In the Matter of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a limited partnership; Ferrellgas L.P., a limited partnership also doing business as Blue Rhino; AmeriGas Partners, L.P., a limited partnership also doing business as AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange; and UGI corporation, a corporation
Case Summary
The Federal Trade Commission issued an administrative complaint against Ferrellgas Partners, L.P and Ferrellgas, L.P. (doing business as Blue Rhino) and UGI Corporation and AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (doing business as AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange), alleging that they illegally coordinated on reducing the amount of propane in their tanks sold to a key customer. The complaint alleges that, together, Blue Rhino and AmeriGas controlled approximately 80 percent of the market for wholesale propane exchange tanks in the United States. In 2008, Blue Rhino and AmeriGas each decided to implement a price increase by reducing the amount of propane in their exchange tanks from 17 pounds to 15 pounds, without a corresponding reduction in the wholesale price.