Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per share attributable to UGI Corporation shareholders reflect the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share attributable to UGI Corporation include the effects of dilutive stock options and common stock awards.

Shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:



	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2015	2014
Denominator (thousands of shares):
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for basic computation	172,862	172,945
Incremental shares issuable for stock options and awards	2,356	2,841
Weighted-average common shares outstanding for diluted computation	175,218	175,786

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments. Derivative instruments are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values, unless the derivative instruments qualify for the normal purchase and normal sale (“NPNS”) exception under GAAP. The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.

Certain of our derivative instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges or net investment hedges. For cash flow hedges, changes in the fair values of the derivative instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) or noncontrolling interests, to the extent effective at offsetting changes in the hedged item, until earnings are affected by the hedged item. We discontinue cash flow hedge accounting if occurrence of the forecasted transaction is determined to be no longer probable. Hedge accounting is also discontinued for derivatives that cease to be highly effective. Gains and losses on net investment hedges that relate to our foreign operations are included in AOCI until such foreign net investment is sold or liquidated. Unrealized gains and losses on substantially all of the commodity derivative instruments used by Gas Utility and Electric Utility are included in regulatory assets or liabilities because it is probable such gains or losses will be recoverable from, or refundable to, customers.

Effective October 1, 2014, UGI International determined on a prospective basis that it would not elect cash flow hedge accounting for its commodity derivative transactions and also de-designated its then-existing commodity derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges. Also effective October 1, 2014, AmeriGas Propane de-designated its remaining commodity derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges. Previously, AmeriGas Propane had discontinued cash flow hedge accounting for all commodity derivative instruments entered into beginning April 1, 2014. Midstream & Marketing has not applied cash flow hedge accounting for its commodity derivative instruments during any of the periods presented. Substantially all realized and unrealized gains and losses on commodity derivative instruments are recorded in cost of sales or revenues, as appropriate, on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Cash flows from derivative instruments, other than net investment hedges and certain cross-currency swaps, if any, are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash flows from net investment hedges are included in cash flows from investing activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash flows from the interest portion of our cross-currency hedges are included in cash flow from operating activities while cash flows from the currency portion of such hedges are included in the cash flow from financing activities.

For a more detailed description of the derivative instruments we use, our accounting for derivatives, our objectives for using them and other information, see Note 12.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and costs. These estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events, historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may be different from these estimates and assumptions.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Adoption of New Accounting Standard

Presentation of Deferred Taxes. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2016, the Company adopted new accounting guidance regarding the classification of deferred taxes. The new guidance amends existing guidance to require that deferred income tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet, and eliminates the prior guidance which required an entity to separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount in a classified balance sheet. We applied this guidance prospectively and, as a result, prior period amounts have not been adjusted.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." This ASU amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of a deferred charge. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (Fiscal 2017). Early adoption is permitted. Entities will apply the new guidance retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company expects to adopt the new guidance effective September 30, 2016. The adoption of the new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.” This ASU provides new guidance regarding whether a reporting entity should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Among other things, the new guidance modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities, and also eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. The new guidance also affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs including those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning in Fiscal 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of assessing the impact on its financial statements, if any, from the adoption of the new guidance.

Revenue Recognition. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC No. 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance included in the ASC. The standard requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning October 1, 2018 (Fiscal 2019) and allows for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our financial statements.