pepl10k_123109.htm
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UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D. C. 20549
FORM
10-K
X
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For
the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
OR
__ |
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
Commission
File No. 1-2921
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
44-0382470
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
|
|
|
|
5444
Westheimer Road
|
77056-5306
|
Houston,
Texas
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
|
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (713) 989-7000
Securities
Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class
|
|
Name of each exchange in which
registered
|
6.05%
Senior Notes due 2013, Series B
|
|
New
York Stock Exchange
|
|
|
|
Securities
Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes £ No
R
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes £ No
R
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes R No
£
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such
files). Yes £ No
£
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. R
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”,
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer £ Accelerated
filer £ Non-accelerated
filer R Smaller
reporting company £
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act).
Yes £ No
R
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP meets the conditions set forth in General
Instructions I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form 10-K
with the reduced disclosure format. Items 1, 2 and 7 have been
reduced and Items 4, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 have been omitted in accordance with
Instruction I.
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PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
FORM
10-K
DECEMBER
31, 2009
Table of
Contents
|
|
Page
|
|
PART
I
|
|
Glossary.
|
|
1
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ITEM
1.
|
Business.
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2
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ITEM
1A.
|
Risk
Factors.
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6
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ITEM
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments.
|
14
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ITEM
2.
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Properties.
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14
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ITEM
3.
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Legal
Proceedings.
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14
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ITEM
4.
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Reserved.
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15
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PART
II
|
|
ITEM
5.
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities.
|
15
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ITEM
6.
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Selected
Financial Data.
|
15
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ITEM
7.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation.
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16
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ITEM
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
|
23
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ITEM
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data.
|
23
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ITEM
9.
|
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
|
23
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ITEM 9A(T).
|
Controls
and Procedures.
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24
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ITEM
9B.
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Other
Information.
|
25
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PART
III
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|
ITEM
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
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25
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ITEM
11.
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Executive
Compensation.
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25
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ITEM
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
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25
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ITEM
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
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25
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ITEM
14.
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Principal
Accounting Fees and Services.
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26
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PART
IV
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ITEM
15.
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Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules.
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26
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Signatures.
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29
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Index
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
F-1
|
GLOSSARY
The
abbreviations, acronyms and industry terminology commonly used in this annual
report on Form 10-K are defined as follows:
ARO Asset
retirement obligation
Bcf Billion
cubic feet
Bcf/d Billion
cubic feet per day
CCE
Holdings CCE
Holdings, LLC
CFO Chief
Financial Officer
CIAC Contribution
in aid of construction
Code Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
Company PEPL
and its subsidiaries
COO Chief
Operating Officer
CrossCountry Citrus CrossCountry
Citrus, LLC
EITR Effective
income tax rate
Energy
Transfer Energy
Transfer Partners, LP
EPA United
States Environmental Protection Agency
Exchange
Act Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FASB Financial
Accounting Standards Board
FERC Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
Florida
Gas Florida
Gas Transmission Company, LLC
FSP FASB
Staff Position
GAAP Accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America
HAPs Hazardous
air pollutants
HCAs High
consequence areas
IEPA Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency
IPCB Illinois
Pollution Control Board
KDHE Kansas
Department of Health and Environment
LNG Liquefied
Natural Gas
LNG
Holdings Trunkline
LNG Holdings, LLC
MACT Maximum
achievable control technology
MMcf/d Million
cubic feet per day
Panhandle PEPL
and its subsidiaries
PCBs
Polychlorinate biphenyls
PEPL Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP
PRPs Potentially
responsible parties
SARs Stock
appreciation rights
Sea
Robin Sea
Robin Pipeline Company, LLC
SEC Securities
Exchange Commission
Southern
Union Southern
Union Company and its subsidiaries
Southwest
Gas
Storage Pan
Gas Storage, LLC (d.b.a. Southwest Gas)
SPCC Spill
Prevention Control and Countermeasure
TBtu Trillion
British thermal units
TCEQ
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The
Company PEPL
and its subsidiaries
Trunkline Trunkline
Gas Company, LLC
Trunkline
LNG Trunkline
LNG Company, LLC
PART
I
ITEM
1. Business.
Our
Business
Introduction. Panhandle,
a Delaware limited partnership, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
Southern Union Company. The Company is subject to the rules and
regulations of the FERC. The Company’s entities include the
following:
·
|
PEPL,
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union
Company;
|
·
|
Trunkline,
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
Sea
Robin, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
LNG
Holdings, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
Trunkline
LNG, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of LNG Holdings;
and
|
·
|
Southwest
Gas Storage, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL.
|
Services. The Company owns
and operates a large natural gas open-access interstate pipeline
network. The pipeline network, consisting of the PEPL transmission
system, the Trunkline transmission system and the Sea Robin transmission system,
serves customers in the Midwest and Southwest with a comprehensive array of
transportation and storage services. PEPL’s transmission system
consists of four large diameter pipelines extending approximately 1,300 miles
from producing areas in the Anadarko Basin of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas through
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and into Michigan. Trunkline’s
transmission system consists of two large diameter pipelines extending
approximately 1,400 miles from the Gulf Coast areas of Texas and Louisiana
through Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana to a
point on the Indiana-Michigan border. Sea Robin’s transmission system
consists of two offshore Louisiana natural gas supply systems extending
approximately 81 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. In connection with
its natural gas transmission and storage systems, the Company has five natural
gas storage fields located in Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan and
Oklahoma. Southwest Gas operates four of these fields and Trunkline
operates one. Through Trunkline LNG, the Company owns and operates an
LNG terminal in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Panhandle
earns most of its revenue by entering into firm transportation and storage
contracts, providing capacity for customers to transport and store natural gas,
or LNG, in its facilities. The Company provides firm transportation
services under contractual arrangements to local distribution company customers
and their affiliates, natural gas marketers, producers, other pipelines,
electric power generators and a variety of end-users. The Company’s
pipelines offer both firm and interruptible transportation to customers on a
short-term and seasonal basis. Demand for natural gas transmission on
the Company’s pipeline systems is seasonal, with the highest throughput and a
higher portion of annual total operating revenues and net earnings occurring in
the traditional winter heating season, which occurs during the first and fourth
calendar quarters. Average reservation revenue rates realized by the
Company are dependent on certain factors, including but not limited to rate
regulation, customer demand for reserved capacity, capacity sold levels for a
given period and, in some cases, utilization of capacity. Commodity
revenues, which are more short-term, sensitive and variable in nature, are
dependent upon a number of factors including weather, storage and pipeline
capacity availability levels, and customer demand for firm and interruptible
services, including parking services. The majority of Panhandle’s
revenues are related to firm capacity reservation charges, which reservation
charges account for approximately 83 percent of total revenues in
2009.
The
following table provides a summary of pipeline transportation and LNG terminal
usage volumes (in TBtu) associated with the reported results of operations for
the periods presented:
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PEPL
transportation
|
|
|
676 |
|
|
|
702 |
|
|
|
662 |
|
Trunkline
transportation
|
|
|
683 |
|
|
|
643 |
|
|
|
648 |
|
Sea
Robin transportation
|
|
|
132 |
|
|
|
126 |
|
|
|
144 |
|
Trunkline
LNG terminal usage |
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
261 |
|
The
following table provides a summary of certain statistical information associated
with the Company at the date indicated:
|
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
Approximate
Miles of Pipelines
|
|
|
|
PEPL
|
|
6,000
|
|
Trunkline
|
|
3,500
|
|
Sea
Robin
|
|
400
|
Peak
Day Delivery Capacity (Bcf/d)
|
|
|
|
PEPL
|
|
2.8
|
|
Trunkline
|
|
1.7
|
|
Sea
Robin
|
|
1.0
|
|
Trunkline
LNG
|
|
2.1
|
Trunkline
LNG Sustainable Send Out Capacity (Bcf/d)
|
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1.8
|
Underground
Storage Capacity-Owned (Bcf)
|
|
68.1
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Underground
Storage Capacity-Leased (Bcf)
|
|
32.3
|
Trunkline
LNG Terminal Storage Capacity (Bcf)
|
|
9.0
|
Approximate
Average Number of Transportation Customers
|
|
500
|
Weighted
Average Remaining Life in Years of Firm Transportation
Contracts
|
|
|
|
PEPL
|
|
6.9
|
|
Trunkline
|
|
8.1
|
|
Sea
Robin (1)
|
|
N/A
|
Weighted
Average Remaining Life in Years of Firm Storage Contracts
|
|
|
|
PEPL
|
|
11.2
|
|
Trunkline
|
|
2.2
|
___________________
(1)
|
Sea
Robin’s contracts are primarily interruptible, with only four firm
contracts in place.
|
Recent
System Enhancements
LNG Terminal
Enhancement. The
Company commenced construction of an enhancement at its Trunkline LNG terminal
in February 2007. This infrastructure enhancement project (IEP) will increase send out
flexibility at the terminal and lower fuel costs. On August 6, 2009,
FERC issued a conditional order granting Trunkline LNG authorization to commence
partial service of IEP. Although the key components of the
enhancement, a portion of the ambient air vaporizer system and the NGL recovery
units, were successfully tested in the fourth quarter of 2009, mechanical issues
were identified during the commissioning process that required
attention. Trunkline LNG has made warranty claims regarding certain
of those conditions and is effecting IEP system modifications prior to placing
the project into full service. On February 9, 2010, Trunkline LNG
filed with FERC a request to place the facility in full service upon the
completion of certain modifications. Full service is expected no
later than the end of the first quarter of 2010. Total construction costs are
expected to be approximately $430 million, plus capitalized
interest. The negotiated rate with the project’s customer, BG LNG
Services, will be adjusted based on final capital costs pursuant to a
contract-based formula. In addition, Trunkline LNG and BG LNG
Services agreed to extend the existing terminal and pipeline services agreements
to coincide with the IEP contract, which runs 20 years from the in-service
date. Approximately $457.2 million and $351.3 million of costs,
including capitalized interest of $43.8 million and $20 million, are included in
the line item Construction
work-in-progress at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively.
For
information related to ongoing and potential expansion projects of the Company,
see Item 7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –
Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Significant
Customers. The following table provides the percentage and
related average contract lives of the Company’s significant customers for the
period presented:
|
|
|
Percent
of
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
Average
Life
|
|
|
|
For
Year Ended
|
|
|
of
Firm Contracts at
|
Customer
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BG
LNG Services
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
14
years (LNG, transportation)
|
ProLiance
|
|
13
|
|
|
11.7
years (transportation) 16.3 years (storage)
|
Other
top 10 customers
|
|
26
|
|
|
N/A
|
Remaining
customers
|
|
39
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Total
percentage
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Company’s customers are subject to change during the year as a result of
capacity release provisions that allow customers to release all or part of their
capacity, which generally occurs for a limited time period. Under the
terms of the Company’s tariffs, a temporary capacity release does not relieve
the original customer from its payment obligations if the replacement customer
fails to pay.
Regulation
The
Company is subject to regulation by various federal, state and local
governmental agencies, including those specifically described
below. See also Item 1. Business – Environmental,
Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 3 – Regulatory Matters.
FERC has
comprehensive jurisdiction over PEPL, Trunkline, Sea Robin, Trunkline LNG and
Southwest Gas. In accordance with the Natural Gas Act of 1938, FERC’s
jurisdiction over natural gas companies encompasses, among other things, the
acquisition, operation and disposition of assets and facilities, the services
provided and rates charged.
FERC has
authority to regulate rates and charges for transportation and storage of
natural gas in interstate commerce. FERC also has authority over the
construction and operation of pipeline and related facilities utilized in the
transportation and sale of natural gas in interstate commerce, including the
extension, enlargement or abandonment of service using such
facilities. PEPL, Trunkline, Sea Robin, Trunkline LNG and Southwest
Gas hold certificates of public convenience and necessity issued by FERC,
authorizing them to construct and operate the pipelines, facilities and
properties now in operation and to transport and store natural gas in interstate
commerce.
The
following table summarizes the status of the rate proceedings applicable to the
Company:
|
|
Date
of Last
|
|
|
Company
|
|
Rate
Filing
|
|
Rate
Proceedings Status
|
|
|
|
|
|
PEPL
|
|
May
1992
|
|
Settlement
effective April 1997
|
Trunkline
|
|
January
1996
|
|
Settlement
effective May 2001
|
Sea
Robin
|
|
June
2007
|
|
Settlement
effective December 2008 (1)
|
Trunkline
LNG
|
|
June
2001
|
|
Settlement
effective January 2002 (2)
|
Southwest
Gas Storage
|
|
August
2007
|
|
Settlement
effective February 2008
|
_______________
(1)
|
Settlement
requires another rate case to be filed by January
2014.
|
(2)
|
Settlement
provided for a rate moratorium through
2015.
|
The
Company is also subject to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and the
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, which regulate the safety of natural
gas pipelines.
For a
discussion of the effect of certain FERC orders on the Company, see Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 3 – Regulatory Matters.
Competition
The
interstate pipeline systems of the Company compete with those of other
interstate and intrastate pipeline companies in the transportation and storage
of natural gas. The principal elements of competition among pipelines
are rates, terms of service, flexibility and reliability of
service.
Natural
gas competes with other forms of energy available to the Company’s customers and
end-users, including electricity, coal and fuel oils. The primary
competitive factor is price. Changes in the availability or price of
natural gas and other forms of energy, the level of business activity,
conservation, legislation and governmental regulation, the capability to convert
to alternate fuels and other factors, including weather and natural gas storage
levels, affect the ongoing demand for natural gas in the areas served by the
Company. In order to meet these challenges, the Company will need to
adapt its marketing strategies, the types of transportation and storage services
provided and its pricing and rates to address competitive forces.
FERC may
authorize the construction of new interstate pipelines that compete with
existing pipelines. For example, Kinder Morgan’s Rockies Express
Pipeline, which transports large volumes of natural gas to the Midwest from the
Rockies, completed an expansion during 2009 to make deliveries beyond the
Midwest to Ohio, and potentially beyond. Kinder Morgan's pipeline
does, and potential new pipelines could, compete with the Company.
The
Company’s direct competitors include Alliance Pipeline LP, ANR Pipeline Company,
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, ONEOK Partners, Texas Gas Transmission
Corporation, Northern Natural Gas Company, Vector Pipeline, Columbia Gulf
Transmission and Midwestern Gas Transmission.
Environmental
The
Company is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding
water quality, hazardous and solid waste management, air quality control and
other environmental matters. These laws and regulations require the
Company to conduct its operations in a specified manner and to obtain and comply
with a wide variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits,
inspections and other approvals. Failure to comply with environmental
requirements may expose the Company to significant fines, penalties and/or
interruptions in operations. The Company’s environmental policies and
procedures are designed to achieve compliance with such laws and
regulations. These evolving laws and regulations and claims for
damages to property, employees, other persons and the environment resulting from
current or past operations may result in significant expenditures and
liabilities in the future. The Company engages in a process of
updating and revising its procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its
operations to identify potential environmental exposures and enhance compliance
with regulatory requirements. For additional information concerning
the impact of environmental regulation on the Company, see Item 1A. Risk Factors
and Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14 – Commitments and
Contingencies.
Insurance
The
Company maintains insurance coverage provided under its policies similar to
other comparable companies in the same lines of business. The
insurance policies are subject to terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions
that do not fully compensate the Company for all losses. Except for
windstorm property insurance more fully described below, insurance deductibles
range from $100,000 to $10 million for the various policies utilized by the
Company.
Oil
Insurance Limited (OIL),
the Company’s member mutual property insurer, revised its windstorm
insurance coverage effective January 1, 2010. Based on the revised
coverage, the per occurrence windstorm claims for onshore and off-shore
assets are limited to $250 million per member subject to a fixed 60 percent
payout, up to $150 million per member, and are subject to the $750 million
aggregate limit for total payout to members per incident and a $10 million
deductible. The revised windstorm coverage also limits annual individual member
recovery to $300 million in the aggregate. The Company has also purchased
additional excess insurance coverage for its onshore assets arising from
windstorm damage, which provides up to an additional $150 million of property
insurance coverage over and above existing coverage or in excess of the base OIL
coverage. In the event windstorm damage claims are made by the
Company for its onshore assets and such damage claims are subject to a scaled or
aggregate limit reduction by OIL, the Company may have additional uninsured
exposure prior to application of the excess insurance
coverage.
Employees
At
December 31, 2009, the Company had 1,201 employees. Of these
employees, 222 were represented by the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber,
Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial, and Service Workers International
AFL-CIO, CLC. The current union contract expires on May 28,
2012.
Available
Information
PEPL
files annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC
as required. Any document that PEPL files with the SEC may be read or
copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on
the public reference room. PEPL’s SEC filings are also available at
the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and through its parent Southern Union’s
website at http://www.sug.com. The information on Southern Union’s
website is not incorporated by reference into and is not made a part of this
report.
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors.
The risks
and uncertainties described below are not the only ones faced by the
Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that the Company is
unaware of, or that it currently deems immaterial, may become important factors
that affect it. If any of the following risks occur, the Company’s
business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be
materially and adversely affected.
The
Company has substantial debt and may not be able to obtain funding or obtain
funding on acceptable terms because of deterioration in the credit and capital
markets. This may hinder or prevent the Company from meeting its
future capital needs.
The
Company has a significant amount of debt outstanding. As of December
31, 2009, consolidated debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheet totaled $2.02
billion outstanding, compared to total capitalization (long and short term debt
plus partners’ capital) of $3.49 billion.
Some of
the Company’s debt obligations contain financial covenants concerning
debt-to-capital ratios and interest coverage ratios. The Company’s
failure to comply with any of these covenants could result in an event of
default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of
outstanding debt obligations or render it unable to borrow under certain credit
agreements. Any such acceleration or inability to borrow could cause
a material adverse change in the Company’s financial condition.
The
Company relies on access to both short- and long-term credit as a significant
source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by the cash flow from
its operations. A deterioration in the Company’s financial condition
could hamper its ability to access the capital markets.
Global
financial markets and economic conditions have been, and may continue to be,
disrupted and volatile. The debt and equity capital markets have been
exceedingly distressed. These issues, along with significant
write-offs in the financial services sector, the re-pricing of credit risk and
the current weak economic conditions have made, and may continue to make,
obtaining funding more difficult.
As a
result of concerns about the stability of financial markets generally and the
solvency of counterparties specifically, the cost of obtaining money from the
credit markets generally has increased as many lenders and institutional
investors have increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending standards,
refused to refinance existing debt at maturity at all or on terms similar to
current debt and reduced and, in some cases, ceased to provide funding to
borrowers.
Due to
these factors, the Company cannot be certain that funding will be available if
needed and, to the extent required, on acceptable terms. If funding
is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, the
Company may be unable to grow its existing business, complete acquisitions,
refinance its debt or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities or
respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s revenues and results of operations.
Further,
in order for the Company to receive equity contributions or loans from its
parent, Southern Union Company, certain state regulatory approvals are
required. This may limit the Company’s overall access to sources of
capital otherwise available. Restrictions on the Company’s ability to
access capital markets could affect its ability to execute its business plan or
limit its ability to pursue improvements or acquisitions on which it may
otherwise rely for future growth.
The
Company plans to repay its $40.5 million 8.25% Senior Notes maturing in April
2010 by utilizing some combination of cash flows from operations or from
repayments from Southern Union of intercompany loans.
Credit
ratings downgrades could increase the Company’s financing costs and limit its
ability to access the capital markets.
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company’s debt were rated Baa3 by Moody's Investor
Services, Inc., BBB- by Standard & Poor's and BBB- by Fitch
Ratings. If the Company’s credit ratings are downgraded below
investment grade or if there are times when it is placed on "credit watch," both
borrowing costs and the costs of maintaining certain contractual relationships
could increase. The Company’s credit rating can be impacted by the
credit rating and activities of its parent company, Southern Union
Company. Thus, adverse impacts to Southern Union and its activities,
which may include activities unrelated to the Company may have adverse impacts
on the Company’s credit rating and financing and operating costs.
The
Company is controlled by Southern Union.
The
Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union
Company. Southern Union Company executives serve as the board of
managers and as executive officers of the Company. Accordingly,
Southern Union Company controls and directs all of the Company’s business
affairs and may unilaterally effect changes to its management team and decides
all matters submitted for member approval. In circumstances involving
a conflict of interest between Southern Union, on the one hand, and the
Company’s creditors, on the other hand, the Company can give no assurance that
Southern Union Company would not exercise its power to control the Company in a
manner that would benefit Southern Union to the detriment of its
creditors.
Federal,
state and local jurisdictions may challenge the Company’s tax return
positions.
The
positions taken by the Company and Southern Union in their tax return filings
require significant judgment, use of estimates, and the interpretation and
application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is also
required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable
items. Despite management’s belief that the Company’s tax return
positions are fully supportable, certain positions may be challenged
successfully by federal, state and local jurisdictions.
The
Company is subject to operating risks.
The
Company’s operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks incident to
handling, storing, transporting and providing customers with natural gas,
including adverse weather conditions, explosions, pollution, release of toxic
substances, fires and other hazards, each of which could result in damage to or
destruction of its facilities or damage to persons and property. If
any of these events were to occur, the Company could suffer substantial
losses. Moreover, as a result, the Company has been, and likely will
be, a defendant in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary
course of business. Although the Company maintains insurance
coverage, such coverage may be inadequate to protect the Company from all
expenses related to these risks.
The
inability to continue to access lands owned by third parties could adversely
affect the Company’s ability to operate and/or expand its pipeline
business.
The
ability of Panhandle to operate in certain geographic areas will depend on its
success in maintaining existing rights-of-way and obtaining new rights-of-way.
Securing additional rights-of-way is also critical to the Company’s ability to
pursue expansion projects. Even though Panhandle generally has the
right of eminent domain, the Company cannot assure that it will be able to
acquire all of the necessary new rights-of-way or maintain access to all
existing rights-of-way upon the expiration of the current rights-of-way or that
all of the rights-of-way will be obtainable in a timely fashion. The Company’s
financial position could be adversely affected if the costs of new or extended
rights-of-way materially increase or the Company is unable to obtain or extend
the rights-of-way timely.
The
Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations
regulating the environmental aspects of its business that may increase its costs
of operations, expose it to environmental liabilities and require it to make
material unbudgeted expenditures.
The
Company is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations
regulating the environmental aspects of its business (including air emissions),
which are complex, change from time to time, and have tended to become
increasingly strict. These laws and regulations have necessitated,
and in the future may necessitate, increased capital expenditures and operating
costs. In addition, certain environmental laws may result in
liability without regard to fault concerning contamination at a broad range of
properties, including those currently or formerly owned, leased or operated
properties and properties where the Company disposed of, or arranged for the
disposal of, waste.
The
Company is currently monitoring or remediating contamination at several of its
facilities and at waste disposal sites pursuant to environmental laws and
regulations and indemnification agreements. The Company cannot
predict with certainty the sites for which it may be responsible, the amount of
resulting cleanup obligations that may be imposed on it or the amount and timing
of future expenditures related to environmental remediation because of the
difficulty of estimating cleanup costs and the uncertainty of payment by other
PRPs.
Costs and
obligations also can arise from claims for toxic torts and natural resource
damages or from releases of hazardous materials on other properties as a result
of ongoing operations or disposal of waste. Compliance with amended,
new or more stringently enforced existing environmental requirements, or the
future discovery of contamination, may require material unbudgeted
expenditures. These costs or expenditures could have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows, particularly if such costs or expenditures are not
fully recoverable from insurance or through the rates charged to customers or if
they exceed any amounts that have been reserved.
Terrorist
attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, have
resulted in increased costs, and the consequences of terrorism may adversely
impact the Company’s results of operations.
The
impact that terrorist attacks, such as the attacks of September 11, 2001,
may have on the energy industry in general, and on the Company in particular, is
not known at this time. Uncertainty surrounding military activity may
affect its operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel
supplies and markets and the possibility that infrastructure facilities,
including pipelines, LNG facilities, gathering facilities and processing plants
could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror or a
retaliatory strike. The Company may have to incur significant
additional costs in the future to safeguard its physical assets.
The
Company’s business is highly regulated.
The
Company’s transportation and storage business is subject to regulation by
federal, state and local regulatory authorities. FERC, the U.S.
Department of Transportation and various state and local regulatory agencies
regulate the interstate pipeline business. In particular, FERC has
authority to regulate rates charged by the Company for the transportation and
storage of natural gas in interstate commerce. FERC also has
authority over the construction, acquisition, operation and disposition of these
pipeline and storage assets. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard has
oversight over certain issues including the importation of
LNG.
The
Company’s rates and operations are subject to extensive regulation by federal
regulators as well as the actions of Congress and state legislatures and, in
some respects, state regulators. The Company cannot predict or
control what effect future actions of regulatory agencies may have on its
business or its access to the capital markets. Furthermore, the
nature and degree of regulation of natural gas companies has changed
significantly during the past several decades and there is no assurance that
further substantial changes will not occur or that existing policies and rules
will not be applied in a new or different manner. Should new and more
stringent regulatory requirements be imposed, the Company’s business could be
unfavorably impacted and the Company could be subject to additional costs that
could adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations if these
costs are not ultimately recovered through rates.
The
Company’s transportation and storage business is influenced by fluctuations in
costs, including operating costs such as insurance, postretirement and other
benefit costs, wages, outside contractor services costs, asset retirement
obligations for certain assets and other operating costs. The
profitability of regulated operations depends on the business’ ability to
collect such increased costs as part of the rates charged to its
customers. To the extent that such operating costs increase in an
amount greater than that for which revenue is received, or for which rate
recovery is allowed, this differential could impact operating
results. The lag between an increase in costs and the ability of the
Company to file to obtain rate relief from FERC to recover those increased costs
can have a direct negative impact on operating results. As with any
request for an increase in rates in a regulatory filing, once granted, the rate
increase may not be adequate. In addition, FERC may prevent the
business from passing along certain costs in the form of higher
rates.
FERC may
also exercise its Section 5 authority to initiate proceedings to review rates
that it believes may not be just and reasonable. FERC has recently
exercised this authority with respect to several other pipeline companies, as it
had in 2007 with respect to the Company’s Southwest Gas Storage
Company. If FERC were to initiate a Section 5 proceeding against the
Company and find that the Company’s rates at that time were not just and
reasonable, the applicable rates the Company is allowed to charge customers
could be reduced and the reduction could potentially have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or
cash flows.
The
pipeline business of the Company is subject to competition.
The
interstate pipeline business of the Company competes with those of other
interstate and intrastate pipeline companies in the transportation and storage
of natural gas. The principal elements of competition among pipelines
are rates, terms of service and the flexibility and reliability of
service. Natural gas competes with other forms of energy available to
the Company’s customers and end-users, including electricity, coal and fuel
oils. The primary competitive factor is price. Changes in
the availability or price of natural gas and other forms of energy, the level of
business activity, conservation, legislation and governmental regulations, the
capability to convert to alternate fuels and other factors, including weather
and natural gas storage levels, affect the demand for natural gas in the areas
served by the Company.
The
success of the pipeline business depends, in part, on factors beyond the
Company’s control.
Third
parties own most of the natural gas transported and stored through the pipeline
systems operated by the Company. As a result, the volume of natural
gas transported and stored depends on the actions of those third parties and is
beyond the Company’s control. Further, other factors beyond the
Company’s and those third parties’ control may unfavorably impact the Company’s
ability to maintain or increase current transmission and storage rates, to
renegotiate existing contracts as they expire or to remarket unsubscribed
capacity. High utilization of contracted capacity by firm customers
reduces capacity available for interruptible transportation and parking
services.
The
success of the Company depends on the continued development of additional
natural gas reserves in the vicinity of its facilities and its ability to access
additional reserves to offset the natural decline from existing sources
connected to its system.
The
amount of revenue generated by the Company ultimately depends upon its access to
reserves of available natural gas. As the reserves available through
the supply basins connected to the Company’s system naturally decline, a
decrease in development or production activity could cause a decrease in the
volume of natural gas available for transmission. If production from these
natural gas reserves is substantially reduced and not replaced with
other sources of natural gas, such as new wells or interconnections with other
pipelines, and certain of the Company’s assets are consequently not utilized,
the Company may have to accelerate the recognition and settlement of asset
retirement obligations. Investments by third parties in the
development of new natural gas reserves or other sources of natural gas in
proximity to the Company’s facilities depend on many factors beyond the
Company’s control. Revenue reductions or the acceleration of asset
retirement obligations resulting from the decline of natural gas reserves and
the lack of new sources of natural gas may have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s business financial condition, results of operations and cost
flows.
Fluctuations
in energy commodity prices could adversely affect the business of the
Company.
If
natural gas prices in the supply basins connected to the pipeline systems of the
Company are higher than prices in other natural gas producing regions able to
serve the Company’s customers, the volume of natural gas transported by the
Company may be negatively impacted. Natural gas prices can also
affect customer demand for the various services provided by the
Company.
The
pipeline business of the Company is dependent on a small number of customers for
a significant percentage of its sales.
The
Company’s top two customers accounted for 35 percent of its 2009
revenue. The loss of any one or more of these customers could have a
material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results
of operations or cash flows.
The
financial soundness of the Company’s customers could affect its business and
operating results.
As a
result of the recent disruptions in the financial markets and other
macroeconomic challenges that have impacted the economy of the United
States and other parts of the world, the Company’s customers may experience cash
flow concerns. As a result, if customers’ operating and financial
performance deteriorates, or if they are unable to make scheduled payments or
obtain credit, customers may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of,
accounts receivable owed to the Company. Any inability of the
Company’s customers to pay for services could adversely affect the Company’s
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The
pipeline revenues of the Company are generated under contracts that must be
renegotiated periodically.
The
pipeline revenues of the Company are generated under natural gas transportation
contracts that expire periodically and must be replaced. At December
31, 2009, the weighted-average remaining life of transportation and storage
contracts was approximately 7.6 years and 10.5 years, respectively, with some
contracts expiring each year. Although the Company will actively
pursue the renegotiation, extension and/or replacement of all of its contracts,
it cannot assure that it will be able to extend or replace these contracts when
they expire or that the terms of any renegotiated contracts will be as favorable
as the existing contracts. If the Company is unable to renew, extend
or replace these contracts, or if the Company renews them on less favorable
terms, it may suffer a material reduction in revenues and earnings.
The
Company is exposed to the credit risk of its customers in the ordinary course of
business.
Transportation
service contracts obligate customers to pay charges for reservation of capacity,
or reservation charges, regardless of whether they transport natural gas on the
pipeline system. Customers with natural gas imbalances on the
pipeline system may also owe natural gas to the Company. As a result,
the Company’s profitability will depend upon the continued financial performance
and creditworthiness of its customers rather than just upon the amount of
capacity provided under service contracts.
Generally,
customers are rated investment grade or, as permitted by the Company’s tariff,
are required to make pre-payments or deposits, or to provide collateral, if
their creditworthiness does not meet certain criteria. Nevertheless,
the Company cannot predict to what extent future declines in customers'
creditworthiness may negatively impact its business.
Substantial
risks are involved in operating a natural gas pipeline system.
Numerous
operational risks are associated with the operation of a complex pipeline
system. These include adverse weather conditions, accidents, the
breakdown or failure of equipment or processes, the performance of pipeline
facilities below expected levels of capacity and efficiency, the collision of
equipment with pipeline facilities (such as may occur if a third party were to
perform excavation or construction work near the facilities), and other
catastrophic events beyond the Company’s control. In particular, the
Company’s pipeline system, especially those portions that are located offshore,
may be subject to adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, earthquakes,
tornadoes, extreme temperatures and other natural phenomena, making it more
difficult for the Company to realize the historic rates of return associated
with these assets and operations. A casualty occurrence might result
in injury or loss of life, extensive property damage or environmental
damage. Insurance proceeds may not be adequate to cover all
liabilities or expenses incurred or revenues lost.
The
expansion of the Company’s pipeline systems by constructing new facilities
subjects the Company to construction and other risks that may adversely affect
the financial results of the pipeline businesses.
The
Company may expand the capacity of its existing pipeline, storage and LNG
facilities by constructing additional facilities. Construction of
these facilities is subject to various regulatory, development and operational
risks, including:
·
|
the
Company’s ability to obtain necessary approvals and permist from FERC and
other regulatory agencies on a timely basis and on terms that are
acceptable to it;
|
·
|
the
ability to access sufficient capital at reasonable rates to fund expansion
projects, especially in periods of prolonged economic
decline;
|
·
|
the
availability of skilled labor, equipment, and materials to complete
expansion projects;
|
·
|
adverse
weather conditions;
|
·
|
potential
changes in federal, state and local statutes, regulations, and orders,
including environmental requirements that prevent a project from
proceeding or increase the anticipated cost of the
project;
|
·
|
impediments
on the Company’s ability to acquire rights-of-way or land rights on a
timely basis or on terms that are acceptable to
it;
|
·
|
the
Company’s ability to construct projects within anticipated costs,
including the risk that the Company may incur cost overruns, which may be
material, resulting from inflation or increased costs of equipment,
materials, labor, contractor productivity or other factors beyond its
control, that the Company may not be able to recover from its
customers;
|
·
|
the
lack of future growth in natural gas supply and/or demand;
and
|
·
|
the
lack of transportation, storage and throughput
commitments.
|
Any of
these risks could prevent a project from proceeding, delay its completion or
increase its anticipated costs. There is also the risk that a
downturn in the economy and its potential negative impact upon natural gas
demand could result in either slower development in the Company’s expansion
projects or adjustments in the contractual commitments supporting such
projects. As a result, new facilities could be delayed or may not
achieve the Company’s expected investment return, which could adversely affect
the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
A
recent determination that emissions of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse
gases” present an endangerment to public health could result in regulatory
initiatives that increase the Company’s costs of doing business and the costs of
its services.
On April
17, 2009, the EPA issued a notice of its proposed finding and determination that
emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other “greenhouse gases” (GHGs) presented an
endangerment to human health and the environment because emissions of such gases
contribute to warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic
changes. Once finalized, EPA’s finding and determination would allow
the agency to begin regulating GHG emissions under existing provisions of the
Clean Air Act. In late September 2009, EPA announced two sets of
proposed regulations in anticipation of finalizing its findings and
determination, one rule to reduce emissions of GHGs from motor vehicles and the
other to control emissions of GHGs from stationary sources. The motor
vehicle rules are expected to be adopted in March 2010, with the stationary
source permitting rule to be approved later in 2010. It may take the EPA several
years to impose regulations limiting emissions of GHGs from existing stationary
sources due to legal challenges on the stationary rule. In addition, on
September 22, 2009, the EPA issued a final rule requiring the reporting of GHG
emissions from specified large GHG emission sources in the United States,
including the Company’s processing plants and many compressor stations,
beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010. Any limitation
imposed by the EPA on GHG emissions from the Company’s natural gas–fired
compressor stations and processing facilities or from the combustion of natural
gas or natural gas liquids that it produces could increase its costs of doing
business and/or increase the cost and reduce demand for its
services.
The
adoption of climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of
“greenhouse gases” could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand
for the products and services the Company provides.
The Kyoto
Protocol was adopted in 1997 by the United Nations to address global climate
change by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases. The treaty went into effect on February 16,
2005. The United States has not adopted the Kyoto
Protocol. However on June 26, 2009, the United States House of
Representatives approved adoption of the “American Clean Energy and Security Act
of 2009,” also known as the “Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade legislation” (ACESA), which would establish
an economy-wide cap-and-trade program in the United States to reduce emissions
of GHGs, including carbon dioxide and methane that may be contributing
to warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. ACESA would
require an overall reduction in GHG emissions of 17 percent (from 2005 levels)
by 2020, and by over 80 percent by 2050. Under ACESA, covered sources of GHG
emissions would be required to obtain GHG emission “allowances” corresponding to
their annual emissions of GHGs. The number of emission allowances issued each
year would decline as necessary to meet ACESA’s overall emission reduction
goals. As the number of GHG emission allowances declines each year, the cost or
value of allowances is expected to escalate significantly. The net effect of
ACESA would be to impose increasing costs on the combustion of carbon-based
fuels such as oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas and
NGLs.
The
United States Senate has begun work on its own legislation for controlling and
reducing emissions of GHGs in the United States. If the Senate adopts
GHG legislation that is different from ACESA, the two versions of the bill would
need to be reconciled in both chambers of Congress and both chambers would be
required to approve identical legislation before it would become
law. President Obama has indicated that he is in support of the
adoption of legislation to control and reduce emissions of GHGs through an
emission allowance permitting system that results in fewer allowances being
issued each year but that allows parties to buy, sell and trade allowances as
needed to fulfill their GHG emission obligations. Although it is not
possible at this time to predict whether or when the Senate may act on climate
change legislation or how any bill approved by the Senate could be reconciled
with ACESA, any laws or regulations that may be adopted to restrict or reduce
emissions of GHGs would likely require the Company to incur increased operating
costs. Further, current or future rate structures or shipper or
producer contracts and prevailing market conditions might not allow the Company
to recover the additional costs incurred to comply with such laws and/or
regulations and may affect the Company’s ability to provide
services. While the Company may be able to include some or all of
such increased costs in its rate structures or shipper or producer
contracts, such recovery of costs is uncertain and may depend on events beyond
the Company’s control. Such matters could have a material adverse
effect on demand for the Company’s gathering, treating, processing or
transportation services.
Even if
such legislation is not adopted at the national level, more than one-third of
the states have begun taking actions to control and/or reduce emissions of GHGs,
with most of the state-level initiatives focused on large sources of GHG
emissions, such as coal-fired electric plants. It is possible that smaller
sources of emissions could become subject to GHG emission limitations or
allowance purchase requirements in the future. Any one of these climate change
regulatory and legislative initiatives could have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
The Company is
subject to risks associated with climate change.
It has
been advanced that emissions of greenhouse gases are linked to climate change.
Climate change and the costs that may be associated with its impact and the
regulation of GHGs have the potential to affect the Company’s business in many
ways, including negatively impacting the costs it incurs in providing its
products and services including costs to operate and maintain its facilities,
install new emission controls on its facilities, acquire allowances to authorize
its GHG, pay any taxes related to GHG emissions and administer and manage a GHG
emissions program, higher insurance premiums or the potential for increased
insurance claims in areas affected by adverse weather and coastal regions in the
event of rising sea levels, the demand for and consumption of its products and
services (due to change in both costs and weather patterns), and the economic
health of the regions in which it operates, all of which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows.
Cautionary
Factors That May Affect Future Results
The
disclosure and analysis in this Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements
that set forth anticipated results based on management’s current plans and
assumptions. From time to time, the Company also provides
forward-looking statements in other materials it releases to the public as well
as oral forward-looking statements. Such statements give the
Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. The Company has tried,
wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as
“anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,”
“will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future
operating or financial performance. In particular, these include
statements relating to future actions, future performance or results of current
and anticipated services, expenses, interest rates, the outcome of
contingencies, such as legal proceedings, and financial
results.
The
Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized,
although management believes that the Company has been prudent and reasonable in
its plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject
to risks, uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions. If
known or unknown risks or uncertainties should materialize, or if underlying
assumptions should prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from
past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Readers
should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking
statements.
The
Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Readers are advised, however, to consult any further
disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in its Form 10-K, Form 10-Q
and Form 8-K reports to the SEC. Also note that the Company provides
the following cautionary discussion of risks, uncertainties and possibly
inaccurate assumptions relevant to its businesses. These are factors
that, individually or in the aggregate, management believes could cause the
Company’s actual results to differ materially from expected and historical
results. The Company notes these factors for investors as permitted
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers
should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such
factors. Consequently, readers should not consider the following to
be a complete discussion of all potential risks or uncertainties.
Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
Company’s forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the
following:
·
|
changes
in demand for natural gas and related services by the Company’s customers,
in the composition of the Company’s customer base and in the sources of
natural gas available to the
Company;
|
·
|
the
effects of inflation and the timing and extent of changes in the prices
and overall demand for and availability of natural gas as well as
electricity, oil, coal and other bulk materials and
chemicals;
|
·
|
adverse
weather conditions, such as warmer than normal weather in the Company’s
service territories, and the operational impact of natural
disasters;
|
·
|
changes
in laws or regulations, third-party relations and approvals, decisions of
courts, regulators and governmental bodies affecting or involving the
Company, including deregulation initiatives and the impact of rate and
tariff proceedings before FERC and various state regulatory
commissions;
|
·
|
the
speed and degree to which additional competition is introduced to the
Company’s business and the resulting effect on
revenues;
|
·
|
the
outcome of pending and future
litigation;
|
·
|
the
Company’s ability to comply with or to challenge successfully existing or
new environmental regulations;
|
·
|
unanticipated
environmental liabilities;
|
·
|
the
Company’s ability to acquire new businesses and assets and integrate those
operations into its existing operations, as well as its ability to expand
its existing businesses and
facilities;
|
·
|
the
Company’s ability to control costs successfully and achieve operating
efficiencies, including the purchase and implementation of new
technologies for achieving such
efficiencies;
|
·
|
the
impact of factors affecting operations such as maintenance or repairs,
environmental incidents, natural gas pipeline system constraints and
relations with labor unions representing bargaining-unit
employees;
|
·
|
exposure
to customer concentration with a significant portion of revenues realized
from a relatively small number of customers and any credit risks
associated with the financial position of those
customers;
|
·
|
changes
in the ratings of the debt securities of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries;
|
·
|
changes
in interest rates and other general capital markets conditions, and in the
Company’s ability to continue to access the capital
markets;
|
·
|
acts
of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other acts causing damage greater than
the Company’s insurance coverage
limits;
|
·
|
market
risks beyond the Company’s control affecting its risk management
activities including market liquidity, commodity price volatility and
counterparty creditworthiness; and
|
·
|
other
risks and unforeseen events.
|
ITEM
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
N/A
ITEM
2. Properties.
See Item 1. Business for
information concerning the general location and characteristics of the important
physical properties and assets of the Company.
ITEM
3. Legal Proceedings.
The
Company and certain of its affiliates are occasionally parties to lawsuits and
administrative proceedings incidental to their businesses involving, for
example, claims for personal injury and property damage, contractual matters,
various tax matters, and rates and licensing. The Company and its
affiliates are also subject to various federal, state and local laws and
regulations relating to the environment, as described in Item 1. Business –
Regulation. Several of these companies have been named parties to various
actions involving environmental issues. Based on the Company’s
current knowledge and subject to future legal and factual developments, the
Company’s management believes that it is unlikely that these actions,
individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash
flows. For additional information regarding various pending
administrative and judicial proceedings involving regulatory, environmental and
other legal matters, reference is made to Item 8, Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 3 – Regulatory Matters and Note 14 – Commitments and
Contingencies. Also see Item 1A. Risk Factors – Cautionary
Factors That May Affect Future Results.
ITEM
4. Reserved.
Item 4,
Reserved, has been omitted from this report pursuant to the reduced disclosure
format permitted by General Instruction I to Form 10-K.
PART
II
ITEM
5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters
and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
All of
the partnership interests in the Company are privately held by Southern Union
Panhandle, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union Company, and
Southern Union Company. See Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 1 - Corporate Structure.
ITEM
6. Selected Financial Data.
Item 6,
Selected Financial Data, has been omitted from this report pursuant to the
reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction I to Form
10-K.
ITEM
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operation.
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is
provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated financial statements
and notes to help provide an understanding of the Company’s financial condition,
changes in financial condition and results of operations. The
following section includes an overview of the Company’s business as well as
recent developments that management of the Company believes are important in
understanding its results of operations, and to anticipate future trends in
those operations. Subsequent sections include an analysis of the
Company’s results of operations on a consolidated basis and information relating
to the Company’s liquidity and capital resources, quantitative and qualitative
disclosures about market risk and other matters. The information
required by this Item is presented in a reduced disclosure format pursuant to
General Instruction I to Form 10-K. The Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements contain information that is pertinent to the analysis of
the Company’s financial condition and its results of operations, including a
discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
Overview
The
Company’s business purpose is to provide interstate transportation and storage
of natural gas transportation and storage in a safe, efficient and dependable
manner. The Company operates approximately 10,000 miles of interstate
pipelines that transport up to 5.5 Bcf/d of natural gas. For
additional information related to the Company’s line of business, locations of
operations and services provided, see Item 1.
Business.
The
Company’s business is conducted through both short- and long-term contracts with
customers. Shorter-term contracts, which can increase the volatility
of revenues, are driven by changes in market conditions and competition with
other pipelines, changing supply sources and volatility in natural gas
prices. Since the majority of the Company’s revenues are related to
firm capacity reservation charges, changes in commodity prices and volumes
transported do not have as significant an impact on revenues over the
short-term. However, longer-term demand for capacity may be affected
by changes in commodity prices and volumes transported. Over the past
several years, the weighted average life of contracts has actually trended
somewhat higher as customers have exhibited an increased focus in securing
longer-term supply and related transport capacity from the supply and market
areas served by the Company. For additional information concerning
the Company’s related risk factors and the weighted average remaining lives of
firm transportation and storage contracts, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and
Item 1. Business,
respectively.
The
Company’s regulated transportation and storage businesses periodically file (or
can be required to file) for changes in their rates, which are subject to
approval by FERC. Although a significant portion of the Company’s
contracts are discounted or negotiated rate contracts, changes in rates and
other tariff provisions resulting from these regulatory proceedings have the
potential to negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial
condition. For information related to the status of current rate
filings, see Item
1. Business – Regulation.
Results
of Operations
The
following table illustrates the results of operations of the Company for the
periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Operating
revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation
and storage of natural gas
|
|
$ |
607,366 |
|
|
$ |
582,942 |
|
|
$ |
511,340 |
|
LNG
terminalling revenue
|
|
|
134,026 |
|
|
|
128,950 |
|
|
|
135,447 |
|
Other
revenue
|
|
|
7,769 |
|
|
|
9,748 |
|
|
|
11,659 |
|
Total
operating revenue
|
|
|
749,161 |
|
|
|
721,640 |
|
|
|
658,446 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating,
maintenance and general
|
|
|
284,608 |
|
|
|
276,174 |
|
|
|
254,986 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
113,648 |
|
|
|
103,807 |
|
|
|
85,641 |
|
Taxes,
other than on income
|
|
|
34,537 |
|
|
|
32,059 |
|
|
|
29,698 |
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
432,793 |
|
|
|
412,040 |
|
|
|
370,325 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
316,368 |
|
|
|
309,600 |
|
|
|
288,121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(84,496 |
) |
|
|
(89,057 |
) |
|
|
(82,551 |
) |
Other,
net
|
|
|
10,443 |
|
|
|
26,663 |
|
|
|
41,172 |
|
Total
other expense, net
|
|
|
(74,053 |
) |
|
|
(62,394 |
) |
|
|
(41,379 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
before income taxes
|
|
|
242,315 |
|
|
|
247,206 |
|
|
|
246,742 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes
|
|
|
92,100 |
|
|
|
96,532 |
|
|
|
96,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
150,215 |
|
|
$ |
150,674 |
|
|
$ |
150,424 |
|
Year
ended December 31, 2009 versus the year ended December 31, 2008
Operating
Revenue. For the year
ended December 31, 2009, operating revenue increased $27.5 million versus the
same time period in 2008 primarily as the result of:
·
|
Increased
transportation and storage revenue of $24.4 million primarily attributable
to:
|
o
|
Higher
interruptible parking revenues of $17.1 million resulting from customer
demand for parking services, market conditions and the availability of
system capacity;
|
o
|
Higher
transportation reservation revenues of $13.3 million primarily due to
higher average rates realized on PEPL and contributions from various
expansion projects primarily consisting of the Trunkline Field Zone
Expansion and PEPL East End Enhancement projects, partially offset by
lower average rates realized on Trunkline and $1.2 million of additional
revenues in the 2008 period attributable to the extra day in the 2008 leap
year; and
|
o
|
Lower
transportation usage revenues of $7.4 million primarily due to reduced
volumes flowing on Sea Robin after Hurricane Ike;
and
|
·
|
A
$5.1 million increase in LNG terminalling revenue primarily due to higher
reservation revenues attributable to a one-time annual rate increase
associated with certain capacity effective January 1,
2009.
|
Operating
Expenses. Operating expenses for the year ended December 31,
2009 increased $20.8 million versus the same period in 2008 primarily as the
result of:
·
|
Higher
operating, maintenance and general expenses of $8.4 million in 2009 versus
2008 primarily attributable to:
|
o
|
A
$5.6 million increase in benefits primarily due to higher medical
costs;
|
o
|
A
$5.5 million increase in third-party transportation and storage expense
primarily due to additional capacity
contracted;
|
o
|
A
$4.8 million increase in fuel tracker costs primarily due to a net
over-recovery in 2008 versus a net under-recovery in 2009;
and
|
o
|
A
$6.4 million decrease in expense due to a provision reversal in 2009
related to past take-or-pay settlement contractual indemnities for which
performance by the Company has not been
required;
|
·
|
Increased
depreciation and amortization expense of $9.8 million in 2009 versus 2008
due to a $136 million increase in property, plant and equipment placed in
service after December 31, 2008. Depreciation and amortization
expense is expected to continue to increase primarily due to significant
capital additions, including capital spending associated with the LNG
terminal infrastructure enhancement construction project;
and
|
·
|
Increased
taxes, other than on income, of $2.5 million primarily due to higher
property tax assessments resulting from property additions and higher
operating income. Property tax expense is expected to continue
to increase primarily due to significant property additions, which has
been partially mitigated by certain temporary property tax
abatements.
|
Other Expense,
Net. Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2009
increased $11.7 million versus the same period in 2008 primarily as a result
of:
|
A
decrease in Other,
net of $16.2 million primarily due to lower interest income
associated with the affiliate note receivables resulting from lower
average affiliate note receivables balances outstanding and lower LIBOR
rates in the 2009 period compared to the 2008 period;
and
|
·
|
Lower
interest expense of $4.6 million primarily attributable to the retirement
of the $300 million 4.80% Senior Notes in August 2008 and the $60.6
million 6.50% Senior Notes in July 2009, lower interest rates on the
Company’s variable rate debt, and higher capitalized interest resulting
from higher average capital project balances outstanding in the 2009
period versus the 2008 period, partially offset by higher interest expense
resulting from the $400 million 7.00% Senior Notes issued in June 2008,
the $150 million 8.125% Senior Notes issued in June 2009 and higher
interest expense primarily attributable to lower net debt premium
amortizations in 2009 resulting from debt
retirements.
|
Income
Taxes. The Company’s EITR was 38 percent and 39 percent for
the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Income taxes
during the year ended December 31, 2009, versus the same period in 2008,
decreased $4.4 million primarily due to lower pretax earnings.
See Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies – Other Commitments
and Contingencies – 2008 Hurricane Damage for additional information
related to repair and abandonment provisions and insurance recovery resulting
from hurricane damage.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
generated from internal operations constitutes the Company’s primary source of
liquidity. The $155.4 million working capital deficit at December 31, 2009
is expected to be funded by cash flows from operations and from repayments from
Southern Union of intercompany loans. Based on the Company’s current level
of operations, management believes that cash flow from operations, available
existing cash, and other sources, including liquid working capital and new
borrowings, will be adequate to meet liquidity needs for the next several years,
although no assurances can be given as to the sufficiency of cash flows or the
ability to refinance existing obligations.
Operating
Activities. Cash generated from internal operations
constitutes the Company’s primary
source of liquidity. Additional sources of liquidity include use of
affiliate note receivables, project and bank financings, issuance of long-term
debt and proceeds from asset dispositions.
Cash
flows provided by operating activities were $409.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2009 compared with cash flows provided by operating activities of
$297.6 million for the same period in 2008, resulting in an increase in cash of
$111.5 million in 2009 compared to 2008. Changes in operating assets
and liabilities contributed cash of $28.8 million in 2009 and $4.4 million in
2008, resulting in an increase of cash from changes in operating assets and
liabilities of $24.4 million in 2009 compared to 2008.
Investing
Activities. The Company’s business strategy includes making
prudent capital expenditures across its base of interstate transmission
assets. Changes in cash flow resulting from investing activities
associated with these objectives are significantly impacted by the ongoing
expansion of the Company’s existing asset base through additions to property,
plant and equipment. Historically, the Company has utilized its
operating cash flow to satisfy its general capital requirements and has accessed
the capital markets only for extraordinary capital expenditures.
Cash
flows used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2009
increased by $168.3 million versus the same period in 2008. Such
increase in cash outlays from investing activities is primarily due to the
impact of $200 million net intercompany loans to Southern Union in 2009 versus
$94.1 million of loan repayments to the Company in 2008, partially offset by
lower net capital and property retirement expenditures of $170.7 million in the
2009 period versus the 2008 period. See Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 4 – Related Party
Transactions for information related to the intercompany loans with
Southern Union and Note 14 –
Commitments and Contingencies – Other Commitments and Contingencies – 2008
Hurricane Damage for information related to insurance recoveries, which
partially offset the capital and property retirement expenditures.
The
following table presents a summary of property, plant and equipment additions
related to major projects for the periods presented.
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment Additions
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LNG
Terminal Expansions/Enhancements
|
|
$ |
82,033 |
|
|
$ |
157,325 |
|
|
$ |
133,469 |
|
Trunkline
Field Zone Expansion
|
|
|
1,733 |
|
|
|
72,276 |
|
|
|
185,180 |
|
East
End Enhancement
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
35,062 |
|
|
|
80,249 |
|
Compression
Modernization
|
|
|
7,146 |
|
|
|
56,288 |
|
|
|
81,687 |
|
Other,
primarily pipeline integrity, system
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
reliability,
information technology, air
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
emission
compliance and net hurricane expenditures
|
|
|
156,185 |
|
|
|
113,053 |
|
|
|
110,568 |
|
Total (1)
|
|
$ |
247,097 |
|
|
$ |
434,004 |
|
|
$ |
591,153 |
|
___________________
(1)
|
Includes
net period changes in capital accruals totaling $(25) million, $(24.6)
million and $71.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and
2007, respectively.
|
Principal
Capital Expenditure Projects
See Item 1. Business – Recent System
Enhancements for a summary of the Company’s major 2009 and ongoing
capital expenditure projects.
2008 Hurricane
Damage. In
September 2008, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike came ashore on the Louisiana and Texas
coasts. Offshore transportation facilities, including Sea Robin and
Trunkline’s Terrebonne system, suffered damage to several platforms and
gathering pipelines. In late July 2009, during testing to put the remaining
offshore facilities back in service, Sea Robin experienced a pipeline rupture in
an area where the pipeline had previously been displaced during Hurricane Ike
and subsequently re-buried. Sea Robin experienced reduced volumes until January
2010 when the remainder of the damaged facilities were back in service.
The
capital replacement and retirement expenditures relating to Hurricane Ike have
been increased during 2009 to approximately $185 million and are expected to be
incurred through 2010. These estimates are subject to further
revision as the work is ongoing. Approximately $110 million and $23
million of the capital replacement and retirement expenditures were incurred as
of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company anticipates
reimbursement from OIL for a significant portion of the damages in excess of its
$10 million deductible; however, the recoverable amount is subject to pro rata
reduction to the extent that the level of total accepted claims from all
insureds exceeds the carrier’s $750 million aggregate exposure
limit. OIL has announced that it has reached the $750 million
aggregate exposure limit and has revised its estimated payout amount to
approximately 61 percent based on estimated claim information it has
received. OIL is currently making interim payouts at the rate of 50
percent of accepted claims. The Company has received $36.7
million for
claims submitted to date with respect to Hurricane Ike. The final
amount of any applicable pro rata reduction cannot be determined until OIL has
received and assessed all claims.
Potential Sea
Robin Impairment. Sea Robin,
comprised primarily of offshore facilities, suffered damage related to several
platforms and gathering pipelines from Hurricane Ike. See Part II, Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies and Other Matters – Asset Impairment for information related to
the Company’s analysis of the Sea Robin assets for potential impairment as of
December 31, 2009. The Company currently estimates that approximately
$135 million of the approximately $185 million total estimated capital
replacement and retirement expenditures to replace property and equipment
damaged by Hurricane Ike are related to Sea Robin. This estimate is
subject to further revision as certain work, primarily retirements, is ongoing.
The Company anticipates reimbursement from its property insurance carrier for
its damages in excess of its $10 million deductible, except for certain
expenditures not reimbursable under the insurance policy terms. See
Part II, Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies –
Other Commitments and Contingencies – 2008 Hurricane Damage for
additional related information. To the extent the Company’s capital
expenditures are not recovered through insurance proceeds, its net investment in
Sea Robin’s property and equipment would increase without necessarily generating
additional revenues unless the incremental costs are recovered through future
rate proceedings including the Hurricane surcharge filing approved by FERC in
September 2009. See Note 3 – Regulatory Matters
for information related to the surcharge filing. If the amount
of Sea Robin’s insurance reimbursements are significantly reduced from the
currently estimated 61 percent payout limit amount or it experiences other
adverse developments incrementally impacting the Company’s related net
investment or anticipated future cash flows that are not remedied through rate
proceedings, the Company could potentially be required to record an impairment
of its net investment in Sea Robin.
Financing
Activities. Cash
flows provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2009
increased by $57.1 million versus the same period in 2008 primarily due to net
debt issuances of $88.1 million in 2009 versus $44.1 million in
2008.
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company’s debt was rated Baa3 by Moody’s Investor
Services, Inc., BBB- by Standard & Poor’s and BBB- by Fitch
Ratings. The Company’s notes are subject to certain requirements,
such as the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio and a leverage ratio,
which if not maintained, restrict the ability of the Company to make certain
payments and impose limitations on the ability of the Company to subject its
property to liens. At December 31, 2009, the Company, based on the
currently most restrictive debt covenant requirements, was subject to a $914
million limitation on additional restricted payments including dividends and
loans to affiliates, and a limitation of $395 million of additional secured or
subsidiary level indebtedness or other defined liens based on a limitation on
liens covenant. The Company is also subject to a limitation of $702
million of total additional indebtedness. If the Company’s debt
ratings by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. were to fall below Baa3 or if its
debt ratings by Standard & Poor’s were to fall below BBB-, then the
allowable restricted payments would be reduced to $195.9 million. At
December 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all
covenants.
8.125% Senior
Notes. In June 2009, the Company issued $150 million in senior
notes due June 1, 2019 with an interest rate of 8.125 percent (8.125% Senior Notes).
In connection with the issuance of the 8.125% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs totaling approximately $1 million, resulting in
approximately $149 million in proceeds to the Company. The proceeds were
initially loaned to Southern Union Company, under the demand note between the
Company and Southern Union Company. A portion of such advanced
amounts was subsequently repaid by Southern Union to the Company and used to
repay the $60.6 million of 6.50% Senior Notes that matured on July 15,
2009.
7.00% Senior
Notes due 2018. In June 2008, the Company issued $400 million in
senior notes due June 15, 2018 with an interest rate of 7.00 percent (7.00% Senior Notes). In
connection with the issuance of the 7.00% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs totaling approximately $4.1 million, resulting
in approximately $395.9 million in proceeds to the Company. The proceeds
were initially loaned to Southern Union Company under the demand note between
the Company and Southern Union Company. Such advanced
amounts
were repaid by Southern Union to the Company and used to repay the $300 million
of 4.80% Senior Notes due August 15, 2008.
6.20% Senior
Notes. On October 26, 2007, the Company issued $300 million in
senior notes due November 1, 2017 with an interest rate of 6.20 percent (6.20% Senior Notes). In
connection with the issuance of the 6.20% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs of approximately $2.7 million. The debt
was priced to the public at 99.741 percent, resulting in $297.3 million in
proceeds to the Company. The proceeds were initially loaned to Southern
Union under a demand note between the Company and Southern Union, and were used
to repay approximately $246 million outstanding under Southern Union’s credit
facilities. The remaining proceeds of $51.3 million were initially
invested by Southern Union and subsequently utilized to fund working capital
obligations. Such advanced amounts have been subsequently repaid by
Southern Union to the Company and were used to fund ongoing capital projects and
for general corporate purposes.
LNG Holdings Term
Loans. On March 15, 2007, LNG Holdings, as borrower, and PEPL and
Trunkline LNG, as guarantors, entered into a $455 million unsecured term loan
facility due March 13, 2012 (2012 Term Loan). The
interest rate under the 2012 Term Loan is a floating rate tied to LIBOR or
the prime rate, at the Company’s option, in addition to a margin tied to the
rating of PEPL’s senior unsecured debt. The proceeds of the 2012 Term Loan
were used to repay approximately $455 million in existing indebtedness that
matured in March 2007, including the $200 million 2.75% Senior Notes and the LNG
Holdings $255.6 million Term Loan. LNG Holdings has entered into
interest rate swap agreements that effectively fix the interest rate applicable
to the 2012 Term Loan at 4.98 percent plus a credit spread of 0.625 percent,
based upon PEPL’s credit rating for its senior unsecured debt. The
balance of the 2012 Term Loan was $455 million at each of December 31, 2009 and
2008. See Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 7 – Debt – LNG Holdings Term
Loans for additional related information.
On
December 1, 2006, LNG Holdings, as borrower, and PEPL and CrossCountry Citrus,
as guarantors, entered into a $465 million unsecured term loan facility due
April 4, 2008 (2006 Term
Loan). On December 1, 2006, LNG Holdings loaned the proceeds
of the 2006 Term Loan to CrossCountry Citrus in exchange for an interest-bearing
promissory note with a principal amount of $465 million, the amount of the
proceeds of the 2006 Term Loan. On June 29, 2007, the parties entered
into an amended and restated term loan facility (Amended Credit
Agreement). The Amended Credit Agreement extended the maturity of
the term loan from April 4, 2008 to June 29, 2012, and decreased the interest
rate from LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points to LIBOR plus 55 basis points, based upon
the current credit rating of PEPL's senior unsecured debt. The balance of
the Amended Credit Agreement was $360.4 million and $360.4 million at effective
interest rates of 0.78 percent and 1.02 percent at December 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively. The balance and effective interest rate of the Amended
Credit Agreement at February 24, 2010 were $360.4 million and 0.78 percent,
respectively.
Retirement
of Debt Obligations
Retirement of
Debt Obligations. The Company plans to repay its $40.5 million
8.25% Senior Notes maturing in April 2010 by utilizing some combination of cash
flows from operations or from repayments from Southern Union of intercompany
loans.
For
additional information related to the Company’s debt, see Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data, Note 7 – Debt.
Other
Matters
Regulation.
See Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 – Regulatory Matters for information
related to the Company’s rate matters.
Environmental
Matters. The Company is subject to federal, state and local
laws and regulations relating to the protection of the
environment. These evolving laws and regulations may require
expenditures over a long period of time to control environmental
impacts. The Company has established procedures for the ongoing
evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental
exposures. These procedures are designed to achieve compliance with
such laws and regulations. For additional information concerning the
impact of environmental regulation on the Company, see Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 14 – Commitments and
Contingencies.
Contractual
Commitments. The following table summarizes the Company’s
expected contractual obligations by payment due date as of December 31,
2009.
|
|
Contractual
Obligations (In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015
and
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
thereafter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Leases (1)
|
|
$ |
91,711 |
|
|
$ |
12,585 |
|
|
$ |
11,921 |
|
|
$ |
11,960 |
|
|
$ |
11,968 |
|
|
$ |
11,969 |
|
|
$ |
31,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
long term debt (2)
|
|
|
2,022,196 |
|
|
|
40,500 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
815,391 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
916,305 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
payments on debt (3)
|
|
|
720,674 |
|
|
|
108,520 |
|
|
|
106,849 |
|
|
|
85,058 |
|
|
|
78,554 |
|
|
|
63,429 |
|
|
|
278,264 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Firm
capacity payments (4)
|
|
|
189,639 |
|
|
|
30,297 |
|
|
|
28,400 |
|
|
|
23,219 |
|
|
|
20,628 |
|
|
|
19,941 |
|
|
|
67,154 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPEB
funding (5)
|
|
|
38,215 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
3,062,435 |
|
|
$ |
199,545 |
|
|
$ |
154,813 |
|
|
$ |
943,271 |
|
|
$ |
368,793 |
|
|
$ |
102,982 |
|
|
$ |
1,293,031 |
|
___________________
(1)
|
Lease
of various assets utilized for
operations.
|
(2)
|
The
long-term debt cash obligations exclude $2.6 million of unamortized debt
premium as of December 31, 2009.
|
(3)
|
Interest
payments on debt are based upon the applicable stated or variable interest
rates as of December 31, 2009.
|
(4)
|
Charges
for third party storage capacity.
|
(5)
|
Panhandle
is committed to the funding levels of $7.6 million per year until modified
by future rate proceedings, the timing of which is
uncertain.
|
Financial Sector
Exposure. Recent events in the global financial markets have
caused the Company to place increased scrutiny on its liquidity position and the
financial condition of its critical third-party business partners, including the
Company’s future capital needs (including long-term borrowing needs and
potential refinancing plans), derivative counterparties, customer and other
contractual relationships. The Company uses publicly available
information to assess the potential impact of the current credit markets and
related liquidity issues on its business partners and to assess the associated
business risks to the Company.
While the
recent credit disruptions have not had a significant impact on the Company or
its liquidity position, the Company cannot predict the impact of any future
credit disruptions.
Inflation. The
Company believes that inflation has caused, and may continue to cause, increases
in certain operating expenses, capital replacement and construction
costs. The Company continually reviews the adequacy of its rates in
relation to such increasing cost of providing services, the inherent regulatory
lag in adjusting its tariff rates and the rates it is actually able to charge in
its markets.
Trunkline LNG
Cost and Revenue Study. On July 1, 2009, Trunkline LNG filed a
Cost and Revenue Study in compliance with FERC orders with respect to the prior
Trunkline LNG facility expansions completed in 2006. BG LNG Services,
LLC (BGLS) filed a motion to intervene and protest on July 14,
2009. Due to the negotiated rate provisions of the contracts with
BGLS, extending through the end of 2015, the Company believes that the final
disposition of these Cost and Revenue Study proceedings will not have an impact
on Trunkline LNG’s revenues through the end of 2015.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
See Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies and Other Matters – New Accounting Principles.
ITEM
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risks.
Interest
Rate Risk
The
Company is subject to the risk of loss associated with movements in market
interest rates. The Company manages this risk through the use of
fixed-rate debt, floating-rate debt and interest rate
swaps. Fixed-rate swaps are used to reduce the risk of increased
interest costs during periods of rising interest rates. Floating-rate
swaps are used to convert the fixed rates of long-term borrowings into
short-term variable rates. At December 31, 2009, the interest rate on
82 percent of the Company’s long-term debt was fixed after considering the
impact of interest rate swaps.
At
December 31, 2009, $18.8 million is included in Other Current Liabilities and
$14 million is included in Other Non-current Liabilities
in the Consolidated Balance Sheet related to the fixed-rate interest rate swaps
on the $455 million Term Loan due 2012.
At
December 31, 2009, a 100 basis point change in the annual interest rate on all
outstanding floating-rate long-term debt would correspondingly change the
Company’s interest payments by approximately $300,000 for each month during
which such change continued. If interest rates changed significantly,
the Company may take actions to manage its exposure to the change. No
change has been assumed, as a specific action and the possible effects are
uncertain.
The
Company has entered into treasury rate locks from time to time to manage its
exposure against changes in future interest payments attributable to changes in
the US treasury rates. By entering into these agreements, the Company
locks in an agreed upon interest rate until the settlement of the contract,
which typically occurs when the associated long-term debt is
sold. The Company accounts for the treasury rate locks as cash flow
hedges. The Company’s most recent treasury rate locks were settled in
February and June 2008.
The
change in exposure to loss in earnings and cash flow related to interest rate
risk for the year ended December 31, 2009 is not material to the
Company.
See Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 10 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities and Note 7
– Debt for
additional related information.
Commodity
Price Risk
The
Company is exposed to some commodity price risk with respect to natural gas used
in operations by its interstate pipelines. Specifically, the
pipelines receive natural gas from customers for use in generating compression
to move the customers’ natural gas. Additionally the pipelines may
have to settle system imbalances when customers’ actual receipts and deliveries
do not match. When the amount of natural gas utilized in operations
by the pipelines differs from the amount provided by customers, the pipelines
may use natural gas from inventory or may have to buy or sell natural gas to
cover these or other operational needs, resulting in commodity price risk
exposure to the Company. In addition, there is other indirect
exposure to the extent commodity price changes affect customer demand for and
utilization of transportation and storage services provided by the
Company. At December 31, 2009, there were no hedges in place with
respect to natural gas price risk associated with the Company’s interstate
pipeline operations.
ITEM
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The
information required here is included in the report as set forth in the Index to Consolidated Financial
Statements on page F-1.
ITEM
9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure.
None.
ITEM
9A(T). Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The
Company has established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company, including consolidated
entities, in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SEC’s rules and forms. The Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in
the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
communicated to management, including the COO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company performed
an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management,
including its COO and CFO, and with the participation of personnel from its
Legal, Internal Audit, Insurance and Financial Reporting Departments, of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the
period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the
Company’s COO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of December 31, 2009. Management has
also communicated that determination to the board of managers and Southern
Union’s audit committee, which also serves as the Company’s audit
committee.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The
Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial
reporting is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) as a process designed by, or
under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive officer and
principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and
effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:
·
|
Provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that
receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance
with authorizations of management and directors of the
Company;
|
·
|
Pertain
to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
Company; and
|
·
|
Provide
reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
Exchange
Act Rules 13a-15(c) and 15d-15(c) and Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 require management of the Company to conduct an annual evaluation of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting and to provide a report on
management’s assessment, including a statement as to whether or not internal
control over financial reporting is effective. Pursuant to the
temporary rules of the SEC, Management’s attestation report regarding internal
control over financial reporting was not subject to attestation by the Company’s
independent registered public accountant. As such, this Form 10-K
does not contain an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered
public accountant regarding internal control over financial
reporting.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management’s
evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting was based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its evaluation under that
framework and applicable SEC rules, management concluded that the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31,
2009.
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP
March 1,
2010
Changes
in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal
controls over financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. Other Information.
All
information required to be reported on Form 8-K for the quarter ended December
31, 2009 was appropriately reported.
PART
III
ITEM
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance.
Item 10,
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance, has been omitted from
this report pursuant to the reduced disclosure format permitted by General
Instruction I to Form 10-K.
ITEM
11. Executive Compensation.
Item 11,
Executive Compensation, has been omitted from this report pursuant to the
reduced disclosure format permitted by General Instruction I to Form
10-K.
ITEM
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
and Related Stockholder Matters.
Item 12,
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters, has been omitted from this report pursuant to the reduced
disclosure format permitted by General Instruction I to Form 10-K.
ITEM
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
Item 13,
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence, has
been omitted from this report pursuant to the reduced disclosure format
permitted by General Instruction I to Form 10-K.
ITEM
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Below is
a summary of fees billed to the Company by its principal audit firm for the
periods indicated.
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands) |
|
Audit
Fees (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP
|
|
$ |
1,132 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fees
|
|
$ |
1,268 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,268 |
|
___________________
(1)
|
Audit
Fees represents fees billed for professional services rendered for the
Company’s integrated annual audit.
|
(2)
|
Audit-Related
Fees represents fees billed for the issuance of debt and audit of the
Company’s centralized data center’s procedures.
|
The audit
committee has adopted a policy requiring pre-approval of all audit and non-audit
services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be provided to the Company by
its independent auditor, other than non-audit services not recognized to be
non-audit services at the time of the engagement that meet the de minimis exceptions
described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
provided that they are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion
of the audit.
PART
IV
ITEM
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)(1)
and (2)
|
Financial
Statements and Financial Statement
Schedules.
|
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
|
3(a)
|
Certificate
of Formation of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company,
LP. (Filed as Exhibit 3.A to the Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by
reference.)
|
|
|
3(b)
|
Limited
Partnership Agreement of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, dated as
of June 29, 2004, between Southern Union Company and Southern Union
Panhandle LLC. (Filed as Exhibit 3.B to the Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by
reference.)
|
|
|
4(a)
|
Indenture
dated as of March 29, 1999, among CMS Panhandle Holding Company, Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company and NBD Bank (the predecessor to Bank One Trust
Company, National Association, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. and The Bank of New
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4(a) to
the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999, and incorporated
herein by reference.)
|
|
|
4(b)
|
First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 29, 1999, among CMS Panhandle
Holding Company, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company and NBD Bank (the
predecessor to Bank One Trust Company, National Association, J.P. Morgan
Trust Company, National Association, The Bank of New York Trust Company,
N.A. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee,
including a form of Guarantee by Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company of
the obligations of CMS Panhandle Holding Company. (Filed as Exhibit 4(b)
to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999, and incorporated
herein by reference.)
|
4(c)
|
Second
Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 27, 2000, between Panhandle and
Bank One Trust Company, National Association (succeeded to by The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which changed its name to The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4(e)
to the Form S-4 (File No. 333-39850) filed on June 22, 2000, and
incorporated herein by reference.)
|
|
|
4(d)
|
Third
Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 18, 2003, between Panhandle and
Bank One Trust Company, National Association (succeeded to by The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which changed its name to The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee. (Filed as Exhibit 4(d)
to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and
incorporated herein by reference.)
|
|
|
4(e)
|
Fourth
Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 12, 2004, between Panhandle and
J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (succeeded to by The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which changed its name to The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee. (Filed as
Exhibit 4.E to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and
incorporated herein by reference.)
|
|
|
4(f)
|
Fifth
Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 26, 2007, between Panhandle and
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (now known as The Bank of New
York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
Panhandle’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 29, 2007 and
incorporated herein by reference.)
|
|
|
4(g)
|
Form
of Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 12, 2008, between
Panhandle and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (now known as The
Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as Trustee (Filed as Exhibit
4.1 to Panhandle’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 11, 2008 and
incorporated herein by reference.)
|
|
|
10(a)
10(b)
|
Form
of Seventh Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of June 2, 2009, between
Panhandle and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (Filed as
Exhibit 4.1 to Panhandle’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28,
2009 and incorporated herein by reference).
Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement between Trunkline LNG Holdings, LLC, as
borrower, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP and CrossCountry Citrus,
LLC, as guarantors, the financial institutions listed therein and
Bayerische Hypo-Und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as administrative
agent, dated as of June 29, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Panhandle’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2007 and incorporated herein
by reference.)
|
|
|
10(c)
10(d)
|
Amendment
Number 1 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between Trunkline
LNG Holdings, LLC as borrower, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP and
CrossCountry Citrus, LLC, as guarantors, the financial institutions listed
therein and Bayerische Hypo-Und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as
administrative agent, dated as of June 13, 2008 (Filed as Exhibit 10(b) to
the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 and incorporated herein
by reference.)
Credit
Agreement between Trunkline LNG Holdings, LLC, as borrower, Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP and Trunkline LNG Company, LLC, as
guarantors, the financial institutions listed therein and Bayerische Hypo-
Und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as administrative agent, dated as of
March 15, 2007. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Panhandle’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2007 and incorporated herein by
reference.)
|
|
|
10(e)
|
Amended
and Restated Promissory Note made by CrossCountry Citrus, LLC, as
borrower, in favor of Trunkline LNG Holdings LLC, as holder, dated as of
June 13, 2008 (Filed as Exhibit 10(d) to the Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 30, 2008 and incorporated herein by
reference.)
|
12
|
Ratio
of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
|
|
23.1
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Panhandle Eastern
Pipe Line Company, LP.
|
|
|
24
|
Power
of Attorney.
|
|
|
31.1
|
Certificate
by President and Chief Operating Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) or
15d – 14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
31.2
|
Certificate
by Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a
– 14(a) or 15d – 14(a) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to
Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
32.1
|
Certificate
by President and Chief Operating Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(b) or
15d – 14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section
1350.
|
|
|
32.2
|
Certificate
by Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a
– 14(b) or 15d – 14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section
1350.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP has duly caused this Annual Report
on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, on March 1, 2010.
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
|
|
|
|
By:
/s/ ROBERT
O. BOND
|
|
Robert
O. Bond
|
|
President
and Chief Operating Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report
has been signed by the following persons on behalf of Panhandle Eastern Pipe
Line Company, LP and in the capacities indicated as of March 1,
2010.
Signature
|
Title
|
(i)
|
Principal
executive officer:
/s/ Robert O. Bond
Robert O. Bond
|
President
and Chief Operating Officer
|
(ii)
|
Principal
financial officer:
/s/ Richard N. Marshall
Richard N. Marshall
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
(iii)
|
Principal
accounting officer:
/s/ Gary W. Lefelar
Gary W. Lefelar
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Accounting
Officer
|
(iv)
|
A
majority of the Board of Directors of Southern Union Company, Sole Member
of Southern Union Panhandle, LLC, General Partner of Panhandle Eastern
Pipe Line Company, L.P.
|
|
|
/s/ George L. Lindemann*
George
L. Lindemann
/s/ Eric Herschmann*
Eric
Herschmann
|
Chairman,
Southern Union Company
Vice
Chairman, Southern Union Company
|
/s/ Michal Barzuza*
Michal
Barzuza
/s/ David Brodsky*
David
Brodsky
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/ Frank W. Denius*
Frank
W. Denius
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/Kurt A. Gitter, M.D.*
Kurt
A. Gitter, M.D.
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/ Herbert H. Jacobi*
Herbert
H. Jacobi
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/ Thomas N. McCarter, III*
Thomas
N. McCarter, III
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/ George Rountree, III*
George
Rountree, III
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
/s/ Allan D. Scherer*
Allan
D. Scherer
|
Director,
Southern Union Company
|
|
|
*By: /s/ RICHARD N.
MARSHALL
|
*By: /s/ ROBERT M.
KERRIGAN, III
|
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Vice
President and Secretary
|
Attorney-in-fact
|
Attorney-in-fact
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE, LP
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data:
|
|
Consolidated
Statement of Operations
|
F-2
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet
|
F-3
– F-4
|
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows
|
F-5
|
Consolidated
Statement of Partners' Capital and Comprehensive Income
|
F-6
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-7
– F-38
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-39
|
All
schedules are omitted as the required information is not applicable or the
information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related
notes.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Operating
revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation
and storage of natural gas
|
|
$ |
607,366 |
|
|
$ |
582,942 |
|
|
$ |
511,340 |
|
LNG
terminalling revenue
|
|
|
134,026 |
|
|
|
128,950 |
|
|
|
135,447 |
|
Other
revenue
|
|
|
7,769 |
|
|
|
9,748 |
|
|
|
11,659 |
|
Total
operating revenue
|
|
|
749,161 |
|
|
|
721,640 |
|
|
|
658,446 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating,
maintenance and general
|
|
|
237,035 |
|
|
|
225,517 |
|
|
|
207,125 |
|
Operating,
maintenance and general - affiliate (Note 4)
|
|
|
47,573 |
|
|
|
50,657 |
|
|
|
47,861 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
113,648 |
|
|
|
103,807 |
|
|
|
85,641 |
|
Taxes,
other than on income
|
|
|
34,537 |
|
|
|
32,059 |
|
|
|
29,698 |
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
432,793 |
|
|
|
412,040 |
|
|
|
370,325 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
316,368 |
|
|
|
309,600 |
|
|
|
288,121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(84,496 |
) |
|
|
(89,057 |
) |
|
|
(82,551 |
) |
Interest
income - affiliates (Note 4)
|
|
|
8,970 |
|
|
|
24,411 |
|
|
|
39,405 |
|
Other,
net
|
|
|
1,473 |
|
|
|
2,252 |
|
|
|
1,767 |
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
(74,053 |
) |
|
|
(62,394 |
) |
|
|
(41,379 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
before income taxes
|
|
|
242,315 |
|
|
|
247,206 |
|
|
|
246,742 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes (Note 9)
|
|
|
92,100 |
|
|
|
96,532 |
|
|
|
96,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
150,215 |
|
|
$ |
150,674 |
|
|
$ |
150,424 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
28 |
|
Accounts
receivable, billed and unbilled,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less
allowances of $1,147 and $1,161, respectively
|
|
|
67,485 |
|
|
|
74,058 |
|
Accounts
receivable - related parties (Note 4)
|
|
|
6,083 |
|
|
|
6,596 |
|
Natural
gas imbalances - receivable
|
|
|
126,842 |
|
|
|
171,689 |
|
System
natural gas and operating supplies
|
|
|
214,706 |
|
|
|
196,603 |
|
Note
receivable - CrossCountry Citrus (Note 4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
24,265 |
|
Other
|
|
|
29,050 |
|
|
|
19,711 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
444,221 |
|
|
|
492,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment (Note 12)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plant
in service
|
|
|
3,353,822 |
|
|
|
3,217,832 |
|
Construction
work-in-progress
|
|
|
495,588 |
|
|
|
403,344 |
|
|
|
|
3,849,410 |
|
|
|
3,621,176 |
|
Less
accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
493,873 |
|
|
|
394,307 |
|
Net
property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
3,355,537 |
|
|
|
3,226,869 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
receivable - Southern Union (Note 4)
|
|
|
327,480 |
|
|
|
127,530 |
|
Note
receivable - CrossCountry Citrus (Note 4)
|
|
|
368,126 |
|
|
|
368,126 |
|
Non-current
system natural gas
|
|
|
8,831 |
|
|
|
17,687 |
|
Other
|
|
|
20,202 |
|
|
|
20,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
4,524,397 |
|
|
$ |
4,253,987 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)
PARTNERS’
CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Partners'
capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners'
capital
|
|
$ |
1,493,036 |
|
|
$ |
1,342,821 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
(19,541 |
) |
|
|
(28,301 |
) |
Tax
sharing note receivable - Southern Union
|
|
|
(5,218 |
) |
|
|
(8,561 |
) |
Total
partners' capital
|
|
|
1,468,277 |
|
|
|
1,305,959 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt (Note 7)
|
|
|
1,984,246 |
|
|
|
1,874,349 |
|
Total
capitalization
|
|
|
3,452,523 |
|
|
|
3,180,308 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt (Note 7)
|
|
|
40,500 |
|
|
|
60,623 |
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
8,228 |
|
|
|
7,754 |
|
Accounts
payable - related parties (Note 4)
|
|
|
24,881 |
|
|
|
71,895 |
|
Natural
gas imbalances - payable
|
|
|
321,638 |
|
|
|
338,591 |
|
Accrued
taxes
|
|
|
17,975 |
|
|
|
13,561 |
|
Accrued
interest
|
|
|
15,125 |
|
|
|
15,861 |
|
Capital
accruals
|
|
|
50,246 |
|
|
|
71,821 |
|
Other
|
|
|
121,039 |
|
|
|
80,983 |
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
599,632 |
|
|
|
661,089 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
income taxes, net (Note 9)
|
|
|
418,992 |
|
|
|
281,778 |
|
Other
|
|
|
53,250 |
|
|
|
130,812 |
|
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 14)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
partners' capital and liabilities
|
|
$ |
4,524,397 |
|
|
$ |
4,253,987 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Cash
flows provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
150,215 |
|
|
$ |
150,674 |
|
|
$ |
150,424 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
113,648 |
|
|
|
103,807 |
|
|
|
85,641 |
|
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
|
|
116,481 |
|
|
|
38,672 |
|
|
|
25,770 |
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
7,085 |
|
|
|
(1,614 |
) |
|
|
(1,245 |
) |
Inventory
|
|
|
12,692 |
|
|
|
(3,273 |
) |
|
|
14,649 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
2,437 |
|
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
5,712 |
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
4,970 |
|
|
|
(154 |
) |
|
|
(7,155 |
) |
Accrued
taxes
|
|
|
7,757 |
|
|
|
4,303 |
|
|
|
6,200 |
|
Interest
accrued
|
|
|
(736 |
) |
|
|
(4,443 |
) |
|
|
635 |
|
Other
liabilities
|
|
|
(5,449 |
) |
|
|
9,310 |
|
|
|
(17,519 |
) |
Net
cash flows provided by operating activities
|
|
|
409,100 |
|
|
|
297,554 |
|
|
|
263,112 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
decrease (increase) in note receivable - Southern Union
|
|
|
(199,950 |
) |
|
|
94,125 |
|
|
|
(73,000 |
) |
Net
increase (decrease) in income taxes payable - related
parties (Note 4)
|
|
|
(34,347 |
) |
|
|
15,005 |
|
|
|
38,998 |
|
Decrease
in note receivable - CrossCountry Citrus
|
|
|
24,265 |
|
|
|
19,829 |
|
|
|
52,780 |
|
Additions
to property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
(270,772 |
) |
|
|
(472,254 |
) |
|
|
(519,972 |
) |
Plant
retirements and other
|
|
|
(16,271 |
) |
|
|
14,554 |
|
|
|
2,858 |
|
Net
cash flows used in investing activities
|
|
|
(497,075 |
) |
|
|
(328,741 |
) |
|
|
(498,336 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease
in book overdraft
|
|
|
(111 |
) |
|
|
(13,221 |
) |
|
|
(5,842 |
) |
Issuance
of long-term debt
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
755,000 |
|
Repayment
of debt
|
|
|
(60,623 |
) |
|
|
(351,829 |
) |
|
|
(508,406 |
) |
Issuance
costs of debt
|
|
|
(1,264 |
) |
|
|
(2,915 |
) |
|
|
(5,739 |
) |
Other |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,140 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net
cash flows provided by financing activities
|
|
|
88,002 |
|
|
|
30,895 |
|
|
|
235,013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change
in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
(292 |
) |
|
|
(211 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
320 |
|
|
|
531 |
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
28 |
|
|
$ |
320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid during the period for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
(net of interest rate swap and amounts capitalized)
|
|
$ |
108,861 |
|
|
$ |
106,359 |
|
|
$ |
83,214 |
|
Income
taxes (net of refunds)
|
|
|
6,623 |
|
|
|
38,713 |
|
|
|
25,400 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Partners'
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
|
|
|
Tax
Sharing Note Receivable-
Southern
Union
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2006
|
|
$ |
1,041,723 |
|
|
$ |
15,477 |
|
|
$ |
(16,431 |
) |
|
$ |
1,040,769 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
sharing receivable - Southern Union (Note 4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,727 |
|
|
|
3,727 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
150,424 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
150,424 |
|
Net
change in other comprehensive income (Note 6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(13,841 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(13,841 |
) |
Comprehensive
income
|
|
|
150,424 |
|
|
|
(13,841 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
136,583 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
1,192,147 |
|
|
$ |
1,636 |
|
|
$ |
(12,704 |
) |
|
$ |
1,181,079 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
sharing receivable - Southern Union (Note 4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,143 |
|
|
|
4,143 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
150,674 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
150,674 |
|
Net
change in other comprehensive income (Note 6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(29,937 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(29,937 |
) |
Comprehensive
income
|
|
|
150,674 |
|
|
|
(29,937 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
120,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
1,342,821 |
|
|
$ |
(28,301 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,561 |
) |
|
$ |
1,305,959 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
sharing receivable - Southern Union (Note 4)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,343 |
|
|
|
3,343 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
150,215 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
150,215 |
|
Net
change in other comprehensive income (Note 6)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8,760 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8,760 |
|
Comprehensive
income
|
|
|
150,215 |
|
|
|
8,760 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
158,975 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2009
|
|
$ |
1,493,036 |
|
|
$ |
(19,541 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,218 |
) |
|
$ |
1,468,277 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Corporate
Structure
Panhandle
is primarily engaged in the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas
and also provides LNG terminalling and regasification services. The
Company is subject to the rules and regulations of the FERC. The
Company’s entities include the following:
·
|
PEPL,
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union
Company;
|
·
|
Trunkline,
a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
Sea
Robin, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
LNG
Holdings, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL;
|
·
|
Trunkline
LNG, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of LNG Holdings;
and
|
·
|
Southwest
Gas Storage, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of
PEPL.
|
The
Company’s pipeline assets include approximately 10,000 miles of interstate
pipelines that transport natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico, South Texas and
the panhandle regions of Texas and Oklahoma to major U.S. markets in the Midwest
and Great Lakes region. The pipelines have a combined peak day
delivery capacity of 5.5 Bcf/d and approximately 68.1 Bcf of owned underground
storage capacity. The Company also owns and operates an LNG import
terminal located on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, and has 9.0 Bcf of above ground LNG
storage capacity.
Southern
Union Panhandle, LLC, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union
Company, serves as the general partner of PEPL and owns a one percent general
partnership interest in PEPL. Southern Union Company owns a
ninety-nine percent limited partnership interest in PEPL.
2. Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Matters
The FASB
Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) became
effective on July 1, 2009, officially becoming the single source of
authoritative nongovernmental GAAP, superseding existing FASB, American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Emerging Issues Task Force, and
related accounting literature. Only one level of authoritative GAAP now exists.
All other accounting literature is considered non-authoritative. The
Codification reorganizes the thousands of GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90
accounting topics and displays them using a consistent structure. Also included
in the Codification is relevant SEC guidance organized using the same topical
structure in separate sections within the Codification. The Codification is
effective for financial statements that cover interim and annual periods ending
after September 15, 2009. The Company’s financial statements have
only been impacted to the extent that all references to authoritative accounting
literature have been referenced in accordance with the
Codification.
Basis of
Presentation. The Company’s consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The
Company is subject to regulation by certain state and federal
authorities. The Company has accounting policies that do not conform
to authoritative guidance which are in accordance with the accounting
requirements and ratemaking practices of the regulatory
authorities. In 1999, the Company discontinued application of
regulatory-based accounting policies for its units which had been applying such
accounting policies, primarily due to the level of discounting from tariff rates
and its inability to recover specific costs. The accounting required
by the regulatory-based authoritative guidance differs from the accounting
required for businesses that do not apply its
provisions. Transactions that are generally recorded differently as a
result of applying regulatory accounting requirements include, among others,
recording of regulatory assets, the capitalization of an equity component of
invested funds on regulated capital projects and depreciation
differences. The Company periodically reviews its level of
discounting and negotiated rate contracts, the length of rate moratoriums and
other related factors to determine if the regulatory-based authoritative
guidance should be applied.
Principles of
Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include
the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries, after eliminating significant
intercompany transactions and balances. Investments in businesses not
controlled by PEPL, but over which it has significant influence, are accounted
for using the equity method. Investments that are variable interest
entities are consolidated if the Company is allocated a majority of the entity’s
gains and/or losses, including fees paid by the entity. Certain
reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s condensed financial
statements to conform to the current year presentation.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Use of
Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Cash and Cash
Equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid
investments, which are readily convertible into cash and have original
maturities of three months or less.
System Natural
Gas and Operating Supplies. System natural gas and operating
supplies consist of natural gas held for operations and materials and supplies,
both of which are stated at the lower of weighted average cost or market, while
natural gas owed back to customers is valued at market. The natural
gas held for operations that the Company does not expect to consume in its
operations in the next twelve months is reflected in non-current
assets.
The
components of inventory at the dates indicated are as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural
gas (1)
|
|
$ |
198,712 |
|
|
$ |
182,547 |
|
Materials
and supplies
|
|
|
15,994 |
|
|
|
14,056 |
|
Total
current
|
|
|
214,706 |
|
|
|
196,603 |
|
Non-Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural
gas (1)
|
|
|
8,831 |
|
|
|
17,687 |
|
|
|
$ |
223,537 |
|
|
$ |
214,290 |
|
______________________________
(1)
|
Natural
gas volumes held for operations at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were
35,039,000 MMBtu and 31,751,000 MMBtu,
respectively.
|
Natural Gas
Imbalances. Natural gas imbalances
occur as a result of differences in volumes of natural gas received and
delivered. The Company records natural gas imbalance in-kind
receivables and payables at cost or market, based on whether net imbalances have
reduced or increased system natural gas balances, respectively. Net
imbalances that have reduced system natural gas are valued at the cost basis of
the system natural gas, while net imbalances that have increased system natural
gas and are owed back to customers are priced, along with the corresponding
system natural gas, at market.
Fuel
Tracker. The fuel tracker is the cumulative balance of
compressor fuel volumes owed to the Company by its customers or owed by the
Company to its customers. The customers, pursuant to each pipeline’s
tariff and related contracts, provide all compressor fuel to the pipeline based
on specified percentages of the customer’s natural gas volumes delivered into
the pipeline. The percentages are designed to match the actual
natural gas consumed in moving the natural gas through the pipeline facilities,
with any difference between the volumes provided versus volumes consumed
reflected in the fuel tracker. The tariff of Trunkline Gas contains
explicit language which, in conjunction with the customers’ contractual
obligations, allows the Company to record an asset and direct bill customers for
any fuel ultimately under-recovered. Effective November 2008,
Trunkline LNG entered into a settlement with its customer which provides for
monthly reimbursement of actual fuel usage costs, resulting in Trunkline LNG no
longer having a fuel tracker. The other FERC-regulated Panhandle
entities record an expense when fuel is under-recovered or record a credit to
expense to the extent any under-recovered prior period
balances are subsequently recouped as they do not have such explicit billing
rights specified in their tariffs. Liability accounts are maintained
for net volumes of compressor fuel natural gas owed to customers
collectively. The pipelines’ fuel reimbursement is in-kind and
non-discountable.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Property, Plant
and Equipment. Ongoing additions of property, plant and equipment are
stated at cost. The Company capitalizes all construction-related direct labor
and material costs, as well as indirect construction costs. The cost of
replacements and betterments that extend the useful life of property, plant and
equipment is also capitalized. The cost of repairs and replacements of minor
property, plant and equipment items is charged to expense as
incurred.
When
property, plant and equipment is retired, the original cost less salvage value
is charged to accumulated depreciation and amortization. When entire
regulated operating units of property, plant and equipment are retired or sold
or non-regulated properties are retired or sold, the property and related
accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts are reduced, and any gain or
loss is recorded in earnings.
The
Company computes depreciation expense using the straight-line
method.
Computer
software, which is a component of property, plant and equipment, is stated at
cost and is generally amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life on
a product-by-product basis.
Asset
Impairment. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying
amount of a long-lived asset used in operations is not recoverable and exceeds
its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not
recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to
result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset.
A
long-lived asset is tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be
recoverable. The long-lived assets of Sea Robin were evaluated as of
December 31, 2009 and 2008 because indicators of potential impairment were
evident primarily due to the impacts associated with Hurricane Ike and due to
reductions in the estimated payout from the Company’s insurance carrier for
reimbursable expenditures for the repair, retirement or replacement of the
Company’s property, plant and equipment damaged by Hurricane Ike, which is more
fully discussed in Note 14 –
Commitments and Contingencies – Other Commitments and Contingencies – 2008
Hurricane Damage. Based upon the Company’s analysis, no
impairment of the carrying value of the Sea Robin assets has occurred at this
time.
Related Party
Transactions. Related
party expenses primarily include payments for services provided by Southern
Union. Other income is primarily related to interest income from the
Notes receivable from Southern Union and CrossCountry Citrus, an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern Union. See Note 4 – Related Party
Transactions.
A portion
of the Company’s revenues for the transportation of natural gas includes
revenues from Missouri Gas Energy, a division of Southern Union that is a
natural gas utility having a service territory covering Kansas City, Missouri
and parts of western Missouri.
PEPL and
certain of its subsidiaries are not treated as separate taxpayers for federal
and certain state income tax purposes. Instead, the Company’s income
is taxable to Southern Union. The Company has entered into a tax
sharing agreement with Southern Union pursuant to which the Company will be
required to make payments to Southern Union in order to reimburse Southern Union
for federal and state taxes that it pays on the Company’s income, or to receive
payments from Southern Union to the extent that tax losses generated by the
Company are utilized by Southern Union. In addition, the Company’s
subsidiaries that are corporations are included in consolidated and combined
federal and state income tax returns filed by Southern Union. The
Company’s liability generally is equal to the liability that the Company and its
subsidiaries would have incurred based upon the Company’s taxable income if the
Company was a taxpayer filing separately from Southern Union, except that the
Company will receive credit under an intercompany note for any increased
liability resulting from its tax basis in its assets having been reduced as a
result of the like-kind exchange under Section 1031 of the Code. The
tax sharing agreement may be amended from time to time.
Unamortized Debt
Premium, Discount and Expense. The Company amortizes premiums,
discounts and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term
debt consistent with the terms of the respective debt
instrument.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Environmental
Expenditures. Environmental
expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations that
do not contribute to current or future revenue generation are
expensed. Environmental expenditures relating to current or future
revenues are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Liabilities are
recorded when environmental assessments and/or clean-ups are probable and the
costs can be reasonably estimated. Remediation obligations are not
discounted because the timing of future cash flow streams is not
predictable.
Revenues. The
Company’s revenues from transportation and storage of natural gas and LNG
terminalling are based on capacity reservation charges and commodity usage
charges. Reservation revenues are based on contracted rates and
capacity reserved by the customers and are recognized
monthly. Revenues from commodity usage charges are also recognized
monthly, based on the volumes received from or delivered to the customer,
depending on the tariff of that particular Panhandle entity, with any
differences in received and delivered volumes resulting in an
imbalance. Volume imbalances generally are settled in-kind with no
impact on revenues, with the exception of Trunkline, which settles certain
imbalances in cash pursuant to its tariff, and records gains and losses on such
cashout sales as a component of revenue, to the extent not owed back to
customers.
Accounts
Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The Company
manages trade credit risks to minimize exposure to uncollectible trade
receivables. Prospective and existing customers are reviewed for
creditworthiness based upon pre-established standards. Customers that
do not meet minimum standards are required to provide additional credit
support. The Company utilizes the allowance method for recording its
allowance for uncollectible accounts, which is primarily based on the
application of historical bad debt percentages applied against its aged accounts
receivable. Increases in the allowance are recorded as a component of
operating expenses. Reductions in the allowance are recorded when
receivables are written off or subsequently collected.
The
following table presents the balance in the allowance for doubtful accounts and
activity for the periods presented:
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
balance
|
|
$ |
1,161 |
|
|
$ |
1,163 |
|
|
$ |
1,176 |
|
Additions: charged
to cost and expenses
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Deductions: write-off
of uncollectible accounts
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(13 |
) |
Ending
balance
|
|
$ |
1,147 |
|
|
$ |
1,161 |
|
|
$ |
1,163 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table presents the relative contribution to the Company’s total
operating revenue of each customer that comprised at least ten percent of its
operating revenues for the periods presented.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent
of Operating Revenue for
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BG
LNG Services
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
28
|
%
|
ProLiance
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
11
|
|
Other
top 10 customers
|
|
26
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
26
|
|
Remaining
customers
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
35
|
|
Total
percentage
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
Interest Cost
Capitalized. The Company capitalizes a carrying cost on funds invested in
its construction of long-lived assets that includes a return on the investment
financed by debt, which is recorded as capitalized interest. The
capitalized interest is calculated based on the Company’s average cost of
debt. Capitalized interest for the years ended December 31, 2009,
2008 and 2007 was $25.7 million, $18.9 million and $14.2 million,
respectively. The capitalized interest amounts are included as a
reduction of interest expense. Capitalized carrying cost for debt is
reflected as an increase in the cost of the asset on the balance
sheet.
Retirement
Benefits. Employers are required to recognize in their balance
sheets the overfunded or underfunded status of defined benefit postretirement
plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and
the benefit obligation. Each overfunded plan is recognized as an
asset and each underfunded plan is recognized as a
liability. Employers must recognize the change in the funded
status of the plan in the year in which the change occurs through Accumulated other comprehensive
income in Partners’
capital.
See Note 8 – Benefits for
additional information.
Derivatives and
Hedging Activities. All derivatives are recognized on the
Consolidated Balance Sheet at their fair value. On the date the
derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as
(i) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an
unrecognized firm commitment (a fair value
hedge); (ii) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the
variability of cash flows to be received or paid in conjunction with a
recognized asset or liability (a cash flow hedge); or (iii) an
instrument that is held for trading or non-hedging purposes (a trading or economic hedging
instrument). For derivatives treated as a fair value hedge,
the effective portion of changes in fair value is recorded as an adjustment to
the hedged item. The ineffective portion of a fair value hedge is
recognized in earnings if the short cut method of assessing effectiveness is not
used. Upon termination of a fair value hedge of a debt instrument,
the resulting gain or loss is amortized to earnings through the maturity date of
the debt instrument. For derivatives treated as a cash flow hedge,
the effective portion of changes in fair value is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive
income until the related hedged items impact earnings. Any
ineffective portion of a cash flow hedge is reported in current-period
earnings. For derivatives treated as trading or economic hedging
instruments, changes in fair value are reported in current-period
earnings. Fair value is determined based upon quoted market prices
and pricing models using assumptions that market participants would
use. See Note 10 –
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Fair Value
Measurement. Fair value is the price that would be received to
sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between
market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes
market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the
asset or liability, including assumptions about nonperformance risk, which is
primarily comprised of credit risk (both the Company’s own credit risk and
counterparty credit risk) and the risks inherent in the inputs to any applicable
valuation techniques. The Company places more weight on current
market information concerning credit risk (e.g. current credit default swap
rates) as opposed to historical information (e.g. historical default
probabilities and credit ratings). These inputs can be readily
observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable. The
Company endeavors to utilize the best available information, including valuation
techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of
unobservable inputs. A three-tier fair value hierarchy, which
prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, is as follows:
·
|
Level
1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for
identical assets or liabilities;
|
·
|
Level
2 – Observable inputs such as: (i) quoted prices for similar assets or
liabilities in active markets; (ii) quoted prices for identical or similar
assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and do not require
significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs; or (iii) valuations
based on pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar
techniques where significant inputs (e.g., interest rates, yield curves,
etc.) are derived principally from observable market data, or can be
corroborated by observable market data, for substantially the full term of
the assets or liabilities; and
|
·
|
Level
3 – Unobservable inputs, including valuations based on pricing models,
discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques where at least
one significant model assumption or input is
unobservable. Unobservable inputs are used to the extent that
observable inputs are not available and reflect the Company’s own
assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing
the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs are based on the
best information available in the circumstances, which might include the
Company’s own data.
|
Assets
and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of
input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The
Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value
measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of these assets and
liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.
See Note 11 – Fair Value Measurement and
Note 8. Benefits – Postretirement Benefit Plans – Plan Assets for
additional information regarding the assets and liabilities of the Company
measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis, respectively.
Asset Retirement
Obligations. Legal obligations associated with the retirement
of long-lived assets are required to be recognized at their fair value at the
time the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a
liability, costs are capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and
allocated to expense over the useful life of the asset. The liability
is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is
depreciated over the useful life of the related long-lived asset. In
certain rate jurisdictions, the Company is permitted to include annual charges
for cost of removal in its regulated cost of service rates charged to
customers.
For more
information, see Note 5 –
Asset Retirement Obligations.
Income
Taxes. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and
liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences
between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those
temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on
deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in
earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances
are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more
likely than not to be realized.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
determination of the Company’s provision for income taxes requires significant
judgment, use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex
tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts
of deductible and taxable items. Reserves are established when, despite
management’s belief that the Company’s tax return positions are fully
supportable, management believes that certain positions may be successfully
challenged. When facts and circumstances change, these reserves are adjusted
through the provision for income taxes.
As a
limited partnership, PEPL is treated as a disregarded entity for federal income
tax purposes. Accordingly, for federal and certain state income tax
purposes, PEPL and its subsidiaries are not treated as separate taxpayers;
instead, their income is directly taxable to Southern Union
Company. Pursuant to a tax sharing agreement with Southern Union
Company, the Company will pay its share of taxes based on its taxable income,
which will generally equal the liability that the Company would have incurred as
a separate taxpayer. The Company will receive credit under an
intercompany note from Southern Union Company for differences in tax
depreciation resulting from the like-kind exchange over the taxable life of the
related assets. See Note 9 – Income
Taxes.
Stock-Based
Compensation. The Company measures all employee stock-based
compensation using a fair value method and records the related expense in its
Consolidated Statement of Operations. For more information, see Note 13 – Stock-Based
Compensation.
New
Accounting Principles
Accounting
Principles Recently Adopted.
In March
2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance relating to disclosures about
derivative instruments and hedging activities, which requires additional
disclosures to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced
understanding of how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, how
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for and how
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance and cash flows. The guidance is effective for
fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.
See Note 10 – Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, which reflects the disclosure
required by this guidance.
In June
2009 and February 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that establishes
general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after
the balance sheet date, but before financial statements are issued or are
available to be issued. This guidance establishes (1) the period after the
balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate
events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in
the financial statements; (2) the circumstances under which an entity should
recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its
financial statements; and (3) the disclosures that an entity should make about
events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. This guidance
is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15,
2009.
In April
2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for estimating fair value when the
volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly
decreased and also includes guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate
a transaction is not orderly. The provisions of the guidance are
applied prospectively and are effective for interim and annual reporting periods
ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending
after March 15, 2009. The Company early adopted the guidance in the first
quarter of 2009, the impact of which was not material to the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
In April
2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that requires disclosures about
fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly
traded companies as well as in annual financial statements. The
provisions of the guidance are effective for interim reporting periods ending
after June 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted for periods ending after
March 15, 2009. The Company early adopted the guidance in the first
quarter of 2009, resulting in the disclosure of certain fair value information
associated with the Company’s debt obligations. See Note 7 – Debt Obligations for
the related information.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In
December 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance relating to an employer’s
disclosure about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other
postretirement plan. The provisions of the guidance are effective for
fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. See Note 8 – Benefits – Postretirement
Benefit Plans – Plan Assets, which reflects the disclosure required by
this guidance applicable to certain of the Company’s other postretirement health
care plan assets.
In August
2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the fair value
measurement of liabilities that clarifies the valuation techniques required in
circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical
liability is not available. The guidance is effective in the first
interim or annual reporting period following issuance. This guidance
did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
In
September 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the fair value
measurement of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value
per share (or its equivalent) and requires disclosure by major category of
investment about the attributes of applicable investments. The
guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after
December 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. This guidance did
not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
Accounting
Principles Not Yet Adopted.
In June
2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that changes how a company
determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not
controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be
consolidated. The determination is based on, among other things, an
entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of
the entity that most significantly affect the entity’s economic
performance. The guidance is effective as of the beginning of the
first annual reporting period, and for interim periods within that first period,
after November 15, 2009, with early adoption prohibited. This
guidance is not expected to materially impact the Company’s consolidated
financial statements.
In
January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to improve disclosure
requirements related to fair value measurements. This guidance
requires new disclosures associated with the three tier fair value hierarchy for
transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and for activity within Level
3. It also clarifies existing disclosure requirements related to the
level of disaggregation and disclosures about certain inputs and valuation
techniques. This guidance is effective for interim or annual
financial periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures
related to activity within Level 3, which is effective for interim or annual
financial periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company is
currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial
statements.
3. Regulatory
Matters
The
Company commenced construction of an enhancement at its Trunkline LNG terminal
in February 2007. This IEP will increase send out
flexibility at the terminal and lower fuel costs. On August 6, 2009,
FERC issued a conditional order granting Trunkline LNG authorization to commence
partial service of IEP. Although the key components of the
enhancement, a portion of the ambient air vaporizer system and the NGL recovery
units were successfully tested in the fourth quarter of 2009, mechanical issues
were identified during the commissioning process which required
attention. Trunkline LNG has made warranty claims regarding certain
of those conditions and is effecting IEP system modifications prior to placing
the project into full service. On February 9, 2010, Trunkline LNG
filed with FERC a request to place the facility in full service upon the
completion of certain modifications. Full service is expected no
later than the end of the first quarter of 2010. Total construction costs are
expected to be approximately $430 million, plus capitalized
interest. The negotiated rate with the project’s customer, BG LNG
Services, will be adjusted based on final capital costs pursuant to a
contract-based formula. In addition, Trunkline LNG and BG LNG
Services agreed to extend the existing terminal and pipeline services agreements
to coincide with the IEP contract, which runs 20 years from the in-service
date. Approximately $457.2 million and $351.3 million of costs,
including capitalized interest of $43.8 million and $20 million, are included in
the line item Construction
work-in-progress at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
respectively.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Trunkline
completed construction on its field zone expansion project with the majority of
the project put into service in late December 2007 and the remainder placed in
service in February 2008. The expansion project included the north
Texas expansion and creation of additional capacity on Trunkline’s pipeline
system in Texas and Louisiana to increase deliveries to Henry
Hub. Trunkline has increased the capacity along existing
rights-of-way from Kountze, Texas to Longville, Louisiana by approximately 625
MMcf/d
with the
construction of approximately 45 miles of 36-inch diameter
pipeline. The project included horsepower additions and modifications
at existing compressor stations. Trunkline has also created
additional capacity to Henry Hub with
the
construction of a 13.5 mile, 36-inch diameter pipeline loop from Kaplan,
Louisiana directly into Henry Hub. The Henry Hub lateral provides
capacity of 1 Bcf/d from Kaplan, Louisiana to Henry
Hub. Approximately $99.4 million of costs for this project were
closed to Plant in
service in 2008.
FERC is
responsible under the Natural Gas Act for assuring that rates charged by
interstate pipelines are "just and reasonable." To enforce that
requirement, FERC applies a ratemaking methodology that determines an allowed
rate of return on common equity for the companies it regulates. On
October 25, 2006, a group including producers and various trade associations
filed a complaint under Section 5 of the Natural Gas Act against Southwest Gas
requesting that FERC initiate an investigation into Southwest Gas’ rates, terms
and conditions of service and grant immediate interim rate
relief. FERC initiated a Section 5 proceeding on December 21, 2006
setting this issue for hearing. Pursuant to FERC order, Southwest Gas
filed a cost and revenue study with FERC on February 20, 2007. On
August 1, 2007, Southwest Gas filed a Section 4 rate case requesting an increase
in rates. On August 31, 2007, the FERC accepted Southwest Gas’ rate
increase to become effective on February 1, 2008, subject to
refund. This order also consolidated the Section 5 proceeding with
the Section 4 rate case. On November 28, 2007, Southwest Gas filed a
settlement with FERC. The settlement was approved by FERC on February
12, 2008, which settlement resulted in Southwest Gas’ rates remaining the same
as the rates that were in effect prior to the Section 4 and Section 5
proceedings.
Sea Robin
filed a rate case with FERC in June 2007, requesting an increase in its maximum
rates. Several parties submitted protests to Sea Robin’s rate
increase filing with FERC. On July 30, 2007, FERC suspended the
effectiveness of the filed rate increase until January 1, 2008. The
filed rates were put into effect on January 1, 2008, subject to
refund. On February 14, 2008, at the request of the participants in
the proceeding, the procedural schedule was suspended to facilitate the filing
of a settlement. On April 29, 2008, Sea Robin submitted to FERC a
Stipulation and Agreement (Settlement) that would
resolve all issues in the proceeding. The Administrative Law Judge
certified the Settlement to the FERC on June 3, 2008. The Settlement
rates have been approved, effective December 1, 2008. Customer refund
liability provisions of approximately $3.5 million, including interest, were
recorded as of December 31, 2008 and were refunded in the first quarter of
2009.
On August
31, 2009, Sea Robin filed with FERC to implement a rate surcharge to recover
Hurricane Ike-related costs not otherwise recovered from insurance proceeds or
from other third parties, with initial accumulated net costs of approximately
$38 million included in the filing. On September 30, 2009, FERC
approved the surcharge to be effective March 1, 2010, subject to refund and the
outcome of hearings to be established by FERC to explore issues set forth in
certain customer protests, including the costs to be included and the
applicability of the surcharge to discounted contracts. See Note 14 – Commitments and
Contingencies – Other Commitments and Contingencies for information
related to total anticipated capital and abandonment costs attributable to
Hurricane Ike, approximately $135 million of which is related to Sea Robin, and
other information regarding reimbursement of a portion of such costs from the
Company’s insurance carrier.
On
December 15, 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule
requiring pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs to
comprehensively evaluate their pipelines, and take measures to protect pipeline
segments located in what the rule defines as HCAs. This rule resulted
from the enactment of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of
2002. The rule requires operators to have identified HCAs along their
pipelines by December 2004, and to have begun baseline integrity assessments,
comprised of in-line inspection (smart pigging), hydrostatic testing or direct
assessment, by June 2004. Operators were required to rank the risk of
their pipeline segments containing HCAs and to complete assessments on at least
50 percent of the segments using one or more of these methods by December
2007. Assessments will generally be conducted on the higher risk
segments first, with the balance being completed by December 2012. In
addition, some system modifications will be necessary to accommodate the in-line
inspections. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company had
completed 89 percent and 83 percent of the required risk assessments,
respectively. All systems operated by the Company will be compliant
with the rule; however, while identification and location of all the HCAs has
been completed, it is not practicable to determine with certainty the total
scope of required remediation activities prior to completion of the assessments
and inspections. The required modifications and inspections are
currently estimated to be in the range of approximately $6 million to $30
million per year through 2013.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4. Related
Party Transactions
The
following table provides a summary of related party transactions for the periods
presented.
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation
and storage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
natural gas (1)
|
|
$ |
3,821 |
|
|
$ |
4,317 |
|
|
$ |
4,175 |
|
Operation
and maintenance:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
and royalty fees
|
|
|
18,718 |
|
|
|
18,113 |
|
|
|
16,430 |
|
Other
expenses (2)
|
|
|
28,855 |
|
|
|
32,544 |
|
|
|
31,431 |
|
Other
income, net (3)
|
|
|
9,194 |
|
|
|
24,715 |
|
|
|
39,704 |
|
(1)
|
Represents
transportation and storage revenues with Missouri Gas Energy, a Southern
Union division.
|
(2)
|
Primarily
includes allocations of corporate charges from Southern Union, partially
offset for expenses attributable to services provided by Panhandle on
behalf of other affiliate
companies.
|
(3)
|
Primarily
includes interest income associated with the Southern Union and
CrossCountry Citrus note
receivables.
|
Pursuant
to a demand note with Southern Union Company under a cash management program, as
of December 31, 2009, the Company had loaned excess cash, net of repayments,
totaling $327.5 million to Southern Union since Southern Union acquired the
Company. Additional loans to Southern Union of $200 million were
recorded during the year ended December 31, 2009. The Company is
credited with interest on the note at a one month LIBOR
rate. Included in Interest income - affiliates
in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations is interest income of
$1.4 million, $5.9 million and $7.9 million for the years ended December 31,
2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to interest on the Note receivable – Southern
Union. Given the uncertainties regarding the timing of the
Company’s cash flows, including financings, capital expenditures and operating
cash flows, the Company has reported the Note receivable – Southern Union
as a non-current asset. The Company does have access to the
funds via the demand note and does expect repayment to ultimately occur to
primarily fund capital expenditures or debt retirements.
The
interest rate under the Note
receivable – CrossCountry Citrus is based on the variable interest rate
under the term loan facility due in 2012 plus a credit spread over LIBOR of
112.5 basis points. Included in Interest income – affiliates
in the Consolidated Statement of Operations is interest income of $7.6
million for the year ended December 31, 2009, with $18.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2008, and $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007,
respectively.
Southern
Union structured the acquisition of PEPL in a manner which qualified as a
like-kind exchange of property under Section 1031 of the Code. For
tax purposes, the Company’s assets that were part of the exchange were recorded
at the tax basis of the Southern Union Company assets for which they were
exchanged. The resulting transaction generated an estimated deferred
tax liability at the acquisition date and a corresponding receivable from
Southern Union Company reflected as a reduction to Partners’ Capital on the
Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Repayment of the receivable
from Southern Union Company is limited to actual tax liabilities otherwise
payable by the Company pursuant to the tax sharing agreement with Southern Union
Company. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company
recorded $3.3 million and $4.1 million of income tax liability settlements
against the tax sharing note receivable, respectively, with a balance of $5.2
million remaining at December 31, 2009. In September 2007, the
Company and Southern Union modified the terms of the tax sharing agreement,
resulting in a change in the required timing of the Company’s intercompany
income tax liability settlements from a quarterly to an annual
basis. The delayed settlements, which are settled against the demand
note with Southern Union, are reported as investing activities in the
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table provides a summary of the accounts receivable and payable
related party balances included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at the dates
indicated.
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Accounts
receivable - related parties (1)
|
|
$ |
6,083 |
|
|
$ |
6,596 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable - related parties:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern
Union - income taxes (2)
|
|
$ |
22,077 |
|
|
$ |
56,424 |
|
Southern
Union - other (3)
|
|
|
2,615 |
|
|
|
15,249 |
|
Other
(4)
|
|
|
189 |
|
|
|
222 |
|
|
|
$ |
24,881 |
|
|
$ |
71,895 |
|
______________________________
(1)
|
Primarily
related to interest income associated with the Note receivable – CrossCountry
Citrus and services provided for
Citrus.
|
(2)
|
Related
to income taxes payable to Southern Union per the tax sharing agreement to
provide for taxes to be remitted upon the filing of the tax
return. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded
an approximate $43.5 million reduction associated with a tax accounting
change approved by the Internal Revenue Service in 2009 applicable to the
2008 tax year.
|
(3)
|
Primarily
related to payroll funding provided by Southern Union, partially offset by
insurance proceeds of $16.1 million owed by Southern Union to the
Company.
|
(4)
|
Primarily
related to various administrative and operating costs paid by other
affiliate companies on behalf of the
Company.
|
5. Asset
Retirement Obligations
ARO
assets and liabilities are primarily related to certain offshore lateral lines
and platforms in the Company’s system. An ARO is required to be
recorded when a legal obligation to retire an asset exists. An ARO
should be recorded for all assets with legal retirement obligations, even if the
enforcement of the obligation is contingent upon the occurrence of events beyond
the company’s control (Conditional
ARO). The fair values of the AROs were calculated using
present value techniques. These techniques reflect assumptions such
as removal and remediation costs, inflation and profit margins that third
parties would demand to settle the amount of the future
obligation. The Company did not include a market risk premium for
unforeseeable circumstances in its fair value estimates because such a premium
could not be reliably estimated.
Although
a number of other assets in the Company’s system are subject to agreements or
regulations that give rise to an ARO or a Conditional ARO upon the Company’s
discontinued use of these assets, AROs were not recorded for most of these
assets because the fair values of these AROs were not reliably
estimable. The principal reason the fair values of these AROs were
not subject to reliable estimation was because the lives of the underlying
assets are indeterminate. Management has concluded that the Company’s
pipeline system, as a whole, has an indeterminate life. In reaching
this conclusion, management considered its intent for operating the pipeline
system, the economic life of the underlying assets, its past practices and
industry practice.
The
Company intends to operate the pipeline system indefinitely as a going
concern. Individual component assets have been and will continue to
be replaced, but the pipeline system will continue in operation as long as
supply and demand for natural gas exists. Based on the widespread use
of natural gas in industrial and power generation activities, management expects
supply and demand to exist for the foreseeable future.
The
Company has in place a rigorous repair and maintenance program that keeps the
pipeline system in good working order. Therefore, although some of
the individual assets on the pipeline system may be replaced, the pipeline
system itself will remain intact indefinitely. AROs generally do not
arise unless a pipeline system (or portion thereof) is abandoned. The
Company does not intend to make any such abandonments as long as supply and
demand for natural gas remains relatively stable.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table is a general description of ARO and associated long-lived assets
at December 31, 2009.
|
In
Service
|
|
|
|
ARO
Description
|
Date
|
|
Long-Lived
Assets
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
Retire
offshore platforms and lateral lines
|
Various
|
|
Offshore
lateral lines
|
$ 3,355
|
Remove
asbestos
|
Various
|
|
Mainlines
and compressors
|
872
|
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company recorded $1 million that is legally restricted
for the purpose of settling AROs.
The
following table is a reconciliation of the carrying amount of the ARO liability
for the periods presented.
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
Balance
|
|
$ |
50,941 |
|
|
$ |
11,826 |
|
|
$ |
9,608 |
|
Incurred
|
|
|
8,289 |
|
|
|
33,773 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Revisions
|
|
|
(3,246 |
) |
|
|
6,379 |
|
|
|
2,250 |
|
Settled
|
|
|
(1,553 |
) |
|
|
(1,861 |
) |
|
|
(799 |
) |
Accretion
Expense
|
|
|
4,018 |
|
|
|
824 |
|
|
|
767 |
|
Ending
Balance
|
|
$ |
58,449 |
|
|
$ |
50,941 |
|
|
$ |
11,826 |
|
The
Company determined that certain of its offshore facilities damaged by Hurricane
Ike will not be replaced. The Company is required by federal
regulations to remove or abandon in place such facilities when they are no
longer useful. This resulted in the establishment of an ARO and
recognition of expense of $8.3 million and $7 million, respectively, in
2009, and $33.8 million and $4 million, respectively, in
2008. The amount expensed represents the ARO cost not previously
accrued. For additional information related to the impact of the 2008
hurricanes, see Note 14 –
Commitments and Contingencies – 2008 Hurricane Damage.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
6. Comprehensive
Income
The table
below provides an overview of comprehensive income for the periods
presented.
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
150,215 |
|
|
$ |
150,674 |
|
|
$ |
150,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized
gain (loss) on interest rate hedges, net of tax of $0,
$197
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
$(1,488), respectively
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
309 |
|
|
|
(2,366 |
) |
|
Reclassification
of unrealized gain on interest rate hedges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
into
earnings, net of tax of $7,537, $(3,138) and $(621),
respectively
|
|
|
11,223 |
|
|
|
(4,656 |
) |
|
|
(970 |
) |
|
Change
in fair value of interest rate hedges, net of tax of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$(3,051),
$(7,815) and $(5,722), respectively
|
|
|
(4,538 |
) |
|
|
(11,663 |
) |
|
|
(8,392 |
) |
|
Prior
service cost relating to other postretirement benefit plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
amendments,
net of tax of $0, $(3,020) and $(1,460), respectively
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4,534 |
) |
|
|
(1,049 |
) |
|
Actuarial
gain (loss) relating to other postretirement benefits,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net
of tax of $2,545, $(3,742) and $393, respectively
|
|
|
3,266 |
|
|
|
(7,821 |
) |
|
|
1,137 |
|
|
Reclassification
of net actuarial gain and prior service credit relating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to
other postretirement benefits into earnings, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
$(400), $(713) and $(1,326), respectively
|
|
|
(1,191 |
) |
|
|
(1,572 |
) |
|
|
(2,201 |
) |
|
Total
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
8,760 |
|
|
|
(29,937 |
) |
|
|
(13,841 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
comprehensive income
|
|
$ |
158,975 |
|
|
$ |
120,737 |
|
|
$ |
136,583 |
|
|
The table
below provides an overview of the components in Accumulated other comprehensive
income at the dates indicated:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Other
postretirement plan - net actuarial gain (loss) and prior
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
service
credit (cost), net of tax
|
|
$ |
1,283 |
|
|
$ |
(792 |
) |
Interest
rate hedges, net of tax
|
|
|
(20,824 |
) |
|
|
(27,509 |
) |
Total
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
|
|
$ |
(19,541 |
) |
|
$ |
(28,301 |
) |
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
7. Debt
The
following table sets forth the debt obligations at the dates
indicated:
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
December
31, 2008
|
|
|
|
Book
Value
|
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
|
Book
Value
|
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.05%
Senior Notes due 2013
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
269,733 |
|
|
$ |
250,000 |
|
|
$ |
211,646 |
|
6.20%
Senior Notes due 2017
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
319,455 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
230,956 |
|
6.50%
Senior Notes due 2009
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
60,623 |
|
|
|
59,604 |
|
8.125%
Senior Notes due 2019
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
173,111 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
8.25%
Senior Notes due 2010
|
|
|
40,500 |
|
|
|
41,143 |
|
|
|
40,500 |
|
|
|
39,668 |
|
7.00%
Senior Notes due 2029
|
|
|
66,305 |
|
|
|
69,866 |
|
|
|
66,305 |
|
|
|
46,158 |
|
7.00%
Senior Notes due 2018
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
434,560 |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
318,033 |
|
Term
Loans due 2012 (1)
|
|
|
815,391 |
|
|
|
758,108 |
|
|
|
815,391 |
|
|
|
753,262 |
|
Net
premiums on long-term debt
|
|
|
2,550 |
|
|
|
2,550 |
|
|
|
2,153 |
|
|
|
2,153 |
|
Total
debt outstanding
|
|
|
2,024,746 |
|
|
$ |
2,068,526 |
|
|
|
1,934,972 |
|
|
$ |
1,661,480 |
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
|
|
(40,500 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(60,623 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total
long-term debt
|
|
$ |
1,984,246 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,874,349 |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________
(1)
|
See
the LNG Holdings Term Loan discussion below for information related to
these Term Loans.
|
The fair
value of the Company’s term loans due 2012 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 were
determined using the market approach, which utilized reported recent loan
transactions for parties of similar credit quality and remaining life, as there
is no active secondary market for loans of that type and
size.
The fair
value of the Company’s other long-term debt as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 was
also determined using the market approach, which utilized observable market data
to corroborate the estimated credit spreads and prices for the Company’s
non-bank long-term debt securities in the secondary market. Those
valuations were based in part upon the reported trades of the Company’s non-bank
long-term debt securities where available and the actual trades of debt
securities of similar credit quality and remaining life where no secondary
market trades were reported for the Company’s non-bank long-term debt
securities.
8.125% Senior
Notes. In June 2009, the Company issued $150 million in senior
notes due June 1, 2019 with an interest rate of 8.125 percent (8.125% Senior Notes).
In connection with the issuance of the 8.125% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs totaling approximately $1 million, resulting in
approximately $149 million in proceeds to the Company. A portion of the
proceeds were used to repay the $60.6 million of 6.50% Senior Notes that matured
on July 15, 2009.
7.00% Senior
Notes due 2018. In June 2008, the Company issued $400 million in
senior notes due June 15, 2018 with an interest rate of 7.00 percent (7.00% Senior Notes). In
connection with the issuance of the 7.00% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs totaling approximately $4.1 million, resulting
in approximately $395.9 million in proceeds to the Company. The proceeds
were used to repay the $300 million of 4.80% Senior Notes due August 15,
2008.
6.20% Senior
Notes. On October 26, 2007, the Company issued $300 million in
senior notes due November 1, 2017 with an interest rate of 6.20 percent (6.20% Senior Notes). In
connection with the issuance of the 6.20% Senior Notes, the Company incurred
underwriting and discount costs of approximately $2.7 million. The debt
was priced to the public at 99.741 percent, resulting in $297.3 million in
proceeds to the Company.
LNG Holdings Term
Loans. On March 15, 2007, LNG Holdings, as borrower, and PEPL and
Trunkline LNG, as guarantors, entered into a $455 million unsecured term loan
facility due March 13, 2012 (2012 Term Loan). The
interest rate under the 2012 Term Loan is a floating rate tied to LIBOR or the
prime rate, at the Company’s option, in addition to a margin tied to the rating
of PEPL’s senior unsecured debt. The proceeds of the 2012 Term
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Loan were
used to repay approximately $455 million in existing indebtedness that matured
in March 2007, including the $200 million 2.75% Senior Notes and the LNG
Holdings $255.6 million Term Loan. LNG Holdings has entered into
interest rate swap agreements that effectively fix the interest rate applicable
to the 2012 Term Loan at 4.98 percent plus a credit spread of 0.625 percent,
based upon PEPL’s credit rating for its senior unsecured debt. The
balance of the 2012 Term Loan was $455 million at eaach of December 31,
2009 and 2008.
On
December 1, 2006, LNG Holdings, as borrower, and PEPL and CrossCountry Citrus,
as guarantors, entered into a $465 million unsecured term loan facility due
April 4, 2008 (2006 Term
Loan). On December 1, 2006, LNG Holdings loaned the proceeds
of the 2006 Term Loan to CrossCountry Citrus in exchange for an interest-bearing
promissory note with a principal amount of $465 million, the amount of the
proceeds of the 2006 Term Loan. On June 29, 2007, the parties entered
into an amended and restated term loan facility (Amended Credit
Agreement). The Amended Credit Agreement extended the maturity of
the term loan from April 4, 2008 to June 29, 2012, and decreased the interest
rate from LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points to LIBOR plus 55 basis points, based upon
the current credit rating of PEPL's senior unsecured debt. The balance of
the Amended Credit Agreement was $360.4 million and $360.4 million at effective
interest rates of 0.78 percent and 1.02 percent at December 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively. The balance and effective interest rate of the Amended
Credit Agreement at February 24, 2010 were $360.4 million and 0.78 percent,
respectively.
Other. The
Company’s notes are subject to certain requirements, such as the maintenance of
a fixed charge coverage ratio and a leverage ratio, which if not maintained,
restrict the ability of the Company to make certain payments and impose
limitations on the ability of the Company to subject its property to
liens. At December 31, 2009 the Company, based on the currently most
restrictive debt covenant requirements, was subject to a $914 million limitation
on additional restricted payments including dividends and loans to affiliates,
and a limitation of $395 million of additional secured or subsidiary level
indebtedness or other defined liens based on a limitation on liens
covenant. The Company is also subject to a limitation of $702 million
of total additional indebtedness.
At
December 31, 2009, the Company had scheduled payments of $40.5 million, nil,
$815.4 million, $250 million, nil, and $916.3 million for the years 2010 through
2014 and in total thereafter, respectively.
Retirement
of Debt Obligations
The
Company plans to repay its $40.5 million 8.25% Senior Notes maturing in April
2010 by utilizing some combination of cash flows from operations or from
repayments from Southern Union of intercompany loans.
8. Benefits
Postretirement
Benefit Plans.
The
Company has postretirement health care and life insurance plans (other postretirement plans)
that cover substantially all employees. The health care plans
generally provide for cost sharing between the Company and its retirees in the
form of retiree contributions, deductibles and coinsurance on the amount the
Company pays annually to provide future retiree health care coverage under
certain of these plans.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Obligations and
Funded Status. Postretirement benefit liabilities are accrued
on an actuarial basis during the years an employee provides
services. The following tables contain information at the dates
indicated about the obligations and funded status of the Company’s other
postretirement plans.
|
|
Other
Postretirement Benefits
|
|
|
|
At
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Change
in benefit obligation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit
obligation at beginning of period
|
|
$ |
53,731 |
|
|
$ |
39,417 |
|
Service
cost
|
|
|
2,230 |
|
|
|
1,899 |
|
Interest
cost
|
|
|
3,245 |
|
|
|
3,256 |
|
Actuarial
(gain) loss and other
|
|
|
(170 |
) |
|
|
1,571 |
|
Benefits
paid, net
|
|
|
(103 |
) |
|
|
35 |
|
Medicare
Part D subsidy receipts
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Plan
amendments (1)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
7,553 |
|
Benefit
obligation at end of period
|
|
$ |
58,929 |
|
|
$ |
53,731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change
in plan assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
value of plan assets at beginning of period
|
|
$ |
38,734 |
|
|
$ |
38,654 |
|
Return
on plan assets and other
|
|
|
8,077 |
|
|
|
(7,596 |
) |
Employer
contributions
|
|
|
7,653 |
|
|
|
7,641 |
|
Benefits
paid, net
|
|
|
(103 |
) |
|
|
35 |
|
Fair
value of plan assets at end of period (2)
|
|
$ |
54,361 |
|
|
$ |
38,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
underfunded at the end of period (3)
|
|
$ |
4,568 |
|
|
$ |
14,997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts
recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(pre-tax
basis) consist of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
actuarial loss (gain)
|
|
$ |
4,687 |
|
|
$ |
10,996 |
|
Prior
service cost (credit)
|
|
|
(3,242 |
) |
|
|
(5,331 |
) |
|
|
$ |
1,445 |
|
|
$ |
5,665 |
|
________________
(1)
|
In
March 2008, a postretirement benefit plan change to a defined
contribution-based design was approved for retirements beginning April 1,
2008.
|
(2)
|
Plan
assets are recorded at fair value versus a calculated value as of the
December 31, 2009 and 2008 measurement
dates.
|
(3)
|
Underfunded
balance is recognized as a noncurrent liability in the Consolidated
Balance Sheet.
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Net Periodic
Benefit Cost. Net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s
postretirement benefit plan for the periods presented includes the components
noted in the table below.
|
|
Postretirement
Benefits
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Net
Periodic Benefit Cost:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
cost
|
|
$ |
2,230 |
|
|
$ |
1,899 |
|
|
$ |
1,155 |
|
Interest
cost
|
|
|
3,245 |
|
|
|
3,256 |
|
|
|
1,922 |
|
Expected
return on plan assets
|
|
|
(2,435 |
) |
|
|
(2,396 |
) |
|
|
(1,918 |
) |
Prior
service credit amortization
|
|
|
(2,089 |
) |
|
|
(2,286 |
) |
|
|
(3,487 |
) |
Actuarial
(gain) loss amortization
|
|
|
498 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(40 |
) |
Transfer
of net obligation from affiliate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,915 |
|
Net
periodic benefit cost (credit)
|
|
$ |
1,449 |
|
|
$ |
473 |
|
|
$ |
(453 |
) |
The
estimated net actuarial loss and prior service credit for other postretirement
plans that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive
income into net periodic benefit cost (credit) during 2010 are nil
and $2.1 million, respectively.
Assumptions. The
weighted-average discount rate used in determining benefit obligations was 6
percent, 5.90 percent, and 6.51 percent for the years ended December 31, 2009,
2008 and 2007, respectively.
The
weighted-average assumptions used in determining net periodic benefit cost for
the periods presented are shown in the table below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discount
rate
|
|
|
5.90 |
% |
|
|
6.76 |
% |
|
|
6.06 |
% |
Expected
return on assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
exempt accounts
|
|
|
7.00 |
% |
|
|
7.00 |
% |
|
|
7.00 |
% |
Taxable
accounts
|
|
|
5.00 |
% |
|
|
5.00 |
% |
|
|
5.00 |
% |
The
Company employs a building block approach in determining the expected long-term
rate of return on the plans’ assets with proper consideration for
diversification and rebalancing. Historical markets are studied and
long-term historical relationships between equities and fixed-income are
preserved consistent with the widely accepted capital market principle that
assets with higher volatility generate a greater return over the long
run. Current market factors such as inflation and interest rates are
evaluated before long-term market assumptions are determined. Peer
data and historical returns are reviewed to check for reasonableness and
appropriateness.
The
assumed health care cost trend rates used for measurement purposes are shown in
the table below:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health
care cost trend rate assumed for next year
|
|
|
8.50 |
% |
|
|
9.00 |
% |
Ultimate
trend rate
|
|
|
4.85 |
% |
|
|
4.85 |
% |
Year
that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
|
|
|
2017 |
|
|
|
2017 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Assumed
health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported
for health care plans. A one-percentage-point change in assumed
health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:
|
|
One
Percentage
|
|
|
One
Percentage
|
|
|
|
Point
Increase
|
|
|
Point
Decrease
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect
on total of service and interest cost
|
|
$ |
707 |
|
|
$ |
(723 |
) |
Effect
on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
|
|
|
8,386 |
|
|
|
(7,410 |
) |
Plan
Assets. The Company’s overall investment strategy is to
maintain an appropriate balance of actively managed investments with the
objective of optimizing longer-term returns while maintaining a high standard of
portfolio quality and achieving proper diversification. To achieve
diversity within its other postretirement plan asset portfolio, the Company has
targeted the following asset allocations: equity of 25 percent to 35 percent,
fixed income of 65 percent to 75 percent and cash and cash equivalents of 0
percent to 10 percent. These target allocations are monitored by the
Investment Committee of Southern Union Company's Board of Directors in
conjunction with an external investment advisor. On occasion, the
asset allocations may fluctuate as compared to these guidelines as a result of
Investment Committee actions.
The fair
value of the Company’s other postretirement plan assets at December 31, 2009 by
asset category is as follows:
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
Asset
Category:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
|
$ |
1,673 |
|
|
Mutual
fund
|
|
|
52,688 |
|
(1 |
) |
Total
|
|
$ |
54,361 |
|
|
|
___________________
(1)
|
This
fund of funds invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity,
fixed income and short-term mutual funds. As of December 31,
2009, the fund was primarily comprised of approximately 16 percent
large-cap U.S. equities, 3 percent small-cap U.S. equities,10 percent
international equities, 57 percent fixed income securities, 10 percent
cash, and 4 percent in other
investments.
|
The
postretirement plan assets are classified as Level 1 assets within the
fair-value hierarchy as their fair value are based on active market
quotes. See Note 2
– Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Matters – Fair Value
Measurement for information related to the framework used by the Company
to measure the fair value of its other postretirement plan assets.
Contributions. The
Company expects to contribute approximately $7.6 million to its other
postretirement plans in 2010 and approximately $7.6 million annually thereafter
until modified by rate case proceedings.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Benefit
Payments. The Company’s estimate of expected benefit payments,
which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, in each of the next five
years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are shown in the table
below.
|
|
|
Expected
Benefits
|
|
|
Payments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before
Effect of
|
|
|
Medicare
Part D
|
|
|
|
|
Years
|
|
Medicare
Part D
|
|
Subsidy
Receipts
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
$ |
796
|
|
$ |
15
|
|
$ |
781
|
|
2011
|
|
|
1,203
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
1,184
|
|
2012
|
|
|
1,689
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
1,664
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2,238
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
2,206
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2,792
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
2,724
|
|
2015-2019
|
|
|
21,646
|
|
|
1,559
|
|
|
20,087
|
|
The
Medicare Prescription Drug Act provides for a prescription drug benefit under
Medicare (Medicare Part
D) as well as a federal subsidy, which is not taxable, to sponsors of
retiree health care benefit plans that provide a prescription drug benefit that
is at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D.
Defined
Contribution Plan
The
Company sponsors a defined contribution savings plan (Savings Plan) that is
available to all employees. The Company contributed 100 percent of
the first two percent and 50 percent of the next three percent of the
participant’s compensation paid into the Savings Plan through January 15,
2009. The matching was increased effective January 16, 2009 to 100
percent of the first five percent of the participant’s compensation paid into
the Savings Plan. Company contributions are 100 percent vested
after five years of continuous service. Company contributions to the
Savings Plan during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $4.4
million, $2.8 million, and $1.4 million, respectively.
In
addition, the Company makes employer contributions to separate accounts,
referred to as Retirement Power Accounts, within the defined contribution
plan. The contribution amounts are determined as a percentage of
compensation with the amount generally varying based on age and years of
service. Company contributions to Retirement Power Accounts during
the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $5.5 million, $5 million,
and $4.4 million, respectively.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. Income
Taxes
The
following table provides a summary of the current and deferred components of
income tax expense for the periods presented:
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Current
income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$ |
(25,027 |
) |
|
$ |
48,267 |
|
|
$ |
61,445 |
|
State
|
|
|
646 |
|
|
|
9,593 |
|
|
|
9,103 |
|
Total
current income taxes
|
|
|
(24,381 |
) |
|
|
57,860 |
|
|
|
70,548 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
102,871 |
|
|
|
32,589 |
|
|
|
19,249 |
|
State
|
|
|
13,610 |
|
|
|
6,083 |
|
|
|
6,521 |
|
Total
deferred income taxes
|
|
|
116,481 |
|
|
|
38,672 |
|
|
|
25,770 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
income tax expense
|
|
$ |
92,100 |
|
|
$ |
96,532 |
|
|
$ |
96,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective
tax rate
|
|
|
38 |
% |
|
|
39 |
% |
|
|
39 |
% |
The
actual income tax expense differs from the amount computed by applying the
statutory federal tax rate of 35 percent to income before income taxes as
follows:
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
tax, computed at the 35 percent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
statutory
rate
|
|
$ |
84,810 |
|
|
$ |
86,522 |
|
|
$ |
86,360 |
|
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
income tax, net of federal effect
|
|
|
9,267 |
|
|
|
10,190 |
|
|
|
10,156 |
|
Permanent
differences and other
|
|
|
(1,977 |
) |
|
|
(180 |
) |
|
|
(198 |
) |
Total
income tax expense
|
|
$ |
92,100 |
|
|
$ |
96,532 |
|
|
$ |
96,318 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
principal components of the Company’s deferred tax assets (liabilities) at the
dates indicated are as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment
|
|
$ |
(380,829 |
) |
|
$ |
(300,455 |
) |
Current
assets
|
|
|
(4,196 |
) |
|
|
530 |
|
Investments
|
|
|
(311 |
) |
|
|
(240 |
) |
Other
deferred debits
|
|
|
(13,542 |
) |
|
|
3,110 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
(2,222 |
) |
|
|
(1,524 |
) |
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
9,856 |
|
|
|
4,523 |
|
Deferred
credits and other liabilities
|
|
|
23,210 |
|
|
|
39,395 |
|
Long
term debt
|
|
|
6,959 |
|
|
|
6,923 |
|
Other
|
|
|
1,119 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
State
deferred income taxes, net of federal tax effect
|
|
|
(38,329 |
) |
|
|
(28,846 |
) |
Net
deferred income tax asset (liability)
|
|
$ |
(398,285 |
) |
|
$ |
(276,570 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
deferred tax liabilities
|
|
$ |
(438,310 |
) |
|
$ |
(327,411 |
) |
Gross
deferred tax assets
|
|
|
40,025 |
|
|
|
50,841 |
|
Net
deferred income tax asset (liability)
|
|
$ |
(398,285 |
) |
|
$ |
(276,570 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non
current deferred income tax asset (liability)
|
|
$ |
(418,992 |
) |
|
$ |
(281,778 |
) |
Current
tax asset
|
|
|
20,707 |
|
|
|
5,208 |
|
Net
deferred income tax asset (liability)
|
|
$ |
(398,285 |
) |
|
$ |
(276,570 |
) |
A
reconciliation of the changes in unrecognized tax benefits for the periods
presented is as follows:
|
|
Years
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
of the year
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
positions taken in prior years
|
|
|
1,167 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Tax
positions taken in current year
|
|
|
311 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reductions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lapse
of statute of limitations
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End
of year
|
|
$ |
1,478 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
During
2009, the Company’s change in the amount of its unrecognized tax benefits in
prior years and current year were attributable to a change in certain federal
capitalization policies for tax purposes in the amount of $1.2 million ($1.1
million, net of federal tax) and $311,000 ($263,000, net of federal tax),
respectively.
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company has $1.5 million ($1.3 million, net of federal
tax) of unrecognized tax benefits, none of which would impact the Company’s EITR
if recognized. The Company does not expect that its unrecognized tax
benefits will be reduced within the next twelve months.
The
Company’s policy is to classify and accrue interest expense and penalties on
income tax underpayments (overpayments) as a component of income tax expense in
its Consolidated Statement of Operations, which is consistent with the
recognition of these items in prior reporting periods.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Southern
Union and the Company are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local
examinations for the tax period ended December 31, 2004 and prior years, except
June 30, 2004, to the extent of $1.3 million of refund claims.
10. Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
The
Company is exposed to certain risks in its ongoing business
operations. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments
is interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks
are the principal derivative instruments used by the Company to manage interest
rate risk associated with its long-term borrowings, although other interest rate
derivative contracts may also be used from time to time. The Company
recognizes all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities at fair value in
the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Interest
Rate Contracts
The
Company enters into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in
interest payments on long-term debt attributable to movements in market interest
rates, and enters into treasury rate locks to manage its exposure to changes in
future interest payments attributable to changes in treasury rates prior to the
issuance of new long-term debt instruments.
Interest Rate
Swaps. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had outstanding
pay-fixed interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $455 million
applicable to the 2012 Term Loan. These interest rate swaps are
accounted for as cash flow hedges, with the effective portion of changes in
their fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive
loss and reclassified into Interest expense in the same
periods during which the related interest payments on long-term debt impact
earnings. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $12.2 million of net
after-tax losses in Accumulated other comprehensive loss
related to these interest rate swaps is expected to be amortized into
Interest expense during
the next twelve months. Any ineffective portion of the cash flow
hedge is reported in current-period earnings.
Treasury Rate
Locks. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had no outstanding
treasury rate locks. However, certain of its treasury rate locks that
settled in prior periods are associated with interest payments on outstanding
long-term debt. These treasury rate locks are accounted for as cash
flow hedges, with the effective portion of their settled value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive
loss and reclassified into Interest expense in the same
periods during which the related interest payments on long-term debt impact
earnings. As of December 31, 2009, approximately $166,000 of net
after-tax losses in Accumulated other comprehensive loss
related to these treasury rate locks will be amortized into Interest expense during the
next twelve months.
The
following table summarizes the fair value amounts of the Company’s derivative
instruments and their location in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at the dates
indicated:
|
|
|
|
Asset
Derivatives
|
|
|
Liability
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
Sheet
|
|
|
Fair
Value (1)
|
|
|
Balance
Sheet
|
|
|
Fair
Value (1)
|
|
|
|
|
Location
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Location
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
Cash
Flow Hedges:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
rate contracts
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
-
|
|
|
Other
current liabilities
|
|
$ |
18,754
|
|
$ |
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
|
13,975
|
|
|
43,630
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
-
|
|
$ |
-
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
32,729
|
|
$ |
43,630
|
_____________
(1)
|
See
Note 11– Fair Value
Measurement for information related to the framework used by the
Company to measure the fair value of its derivative instruments as of
December 31, 2009.
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table summarizes the location and amount of derivative instrument
gains and losses reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial
statements for the periods presented.
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cash
Flow Hedges (1)
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Interest rate contracts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value - increase in Accumulated other
comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
loss,
excluding tax expense effect of $3,051, $7,815 and $5,722,
respectively
|
|
$ |
7,589 |
|
|
$ |
19,478 |
|
|
$ |
14,114 |
|
Reclassification of unrealized loss from Accumulated other
comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
loss - increase of
Interest expense,
excluding tax expense effect of $7,537,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$(3,138)
and $(621), respectively
|
|
|
18,760 |
|
|
|
(7,794 |
) |
|
|
(1,591 |
) |
____________
(1)
|
See
Note 6 – Comprehensive
Income for additional related
information.
|
11. Fair
Value Measurement
The
following tables set forth the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair
value on a recurring basis at the dates indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value Measurements Using Fair Value Hierarchy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted
Prices in
|
|
|
Significant
Other
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
|
Active
Markets
|
|
|
Observable
|
|
|
Unobservable
|
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
for
Identical Assets
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
(Level
1)
|
|
|
(Level
2)
|
|
|
(Level
3)
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest-rate swap derivatives
|
|
$ |
32,729 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
32,729 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
32,729 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
32,729 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value Measurements Using Fair Value Hierarchy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted
Prices in
|
|
|
Significant
Other
|
|
|
Significant
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
|
Active
Markets
|
|
|
Observable
|
|
|
Unobservable
|
|
|
|
as
of
|
|
|
for
Identical Assets
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
Inputs
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2008
|
|
|
(Level
1)
|
|
|
(Level
2)
|
|
|
(Level
3)
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest-rate swap derivatives
|
|
$ |
43,630 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
43,630 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
43,630 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
43,630 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table presents a reconciliation of the change in the Company’s Level 3
liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant
unobservable inputs for the periods presented.
|
|
Level
3 Liabilities
|
|
|
|
Interest-rate
Derivatives
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at January 1, 2008
|
|
$ |
17,121 |
|
Total
gains or losses (realized and unrealized):
|
|
|
|
|
Included
in earnings
|
|
|
- |
|
Included
in other comprehensive income
|
|
|
34,019 |
|
Purchases
and settlements, net
|
|
|
(7,510 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
43,630 |
|
Total
gains or losses (realized and unrealized):
|
|
|
|
|
Included
in earnings
|
|
|
- |
|
Included
in other comprehensive income
|
|
|
4,787 |
|
Purchases
and settlements, net
|
|
|
(12,696 |
) |
Transfers
out of level 3 (1)
|
|
|
(35,721 |
) |
Balance
December 31, 2009
|
|
$ |
- |
|
______________________________
(1)
|
Transfer
to Level 2 was made effective September 30,
2009.
|
The
Company reclassified the interest-rate swap derivatives from Level 3 to Level 2
during 2009 as the Company obtained additional observable market data to
corroborate the unobservable inputs to the model used to measure the fair value
of these liabilities.
The approximate fair value of the Company's cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable is equal to book value,
due to their short-term nature.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. Property,
Plant and Equipment
The
following table provides a summary of property, plant and equipment at the dates
indicated:
|
|
Lives
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
In
Years
|
|
|
2009
(1)
|
|
|
2008
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transmission
|
|
|
5-46 |
|
|
$ |
2,130,979 |
|
|
$ |
2,088,018 |
|
Gathering
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
129,605 |
|
|
|
50,925 |
|
Underground
storage
|
|
|
5-46 |
|
|
|
310,963 |
|
|
|
307,401 |
|
General
plant - LNG
|
|
|
5-40 |
|
|
|
626,853 |
|
|
|
624,883 |
|
General
plant - other
|
|
|
2-40 |
|
|
|
155,422 |
|
|
|
146,605 |
|
Plant
in service (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,353,822 |
|
|
|
3,217,832 |
|
Construction
work-in-progress
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
495,588 |
|
|
|
403,344 |
|
Total
property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,849,410 |
|
|
|
3,621,176 |
|
Less
accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
493,873 |
|
|
|
394,307 |
|
Net
property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,355,537 |
|
|
$ |
3,226,869 |
|
_________________
(1)
Includes capitalized computer software costs, CIAC and other intangible costs
totaling:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer
software cost
|
|
$ |
75,543 |
|
|
$ |
69,640 |
|
Less
accumulated amortization
|
|
|
39,967 |
|
|
|
30,625 |
|
Net
computer software costs
|
|
|
35,576 |
|
|
|
39,015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIAC
and other
|
|
|
52,926 |
|
|
|
54,821 |
|
Less
accumulated amortization
|
|
|
4,427 |
|
|
|
2,799 |
|
Net
CIAC and other
|
|
|
48,499 |
|
|
|
52,022 |
|
Total
net intangible assets
|
|
$ |
84,075 |
|
|
$ |
91,037 |
|
(2) The
composite weighted-average depreciation rates for the years ended December 31,
2009, 2008 and 2007 were 3.5 percent, 3.4 percent, and 3.0 percent,
respectively.
Amortization
expense of capitalized computer software costs for the years ended December 31,
2009, 2008 and 2007 was $9.4 million, $8.6 million, and $8.2 million,
respectively. Amortization expense for CIAC and other intangible
assets for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $1.6 million and $2
million, respectively, and insignificant for the year ended December 31,
2007. Computer software costs are amortized between four and ten
years. CIAC and other intangible assets are amortized between 2 and
40 years.
13. Stock-Based
Compensation
Stock Award
Plans. The Third Amended
2003 Plan adopted by the stockholders of Southern Union Company allows for
awards in the form of stock options (either incentive stock options or
non-qualified options), SARs, stock bonus awards, restricted stock, performance
units or other equity-based rights. The persons eligible to receive
awards under the Third Amended 2003 Plan include all of the employees,
directors, officers and agents of, and other service providers to, Southern
Union Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Under the Third
Amended 2003 Plan: (i) no participant may receive any calendar year awards
covering more than 500,000 shares; (ii) the exercise price for a stock option
may not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the common stock on
the date of grant; and (iii) no award may be granted after September 28,
2013.
The fair
value of each stock option and SAR award is estimated on the date of grant using
a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company’s expected
volatilities are based on historical volatility of Southern Union Company’s
common stock. To the extent that volatility of Southern Union
Company’s common stock price
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
increases
in the future, the estimates of the fair value of stock options and SARs granted
in the future could increase, thereby increasing share-based compensation
expense in future periods. Additionally, the expected dividend yield
is considered for each grant on the date of grant. The Company’s
expected term of stock options and SARs granted was derived from the average
midpoint between vesting and the contractual term. In the future, as
information regarding post-vesting termination becomes more accessible, the
Company may change the method of deriving the expected term. This
change could impact the fair value of stock options and SARs granted in the
future. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve
in effect at the time of grant.
The
following table represents the Black-Scholes estimated ranges under the
Company’s plans for stock options and SARs awards granted in the periods
presented:
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
32.22%
|
|
30.57%
|
|
30.11%
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
|
2.45%
|
|
2.19%
|
|
2.10%
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
|
2.72%
|
|
1.71%
|
|
3.70%
|
Expected
life
|
|
6
years
|
|
6
years
|
|
6
years
|
Stock
Options. The following table provides information on stock
options granted, exercised, forfeited, outstanding and exercisable for the
periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
Under
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
325,822 |
|
|
$ |
20.01 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(46,170 |
) |
|
|
18.76 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(2,995 |
) |
|
|
17.66 |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
276,657 |
|
|
$ |
20.25 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(6,916 |
) |
|
|
16.83 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(221 |
) |
|
|
16.83 |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
269,520 |
|
|
$ |
20.34 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(6,461 |
) |
|
|
16.83 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
263,059 |
|
|
$ |
20.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
122,826 |
|
|
$ |
20.32 |
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
192,827 |
|
|
$ |
20.39 |
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
263,059 |
|
|
$ |
20.42 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SARS. The
following table provides information on SARs granted, exercised, forfeited,
outstanding and exercisable for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
|
|
|
|
SARs
|
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
37,114 |
|
|
$ |
28.07 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
108,078 |
|
|
|
28.48 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
145,192 |
|
|
$ |
28.38 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
268,954 |
|
|
|
12.55 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
414,146 |
|
|
$ |
18.10 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
147,004 |
|
|
|
21.64 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(4,347 |
) |
|
|
12.55 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
556,803 |
|
|
$ |
19.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
12,370 |
|
|
|
28.07 |
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
60,764 |
|
|
|
28.31 |
|
Exercisable
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
194,458 |
|
|
|
21.41 |
|
The SARs
that have been awarded vest in equal installments on the first three
anniversaries of its grant date. Each SAR entitles the holder to shares of
Southern Union’s common stock equal to the fair market value of Southern Union’s
common stock in excess of the grant date price for each SAR on the applicable
exercise date.
As of
December 31, 2009, there was $1.7 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to non-vested stock options and SARs compensation arrangements
granted under the stock option plans. That cost is expected to be
recognized over a weighted-average contractual period of 2.3
years. The total fair value of options and SARs vested as of December
31, 2009 was $3.6 million. Compensation expense recognized related to
stock options and SARs totaled $1.1 million ($732,000, net of tax), $1.1 million
($828,000, net of tax), and $826,000 ($645,000, net of tax) for the years ended
December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The aggregate
intrinsic value of total options and SARs outstanding and exercisable at
December 31, 2009 was $3.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
The
intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2009 was
approximately $32,000.
Restricted
Stock. The Third Amended
2003 Plan also provides for grants of restricted stock equity units , which are
settled in shares of Southern Union Company common stock, and restricted stock
liability units, which are settled in cash. The Company settles
restricted stock equity units with shares of Southern Union common stock and
restricted stock liability units with cash. The
restrictions associated with a grant of restricted stock equity units under the
Third Amended 2003 Plan generally expire equally over a period of three
years. Restrictions on restricted stock liability units expire at the
end of the applicable period, which is also the requisite service
period.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The
following table provides information on restricted stock equity awards granted,
vested and forfeited for the periods presented:
|
|
Number
of
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
|
Restricted
Shares
|
|
|
Grant-Date
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Fair-Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested
restricted shares at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
25,142 |
|
|
$ |
24.08 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(8,381 |
) |
|
|
24.08 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Nonvested
restricted shares at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
16,761 |
|
|
$ |
24.08 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(8,380 |
) |
|
|
24.08 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Nonvested
restricted shares at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
8,381 |
|
|
$ |
24.08 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(8,381 |
) |
|
|
24.08 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Nonvested
restricted shares at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
The
following table provides information on restricted stock liability awards
granted, vested and forfeited for the periods presented:
|
|
Number
of Restricted
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
|
Stock
Liability Units
|
|
|
Grant-Date
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Fair-Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested
restricted units at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
52,846 |
|
|
$ |
28.07 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
74,883 |
|
|
|
28.48 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(17,611 |
) |
|
|
28.07 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Nonvested
restricted units at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
110,118 |
|
|
$ |
28.35 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
132,452 |
|
|
|
12.75 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(42,556 |
) |
|
|
28.31 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Nonvested
restricted units at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
200,014 |
|
|
$ |
18.03 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
94,189 |
|
|
|
21.54 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(87,620 |
) |
|
|
20.31 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(463 |
) |
|
|
25.06 |
|
Nonvested
restricted units at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
206,120 |
|
|
$ |
18.53 |
|
As of
December 31, 2009, there was $4.6 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to non-expired, restricted stock liability units compensation
arrangements granted under the restricted stock plans. That cost is
expected to be recognized over a weighted-average contractual period of 2.3
years. The total fair value of restricted stock equity and liability
units that vested during the year ended December 31, 2009 was $2.1
million. Compensation expense recognized related to restricted stock
equity and liability units totaled $2.1 million ($1.3 million, net of tax),
$751,000 ($471,000, net of tax), and $752,000 ($472,000, net of tax) for the
years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The Company settled the restricted stock liability unit awards
vesting in 2009 with cash payments of $1.9 million.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14. Commitments
and Contingencies
Litigation. The Company is involved
in legal, tax and regulatory proceedings before various courts, regulatory
commissions and governmental agencies regarding matters arising in the ordinary
course of business, some of which involve substantial amounts. Where
appropriate, the Company has made accruals in order to provide for such
matters. The Company believes the final disposition of these
proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Jack
Grynberg, an individual, filed actions for damages against a number of
companies, including the Company, which was transferred to the U.S. District
Court for the District of Wyoming, alleging mis-measurement of natural gas
volumes and Btu content, resulting in lower royalties to mineral interest
owners. On October 20, 2006, the District Judge ordered the dismissal
of the case against the Company. Grynberg appeals were denied at all
levels including at the United States Supreme Court. The parties are
now seeking recovery of certain costs from Grynberg associated with the defense
of the action. A similar action, known as the Will Price litigation,
also has been filed against a number of companies, including the Company, in
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. On September 19,
2009, the Court denied plaintiffs’ request for class
certification. Plaintiffs have filed a motion for
reconsideration. The Company believes that its measurement practices
conformed to the terms of its FERC natural gas tariff, which was filed with and
approved by FERC. As a result, the Company believes that it has
meritorious defenses to the Will Price lawsuit (including FERC-related
affirmative defenses, such as the filed rate/tariff doctrine, the
primary/exclusive jurisdiction of FERC, and the defense that the Company
complied with the terms of its tariff) and will continue to vigorously defend
the case. The Company does not believe the outcome of the Will Price
litigation will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
East End
Project. The East End Project involved the installation of a
total of approximately 31 miles of pipeline in and around Tuscola, Illinois,
Montezuma, Indiana and Zionsville, Indiana. Construction began in
2007 and was completed in the second quarter of 2008. PEPL is seeking
recovery of each contractor’s share of approximately $50 million of cost
overruns from the construction contractor, multiple inspection contractors and
the construction management contractor for improper welding, inspection and
construction management of the East End Project. Certain of the
contractors have filed counterclaims against PEPL for alleged underpayments of
approximately $18 million. The matter is pending in state court in
Harris County, Texas. Trial is set for September 2010. The
Company does not believe the outcome of this case will have a material adverse
effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
Energy Resources
Technology. Energy
Resources Technology (ERT) filed suit against Sea
Robin on November 9, 2009 alleging breach of contract due to delays in repairs
to Sea Robin’s subsea pipeline as a result of damage during Hurricane Ike. ERT
alleges that under its firm transportation contract and due to the delays in
repair of the pipeline, non-performance issues have resulted in the loss of
ERT’s revenue of $110 million for the last fourteen months of the
contract. The suit was filed in state court in Harris County, Texas
and has been removed to the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Texas. The Company does not believe the outcome of
this case will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
Environmental
Matters. The Company’s operations are subject to federal,
state and local laws and regulations regarding water quality, hazardous and
solid waste management, air quality control and other environmental
matters. These laws and regulations require the Company to conduct
its operations in a specified manner and to obtain and comply with a wide
variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and other
approvals. Failure to comply with environmental requirements may
expose the Company to significant fines, penalties and/or interruptions in
operations. The Company’s environmental policies and procedures are
designed to achieve compliance with such laws and regulations. These
evolving laws and regulations and claims for damages to property, employees,
other persons and the environment resulting from current or past operations may
result in significant expenditures and liabilities in the future. The
Company engages in a process of updating and revising its procedures for the
ongoing evaluation of its operations to identify potential environmental
exposures and enhance compliance with regulatory requirements.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Environmental
Remediation. The Company is responsible for environmental
remediation at certain sites on its natural gas transmission systems for
contamination resulting from the past use of lubricants containing PCBs in
compressed air systems; the past use of paints containing PCBs; and the prior
use of wastewater collection facilities and other on-site disposal
areas. The Company has developed and implemented a program to
remediate such contamination. The primary remaining remediation
activity on the Panhandle systems is associated with past use of paints
containing PCBs or PCB impacts to equipment surfaces and to a building at one
location.
The
amount of estimated costs to remediate PCBs at the Company’s facilities was
increased in 2009 by a total of approximately $5.1 million. The PCB
assessments are ongoing and the related estimated remediation costs are subject
to further change. The Company believes the total PCB remediation costs
will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position,
results of operations or cash flows.
Other
remediation typically involves the management of contaminated soils and may
involve remediation of groundwater. Activities vary with site
conditions and locations, the extent and nature of the contamination, remedial
requirements, complexity and sharing of responsibility. The ultimate
liability and total costs associated with these sites will depend upon many
factors. If remediation activities involve statutory joint and
several liability provisions, strict liability, or cost recovery or contribution
actions, the Company could potentially be held responsible for contamination
caused by other parties. In some instances, the Company may share
liability associated with contamination with other PRPs. The Company
may also benefit from contractual indemnities that cover some or all of the
cleanup costs. These sites are generally managed in the normal course
of business or operations. The Company believes the outcome of these
matters will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations or cash flows.
The table
below reflects the amount of accrued liabilities recorded in the consolidated
balance sheet at the dates indicated to cover probable environmental response
actions:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
$ |
5,891 |
|
|
$ |
1,052 |
|
Noncurrent
|
|
|
5,654 |
|
|
|
6,989 |
|
Total
environmental liabilities
|
|
$ |
11,545 |
|
|
$ |
8,041 |
|
Air Quality
Control. The KDHE has
established certain contingency measures as part of the agency’s ozone
maintenance plan for the Kansas City area. These measures will be
triggered if there are any new elevated ozone readings in the Kansas City
area. One of the NOx emission sources that will be impacted is the
PEPL Louisburg compressor station. In addition, the EPA has revised
the ozone standard and the Kansas City area will likely be designated as a
non-attainment area under the new and stricter standard. Issues
associated with reducing emissions at the Louisburg compressor station are being
discussed with the KDHE. In the event KDHE requires emission reductions, it is
estimated that approximately $14 million in capital expenditures will be
required.
On
December 18, 2009, PEPL received an information request from the EPA under
Section 114(a) of the federal Clean Air Act. The information request seeks
certain documents and records pertaining to maintenance activities and capital
projects associated with combustion emission sources located at eight compressor
stations in Illinois and Indiana. The first set of responses was provided
February 1, 2010.
In
February 2009, EPA proposed a rule that requires reductions in a number of
pollutants, including formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, for all engines
regardless of size at Area Sources (sources that emit less than ten tons per
year of any one Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) or twenty-five tons per
year of all HAPs) and engines less than 500 horsepower at Major Sources (sources
that emit ten tons per year or more of any one HAP or twenty-five tons per year
of all HAPs). The rule is scheduled to be finalized in August 2010
with compliance required in 2013. It is anticipated that the limits
adopted in this rule will be used in a future EPA rule that is scheduled to be
finalized
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
in 2013,
with compliance required in 2016. This future rule is expected to
require reductions in formaldehyde and carbon monoxide emissions from
engines greater than 500 horsepower at Major Sources.
Nitrogen
oxides are the primary air pollutant from natural gas-fired
engines. Nitrogen oxide emissions may form ozone in the
atmosphere. EPA lowered the ozone standard to seventy-five parts per
billion (ppb) in 2008
with compliance anticipated in 2013 to 2015. In January 2010, EPA
proposed lowering the standard to sixty to seventy ppb in lieu of the
seventy-five ppb standard, with compliance required in 2014 or
later.
In
January 2010, EPA finalized a 100 ppb one-hour nitrogen dioxide
standard. Based on the current nitrogen dioxide monitoring network,
only one county in the United States fails to meet the new
standard. The rule requires the installation of new nitrogen dioxide
monitors in urban communities and roadways by 2013. This new network
may result in additional nitrogen dioxide non-attainment
areas. Facility specific impacts may occur prior to the installation
of the new monitors if ambient air quality modeling is required to demonstrate
compliance with the new standard.
The
Company is currently reviewing the potential impact of the proposed rules
regarding HAPs and ozone on its operations and the potential costs associated
with the installation of emission control systems on its existing
engines. Costs associated with these activities cannot be estimated
with any certainty at this time, but the Company believes such costs will not
have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
SPCC
Rules. In October 2007,
the EPA proposed amendments to the SPCC rules with the stated intention of
providing greater clarity, tailoring requirements and streamlining
requirements. The most recent extension by the EPA sets the SPCC rule
compliance date as November 10, 2010, permitting owners and operators of
facilities to prepare or amend and implement SPCC Plans in accordance with
previously enacted modifications to the regulations. The Company is
currently reviewing the impact of the modified regulations on its operations and
may incur costs for tank integrity testing, alarms and other associated
corrective actions as well as potential upgrades to containment
structures. Costs associated with such activities cannot be estimated
with certainty at this time, but the Company believes such costs will not have a
material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
Other
Commitments and Contingencies.
Retirement of
Debt Obligations. The Company plans to repay its $40.5 million
8.25% Senior Notes maturing in April 2010 by utilizing some combination of cash
flows from operations or from repayments from Southern Union of intercompany
loans.
2008 Hurricane
Damage. In September 2008, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike came
ashore on the Louisiana and Texas coasts. Offshore transportation
facilities, including Sea Robin and Trunkline’s Terrebonne system, suffered
damage to several platforms and gathering pipelines. In late July 2009, during
testing to put the remaining offshore facilities back in service, Sea Robin
experienced a pipeline rupture in an area where the pipeline had previously been
displaced during Hurricane Ike and subsequently re-buried. Sea Robin experienced
reduced volumes until January 2010 when the remainder of the damaged facilities
were back in service.
The
Company has recorded additional Hurricane Ike related expenses of approximately
$12.3 million and $10.5 million, net of insurance recoveries of $2.1 million and
nil, in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The capital replacement and
retirement expenditures relating to Hurricane Ike have been increased during
2009 to approximately $185 million and are expected to be incurred through
2010. These estimates are subject to further revision as certain
work, primarily retirements, is ongoing. Approximately $110 million
and $23 million of the capital replacement and retirement expenditures were
incurred as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company
anticipates reimbursement from OIL Insurance Limited (OIL), its member mutual
property insurer, for a significant portion of the damages in excess of its $10
million deductible; however, the recoverable amount is subject to pro rata
reduction to the extent that the level of total accepted claims from all
insureds exceeds the carrier’s $750 million aggregate exposure limit, OIL has
announced that it has reached the $750 million aggregate exposure limit and has
revised its estimated payout amount to approximately 61 percent based on
estimated claim information it has received. OIL is currently making
interim payouts at the rate of 50 percent of accepted claims. The
Company has received $36.7 million for claims submitted to date with respect to
Hurricane Ike. The final amount of any applicable pro rata reduction
cannot be determined until OIL has received and assessed all
claims.
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Controlled Group
Pension Liabilities. Southern Union Company (including certain
of its divisions) sponsors a number of defined benefit pension plans for
employees. Under applicable pension and tax laws, upon being acquired
by Southern Union, the Company became a member of Southern Union Company’s
“controlled group” with respect to those plans and, along with Southern Union
Company and any other members of that group, is jointly and severally liable for
any failure by Southern Union (along with any other persons that may be or
become a sponsor of any such plan) to fund any of these pension plans or to pay
any unfunded liabilities that these plans may have if they are ever
terminated. In addition, if any of the obligations of any of these
pension plans is not paid when due, a lien in favor of that plan or the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation may be created against the assets of each member of
Southern Union Company’s controlled group, including the Company and each of its
subsidiaries. Based on the latest actuarial information available as
of December 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of the projected benefit obligations
of these pension plans was approximately $177.2 million and the estimated
fair value of all of the assets of these plans was approximately
$115.9 million.
See Note 3 – Regulatory Matters
for other potential contingent matters applicable to the
Company.
15. Quarterly
Financial Information (Unaudited)
The
following table provides certain quarterly financial information for the periods
presented.
|
|
First
|
|
|
Second
|
|
|
Third
|
|
|
Fourth
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
|
Quarter
|
|
|
Total
|
|
2009
|
|
(In
thousands)
|
|
Operating
revenue
|
|
$ |
192,295 |
|
|
$ |
172,615 |
|
|
$ |
176,092 |
|
|
$ |
208,159 |
|
|
$ |
749,161 |
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
72,519 |
|
|
|
71,527 |
|
|
|
73,830 |
|
|
|
98,492 |
|
|
|
316,368 |
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
32,889 |
|
|
|
32,444 |
|
|
|
32,985 |
|
|
|
51,897 |
|
|
|
150,215 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
revenue
|
|
$ |
187,051 |
|
|
$ |
168,333 |
|
|
$ |
173,400 |
|
|
$ |
192,856 |
|
|
$ |
721,640 |
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
92,649 |
|
|
|
72,437 |
|
|
|
66,185 |
|
|
|
78,329 |
|
|
|
309,600 |
|
Net
earnings
|
|
|
48,239 |
|
|
|
34,914 |
|
|
|
29,990 |
|
|
|
37,531 |
|
|
|
150,674 |
|
PANHANDLE
EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To
Southern Union Company and the Board of Managers of
Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP:
In our
opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of operations, of partners’ capital and comprehensive
income and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP and subsidiaries (the
"Company") at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our
audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
/s/
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston,
Texas
March 1,
2010
exhibit12.htm
Exhibit 12
PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPE LINE COMPANY, LP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table sets forth the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges on an historical basis for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. For the purpose of calculating such ratios, “earnings” consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before income or loss from equity investees,
adjusted to reflect distributed income from equity investments, and fixed charges, less capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” consist of interest costs, amortization of debt discount, premiums and issuance costs and an estimate of interest implicit in rentals. No adjustment has been made to earnings for the amortization of capital interest for the periods presented as such amount is immaterial. Interest on FIN 48 liabilities is excluded from the computation of fixed charges as it is
recorded by the Company in income tax expense versus interest expense. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
FIXED CHARGES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Expense |
|
$ |
82,881 |
|
|
$ |
90,514 |
|
|
$ |
83,748 |
|
|
$ |
63,322 |
|
|
$ |
49,578 |
|
Net amortization of debt discount, premium and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
issuance expense |
|
|
1,615 |
|
|
|
(1,457 |
) |
|
|
(1,197 |
) |
|
|
(1,333 |
) |
|
|
(1,293 |
) |
Capitalized Interest |
|
|
25,701 |
|
|
|
18,910 |
|
|
|
14,203 |
|
|
|
4,645 |
|
|
|
8,838 |
|
Interest portion of rental expense |
|
|
4,122 |
|
|
|
3,050 |
|
|
|
3,582 |
|
|
|
3,780 |
|
|
|
4,284 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fixed Charges |
|
$ |
114,319 |
|
|
$ |
111,017 |
|
|
$ |
100,336 |
|
|
$ |
70,414 |
|
|
$ |
61,407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated pre-tax income (loss) from continuing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
operations |
|
$ |
242,315 |
|
|
$ |
247,206 |
|
|
$ |
246,742 |
|
|
$ |
225,794 |
|
|
$ |
166,189 |
|
Earnings of equity investments |
|
|
(224 |
) |
|
|
(304 |
) |
|
|
(299 |
) |
|
|
(172 |
) |
|
|
(226 |
) |
Distributed income from equity investments |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
174 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
Capitalized interest |
|
|
(25,701 |
) |
|
|
(18,910 |
) |
|
|
(14,203 |
) |
|
|
(4,645 |
) |
|
|
(8,838 |
) |
Minority interest |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total fixed charges (from above) |
|
|
114,319 |
|
|
|
111,017 |
|
|
|
100,336 |
|
|
|
70,414 |
|
|
|
61,407 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings Available for Fixed Charges |
|
$ |
330,709 |
|
|
$ |
339,009 |
|
|
$ |
332,576 |
|
|
$ |
291,565 |
|
|
$ |
218,735 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
exhibit23_1.htm
Exhibit
23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby
consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (Registration No. 333-162896) of Southern Union Company of our report dated
March 1, 2010 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Panhandle
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston,
Texas
March 1,
2010
exhibi24.htm
Exhibit 24
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that
each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Richard N.
Marshall and Robert M. Kerrigan, III, or either of them, acting individually or
together, as such person's true and lawful attorney(s)-in-fact and agent(s),
with full power of substitution and revocation, to act in any capacity for such
person and in such person's name, place and stead in any and all capacities, to
sign the Annual Rerport on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 of
Panhandle Eastern Line Company LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and any
amendments thereto, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the New York Stock Exchange.
Dated: March
1, 2010
/s/ George L. Lindemann
/s/ Eric D.
Herschmann
George L.
Lindemann
Eric D. Herschmann
/s/ Michal
Barzuza /s/ Herbert H.
Jacobi
Michal
Barzuza Herbert
H. Jacobi
/s/ David
Brodsky
/s/ Thomas N.
McCarter,
III
David
Brodsky Thomas
N. McCarter, III
/s/ Frank W.
Denius
/s/ George Rountree,
III
Frank W.
Denius George
Rountree, III
/s/ Kurt A. Gitter,
M.D. /s/ Allan D.
Scherer
Kurt A.
Gitter,
M.D. Allan
D. Scherer
exhibit31_1.htm
Exhibit
31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Robert
O. Bond, certify that:
(1) I
have reviewed this Report on Form 10-K of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company,
LP;
(2) Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
(3) Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and
for, the periods presented in this report;
(4) The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
(a)
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
|
(b)
|
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
|
(c)
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
|
(d)
|
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an
annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
(5) The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most
recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
(b)
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
Date: March
1,
2010
/s/ ROBERT O.
BOND
Robert O.
Bond
President
and Chief Operating Officer
exhibit31_2.htm
Exhibit
31.2
CERTIFICATION
I,
Richard N. Marshall, certify that:
(1) I
have reviewed this Report on Form 10-K of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company,
LP;
(2) Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
(3) Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and
for, the periods presented in this report;
(4) The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have:
(a)
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
|
(b)
|
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
|
(c)
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
|
(d)
|
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an
annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
(5) The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most
recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
(b)
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
Date: March
1,
2010
/s/ RICHARD N.
MARSHALL
Richard
N. Marshall
Senior
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
exhibit32_1.htm
Exhibit
32.1
CERTIFICATION
PUSUANT TO
18
U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS
ADOPTED PUSUANT TO
SECTION
906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the Form 10-K of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (the
"Company") for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Robert O. Bond,
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that to my knowledge (i) the Report fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, except as otherwise noted under Item 9A(T) therein, and
(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
/s/ ROBERT O.
BOND
Robert O.
Bond
President
and Chief Operating Officer
March 1,
2010
This
Certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, and shall not be deemed “filed” by the Company for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall not be
incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
whether made before or after the date of this Report, irrespective of any
general incorporation language contained in such filing.
A signed
original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other documents
authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears
in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required
by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the
Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff
upon request.
exhibit32_2.htm
Exhibit
32.2
CERTIFICATION
PUSUANT TO
18
U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS
ADOPTED PUSUANT TO
SECTION
906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In
connection with the Form 10-K of Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (the
"Company") for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Richard N.
Marshall, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge (i) the Report fully
complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as otherwise noted under Item 9A(T)
therein, and
(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
/s/ RICHARD N.
MARSHALL
Richard
N. Marshall
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
March 1,
2010
This
Certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, and shall not be deemed “filed” by the Company for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall not be
incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
whether made before or after the date of this Report, irrespective of any
general incorporation language contained in such filing.
A signed
original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other documents
authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears
in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required
by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the
Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff
upon request.