operating leases,
including 40% of our vehicle fleet, approximately 30% of our customer service centers and portions of our
information systems equipment. Rental expense under operating leases was $33.0 million, $23.6 million and $18.9
million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable
operating lease agreements as of September 28, 2013 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 2020, 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 $16.3
million. The fair value of residual value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of September
28, 2013 and September 29, 2012.
48
Fiscal(Dollars in thousands)FiscalFiscalFiscalFiscalFiscal2019 and20142015201620172018thereafterLong-term debt obligations-$ -$ -$ 100,000$ 496,557$ 596,180$ Interest payments86,356 86,356 86,356 82,568 81,210 122,869 Operating lease obligations (a)27,238 20,488 12,770 7,894 5,208 5,947 Self-insurance obligations (b)14,552 11,910 9,021 5,300 3,284 14,085 Other contractual obligations (c)5,087 5,702 5,032 2,465 2,204 17,450 Total133,233$ 124,456$ 113,179$ 198,227$ 588,463$ 756,531$
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (―FASB‖) issued an accounting standards update
(―ASU‖) regarding disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities (―ASU 2011-11‖). The new guidance requires an
entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to
understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The amendments, further clarified with ASU
2013-01, will enhance disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative
instruments that are either offset in accordance with other US GAAP or subject to an enforceable master netting
arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether or not they are offset in the balance sheet. The new
guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within
those annual periods, which will be our first quarter of its 2014 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of
the new guidance on our future disclosures.
In February 2013, the FASB issued an ASU to establish the effective date for the requirement to present
components of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income either parenthetically on the face of
the financial statements or in the notes to the financial statements (―ASU 2013-02‖). The guidance is effective
prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, and interim periods within those annual periods,
which will be the first quarter of our 2014 fiscal year. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not change the items that
must be reported in other comprehensive income.
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
depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, price, supply and demand dynamics 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
options contracts and, in certain instances, over-the-counter options and swap contracts (collectively, ―derivative
instruments‖) to manage the price risk associated with 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. In addition, the Partnership sells propane and fuel oil to customers at fixed prices, and enters into
derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices as a result of selling the
fixed price contracts. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Futures and swap
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
49
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 market
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, or
delivered to customers as it pertains to fixed price contracts.
Futures are traded with brokers of the NYMEX and require daily cash settlements in margin accounts. Forward
contracts are generally settled at the expiration of the contract term by physical delivery, and swap and options
contracts are generally settled at expiration through a net settlement mechanism. Market risks associated with our
derivative instruments 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 options 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, swap and options 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 consolidated leverage ratio (the ratio of consolidated total debt to
consolidated 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 income (―OCI‖) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. At September 28, 2013, the fair
value of the interest rate swaps was a net liability of $2.4 million, which is included within other current liabilities and
other liabilities, as applicable, with a corresponding unrealized loss reflected in accumulated other comprehensive
income.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
All of our derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at their fair values. On the date that derivative
instruments 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 earnings 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 earnings.
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 in earnings as they occur. Cash flows associated with
derivative instruments are reported as operating activities within the consolidated statement of cash flows.
50
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 28, 2013.
B. The market prices for the underlying commodities used to determine A. above were adjusted adversely
by a hypothetical 10% change 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 open
derivative instruments as of September 28, 2013 indicates an increase in potential future net losses of $2.2 million as of
September 28, 2013. The above hypothetical change does not reflect the worst case scenario. Actual results may be
significantly different depending on market conditions and the composition of the open position portfolio.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm thereon
listed on the accompanying Index to Financial Statements in Part IV, Item 15 (see page F-1) and the Supplemental
Financial Information listed on the accompanying Index to Financial Statement Schedule in Part IV, Item 15 (see page
S-1) are included herein.
Selected Quarterly Financial Data
Due to the seasonality of the retail propane, fuel oil and other refined fuel and natural gas businesses, our first and
second quarter revenues and earnings are consistently greater than third and fourth quarter results. The following
presents our selected quarterly financial data for the last two fiscal years (unaudited; in thousands, except per unit
amounts).
(a) The fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 includes 14 weeks of operations compared to 13 weeks in the fourth quarter for
fiscal 2013. In addition, on August 1, 2012, we acquired Inergy Propane. The results of operations of Inergy
Propane have been included in the consolidated results from the Acquisition Date through September 29, 2012 and
all of fiscal 2013. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition of Inergy Propane included within the Notes to the Consolidated
52
FirstSecondThirdFourthTotalQuarterQuarterQuarterQuarter (a)YearFiscal 2013Revenues490,703$ 678,426$ 290,805$ 243,672$ 1,703,606$ Cost of products sold245,100 346,999 148,176 121,630 861,905 Operating income (loss)82,308 153,977 (20,654) (38,655) 176,976 Loss on debt extinguishment (b)- - - 2,144 2,144 Net income (loss) 57,620 129,484 (45,187) (63,119) 78,798 Net income (loss) per common unit - basic (c)1.05 2.29 (0.77) (1.05) 1.35 Net income (loss) per common unit - diluted (c)1.04 2.28 (0.77) (1.05) 1.34 Cash provided by (used in) Operating activities61,537 72,426 66,505 13,838 214,306 Investing activities1,847 (4,999) (6,532) (4,979) (14,663) Financing activities(48,605) (49,965) 93,459 (221,617) (226,728) EBITDA (d)112,835$ 185,293$ 10,850$ (3,762)$ 305,216$ Adjusted EBITDA (d)117,473$ 190,668$ 19,171$ 1,941$ 329,253$ Retail gallons sold Propane 153,933 210,314 92,109 78,265 534,621 Fuel oil and refined fuels15,885 23,223 8,331 6,271 53,710 Fiscal 2012Revenues299,886$ 357,626$ 179,601$ 226,345$ 1,063,458$ Cost of products sold183,574 208,401 88,776 118,308 599,059 Operating income (loss)30,290 56,125 (2,744) (42,014) 41,657 Loss on debt extinguishment (b)- 507 - 1,742 2,249 Net income (loss) 23,232 49,573 (9,323) (62,844) 638 Net income (loss) per common unit - basic (c)0.65 1.39 (0.26) (1.32) 0.02 Net income (loss) per common unit - diluted (c)0.65 1.38 (0.26) (1.32) 0.02 Cash provided by (used in) Operating activities(25,323) 42,371 56,202 37,723 110,973 Investing activities(4,714) (2,775) (4,528) (227,741) (239,758) Financing activities(30,226) (32,684) (32,072) 208,531 113,549 EBITDA (d)38,075$ 63,267$ 5,728$ (20,628)$ 86,442$ Adjusted EBITDA (d)39,123$ 65,852$ 3,460$ 101$ 108,536$ Retail gallons sold Propane 74,279 89,941 49,014 70,607 283,841 Fuel oil and refined fuels7,695 10,565 4,314 5,917 28,491
Financial Statements section elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(b) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, we repurchased pursuant to an optional redemption $133.4 million of our
2021 Senior Notes using net proceeds from our May 2013 public offering and net proceeds from the
underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option to purchase additional Common Units. In addition, we
repurchased $23.9 million of our 2021 Senior Notes in a private transaction using cash on hand. In connection
with these repurchases, which totaled $157.3 million in aggregate principal amount, we recognized a loss on the
extinguishment of debt of $2.1 million consisting of $11.7 million for the repurchase premium and related fees, as
well as the write-off of $2.1 million and ($11.7) million in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized
premium, respectively. During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we amended the Credit Agreement (the
―Amended Credit Agreement‖) that provides for a five-year $250.0 million revolving credit facility (the
―Revolving Credit Facility‖), of which, $100.0 million was outstanding as of September 29, 2012 to extend the
maturity date from June 25, 2013 to January 5, 2017. In connection with the execution of the Amended Credit
Agreement, we recognized a non-cash charge of $0.5 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt
origination costs associated with the previous credit agreement, and capitalized $2.4 million for origination costs
incurred with the amendment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we amended the Amended Credit
Agreement that provides for a five-year $400.0 million revolving credit facility, of which, $100.0 million was
outstanding as of September 29, 2012. In connection with the execution of the Amendment Credit Agreement,
we recognized a non-cash charge of $1.7 million to write-off a portion of unamortized debt origination costs
associated with the previous credit agreement.
(c) 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.
On May 17, 2013, we sold 2.7 million Common Units in a public offering. On May 22, 2013, following the
underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, we sold an additional 0.4 million Common Units. On
August 1, 2012, in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition, we issued 14.2 million Common Units, and
on August 14, 2012, we sold 7.2 million Common Units in a secondary offering. Those Common Units have
been included in basic and diluted earnings per common unit from the respective dates of issuance.
(d) 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 and other certain items as provided in the table below. 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. 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 provided by (used in) operating activities (amounts in thousands):
53
54
FirstSecondThirdFourthTotalFiscal 2013QuarterQuarterQuarterQuarterYearNet income (loss)57,620$ 129,484$ (45,187)$ (63,119)$ 78,798$ Add:Provision for income taxes132 150 148 177 607 Interest expense, net24,556 24,343 24,385 22,143 95,427 Depreciation and amortization30,527 31,316 31,504 37,037 130,384 EBITDA112,835 185,293 10,850 (3,762) 305,216 Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes infair value of derivatives3,614 2,646 73 (2,015) 4,318 Integration related costs1,024 2,729 2,248 4,574 10,575 - - 6,000 1,000 7,000 - - - 2,144 2,144 Adjusted EBITDA117,473 190,668 19,171 1,941 329,253 Add (subtract):Provision for income taxes(132) (150) (148) (177) (607) Interest expense, net(24,556) (24,343) (24,385) (22,143) (95,427) Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives(3,614) (2,646) (73) 2,015 (4,318) Integration related costs(1,024) (2,729) (2,248) (4,574) (10,575) Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal charge- - (6,000) (1,000) (7,000) Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans1,240 1,173 840 635 3,888 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net(2,267) (323) (301) (652) (3,543) Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities(25,583) (89,224) 79,649 37,793 2,635 Net cash provided by operating activities61,537$ 72,426$ 66,505$ 13,838$ 214,306$ Loss on debt extinguishmentMulti-employer pension plan withdrawal charge
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 28, 2013. 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 28, 2013.
55
FirstSecondThirdFourthTotalFiscal 2012QuarterQuarterQuarterQuarterYearNet income (loss)23,232$ 49,573$ (9,323)$ (62,844)$ 638$ Add:Provision for (benefit from) income taxes220 (380) 100 197 137 Interest expense, net6,838 6,425 6,479 18,891 38,633 Depreciation and amortization7,785 7,649 8,472 23,128 47,034 EBITDA38,075 63,267 5,728 (20,628) 86,442 Unrealized (non-cash) losses (gains) on changes infair value of derivatives1,048 - (8,218) 2,521 (4,649) Acquisition-related costs- - 5,950 11,966 17,916 - - - 4,500 4,500 - 507 - 1,742 2,249 - 2,078 - - 2,078 Adjusted EBITDA39,123 65,852 3,460 101 108,536 Add (subtract):(Provision for) benefit from income taxes(220) 380 (100) (197) (137) Interest expense, net(6,838) (6,425) (6,479) (18,891) (38,633) Unrealized (non-cash) (losses) gains on changes in fair value of derivatives(1,048) - 8,218 (2,521) 4,649 Acquisition-related costs- - (5,950) (11,966) (17,916) Loss on legal settlement- - - (4,500) (4,500) Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans1,203 1,147 911 798 4,059 Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net(32) (179) (35) (481) (727) Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities(57,511) (18,404) 56,177 75,380 55,642 Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(25,323)$ 42,371$ 56,202$ 37,723$ 110,973$ Loss on debt extinguishmentLoss on legal settlementLoss on asset disposal
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 28, 2013, 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 INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING. 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.
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 28, 2013. 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 28,
2013, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, issued an attestation report
dated November 27, 2013 on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which is included
herein.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
56
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE
Partnership Management
PART III
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. Under the current Partnership Agreement, members of our Board of Supervisors are elected
by the Unitholders for three-year terms. All six of our current Supervisors who were serving in such capacity at the
beginning of our 2013 Fiscal Year were elected to their current three-year terms at the Tri-Annual Meeting of our
Unitholders convened on May 1, 2012 and then reconvened on May 14, 2012.
At its regular meeting on November 13, 2012, our Board of Supervisors, pursuant to authority granted to the Board
under the Partnership Agreement, increased the size of the Board from six (6) Supervisors to eight (8) Supervisors. At
the same meeting and again pursuant to authority granted to the Board under the Partnership Agreement, the Board
elected Messrs. Lawrence C. Caldwell and Matthew J. Chanin to fill the two vacancies on the Board created by the
increase in size of the Board, effective immediately. Messrs. Caldwell and Chanin were each elected for a term due to
expire at the next Tri-Annual Meeting of our Unitholders, currently scheduled for Spring 2015. At that meeting, Messrs.
Caldwell and Chanin were also named to the Audit and Compensation Committees.
Seven Supervisors, who are not officers or employees of the Partnership or its subsidiaries, now 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 SEC, 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 (i) integrity of the Partnership’s financial statements and internal
control over financial reporting; (ii) the Partnership’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations and its code of
conduct; (iii) independence and qualifications of the independent registered public accounting firm; (iv) performance
of the internal audit function and the independent registered public accounting firm; and (v) accounting complaints.
The Board of Supervisors has determined that all seven members of the Audit Committee, Harold R. Logan, Jr.,
John Hoyt Stookey, Dudley C. Mecum, John D. Collins, Lawrence C. Caldwell, Matthew J. Chanin 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
57
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 27, 2013. 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
Position With the Partnership
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. ………………. 64
Michael A. Stivala………………… 44
Michael M. Keating……………….. 60
49
A. Davin D’Ambrosio……………..
60
Paul Abel………………………….
49
Steven C. Boyd……………………
52
Douglas T. Brinkworth……………
43
Michael Kuglin……………………
48
Neil Scanlon……………………….
Mark Wienberg……………………
51
Sandra N. Zwickel………………… 47
69
Harold R. Logan, Jr. ………………
83
John Hoyt Stookey….……………..
Dudley C. Mecum…………………
John D. Collins……………………
Jane Swift…………………………
Lawrence C. Caldwell…………….
Matthew J. Chanin………………..
78
75
48
67
59
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 – Field Operations
Vice President – Product Supply
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
Vice President – Information Services
Vice President – Operational Support and Analysis
Vice President – Human Resources
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
Member of the Board of Supervisors
Member of the Board of Supervisors
On November 14, 2013, we announced that, pursuant to a succession plan developed by Mr. Dunn and our Board of
Supervisors, Mr. Dunn will relinquish the role of President on March 31, 2014, and will retire as our Chief Executive
Officer effective September 27, 2014, the last day of our 2014 fiscal year. Simultaneously, we announced that Mr.
Stivala will assume the role of our President on April 1, 2014.
Mr. Dunn has served as our President since May 2005 and as our Chief Executive Officer since September 2009.
Mr. Dunn has served as a Supervisor since July 1998. From June 1998 until May 2005 he was our Senior Vice
President, becoming Senior Vice President – Corporate Development in November 2002. He was our 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 15 years of experience in the propane industry,
including as our President for the past 8 years and Chief Executive Officer for the past 4 years, which day to day
leadership roles have provided him with intimate knowledge of our operations.
Mr. Stivala has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2009, and, before that, as our Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer since October 2007. Prior to that he was our 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.
58
Mr. Keating has served as our Senior Vice President – Administration since July 2009. From July 1996 to that date
he was our 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 our Treasurer since November 2002 and was additionally made a Vice President
in October 2007. He served as our 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 after ten
years in the commercial banking industry.
Mr. Abel has served as our 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. Boyd has served as our Vice President – Field Operations (formerly Vice President – Operations) since
October 2008. Prior to that he was our 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 our 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. Kuglin has served as our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since November 2011. Prior to that he
was our 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. Scanlon became our Vice President – Information Services in November 2008. Prior to that he served as our
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, an international systems
consulting firm, most recently as Manager.
Mr. Wienberg has served as our Vice President – Operational Support and Analysis (formerly Vice President –
Operational Planning) since October 2007. Prior to that he served as our 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.
Ms. Zwickel has served as our Vice President – Human Resources since November 2013. Prior to that, she was
our Assistant Vice President – Human Resources since April 2011 and earlier held several roles in the Partnership’s
Legal Department (including Assistant General Counsel from October 2009 to April 2011 and Counsel from October
2002 to October 2009), where she was responsible for, among other things, providing legal counsel on employment
issues. Ms. Zwickel joined the Partnership in June 1999 after eight years in the private practice of law.
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
59
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.
Over the past 40 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 of a number of non-profit organizations, including founding and serving as non-executive Chairman of Per
Scholas Inc. (a non-profit organization dedicated to training inner city individuals to become computer and software
technicians), The Berkshire Choral Festival and Landmark Volunteers and also serves on the Board of Directors of
The Clark Foundation and The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation and as a Life Trustee of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
Mr. Stookey’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his extensive experience as Chief Executive Officer of four
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 was a Managing Director of Capricorn Holdings, LLC
(a sponsor of and investor in leveraged buyouts) from 1997 to 2011 and a partner of G.L. Ohrstrom & Co. (a sponsor of
and investor in leveraged buyouts) from 1989 to 1996.
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 over 20 years of
service as a director of various publicly-owned companies, including, until 2007, Citigroup, Inc.
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 and, until
recently, was a Director of Columbia Atlantic Funds and Mrs. Fields Original Cookies, Inc.
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 currently the CEO of Middlebury Interactive
Languages, LLC, a marketer of world language products. From 2010 through July 2011, Ms. Swift served as Senior
Vice President of ConnectEDU Inc., a private education technology company. In 2007, she founded WNP
Consulting, LLC, a provider of 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 has
previously served on the boards of K12, Inc. and Animated Speech Company and currently serves on the boards of
60
Sally Ride Science Inc. and several not-for-profit boards, including the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
and The Young Writers Project. Prior to joining Arcadia, Ms. Swift served for 15 years in Massachusetts state
government, becoming Massachusetts’ first woman governor in 2001.
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.
Mr. Caldwell has served as a Supervisor since November 2012. He was a Co-Founder of New Canaan
Investments, Inc. (―NCI‖), a private equity investment firm, where he was one of three senior officers of the firm
from 1988-2005. NCI was an active "fix and build" investor in packaging, chemicals, and automotive components
companies. Mr. Caldwell held a number of board directorships and senior management positions in these companies
until he retired in 2005. The largest of these companies was Kerr Group, Inc., a plastic closure and bottle company
where Mr. Caldwell served as Director for 8 years and Chief Financial Officer for 6 years. From 1985-1988, Mr.
Caldwell was head of acquisitions for Moore McCormack Resources, Inc., an oil and gas exploration, shipping, and
construction materials company. Mr. Caldwell is currently a director of Magnuson Products, LLC, a private company
which manufactures specialty engine components for the automotive OEM and aftermarket. Mr. Caldwell also serves
on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the Investment and Finance Committee of Historic Deerfield, and on the
Board of Directors and as Chairman of both the Finance and Strategic Planning Committees of the Leventhal Map
Center, both of which non-profit institutions focus on enriching educational programs for K-12 children locally and
nationwide.
Mr. Caldwell's qualifications to sit on our Board include over 40 years of successful investing in and managing of
a broad range of public and private businesses in a number of different industries. This experience has encompassed
both turnaround situations, and the building of companies through internal growth and acquisitions.
Mr. Chanin has served as a Supervisor since November 2012. He was Senior Managing Director of Prudential
Investment Management, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc., from 1996 until his retirement in January, 2012.
He headed the firm’s private fixed income business, chaired an internal committee responsible for strategic investing
and was a principal in Prudential Capital Partners, the firm’s mezzanine investment business. He currently serves as a
Director of three private companies that are in Prudential Capital Partners funds’ portfolios, and provides consulting
services to Prudential and one other client.
Mr. Chanin’s qualifications to sit on our Board include 35 years of investment experience with a focus on highly
structured private placements in companies in a broad range of industries, with a particular focus on energy
companies. He has previously served on the audit committee of a public company board and is currently a member of
the audit committee for a private company board. Mr. Chanin has earned an MBA and is a Chartered Financial
Analyst.
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 Year 2013, except that Matthew J. Chanin filed one Form 4 late with respect to one
purchase transaction due to the late transmission of the necessary information by his broker.
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
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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
Seven Supervisors, who are not officers or employees of the Partnership or its subsidiaries, serve on the
Compensation Committee. The Board of Supervisors has determined that all seven members of the Compensation
Committee, Harold R. Logan, Jr., John Hoyt Stookey, Dudley C. Mecum, John D. Collins, Jane Swift, Lawrence C.
Caldwell and Matthew J. Chanin are independent. 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
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.
is available without charge
During fiscal 2013, the Compensation Committee independently retained Towers Watson, a compensation
consultant, to assist the Compensation Committee in its review and development of a new performance metric under
our Long-Term Incentive Plan.
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 submits his Annual CEO Certification to the NYSE each December. In December 2012, Mr. Dunn submitted
his Annual CEO Certification to the NYSE without qualification.
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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 Suburban, which we refer to as the ―named executive
officers‖: Mr. Dunn, our President and Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Stivala, our Chief Financial Officer; and the
other three most highly compensated executive officers: Mr. Boyd, our Vice President of Field Operations; Mr.
Wienberg, our Vice President of Operational Support and Analysis and Mr. Brinkworth, our Vice President of
Product Supply.
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 encourage the retention of the
participating executive officers, while simultaneously encouraging behaviors conducive to the long-term
appreciation of our Common Units.
Establishing Executive Compensation
The Compensation Committee, which we hereafter refer to as the ―Committee,‖ is responsible for overseeing our
executive compensation program.
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, senior vice presidents,
and our named executive officers.
In accordance with
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
63
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, experience, 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 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 is 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 fiscal year 2013 was derived from the Mercer Human
Resource Consulting, Inc. (―Mercer‖) Benchmark Database containing information obtained from surveys of over
2,543 organizations and approximately 209 positions which may or may not include similarly-sized national 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 $1.1 billion and $4.2
billion per year.
In making their decisions regarding executive compensation packages for the coming fiscal year, the members of
the Committee review the total cash compensation opportunities that were provided to our executive officers during
the just completed fiscal year. Each executive officer’s ―total cash compensation opportunity‖ consists of base salary,
an annual cash bonus, and Long-Term Incentive Plan awards. The Committee then compares 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, when it met on November 13, 2012, the Committee
created fiscal 2013 compensation packages for our executive officers that emphasized the performance-based
components of compensation.
The Committee does not base its benchmarking solely on a peer group of other propane marketers, as the
Committee believes that the proximity of Suburban’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 similarly skilled
employees requires a broader review of the market. 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.
As previously reported, at their fiscal 2012 Tri-Annual Meeting, our Unitholders overwhelmingly approved the
advisory ―Say-on-Pay‖ resolution required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act. As a result, the Committee
determined that no major revisions of its practices are required; however, the Committee has, and will continue to,
periodically evaluate its compensation practices for possible improvement.
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 provided in the Mercer database.
Suburban’s sole use of the Mercer database was to provide the Committee with benchmarking data. Therefore,
prior to the November 13, 2012 Committee meeting, 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.
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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, and grants under our
Restricted Unit Plans, 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 2013 (as determined at the Committee’s November 13, 2012 meeting).
Base Salary Bonus Target
Cash
Long-Term
Incentive
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
40%
45%
45%
45%
45%
40%
36%
36%
36%
36%
20%
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 are pay-for-performance
compensation plans that do not provide for minimum payments.
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 Suburban, individual performance and years of experience in his 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 weights 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 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 base salary increases, the Committee’s practice is to compare each
executive officer’s base salary with the corresponding mean salary provided in the Mercer database. The Committee
65
usually determines 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. In
accordance with this process and the philosophy described above, and in consideration of the increased
responsibilities assumed by our named executive officers as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, at its meeting
on November 13, 2012, the Committee made the following adjustments to the base salaries of our named executive
officers for fiscal 2013:
Name
Fiscal 2013 Base Salary
Fiscal 2012 Base Salary
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
$495,000
$300,000
Steven C. Boyd
$290,000
Mark Wienberg
$280,000
Douglas T. Brinkworth
$270,000
$475,000
$275,000
$270,000
$250,000
$245,000
In the event of a promotion, a significant increase in an executive officer’s responsibilities, or a new hire, it is the
Committee’s practice to review that executive officer’s base salary at that time and take such action as the Committee
deems warranted. At its meeting on November 13, 2013, the Committee did not adjust the base salaries of our named
executive officers for fiscal 2014.
The total base salary paid to each named executive officer in fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 is reported in
the column titled ―Salary‖ in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Annual Cash Bonus Plan
Annual cash bonuses (which fall within the Securities and Exchange Commission’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.
The terms of our annual cash bonus plan provide for cash payments of a specified percentage (which, in fiscal
2013, ranged from 80% to 100%) of our named executive officers’ annual base salaries (―target cash bonus‖) if, for
the fiscal year, actual cash bonus plan EBITDA equals Suburban’s budgeted EBITDA. For purposes of calculating
cash bonus plan EBITDA, the Committee customarily adjusts both budgeted and actual EBITDA (as defined in Item
6 in this annual report on Form 10-K) for various items considered to be non-recurring in nature; including, but not
limited to, unrealized (non-cash) gains or losses on changes in the fair value of derivative instruments; acquisition-
related costs; integration-related costs; multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charges; pension settlement charges;
and losses on debt extinguishment. Under the annual cash bonus plan, our executive officers have the opportunity to
earn between 60% and 120% of their target cash bonuses, depending upon Suburban’s EBITDA performance in the
fiscal year; 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 120% of the target cash bonus even if actual cash bonus plan EBITDA is
more than 120% of budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA.
Although our annual cash bonus plan is generally administered using the formula described above, the Committee
may exercise its broad discretionary powers to decrease or increase the annual cash bonus paid to a particular
executive officer, upon the recommendation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, or the executive officers as
a group, when the Committee recognizes that an adjustment is warranted. During fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal
2011, no such discretionary adjustments were made to the annual cash bonuses earned by our executives.
For fiscal 2013, our budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA was $365 million (―Budgeted EBITDA‖). Our actual
cash bonus plan EBITDA was such that each of our executive officers earned 60% of his or her target cash bonus.
The following table provides the fiscal 2013 budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA targets that were established at the
November 13, 2012 Committee meeting:
66
Hypothetical Fiscal 2013
Cash Bonus Plan EBITDA
Results
(in Millions)
$438.0
$401.5
$365.0 (1)
$346.8
$328.5
Hypothetical Fiscal 2013
Cash Bonus Plan EBITDA
Expressed as a Percentage of
Budgeted Cash Bonus Plan
EBITDA
120%
110%
100%
95%
90%
Target Bonus Percentage that
would have been Earned if
Actual Cash Bonus Plan
EBITDA Equaled the Figure
in the First Column
120%
110%
100%
90%
60%
(1) Budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA for fiscal 2013.
The fiscal 2013 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 2013 are summarized as follows:
Name
2013 Target Cash
Bonus as a % of
Base Salary
2013 Target Cash
Bonus
2013 Actual Cash
Bonus Earned at
60%
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
100%
Michael A. Stivala
80%
Steven C. Boyd
80%
Mark Wienberg
80%
Douglas T. Brinkworth
80%
$495,000
$240,000
$232,000
$224,000
$216,000
$297,000
$144,000
$139,200
$134,400
$129,600
For purposes of establishing the cash bonus targets for fiscal 2013, the Committee reviewed and approved our
fiscal 2013 budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA at its November 13, 2012 meeting. The budgeted cash bonus 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 balance between a target that is reasonably achievable, yet
not assured. As described above, executive officers have the opportunity to earn between 60% and 120% of their
target cash bonuses. Over the past three years, our actual cash bonus plan EBITDA was such that each of our
executive officers earned 60%, 0% and 60% of their respective target cash bonus for fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and
fiscal 2011, respectively.
The named executive officers’ target cash bonus percentages and target cash bonuses for fiscal 2014 are the same
as those for fiscal 2013. Actual payments for fiscal 2014 under the annual cash bonus plan will depend upon the
percentage of the budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA for fiscal 2014 that is eventually achieved. The budgeted cash
bonus plan EBITDA for fiscal 2014 was established using the same bottom-up process described above.
The bonuses earned under the annual cash bonus plan for fiscal 2013 and 2011 by each of our named executive
officers are reported in the column titled ―Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation‖ in the Summary Compensation
Table below.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
While the annual cash bonus plan is a pay-for-performance plan that focuses on our short-term financial goals, the
Long-Term Incentive Plans (which we collectively refer to as the ―LTIP‖) are structured as a LTIP unit plan that has
been designed to motivate our executive officers to focus on our long-term financial goals. 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 a three-year measurement period, depending on performance.
67
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.
LTIP History
At the beginning of fiscal 2003, the Committee adopted the 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the ―2003 LTIP‖) as
a principal component of our executive compensation program. At its meeting on November 9, 2011, the Committee
adopted the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the ―2013 LTIP‖) as a replacement for the 2003 Long-Term Incentive
Plan, which expired on September 30, 2012. The 2013 LTIP became effective on October 1, 2012; its provisions
were essentially identical to the provisions of the 2003 LTIP. At its meeting on August 6, 2013, the Committee
adopted the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the ―2014 LTIP‖) as a replacement for the 2013 LTIP. The provisions
of the 2014 LTIP govern all LTIP awards granted subsequent to fiscal 2013.
Calculation of LTIP Units
In accordance with the 2003, 2013, and 2014 LTIP documents, at the beginning of each three-fiscal year
measurement period, each executive officer’s number of unvested LTIP unit awards is calculated by dividing a
predetermined percentage (52% for awards made prior to fiscal 2014 and 50% for all subsequent awards), established
by the Committee, 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 first fiscal year in the measurement period.
The following are the numbers of the unvested LTIP units granted to our named executive officers during fiscal
2013 and fiscal 2012 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 2015 for the fiscal 2013 award and at the end of fiscal 2014 for the fiscal
2012 award):
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Fiscal
2013 Award
6,559
3,180
3,074
2,968
2,862
Fiscal
2012 Award
5,258
2,435
2,391
2,214
2,169
At its meeting on November 13, 2013, the Committee approved the grant of the following number of unvested
LTIP unit awards under the LTIP for the fiscal 2014 award cycle that commenced at the beginning of fiscal 2014 and
will conclude at the end of fiscal 2016 that will be used to calculate cash payments at the end of this award’s three-
year measurement period (i.e., at the end of fiscal 2016).
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Fiscal
2014 Award
5,404
2,620
2,533
2,445
2,358
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Performance Metrics
The primary difference between the 2003/2013 LTIPs and the 2014 LTIP is the performance metric used to
determine whether cash payouts have been earned by the participants at the end of an LTIP award cycle’s three-year
measurement period.
Awards made prior to fiscal 2014 under the 2003 and 2013 LTIPs measure the market performance of our
Common Units on the basis of total return to our Unitholders, which we refer to as ―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 members of the peer groups selected by the Committee for the fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011
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 13, 2012 meeting, the Committee approved modifications
to the peer group in response to significant changes in the capital structure of several members of the previous peer
group, including that of Suburban as a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition. In choosing this new peer group, the
Committee particularly considered the market capitalization and relative similarities in capital structure between the
peer group members and Suburban.
The following tables list, in alphabetical order, the names and ticker symbols of the peer group used to measure
our performance during the three-year measurement periods for the fiscal 2013, 2012 and fiscal 2011 awards under
the LTIP:
Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 Awards Peer Group
Peer Group Member Name
AmeriGas Partners, L.P.
Copano Energy, LLC(1)
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. (2)
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 2013 Award Peer Group
Peer Group Member Name
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.
AmeriGas Partners, L.P.
BreitBurn Energy Partners, L.P.
Copano Energy, LLC (1)
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Genesis Energy, L.P.
Global Partners L.P.
Inergy Midstream, L.P. (2)
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
TC Pipelines, L.P.
Ticker Symbol
APL
APU
BBEP
CPNO
EEP
FGP
GEL
GLP
NRGM
MWE
TCP
(1) Copano Energy, LLC was acquired by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. on May 1, 2013. For purposes of measuring relative TRU for the
fiscal 2011 award, we used Copano’s final closing price, prior to the consummation of the acquisition by Kinder Morgan, in place of an end-of-
year twenty-day average. For purposes of measuring relative TRU for the fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 awards, as a result of this event, we have
reduced the peer groups of those awards by one member.
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(2)
Inergy Midstream, L.P. merged with Crestwood Midstream Partners LP on October 7, 2013. The combined partnership is named Crestwood
Midstream Partners LP and trades under ticker CMLP on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, Inergy, L.P., the owner of CMLP’s general
partner, has been renamed Crestwood Equity Partners, LP. The NYSE ticker symbol was changed from NRGY to CEQP. For purposes of
measuring the fiscal 2013 and 2012 awards, as a result of this event, we have reduced the peer groups of those awards by one member.
The three-year measurement period of the fiscal 2011 award ended simultaneously with the conclusion of fiscal
2013. The TRU for the fiscal 2011 award fell within the lowest quartile; therefore, the participants, including our
named executive officers, did not earn cash payouts relative to this award.
Subsequent to the Committee’s meeting on November 13, 2012, the Committee reconsidered the use of TRU as
the performance metric for purposes of the LTIP. As a result, the Committee engaged the services of Towers Watson
to review the LTIP’s measurement criteria. At the Committee’s July 24, 2013 meeting, Towers Watson presented the
Committee with a recommendation to replace TRU with a performance metric that measures our average distribution
coverage ratio over a three-year measurement period.
The Committee’s decision to replace the 2013 LTIP with the 2014 LTIP was based on its determination that an
incentive structure focused on the level of distributable cash flow over a three-year measurement period, which
supports the sustainability of the cash distributions to Unitholders and future growth in distributions, is a more
meaningful indicator of the Partnership’s performance than comparative TRU, and also better aligns management’s
interests with those of the Unitholders.
As a result of the Committee’s adoption of the 2014 LTIP, the earning of payments under the 2014 LTIP will be
determined based on the level our distribution coverage ratio over a three-year measurement period. This ratio will be
calculated by dividing our average distributable cash flow generated during an outstanding award’s three-year
measurement period by a baseline cash flow set on the initial grant date of the award.
The average distributable cash flow is the average of the distributable cash flow for each of the three years in a
particular award’s three-year measurement period. For purposes of this plan’s performance metric, distributable cash
flow is equal to adjusted EBITDA for a particular fiscal year less capital expenditures, cash interest expense, and the
provision for income taxes for the same fiscal year. For LTIP purposes, ―adjusted EBITDA‖ is identical to cash
bonus plan EBITDA. The average distributable cash flow will be adjusted by the sum of the annual differences
between the per-Common Unit annualized distribution rate at the beginning of the three-year measurement period and
the actual per-Common Unit distributions paid during each of the three years in an award’s three-year measurement
period. Baseline cash flow is calculated by multiplying the total number of Common Units outstanding at the
beginning of the three-year measurement period by the then per Common Unit annualized distribution rate.
Cash Payments
For awards granted under the 2003 and 2013 LTIP plan documents (i.e., the fiscal 2013, the fiscal 2012, and the
fiscal 2011 awards), 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 LTIP 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 LTIP 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.
70
For awards granted under the 2014 plan document (the first of which will be the fiscal 2014 award, payable, if at
all, at the end of fiscal 2016), at the end of the three-year measurement period, depending on the distribution coverage
ratio for that three-year measurement period, our executive officers, as well as the other participants, all of whom are
key employees, will receive cash payouts equal to:
The quantity of the participant’s LTIP 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 LTIP 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 the applicable percentage
corresponding to the distribution coverage ratio illustrated in the following table:
Distribution Coverage Ratio
% of Unvested LTIP Units That Will Vest
Less than 1.00
1.00 (Threshold Performance)
1.01
1.02
1.03
1.04
1.05
1.06
1.07
1.08
1.09
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
1.16
1.17
1.18
1.19
1.20 (Target Performance)
1.21
1.22
1.23
1.24
1.25
1.26
1.27
1.28
1.29
1.30
1.31
1.32
1.33
1.34
1.35
1.36
1.37
1.38
1.39
1.40
00.0%
50.0%
52.5%
55.0%
57.5%
60.0%
62.5%
65.0%
67.5%
70.0%
72.5%
75.0%
77.5%
80.0%
82.5%
85.0%
87.5%
90.0%
92.5%
95.0%
97.5%
100.0%
101.7%
103.3%
105.0%
106.7%
108.4%
110.0%
111.7%
113.4%
115.0%
116.7%
118.4%
120.0%
121.7%
123.4%
125.1%
126.7%
128.4%
130.1%
131.7%
133.4%
71
1.41
1.42
1.43
1.44
1.45
1.46
1.47
1.48
1.49
1.50 and Higher (Maximum Performance)
135.1%
136.7%
138.4%
140.1%
141.8%
143.4%
145.1%
146.8%
148.4%
150.0%
Retirement Provision
A retirement-eligible participant’s outstanding awards under the LTIP will vest as of the retirement-eligible date,
but will 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 awards under the LTIP granted during fiscal 2013,
fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 are reported in the column titled ―Unit Awards‖ in the Summary Compensation Table
below.
Restricted Unit Plans
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.
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 2013, there remained 668,860
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 granted prior to August 6, 2013 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. At its
August 6, 2013 meeting, the Committee amended the Partnership’s 2009 Restricted Unit Plan to revise the normative
vesting schedule of awards granted thereafter to 33.33% on each of the first three anniversaries of the award grant
date. The Committee retained the ability to deviate, at its discretion, from the normal vesting schedule with respect to
particular restricted unit awards. The Committee amended the plan to make its vesting schedule comparable to those
of similar plans offered by other companies. 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 RUP contains a retirement provision that provides for the vesting (six months and one day after the
retirement date of qualifying participants) of unvested awards held by a retiring participant who meets all three of the
following conditions on his or her retirement date:
The unvested award has been held by the grantee for at least six months;
The grantee is age 55 or older; and
72
The grantee has worked for us or one of our predecessors for at least 10 years.
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 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 or key employee’s scope of responsibility, performance and contribution to
meeting our objectives;
The total cash compensation opportunity provided to the executive officer or key employee 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.
The Committee generally approves awards under the RUP at its first meeting each fiscal 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.
During fiscal 2013, the Committee determined grants of RUP awards to the named executive officers would
further align the interests of management with the interests of our Unitholders and approved the following grants to
the named executive officers:
Grant Name
Date Quantity
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
8,432
8,432
8,432
8,432
In determining the fiscal 2013 awards for Mr. Stivala, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Wienberg 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 opportunities of these named executive
officers, as well as in recognition of their individual achievements. The Committee also took into consideration the
increased responsibilities assumed by each of these named executive officers as a result of the Inergy Propane
Acquisition. No award was granted to our Chief Executive Officer at the Committee’s meeting of November 13,
2012 because of the remaining unvested RUP awards that had been previously granted in connection with the
execution of the letter agreement with Mr. Dunn. See section entitled ―Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn‖ below.
The aggregate grant date fair values of RUP awards made during fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011,
computed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America are reported in
the column titled ―Unit Awards‖ in the Summary Compensation Table below.
73
For fiscal 2014, at its meeting on November 13, 2013, the Committee granted the following RUP awards to our
named executive officers:
Grant Name
Date Quantity
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
November 15, 2013
November 15, 2013
November 15, 2013
November 15, 2013
5,302
5,302
5,302
5,302
No award was granted to our Chief Executive Officer at this meeting because of the level of remaining unvested
RUP awards that were previously granted in connection with the execution of the letter agreement with Mr. Dunn.
See section entitled ―Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn‖ below.
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 executive officers are expected to maintain.
The Equity Holding Policy can be accessed through a link on Suburban’s website at www.suburbanpropane.com
under the ―Investors‖ tab.
Suburban’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
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
As of the January 2, 2013 measurement date, all of our executive officers, including our named executive officers,
were in compliance with Suburban’s Equity Holding Policy.
Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy
Upon recommendation by the Committee, the Board of Supervisors has adopted an Incentive Compensation
Recoupment Policy which permits the Committee to seek the reimbursement from certain executives of Suburban and
the Operating Partnership of incentive compensation (i.e., payments/awards pursuant to the annual cash bonus plan,
the 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 Suburban triggered by a material accounting error, which results
in less favorable results than those originally reported by Suburban. 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 Suburban 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.
is available on our website at
www.suburbanpropane.com under the ―Investors‖ tab.
Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy
The
74
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.
Each of our named executive officers, with the exception of Mr. Stivala and Mr. Wienberg, participates in the
plan. The changes in the actuarial value relative to each named executive officer’s participation in the plan during
fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 are 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, which we refer to as 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 2013, 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 during fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal
2011 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 $255,000, 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 purposes of the 401(k) plan, the definition of the term ―budgeted EBITDA‖ is identical to that of
―budgeted cash bonus plan EBITDA‖ discussed under the heading titled ―Annual Cash Bonus Plan‖ above.
Actual cash bonus plan EBITDA, when applied to the 401(k) plan, was such that we provided participants in the
401(k) plan with a matching contribution equal to 25% of their calendar year 2013 contributions that did not exceed
6% of their total base pay, up to a maximum annual compensation limit of $255,000. The matching contributions
made on behalf of our named executive officers for 2013 are reported in the column titled ―All Other Compensation‖
in the Summary Compensation Table below.
75
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 in fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and
fiscal 2011 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 2013.
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Tax Preparation
Services
$8,950
$ -0-
$2,650
$ -0-
$4,050
Employer-
Provided
Vehicle
$18,897
$19,319
$ 7,705
$13,570
$11,521
Physical
$1,750
$1,750
$ -0-
$1,500
$1,750
Perquisite-related costs for fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 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.
Although it is Suburban’s practice to comply with the statutory and regulatory provisions of IRC Section 409A,
the Suburban Propane, L.P. Severance Protection Plan for Key Employees, which we refer to as the ―Severance Plan,‖
provides that if any payment under the Severance Plan subjects a participant to the 20% additional 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:
76
Mr. Dunn will participate in our Severance Protection Plan (see below) 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 if he timely provides us with a release of all claims he might have against
us at the time of his departure:
o A payment equal to two years of base salary paid over a two year period.
o Continuation of medical and dental benefits at no premium cost to him until attainment of age 65
(Mr. Dunn was 64 at the conclusion of fiscal 2013).
o Transfer of ownership of employer-provided vehicle to Mr. Dunn.
We also agreed that if there was a termination of Mr. Dunn’s employment in connection with a succession plan, it
would be deemed a retirement for the purposes of his benefits under the employee benefit plans in which he
participates. Mr. Dunn also agreed to provide us with transition consultation services for a period not to exceed two
years following his departure. We also agreed that Mr. Dunn would not be deemed to have retired or terminated his
employment if he simply relinquished the title and responsibilities of President but remained our Chief Executive
Officer.
On November 14, 2013, we announced that, pursuant to a succession plan developed by Mr. Dunn and our Board
of Supervisors, Mr. Dunn will relinquish the role of President on March 31, 2014, and will retire as our Chief
Executive Officer effective September 27, 2014, the last day of our 2014 fiscal year. Accordingly, the retirement
provisions of our letter agreement with Mr. Dunn will become effective on September 28, 2014, at which time Mr.
Dunn will be age 65.
Also on November 14, 2013, we announced that Mr. Stivala will assume the role of our President on April 1,
2014. Mr. Stivala’s compensation in his new role has not yet been established.
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.
Change of Control
Our executive officers and other key employees have built Suburban 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, which we refer to as the ―Severance Protection
Plan‖. During fiscal 2013, our Severance Protection Plan covered all executive officers, including the named
executive officers.
77
The Severance Protection Plan provides for severance payments of either 65 or 78 weeks of base salary and target
cash bonuses for such officers and key employees if within one year following a change of control their employment
is terminated by us or our successor or they resign for Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Protection Plan).
All named executive officers who participate in the Severance Protection Plan are eligible for 78 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. Also,
without regard to whether a participant’s employment is terminated, 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. Under the provisions of the LTIP document, an amount equal to the cash value of 125% of a
participant’s unvested LTIP units plus a sum equal to 125% of a participant’s unvested LTIP units multiplied by an
amount equal to the cumulative, per-Common Unit distribution from the beginning of an unvested award’s three-year
measurement period through the date on which a change of control occurred would become payable to the
participants.
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, the 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, the 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, which transaction we refer to as 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).
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 2013.
The Compensation Committee:
John Hoyt Stookey, Chairman
Lawrence C. Caldwell
Matthew J. Chanin
John D. Collins
Harold R. Logan, Jr.
Dudley C. Mecum
Jane Swift
78
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the compensation of each named executive officer
during the fiscal years ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012, and September 24, 2011:
Name and Principal
Position
(a)
Year
(b)
Salary
($) (1)
(c )
Bonus
($)
(d)
Unit
Awards
($) (2)
(e)
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (4)
(h)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($) (3)
(g)
All Other
Compensation
($) (5)
(i)
Total
($)
(j)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Michael A. Stivala
Chief Financial Officer
Steven C. Boyd
Vice President of Field
Operations
Mark Wienberg
Vice President of
Operational Support and
Analysis
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Vice President of Product
Supply
2013
$495,000
-
$369,124
$297,000
-
$ 54,619
$1,215,743
2012
$475,000
-
$521,058
-
$ 22,308
$ 49,280
$1,067,646
2011
$475,000
-
$729,076
$285,000
$ 3,764
$ 49,530
$1,542,370
2013
$300,000
-
$376,313
$144,000
-
$ 42,073
$ 862,386
2012
$275,000
-
$328,487
-
$ 36,557
$ 640,044
2011
$275,000
-
$357,103
$132,000
-
$ 35,010
$ 799,113
2013
$290,000
-
$370,348
$139,200
-
$ 33,416
$ 832,964
2012
$270,000
-
$326,310
-
$ 41,823
$ 32,763
$ 670,896
2011
$270,000
-
$354,615
$129,600
$ 15,257
$ 37,095
$ 806,567
2013
$280,000
-
$364,382
$134,400
-
$ 36,055
$ 814,837
2012
$250,000
-
$317,553
-
-
$ 32,854
$ 600,407
2011
$250,000
-
$344,653
$120,000
-
$ 33,725
$ 748,378
2013
$270,000
-
$358,418
$129,600
-
$ 40,772
$ 798,790
2012
$245,000
-
$315,326
-
$ 24,327
$ 35,786
$ 620,439
2011
$245,000
-
$342,155
$117,600
$ 10,245
$ 39,156
$ 754,156
(1) Includes amounts deferred by named executive officers as contributions to the 401(k) Plan.
For more information on the relationship between salaries and other cash compensation (i.e., annual cash bonuses and Long-Term Incentive Plan awards),
refer to the subheading titled ―Allocation Among Components‖ in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis‖ above.
79
(2) The amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of RUP awards made during fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, as well as
the value at the grant date of awards made in fiscal years 2013, 2012, and 2011 under the LTIP, based on the probable outcome with respect to satisfaction
of the performance conditions. The specific details regarding these plans are provided in the preceding ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis‖ under the
subheadings ―Restricted Unit Plan‖ and ―Long-Term Incentive Plan.‖ The breakdown for each plan with respect to each named executive officer is as
follows:
Plan Name
2013
RUP
LTIP
Total
2012
RUP
LTIP
Total
2011
RUP
LTIP
Total
Mr. Dunn
Mr. Stivala
Mr. Boyd
Mr. Wienberg
Mr. Brinkworth
NA
369,124
$ 369,124
$ 197,351
178,962
$ 376,313
$ 197,351
172,997
$ 370,348
$ 197,351
167,031
$ 364,382
$ 260,900
260,158
$ 521,058
$ 208,007
120,480
$ 328,487
$ 208,007
118,303
$ 326,310
$ 208,007
109,546
$ 317,553
$ 433,249
295,827
$ 729,076
$ 220,090
137,013
$ 357,103
$ 220,090
134,525
$ 354,615
$ 220,090
124,563
$ 344,653
$ 197,351
161,067
$ 358,418
$ 208,007
107,319
$ 315,326
$ 220,090
122,065
$ 342,155
(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) Nothing is reported in this column because there was a decline in value of the participating named executive officers’ Cash Balance Plan holdings during
fiscal 2013. The declines in pension values for fiscal 2013 were as follows: ($24,140), ($28,591), and ($14,743) for Messrs. Dunn, Boyd, and Brinkworth,
respectively. Neither Mr. Stivala nor Mr. Wienberg participates in the Cash Balance Plan.
(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
2013
Mr. Stivala
$ 3,825
1,750
19,319
N/A
N/A
17,179
$ 42,073
2012
Mr. Stivala
$ 3,000
1,500
15,480
N/A
N/A
16,577
$ 36,557
2011
Mr. Stivala
$ 3,675
N/A
14,698
N/A
N/A
16,637
$ 35,010
Mr. Dunn
$ 3,825
1,750
18,897
8,950
1,500
19,697
$ 54,619
Mr. Dunn
$ 3,000
N/A
17,047
8,400
1,500
19,333
$ 49,280
Mr. Dunn
$ 3,675
1,300
16,302
7,700
1,500
19,053
$ 49,530
Mr. Boyd
$ 3,825
N/A
7,705
2,650
1,500
17,736
$ 33,416
Mr. Boyd
$ 3,000
N/A
7,743
3,150
1,500
17,370
$ 32,763
Mr. Boyd
$ 3,675
N/A
7,221
7,200
1,500
17,499
$ 37,095
Mr. Wienberg
$ 3,825
1,500
13,570
N/A
N/A
17,160
$ 36,055
Mr. Brinkworth
$ 3,825
1,750
11,521
4,050
1,500
18,126
$ 40,772
Mr. Wienberg
$ 3,000
1,500
11,676
N/A
N/A
16,678
$ 32,854
Mr. Brinkworth
$ 2,940
N/A
10,677
4,050
1,500
16,619
$ 35,786
Mr. Wienberg
$ 3,675
1,300
11,970
N/A
N/A
16,780
$ 33,725
Mr. Brinkworth
$ 3,675
1,300
10,851
5,100
1,500
16,730
$ 39,156
Note: Column (f) was omitted from the Summary Compensation Table because Suburban does not grant options to its employees.
80
Grants of Plan Based Awards Table for Fiscal 2013
The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of awards made to each named executive
officer during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013:
Estimated Future Payments
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
Estimated Future Payments
Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
LTIP Units
Underlying
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards
( LTIP) (4)
Target
($)
(d)
Maximum
($)
(e)
Target
($)
(g)
$495,000
$594,000
All Other stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of Stock
or Units
(#)
Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($) (5)
Maximum
($)
(h)
(i)
(l)
6,559
3,180
3,074
2,968
2,862
$369,124
$461,405
$240,000
$288,000
$178,962
$223,703
$232,000
$278,400
$172,997
$216,246
$224,000
$268,800
$167,031
$208,789
$216,000
$259,200
$161,067
$201,334
8,432
$197,351
8,432
$197,351
8,432
$197,351
8,432
$197,351
Name
(a)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T.
Brinkworth
Plan
Name
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)
Grant
Date
(b)
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
15 Nov 12
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
15 Nov 12
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
15 Nov 12
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
15 Nov 12
30 Sep 12
30 Sep 12
Approval
Date
13 Nov 12
13 Nov 12
13 Nov 12
13 Nov 12
(1) The quantities reported on these lines represent awards granted under the Restricted Unit Plans. RUP awards granted prior to fiscal 2014 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, subject in each case to continued service through each such date. If a recipient has held an unvested
award for at least six months; is 55 years or older; and has worked for Suburban 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 28, 2013, Mr. Dunn
was the only named executive officer who held RUP awards and, at the same time, satisfied all three retirement eligibility criteria. A discussion of the
general terms of the RUP, and the facts and circumstances considered by the Committee in authorizing the fiscal 2013 awards to the named executive
officers, is included in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis‖ under the subheading ―Restricted Unit Plan.‖
(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 2013 were equal to 60% 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 60% of the ―Target‖ awards were earned by, our named executive officers during fiscal 2013, 60% 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 2013 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 28, 2013) of our
Common Units at the end of fiscal 2013, 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 ―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 LTIP units each named executive officer was awarded under the LTIP during fiscal 2013.
(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 Suburban does not award options to its employees.
81
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2013 Table
The following table sets forth certain information concerning outstanding equity awards under our Restricted Unit
Plan and LTIP unit awards under our LTIP for each named executive officer as of September 28, 2013:
Stock Awards
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units or
Other Rights
that Have Not
Vested
(#) (8)
(i)
11,817
5,615
5,465
5,182
5,031
Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
($) (7)
(h)
$ 370,960
$1,228,063
$1,175,943
$1,190,874
$1,190,874
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards: Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned Shares,
Units or Other Rights
That Have Not Vested
($) (9)
(j)
$664,557
$315,779
$307,342
$291,430
$282,937
Name
(a)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. (1)
Michael A. Stivala (2)
Steven C. Boyd (3)
Mark Wienberg (4)
Douglas T. Brinkworth (5)
Number of Shares
or Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
(#) (6)
(g)
8,000
26,484
25,360
25,682
25,682
(1) Mr. Dunn’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting
Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 1
2014
Dec 1
2015
Dec 1
2016
2,000
2,000
4,000
(2) Mr. Stivala’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 1
2013
Dec 1
2014
Nov 15
2015
Dec 1
2015
Nov 15
2016
Dec 1
2016
Nov 15
2017
5,044
5,507
2,108
4,313
2,108
3,188
4,216
(3) Mr. Boyd’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 1
2013
Dec 1
2014
Nov 15
2015
Dec 1
2015
Nov 15
2015
Dec 1
2016
Nov 15
2017
3,920
5,507
2,108
4,313
2,108
3,188
4,216
(4) Mr. Wienberg’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
Nov 15
2015
Dec 1,
2015
Nov 15
2016
Dec 1
2016
Nov 15
2017
4,292
5,557
2,108
4,213
2,108
3,188
4,216
(5) Mr. Brinkworth’s RUP awards will vest as follows:
Vesting Date
Quantity of
Units
Dec 1,
2013
Dec 1,
2014
Nov 15
2015
Dec 1,
2015
Nov 15
2016
Dec 1
2016
Nov 15
2017
4,242
5,507
2,108
4,313
2,108
3,188
4,216
(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 27, 2013, the last trading day of fiscal 2013.
(8) The amounts reported in this column represent the quantities of LTIP units that underlie the outstanding and unvested fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012
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 ―Long-Term Incentive Plan‖ in the
―Compensation Discussion and Analysis.‖
82
(9) The amounts reported in this column represent the estimated future target payouts of the fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 awards granted under the LTIP.
These amounts were computed by multiplying the quantities of the unvested LTIP units in column (i) by the average of the closing prices of our
Common Units for the twenty business days preceding September 28, 2013 (in accordance with the plan’s valuation methodology), and by adding to
the product of that calculation the product of each year’s underlying LTIP 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 2013 LTIP
Units
Value of Fiscal 2013
LTIP Units
Estimated
Distributions over
Measurement Period
Fiscal 2012 LTIP
Units
Value of Fiscal 2012
LTIP Units
Estimated
Distributions over
Measurement Period
Mr. Dunn
Mr. Stivala
Mr. Boyd
Mr. Wienberg
Mr. Brinkworth
6,559
3,180
3,074
2,968
2,862
$ 300,402
$ 145,644
$ 140,789
$ 135,934
$ 131,080
$ 68,722
$ 33,318
$ 32,208
$ 31,097
$ 29,987
5,258
2,435
2,391
2,214
2,169
$ 240,816
$ 111,523
$ 109,508
$ 101,401
$ 99,340
$ 54,617
$ 25,294
$ 24,837
$ 22.998
$ 22,530
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 2013
Awards under the Restricted Unit Plans are settled in Common Units upon vesting. Awards under the LTIP, a
LTIP-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 2011 award under our LTIP for each named
executive officer during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013:
Restricted Unit Plans
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Number of Common Units Acquired on Vesting (#)
Unit Awards
14,765
3,618
3,624
2,080
3,784
Value Realized on Vesting ($) (1)
$ 595,842
$ 146,004
$ 146,247
$ 83,938
$ 152,703
(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.
Long-Term Incentive Plan –
Fiscal 2011 (2) Award
Name
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Michael A. Stivala
Steven C. Boyd
Mark Wienberg
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Cash Awards
Number of LTIP Units Acquired on Vesting (#) (3)
4,787
2,217
2,177
2,016
1,975
Value Realized on Vesting ($) (4)
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
(2) The fiscal 2011 award’s three-year measurement period concluded on September 28, 2013.
(3)
In accordance with the formula described in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis‖ under the subheading ―Long-Term Incentive Plan,‖ these
quantities were calculated at the beginning of the three-year measurement period and were, therefore, based upon each individual’s salary and target
cash bonus at that time.
(4) The value (i.e., cash payment) realized was calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the LTIP. For more information, refer to the
subheading ―Long-Term Incentive Plan‖ in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis.‖
83
Pension Benefits Table for Fiscal 2013
The following table sets forth certain information concerning each plan that provides for payments or other
benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement for each named executive officer as of the end of the fiscal
year ended September 28, 2013:
Name
Plan Name
Number
of Years
Credited
Service
(#)
Present Value
of
Accumulated
Benefit
($)
Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year
($)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr.
Cash Balance Plan (1)
LTIP (3)
RUP (4)
6
N/A
N/A
$ 247,290
$ 664,557
$ 370,960
$ -
$ -
$ -
Michael A. Stivala (2)
N/A
N/A
$ -
$ -
Steven C. Boyd
Cash Balance Plan (1)
15
$ 169,912
$ -
Mark Wienberg (2)
N/A
N/A
$ -
$ -
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Cash Balance Plan (1)
6
$ 108,504
$ -
(1) For more information on the Cash Balance Plan, refer to the subheading ―Pension Plan‖ in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis.‖
(2) Because Mr. Stivala and Mr. Wienberg commenced employment with Suburban after January 1, 2000, the date on which the Cash Balance Plan was
closed to new participants, they do not participate in the Cash Balance Plan.
(3) Currently, Mr. Dunn is the only named executive officer who meets the retirement criteria of the LTIP. For such participants, upon retirement,
outstanding but unvested awards under the LTIP 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 outstanding fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 awards under the LTIP. Because the ultimate payout, if any, is
predicated on the trading prices of Suburban’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.
(4) Currently, Mr. Dunn is the only named executive officer who meets the retirement criteria of the RUP. 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.
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 Mr. Dunn’s letter agreement, the Severance Protection Plan, the RUP and the
LTIP for the circumstances listed in the table assuming a September 28, 2013 termination date. For more information
on Mr. Dunn’s letter agreement, refer to the subheading ―Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn‖ in the ―Compensation
Discussion and Analysis.‖
Executive Payments and Benefits Upon Termination
Death
Disability
Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
by Suburban
or by the
Executive for
Good Reason
without a
Change of
Control Event
Involuntary
Termination
Without Cause
by Suburban
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 2013, 2012, and 2011 LTIP Awards (5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards (6)
Medical Benefits (3)
Total
$ -0-
N/A
370,960
N/A
$ 370,960
$ 990,000
N/A
370,960
16,414
$ 1,377,374
$ 990,000
N/A
370,960
16,414
$ 1,377,374
$ 1,485,000
1,118,988
370,960
N/A
$ 2,974,948
84
Michael A. Stivala
Cash Compensation (1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2013, 2012, and 2011 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 2013, 2012, and 2011 LTIP Awards (5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards (6)
Medical Benefits (3)
Total
Mark Wienberg
Cash Compensation (1) (2) (3) (4)
Accelerated Vesting of Fiscal 2013, 2012, and 2011 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 2013, 2012, and 2011 LTIP Awards (5)
Accelerated Vesting of Outstanding RUP Awards (6)
Medical Benefits (3)
Total
$ -0-
N/A
1,228,063
N/A
$ 1,228,063
$ -0-
N/A
837,071
N/A
$ 837,071
$ 300,000
N/A
N/A
17,179
$ 317,179
$ 810,000
526,985
1,228,063
N/A
$ 2,565,048
$ -0-
N/A
1,175,943
N/A
$ 1,175,943
$ -0-
N/A
784,951
N/A
$ 784,951
$ 290,000
N/A
N/A
17,736
$ 307,736
$ 783,000
514,473
1,175,943
N/A
$ 2,473,416
$ -0-
N/A
1,190,874
N/A
$ 1,190,874
$ -0-
N/A
799,883
N/A
$ 799,883
$ 280,000
N/A
N/A
17,159
$ 756,000
483,876
1,190,874
N/A
$ 297,159
$ 2,430,750
$ -0-
N/A
1,190,874
N/A
$ 1,190,874
$ -0-
N/A
799,883
N/A
$ 799,883
$ 270,000
N/A
N/A
18,126
$ 288,126
$ 729,000
471,227
1,190,874
N/A
$ 2,391,101
(1)
(2)
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.
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. Because
the terms of our letter agreement with Mr. Dunn became effective on September 29, 2012, for purposes of this table it has been assumed that if Mr.
Dunn became disabled on September 28, 2013, the provisions of our letter agreement would govern. For more information on Mr. Dunn’s letter
agreement, refer to the subheading ―Letter Agreement of Mr. Dunn‖ in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis.‖
(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 Suburban’s health insurance plans for one year. The terms of our letter agreement with Mr. Dunn became
effective on September 29, 2012; therefore, Mr. Dunn’s severance benefits for a termination of employment without cause or resignation for good
reason have been calculated in accordance with this agreement. For more information on Mr. Dunn’s letter agreement, refer to the subheading ―Letter
Agreement of Mr. Dunn‖ in the ―Compensation Discussion and Analysis.‖
(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 awards under the LTIP will vest immediately regardless of whether termination immediately follows. If a
change of control event occurs, the award payments will be equal to 125% of the cash value of a participant’s unvested LTIP units plus a sum equal to
125% of a participant’s unvested LTIP units multiplied by an amount equal to the cumulative, per-Common Unit distribution from the beginning of an
unvested award’s three-year measurement period through the date on which the change of control occurred. If a change of control event occurred on
September 28, 2013, the fiscal 2013, fiscal 2012, and fiscal 2011 awards would have been subject to this treatment. For more information, refer to the
subheading ―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 Suburban and will be subject to the same risks as awards held by all other participants.
(6) Effective November 13, 2012, the Committee amended the RUP document to provide for the vesting of unvested awards held by a participant at the
time of his or her death. 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. Stivala, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Wienberg and Mr. Brinkworth each received a
RUP award during fiscal 2013, if any or all of the five named executive officers had become permanently disabled on September 28, 2013, the
following quantities of unvested restricted units would have vested: Dunn, 8,000; Stivala, 18,052; Boyd, 16,928; Wienberg, 17,250; and Brinkworth,
17,250. The following quantities would have been forfeited: Stivala, 8,432; Boyd, 8,432; Wienberg, 8,432; and Brinkworth, 8,432. Because Mr.
Dunn did not receive a RUP award during 2013, all of his unvested awards are subject to the plan’s retirement provisions.
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.
85
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.
SUPERVISORS’ COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation of the non-employee members of the Board of Supervisors of
Suburban during fiscal 2013.
Supervisor
Harold R. Logan, Jr.
Lawrence C. Caldwell
Matthew J. Chanin
John D. Collins
Dudley C. Mecum
John Hoyt Stookey
Jane Swift
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($) (1)
Unit Awards
($) (2)
Total
($)
115,000
85,000
85,000
85,000
85,000
85,000
85,000
140,430
140,791
140,791
140,430
140,430
140,430
140,430
255,430
225,791
225,791
225,430
225,430
225,430
225,430
(1) This includes amounts earned for fiscal 2013, including quarterly retainer installments for the fourth quarter of 2013 that were paid in November 2013.
Does not include amounts paid in fiscal 2013 for fiscal 2012 quarterly retainer installments.
(2) During fiscal 2013, Messrs. Logan, Collins, Mecum, Stookey, and Ms. Swift each received an award of 6,000 unvested restricted units. Messrs.
Caldwell and Chanin each received award of 6,023 unvested restricted units. As of September 28, 2013, Messrs. Logan, Collins, Mecum, Stookey,
and Ms. Swift each held awards of 8,700 unvested restricted units and Messrs. Caldwell and Chanin each held awards of 6,023 unvested restricted
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 Suburban does not provide these forms of
compensation to its non-employee supervisors.
Fees and Benefit Plans for Non-Employee Supervisors
Annual Cash Retainer Fees. As the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Mr. Logan received an annual retainer
of $115,000 in fiscal 2013, payable in quarterly installments of $28,750 each. Each of the other non-employee
Supervisors received an annual cash retainer of $85,000 in fiscal 2013, payable in quarterly installments of $21,250
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. At its meeting on November 13, 2012, the Committee granted Messrs. Caldwell and Chanin
unvested RUP awards of 6,023 each in recognition of the commencement of their terms as Supervisors on November
13, 2012. The Committee also granted Messrs. Logan, Collins, Mecum, and Stookey and Ms. Swift additional
unvested RUP awards of 6,000 each in recognition of their continued service to the Partnership. The effective date of
these grants is November 15, 2012. Messrs. Logan, Mecum and Stookey are the only non-employee Supervisors who
have satisfied the retirement provisions of Suburban’s Restricted Unit Plans. As of September 28, 2013, Messrs.
Logan, Collins, Mecum, Stookey, and Ms. Swift each held awards of 8,700 unvested restricted units and Messrs.
Caldwell and Chanin each held awards of 6,023 unvested restricted units.
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 2013
for each Supervisor.
86
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of November 25, 2013 regarding the beneficial ownership of
Common Units by (a) each person or group known to the Partnership, based upon its review of filings under Section
13(d) or (g) under the Securities Act, to own more than 5% of the outstanding Common Units; (b) each member of the
Board of Supervisors; (c) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table in Item 11 of this
Annual Report; and (d) all members of the Board of Supervisors and executive officers as a group. 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
Neuberger Berman Group LLC (a)
Michael J. Dunn, Jr. (b)
Michael A. Stivala (c)
Steven C. Boyd (d)
Mark Wienberg (e)
Douglas T. Brinkworth (f)
John Hoyt Stookey (g)
Harold R. Logan, Jr.(g)
Dudley C. Mecum (g)
Jane Swift (h)
John D. Collins (g)
Lawrence C. Caldwell (i)
Matthew J. Chanin (j)
All Members of the Board
of Supervisors and Executive
Officers,
as a Group (18 persons) (k)
Amount and Nature of Percent
Beneficial Ownership (1) of Class (2)
5,836,777
108,888
15,044
19,873
4,242
21,310
8,466
11,840
18,034
900
16,346
15,963
5,000
310,059
9.7%
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
(1) With the exception of the 5,836,777 units held by Neuberger Berman Group LLC (of which the Partnership
has no knowledge), the 784 units held by the General Partner (see (a) below) and the 10,092 units held by
charitable organizations over which Mr. Caldwell has shared investment and voting power (see note (h)
below), there is a possibility that any of the above listed units could be pledged as security. Also see note (g)
below.
(2) Based upon 60,302,682 Common Units outstanding on November 25, 2013.
* Less than 1%.
(a) Based upon a Schedule 13G dated June 10, 2013 filed by Neuberger Berman Group LLC and Neuberger Berman
LLC, which indicates that as of May 31, 2013 they had the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 5,743,858
Common Units and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 5,836,777 Common Units. The
Schedule 13G indicates that Neuberger Berman Group LLC may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of these
Common Units for purposes of Rule 13d-3 because certain affiliates have shared power to retain or dispose of
Common Units belonging to many unrelated clients. We make no representation as to the accuracy or
completeness of the information reported. The address of Neuberger Berman Group LLC is 605 Third Avenue,
New York NY 10158.
87
(b) Includes 784 Common Units held by the General Partner, of which Mr. Dunn is the sole member. Excludes 8,000
unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25, 2013.
(c) Excludes 26,742 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(d) Excludes 26,742 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(e) Excludes 26,742 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(f) Excludes 26,742 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(g) Excludes 8,700 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(h) All 900 Common Units have been pledged by Ms. Swift as security for a loan. Excludes 8,700 unvested restricted
units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25, 2013.
(i) Includes 10,092 Common Units held by charitable organizations over which Mr. Caldwell has shared investment
and voting power. Excludes 6,023 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period
following November 25, 2013.
(j) Excludes 6,023 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period following November 25,
2013.
(k) Inclusive of the unvested restricted units referred to in footnotes (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j) above, the
reported number of units excludes 288,537 unvested restricted units, none of which will vest in the 60-day period
following November 25, 2013.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under the Restricted Unit Plans
The following table sets forth certain information, as of September 28, 2013, 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)
527,627 (2)
--
527,627
Weighted-average grant
date fair value per
restricted unit
(b)
$29.30
--
$29.30
Number of restricted units
remaining available for
future issuance under the
Restricted Unit Plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
(c)
668,860
--
668,860
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 28, 2013, had been granted under the Restricted Unit
Plans but had not yet vested.
88
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.
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.
89
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for services related to fiscal years 2013 and 2012 provided by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm.
(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) Audit-Related Fees consist of acquisition-related due diligence services rendered in connection with the Inergy
Propane Acquisition.
(c) Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services related to tax reporting, tax compliance and transaction services
assistance.
(d) 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 2013 and fiscal
2012.
90
FiscalFiscal20132012Audit Fees (a)2,378,400$ 3,633,000$ Audit-Related Fees (b)- 450,000 Tax Fees (c)1,399,000 884,152 All Other Fees (d)1,800 1,800 3,779,200$ 4,968,952$
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report:
PART IV
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.
91
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 27, 2013
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 27, 2013
By: /s/ HAROLD R. LOGAN, JR.
Chairman and Supervisor
November 27, 2013
(Harold R. Logan, Jr.)
By: /s/ JOHN HOYT STOOKEY
Supervisor
November 27, 2013
(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 27, 2013
November 27, 2013
November 27, 2013
By: /s/ LAWRENCE C. CALDWELL
Supervisor
November 27, 2013
(Lawrence C. Caldwell)
By /s/ MATTHEW J. CHANIN
Supervisor
November 27, 2013
(Matthew J. Chanin)
By: /s/ MICHAEL A. STIVALA
Chief Financial Officer
November 27, 2013
(Michael A. Stivala)
By /s/ MICHAEL A. KUGLIN
(Michael A. Kuglin)
Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
November 27, 2013
92
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
Contribution Agreement dated as of April 25, 2012, as amended as of June 15, 2012, July 6, 2012
and July 19, 2012, among Inergy, L.P., Inergy GP, LLC, Inergy Sales and Service, Inc. and
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Partnership’s
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed April 26, 2012, June 15, 2012, July 6, 2012 and July 19, 2012,
respectively).
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 the Partnership 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 the Operating Partnership 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 March 23, 2010, related to the 7.375% Senior Notes due 2020, by and
among Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Suburban Energy Finance Corp. 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 Corp. 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).
Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2012, related to the 7.5% Senior Notes due 2018 and the 7.375%
Senior Notes due 2021, by and among Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., Suburban Energy
Finance Corp. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, including the form of 7.5% Senior
Notes due 2018 and the form of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2021. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2012).
Support Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2012, among Inergy, L.P., the Partnership and
Suburban Energy Finance Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Partnership’s
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated September 19, 2012.
E-1
10.1
10.2
10.3
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, November 10, 2009 and November 13, 2012. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 14, 2012).
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. 2009 Restricted Unit Plan, effective August 1, 2009, as amended
on November 13, 2012 and August 6, 2013. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the
Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 7, 2013).
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
10.12
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).
Suburban Propane, L.P. 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
99.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 10, 2011).
Suburban Propane, L.P. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
99.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 7, 2013).
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).
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among the Operating Partnership, the Partnership and
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto, dated January 5,
2012. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on January 6, 2012).
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among the Operating
Partnership, the Partnership and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders
party thereto, dated August 1, 2012. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Partnership’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 2, 2012).
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
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
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 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012......................................................................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations –
Years Ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011...….................................. F-4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income –
Years Ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011...….................................. F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –
Years Ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011......................................... F-6
Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital –
Years Ended September 28, 2013, September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011......................................... F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........................…............................................................................. F-8
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Supervisors and Unitholders of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, partners’
capital, comprehensive income and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Suburban Propane
Partners, L.P. and its subsidiaries at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended September 28, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the
accompanying index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when
read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Partnership maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 28, 2013, based on criteria established in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO). The Partnership's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement
schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing in Item
9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the
Partnership's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with
the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and
whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial
statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures
as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of
the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Florham Park, New Jersey
November 27, 2013
F-2
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
September 28,September 29,20132012ASSETSCurrent assets: Cash and cash equivalents107,232$ 134,317$ Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,786 and $4,347, respectively 94,854 88,944 Inventories77,623 88,176 Other current assets13,613 26,078 Total current assets293,322 337,515 Property, plant and equipment, net888,232 936,228 Goodwill1,087,429 1,087,429 Other intangible assets, net416,771 474,618 Other assets42,233 48,060 Total assets2,727,987$ 2,883,850$ LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITALCurrent liabilities: Accounts payable 52,766$ 53,141$ Accrued employment and benefit costs23,559 16,514 Accrued insurance6,650 8,591 Customer deposits and advances107,562 124,297 Accrued interest24,357 13,219 Other current liabilities19,000 37,953 Total current liabilities233,894 253,715 Long-term borrowings1,245,237 1,422,078 Accrued insurance51,502 45,960 Other liabilities68,228 71,598 Total liabilities1,598,861 1,793,351 Commitments and contingenciesPartners' capital: Common Unitholders 60,231 and 57,013 units issued and outstanding at September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively)1,176,479 1,151,606 Accumulated other comprehensive loss(47,353) (61,107) Total partners' capital1,129,126 1,090,499 Total liabilities and partners' capital2,727,987$ 2,883,850$
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
SeptemberSeptemberSeptember28, 201329, 201224, 2011Revenues Propane1,357,102$ 843,648$ 929,492$ Fuel oil and refined fuels208,957 114,288 139,572 Natural gas and electricity79,432 67,419 84,721 All other58,115 38,103 36,767 1,703,606 1,063,458 1,190,552 Costs and expenses Cost of products sold861,905 599,059 678,719 Operating469,496 298,772 281,329 General and administrative64,845 59,020 51,648 Acquisition-related costs- 17,916 - Depreciation and amortization130,384 47,034 35,628 1,526,630 1,021,801 1,047,324 Operating income176,976 41,657 143,228 Loss on debt extinguishment(2,144) (2,249) - Interest expense(95,427) (38,633) (27,378) Income before provision for income taxes79,405 775 115,850 Provision for income taxes607 137 884 Net income78,798$ 638$ 114,966$ Income per Common Unit - basic1.35$ 0.02$ 3.24$ Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - basic58,378 38,848 35,525 Income per Common Unit - diluted1.34$ 0.02$ 3.22$ Weighted average number of Common Units outstanding - diluted58,600 38,990 35,723 Year Ended
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
SeptemberSeptemberSeptember28, 201329, 201224, 2011Net income78,798$ 638$ 114,966$ Other comprehensive income: Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges584 (3,561) (1,177) Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings2,465 2,680 2,881 Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans10,705 (310) (4,394) Other comprehensive income (loss)13,754 (1,191) (2,690) Total comprehensive income (loss)92,552$ (553)$ 112,276$ Year Ended
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
SeptemberSeptemberSeptember28, 201329, 201224, 2011Cash flows from operating activities: Net income78,798$ 638$ 114,966$ Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations: Depreciation and amortization expense 130,384 47,034 35,628 Loss on debt extinguishment2,144 2,249 - Other, net(2,796) 6,424 3,316 Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable(5,910) 13,762 (6,247) (Increase) decrease in inventories10,553 8,189 (4,721) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable(375) 15,669 (2,134) Increase (decrease) in accrued employment and benefit costs7,045 (8,586) (5,673) Increase (decrease) in accrued insurance3,601 (4,451) (2,604) Increase (decrease) in customer deposits and advances(16,735) 18,352 (6,103) (Increase) decrease in other current and noncurrent assets5,436 (754) 2,470 Increase (decrease) in other current and noncurrent liabilities2,161 12,447 3,888 Net cash provided by operating activities214,306 110,973 132,786 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures(27,823) (17,476) (22,284) Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired- (223,731) (3,195) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment7,310 1,449 5,974 Adjustment to purchase price for Inergy Propane5,850 - - Net cash (used in) investing activities(14,663) (239,758) (19,505) Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of long-term borrowings(168,915) (100,000) - Proceeds from long-term borrowings- 100,000 - Proceeds from short-term borrowings- 225,000 - Repayments of short-term borrowings- (225,000) - Debt issuance costs- (25,199) - Net proceeds from issuance of Common Units143,444 259,842 - Partnership distributions(201,257) (121,094) (120,636) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(226,728) 113,549 (120,636) Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(27,085) (15,236) (7,355) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year134,317 149,553 156,908 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year107,232$ 134,317$ 149,553$ Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest86,583$ 38,294$ 24,584$ Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities for the Inergy Propane Acquisition (see Note 3): Issuance of long-term debt-$ 1,075,043$ -$ Issuance of equity-$ 590,027$ -$ Year Ended
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
AccumulatedOtherNumber ofCompre-TotalCommonCommonhensivePartners'UnitsUnitholders(Loss) IncomeCapitalBalance at September 25, 201035,318 419,882$ (57,226)$ 362,656$ Net income114,966 114,966 Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges(1,177) (1,177) Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings2,881 2,881 Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans(4,394) (4,394) Partnership distributions(120,636) (120,636) Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans111 Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures 3,922 3,922 Balance at September 24, 201135,429 418,134$ (59,916)$ 358,218$ Net income638 638 Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges(3,561) (3,561) Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings2,680 2,680 Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans(310) (310) Partnership distributions(121,094) (121,094) Issuance of Common Units for business acquisition14,200 590,027 590,027 Sale of Common Units under public offering, net of offering expenses7,245 259,842 259,842 Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans139 Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures 4,059 4,059 Balance at September 29, 201257,013 1,151,606$ (61,107)$ 1,090,499$ Net income78,798 78,798 Net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges584 584 Reclassification of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings2,465 2,465 Amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits into earnings and net change in funded status of benefit plans10,705 10,705 Partnership distributions(201,257) (201,257) Sale of Common Units under public offering, net of offering expenses3,105 143,444 143,444 Common Units issued under Restricted Unit Plans113 Compensation cost recognized under Restricted Unit Plans, net of forfeitures 3,888 3,888 Balance at September 28, 201360,231 1,176,479$ (47,353)$ 1,129,126$
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except unit and 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 60,230,892 Common
Units outstanding at September 28, 2013. 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‖), as amended. 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 either
limited liability companies that are treated as corporations or corporate entities (collectively referred to as the
―Corporate Entities‖) and, as such, are subject to corporate level U.S. income tax.
Suburban Energy Finance Corp., a direct 100%-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.
On August 1, 2012 (the ―Acquisition Date‖), the Partnership completed the acquisition of the sole membership
interest in Inergy Propane, LLC, including certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Inergy Propane LLC, and the assets
of Inergy Sales and Service, Inc. The acquired interests and assets are collectively referred to as ―Inergy Propane.‖
As of the Acquisition Date, Inergy Propane consisted of the former retail propane assets and operations of Inergy,
L.P. (―Inergy‖). On the Acquisition Date, Inergy Propane and its remaining wholly-owned subsidiaries acquired
became subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership, but were merged into the Operating Partnership on April 30, 2013.
The results of operations of Inergy Propane are included in the Partnership’s results of operations beginning on the
Acquisition Date. See Note 3.
The Partnership serves more than 1,200,000 residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers from
approximately 750 locations in 41 states. The Partnership’s operations are concentrated in the east and west coast
regions, including Alaska, and have expanded into the mid-west region of the United States as a result of the
acquisition of Inergy Propane. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Partnership’s revenues during
fiscal 2013, 2012 or 2011.
F-8
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 intercompany transactions and account
balances have been eliminated. The Partnership consolidates the results of operations, financial 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 uses a 52/53 week fiscal year which ends on the last Saturday in September. The
Partnership’s fiscal quarters are generally 13 weeks in duration. When the Partnership’s fiscal year is 53 weeks long,
the corresponding fourth quarter is 14 weeks in duration. Fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2011 included 52 weeks of
operations and fiscal 2012 included 53 weeks of operations.
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. The Partnership accounts for business combinations using the acquisition 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.
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, 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, allowances for doubtful accounts, and purchase price
allocation for acquired businesses. Actual results could differ from those estimates, making it reasonably possible
that a material change in these estimates could occur in the near term.
F-9
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 options and swap 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. In addition, the Partnership sells propane and fuel oil to
customers at fixed prices, and enters into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of its exposure to fluctuations in
commodity prices as a result of selling the fixed price contracts. 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 or delivered as it pertains to fixed price contracts. 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 derivative instruments 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 derivative instruments 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 earnings 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 earnings 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 earnings 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 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
F-10
interest rate environment, the corresponding value in OCI is subject to change prior to its impact on earnings.
Valuation of Derivative Instruments. The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange -traded options and
futures contracts using quoted market prices found on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the ―NYMEX‖) (Level 1
inputs); the fair value of its swap contracts using quoted forward prices, and the fair value of its interest rate swaps
using model-derived valuations driven by observable projected movements of the 3-month LIBOR (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. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value
measurements of the Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are interest rate and market volatility.
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 Years
3-20 Years
7-40 Years
5-10 Years
10-40 Years
3-7 Years
The weighted average estimated useful life of the Partnership’s tanks and cylinders is approximately 28 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 as of the end of fiscal July of each year,
or when an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate potential impairment.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Partnership adopted new accounting guidance related to goodwill
impairment testing. Under the new guidance, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine
whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair
value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an
entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount,
then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is
required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test.
F-11
Under the two-step impairment test, 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 any, exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill.
Other Intangible Assets. Other intangible assets consist of customer relationships, tradenames, non-compete
agreements and leasehold interests. Customer relationships 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 2014 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 Common Unitholders. 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 tax. 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.
Loss Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Partnership is involved in various claims and legal
proceedings. The Partnership records a liability for such matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and
the amounts can be reasonably estimated. The liability includes probable and estimable legal costs to the point in the
legal matter where the Partnership believes a conclusion to the matter will be reached. When only a range of possible
loss can be established, the most probable amount in the range is accrued. If no amount within this range is a better
estimate than any other amount within the range, the minimum amount in the range is accrued.
F-12
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. 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 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 commodity 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 vested (and unissued) 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 unissued 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 222,419, 141,570 and 198,298 units for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, to reflect the
potential dilutive effect of the unvested restricted units outstanding using the treasury stock method.
F-13
Comprehensive Income. The Partnership reports comprehensive income (the total of net income and all other non-
owner changes in partners’ capital) within the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Other
comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow
hedges and reclassifications of realized losses on cash flow hedges into earnings, amortization of net actuarial losses
and prior service credits into earnings and changes in the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit
plans.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (―FASB‖) issued an accounting standards update
(―ASU‖) regarding disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities (―ASU 2011-11‖). The new guidance requires an
entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to
understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The guidance intends to enhance disclosures by
requiring information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in accordance with
other US GAAP or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether
or not they are offset in the balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or
after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods, which will be the Partnership’s first quarter of
its 2014 fiscal year. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its future disclosures.
In February 2013, the FASB issued an ASU to establish the effective date for the requirement to present components
of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income either parenthetically on the face of the financial
statements or in the notes to the financial statements (―ASU 2013-02‖). The guidance is effective prospectively for
annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012, and interim periods within those annual periods, which will be the
first quarter of the Partnership’s 2014 fiscal year. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not change the items that must
be reported in other comprehensive income.
3. Acquisition of Inergy Propane
As described in Note 1, the Partnership completed the acquisition of Inergy Propane on August 1, 2012. The acquisition
of Inergy Propane (the ―Inergy Propane Acquisition‖) was consummated pursuant to a definitive agreement dated April
25, 2012 with Inergy, Inergy GP, LLC and Inergy Sales, as amended (the ―Contribution Agreement‖). Prior to the
Acquisition Date, Inergy Propane transferred its interest in certain subsidiaries, as well as all of its rights and interests in
the assets and properties of its wholesale propane supply, marketing and distribution business, and its rights and interest
in the assets and properties of its West Coast natural gas liquids business, to Inergy. These assets were not included as
part of the Inergy Propane business at the time of the transfer of the membership interests in Inergy Propane to the
Partnership and were not part of the Inergy Propane Acquisition. The results of operations of Inergy Propane are
included in the Partnership’s results of operations beginning on the Acquisition Date.
Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership agreed to issue $600,000 in new Common Units in the
aggregate to Inergy and Inergy Sales (the ―Equity Consideration‖). In accordance with the Contribution Agreement, the
number of Common Units issued to Inergy and Inergy Sales in the aggregate was determined by dividing $600,000 by
the average of the high and low sales prices of the Partnership’s Common Units for the twenty consecutive trading days
ending on the day prior to the execution of the Contribution Agreement, which was determined to be $43.1885, resulting
in 13,892,587 Common Units.
Also pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiary Suburban Energy
Finance Corp. commenced an offer to exchange (the ―Exchange Offers‖) any and all of the outstanding unsecured 7%
senior notes due 2018 and 6.875% senior notes due 2021 issued by Inergy and Inergy Finance Corp., which had an
aggregate principal amount outstanding of $1,200,000 (collectively, the ―Inergy Notes‖), for a combination of
$1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of new unsecured 7.5% senior notes due 2018 and 7.375% senior notes due
2021 (collectively, the ―SPH Notes‖) issued by the Partnership and Suburban Energy Finance Corp. and up to $200,000
in cash to tendering noteholders (the ―Exchange Offer Cash Consideration‖). Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement,
the Partnership was required to pay Inergy the difference, if any, between $200,000 and the actual Exchange Offer
Cash Consideration paid in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offers (such payment, the ―Inergy Cash
Consideration‖). The Contribution Agreement provided that the Partnership would offer $65,000 in aggregate cash
F-14
consent payments in connection with the Exchange Offers and that Inergy would pay $36,500 to the Partnership in
cash on the Acquisition Date. The Exchange Offers expired and settled on August 1, 2012 (the ―Settlement Date‖).
On the Settlement Date, the Partnership had received tenders and consents from holders representing approximately
98.09% of the total outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Inergy Notes, and tenders and consents from holders
representing approximately 99.74% of the total outstanding principal amount of the 2021 Inergy Notes. Based on the
results of the Exchange Offers, the Exchange Offer Cash Consideration due to tendering Inergy noteholders was
$184,761. The Inergy Cash Consideration was satisfied by the issuance of 307,835 Common Units to Inergy and
therefore, when combined with the Equity Consideration, the Partnership issued 14,200,422 Common Units in the
aggregate to Inergy and Inergy Sales on August 1, 2012. Inergy distributed 14,058,418 of such Common Units to its
unitholders on September 14, 2012.
On April 25, 2012, the Partnership received consents from the requisite lenders under the Amended Credit Agreement
(as defined in Note 8) to enable it to incur additional indebtedness, make amendments to the Amended Credit
Agreement to adjust certain covenants, and otherwise perform our obligations as contemplated by the Inergy Propane
Acquisition. On August 1, 2012, the Operating Partnership executed an amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement
to, among other things, provide for (i) a $250,000 senior secured 364-day incremental term loan facility (the ―364-Day
Facility‖) and (ii) an increase in our revolving credit facility under the Amended Credit Agreement from $250,000 to
$400,000. On the Acquisition Date, the Operating Partnership drew $225,000 on the 364-Day Facility, which, together
with cash received from Inergy (pursuant to the Contribution Agreement) and cash on hand, was used to pay: (i) the
consent fees and the Exchange Offer Cash Consideration, (ii) costs and fees related to the Exchange Offers, and (iii)
costs and expenses related to the Inergy Propane Acquisition. On August 14, 2012 the Partnership repaid its
borrowings of $225,000 under its 364-Day Facility with the proceeds from a public sale of 6,300,000 Common Units
that closed on that date.
The fair value of the purchase price for Inergy Propane as determined on the Acquisition Date was $1,890,915,
consisting of: (i) $1,075,043 of newly issued senior notes (with an aggregate par value of $1,000,000) and $184,761
in cash to tendering Inergy noteholders pursuant to the Exchange Offers; (ii) $65,000 in cash paid to the Inergy
noteholders for the consent payments pursuant to the consent solicitations; (iii) $590,027 of new Suburban Common
Units (consisting of 14,200,422 Common Units), which were issued to Inergy and Inergy Sales, all but $5,942
(consisting of 142,004 Common Units) of which were subsequently distributed by Inergy to its unitholders; reduced
by (iv) $23,916 of cash received from Inergy pursuant to the Contribution Agreement (the cash consideration from
Inergy includes the $36,500 discussed above and is net of amounts owed to Inergy by the Partnership at the
Acquisition Date). The fair value of the newly issued senior notes was determined using Level 2 inputs and the fair
value of the equity issued to Inergy and Inergy Sales was determined using Level 1 inputs.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Partnership finalized the third party valuations of the Acquisition Date fair
value of certain assets acquired in the Inergy Propane Acquisition, principally property, plant and equipment, and
intangible assets. The consolidated balance sheets as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 reflect the final
allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in this business combination.
F-15
The table provides the final purchase price allocation:
The final purchase price allocation resulted in the following adjustments to the provisional fair value estimates:
property, plant and equipment decreased $33,302, intangible assets (principally customer relationships) increased
$39,583, other current assets decreased $765 and other noncurrent liabilities increased $646. The net effect of these
adjustments resulted in a $4,870 decrease to goodwill as of the Acquisition Date. As a result, results of operations for
fiscal 2012 have been revised for a $205 decrease to depreciation expense and a $1,449 increase to amortization
expense.
The following presents unaudited pro forma combined financial information as if the Inergy Propane Acquisition had
occurred on September 26, 2010, the first day of the Partnership’s 2011 fiscal year, as adjusted for the final purchase
price allocation. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information was prepared under the assumption that the
net proceeds from the issuance of the 6,300,000 Common Units on August 14, 2012 were used to fund the portion of the
Inergy Propane Acquisition that was originally financed through the 364-Day Facility (which was repaid two weeks
after the Acquisition Date). As a result, the Common Units were assumed to have been issued on September 26, 2010,
and, in turn, the pro forma results for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2012 do not include any interest costs
associated with the 364-Day Facility.
F-16
Assets acquired:Cash and cash equivalents7,964$ Accounts receivable36,076 Inventories30,457 Other current assets2,067 Current assets acquired76,564 Property, plant & equipment617,854Customer relationships (estimated useful life of 9 years)445,500Non-compete agreements (estimated useful life of 6 years)23,059Other intangible assets (estimated useful life of 4 years)1,983Goodwill809,778Other assets2,151 Total assets acquired1,976,889$ Liabilities assumed:Accounts payable16$ Accrued employment and benefit costs2,149 Customer deposits and advances48,469 Other current liabilities18,613 Other noncurrent liabilities16,727 Total liabilities assumed85,974 Total1,890,915$ September 29, 2012September 24, 2011Revenues1,842,698$ 2,242,876$ Net income12,824$ 116,287$ Income per common unitBasic0.23$ 2.08$ Diluted0.23$ 2.07$ Year Ended
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have
occurred had the Inergy Propane Acquisition occurred on the date indicated nor is it necessarily indicative of future
operating results.
4. Distributions of Available Cash
The Partnership makes distributions to its partners no later than 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter 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 28, 2013:
5. Selected Balance Sheet Information
Inventories consist of the following:
The Partnership enters into contracts for the supply of propane, fuel oil and natural gas. Such contracts generally have a
term of one year subject to annual renewal, with purchase quantities specified at the time of order and costs based on
market prices at the date of delivery.
F-17
FiscalFiscalFiscal201320122011First Quarter0.8750$ 0.8525$ 0.8525$ Second Quarter0.8750 0.8525 0.8525 Third Quarter0.8750 0.8525 0.8525 Fourth Quarter0.8750 0.8525 0.8525 September 28,September 29,20132012Propane, fuel oil and refined fuels and natural gas75,885$ 83,543$ Appliances1,7384,63377,623$ 88,176$ As of
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
Depreciation expense for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 amounted to $72,353, $35,032 and $32,368, respectively.
6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Partnership’s fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 annual goodwill impairment review resulted in no adjustments to the
carrying amount of goodwill.
The changes in carrying value of goodwill assigned to the Partnership’s operating segments are as follows:
F-18
September 28,September 29,20132012Land and improvements207,516$ 195,803$ Buildings and improvements104,137114,960Transportation equipment71,81570,058Storage facilities113,571115,905Equipment, primarily tanks and cylinders830,282814,342Computer systems49,04948,320Construction in progress4,4724,0431,380,8421,363,431Less: accumulated depreciation(492,610)(427,203)888,232$ 936,228$ As ofFuel oil andNatural gasPropanerefined fuelsand electricityTotalBalance as of September 29, 2012Goodwill1,075,091$ 10,900$ 7,900$ 1,093,891$ Accumulated adjustments- (6,462) - (6,462) 1,075,091$ 4,438$ 7,900$ 1,087,429$ Balance as of September 28, 2013Goodwill1,075,091$ 10,900$ 7,900$ 1,093,891$ Accumulated adjustments- (6,462) - (6,462) 1,075,091$ 4,438$ 7,900$ 1,087,429$
Other intangible assets consist of the following:
Aggregate amortization expense related to other intangible assets for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $58,031,
$12,002 and $3,260, respectively. Aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years related
to other intangible assets held as of September 28, 2013 is as follows: 2014 - $57,480; 2015 - $56,767; 2016 -
$53,971; 2017 - $52,686 and 2018 - $52,236.
7. 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 and the Operating Partnership are not subject to income
tax at the partnership level. With the exception of those states that impose an entity-level income tax on partnerships,
the taxable income or loss attributable to the Partnership 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 Common Unitholders. 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 each Common Unitholder’s basis in the Partnership.
As described in Note 1 and Note 2, the earnings of the Corporate Entities are subject to corporate level federal and
state income tax. However, based upon past performance, the Corporate Entities are currently reporting an income
tax provision composed primarily of minimum state income taxes. A full valuation allowance has been provided
against the deferred tax assets 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 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-19
September 28,September 29,20132012Customer relationships466,959$ 466,959$ Non-compete agreements26,815 26,815 Tradenames3,482 3,482 Other1,967 1,967 499,223 499,223 Less: accumulated amortization Customer relationships(71,382) (20,105) Non-compete agreements(8,138) (2,305) Tradenames(2,040) (1,394) Other(892) (801) (82,452) (24,605) 416,771$ 474,618$ As of
The income tax provision of all the legal entities included in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of operations,
which is composed primarily of state income taxes in the few states that impose taxes on partnerships and minimum
state income taxes on the Corporate Entities, consists of the following:
The provision for income taxes differs from income taxes computed at the United States federal statutory rate as a
result of the following:
F-20
September 28,September 29,September 24,201320122011Current Federal26$ 18$ 135$ State and local581 119 749 607 137 884 Deferred- - - 607$ 137$ 884$ Year EndedSeptember 28,September 29,September 24,201320122011Income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate27,792$ 271$ 40,548$ Impact of Partnership income not subject to federal income taxes(35,187) (4,564) (39,952) Permanent differences71 244 239 Transfer of assets to Corporate Entities- 8,181 - Change in valuation allowance9,771 (3,567) (454) State income taxes(1,135) 339 492 Other(705) (767) 11 Provision for income taxes - current and deferred607$ 137$ 884$ Year Ended
The components of net deferred taxes and the related valuation allowance using currently enacted tax rates are as
follows:
After the Inergy Propane Acquisition, the Partnership contributed all of the Inergy Propane assets and liabilities to the
Operating Partnership which, in turn, contributed the fuel oil and refined fuels and service assets and liabilities to the
Corporate Entities. At the time of the transfer, the Corporate Entities recognized a deferred tax liability for the
difference between the book basis of the assets received and their tax basis. The recognition of that deferred tax
liability was offset by the release of a portion of the valuation allowance that previously existed on the net deferred
tax assets. Thus, the transfer of these assets had no impact on net income for fiscal 2012.
8. Long-Term Borrowings
Long-term borrowings consist of the following:
Senior Notes.
2018 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes
On August 1, 2012, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., issued $496,557
in aggregate principal amount of unregistered 7.5% senior notes due October 1, 2018 (the ―2018 Senior Notes‖) and
F-21
September 28,September 29,20132012Deferred tax assets: Net operating loss carryforwards46,356$ 37,255$ Allowance for doubtful accounts878 652 Inventory525 563 Intangible assets577 927 Deferred revenue2,188 2,631 Derivative instruments109 71 AMT credit carryforward1,086 1,086 Other accruals2,062 1,926 Total deferred tax assets53,781 45,111 Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant and equipment7,375 8,476 Total deferred tax liabilities7,375 8,476 Net deferred tax assets46,406 36,635 Valuation allowance(46,406) (36,635) Net deferred tax assets-$ -$ As ofSeptember 28,September 29,201320127.5% senior notes, due October 1, 2018, including unamortized premium of $28,614 and $33,366, respectively525,171$ 529,923$ 7.375% senior notes, due March 15, 2020, net of unamortized discount of $1,400 and $1,615, respectively248,600 248,385 7.375% senior notes, due August 1, 2021, including unamortized premium of $25,286 and $40,327, respectively371,466 543,770 Revolving Credit Facility, due January 5, 2017100,000 100,000 1,245,237$ 1,422,078$ As of
$503,443 in aggregate principal amount of unregistered 7.375% senior notes due August 1, 2021 (the ―2021 Senior
Notes‖) in a private placement in connection with the Inergy Propane Acquisition described in Note 3. Based on
market rates for similar issues, the 2018 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes were valued at 106.875% and
108.125%, respectively, of the principal amount, on the Acquisition Date as they were issued in exchange for Inergy’s
outstanding notes, not for cash. The 2018 Senior Notes require semi-annual interest payments in April and October,
and the 2021 Senior Notes require semi-annual interest payments in February and August.
The 2018 Senior Notes are redeemable, at the Partnership’s option, in whole or in part, at any time after October 1,
2014, in each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of the redemption.
The 2021 Senior Notes are redeemable, at the Partnership’s option, in whole or in part, at any time after August 1,
2016, in each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest to date of the redemption.
On December 19, 2012, the Partnership completed an offer to exchange its existing unregistered 7.5% senior notes
due 2018 and 7.375% senior notes due 2021 (the ―Old Notes‖) for an equal principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due
2018 and 7.375% senior notes due 2021 (the ―Exchange Notes‖), respectively, that have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects (including
principal, interest rate, maturity and redemption rights) to the Old Notes for which they were exchanged, except that
the Exchange Notes generally will not be subject to transfer restrictions.
On August 2, 2013, the Partnership repurchased, pursuant to an optional redemption, $133,400 of its 2021 Senior
Notes using net proceeds from the May 2013 public offering and net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their
over-allotment option to purchase additional Common Units. In addition, on August 6, 2013, the Partnership
repurchased $23,863 of 2021 Senior Notes in a private transaction using cash on hand. In connection with these
repurchases, which totaled $157,263 in aggregate principal amount, the Partnership recognized a loss on the
extinguishment of debt of $2,144 consisting of $11,759 for the repurchase premium and related fees, as well as the
write-off of $2,064 and ($11,678) in unamortized debt origination costs and unamortized premium, respectively.
2020 Senior Notes
On March 23, 2010, the Partnership and its 100%-owned subsidiary, Suburban Energy Finance Corp., 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 and require semi-annual
interest payments in March and September.
The 2020 Senior Notes are redeemable, at the Partnership’s option, in whole or in part, at any time after March 15,
2015, in each case at the redemption prices described in the table below, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of the redemption.
F-22
YearPercentage2014………………………………………..103.750%2015………………………………………..101.875%2016 and thereafter…………………………100.000%YearPercentage2016………………………………………..103.688%2017………………………………………..102.459%2018………………………………………..101.229%2019 and thereafter…………………………100.000%
The Partnership’s obligations under the 2018 Senior Notes, 2020 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes (collectively,
the ―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 Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to,
which means they rank effectively behind, any debt and other liabilities of the Operating Partnership. The 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.
Credit Agreement
The Operating Partnership has a credit agreement, as amended on January 5, 2012 and August 1, 2012 (the ―Amended
Credit Agreement‖) that provides for a five-year $400,000 revolving credit facility (the ―Revolving Credit Facility‖),
of which $100,000 was outstanding as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012. Borrowings under the
Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures
and acquisitions. 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.
The amendment to the credit agreement on January 5, 2012 amended the previous credit agreement to, among other
things, extend the maturity date from June 25, 2013 to January 5, 2017, reduce the borrowing rate and commitment
fees, and amend certain affirmative and negative covenants. As of January 5, 2012, the Operating Partnership had
borrowings of $100,000 outstanding under the revolving credit facility of the previous credit agreement, and rolled
those borrowings into the Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement. Also, at such time, the
Operating Partnership had letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility of the previous credit agreement
primarily in support of retention levels under its self-insurance programs, all of which have been rolled into the
Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement.
On August 1, 2012, the Operating Partnership executed an amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement to, among
other things, provide for (i) a $250,000 senior secured 364-Day Facility and (ii) an increase in our revolving credit
facility under the Amended Credit Agreement from $250,000 to $400,000. On the Acquisition Date, the Operating
Partnership drew $225,000 on the 364-Day Facility, which was used to fund a portion of the Inergy Propane
Acquisition, including costs and expenses related to the acquisition. The Partnership repaid the $225,000 of
borrowings under the 364-Day Facility on August 14, 2012 with the net proceeds from the public issuance of
Common Units on August 14, 2012.
The amendment to the Amended Credit Agreement on August 1, 2012 also amended certain restrictive and affirmative
covenants applicable to the Operating Partnership and the Partnership, as well as certain financial covenants, including
(a) requiring the Partnership’s consolidated interest coverage ratio, as defined in the amendment, to be not less than 2.0
to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter; (b) prohibiting the total consolidated leverage ratio, as defined in the
amendment, of the Partnership from being greater than 7.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. The minimum
consolidated interest coverage ratio increases over time, and commencing with the third quarter of fiscal 2014, such
minimum ratio will be 2.5 to 1.0. The maximum consolidated leverage ratio decreases over time, as well as upon the
occurrence of certain events (such as the issuance of Common Units where the net proceeds from the issuance exceed
certain thresholds). Commencing with the second quarter of fiscal 2013, such maximum ratio will be 4.75 to 1.0 (or
5.0 to 1.0 during an acquisition period as defined in the amendment) as a result of the issuance of Common Units in
August 2012. As of September 28, 2013 the minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio and maximum
consolidated leverage ratio was 2.25 to 1.0 and 4.75 to 1.0, respectively.
F-23
YearPercentage2015………………………………………..103.688%2016………………………………………..102.459%2017………………………………………..101.229%2018 and thereafter…………………………100.000%
The Partnership acts as a guarantor with respect to the obligations of the Operating Partnership under the Amended
Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth therein. The obligations under the Amended 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.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of the Amended Credit Agreement 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 28, 2013, the interest rate for the
Revolving Credit Facility was approximately 2.8%. The interest rate and the applicable margin will be reset at the
end of each calendar quarter.
In connection with the previous revolving credit facility, the Operating Partnership entered into an interest rate swap
agreement with a notional amount of $100,000, an effective date of March 31, 2010 and termination date of June 25,
2013. Under the interest rate swap agreement, the Operating Partnership paid 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 paid to the Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR, on the same
notional principal amount. The interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge. In connection with the
Amended Credit Agreement, the Operating Partnership entered into a forward starting interest rate swap agreement
with a notional amount of $100,000, an effective date of June 25, 2013 and a termination date of January 5, 2017.
Under this forward starting interest rate swap agreement, the Operating Partnership will pay a fixed interest rate of
1.63% to the issuing lender on the notional principal amount outstanding, and the issuing lender will pay the
Operating Partnership a floating rate, namely LIBOR, on the same notional principal amount. The forward starting
interest rate swap has been designated as a cash flow hedge.
As of September 28, 2013, the Partnership had standby letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility in
the aggregate amount of $46,742 which expire periodically through April 3, 2014. Therefore, as of September 28,
2013 the Partnership had available borrowing capacity of $253,258 under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Amended Credit Agreement and the 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. Under the Amended Credit Agreement
and the indentures governing the Senior Notes, the Operating Partnership and the Partnership 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 with respect to the indentures governing
the Senior Notes, 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 Senior Notes and
the Amended Credit Agreement as of September 28, 2013.
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. During fiscal 2013, the Partnership recognized charges of $2,064 to
write-off unamortized debt origination costs associated with the repurchase of its 2021 Senior Notes. During fiscal
2012, the Partnership capitalized $14,885 and $10,314 for costs incurred in connection with issuance of new senior
notes and the amendments to the Amended Credit Agreement, respectively. The Partnership recognized charges of
$2,249 to write-off unamortized debt origination costs associated with the amendments to the Amended Credit
Agreement on January 5, 2012 and the repayment of borrowings under the 364-Day Facility. Other assets at
September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 include debt origination costs with a net carrying amount of $21,254 and
$28,076, respectively.
The aggregate amounts of long-term debt maturities subsequent to September 28, 2013 are as follows: fiscal 2014
through fiscal 2016: $-0-; fiscal 2017: $100,000; fiscal 2018: $496,557; and thereafter: $596,180.
F-24
9. 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 re-
measurement 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 1,902,122 as of September 28, 2013. 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. In accordance with an August 6, 2013 amendment to the Restricted Unit Plans, unless otherwise
stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors on or before the grant date, all
restricted unit awards granted after the date of the amendment will vest 33.33% on each of the first three anniversaries
of the award 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.
The following is a summary of activity in the Restricted Unit Plans:
As of September 28, 2013, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted units awarded under the
Restricted Unit Plans amounted to $6,141. 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
fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $3,888, $4,059 and $3,922, respectively.
Long-Term Incentive Plans. 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 in
effect on September 28, 2013 (―Existing LTIP‖) is based on the market performance of the Partnership’s Common
F-25
Weighted AverageGrant Date FairUnitsValue Per UnitOutstanding September 25, 2010481,267 $29.67Granted136,241 39.54 Forfeited(21,290) (33.05) Issued(110,795) (27.82) Outstanding September 24, 2011485,423 32.71 Granted108,674 32.60 Forfeited(12,225) (30.78) Issued(139,021) (33.14) Outstanding September 29, 2012442,851 32.68 Granted200,933 23.42 Forfeited(3,497) (32.15) Issued(112,660) (32.01) Outstanding September 28, 2013527,627 $29.30
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 fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $1,439, ($340) and $1,504, respectively. The
cash payouts in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, which related to the fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 awards, were $-0-,
$3,336 and $2,697, respectively.
On August 6, 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Partnership’s Board of Supervisors adopted the 2014 Long-
Term Incentive Plan of the Partnership (―2014 LTIP‖) as a replacement for Existing LTIP. The 2014 LTIP became
effective October 1, 2013. The major difference between the 2014 LTIP and the Existing LTIP is the performance
measures utilized to determine the amount of awards earned under the plan, if any. The 2014 LTIP will measure the
average distribution coverage ratio during a three-year measurement period commencing on the first day of the fiscal
year in which an unvested award is granted under the plan. The average distribution coverage ratio is calculated as
the Partnership’s average distributable cash flow for each of the three years in the measurement period, subject to
certain adjustments as set forth in the 2014 LTIP, divided by the amount of annualized cash distributions to be paid by
the Partnership, based on the annualized cash distribution rate at the beginning of the measurement period. As with
the Existing LTIP, unvested awards under the 2014 LTIP will be granted at the beginning of each fiscal year as a
Compensation Committee-approved percentage of each executive officer’s or other key employee’s salary, and cash
payouts, if any, will be earned and paid at the end of the three-year measurement period.
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 are based on a sliding
scale depending on the Partnership’s achievement of annual performance targets. These contributions totaled $1,915,
$1,359 and $1,201 for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, 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 2013, 2012 or
2011. During the last decade, cash balance plans came under increased scrutiny which resulted in litigation pertaining
to the cash balance feature and the Internal Revenue Service (―IRS‖) issued additional regulations governing these
types of plans. In fiscal 2010, the 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
F-26
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 other 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 fiscal 2013 and 2012 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.
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income included net actuarial (gains) losses arising during the period of
($4,126) and $5,166 for pension benefits for fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively, and net actuarial (gains) arising during
the period of ($1,784) and ($74) for other postretirement benefits for fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. The amounts
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2013201220132012Reconciliation of benefit obligations:Benefit obligation at beginning of year165,906$ 159,119$ 20,232$ 20,895$ Service cost- - 8 7 Interest cost5,229 6,311 586 802 Actuarial (gain) loss(11,446) 14,089 (1,784) (74) Lump sum benefits paid(3,155) (5,498) - - Ordinary benefits paid(7,903) (8,115) (1,288) (1,398) Benefit obligation at end of year148,631$ 165,906$ 17,754$ 20,232$ Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets:Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year133,873$ 132,898$ -$ -$ Actual return on plan assets(2,039) 14,588 - - Employer contributions- - 1,288 1,398 Lump sum benefits paid(3,155) (5,498) - - Ordinary benefits paid(7,903) (8,115) (1,288) (1,398) Fair value of plan assets at end of year120,776$ 133,873$ -$ -$ Funded status:Funded status at end of year(27,855)$ (32,033)$ (17,754)$ (20,232)$ Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets consist of:Net amount recognized at end of year(27,855)$ (32,033)$ (17,754)$ (20,232)$ Less: Current portion- - 1,427 1,427 Non-current benefit liability(27,855)$ (32,033)$ (16,327)$ (18,805)$ Amounts not yet recognized in net periodic benefit cost and included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):Actuarial net (loss) gain(49,986)$ (59,397)$ 3,683$ 1,899$ Prior service credits- - 1,379 1,869 Net amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income(49,986)$ (59,397)$ 5,062$ 3,768$ Retiree Health and Life BenefitsPension Benefits
in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 28, 2013 that are expected to be recognized as components
of net periodic benefit costs during fiscal 2014 are expenses of $4,492 and credits of $(671) for pension and other
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 80% and 90%; and (ii) equity securities portion of the portfolio
should range between 10% and 20%.
The following table presents the actual allocation of assets held in trust as of:
In accordance with current accounting guidance, the Partnership’s valuations include the use of the funds' reported net
asset values for commingled fund investments and private investment funds. Commingled funds are valued at the net
asset value for their underlying securities. The Partnership further corroborates the above valuations with observable
market data using level 2 inputs within the fair value framework. 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 as of:
(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 U.S. and Non-U.S. common
stock.
(3) Includes funds which invest primarily in publicly traded and non-publicly traded, investment grade corporate
bonds, U.S. government bonds and asset-backed securities.
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SeptemberSeptember28, 201329, 2012Fixed income securities85%85%Equity securities15%15%100%100% September 28, 2013 September 29, 2012 Short term investments (1)1,516$ 1,309$ Equity securities: (1) (2)Domestic11,780 13,187 International5,959 6,727 Fixed income securities (1) (3)101,521 112,650 120,776$ 133,873$
Projected Contributions and Benefit Payments. There are no projected minimum funding requirements under the
Partnership’s defined benefit pension plan for fiscal 2014. Estimated future benefit payments for both pension and
retiree health and life benefits are as follows:
Estimated future pension benefit payments assumes that age 65 or older active and non-active eligible participants in the
pension plan that had not received a benefit payment prior to fiscal 2014 will elect to receive a benefit payment in fiscal
2014. In addition, for all periods presented, estimated future pension benefit payments assumes that participants will
elect a lump sum payment in the fiscal year that the participant becomes eligible to receive benefits.
Effect on Operations. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit costs included in operating
expenses for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011:
Actuarial Assumptions. The assumptions used in the measurement of the Partnership’s benefit obligations as of
September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012 are shown in the following table:
The assumptions used in the measurement of net periodic pension benefit and postretirement benefit costs for fiscal
2013, 2012 and 2011 are shown in the following table:
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Fiscal YearPension BenefitsRetiree Health and Life Benefits201430,745 1,337 201512,968 1,270 201612,474 1,194 201711,033 1,111 201810,923 1,036 2019 through 202346,319 3,935 201320122011201320122011Service cost-$ -$ -$ 8$ 7$ 7$ Interest cost5,229 6,311 6,822 586 802 855 Expected return on plan assets(5,281) (5,665) (6,295) - - - Amortization of prior service credit- - - (490) (490) (490) Recognized net actuarial loss5,285 5,271 4,721 - - (35) Net periodic benefit costs5,233$ 5,917$ 5,248$ 104$ 319$ 337$ Retiree Health and Life BenefitsPension Benefits2013201220132012Weighted-average discount rate4.375%3.500%3.750%3.000%Average rate of compensation increasen/an/an/an/aHealth care cost trendn/an/a7.330%7.530%Retiree Health and Life BenefitsPension Benefits201320122011201320122011Weighted-average discount rate3.500%4.375%4.750%3.000%4.000%4.250%Average rate of compensation increasen/an/an/an/an/an/aWeighted-average expected long- term rate of return on plan assets4.500%4.800%5.000%n/an/an/aHealth care cost trendn/an/an/a7.530%7.740%7.950%Retiree Health and Life BenefitsPension Benefits
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 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 7.33% increase in health care costs assumed at September 28, 2013 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 28, 2013 nor
the aggregate of service and interest components of net periodic postretirement benefit expense for fiscal 2013. The
Partnership has concluded that the prescription drug benefits within the retiree medical plan do not entitle the Partnership
to an available Medicare subsidy.
Multiemployer Pension Plans. As a result of the Inergy Propane Acquisition, the Partnership contributes to
multiemployer pension plans (―MEPPs‖) in accordance with various collective bargaining agreements covering union
employees. As one of the many participating employers in these MEPPs, the Partnership is responsible with the other
participating employers for any plan underfunding. During fiscal 2013, the Partnership established an accrual of
$7,000 for its estimated obligation to certain MEPPs due to the Partnership’s voluntary partial withdrawal from one
such MEPP and full withdrawal from four MEPPs. Due to the uncertainty regarding future factors that could trigger
withdrawal liability, including the integration of Inergy Propane, the Partnership is unable to determine the amount
and timing of any future withdrawal liability, if any.
The Partnership’s contributions to a particular MEPP are established by the applicable collective bargaining
agreements (―CBAs‖); however, the required contributions may increase based on the funded status of an MEPP and
legal requirements of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the ―PPA‖), which requires substantially underfunded
MEPPs to implement a funding improvement plan (―FIP‖) or a rehabilitation plan (―RP‖) to improve their funded
status. Factors that could impact funded status of an MEPP include, without limitation, investment performance,
changes in the participant demographics, decline in the number of contributing employers, changes in actuarial
assumptions and the utilization of extended amortization provisions.
While no multiemployer pension plan that the Partnership contributed to is individually significant to the Partnership,
the table below discloses the three largest MEPPs to which the Partnership contributes. The financial health of a
MEPP is indicated by the zone status, as defined by the PPA, which represents the funded status of the plan as
certified by the plan's actuary. Plans in the red zone are less than 65% funded, the yellow zone are between 65% and
80% funded, and green zone are at least 80% funded. Total contributions made by the Partnership to multiemployer
pension plans for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013 are shown below and reflect contributions made from the
Inergy Propane Acquisition Date.
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Additionally, the Partnership contributes to certain multi-employer plans that provide health and welfare benefits and
defined annuity plans. Contributions to those plans were $2,040 and $309 for fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, respectively.
11. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is not materially different from their
carrying amount because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Partnership measures the fair value of its exchange-traded
commodity-related options and futures contracts using Level 1 inputs, the fair value of its commodity-related swap
contracts and interest rate swaps using Level 2 inputs and the fair value of its over-the-counter commodity-related
options contracts using Level 3 inputs. The Partnership’s over-the-counter options contracts are valued based on an
internal option model. The inputs utilized in the model are based on publicly available information, as well as broker
quotes.
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Pension Fund201320122013201204-6372430Red (a)Red (a)Implemented562$ 30$ No11-6245313Green (b)Green (b)n/a284 66 NoSeptember 2014Teamsters Industrial Employees Pension Fund22-6099363Red (c)Red (c)Implemented179 15 NoJune 2017Other (d)137 48 Non/a1,162$ 159$ (a) Based on most recent available valuation information for plan years ended September 2012.(b) Based on most recent available valuation information for plan years ended February 2013.(c) Based on most recent available valuation information for plan years ending December 2013.(d) Includes the MEPPs from which the Partnership withdrew in fiscal 2013.New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension FundLocal 282 Pension Trust FundMarch 2014 - April 2016PPA Zone StatusEIN/Pension Plan NumberFIP/RP StatusContributions greater than 5% of Total Plan ContributionsExpiration date of CBAContributions
The following summarizes the fair value of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and their location in the
consolidated balance sheets as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively:
On August 1, 2012, the Partnership executed swap agreements with a notional amount of 44,531 propane gallons to
hedge exposures to fluctuations in propane prices attributable to the same number of propane gallons committed to be
sold to customers at fixed prices. The fixed price sales arrangements were assumed in the Inergy Propane
Acquisition.
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:
As of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, the Partnership’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives had
a weighted average maturity of approximately 5 months.
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Asset Derivatives Location Fair Value Location Fair ValueCommodity-related derivativesOther current assets 2,546$ Other current assets 4,523$ Other assets716 Other assets610 3,262$ 5,133$ Liability Derivatives Location Fair Value Location Fair ValueInterest rate swapsOther current liabilities1,307$ Other current liabilities2,430$ Other liabilities1,121 Other liabilities3,047 2,428$ 5,477$ Commodity-related derivativesOther current liabilities430$ Other current liabilities8,720$ Other liabilities- Other liabilities22 430$ 8,742$ Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:As of September 28, 2013As of September 29, 2012Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:AssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilitiesBeginning balance of over-the-counter options5,002$ 1,209$ 1,780$ 118$ Beginning balance realized during the period(4,400) (1,182) (1,168) (49) Change in the fair value of beginning balance(580) (27) 1,059 120 Contracts purchased during the period1,825 - 3,331 1,020 Ending balance of over-the-counter options1,847$ -$ 5,002$ 1,209$ Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Fiscal 2013Fiscal 2012
The effect of the Partnership’s derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for fiscal 2013,
2012 and 2011 are as follows:
Concentrations. The Partnership’s principal customers are residential and commercial end users of propane and fuel
oil and refined fuels served by approximately 750 locations in 41 states. No single customer accounted for more than
10% of revenues during fiscal 2013, 2012 or 2011 and no concentration of receivables exists as of September 28,
2013 or September 29, 2012.
During fiscal 2013, Inergy Services (a subsidiary of Inergy) and Targa Liquids Marketing and Trade (―Targa‖) provided
approximately 34% and 12% of our total propane purchases, respectively. No other single supplier accounted for more
than 10% of the Partnership’s propane purchases in fiscal 2013. The Partnership believes that, if supplies from any of
these suppliers were interrupted, it would be able to secure adequate propane supplies from other sources without a
material disruption of its operations.
Credit Risk. Exchange-traded futures and options contracts are traded on and guaranteed by 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 swaps and options 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.
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 2018 Senior Notes, 2020 Senior Notes and 2021 Senior Notes was $533,799, $268,125 and
$372,143, respectively, as of September 28, 2013.
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Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:LocationAmount Fiscal 2013 Interest rate swap584$ Interest expense(2,465)$ Fiscal 2012 Interest rate swap(3,561)$ Interest expense(2,680)$ Fiscal 2011 Interest rate swap(1,177)$ Interest expense(2,881)$ Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: Fiscal 2013 Commodity-related derivativesCost of products sold $ (4,318) Fiscal 2012 Commodity-related derivativesCost of products sold $ 4,649 Fiscal 2011 Commodity-related derivativesCost of products sold $ 1,431 Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Unrealized Gains (Losses) Recognized in IncomeAmount of Gains (Losses) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
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 $33,036,
$23,593 and $18,868 for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Future minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating lease agreements as of September 28, 2013 are as
follows:
Fiscal Year
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019 and thereafter
Contingencies.
Minimum
Lease
Payments
27,238
20,488
12,770
7,894
5,208
5,947
Self Insurance. As described 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 28,
2013 and September 29, 2012, the Partnership had accrued liabilities of $58,152 and $54,551, respectively, representing
the total estimated losses under these self-insurance programs. 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
$18,330 and $17,522 as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively.
Legal Matters. The Partnership’s operations are subject to operating hazards and risks normally incidental to
handling, storing and delivering combustible liquids such as propane. The Partnership has been, and will continue to
be, a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation as a result of these operating hazards and risks, and as a
result of other aspects of its business. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, the Partnership entered into an
agreement to settle a California action, in which were alleged several claims relating to two fees charged by the
Partnership, on a classwide basis in return for the payment of a monetary sum and certain non-monetary
consideration, and established an accrual of $4,500 for the estimated cost of the settlement. This settlement, entered
into to avoid both the continued expenses and burden of defending that action and the uncertainty inherent in all
litigation, was approved by the trial court in May 2013, and the Partnership completed distribution of the settlement
proceeds to the class members in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The Partnership is currently a defendant in a
putative class action in which the court has denied class certification without prejudice. The Partnership believes
such suit is without merit. In the putative class action, the Partnership has been successful in eliminating several of
the claims such that only certain contractual and consumer statute claims remain. The subject matter jurisdiction of
the court to adjudicate certain of the contractual claims is on appeal. The Partnership is contesting this putative class
action vigorously and has determined, based on the allegations and discovery to date, that no reserve for a loss
contingency other than for legal defense fees and expenses is required. The Partnership is unable to reasonably
estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any, arising from this litigation.
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 2020. Upon
completion of the lease period, the Partnership guarantees that the fair value of the equipment will equal or 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
F-34
is deemed worthless at the end of the lease term, was $16,312 as of September 28, 2013. The fair value of residual
value guarantees for outstanding operating leases was de minimis as of September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012.
14. Public Offerings
On May 17, 2013, the Partnership sold 2,700,000 Common Units in a public offering at a price of $48.16 per
Common Unit, realizing proceeds of $124,684, net of underwriting commissions and other offering expenses. On
May 22, 2013, following the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option, the Partnership sold an additional
405,000 Common Units at $48.16 per Common Unit, generating additional proceeds of $18,760, net of underwriting
commissions. The net proceeds from the offering, including the net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their
over-allotment option, were used to redeem $133,400 of the Partnership’s 2021 Senior Notes in August 2013.
15. 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. 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 Suburban Franchising subsidiaries.
F-35
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:
F-36
September 28,September 29,September 24,201320122011Revenues:Propane1,357,103$ 843,648$ 929,492$ Fuel oil and refined fuels208,957 114,288 139,572 Natural gas and electricity79,432 67,419 84,721 All other58,114 38,103 36,767 Total revenues1,703,606$ 1,063,458$ 1,190,552$ Operating income:Propane287,473$ 142,548$ 203,567$ Fuel oil and refined fuels(2,799) 890 11,140 Natural gas and electricity11,565 6,991 11,667 All other(26,483) (17,239) (13,750) Corporate(92,780) (91,533) (69,396) Total operating income176,976 41,657 143,228 Loss on debt extinguishment2,144 2,249 - Interest expense, net95,427 38,633 27,378 Provision for income taxes607 137 884 Net income78,798$ 638$ 114,966$ Depreciation and amortization:Propane104,533$ 34,826$ 19,525$ Fuel oil and refined fuels4,634 3,652 4,139 Natural gas and electricity198 464 897 All other638 345 111 Corporate20,381 7,747 10,956 Total depreciation and amortization130,384$ 47,034$ 35,628$ September 28,September 29,20132012Assets:Propane2,452,909$ 2,505,660$ Fuel oil and refined fuels77,473 77,059 Natural gas and electricity16,789 14,777 All other3,860 7,342 Corporate176,956 279,012 Total assets2,727,987$ 2,883,850$ Year Ended Reconciliation to net income:As of
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts – Years Ended September 28, 2013,
September 29, 2012 and September 24, 2011...........................................................................
S-2
Page
S-1
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in thousands)
SCHEDULE II
(a) Represents amounts that did not impact earnings.
S-2
Balance atChargedBalanceBeginning(credited) to CostsOtherat Endof Periodand ExpensesAdditionsDeductions (a)of PeriodYear Ended September 24, 2011Allowance for doubtful accounts5,403$ 5,598$ -$ (4,041)$ 6,960$ Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets40,656 (454) - - 40,202 Year Ended September 29, 2012Allowance for doubtful accounts6,960$ 838$ -$ (3,451)$ 4,347$ Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets40,202 (3,567) - - 36,635 Year Ended September 28, 2013Allowance for doubtful accounts4,347$ 6,717$ -$ (4,278)$ 6,786$ Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets36,635 9,771 - - 46,406
SUBSIDIARIES OF SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS, L.P.
(as of November 27, 2013)
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBURBAN LP HOLDING, INC. (Delaware)
SUBURBAN LP HOLDING, LLC (Delaware)
SUBURBAN PROPANE, L. P. (Delaware)
SUBURBAN SALES & SERVICE, INC. (Delaware)
GAS CONNECTION, LLC (Oregon)
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 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. 333-183124
and 333-165368) and Form S-8 (No. 333-160768) of Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. of our report dated November
27, 2013 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 27, 2013
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 27, 2013
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 27, 2013
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 28, 2013 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 27, 2013
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 28, 2013 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 27, 2013
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 Board and Executive Management
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
Steven C. Boyd
Vice President,
Field Operations
Douglas T. Brinkworth
Vice President, Product Supply
Michael A. Kuglin
Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
Neil E. Scanlon
Vice President,
Information Services
Mark Wienberg
Vice President, Operational
Support and Analysis
Sandra N. Zwickel
Vice President,
Human Resources
Board of Supervisors
Harold R. Logan, Jr.* (Chairman)
Lawrence C. Caldwell * †
Matthew J. Chanin * †
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
† Appointed November 13, 2012
Investor Information
Copies of Annual Reports, Interim Reports and other publications are
available without charge from Suburban Propane.
Refer to our website for:
• Company news, including the scheduling of analyst calls
• Earnings releases
• K-1’s
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
Investor Relations
P.O. Box 206
Whippany, New Jersey 07981-0206
Telephone: 973-503-9252
www.suburbanpropane.com
It is anticipated that K-1’s will be available on our website and mailed to each Unit-
holder in late February 2014.
Unitholder Information
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
Suburban Propane Partners, L.P.
One Suburban Plaza
240 Route 10 West
P.O. Box 206
Whippany, NJ 07981-0206
www.suburbanpropane.com