ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There are many factors that may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, many of which are not within our control, including the following risks relating to: (1) the demand for our products and services and our ability to grow our customer base; (2) our business operations, including internal and external factors that may impact our operational continuity; (3) our international operations; (4) our supply chain and our ability to obtain and transport adequate quantities of LPG; (5) government regulation and oversight; and (6) general factors that may impact our business and our shareholders. Investors should carefully consider, together with the other information contained in this Report, the risks and uncertainties described below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, also may materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. No priority or significance is intended by, nor should be attached to, the order in which the risk factors appear.
Risks Relating to the Demand for Our Products and Services and Our Ability to Grow Our Customer Base
Our business is seasonal and decreases in the demand for our energy products and services because ofwarmer-than-normal heating season weather or unfavorable weather conditions may adversely affect our resultsof operations. Because many of our customers rely on our energy products and services to heat their homes and businesses, our results of operations are adversely affected by warmer-than-normal heating season weather. Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for our energy products and services for both heating and agricultural purposes. Accordingly, the volume of our energy products sold is at its highest during the peak heating season of October through March and is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather. For example, historically, approximately 60% of PA Gas Utility’s natural gas throughput (the total volume of gas sold to or transported for customers within our distribution system), 60% of Energy Services’ retail natural gas volume, 60% of UGI International’s annual retail LPG volume and 65% of AmeriGas Propane’s annual retail propane volume has typically been sold during these months. There can be no assurance that normal winter weather in our market areas will occur in the future.
In addition, our agricultural customers use LPG for purposes other than heating, including for crop drying, and unfavorable weather conditions, such as lack of precipitation, may impact the demand for LPG. Moreover, harsh weather conditions may at times impede the transportation and delivery of LPG or restrict our ability to obtain LPG from suppliers. Spikes in demand caused by weather or other factors can stress the supply chain and limit our ability to obtain additional quantities of LPG. Changes in LPG supply costs are normally passed through to customers, but time lags (between when we purchase the LPG and when the customer purchases the LPG) may result in significant gross margin fluctuations that could adversely affect our results of operations.
The potential effects of climate change may affect our business, operations, supply chain and customers, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Shifts and fluctuations in weather patterns and other environmental conditions, including temperature and precipitation levels, may affect consumer demand for our energy products and services. In addition, the potential physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, fires and other climatic events, could disrupt our operations and supply chain, and cause us to incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to these effects. These or other meteorological changes could lead to increased operating costs, capital expenses or supply costs. Our commercial and residential customers may also experience the potential physical impacts of climate change and may incur significant costs in preparing for or responding to these efforts, including increasing the mix and resiliency of their energy solutions and supply, which may adversely impact their ability to pay for our products and services or decrease demand for our products and services. The impact of any one or all of the foregoing factors may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to the direct physical impact that climate change may have on our business, financial condition and results of operations, we may also be adversely impacted by other environmental factors, including: (i) technological advances designed to promote energy efficiency and limit environmental impact; (ii) increased competition from alternative energy sources; (iii) regulatory responses aimed at decreasing GHG emissions; and (iv) litigation or regulatory actions that address the environmental impact of our energy products and services. For more information on these risks, please refer to the following risk factors included elsewhere in this section:
•“Energy efficiency and technology advances, as well as price induced customer conservation, may result in reduced demand for our energy products and services”;
•“Our operations may be adversely affected by competition from other energy sources”;
•“Our need to comply with, and respond to, industry-wide changes resulting from, comprehensive, complex, and sometimes unpredictable governmental regulations, including regulatory initiatives aimed at increasing competition
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within our industry, may increase our costs and limit our revenue growth, which may adversely affect our operating results”;
•“Our operations, financial results and cash flows may be adversely affected by existing and future global climate change laws and regulations, including with respect to GHG emission restrictions, as well as market responses thereto”; and
•“We are subject to operating and litigation risks that may not be covered by insurance”.
Our potential to increase revenues may be affected by the decline in retail volumes of LPG and our ability to retain and grow our customer base. The retail LPG distribution industry in the U.S. and many of the European countries in which we operate is mature and has experienced either no or modest growth (or decline) the past few years, and we do not expect significant changes to total demand in the near future. Accordingly, we expect that year-to-year industry volumes will be principally affected by weather patterns. Our ability to grow within the LPG industry is partly dependent on the success of our sales and marketing programs designed to attract and retain customers. Any failure to retain and grow our customer base would have an adverse impact on our results.
Our ability to successfully execute on strategic initiatives and achieve our long-term goals may be adversely affected if we are not successful in identifying and completing strategic transactions and investments, or if we are unable to realize the anticipated benefits from such strategic transactions and investments. As part of our business strategy, we have pursued, and may continue to pursue, acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, divestitures, dispositions, and other strategic transactions and relationships with third parties. We have grown the Company through investments in the U.S. and in international markets, and have expanded our presence in the renewable energy industry. We may choose to finance any future investments with debt, equity, cash or a combination of the three. We can give no assurances that we will find attractive investment opportunities in the future (including renewable energy opportunities), that we will be able to complete and finance these transactions on economically acceptable terms, that any investments and related transactions will not be dilutive to earnings or that any additional debt incurred to finance such investment will not affect our ability to pay dividends. Moreover, certain investments and acquisitions in the U.S. and Europe may require merger control filings with the Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission, as applicable, and commitments (such as agreements not to compete for certain businesses) or divestments of assets may be required to obtain clearance. Such commitments or divestments may adversely influence the overall economics and risk profile of the contemplated transaction.
To the extent we are successful in executing these transactions, such transactions involve a number of risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the assumption of material liabilities, including environmental liabilities, the diversion of management’s attention from the management of daily operations to the integration of acquired operations, difficulties in the assimilation and retention of employees and difficulties in the assimilation of different cultures and practices and internal controls, challenges with consolidating the operations of acquired companies into our own, as well as in the assimilation of broad and geographically dispersed personnel and operations. We also may experience integration difficulties, including in implementing new systems and processes and with integrating systems and processes of companies with complex operations, which can result in inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies and may increase the risk that our internal controls are found to be ineffective. Future investments could also result in, among other things, the failure to identify material issues during due diligence, the risk of overpaying for assets, unanticipated capital expenditures, the failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, recording goodwill and other intangible assets at values that ultimately may be subject to impairment charges and fluctuations in quarterly results. There can also be no assurance that our past and future investments, including our recent investments in renewable energy, will deliver the strategic, financial, operational and environmental benefits that we anticipate, nor can we be certain that strategic investments will remain available in the future.
Similarly, any divestitures or dispositions of assets have inherent risks, including the inability to find potential buyers upon favorable terms, expenses associated with a divestiture, the possibility that any anticipated sale will be delayed or will not occur, the potential impact on our cash flows and results of operations, the potential delay or failure to realize the perceived strategic or financial benefits of the divestment or disposition, difficulties in the separation of operations, services, information technology, products and personnel, potential loss of customers or employees, exposure to unanticipated liabilities, unexpected costs associated with such separation, diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns and potential post-closing claims for alleged breaches of related agreements, indemnification or other disputes. Further, any cost saving measures, restructurings and divestitures may result in workforce reduction and consolidation of our facilities. As a result of these actions, we may experience a loss of continuity, loss of accumulated knowledge, disruptions to our operations and inefficiency during transitional periods. These actions could also impact employee retention. In addition, we cannot be sure that these actions will be as successful in reducing our overall expenses as we expect or that we do not forego future business opportunities as a result of these actions.
The failure to successfully identify, complete, implement and manage business combinations, acquisitions, divestitures and investments intended to advance our business strategy could have an adverse impact on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.
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Further, our long-term goal to grow our earnings per share is driven by disciplined investments and is impacted by, among other things, our ability to increase investments in our regulated utilities businesses and generate significant fee-based income in our Midstream and Marketing operations. Other factors, assumptions and beliefs of management and our Board regarding external factors, including the global economy and regulatory developments, on which our long-term goals were based may also prove to differ materially from actual future results. Accordingly, we may not achieve our stated long-term goals, or our stated long-term goals may be negatively revised, as a result of less than expected progress toward achieving these goals.
Energy efficiency and technology advances, as well as price induced customerconservation, may result in reduced demand for our energy products andservices. The trend toward increased energy efficiency and technological advances, including installation of improved insulation and the development of more efficient boilers and increased consumer preference for alternative heating equipment installations, such as electric heat pumps, alongside concerted conservation measures, which have been exacerbated particularly in Europe by the evolving energy crisis, may reduce the demand for our energy products. Prices for LPG and natural gas are subject to volatile fluctuations as a result of changes in supply and demand as well as other market conditions and external factors. During periods of high energy commodity costs, our prices generally increase, which may lead to customer conservation and attrition. A reduction in demand could lower our revenues and, therefore, lower our net income and adversely affect our cash flows. In addition, federal, European and/or local regulators may offer energy conservation incentives or otherwise enact laws and regulations that may require mandatory conservation measures, which would reduce the demand for our energy products. In Europe, measures are underway to decarbonize the electric generation grid, as well as residential and commercial heating, in order to achieve EU climate change objectives, including a net zero goal by 2050. For example, in 2018 the EU revised the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (the “EPBD”) with the goal to create a clear path towards a low and zero-emission and decarbonized building stock in the EU by 2050. Updates to the EPBD continue to make their way through EU legislative approvals, which will establish stronger targets for management of new and existing building construction and integral heating systems that focus on low or zero carbon outcomes. For example, certain EU countries have adopted legislation mandating the replacement of existing fossil-fuel based heating systems with lower carbon solutions and requiring newly installed heating systems to operate with renewable energy sources. Over time, these various measures will impact fossil fuel consumption in Europe and the demand for our energy products. We cannot predict the materiality of the effect of future conservation measures or the effect that any technological advances in heating, conservation, energy generation or other devices might have on our operations.
Our operations may be adversely affected by competition from other energysources. Our energy products and services face competition from other energy sources, some of which are less costly for equivalent energy value. In addition, we cannot predict the effect that the development of alternative energy sources might have on our operations.
Our LPG distribution businesses compete for customers against suppliers of electricity, fuel oil and natural gas. Electricity is a major competitor of LPG but is generally more expensive than LPG on a Btu equivalent basis for space heating, water heating and cooking. However, in Europe and elsewhere, climate change policies favoring electricity from renewable energy sources or the use of electric-powered equipment, such as heat pumps in heating applications, may cause changes in current relative price relationships. Moreover, notwithstanding cost or regulatory mandates or incentives, the convenience and efficiency of electricity make it an attractive energy source for consumers and developers of new homes. Fuel oil, which is a major competitor to propane, is a less environmentally attractive energy source. Furnaces and appliances that burn LPG must be upgraded to run on fuel oil and vice versa, and, therefore, a conversion from one fuel to the other requires the installation of new equipment. Our customers generally have an incentive to switch to fuel oil only if fuel oil becomes significantly less expensive than LPG, and in multiple countries, the risk of conversion to fuel oil is diminishing due to regulations that prevent or disfavor the installation and/or use of fuel oil boilers or fuel oil for heating applications. The gradual expansion of natural gas distribution systems in our service areas may continue to result in the availability of natural gas in some areas that previously depended upon LPG resulting in lower demand for LPG.
Our natural gas businesses in the U.S. compete primarily with electricity and fuel oil, and, to a lesser extent, with LPG and coal. Competition among these fuels is primarily a function of their comparative price and the relative cost and efficiency of fuel utilization equipment. There can be no assurance that our natural gas revenues will not be adversely affected by this competition.
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The expansion, construction and development of our energy infrastructure assets subjects us to risks. We seek to grow our business through the expansion, construction and development of our energy infrastructure, including new pipelines, gathering systems, facilities and other assets. These projects are subject to state and federal regulatory oversight and require certain property rights, such as easements and rights-of-way from public and private owners, as well as regulatory approvals, including environmental and other permits and licenses. There is no assurance that we or our project partners, as applicable, will be able to obtain the necessary property rights, permits and licenses in a timely and cost-efficient manner, or at all, which may result in a delay or failure to complete a project. We may face opposition to the expansion, construction or development of new or existing pipelines, gathering systems, facilities or other assets from environmental groups, landowners, local groups and other advocates. This opposition could take many forms, including organized protests, attempts to block or sabotage our operations, intervention in regulatory or administrative proceedings involving our assets, or lawsuits or other actions designed to prevent, disrupt, or delay the development or operation of our assets and business. Failure to complete any pending or future infrastructure project may have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Even if we are able to successfully complete any pending or future infrastructure project, our revenues may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project or as anticipated during the lifespan of the project. As a result, there is the risk that new and expanded energy infrastructure may not achieve our expected investment returns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Our Business Operations, Including Internal and External Factors that May Impact Our Operational Continuity
Our information technology systems and those of our third-party vendors have been the target of cybersecurity attacks in the past. If we are unable to protect our information technology systems against future service interruption, misappropriation of data, or breaches of security resulting from cybersecurity attacks or other events, or if we encounter other unforeseen difficulties in the design, implementation or operation of our information technology systems, or if our third-party vendors or service providers experience compromises to their information technology systems, our operations could be disrupted, our business and reputation may suffer, and our internal controls could be adversely affected. In the ordinary course of business, we rely on information technology systems, including the Internet and third-party hosted services, to support a variety of business processes and activities and to store sensitive data, including (i) intellectual property, (ii) our proprietary business information and that of our suppliers and business partners, (iii) personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, and (iv) data with respect to invoicing and the collection of payments, accounting, procurement, and supply chain activities. In addition, we rely on our information technology systems to process financial information and results of operations for internal reporting purposes and to comply with financial reporting, legal, and tax requirements.
Cybersecurity incidents have recently increased in both frequency and magnitude and have involved malicious software and attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and systems, including ransomware attacks where a target’s access to its information systems is blocked until a ransom has been paid.The White House and various regulators, including the SEC, have accordingly increased their focus on companies’ cybersecurity vulnerabilities and risks.Despite our security measures, our technologies, systems, and networks have been and may continue to be the target of cybersecurity attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, misuse, loss or destruction of proprietary and other information, or other disruption of our business operations.Due to increasingly sophisticated threat actors, we may be unable to detect, identify or prevent attacks, and even if detected, we may be unable to adequately stop, investigate or remediate our systems given the tools and techniques being used by threat actors to circumvent controls and to remove or obfuscate forensic evidence.Attacks and incidents may also occur due to malfeasance by employees or contractors, as well as human error as in the case of social engineering and phishing campaigns. A number of our employees currently work remotely full-time or on a hybrid basis; as a result, our cybersecurity program may be less effective and information technology security may be less robust for those employees. Similarly, our third-party vendors or service providers have been impacted by cybersecurity attacks and incidents and are subject to many, if not all, of the same risks and disruptions as described above. A loss of our information technology systems, or temporary interruptions in the operation of our information technology systems, or those of our third-party vendors or service providers, or any other misappropriation of data, or breaches of security could lead to investigations and fines or penalties, litigation, increased costs for compliance and for remediation or rebuilding of our systems, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation. In addition, an attack could provide an intruder with the ability to control or alter our pipeline operations. Such an act could result in critical pipeline failures.
The efficient execution of our businesses is dependent upon the proper design, implementation and functioning of its current and future internal systems, such as the information technology systems that support our underlying business processes. Any significant failure or malfunction of such information technology systems may result in disruptions of our operations. In addition, the effectiveness of our internal controls could be adversely affected if we encounter unforeseen problems with respect to the operation of our information technology systems.
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Moreover, as cybersecurity incidents increase in frequency and magnitude, we may be unable to obtain cybersecurity insurance in amounts and on terms we view as adequate for our operations, including the agreement to certain indemnification provisions by our insurance providers.
Our utility transmission and distribution systems, our non-utility midstream assets, and the assets of upstream interstate pipelines and other midstream providers may not operate as planned, which may increase our expenses or decrease our revenues and, thus, have an adverse impact on our financial results. Our ability to manage operational risk with respect to utility distribution and transmission and non-utility midstream assets, and the availability of natural gas delivered by interstate natural gas pipelines and midstream gathering assets is critical to our financial results. We obtain our supply from local Marcellus and Utica Shale sources, as well as other trading points in the U.S. If we experience physical capacity constraints on one or more of the interstate or intrastate natural gas pipelines that supply our businesses, we may not be able to supply our customers, which could have an adverse impact on our financial results. Our businesses also face several risks, including the breakdown or failure of, or damage to, equipment or processes (especially due to severe weather or natural disasters), accidents and other factors, including as a result of overpressurization of or damage to natural gas pipelines. Operation of our transmission and distribution systems or our midstream assets below our expectations may result in lost revenues or increased expenses, including higher maintenance costs, civil litigation and the risk of regulatory penalties.
Risks Relating to Our International Operations
Our international operations could be subject to increased risks, which maynegatively affect our business results. We operate LPG distribution businesses in Europe through our subsidiaries. As a result, we face risks in conducting business abroad that we do not face domestically. Certain aspects inherent in transacting business internationally could negatively impact our operating results, including:
•costs and difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;
•disagreements and disputes with our employees represented by a works council or union;
•strikes and work stoppages by the employees of the Company or our suppliers and vendors;
•fluctuations in currency exchange rates, particularly the euro, which can affect demand for our products, increase our costs and adversely affect our profitability and reported results;
•new or revised regulatory requirements, including European competition and carbon emission reduction laws, that may adversely affect the terms of contracts with customers, including with respect to exclusive supply rights and usage restrictions, and stricter regulations applicable to the storage and handling of LPG;
•new and inconsistently enforced industry regulatory requirements, which can have an adverse effect on our competitive position;
•tariffs and other trade barriers;
•difficulties in enforcing contractual rights;
•local political and economic conditions as well as geopolitical conditions that could cause instability and adversely impact the global economy or specific markets, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East; and
•potential violations of federal regulatory requirements, including anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and anti-money laundering law, economic sanctions, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and EU regulatory requirements, including the GDPR and Sapin II.
In particular, certain legal and regulatory risks are associated with international business operations. We are subject to various anti-corruption, economic sanctions and trade compliance laws, rules and regulations. For example, the U.S. government imposes restrictions and prohibitions on transactions in certain foreign countries, including restrictions directed at oil and gas activities in Russia. U.S. laws also prohibit the improper offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment of money or anything of value to any foreign official or political party, or to any person, knowing that all or a portion of it will be used to influence a foreign official in his or her official duties or to secure an improper advantage. Ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, rules and regulations is a complex task. Violation of one or more of these laws, rules or regulations could lead to loss of import or export privileges, civil or criminal penalties for us or our employees, or potential reputational harm, which could have a material adverse impact on earnings, cash flows and financial condition.
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The European energy crisis may create LPG commodity supply challenges and could negatively impact our business results. The geopolitical situation in Europe during 2022 led to a sharp decrease in natural gas imports from Russia to Europe. This decrease resulted in a significant increase in natural gas prices in Europe. Although the natural gas prices have declined from the unprecedented highs of 2022, in response to the significant price increases experienced, refineries still see an incentive to, and are substituting a portion of their natural gas refinery fuels with, LPG leading to a decrease in the availability of inland LPG as well as higher LPG costs. In addition, gas processing plants supplying the United Kingdom and Norway markets are injecting LPG into the natural gas grid, decreasing the overall supply of LPG from the gas processing plants. In this context, LPG supply patterns are substantially changing with increased reliance on sea-imports and land logistics.
We anticipate that the European energy crisis and the corresponding response by refineries and gas processing plants will continue in Fiscal 2025, leading to continued commodity supply challenges in some markets, higher commodity costs that may not be able to be absorbed by our customers, particularly in the Nordic countries and our Eastern European markets, and lower consumption by our customers, among other impacts, which could have a material adverse impact on our earnings, cash flows and overall financial condition.
Economic and geopolitical instability, including as a result of acts of war, have had, and could continue to have, an adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition, and cash flows. In late February 2022, Russian military forces launched significant military action against Ukraine, which has continued through the date of this Report. We do not have operations in Russia or Ukraine. Nevertheless, the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine and the resulting sanctions by U.S. and European governments, together with any additional future sanctions by them, could have a larger impact that expands into other geographies where we do business, including our supply chain, business partners and customers in those markets, which could result in lost sales, supply shortages, commodity price fluctuations, increased costs, transportation logistics challenges, customer credit and liquidity issues, and lost efficiencies. The acceleration of a global energy crisis, including as a result of restrictions on Russia’s energy exports, could similarly impact the geographies where we do business. In addition, the U.S. and Europe have commenced certain trade actions as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine. While significant uncertainty exists with respect to this matter, the war between Russia and Ukraine and its broader impacts, including any increased trade barriers or restrictions on global trade imposed by the U.S. or Europe, or further trade measures taken by Russia or other countries in response, could have a material impact on our operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Risks Relating to Our Supply Chain and Our Ability to Obtain Adequate Quantities of LPG
We are dependent on our principal LPG suppliers, which increases therisks from an interruption in supply and transportation. During Fiscal 2024, AmeriGas Propane purchased approximately 87% of its propane needs from 20 suppliers. If supplies from these sources were interrupted, the cost of procuring replacement supplies and transporting those supplies from alternative locations might be materially higher and, at least on a short-term basis, our earnings could be affected. Additionally, in certain geographic areas, a single supplier provides more than 50% of AmeriGas Propane’s propane requirements. Disruptions in supply in these geographic areas could also have an adverse impact on our earnings. Our international businesses are similarly dependent upon their LPG suppliers, with our businesses in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France and Poland purchasing more than 50% of their LPG needs from a single supplier. If supplies from UGI International’s principal LPG sources are interrupted, the cost of procuring replacement supplies and transporting those supplies from alternative locations might be materially higher and our earnings could be adversely affected. There is no assurance that our international businesses will be able to continue to acquire sufficient supplies of LPG to meet demand at prices or within time periods that would allow them to remain competitive.
Our ability to obtain sufficient quantities of LPG is dependent on transportation facilities and providers. Spikes in demand caused by weather or other factors can limit our access to port terminals and other transportation and storage facilities, disrupt transportation and limit our ability to obtain sufficient quantities of LPG. A significant increase in port and similar fees and fuel prices may also adversely affect our transportation costs and business. Transportation providers (rail and truck) in some circumstances have limited ability to provide additional resources in times of peak demand. Moreover, the ability of our transportation providers to maintain a staff of qualified truck drivers is critical to the success of our business. Regulatory requirements and an improvement in the economy could reduce the number of eligible drivers or require us to pay higher transportation fees as our transportation providers seek to pass on additional labor costs associated with attracting and retaining drivers.
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Our profitability is subject to LPG pricing and inventory risk. The retail LPG business is a “margin-based” business in which gross profits are dependent upon the excess of the sales price over LPG supply costs. LPG is a commodity, and, as such, its unit price is subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply or other market conditions. We have no control over supplies, commodity prices or market conditions. Consequently, the unit price of the LPG that our subsidiaries and other distributors and marketers purchase can change rapidly over a short period of time. Most of our domestic LPG product supply contracts permit suppliers to charge posted prices at the time of delivery or negotiated prices based on the current industry index prices established at major U.S. storage points such as Mont Belvieu, Texas or Conway, Kansas. Most of our international LPG supply contracts are based on internationally quoted market prices. We also purchase a portion of our supplies in the spot market. Because our subsidiaries’ profitability is sensitive to changes in wholesale LPG supply costs, we will be adversely affected if we cannot pass on increases in the cost of LPG to our customers, or if there is a delay in passing on such cost increases. Due to competitive pricing in the industry, our subsidiaries may not fully be able to pass on product cost increases to our customers when product costs rise, or when our competitors do not raise their product prices in a timely manner. Finally, market volatility may cause our subsidiaries to sell LPG at less than the price at which they purchased it, which would adversely affect our operating results.
We offer our customers various fixed-price LPG programs, and a significant number of our customers utilize our fixed-price programs. In order to manage the price risk from offering these services, we utilize our physical inventory position, supplemented by forward commodity transactions with various third parties having terms and volumes substantially the same as our customers’ contracts, but there can be no assurance that such measures will be effective. In periods of high LPG price volatility, the fixed-price programs create exposure to over or under-supply positions as the demand from customers may significantly exceed or fall short of supply procured. In addition, if LPG prices decline significantly subsequent to customers signing up for a fixed-price program, there is a risk that customers will default on their commitments, adversely affecting our results of operations.
Changes in commodity market prices may have a significant negative effect on ourliquidity. Depending on the terms of our contracts with suppliers as well as our use of financial instruments to reduce volatility in the cost of LPG and natural gas, changes in the market price of LPG and natural gas can create margin payment obligations for us and expose us to increased liquidity risk. In addition, increased demand for domestically produced LPG and natural gas overseas may, depending on production volumes in the U.S., result in higher domestic prices and expose us to additional liquidity risks.
Supplier and derivative counterparty defaults may have a negative effect on our operating results. When we enter into fixed-price sales contracts with customers, we typically enter into fixed-price purchase contracts with suppliers. Depending on changes in the market prices of products compared to the prices secured in our contracts with suppliers of LPG, natural gas and electricity, a default of or force majeure by one or more of our suppliers under such contracts could cause us to purchase those commodities at higher prices from alternate suppliers, which would have a negative impact on our operating results.
Additionally, we economically hedge the market risk associated with a substantial portion of our supply purchases using certain derivative instruments. Such changes in market prices of the aforementioned commodities could result in material exposures or significant concentrations of balances with derivative counterparties. If certain counterparties were unable to meet the obligations set forth in these derivative contracts and we were unable to fully mitigate this exposure via collateral deposit requirements and master netting arrangements, such outcomes could result in a negative effect on our operating results.
Our business is dependent on the domestic andglobal supply chain to ensure that equipment, materials and other resources are available to both expand and maintain services in a safe and reliable manner. Moreover, prices of equipment, materials and other resources have increased recently and may continue to increase in the future. Failure to secure equipment, materials and other resources on economically acceptable terms may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. Current domestic and global supply chain issues are delaying the delivery, and in some cases resulting in shortages of, materials, equipment and other resources that are critical to our business operations. Failure to eliminate or manage the constraints in the supply chain may impact the availability of items that are necessary to support normal operations as well as materials that are required for continued infrastructure growth, including the replacement of end-of-life assets.
Moreover, inflation has been and continues to be an area of increasing economic concern, both domestically and internationally. Changes in the costs of providing our energy products and services, including price increases in equipment and materials as well as increases in labor and distribution costs, have negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, our financial condition and results of operations and/or result in corresponding price increases for the energy products and services we offer our customers.
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Risks Relating to Government Regulation and Oversight
Regulators may not approve the rates we request and existing rates may be challenged, which may adversely affect our results of operations. In our Utilities segment, our distribution operations are subject to regulation by the PAPUC, WVPSC and MDPSC, depending on the state in which the operations are located. These regulatory bodies, among other things, approve the rates that Utilities may charge utility customers, thus impacting the returns that Utilities may earn on the assets that are dedicated to its operations. Utilities periodically files, and we expect to continue to periodically file, requests with these regulatory bodies to increase base rates charged to customers in the respective states in which Utilities operates. If Utilities is required in a rate proceeding to reduce the rates it charges its utility customers, or is unable to obtain approval for timely rate increases from the appropriate regulatory body, particularly when necessary to cover increased costs, Utilities’ revenue growth will be limited and earnings may decrease.
The enactment of proposed or future tax legislation may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. We continue to assess the impact of various U.S. federal, state, local and international legislative proposals that could result in a material increase to our U.S. federal, state, local and/or international taxes. We cannot predict what impact, if any, changes in federal policy, including tax policies, will have on our industry or whether any specific legislation will be enacted or the terms of any such legislation. However, if such proposals were to be enacted, or if modifications were to be made to certain existing regulations, the consequences could have a material adverse impact on us, including increasing our tax burden, increasing our cost of tax compliance or otherwise adversely affecting our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Changes in applicable U.S. or foreign tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application, including the possibility of retroactive effect, could affect our tax expense and profitability. Such impact may also be affected positively or negatively by subsequent potential judicial interpretation or related regulation or legislation which cannot be predicted with certainty.
Our need to comply with, and respond to, industry-wide changes resulting from, comprehensive, complex, and sometimes unpredictablegovernmental regulations, including regulatory initiatives aimed at increasing competition within our industry, may increase our costs and limit our revenue growth,which may adversely affect our operating results. While we generally refer to our Utilities segment as our “regulated segment,” there are many governmental regulations that have an impact on all of our businesses. Currently, we are subject to extensive and changing international, federal, state, and local laws and regulations including, but not limited to, safety, health, transportation, tax, and environmental laws and regulations that govern the marketing, storage, distribution, and transportation of our energy products. Moreover, existing statutes and regulations may be revised or reinterpreted and new laws and regulations may be adopted or become applicable to us that may affect our businesses in ways that we cannot predict.
New regulations, or a change in the interpretation of existing regulations, could result in increased expenditures. In addition, for many of our operations, we are required to obtain permits from regulatory authorities and, in some cases, such regulatory permits could subject our operations to additional regulations and standards of conduct. Failure to obtain or comply with these permits or applicable regulations and standards of conduct could result in civil and criminal fines or the cessation of the operations in violation. Governmental regulations and policies in the U.S. and Europe may provide for subsidies or incentives to customers who use alternative fuels instead of carbon fuels. The EU has committed to cut CO2 emissions and EU member states are proposing and implementing a range of subsidies and incentives to achieve the EU’s climate change goals. These subsidies and incentives may result in reduced demand for our energy products and services.
We are investigating and remediating contamination at a number of present and former operating sites in the U.S., including former sites where we or our former subsidiaries operated MGPs. We have also received claims from third parties that allege that we are responsible for costs to clean up properties where we or our former subsidiaries operated a MGP or conducted other operations. Most of the costs we incur to remediate sites outside of Pennsylvania cannot currently be recovered in PAPUC rate proceedings, and insurance may not cover all or even part of these costs. Our actual costs to clean up these sites may exceed our current estimates due to factors beyond our control, such as:
•the discovery of presently unknown conditions;
•changes in environmental laws and regulations;
•judicial rejection of our legal defenses to third-party claims; or
•the insolvency of other responsible parties at the sites at which we are involved.
Moreover, if we discover additional contaminated sites, we could be required to incur material costs, which would reduce our net income.
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We also may be unable to timely respond to changes within the energy and utility sectors that may result from regulatory initiatives to further increase competition within our industry. Such regulatory initiatives may create opportunities for additional competitors to grow their business or enter our markets and, as a result, we may be unable to maintain our revenues or continue to pursue our current business strategy.
Our operations, financial results and cash flows may be adversely affected by existing and future global climate change laws and regulations, including with respect to GHG emission restrictions, as well as market responses thereto. Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention in the U.S. and in foreign countries. As a result, numerous proposals have been made, and could continue to be made, at the international, national, regional, state and local levels of government to monitor and limit GHG emissions and climate impact. These efforts have included consideration of, among other things, cap-and-trade programs, carbon taxes, GHG reporting and tracking programs, and regulations that directly limit GHG emissions from certain sources.
Increased regulation of GHG emissions, or climate impact generally, could have significant additional adverse impacts on us as well as our suppliers, vendors, and customers. The adoption and implementation of any laws or regulations imposing obligations on, or limiting GHG emissions from, our equipment and operations could require us to incur significant costs to reduce GHG emissions associated with our operations or could adversely affect demand for our energy products. The potential increase in our operating costs could include, but are not limited to, new costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, pay taxes related to our GHG emissions, administer and manage a GHG emissions reduction program, and adversely impact the value of certain assets. We may not be able to pass on resulting increases in costs to customers. In addition, changes in regulatory policies that result in a reduction in the demand for hydrocarbon products and carbon-emitting fuel sources that are deemed to contribute to climate change, or restrict the use of such products or fuel sources, may reduce volumes available to us for processing, transportation, marketing and storage and could cause increases in costs or production disruptions. These developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial results, valuation and useful life of assets, and cash flows.
Changes in data privacy and data protection laws and regulations or any failure to comply with such laws and regulations, could adversely affect our business and financial results. As part of our operations, we collect, use, store and transfer the personal information and data of our employees as well as customer, vendor and supplier data in and across various jurisdictions. There has been increased public attention regarding the use of personal information and data transfers, accompanied by legislation and regulations intended to strengthen data protection, information security and consumer and personal privacy. The laws in these areas continue to develop and the changing nature of data protection, information security and privacy laws in the U.S., the EU and elsewhere could impact our processing of the personal information and data of our employees, vendors, suppliers and customers, which could lead to increased operating costs. Existing and emerging laws and regulations are inconsistent across jurisdictions and are subject to evolving, differing, and sometimes conflicting interpretations. The EU adopted the GDPR, which expanded EU data protections, in certain circumstances, to companies outside of the EU processing data of EU residents, regardless of whether the processing occurs in the EU. Similarly, the State of California legislature passed the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”) and the California Privacy Rights Act (the “CPRA”), which, among other things, grant a number of rights to California residents with respect to their personal information, and require companies to make extensive disclosures to consumers about such companies’ data collection, use, and sharing practices and inform consumers of their personal information rights. In addition, the CPRA created a new state privacy regulator, which will likely result in greater regulatory activity and enforcement in the privacy area. Comprehensive privacy laws with some similarities to the CCPA and CPRA have been proposed or passed at the U.S. federal and state levels, such as the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (the “VCDPA”) and the Colorado Privacy Act (the “CPA”). Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission and many state attorneys general are interpreting federal and state consumer protection laws to impose standards for the online collection, use, dissemination and security of data as well as requiring disclosures about these practices. We expect that there will continue to be new laws, regulations and industry standards concerning data privacy and data protection, including artificial intelligence, in the U.S., the EU and other jurisdictions, and we cannot yet determine the impact such laws, regulations, interpretations and standards may have on our business.
While we have invested significant time and resources in our GDPR and U.S. privacy law compliance program, emerging and changing data privacy and data protection requirements as well as other new and upcoming European and U.S. federal and state privacy and cybersecurity laws and industry standards may cause us to incur substantial fines, additional significant costs or require us to change our business practices. Any failure or perceived failure to comply may result in proceedings or actions against us by government entities or individuals, including class actions. Moreover, any inquiries or investigations, any other government actions or any actions by individuals may be costly to comply with, result in negative publicity, increase our operating costs, require significant management time and attention and subject us to remedies that may harm our business, including fines, demands or orders that we modify or cease existing business practices.
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The provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), related regulations, and the rules adopted thereunder and other regulations, including the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (the “EMIR”), may have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to hedge risks associated with our business. Our derivative hedging activities are subject to Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act, which regulates the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities that participate in that market. The Dodd-Frank Act requires the CFTC and the federal banking regulators to implement the Dodd-Frank Act’s provisions through rulemaking, including rules regarding mandatory clearing, trade execution and margin requirements. We have and expect to continue to qualify for and rely upon an exception from mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements for swaps entered into by commercial end-users to hedge commercial risks. In addition to relief from the clearing mandate, we also expect to continue to qualify for an exception for non-financial end-users from the margin requirements on uncleared swaps. If we are not able to do so and have to post margin supporting our uncleared swaps in the future, our costs of entering into and maintaining swaps would be increased.
Based on information available as of the date of this Report, the effect of such requirements will be likely to (directly or indirectly) increase our overall costs of entering into derivatives transactions. In particular, new margin requirements, position limits and significantly higher capital charges resulting from new global capital regulations, even if not directly applicable to us, may cause an increase in the pricing of derivatives transactions entered into by market participants to whom such requirements apply or affect our overall ability to enter into derivatives transactions with certain counterparties. While costs imposed directly on us due to regulatory requirements for derivatives under the Dodd-Frank Act, such as reporting, recordkeeping and electing the end-user exception from mandatory clearing, are relatively minor, costs imposed upon our counterparties may increase the cost of our doing business in the derivatives markets to the extent such costs are passed on to us.
The EMIR may result in increased costs for over-the-counter derivative counterparties trading in the EU and may also lead to an increase in the costs of, and demand for, the liquid collateral that the EMIR requires central counterparties to accept. Although we expect to continue to qualify as a non-financial counterparty under the EMIR, and thus not be required to post margin, we are currently subject to limited derivatives reporting requirements that could expand in the future, and may also be subject to increased regulatory requirements, including recordkeeping, marking to market, timely confirmations, portfolio reconciliation and dispute resolution procedures. Provisions under the EMIR could significantly increase the cost of derivatives contracts, materially alter the terms of derivatives contracts and reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks that we encounter. The increased trading costs and collateral costs may have an adverse impact on our business, contracts, financial condition, operating results, cash flow, liquidity and prospects.
General Risks that May Impact Our Business and Our Shareholders
The inability to attract, develop, retain and engage key employees could adversely affect our ability to execute our strategic, operational and financial plans. We are dependent upon the continued service and contributions of our management and key technical and professional employees, as well as our ability to transfer the knowledge and expertise of our workforce to new employees as our employees retire or we otherwise experience employee turnover. In addition, the success of our operations depends on our ability to identify, attract and develop skilled and experienced key employees. There is increased competition for experienced management and technical and professional employees, which could increase the costs associated with identifying, attracting and retaining such individuals. We may not be able to attract, retain or engage key employees if our compensation and benefits program is not as robust as the compensation and benefits programs offered by other employers for similar roles. Further, a lack of employee engagement could lead to loss of productivity and increased employee burnout, turnover, absenteeism, safety incidents as well as decreased customer satisfaction. Additionally, uncertainty as a result of our ongoing review of strategic alternatives could negatively impact our ability to recruit and retain key employees. If we cannot identify, attract, develop, retain and engage management, technical and professional employees, along with other qualified employees, to support the various functions of our business, our operations and financial performance could be adversely impacted.
We may not be able to collect on the accounts of our customers. We depend on the viability of our customers for collections of accounts receivable and notes receivable. Moreover, our businesses serve numerous retail customers, and as we grow our businesses organically, our retail customer base is expected to expand in certain geographies. There can be no assurance that our customers will not experience financial difficulties in the future or that we will be able to collect all of our outstanding accounts receivable or notes receivable. Any such nonpayment by our customers could adversely affect our business.
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We are subject to operating and litigation risks that may not be covered byinsurance. Our business operations are subject to all of the operating hazards and risks normally incidental to the handling, storage and distribution of combustible products, such as LPG and natural gas, and the generation of electricity. These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury and/or loss of life, and severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment arising from explosions and other catastrophic events, including acts of terrorism. As a result of these and other incidents, we are sometimes a defendant in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits and other proceedings. Additionally, environmental contamination or other incidents resulting in an environmental impact have resulted in, and could continue to result in, legal or regulatory proceedings (see “Our need to comply with, and respond to, industry-wide changes resulting from, comprehensive, complex, and sometimes unpredictable governmental regulations, including regulatory initiatives aimed at increasing competition within our industry, may increase our costs and limit our revenue growth, which may adversely affect our operating results” for more information on such proceedings). There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage will be adequate to protect us from all material expenses related to pending and future claims or that such levels of insurance would be available in the future at economical prices. Moreover, defense and settlement costs may be substantial, even with respect to claims and investigations that have no merit. If we cannot resolve these matters favorably, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects may be materially adversely affected.
The risk of natural disasters, pandemics and catastrophic events, including acts of war and terrorism, may adversely affect the economy and the price and availability of LPG, other refined fuels and natural gas. Natural disasters, pandemics and catastrophic events, such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, war (including conflict in the Middle East), political unrest and other similar occurrences, may adversely impact the demand for, price and availability of LPG (including propane), other refined fuels and natural gas, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations, our ability to raise capital and our future growth. The impact that the foregoing may have on our industries in general, and on us in particular, is not known at this time. A natural disaster, pandemic or an act of war or terrorism could result in disruptions of crude oil or natural gas supplies and markets (the sources of LPG), cause price volatility in the cost of LPG, fuel oil and natural gas, and our infrastructure facilities could be directly or indirectly impacted. Additionally, if our means of supply transportation, such as rail, truck or pipeline, are delayed or temporarily unavailable due to a natural disaster, pandemic, war or terrorist activity, we may be unable to transport LPG and other refined fuels in a timely manner or at all. 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 a natural disaster, pandemic, war or terrorism could also affect our ability to raise capital. We have opted to purchase insurance coverage for natural disasters and terrorist acts within our property and casualty insurance programs, but we can give no assurance that our insurance coverage would be adequate to fully compensate us for any losses to our business or property resulting from natural disasters or terrorist acts.
Our indebtedness may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Our debt agreements also contain covenants that restrict our operational flexibility.As of September 30, 2024, we had total indebtedness of approximately $7 billion. Our indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and operational flexibility by, among other things:
•impairing our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes;
•limiting operational flexibility and our ability to pursue business opportunities and implement certain business strategies;
•impairing our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions;
•impairing our ability to repay our indebtedness at maturity, especially where our debt agreements contain significant maturities;
•exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates where our debt agreements have variable interest rates; and
•placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately less debt and fewer guarantee obligations.
The occurrence of any of such events could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, if our credit ratings were to be downgraded, or general market conditions were to ascribe higher risk to our rating levels, our industry, or us, our access to capital and the cost of any future debt financing could be negatively impacted. Additionally, our ability to make payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness depends upon our future performance, which is subject to economic and political conditions, seasonal cycles and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, we may be required to, among other things, refinance or restructure all or a portion of our indebtedness, reduce or delay planned capital or operating expenditures or sell selected assets. Such measures might not be sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness, and any such refinancing, restructuring or sale of assets might not be available on favorable terms or at all.
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In addition, our debt agreements generally contain customary affirmative covenants, including, among others, covenants pertaining to the delivery of financial statements; certain financial covenants; notices of default and certain other material events; payment of obligations; preservation of corporate existence, rights, privileges, permits, licenses, franchises and intellectual property; maintenance of property and insurance and compliance with laws, as well as customary negative covenants, including, among others, limitations on the incurrence of liens, investments and indebtedness; mergers, acquisitions and certain other fundamental changes; transfers, leases or dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; restricted payments; changes in our line of business; transactions with affiliates and burdensome agreements. These covenants could affect our ability to operate our business, respond to changes in business and economic conditions, obtain additional financing (if needed), and may increase the amount of interest expense we ultimately pay pursuant to the debt agreements. Further, our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our debt agreements may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions or regulatory changes. A failure to comply with the covenants in our debt agreements could result in a default or an event of default. Upon an event of default, unless waived, the lenders could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans, require cash collateralization of letters of credit, cause their loans to become due and payable in full, foreclose against any assets securing the debt under our debt agreements and force us and our subsidiaries into bankruptcy or liquidation. If the payment of our debt is accelerated, we cannot be certain that we will have sufficient funds available to pay down the indebtedness (together with accrued interest and fees), or that we will have the ability to refinance the accelerated indebtedness on terms favorable to us or at all. This could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, the terms of future debt agreements could include more restrictive covenants, or require incremental collateral, which may further restrict our business operations or conflict with covenant restrictions then in effect. As a result, there is no guarantee that financings will be available in the future to fund our obligations, or that they will be available on terms consistent with our expectations. See the liquidity section in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis for additional information on our current debt agreements.
An impairment of our assets could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We test goodwill, intangible, and other long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. To the extent the value of goodwill or long-lived assets becomes impaired, the Company may be required to incur impairment charges that could have a material impact on our results of operations. The testing of assets for impairment requires us to make significant estimates about our future events, including our performance and projected cash flows, as well as other assumptions. These estimates can be affected by numerous factors, including developments in the global economic environment, including the prospect of higher interest rates, developments in regulatory, industry and market conditions, changes in business operations, changes in competition or changes in technologies. Any changes in key assumptions, or actual performance compared with key assumptions, about our business and its future prospects could affect the fair value of one or more of our assets, which may result in an impairment charge. We have incurred and may continue to incur impairment charges on certain of our assets that could have a material impact on our results of operations.
During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024, as part of its annual goodwill impairment assessment, the Company performed a quantitative assessment for its AmeriGas Propane reporting unit. In addition, during the third quarter of Fiscal 2023, the Company identified interim impairment indicators related to goodwill within the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit and, as such, performed an interim impairment test of its goodwill as of May 31, 2023. Based on our evaluations in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, the estimated fair value of the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit was determined to be less than its carrying value. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of $195 million and $656 million in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively. The performance of the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit and the potential for future developments in the global economic environment, including the prospect of higher interest rates, introduces a heightened risk for additional impairment in the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit. If there is continued deterioration in the results of operations, a portion or all of the remaining recorded goodwill for the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit, which was $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2024, could be subject to further impairment.
Our holding company structure could limit our ability to pay dividends orservice debt. We are a holding company whose material assets are the stock of our subsidiaries. Our ability to pay dividends on our Common Stock and to pay principal and accrued interest on our debt, if any, depends on the payment of dividends to us by our principal subsidiaries. Payments to us by our subsidiaries, in turn, depend upon their consolidated results of operations and cash flows. The operations of our subsidiaries are affected by conditions beyond our control, including weather, regulations, competition in national and international markets we serve, the costs and availability of propane, butane, natural gas, electricity, and other energy sources, capital market conditions and interest rates and other business risks impacting liquidity levels. The ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us is also affected by the level of indebtedness of our subsidiaries, which is substantial, and the restrictions on payments to us imposed under the terms of such indebtedness.
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Volatility in credit and capital markets may restrict our ability to grow,increase the likelihood of defaults by our suppliers and vendors, customers and counterparties and adversely affect our operating results. Volatility in credit and capital markets may create additional risks to our businesses in the future. We are exposed to financial market risk (including refinancing risk) resulting from factors beyond our control, including, among other things, commodity price volatility and changes in interest rates and conditions in the credit and capital markets. Adverse developments in the credit markets may increase our possible exposure to the liquidity, default and credit risks of our suppliers and vendors, counterparties associated with derivative financial instruments and our customers.
We depend on our intellectual property and failure to protect that intellectual property could adversely affect us. We seek trademark protection for our brands in each of our businesses, and we invest significant resources in developing our business brands. Failure to maintain our trademarks and brands could adversely affect our customer-facing businesses and our operational results.
Declines in the stock market or bond market, and a low interestrate environment, may negatively impact our pension liability. Declines in the stock market and a low interest rate environment historically have resulted in a significant impact on our pension liability and funded status. Declines in the stock or bond market and valuation of stocks or bonds, combined with low interest rates, could further impact our pension liability and funded status and increase the amount of required contributions to our pension plans.
Unless we otherwise consent in writing, our Amended and Restated Bylaws designate a state court located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania or, if no state court located within such county has jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the federal United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our shareholders, which could discourage lawsuits against us and our directors and officers. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, unless we otherwise consent in writing, a state court located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania or, if no state court located within such county has jurisdiction over such action or proceeding, the federal United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as the sole and exclusive forum for: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us; (b) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of duty owed to us or our shareholders by any director, officer, or other employee of ours; (c) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against us or against any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to, or involving any interpretation or enforcement of, any provision of the Pennsylvania Associations Code, Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, or our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws; and (d) any action or proceeding asserting a claim peculiar to the relationship between or among us and our officers, directors, and shareholders, or otherwise governed by or involving the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision does not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.
This exclusive forum provision may limit the ability of our shareholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such shareholders find favorable for disputes with us or our directors or officers, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors and officers. Alternatively, if a court outside of Pennsylvania were to find this exclusive forum provision inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings described above, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
The SERC Committee is responsible for reviewing the overall adequacy of, and providing oversight with respect to, the Company’s safety, environmental and regulatory compliance policies, programs, procedures, initiatives and training in light of applicable legal requirements and governmental and industry standards in the jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business. We also have several working groups responsible for collaborating on cybersecurity policies and standards. The Global Chief Information Officer and the Global Chief Information Security Officer report to the SERC Committee quarterly on the Company’s cybersecurity program, and to the Board of Directors, as necessary. In the event of a cybersecurity incident, our Global Chief Information Officer and Global Chief Information Security Officer, and others serving in similar capacities, will assess the incident and activate an incident response plan. These officers will escalate review of the incident to business unit leaders and/or members of our executive leadership team, as appropriate. We have a cybersecurity program to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity and continued availability of all information owned by, or in the care of, the Company. Our cybersecurity program has a formalized framework that is informed by domestic and international laws, regulations and industry best practices and frameworks, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework, to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our information and systems. Our Information Security Program serves as the foundation of our cybersecurity program and our Acceptable Use Policy also provides governance in this area. We partner with other companies, industries and law enforcement to communicate information about the latest cybersecurity threats and leverage threat modeling insights. We conduct cybersecurity assessments against industry cybersecurity frameworks to better enable us to prioritize actions and investments to enhance our cybersecurity capabilities. Our cybersecurity teams work diligently to safeguard Company and customer data by applying layered and defensive mechanisms to proactively provide the security needed to detect and defend against cyber-attacks and to withstand potential impacts. We periodically conduct tabletop exercises and penetration testing to test our defenses. In addition, we provide new hires and employees with cybersecurity training, which is monitored and tracked on an annual basis. We also issue routine phishing campaigns to educate employees on social engineering techniques and informal security awareness exercises are conducted throughout the year.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
With the exception of those matters set forth in Note 16 to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 of this Report, no material legal proceedings are pending involving the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any of their properties, and no such proceedings are known to be contemplated by governmental authorities other than claims arising in the ordinary course of business.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information regarding our executive officers is included in Part III of this Report and is incorporated in Part I by reference.
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PART II:
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information and Dividend Policy
Our Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “UGI.” On November 15, 2024, we had 6,167 holders of record of Common Stock.
Payment of dividends is subject to declaration by the Board of Directors. Factors considered in determining dividends include our profitability and expected capital needs. Subject to these qualifications, we presently expect to continue to pay dividends on a quarterly basis.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans can be found under Part III of this Report.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company did not repurchase any shares of its Common Stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 6.50 million shares of Common Stock available for repurchase through an extension of a previous share repurchase program announced by the Company on February 2, 2022. The Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 8 million shares of Common Stock over a four-year period expiring in February 2026.
Recent Sale of Unregistered Securities
The Company did not sell any unregistered securities during Fiscal 2024.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative five-year total shareholder return (stock price appreciation and the reinvestment of dividends) on an investment of $100 in UGI Common Stock, the S&P 500 Index, and the S&P 500 Utilities Index over the five years from September 30, 2019, through September 30, 2024. The stock performance shown on the graph below is based on historical data and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
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ITEM 6.RESERVED
Not applicable.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
MD&A discusses our results of operations for Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, and our financial condition. For discussion of our results of operations and cash flows for Fiscal 2023 compared with Fiscal 2022, refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Fiscal 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on November 28, 2023. MD&A should be read in conjunction with Items 1 and 2, “Business and Properties,” Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and the Consolidated Financial Statements, including “Segment Information” in Note 22 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Because most of our businesses sell or distribute energy products used in large part for heating purposes, our results are significantly influenced by temperatures in our service territories, particularly during the heating-season months of October through March. Accordingly, our results of operations, after adjusting for the effects of gains and losses on derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions as further discussed below, are significantly higher in our first and second fiscal quarters.
Recent Developments
Disposition of UGID
In September 2024, Energy Services completed the sale of all of its ownership interest in UGID, which owns and operates the Hunlock Creek Energy Center located in Wilkes-Barre, PA, a 169-megawatt natural gas-fueled electricity generating station, for net cash proceeds of $43 million. In connection with the sale, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $66 million in Fiscal 2024.
Impairment of Goodwill
During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2024, as part of its annual goodwill impairment assessment, the Company performed a quantitative assessment for its AmeriGas Propane reporting unit. In addition, during the third quarter of Fiscal 2023, the Company identified interim impairment indicators related to goodwill within the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit: (1) AmeriGas Partners issued $500 million of Senior Notes at an interest rate of 9.375%, which was significantly higher than the interest rates on the other AmeriGas Propane debt obligations; and (2) financial projections for the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit were reduced significantly compared to previous forecasts following declines in gross margins and customer retention and higher operating expenses. The Company concluded that these events constituted triggering events that indicate that the AmeriGas Propane goodwill may be impaired and, as such, performed an interim impairment test of its goodwill as of May 31, 2023.
Based on our evaluations in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, the estimated fair value of the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit was determined to be less than its carrying value. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash pre-tax goodwill impairment charge of $195 million and $656 million in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively, included in “Impairment of goodwill” on the Consolidated Statement of Income, to reduce the carrying value of AmeriGas Propane to its fair value. The Company calculated the deferred tax effect using the simultaneous equation method.
The performance of the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit and the potential for future developments in the global economic environment, including the prospect of higher interest rates, introduces a heightened risk for additional impairment in the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit. If there is continued deterioration in the results of operations, a portion or all of the remaining recorded goodwill for the AmeriGas Propane reporting unit, which was $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2024, could be subject to further impairment.
See Note 12 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
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UGI International Energy Marketing Transactions
As of the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, pursuant to its previously announced decision, the Company had exited substantially all of its European energy marketing business which primarily marketed natural gas and electricity to customers through third-party distribution systems in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
France. In October 2023, UGI International, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, sold substantially all of its energy marketing business located in France for a net cash payment to the buyer of $29 million. In conjunction with the sale, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $29 million in Fiscal 2024, which amount principally represents the net payment to the buyer. The carrying values of the assets and liabilities associated with this business, principally comprising certain commodity derivative instruments, energy certificates and certain working capital, were not material.
Belgium. In September 2023, UGI International, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, sold its energy marketing business located in Belgium for a net cash payment to the buyer of $3 million. Pursuant to the sale agreement, the Company transferred to the buyer certain assets, principally comprising customer and energy broker contracts. In conjunction with the sale, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $6 million in Fiscal 2023, which includes the net payment to the buyer, the write-off of certain prepaid energy broker payments and associated transaction costs and fees.
United Kingdom. In October 2022, UGI International, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, sold its natural gas marketing business located in the U.K. for a net cash payment to the buyer of $19 million. In conjunction with the sale, during the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $215 million substantially all of which was due to the non-cash transfer of commodity derivative instruments associated with the business.
Netherlands. In September 2023, a substantial number of DVEP’s customers agreed to modify their energy marketing contracts whereby the Company would continue to provide the delivery of electricity and natural gas at fixed prices through December 31, 2023, with the Company’s obligations to provide future services terminated effective January 1, 2024. As consideration for the early termination of such contracts, the Company agreed to make cash payments to the customers equal to the fair values of specific commodity derivative instruments associated with periods after December 31, 2023. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2024, the Company settled the commodity derivative instruments for a gain of $46 million, which represented the fair value of the specific commodity derivative instruments associated with periods after December 31, 2023 and reduced its revenues from these customers by $42 million, which represented the pro-rated performance obligation from October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
In conjunction with the wind-down of its European energy marketing business, in December 2023, DVEP completed a sale of a substantial portion of its power purchase agreements to a third party for a total consideration to the buyer of $5 million. In conjunction with the sale, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $5 million.
During the first quarter of Fiscal 2023, the Company recorded a $19 million pre-tax impairment charge to reduce the carrying values of certain assets associated with its energy marketing business in the Netherlands, comprising property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.
See Note 5 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
UGI management uses “adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation” and “adjusted diluted earnings per share,” both of which are non-GAAP financial measures, when evaluating UGI’s overall performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to investors about UGI’s performance because they eliminate gains and losses on commodity and certain foreign currency derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions and other significant discrete items that can affect the comparison of period-over-period results.
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UGI does not designate its commodity and certain foreign currency derivative instruments as hedges under GAAP. Volatility in net income attributable to UGI Corporation can occur as a result of gains and losses on such derivative instruments not associated with current-period transactions. These gains and losses result principally from recording changes in unrealized gains and losses on unsettled commodity and certain foreign currency derivative instruments and, to a much lesser extent, certain realized gains and losses on settled commodity derivative instruments that are not associated with current-period transactions. However, because these derivative instruments economically hedge anticipated future purchases or sales of energy commodities, or in the case of certain foreign currency derivatives, reduce volatility in anticipated future earnings associated with our foreign operations, we expect that such gains or losses will be largely offset by gains or losses on anticipated future energy commodity transactions or mitigate volatility in anticipated future earnings. Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the comparable GAAP measures.
The following tables reflect the adjustments referred to above and reconcile net income (loss) attributable to UGI Corporation, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation, and reconcile diluted earnings per share, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted diluted earnings per share:
Year Ended September 30,
(Millions of dollars, except per share amounts) 2024 2023
Adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation:
AmeriGas Propane (23) 71
Net income (loss) attributable to UGI Corporation 269 (1,502)
Loss on extinguishments of debt (net of tax of $(3) and $(2), respectively) 6 7
Business transformation expenses (net of tax of $0 and $(3), respectively) — 7
Restructuring costs (net of tax of $(20) and $0, respectively) 56 —
Loss on disposal of UGID (net of tax of $(11) and $0, respectively) 55 —
Adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation $ 658 $ 613
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Year Ended September 30,
Adjusted diluted earnings per share:
Midstream & Marketing 1.11 0.89
Corporate & Other (a) (2.07) (10.19)
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (c) 1.25 (7.16)
Unrealized losses on foreign currency derivative instruments 0.10 0.13
Loss associated with impairment of AmeriGas Propane goodwill 0.89 3.14
Loss on extinguishments of debt 0.03 0.03
Business transformation expenses — 0.03
AmeriGas operations enhancement for growth project 0.09 0.09
Restructuring costs 0.26 —
Net gain on sale of UGI headquarters building — (0.05)
Loss on disposal of UGID 0.26 —
Impairments of equity method investments and assets 0.14 —
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (c) $ 3.06 $ 2.84
(a)Corporate & Other includes certain adjustments made to our reporting segments in arriving at net income attributable to UGI Corporation. These adjustments have been excluded from the segment results to align with the measure used by our CODM in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. See Note 22 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these adjustments, as well as other items included within Corporate & Other.
(b)Income taxes associated with pre-tax adjustments determined using statutory business unit tax rates.
(c)The loss per share for Fiscal 2023, was determined excluding the effect of 6.13 million dilutive shares as the impact of such shares would have been antidilutive due to the net loss for the period, while the adjusted earnings per share for Fiscal 2023, was determined based upon fully diluted shares of 215.94 million.
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Executive Overview
Fiscal 2024 Compared with Fiscal 2023
Net income (loss) attributable to UGI Corporation was $269 million (equal to $1.25 per diluted share) and $(1,502) million (equal to $(7.16) per diluted share) in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively. These results include net gains (losses) from changes in unrealized commodity derivative instruments and certain foreign currency derivative instruments of $38 million and $(1,252) million in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively. The higher net gains from changes in these derivative instruments during Fiscal 2024, principally reflects significantly less volatility in commodity energy prices in Europe following unprecedented volatility in such prices during Fiscal 2023 and the effects of significantly lower energy marketing activities in Europe resulting from the exit of substantially all of UGI International’s energy marketing business.
Net income attributable to UGI Corporation in Fiscal 2024 also includes (1) a $192 million loss associated with impairment of AmeriGas Propane goodwill; (2) $69 million of costs associated with the exit of our UGI International energy marketing business in Europe, principally reflecting wind-down activities in the Netherlands and the loss on the sale of the energy marketing business located in France; (3) restructuring costs of $56 million largely attributable to a reduction in workforce and related costs, primarily at UGI International; (4) a $55 million loss on disposal of UGID; (5) $30 million of impairments associated with equity method investments and certain other assets at UGI International; (6) external advisory fees of $19 million associated with AmeriGas operations enhancement for growth project; and (7) loss on extinguishments of debt of $6 million, primarily at AmeriGas Propane.
Net loss attributable to UGI Corporation in Fiscal 2023 also includes (1) a $660 million loss associated with impairment of AmeriGas Propane goodwill; (2) $181 million of costs associated with the exit of our UGI International energy marketing business in Europe, principally reflecting loss on the sale of the energy marketing business located in the U.K. and Belgium and wind-down activities in the Netherlands; (3) external advisory fees of $18 million associated with AmeriGas operations enhancement for growth project; (4) a $10 million net gain on sale of UGI Corporation’s headquarters building; (5) loss on extinguishments of debt of $7 million at AmeriGas Propane; and (6) business transformation expenses of $7 million associated with corporate support functions.
Adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation was $658 million (equal to $3.06 per diluted share) and $613 million (equal to $2.84 per diluted share) in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively. The increase in adjusted net income attributable to UGI Corporation during Fiscal 2024 reflects higher earnings contributions primarily from our UGI International and Midstream & Marketing segments and, to a lesser extent, our Utilities segment. Such increase was partially offset by lower earnings contributions from our AmeriGas Propane segment. In Fiscal 2024, temperatures in all of our business segments were warmer than the prior year.
Utilities adjusted net income increased $18 million in Fiscal 2024 compared to the prior year. The increase was largely attributable to higher total margin due in large part to increases in base rates at PA Gas Utility, Mountaineer and Electric Utility during Fiscal 2024, increases in DSIC revenues and impacts from customer growth.
Midstream & Marketing adjusted net income increased $45 million in Fiscal 2024 compared to the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to higher total margin from capacity management activities and lower income taxes reflecting higher investment tax credits in Fiscal 2024.
UGI International’s adjusted net income increased $90 million in Fiscal 2024 compared to the prior year. The increase is mainly attributable to (1) higher margin contributions from our LPG business, principally reflecting the benefit from higher average unit margins attributable to strong margin management efforts; (2) lower operating and administrative expenses; and (3) lower income taxes primarily due to higher income tax benefits associated with interest deduction carryforwards.
AmeriGas Propane’s adjusted net (loss) income was $(23) million and $71 million in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively, principally reflecting lower total margin, primarily attributable to lower retail propane volumes sold, partially offset by lower operating and administrative expenses in Fiscal 2024.
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Analysis of Segment Results
The following analysis compares results of operations by our reportable segments for Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023:
(Dollars in millions)
Operating and administrative expenses (a) $ 363 $ 368 $ (5) (1) %
Earnings before interest expense and income taxes $ 400 $ 365 $ 35 10 %
Gas Utility system throughput – bcf
Electric Utility distribution sales - gwh 980 959 21 2 %
Gas Utility degree days – % (warmer) than normal (b) (16.0) % (11.7) % — —
(a)Total margin represents total revenues less total cost of sales and revenue-related taxes (i.e. gross receipts and business and occupation taxes) of $24 million each during Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023. For financial statement purposes, revenue-related taxes are included in “Operating and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statements of Income (but are excluded from operating expenses presented above).
(b)Deviation from average heating degree days is determined on a 10-year period utilizing volume-weighted weather data based on weather statistics provided by NOAA for airports located within Gas Utility service territories.
Temperatures in Gas Utility’s service territories during Fiscal 2024 were 16.0% warmer than normal and 4.5% warmer than the prior year. The decrease in Gas Utility core market volumes during Fiscal 2024 is largely related to the warmer weather, partially offset by growth in the core market customers. Notwithstanding the decrease in core market volume, total Gas Utility volume slightly increased during Fiscal 2024, primarily reflecting higher large firm delivery service volumes. The increase in Electric Utility distribution sales volumes during Fiscal 2024 is primarily attributable to customer growth.
Revenues decreased $256 million in Fiscal 2024 reflecting a $260 million decrease in Gas Utility revenues, partially offset by a $4 million increase in Electric Utility revenues. The decrease in Gas Utility revenues was largely attributable to lower PGC and PGA rates reflecting lower natural gas costs and, to a lesser extent, the lower core market volumes and lower off-system sales. These decreases were partially offset by the effects of increases in base rates for PA Gas Utility (effective October 1, 2023) and Mountaineer (effective January 1, 2024), increases in DSIC revenues and the effects of the weather normalization adjustments for PA Gas Utility (effective November 1, 2022). Electric Utility revenues slightly increased during Fiscal 2024, largely reflecting higher base rates and sales volumes, partially offset by lower DS rates.
Cost of sales was $674 million in Fiscal 2024 compared with $977 million in Fiscal 2023. The decrease of $303 million is primarily attributable to Gas Utility ($295 million) mainly reflecting lower PGC and PGA rates, the lower core market volumes and, to a lesser extent, lower cost of sales associated with off-system sales. Electric Utility cost of sales decreased $8 million in Fiscal 2024, largely reflecting the lower DS rates, partially offset by higher sales volumes.
Total margin increased $47 million during Fiscal 2024, primarily attributable to higher Gas Utility total margin ($35 million), notwithstanding the warmer weather, mainly reflecting the effects of increases in base rates for PA Gas Utility (effective October 1, 2023) and Mountaineer (effective January 1, 2024), the increases in DSIC revenues, the impacts from growth in the core market customers and the effects of the weather normalization adjustments for PA Gas Utility (effective November 1, 2022) . Electric Utility margin increased $12 million during Fiscal 2024, mainly reflecting the increase in base rates effective October 1, 2023 and the higher sales volumes.
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Operating income and earnings before interest expense and income taxes increased $37 million and $35 million, respectively, during Fiscal 2024. These increases largely reflect the previously mentioned increase in total margin ($47 million) and, to a lesser extent, lower operating and administrative expenses ($5 million), partially offset by higher depreciation expense ($14 million). The lower operating and administrative expenses primarily reflects lower uncollectible accounts expenses. The higher depreciation expense compared to the prior year reflects the effects of continued distribution system capital expenditure activity.
Midstream & Marketing 2024 2023 Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in millions)
Operating and administrative expenses $ 125 $ 133 $ (8) (6) %
Earnings before interest expense and income taxes $ 313 $ 291 $ 22 8 %
(a)Total margin represents total revenues less total cost of sales.
Average temperatures across Midstream & Marketing’s energy marketing territory during Fiscal 2024 were 13.3% warmer than normal and 4.9% warmer than the prior year.
Revenues decreased $478 million during Fiscal 2024, primarily reflecting lower revenues from natural gas marketing activities ($453 million) that were principally impacted by lower natural gas prices and lower volumes resulting from the warmer weather, partially offset by higher capacity management activities. The decrease also reflects, to a much lesser extent, lower revenues from renewable energy ($22 million).
Cost of sales decreased $496 million during Fiscal 2024, primarily reflecting lower natural gas costs ($488 million) related to the previously mentioned natural gas marketing activities and, to a much lesser extent, lower cost of sales related to renewable energy ($14 million).
Midstream & Marketing total margin increased $18 million in Fiscal 2024, primarily reflecting higher margins from capacity management activities ($31 million), partially offset by lower total margin from renewable energy ($8 million) and lower natural gas gathering and processing activities ($7 million).
Operating income and earnings before interest expense and income taxes during Fiscal 2024 increased $16 million and $22 million, respectively. The increase in operating income is largely attributable to the higher total margin ($18 million) and lower operating and administrative expenses ($8 million), partially offset by lower other operating income ($10 million). The lower operating and administrative expenses during Fiscal 2024 primarily reflects lower salary and benefits expenses and maintenance expenses. The increase in earnings before interest expense and income taxes principally reflects the higher operating income ($16 million) and, to a lesser extent, higher income from equity investees ($5 million).
UGI International 2024 2023 Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in millions)
Operating and administrative expenses $ 578 $ 623 $ (45) (7) %
Earnings before interest expense and income taxes $ 323 $ 234 $ 89 38 %
LPG retail gallons sold (millions) 725 729 (4) (1) %
Degree days - % (warmer) than normal (b) (11.8) % (10.5) % — —
(a)Total margin represents total revenues less total cost of sales.
(b)Deviation from average heating degree days is determined on a rolling 10-year period utilizing volume-weighted weather data at locations in our UGI International service territories.
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Average temperatures during Fiscal 2024 were 11.8% warmer than normal and 2.2% warmer than Fiscal 2023. Notwithstanding the warmer weather, total LPG retail gallons sold during Fiscal 2024 was comparable to Fiscal 2023 as the impacts from warmer weather and lower cylinder volumes were substantially offset by growth from natural gas conversions to LPG and higher auto gas volumes sold.
UGI International base-currency results are translated into U.S. dollars based upon exchange rates experienced during the reporting periods. The functional currency of a significant portion of our UGI International results is the euro and, to a much lesser extent, the British pound sterling. During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, the average unweighted euro-to-dollar translation rates were approximately $1.08 and $1.07, respectively, and the average unweighted British pound sterling-to-dollar translation rates were approximately $1.27 and $1.23, respectively. Fluctuations in these foreign currency exchange rates can have a significant impact on the individual financial statement components discussed below. The Company uses forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into over multi-year periods to reduce the volatility in earnings that may result from such changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These forward foreign currency exchange contracts resulted in realized net gains of $11 million and $15 million in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, respectively.
Average wholesale prices for propane and butane during Fiscal 2024 in northwest Europe were approximately 2% and 5% lower, respectively, compared to Fiscal 2023. Revenues and cost of sales decreased $686 million and $744 million, respectively, in Fiscal 2024. The decrease in revenues and cost of sales principally reflects significantly lower energy marketing activities during Fiscal 2024 resulting from the exit of substantially all of UGI International’s energy marketing business in Belgium, France and the Netherlands in Fiscal 2024. The decrease in revenues from the energy marketing activities was partially offset by the translation effects of the stronger foreign currencies (approximately $52 million) and LPG price increases across Europe. The decrease in cost of sales was also attributable to lower LPG product costs, partially offset by the translation effects of the stronger foreign currencies (approximately $32 million).
Total margin increased $58 million during Fiscal 2024 primarily reflecting higher margin contributions primarily from our LPG business, the translation effects of the stronger foreign currencies (approximately $20 million) and, to a much lesser extent, higher margin contributions from our energy marketing activities. The higher margin from our LPG business reflects the effects of higher average unit margins attributable to strong margin management efforts, partially offset by the impacts from the lower LPG volumes sold. The slightly higher margin from our energy marketing activities primarily reflects the impact of the aforementioned exit of substantially all of UGI International’s energy marketing business.
Operating income and earnings before interest expense and income taxes increased $96 million and $89 million, respectively, during Fiscal 2024. The increase in operating income principally reflects the increase in total margin ($58 million) and lower operating and administrative expenses ($45 million), partially offset by lower other operating income ($6 million). The lower operating and administrative expenses during Fiscal 2024 primarily reflects (1) the impact of the aforementioned exit of substantially all of UGI International’s energy marketing business and (2) lower personnel-related costs and lower maintenance and advertising expenses in our LPG business, partially offset by the effects of inflationary increases and the translation effects of the stronger foreign currencies (approximately $12 million). The increase in earnings before interest expense and income taxes in Fiscal 2024 largely reflects the increase in operating income ($96 million), partially offset by lower realized gains on foreign currency exchange contracts ($4 million) entered into in order to reduce volatility in UGI International earnings resulting from the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
AmeriGas Propane 2024 2023 Increase (Decrease)
(Dollars in millions)
Operating and administrative expenses $ 933 $ 950 $ (17) (2) %
Degree days – % (warmer) colder than normal (b) (8.0) % 0.5 % — —
(a)Total margin represents revenues less cost of sales.
(b)Deviation from average heating degree days is determined on a rolling 10-year period utilizing volume-weighted weather data based on weather statistics provided by NOAA for 344 regions in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
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Average temperatures during Fiscal 2024 were 8.0% warmer than normal and 8.0% warmer than the prior year. Total retail gallons sold decreased 10% during Fiscal 2024 primarily due to continuing customer attrition and the effects of the warmer weather.
Average daily wholesale propane commodity prices during Fiscal 2024 at Mont Belvieu, Texas, one of the major supply points in the U.S., were comparable to such prices during Fiscal 2023. Total revenues decreased $310 million during Fiscal 2024 largely reflecting the lower retail volumes sold ($228 million), the effects of lower average retail propane selling prices ($39 million) and lower wholesale revenues ($28 million).
Total cost of sales decreased $191 million during Fiscal 2024 largely reflecting the lower retail propane volumes sold ($109 million), the lower retail propane product costs ($37 million) and lower wholesale cost of sales ($26 million).
Total margin decreased $119 million in Fiscal 2024, substantially all of which was attributable to the lower retail propane volumes sold.
Operating income and earnings before interest expense and income taxes decreased $126 million in Fiscal 2024 primarily reflecting the decrease in total margin ($119 million) and lower other operating income ($23 million), mainly resulting from lower gains on sales of fixed assets during Fiscal 2024. These decreases were partially offset by lower operating and administrative expenses ($17 million), reflecting, among other things, lower compensation and advertising expenses, partially offset by higher general insurance costs and higher vehicle expenses.
Interest Expense and Income Taxes
Our consolidated interest expense during Fiscal 2024 was $394 million compared to $379 million during the prior year. The increase in interest expense is largely attributable to higher average long-term debt outstanding principally at Utilities and UGI Corporation, partially offset by lower average borrowings under our credit agreements and lower average long-term debt outstanding at AmeriGas Propane.
Our effective income tax rate decreased in Fiscal 2024 compared to Fiscal 2023, primarily due to (1) the release of a valuation allowance related to a notional interest deduction at our UGI International segment that exceeded the release of a valuation allowance in the prior year related to foreign tax credits; (2) higher investment tax credits available in Fiscal 2024 due to a larger level of project completions compared to the prior year; and (3) lower state income taxes in accordance with the lower statutory rate in Pennsylvania. These decreases were partially offset by the effect of establishing a full valuation allowance against current year losses in the Netherlands.
For additional information on our income taxes, including tax law changes, see Note 7 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Financial Condition and Liquidity
The Company expects to have sufficient liquidity including cash on hand and available borrowing capacity, to continue to support long-term commitments and ongoing operations. Our total available liquidity balance, comprising cash and cash equivalents and available borrowing capacity on our revolving credit facilities, totaled approximately $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In October 2024, the Company used the proceeds from the borrowings under the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement to repay $630 million of long-term debt outstanding under the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement which was scheduled to mature in August 2025 (see “Subsequent Event” below for further discussion). As a result, borrowings outstanding under the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement totaling $630 million at September 30, 2024 have been classified as long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2024, except for $218 million outstanding principal balance of AmeriGas Partners 5.50% Senior Notes maturing in May 2025, the Company does not have any senior notes or term loans maturing in the next twelve months. UGI and its subsidiaries were in compliance with all of its debt covenants as of September 30, 2024.
We depend on both internal and external sources of liquidity to provide funds for working capital and to fund capital requirements. Our short-term cash requirements not met by cash from operations are generally satisfied with borrowings under credit facilities and, in the case of Midstream & Marketing, also from a Receivables Facility. Long-term cash requirements are generally met through the issuance of long-term debt or equity securities. We believe that each of our business units has sufficient liquidity in the forms of cash and cash equivalents on hand; cash expected to be generated from operations; credit facility and Receivables Facility borrowing capacity; and the ability to obtain long-term financing to meet anticipated contractual and projected cash commitments. Issuances of debt and equity securities in the capital markets and additional credit facilities may not, however, be available to us on acceptable terms.
The primary sources of UGI’s cash and cash equivalents are the dividends and other cash payments made to UGI or its corporate subsidiaries by its principal business units. Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $213 million and $241 million at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Excluding cash and cash equivalents that reside at UGI’s operating subsidiaries, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $72 million and $51 million at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Such cash is available to pay dividends on UGI Common Stock and for investment purposes.
During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, our principal business units paid cash dividends and made other cash payments to UGI and its subsidiaries as follows:
Midstream & Marketing 75 215
Common and Preferred Stock
Equity Units
Pursuant to the terms of the Equity Units issued in Fiscal 2021, in May 2024, the Company announced the unsuccessful final remarketing of its Convertible Preferred Stock. As a result, each holder of an Equity Unit received 2.2973 shares of UGI common stock, without par value, with cash paid in lieu of any fractional shares. During the third quarter of Fiscal 2024, the Company (i) made the final contract adjustment payment to settle the 2024 Purchase Contract in full; (ii) canceled the Convertible Preferred Stock; and (iii) in a non-cash transaction, converted the Equity Units into 5,054,030 shares of UGI Common Stock and issued the shares to the holders of the Equity Units under the 2024 Purchase Contract.
See Note 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
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Dividends
Quarterly dividends per share of UGI Common Stock paid during Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023 were as follows:
On November 20, 2024, UGI’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend equal to $0.375 per common share. The dividend will be payable on January 1, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 16, 2024.
Repurchases of Common Stock
During Fiscal 2024 there were no repurchases of UGI Common Stock. During Fiscal 2023, the Company repurchased 600,000 shares of its Common Stock at a total purchase price of $22 million. For additional information on the authorization of these repurchases, see Note 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
The Company’s debt outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, comprised the following:
Long-term debt (including current maturities):
Unamortized debt issuance costs (7) (13) (6) (10) (19) (55) (47)
Significant Financing Activities
The following significant financing activities occurred during Fiscal 2024. See Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these transactions.
Utilities
Mountaineer 2023 Credit Agreement. In April 2024, Mountaineer entered into the fourth amendment to the Mountaineer 2023 Credit Agreement, which extends the maturity date of the agreement from November 2024 to December 2025.
UGI Utilities Senior Notes. In November 2023, UGI Utilities entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with a consortium of lenders. Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, UGI Utilities issued (1) $25 million aggregate principal amount of 6.02% Senior Notes due November 30, 2030; (2) $150 million aggregate principal amount of 6.10% Senior Notes due November 30, 2033; and (3) $75 million aggregate principal amount of 6.40% Senior Notes due November 30, 2053. The net proceeds from these issuances were used to reduce short-term borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
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UGI Utilities 2023 Credit Agreement. In November 2023, UGI Utilities entered into the UGI Utilities 2023 Credit Agreement providing for borrowings up to $375 million (including a $50 million sublimit for letters of credit and a $38 million sublimit for swingline loans). UGI Utilities may request an increase in the amount of loan commitments under the credit agreement to a maximum aggregate amount of $125 million. The credit agreement is scheduled to expire November 2028. Borrowings under the credit agreement may be used to refinance UGI Utilities existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes and ongoing working capital needs of UGI Utilities.
Midstream & Marketing
Energy Services Term Loan Credit Agreement. In June 2024, Energy Services entered into the second amendment to the Energy Services Term Loan Credit Agreement. The Energy Services Term Loan Credit Agreement was amended primarily to amend the applicable margins on borrowings to 2.50% per annum for Term SOFR loans and 1.50% per annum for base rate loans.
Energy Services Credit Agreement.In May 2024, Energy Services entered into the fourth amendment to the Energy Services Credit Agreement. The amended credit agreement provides for borrowings up to $300 million, including a $50 million sublimit for letters of credit. Borrowings under the credit agreement can be used for general corporate purposes and ongoing working capital needs of Energy Services and is scheduled to expire in May 2028.
UGI International
UGI International 2023 Credit Agreement. In June 2024, UGI International, LLC and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, UGI International Holdings B.V., entered into the first amendment to the UGI International 2023 Credit Agreement, which provides for the establishment and incorporation of specific key performance indicators with respect to Environmental, Social and Governance targets, whereby based on UGI International, LLC’s performance against the key performance indicators, certain adjustments of up to 0.05% in total to the applicable margin may be made.
AmeriGas Propane
AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility. In August 2024, AmeriGas OLP entered into the AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility maturing August 2029, providing for commitments up to $200 million (including a $20 million sublimit for letters of credit), subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement. Borrowings under this credit facility were used to pay off borrowings under the 2022 AmeriGas OLP Credit Agreement and are available for general corporate purposes and ongoing working capital needs of AmeriGas OLP. Borrowings under this credit agreement are secured by certain assets of AmeriGas OLP, including, but not limited to, accounts receivables and inventory, and are guaranteed by any material subsidiaries of AmeriGas OLP. In addition, this credit facility requires AmeriGas OLP to abide by certain financial covenants from time to time including a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a senior notes liquidity covenant, each as defined in the agreement. Concurrently with entering into AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, AmeriGas OLP terminated the 2022 AmeriGas OLP Credit Agreement.
AmeriGas Partners Senior Notes. In June 2024, pursuant to an early tender offer, AmeriGas Partners and AmeriGas Finance Corp, repurchased $475 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.50% Senior Notes due May 2025. Cash on hand, a $315 million cash contribution from the Company and other sources of liquidity were used for the repurchase. Following the repurchase, $218 million aggregate principal amount of the 5.50% Senior Notes remain outstanding at September 30, 2024.
In March 2024, AmeriGas Partners and AmeriGas Finance Corp entered into separate, privately negotiated repurchase agreements with a limited number of holders of the outstanding senior notes and repurchased $38 million aggregate principal amount of the senior notes.
UGI Corporation
UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement. In April 2024, UGI entered into the fourth amendment to the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement which, among other things, extended the maturity date of substantially all of the borrowings under the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement to August 29, 2025. Amounts outstanding under the amended agreement were repaid early in October 2025 with proceeds from the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement and the agreement was terminated.
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UGI Corporation Senior Notes. In June 2024, UGI issued, in an underwritten private placement, an aggregate $700 million principal amount of 5.00% UGI Corporation Senior Notes due June 2028. The UGI Corporation Senior Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equal in right of payment with our existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness. The net proceeds from the issuance of the UGI Corporation Senior Notes of approximately $682 million, after underwriters fees and other debt issuance costs, were used (1) to repay a portion of borrowings under the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement; (2) to make a cash contribution of $315 million to the Partnership to repay a portion of its 5.50% Senior Notes as described above; and (3) for general corporate purposes.
The UGI Corporation Senior Notes are convertible subject to the occurrence of certain events and circumstances. Before March 1, 2028, noteholders will have the right to convert their notes only upon the occurrence of certain events. From and after March 1, 2028, holders of the UGI Corporation Senior Notes may convert their notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. As of September 30, 2024, none of the events permitting the noteholders to convert their notes early occurred. Accordingly, the UGI Corporation Senior Notes are classified as “Long-term debt” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2024.
Upon conversion, the Company will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the UGI Corporation Senior notes. For the remainder of the amount in excess of the aggregate principal amount, if applicable, the Company will have the sole right to elect the settlement method upon conversion which can be either entirely in cash or in a combination of cash and shares of its common stock. The default settlement method as defined in the agreement is combination settlement with a specified dollar amount of $1,000 per $1,000 principal of the UGI Corporation Senior Notes, and any incremental value settled in shares of the Company’s common stock. The initial conversion rate is 36.2319 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the UGI Corporation Senior Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $27.60 per share of the Company’s common stock. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to customary adjustments upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, if certain corporate events that constitute a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture) occur, then the conversion rate will, in certain circumstances, be increased for a specified period of time.
The Company may not redeem the UGI Corporation Senior Notes at its option before maturity.
Subsequent Events
UGI Utilities Senior Notes. In November 2024, UGI Utilities entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with a consortium of lenders. Pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, UGI Utilities issued $50 million aggregate principal amount of 5.24% Senior Notes due November 30, 2029, and $125 million aggregate principal amount of 5.52% Senior Notes due November 30, 2034. The Note Purchase Agreement contains customary covenants and default provisions and requires compliance with certain financial covenants including a leverage ratio and priority debt ratio as defined in the agreement. These senior notes are unsecured and rank equally with UGI Utilities’ existing outstanding senior debt. The net proceeds from these issuances were used to reduce short-term borrowings and for general corporate purposes.
AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility. In October 2024, AmeriGas OLP amended the AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility to increase total commitments to a total of $300 million.
UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement. In October 2024, UGI entered into the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement, providing a $475 million revolving credit facility, including a $10 million sublimit for letters of credit, and a $400 million term loan facility. Borrowings under the credit agreement can be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing a portion of the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement and ongoing working capital needs of the Company. The revolving credit facility is scheduled to expire in October 2028, and the term loan facility is scheduled to mature in October 2027. In connection with entering into the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement, the Company paid off in full and terminated the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement.
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Credit Facilities
Information about the Company’s principal credit agreements (excluding Energy Services’ Receivables Facility, which is discussed below) as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, is presented in the tables below.
(a)In October 2024, AmeriGas OLP entered into the first amendment to the AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Facility which increased the total commitments to $300 million. The maximum amount available for borrowing at any time under the AmeriGas Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility is limited to the borrowing base valuation, as defined by the agreement.
(b)Permits UGI International, LLC or UGI International Holdings B.V. to borrow in euros or USD.
(c)This facility was paid in full and terminated in October 2024, concurrent with entering into the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement in October 2024. See “Subsequent Events” above and Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. At September 30, 2024, Borrowings outstanding under this facility have been classified as “Long-term debt” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The average daily and peak short-term borrowings under the Company’s principal credit agreements are as follows:
(Currency in millions) Average Peak Average Peak
Receivables Facility. Energy Services has a Receivables Facility with an issuer of receivables-backed commercial paper. On October 18, 2024, the expiration date of the Receivables Facility was extended to October 17, 2025. The Receivables Facility provides Energy Services with the ability to borrow up to $150 million of eligible receivables during the period October 18, 2024 to April 30, 2025, and up to $75 million of eligible receivables during the period May 1, 2025 to October 17, 2025, with the option to request an increase of $50 million. The interest rate of the Receivables Facility was replaced with a term SOFR based interest rate effective with the extension on October 18, 2024. Energy Services uses the Receivables Facility to fund working capital, margin calls under commodity futures contracts, capital expenditures, dividends and for general corporate purposes.
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Under the Receivables Facility, Energy Services transfers, on an ongoing basis and without recourse, its trade accounts receivable to its wholly owned, special purpose subsidiary, ESFC, which is consolidated for financial statement purposes. ESFC, in turn, has sold and, subject to certain conditions, may from time to time sell, an undivided interest in some or all of the receivables to a major bank. Amounts sold to the bank are reflected as “Short-term borrowings” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. ESFC was created and has been structured to isolate its assets from creditors of Energy Services and its affiliates, including UGI. Trade receivables sold to the bank remain on the Company’s balance sheet and the Company reflects a liability equal to the amount advanced by the bank. The Company records interest expense on amounts owed to the bank. Energy Services continues to service, administer and collect trade receivables on behalf of the bank, as applicable.
At September 30, 2024, the outstanding balance of trade receivables was $51 million, none of which were sold to the bank. At September 30, 2023, the outstanding balance of trade receivables was $62 million, $46 million of which was sold to the bank. Amounts sold to the bank are reflected as “Short-term borrowings” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, peak sales of receivables were $97 million and $150 million, respectively. During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, average daily amounts sold were $22 million and $46 million, respectively.
For further information on the Company’s long-term debt, credit facilities and the Receivables Facility, see Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cash Flows
Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s businesses, cash flows from operating activities are generally strongest during the second and third fiscal quarters when customers pay for natural gas, LPG, electricity and other energy products and services consumed during the peak heating season months. Conversely, operating cash flows are generally at their lowest levels during the fourth and first fiscal quarters when the Company’s investment in working capital, principally inventories and accounts receivable, is generally greatest.
Operating Activities:
Year-to-year variations in our cash flows from operating activities can be significantly affected by changes in operating working capital, especially during periods with significant changes in energy commodity prices. Cash flows from operating activities in Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023 were $1,182 million and $1,107 million, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities before the effects of changes in operating working capital were $1,215 million in Fiscal 2024 and $1,258 million in Fiscal 2023. Changes in operating working capital and collateral deposits used operating cash flow of $33 million in Fiscal 2024 compared to $151 million of cash flow used in Fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2023 includes $420 million of derivative instrument collateral deposit net payments, principally at our UGI International and Midstream & Marketing segments, compared to only $9 million of such net payments in Fiscal 2024. The unusually high prior-year collateral deposit net payments were the result of significant declines in commodity energy prices that occurred during Fiscal 2023. The decrease in cash flow required to fund changes in operating working capital in Fiscal 2024 also reflects lower cash from changes in inventories and accounts receivable which were offset in large part by lower cash required to fund changes in accounts payable. The higher cash from changes in these operating working capital accounts in the prior year also reflect significantly less volatility in commodity energy prices in Europe following unprecedented volatility in such prices during Fiscal 2023 and the effects of significantly lower energy marketing activities in Europe resulting from the exit of substantially all of UGI International’s energy marketing business. Changes in operating working capital in Fiscal 2024 also reflects lower cash from income taxes and utility deferred fuel recoveries.
Investing Activities:
Investing activity cash flow is principally affected by cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment; cash paid for acquisitions of businesses and assets; investments in equity method investees; and cash proceeds from sales and retirements of property, plant and equipment. Cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment totaled $796 million in Fiscal 2024 and $974 million in Fiscal 2023. The decrease in cash payments for property, plant and equipment in Fiscal 2024 compared with Fiscal 2023 principally reflects lower cash capital expenditures at our Utilities segment and, to a lesser extent, at UGI International and AmeriGas Propane.Cash used for investments in equity method investees was $92 million in Fiscal 2024 principally comprising continuing investments in renewable energy projects principally at Midstream & Marketing. Net proceeds from the disposal of businesses and assets in Fiscal 2024 includes, among other things, proceeds from the sale of UGID.
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Financing Activities:
Changes in cash flow from financing activities are primarily due to issuances and repayments of long-term debt; net short-term borrowings; dividends on UGI Common Stock; quarterly payments on outstanding Purchase Contracts; and issuances and repurchases of equity instruments.
Cash flow used by financing activities was $506 million in Fiscal 2024 compared to cash flow used by financing activities of $168 million in Fiscal 2023. Cash flow from financing activities in Fiscal 2024 includes, among other things, the June 2024 issuance by UGI Corporation of the previously mentioned $700 million of the UGI Corporation 5.00% Senior Notes and UGI Utilities issuance of $250 million principal amount of senior notes. Proceeds from the UGI Corporation 5.00% Senior Notes were used to reduce amounts outstanding under UGI Corporation’s revolving credit facility, to repay its outstanding variable-rate amortizing term loan, and to fund a capital contribution to the Partnership in the amount of $315 million which, along with other sources of liquidity, the Partnership used to repurchase $475 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.50% Senior Notes. Fiscal 2023 cash flow from financing activities includes, among other things, the cash flow effects from (1) the UGI International 2023 CreditAgreement and the concurrent repayment of borrowings under the UGI International Credit Agreement (a predecessor agreement); (2) cash proceeds from the Energy Services Amended Term Loan Agreement and the concurrent repayment of amounts outstanding under the Energy Services variable-rate term loan; and (3) the May 2023 issuance of $500 million principal amount of AmeriGas Partners 9.375% Senior Notes and the repayment of $675 million aggregate principal balance of AmeriGas Partners 5.625% Senior Notes.
Capital Expenditures
In the following table, we present capital expenditures (which exclude acquisitions of businesses and assets) for Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023. We also provide amounts we expect to spend on capital expenditures in Fiscal 2025. We expect to finance a substantial portion of our Fiscal 2025 capital expenditures from cash generated by operations and cash on hand.
The decrease in capital expenditures in Fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by a targeted reduction in capital spend as UGI prioritizes its efforts to maintain cost and capital discipline to create greater financial flexibility and capacity within the balance sheet.
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Contractual Cash Obligations and Commitments
The Company has contractual cash obligations that extend beyond Fiscal 2024. The following table presents contractual cash obligations with non-affiliates under agreements existing as of September 30, 2024:
Payments Due by Period
Short-term borrowings (a) $ 465 $ 465 $ — $ — $ —
AmeriGas Propane supply contracts 7 7 — — —
UGI International supply contracts 408 408 — — —
Derivative instruments (d) 37 17 20 — —
(a)Based upon stated maturity dates for debt outstanding at September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, borrowings outstanding under the UGI Corporation Credit Facility Agreement totaling $630 million have been classified as “Long-term debt” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet based on the Company’s intent and ability to refinance the obligation with long-term debt issued under the UGI Corporation 2025 Credit Agreement.
(b)Based upon stated interest rates adjusted for the effects of interest rate swaps.
(c)Calculated using applicable interest rates or forward interest rate curves, and UGI’s and its subsidiaries’ leverage ratios, as of September 30, 2024.
(d)Represents the sum of amounts due if derivative instrument liabilities were settled at the September 30, 2024 amounts reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (but excluding amounts associated with interest rate contracts).
“Other noncurrent liabilities” included in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2024, principally comprise operating lease liabilities; regulatory liabilities; refundable tank and cylinder deposits; litigation, property and casualty liabilities and obligations under environmental remediation agreements; pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities recorded in accordance with accounting guidance relating to employee retirement plans; and liabilities associated with executive compensation plans. These liabilities, with the exception of operating lease liabilities, are not included in the table of Contractual Cash Obligations and Commitments because they are estimates of future payments and not contractually fixed as to timing or amount. The minimum required contributions to the U.S. Pension Plans (as further described below under “U.S. Pension Plans”) in Fiscal 2025 are not expected to be material. The minimum required contributions to the U.S. Pension Plans in years beyond Fiscal 2025 will depend, in large part, on the impacts of future returns on pension plan assets and interest rates on pension plan liabilities.
U.S. Pension Plans
The U.S. Pension Plans consist of (1) a defined benefit pension plan for employees hired prior to January 1, 2009, of UGI, UGI Utilities, and certain of UGI’s other domestic wholly owned subsidiaries, and (2) a defined benefit pension plan for Mountaineer employees hired prior to January 1, 2023. The fair values of the U.S. Pension Plans’ assets totaled $635 million and $539 million at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. At September 30, 2024 and 2023, the underfunded positions of the U.S. Pension Plans, defined as the excess of the PBO over the U.S. Pension Plans’ assets, were $38 million and $55 million, respectively.
We believe we are in compliance with regulations governing defined benefit pension plans, including the ERISA rules and regulations. The minimum required contributions to the U.S. Pension Plans in Fiscal 2025 are not expected to be material.
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GAAP guidance associated with pension and other postretirement plans generally requires recognition of an asset or liability in the statement of financial position reflecting the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans with current year changes recognized in shareholders’ equity unless such amounts are subject to regulatory recovery. At September 30, 2024, we have recorded pre-tax charges to UGI Corporation’s stockholders’ equity of $3 million and recorded regulatory assets totaling $106 million in order to reflect the funded status of the U.S. Pension Plans. For a more detailed discussion of the U.S. Pension Plans and our other postretirement benefit plans, see Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Related Party Transactions
During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023, we did not enter into any related-party transactions that had a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
UGI primarily enters into guarantee arrangements on behalf of its consolidated subsidiaries. These arrangements are not subject to the recognition and measurement guidance relating to guarantees under GAAP.
We do not have any off-balance-sheet arrangements that are expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, change in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Utility Regulatory Matters
UGI Utilities. On January 27, 2023, Electric Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its annual base distribution revenues by $11 million. On September 21, 2023, the PAPUC issued a final order approving a settlement providing for a $9 million annual base distribution rate increase for Electric Utility, effective October 1, 2023.
On January 28, 2022, PA Gas Utility filed a request with the PAPUC to increase its base operating revenues for residential, commercial and industrial customers by $83 million annually. On September 15, 2022, the PAPUC issued a final order approving a settlement providing for a $49 million annual base distribution rate increase for PA Gas Utility, through a phased approach, with $38 million beginning October 29, 2022 and an additional $11 million beginning October 1, 2023. In accordance with the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility was not permitted to file a rate case prior to January 1, 2024. Also in accordance with the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility was authorized to implement a weather normalization adjustment rider as a five-year pilot program beginning on November 1, 2022. Under this rider, when weather deviates from normal by more than 3%, residential and small commercial customer billings for distribution services are adjusted monthly for weather related impacts exceeding the 3% threshold. Additionally, under the terms of the final order, PA Gas Utility was authorized to implement a DSIC once its total property, plant and equipment less accumulated depreciation reached $3,368 million (which threshold was achieved in September 2022).
Mountaineer. On July 31, 2024, Mountaineer submitted its 2024 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of $19 million, which includes $3 million of prior year under-recovery, for costs associated with capital investments after December 31, 2022, that total $197 million, including $74 million in calendar year 2025. The filing included capital investments totaling $418 million over the 2025 - 2029 period. On October 28, 2024, the WVPSC issued an order approving Mountaineer’s request.
On July 31, 2023, Mountaineer submitted its 2023 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of $10 million, an increase of $6 million, for costs associated with capital investments after December 31, 2022, that total $131 million, including $67 million in calendar year 2024. With new base rates expected to be effective January 1, 2024, revenues from IREP rates would decrease by $12 million. The filing included capital investments totaling $383 million over the 2024 - 2028 period. On December 20, 2023, the WVPSC issued a final order approving a settlement effective January 1, 2024.
On March 6, 2023, Mountaineer submitted a base rate case filing with the WVPSC seeking a net revenue increase of $20 million, which consisted of an increase in base rates of $38 million and a decrease in the IREP rates of $18 million annually to be effective on April 5, 2023. On March 31, 2023, the WVPSC suspended the effective date of the requested rate change increase until January 1, 2024 to allow for a full review of the filing. On October 6, 2023, Mountaineer filed a joint stipulation and agreement for settlement of the base rate case, which included a $14 million net revenue increase. On December 21, 2023, the WVPSC issued a final order approving the joint stipulation and agreement, except the WVPSC authorized Mountaineer to implement a weather normalization adjustment rider as a five-year pilot program beginning on October 1, 2024. The new rates went into effect on January 1, 2024. On April 11, 2024 the WVPSC approved the calculation methodology submitted by Mountaineer on March 28, 2024. Under this rider, when weather deviates from normal by more than 2%, for service rendered during the period October 1 through May 31, residential and small commercial customer billings for distribution services are adjusted for weather related impacts exceeding the 2% threshold.
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On July 29, 2022, Mountaineer submitted its 2022 IREP filing to the WVPSC requesting recovery of costs associated with capital investments totaling $354 million over the 2023 - 2027 period, including $64 million in calendar year 2023. On November 16, 2022, Mountaineer and the intervening parties submitted a joint stipulation and agreement for settlement to the WVPSC requesting approval of 2023 IREP revenue of $22 million to be charged effective January 1, 2023, which includes the recovery of a $1 million under-recovery of 2021 IREP revenue. On December 21, 2022, the WVPSC issued an order approving the joint stipulation and agreement for settlement as filed.
Other Matters
West Reading, Pennsylvania Explosion. On March 24, 2023, an explosion occurred in West Reading, Pennsylvania which resulted in seven fatalities, significant injuries to eleven others, and extensive property damage to buildings owned by R.M. Palmer, a local chocolate manufacturer, and other neighboring structures. The NTSB and the PAPUC are investigating the West Reading incident. On July 18, 2023, the NTSB issued an Investigative Update in its ongoing investigation. The report identifies a fracture in a retired UGI gas service tee and a fracture in a nearby steam system, but it does not address causation of the fractures or the explosion. The NTSB investigative team includes representatives from the Company, the PAPUC, the local fire department and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Company is cooperating with the investigation. The NTSB may invite other parties to participate. In September 2023, OSHA closed their investigation of this matter, without any finding pertaining to UGI Utilities.
While the investigation into this incident is still underway and the cause of the explosion has not been determined, the Company has received claims as a result of the explosion and is involved in lawsuits relative to the incident. The Company maintains liability insurance for personal injury, property and casualty damages and believes that third-party claims associated with the explosion, in excess of the Company’s deductible, are recoverable through the Company’s insurance. The Company cannot predict the result of these pending or future claims and legal actions at this time.
Regarding these pending claims and legal actions, the Company does not believe, at this early stage, that there is sufficient information available to reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any, or conclude that the final outcome of these matters will or will not have a material effect on our financial statements.
Market Risk Disclosures
Our primary market risk exposures are (1) commodity price risk; (2) interest rate risk; and (3) foreign currency exchange rate risk. Although we use derivative financial and commodity instruments to reduce market price risk associated with forecasted transactions, we do not use derivative financial and commodity instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
Commodity Price Risk
The risk associated with fluctuations in the prices the Partnership and our UGI International operations pay for LPG is principally a result of market forces reflecting changes in supply and demand for LPG and other energy commodities. Their profitability is sensitive to changes in LPG supply costs. Increases in supply costs are generally passed on to customers. The Partnership and UGI International may not, however, always be able to pass through product cost increases fully or on a timely basis, particularly when product costs rise rapidly. In order to reduce the volatility of LPG market price risk, the Partnership uses contracts for the forward purchase or sale of propane, propane fixed-price supply agreements and over-the-counter derivative commodity instruments including price swap and option contracts. Our UGI International operations use over-the-counter derivative commodity instruments and may from time to time enter into other derivative contracts, similar to those used by the Partnership, to reduce market risk associated with a portion of their LPG purchases. Over-the-counter derivative commodity instruments used to economically hedge forecasted purchases of LPG are generally settled at expiration of the contract.