Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-32740

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   30-0108820
(state or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

(214) 981-0700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

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.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

At August 2, 2011, the registrant had units outstanding as follows:

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. 222,972,708 Common Units

 

 

 


Table of Contents

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Subsidiaries

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets – June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

     1   

Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     3   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) – Three and Six Months Ended June  30, 2011 and 2010

     4   

Consolidated Statement of Equity – Six Months Ended June 30, 2011

     5   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and 2010

     6   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     7   

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     38   

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     52   

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     55   

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

  

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     55   

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

     56   

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

     58   

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

     58   

ITEM 4. [RESERVED]

  

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

     58   

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

     58   

SIGNATURE

     62   

 

i


Table of Contents

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this report, excluding historical information, as well as some statements by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (“Energy Transfer Equity,” the “Partnership” or “ETE”) in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Energy Transfer Equity officials during presentations about the Partnership, include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Statements using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “expect,” “continue,” “estimate,” “goal,” “forecast,” “may,” “will” or similar expressions help identify forward-looking statements. Although the Partnership and its general partner believe such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and current expectations and projections about future events, no assurance can be given that such assumptions, expectations or projections will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Partnership’s actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, projected, forecasted, estimated or expressed in forward-looking statements since many of the factors that determine these results are subject to uncertainties and risks that are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control. For additional discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, see “Part II — Other Information – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as “Part I — Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Partnership’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2011.

Definitions

The following is a list of certain acronyms and terms generally used throughout this document:

 

/d

   per day

Bbls

   barrels

Btu

   British thermal unit, an energy measurement used by gas companies to convert the volume of gas used to its heat equivalent, and thus calculate the actual energy used

Capacity

   capacity of a pipeline, processing plant or storage facility refers to the maximum capacity under normal operating conditions and, with respect to pipeline transportation capacity, is subject to multiple factors (including natural gas injections and withdrawals at various delivery points along the pipeline and the utilization of compression) which may reduce the throughput capacity from specified capacity levels

Mcf

   thousand cubic feet

MMBtu

   million British thermal units

MMcf

   million cubic feet

Bcf

   billion cubic feet

NGL

   natural gas liquid, such as propane, butane and natural gasoline

Tcf

   trillion cubic feet

LIBOR

   London Interbank Offered Rate

NYMEX

   New York Mercantile Exchange

Reservoir

   a porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible natural gas and/or oil that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is separate from other reservoirs

WTI

   West Texas Intermediate Crude

 

ii


Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
ASSETS     

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 148,471      $ 86,264   

Marketable securities

     1,996        2,032   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,908 and $6,706 as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

     642,928        612,357   

Accounts receivable from related companies

     82,510        76,331   

Inventories

     348,177        366,384   

Exchanges receivable

     19,451        21,926   

Price risk management assets

     13,104        16,357   

Other current assets

     142,334        109,359   
                

Total current assets

     1,398,971        1,291,010   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

     15,461,476        13,284,430   

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

     (1,687,004     (1,431,698
                
     13,774,472        11,852,732   

ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

     1,350,627        1,359,979   

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSETS

     7,468        13,971   

GOODWILL

     2,008,896        1,600,611   

INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS, net

     1,325,724        1,260,427   
                

Total assets

   $ 19,866,158      $ 17,378,730   
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 451,795      $ 421,556   

Accounts payable to related companies

     14,885        27,351   

Accrued distributions to ETE partners

     139,790          

Exchanges payable

     19,461        16,003   

Price risk management liabilities

     20,729        13,172   

Accrued and other current liabilities

     589,762        567,688   

Current maturities of long-term debt

     22,998        35,305   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,259,420        1,081,075   

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities

     11,123,820        9,346,067   

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS (Note 10)

     334,170        317,600   

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES

     60,934        79,465   

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

     252,892        235,848   

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 14)

    

PREFERRED UNITS OF SUBSIDIARY (Note 10)

     71,040        70,943   

EQUITY:

    

General Partner

     88        520   

Limited Partners:

    

Common Unitholders

     (23,273     115,350   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (356     4,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital (deficit)

     (23,541     120,668   

Noncontrolling interest

     6,787,423        6,127,064   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     6,763,882        6,247,732   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 19,866,158      $ 17,378,730   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

REVENUES:

        

Natural gas operations

   $ 1,728,951      $ 1,140,768      $ 3,157,908      $ 2,447,477   

Retail propane

     220,296        197,147        748,762        730,586   

Other

     25,659        24,613        57,356        56,446   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,974,906        1,362,528        3,964,026        3,234,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

        

Cost of products sold — natural gas operations

     1,122,857        723,835        2,006,626        1,636,441   

Cost of products sold — retail propane

     134,728        110,282        445,592        415,263   

Cost of products sold — other

     6,567        6,336        13,360        13,614   

Operating expenses

     222,717        179,745        443,413        350,493   

Depreciation and amortization

     148,530        98,035        287,786        184,366   

Selling, general and administrative

     78,946        65,038        142,445        116,147   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     1,714,345        1,183,271        3,339,222        2,716,324   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

     260,561        179,257        624,804        518,185   

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

        

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (181,517     (129,036     (349,446     (250,707

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     28,819        12,193        54,260        18,374   

(Losses) gains on disposal of assets

     (681     1,375        (2,435     (489

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     1,883        (22,468     3,403        (36,892

Impairment of investment in affiliate

            (52,620            (52,620

Other, net

     2,811        (5,213     (9,715     (3,070
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     111,876        (16,512     320,871        192,781   

Income tax expense

     5,224        4,053        15,127        9,264   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     106,652        (20,565     305,744        183,517   

Income from discontinued operations

            86               86   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

     106,652        (20,479     305,744        183,603   

LESS: NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

     40,367        (39,747     150,819        51,558   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS

     66,285        19,268        154,925        132,045   

GENERAL PARTNER’S INTEREST IN NET INCOME

     205        60        479        409   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERS’ INTEREST IN NET INCOME

   $ 66,080      $ 19,208      $ 154,446      $ 131,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BASIC NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.30      $ 0.09      $ 0.69      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING

     222,972,708        222,941,172        222,963,741        222,941,140   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.30      $ 0.09      $ 0.69      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING

     222,972,708        222,941,172        222,963,741        222,941,140   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net income (loss)

   $ 106,652      $ (20,479   $ 305,744      $ 183,603   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

        

Reclassification to earnings of gains and losses on derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges

     123        1,725        (13,416     2,555   

Change in value of derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges

     3,829        (19,303     (7,009     4,500   

Change in value of available-for-sale securities

     (643     (724     (35     (3,053
                                
     3,309        (18,302     (20,460     4,002   
                                

Comprehensive income (loss)

     109,961        (38,781     285,284        187,605   

Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     43,250        (50,410     135,513        57,718   
                                

Comprehensive income attributable to partners

   $ 66,711      $ 11,629      $ 149,771      $ 129,887   
                                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     General
    Partner    
    Common
    Unitholders    
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Noncontrolling
Interest
        Total      

Balance, December 31, 2010

   $ 520      $ 115,350      $ 4,798      $ 6,127,064      $ 6,247,732   

Distributions to ETE partners

     (1,194     (384,612                   (385,806

Subsidiary distributions

                          (376,440     (376,440

Subsidiary units issued for cash

     285        91,789               882,030        974,104   

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense, net of units tendered by employees for tax withholdings

            549               21,684        22,233   

Non-cash executive compensation

            13               612        625   

Other, net

     (2     (808            (3,040     (3,850

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

                   (5,154     (15,306     (20,460

Net income

     479        154,446               150,819        305,744   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2011

   $ 88      $ (23,273   $ (356   $ 6,787,423      $ 6,763,882   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

         Six Months Ended June 30,      
     2011     2010  

NET CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 305,744      $ 183,603   

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Impairment of investment in affiliate

            52,620   

Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives

            15,395   

Depreciation and amortization

     287,786        184,366   

Amortization of finance costs charged to interest

     9,577        6,311   

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense

     22,460        15,194   

Non-cash executive compensation expense

     625        625   

Losses on disposal of assets

     2,435        489   

Distributions in excess of equity in earnings of affiliates, net

     29,875        12,257   

Other non-cash

     18,634        (5,241

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions (Note 4)

     21,201        336,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     698,337        801,936   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash received

     (1,948,612     (129,390

Capital expenditures (excluding allowance for equity funds used during construction)

     (794,151     (629,372

Contributions in aid of construction costs

     13,967        7,957   

Advances to affiliates, net

     (22,668     (44,518

Proceeds from the sale of assets

     6,925        9,138   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,744,539     (786,185
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from borrowings

     5,202,535        338,017   

Principal payments on debt

     (3,420,348     (434,250

Subsidiary equity offering, net of issue costs

     974,104        574,522   

Distributions to partners

     (246,016     (241,523

Debt issuance costs

     (22,198     (5,978

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

     (376,440     (230,605

Other

     (3,228       
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,108,409        183   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     62,207        15,934   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

     86,264        68,315   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

   $ 148,471      $ 84,249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular dollar amounts, except per unit data, are in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

1. OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATION:

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Partnership,” “we,” or “ETE”) is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership that directly and indirectly owns equity interests in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”) and Regency Energy Partners LP (“Regency”), both publicly traded master limited partnerships engaged in strategic diversified energy-related services.

At June 30, 2011, our equity interests consisted of:

 

     General Partner
Interest
(as a % of total
partnership  interest)
    Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(“IDRs”)
    Common
Units
 

ETP

     1.6     100     50,226,967   

Regency

     1.9     100     26,266,791   

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of ETE presented herein for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 include the results of operations of:

 

   

the Parent Company;

 

   

our controlled subsidiaries, ETP and Regency (see description of their respective operations below under “Business Operations”);

 

   

ETP’s and Regency’s wholly-owned subsidiaries; and

 

   

our wholly-owned subsidiaries that own the general partner and IDR interests in ETP and Regency.

ETE obtained control of Regency on May 26, 2010, and as such, the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 include the results of Regency for the period from the acquisition date through the end of the respective periods.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and “ETE” mean Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, which include ETP, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. (“ETP GP”), the General Partner of ETP, ETP GP’s General Partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (“ETP LLC”), Regency, Regency GP LP (“Regency GP”), the General Partner of Regency, and Regency GP’s General Partner, Regency GP LLC (“Regency LLC”). References to the “Parent Company” mean Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. on a stand-alone basis.

Business Operations

The Parent Company’s principal sources of cash flow are its direct and indirect investments in the limited partner and general partner interests in ETP and Regency. The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements, distributions to its partners and holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Units (the “Preferred Units”) and at ETE’s election, capital contributions to ETP and Regency in respect of ETE’s general partner interests in ETP and Regency. Parent Company-only assets are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of ETE’s subsidiaries. In order to fully understand the financial condition of the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis, see Note 19 for stand-alone financial information apart from that of the consolidated partnership information included herein.

The following is a brief description of ETP’s and Regency’s operations:

 

   

ETP is a publicly traded partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. ETP has pipeline operations in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah and West Virginia and owns the largest intrastate pipeline system in Texas. ETP currently has natural gas operations that include gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and processing assets, and three storage facilities located in Texas. ETP also holds a 70% interest in a joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. ETP is also one of the three largest retail marketers of propane in the United States.

 

7


Table of Contents
   

Regency is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed in 2005 engaged in the gathering, treating, processing, compressing and transportation of natural gas and NGLs. Regency focuses on providing midstream services in some of the most prolific natural gas production regions in the United States, including the Haynesville, Eagle Ford, Barnett, Fayetteville and Marcellus shales as well as the Permian Delaware basin. Its assets are primarily located in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama and the mid-continent region of the United States, which includes Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Regency also holds a 30% interest in a joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Preparation of Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Partnership, as of June 30, 2011 and for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim consolidated financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. However, management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year due to the seasonal nature of the Partnership’s operations, maintenance activities of the Partnership’s subsidiaries and the impact of forward natural gas prices and differentials on certain derivative financial instruments that are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (all of which are normal and recurring) have been made that are necessary to fairly state the consolidated financial position of the Partnership as of June 30, 2011, and the Partnership’s results of operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto presented in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on net income or total equity.

 

2. 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 the accrual for and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

The natural gas industry conducts its business by processing actual transactions at the end of the month following the month of delivery. Consequently, the most current month’s financial results for natural gas and NGL related operations are estimated using volume estimates and market prices. Any differences between estimated results and actual results are recognized in the following month’s financial statements. Management believes that the estimated operating results represent the actual results in all material respects.

Some of the other significant estimates made by management include, but are not limited to, the timing of certain forecasted transactions that are hedged, the fair value of derivative instruments, useful lives for depreciation and amortization, purchase accounting allocations and subsequent realizability of intangible assets, fair value measurements used in the goodwill impairment test, market value of inventory, assets and liabilities resulting from the regulated ratemaking process, contingency reserves and environmental reserves. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

8


Table of Contents
3. ACQUISITION:

LDH Acquisition

On May 2, 2011, ETP-Regency Midstream Holdings, LLC (“ETP-Regency LLC”), a joint venture owned 70% by ETP and 30% by Regency, acquired all of the membership interest in LDH Energy Asset Holdings LLC (“LDH”), from Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy LLC (“Louis Dreyfus”) for approximately $1.97 billion in cash (the “LDH Acquisition”). The cash purchase price paid at closing is subject to post-closing adjustments. ETP contributed approximately $1.38 billion to ETP-Regency LLC upon closing to fund its 70% share of the purchase price, while Regency contributed approximately $591.7 million to fund its 30% share of the purchase price. Subsequent to closing, ETP-Regency LLC was renamed Lone Star NGL LLC (“Lone Star”).

Lone Star owns and operates a natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation business. Lone Star’s storage assets are primarily located in Mont Belvieu, Texas and its West Texas Pipeline transports NGLs through an intrastate pipeline system that originates in the Permian Basin in West Texas, passes through the Barnett Shale production area in North Texas and terminates at the Mont Belvieu storage and fractionation complex. Lone Star also owns and operates fractionation and processing assets located in Louisiana. The acquisition of Lone Star significantly expands the Partnership’s asset portfolio by adding a NGL platform with storage, transportation and fractionation capabilities. This acquisition is expected to provide us with additional consistent fee-based revenues.

ETP accounted for the LDH Acquisition using the acquisition method of accounting. Lone Star’s results of operations are consolidated into our ETP reporting segment, except for Lone Star’s 20% investment in a processing plant, while Lone Star’s results are recorded as an equity method investment in our Regency reporting segment. Regency’s equity method investment in Lone Star is reflected by ETP as noncontrolling interest attributable to Lone Star. These amounts have been eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.

The following summarizes the preliminary assets acquired and liabilities assumed recognized at the acquisition date:

 

Total current assets

   $ 118,371   

Property, plant and equipment (1)

     1,438,704   

Goodwill

     408,285   

Intangible assets

     83,000   

Other assets

     157   
  

 

 

 
     2,048,517   
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     76,850   

Other long-term liabilities

     438   
  

 

 

 
     77,288   
  

 

 

 

Total consideration

     1,971,229   

Cash received

     31,231   
  

 

 

 

Total consideration, net of cash received

   $ 1,939,998   
  

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

 

Pipelines and equipment (65 years)

   $ 1,051,211   

Natural gas liquids storage (40 years)

     356,242   

Construction work-in-process

     31,251   
  

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

   $ 1,438,704   
  

 

 

 

 

9


Table of Contents

Pro Forma Results of Operations

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are presented as if the acquisitions of LDH and Regency had been completed on January 1, 2010:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Revenues

   $ 2,011,513       $ 1,659,528       $ 4,072,615       $ 3,932,061   

Net income

     100,768         19,233         297,298         208,823   

Net income attributable to partners

     64,881         74,673         152,804         173,799   

Basic net income per Limited Partner unit

     0.29         0.33         0.69         0.78   

Diluted net income per Limited Partner unit

     0.29         0.33         0.69         0.78   

The pro forma consolidated results of operations include adjustments to:

 

   

include the results of LDH and Regency for all periods presented;

 

   

include the incremental expenses associated with the fair value adjustments recorded as a result of applying the acquisition method of accounting;

 

   

include incremental interest expense related to financing the purchase price;

 

   

adjust for one-time expenses; and

 

   

adjust for relative changes in ownership resulting from both transactions.

The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred had the transactions been made at the beginning of the periods presented or the future results of the combined operations.

The accounting for this transaction is based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, which is pending final working capital settlements.

Pending Acquisition

On July 19, 2011, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Plan of Merger (the “Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement”) with Sigma Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub”), and Southern Union Company (“SUG”), a Delaware corporation. The Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement modifies certain terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by us, Merger Sub and SUG on July 4, 2011. Under the terms of the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into SUG, with SUG continuing as the surviving entity and becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “SUG Merger”) subject to certain conditions to close. Pursuant to the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, ETE would acquire all of the outstanding shares of SUG in a transaction valued at $9.4 billion, including $5.7 billion in cash and ETE Common Units and $3.7 billion of existing SUG indebtedness. Stockholders of SUG may elect to exchange each share of SUG stock for either $44.25 in cash or 1.00 ETE Common Unit. The maximum cash component is 60% of the aggregate consideration and the common unit component can fluctuate between 40% and 50%. Elections in excess of either the cash or common unit limits will be subject to proration.

Consummation of the SUG Merger is subject to customary conditions, including, without limitation: (i) the adoption of the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement by the stockholders of SUG, (ii) the expiration or early termination of the waiting period applicable to the SUG Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”), as amended, and any required approvals thereunder, (iii) the receipt of required approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), the Missouri Public Service Commission and, if required, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, (iv) the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the ETE Common Units to be issued in the SUG Merger, and (v) the absence of any law, injunction, judgment or ruling prohibiting or restraining the SUG Merger or making the consummation of the SUG Merger illegal. On July 28, 2011, the waiting period applicable to the SUG Merger under the HSR Act expired.

Citrus Transaction

On July 19,2011, ETP entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger with us (the “Amended Citrus Merger Agreement”). The Amended Citrus Merger Agreement modifies certain terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by ETP and us on July 4, 2011. Pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the effective time of the SUG Merger, we will assign and SUG will assume the benefits and obligations of us under the Amended Citrus Merger Agreement.

Under the Amended Citrus Merger Agreement, it is anticipated that SUG will cause the contribution to ETP of a 50% interest in Citrus Corp., which owns 100% of the Florida Gas Transmission pipeline system and is currently jointly owned by SUG and El Paso Corporation (the “Citrus Transaction”). The Citrus Transaction will be effected through the merger of Citrus ETP Acquisition, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of SUG that indirectly owns a 50% interest in Citrus Corp. (“CrossCountry”). In exchange for the interest in Citrus Corp., SUG will receive approximately $2.0 billion, consisting of $1.895 billion in cash and $105 million of ETP Common Units, with the value of the ETP Common Units based on the volume-weighted average trading price for the 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately prior to the date that is three trading days prior to the closing date of the Citrus Transaction. In order to increase the expected accretion to be derived from the Citrus Transaction, we have agreed to relinquish our rights to approximately $220 million of incentive distributions from ETP that we would otherwise be entitled to receive over 16 consecutive quarters following the closing of the transaction.

 

10


Table of Contents

The Amended Citrus Merger Agreement includes customer representations, warranties and covenants of ETP and us (including representations, warranties and covenants relating to SUG, CrossCountry and certain of CrossCountry’s affiliates). Consummation of the Citrus Transaction is subject to customary conditions, including, without limitation: (i) satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, (ii) the receipt by ETP of any necessary waivers or amendments to its credit agreements, (iii) the amendment of ETP’s partnership agreement to reflect the agreed upon relinquishment by us of incentive distributions from ETP discussed above, and (iv) the absence of any order, decree, injunction or law prohibiting or making the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Amended Citrus Merger Agreement illegal. The Amended Citrus Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both us and ETP, including among others, the right to terminate if the Citrus Transaction is not completed by December 31, 2012 or if the Second Amended Merger SUG Agreement is terminated.

Pursuant to the Amended Citrus Merger Agreement, we have has granted ETP a right of first offer with respect to any disposition by us or SUG of Southern Union Gas Services, a subsidiary of SUG that owns and operates a natural gas gathering and processing system serving the Permian Basin in West Texas and New Mexico.

 

4. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

Cash and cash equivalents include all cash on hand, demand deposits, and investments with original maturities of three months or less. We consider cash equivalents to include short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

We place our cash deposits and temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. At times, our cash and cash equivalents may be uninsured or in deposit accounts that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit.

The net change in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of acquisitions) included in cash flows from operating activities is comprised as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010  

Accounts receivable

   $ 40,057      $ 98,321   

Accounts receivable from related companies

     (38,515     21,603   

Inventories

     30,181        159,540   

Exchanges receivable

     2,599        13,151   

Other current assets

     (19,484     35,792   

Intangibles and other assets

     4,241        4,201   

Accounts payable

     (31,956     (66,853

Accounts payable to related companies

     23,902        (12,096

Exchanges payable

     2,970        (7,880

Accrued and other current liabilities

     17,892        38,036   

Other non-current liabilities

     11,108        (583 )  

Price risk management assets and liabilities, net

     (21,794    
53,085
  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions

   $ 21,201      $ 336,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

11


Table of Contents

Non-cash investing activities are as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010  

Accrued capital expenditures

   $ 106,047       $ 73,432   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gain from subsidiary common unit transactions

   $ 92,074       $ 280,492   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

5. INVENTORIES:

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Natural gas and NGLs, excluding propane

   $ 176,093       $ 170,179   

Propane

     59,213         76,341   

Appliances, parts and fittings and other

     112,871         119,864   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventories

   $ 348,177       $ 366,384   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

ETP utilizes commodity derivatives to manage price volatility associated with its natural gas inventory and designates certain of these derivatives as fair value hedges for accounting purposes. Changes in fair value of the designated hedged inventory have been recorded in inventory on our consolidated balance sheets and in cost of products sold in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

6. GOODWILL, INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS:

A net increase in goodwill of $408.3 million was recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2011 primarily due to the LDH Acquisition referenced in Note 3. This additional goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. In addition, ETP recorded customer contracts of $83.0 million with useful lives ranging from 3 to 14 years.

Components and useful lives of intangibles and other assets were as follows:

 

     June 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
 

Amortizable intangible assets:

          

Customer relationships, contracts and agreements (3 to 46 years)

   $ 1,053,788       $ (109,657   $ 971,657       $ (88,583

Trade names (20 years)

     65,500         (2,993     65,500         (1,910

Noncompete agreements (3 to 15 years)

     20,187         (12,219     21,165         (11,888

Patents (9 years)

     750         (160     750         (118

Other (10 to 15 years)

     1,320         (544     1,320         (492
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amortizable intangible assets

     1,141,545         (125,573     1,060,392         (102,991

Non-amortizable intangible assets:

          

Trademarks

     77,655                77,445           
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

     1,219,200         (125,573     1,137,837         (102,991

Other assets:

          

Financing costs (3 to 30 years)

     157,882         (47,140     137,012         (38,945

Regulatory assets

     107,258         (16,381     107,384         (14,445

Other

     31,136         (658     35,001         (426
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total intangibles and other assets

   $ 1,515,476       $ (189,752   $ 1,417,234       $ (156,807
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

12


Table of Contents

Aggregate amortization expense of intangibles and other assets was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Reported in depreciation and amortization

   $ 12,204       $ 7,910       $ 25,345       $ 13,056   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reported in interest expense

   $ 5,005       $ 3,728       $ 9,577       $ 6,645   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimated aggregate amortization expense for the next five years is as follows:

 

Years Ending December 31:

      

2012

   $ 70,449   

2013

     65,243   

2014

     62,222   

2015

     57,776   

2016

     56,250   

 

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value. Price risk management assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value.

Based on the estimated borrowing rates currently available to us and our subsidiaries for long-term loans with similar terms and average maturities, the aggregate fair value and carrying amount of our consolidated debt obligations as of June 30, 2011 was $12.02 billion and $11.15 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, the aggregate fair value and carrying amount of our consolidated debt obligations was $10.23 billion and $9.38 billion, respectively.

We have marketable securities, commodity derivatives, interest rate derivatives, the Preferred Units and embedded derivatives in the Preferred Units of a Subsidiary (the “Regency Preferred Units”) that are accounted for as assets and liabilities at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. We determine the fair value of our assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement by using the highest possible “level” of inputs. Level 1 inputs are observable quotes in an active market for identical assets and liabilities. We consider the valuation of marketable securities and commodity derivatives transacted through a clearing broker with a published price from the appropriate exchange as a Level 1 valuation. Level 2 inputs are inputs observable for similar assets and liabilities. We consider over-the-counter (“OTC”) commodity derivatives entered into directly with third parties as a Level 2 valuation since the values of these derivatives are quoted on an exchange for similar transactions. Additionally, we consider our options transacted through our clearing broker as having Level 2 inputs due to the level of activity of these contracts on the exchange in which they trade. We consider the valuation of our interest rate derivatives as Level 2 since we use a LIBOR curve based on quotes from an active exchange of Eurodollar futures for the same period as the future interest swap settlements and discount the future cash flows accordingly, including the effects of credit risk. Level 3 inputs are unobservable. Derivatives related to the Regency Preferred Units are valued using a binomial lattice model. The market inputs utilized in the model include credit spread, probabilities of the occurrence of certain events, common unit price, dividend yield, and expected value, and are considered Level 3. The fair value of the Preferred Units was based predominantly on an income approach model and is also considered Level 3.

 

13


Table of Contents

The following tables summarize the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 based on inputs used to derive their fair values:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at
June 30, 2011 Using
 
     Fair Value
Total
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Assets:

        

Marketable securities

   $ 1,996      $ 1,996      $      $   

Interest rate derivatives

     18,854               18,854          

Commodity derivatives:

        

Natural Gas:

        

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX

     81,744        81,744                 

Swing Swaps IFERC

     8,258        1,371        6,887          

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     19,819        18,445        1,374          

Options — Puts

     14,956               14,956          

NGLs — Forward Swaps

     67               67          

Propane — Forward Swaps

     557               557          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commodity derivatives

     125,401        101,560        23,841          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 146,251      $ 103,556      $ 42,695      $   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Interest rate derivatives

   $ (9,753   $      $ (9,753   $   

Preferred Units

     (334,170                   (334,170

Embedded derivatives in the Regency Preferred Units

     (51,498                   (51,498

Commodity derivatives:

        

Natural Gas:

        

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX

     (79,164     (79,164              

Swing Swaps IFERC

     (11,040     (2,682     (8,358       

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     (16,760     (16,760              

Options — Puts

     (27            (27       

Options — Calls

     (704            (704       

NGLs — Forward Swaps

     (16,711            (16,711       

Propane — Forward Swaps

     (281            (281       

WTI Crude Oil

     (3,651            (3,651       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commodity derivatives

     (128,338     (98,606     (29,732       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (523,759   $ (98,606   $ (39,485   $ (385,668
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

14


Table of Contents
     Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2010 Using
 
     Fair Value
Total
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  

Assets:

        

Marketable securities

   $ 2,032      $ 2,032      $      $   

Interest rate derivatives

     20,790               20,790          

Commodity derivatives:

        

Natural Gas:

        

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX

     15,756        15,756                 

Swing Swaps IFERC

     1,682        1,562        120          

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     44,955        42,474        2,481          

Options — Calls

     75               75          

Options — Puts

     26,241               26,241          

NGLs — Forward Swaps

     192               192          

Propane — Forward Swaps

     6,864               6,864          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commodity derivatives

     95,765        59,792        35,973          
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 118,587      $ 61,824      $ 56,763      $   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Interest rate derivatives

   $ (20,922   $      $ (20,922   $   

Preferred Units

     (317,600                   (317,600

Embedded derivatives in the Regency Preferred Units

     (57,023                   (57,023

Commodity derivatives:

        

Natural Gas:

        

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX

     (17,372     (17,372              

Swing Swaps IFERC

     (3,768     (3,520     (248       

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     (42,252     (41,825     (427       

Options — Calls

     (2,643            (2,643       

Options — Puts

     (7            (7       

NGLs — Forward Swaps

     (10,684            (10,684       

WTI Crude Oil

     (3,581            (3,581       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total commodity derivatives

     (80,307     (62,717     (17,590       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ (475,852   $ (62,717   $ (38,512   $ (374,623
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the six months ended June 30, 2011. There were no transfers between the fair value hierarchy levels during the six months ended June 30, 2011.

 

Balance, December 31, 2010

   $ (374,623

Net unrealized losses included in other income (expense)

     (11,045
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2011

   $ (385,668
  

 

 

 

 

15


Table of Contents
8. NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT:

A reconciliation of net income and weighted average units used in computing basic and diluted net income per unit is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010      2011     2010  

Basic Net Income per Limited Partner Unit:

         

Limited Partners’ interest in net income

   $ 66,080      $ 19,208       $ 154,446      $ 131,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average Limited Partner units

     222,972,708        222,941,172         222,963,741        222,941,140   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per Limited Partner unit

   $ 0.30      $ 0.09       $ 0.69      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted Net Income per Limited Partner Unit:

         

Limited Partners’ interest in net income

   $ 66,080      $ 19,208       $ 154,446      $ 131,636   

Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation of subsidiaries

     (132             (402     (131
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income available to Limited Partners

   $ 65,948      $ 19,208       $ 154,044      $ 131,505   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average Limited Partner units

     222,972,708        222,941,172         222,963,741        222,941,140   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per Limited Partner unit

   $ 0.30      $ 0.09       $ 0.69      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Discontinued operations per unit has been omitted as the impact rounds to $0.00 per unit for all relevant periods presented.

The calculation above for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 for diluted net income per limited partner unit excludes the impact of any ETE Common Units that would be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Units, because inclusion would have been antidilutive. The Preferred Units have a liquidation preference of $300.0 million and are subject to mandatory conversion as discussed in Note 10.

 

9. DEBT OBLIGATIONS:

Senior Notes

ETP Senior Notes

In May 2011, ETP completed a public offering of $800 million aggregate principal amount of 4.65% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021 and $700 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due June 1, 2041. ETP used the proceeds, net of commissions, of $1.48 billion to repay all of the borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility (the “ETP Credit Facility”), to fund capital expenditures related to pipeline construction projects and for general partnership purposes. ETP may redeem some or all of the notes at any time and from time to time pursuant to the terms of the indenture subject to the payment of a “make-whole” premium. Interest will be paid semi-annually.

Regency Senior Notes

In May 2011, Regency issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.5% Senior Notes due July 15, 2021 (the “Regency 2021 Notes”). Regency used the proceeds, net of commissions, of approximately $491.3 million to repay borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility (the “Regency Credit Facility”). Regency capitalized $9.8 million in debt issuance costs that will be amortized to interest expense, net over the term of the Regency 2021 Notes. Interest will be paid semi-annually.

At any time prior to July 15, 2016, Regency may redeem some or all of the Regency 2021 Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. At any time before July 15, 2014, Regency may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regency 2021 Notes then outstanding

 

16


Table of Contents

at a redemption price equal to 106.5% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control event, as defined in the indenture, followed by a rating decline within 90 days, each holder of the Regency 2021 Notes will be entitled to require Regency to purchase all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price of 101% plus accrued interest and liquidated damages, if any. Regency’s ability to purchase the notes upon a change of control will be limited by the terms of its debt agreements, including Regency’s revolving credit facility.

The Regency 2021 Notes contain various covenants that limit, among other things, Regency’s ability, and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

pay distributions on, or repurchase or redeem equity interests;

 

   

make certain investments;

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

sell assets, consolidate or merge with or into other companies.

Revolving Credit Facilities

Parent Company Credit Agreement

The Parent Company has a $200 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Parent Company Credit Agreement”) available through September 20, 2015. The Parent Company Credit Agreement is secured by all tangible or intangible assets of ETE and certain of its subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2011, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Parent Company Credit Agreement.

ETP Credit Facility

The ETP Credit Facility provides for $2.0 billion of revolving credit capacity that is expandable to $3.0 billion (subject to obtaining the approval of the administrative agent and securing lender commitments for the increased borrowing capacity). The ETP Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2012, unless ETP elects the option of one-year extensions (subject to the approval of each such extension by the lenders holding a majority of the aggregate lending commitments). As of June 30, 2011, ETP had a balance of $144.0 million outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility, and the amount available for future borrowings was $1.81 billion taking into account letters of credit of $42.9 million. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was 0.76%.

Regency Credit Facility

The Regency Credit Facility has aggregate revolving commitments of $900 million that matures June 15, 2014. As of June 30, 2011, there was a balance outstanding under the Regency Credit Facility of $330.0 million in revolving credit loans and approximately $11.0 million in letters of credit. The total amount available under the Regency Credit Facility, as of June 30, 2011, which is reduced by any letters of credit, was approximately $559.0 million. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was 3.25%.

 

17


Table of Contents

Covenants Related to Our Credit Agreements

We, ETP and Regency are required to assess compliance quarterly and were in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations, and covenants related to our respective credit agreements as of June 30, 2011.

 

10. REDEEMABLE PREFERRED UNITS:

ETE Preferred Units

In connection with the Regency Transactions completed in May 2010, ETE issued 3,000,000 Series A Convertible Preferred Units to an affiliate of GE Energy Financial Services, Inc. (“GE EFS”) having an aggregate liquidation preference of $300.0 million and were reflected as a non-current liability in our consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The Series A Convertible Preferred Units are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Changes in the estimated fair value of the ETE Preferred Units are recorded in other income (expense) on the consolidated statements of operations.

Regency Preferred Units

Regency has 4,371,586 Regency Preferred Units outstanding at June 30, 2011, which were convertible into 4,620,152 Regency Common Units. If outstanding on September 2, 2029, the Regency Preferred Units are mandatorily redeemable for $80.0 million plus all accrued but unpaid distributions thereon. Holders of the Regency Preferred Units receive fixed quarterly cash distributions of $0.445 per unit from Regency. Holders can elect to convert Regency Preferred Units to Regency Common Units at any time in accordance with Regency’s Partnership Agreement.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the Regency Preferred Units:

 

     Regency
Preferred Units
     Amount  

Balance as of December 31, 2010

     4,371,586       $ 70,943   

Accretion to redemption value

             97   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance as of June 30, 2011

     4,371,586       $ 71,040   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

11. EQUITY:

Common Units Issued

The change in ETE Common Units during the six months ended June 30, 2011 was as follows:

 

     Number of
Units
 

Balance, December 31, 2010

     222,941,172   

Issuance of restricted common units under equity incentive plans

     31,536   
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2011

     222,972,708   
  

 

 

 

Sales of Common Units by Subsidiaries

The Parent Company accounts for the difference between the carrying amount of its investments in ETP and Regency and the underlying book value arising from the issuance or redemption of units by ETP or Regency (excluding transactions with the Parent Company) as capital transactions.

As a result of ETP’s and Regency’s issuances of Common Units during the six months ended June 30, 2011, we recognized increases in partners’ capital of $92.1 million.

 

18


Table of Contents

Sale of Common Units by ETP

On April 1, 2011, ETP issued 14,202,500 Common Units through a public offering. The proceeds, net of commissions, of approximately $695.5 million were used to repay amounts outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility, to fund capital expenditures related to pipeline construction projects and for general partnership purposes.

ETP has an Equity Distribution Agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) under which ETP may offer and sell from time to time through Credit Suisse, as its sales agent, ETP Common Units having an aggregate offering price of up to $200.0 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, ETP received proceeds from units issued pursuant to this agreement of approximately $72.9 million, net of commissions, which were used for general partnership purposes. Approximately $101.2 million of ETP Common Units remain available to be issued under the Equity Distribution Agreement based on trades initiated through June 30, 2011.

In April 2011, ETP filed a registration statement with the SEC covering ETP’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan (the “DRIP”). The DRIP provides Unitholders of record and beneficial owners of ETP Common Units a voluntary means by which they can increase the number of ETP Common Units they own by reinvesting the quarterly cash distributions they would otherwise receive in the purchase of additional ETP Common Units. Currently, the registration statement covers the issuance of up to 5,750,000 ETP Common Units under the DRIP.

In May 2011, in conjunction with the payment of ETP’s distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, distributions of approximately $1.9 million were reinvested under the DRIP resulting in the issuance of 41,139 ETP Common Units.

Sale of Common Units by Regency

In May 2011, Regency issued 8,500,001 Regency Common Units in a private placement. The net proceeds of $203.9 million from the from the private placement were used to fund a portion of Regency’s 30% ownership interest in Lone Star, as discussed in Note 3.

Parent Company Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

The Parent Company’s only cash-generating assets currently consist of distributions from ETP and Regency related to limited and general partnership interests, including IDRs. We currently have no independent operations outside of our interests in ETP and Regency.

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by us subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Rate

December 31, 2010

  February 7, 2011   February 18, 2011   $0.540

March 31, 2011

  May 6, 2011   May 19, 2011   0.560

June 30, 2011

  August 5, 2011   August 19, 2011
  0.625

The distribution for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 was announced on June 30, 2011 and was reflected as an accrued distribution to ETE partners on our consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2011.

ETP’s Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by ETP subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Rate

December 31, 2010

  February 7, 2011   February 14, 2011   $0.89375

March 31, 2011

  May 6, 2011   May 16, 2011   0.89375

June 30, 2011

  August 5, 2011   August 15, 2011   0.89375

 

19


Table of Contents

Regency’s Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by Regency subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Rate

December 31, 2010

  February 7, 2011   February 14, 2011   $0.445

March 31, 2011

  May 6, 2011   May 13, 2011   0.445

June 30, 2011

  August 5, 2011   August 12, 2011   0.450

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (“AOCI”), net of tax:

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Net gains on commodity related hedges

   $ (6,279   $ 14,146   

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

     883        918   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

     (5,396     15,064   

Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interest

     5,040        (10,266
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total AOCI included in partners’ capital, net of tax

   $ (356   $ 4,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

12. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS:

We, ETP, and Regency have equity incentive plans for employees, officers and directors, which provide for various types of awards, including options to purchase Common Units, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”), Common Unit appreciation rights, and other unit-based awards.

ETE Long-Term Incentive Plan

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, ETE employees were granted a total of 30,000 unvested awards with five-year service vesting requirements. The weighted average grant-date fair value of these awards was $39.82 per unit. As of June 30, 2011 a total of 105,713 unit awards remain unvested, including the new awards granted during the period. We expect to recognize a total of $1.7 million in compensation expense over a weighted average period of 2.1 years related to unvested awards.

ETP Unit-Based Compensation Plans

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, ETP employees were granted a total of 518,700 unvested awards with five-year service vesting requirements, and directors were granted a total of 2,580 unvested awards with three-year service vesting requirements. The weighted average grant-date fair value of these awards was $53.60 per unit. As of June 30, 2011 a total of 2,450,698 unit awards remain unvested, including the new awards granted during the period. We expect to recognize a total of $69.2 million in compensation expense over a weighted average period of 1.7 years related to unvested awards.

Regency Unit-Based Compensation Plans

Common Unit Options

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, no Regency Common Unit options were granted. As of June 30, 2011, a total of 166,050 Regency Common Unit options remain vested and exercisable, with a weighted average exercise price of $22.13 per Regency Common Unit option.

Phantom Units

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, Regency employees and directors were granted 68,745 Regency phantom units with three-year service vesting requirements. As of June 30, 2011, a total of 718,172 Regency Phantom Units remain unvested, with a weighted average grant date fair value of $24.77. We expect to recognize a total of $13.0 million in compensation expense over a weighted average period of 4.2 years related to Regency’s unvested phantom units.

 

20


Table of Contents
13. INCOME TAXES:

The components of the federal and state income tax expense of our taxable subsidiaries are summarized as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Current expense:

        

Federal

   $ 561      $ 1,739      $ 5,663      $ 3,057   

State

     5,439        4,344        9,435        7,502   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current expense

     6,000        6,083        15,098        10,559   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred expense (benefit):

        

Federal

     (747     (1,723     (559     (1,029

State

     (29     (307     588        (266
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred expense (benefit)

     (776     (2,030     29        (1,295
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total income tax expense

   $ 5,224      $ 4,053      $ 15,127      $ 9,264   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate due primarily to Partnership earnings that are not subject to federal and state income taxes at the Partnership level.

 

14. REGULATORY MATTERS, COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES:

Guarantee — Fayetteville Express Pipeline LLC

Fayetteville Express Pipeline LLC (“FEP”), a joint venture entity in which ETP owns a 50% interest, had a credit agreement that provided for a $1.1 billion senior revolving credit facility (the “FEP Facility”). ETP guaranteed 50% of the obligations of FEP under the FEP Facility, with the remainder of FEP Facility obligations guaranteed by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (“KMP”). Amounts borrowed under the FEP Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or Prime Rate.

As of June 30, 2011, FEP had $968.5 million of outstanding borrowings issued under the FEP Facility and ETP’s contingent obligation with respect to its guaranteed portion of FEP’s outstanding borrowings was $484.3 million, which was not reflected in our consolidated balance sheet. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was 3.09%.

In July 2011, the FEP Facility was repaid with capital contributions from ETP and KMP totaling $390 million along with proceeds from a $600 million term loan credit facility maturing in July 2012 (which can be extended for one year at the option of FEP). Upon closing and funding of the term loan facility, the FEP Facility was terminated. FEP also entered into a $50 million revolving credit facility maturing in July 2015. ETP does not guarantee FEP’s indebtedness under its term loan or new credit facility.

NGL Pipeline Regulation

ETP and Regency have interests in NGL pipelines located in Texas. ETP and Regency believe that these pipelines do not provide interstate service and that they are thus not subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act (“ICA”) and the Energy Policy of 1992. Under the ICA, tariffs must be just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or confer any undue preference. We cannot guarantee that the jurisdictional status of ETP’s and Regency’s NGL facilities will remain unchanged; however, should they be found jurisdictional, the FERC’s rate-making methodologies may limit ETP’s and Regency’s ability to set rates based on their actual costs, may delay the use of rates that reflect increased costs and may subject ETP and Regency to potentially burdensome and expensive operational, reporting and other requirements. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, revenues and cash flow.

Commitments

In the normal course of our business, ETP and Regency purchase, process and sell natural gas pursuant to long-term contracts and enter into long-term transportation and storage agreements. Such contracts contain terms that are customary in the industry. ETP has also entered into several propane purchase and supply commitments, which are typically one year agreements with varying terms as to quantities, prices and expiration dates. ETP believes that the terms of these agreements are commercially reasonable and will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.

We have certain non-cancelable leases for property and equipment, which require fixed monthly rental payments and expire at various dates through 2034. Rental expense under these operating leases has been included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements of operations and totaled approximately $7.8 million and $5.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, rental expense for operating leases totaled approximately $13.2 million and $11.7 million, respectively.

 

21


Table of Contents

ETP’s propane operations have an agreement with Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (together with its subsidiaries “Enterprise”) (see Note 16) to supply a portion of its propane requirements. The agreement will continue until March 2015 and includes an option to extend the agreement for an additional year.

In connection with the sale of ETP’s investment in M-P Energy in October 2007, ETP executed a propane purchase agreement for approximately 90.0 million gallons per year through 2015 at market prices plus a nominal fee.

ETP’s and Regency’s joint venture agreements require that ETP and Regency fund their proportionate shares of capital contributions to their unconsolidated affiliates. ETP and Regency expect that such capital contributions will depend upon their unconsolidated affiliates’ capital requirements, such as for funding capital projects or repayment of long-term obligations.

Litigation and Contingencies

We may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. Natural gas and propane are flammable, combustible gases. Serious personal injury and significant property damage can arise in connection with their transportation, storage or use. In the ordinary course of business, we are sometimes threatened with or named as a defendant in various lawsuits seeking actual and punitive damages for product liability, personal injury and property damage. We maintain liability insurance with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles management believes are reasonable and prudent, and which are generally accepted in the industry. However, there can be no assurance that the levels of insurance protection currently in effect will continue to be available at reasonable prices or that such levels will remain adequate to protect us from material expenses related to product liability, personal injury or property damage in the future.

We or our subsidiaries are a party to various legal proceedings and/or regulatory proceedings incidental to our businesses. For each of these matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and the availability of insurance coverage. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome of a particular matter is probable and can be estimated, we accrue the contingent obligation, as well as any expected insurance recoverable amounts related to the contingency. As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, accruals of approximately $10.7 million and $10.2 million, respectively, were reflected on our balance sheets related to these contingent obligations. As new information becomes available, our estimates may change. The impact of these changes may have a significant effect on our results of operations in a single period.

The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and there can be no assurance that the outcome of a particular matter will not result in the payment of amounts that have not been accrued for the matter. Further, we may revise accrual amounts prior to the resolution of a particular contingency based on changes in facts and circumstances or in the expected outcome.

No amounts have been recorded in our June 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheets for contingencies and current litigation, other than amounts disclosed herein.

Environmental Matters

Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental and safety laws and regulations that can require expenditures to ensure compliance, including related to air emissions and wastewater discharges, at operating facilities and for remediation at current and former facilities as well as waste disposal sites. Although we believe our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, risks of additional costs and liabilities are inherent in the business of transporting, storing, gathering, treating, compressing, blending and processing natural gas, natural gas liquids and other products. As a result, there can be no assurance that significant costs and liabilities will not be incurred. Costs of planning, designing, constructing and operating pipelines, plants and other facilities must incorporate compliance with environmental laws and regulations and safety standards. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations, the issuance of injunctions and the filing of federally authorized citizen suits. Moreover, there can be no assurance that other developments, such as increasingly stringent environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies thereunder, and claims for damages to property or persons resulting from the operations, will not result in substantial costs and liabilities.

 

22


Table of Contents

We are unable to estimate any losses or range of losses that could result from such developments. Furthermore, we may revise accrual amounts prior to resolution of a particular contingency based on changes in facts and circumstances or changes in the expected outcome.

Our operations are also subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state laws that regulate the protection of the health and safety of employees. In addition, OSHA’s hazardous communication standard requires that information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with the OSHA requirements, including general industry standards, record keeping requirements, and monitoring of occupational exposure to regulated substances.

National Fire Protection Association Pamphlets No. 54 and No. 58, which establish rules and procedures governing the safe handling of propane, or comparable regulations, have been adopted as the industry standard in all of the states in which we operate. In some states, these laws are administered by state agencies, and in others, they are administered on a municipal level. With respect to the transportation of propane by truck, we are subject to regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”). We conduct ongoing training programs to help ensure that our operations are in compliance with applicable regulations. We believe that the procedures currently in effect at all of our facilities for the handling, storage and distribution of propane are consistent with industry standards and are in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

ETP Environmental Matters

Environmental exposures and liabilities are difficult to assess and estimate due to unknown factors such as the magnitude of possible contamination, the timing and extent of remediation, the determination of ETP’s liability in proportion to other parties, improvements in cleanup technologies and the extent to which environmental laws and regulations may change in the future. Although environmental costs may have a significant impact on the results of operations for any single period, ETP believes that such costs will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position.

As of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, accruals related to ETP on an undiscounted basis of $12.8 million and $13.8 million, respectively, were recorded in our consolidated balance sheets as accrued and other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities related to environmental matters.

Based on information available at this time and reviews undertaken to identify potential exposure, ETP believes the amount reserved for environmental matters is adequate to cover the potential exposure for cleanup costs.

Transwestern conducts soil and groundwater remediation at a number of its facilities. Some of the cleanup activities include remediation of several compressor sites on the Transwestern system for contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”). The costs of this work are not eligible for recovery in rates. ETP’s total accrued future estimated cost of remediation activities expected to continue through 2025 is $8.1 million, which is included in the aggregate environmental accruals discussed above. Transwestern received approval from the FERC for rate recovery of projected soil and groundwater remediation costs not related to PCBs effective April 1, 2007.

Transwestern, as part of ongoing arrangements with customers, continues to incur costs associated with containing and removing potential PCBs. Future costs cannot be reasonably estimated because remediation activities are undertaken as claims are made by customers and former customers. However, such future costs are not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (the “EPA”) Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures program regulations were recently modified and impose additional requirements on many of ETP’s facilities. ETP is currently reviewing the impact to its operations and expects to expend resources on tank integrity testing and any associated corrective actions as well as potential upgrades to containment structures. Costs associated with tank integrity testing and resulting corrective actions cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but ETP believes such costs will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

23


Table of Contents

Petroleum-based contamination or environmental wastes are known to be located on or adjacent to six sites on which HOLP presently has, or formerly had, retail propane operations. These sites were evaluated at the time of their acquisition. In all cases, remediation operations have been or will be undertaken by others, and in all six cases, HOLP obtained indemnification rights for expenses associated with any remediation from the former owners or related entities. ETP has not been named as a potentially responsible party at any of these sites, nor has its operations contributed to the environmental issues at these sites. Accordingly, no amounts have been recorded in our June 30, 2011 consolidated balance sheets or our December 31, 2010 consolidated balance sheets. Based on information currently available to us, such projects are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

On August 20, 2010, the EPA published new regulations under the CAA to control emissions of hazardous air pollutants from existing stationary reciprocal internal combustion engines. The rule will require ETP to undertake certain expenditures and activities, likely including purchasing and installing emissions control equipment. On October 19, 2010, industry groups submitted a legal challenge to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and a Petition for Administrative Reconsideration to EPA for some monitoring aspects of the rule. The legal challenge has been held in abeyance since December 3, 2010, pending EPA’s consideration of the Petition for Administrative Reconsideration. On January 5, 2011, the EPA approved the request for reconsideration of the monitoring issues and on March 9, 2011, EPA issued a new proposed rule and a direct final rule effective on May 9, 2011 to clarify compliance requirements related to operation and maintenance procedures for continuous parametric monitoring systems. If significant adverse comments are filed on the direct final rule, EPA would address public comments in a subsequent final rule. At this point, we cannot predict how the direct final rule might be modified as a result of the comments received or a future court ruling and as a result we cannot currently accurately predict the cost to comply with the rule’s requirements. Compliance with the final rule is required by October 2013.

On June 29, 2011, the EPA finalized a rule under the CAA that revised the new source performance standards for manufacturers, owners and operators of new, modified and reconstructed stationary internal combustion engines. The rule will become effective on August 29, 2011. The rule modifications may require ETP to undertake significant expenditures, including expenditures for purchasing, installing, monitoring and maintaining emissions control equipment, if it replaces equipment or expands existing facilities in the future. At this point, ETP is not able to predict the cost to comply with the rule’s requirements, because the rule applies only to changes ETP might make in the future.

ETP’s pipeline operations are subject to regulation by the DOT under the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), pursuant to which the PHMSA has established requirements relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline facilities. Moreover, the PHMSA, through the Office of Pipeline Safety, has promulgated a 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 refers to as “high consequence areas.” Activities under these integrity management programs involve the performance of internal pipeline inspections, pressure testing or other effective means to assess the integrity of these regulated pipeline segments, and the regulations require prompt action to address integrity issues raised by the assessment and analysis. For the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, $3.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of capital costs and $3.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of operating and maintenance costs have been incurred for pipeline integrity testing. For the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, $5.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of capital costs and $6.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively, of operating and maintenance costs have been incurred for pipeline integrity testing. Integrity testing and assessment of all of these assets will continue, and the potential exists that results of such testing and assessment could cause ETP to incur even greater capital and operating expenditures for repairs or upgrades deemed necessary to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of its pipelines; however, no estimate can be made at this time of the likely range of such expenditures.

 

15. PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES:

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility of natural gas, NGL and propane prices. To manage the impact of volatility from these prices, our subsidiaries utilize various exchange-traded and OTC commodity financial instrument contracts. These contracts consist primarily of futures, swaps and options and are recorded at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. Following is a description of price risk management activities by segment as well as tables detailing the outstanding commodity-related derivatives as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 by segment.

 

24


Table of Contents

Investment in ETP

ETP injects and holds natural gas in its Bammel storage facility to take advantage of contango markets (i.e., when the price of natural gas is higher in the future than the current spot price. ETP uses financial derivatives to hedge the natural gas held in connection with these arbitrage opportunities.). At the inception of the hedge, ETP will lock in a margin by purchasing gas in the spot market or off peak season and entering into a financial contract to lock in the sale price. If ETP designates the related financial contract as a fair value hedge for accounting purposes, ETP will value the hedged natural gas inventory at current spot market prices along with the financial derivative it uses to hedge it. Changes in the spread between the forward natural gas prices designated as fair value hedges and the physical inventory spot price result in unrealized gains or losses until the underlying physical gas is withdrawn and the related designated derivatives are settled. Once the gas is withdrawn and the designated derivatives are settled, the previously unrealized gains or losses associated with these positions are realized. Unrealized margins represent the unrealized gains or losses from ETP’s derivative instruments using mark-to-market accounting, with changes in the fair value of its derivatives being recorded directly in earnings. These margins fluctuate based upon changes in the spreads between the physical spot price and forward natural gas prices. If the spread narrows between the physical and financial prices, ETP will record unrealized gains or lower unrealized losses. If the spread widens, ETP will record unrealized losses or lower unrealized gains. Typically, as ETP enters the winter months, the spread converges so that it recognizes in earnings the original locked-in spread through either mark-to-market adjustments or the physical withdrawal of natural gas.

ETP is also exposed to market risk on natural gas it retains for fees in its intrastate transportation and storage operations and operational gas sales in its interstate transportation operations. ETP uses financial derivatives to hedge the sales price of this gas, including futures, swaps and options. Certain contracts that qualify for hedge accounting are designated as cash flow hedges of the forecasted sale of natural gas. The change in value, to the extent the contracts are effective, remains in AOCI until the forecasted transaction occurs. When the forecasted transaction occurs, any gain or loss associated with the derivative is recorded in cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of operations.

Derivatives are utilized in ETP’s midstream operations in order to mitigate price volatility and manage fixed price exposure incurred from contractual obligations. ETP attempts to maintain balanced positions in its marketing activities to protect itself from the volatility in the energy commodities markets; however, net unbalanced positions can exist. Long-term physical contracts are tied to index prices. System gas, which is also tied to index prices, is expected to provide most of the gas required by its long-term physical contracts. When third-party gas is required to supply long-term contracts, a hedge is put in place to protect the margin on the contract. Financial contracts, which are not tied to physical delivery, are expected to be offset with financial contracts to balance ETP’s positions. To the extent open commodity positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices can impact its financial position and results of operations, either favorably or unfavorably.

ETP’s propane operations permit customers to guarantee the propane delivery price for the next heating season. As ETP executes fixed sales price contracts with its customers, it may enter into propane futures contracts to fix the purchase price related to these sales contracts, thereby locking in a gross profit margin. Additionally, ETP may use propane futures contracts to secure the purchase price of its propane inventory for a percentage of its anticipated propane sales.

 

25


Table of Contents

The following table details ETP’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives:

 

     June 30, 2011    December 31, 2010
     Notional
Volume
    Maturity    Notional
Volume
    Maturity

Mark-to-Market Derivatives

         

Natural Gas:

         

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

     (26,145,000   2011-2013      (38,897,500   2011

Swing Swaps IFERC (MMBtu)

     (144,420,000   2011-2012      (19,720,000   2011

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

     6,695,000      2011-2012      (2,570,000   2011

Options — Calls (MMBtu)

               (3,000,000   2011

Propane:

         

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

               1,974,000      2011

Fair Value Hedging Derivatives

         

Natural Gas:

         

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

     (26,040,000   2011-2012      (28,050,000   2011

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

     (38,285,000   2011-2012      (39,105,000   2011

Hedged Item — Inventory (MMBtu)

     38,285,000      2011      39,105,000      2011

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

         

Natural Gas:

         

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

     920,000      2011      (210,000   2011

Options — Puts (MMBtu)

     15,180,000      2011-2012      26,760,000      2011-2012

Options — Calls (MMBtu)

     (15,180,000   2011-2012      (26,760,000   2011-2012

Propane:

         

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

     14,700,000      2011-2012      32,466,000      2011

We expect gains of $10.4 million related to ETP’s commodity derivatives to be reclassified into earnings over the next 12 months related to amounts currently reported in AOCI. The amount ultimately realized, however, will differ as commodity prices change and the underlying physical transaction occurs.

Investment in Regency

Regency is a net seller of NGLs, condensate and natural gas as a result of its gathering and processing operations. The prices of these commodities are impacted by changes in the supply and demand, as well as market forces. Regency’s profitability and cash flow are affected by the inherent volatility of these commodities, which could adversely affect its ability to make distributions to its unitholders. Regency manages this commodity price exposure through an integrated strategy that includes management of its contract portfolio, matching sales prices of commodities with purchases, optimization of its portfolio by monitoring basis and other price differentials in operating areas, and the use of derivative contracts. In some cases, Regency may not be able to match pricing terms or to cover its risk to price exposure with financial hedges, and it may be exposed to commodity price risk. Speculative positions are prohibited under Regency’s policy.

Regency is exposed to market risks associated with commodity prices, counterparty credit, and interest rates. Regency’s management and the board of directors of Regency’s General Partner have established comprehensive risk management policies and procedures to monitor and manage these market risks. Regency’s General Partner is responsible for delegation of transaction authority levels, and the Risk Management Committee of Regency’s General Partner is responsible for the overall management of credit risk and commodity price risk, including monitoring exposure limits. Regency’s Risk Management Committee receives regular briefings on positions and exposures, credit exposures, and overall risk management in the context of market activities.

Regency’s Preferred Units (see Note 10) contain embedded derivatives which are required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately, such as the holders’ conversion option and Regency’s call option. These embedded derivatives are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting. Regency does not expect the embedded derivatives to affect its cash flows.

 

26


Table of Contents

The following table details Regency’s outstanding commodity-related derivatives:

 

     June 30, 2011    December 31, 2010
     Notional
Volume
     Maturity    Notional
Volume
     Maturity

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

           

Natural Gas:

           

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

     3,670,000       2011-2012      3,830,000       2011

Propane:

           

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

     18,564,000       2011-2013      18,648,000       2011-2012

Natural Gas Liquids:

           

Forwards/Swaps (Barrels)

     1,006,000       2011-2013      1,212,110       2011-2012

WTI Crude Oil:

           

Forwards/Swaps (Barrels)

     483,000       2011-2014      373,655       2011-2012

We expect gains of $16.4 million related to Regency’s commodity derivatives to be reclassified into earnings over the next 12 months related to amounts currently reported in AOCI. The amount ultimately realized, however, will differ as commodity prices change and the underlying physical transaction occurs.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates. In order to maintain a cost effective capital structure, we borrow funds using a mix of fixed rate debt and variable rate debt. We manage our current interest rate exposure by utilizing interest rate swaps to achieve a desired mix of fixed and variable rate debt. We also utilize forward starting interest rate swaps to lock in the rate on a portion of anticipated debt issuances. The following is a summary of interest rate swaps outstanding as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, none of which were designated as hedges for accounting purposes:

 

              Notional Amount
Outstanding
 

Entity

   Term  

Type (1)

   June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

ETP

   August 2012 (2)   Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 3.64% and receive a floating rate    $ 400,000       $ 400,000   

ETP

   July 2013 (3)   Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 4.13% and receive a floating rate      200,000           

ETP

   July 2018   Pay a floating rate plus a spread and receive a fixed rate of 6.70%      500,000         500,000   

Regency

   April 2012   Pay a fixed rate of 1.325% and receive a floating rate      250,000         250,000   

 

  (1) 

Floating rates are based on LIBOR.

  (2) 

These forward starting swaps have an effective date of August 2012 and a term of 10 years; however, the swaps have a mandatory termination provision and will be settled in August 2012.

  (3) 

These forward starting swaps have an effective date of July 2013 and a term of 10 years; however, the swaps have a mandatory termination provision and will be settled in July 2013.

Credit Risk

We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties that we believe minimize our overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of potential counterparties’ financial condition (including credit ratings), collateral requirements under certain circumstances and the use of standardized agreements, which allow for netting of positive and negative exposures associated with a single counterparty.

Our counterparties consist primarily of petrochemical companies, other industrial, mid-size to major oil and gas companies and power companies. This concentration of counterparties may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions. Currently, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance.

 

27


Table of Contents

ETP utilizes master-netting agreements and has maintenance margin deposits with certain counterparties in the OTC market and with clearing brokers. Payments on margin deposits are required when the value of a derivative exceeds its pre-established credit limit with the counterparty. Margin deposits are returned to ETP on the settlement date for non-exchange traded derivatives. ETP exchanges margin calls on a daily basis for exchange traded transactions. Since the margin calls are made daily with the exchange brokers, the fair value of the financial derivative instruments are deemed current and netted in deposits paid to vendors within other current assets in our consolidated balance sheets. ETP had net deposits with counterparties of $60.9 million and $52.2 million as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Regency is exposed to credit risk from its derivative counterparties. Although Regency does not require collateral from these counterparties, Regency deals primarily with financial institutions when entering into financial derivatives, and utilizes master netting agreements that allow for netting of swap contract receivables and payables in the event of default by either party.

For financial instruments, failure of a counterparty to perform on a contract could result in our inability to realize amounts that have been recorded on our consolidated balance sheets and recognized in net income or other comprehensive income.

Derivative Summary

The following table provides a balance sheet overview of consolidated derivative assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

     Fair Value of Derivative Instruments  
     Asset Derivatives      Liability Derivatives  
     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

          

Commodity derivatives (margin deposits)

   $ 23,729       $ 35,031       $ (2,136   $ (6,631

Commodity derivatives

     2,001         9,263         (20,696     (14,692
                                  
     25,730         44,294         (22,832     (21,323
                                  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

          

Commodity derivatives (margin deposits)

   $ 111,866       $ 64,940       $ (117,701   $ (72,729

Commodity derivatives

             275                  

Interest rate derivatives

     18,854         20,790         (9,753     (20,922

Embedded derivatives in Regency Preferred Units

                     (51,498     (57,023
                                  
     130,720         86,005         (178,952     (150,674
                                  

Total derivatives

   $ 156,450       $ 130,299       $ (201,784   $ (171,997
                                  

The commodity derivatives (margin deposits) are recorded in “Other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets. The remainder of the derivatives are recorded in “Price risk management assets/liabilities.”

We disclose the non-exchange traded financial derivative instruments as price risk management assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value with amounts classified as either current or long-term depending on the anticipated settlement date.

 

28


Table of Contents

The following tables summarize the amounts recognized with respect to consolidated derivative financial instruments for the periods presented:

 

     Change in Value Recognized in OCI on Derivatives
(Effective Portion)
 
     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010     2011     2010  

Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:

         

Commodity derivatives

   $ 3,769       $ (9,150   $ (7,123   $ 24,957   

Interest rate derivatives

             (9,955            (20,155
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,769       $ (19,105   $ (7,123   $ 4,802   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
AOCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
   Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from AOCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
          Three Months Ended
June  30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
          2011     2010     2011      2010  

Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:

            

Commodity derivatives

   Cost of products sold    $ (2,148   $ 7,058      $ 12,954       $ 12,373   

Interest rate derivatives

   Interest expense             (8,619             (15,885
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ (2,148   $ (1,561   $ 12,954       $ (3,512
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
AOCI into Income
(Ineffective Portion)
   Amount of Gain/(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Ineffective Portion
 
          Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
          2011     2010     2011      2010  

Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships:

            

Commodity derivatives

   Cost of products sold    $ 96      $ (1,016   $ 189       $ 105   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 96      $ (1,016   $ 189       $ 105   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Location of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
   Amount of Gain/
(Loss) Recognized in Income
Representing Hedge  Ineffectiveness and Amount
Excluded from the Assessment of Effectiveness
 
          Three Months Ended
June  30,
    Six Months Ended
June  30,
 
          2011     2010     2011      2010  

Derivatives in fair value hedging relationships (including hedged item):

            

Commodity derivatives

   Cost of products sold    $ 15,874      $ 6,417      $ 22,291       $ (967
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

      $ 15,874      $ 6,417      $ 22,291       $ (967
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

29


Table of Contents
    

Location of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives

   Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
 
          Three Months Ended
June  30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
          2011     2010     2011     2010  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

           

Commodity derivatives

   Cost of products sold    $ (11,427   $ (22,119   $ (4,989   $ (152

Interest rate derivatives

  

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     1,883        (22,468     3,403        (36,892

Embedded Derivatives

   Other income (expenses)      2,950        (3,606     5,525        (3,606
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      $ (6,594   $ (48,193   $ 3,939      $ (40,650
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

We recognized $15.7 million and $38.8 million of unrealized losses on commodity derivatives not in fair value hedging relationships (including the ineffective portion of commodity derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships) for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We recognized $2.1 million and $47.5 million of unrealized losses on commodity derivatives not in fair value hedging relationships (including the ineffective portion of commodity derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In addition, for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, we recognized unrealized gains of $16.7 million and unrealized losses of $8.2 million, respectively, on commodity derivatives and related hedged inventory accounted for as fair value hedges. For the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, we recognized unrealized gains of $7.8 million and $25.0 million, respectively, on commodity derivatives and related hedged inventory accounted for as fair value hedges.

 

16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

The Parent Company has agreements with subsidiaries to provide or receive various general and administrative services. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Parent Company received $4.2 million and $8.1 million in management fees from Regency related to these services. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, the Parent Company paid $3.4 million and $8.4 million in management fees, respectively, to ETP related to these services. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the Parent Company paid $0.1 million and $0.3 million in management fees, respectively, to ETP related to these services. The management fees received from Regency for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 reflect the reimbursement of various general and administrative services of $0.8 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for expenses incurred by ETP on behalf of Regency.

Enterprise and its subsidiaries currently hold a portion of our limited partner interest. As a result, Enterprise and its affiliates are considered related parties for financial reporting purposes.

 

30


Table of Contents

ETP and Enterprise transport natural gas on each other’s pipelines, share operating expenses on jointly-owned pipelines and ETP sells natural gas to Enterprise. ETP’s propane operations purchase a portion of its propane requirements from Enterprise pursuant to an agreement that expires in March 2015 and includes an option to extend the agreement for an additional year. Regency sells natural gas and NGLs to, and incurs NGL processing fees with Enterprise. The following table presents sales to and purchases from Enterprise:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

ETP’s Natural Gas Operations:

           

Sales

   $ 162,107       $ 130,526       $ 298,020       $ 275,246   

Purchases

     9,736         6,936         17,960         13,533   

Regency’s Natural Gas Operations:

           

Sales

     81,055         18,501         155,969         18,501   

Purchases

     3,319         422         2,998         422   

ETP’s Propane Operations:

           

Sales

     1,441         481         10,218         10,966   

Purchases

     72,191         52,415         242,157         218,179   

As of December 31, 2010, a subsidiary of ETP, had forward mark-to-market derivatives with Enterprise for approximately 1.7 million gallons of propane for a fair value asset of $0.2 million. These forward contracts were settled as of June 30, 2011. In addition, as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, a subsidiary of ETP had forward derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges of 14.7 million and 32.5 million gallons of propane at fair value assets of $0.3 million and $6.6 million, respectively, with Enterprise.

Under a master services agreement with RIGS Haynesville Partnership Co. (“HPC”), Regency operates and provides all employees and services for the operation and management of HPC. The related party general administrative expenses reimbursed to Regency were $4.2 million and $8.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. For the period from May 26, 2010 to June 30, 2010, the related party general administrative expenses reimbursed to Regency were $1.4 million.

Regency’s contract compression operations provide contract compression services to HPC. HPC also provides transportation service to Regency. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Regency had revenue of $6.5 million and $13.0 million, respectively, and cost of sales of $4.0 million and $8.1 million, respectively, with HPC.

 

31


Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the related party balances on our consolidated balance sheets:

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Accounts receivable from related parties:

    

Enterprise:

    

ETP’s Natural Gas Operations

   $ 50,180      $ 36,736   

Regency’s Natural Gas Operations

     18,649        25,539   

ETP’s Propane Operations

     226        2,327   

Other

     13,455        11,729   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accounts receivable from related parties:

   $ 82,510      $ 76,331   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accounts payable to related parties:

    

Enterprise:

    

ETP’s Natural Gas Operations

   $ 1,749      $ 2,687   

Regency’s Natural Gas Operations

     754        1,323   

ETP’s Propane Operations

     10,830        22,985   

Other

     1,552        356   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total accounts payable to related parties:

   $ 14,885      $ 27,351   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

ETP’s net imbalance receivable from Enterprise

   $ 592      $ 1,360   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Regency’s net imbalance (payable to) receivable from Enterprise

   $ (774   $ 753   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

17. OTHER INFORMATION:

The tables below present additional detail for certain balance sheet captions.

Other Current Assets

Other current assets consisted of the following:

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Deposits paid to vendors

   $ 60,861       $ 52,192   

Prepaid expenses and other

     81,473         57,167   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other current assets

   $ 142,334       $ 109,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

     June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

Interest payable

   $ 191,206       $ 191,466   

Customer advances and deposits

     63,111         111,448   

Accrued capital expenditures

     97,702         87,260   

Accrued wages and benefits

     59,812         76,592   

Taxes payable other than income taxes

     78,271         36,204   

Income taxes payable

     2,421         8,344   

Other

     97,239         56,374   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued and other current liabilities

   $ 589,762       $ 567,688   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

32


Table of Contents
18. REPORTABLE SEGMENTS:

Our reportable segments reflect two reportable segments, both of which conduct their business exclusively in the United States of America, as follows:

 

   

Investment in ETP — Reflects the consolidated operations of ETP.

 

   

Investment in Regency — Reflects the consolidated operations of Regency.

Each of the respective general partners of ETP and Regency has separate operating management and boards of directors. We control ETP and Regency through our ownership of their respective general partners. See further discussion of ETP and Regency’s operations in Note 1.

We evaluate the performance of our operating segments based on net income. The following tables present financial information by segment. The amounts reflected as “Corporate and Other” include the Parent Company activity and the goodwill and property, plant and equipment fair value adjustments recorded as a result of the 2004 reverse acquisition of Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.

Related party transactions between ETP and Regency are generally based on transactions made at market-related rates. Consolidated revenues and expenses reflect the elimination of all material intercompany transactions.

The following tables present the financial information by segment for the following periods:

 

     Investment
in ETP
     Investment
in Regency
    Corporate
and Other
    Adjustments
and
Eliminations
    Total  

Three months ended June 30, 2011:

           

Revenues from external customers

   $ 1,616,748       $ 354,816      $      $ 3,342      $ 1,974,906   

Intersegment revenues

     11,347         1,682               (13,029       

Income tax expense (benefit)

     5,783         102        (661            5,224   

Net income (loss)

     156,616         14,837        (56,413     (8,388     106,652   

Three months ended June 30, 2010:

           

Revenues from external customers

   $ 1,267,706       $ 96,082      $      $ (1,260   $ 1,362,528   

Intersegment revenues

             898               (898       

Income tax expense (benefit)

     4,569         245        (761            4,053   

Net income (loss)

     42,843         (4,895     (58,427            (20,479

Six months ended June 30, 2011:

           

Revenues from external customers

   $ 3,292,795       $ 670,375      $      $ 856      $ 3,964,026   

Intersegment revenues

     22,877         3,375               (26,252       

Income tax expense (benefit)

     16,380         70        (1,323            15,127   

Net income (loss)

     403,818         29,142        (118,828     (8,388     305,744   

Six months ended June 30, 2010:

           

Revenues from external customers

   $ 3,139,687       $ 96,082      $      $ (1,260   $ 3,234,509   

Intersegment revenues

             898               (898       

Income tax expense (benefit)

     10,493         245        (1,474            9,264   

Net income (loss)

     282,954         (4,895     (94,456            183,603   

 

     As of
June 30,
2011
    As of
December 31,
2010
 

Total assets:

    

Investment in ETP

   $ 14,641,403      $ 12,149,992   

Investment in Regency

     5,428,129        4,770,204   

Corporate and Other

     450,222        469,221   

Adjustments and Eliminations

     (653,596     (10,687
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 19,866,158      $ 17,378,730   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

33


Table of Contents

The following tables provide revenues, grouped by similar products and services, for both ETP and Regency. These amounts include transactions between ETP and Regency.

Investment in ETP

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Intrastate Transportation and Storage

   $ 643,653       $ 530,174       $ 1,232,331       $ 1,132,530   

Interstate Transportation

     104,850         70,079         209,951         138,348   

Midstream

     516,499         407,123         929,694         1,025,830   

NGL Transportation and Services

     90,771                 90,771           

Retail Propane and Other Retail Propane Related

     243,973         220,126         801,188         781,281   

All Other

     28,349         40,204         51,737         61,698   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 1,628,095       $ 1,267,706       $ 3,315,672       $ 3,139,687   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investment in Regency

 

     Three Months Ended
June  30,
     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

Gathering and Processing

   $ 303,203       $ 83,778       $ 569,175       $ 83,778   

Joint Ventures

                               

Contract Compression

     38,072         12,054         76,508         12,054   

Contract Treating

     10,842                 19,275           

Corporate and Others

     4,381         1,148         8,792         1,148   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

   $ 356,498       $ 96,980       $ 673,750       $ 96,980   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

34


Table of Contents
19. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION:

Following are the financial statements of the Parent Company, which are included to provide additional information with respect to the Parent Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a stand-alone basis:

BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

 

     June 30,
         2011        
    December 31,
        2010         
 
ASSETS     

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 14,383      $ 27,247   

Accounts receivable from related companies

     447        171   

Other current assets

     1,894        864   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     16,724        28,282   

ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

     2,258,150        2,231,722   

INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS, net

     27,838        29,118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,302,712      $ 2,289,122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 304      $   

Accounts payable to related companies

     9,414        6,654   

Accrued distributions to ETE partners

     139,790          

Accrued and other current liabilities

     42,575        44,200   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     192,083        50,854   

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities

     1,800,000        1,800,000   

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED UNITS

     334,170        317,600   

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    

EQUITY:

    

General Partner

     88        520   

Limited Partners

     (23,273     115,350   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (356     4,798   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total partners’ capital (deficit)

     (23,541     120,668   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

   $ 2,302,712      $ 2,289,122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

35


Table of Contents

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

   $ (12,037   $ (15,079   $ (13,879   $ (17,415

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

        

Interest expense

     (40,587     (20,210     (81,526     (36,916

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     120,626        75,362        267,268        221,740   

Losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

            (20,753            (35,177

Other, net

     (1,653     (88     (16,812     (212
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     66,349        19,232        155,051        132,020   

Income tax expense (benefit)

     64        (36     126        (25
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

     66,285        19,268        154,925        132,045   

GENERAL PARTNER’S INTEREST IN NET INCOME

     205        60        479        409   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIMITED PARTNERS’ INTEREST IN NET INCOME

   $ 66,080      $ 19,208      $ 154,446      $ 131,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

36


Table of Contents

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
June  30,
 
     2011     2010  

NET CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   $ 233,152      $ 233,100   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

MEP Transaction

            3,016   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from borrowings

     20,000        30,376   

Principal payments on debt

     (20,000     (19,122

Distributions to partners

     (246,016     (241,524

Debt issuance costs

            (5,846
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (246,016     (236,116
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (12,864       

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

     27,247        62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

   $ 14,383      $ 62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

37


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Tabular dollar amounts are in thousands)

The following is a discussion of our historical consolidated financial condition and results of operations, and should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011. Additionally, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”) and Regency Energy Partners LP (“Regency”) electronically file certain documents with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The SEC file number for each registrant and company website address is as follows:

 

   

ETP — SEC File No. 1-11727; website address: www.energytransfer.com

 

   

Regency — SEC File No. 0-51757; website address: www.regencyenergy.com

The information on these websites is not incorporated by reference into this report.

Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from the statements we make in this section due to a number of factors that are discussed in “Part II — Other Information – Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” and “ETE” mean Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, which include Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”), Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. (“ETP GP”), the General Partner of ETP, ETP GP’s General Partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (“ETP LLC”), Regency Energy Partners, L.P. (“Regency”), Regency GP LP (“Regency GP”), the General Partner of Regency, and Regency GP’s General Partner, Regency GP LLC (“Regency LLC”). References to the “Parent Company” mean Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. on a stand-alone basis.

OVERVIEW

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership that directly and indirectly owns equity interests in ETP and Regency, both publicly traded master limited partnerships engaged in diversified energy-related services.

At June 30, 2011, our equity interests consisted of:

 

     General Partner Interest
(as a % of total
partnership interest)
    Incentive  Distribution
Rights

(“IDRs”)
    Common Units  

ETP

     1.6     100     50,226,967   

Regency

     1.9     100     26,266,791   

The principal sources of the Parent Company’s cash flow are its direct and indirect investments in limited partner and general partner interests in ETP and Regency. The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements, distributions to its partners and holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Units (the “Preferred Units”) and at ETE’s election, capital contributions to ETP and Regency in respect of ETE’s general partner interests in ETP and Regency. The Parent Company-only assets are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of ETE’s subsidiaries.

The following is a brief description of our reportable segments:

 

   

Investment in ETP – ETP is a publicly traded partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. ETP has pipeline operations in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah and West Virginia and owns the largest intrastate pipeline system in Texas. ETP currently has natural gas operations that include gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and processing assets, and three storage facilities located in Texas. ETP also holds a 70% interest in a joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. ETP is also one of the largest retail marketers of propane in the United States, serving more than one million customers across the country.

 

38


Table of Contents
   

Investment in Regency – Regency is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed in 2005 engaged in the gathering, treating, processing, compressing and transportation of natural gas and NGLs. Regency focuses on providing midstream services in some of the most prolific natural gas production regions in the United States, including the Haynesville, Eagle Ford, Barnett, Fayetteville and Marcellus shales as well as the Permian Delaware basin. Its assets are primarily located in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Alabama and the mid-continent region of the United States, which includes Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Regency also holds a 30% interest in a joint venture that owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Recent Developments

Pending Acquisition

On July 19, 2011, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Plan of Merger (the “Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement”) with Sigma Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“Merger Sub”), and Southern Union Company (“SUG”), a Delaware corporation. The Second Amended Merger Agreement modifies certain terms of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by us, Merger Sub and SUG on July 4, 2011. Under the terms of the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into SUG, with SUG continuing as the surviving entity and becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “SUG Merger”) subject to certain conditions to close. Pursuant to the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, we would acquire all of the outstanding shares of SUG in a transaction valued at $9.4 billion, including $5.7 billion in cash and ETE Common Units and $3.7 billion of existing SUG indebtedness. Stockholders of SUG may elect to exchange each share of SUG stock for either $44.25 in cash or 1.00 ETE Common Unit. The maximum cash component is 60% of the aggregate consideration and the common unit component can fluctuate between 40% and 50%. Elections in excess of either the cash or common unit limits will be subject to proration.

We have secured $3.7 billion in committed financing from Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) to fund a portion of the cash consideration. Closing of this business combination is contingent upon several conditions, including regulatory approvals and a vote of SUG shareholders. We expect the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2012.

On July 19, 2011, ETP entered into an Amended Citrus Merger Agreement pursuant to which it is anticipated that SUG will cause the contribution to ETP of SUG’s 50% interest in Citrus Corp., which owns 100% of the Florida Gas Transmission (“FGT”) pipeline system, in exchange for approximately $1.895 billion in cash and $105 million of ETP Common Units, contemporaneous with the completion of the merger between SUG and us pursuant to the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement as described in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements. Citrus Corp is currently jointly owned by SUG and El Paso Corporation. The FGT pipeline system has a capacity of 3.0 billion cubic feet per day and supplied approximately 63% of the natural gas consumed in Florida for 2010. FGT’s primary customers are utilities with strong investment grade credit ratings. FGT’s long-term contracts with these high credit quality customers are expected to increase ETP’s fee-based revenue stream.

Lone Star

Lone Star NGL LLC (“Lone Star”), ETP’s and Regency’s recently acquired 70% and 30%, respectively, joint venture announced plans to construct a 100,000 Bbls/d fractionator in Mont Belvieu, Texas. Total cost of the fractionator is expected to be approximately $375 million and is expected to be in service by early 2013.

Lone Star also announced the construction of an approximate 530-mile NGL pipeline that extends from Winkler County in West Texas to a processing plant in Jackson County, Texas. In addition, Lone Star has secured capacity on ETP’s recently-announced NGL pipeline from Jackson County to Mont Belvieu, Texas. The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013 for an estimated cost of $700 million, which will be funded by contributions from ETP and Regency that are reflective of their ownership interests.

 

39


Table of Contents

Eagle Ford Expansion

In June 2011, Regency entered into agreements to provide gas and condensate gathering services for a producer in the Eagle Ford Shale and to construct facilities to perform these services, including a wellhead gathering system, at an expected cost to Regency of approximately $450 million. Capital expenditures are expected to be incurred primarily over the next three years and will initially be funded under Regency’s revolving credit facility. The expansion is scheduled for completion by 2014.

Tiger Pipeline Expansion

ETP recently completed construction of the 400 MMcf/d expansion of its Tiger pipeline. The Tiger pipeline expansion was placed in service on August 1, 2011, bringing the total capacity of the Tiger pipeline to 2.4 Bcf/d.

Results of Operations

We accounted for our May 26, 2010 acquisition of Regency (the “Regency Transactions”) using the purchase method of accounting. As a result, we consolidated the results of Regency and its consolidated subsidiaries since May 26, 2010. Consequently, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations does not include the results of operations of Regency and its consolidated subsidiaries for periods prior to the Regency Transactions.

Consolidated Results

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Change     2011     2010     Change  

Revenues

   $ 1,974,906      $ 1,362,528      $ 612,378      $ 3,964,026      $ 3,234,509      $ 729,517   

Cost of products sold

     1,264,152        840,453        423,699        2,465,578        2,065,318        400,260   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     710,754        522,075        188,679        1,498,448        1,169,191        329,257   

Operating expenses

     222,717        179,745        42,972        443,413        350,493        92,920   

Depreciation and amortization

     148,530        98,035        50,495        287,786        184,366        103,420   

Selling, general and administrative

     78,946        65,038        13,908        142,445        116,147        26,298   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     260,561        179,257        81,304        624,804        518,185        106,619   

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (181,517     (129,036     (52,481     (349,446     (250,707     (98,739

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     28,819        12,193        16,626        54,260        18,374        35,886   

Gains (losses) on disposal of assets

     (681     1,375        (2,056     (2,435     (489     (1,946

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     1,883        (22,468     24,351        3,403        (36,892     40,295   

Impairment of investment in affiliate

            (52,620     52,620               (52,620     52,620   

Other, net

     2,811        (5,213     8,024        (9,715     (3,070     (6,645

Income tax expense

     (5,224     (4,053     (1,171     (15,127     (9,264     (5,863

Income from discontinued operations

            86        (86            86        (86
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 106,652      $ (20,479   $ 127,131      $ 305,744      $ 183,603      $ 122,141   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The discussion under “Parent Company Results” below analyzes the results of operations of the Parent Company for the periods presented, and the discussion under “Segment Operating Results” below analyzes the results of operations related to our reportable segments.

 

40


Table of Contents

Parent Company Results

The Parent Company currently has no separate operating activities apart from those conducted by ETP, Regency and their respective subsidiaries and the principal sources of cash flow are distributions it receives from its direct and indirect investments in the limited partner and general partner interests of ETP and Regency.

The following summarizes the key components of the stand-alone results of operations of the Parent Company for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Change     2011     2010     Change  

Selling, general and administrative

   $ (12,037   $ (15,079   $ 3,042      $ (13,879   $ (17,415   $ 3,536   

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (40,587     (20,210     (20,377     (81,526     (36,916     (44,610

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     120,626        75,362        45,264        267,268        221,740        45,528   

Losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

            (20,753     20,753               (35,177     35,177   

Other, net

     (1,653     (88     (1,565     (16,812     (212     (16,600

Selling, general and administrative. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year, selling, general and administrative expense decreased primarily due to a decrease in acquisition-related costs. The three and six months ended June 30, 2011 reflected approximately $9.0 million in expenses incurred related to our pending acquisition of SUG (see “Recent Developments” above), while the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 reflect approximately $12.8 million in expenses incurred related to our acquisition of a controlling interest in Regency in May 2010.

Interest Expense. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year, interest expense increased primarily due to the issuance of $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior notes in September 2010 the proceeds from which were used to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness under our then existing revolving credit facility and term loan facility, to fund the cost to terminate interest rate swaps, and for general partnership purposes. In addition, interest expense for the periods presented reflected distributions on the ETE Preferred Units issued by ETE in connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Regency in May 2010. Distributions on ETE Preferred Units were $6.0 million and $12.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $2.4 million reflected in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates. Equity in earnings of affiliates represents earnings of the Parent Company related to its investment in ETP and Regency. The Parent Company recorded equity in earnings of ETP of $116.1 million and $75.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $259.8 million and $222.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. An analysis of ETP’s results is included in “Segment Operating Results” below. The three and six months ended June 30, 2011 also reflect the equity in earnings from Regency of $4.5 million and $7.5 million; whereas, the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 include equity in losses of Regency of $0.5 million, which represents only the period subsequent to the Parent Company’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Regency on May 26, 2010.

Losses on Non-Hedged Interest Rate Derivatives. The Parent Company terminated its interest rate swaps that were not accounted for as hedges in September 2010 in connection with the issuance of $1.8 billion of senior notes. Prior to that settlement, changes in the fair value of and cash payments related to these swaps were recorded directly in earnings. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, we recorded unrealized losses on our interest rate swaps as a result of decreases in the relevant floating index rates during the period.

Other, net. Other expenses increased between periods primarily due to non-cash charges recorded to increase the carrying value of the preferred units that were issued by the Parent Company in connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Regency in May 2010.

 

41


Table of Contents

Segment Operating Results

Our reportable segments reflect two reportable segments, which conduct their business exclusively in the United States of America, as follows:

 

   

Investment in ETP — Reflects the consolidated operations of ETP.

 

   

Investment in Regency — Reflects the consolidated operations of Regency.

Each of the respective general partners of ETP and Regency has separate operating managements and boards of directors. We control ETP and Regency through our ownership of their respective general partners. See further discussion of ETP and Regency’s operations in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

We evaluate the performance of our operating segments based on net income. The following tables present the financial information by segment. The amounts reflected as “Corporate and Other” include the Parent Company activity and the goodwill and property, plant and equipment fair value adjustments recorded as a result of the 2004 reverse acquisition of Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.

Net income (loss) by segment is as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Change     2011     2010     Change  

Investment in ETP

   $ 156,616      $ 42,843      $ 113,773      $ 403,818      $ 282,954      $ 120,864   

Investment in Regency

     14,837        (4,895     19,732        29,142        (4,895     34,037   

Corporate and Other

     (56,413     (58,427     2,014        (118,828     (94,456     (24,372

Adjustments and Eliminations

     (8,388            (8,388     (8,388            (8,388
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 106,652      $ (20,479   $ 127,131      $ 305,744      $ 183,603      $ 122,141   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment in ETP

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Change     2011     2010     Change  

Revenues

   $ 1,628,095      $ 1,267,706      $ 360,389      $ 3,315,672      $ 3,139,687      $ 175,985   

Cost of products sold

     1,008,628        770,857        237,771        2,003,085        1,995,722        7,363   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     619,467        496,849        122,618        1,312,587        1,143,965        168,622   

Operating expenses

     189,302        169,533        19,769        377,791        340,281        37,510   

Depreciation and amortization

     104,972        83,877        21,095        200,936        167,153        33,783   

Selling, general and administrative

     54,774        44,255        10,519        100,306        93,009        7,297   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     270,419        199,184        71,235        633,554        543,522        90,032   

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (116,466     (103,014     (13,452     (223,706     (207,976     (15,730

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     5,040        4,072        968        6,673        10,253        (3,580

Gains (losses) on disposal of assets

     (528     1,385        (1,913     (2,254     (479     (1,775

Gains on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     2,111               2,111        3,890               3,890   

Impairment of investment in affiliate

            (52,620     52,620               (52,620     52,620   

Other, net

     1,823        (1,595     3,418        2,041        747        1,294   

Income tax expense

     (5,783     (4,569     (1,214     (16,380     (10,493     (5,887
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 156,616      $ 42,843      $ 113,773      $ 403,818      $ 282,954      $ 120,864   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

42


Table of Contents

Gross Margin. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, ETP’s gross margin increased primarily due to the net impact of the following:

 

   

Revenues generated by ETP’s interstate transportation systems increased $34.8 million and $71.6 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the prior period primarily as a result of the Tiger pipeline being placed into service in December 2010. Increased revenue from the Tiger pipeline was partially offset by decreased revenue from the Transwestern pipeline.

 

   

Gross margin from ETP’s midstream business increased by $32.7 million and $38.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. These increases were driven by higher volumes primarily from recent acquisitions and growth project, as well as the impacts of favorable NGL prices.

 

   

Gross margin from ETP’s NGL transportation and services business was $45.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, which represented 100% of the results from Lone Star since it was acquired in May 2011. Accordingly, no comparative amounts were reflected in ETP’s results prior to May 2, 2011.

Operating Expenses. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 comparable period in the prior year, ETP’s operating expenses increased primarily due to operating expenses from ETP’s Tiger pipeline, which was placed into service in December and operating expenses of $6.3 million from Lone Star, which was acquired on May 2, 2011.

Depreciation and Amortization. ETP’s depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to incremental depreciation associated with ETP’s Tiger pipeline, which was placed in service in December 2010, and the continued expansion of ETP’s Louisiana and South Texas midstream assets.

Selling, General and Administrative. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, ETP’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to increased employee-related costs, as well as additional selling, general and administrative costs related to Lone Star, which was acquired on May 2, 2011.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in the prior year principally due to ETP’s issuance of $1.50 billion of senior notes in May 2011, the proceeds from which were used to repay borrowings on the ETP’s revolving credit facility (the “ETP Credit Facility”), to fund growth projects and for general partnership purposes. Interest expense was presented net of capitalized interest and allowance for debt funds used during construction, which totaled $3.4 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $5.3 million and $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates. ETP’s equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to ETP’s transfer of substantially all of its interest in Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC (“MEP”) to ETE on May 26, 2010 in connection with the Regency Transactions. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, equity in earnings of affiliates primarily consisted of ETP’s proportionate share of the earnings of Fayetteville Express Pipeline LLC (“FEP”).

Gains on Non-Hedged Interest Rate Derivatives. Gains on non-hedged interest rate derivatives for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 reflected swap settlements and amounts recognized on ETP’s outstanding swaps, which had a total notional amount of $1.10 billion as of June 30, 2011. No non-hedged interest rate swaps were outstanding during the same periods in the prior year.

Impairment of Investment in Affiliate. In conjunction with the transfer of its interest in MEP in May 2010, ETP recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $52.6 million during the three months ending June 30, 2010 to reduce the carrying value of its interest to its estimated fair value.

Income Tax Expense. The increase in ETP’s income tax expense between the periods was primarily due to increases in taxable income within ETP’s subsidiaries that are taxable corporations, and an increase in amounts recorded for the Texas margins tax resulting from increased operating income.

 

43


Table of Contents

Investment in Regency

 

     Three Months Ended
June  30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Change     2011     2010     Change  

Revenues

   $ 356,498      $ 96,980      $ 259,518      $ 673,750      $ 96,980      $ 576,770   

Cost of products sold

     259,475        70,174        189,301        475,736        70,174        405,562   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

     97,023        26,806        70,217        198,014        26,806        171,208   

Operating expenses

     33,996        10,402        23,594        67,556        10,402        57,154   

Depreciation and amortization

     40,503        10,545        29,958        80,739        10,545        70,194   

Selling, general and administrative

     17,551        7,104        10,447        36,660        7,104        29,556   

Losses on disposal of assets

     153        10        143        181        10        171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     4,820        (1,255     6,075        12,878        (1,255     14,133   

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (24,689     (8,081     (16,608     (44,696     (8,081     (36,615

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     32,167        8,121        24,046        55,975        8,121        47,854   

Other, net

     2,641        (3,521     6,162        5,055        (3,521     8,576   

Income tax expense

     (102     (245     143        (70     (245     175   

Income from discontinued operations

            86        (86            86        (86
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 14,837      $ (4,895   $ 19,732      $ 29,142      $ (4,895   $ 34,037   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

ETE obtained control of Regency on May 26, 2010. Changes between periods were due to the consolidation of Regency beginning May 26, 2010.

Regency adjusted its assets and liabilities to fair value as of May 26, 2010; therefore, the depreciation and amortization reflected above was based on Regency’s post-acquisition basis of assets.

Regency’s results include its equity in earnings related to its 49.9% interest in MEP subsequent to the Regency Transactions on May 26, 2010 and its 30% interest in Lone Star subsequent to ETP and Regency’s acquisition of Lone Star on May 2, 2011.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

Parent Company Only

The principal sources of the Parent Company’s cash flow are its direct and indirect investments in the limited partner and general partner interests in ETP and Regency. The amount of cash that ETP and Regency distribute to their partners, including the Parent Company, each quarter is based on earnings from their respective business activities and the amount of available cash, as discussed below.

The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements and distributions to its partners and holders of the Preferred Units and at ETE’s election, capital contributions to ETP and Regency in respect of ETE’s general partner interests in ETP and Regency. The Parent Company currently expects to fund its short-term needs for such items with its distributions from ETP and Regency. The Parent Company distributes its available cash remaining after satisfaction of the aforementioned cash requirements to its Unitholders on a quarterly basis.

On July 19, 2011, ETE entered into the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement. Under the terms of the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, ETE would acquire all of the outstanding shares of SUG in a transaction valued at $9.4 billion, including $5.7 billion in cash and ETE common units and $3.7 billion of existing SUG indebtedness. Pursuant to the Second Amended SUG Merger Agreement, stockholders of SUG may elect to exchange each share of SUG stock for either $44.25 in cash or 1.00 ETE Common Unit. The maximum cash component is 60% of the aggregate consideration and the common unit component can fluctuate between 40% and 50%. Elections in excess of either the cash or common unit limits will be subject to proration.

 

44


Table of Contents

ETE intends to finance a portion of the cash component of the SUG Merger consideration with debt financing. Concurrently, and in connection with entering into the merger agreement, ETE entered into a debt commitment letter with the Credit Suisse Lenders, pursuant to which, subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Credit Suisse Lenders have committed to provide a 364-day Bridge Term Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $3.7 billion (or such lesser amount as is equal to the lesser of (i) the amount that is sufficient to fund the total amount of cash consideration paid in the SUG Merger and (ii) the amount that ETE may elect to borrow). The commitment is subject to various conditions, including (i) the absence of a material adverse effect on Southern Union having occurred subsequent to December 31, 2010, (ii) the Credit Suisse Lenders’ satisfaction that during the 60-day period after the date of the Commitment Letter, and subject to certain exceptions, there are no other issues of debt securities or commercial bank or other credit facilities by ETE, Southern Union or their respective wholly owned subsidiaries being announced, offered, placed or arranged, (iii) the execution of satisfactory definitive documentation and (iv) other customary closing conditions.

We expect ETP and Regency to utilize their resources, along with cash from their operations, to fund their announced growth capital expenditures and working capital needs; however, the Parent Company may issue debt or equity securities from time to time, as it deems prudent to provide liquidity for new capital projects of its subsidiaries or for other partnership purposes.

ETP

ETP’s ability to satisfy its obligations and pay distributions to its Unitholders will depend on its future performance, which will be subject to prevailing economic, financial, business and weather conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond ETP’s control.

ETP currently believes that its business has the following future capital requirements:

 

 

growth capital expenditures for its midstream and intrastate transportation and storage operations, primarily for construction of new pipelines and compression, for which ETP expects to spend between $450 million and $500 million for the remainder of 2011;

 

 

growth capital expenditures for its interstate transportation operations, excluding capital contributions to its joint ventures as discussed below, for the construction of new pipelines for which ETP expects to spend between $70 million and $90 million for the remainder of 2011;

 

 

growth capital expenditures for ETP’s NGL transportation and services operations of between $100 million and $150 million for the remainder of 2011;

 

 

growth capital expenditures for its retail propane operations of between $10 million and $20 million for the remainder of 2011; and

 

 

maintenance capital expenditures of between $60 million and $70 million for the remainder of 2011, which include (i) capital expenditures for its intrastate operations for pipeline integrity and for connecting additional wells to its intrastate natural gas systems in order to maintain or increase throughput on existing assets; (ii) capital expenditures for its interstate operations, primarily for pipeline integrity; and (iii) capital expenditures related to NGL transportation and services, which includes amounts ETP expects to be funded by Regency related to its 30% interest in Lone Star; and (iv) capital expenditures for its propane operations to extend the useful lives of its existing propane assets in order to sustain its operations, including vehicle replacements on its propane vehicle fleet.

In addition to the capital expenditures noted above, ETP expects that capital contributions to its unconsolidated joint ventures that it currently has interests in will be between $190 million and $210 million for the remainder of 2011.

As discussed in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements, we entered into the Amended Citrus Merger Agreement on July 18, 2011. ETP expects to fund substantially all of the cash portion of the purchase price ($1.895 billion) initially through the issuance of debt and borrowings from the ETP Credit Facility. ETP also intends to issue sufficient additional equity to maintain its investment grade credit rating and to use the proceeds from such equity issuances to repay other indebtedness and fund capital expenditures. In addition, ETP may enter into other acquisitions, including the potential acquisition of new pipeline systems and propane operations.

 

45


Table of Contents

ETP generally funds its capital requirements with cash flows from operating activities and, to the extent that they exceed cash flows from operating activities, with proceeds of borrowings under existing credit facilities, long-term debt, the issuance of additional ETP Common Units or a combination thereof.

ETP raised $695.5 million in proceeds, net of commissions, from its Common Unit offering in April 2011 and $1.9 million in net proceeds from the issuance of 41,139 Common Units in connection with its distribution reinvestment plan (“DRIP”) in May 2011. In addition, ETP raised $72.9 million in net proceeds during the six months ended June 30, 2011 under ETP’s equity distribution program, as described in Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements. As of June 30, 2011, in addition to $130.9 million of cash on hand, ETP had available capacity under the ETP Credit Facility of $1.81 billion. Based on current estimates, ETP expects to utilize capacity under the ETP Credit Facility, along with cash from its operations, to fund its announced growth capital expenditures and working capital needs through the end of 2011; however, ETP may issue debt or equity securities prior to that time as it deems prudent to provide liquidity for new capital projects, to maintain investment grade credit metrics or other partnership purposes.

Regency

Regency expects its sources of liquidity to include:

 

 

cash generated from operations;

 

 

borrowings under its revolving credit facility (the “Regency Credit Facility”);

 

 

operating lease facilities;

 

 

asset sales;

 

 

debt offerings; and

 

 

issuance of additional partnership units.

As of June 30, 2011, in addition to approximately $3.1 million of cash on hand, Regency had available capacity under the Regency Credit Facility of approximately $559.0 million.

Regency expects its growth capital expenditures to be approximately $345 million in 2011, which includes approximately $168 million for its Gathering and Processing operations, mostly in South Texas, $95 million for its Contract Compression operations, $65 million for its Joint Ventures operations, $12 million for its Contract Treating operations, and $5 million for its Corporate and Others operations. In addition, Regency expects its maintenance capital expenditures to be approximately $17 million in 2011. Regency may revise the timing of these expenditures as necessary to adapt to economic conditions. Regency expects to fund its growth capital expenditures with borrowings under its revolving credit facility and a combination of debt and equity issuances.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, Regency incurred $123.7 million of growth capital expenditures, which primarily related to $45.1 million for the fabrication of new compressor packages for its contract compression operations, $73.2 million for organic growth projects for its gathering and processing operations and $5.4 million for the fabrication of new treating plants for its contract treating operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, Regency incurred $5.4 million of maintenance capital expenditures.

Regency does not anticipate contributing any amounts to RIGS Haynesville Partnership Co. (“HPC”) in 2011 to fund HPC’s growth capital expenditures as these amounts are expected to be funded under HPC’s revolving credit facility.

Cash Flows

Our internally generated cash flows may change in the future due to a number of factors, some of which we cannot control. These factors include regulatory changes, the price for ETP’s and Regency’s products and services, the demand for such products and services, margin requirements resulting from significant changes in commodity prices, operational risks, the successful integration of acquisitions and other factors.

Operating Activities

Changes in cash flows from operating activities between periods primarily result from changes in earnings (as discussed in “Results of Operations” above), excluding the impacts of non-cash items and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash items include recurring non-cash expenses, such as depreciation and amortization expense and

 

46


Table of Contents

non-cash compensation expense. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense during the periods presented primarily resulted from construction and acquisitions of assets, while changes in non-cash unit-based compensation expense result from changes in the number of units granted and changes in the grant date fair value estimated for such grants. Cash flows from operating activities also differ from earnings as a result of non-cash charges that may not be recurring such as impairment charges and allowance for equity funds used during construction. The allowance for equity funds used during construction increases in periods when we have significant amount of interstate pipeline construction in progress. Changes in operating assets and liabilities between periods result from factors such as the changes in the value of price risk management assets and liabilities, timing of accounts receivable collection, payments on accounts payable, the timing of purchases and sales of natural gas and propane inventories, and the timing of advances and deposits received from customers.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to six months ended June 30, 2010. Cash provided by operating activities during 2011 was $698.3 million as compared to $801.9 million for 2010. Net income was $305.7 million and $183.6 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively. The difference between net income and the net cash provided by operating activities consisted of non-cash items totaling $339.1 million and $253.9 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $21.2 million and $336.3 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The non-cash activity in 2011 and 2010 consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $287.8 million and $184.4 million, respectively. In addition, non-cash compensation expense was $23.1 million and $15.8 million for 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized, was $349.3 million and $277.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Investing Activities

Cash flows from investing activities primarily consist of cash amounts paid in acquisitions, capital expenditures, and cash contributions to ETP’s and Regency’s joint ventures. Changes in capital expenditures between periods primarily result from increases or decreases in ETP’s and Regency’s growth capital expenditures to fund their respective construction and expansion projects.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to six months ended June 30, 2010. Cash used in investing activities during 2011 was $2.74 billion as compared to $786.2 million for 2010. In 2011, our subsidiaries paid cash for acquisitions of $1.95 billion, which primarily consisted of the acquisition of Lone Star and made advances to joint ventures of $22.7 million. In 2010, ETP paid cash for acquisitions of $153.4 million and we received $24.0 million in cash in the acquisition of Regency. Total capital expenditures (excluding the allowance for equity funds used during construction) for 2011 were $794.2 million, including changes in accruals of $10.6 million. This compares to total capital expenditures (excluding the allowance for equity funds used during construction) for 2010 of $629.4 million, including changes in accruals of $39.3 million.

Financing Activities

Changes in cash flows from financing activities between periods primarily result from changes in the levels of borrowings and equity issuances, which are primarily used to fund ETP’s and Regency’s acquisitions and growth capital expenditures. Distributions increase between the periods based on increases in the number of common units outstanding at our subsidiaries.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to six months ended June 30, 2010. Cash provided by financing activities during 2011 was $2.11 billion as compared to $0.2 million for 2010. In 2011, ETP received $770.2 million in net proceeds from offerings of ETP Common Units, including $72.9 million under ETP’s equity distribution program (see Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements), as compared to $574.5 million in 2010, which included $151.0 million under ETP’s equity distribution program. During 2011, we had a consolidated net increase in our debt level of $1.78 billion as compared to a net decrease of $96.2 million for 2010, primarily due to ETP’s issuance of $1.50 billion of principal amount of senior notes in May 2011 and Regency’s issuance of $500.0 million of principal amount senior notes in May 2011. We paid distributions of $246.0 million and $241.5 million to our partners in 2011 and in 2010. In addition, during 2011 and 2010, ETP paid distributions of $273.4 million and $230.6 million, respectively, on limited partner interests other than those held by the Parent Company. During 2011, Regency paid distributions of $103.0 million on limited partner interests other than those held by the Parent Company. These distributions are reflected as distributions to noncontrolling interests on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

47


Table of Contents

Description of Indebtedness

Our outstanding consolidated indebtedness was as follows:

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

Parent Company Indebtedness:

    

ETE Senior Notes

   $     1,800,000      $ 1,800,000   

Subsidiary Indebtedness:

    

ETP Senior Notes

     6,550,000        5,050,000   

Regency Senior Notes

     1,350,000        850,000   

Transwestern Senior Unsecured Notes

     870,000        870,000   

HOLP Senior Secured Notes

     90,400        103,127   

ETP Revolving Credit Facility

     143,968        402,327   

Regency Revolving Credit Facility

     330,000        285,000   

Other long-term debt

     8,367        9,671   

Unamortized discounts, net

     (10,371     (6,013

Fair value adjustments related to interest rate swaps

     14,454        17,260   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

   $ 11,146,818      $ 9,381,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The terms of our consolidated indebtedness are described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011 and in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements.

Revolving Credit Facilities

ETP Credit Facility. The ETP Credit Facility provides for $2.0 billion of revolving credit capacity that is expandable to $3.0 billion (subject to obtaining the approval of the administrative agent and securing lender commitments for the increased borrowing capacity). The ETP Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2012, unless ETP elects the option of one-year extensions (subject to the approval of each such extension by the lenders holding a majority of the aggregate lending commitments). Amounts borrowed under the ETP Credit Facility bear interest, at ETP’s option, at a Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin or a base rate. The base rate used to calculate interest on base rate loans will be calculated using the greater of a prime rate or a federal funds effective rate plus 0.50%. The applicable margin for Eurodollar loans ranges from 0.30% to 0.70% based upon ETP’s credit rating and is currently 0.55% (0.60% if facility usage exceeds 50%). The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the ETP Credit Facility varies based on ETP’s credit rating with a maximum fee of 0.125%. The fee is 0.11% based on ETP’s current rating.

As of June 30, 2011, ETP had a balance of $144.0 million outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility, and the amount available under the ETP Credit Facility was $1.81 billion, taking into account letters of credit of $42.9 million. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding at June 30, 2011 was 0.76%.

Regency Credit Facility. The Regency Credit Facility has aggregate revolving commitments of $900 million, with $100 million of availability for letters of credit. Regency also has the option to request an additional $250 million in revolving commitments with ten business days written notice provided that no event of default has occurred or would result due to such increase, and all other additional conditions for the increase of the commitments set forth in the credit facility have been met. The maturity date of the Regency Credit Facility is June 15, 2014.

The outstanding balance of revolving loans under the Regency Credit Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin or an alternate base rate. The alternate base rate used to calculate interest on base rate loans will be calculated based on the greatest to occur of a base rate, a federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% or an adjusted one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. The applicable margin shall range from 1.50% to 2.25% for base rate loans, 2.50% to 3.25% for Eurodollar loans, and a commitment fee will range from 0.375% to 0.50%. Regency must also pay a participation fee for each revolving lender participating in letters of credit based upon the applicable margin and a fronting fee to the issuing bank of letters of credit equal to 0.125% per annum of the average daily amount of the letter of credit exposure.

As of June 30, 2011, there was a balance outstanding under the Regency Credit Facility of $330.0 million in revolving credit loans and approximately $11.0 million in letters of credit. The total amount available under the Regency Credit Facility, as of June 30, 2011, which is reduced by any letters of credit, was approximately $559.0 million. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was 3.25%.

 

48


Table of Contents

Senior Notes

ETP. In May 2011, ETP completed a public offering of $800 million aggregate principal amount of 4.65% Senior Notes due June 1, 2021 and $700 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due June 1, 2041. ETP used the proceeds, net of commissions, of approximately $1.48 billion to repay all of the borrowings outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility, to fund capital expenditures related to pipeline construction projects and for general partnership purposes.

ETP’s $6.55 billion of aggregate principal amount of ETP Senior Notes includes $600 million 9.7% ETP Senior Notes due March 15, 2019. The holders of those notes will have the right to require ETP to repurchase all or a portion of the notes on March 15, 2012 at a purchase price of equal to 100% of the principal amount (par value) of the notes tendered. The current market value of the notes is significantly in excess of the principal amount, making a repurchase at par value uneconomic by the holder. However, if such a repurchase were to occur, we would intend to refinance any amounts paid on a long-term basis.

Regency. In May 2011, Regency issued $500.0 million in senior notes that mature on July 15, 2021. The senior notes bear interest at 6.5% payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing January 15, 2012. Regency used the proceeds, net of commissions, of approximately $491.3 million to repay borrowings outstanding under the Regency Credit Facility. Regency capitalized $9.8 million in debt issuance costs that will be amortized to interest expense, net over the term of the notes. Interest will be paid semi-annually and mature on July 15, 2021.

FEP Guarantee

On November 13, 2009, FEP entered into a credit agreement that provided for a $1.1 billion senior revolving credit facility (the “FEP Facility”). ETP guaranteed 50% of the obligations of FEP under the FEP Facility, with the remainder of FEP Facility obligations guaranteed by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (“KMP”). Amounts borrowed under the FEP Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or Prime Rate.

As of June 30, 2011, FEP had $968.5 million of outstanding borrowings under the FEP Facility. ETP’s contingent obligation with respect to its guaranteed portion of FEP’s outstanding borrowings was $484.3 million, which is not reflected on our consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding as of June 30, 2011 was 3.09%.

In July 2011, the FEP Facility was repaid with capital contributions from ETP and KMP totaling $390 million along with proceeds from a $600 million term loan credit facility maturing in July 2012 (which can be extended for one year at the option of FEP). Upon closing and funding of the term loan facility, the FEP facility was terminated. FEP also entered into a $50 million revolving credit facility maturing in July 2015. ETP does not guarantee FEP’s indebtedness under its term loan or new credit facility.

Covenants Related to Our Credit Agreements

We, ETP and Regency are required to assess compliance quarterly and were in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations, and covenants related to our respective credit agreements as of June 30, 2011.

CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

Cash Distributions Paid by the Parent Company

Under the Parent Company Partnership Agreement, the Parent Company will distribute all of its Available Cash, as defined, within 50 days following the end of each fiscal quarter. Available Cash generally means, with respect to any quarter, all cash on hand at the end of such quarter less the amount of cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the General Partner that is necessary or appropriate to provide for future cash requirements.

 

49


Table of Contents

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by us subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

  

Record Date

  

Payment Date

   Rate

December 31, 2010

   February 7, 2011    February 18, 2011    $            0.540

March 31, 2011

   May 6, 2011    May 19, 2011                  0.560

June 30, 2011

   August 5, 2011    August 19, 2011                  0.625

The total amounts of distributions declared and/or paid during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (all from Available Cash from operating surplus and are shown in the period with respect to which they relate):

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010  

Limited Partners

   $ 264,206       $ 240,776   

General Partner interest

     821         748   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total ETE distributions

   $ 265,027       $ 241,524   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash Distributions Received from Subsidiaries

The total amount of distributions the Parent Company received or will receive from ETP and Regency relating to its limited partner interests, general partner interest and IDRs (shown in the period to which they relate) for the periods ended as noted below is as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010  

Distributions from ETP:

     

Limited Partners

   $ 89,780       $ 100,750   

General Partner interest

     9,792         9,754   

Incentive Distribution Rights

     206,540         184,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions from ETP

     306,112         295,255   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions from Regency:

     

Limited Partners

     23,509         11,689   

General Partner interest

     2,556         1,105   

Incentive Distribution Rights

     2,452         915   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions from Regency

     28,517         13,709   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions received from subsidiaries

   $ 334,629       $ 308,964   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash Distributions Paid by Subsidiaries

ETP and Regency are required by their respective partnership agreements to distribute all cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less appropriate reserves determined by the board of directors of their respective general partners.

Cash Distributions Paid by ETP

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by ETP subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

  

Record Date

  

Payment Date

   Rate

December 31, 2010

   February 7, 2011    February 14, 2011    $            0.89375

March 31, 2011

   May 6, 2011    May 16, 2011                  0.89375

June 30, 2011

   August 5, 2011    August 15, 2011                  0.89375

 

50


Table of Contents

The total amounts of ETP distributions declared and/or paid during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (all from Available Cash from ETP’s operating surplus and are shown in the period with respect to which they relate):

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2011      2010  

Limited Partners:

     

Common Units

   $ 372,970       $ 332,371   

Class E Units

     6,242         6,242   

General Partner interest

     9,792         9,754   

Incentive Distribution Rights

     206,540         184,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total ETP distributions

   $ 595,544       $ 533,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash Distributions Paid by Regency

Following are distributions declared and/or paid by Regency subsequent to December 31, 2010:

 

Quarter Ended

   Record Date    Payment Date    Rate  

December 31, 2010

   February 7, 2011    February 14, 2011    $ 0.445   

March 31, 2011

   May 6, 2011    May 13, 2011      0.445   

June 30, 2011

   August 5, 2011    August 12, 2011      0.450   

The total amounts of Regency distributions declared and/or paid during the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 subsequent to our acquisition of Regency were as follows (all from Regency’s operating surplus and are shown in the period with respect to which they relate):

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2011      2010  

Limited Partners

   $ 131,523       $ 53,229   

General Partner interest

     2,556         1,105   

Incentive Distribution Rights

     2,452         915   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Regency distributions

   $ 136,531       $ 55,249   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Disclosure of our critical accounting policies is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

51


Table of Contents

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information contained in Item 3 updates, and should be read in conjunction with, information set forth in Part II, Item 7A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, in addition to the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations presented in Items 1 and 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are consistent with those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Since December 31, 2010, there have been no material changes to our primary market risk exposures or how those exposures are managed.

The United States Congress recently adopted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR 4173), which, among other provisions, establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities that participate in that market. The new legislation was signed into law by the President on July 21, 2010 and requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation within 360 days from the date of enactment. The CFTC has also proposed regulations to set position limits for certain futures and option contracts in the major energy markets, although it is not possible at this time to predict whether or when the CFTC will adopt those rules or include comparable provisions in its rulemaking under the new legislation. The financial reform legislation may also require us to comply with margin requirements and with certain clearing and trade-execution requirements in connection with our derivative activities, although the application of those provisions to us is uncertain at this time. The financial reform legislation may also require the counterparties to our derivative instruments to spin off some of their derivatives activities to a separate entity, which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparty. The new legislation and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including through requirements to post collateral, which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks we encounter, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts, and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties. If we reduce our use of derivatives as a result of legislation and regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable.

Commodity Price Risk

The tables below summarize by segment commodity-related financial derivative instruments, fair values and the effect of an assumed hypothetical 10% change in the underlying price of the commodity as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The fair values of the commodity-related financial positions have been determined using independent third party prices, readily available market information and appropriate valuation techniques. Non-trading positions offset physical exposures to the cash market; none of these offsetting physical exposures are included in the above tables. Price-risk sensitivities were calculated by assuming a theoretical 10% change (increase or decrease) in price regardless of term or historical relationships between the contractual price of the instruments and the underlying commodity price. Results are presented in absolute terms and represent a potential gain or loss in our consolidated results of operations or other comprehensive income. In the event of an actual 10% change in prompt month natural gas prices, the fair value of ETP’s and Regency’s total derivative portfolios may not change by 10% due to factors such as when the financial instrument settles and the location to which the financial instrument is tied (i.e., basis swaps) and the relationship between prompt month and forward months.

Our consolidated balance sheets also reflect assets and liabilities related to commodity derivatives that have previously been de-designated as cash flow hedges or for which offsetting positions have been entered. Those amounts are not subject to change based on changes in prices.

 

52


Table of Contents

Investment in ETP

Notional volumes are presented in MMBtu for natural gas and gallons for propane. Dollar amounts are presented in thousands.

 

     June 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Notional
Volume
    Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
    Effect of
Hypothetical
10%

Change
     Notional
Volume
    Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
    Effect of
Hypothetical
10%

Change
 

Mark-to-Market Derivatives

  

          

Natural Gas:

             

Basis Swaps
IFERC/NYMEX

     (26,145,000   $ 3,625      $ 93         (38,897,500   $ (2,334   $ 304   

Swing Swaps IFERC

     (144,420,000     (2,782     30         (19,720,000     (2,086     2,228   

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     6,695,000        (10,360     3,394         (2,570,000     (11,488     1,176   

Options — Calls

                           (3,000,000     62        7   

Propane:

             

Forwards/Swaps

                           1,974,000        275        258   

Fair Value Hedging Derivatives

             

Natural Gas:

             

Basis Swaps
IFERC/NYMEX

     (26,040,000     (1,045     109         (28,050,000     722        322   

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     (38,285,000     11,002        18,283         (39,105,000     8,599        16,837   

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

             

Natural Gas:

             

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     920,000        (50     413         (210,000     232        93   

Options — Puts

     15,180,000        6,860        4,967         26,760,000        10,545        7,125   

Options — Calls

     (15,180,000     3,545        515         (26,760,000     4,812        1,565   

Propane:

             

Forwards/Swaps

     14,700,000        276        2,181         32,466,000        6,589        4,196   

Investment in Regency

Notional volumes are presented in MMBtu for natural gas, gallons for propane and barrels for natural gas liquids and WTI crude oil. Dollar amounts are presented in thousands.

 

     June 30, 2011      December 31, 2010  
     Notional
Volume
     Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
    Effect of
Hypothetical
10%

Change
     Notional
Volume
     Fair Value
Asset
(Liability)
    Effect of
Hypothetical
10%

Change
 

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

  

            

Natural Gas:

               

Fixed Swaps/Futures

     3,670,000       $ 1,371      $ 1,724         3,830,000       $ 2,053      $ 1,684   

Propane:

               

Forwards/Swaps

     18,564,000         (6,157     2,641         18,648,000         (4,203     2,277   

NGLs:

               

Forwards/Swaps

     1,006,000         (10,484     5,003         1,212,110         (6,288     4,910   

WTI Crude:

               

Forwards/Swaps

     483,000         (3,651     4,789         373,655         (3,581     3,501   

Interest Rate Risk

As of June 30, 2011, ETP had $144.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities and Regency had $330.0 million of variable rate debt outstanding under its revolving credit facilities. ETE had no variable rate debt outstanding as of June 30, 2011. A hypothetical change of 100 basis points would result in a change to interest

 

53


Table of Contents

expense of $4.7 million annually. We manage a portion of our interest rate exposure by utilizing interest rate swaps and similar arrangements. To the extent that we have debt with variable interest rates that is not hedged, our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected by increases in interest rates. The following interest rate swaps were outstanding as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (dollars in thousands), none of which are designated as hedges for accounting purposes:

 

               Notional Amount
Outstanding
 

Entity

   Term  

Type (1)

   June 30,
2011
     December 31,
2010
 

ETP

   August 2012 (2)   Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 3.64% and receive a floating rate    $ 400,000       $ 400,000   

ETP

   July 2013 (3)   Forward starting to pay a fixed rate of 4.13% and receive a floating rate      200,000           

ETP

   July 2018   Pay a floating rate plus a spread and receive a fixed rate of 6.70%      500,000         500,000   

Regency

   April 2012   Pay a fixed rate of 1.325% and receive a floating rate      250,000         250,000   

 

(1) 

Floating rates are based on LIBOR.

(2) 

These forward starting swaps have an effective date of August 2012 and a term of 10 years; however, the swaps have a mandatory termination provision and will be settled in August 2012.

(3) 

These forward starting swaps have an effective date of July 2013 and a term of 10 years; however, the swaps have a mandatory termination provision and will be settled in July 2013.

A hypothetical change of 100 basis points in interest rates for these interest rate swaps would result in a change in the fair value of the interest rate derivatives and earnings of approximately $21.2 million as of June 30, 2011 and $1.3 million as of December 31, 2010. For ETP’s $500.0 million of interest rate swaps whereby it pays a floating rate and receives a fixed rate, a hypothetical change of 100 basis points in interest rates would result in a net change in annual cash flow of $5.0 million annually. For ETP’s forward-starting interest rate swaps, a hypothetical change of 100 basis points in interest rates would not affect cash flows until the swaps are settled.

Credit Risk

We maintain credit policies with regard to our counterparties that we believe minimize our overall credit risk. These policies include an evaluation of potential counterparties’ financial condition (including credit ratings), collateral requirements under certain circumstances and the use of standardized agreements, which allow for netting of positive and negative exposure associated with a single counterparty.

ETP’s counterparties consist primarily of petrochemical companies and other industrial, mid-size to major oil and gas companies and power companies. This concentration of counterparties may impact its overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions. Currently, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance.

Regency is exposed to credit risk from its derivative counterparties. Although Regency does not require collateral from these counterparties, Regency deals primarily with financial institutions when entering into financial derivatives, and utilizes master netting agreements that allow for netting of swap contract receivables and payables in the event of default by either party.

For financial instruments, failure of a counterparty to perform on a contract could result in our inability to realize amounts that have been recorded on our consolidated balance sheet and recognized in net income or other comprehensive income.

 

54


Table of Contents

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us, including our consolidated entities, in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Under the supervision and with the participation of senior management, including the President (“Principal Executive Officer”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“Principal Financial Officer”) of our General Partner, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a–15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer of our General Partner concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2011 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act (1) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of our General Partner, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Effective January 1, 2011, we began to integrate certain of Regency’s business functions under a shared services agreement with ETE Services Company, LLC. In connection with this integration, certain of Regency’s controls and procedures have been changed to conform to the existing controls of our other subsidiaries. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, Regency’s accounting systems were transitioned to the accounting systems of the Parent Company and its other subsidiaries and accordingly certain related controls of Regency were changed at that time. None of these changes were in response to an identified deficiency or weakness in Regency’s internal control over financial reporting.

The acquisition of LDH (the “LDH Acquisition”) was closed on May 2, 2011 and the evaluation of the internal control structure of LDH has begun. We expect the evaluation to continue during the remainder of 2011. In recording the LDH Acquisition, we followed our normal accounting procedures and internal controls. Our management also reviewed the operations of Lone Star that were included in our earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2011.

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the three months ended June 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information regarding legal proceedings, see our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Note 14 — Regulatory Matters, Commitments, Contingencies and Environmental Liabilities of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Subsidiaries included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

 

55


Table of Contents

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our recently announced proposed merger with Southern Union Company (the “SUG Merger”) presents several risks. Many of those risks are similar to the risks associated with our existing business, as we have previously disclosed. However, certain of those risks represent new risks related to our business or existing risks that have become more significant. The following risk factors should be read in conjunction with our risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Risks Related to the SUG Merger

The failure to successfully combine the businesses of ETE and Southern Union in the expected time frame may adversely affect ETE’s future results.

The success of the SUG Merger will depend, in part, on the ability of ETE to realize the anticipated benefits from combining the businesses of ETE and Southern Union. To realize these anticipated benefits, ETE’s and Southern Union’s businesses must be successfully combined. If the combined company is not able to achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the SUG Merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. In addition, the actual integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses, which could reduce the anticipated benefits of the SUG Merger.

ETE and Southern Union, including their respective subsidiaries, have operated and, until the completion of the SUG Merger, will continue to operate independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, as well as the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in their standards, controls, procedures and policies. Any or all of those occurrences could adversely affect ETE’s ability to maintain relationships with customers and employees after the SUG Merger or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the SUG Merger. Integration efforts between the two companies will also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on each of ETE and Southern Union.

The completion of the SUG Merger is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions to closing, and the date that the SUG Merger would be consummated is uncertain.

The completion of the SUG Merger is subject to the approval of the SUG stockholders, the absence of a material adverse change to the business or results of operation of ETE and SUG, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other conditions specified in the merger agreement related to the SUG transaction. Another party has expressed public interest in completing a transaction with SUG similar to the SUG Merger and may be prepared to pay consideration to the stockholders of SUG in an amount greater than ETE is willing to pay, which could delay or prevent the stockholders of SUG from approving the SUG Merger. In the event those conditions to closing are not satisfied or waived, we would not complete the SUG Merger.

While we expect to complete the SUG Merger in the first quarter of 2012, the completion date of the SUG Merger might be later than expected due to delays in obtaining required regulatory approvals or other unforeseen events.

The pendency of the SUG Merger could materially adversely affect the future business and operations of ETE or Southern Union or result in a loss of Southern Union employees.

In connection with the pending SUG Merger, it is possible that some customers, suppliers and other persons with whom ETE, ETE’s subsidiaries or Southern Union have a business relationship may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their relationship with Southern Union as a result of the SUG Merger, which could negatively impact revenues, earnings and cash flows of ETE or Southern Union, as well as the market prices of ETE common units or shares of Southern Union common stock, regardless of whether the SUG Merger is completed. Similarly, current and prospective employees of Southern Union may experience uncertainty about their future roles with ETE and Southern Union following completion of the SUG Merger, which may materially adversely affect the ability of ETE and Southern Union to attract and retain key employees.

 

56


Table of Contents

Failure to complete the SUG Merger could negatively impact the unit price of ETE and its respective future businesses and financial results.

If the SUG Merger is not completed, the ongoing business of ETE may be adversely affected and ETE will be subject to several risks and consequences, including the following:

 

   

ETE will be required to pay certain costs relating to the SUG Merger, whether or not the SUG Merger is completed, such as legal, accounting, financial advisor and printing fees;

 

   

ETE would not realize the expected benefits of the SUG Merger;

 

   

under the merger agreement, ETE is subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the SUG Merger which may adversely affect its ability to execute certain of its business strategies; and

 

   

matters relating to the SUG Merger may require substantial commitments of time and resources by ETE management, which could otherwise have been devoted to other opportunities that may have been beneficial to ETE.

In addition, if the SUG Merger is not completed, ETE may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and from their respective customers and employees. ETE also could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the SUG Merger or to enforcement proceedings commenced against ETE to attempt to force it to perform its obligations under the merger agreement.

The completion of the SUG Merger will require ETE to enter into a new financing arrangement. If ETE’s financing for the SUG Merger becomes unavailable, the SUG Merger may not be completed.

ETE intends to finance a portion of the cash component of the SUG Merger consideration with debt financing. Concurrently, and in connection with entering into the merger agreement, ETE entered into a debt commitment letter with the Credit Suisse Lenders, pursuant to which, subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Credit Suisse Lenders have committed to provide a 364-day Bridge Term Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $3.7 billion (or such lesser amount as is equal to the lesser of (i) the amount that is sufficient to fund the total amount of cash consideration paid in the SUG Merger and (ii) the amount that ETE may elect to borrow). The commitment is subject to various conditions, including (i) the absence of a material adverse effect on Southern Union having occurred subsequent to December 31, 2010, (ii) the Credit Suisse Lenders’ satisfaction that during the 60-day period after the date of the Commitment Letter, and subject to certain exceptions, there are no other issues of debt securities or commercial bank or other credit facilities by ETE, Southern Union or their respective wholly owned subsidiaries being announced, offered, placed or arranged, (iii) the execution of satisfactory definitive documentation and (iv) other customary closing conditions.

In the event that the financing contemplated by the debt commitment letter is not available to ETE, other financing may not be available to ETE on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all. If other financing becomes necessary and ETE is unable to secure such additional financing, the SUG Merger may not be completed. ETE does not have a right to terminate the merger agreement in the event it does not have adequate funds to complete the transaction at closing. In the merger agreement, ETE represented to Southern Union that it would have available, at the closing of the SUG Merger, all funds required to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Southern Union would have a right to terminate the merger agreement if ETE breached this representation in a manner such that ETE would not be able to satisfy this representation on or before June 30, 2012, or in the event some regulatory approvals have not been achieved, December 31, 2012.

Pending litigation against ETE and Southern Union could result in an injunction preventing completion of the SUG Merger, the payment of damages in the event the SUG Merger is completed and/or may adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial condition or results of operations following the SUG Merger.

In connection with the SUG Merger, purported stockholders of Southern Union have filed several stockholder class action lawsuits against ETE, Southern Union, and the Southern Union Board in the District Courts of Harris County, Texas and in the Delaware Courts of Chancery. Among other remedies, the plaintiffs seek to enjoin the SUG Merger. If a final settlement is not reached, or if a dismissal is not obtained, these lawsuits could prevent or delay completion of the SUG Merger and result in substantial costs to ETE and Southern Union, including any costs associated with the indemnification of directors. Additional lawsuits may be filed against ETE and/or Southern Union related to the SUG Merger. The defense or settlement of any lawsuit or claim that remains unresolved at the time the SUG Merger is completed may adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

57


Table of Contents

If the merger agreement is terminated, Southern Union may be obligated to reimburse ETE for costs incurred related to the SUG Merger and, under certain circumstances, pay a breakup fee to ETE. Southern Union may be unable to reimburse these costs or pay any potential breakup fee to ETE.

In certain circumstances, upon termination of the merger agreement, Southern Union would be responsible for reimbursing ETE for up to $54.0 million in expenses related to the transaction and may be obligated to pay a breakup fee to ETE of $181.3 million. If the merger agreement is terminated, the expense reimbursements and the breakup fee required to be paid by Southern Union under the merger agreement may require Southern Union to seek loans or borrow amounts to enable it to pay these amounts to ETE. In either case, Southern Union may not be able to fulfill such obligations.

Southern Union will be a corporate subsidiary of ETE after the SUG Merger and will remain subject to corporate-level income taxes.

After the SUG Merger, ETE will own and operate certain aspects of Southern Union’s business through Southern Union as a wholly owned corporate subsidiary of ETE. Accordingly, Southern Union will continue to be subject to corporate-level tax, which may reduce the cash available for distribution to ETE and, in turn, to ETE unitholders. If the IRS were to successfully assert that Southern Union has more tax liability than ETE anticipated or legislation were enacted that increased the corporate tax rate, the cash available for distribution by ETE could be further reduced.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

The exhibits listed on the following Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Report. Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, but which are not listed below, are not applicable.

 

    

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File
Number (Form)
(Period Ending

or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    
2.1   

1-32740

(8-K/A) (5/13/10)

   2.1    General Partner Purchase Agreement, dated May 10, 2010, by and among Regency GP Acquirer, L.P., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and ETE GP Acquirer LLC.
2.2   

1-32740

(8-K/A) (5/13/10)

   2.2    Redemption and Exchange Agreement, dated May 10, 2010, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
2.3   

1-32740

(8-K/A) (5/13/10)

   2.3    Contribution Agreement, dated May 10, 2010, by and among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Regency Energy Partners LP and Regency Midcontinent Express LLC.

 

58


Table of Contents
    

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File
Number (Form)
(Period Ending

or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    
2.4   

001-32740

(425) (6/17/11)

   2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Sigma Acquisition Corporation, and Southern Union Company, dated as of June 15, 2011.
3.1   

333-128097

(S-1) (9/2/05)

   3.1    Certificate of Conversion of Energy Transfer Company, L.P.
3.2   

333-128097

(S-1) (9/2/05)

   3.2    Certificate of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3.3   

1-32740

(8-K) (2/14/06)

   3.1    Third Amended Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3.3.1   

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   3.3.1    Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3.3.2   

1-32740

(8-K) (11/13/07)

   3.3.2    Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3.3.3   

1-32740

(8-K) (6/2/10)

   3.1    Amendment No. 3 to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
3.4   

333-128097

(S-1) (9/2/05)

   3.4    Certificate of Conversion of LE GP, LLC.
3.5   

333-128097

(S-1) (9/2/05)

   3.5    Certificate of Formation of LE GP, LLC.
3.6   

1-32740

(8-K) (5/8/07)

   3.6.1    Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LE GP, LLC.
3.6.1   

1-32740

(8-K) (12/23/09)

   3.1    Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LE GP, LLC.
3.7   

1-11727

(8-K) (7/28/09)

   3.1    Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)
3.8   

333-04018

(S-1/A) (6/21/96)

   3.2    Agreement of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.
3.8.1   

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/00)

   3.2.1    Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.
3.8.2   

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/02)

   3.2.2    Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.
3.8.3   

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/29/04)

   3.2.3    Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.
3.9   

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/29/04)

   3.3    Amended Certificate of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
3.10   

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/02)

   3.4    Amended Certificate of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.
3.11   

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/07)

   3.5    Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.
3.12   

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/07)

   3.6    Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.

 

59


Table of Contents
    

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File
Number (Form)
(Period Ending

or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    
3.12.1   

1-11727

(8-K) (8/10/10)

   3.6    Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
3.13   

333-128097

(S-1/A) (12/20/05)

   3.13    Certificate of Formation of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
3.13.1   

333-128097

(S-1/A) (12/20/05)

   3.13.1    Certificate of Amendment of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
3.14   

333-128097

(S-1/A) (12/20/05)

   3.14    Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.
3.15   

1-32740

(8-K) (8/10/10)

   3.2    Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Regency GP, L.L.C
4.1   

1-32740

(8-K) (6/2/10)

   4.1    Registration Rights Agreement by and among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Regency GP Acquirer, L.P., dated as of May 26, 2010.
4.2   

1-32740

(8-K) (9/20/10)

   4.1    Indenture dated September 20, 2010 between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
4.3   

1-32740

(8-K) (9/20/10)

   4.2    First Supplemental Indenture dated September 20, 2010 between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including form of the Notes).
10.1   

1-32740

(8-K) (9/20/10)

   10.1    Credit Agreement dated as of September 20, 2010 among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and collateral agent, the other lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.
10.1.1          Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent and collateral agent, the other lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.
10.2   

1-32740

(8-K) (9/20/10)

   10.2    Pledge and Security Agreement dated September 20, 2010 among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., the other grantors named therein and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as collateral agent.
10.3   

1-32740

(425)(6/17/11)

   10.1    Consulting Agreement dated June 15, 2011, by and among Southern Union, a Delaware corporation, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., and George L. Lindemann.
10.4   

1-32740

(425)(6/17/11)

   10.2    Consulting Agreement dated June 15, 2011, by and among Southern Union, a Delaware corporation, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., and Eric D. Herschmann.
10.5   

1-32740

(425)(6/17/11)

   10.3    Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated June 15, 2011, by and between George L. Lindemann, Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
10.6   

1-32740

(425)(6/17/11)

   10.4    Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement dated June 15, 2011, by and between Eric D. Herschmann, Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
31.1          Certification of President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1          Certification of President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

60


Table of Contents
    

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File
Number (Form)
(Period Ending

or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    
99.1          Statement of Policies Relating to Potential Conflicts Among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP, dated as of April 26, 2011.
101          Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (ii) our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010; (iv) our Consolidated Statement of Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2011; (v) our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010; and (vi) the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

* Incorporated herein by reference.

 

61


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
  By:   LE GP, L.L.C., its General Partner
Date: August 8, 2011   By:  

/s/ John W. McReynolds

    John W. McReynolds
   

President and Chief Financial Officer (duly

authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant)

 

62

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement

Exhibit 10.1.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of November 11, 2010, is among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions signatories hereto, and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).

RECITALS

A. The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of September 20, 2010 (as amended, modified or supplemented prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”).

B. The Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended in order to exclude from the calculation of the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement the effect of various charges incurred by the Borrower in connection with the prepayment its previous credit agreement and the termination of related interest rate protection agreements.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants set forth in this Amendment, the Borrower and the Majority Lenders agree as follows:

1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined in this Amendment, capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Credit Agreement.

2. Amendments to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) Clause (c) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows:

(c) Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such four Fiscal Quarter period, plus (i) each of the following to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income (A) all Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) all income taxes (including any franchise taxes to the extent based upon net income), (C) all depreciation and amortization (including amortization of good will and debt issue costs), (D) Prepayment Hedge Termination Expenses to the extent not included in Consolidated Interest Expense, and (E) any other non-cash charges or losses, minus (ii) each of the following (A) all non-cash items of income or gain which were included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, and (B) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (i)(E) of this clause (c) subsequent to the Fiscal Quarter in which the relevant non-cash charges or losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income; provided that the determinations in this clause (c) shall be made excluding each MLP and its subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the determinations in this clause (c) shall not include Consolidated Net Income attributable to distributions by an MLP.


(b) The definition of “Consolidated Fixed Charges” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows and the definition of Prepayment Hedge Termination Expenses is added:

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of (i) the preferred distributions paid in cash during such period on the Restructuring Preferred Units plus (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; provided that the determinations in this definition shall be made excluding any cash payments made to terminate any Hedging Contract in connection with the repayment of the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Prepayment Hedge Termination Expenses”).

Prepayment Hedge Termination Expenses” has the meaning given to such term in the definition of Consolidated Fixed Charges.

3. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment will become effective on the date on which the Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment, executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders.

4. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders as follows:

(a) This Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and constitutes the binding obligation of the Borrower.

(b) Each of the representations and warranties made by the Borrower and the Guarantors in or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents is true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof, as if made (after giving effect to this Amendment) on and as of such date, except for any representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which were true and correct in all material respects as of such specified date.

(c) After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of the date of this Amendment.

(d) Since December 31, 2009, no Material Adverse Effect has occurred.

5. Continuing Effect of the Credit Agreement. This Amendment does not constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement and is not to be construed as a consent to any action on the part of the Borrower that would require a waiver or consent of the Lenders or an amendment or modification to any term of the Loan Documents. The Borrower hereby confirms and ratifies the Credit Agreement as amended hereby and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and acknowledges and agrees that the same continue in full force and effect as amended hereby (as applicable).

 

-2-


6. Reference to the Credit Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “herein” or words of like import refer to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.

7. Designation as Loan Document. This Amendment is a Loan Document.

8. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by all parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts each of which may be delivered in original, facsimile or other electronic (e.g., “.pdf”) form and all of such counterparts taken together constitute one instrument.

9. References. The words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereinabove,” “hereinafter,” “hereinbelow,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Amendment refer to this Amendment as a whole and not to any particular article, section or provision of this Amendment. References in this Amendment to a section number are to such sections of the Credit Agreement unless otherwise specified.

10. Headings Descriptive. The headings of the several sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and do not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Amendment.

11. Governing Law. This Amendment is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

12. Payment of Expenses. The Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of its out-of-pocket costs and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with this Amendment, any other documents prepared in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent.

13. Final Agreement of the Parties. THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

-3-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties are signing this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
By: LE GP, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ John W. McReynolds
Name:   John W. McReynolds
Title:   President and Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent, LC Issuer, Swingline Lender, and a Lender
By:   /s/ Nupur Kumar
  Name: Nupur Kumar
  Title: Vice President
By:   /s/ Kevin Buddhew
  Name: Kevin Buddhdew
  Title: Associate

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
By:   /s/ Scott Taylor
Name:   Scott Taylor
Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:   /s/ Paul V. Farrell
Name:   Paul V. Farrell
Title:   Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:   /s/ Christen A. Lacey
Name:   Christen A. Lacey
Title:   Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC
By:   /s/ Irja R. Otsa
Name:   Irja R. Otsa
Title:   Associate Director
By:   /s/ Omar Musule
Name:   Omar Musule
Title:   Associate Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


BNP PARIBAS
By:   /s/ Greg Smothers
Name:   Greg Smothers
Title:   Director
By:   /s/ Russell Otts
Name:   Russell Otts
Title:   Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


SUNTRUST BANK, N.A.
By:   /s/ Carmen Malizia
Name:   Carmen Malizia
Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
By:   /s/ Philippe Sandmeier
Name:   Philippe Sandmeier
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Oliver Schwarz
Name:   Oliver Schwarz
Title:   Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1


CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By:   /s/ John Miller
Name:   John Miller
Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1

Certification of President and CFO pursuant to Section 302

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John W. McReynolds, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me 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 my 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 my 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. I have disclosed, based on my 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: August 8, 2011

 

/s/ John W. McReynolds

John W. McReynolds

President and Chief Financial Officer

Certification of President and CFO pursuant to Section 906

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John W. McReynolds, President and Chief Financial Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership.

Date: August 8, 2011

 

/s/ John W. McReynolds

John W. McReynolds

President and Chief Financial Officer

 

* A signed original of this written statement required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 has been provided to and will be retained by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
Statement of Policies

Exhibit 99.1

STATEMENT OF POLICIES RELATING TO POTENTIAL

CONFLICTS AMONG ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., ENERGY TRANSFER

EQUITY, L.P. AND REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP

This Statement of Policies Related to Potential Conflicts among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP (the “Statement”) specifies the policies and procedures that have been adopted by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (“ETE”), Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”) and Regency Energy Partners LP (“Regency”), as authorized and approved by their respective general partners as of April 26, 2011, to address potential conflicts among, and protect the confidential and proprietary information of, ETE, ETP and Regency. Other capitalized terms are defined in Section 10.

 

1. Corporate Governance

1.1 Independent Directors. Each of ETE GP, ETP GP and Regency GP will have at least three Independent Directors on its board of directors; provided, however, in the event of a resignation, death or removal of any such Independent Director, the applicable entity will endeavor to replace such Independent Director within the time period specified in the regulations of the applicable national securities market upon which the securities of ETE, ETP or Regency, as the case may be, are then listed for trading.

1.2 Directors and Invited Guests to Board Meetings.

(a) No director, officer, employee or other representative of any of the ETP Entities or any of the Enterprise Entities will serve on the board of directors of Regency GP, and no director, officer, employee or other representative of any of the Regency Entities will serve on the board of directors of ETP GP.

(b) ETE, as the direct or indirect owner of 100% of the member interests of Regency GP, may appoint one or more Regency Representatives to serve on the board of directors of Regency GP subject to (i) the restriction related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement, (ii) such individual’s acknowledgement and agreement that, in the event that any of the relevant antitrust authorities require any such individual to terminate such individual’s position as a director of Regency GP based on antitrust law, such individual will promptly resign from the board of directors of Regency GP, and (iii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix A to this Statement.

(c) In addition, the participation by any officer, director, employee or other representative of any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities as an invited guest at any meeting of the board of directors of Regency GP will also be subject to (i) the restrictions related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement (including those set forth in Section 4.2(a)(v)), (ii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix A to this Statement and (iii) the recusal of such guest from such meeting at the request of any director of Regency GP.

 

1


(d) ETE, as the direct or indirect owner of 100% of the member interests of ETP GP, may appoint one or more ETP Representatives to serve on the board of directors of ETP GP subject to (i) the restriction related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement, (ii) such individual’s acknowledgement and agreement that, in the event that any of the relevant antitrust authorities require any such individual to terminate such individual’s position as a director of ETP GP based on antitrust law, such individual will promptly resign from the board of directors of ETP GP, and (iii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix B to this Statement.

(e) In addition, the participation by any officer, director, employee or other representative of any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities as an invited guest at any meeting of the board of directors of ETP GP will also be subject to (i) the restrictions related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement (including those set forth in Section 4.1(a)(v)), (ii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix B to this Statement and (iii) the recusal of such guest from such meeting at the request of any director of ETP GP.

 

2. Separate Employees

None of the ETP Entities will employ any person who is, or was within the prior six months (or the prior 12 months in the case of a management level employee), an employee of any of the Regency Entities (other than any employee of the ETP Entities on the date hereof) without prior written approval of the ETP Screening Committee. None of the Regency Entities will employ any person who is, or was within the prior six months (or the prior 12 months in the case of a management level employee), an employee of any of the ETP Entities (other than any employee of the Regency Entities on the date hereof) without prior written approval of the Regency Screening Committee.

 

3. Transactions Among the Parties

3.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Statement, any material transaction between or among any of the ETE Entities, any of the ETP Entities, and/or any of the Regency Entities (excluding any transaction that was consummated prior to the date of the adoption of this Statement or any transaction that is effectuated subsequent to the date of the adoption of this Statement pursuant to any agreement between or among any of such parties that was entered into prior to the date of the adoption of this Statement) will require:

(a) if any of the ETE Entities is a party to such transaction, the prior approval of the ETE Conflicts Committee (unless the Board of Directors of ETE GP determines to resolve any conflict of interest related to the ETE Entities related to such transaction in accordance with Section 7.9(a) of the ETE Partnership Agreement without seeking Special Approval (as such term is defined in the ETE Partnership Agreement)),

 

2


(b) if any of the ETP Entities is a party to such transaction, the prior approval of the ETP Conflicts Committee (unless the Board of Directors of ETP GP determines to resolve any conflict of interest related to the ETP Entities related to such transaction in accordance with Section 7.9(a) of the ETP Partnership Agreement without seeking Special Approval (as such term is defined in the ETP Partnership Agreement)); or

(c) if any of the Regency Entities is a party to such transaction, the prior approval of the Regency Conflicts Committee (unless the Board of Directors of Regency GP determines to resolve any conflict of interest related to the Regency Entities related to such transaction in accordance with Section 7.9(a) of the Regency Partnership Agreement without seeking Special Approval (as such term is defined in the Regency Partnership Agreement)).

For the avoidance of doubt, when determining whether a transaction is or is not “material” for purposes of this Section 3.1, the relevant entity may consider both quantitative and qualitative aspects of such transaction.

3.2 Prior to providing any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETE Entities, any of the ETP Entities or any of the Regency Entities, as the case may be, in connection with any such transaction, the applicable parties to such transaction will enter into a confidentiality agreement covering such information substantially in the form attached as Appendix C to this Statement.

3.3 In addition, the parties acknowledge that each of ETE, ETP and Regency will be subject to any obligations imposed under their respective credit agreements, indentures and other material agreements related to transactions with affiliates.

 

4. Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information

4.1 Provisions Related to ETP Entities

(a) The ETP Entities will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the ETP Entities do not provide any Commercially Sensitive Information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives, provided that the ETP Entities will be entitled to provide Commercially Sensitive Information pursuant to any one or more of the following provisions:

(i) the ETP Entities will be entitled to provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to the ETP Entities to any ETP Dedicated ETE Board Member or any ETP Dedicated ETE Employee; provided that none of the ETP Dedicated ETE Board Members or ETP Dedicated ETE Employees will provide such Commercially Sensitive Information to any officer, director, employee or representative of any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities who is not an ETP Dedicated ETE Board Member or an ETP Dedicated ETE Employee;

 

3


(ii) in the event that (A) the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to a Development Opportunity identified by, or made available to, any of the ETP Entities and (B) the ETP Screening Committee unanimously determines that such Development Opportunity is not an opportunity that the ETP Entities desire to pursue at such time due to the projected economics related to such Development Opportunity, the capital requirements related to such Development Opportunity, the strategic implications of such Development Opportunity or any other factors deemed relevant by the ETP Screening Committee, then such information will no longer be considered to be Commercially Sensitive Information and the ETP Entities will be permitted (but not required) to provide such information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities, and in the event the ETP Entities do present such information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities, the ETP Screening Committee will inform the ETP Conflicts Committee of such determination and the reasons therefor and the provision of such information no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of ETP GP;

(iii) in the event that (A) the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to a Development Opportunity identified by, or made available to, any of the ETP Entities, (B) either (I) the ETP Screening Committee does not unanimously make the determination specified in Section 4.1(a)(ii) or (II) one or more of the members of the ETP Screening Committee desires to involve the ETP Conflicts Committee in determining whether such Development Opportunity is an opportunity that the ETP Entities should retain, and (C) in either such case, the ETP Conflicts Committee determines that such Development Opportunity is not an opportunity that the ETP Entities desire to pursue at such time due to the projected economics related to such Development Opportunity, the capital requirements related to such Development Opportunity, the strategic implications of such Development Opportunity or any other factors deemed relevant by the ETP Conflicts Committee, then the ETP Entities will be permitted (but not required) to present such Development Opportunity to any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities;

(iv) in the event that the ETP Screening Committee reasonably determines it is in the best interests of the ETP Entities to pursue a Development Opportunity in conjunction with any of the Regency Entities due to (A) the gas gathering, gas processing and/or gas pipeline infrastructure of the Regency Entities that may be beneficial to the ETP Entities in pursuing such Development Opportunity, (B) relationships of the Regency Entities with natural gas producers that may be beneficial to the ETP Entities in pursuing such Development Opportunity, (C) the possibility of obtaining capital from the Regency Entities to fund all or a portion of the capital requirements for such Development Opportunity, or (D) any other business rationale in connection with pursuing such Development Opportunity that would cause the ETP Entities to desire to provide Commercially Sensitive Information regarding such Development Opportunity to an unaffiliated third party in a similar circumstance, then the ETP Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to such Development Opportunity to any of the Regency Entities for the purpose of jointly pursuing such Development Opportunity; provided that, prior to the provision of any such information, ETP and Regency will have entered into a confidentiality agreement

 

4


covering such information substantially in the form attached as Appendix C to this Statement, and provided further that the ETP Screening Committee will inform the ETP Conflicts Committee of such determination and the reasons therefor and the provision of such information no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of ETP GP; and

(v) the ETP Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETP Entities to any of the members of the Board of Directors of ETE GP, any of the ETP Dedicated ETE Employees or any of the Designated Regency Representatives in accordance with the following:

(A) before so providing any such information, the General Counsel of ETP GP will confer with the General Counsel of Regency GP, under an agreement of confidentiality, and confirm that no such information to be provided relates to a Development Opportunity currently being pursued or under consideration by any of the Regency Entities or is subject to third party confidentiality restrictions or antitrust restrictions; and

(B) if such confirmation is obtained, any such member of the Board of Directors of ETE, any such ETP Dedicated ETE Employee or any such Designated Regency Representative who receives such Commercially Sensitive Information from any of the ETP Entities (I) will not provide such Commercially Sensitive Information to any other Regency Representative, (II) will not use such Commercially Sensitive Information for any purpose other than to allow any such person to offer advice to the management personnel of the ETP Entities (it being recognized and acknowledged that the management and control of the ETP Entities remains subject to the direction and authority of ETP GP to the extent specified in the ETP Governance Agreements), and (III) will deliver to ETP GP a written acknowledgement of the restrictions on the use of such Commercially Sensitive Information in the form provided in Appendix B to this Statement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.1, the ETP Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETP Entities to any of the ETE Entities, any of the Regency Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives, upon the prior approval of the ETP Conflicts Committee.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, if a Development Opportunity pursued jointly with one or more Regency Entities becomes a material transaction between or among any of the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and/or the Regency Entities, the permitted provision of Commercially Sensitive Information under Section 4.1(a)(iv) does not alter the necessity of the application of Section 3.1 with respect to such transaction.

 

5


4.2 Provisions Related to Regency Entities

(a) The Regency Entities will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the Regency Entities do not provide any Commercially Sensitive Information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives, provided that the Regency Entities will be entitled to provide Commercially Sensitive Information pursuant to any one or more of the following provisions:

(i) The Regency Entities will be entitled to provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to the Regency Entities to any Regency Dedicated ETE Board Member or any Regency Dedicated ETE Employee; provided that none of the Regency Dedicated ETE Board Members or Regency Dedicated ETE Employees will provide such Commercially Sensitive Information to any officer, director, employee or representative of any of the ETP Entities or any of the ETE Entities who is not a Regency Dedicated ETE Board Members or a Regency Dedicated ETE Employee;

(ii) in the event that (A) the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to a Development Opportunity identified by, or made available to, any of the Regency Entities and (B) the Regency Screening Committee unanimously determines that such Development Opportunity is not an opportunity that the Regency Entities desire to pursue at such time due to the projected economics related to such Development Opportunity, the capital requirements related to such Development Opportunity, the strategic implications of such Development Opportunity or any other factors then deemed relevant by the Regency Screening Committee, then such information will no longer be considered to be Commercially Sensitive Information and the Regency Entities will be permitted (but not required) to provide such information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities, and in the event the Regency Entities do present such information to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities, the Regency Screening Committee will inform the Regency Conflicts Committee of such determination and the reasons therefor and the provision of such information no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Regency GP;

(iii) in the event that (A) the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to a Development Opportunity identified by, or made available to, any of the Regency Entities, (B) either (I) the Regency Screening Committee does not unanimously make the determination specified in Section 4.2(a)(ii) or (II) one or more of the members of the Regency Screening Committee desires to involve the Regency Conflicts Committee in determining whether such Development Opportunity is an opportunity that the Regency Entities should retain, and (C) in either such case, the Regency Conflicts Committee determines that such Development Opportunity is not an opportunity that the Regency Entities desire to pursue at such time due to the projected economics related to such Development Opportunity, the capital requirements related to such Development Opportunity, the strategic implications of such Development Opportunity or any other factors deemed relevant by the Regency Conflicts Committee, then the Regency Entities will be permitted (but not required) to present such Development Opportunity to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities;

 

6


(iv) in the event that the Regency Screening Committee reasonably determines it is in the best interests of the Regency Entities to pursue a Development Opportunity in conjunction with ETE or any of the ETP Entities due to (A) the gas gathering, gas processing and/or gas pipeline infrastructure of ETE or the ETP Entities that may be beneficial to the Regency Entities in pursuing such Development Opportunity, (B) relationships of ETE or the ETP Entities with natural gas producers that may be beneficial to the Regency Entities in pursuing such Development Opportunity, (C) the possibility of obtaining capital from ETE or any of the ETP Entities to fund all or a portion of the capital requirements for such Development Opportunity, or (D) any other business rationale that would cause the Regency Entities to desire to provide Commercially Sensitive Information regarding such Development Opportunity to an unaffiliated third party in connection with pursuing such Development Opportunity, then the Regency Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to such Development Opportunity to any of the ETP Entities for the purpose of jointly pursuing such Development Opportunity; provided that, prior to the provision of any such information, ETP and Regency will have entered into a confidentiality agreement covering such information in the form attached as Appendix C to this Statement, and provided further that the Regency Screening Committee will inform the Regency Conflicts Committee of such determination and the reasons therefor and the provision of such information no later than the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Regency GP; and

(v) the Regency Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities to any of the members of the Board of Directors of ETE GP, any of the Regency Dedicated ETE Employees or any of the Designated ETP Representatives in accordance with the following:

(A) before so providing any such information, the General Counsel of Regency GP will confer with the General Counsel of ETP GP, under an agreement of confidentiality, and confirm that no such information to be provided relates to a Development Opportunity currently being pursued or under consideration by any of the ETP Entities or is subject to third party confidentiality restrictions or antitrust restrictions; and

(B) if such confirmation is obtained, any such member of the Board of Directors of ETE GP, any such Regency Dedicated ETE Employee or any such Designated ETP Representative who receives such Commercially Sensitive Information from any of the Regency Entities (I) will not provide such Commercially Sensitive Information to any other ETP Representative, (II) will not use such Commercially Sensitive Information for any purpose other than to allow any such person to offer advice to the management personnel of the Regency Entities (it being

 

7


recognized and acknowledged that the management and control of the Regency Entities remains subject to the direction and authority of Regency GP to the extent specified in the Regency Governance Agreements), and (III) will deliver to Regency GP a written acknowledgement of the restrictions on the use of such Commercially Sensitive Information in the form provided in Appendix A to this Statement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.2, the Regency Entities may provide Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities to any of the ETE Entities, any of the ETP Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives, upon the prior approval of the Regency Conflicts Committee.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, if a Development Opportunity pursued jointly with one or more ETE Entities or ETP Entities becomes a material transaction between or among any of the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and/or the Regency Entities, the permitted provision of Commercially Sensitive Information under Section 4.2(a)(iv) does not alter the necessity of the application of Section 3.1 with respect to such transaction.

4.3 Delegation of Authority of ETE GP Board. If there is a Development Opportunity that the ETP Entities, on the one hand, and the Regency Entities, on the other hand, are both pursuing or the Board of Directors of ETE GP is asked to take action on any matter relating to a Potentially Overlapping Business in respect of the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities, the Board of Directors of ETE GP will delegate full authority to take any actions that may be required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors of ETE GP in connection with such Development Opportunity or Potentially Overlapping Business to (i) in the case of any decisions required to be made in respect of the ETP Entities, the ETP Dedicated Committee, and (ii) in the case of any decisions required to be made in respect of the Regency Entities, the Regency Dedicated Committee.

4.4 Enterprise Related Provisions

(a) The ETE Entities and the ETP Entities will not provide to any of the Enterprise Entities or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities.

(b) The Regency Entities will not provide to any of the Enterprise Entities or any of their respective directors, officers or employees or representatives any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities.

 

5. Approval Requirements for Boards of Directors and Conflicts Committee

Any approvals by the Board of Directors or Conflicts Committee of any of ETE GP, ETP GP or Regency GP pursuant to this Statement will be subject to any notice requirements, quorum requirements or vote requirements specified in the ETE Governance Agreements, the ETP Governance Agreements or the Regency Governance Agreements, as the case may be, applicable to such entity.

 

8


6. Audit Rights

6.1 The Board of Directors of each of ETP GP and Regency GP (or an authorized committee thereof, including the Conflicts Committee of such Board of Directors) shall have, subject to compliance with applicable law, the right to request reasonable access to the offices, properties, books and records of the ETE Entities and the employees, officers and directors of the ETE Entities to determine whether the ETE Entities and their respective representatives, employees, officers and directors are complying with their obligations under this Statement.

6.2 Each Regency Dedicated ETE Employee, Regency Dedicated ETE Board Member, Designated ETP Representative and each other board member, officer, employee or other representative of any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities who has received Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities will deliver to the General Counsel of Regency GP, before December 31 of each year, a written affirmation that such person remains fully in compliance with this Statement with respect to all such Commercially Sensitive Information theretofore received by such person.

6.3 Each ETP Dedicated ETE Employee, ETP Dedicated ETE Board Member, Designated Regency Representative and each other board member, officer, employee or other representative of any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities who has received Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETP Entities will deliver to the General Counsel of ETP GP, before December 31 of each year, a written affirmation that such person remains fully in compliance with this policy with respect to all such Commercially Sensitive Information theretofore received by such person.

 

7. Review of Policies by Conflicts Committees

7.1 The ETE Board, the ETP Conflicts Committee and the Regency Conflicts Committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the policies set forth in this Statement not less frequently than every six months, and each such Board or Conflicts Committee will be entitled to propose changes to the policies set forth in this Statement in connection with such periodic evaluations. Any such proposed changes that are agreed to by the ETE Board, the ETP Conflicts Committee and the Regency Conflicts Committee will be reflected in an amendment or restatement of this Statement, and such amendment or restatement of this Statement will be disseminated or made available, by means of posting to a website, email or other form of communication, to the applicable personnel of the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities.

7.2 In the event that the ETE Board determines that the policies set forth in this Statement, as this Statement may be amended from time to time, are no longer in the best interests of the unitholders of ETE, the ETE Board will have the unilateral right to terminate this Statement, in which case the Initial Statement will be automatically reinstated with respect to the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities.

 

9


7.3 In the event that the ETP Conflicts Committee determines that the policies set forth in this Statement, as this Statement may be amended from time to time, are no longer in the best interests of the unitholders of ETP, the ETP Conflicts Committee will have the unilateral right to terminate this Statement, in which case the Initial Statement will be automatically reinstated with respect to the ETP Entities, the ETE Entities and the Regency Entities.

7.4 In the event that the Regency Conflicts Committee determines that the policies set forth in this Statement, as this Statement may be amended from time to time, are no longer in the best interests of the unitholders of Regency, the Regency Conflicts Committee will have the unilateral right to terminate this Statement, in which case the Initial Statement will be automatically reinstated with respect to the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities.

7.5 In addition, this Statement will automatically terminate on June 30 and December 31 of each calendar year unless, within 60 days prior to such termination date, the ETE Board, the ETP Conflicts Committee and the Regency Conflicts Committee approve the continuation of this Statement and, in the event of any such termination, the Initial Statement will be automatically reinstated with respect to the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities.

7.6 Notwithstanding whether this Statement or any portion hereof is terminated with respect to any or all of the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and/or the Regency Entities, all confidentiality obligations in force prior to any such termination (including any obligations acknowledged by execution of any confidentiality agreement or acknowledgment in the forms attached as Appendices to this Statement) shall remain in force and shall not be released or terminated as a result of any such termination.

 

8. Implementation

The President of ETE GP, the General Counsel of ETP GP and the General Counsel of Regency GP shall, subject to the oversight of the respective ETE Conflicts Committee, the ETP Conflicts Committee and the Regency Conflicts Committee, be responsible for implementation of this Statement, which shall include but not be limited to preparation and distribution (including, in all cases, distribution to the applicable Conflicts Committee(s)) of a more detailed explanation of the purpose, intent and application of this Statement, and in this regard such persons will act jointly to the extent they deem appropriate. This Statement (and, specifically, this Section 8) does not increase any obligation of (nor does it alter the right to indemnity or exculpation of) any such President and General Counsel under the ETE Governance Agreements, ETP Governance Agreements or Regency Governance Agreements, as applicable.

 

9. Approval of Statement by Conflicts Committees

This Statement has been approved by each of the board of directors of each of ETE GP, ETP GP and Regency GP, as well as the ETP Conflicts Committee and the Regency Conflicts Committee, for purposes of resolving conflicts of interest, and potential conflicts of interest, between and among the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities and the Regency Entities in accordance with Section 7.9(a) of the ETE Partnership Agreement, Section 7.9(a) of the ETP Partnership Agreement and Section 7.9(a) of the Regency Partnership Agreement.

 

10


10. Definitions

For purposes of this statement, capitalized terms used but not defined above shall have the following meanings:

Commercially Sensitive Information” shall mean, with respect to any Person, information about (1) Commercial Development Activities under consideration by such Person at the time or (2) other competitively sensitive information of such Person related to Potentially Overlapping Business including, without limitation, (i) information regarding the names of or prices, costs, margins, volumes and contractual terms for any current or potential customer, (ii) all plans or strategies used or adopted to negotiate, target or identify a current or potential customer or group of customers for any asset or service or to expand existing service offerings or offer a new service, (iii) all information regarding plans and prospective budgets to expand an existing facility or build a new facility, (iv) all information regarding a proposal to buy an existing facility, (v) information related to the capacity and capacity utilization of any facility, (vi) information regarding any opportunity to acquire a business, asset or entity or to develop or construct any new interstate or intrastate natural gas pipeline, interstate or intrastate natural gas liquids pipeline, natural gas gathering system, natural gas treating, processing or fractionating facilities, natural gas storage facility, or any other midstream natural gas assets or facilities; any natural gas compression services business or assets; any wholesale or retail propane facility or business; any other midstream or natural gas related assets, such as compression facilities, shipping facilities or marketing assets and (vii) any other confidential information regarding any Person that owns, operates or is an affiliate of any Person that is identified in clauses (i) through (vii) if the sharing of such information by such Person with another party to this Statement would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of any fiduciary duty, law or any contract to which such Person is a party, provided, however, that Commercially Sensitive Information with respect to a Person shall not include (A) any information that is otherwise in the public domain, (B) with respect to any of the Regency Entities, (I) any information provided to any of the ETE Entities or any of the ETP Entities from a Person other than an ETE Entity or a Regency Entity on an unsolicited basis relating to a potential Development Opportunity that is not based on information that would otherwise constitute Commercially Sensitive Information relating to any of the Regency Entities or (II) any information otherwise independently developed by an ETE Entity or an ETP Entity without use of, or reliance on, any information that would otherwise constitute Commercially Sensitive Information relating to any of the Regency Entities and (C) with respect to any of the ETP Entities, (I) any information provided to any of the ETE Entities or any of the Regency Entities from a Person other than an ETE Entity or an ETP Entity on an unsolicited basis relating to a potential Development Opportunity that is not based on information that would otherwise constitute Commercially Sensitive Information relating to any of the ETP Entities or (II) any information otherwise independently developed by an ETE Entity or a Regency Entity without use of, or reliance on, any information that would otherwise constitute Commercially Sensitive Information relating to any of the ETP Entities. (For example, information provided by an investment bank, private equity firm or other financial services firm relating to a potential acquisition based on information in the public domain and not based on information obtained from such Person that would not otherwise constitute Commercially Sensitive Information.)

 

11


Commercial Development Activities” shall mean information with respect to (i) proposed changes to or transactions involving any Potentially Overlapping Business, (ii) any plans and strategies dealing with Potentially Overlapping Business and (iii) any opportunities to construct or acquire, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of joint venture or by means of acquisition of assets, equity interest in an entity, contractual rights to capacity or use, or otherwise), any interstate or intrastate natural gas pipeline, interstate or intrastate natural gas liquids pipeline, natural gas gathering system, natural gas treating, processing or fractionating facilities, natural gas storage facility, or any other midstream natural gas assets or facilities; any natural gas compression services business or assets; any wholesale or retail propane facility or business; or any other midstream or natural gas related assets, such as compression facilities, shipping facilities or marketing assets.

Designated ETP Representative” means any ETP Representative specified by the Regency Conflicts Committee to be eligible to receive Commercially Sensitive Information from any of the Regency Entities, subject to such representative’s compliance with this Statement (including Section 6).

Designated Regency Representative” means any Regency Representative specified by the ETP Conflicts Committee to be eligible to receive Commercially Sensitive Information from any of the ETP Entities, subject to such representative’s compliance with this Statement (including Section 6).

Development Opportunity” means any opportunity to participate in a transaction described in clause (iii) of Commercial Development Activities or any opportunity to offer to, or negotiate with, a current or potential customer or group of customers any tariff rates, capacities or other aspects of any gathering, treating, processing, transportation or other service related to any assets or systems described in such clause (iii).

Enterprise Entities” shall mean EPE, EPE GP and their respective subsidiaries (excluding any of the ETE Entities, any of the ETP Entities and any of the Regency Entities).

EPE” shall mean Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.

EPE GP” shall mean EPE Holdings, LLC, the general partner of EPE.

ETE Entities” shall mean ETE, ETE GP and their respective subsidiaries (excluding any of the ETP Entities and any of the Regency Entities).

“ETE Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of ETE GP.

ETE Governance Agreements” shall mean the ETE Partnership Agreement and the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ETE GP, dated as of May 7, 2007, as amended or restated from time to time.

 

12


ETE GP” shall mean LE GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that serves as the general partner of ETE.

ETE Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ETE, dated as of February 8, 2006, as amended or restated from time to time.

ETP Conflicts Committee” means the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of ETP GP.

ETP Dedicated Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of ETE GP comprised solely of two or more ETP Dedicated ETE Board Members.

ETP Dedicated ETE Employees” means officers or employees of any of the ETE Entities who (i) are not officers, directors or employees of any of the Regency Entities or a Regency Dedicated Employee and (ii) are specified by the Board of Directors of ETE GP to be involved in making decisions on behalf of any of the ETE Entities related to the ETP Entities; provided that any time an ETP Dedicated Employee is so specified, notice thereof will be promptly delivered to the ETP Conflicts Committee.

ETP Dedicated ETE Board Members” means the members of the Board of Directors of ETE GP who (i) are not officers, directors or employees of any of the Regency Entities and (ii) are specified by the Board of Directors of ETE GP to be involved in making decisions on behalf of any of the ETE Entities related to the ETP Entities; provided that any time an ETP Dedicated ETE Board Member is so specified, notice thereof will be promptly delivered to the ETP Conflicts Committee.

ETP Governance Agreements” means (i) the ETP Partnership Agreement, (ii) the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ETP GP LP, dated as of April 17, 2009, as amended or restated from time to time and (iii) the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ETP GP, dated as of April 17, 2007, as amended or restated from time to time.

ETP Entities” shall mean ETP GP, ETP GP LP, ETP and their respective subsidiaries.

ETP GP” shall mean Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company that serves as the general partner of ETP GP LP.

ETP GP LP” shall mean Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership that serves as the general partner of ETP.

ETP Partnership Agreement” means the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ETP, dated as of July 28, 2009, as amended or restated from time to time.

ETP Representative” shall mean an individual who is an officer, director, employee or other representative of any of the ETP Entities and who is not an officer, director or employee of any of the Regency Entities.

 

13


ETP Screening Committee” means a committee comprised of the Chief Executive Officer of ETP GP, Chief Financial Officer of ETP GP, the General Counsel of ETP GP and one member of the ETP Conflicts Committee appointed to the ETP Screening Committee by the ETP Conflicts Committee.

Independent Director” shall mean, with respect to any of ETE GP, ETP GP or Regency GP, an individual director who meets the independence, qualification and experience requirements established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and by The New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as applicable, as applied to ETE GP, ETP GP or Regency GP, as the case may be.

Initial Statement” means the Statement of Policies Related to Potential Conflicts Among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP dated as of May 26, 2010 attached hereto as Appendix D to this Statement.

Person” means any natural person or corporation, partnership or other entity.

Potentially Overlapping Business” shall mean, with respect to the ETP Entities, such assets, business operations or business opportunities of the ETP Entities that are, or could potentially be, competitive with the assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Regency Entities and shall mean, with respect to the Regency Entities, such assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Regency Entities that are, or could potentially be, competitive with the assets, business operations or business opportunities of the ETP Entities.

Regency Conflicts Committee” means the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Regency GP.

Regency Dedicated Committee” means a committee of the Board of Directors of ETE GP comprised solely of two or more Regency Dedicated ETE Board Members.

Regency Dedicated ETE Employees” means officers or employees of any of the ETE Entities who (i) are not officers, directors or employees of any of the ETP Entities or an ETP Dedicated Employee and (ii) are specified by the Board of Directors of ETE GP to be involved in making decisions on behalf of any of the ETE Entities related to the Regency Entities; provided that any time a Regency Dedicated Employee is so specified, notice thereof will be promptly delivered to the Regency Conflicts Committee.

Regency Dedicated ETE Board Members” means the members of the Board of Directors of ETE GP who (i) are not officers, directors or employees of any of the ETP Entities or any of the Enterprise Entities and (ii) are specified by the Board of Directors of ETE GP to be involved in making decisions on behalf of ETE related to the Regency Entities; provided that any time a Regency Dedicated ETE Board Member is so specified, notice thereof will be promptly delivered to the Regency Conflicts Committee.

Regency Entities” shall mean Regency, Regency GP LP, Regency GP and their respective subsidiaries.

 

14


Regency Governance Agreements” means (i) the Regency Partnership Agreement, (ii) the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency GP LP, dated as of February 3, 2006, as amended or restated from time to time and (iii) the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Regency GP, dated as of February 3, 2006, as amended or restated from time to time.

Regency GP” means Regency GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that serves as the general partner of Regency GP LP.

Regency GP LP” means Regency GP LP, a Delaware limited partnership that serves as the general partner of Regency.

Regency Partnership Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency, dated as of February 3, 2006, as amended or restated from time to time.

Regency Representative” shall mean an individual who is an officer, director, employee or other representative of any of the Regency Entities and who is not an officer, director or employee of any of the ETP Entities or any of the Enterprise Entities.

Regency Screening Committee” means a committee comprised of the Chief Executive Officer of Regency GP, the Chief Financial Officer of Regency GP, the General Counsel of Regency GP and one member of the Regency Conflicts Committee appointed to the Regency Screening Committee by the Regency Conflicts Committee.

Screening Officer” shall mean, with respect to ETP, any of the members of the ETP Screening Committee and, with respect to Regency, any of the members of the Regency Screening Committee.

 

15


APPENDIX A

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROVISIONS RELATED TO SCREENING OF COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION

The undersigned hereby certifies as to the following:

 

  1. I acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of, and agree to be bound by, the Statement of Policies Relating to Potential Conflicts Among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP, dated August 10 , 2010 (hereinafter the “Statement”);

 

  2. I understand that my access to Commercially Sensitive Information (as that term is defined in the Statement) of any of the Regency Entities is governed by, and subject to, the provisions relating to the “Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information” set forth in the Statement;

 

  3. I agree not to provide to any of the directors, officers, employees or other representatives of any of the ETE Entities, the ETP Entities or the Enterprise Entities (in each case as defined in the Statement) any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities, except as expressly permitted by the Statement.
  
Printed Name
  
Signature
  
Position/Title
  
Name of Company

Executed this _____ day of ____________, ______.

As reconfirmed and acknowledged as of December 31, _____.


APPENDIX B

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROVISIONS RELATED TO SCREENING OF COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION

The undersigned hereby certifies as to the following:

 

  1. I acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of, and agree to be bound by, the Statement of Policies Relating to Potential Conflicts Among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP, dated August 10 , 2010 (hereinafter the “Statement”);

 

  2. I understand that my access to Commercially Sensitive Information (as that term is defined in the Statement) of any of the ETP Entities is governed by, and subject to, the provisions relating to the “Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information” set forth in the Statement;

 

  3. I agree not to provide to any of the directors, officers, employees or other representatives of any of the ETE Entities, the Regency Entities or the Enterprise Entities (in each case as defined in the Statement) any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the ETP Entities, except as expressly permitted by the Statement.

 

 
Printed Name
 
Signature

Executed this _____ day of ____________, ______.

As reconfirmed and acknowledged as of December 31, _____.


APPENDIX C

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT


CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

[Date]

Regency Energy Partners LP

2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700

Dallas, Texas 75201

Gentlemen:

In connection with our mutual interest in a possible transaction (the “Transaction”) involving Energy Transfer Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ETP”), and Regency Energy Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Regency”), with respect to [description of project], each of ETP and Regency are providing the other party with certain information that is either non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature (“Confidential Information”). In consideration of the furnishing by each of ETP and Regency (collectively, the “Parties”) to the other Party of Confidential Information, each of the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

  4. Confidential Information” includes any non-public, confidential or proprietary information furnished by either ETP or Regency, as the case may be (each in such case a “Disclosing Party”) to the other (each in such case the “Receiving Party”), including, without limitation, (a) any such information transferred or transmitted in writing, orally, visually, electronically or by any other means, whether prior to, on, or after the date hereof, (b) information provided to the Receiving Party by a third party that Receiving Party knows has been provided at the direction of the Disclosing Party, and (c) any memoranda, reports, analyses, extracts or notes that the Receiving Party or its Representatives (as defined below) produce that are based on, reflect, or contain any of the Confidential Information (the items referred to in this clause (c) collectively referred to as “Notes”). Confidential Information does not include any information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Receiving Party or any of its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) was in the Receiving Party’s possession prior to the disclosure of the Confidential Information pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) becomes available to the Receiving Party or its Representatives on a non-confidential basis from a third party, provided that the Receiving Party did not know, after reasonable inquiry, that such source was subject to an obligation not to disclose such information; and/or (iv) was independently developed by the Receiving Party or its Representatives without reference to Confidential Information.

 

  5. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. The Receiving Party will keep the Confidential Information confidential and will not disclose the Confidential Information to anyone other than as permitted under the terms and conditions referred to in this letter agreement (the “Agreement”).

 

1


  6. Use of Confidential Information. The Receiving Party recognizes and acknowledges the competitive value and confidential nature of the Confidential Information and the damage that could result to the Disclosing Party if any information contained therein is disclosed to a third party in violation of this Agreement. The Confidential Information will be used by the Receiving Party solely for the purpose of analyzing and evaluating the desirability of entering into the Transaction and the implementing and monitoring of the Transaction and for no other purpose (the “Permitted Purpose”). The Receiving Party will permit its affiliates and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, partners, members, managers, agents, advisors and representatives (collectively “Representatives”) access to the Confidential Information only to the extent necessary to allow such Representatives to assist the Receiving Party in the Permitted Purpose. Prior to granting such Representatives access to the Confidential Information, the Receiving Party will inform them of its confidential nature and of the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement. The Receiving Party agrees to be responsible for any breach of the confidentiality obligations of this Agreement by any of its Representatives, except in cases where a Representative enters into a direct confidentiality agreement with a Disclosing Party, in which case the Receiving Party in question shall have no liability hereunder for any purported breach by such Representatives. The Receiving Party further agrees to be responsible for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a result of the use of the Confidential Information by the Receiving Party’s Representatives or other recipients contrary to the terms of this Agreement.

 

  7. Information about Transaction. Unless required by applicable law, rule, regulation or governmental request (including oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoenas, investigative demands, regulatory process, court decrees or similar legal process (all of the foregoing, “Legal Process”) (in which case the Party in question will promptly advise and consult with each other Party and its counsel prior to such disclosure, to the extent practicable and legally permissible) or as otherwise provided in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the other Parties and approval of the contents thereof, each Party will, and will cause its Representatives to, not disclose to any person (a) the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a possible Transaction, (b) any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to such Transaction, including the status thereof, or (c) the existence of this Agreement, the terms hereof or that Confidential Information has been made available pursuant to this Agreement.

 

2


  8. Required Disclosure. If a Receiving Party or its Representatives are requested to disclose any Confidential Information (including, but not limited to, any Notes) in connection with any Legal Process, such Receiving Party will, to the extent practicable and legally permissible, notify the Disclosing Party immediately in writing of the existence, terms and circumstances surrounding such a request, so that the Disclosing Party may, in its sole discretion, seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or take steps to resist or narrow the scope of the disclosure sought by such request, in each case at its expense. The Receiving Party in such case agrees to assist the Disclosing Party, at the Disclosing Party’s expense, in seeking a protective order or other remedy, if requested by the Disclosing Party. If a protective order or other remedy is not obtained and, upon the advice of the Receiving Party’s counsel, disclosure is required or prudent, the Receiving Party may make such disclosure without liability under this Agreement, provided that the Receiving Party or its Representatives furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information which the Receiving Party or its Representatives reasonably believe is necessary in such circumstances to be disclosed, the Receiving Party gives, to the extent practicable and legally permissible, the Disclosing Party notice of the information to be disclosed as far in advance of its disclosure as practicable and the Receiving Party uses its commercially reasonable efforts, at the Disclosing Party’s expense, to ensure that confidential treatment will be accorded to all such disclosed Confidential Information.

 

  9. Completeness of Confidential Information. Each Receiving Party acknowledges and agrees that neither the Disclosing Party nor any of the Disclosing Party’s Representatives nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or “controlling persons” (within the meaning of Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), (a) has made or makes any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information provided by such Disclosing Party, or (b) will have any liability whatsoever to the Receiving Party or any of its Representatives resulting from or relating to any use of the Confidential Information or any errors therein or omissions therefrom. Each Receiving Party further agrees that it is not entitled to rely on the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information received by it, and that it will only be entitled to rely on such representations and warranties as may be included in any definitive agreement with respect to the Transaction, subject to such limitations and restrictions as may be contained therein.

 

  10.

Return of Confidential Information. Upon a decision by a Party not to pursue the Transaction, such Party shall promptly inform the other Party in writing of such decision. Upon the written request of the Disclosing Party in question, the Receiving Party in question and its Representatives will, at such Receiving Party’s option, either destroy all Confidential Information and Notes in its possession, or turn them over to the Disclosing Party, and no copy thereof will be retained by the Receiving Party or its Representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Receiving Party and

 

3


  its Representatives (a) shall be permitted to maintain one copy of Confidential Information and Notes for audit and enforcement purposes, (b) are not required to alter their normal record retention polices, (c) shall not be required to erase Confidential Information contained in an automatic computer back-up system recovery, (d) may retain Confidential Information to the extent required by law or regulation, and (e) may retain one copy of Confidential Information and Notes for the purposes of resolving any disputes that may arise hereunder or pursuant to a Transaction, but in each of the foregoing cases the Receiving Party in question and its Representatives shall retain all such materials subject to the confidentiality obligations contained herein and shall take reasonable precautions to ensure that retained information remains secure. The Receiving Party will deliver to the Disclosing Party a certificate that it, along with its Representatives, have complied with the requirements of this Paragraph 10. Notwithstanding the return, deletion or destruction of the Confidential Information, each Receiving Party and its Representatives will continue to be bound by all obligations of confidentiality and other obligations under this Agreement.

 

  11. No Legal Obligation. None of the Parties will be under any legal obligation with respect to a Transaction unless and until a definitive agreement between the Parties is executed and delivered.

 

  12. Equitable Relief and Other Remedies. Each Receiving Party acknowledges and agrees that the Disclosing Party in question may be damaged irreparably if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Disclosing Party will be entitled to equitable relief, including, without limitation, an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and its provisions in any action or proceeding instituted in any state or federal court located the State of Delaware having jurisdiction over the Parties and the matter (the “Designated Forum”), in addition to any other remedy to which the Disclosing Party may be entitled, at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, the rights, obligations and remedies created by this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other rights, obligations or remedies otherwise available at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing herein will be considered an election of remedies.

 

  13.

Submission to Jurisdiction. Any action, suit or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement will only be brought in any state or federal court located in the Designated Forum, and each Party consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such action, suit or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection

 

4


  that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such action, suit or proceeding in any such court or that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such action, suit or proceeding may be served on either Party anywhere in the world, whether within or outside the jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, service of process on either Party or its Representatives at the address specified in Paragraph 19 of this Agreement for such party will be deemed effective service of process.

 

  14. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing signed by both of the Parties.

 

  15. Extension or Waiver. Either Party may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other Parties under this Agreement, and/or (b) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for such Party’s benefit contained herein. Any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the Party granting such extension or waiver. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation or breach hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay by any Party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

 

  16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided that if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any Party or to any circumstance, is judicially determined not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the Parties agree that the court judicially making such determination may modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or delete specific words or phrases, and in its modified form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

 

  17. Securities Laws. Each Party acknowledges that it is aware that the securities laws of the United States (as well as stock exchange regulations) prohibit any person who has material, non-public information concerning a Party or a possible transaction involving a Party from purchasing or selling that Party’s securities when in possession of such information and from communicating such information to any other person or entity under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person or entity is likely to purchase or sell such securities in reliance upon such information.

 

5


  18. Term. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement will terminate on the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement.

 

  19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

  20. Assignment. No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Party, and any such assignment by a Party without prior written approval of the other Parties will be deemed invalid and not binding on such other Party.

 

  21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, which delivery may be made by exchange of copies of the signature page by facsimile or electronic mail transmission.

 

  22. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by personal delivery, by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or by facsimile transmission, to the intended recipient at the address set forth for the recipient on the signature page (or to such other address as any Party may give in a notice given in accordance with the provisions hereof). All notices, requests or other communications will be effective and deemed given only as follows: (i) if given by personal delivery, upon such personal delivery, (ii) if sent by certified or registered mail, on the fifth business day after being deposited in the United States mail or (iii) if sent for next day delivery by overnight delivery service, on the date of delivery as confirmed by written confirmation of delivery. Notices, requests and other communications sent in any other manner, including by electronic mail, will not be effective.

 

  23. Other. With respect to personal data contained in any Confidential Information, each Disclosing Party confirm that disclosure to and use by the Receiving Party and its Representatives pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be in accordance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. For purposes of this paragraph, “personal data” means information that relates to a living individual who can be identified or who is identifiable.

 

6


If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign and return the enclosed copy this letter which will constitute the Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this letter as of the date first above written.

 

Very truly yours,                                                 
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
By:   Energy Transfer Partners, GP, L.P.,
 
  Its general partner
By:   Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.,
 
  Its general partner
By:    
Name:   Kelcy L. Warren
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

3738 Oak Lawn Avenue

Dallas, Texas 75219

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
Regency Energy Partners LP
By:   Regency GP LP, its general partner
  By:   Regency GP LLC, its general partner
  By:    
    Name:
    Title:

2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

7


APPENDIX D

INITIAL STATEMENT


STATEMENT OF POLICIES RELATING TO POTENTIAL

CONFLICTS AMONG ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., ENERGY

TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

This Statement of Policies Related to Potential Conflicts among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners, L.P. (the “Statement”) specifies the policies and procedures that have been adopted by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (“ETE”), Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”) and Regency Energy Partners LP (“Regency”), as authorized and approved by their respective general partners as of May 26, 2010, to address potential conflicts among, and protect the confidential and proprietary information of, ETE, ETP and Regency.

Corporate Governance

Independent Directors. Each of ETE GP, ETP GP and Regency GP will have at least three Independent Directors (as defined below) on its board of directors.

Directors and Invited Guests to Board Meetings. No director, officer, employee or other representative of any of the Energy Transfer Entities or any of the Enterprise Entities will serve on the board of directors of Regency GP, and no director, officer, employee or other representative of Regency GP, Regency or their respective subsidiaries (collectively, the “Regency Entities”) will serve on the board of directors of ETE GP or ETP GP; provided, however, that ETE, as the direct or indirect owner of 100% of the member interests of Regency GP, may appoint one or more individuals who is not an officer, director or employee of ETP GP, ETP or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of the Enterprise Entities (each such individual, an “ETE Representative”) to serve on the board of directors of Regency GP subject to (i) the restriction related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement, (ii) such individual’s acknowledgement and agreement that, in the event that any of the relevant antitrust authorities require any such individual to terminate such individual’s position as a director of Regency GP based on antitrust law, such individual will promptly resign from the board of directors of Regency GP, and (iii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix A to this Statement. In addition, the participation by any officer, director, employee or other representative of the Energy Transfer Entities as an invited guest at any meeting of the board of directors of Regency GP will also be subject to (i) the restriction related to Commercially Sensitive Information set forth in this Statement and (ii) such person’s written acknowledgement of such restriction in the form provided in Appendix A to this Statement.

Separate Employees

None of the Energy Transfer Entities will employ any person who is, or was within the prior six months (or the prior 12 months in the case of a management level employee), an employee of any of the Regency Entities (other than any employee of the Energy Transfer Entities on the date hereof) without prior approval of one of the Screening Officers of ETP. None of the Regency Entities will employ any person who is, or was within the prior six months (or the prior 12 months in the case of a management

level employee), an employee of any of the Energy Transfer Entities (other than any employee of the Regency Entities on the date hereof) without prior approval of one of the Screening Officers of Regency.

 

1


Transactions Between Energy Transfer Entities and Regency Entities

Any material transaction between any of the Energy Transfer Entities, on the one hand, and the Regency Entities, on the other hand, will require (a) if the transaction relates to ETE, the prior approval of any of (i) the Board of Directors of ETE GP, (ii) the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of ETE GP or (iii) another duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of ETE GP), (b) if the transaction relates to ETP, the prior approval of any of (i) the Board of Directors of ETP GP, (ii) the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of ETP GP or (iii) another duly authorized committee of the Board of directors of ETP GP and (c) if the transaction relates to Regency, the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Regency GP. In addition, each of ETE, ETP and Regency will be subject to their obligations under their respective credit agreements related to transactions with affiliates.

Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information; Business Opportunities

The Energy Transfer Entities will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the Energy Transfer Entities do not provide information to any of the Regency Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives that the ETP Screening Committee reasonably determines in good faith to be Commercially Sensitive Information related to the Energy Transfer Entities; provided that, in the event that the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to an opportunity identified by any of the Energy Transfer Entities to acquire a business, asset or entity or to develop or construct any new pipeline, gathering system, storage facility or other facility and the ETP Screening Committee reasonably determines that such opportunity is not an opportunity that the Energy Transfer Entities desire to pursue due to the projected economics related to such opportunity, the capital requirements related to such opportunity, the strategic implications of such opportunity or other factors, then the ETP Screening Committee will seek approval of the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of ETP GP (or another duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of ETE GP) and, in the event such approval is obtained, the ETP Screening Committee will be permitted to present such opportunity to Regency.

The Regency Entities will take reasonable precautions to ensure that the Regency Entities do not provide information to any of the Energy Transfer Entities, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives, that the Regency Screening Committee reasonably determines in good faith to be Commercially Sensitive Information related to the Regency Entities; provided that, in the event that the Commercially Sensitive Information relates to an opportunity identified by any of the Regency Entities to acquire a business, asset or entity or to develop or construct any new pipeline, gathering system, storage facility or other facility and the Regency Screening Committee reasonably determines that such opportunity is not an opportunity that the

 

2


Regency Entities desire to pursue due to the projected economics related to such opportunity, the capital requirements related to such opportunity, the strategic implications of such opportunity or other factors, then the Regency Screening Committee will seek approval of the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Regency GP and, in the event such approval is obtained, the Regency Screening Committee will be permitted to present such opportunity to ETP.

The Energy Transfer Entities will take reasonable precaution to ensure that the Energy Transfer Entities do not provide to any of the Enterprise Entities any Commercially Sensitive Information related to the Regency Entities.

Any officer, director, employee or other representative of the Energy Transfer Entities who attends a board meeting of Regency GP must take reasonable precautions not to provide at, in connection with, or arising out of such meeting or such attendance any Commercially Sensitive Information relating to any of the Energy Transfer Entities to any of the representatives, employees, officers or directors of any of the Regency Entities. The General Counsel of Regency or such other legal counsel designated by the General Counsel of Regency shall be present at all such meetings, to the extent reasonably practicable, in order to identify any Commercially Sensitive Information that is presented or discussed.

Definitions

For purposes of this statement, capitalized terms used but not defined above shall have the following meanings:

Commercially Sensitive Information” shall mean, with respect to any Person, information about (1) Commercial Development Activities or (2) other competitively sensitive information of such Person related to Potentially Overlapping Business including, without limitation, (i) information regarding the names of or prices, costs, margins, volumes and contractual terms for any current or potential customer, (ii) any method, tool or computer program used to determine prices for any asset or service, (iii) all plans or strategies used or adopted to negotiate, target or identify a current or potential customer or group of customers for any asset or service or to expand existing service offerings or offer a new service, (iv) all information regarding plans and prospective budgets to expand an existing facility or build a new facility, (v) all information regarding a proposal to buy an existing facility, (vi) information related to the capacity and capacity utilization of any facility, (vii) information regarding any opportunity to acquire a business, asset or entity or to develop or construct any new interstate or intrastate natural gas pipeline, interstate or intrastate natural gas liquids pipeline, natural gas gathering system, natural gas treating, processing or fractionating facilities, natural gas storage facility, or any other midstream natural gas assets or facilities; any natural gas compression services business or assets; any wholesale or retail propane facility or business; any other midstream or natural gas related assets, such as compression facilities, shipping facilities or marketing assets and (viii) any other confidential information regarding any Person that owns, operates or is an affiliate of any Person that is identified in clauses (i) through (vi) if the sharing of such information by such Person with another

 

3


party to this Statement would reasonably be expected to constitute a violation of any fiduciary duty, law or any contract to which such Person is a party, provided, however, that Commercially Sensitive Information related to a Person shall not include any information that is otherwise in the public domain.

Commercial Development Activities” shall mean information with respect to (i) proposed changes to or transactions involving any Potentially Overlapping Business, (ii) any plans and strategies dealing with Potentially Overlapping Business and (iii) any opportunities to construct or acquire, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of joint venture or by means of acquisition of assets, equity interest in an entity, contractual rights to capacity or use, or otherwise), any interstate or intrastate natural gas pipeline, interstate or intrastate natural gas liquids pipeline, natural gas gathering system, natural gas treating, processing or fractionating facilities, natural gas storage facility, or any other midstream natural gas assets or facilities; any natural gas compression services business or assets; any wholesale or retail propane facility or business; any other midstream or natural gas related assets, such as compression facilities, shipping facilities or marketing assets.

Energy Transfer Entities” shall mean ETE GP, ETP GP, ETE, ETP or their respective subsidiaries (excluding Regency GP, Regency GP LP, Regency or any of their respective subsidiaries).

Enterprise Entities” shall mean EPE, EPE GP and their respective subsidiaries (excluding any of the Energy Transfer Entities).

EPE” shall mean Enterprise GP Holdings L.P.

EPE GP” shall mean EPE Holdings, LLC, the general partner of EPE.

ETE GP” shall mean LE GP, LLC, the general partner of ETE.

ETP GP” shall mean Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., the general partner of ETP.

ETP Screening Committee” means a committee comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel of ETP.

Independent Director” shall mean, with respect to any of ETE GP, ETP GP or Regency GP, an individual director who meets the independence, qualification and experience requirements established by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and by The New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as applicable, as applied to ETE GP, ETP GP or Regency GP, as the case may be.

Person” means any corporation, partnership or other entity.

 

4


Potentially Overlapping Business” shall mean, with respect to the Energy Transfer Entities, such assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Energy Transfer Entities that are, or could potentially be competitive with the assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Regency Entities and shall mean, with respect to the Regency Entities, such assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Regency Entities that are, or could potentially be competitive with the assets, business operations or business opportunities of the Energy Transfer Entities.

Regency GP” means Regency GP, LLC, the general partner of Regency GP LP.

Regency GP LP” means Regency GP LP, the general partner of Regency.

Regency Screening Committee” means a committee comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the General Counsel of Regency.

Screening Officer” shall mean, with respect to any of ETE, ETP or Regency, any of the respective Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer of such entity.

 

5


APPENDIX A

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PROVISIONS RELATED TO SCREENING OF

COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION

I, _______________________________, certify as to the following:

10.1 I acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of the Statement of Policies Relating to Potential Conflicts Among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP, dated May 26, 2010 (hereinafter the “Statement”);

10.2 I understand that my access to Commercially Sensitive Information (as that term is defined in the Statement) of any of the Regency Entities is governed by, and subject to, the provisions relating to the “Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information” set forth in the Statement;

10.3 I agree to be bound by the provisions relating to the “Screening of Commercially Sensitive Information” set forth in the Statement; and

10.4 I agree not to provide to any of the directors, officers, employees or other representatives of any of the Energy Transfer Entities (as defined in the Statement) any Commercially Sensitive Information related to any of the Regency Entities.

 

  
Printed Name
 
Signature
 
Position/Title
 
Name of Company

Executed this _____ day of ____________, ______.