sv4
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2007
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP*
REGENCY ENERGY FINANCE CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
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4922
4922
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification
Code Number)
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16-1731691
38-3747282
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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1700 Pacific, Suite 2900
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 750-1771
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone
Number, Including Area Code, of Registrants
Principal Executive Offices)
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William E. Joor III
1700 Pacific, Suite 2900
Dallas, Texas 75201
(713) 621-9547
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and
Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Agent for Service) |
Copies to:
Dan A. Fleckman
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
2500 First City Tower
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 3600
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 758-2222
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this registration statement.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation
of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following
box.o
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number
of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act,
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed |
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Proposed |
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Title of each class of |
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Amount |
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maximum offering |
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maximum aggregate |
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Amount of |
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securities to be registered |
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to be registered |
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price per note |
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offering price |
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registration fee(1) |
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8
3/8% Senior Notes due 2013 Guarantees(2) |
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$550,000,000 |
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100% |
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$550,000,000 |
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$16,885 |
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(1) |
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Determined in accordance with Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
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(2) |
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No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees, and no separate fee is payable
pursuant to Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. |
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* |
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Includes certain subsidiaries of Regency Energy Partners LP identified on the following
pages. |
The registrants hereby amend this registration statement on such date or dates as may be
necessary to delay its effective date until the registrants shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in
accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until the registration statement
shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to
said Section 8(a), may determine.
Regency Gas Services LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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03-0516215
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency OLP GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-4188520
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Intrastate Gas, LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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32-0077616
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Midcon Gas LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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86-1061643
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Liquids Pipeline LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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32-0077619
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Gathering and Processing LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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32-0077618
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Waha GP, LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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38-3697585
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency NGL GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-0941731
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Marketing GP, LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-1005445
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Waha LP, LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-0749513
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency NGL Marketing LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-0941662
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Marketing LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-1005447
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Services Waha LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-0750124
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency TS GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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37-1540711
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency FS GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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74-3138090
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency GU GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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74-3138092
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Guarantor GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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34-2057138
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Operating GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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34-2057140
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency TS Acquisition GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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34-2057145
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency FN GP LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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74-3138095
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency TGG LLC
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Texas
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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20-0330629
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency TS Acquisition LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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34-2057145
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Eastex Protreat I LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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75-3216838
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Eastex Protreat II LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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75-3216839
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Field Services LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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35-2270502
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Frio Newline LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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26-0103023
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Utility LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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26-0103022
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Guarantor LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
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34-2057138 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Operating LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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34-2057141
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Eastex Newline LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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75-3216837
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency FS LP
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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75-3165677
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Gulf States Transmission Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Louisiana
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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72-1146059
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Gas Company Ltd.
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Texas
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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75-3016693
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Regency Pipeline Company Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Texas
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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74-3016692
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Palafox Joint Venture
(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
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Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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74-3017118
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Subject to Completion, dated April 2, 2007
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is not an
offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer
or sale is not permitted. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.
Prospectus
Regency Energy Partners LP
Regency Energy Finance Corp.
Offer to Exchange
up to
$550,000,000 of 8⅜% Senior Notes due 2013
that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
for
$550,000,000 of 8⅜% Senior Notes due 2013
that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
Please
read Risk Factors beginning on page 6 for a discussion of factors you should
consider before participating in the exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Each broker-dealer that receives the notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer
must acknowledge by way of the letter of transmittal that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of the notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of the notes received
in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed to make this
prospectus available for a period of one year from the expiration date of this exchange offer to
any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See Plan of Distribution.
The
date of this prospectus is , 2007
This prospectus is part of a
registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission.
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in the applicable letter of transmittal
accompanying this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other
information. If you receive any unauthorized information, you must not rely on it. We are not
making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should
not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by
reference into this prospectus are accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover
of this prospectus or the date of such incorporated documents, as the case may be.
This prospectus incorporates by reference business and financial information about us that is
not included in or delivered with this prospectus. This information is available without charge
upon written or oral request directed to: Investor Relations, Regency Energy Partners LP, 1700
Pacific, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201; telephone number:
(214) 750-1771. Please also see Where You Can Find More
Information in this prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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6 |
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19 |
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26 |
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71 |
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71 |
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72 |
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72 |
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73 |
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SUMMARY
This summary highlights information included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. It may not contain all of the information that is important to you. This prospectus
includes information about the exchange offer and includes or incorporates by reference
information about our business and our financial and operating data. Before deciding to
participate in the exchange offer, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, including
the financial data and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the Risk
Factors section beginning on page 6 of this prospectus.
Throughout this prospectus, when we use the terms we, us, our, or Regency, we are
referring either to Regency Energy Partners LP or to Regency Energy Partners LP and its
subsidiaries collectively, including the co-issuer of the notes, Regency Energy Finance Corp., as
the context requires.
Regency Energy Partners LP
We are a growth-oriented publicly-traded Delaware limited partnership engaged in the
gathering, processing, marketing and transportation of natural gas. We provide these services
through systems located in north Louisiana, Texas and the mid-continent region of the United
States, which includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and the Texas Panhandle. We were formed in
2005 by HM Capital Partners LLC to capitalize on opportunities in the midstream sector of the
natural gas industry.
We divide our operations into two business segments:
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Gathering and Processing: in which we provide wellhead-to-market services to
producers of natural gas, which include transporting raw natural gas from the wellhead
through gathering systems, processing raw natural gas to separate natural gas liquids,
or NGLs, from the raw natural gas and selling or delivering the pipeline-quality natural
gas and NGLs to various markets and pipeline systems; and |
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Transportation: in which we deliver natural gas from northwest Louisiana to more
favorable markets in northeast Louisiana through our 320-mile Regency Intrastate
Pipeline system, which has been significantly expanded and extended over the last 18
months. |
All of our assets are located in well-established areas of abundant natural gas production
that are characterized by long-lived, predictable reserves. These areas are generally
experiencing increased levels of natural gas exploration, development and production activities
as a result of strong demand for natural gas, attractive recent discoveries, infill drilling
opportunities and the implementation of new exploration and production techniques.
Our Offices
Our principal executive offices are located at 1700 Pacific, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas
75201, and our phone number is (214) 750-1771. Our website address is www.regencyenergy.com.
Information on our website is not incorporated in this prospectus.
1
Exchange Offer
On December 12, 2006, we completed a private offering of the outstanding notes. As part of this
private offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of
our outstanding notes in which we agreed, among other things, to deliver this prospectus to you and
to use our reasonable best efforts to complete the exchange offer within 30 business days after
the date of this prospectus. The following is a summary of the exchange offer.
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Outstanding Notes
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On December 12, 2006, we issued
$550 million aggregate principal
amount of 8 3/8% Senior Notes due
2013. |
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Exchange Notes
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8
3/8% Senior Notes due 2013. The
terms of the exchange notes are
identical to those terms of the
outstanding notes, except that
the transfer restrictions,
registration rights and
provisions for additional
interest relating to the
outstanding notes do not apply
to the exchange notes. |
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Exchange Offers
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We are offering to exchange up
to $550 million principal amount
of our 8 3/8% Senior Notes due
2013 that have been registered
under the Securities Act of
1933, or the Securities Act, for
an equal amount of our
outstanding 8 3/8% Senior Notes
due 2013 that have not been so
registered. We are making this
offer to satisfy our obligations
under the registration rights
agreement that we entered into
when we issued the outstanding
notes in a transaction exempt
from registration under the
Securities Act. |
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Expiration Date
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The exchange offer will expire
at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on , 2007, unless we
decide to extend it. |
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Conditions to the Exchange Offer
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The registration rights
agreement does not require us to
accept outstanding notes for
exchange if the exchange offer
or the making of any exchange by
a holder of the outstanding
notes would violate any
applicable law or interpretation
of the staff of the Commission
or if any legal action has been
instituted or threatened that
would impair our ability to
proceed with the exchange offer.
A minimum aggregate principal
amount of outstanding notes
being tendered is not a
condition to the exchange offer.
Please read Exchange Offer
Conditions to the Exchange
Offer for more information
about the conditions to the
exchange offer. |
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Procedures for Tendering Outstanding
Notes
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All of the outstanding notes are
held in book-entry form through
the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company, or DTC. To
participate in the exchange
offer, you must follow the
automatic tender offer program,
or ATOP, procedures established
by DTC for tendering notes held
in book-entry form. The ATOP
procedures require that the
exchange agent receive, prior to
the expiration date of the
exchange offer, a
computer-generated message known
as an agents message that is
transmitted through ATOP and
that DTC confirm that: |
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DTC has received instructions to
exchange your notes; and you
agree to be bound by the terms
of the letter of transmittal in
Annex A hereto. |
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For more details, please read
Exchange Offer Terms of the
Exchange Offer and Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering. |
2
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Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
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None. |
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Withdrawal of Tenders
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You may withdraw your tender of
outstanding notes at any time
prior to the expiration date. To
withdraw, you must submit a
notice of withdrawal to the
exchange agent using ATOP
procedures before 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the
expiration date of the exchange
offer. Please read Exchange
Offer Withdrawal of Tenders. |
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Acceptance of Outstanding
Notes and Delivery of Exchange Notes
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If you fulfill all conditions
required for proper acceptance
of outstanding notes, we will
accept any and all outstanding
notes that you properly tender
in the exchange offer before
5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the expiration date. We will
return any outstanding note that
we do not accept for exchange to
you without expense promptly
after the expiration date. We
will deliver the exchange notes
promptly after the expiration
date and acceptance of the
outstanding notes for exchange.
Please read Exchange Offer
Terms of the Exchange Offer. |
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Fees and Expenses
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We will bear all expenses
related to the exchange offer.
Please read Exchange Offer
Fees and Expenses. |
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Use of Proceeds
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The issuance of the exchange
notes will not provide us with
any new proceeds. We are making
the exchange offer solely to
satisfy our obligations under
our registration rights
agreement. |
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Consequences of Failure to Exchange
Outstanding Notes
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If you do not exchange your
outstanding notes in the
exchange offer, you will no
longer be able to require us to
register the outstanding notes
under the Securities Act, except
in the limited circumstances
provided under our registration
rights agreement. In addition,
you will not be able to resell,
offer to resell or otherwise
transfer the outstanding notes
unless we have registered the
outstanding notes under the
Securities Act, or unless you
resell, offer to resell or
otherwise transfer them in
compliance with an exemption
from the registration
requirements of, or in a
transaction not subject to, the
Securities Act. |
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U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
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The exchange of exchange notes
for outstanding notes in the
exchange offer will not be a
taxable event for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Please read
Material Federal Income Tax
Consequences. |
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Exchange Agent
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We have appointed Wells Fargo
Bank, National Association as
the exchange agent for the
exchange offer. You should
direct questions and requests
for assistance and requests for
additional copies of this
prospectus (including the letter
of transmittal) to the exchange
agent addressed as follows: |
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WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Corporate Trust Operations
MAC N9203-121
Sixth & Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55479 |
Terms of the Exchange Notes
The exchange notes will be identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes
are registered under the Securities Act and will not have restrictions on transfer, registration
rights or provisions for additional interest. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the
outstanding notes, and the same indenture will govern the exchange notes and the outstanding notes.
Where appropriate sometimes refer to both the exchange notes and the outstanding notes as the
notes.
3
The following summary contains basic information about the exchange notes and is not intended
to be complete. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. For a more
complete understanding of the exchange notes, please read Description of Exchange Notes.
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Issuers
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Regency Energy Partners LP and Regency Energy Finance Corp. |
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Securities Offered
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$550,000,000 principal amount of 8
3/8% Senior Notes due
2013. |
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Interest Rate
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8.375% per annum. |
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Interest Payment Dates
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Interest on the exchange notes will accrue from December
7, 2006 and will be paid semi-annually on June 15 and
December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2007, to
holders of record as of the preceding June 1 and December
1, respectively. |
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Maturity Date
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December 15, 2013. |
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Subsidiary Guarantees
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Each of our current wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries,
other than Regency Energy Finance Corp., will guarantee
the exchange notes initially. Not all of our future
subsidiaries will have to become guarantors. If we cannot
make payments on the exchange notes when they are due, the
guarantor subsidiaries, if any, must make them instead.
Please read Description of Exchange NotesSubsidiary
Guarantees. |
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Optional Redemption
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We may redeem some or all of the exchange notes at any
time on or after December 15, 2010. We may also redeem
some or all of the exchange notes at a make-whole
redemption price at any time prior to December 15, 2010.
In addition, prior to December 15, 2009, we may redeem up
to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the exchange
notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a
specified redemption price. The redemption prices are
discussed under the caption Description of Exchange
NotesOptional Redemption. |
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Change of Control
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When a change of control event occurs, each holder of
exchange notes may require us to repurchase all or a
portion of its exchange notes at a price equal to 101% of
the principal amount of the exchange notes, plus any
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. |
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Ranking
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The notes and the guarantees will be unsecured and will
rank equally with all existing and future unsubordinated
obligations of us and our guarantors. The notes and the
guarantees will be senior in right of payment to any
future obligations of us and our guarantors that are, by
their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to
the notes and the guarantees. The notes and the guarantees
will be effectively subordinated to the secured
obligations of us and our guarantors, including our credit
facility, to the extent of the value of the assets
securing such obligations. As of March 22, 2007, we and
the guarantors had outstanding approximately $698.1 million of total debt, consisting of $50 million in
term loans and $98.1 million in revolving credit borrowings
under our credit facility, all of which was secured, and
had availability for an additional $151.9 million
of revolving credit borrowing under our credit facility.
This offering will have no effect on the available
capacity under our credit facility. |
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Certain Covenants
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The indenture will contain covenants that, among other
things, will limit our ability and the ability of certain
of our subsidiaries to: |
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incur additional indebtedness, |
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pay distributions on, or repurchase or redeem
equity interests, |
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make certain investments, |
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incur liens, |
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enter into certain types of transactions with our
affiliates; and |
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sell assets or consolidate or merge with or into
other companies. |
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These and other covenants are subject to important
exceptions and qualifications that are described under the
heading Description of Exchange Notes in this
prospectus. |
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If, prior to their maturity, the exchange notes achieve an
investment grade rating from each of Moodys Investors
Services, Inc. and Standard & Poors Ratings Services and
no event of default has occurred and is continuing under
the indenture, then many of these covenants will
terminate. |
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Transfer Restrictions; Absence
of a Public Market for the
Notes
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The exchange notes generally will be freely transferable,
but will also be new securities for which there will not
initially be a market. We do not intend to arrange for a
trading market in the exchange notes after the exchange
offer, and it is therefore unlikely that such a market
will exist for the exchange notes. |
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Form of Exchange Notes
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The exchange notes will be represented by one or more
global notes. Each global exchange note will be deposited
with the trustee, as custodian for DTC. |
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Same-Day Settlement
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The global exchange notes will be shown on, and transfers
of the global exchange notes will be effected only
through, records maintained in book-entry form by DTC and
its direct and indirect participants.
The exchange notes are expected to trade in DTCs Same Day
Funds Settlement System until maturity or redemption.
Therefore, secondary market trading activity in the
exchange notes will be settled in immediately available
funds. |
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Trustee, Registrar and Exchange
Agent
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Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. |
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Governing Law
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The exchange notes and the indenture relating to the
exchange notes will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. |
5
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, you should consider carefully the risks described below before deciding whether to
participate in the exchange offer.
Risks Related to the Exchange Offer
If you fail to exchange outstanding notes, existing transfer restrictions will remain in effect and
the market value of outstanding notes may be adversely affected because they may be more difficult
to sell.
If you fail to exchange outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer, then
you will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions on the outstanding notes. In
general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except in connection
with this exchange offer or as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to
register resales of the outstanding notes.
The tender of outstanding notes under the exchange offer will reduce the principal amount of
the currently outstanding notes. Due to the corresponding reduction in liquidity, this may have an
adverse effect upon, and increase the volatility of, the market price of any currently outstanding
notes that you continue to hold following completion of the exchange offer.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may be unable to integrate successfully the operations of TexStar or future acquisitions with
our operations and we may not realize all the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of TexStar or
any future acquisition.
Integration
of TexStar with our business and operations has been a complex, time consuming and
costly process. We cannot assure you that we will achieve the desired profitability from TexStar or
any other acquisitions we may complete in the future. In addition, failure to successfully
assimilate future acquisitions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of
operations.
Our acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:
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operating a significantly larger combined organization and adding operations; |
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difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired
businesses, especially if the assets acquired are in a new business segment or
geographic area; |
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the risk that natural gas reserves expected to support the acquired assets may not be
of the anticipated magnitude or may not be developed as anticipated; |
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the loss of significant producers or markets or key employees from the acquired businesses; |
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the diversion of managements attention from other business concerns; |
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the failure to realize expected profitability or growth; |
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the failure to realize expected synergies and cost savings; |
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coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities; and |
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coordinating or consolidating corporate and administrative functions. |
Further, unexpected costs and challenges may arise whenever businesses with different
operations or management are combined, and we may experience unanticipated delays in realizing the
benefits of an acquisition. If we consummate any future acquisition, our capitalization and
results of operation may change significantly, and
6
you may not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial and other relevant
information that we will consider in evaluating future acquisitions.
While substantial amounts of the transportation capacity of the Regency Intrastate Pipeline System
have been contracted, if we are unable to utilize the remaining transportation capacity, our
business and our operating results could be adversely affected.
As of March 1, 2007, we had definitive agreements for 562,900 MMBtu/d of firm transportation
on the Regency Intrastate Pipeline System, of which 500,679 MMBtu/d was utilized in February 2007.
During the month of February 2007, we also provided 195,395 MMBtu/d of interruptible
transportation. If we are unable to commit the
remaining uncommitted capacity on the system to firm gas transportation contracts and the parties
to existing interruptible transportation contracts fail to utilize the capacity, our business and
operating results could be adversely affected.
Because of the natural decline in production from existing wells, our success depends on our
ability to obtain new supplies of natural gas, which involves factors beyond our control. Any
decrease in supplies of natural gas in our areas of operation could adversely affect our business
and operating results.
Our gathering and transportation pipeline systems are connected to or dependent on the level
of production from natural gas wells that supply our systems and from which production will
naturally decline over time. As a result, our cash flows associated with these wells will also
decline over time. In order to maintain or increase throughput levels on our gathering and
transportation pipeline systems and the asset utilization rates at our natural gas processing
plants, we must continually obtain new supplies. The primary factors affecting our ability to
obtain new supplies of natural gas and attract new customers to our assets are: the level of
successful drilling activity near these systems and our ability to compete with other gathering and
processing companies for volumes from successful new wells.
The level of natural gas drilling activity is dependent on economic and business factors
beyond our control. The primary factor that impacts drilling decisions is natural gas prices.
Natural gas prices reached historic highs in 2005 and early 2006 but have declined substantially in
the second half of 2006. The averages of the NYMEX daily settlement prices per MMBtu of natural
gas for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2006 were $9.02 per MMBtu and $6.98 per MMBtu,
respectively. A sustained decline in natural gas prices could result in a decrease in exploration
and development activities in the fields served by our gathering and processing facilities and
pipeline transportation systems, which would lead to reduced utilization of these assets. Other
factors that impact production decisions include producers capital budget limitations, the ability
of producers to obtain necessary drilling and other governmental permits and regulatory changes.
Because of these factors, even if additional natural gas reserves were discovered in areas served
by our assets, producers may choose not to develop those reserves. If we were not able to obtain
new supplies of natural gas to replace the natural decline in volumes from existing wells due to
reductions in drilling activity or competition, throughput on our pipelines and the utilization
rates of our processing facilities would decline, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend on certain key producers and other customers for a significant portion of our supply of
natural gas. The loss of, or reduction in volumes from, any of these key producers or customers
could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We rely on a limited number of producers and other customers for a significant portion of our
natural gas supplies. Three customers represented 44 percent of our natural gas supply in our transportation segment for the year ended December 31,
2006. These contracts have terms that are either month-to-month or year-to-year. As these
contracts expire, we will have to negotiate extensions or renewals or replace the contracts with
those of other suppliers. For example, a significant contract with ExxonMobil expired in August
2006 and was not renewed. We may be unable to obtain new or renewed contracts on favorable terms,
if at all. The loss of all or even a portion of the volumes of natural gas supplied by these
producers and other customers, as a result of competition or otherwise, could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
7
In accordance with industry practice, we do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas
reserves dedicated to our gathering systems. Accordingly, volumes of natural gas gathered on our
gathering systems in the future could be less than we anticipate, which could adversely affect our
business and operating results.
In accordance with industry practice, we do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas
reserves connected to our gathering systems due to the unwillingness of producers to provide
reserve information as well as the cost of such evaluations. Accordingly, we do not have estimates
of total reserves dedicated to our systems or the anticipated lives of such reserves. If the total
reserves or estimated lives of the reserves connected to our gathering systems is less than we
anticipate and we are unable to secure additional sources of natural gas, then the volumes of
natural gas gathered on our gathering systems in the future could be less than we anticipate. A
decline in the volumes of natural gas gathered on our gathering systems could have an adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Natural gas, NGLs and other commodity prices are volatile, and a reduction in these prices could
adversely affect our cash flow and operating results.
We are subject to risks due to frequent and often substantial fluctuations in commodity
prices. NGL prices generally fluctuate on a basis that correlates to fluctuations in crude oil
prices. In the past, the prices of natural gas and crude oil have been extremely volatile, and we
expect this volatility to continue. For example, natural gas prices reached historic highs in 2005
and early 2006, but have declined substantially in the second half of 2006. The NYMEX daily
settlement price for natural gas for the prompt month contract in 2005 ranged from a high of $15.38
per MMBtu to a low of $5.79 per MMBtu and for the year ended December 31, 2006 ranged from a high
of $10.63 per MMBtu to a low of $4.20 per MMBtu. The NYMEX daily settlement price for crude oil
for the prompt month contract in 2005 ranged from a high of $69.81 per barrel to a low of $42.12
per barrel and for the year ended December 31, 2006 ranged from a high of $77.03 per barrel to a
low of $55.81 per barrel. The markets and prices for natural gas and NGLs depend upon factors
beyond our control. These factors include demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs, which fluctuate
with changes in market and economic conditions and other factors, including:
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the impact of weather on the demand for oil and natural gas; |
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the level of domestic oil and natural gas production; |
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the availability of imported oil and natural gas; |
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actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations; |
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the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
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the availability and marketing of competitive fuels; |
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the impact of energy conservation efforts; and |
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the extent of governmental regulation and taxation. |
Our natural gas gathering and processing businesses operate under two types of contractual
arrangements that expose our cash flows to increases and decreases in the price of natural gas and
NGLs: percentage-of-proceeds and keep-whole arrangements. Under percentage-of-proceeds
arrangements, we generally purchase natural gas from producers and retain an agreed percentage of
the proceeds (in cash or in-kind) from the sale at market prices of pipeline-quality gas and NGLs
or NGL products resulting from our processing activities. Under keep-whole arrangements, we
receive the NGLs removed from the natural gas during our processing operations as the fee for
providing our services in exchange for replacing the thermal content removed as NGLs with a like
thermal content in pipeline-quality gas or its cash equivalent. Under these types of arrangements
our revenues and our cash flows increase or decrease as the prices of natural gas and NGLs
fluctuate. The relationship between natural gas prices and NGL prices may also affect our
profitability. When natural gas prices are low relative to NGL prices, it is more profitable for
us to process natural gas under keep-whole arrangements. When natural gas prices are high relative
to NGL prices, it is less profitable for us and our customers to process natural gas both because
of the higher value of natural gas and of the increased cost (principally that of natural gas as a
feedstock and a fuel) of separating the
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mixed NGLs from the natural gas. As a result, we may experience periods in which higher
natural gas prices relative to NGL prices reduce our processing margins or reduce the volume of
natural gas processed at some of our plants.
In our gathering and processing operations, we purchase raw natural gas containing significant
quantities of NGLs, process the raw natural gas and sell the processed gas and NGLs. If we are
unsuccessful in balancing the purchase of raw natural gas with its component NGLs and our sales of
pipeline quality gas and NGLs, our exposure to commodity price risks will increase.
We purchase from producers and other customers a substantial amount of the natural gas that
flows through our natural gas gathering and processing systems and our transportation pipeline for
resale to third parties, including natural gas marketers and utilities. We may not be successful
in balancing our purchases and sales. In addition, a producer could fail to deliver promised
volumes or could deliver volumes in excess of contracted volumes, a purchaser could purchase less
than contracted volumes, or the natural gas price differential between the regions in which we
operate could vary unexpectedly. Any of these actions could cause our purchases and sales not to be
balanced. If our purchases and sales are not balanced, we will face increased exposure to
commodity price risks and could have increased volatility in our operating results.
Our results of operations and cash flow may be adversely affected by risks associated with our
hedging activities.
In performing our functions in the Gathering and Processing segment, we are a seller of NGLs
and are exposed to commodity price risk associated with downward movements in NGL prices. As a
result of the volatility of NGLs, we have executed swap contracts settled
against ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline market prices, supplemented with crude oil put
options. (Historically, changes in the prices of heavy NGLs, such as natural gasoline, have
generally correlated with changes in the price of crude oil.) As of
March 29, 2007, we have hedged approximately 71 percent of our
expected exposure to NGL prices in 2007 and 2008 and approximately 28 percent in 2009. We have hedged
approximately 66 percent of our expected exposure to condensate
prices in 2007 and approximately 64 percent in 2008 and 2009. We
have hedged approximately 60 percent of our expected exposure to
natural gas prices in 2007. We continually monitor our hedging and contract portfolio and expect to continue to adjust our
hedge position as conditions warrant. Also, we may seek to limit our exposure to changes in
interest rates by using financial derivative instruments and other hedging mechanisms from time to
time.
Even though our management monitors our hedging activities, these activities can result in
substantial losses. Such losses could occur under various circumstances, including any
circumstance in which a counterparty does not perform its obligations under the applicable hedging
arrangement, the hedging arrangement is imperfect, or our hedging policies and procedures are not
followed or do not work as planned.
To the extent that we intend to grow internally through construction of new, or modification of
existing, facilities, we may not be able to manage that growth effectively and that could decrease
our cash flow and adversely affect our results of operation.
A principal focus of our strategy is to continue to grow by expanding our business both
internally and through acquisitions. Our ability to grow internally will depend on a number of
factors, some of which will be beyond our control. In general, the construction of additions or
modifications to our existing systems, and the construction of new midstream assets involve
numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties beyond our control. Any
project that we undertake may not be completed on schedule at budgeted cost or at all.
Construction may occur over an extended period, and we are not likely to receive a material
increase in revenues related to such project until it is completed. Moreover, our revenues may not
increase immediately upon its completion because the anticipated growth in gas production that the
project was intended to capture does not materialize, our estimates of the growth in production
prove inaccurate or for other reasons. For any of these reasons, newly constructed or modified
midstream facilities may not generate our expected investment return and that, in turn, could
adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
In addition, our ability to undertake to grow in this fashion will depend on our ability to
finance the construction or modification project and on our ability to hire, train and retain
qualified personnel to manage and operate these facilities when completed.
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Because we distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders, our future growth may be
limited.
Since we will distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders, subject to the
limitations on restricted payments contained in the indenture governing the senior notes and our
credit facility, we will depend on financing provided by commercial banks and other lenders and the
issuance of debt and equity securities to finance any significant internal organic growth or
acquisitions. For a definition of available cash, please see our partnership agreement. If we are
unable to obtain adequate financing from these sources, our ability to grow will be limited.
Our industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could adversely affect our
business and operating results.
We compete with similar enterprises in each of our areas of operations. Some of our
competitors are large oil, natural gas and petrochemical companies that have greater financial
resources and access to supplies of natural gas than we do. In addition, our customers who are
significant producers or consumers of NGLs may develop their own processing facilities in lieu of
using ours. Similarly, competitors may establish new connections with pipeline systems that would
create additional competition for services we provide to our customers. Our ability to renew or
replace existing contracts with our customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenues and
cash flows could be adversely affected by the activities of our competitors. All of these
competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
If third-party pipelines interconnected to our processing plants become unavailable to transport
NGLs, our cash flow and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We depend upon third party pipelines that provide delivery options to and from our processing
plants for the benefit of our customers. If any of these pipelines become unavailable to transport the NGLs produced at our related
processing plants, we would be required to find alternative means to transport the NGLs out of our
processing plants, which could increase our costs, reduce the revenues we might obtain from the
sale of NGLs or reduce our ability to process natural gas at these plants.
We are exposed to the credit risks of our key customers, and any material nonpayment or
nonperformance by our key customers could adversely affect our cash flow and results of operations.
We are subject to risks of loss resulting from nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers.
Any material nonpayment or nonperformance by our key customers could reduce our
ability to make distributions to our unitholders. Furthermore, some of our customers may be highly
leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks, which increases the risk that
they may default on their obligations to us.
Our business involves many hazards and operational risks, some of which may not be fully covered by
insurance. If a significant accident or event occurs that is not fully insured, our operations and
financial results could be adversely affected.
Our operations are subject to the many hazards inherent in the gathering, processing and
transportation of natural gas and NGLs, including:
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damage to our gathering and processing facilities, pipelines, related equipment and
surrounding properties caused by tornadoes, floods, fires and other natural disasters
and acts of terrorism; |
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inadvertent damage from construction and farm equipment; |
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leaks of natural gas, NGLs and other hydrocarbons or losses of natural gas or NGLs as
a result of the malfunction of pipelines, measurement equipment or facilities at receipt
or delivery points; |
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fires and explosions; |
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weather related hazards, such as hurricanes; and |
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other hazards, including those associated with high-sulfur content, or sour gas, such
as an accidental discharge of hydrogen sulfide gas, that could also result in personal
injury and loss of life, pollution and suspension of operations. |
These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury or loss of life, severe
damage to and destruction of property and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage and
may result in curtailment or suspension of our related operations. A natural disaster or other
hazard affecting the areas in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our
operations. We are not insured against all environmental events that might occur. If a
significant accident or event occurs that is not insured or fully insured, it could adversely
affect our operations and financial condition.
Due to our lack of asset diversification, adverse developments in our midstream operations would
adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
We rely exclusively on the revenues generated from our midstream energy business, and as a
result, our financial condition depends upon prices of, and continued demand for, natural gas and
NGLs. Due to our lack of diversification in asset type, an adverse development in this business
would have a significantly greater impact on our financial condition and results of operations than
if we maintained more diverse assets.
Failure of the gas that we ship on our pipelines to meet the specifications of interconnecting
interstate pipelines could result in curtailments by the interstate pipelines.
The markets to which the shippers on our pipelines ship natural gas include interstate
pipelines. These interstate pipelines establish specifications for the natural gas that they are
willing to accept, which include requirements such as hydrocarbon dewpoint, temperature, and
foreign content including water, sulfur, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. These specifications
vary by interstate pipeline. If the total mix of natural gas shipped by the shippers on our
pipeline fails to meet the specifications of a particular interstate pipeline, it may refuse to
accept all or a part of the natural gas scheduled for delivery to it. In those circumstances, we
may be required to find alternative markets for that gas or to shut-in the producers of the
non-conforming gas, potentially reducing our throughput volumes or revenues.
Terrorist attacks, the threat of terrorist attacks, continued hostilities in the Middle East or
other sustained military campaigns may adversely impact our results of operations.
The long-term impact of terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11,
2001, and the magnitude of the threat of future terrorist attacks on the energy transportation
industry in general and on us in particular are not known at this time. Uncertainty surrounding
continued hostilities in the Middle East or other sustained military campaigns may affect our
operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of natural gas supplies and markets for
natural gas and NGLs and the possibility that infrastructure facilities could be direct targets of,
or indirect casualties of, an act of terror.
Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks may make certain types of
insurance more difficult for us to obtain. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may
be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage. Instability in the financial
markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital.
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We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities have been constructed, and we
are therefore subject to the possibility of increased costs or the inability to retain necessary
land use.
We obtain the rights to construct and operate our pipelines on land owned by third parties and
governmental agencies for specified periods of time. Many of these rights-of-way are perpetual in
duration; others have terms ranging from five to ten years. Many are subject to rights of
reversion in the case of non-utilization for periods ranging from one to three years. In addition,
some of our processing facilities are located on leased premises. Our loss of these rights,
through our inability to renew right-of-way contracts or leases or otherwise, could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, the construction of additions to our existing gathering assets may require us to
obtain new rights-of-way prior to constructing new pipelines. We may be unable to obtain such
rights-of-way to connect new natural gas supplies to our existing gathering lines or to capitalize
on other attractive expansion opportunities. If the cost of obtaining new rights-of-way increases,
then our cash flows and growth opportunities could be adversely affected.
A successful challenge to the rates we charge on our Regency Intrastate Pipeline may reduce the
amount of cash we generate.
To the extent our Regency Intrastate Pipeline transports natural gas in interstate commerce,
the rates, terms and conditions of that transportation service are subject to regulation by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, pursuant to Section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy
Act of 1978, or NGPA, which regulates, among other things, the provision of transportation services
by an intrastate natural gas pipeline on behalf of an interstate natural gas pipeline. Under
Section 311, rates charged for transportation must be fair and equitable, and the FERC is required
to approve the terms and conditions of the service. Rates established pursuant to Section 311 are
generally analogous to the cost based rates FERC deems just and reasonable for interstate
pipelines under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, or NGA. FERC may therefore apply its NGA policies to
determine costs that can be included in cost of service used to establish Section 311 rates. These
rate policies include the recent FERC policy on income tax allowance that permits interstate
pipelines to include, as part of the cost of service, a full income tax allowance for all entities
owning the utility asset provided such entities or individuals are subject to an actual or
potential tax liability. If the Section 311 rates presently approved for Regency through May 2008
are successfully challenged in a complaint or after such date the FERC disallows the inclusion of
costs in the cost of service, changes its regulations or policies, or establishes more onerous
terms and conditions applicable to Section 311 service, this may adversely affect our business.
Any reduction in our rates could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and
financial condition.
A change in the characterization of some of our assets by federal, state or local regulatory
agencies or a change in policy by those agencies may result in increased regulation of our assets,
which may cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase.
Our natural gas gathering and intrastate transportation operations are generally exempt from
FERC regulation under the NGA but FERC regulation still affects these businesses and the markets
for products derived from these businesses. FERCs policies and practices, including, for example,
its policies on open access transportation, ratemaking, capacity release, and market center
promotion, indirectly affect intrastate markets. In recent years, FERC has pursued pro-competitive
regulatory policies. We cannot assure you, however, that FERC will continue this approach as it
considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to
natural gas transportation capacity. In addition, the distinction between FERC-regulated
transmission service and federally unregulated gathering services is the subject of regular
litigation at FERC and the courts and of policy discussions at FERC, so, in such circumstances, the
classification and regulation of some of our gathering facilities or our intrastate transportation
pipeline may be subject to change based on future determinations by FERC, and the courts or
Congress. Such a change could result in increased regulation by FERC.
Other state and local regulations also affect our business. Our gathering lines are subject
to ratable take and common purchaser statutes in states in which we operate. Ratable take statutes
generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil or natural gas production
that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally
require gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer.
These statutes restrict our right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with
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whom we contract to purchase or transport natural gas. Federal law leaves any economic
regulation of natural gas gathering to the states. States in which we operate have adopted
complaint-based regulation of oil and natural gas gathering activities, which allows oil and
natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve
grievances relating to oil and natural gas gathering access and rate discrimination.
We may incur significant costs and liabilities in the future resulting from a failure to comply
with new or existing environmental regulations or an accidental release of hazardous substances
into the environment.
Our operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental
laws and regulations governing, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, the use,
management and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous materials and wastes, and the cleanup of
contamination. Noncompliance with such laws and regulations, or incidents resulting in
environmental releases, could cause us to incur substantial costs, penalties, fines and other
criminal sanctions, third party claims for personal injury or property damage, investments to
retrofit or upgrade our facilities and programs, or curtailment of operations. Certain
environmental statutes, including CERCLA and comparable state laws, impose strict, joint and
several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hazardous substances have
been disposed or otherwise released.
There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in our
business due to the necessity of handling natural gas and petroleum products, air emissions related
to our operations, and historical industry operations and waste disposal practices. For example,
an accidental release from one of our pipelines or processing facilities could subject us to
substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by
neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines
or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Moreover, the
possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly
increase our compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. We may
not be able to recover these costs from insurance. We believe, based on current information, that
any costs we may incur relating to environmental matters will not adversely affect us. We cannot
be certain, however, that identification of presently unidentified conditions, more vigorous
enforcement by regulatory agencies, enactment of more stringent laws and regulations, or other
unanticipated events will not arise in the future and give rise to material environmental
liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or
results of operations.
If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to
report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud.
We became subject to the public reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
on February 3, 2006. We produce our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the
requirements of GAAP, but we do not become subject to certain of the internal controls standards
applicable to most companies with publicly traded securities until 2007. We may not currently meet
all those standards. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable
financial reports to prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a publicly traded partnership.
Our efforts to develop and maintain our internal controls compliance program may not be successful,
and we may be unable to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in
the future, including compliance with the obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, which we refer to as Section 404. For example, Section 404 will require us, among other
things, annually to review and report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to
attest to, our internal control over financial reporting. We must comply with Section 404 for our
fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. Any failure to develop or maintain an effective internal
controls compliance program or difficulties encountered in its implementation or other effective
improvement of our internal controls could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet
our reporting obligations. Given the difficulties inherent in the design and operation of internal
controls over financial reporting, we can provide no assurance as to our conclusions under Section
404, or those of our independent registered public accounting firm, regarding the effectiveness of
our internal controls. Ineffective internal controls could subject us to regulatory scrutiny and a loss
of confidence in our reported financial information, which could have an adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
13
Our leverage may limit our ability to borrow additional funds, comply with the terms of our
indebtedness or capitalize on business opportunities.
Our
leverage is significant in relation to our partners capital.
Our debt to capital ratio (calculated as total debt divided by the
sum of total debt and partners capital) as of December 31,
2006 was 76 percent. As of March 22, 2007, our
total outstanding long-term debt was approximately
$698.1 million. We will be prohibited from making
cash distributions during an event of default under any of our indebtedness. Various limitations in
our credit facility and the indenture for the notes may reduce our ability to incur additional
debt, to engage in some transactions and to capitalize on business opportunities. Any subsequent
refinancing of our current indebtedness or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater
restrictions.
Our leverage could have important consequences to investors in the notes. We will require
substantial cash flow to meet our principal and interest obligations with respect to the notes and
our other indebtedness. Our ability to make scheduled payments, to refinance our obligations with
respect to our indebtedness or our ability to obtain additional financing in the future will depend
on our financial and operating performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic
conditions and to financial, business and other factors. We believe that we will have sufficient
cash flow from operations and available borrowings under our credit facility to service our
indebtedness, although the principal amount of the exchange notes will likely need to be refinanced
at maturity in whole or in part. A significant downturn in the hydrocarbon industry or other
development adversely affecting our cash flow could, however, materially impair our ability to
service our indebtedness. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt
service obligations, we may be forced to refinance all or a portion of our debt or to sell assets.
We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance our existing indebtedness or to sell assets
on terms that are commercially reasonable.
Our leverage may adversely affect our ability to fund future working capital, capital
expenditures and other general partnership requirements, future acquisition, construction or
development activities, or otherwise to realize fully the value of our assets and opportunities
because of the need to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments
on our indebtedness or to comply with any restrictive terms of our indebtedness. Our leverage may
also make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic and industry conditions by
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry
in which we operate and may place us at a competitive disadvantage as compared to our competitors
that have less debt.
Increases in interest rates, which have recently experienced record lows, could adversely impact
our unit price and our ability to issue additional equity, in order to make acquisitions, to reduce
debt or for other purposes.
During 2004 and 2005, the credit markets experienced 50-year record lows in interest rates.
During the latter half of 2005 and in 2006, interest rates increased. If the overall economy
continues to strengthen, monetary policy may tighten further, resulting in higher interest rates to
counter possible inflation. The interest rate on all the outstanding notes is, and the interest
rate on all the exchange notes will be fixed. The rate on loans outstanding under our credit
facility bears interest at a floating rate. Assuming $250 million in outstanding revolving credit
loans, an increase of 100 basis points in the LIBOR rate would increase our quarterly interest
payment for obligations outstanding under our credit facility by approximately $625,000.
Additionally, interest rates on future credit facilities and debt offerings could be higher than
current levels, causing our financing costs to increase accordingly. As with other yield-oriented
securities, the market price for our units will be affected by the level of our cash distributions
and implied distribution yield. The distribution yield is often used by investors to compare and
rank yield-oriented securities for investment decision-making purposes. Therefore, changes in
interest rates, either positive or negative, may affect the yield requirements of investors who
invest in our units, and a rising interest rate environment could have an adverse effect on our
unit price and our ability to issue additional equity, in order to make acquisitions, to reduce
debt or for other purposes.
Risks Related To Our Ownership Structure
HM
Capital Investors own 60.2 percent of our outstanding limited
partner units and control 100 percent of our general partner, which has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our
operations.
HM
Capital Investors own 60.2 percent of our outstanding limited
partner units and control 100 percent of our general partner. Although our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner
beneficial to us and our unitholders, the directors and officers of our general partner have a
fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a
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manner beneficial to its owners, the HM Capital Investors. Conflicts of interest may arise
between the HM Capital Investors and their affiliates, including our general partner, on the one
hand, and us, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, our general partner may
favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates over our interests. These conflicts
include, among others, the following situations:
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neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires the HM Capital
Investors or their affiliates to pursue a business strategy that favors us; |
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our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other
than us, such as the HM Capital Investors, in resolving conflicts of interest; |
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HM Capital Investors and their affiliates may engage in competition with us; |
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our general partner has limited its liability and reduced its fiduciary duties, and
has also restricted the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without
the limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty; |
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our general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales,
capital expenditures, borrowings, issuance of additional partnership securities, and
reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash available to pay interest on, and
principal of, the exchange notes; |
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our general partner determines which costs incurred by it and its affiliates are
reimbursable by us; |
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our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to
pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to us or entering into additional
contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf; |
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our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our contractual and
other obligations; and |
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our general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by our general
partner and its affiliates. |
HM Capital Investors and their affiliates may compete directly with us.
HM Capital Investors and their affiliates are not prohibited from owning assets or engaging in
businesses that compete directly or independently with us. In addition, HM Capital Investors or
their affiliates may acquire, construct or dispose of any additional midstream or other assets in
the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct or dispose
of those assets.
Risks Related to the Exchange Notes
We have a holding company structure in which our subsidiaries conduct our operations and own our
operating assets.
We are a holding company, and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of
our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the partnership interests and the
equity in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make required payments on the exchange
notes depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us.
The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other
things, credit facility and applicable state partnership laws and other laws and regulations.
Pursuant to our credit facility, we may be required to establish cash reserves for the future
payment of principal and interest on the amounts outstanding under our credit facility. If we are
unable to obtain the funds necessary to pay the principal amount of the exchange notes at maturity,
we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as a refinancing of the exchange notes.
We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance the exchange notes.
15
Your right to receive payments on the notes and the guarantees is unsecured and will be effectively
subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness.
The notes are effectively subordinated to claims of our secured creditors and the guarantees
are effectively subordinated to the claims of our secured creditors as well as the secured
creditors of our subsidiary guarantors. As of March 22, 2007, Regency Energy Partners and its
Subsidiaries had outstanding $698.1 million of total debt consisting of $50 million of term loan
obligations and $98.1 million of revolving credit obligations under our credit facility, all of
which was secured, and $151.9 million of available capacity for additional secured revolving credit
borrowings under that credit facility.
In the future, not all of our subsidiaries may guarantee the exchange notes. Your right to receive
payments on the exchange notes could be adversely affected if any of our non-guarantor subsidiaries
declares bankruptcy, liquidates or reorganizes.
Although all of our subsidiaries (other than the co-issuer) have initially guaranteed the
notes, in the future, under certain circumstances, the guarantees are subject to release and we may
have subsidiaries that are not guarantors. In that case, the notes would be effectively
subordinated to the claims of all creditors, including unsecured indebtedness, trade creditors and
tort claimants, of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors. In the event of the insolvency,
bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding up of the business of a subsidiary
that is not a guarantor, creditors of that subsidiary would generally have the right to be paid in
full before any distribution is made to us or the holders of the notes.
We do not have the same flexibility as other types of organizations to accumulate cash, which may
limit cash available to service the exchange notes or to repay them at maturity.
Unlike a corporation, our partnership agreement requires us to distribute, on a quarterly
basis, all of our available cash to our unitholders of record and our general partner, subject to
the limitations on restricted payments in the indenture governing the notes and our credit facility
agreement. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts adjusted for cash distributions and
net changes to reserves. Our general partner will determine the amount and timing of such
distributions and has broad discretion to establish and make additions to our reserves or the
reserves of our operating partnership in amounts the general partner determines in its reasonable
discretion to be necessary or appropriate:
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to provide for the proper conduct of our business and the businesses of our operating
partnership (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for our anticipated
future credit needs), |
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to provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and the general partner for any
one or more of the next four calendar quarters, or |
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to comply with applicable law or any of our loan or other agreements. |
Although our payment obligations to our unitholders are subordinate to our payment obligations
to you, the value of our units will decrease in direct correlation with decreases in the amount we
distribute per unit. Accordingly, if we experience a liquidity problem in the future, we may not be
able to issue equity to recapitalize.
A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to avoid or subordinate the subsidiary
guarantees.
Various applicable fraudulent conveyance laws have been enacted for the protection of
creditors. A court may use fraudulent conveyance laws to subordinate or avoid the subsidiary
guarantees of the exchange notes issued by any of our subsidiary guarantors. It is also possible
that under certain circumstances a court could hold that the direct obligations of a subsidiary
guaranteeing the exchange notes could be superior to the obligations under that guarantee.
A court could avoid or subordinate the guarantee of the exchange notes by any of our
subsidiaries in favor of that subsidiarys other debts or liabilities to the extent that the court
determined either of the following were true at the time the subsidiary issued the guarantee:
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that subsidiary incurred the guarantee with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud
any of its present or future creditors or that subsidiary contemplated insolvency with a
design to favor one or more creditors to the total or partial exclusion of others; or |
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that subsidiary did not receive fair consideration or reasonable equivalent value for
issuing the guarantee and, at the time it issued the guarantee, that subsidiary: |
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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the guarantee; |
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was engaged or about to engage in a business or transaction for which the
remaining assets of that subsidiary constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
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intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to
pay such debts as they matured. |
The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending upon the law of
the relevant jurisdiction. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent for purposes
of the foregoing if the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, were greater than the
fair saleable value of all of its assets at a fair valuation, or if the present fair saleable value
of its assets were less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its
existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and matured.
Among other things, a legal challenge of a subsidiarys guarantee of the exchange notes on
fraudulent conveyance grounds may focus on the benefits, if any, realized by that subsidiary as a
result of our issuance of the exchange notes. To the extent a subsidiarys guarantee of the
exchange notes is avoided as a result of fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other
reason, the exchange note holders would cease to have any claim in respect of that guarantee and
the exchange notes would be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of that subsidiary.
Our reimbursement of our general partners expenses will reduce our cash available for debt
service.
We will reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for all expenses they incur on our
behalf. These expenses will include all costs incurred by our general partner and its affiliates in
managing and operating us, including costs for rendering corporate staff and support services to
us. The reimbursement of
expenses of our general partner and its affiliates will reduce our cash available for debt service.
Your ability to transfer the exchange notes may be limited by the absence of a trading market.
The exchange notes will be new securities for which currently there is no trading market. We
do not currently intend to apply for listing of the exchange notes on any securities exchange or
stock market. Although the initial purchasers have informed us that they currently intend to make a
market in the exchange notes, they are not obligated to do so. In addition, the initial purchasers
may discontinue any such market-making at any time without notice. The liquidity of any market for
the exchange notes will depend on the number of holders of those exchange notes, the interest of
securities dealers in making a market in those exchange notes and other factors. Accordingly, we
cannot assure you as to the development or liquidity of any market for the exchange notes.
We may not have the ability to raise funds necessary to finance any change of control offer
required under the indenture.
If a change of control (as defined in the indenture) occurs, we will be required to offer to
purchase your exchange notes at 101% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. If
a purchase offer obligation arises under the indenture governing the exchange notes, a change of
control could also have occurred under the senior secured credit facilities, which could result in
the acceleration of the indebtedness outstanding thereunder. Any of our future debt agreements may
contain similar restrictions and provisions. If a purchase offer were required under the indenture
for our debt, we may not have sufficient funds to pay the purchase price of all debt, including
your exchange notes, that we are required to purchase or repay.
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Many of the covenants in the indenture will terminate if the exchange notes are rated investment
grade by both Moodys and Standard & Poors.
Many of the covenants in the indenture governing the exchange notes will no longer apply to us
if the exchange notes are, at any time prior to maturity, rated investment grade by both Moodys
and Standard & Poors, provided at such time no default or event of default has occurred and is
continuing. These covenants will restrict, among other things, our ability to pay distributions,
incur debt and to enter into certain other transactions. There can be no assurance that the
exchange notes will ever be rated investment grade or that, if they are rated investment grade,
the exchange notes will maintain these ratings. Termination of these covenants would, however,
allow us to engage in certain transactions that would not be permitted while these covenants were
in force. See Description of Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Termination of Covenants.
Tax Risks
Our tax treatment will depend on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, as
well as our not being subject to a material amount of entity level taxation by individual states.
If the IRS treats us as a corporation for tax purposes or we become subject to a material amount of
entity level taxation, it could reduce the amount of cash available for payment of principal and
interest on the exchange notes.
If we were classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we could be required
to pay federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate. Treatment of us as a
corporation could cause a material reduction in our anticipated cash flow, which could materially
and adversely affect our ability to make payments on the exchange notes.
In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons several states are
evaluating ways to subject partnerships and limited liability companies to entity level taxation
through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. For example,
beginning in 2008, we will be subject to a new entity level tax related to the portion of our
income that is generated in Texas during our prior tax year. Imposition of such a tax on us by
Texas, or any other state, will reduce our cash flow.
You
are urged to read Federal Income Tax Considerations for a
discussion of certain federal income tax consequences of exchanging the outstanding notes for exchange
notes.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights
agreement. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes in the
exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated by this prospectus,
we will receive outstanding notes in a like principal amount. The form and terms of the exchange
notes are identical in all respects to the form and terms of the outstanding notes, except the
exchange notes do not include certain transfer restrictions, registration rights or provisions for
additional interest. Outstanding notes surrendered in exchange for the exchange notes will be
retired and cancelled and will not be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the exchange notes
will not result in any change in our outstanding indebtedness.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The
following table presents the ratios of earnings to fixed charges of the
Partnership and its predecessor for the periods indicated. For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from
continuing operations before adjustment for equity income from equity method investees plus
fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income from investees accounted
for under the equity method. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized and
an estimated interest component of rent expense.
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Regency Predecessor LLC |
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Regency Energy Partners LP |
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Period from |
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Period from |
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Period from |
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Acquisition Date |
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Inception |
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January 1, |
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(December 1, |
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(April 2, 2003) to |
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2004 to |
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2004) to |
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Year Ended |
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Year Ended |
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December
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November 30, 2004 |
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December 31, 2004 |
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to fixed charges |
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3.39 |
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4.67 |
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2.03 |
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The predecessor of the Partnership was organized on April 2, 2003 and commenced active
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Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges
for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 by $8.2 and $14.5 million, respectively. |
EXCHANGE OFFER
We sold the outstanding notes on December 7, 2006, pursuant to the purchase agreement dated as
of December 12, 2006, by and among us, Regency Energy Finance Corp., our subsidiary
guarantors and the initial purchasers named therein. The outstanding notes were subsequently
offered by the initial purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act .
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
We sold the outstanding notes in transactions that were exempt from or not subject to the
registration requirements under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the outstanding notes are subject
to transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding notes unless either
the offer and sale thereof are registered under the Securities Act or are exempt from or not
subject to registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
In the registration rights agreement, we agreed to file an exchange offer registration
statement no later than 150 days after the closing date following the offering of the outstanding
notes. We also agreed to use our commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the exchange offer
registration statement for the exchange notes to become effective within 310 days after the closing
date. [We have complied with these two agreements.] Now, to satisfy our obligations under the
registration rights agreement, we are offering holders of the outstanding notes who are able to
make certain representations described below the opportunity to exchange their notes for the
exchange notes in the exchange offer. The exchange offer will be open for a period of at least 30
days. During the exchange offer period, we will issue the exchange notes in exchange for all
outstanding notes properly surrendered and not withdrawn before the expiration date. The exchange
notes will be registered and the transfer restrictions, registration rights and provisions for
additional interest relating to the outstanding notes will not apply to the exchange notes.
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Resale of Exchange Notes
Based on no-action letters of the Commission staff issued to third parties, we believe that
exchange notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you without further
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act if:
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you are not an affiliate of us or Regency Energy Finance Corp. within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the Securities Act; |
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such exchange notes are acquired in the ordinary course of your business; and |
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you do not intend to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes. |
The Commission staff, however, has not considered the exchange offer for the exchange notes in
the context of a no-action letter, and the Commission staff may not make a similar determination as
in the no-action letters issued to these third parties.
If you tender in the exchange offer with the intention of participating in any manner in a
distribution of the exchange notes, you
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cannot rely on such interpretations by the Commission staff; and |
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must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction. |
Unless an exemption from registration is otherwise available, any securityholder intending to
distribute exchange notes should be covered by an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act. The registration statement should contain the selling securityholders information
required by Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, resale or other transfer of exchange notes
only as specifically described in this prospectus. If you are a broker dealer, you may participate
in the exchange offer only if you acquired the outstanding notes as a result of market making
activities or other trading activities. Each broker dealer that receives exchange notes for its own
account in exchange for outstanding notes, where such outstanding notes were acquired by such
broker dealer as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge
by way of the letter of transmittal that it will deliver this prospectus in connection with any
resale of the exchange notes. Please read the section captioned Plan of Distribution for more
details regarding the transfer of exchange notes.
Terms of the Exchange Offer
Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of
transmittal, we will accept for exchange any outstanding notes properly tendered and not withdrawn
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. We will issue
exchange notes in principal amount equal to the principal amount of outstanding notes surrendered
in the exchange offer. Outstanding notes may be tendered only for exchange notes and only in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of
outstanding notes being tendered in the exchange offer.
As
of the date of this prospectus, $550,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of
83/8% Senior
Notes due 2013 are outstanding. This prospectus is being sent to DTC, the sole registered holder of
the outstanding notes, and to all persons that we can identify as beneficial owners of the
outstanding notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of
outstanding notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer.
We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration
rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended,
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or the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission. Outstanding notes the
holders of which do not tender for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and
continue to accrue interest. These outstanding notes will be entitled to the rights and benefits
such holders have under the indenture relating to the outstanding notes and the registration rights
agreement.
We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered outstanding notes when we
have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent and complied with the
applicable provisions of the registration rights agreement. The exchange agent will act as agent
for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us.
If you tender outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will not be required to pay
brokerage commissions or fees or, except to the extent indicated by the instructions to the letter
of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of outstanding notes. We will pay all
charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with the
exchange offer. Please read Fees and Expenses for more details regarding fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the exchange offer. We will return any outstanding notes that we do not
accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holders promptly after the
expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
Expiration Date
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on , 2007, unless, in our
sole discretion, we extend it.
Extensions, Delays in Acceptance, Termination or Amendment
We expressly reserve the right, at any time or various times, to extend the period of time
during which the exchange offer is open. We may delay acceptance of any outstanding notes by giving
oral or written notice of such extension to their holders at any time until the exchange offer
expires or terminates. During any such extensions, all outstanding notes previously tendered will
remain subject to the exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange.
To extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any
extension. We will notify the registered holders of outstanding notes of the extension no later
than 9:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration
date.
If any of the conditions described below under Conditions to the Exchange Offer have not
been satisfied, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion,
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to delay accepting for exchange any outstanding notes, |
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to extend the exchange offer, or |
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to terminate the exchange offer, |
by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent.
Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement, we also reserve the right to amend the
terms of the exchange offer in any manner.
Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly
as practicable by oral or written notice thereof to holders of the outstanding notes. If we amend
the exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly
disclose such amendment by means of a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will be
distributed to holders of the outstanding notes. Depending upon the significance of the amendment
and the manner of disclosure to holders, we will extend the exchange offer if it would otherwise
expire during such period. If an amendment constitutes a material change to the exchange offer,
including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the exchange offer, if necessary, to
remain open for at least five business days after the date of the amendment. In the event of any
increase or decrease in the consideration we are offering for the outstanding notes or in the
percentage of outstanding notes being sought
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by us, we will extend the exchange offer to remain open for at least 10 business days after
the date on which we provide notice of such increase or decrease to the registered holders of outstanding
notes.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
We will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue any exchange notes for, any
outstanding notes if the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of outstanding
notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission. Similarly, we may terminate the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before
accepting outstanding notes for exchange in the event of such a potential violation.
We will not be obligated to accept for exchange the outstanding notes of any holder that has
not made to us the representations described under Procedures for Tendering and Plan of
Distribution and such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable
Commission rules, regulations or interpretations to allow us to use an appropriate form to register
the exchange notes under the Securities Act.
Additionally, we will not accept for exchange any outstanding notes tendered, and will not
issue exchange notes in exchange for any such outstanding notes, if at such time any stop order has
been threatened or is in effect with respect to the exchange offer registration statement of which
this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939.
We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer, and to reject for
exchange any outstanding notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of
the conditions to the exchange offer specified above. We will give oral or written notice of any
extension, amendment, non acceptance or termination to the holders of the outstanding notes as
promptly as practicable.
These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them or waive them in whole or in
part at any time or at various times prior to the expiration of the exchange offer in our sole
discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of these rights, this failure will not mean that
we have waived our rights. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at
any time or at various times prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
Procedures for Tendering
To participate in the exchange offer, you must properly tender your outstanding notes to the
exchange agent as described below. We will only issue exchange notes in exchange for outstanding
notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure
timely delivery of the outstanding notes, and you should follow carefully the instructions on how
to tender your outstanding notes. It is your responsibility to tender your outstanding
notes properly. We have the right to waive any defects. We are not, however, required to waive defects, and
neither we nor the exchange agent is required to notify you of any defects in your tender.
If you have any questions or need help in exchanging your outstanding notes, please call the
exchange agent whose address and phone number are described in the letter of transmittal included
as Annex A to this prospectus.
All of the outstanding notes were issued in book entry form, and all of the outstanding notes
are currently represented by global certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee
of DTC. We have confirmed with DTC that the outstanding notes may be tendered using ATOP. The
exchange agent will establish an account with DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly after
the commencement of the exchange offer, and DTC participants may electronically transmit their
acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer their outstanding notes to the exchange
agent using the ATOP procedures. In connection with the transfer, DTC will send an agents
message to the exchange agent. The agents message will state that DTC has received instructions
from the participant to tender outstanding notes and that the participant agrees to be bound by the
terms of the letter of transmittal.
By using the ATOP procedures to exchange outstanding notes, you will not be required to
deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent. You will, however, be bound by its terms
just as if you had signed it.
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There is no procedure for guaranteed late delivery of the outstanding notes.
Determinations Under the Exchange Offer. We will determine in our sole discretion all
questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered
outstanding notes and withdrawal of tendered outstanding notes. Our determination will be final and
binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any outstanding notes not properly tendered or any
outstanding notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We
also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular
outstanding notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including
the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless
waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of outstanding notes must be cured
within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or
irregularities with respect to tenders of outstanding notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any
other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of outstanding
notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any
outstanding notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the
defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder as
soon as practicable following the expiration date of the exchange.
When We Will Issue Exchange Notes. In all cases, we will issue exchange notes for outstanding
notes that we have accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent
receives, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date,
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a book-entry confirmation of such outstanding notes into the exchange agents account at DTC; and |
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a properly transmitted agents message. |
Return of Outstanding Notes Not Accepted or Exchanged. If we do not accept any tendered
outstanding notes for exchange or if outstanding notes are submitted for a greater principal amount
than the holder desires to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged outstanding notes will be
returned without expense to their tendering holder. Such non-exchanged outstanding notes will be
credited to an account maintained with DTC. These actions will occur as promptly as practicable
after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
Your Representations to Us. By agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will
represent to us that, among other things:
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Any exchange notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary course of your
business; |
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you have no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in
the distribution of the exchange notes; |
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you are not engaged in and do not intend to engage in the distribution of the
exchange notes; |
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if you are a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in
exchange for outstanding notes, you acquired those outstanding notes as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities and you will deliver this
prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of the exchange notes; and |
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you are not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of us or
Regency Energy Finance Corp. |
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender at any time
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. For a
withdrawal to be effective you must comply with the appropriate ATOP procedures. Any notice of
withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn
outstanding notes and otherwise comply with the ATOP procedures.
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We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and time of receipt of a
notice of withdrawal. Our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any
outstanding notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the
exchange offer.
Any outstanding notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any
reason will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the outstanding notes. This return or
crediting will take place as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender, expiration
or termination of the exchange offer. You may retender properly withdrawn outstanding notes by
following the procedures described under Procedures for Tendering above at any time on or
prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer.
Fees and Expenses
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by
mail; however, we may make additional solicitation by telegraph, telephone or in person by our
officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.
We have not retained any dealer manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not
make any payments to broker dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We
will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse
it for its related reasonable out of pocket expenses.
We will pay the cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. They include:
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Commission registration fees; |
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fees and expenses of the exchange agent and trustee; |
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accounting and legal fees and printing costs; and |
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related fees and expenses. |
Transfer Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of outstanding notes under
the exchange offer. Each tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes,
whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if a transfer tax is imposed for any
reason other than the exchange of outstanding notes under the exchange offer.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer, the
outstanding notes you hold will continue to be subject to the existing restrictions on transfer. In
general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding notes except under an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not
intend to register outstanding notes under the Securities Act unless the registration rights
agreement requires us to do so.
Accounting Treatment
We will record the exchange notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the
outstanding notes. This carrying value is the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes,
as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize
any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the exchange offer, other than the
recognition of the fees and expenses of the offering as stated under Fees and Expenses.
Other
Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should consider carefully whether to
accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on
what action to take.
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We may in the future seek to acquire untendered outstanding notes in open market or privately
negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans
to acquire any outstanding notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a
registration statement to permit resales of any untendered outstanding notes.
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DESCRIPTION OF EXCHANGE NOTES
In this description, the term Regency Energy Partners refers only to Regency Energy Partners
LP and not to any of its subsidiaries, the term Finance Corp. refers to Regency Energy Finance
Corp. and the term Issuers refers to Regency Energy Partners and Finance Corp. References to the
notes in this section of the prospectus include both the outstanding notes we issued on December
12, 2006 and the exchange notes, unless the context requires otherwise. You can find the definitions
of certain terms used in this description under the subheading Certain Definitions.
The exchange notes will be issued and the outstanding notes were issued under an indenture
(the Indenture) among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as
trustee, in a private transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the
Securities Act. See Notice to investors. The terms of the notes will include those stated in the
Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
This Description of Exchange Notes is intended to be a useful overview of the material
provisions of the exchange notes, the guarantees, and the indenture. Since this Description of
Exchange Notes is only a summary, you should refer to the exchange notes and the indenture, forms
of which are available from us, for a complete description of our obligations and your rights.
If the exchange offer is consummated, holders of notes who do not exchange their notes for
exchange notes will vote together with the holders of the exchange notes for all relevant purposes
under the indenture. In that regard, the indenture requires that certain actions by the holders
under the indenture (including acceleration after an Event of Default) must be taken, and certain
rights must be exercised, by specified minimum percentages of the aggregate principal amount of all
outstanding notes issued under the indenture. In determining whether holders of the requisite
percentage in principal amount have given any notice, consent or waiver or taken any other action
permitted under the indenture, any notes that remain outstanding after the exchange offer will be
aggregated with the exchange notes, and the holders of these notes and exchange notes will vote
together as a single series for all such purposes. Accordingly, all references in this Description
of Exchange Notes to specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes
mean, at any time after the exchange offer for the notes is consummated, such percentage in
aggregate principal amount of such notes and the exchange notes then outstanding.
Brief Description of the Notes and the Guarantees
The Notes.
The notes:
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are general unsecured obligations of the Issuers; |
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are pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of the Issuers; |
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are senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuers; and |
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are unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors. |
The notes are, however, effectively subordinated to all secured Indebtedness under the Credit
Agreement, which is secured by substantially all of the assets of Regency Energy Partners and the
Guarantors, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the Indebtedness. See Risk
FactorsRisks Related to the NotesYour right to receive payments on the notes and the guarantees
is unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness.
The Note Guarantees
Each guarantee of the notes:
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is a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor; |
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is pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of
that Guarantor; and |
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is senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of that
Guarantor. |
The note guarantees will, however, be effectively subordinated to all secured Indebtedness of
the Guarantors, including their guarantees of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, to the
extent of the value of the collateral securing those guarantees. See Risk factorsRisks Related
to the NotesYour right to receive payments on the notes and the guarantees is unsecured and will
be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness.
Initially, all our Subsidiaries (except Finance Corp.) have guaranteed the notes. In the
future, the notes will be guaranteed only by our Restricted Subsidiaries that guarantee
Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Guarantor or by our Domestic Subsidiaries that incur Indebtedness
under a Credit Facility. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our
non-guaranteeing Subsidiaries, such Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade
creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us.
As of the date of the Indenture, all of our Subsidiaries are Restricted Subsidiaries. Under
the circumstances described below under the caption Certain CovenantsDesignation of Restricted
and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, however, we will be permitted to designate certain of our
Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to
the restrictive covenants in the Indenture. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not guarantee the
notes.
Finance Corp.
Finance Corp. is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners that has been formed for the purpose of facilitating the offering of the notes by acting
as co-issuer. Finance Corp. will be nominally capitalized and will not have any operations or
revenues. As a result, prospective purchasers of the notes should not expect Finance Corp. to
participate in servicing the interest and principal obligations on the notes. See Certain
CovenantsBusiness Activities.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Issuers have issued the outstanding notes with an initial maximum in aggregate principal
amount of $550.0 million. In addition to the exchange notes offered hereby, the Issuers may issue
additional notes under the Indenture from time to time after this offering. Any issuance of
additional notes is subject to all the covenants in the Indenture, including the covenant described
below under the caption Certain CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Equity. The outstanding notes and any additional notes subsequently issued under the
Indenture, together with any Exchange Notes, will be treated as a single class for all purposes
under the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and any
such additional notes will be fungible with the original notes to the extent set forth in the
applicable offering documentation. The Issuers may issue notes only in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on December 15, 2013.
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 8.375% per annum and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, commencing on June 15, 2007. Interest on
overdue principal and interest, if any, will accrue at the interest rate on the notes. The Issuers
will make each interest payment to the holders of record on the immediately preceding June 1 and
December 1.
Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has
already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. In the case of the exchange notes, all
interest accrued on outstanding notes from December 7, 2006 will be treated as having accrued on
the exchange notes that are issued in exchange for the outstanding notes. Interest will be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
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Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a holder of notes has given wire transfer instructions to Regency Energy Partners, the
Issuers will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that holders notes in accordance
with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or agency of
the paying agent and registrar unless the Issuers elect to make interest payments by check mailed
to the noteholders at their addresses set forth in the register of holders.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The trustee is initially acting as paying agent and registrar. The Issuers may change the
paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and Regency Energy
Partners, Finance Corp. or any of Regency Energy Partners other Subsidiaries may act as paying
agent or registrar.
Transfer and Exchange
A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. No services charge will
be imposed by the Issuers, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or
exchange of notes, but holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Issuers are
not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuers are not
required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be
redeemed.
Note Guarantees
Initially, the notes have been guaranteed by each of Regency Energy Partners current
Subsidiaries, except Finance Corp. In the future, the notes will be guaranteed by each of Regency
Energy Partners Restricted Subsidiaries under the circumstances described under Certain
CovenantsAdditional Guarantees. These Note Guarantees are joint and several obligations of the
Guarantors. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee will be limited as necessary
to prevent that Note Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See
Risk factorsRisks Related to the NotesA court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to
avoid or subordinate the subsidiary guarantees.
A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the
surviving Person), another Person, other than Regency Energy Partners or another Guarantor, unless:
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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of
Default exists; and |
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either: |
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the Person acquiring the assets in any such sale or other
disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger (if other than the Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of that
Guarantor under the Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the registration rights
agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form
specified in the Indenture; or |
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the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied
in accordance with the Asset Sales provisions of the Indenture. |
The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:
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in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
the assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person
that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) Regency Energy
Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners, if the sale or other
disposition does not violate the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture; |
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in connection with any sale or other disposition of all the Capital Stock of
that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transaction) Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners, if the sale or other disposition does not violate the Asset Sale provisions
of the Indenture; |
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if Regency Energy Partners designates any Restricted Subsidiary that is a
Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the applicable provisions
of the Indenture; |
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at such time as the Guarantor ceases to guarantee any other Indebtedness of an
Issuer or another Guarantor, provided that, if it is also a Domestic Subsidiary, it is
then no longer an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under any Credit Facility;
provided, however, that if, at any time following such release, that Guarantor incurs a
Guarantee under a Credit Facility, then such Guarantor shall be required to provide a
Note Guarantee at such time; or |
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upon legal or covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the
Indenture as provided below under the captions Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance and Satisfaction and Discharge. |
See Repurchase at the Option of HoldersAsset Sales.
Optional Redemption
Except pursuant to the next three paragraphs of this section relating to optional redemption,
the notes will not be redeemable at the Issuers option.
At any time prior to December 15, 2009, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up
to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of notes (including any additional notes) issued under the
Indenture, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price of
108.375% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date
(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on
an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), with the net cash proceeds of
one or more Equity Offerings by Regency Energy Partners; provided that:
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at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of notes (including any
additional notes) issued under the Indenture (excluding notes held by Regency Energy
Partners and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of
such redemption; and |
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the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such Equity
Offering. |
On or after December 15, 2010, the Issuers may redeem all or a part of the notes upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes redeemed,
to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December
15 of each year indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of notes on the relevant record
date to receive interest on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date:
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104.188 |
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102.094 |
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2012 and thereafter |
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100.000 |
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At any time prior to December 15, 2010, the Issuers may also redeem all or a part of the
notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price equal to
100% of the principal amount of notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, subject to the rights of holders of notes on
the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to
the redemption date.
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Unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to
accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
Selection and Notice
If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes
for redemption as follows:
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if the notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with
the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the notes are
listed; or |
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if the notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata
basis, by lot or by such other method as the trustee deems fair. |
No notes of $1,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by
first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of
notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more
than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of
the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. Notices of redemption may not be
conditional.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note
will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of
the holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due
on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on
notes or portions of notes called for redemption.
Mandatory Redemption
Except as set forth below under Repurchase at the Option of Holders, the Issuers are not
required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes or to
repurchase notes at the option of the holders.
Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control
If a Change of Control occurs, Regency Energy Partners will make an offer to each holder of
notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that
holders notes pursuant to the offer described below (the Change of Control Offer) on the terms
set forth in the Indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, Regency Energy Partners will offer a
payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased, plus accrued
and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the
Change of Control Payment), subject to the rights of holders of notes on the relevant record date
to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the purchase date.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control, Regency Energy Partners will mail a notice to each
holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and
offering to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice, which
date will be no earlier than 20 business days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice
is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such notice. In
making the Change of Control Offer, Regency Energy Partners will comply with all applicable
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the
repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of
any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture,
Regency Energy Partners will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will
not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the
Indenture by virtue of such compliance.
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On the Change of Control Payment Date, Regency Energy Partners will, to the extent lawful:
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accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to
the Change of Control Offer; |
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deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment
in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and |
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deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted
together with an officers certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes
or portions of notes being purchased by Regency Energy Partners. |
The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the Change of
Control Payment for such notes (or, if all the notes are then in global form, make such payment
through the facilities of DTC), and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be
transferred by book entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased
portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided, that each new note will be in a principal
amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Regency Energy Partners will publicly announce
the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control
Payment Date.
These provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer
following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the
Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the
Indenture does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the notes to require that either
of the Issuers repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or
similar transaction.
Regency Energy Partners will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change
of Control if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and
otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of
Control Offer made by Regency Energy Partners and purchases all notes properly tendered and not
withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to
the Indenture as described above under the caption Optional Redemption, unless and until there
is a default in payment of the applicable redemption price.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or
assets of Regency Energy Partners and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a
limited body of case law interpreting the phrase substantially all, there is no precise
established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of
notes to require Regency Energy Partners to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Regency Energy Partners
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
Asset Sales
Regency Energy Partners will not consummate, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to consummate, an Asset Sale unless:
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Regency Energy Partners (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be)
receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market
Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; |
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such fair market value is determined by (a) an executive officer of the General
Partner if the value is less than $15.0 million, as evidenced by an officers
certificate delivered to the trustee, or (b) the Board of Directors of the General
Partner if the value is $15.0 million or more, as evidenced by a resolution of such
Board of Directors of the General Partners; and |
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at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by Regency Energy Partners
and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since the
date of the Indenture is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this
provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash: |
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|
(a) |
|
any liabilities, as shown on Regency Energy Partners most
recent consolidated balance sheet, of Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their
terms subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantees) that are assumed by the
transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that
releases Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary from further
liability; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any securities, notes or other obligations received by Regency
Energy Partners or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are
within 90 days after the Asset Sale (subject to ordinary settlement periods),
converted by Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or
Cash Equivalents, to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received in
that conversion. |
Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, Regency Energy
Partners (or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) may apply such Net Proceeds:
|
(1) |
|
to repay Senior Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries (or to make an offer to repurchase or redeem such Indebtedness, provided
that such repurchase or redemption closes within 45 days after the end of such 360-day
period) with a permanent reduction in availability for any revolving credit
Indebtedness; |
|
|
(2) |
|
to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of,
another Permitted Business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital
Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners; |
|
|
(3) |
|
to make a capital expenditure; or |
|
|
(4) |
|
to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP
and that are used or useful in a Permitted Business. |
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, Regency Energy Partners or the applicable
Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the
Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second
paragraph of this covenant will constitute Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $20.0 million, within five days thereof, Regency Energy Partners will make an
offer (an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders of notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is
pari passu with the notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with
respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the
maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out
of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the
principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the
right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest
payment date that is on or prior to the date of settlement, and will be payable in cash. If any
Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, Regency Energy Partners may use
those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount of notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes and such other pari passu
Indebtedness will be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the
amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
In making an Asset Sale Offer, Regency Energy Partners will comply with the applicable
requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each
repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture, Regency
Energy Partners will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be
deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture by virtue
of such compliance.
32
The agreements governing Regency Energy Partners other Indebtedness contain, and future
agreements governing Regency Energy Partners Indebtedness may contain, prohibitions of certain
events, including events that would constitute a Change of Control or an Asset Sale and including
repurchases of or other prepayments in respect of the notes. The exercise by the holders of notes
of their right to require Regency Energy Partners to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control
or an Asset Sale could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the Change of Control
or Asset Sale itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on Regency Energy
Partners or other circumstances. If a Change of Control or Asset Sale occurs at a time when Regency
Energy Partners is prohibited from purchasing notes, Regency Energy Partners could seek the consent
of the lenders or counterparties under those agreements or could attempt to repay or refinance such
borrowings. If Regency Energy Partners does not obtain an appropriate consent or repay those
borrowings, Regency Energy Partners will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In that case,
Regency Energy Partners failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default
under the Indenture which could, in all likelihood, constitute a default under the other
indebtedness. Finally, Regency Energy Partners ability to pay cash to the holders of notes upon a
repurchase may be limited by Regency Energy Partners then existing financial resources. See Risk
factorsRisks Related to the NotesWe may not have the ability to raise funds necessary to
finance any change of control offer required under the indenture.
Certain Covenants
Termination of Covenants
If at any time the notes achieve an Investment Grade Rating from both of the Rating Agencies
and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing under the Indenture, Regency
Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the following
provisions of the Indenture:
|
(1) |
|
Repurchase at the Option of HoldersAsset Sales; |
|
|
(2) |
|
Restricted Payments; |
|
|
(3) |
|
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Equity; |
|
|
(4) |
|
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries; |
|
|
(5) |
|
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries; |
|
|
(6) |
|
Transactions with Affiliates; |
|
|
(7) |
|
Business Activities; |
|
|
(8) |
|
clause (4) of the covenant described below under the caption Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets; and |
|
|
(9) |
|
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. |
There can be no assurance that the notes will ever achieve or maintain an Investment Grade
Rating. During any period that the foregoing covenants have been terminated, the Issuer may not
designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the definition of
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Restricted Payments
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly:
|
(1) |
|
declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on
account of its outstanding Equity Interests (including any payment in connection with
any merger or consolidation involving Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of Regency Energy Partners or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than
distributions or dividends payable in Equity Interests, |
33
|
|
|
excluding Disqualified Equity, of Regency Energy Partners and other than
distributions or dividends payable to Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted
Subsidiary); |
|
|
(2) |
|
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving Regency Energy Partners) any
Equity Interests of Regency Energy Partners or any direct or indirect parent of Regency
Energy Partners; |
|
|
(3) |
|
make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or
otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners or
any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes or to any Note Guarantee
(excluding intercompany Indebtedness between or among Regency Energy Partners and any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal within one
month of its Stated Maturity; or |
|
|
(4) |
|
make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth
in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as Restricted
Payments), |
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a
Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a
consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:
|
(1) |
|
if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Regency Energy Partners most recently
ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available
at the time of such Restricted Payment is not less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted
Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by
Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments
permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4) (to the extent, in the case of clause (4), payments
are made to Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary), (5), (6), (7) and (8)
of the next succeeding paragraph) during the quarter in which such Restricted Payment
is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of: |
|
(a) |
|
Available Cash from Operating Surplus as of the end of the
immediately preceding quarter; plus |
|
|
(b) |
|
100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by Regency
Energy Partners (including the Fair Market Value of any Permitted Business or
long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent
acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of Regency Energy Partners (other
than Disqualified Equity)) since the date of the Indenture as a contribution to
its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of
Regency Energy Partners (other than Disqualified Equity) or from the issue or
sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Equity or convertible or
exchangeable debt securities of Regency Energy Partners that have been
converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity
Interests (or Disqualified Equity or debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners); plus |
|
|
(c) |
|
to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made
after the date of the Indenture is sold for cash or Cash Equivalents or
otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash or Cash Equivalents, the return of
capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of
disposition, if any); plus |
|
|
(d) |
|
the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from
dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in
each case to Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from
any Person (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries, to the extent such
amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Operating Surplus for any
period commencing on or after the date of the Indenture (items (b), (c) and (d)
being referred to as Incremental Funds); minus |
34
|
(e) |
|
the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended
pursuant to this clause (1) and clause (2) below; or |
|
(2) |
|
if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Regency Energy Partners most recently
ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available
at the time of such Restricted Payment is less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted
Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by
Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments
permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4) (to the extent, in the case of clause (4), payments
are made to Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary), (5), (6), (7) and (8)
of the next succeeding paragraph) during the quarter in which such Restricted Payment
is made (such Restricted Payments for purposes of this clause (2) meaning only
distributions on common units and subordinated units of Regency Energy Partners, plus
the related distribution on the general partner interest), is less than the sum,
without duplication, of: |
|
(a) |
|
$100.0 million less the aggregate amount of all prior
Restricted Payments made by Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted
Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause 2(a) during the period since the date of
the Indenture; plus |
|
|
(b) |
|
Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended
pursuant to this clause (2) or clause (1) above. |
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
|
(1) |
|
the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of
its declaration, if at the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the
provisions of the Indenture; |
|
|
(2) |
|
so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, the redemption, repurchase, retirement,
defeasance or other acquisition of subordinated Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners
or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of Regency Energy Partners in exchange for,
or out of the net cash proceeds of, a substantially concurrent (a) capital contribution
to Regency Energy Partners from any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners) or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency
Energy Partners) of Equity Interests of Regency Energy Partners, with a sale being
deemed substantially concurrent if such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance
or other acquisition occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption,
repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition will be excluded or deducted
from the calculation of Available Cash from Operating Surplus and Incremental Funds; |
|
|
(3) |
|
so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other
acquisition or retirement of any subordinated Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners
or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for,
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; |
|
|
(4) |
|
the payment of any distribution or dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners to the holders of its Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Equity) on a pro rata basis; |
|
|
(5) |
|
so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition
or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of Regency Energy Partners or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners held by any current or former officer,
director or employee of the General Partner, Regency Energy Partners or any of Regency
Energy Partners Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any equity subscription agreement
or plan, stock or unit option agreement, shareholders agreement or similar agreement;
provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or
retired Equity Interests may not exceed $2.0 million in any calendar year; provided
further that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to
exceed (a) the cash proceeds received by Regency Energy Partners from the sale of
Equity |
35
|
|
|
Interests of Regency Energy Partners to members of management or directors of the
General Partner, Regency Energy Partners or its Restricted Subsidiaries that occurs
after the date of the Indenture (to the extent the cash proceeds from the sale of
such Equity Interests have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted
Payments by virtue of sections 1(b) or 2(b) of the preceding paragraph), plus (b)
the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by Regency Energy
Partners after the date of the Indenture; |
|
|
(6) |
|
so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, payments of dividends on Disqualified Equity
issued pursuant to the covenant described under Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Disqualified Equity; |
|
|
(7) |
|
repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options,
warrants or other convertible securities if such Capital Stock represents a portion of
the exercise price of such options, warrants or other convertible securities; or |
|
|
(8) |
|
so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) has occurred and is
continuing or would be caused thereby, cash payments in lieu of the issuance of
fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of Regency Energy
Partners. |
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the
date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued
by Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the
Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be
valued by this covenant will be determined, in the case of amounts under $15.0 million, by an
officer of the General Partner and, in the case of amounts over $15.0 million, by the Board of
Directors of the General Partner, whose determination shall be evidenced by a board resolution.
Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment (excluding any Restricted Payment
described in the preceding clauses (2)(8) Regency Energy Partners will deliver to the trustee an
officers certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis
upon which the calculations required by this Restricted Payments covenant were computed. For the
purposes of determining compliance with this Restricted Payments covenant, in the event that a
Restricted Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payments
described in the preceding clauses (1)(8), Regency Energy Partners will be permitted to classify
(or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such Restricted
Payment in any manner that complies with this covenant.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or
indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, incur) any
Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and Regency Energy Partners will not issue any Disqualified
Equity and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any Disqualified Equity;
provided, however, that Regency Energy Partners and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur
Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) and Regency Energy Partners and the Restricted Subsidiaries
may issue Disqualified Equity, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for Regency Energy Partners most
recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available
immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Equity is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined
on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the
additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Equity had been issued, as the case
may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following
items of Indebtedness (collectively, Permitted Debt) or the issuance of any preferred securities
described in clause (11) below:
|
(1) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners and any Restricted Subsidiary of
additional Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under one or more Credit
Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate
principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) (with letters of
credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the |
36
|
|
|
maximum potential liability of Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted
Subsidiaries thereunder) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a)
$450.0 million and (b) the sum of $250.0 million and 20.0% of Regency Energy
Partners Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Existing Indebtedness; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners, Finance Corp. and the Guarantors of
Indebtedness represented by the outstanding notes and the related Note Guarantees to be
issued on the date of the Indenture and the exchange notes and the related Note
Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the registration rights agreement; |
|
|
(4) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or
purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or
any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property,
plant or equipment used in the business of Regency Energy Partners or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred
pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence
the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4)
and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $20.0 million and (b) 2.0% of
Regency Energy Partners Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; |
|
|
(5) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are
used to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge, any Indebtedness
(other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the Indenture to be
incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clause (2) or (3) of this
paragraph or this clause (5); |
|
|
(6) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of intercompany Indebtedness between or among Regency Energy Partners and any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that: |
|
(a) |
|
if Regency Energy Partners or any Guarantor is the obligor on
such Indebtedness and the payee is not Regency Energy Partners or a Guarantor,
such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full
in cash of all Obligations then due with respect to the notes, in the case of
Regency Energy Partners, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests
that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than Regency
Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners and (ii)
any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not
either Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such
Indebtedness by Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6); |
|
(7) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Hedging Obligations; |
|
|
(8) |
|
the guarantee by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant;
provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu
with the notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable,
to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed; |
37
|
(9) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of obligations relating to net gas balancing positions arising in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practice; |
|
|
(10) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of Acquired Debt in connection with a transaction meeting either one of the financial
tests set forth in clause (4) under the caption Merger, Consolidation or Sale of
Assets; |
|
|
(11) |
|
the issuance by any of Regency Energy Partners Restricted Subsidiaries to
Regency Energy Partners or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred
securities; provided, however, that: |
|
(a) |
|
any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that
results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than
Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners;
and |
|
|
(b) |
|
any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to
a Person that is not either Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary
of Regency Energy Partners will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an
issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was
not permitted by this clause (11); and |
|
(12) |
|
the incurrence by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
of additional Indebtedness; provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence,
the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (12) does
not exceed the greater of (a) $25.0 million and (b) 2.5% of Regency Energy Partners
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. |
Regency Energy Partners will not incur, and will not permit Finance Corp. or any Guarantor to
incur, any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners, Finance Corp. or such Guarantor
unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right of payment to the notes and
the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no
Indebtedness of a Person will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any
other Indebtedness of such Person solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured
on a first or junior Lien basis.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Equity covenant, in the event that an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the
criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (12)
above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, Regency
Energy Partners will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in while or in part
in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant.
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which notes are first issued and
authenticated under the Indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in
reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. The accrual
of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on
any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification
of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of
dividends on Disqualified Equity in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified
Equity will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Equity
for purposes of this covenant; provided, however, in each such case, that the amount of any such
accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed Charges of Regency Energy Partners as accrued.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that
Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this covenant shall not
be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.
Liens
Regency Energy Partners will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any
kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness (including any Attributable Debt) upon any
of their property or assets, now owned or
38
hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under the notes are secured on an equal and
ratable basis or on a senior basis with the obligations so secured until such time as such
obligations are no longer secured by a Lien (other than Permitted Liens).
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
|
(1) |
|
pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Equity Interests to
Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or to pay any
indebtedness owed to Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
|
|
(2) |
|
make loans or advances to Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; or |
|
|
(3) |
|
transfer any of its properties or assets to Regency Energy Partners or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries. |
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing
under or by reason of:
|
(1) |
|
agreements as in effect on the date of the Indenture and any amendments,
restatements, modifications, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements
or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate; provided
that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, increases, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as
a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions
than those contained in those agreements on the date of the Indenture; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the Indenture, the notes and the Note Guarantees; |
|
|
(3) |
|
applicable law; |
|
|
(4) |
|
any instrument governing Indebtedness or Equity Interests of a Person acquired
by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the
time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Equity Interests
were incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets
of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so
acquired; provided, however, that, in the case of Indebtedness, the incurrence thereof
was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Indenture; |
|
|
(5) |
|
customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale, or
exchange agreements, or similar operational agreements or in licenses or leases, in
each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices; |
|
|
(6) |
|
Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations,
in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose
restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding
paragraph; |
|
|
(7) |
|
any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other
disposition; |
|
|
(8) |
|
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the restrictions contained in
the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not materially
more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements governing
the Indebtedness being refinanced; |
39
|
(9) |
|
Liens securing indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred under the
provisions of the covenant described above under the caption Liens that limit the
right of the debtor to dispose of the assets subject to such Liens; |
|
|
(10) |
|
provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of assets or
property in joint venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements,
stock sale agreements, buy/sell agreements and other similar agreements entered into in
the ordinary course of business; |
|
|
(11) |
|
any agreement or instrument relating to any property or assets acquired after
the date of the Indenture, so long as such encumbrance or restriction relates only to
the property or assets so acquired and is not and was not created in anticipation of
such acquisitions; |
|
|
(12) |
|
restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under
contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; and |
|
|
(13) |
|
any instrument governing Indebtedness of an FERC Subsidiary, provided that such
Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred. |
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
Neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into
another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the surviving entity); or (2) sell, assign, transfer,
lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of
Regency Energy Partners and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related
transactions, to another Person, unless:
|
(1) |
|
either: (a) such Issuer is the survivor; or (b) the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a
Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the
United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that Finance Corp. may
not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying
such requirement so long as Regency Energy Partners is not a corporation; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other
than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such
Issuer under the notes, the Indenture and the registration rights agreement pursuant to
agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee; |
|
|
(3) |
|
immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; |
|
|
(4) |
|
in the case of a transaction involving Regency Energy Partners and not Finance
Corp., Regency Energy Partners or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than Regency Energy Partners), or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made will either: |
|
(a) |
|
be, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma
effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, permitted to
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described
above under the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Equity; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
immediately after giving effect to such transaction and on a
pro forma basis and any related financing transactions as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio of Regency Energy Partners or the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Regency Energy
Partners), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition had been made will be equal to or greater than the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio of Regency Energy Partners immediately before such
transaction; and |
40
|
(5) |
|
such Issuer has delivered to the trustee an officers certificate and an
opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and
such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture and all conditions
precedent therein relating to such transaction have been satisfied; |
provided that clause (4) shall not apply to any sale of assets of a Restricted Subsidiary to
Regency Energy Partners or another Restricted Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of a
Restricted Subsidiary into any Restricted Subsidiary or Regency Energy Partners.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, Regency Energy Partners is permitted to reorganize as
any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures; provided that:
|
(1) |
|
the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, legal conversion,
contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of Regency Energy Partners into a form
of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity
organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the
obligations of Regency Energy Partners under the notes, the Indenture and the
registration rights agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the
trustee; |
|
|
(4) |
|
immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists;
and |
|
|
(5) |
|
such reorganization is not materially adverse to the holders or Beneficial
Owners of the notes (for purposes of this clause (5) a reorganization will not be
considered materially adverse to the holders or Beneficial Owners of the notes solely
because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or
state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an includable
corporation of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section
1504(b)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any similar state or
local law). |
A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the
surviving Person), another Person, other than Regency Energy Partners or another Guarantor, unless
it complies with the alternative conditions described above under Brief Description of the Notes
and the GuaranteesNote Guarantees.
Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase substantially all,
there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in
certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction
would involve all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Person.
Transactions with Affiliates
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction,
contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any
Affiliate of Regency Energy Partners (each, an Affiliate Transaction), unless:
|
(1) |
|
the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Regency
Energy Partners or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been
obtained in a comparable transaction by Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted
Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and |
41
|
(2) |
|
Regency Energy Partners delivers to the trustee: |
|
(a) |
|
with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25.0
million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the General Partner set
forth in an officers certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction
complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction has been
approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors
of Regency Energy Partners; and |
|
|
(b) |
|
with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50.0
million, a written opinion as to the fairness to Regency Energy Partners or
such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a financial point of view
issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national
standing. |
The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not
be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
|
(1) |
|
any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or
plan entered into by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
the ordinary course of business; |
|
|
(2) |
|
transactions between or among Regency Energy Partners and/or its Restricted
Subsidiaries; |
|
|
(3) |
|
transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of Regency
Energy Partners) that is an Affiliate of Regency Energy Partners solely because Regency
Energy Partners owns, directly or through a Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest
in, or controls, such Person; |
|
|
(4) |
|
any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity) of Regency
Energy Partners to Affiliates of Regency Energy Partners; |
|
|
(5) |
|
Restricted Payments or Permitted Investments that do not violate the provisions
of the Indenture described above under the caption Restricted Payments; |
|
|
(6) |
|
customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to
officers, directors or employees of Regency Energy Partners, a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners or the General Partner, including reimbursement or advancement
of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers and directors liability
insurance; |
|
|
(7) |
|
in the case of contracts for purchase, gathering, processing, sale,
transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, condensate and natural gas
liquids, hedging agreements, and production handling, operating, construction,
terminaling, storage, lease, platform use, or other operational contracts, any such
contracts are entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially
similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by Regency Energy Partners
or any Restricted Subsidiary and third parties, or if neither Regency Energy Partners
nor any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a similar contract with a third party,
that the terms are no less favorable than those available from third parties on an
arms length basis, as determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner; |
|
|
(8) |
|
loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed
$1.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; and |
|
|
(9) |
|
the existence of, or the performance by Regency Energy Partners or any
Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of, any agreements that are
described under the heading Certain relationships and related transactions in our
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, to which it is a party on the terms described therein
and any amendments thereto and any similar agreements which it may |
42
enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance
by Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under,
any future amendment to such agreements or under any such similar agreements shall
only be permitted by this clause (9) to the extent that the terms of any such
amendment or new agreement, taken as a whole, are not less favorable to the Holders
in any material respect as determined by the Board of Directors of the General
Partner in its reasonable good faith judgment.
Business Activities
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
engage in any business other than Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be
material to Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Finance Corp. will not hold any material assets, become liable for any material obligations or
engage in any significant business activities; provided, that Finance Corp. may be a co-obligor or
guarantor with respect to Indebtedness if Regency Energy Partners is an obligor on such
Indebtedness and the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are received by Regency Energy Partners,
Finance Corp. or one or more Guarantors. At any time after Regency Energy Partners is a
corporation, Finance Corp. may consolidate or merge with or into Regency Energy Partners or any
Restricted Subsidiary.
Additional Guarantees
If, after the date of the Indenture, any Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners that
is not already a Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Indebtedness
of any Guarantor, or any Domestic Subsidiary, if not then a Guarantor, incurs any Indebtedness
under any Credit Facility, then in either case that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing
a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the trustee within 20 business days of the date on
which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be; provided however, that the
preceding shall not apply to Subsidiaries of Regency Energy Partners that have been properly
designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the Indenture for so long as they
continue to constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, any Note Guarantee
of a Restricted Subsidiary that was incurred pursuant to this paragraph as a result of its
guarantee of any Indebtedness shall provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and
unconditionally released upon the release or discharge of the Guarantee that resulted in the
creation of such Restricted Subsidiarys Note Guarantee, except a discharge or release by, or as a
result of payment under, such Guarantee.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The Board of Directors of the General Partner may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary
is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding
Investments owned by Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary
designated as Unrestricted will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the
designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the covenant
described above under the caption Restricted Payments or a Permitted Investment under one or
more clauses of the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by Regency Energy Partners;
provided that any designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that
time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will
be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of a resolution of the
Board of Directors of the General Partner giving effect to such designation and an officers
certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was
permitted by the covenant described above under the caption Restricted Payments. If, at any
time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture
and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred
as of such date under the covenant de scribed under the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Disqualified Equity, Regency Energy Partners will be in default of such covenant.
43
The Board of Directors of the General Partner may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners; provided that such designation
will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will
only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described above under
the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Equity, calculated on a pro
forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference
period; and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided, however, that Regency Energy Partners or
any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if the transfer of assets
in that sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and Regency Energy Partners or such
Restricted Subsidiary applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, the covenant
described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of HoldersAsset Sales.
Payments for Consent
Regency Energy Partners will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any
holder of notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or
provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is
paid to all holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth
in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Reports
Whether or not required by the SEC, so long as any notes are outstanding, Regency Energy
Partners will file with the SEC for public availability, within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing), and Regency Energy
Partners will furnish to the trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the holders or
Beneficial Owners of notes, within five business days of filing, or attempting to file, the same
with the SEC:
|
(1) |
|
all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to
Regency Energy Partners and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in
a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if Regency Energy Partners were required
to file such Forms, including a Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and, with respect to annual information only, a
report on the annual financial statements by Regency Energy Partners certified
independent accountants; and |
|
|
(2) |
|
all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K
if Regency Energy Partners were required to file such reports. |
All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules
and regulations applicable to such reports, including Section 3-10 of Regulation S-X. Each annual
report on Form 10-K will include a report on Regency Energy Partners consolidated financial
statements by Regency Energy Partners independent registered public accounting firm. In addition,
Regency Energy Partners will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2)
above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the rules and
regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and will post
the reports on its website within those time periods.
If, at any time Regency Energy Partners is no longer subject to the periodic reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act for any reason, Regency Energy Partners will nevertheless continue
filing the reports specified in the preceding paragraphs of this covenant with the SEC within the
time periods specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing; provided that, for so
long as Regency Energy Partners is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act for any reason, the time period for filing reports on Form 8-K shall be 5 business
days after the event giving rise to the obligation to file such report. Regency Energy Partners
will not take any action
44
for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the SEC will not accept Regency Energy Partners filings for any reason, Regency Energy
Partners will post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its website within the
time periods that would apply if Regency Energy Partners were required to file those reports with
the SEC.
In addition, Regency Energy Partners and the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any
notes remain outstanding they will furnish to the holders and Beneficial Owners of the notes and to
securities analysts and prospective investors in the notes, upon their request, the information
required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
|
(1) |
|
default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, if any, with
respect to, the notes; |
|
|
(2) |
|
default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of
the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the notes; |
|
|
(3) |
|
failure by Regency Energy Partners or any Guarantor to make a Change of Control
Offer or an Asset Sale Offer within the time periods set forth, or to consummate a
purchase of notes when required pursuant to the terms described, under the captions
Repurchase at the Option of HoldersChange of Control or Repurchase at the
Option of HoldersAsset Sales or to comply with the provisions described under the
caption Certain CovenantsMerger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets; |
|
|
(4) |
|
failure by Regency Energy Partners for 90 days after notice to comply with the
provisions described under Reports; |
|
|
(5) |
|
failure by Regency Energy Partners or any Guarantor for 60 days after written
notice to comply with any of its other agreements in the Indenture; |
|
|
(6) |
|
default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money
borrowed by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the
payment of which is guaranteed by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created after
the date of the Indenture, if that default: |
|
(a) |
|
is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or
premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace
period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a Payment
Default); or |
|
|
(b) |
|
results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its
Stated Maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such
Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness
under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been
so accelerated, aggregates $20.0 million or more, provided, however, that if,
prior to any acceleration of the notes, (i) any such Payment Default is cured
or waived, (ii) any such acceleration is rescinded, or (iii) such Indebtedness
is repaid during the 10 business day period commencing upon the end of any
applicable grace period for such Payment Default or the occurrence of such
acceleration, as applicable, any Default or Event of Default (but not any
acceleration of the notes) caused by such Payment Default or acceleration shall
be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with
any judgment or decree; |
|
(7) |
|
failure by an Issuer or any of Regency Energy Partners Restricted Subsidiaries
to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction
aggregating in excess of $20.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or
stayed for a period of 60 days; |
45
|
(8) |
|
except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note Guarantee shall be held in any
judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be
in full force and effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its Obligations under its Note Guarantee; and |
|
|
(9) |
|
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency or reorganization described in the
Indenture with respect to Finance Corp., Regency Energy Partners or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted
Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary. |
In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, with respect to Finance Corp., Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary
of Regency Energy Partners that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries
of Regency Energy Partners that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all
outstanding notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any
other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes may declare all the notes to be due and
payable immediately.
Holders of the notes may not enforce the Indenture or the notes except as provided in the
Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the notes then outstanding may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The
trustee may withhold notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default from holders of the notes
if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest, except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any holders of notes
unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss,
liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any,
or interest, if any, when due, no holder of a note may pursue any remedy with respect to the
Indenture or the notes unless:
|
(1) |
|
such holder has previously given the trustee notice that an Event of Default is
continuing; |
|
|
(2) |
|
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
notes have requested the trustee to pursue the remedy; |
|
|
(3) |
|
such holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against
any loss, liability or expense; |
|
|
(4) |
|
the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt
of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and |
|
|
(5) |
|
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
notes have not given the trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such
60-day period. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding by
notice to the trustee may, on behalf of the holders of all of the notes, rescind an acceleration or
waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a
continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if
any, on, the notes.
In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action or inaction
taken or not taken by or on behalf of an Issuer with the intention of avoiding payment of the
premium that the Issuers would have had to pay if the Issuers then had elected to redeem the notes
on or after December 15, 2010 pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of the indenture, an
equivalent premium will also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by
law upon the acceleration of the notes. If an Event of Default occurs prior to December 15, 2010 by
reason of any willful action or inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of an Issuer with the
intention of avoiding the prohibition on redemption of the notes prior to that date, then the
premium specified in
46
the indenture with respect to the first year that the notes may be redeemed at the Issuers
option (other than with the net cash proceeds of an Equity Offering or on a make-whole basis) will
also become immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the
notes.
The Issuers and the Guarantors are required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture. Upon any officer of Regency Energy Partners or Finance
Corp. becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Issuers are required to deliver to the
trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
No Recourse to General Partner or Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
Neither the General Partner nor any director, officer, partner, member, employee,
incorporator, manager or unit holder or other owner of any Equity Interest of the Issuers or any
Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors
under the notes, the Indenture, the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by
reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting a note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of
the notes and the Note Guarantees. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the
federal securities laws.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have all of the Issuers
obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes and all Obligations of the Guarantors
discharged with respect to their Note Guarantees (Legal Defeasance) except for:
|
(1) |
|
the rights of holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in respect of
the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such notes when such payments are
due from the trust referred to below; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the Issuers obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary
notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the
maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in
trust; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the
Issuers and the Guarantors obligations in connection therewith; and |
|
|
(4) |
|
the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance provisions of the Indenture. |
In addition, Regency Energy Partners may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the
obligations of the Issuers released with respect to certain covenants (including Regency Energy
Partners obligation to make Change of Control Offers and Asset Sale Offers) that are described in
the Indenture (Covenant Defeasance) and all Obligations of the Guarantors with respect to their
Note Guarantees discharged, and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants or Note
Guarantees will not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the
event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment and bankruptcy,
receivership, rehabilitation insolvency or reorganization events relating to Regency Energy
Partners) described under Events of Default and Remedies will no longer constitute an Event of
Default.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
|
(1) |
|
the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the
benefit of the holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government
Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the
principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding notes on the stated
date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and
the Issuers must specify whether the notes are being defeased to the date of fixed
maturity or to a particular redemption date; |
47
|
(2) |
|
in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) the Issuers
have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (b) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the
applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon
such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the holders of the outstanding notes will
not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the
same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance
had not occurred; |
|
|
(3) |
|
in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers have delivered to the trustee
an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the holders
of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income
tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; |
|
|
(4) |
|
no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of
such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of
funds to be applied to such deposit); |
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|
(5) |
|
such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument
(other than the Indenture) to which Regency Energy Partners or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party or by which Regency Energy Partners or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; |
|
|
(6) |
|
the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers certificate stating that
the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the holders of
notes over the other creditors of the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering,
delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuers or others; and |
|
|
(7) |
|
the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers certificate and an opinion
of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance
or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. |
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture or the notes or the
Note Guarantees may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer
for, notes), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the notes or the Note Guarantees may be waived with the consent of the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer
for, notes).
Without the consent of each holder of notes affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may
not (with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting holder):
|
(1) |
|
reduce the principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver; |
|
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(2) |
|
reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note or alter the
provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the notes (other than
provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption Repurchase at
the Option of Holders); |
|
|
(3) |
|
reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including
default interest, on any note; |
48
|
(4) |
|
waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest
or premium, if any, on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by
the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such
acceleration); |
|
|
(5) |
|
make any note payable in currency other than that stated in the notes; |
|
|
(6) |
|
make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past
Defaults or the rights of holders of notes to receive payments of principal of, or
interest or premium, if any, on, the notes (other than as permitted by clause (7)
below); |
|
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(7) |
|
waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any note (other than a
payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption
Repurchase at the Option of Holders); |
|
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(8) |
|
release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Note Guarantee or
the Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; or |
|
|
(9) |
|
make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder of notes, the Issuers, the
Guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the notes or the Note Guarantees:
|
(1) |
|
to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
|
|
(2) |
|
to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated
notes; |
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|
(3) |
|
to provide for the assumption of an Issuers or a Guarantors obligations to
holders of notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale
of all or substantially all of such Issuers or such Guarantors properties or assets,
as applicable; |
|
|
(4) |
|
to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the
holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture
of any such holder; |
|
|
(5) |
|
to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; |
|
|
(6) |
|
to conform the text of the Indenture or the Note Guarantees to any provision of
this Description of exchange notes to the extent that such text of the Indenture or
Note Guarantee was intended to reflect such provision of this Description of exchange
notes; |
|
|
(7) |
|
to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the
limitations set forth in the Indenture; |
|
|
(8) |
|
to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a notation of
a Note Guarantee with respect to the notes or to reflect the addition or release of a
Note Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture; |
|
|
(9) |
|
to secure the notes and/or the Note Guarantees; or |
|
|
(10) |
|
to provide for the reorganization of Regency Energy Partners as any other form
of entity, in accordance with the second paragraph of Certain CovenantsMerger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets. |
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued
thereunder, when:
49
|
(a) |
|
all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or
destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment
money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have
been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or |
|
|
(b) |
|
all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within
one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and
the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be
deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of
the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a
combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in
amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of
interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the notes not
delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and
accrued interest to the date of fixed maturity or redemption; |
|
(2) |
|
no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of
the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of
funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which Regency
Energy Partners or any Guarantor is a party or by which Regency Energy Partners or any
Guarantor is bound; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by
it under the Indenture; and |
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|
(4) |
|
the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee under the
Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the notes at fixed
maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be. |
In addition, the Issuers must deliver an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel to
the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been
satisfied.
Concerning the Trustee
If the trustee becomes a creditor of the Issuers or any Guarantor, the Indenture limits the
right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain
property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be
permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as
defined in the Trust Indenture Act) after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if
the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes will
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any
remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The Indenture provides that in case
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its
power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to
such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers
under the Indenture at the request of any holder of notes, unless such holder has offered to the
trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
Governing Law
The Indenture, the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
50
Additional Information
Anyone who receives this prospectus may obtain a copy of the Indenture, registration rights
agreement, and the Partnership Agreement without charge by writing to Regency Energy Partners LP at
1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2900, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attention: Chief Legal Officer.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
The exchange notes will be issued initially only in the form of one or more global notes
(collectively, the Global Notes). The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the
trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (DTC),in New York, New York, and
registered in the name of DTCs nominee, Cede & Co., in each case, for credit to an account of a
direct participant in DTC as described below. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be held
through the Euroclear System (Euroclear) and Clearstream Banking, S.A. (Clearstream) (as
indirect participants in DTC).
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only
to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the
Global Notes may not be exchanged for definitive notes in registered certificated form
(Certificated Notes) except in the limited circumstances described below. Please read Exchange
of Global Notes for Certificated Notes.
Depository Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream
are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within
the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. The Issuers
take no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge investors to contact the system
or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised the Issuers that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold
securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the Participants) and to facilitate
the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities
brokers and dealers(including the initial purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTCs system is also available to other
entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the
Indirect Participants). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by
or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership
interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC
are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures established by it:
|
(1) |
|
upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of the
Participants designated by the exchange agent with portions of the principal amount of
the Global Notes; and |
|
|
(2) |
|
ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the
transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records
maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the
Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the
Global Notes). |
Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants in DTCs system may hold their interests
therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their
interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are
Participants in such system. Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the Global Notes on
behalf of their participants through customers securities accounts in their respective names on
the books of their respective depositories, which are Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of
Euroclear, and Citibank, N.A., as operator of Clearstream. All interests in a Global Note,
including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to
the procedures and requirements of
51
such systems. The laws of some states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in
definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only
on behalf of the Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants, the
ability of a Person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to
Persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such
interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below, owners of an interest in the Global Notes will not have notes
registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be
considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, if any, on, a
Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as
the registered holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Issuers and the
trustee will treat the Persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered
as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes.
Consequently, neither the Issuers, the trustee nor any agent of the Issuers or the trustee has or
will have any responsibility or liability for:
|
(1) |
|
any aspect of DTCs records or any Participants or Indirect Participants
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in
the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTCs records or
any Participants or Indirect Participants records relating to the beneficial
ownership interests in the Global Notes; or |
|
|
(2) |
|
any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its
Participants or Indirect Participants. |
DTC has advised us that its current practice, at the due date of any payment in respect of
securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the
relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it
will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount
proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the notes as
shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the
beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and
will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the
responsibility of DTC, the trustee or the Issuers. Neither the Issuers nor the trustee will be
liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the
notes, and the Issuers and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on
instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTCs procedures,
and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and
Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or
Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTCs
rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its depositary; however, such
cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and
within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to
its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or
receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in
accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear
participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories
for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes
only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests
in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if
there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes
for notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its Participants.
52
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream,
they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may
discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither the Issuers nor the trustee nor any of their
respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream
or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the
rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for Certificated Notes in denominations of $1,000 and in
integral multiples of $1,000, if:
|
(1) |
|
DTC (a) notifies the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary for the Global Note or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered
under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Issuers fail to appoint a successor
depositary; or |
|
|
(2) |
|
there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default and DTC notifies the
trustee of its decision to exchange the Global Note for Certificated Notes. |
In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests
in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations,
requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
The Issuers will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes
(including principal, premium, if any, interest, if any) by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note holder. The Issuers will make all payments of
principal, interest and premium, if any, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the
Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holders
registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to be eligible to trade
in The PORTAL Market and to trade in DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted
secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled
in immediately available funds. We expect that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will
also be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream
participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and
any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during
the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and
Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised us that cash
received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or
through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value
on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash
account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTCs settlement date.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the
Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used
herein for which no definition is provided.
Acquired Debt means, with respect to any specified Person:
|
(1) |
|
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was
merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not
such Indebtedness is incurred in |
53
|
|
|
connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or
becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is
extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or
becoming a Subsidiary of such specific Person; and |
|
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(2) |
|
Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person. |
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For
purposes of this definition, control, as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies
of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to
be control; provided, further, that any third Person which also beneficially owns 10% or more of
the Voting Stock of a specified Person shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of either the
specified Person or the other Person merely because of such common ownership in such specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common
control with have correlative meanings.
Applicable Premium means, with respect to any note on any redemption date, the greater of:
|
(1) |
|
1.0% of the principal amount of the note; or |
|
|
(2) |
|
the excess of: |
|
(a) |
|
the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption
price of the note at December 15, 2010 (such redemption price being set forth
in the table appearing above under the caption Optional Redemption) plus
(ii) all required interest payments due on the note through December 15, 2010
(excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using
a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50
basis points; over |
|
|
(b) |
|
the principal amount of the note. |
Asset Sale means:
|
(1) |
|
the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets;
provided, however, that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of Regency Energy Partners and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture
described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of HoldersChange of
Control and/or the provisions described above under the caption Certain
CovenantsMerger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets and not by the provisions of the
Asset Sale covenant; and |
|
|
(2) |
|
the issuance of Equity Interests in any of Regency Energy Partners Restricted
Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:
|
(1) |
|
any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves
properties or assets having a Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million; |
|
|
(2) |
|
a transfer of properties or assets between or among Regency Energy Partners and
its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
|
|
(3) |
|
an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency
Energy Partners to Regency Energy Partners or to a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency
Energy Partners; |
54
|
(4) |
|
the sale or lease of products, services or accounts receivable in the ordinary
course of business and any sale or other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete
properties or assets in the ordinary course of business; |
|
|
(5) |
|
the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Obligations
or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business; |
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(6) |
|
a Restricted Payment that does not violate the covenant described above under
the caption Certain CovenantsRestricted Payments or a Permitted Investment; |
|
|
(7) |
|
any trade or exchange by Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary
of properties or assets of any type for properties or assets of any type owned or held
by another Person, including any disposition of some but not all of the Equity
Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for assets or properties and after
which the Person whose Equity Interests have been so disposed of continues to be a
Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets
traded or exchanged by Regency Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary (together
with any cash or Cash Equivalents and liabilities assumed) is reasonably equivalent to
the Fair Market Value of the properties or assets (together with any cash or Cash
Equivalents and liabilities assumed) to be received by Regency Energy Partners or such
Restricted Subsidiary; and provided further that any cash received must be applied in
accordance with the provisions described above under the caption Repurchase at the
Option of HoldersAsset Sales; and |
|
|
(8) |
|
the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by the covenant
described above under the caption Certain CovenantsLiens, and any disposition in
connection with a Permitted Lien. |
Asset Sale Offer has the meaning assigned to that term under Repurchase at the Option of
HoldersAsset Sales.
Attributable Debt in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of
determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period
for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such
present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in
such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that, if such sale and
leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented
thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligation.
Available Cash has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in
effect on the date of the Indenture.
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under
the Exchange Act, except that, in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular person
(as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such person will be deemed to
have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire by
conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms Beneficially Owns and Beneficially Owned
have a corresponding meaning.
Board of Directors means:
|
(1) |
|
with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; |
|
|
(2) |
|
with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of
the general partner of the partnership or, if such general partner is itself a limited
partnership, then the board of directors or board of managers of its general partner; |
55
|
(3) |
|
with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or
any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and |
|
|
(4) |
|
with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving
a similar function. |
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of
the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized
on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock means:
|
(1) |
|
in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; |
|
|
(2) |
|
in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares,
interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock; |
|
|
(3) |
|
in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership
interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and |
|
|
(4) |
|
any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to
receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the
issuing Person, |
but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock,
whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
Cash Equivalents means:
|
(1) |
|
United States dollars or, in an amount up to the amount necessary or
appropriate to fund local operating expenses, other currencies; |
|
|
(2) |
|
securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United
States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government
(provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of
those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of
acquisition; |
|
|
(3) |
|
certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of six
months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not
exceeding six months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic
commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson
Bank Watch Rating of B or better; |
|
|
(4) |
|
repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying
securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above; |
|
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(5) |
|
commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moodys
or S&P and, in each case, maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and |
|
|
(6) |
|
money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash
Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition. |
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
|
(1) |
|
the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
(other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Regency Energy
Partners and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any person (as that term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), which occurrence is followed by a Ratings
Decline within 90 days; |
56
|
(2) |
|
the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Regency
Energy Partners or the removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of
Regency Energy Partners; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation),
the result of which is that any person (as defined above), other than a Qualified
Owner, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the
Voting Stock of the General Partner or of Regency Energy Partners, measured by voting
power rather than number of shares, which occurrence is followed by a Ratings Decline
within 90 days; or |
|
|
(4) |
|
the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of
the General Partner are not Continuing Directors, which occurrence is followed by a
Ratings Decline within 90 days. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of Regency Energy Partners from a limited partnership
to a corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the
outstanding limited partnership interests for capital stock in a corporation, for member interests
in a limited liability company or for Equity Interests in such other form of entity shall not
constitute a Change of Control, so long as following such conversion or exchange the persons (as
defined above) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of Regency Energy Partners immediately
prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the
Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such
entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a
similar capacity for such entity, and, in either case no person, excluding any Qualifying Owner,
Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity.
Change of Control Offer has the meaning assigned to that term under Repurchase at the
Option of HoldersChange of Control.
Consolidated Cash Flow means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the
Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:
|
(1) |
|
an amount equal to (i) any extraordinary loss plus (ii) any net loss realized
by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale
or the disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent such losses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus |
|
|
(2) |
|
provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes
was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus |
|
|
(3) |
|
the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including amortization of debt
issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest
component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments
associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to
Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in
respect of letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net of all payments,
if any, pursuant to Hedging Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus |
|
|
(4) |
|
depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding
amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other
non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents
an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a
prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation, amortization and
other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus |
57
|
(5) |
|
unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet
adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus |
|
|
(6) |
|
all extraordinary or non-recurring items of gain or loss, or revenue or
expense; minus |
|
|
(7) |
|
non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other
than the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business, |
in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the
aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a
consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that:
|
(1) |
|
the aggregate Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted
Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included
only to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to
the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person; |
|
|
(2) |
|
the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that
the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted
Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any
prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by
operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree,
order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted
Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded; |
|
|
(4) |
|
unrealized losses and gains under derivative instruments included in the
determination of Consolidated Net Income, including those resulting from the
application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 will be excluded;
and |
|
|
(5) |
|
any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of
deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any
Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded. |
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, with respect to any Person at any date of
determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Persons most recent quarterly
or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP less applicable reserves
reflected in such balance sheet, after (i) adding the aggregate incremental amount of total assets
that would have resulted from an acquisition of assets from an Affiliate that is accounted for as a
pooling had it been accounted for using purchase accounting and (ii) deducting the following
amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill,
trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected
in such balance sheet.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of
Directors of the General Partner who:
|
(1) |
|
was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the Indenture; or |
|
|
(2) |
|
was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the
approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of
Directors at the time of such nomination or election. |
Credit Agreement means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as
of December 1, 2004 and amended and restated at various dates, most recently August 15, 2006, by
and among Regency Gas Services LP, Regency Energy Partners, the Guarantors party thereto, the
lenders party thereto, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, collateral
agent, swingline lender and issuing bank, UBS Securities LLC and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as
joint lead arrangers and joint book managers for the
58
Tranche B-1 Term Loans, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers for the Revolving Loans, UBS Loan
Finance LLC, as syndication agent, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as co-syndication agent for the
Revolving Loans, and Fortis Capital Corp. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as co-documentation
agents, providing for $850.0 million of borrowings and letters of credit, including any related
notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or
refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
Credit Facilities means, one or more debt facilities (including the Credit Agreement) or
commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other institutional lenders providing for
revolving credit loans, term loans, accounts receivable financing (including through the sale of
accounts receivable to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such
lenders against such accounts receivable) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated,
modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities
to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.
Default means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both
would be, an Event of Default.
Disqualified Equity means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option
of the holder of the Equity Interest), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is
mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the
option of the holder of the Equity Interest, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is
91 days after the date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any
Equity Interest that would constitute Disqualified Equity solely because the holders of the Equity
Interest have the right to require Regency Energy Partners to repurchase such Equity Interest upon
the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Equity if
the terms of such Equity Interest provide that Regency Energy Partners may not repurchase or redeem
any such Equity Interest pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies
with the covenant described above under the caption Certain CovenantsRestricted Payments.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners that was
formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of
Columbia.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire
Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for,
Capital Stock).
Equity Offering means any public or private sale of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Equity) made for cash on a primary basis by Regency Energy Partners after the date of
the Indenture.
Exchange Notes means the notes issued in an Exchange Offer pursuant to the Indenture.
Exchange Offer has the meaning set forth for such term in the applicable registration rights
agreement.
Existing Indebtedness means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Regency Energy
Partners and its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence on
the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
Fair Market Value means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated
willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of Regency Energy Partners (unless otherwise provided in the
Indenture).
FERC Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners that is subject to
the regulatory jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or any successor thereof)
under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act of 1938.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter
reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the
Fixed Charges of such Person
59
for such period. If the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs,
assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any
Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems
Disqualified Equity subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period
and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio is made (the Calculation Date), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be
calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment,
repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase
or redemption of Disqualified Equity, and the use of the proceeds therefrom, as if the same had
occurred at the beginning of such period.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
|
(1) |
|
acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including any
related financing transactions during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent
to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro
forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference
period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost
reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, in the reasonable
judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of Regency Energy Partners
(regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be
reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X
promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the SEC
related thereto); |
|
|
(2) |
|
the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as
determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership
interests therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded; |
|
|
(3) |
|
the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests therein)
disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent
that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the
specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date; |
|
|
(4) |
|
interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the
applicable four quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any
Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the
Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need
to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included; |
|
|
(5) |
|
if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on
such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the
beginning of the applicable period to the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate
for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligation applicable to such
Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date
in excess of 12 months); and |
|
|
(6) |
|
if any Indebtedness is incurred under a revolving credit facility and is being
given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated based on
the average daily balance of such Indebtedness for the four fiscal quarters subject to
the pro forma calculation. |
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, (A) the sum,
without duplication, of:
|
(1) |
|
the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued, including amortization of debt
issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest
component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments
associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to
Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in |
60
|
|
|
respect of letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net of the effect
of all payments made or received pursuant to Hedging Obligations in respect of
interest rates; plus |
|
|
(2) |
|
the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus |
|
|
(3) |
|
any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such
Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is
called upon; plus |
|
|
(4) |
|
all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any
series of Disqualified Equity of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of Regency
Energy Partners (other than Disqualified Equity) or to Regency Energy Partners or a
Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners; minus |
(B) to the extent included in (A) above, write-offs of deferred financing costs of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period and any charge related to, or any premium or penalty
paid in connection with, paying any such Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries prior to its Stated Maturity. GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States, which are in effect from time to time.
General Partner means Regency GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its
successors and permitted assigns as general partner of Regency GP LP, a Delaware limited
partnership, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of Regency Energy Partners
or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of
Regency Energy Partners.
Government Securities means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United
States of America for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of
the United States of America is pledged.
Guarantee means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for
collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including by way
of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof,
of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
Guarantors means each of:
|
(1) |
|
the Subsidiaries of Regency Energy Partners, other than Finance Corp.,
executing the Indenture as initial Guarantors; and |
|
|
(2) |
|
any other Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners that becomes a Guarantor in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture,and their respective successors and
assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person has been released in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. |
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such
Person incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes
under:
|
(1) |
|
interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating
to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered
into with one or more financial institutions and designed to reduce costs of borrowing
or to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the
agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred; |
|
|
(2) |
|
other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest
rate risk; |
|
|
(3) |
|
foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with
one of more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency
exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred; |
61
|
(4) |
|
any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used,
produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the
time; and |
|
|
(5) |
|
other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity
prices. |
Hydrocarbons means crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline,
condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or
compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person,
whether or not contingent:
|
(1) |
|
in respect of borrowed money; |
|
|
(2) |
|
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); |
|
|
(3) |
|
in respect of bankers acceptances; |
|
|
(4) |
|
representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale
and leaseback transactions; |
|
|
(5) |
|
representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such
services are completed; or |
|
|
(6) |
|
representing any Hedging Obligations, |
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit, Attributable Debt
and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term Indebtedness includes all Indebtedness of
others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is
assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not constitute Indebtedness:
|
(1) |
|
accrued expenses and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business; |
|
|
(2) |
|
any obligation of Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of
Regency Energy Partners and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business, including Guarantees and obligations of Regency Energy Partners or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such
obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed); |
|
|
(3) |
|
any Indebtedness that has been defeased in accordance with GAAP or defeased
pursuant to the deposit of cash or Government Securities (in an amount sufficient to
satisfy all such Indebtedness at fixed maturity or redemption, as applicable, and all
payments of interest and premium, if any) in a trust or account created or pledged for
the sole benefit of the holders of such Indebtedness and subject to no other Liens, and
the other applicable terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness; |
|
|
(4) |
|
any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial
institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in
the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such obligation is
extinguished within five business days of its incurrence; and |
|
|
(5) |
|
any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities,
guarantees, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations
based on the performance of the |
62
|
|
|
acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of
Indebtedness) incurred by any Person in connection with the acquisition or
disposition of assets. |
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by
Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such
Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other
obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to
customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the
balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness,
Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as
investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If Regency Energy Partners or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity
Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners such that,
after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted
Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners, Regency Energy Partners will be deemed to have made an
Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of Regency
Energy Partners Investments in such Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an
amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the
caption Certain CovenantsRestricted Payments.
Joint Venture means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners in which Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any
Investment.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest
in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
(or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement
respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement. In no event shall a right of first refusal
be deemed to constitute a Lien.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof.
Net Income means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such
Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock
dividends, excluding, however:
|
(1) |
|
any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such
gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the
disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness
of such Person; and |
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(2) |
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any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for
taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss). |
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds received by Regency Energy Partners or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received upon the sale
or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:
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(1) |
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the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including legal, accounting and
investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as
a result of the Asset Sale, |
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(2) |
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taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking
into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, |
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(3) |
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amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than
revolving credit Indebtedness except to the extent resulting a permanent reduction in
availability of such Indebtedness under a Credit Facility, secured by a Lien on the
properties or assets that were the |
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subject of such Asset Sale and all distributions and payments required to be made to
minority interest holders in Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such Asset Sale,
and |
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(4) |
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any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP
or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale
price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale
and retained by Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until
such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in
which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the
amount returned to Regency Energy Partners or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such
escrow arrangement, as the case may be. |
Non-Recourse Debt means Indebtedness:
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(1) |
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as to which neither Regency Energy Partners nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking,
agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or
indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise or (c) is the lender; |
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(2) |
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no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the
Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary)
would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness of
Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on
such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or
payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and |
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(3) |
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as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have
any recourse to the stock or assets of Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (10) of the definition of Permitted
Liens. |
For purposes of determining compliance with the covenant described under Certain
CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Equity above, if any
Non-Recourse Debt of any of Regency Energy Partners Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be
Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners.
Note Guarantee means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Issuers obligations under the
Indenture and the notes, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.
Obligations means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications,
reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any
Indebtedness.
Operating Surplus has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in
effect on the date of the Indenture.
Partnership Agreement means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP, dated as of February 3, 2006, as amended on August 15, 2006 and
September 21, 2006, and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Permitted Business means either (1) gathering, transporting, treating, processing,
marketing, distributing, storing or otherwise handling Hydrocarbons, or activities or services
reasonably related or ancillary thereto including entering into Hedging Obligations to support
these businesses, or (2) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes
qualifying income under Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Permitted Business Investments means Investments by Regency Energy Partners or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners or in any Joint
Venture, provided that:
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(1) |
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either (a) at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, Regency
Energy Partners could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio test set forth |
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in the first paragraph of the covenant described under Certain
CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Equity above or
(b) such Investment does not exceed the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds (as
defined in the covenant described under Certain CovenantsRestricted Payments)
not previously expended at the time of making such Investment; |
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(2) |
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if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness
at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt
or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Joint Venture that is
recourse to Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall
include all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which
Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or
indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms
of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including any claw-back,
make-well or keepwell arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be
incurred at that time by Regency Energy Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries under
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant
described under Certain CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Equity; and |
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(3) |
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such Unrestricted Subsidiarys or Joint Ventures activities are not outside
the scope of the Permitted Business. |
Permitted Investments means:
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(1) |
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any Investment in Regency Energy Partners or in a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners; |
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(2) |
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any Investment in Cash Equivalents; |
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(3) |
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any Investment by Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners in a Person, if as a result of such Investment: |
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(a) |
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such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy
Partners; or |
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(b) |
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such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or
into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to,
or is liquidated into, Regency Energy Partners or a Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners; |
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(4) |
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any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from: |
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(a) |
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an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with
the covenant described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of
HoldersAsset Sales; or |
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(b) |
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pursuant to clause (7) of the items deemed not to be Asset
Sales under the definition of Asset Sale; |
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(5) |
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any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity
Interests (other than Disqualified Equity) of Regency Energy Partners; |
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(6) |
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any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of
trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of
Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to
any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of
any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by Regency Energy
Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment
in default; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not
Affiliates; |
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(7) |
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Investments represented by Hedging Obligations permitted to be incurred; |
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(8) |
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loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of
Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1.0 million at any one time outstanding; |
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(9) |
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repurchases of the notes; |
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(10) |
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any Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection
and lease, utility, workers compensation and performance and other similar deposits
and prepaid expenses made in the ordinary course of business; |
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(11) |
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Permitted Business Investments; and |
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(12) |
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other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured
on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent
changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this
clause (12) that are at the time outstanding not to exceed the greater of (a) $25.0
million and (b) 2.5% of Regency Energy Partners Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. |
Permitted Liens means:
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(1) |
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Liens securing any Indebtedness under any of the Credit Facilities and all
Obligations and Hedging Obligations relating to such Indebtedness; |
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(2) |
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Liens in favor of Regency Energy Partners or the Guarantors; |
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(3) |
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Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with
or into or consolidated with Regency Energy Partners or any Subsidiary of Regency
Energy Partners; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged
into or consolidated with Regency Energy Partners or the Subsidiary; |
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(4) |
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Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by
Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners;
provided that such Liens were in existence prior to, such acquisition, and not incurred
in contemplation of, such acquisition; |
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(5) |
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Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or appeal
bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary
course of business; |
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(6) |
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Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by
clause (4) of the second paragraph of the covenant entitled Certain
CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Equity covering
only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness; |
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(7) |
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Liens existing on the date of the Indenture (other than Liens securing the
Credit Facilities); |
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(8) |
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Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the notes (or the Note
Guarantees); |
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(9) |
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Liens on any property or asset acquired, constructed or improved by Regency
Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a Purchase Money Lien), which
(a) are in favor of the seller of such property or assets, in favor of the Person
developing, constructing, repairing or improving such asset or property, or in favor of
the Person that provided the funding for the acquisition, development, construction,
repair or improvement cost, as the case may be, of such asset or property, (b) are
created within 360 days after the acquisition, development, construction, repair or
improvement, (c) secure the purchase price or development, construction, repair or
improvement cost, as the case may be, of such asset or property in an amount up to 100%
of the Fair Market Value of such acquisition, construction or improvement of such asset
or property, and (d) are limited to the asset or property so acquired, constructed or
improved (including the proceeds thereof, accessions thereto and upgrades thereof); |
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(10) |
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Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or
any Joint Venture owned by Regency Energy Partners or any Restricted Subsidiary of
Regency Energy Partners to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness
of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture; |
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(11) |
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Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a right of setoff,
revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money or instruments of Regency Energy
Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with or in possession of such
bank; |
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(12) |
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Liens to secure performance of Hedging Obligations of Regency Energy Partners
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
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(13) |
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Liens arising under construction contracts, interconnection agreements,
operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas
leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for purchase, gathering,
processing, sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil, natural gas liquids,
condensate and natural gas, natural gas storage agreements, unitization and pooling
declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, real property leases
and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of Regency Energy
Partners and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Permitted Business; |
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(14) |
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Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds
of Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Persons
obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or
created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage
of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by the covenant
described under Certain CovenantsIncurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Disqualified Equity; |
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(15) |
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Liens securing any Indebtedness equally and ratably with all Obligations due
under the notes or any Note Guarantee pursuant to a contractual covenant that limits
Liens in a manner substantially similar to the covenant described above under
Certain CovenantsLiens; |
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(16) |
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Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of Regency Energy Partners or
any Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners; provided, however, that, after
giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness then outstanding and secured by any Liens pursuant to this clause (16)
dates not exceed 5.0% of Regency Energy Partners Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at
such time; and |
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(17) |
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any Lien renewing, extending, refinancing or refunding a Lien permitted by
clauses (1) through (16) above; provided that (a) the principal amount of Indebtedness
secured by such Lien does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness
outstanding immediately prior to the renewal, extension, refinance or refund of such
Lien, plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness secured thereby and the amount of
all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith, and (b) no assets
encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered
immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinance or refund are encumbered
thereby. |
After termination of the covenants referred to in the first paragraph of Certain Covenants
Termination of Covenants, for purposes of complying with the Liens covenant, the Liens
described in clauses (1) and (16) of this definition of Permitted Liens will be Permitted Liens
only to the extent those Liens secure Indebtedness not exceeding, at the time of determination, 10%
of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of Regency Energy Partners. Once effective, this 10%
limitation on Permitted Liens will continue to apply during any later period in which the notes do
not have an Investment Grade Rating by both Rating Agencies.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to
renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge, other Indebtedness of Regency Energy
Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided
that:
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(1) |
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the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed
the principal amount of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced,
defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of
all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith); |
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(2) |
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such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date no earlier
than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to
or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; |
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(3) |
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if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Note Guarantees,
such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to, the
notes or the Note Guarantees, on terms at least as favorable to the holders of notes as
those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed,
refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and |
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(4) |
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such Indebtedness is incurred either by Regency Energy Partners or by the
Restricted Subsidiary that is the obligor on or guarantor of the Indebtedness being
renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged. |
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or
other entity.
Qualified Owner means Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Equity Fund V, LP and its Affiliates that
are organized by such Person (or any Person controlling such Person) primarily for making, or
otherwise having as their primary activity holding or exercising control over, equity or debt
investments in Regency GP LLC or other portfolio companies.
Rating Agencies means Moodys and S&P.
Ratings Categories means:
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(1) |
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with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B,
CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and |
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(2) |
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with respect to Moodys, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba,
B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories). |
Ratings Decline means a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moodys or S&P by one
or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating
Categories). In determining whether the rating of the notes has decreased by one or more
gradations, gradations within Ratings Categories, namely + or for S&P, and 1, 2 and 3 for
Moodys, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a ratings decline either from
BB+ to BB or BB to BB- will constitute a decrease of one gradation.
Reporting Default means a Default described in clause (4) under Events of Default and
Remedies.
Restricted Investment means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an
Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in the indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp.
shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or
any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Senior Indebtedness means with respect to any Person, Indebtedness of such Person, unless
the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness provides that such Indebtedness is
subordinate in right of payment to the notes or the Note Guarantee of such Person, as the case may
be.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as
defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as
such Regulation is in effect on the date of the Indenture.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any
series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be
paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent
obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any specified Person:
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(1) |
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any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership
or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the
Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person
or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and |
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(2) |
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any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a)
the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such
Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the
only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns
or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner
interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited
liability company, respectively. |
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield to maturity at the time
of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and
published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become
publicly available at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical
Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly
equal to the period from the redemption date to December 15, 2010; provided, however, that if such
period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a
weekly average yield is given, Regency Energy Partners shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear
interpolation (calculated to the nearest one twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of
United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from
the redemption date to December 15, 2010, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on
actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will
be used. Regency Energy Partners will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second business day
preceding the applicable redemption date and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the
trustee an officers certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and
showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners (other than Finance
Corp. or any successor to it) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the General Partner
as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, but only to the
extent that such Subsidiary:
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(1) |
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except to the extent permitted by subclause (2)(b) of the definition of
Permitted Business Investments, has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; |
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(2) |
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except as permitted under clause (4) of the covenant described above under the
caption Certain CovenantsTransactions with Affiliates, is not party to any
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Regency Energy Partners or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Regency Energy Partners unless the terms of any such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to Regency
Energy Partners or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the
time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Regency Energy Partners; |
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(3) |
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is a Person with respect to which neither Regency Energy Partners nor any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Persons financial
condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results;
and |
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(4) |
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has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support
for any Indebtedness of Regency Energy Partners or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. |
All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be also Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Voting Stock of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person
that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the
number of years obtained by dividing:
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(1) |
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the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then
remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b)
the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment; by |
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the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness. |
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FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain federal income tax consequences relevant to the exchange
of exchange notes for outstanding notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis for all
potential tax effects. The summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions
now in effect, all of which may be subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or
administrative action. These changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely
affect a holder of exchange notes. The description does not consider the effect of any applicable
foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations. Each holder is
encouraged to consult, and depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the particular tax
consequences of exchanging such holders outstanding notes for new notes, including the
applicability and effect of any federal, state, local and foreign tax laws.
The exchange of exchange notes for outstanding notes will not be a taxable event to a holder
for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a holder will have the same adjusted
issue price, adjusted basis and holding period in the exchange notes as it had in the outstanding
notes immediately before the exchange.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission in no-action letters issued to third
parties, we believe that you may transfer exchange notes issued under the exchange offer in
exchange for the outstanding notes if:
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you acquire the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; and |
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you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, and have no arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of such exchange notes. |
You may not participate in the exchange offer if you are:
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an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of us or
Regency Energy Finance Corp.; or |
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a broker-dealer that acquired outstanding notes directly from us. |
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange
offer must acknowledge that it will deliver this prospectus in connection with any resale of such
exchange notes. To date, the staff of the Commission has taken the position that broker-dealers may
fulfill their prospectus delivery requirements with respect to transactions involving an exchange
of securities such as this exchange offer, other than a resale of an unsold allotment from the
original sale of the outstanding notes, with this prospectus. This prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of
exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that,
during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is
applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the exchange notes, we will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. In addition, until such date, all dealers effecting transactions in exchange
notes may be required to deliver this prospectus.
If you wish to exchange notes for your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will be
required to make representations to us as described in Exchange Offer Procedures for Tendering
Your Representations to Us in this prospectus. As indicated in the letter of transmittal, you
will be deemed to have made these representations by tendering your outstanding notes in the
exchange offer. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer who receives exchange notes for your own
account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired by you as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge, in the same manner,
that you will deliver this prospectus in connection with any resale by you of such exchange notes.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange
notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold
from time to time in one or more transactions:
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in the over-the-counter market; |
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in negotiated transactions; |
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through the writing of options on the exchange notes; or |
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a combination of such methods of resale; |
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at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. |
Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may
receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the
purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that
participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act. Each letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it
will deliver and by delivering this prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is
applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the exchange notes, we will
promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this
prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents. We have agreed to pay all reasonable
expenses incident to the exchange offers (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of
the outstanding notes) other than commissions or concessions of any broker-dealers and will
indemnify the holders of the outstanding notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
Vinson
& Elkins L.L.P. has issued an opinion as to the legality of the exchange notes.
EXPERTS
The
(1) consolidated financial statements of Regency Energy Partners LP
and subsidiaries and (2) the consolidated balance sheet of Regency GP
LP incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Regency Energy
Partners LP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their
reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
72
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SECs public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are
also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the SECs web site
at http://www.sec.gov.
We incorporate by reference information into this prospectus, which means that we disclose
important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC.
The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any
information superseded by information contained expressly in this prospectus, and the information
we file later with the SEC will automatically supersede this information. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus is current as of any date other than the date on the front
page of this prospectus.
Any information that we file under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, and that is deemed filed, with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
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Our Annual Report on Forms 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006. |
You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any
exhibit specifically incorporated by reference in those documents, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address or phone number:
Regency Energy Partners LP.
Investor Relations
1700 Pacific, Suite 2900
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 750-1711
We also make available free of charge on our internet website at http://www.regencyenergy.com all
of the documents we file with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically
file such material with the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by
reference into this prospectus and you should not consider information contained on our website as
part of this prospectus.
73
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Statements included in this prospectus that are not historical facts, but
that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in
the future, including things such as references to future goals or intentions or other such
references are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology including may, believe, expect, anticipate, estimate,
continue, or similar words. These statements include statements related to plans for growth of
the business, future capital expenditures and competitive strengths and goals. We make these
statements based on our past experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions
and expected future developments as well as other considerations we believe are appropriate under
the circumstances. Whether actual results and developments in the future will conform to our
expectations is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or
forecast in these statements. Any differences could be caused by a number of factors, including:
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Our ability to integrate successfully any acquired assets or operations; |
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the volatility of prices and market demand for natural gas and natural gas liquids; |
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our ability to continue to obtain new sources of natural gas supply; |
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the ability of key producers to continue to drill and successfully complete and
attach new natural gas supplies; |
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our ability to retain our key customers; |
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general economic conditions; |
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the effects of government regulations and policies; and |
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other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to
time in our filings with the SEC. |
Cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from our expectations are set forth in this prospectus, including in conjunction with
the forward-looking statements that are referred to above. When considering forward-looking
statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in
this prospectus under Risk Factors. All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus
and all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly
qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date made, other than as required by law, and we undertake no obligation to update
publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements.
74
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. Indemnification of Officers and Directors
We will generally indemnify officers, directors and affiliates of the general partner to
the fullest extent permitted by the law against all losses, claims, damages or similar events and
is incorporated herein by this reference. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set
forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner
or other persons from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
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4.1
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Indenture for 8 3/8% Senior Notes
due 2013, together with the global notes (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2006). |
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4.2*
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2006, among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Finance Corp., the Guarantors named therein and UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC. |
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5.1*
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Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered. |
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12.1
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Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006). |
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23.1*
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Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
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23.2*
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Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1). |
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24.1*
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Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages). |
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25.1*
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Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of
the trustee under the Indenture with respect to the 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2013. |
Item 22. Undertakings
Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Each registrant hereby undertakes:
To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus
pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such
request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means.
This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the
registration statement through the date of responding to the request.
To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and
the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the
registration statement when it became effective.
II-1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Dallas, State
of Texas, on the 1st day of
April, 2007.
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REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP |
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By:
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Regency GP LP,
its general partner |
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By:
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Regency GP LLC,
its general partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name:
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James W. Hunt |
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Title:
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Stephen L. Arata and William E. Joor, III,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including
any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ James W. Hunt
James W. Hunt |
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Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive
Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Stephen L. Arata
Stephen L. Arata |
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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
II-2
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/s/ Lawrence B. Connors
Lawrence B. Connors |
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Vice President, Finance and Accounting
(Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Joe Colonnetta
Joe Colonnetta |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Jason H. Downie
Jason H. Downie |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ A. Dean Fuller
A. Dean Fuller |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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Jack D. Furst |
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Director
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April ___, 2007 |
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/s/ J. Edward Herring
J. Edward Herring |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Robert D. Kincaid
Robert D. Kincaid |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
II-3
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/s/ Gary W. Luce
Gary W. Luce |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ J. Otis Winters
J. Otis Winters |
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Director
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April 1, 2007 |
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY ENERGY FINANCE CORP. |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name:
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James W. Hunt |
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Title:
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Stephen L. Arata and William E. Joor, III,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including
any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the
dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ James W. Hunt
James W. Hunt |
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Chairman, President, Chief Executive
Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Stephen L. Arata
Stephen L. Arata |
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Vice President and Treasurer, Director
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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Michael L. Williams |
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Vice President, Director
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April ___, 2007 |
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/s/ William E. Joor III
William E. Joor III |
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Vice President, Secretary, Director
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April 1, 2007 |
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY WAHA LP, LLC |
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REGENCY NGL GP, LLC |
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REGENCY GAS MARKETING GP LLC |
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REGENCY WAHA GP, LLC |
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REGENCY INTRASTATE GAS, LLC |
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REGENCY MIDCON GAS LLC |
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REGENCY LIQUIDS PIPELINE LLC |
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REGENCY GAS GATHERING AND PROCESSING LLC |
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GULF STATES TRANSMISSION CORPORATION |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name:
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James W. Hunt |
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Title:
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Stephen L. Arata and William E. Joor, III,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including
any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the
dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ James W. Hunt
James W. Hunt |
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Chairman and President (Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Stephen Arata
Stephen Arata |
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Vice President, Director (Principal Financial Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Lawrence B. Connors
Lawrence B. Connors |
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Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
II-6
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Michael L. Williams |
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Vice
President, Director (except as to Gulf States
Transmission Corporation)
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April ___, 2007 |
/s/ William E. Joor III
William E. Joor III |
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Vice President and Secretary,
Director
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April 1, 2007 |
II-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY FN GP LLC |
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REGENCY FS GP LLC |
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REGENCY GUARANTOR GP LLC |
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REGENCY GU GP LLC |
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REGENCY OPERATING GP LLC |
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REGENCY PIPELINE COMPANY INC. |
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REGENCY TGG LLC |
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REGENCY TS GP LLC |
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REGENCY TS ACQUISITION GP LLC |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name:
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James W. Hunt |
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Title:
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Stephen L. Arata and William E. Joor, III,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including
any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the
dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ James W. Hunt
James W. Hunt |
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Chairman and President (Principal Executive Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Stephen L. Arata
Stephen L. Arata |
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Vice President, Director (Principal Financial Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Lawrence B. Connors
Lawrence B. Connors |
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Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
II-8
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/s/ William E. Joor III
William E. Joor III |
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Vice President and Secretary, Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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Michael L. Williams |
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Vice President, Director
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April ___, 2007 |
II-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY OLP GP LLC |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name:
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James W. Hunt |
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Title:
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Stephen L. Arata and William E. Joor, III,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including
any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them of their or his substitute and substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and the
dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ James W. Hunt
James W. Hunt |
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Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Stephen L. Arata
Stephen L. Arata |
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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Director (Principal Financial Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ Lawrence B. Connors
Lawrence B. Connors |
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Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
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April 1, 2007 |
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/s/ William E. Joor III
William E. Joor III |
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Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and
Administrative Officer and Secretary, Director
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April 1, 2007 |
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Michael L. Williams |
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Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Director
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April ___, 2007 |
II-10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY EASTEX NEWLINE LP |
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REGENCY EASTEX PROTREAT I LP |
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REGENCY EASTEX PROTREAT II LP |
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By:
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REGENCY OPERATING GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY FRIO NEWLINE LP |
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By:
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REGENCY FN GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-12
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY FS LP |
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By:
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REGENCY FS GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-13
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GAS UTILITY LP |
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By:
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REGENCY GU GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-14
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GUARANTOR LP |
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By:
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REGENCY GUARANTOR GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-15
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY FIELD SERVICES LP |
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By:
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REGENCY TS GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-16
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY OPERATING LP |
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By:
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REGENCY OPERATING GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-17
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY TS ACQUISITION LP |
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By:
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REGENCY TS ACQUISITION GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GAS COMPANY LTD. |
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By:
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REGENCY PIPELINE COMPANY INC., its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-19
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY NGL MARKETING LP |
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By:
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REGENCY NGL GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-20
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GAS
MARKETING LP |
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By:
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REGENCY GAS MARKETING GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-21
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GAS SERVICES
LP |
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By:
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REGENCY OLP GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President and Chief Executive
Officer |
II-22
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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REGENCY GAS SERVICES
WAHA LP |
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By:
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REGENCY WAHA GP LLC., its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-23
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas,
Texas, on April 1, 2007
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PALAFOX JOINT VENTURE |
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By:
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REGENCY PIPELINE COMPANY INC, its General Partner |
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By:
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REGENCY GAS SERVICES LP, its General Partner |
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By: REGENCY OLP GP LLC, its General Partner |
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By: |
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/s/ James W. Hunt |
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Name: |
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James W. Hunt |
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Title: |
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President |
II-24
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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4.1
|
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Indenture for 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2013, together with the global note (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2006). |
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4.2*
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2006, among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Finance Corp., the Guarantors named therein and UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC. |
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5.1*
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Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered. |
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|
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12.1
|
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Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006). |
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23.1*
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Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
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23.2*
|
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Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1). |
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24.1*
|
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Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages). |
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25.1*
|
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Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of
the trustee under the Indenture with respect to the 8 3/8% Senior Notes due 2013. |