As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 2015
US 3911374v.5
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 73-1493906 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 981-0700 | |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) | |
Thomas E. Long Chief Financial Officer Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 981-0700 | |
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | |
Copies to: | |
Thomas P. Mason Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600 Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 981-0700 | David P. Oelman Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. First City Tower 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, TX 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 as determined by market conditions and other factors.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. þ
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 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. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Amount to be Registered (1) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Unit (2) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Amount of Registration Fee |
Common Units | 12,000,000 | $40.50 | $485,940,000 | $48,935 |
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the common units being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of common units as may be issuable with respect to the common units being registered hereunder as a result of unit splits, unit dividends or similar transactions.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per unit is calculated based on the average of the high and low sales prices per unit of the registrant’s common units on November 19, 2015, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
1
PROSPECTUS
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
Distribution Reinvestment Plan
12,000,000 Common Units
With this prospectus, we are offering participation in our Distribution Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) to owners of our common units. We have appointed American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as the administrator of the Plan. The Plan provides a simple and convenient means of investing in our common units.
Plan Highlights:
• | You may participate in the Plan if you currently are a unitholder of record of our common units or if you own our common units through your broker (by having your broker participate on your behalf). |
• | You may purchase additional common units by reinvesting all or a portion of the cash distributions paid on your common units. |
• | You may purchase our common units at a discount ranging from 0% to 5% (currently set at 5%) without paying any service fees, brokerage trading fees or other charges. (Note: If you participate in the Plan through your broker, you should consult with your broker; your broker may charge you a service fee.) |
Your participation in the Plan is voluntary, and you may terminate your account at any time.
You should read carefully this prospectus before deciding to participate in the Plan. You should read the documents we have referred you to in the “Where You Can Find More Information” section of this prospectus for information on us and for our financial statements.
Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ETP.”
Investing in our common units involves risks. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus before enrolling in the Plan.
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.
The date of this prospectus is November 20, 2015.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.. 4
The Plan 7
Commonly Asked Questions 7
Experts37
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents. You should not assume that the information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
3
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
We are one of the largest publicly traded master limited partnerships in the United States in terms of equity market capitalization (approximately $20.77 billion as of November 16, 2015). We are managed by our general partner, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., or ETP GP, and ETP GP is managed by its general partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., or ETP LLC, which is owned by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., or ETE, another publicly traded master limited partnership. The primary activities in which we are engaged, all of which are in the United States, are as follows:
Ù | Natural gas operations, including the following: |
#VALUE! | natural gas midstream and intrastate transportation and storage; and |
#VALUE! | interstate natural gas transportation and storage. |
Ù | NGL transportation, storage and fractionation services. |
Ù | Refined product and crude oil operations, including the following: |
#VALUE! | refined product and crude oil transportation; and |
#VALUE! | retail marketing of gasoline and middle distillates. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600, Dallas, Texas 75225, and our telephone number at that location is (214) 981-0700.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains various forward-looking statements and information that are based on our beliefs and those of our general partner, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus, words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “intend,” “could,” “believe,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we and our general partner believe that the expectations on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct bearing on our results of operations and financial condition are:
Ù | the volumes transported on our pipelines and gathering systems; |
Ù | the level of throughput in our processing and treating facilities; |
Ù | the fees we charge and the margins we realize for our gathering, treating, processing, storage and transportation services; |
Ù | the prices and market demand for, and the relationship between, natural gas and natural gas liquids, or NGLs; |
Ù Ù | energy prices generally; the price of natural gas and NGLs compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels; |
Ù | the general level of petroleum product demand and the availability and price of NGL supplies; |
Ù | the level of domestic oil and natural gas production; |
4
Ù | the availability of imported oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
Ù | actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations; |
Ù | the political and economic stability of petroleum producing nations; |
Ù | the effect of weather conditions on demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
Ù | availability of local intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
Ù | the continued ability to find and contract for new sources of natural gas supply; |
Ù | availability and marketing of competitive fuels; |
Ù | the impact of energy conservation efforts; |
Ù | energy efficiencies and technological trends; |
Ù | governmental regulation and taxation; |
Ù | changes to, and the application of, regulation of tariff rates and operational requirements related to our interstate and intrastate pipelines; |
Ù | hazards or operating risks incidental to the gathering, treating, processing and transporting of natural gas and NGLs that may not be fully covered by insurance; |
Ù | competition from other midstream companies and interstate pipeline companies; |
Ù | loss of key personnel; |
Ù | loss of key natural gas producers or the providers of fractionation services; |
Ù | reductions in the capacity or allocations of third-party pipelines that connect with our pipelines and facilities; |
Ù | the effectiveness of risk-management policies and procedures and the ability of our liquids marketing counterparties to satisfy their financial commitments; |
Ù | the nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers; |
Ù | regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties that may affect the timing and cost of our internal growth projects, such as our construction of additional pipeline systems; |
Ù | risks associated with the construction of new pipelines and treating and processing facilities or additions to our existing pipelines and facilities, including difficulties in obtaining permits and rights-of-way or other regulatory approvals and the performance by third-party contractors; |
Ù | the availability and cost of capital and our ability to access certain capital sources; |
Ù | a deterioration of the credit and capital markets; |
Ù | risks associated with the assets and operations of entities in which we own less than a controlling interests, including risks related to management actions at such entities that we may not be able to control or exert influence; |
5
Ù | the ability to successfully identify and consummate strategic acquisitions at purchase prices that are accretive to our financial results and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; |
Ù | changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, including tax, environmental, transportation and employment regulations or new interpretations by regulatory agencies concerning such laws and regulations; and |
Ù | the costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings. |
You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. When considering forward-looking statements, please review the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and those incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed after our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common units involves risks. You should consider carefully the following risk factors relating to our Distribution Reinvestment Plan, or the “Plan,” together with all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus before deciding to participate in the Plan. The risks relating to the Plan are not the only risks associated with an investment in our common units. For key current (i) risks inherent in our business that may have a material impact on our results of operations and financial condition, (ii) risks inherent in an investment in us related to our common units as a result of our partnership structure, and (iii) tax risks to common unitholders, please read “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and our future annual and quarterly reports that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as such information may be amended or supplemented by any future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
This prospectus also contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please read “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including risks described in the above documents and in this prospectus. If the events or possibilities described in any of these risks occur, our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common units could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to the Plan
You will not know the price of the common units you are purchasing under the Plan at the time you authorize the investment or elect to have your distributions reinvested. The price of our common units may fluctuate between the time you decide to purchase common units under the Plan and the time of actual purchase. As a result, you may purchase common units at a price higher than the price you anticipated.
If you instruct the administrator to sell common units under the Plan, you will not be able to direct the time or price at which your common units are sold. The price of our common units may decline between the time you decide to sell common units and the time of actual sale.
If you decide to withdraw from the Plan and you request a certificate for common units credited to you under the Plan from the administrator, the market price of our common units may decline between the time you decide to withdraw and the time you receive the certificate.
6
THE PLAN
Plan Overview
The Plan offers a simple, convenient and no-cost way for owners of our common units to invest all or a portion of their cash distributions in our common units. The Plan is designed for long-term investors who wish to invest and build their common unit ownership over time. Unlike an individual brokerage account, the timing of purchases is subject to the provisions of the Plan. The principal terms and conditions of the Plan are summarized in this prospectus under “Commonly Asked Questions” below.
We have appointed American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, or the “Administrator,” to administer the Plan, and certain administrative support will be provided to the Administrator by its designated affiliates. Together, the Administrator and its affiliates will purchase and hold common units for Plan participants, keep records, send statements and perform other duties required by the Plan.
Only registered holders of our common units can participate directly in the Plan. If you are a beneficial owner of common units in a brokerage account and wish to reinvest your distributions, you can make arrangements with your broker or nominee to participate in the Plan on your behalf, or you can request that your common units become registered in your name.
Please read this entire prospectus for a more detailed description of the Plan. If you are a registered holder of our common units and would like to participate in the Plan, you can enroll online by following the enrollment procedures specified on the Administrator’s website at www.amstock.com or by completing and signing an authorization form and returning it to the Administrator. Authorization forms may be obtained at any time by written request, by contacting the Administrator at the address and telephone number provided in Question 6, or via the Internet at the Administrator’s website at www.amstock.com.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How can I participate in the Plan?
If you are a current holder of record, or registered holder, of our common units, you may participate directly in the Plan. If you own common units that are registered in someone else’s name (for example, a bank, broker or trustee), the Plan allows you to participate through such person, should they elect to participate, without having to withdraw your common units from such bank, broker or trustee. If your broker or bank elects not to participate in the Plan on your behalf, you can participate by withdrawing your common units from such bank or broker and registering your common units in your name.
2. How do I get started?
If you are a registered holder of our common units, once you have read this prospectus, you can get started by enrolling in the Plan online by following the enrollment procedures specified on the Administrator’s website at www.amstock.com or by completing and signing an authorization form (see Question 6) and returning it to the Administrator. Your participation will begin promptly after your authorization is received. Once you have enrolled, your participation continues automatically, as long as you wish. If you own common units that are registered in someone else’s name (for example a bank, broker or trustee), then you should contact such person to arrange for them to participate in the Plan on your behalf.
3. How are distributions reinvested?
By enrolling in the Plan, you direct the Administrator to apply distributions to the purchase of additional common units in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. You may elect to reinvest all or a portion of your distributions in additional common units. The Administrator will invest distributions in whole and fractional common units on the quarterly distribution payment date (the investment date). No interest will be paid on funds held by the Administrator pending investment.
If the Administrator receives your authorization form on or before the record date for the payment of the next distribution, the amount of the distribution that you elect to be reinvested will be invested in additional common units for your Plan account. If the authorization form is received in the period after any distribution record date, that distribution will be paid by check or automatic deposit to a bank account that you designate and your initial distribution reinvestment will commence with the following distribution.
7
You may change your distribution reinvestment election at any time online via www.amstock.com, by telephone or by notifying the Administrator in writing. To be effective with respect to a particular distribution, any such change must be received by the Administrator on or before the record date for that distribution. As a result of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Internal Revenue Service requires unitholders to reinvest a minimum of 10% of their unit balance each scheduled distribution date.
4. When are distributions reinvested?
The investment date will be the distribution payment date for each quarter (generally, on or around the 15th calendar day of February, May, August and November). The record date for eligibility to receive distributions generally will be approximately one week before the date upon which distributions are paid. In the unlikely event that, due to unusual market conditions, the Administrator is unable to invest the funds within 30 days of the distribution payment date, the Administrator will return the funds to you by check or by automatic deposit to a bank account that you designate. No interest will be paid on funds held by the Administrator pending investment.
5. What is the source and price of common units purchased under the Plan?
We have the sole discretion to determine whether common units purchased under the Plan will come from our authorized but unissued common units or from common units purchased on the open market by the Administrator. We currently intend to use our authorized but unissued common units for all common units to be purchased under the Plan.
The price for authorized but unissued common units purchased with reinvested distributions will be the average of the high and low trading prices of the common units on the New York Stock Exchange—Composite Transactions for the five trading days immediately preceding the investment date, less a discount ranging from 0% to 5%. The discount is initially set at 5%; therefore, the initial purchase price for authorized but unissued common units purchased with reinvested distributions will be 95% of such average trading price. (Note: If you participate in the Plan through your broker, you should consult with your broker to determine if your broker will charge you a service fee.)
The purchase price for common units purchased with reinvested distributions on the open market will be the weighted average price of all common units purchased for the Plan for the respective investment date, less a discount ranging from 0% to 5%. (Note: If you participate in the Plan through your broker, you should consult with your broker to determine if your broker will charge you a service fee.)
We will provide notice to you of any changes in the discount rate at least 30 days prior to the following record date.
6. Who is the Administrator of the Plan?
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC is the Administrator of the Plan. Certain administrative support will be provided to the Administrator by its designated affiliates.
For transaction requests, please write to the Administrator at the following address: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, Wall Street Station, P.O. Box 922, New York, New York 10269-0560. For all other correspondence regarding the Plan, please write to the Administrator at the following address: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, 6201 Fifteenth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219. In addition, you may call the Administrator at (888) 257-7340 or contact the Administrator via the Internet at www.amstock.com.
Please include a reference to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and this Plan in all correspondence.
7. What is the cost of participating in the Plan?
There is no fee for reinvesting distributions through the Plan. You may be responsible for certain charges if you withdraw from the Plan. Additionally, if you are a beneficial owner of our common units and are participating in the Plan through your broker, you should consult with your broker; you may be charged a fee by your broker for participating in the Plan on your behalf.
8. How many common units will be purchased for my account?
If you are a registered holder of our common units and are directly participating in the Plan, the number of common units, including fractional common units, purchased under the Plan will depend on the amount of your cash distribution you elect to reinvest
8
and the price of the common units determined as provided above. Common units purchased under the Plan, including fractional common units, will be credited to your account. Both whole and fractional common units will be purchased. Fractional common units will be computed to three decimal places.
If you are a beneficial owner and are participating in the Plan through your broker, you should contact your broker for the details of how the number of common units you purchase will be determined.
This prospectus relates to 12,000,000 of our common units registered for sale under the Plan. We cannot assure you there will be enough common units to meet the requirements under the Plan. If we do not have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued common units to meet the Plan requirements during any quarter, and if the Administrator is unable to purchase a sufficient number of common units in the open market, any reinvested distributions received by the Administrator but not invested in our common units under the Plan will be returned to participants without interest.
9. What are the tax consequences of purchasing common units under the Plan?
For tax purposes, you will be treated as if you first received the full cash distribution on your common units that participate in the Plan and then purchased additional common units with the portion of such cash distributions that is subject to the Plan. As a result, your adjusted basis for tax purposes in your common units will be reduced by the full amount of the deemed cash distribution and then increase by the amount of the distributions reinvested in additional common units pursuant to the Plan. Purchasing common units pursuant to the Plan will not affect the tax obligations associated with the common units you currently own and your allocable share of our net income allocable to such common units. However, participation in the Plan will reduce the amount of cash distributions available to you to satisfy any tax obligations associated with owning such common units. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” for information relevant to holders of common units generally.
10. How can I withdraw from the Plan?
If you are a registered holder of our common units, you may discontinue the reinvestment of your distributions at any time by providing notice to the Administrator. In addition, you may change your distribution election online under the Administrator’s account management service, as described above. To be effective for a particular distribution payment, the Administrator must receive notice three days prior to the payment date for that distribution for that distribution to be paid out in cash. In addition, you may request that all or part of your common units be sold. When your common units are sold through the Administrator, you will receive the proceeds less a service fee of $15.00 and any brokerage trading fees, currently $0.10 per unit.
If you are a beneficial owner of our common units and you are participating in the Plan through your broker, you should direct your broker to discontinue participation in the Plan on your behalf.
If you dispose of all the common units registered in your name, but do not give notice of withdrawal to the Administrator, the Administrator will continue to reinvest the cash distributions on any common units held in your account under the Plan until the Administrator is notified otherwise.
Generally, an owner of common units may again become a participant in the Plan. However, we reserve the right to reject the enrollment of a previous participant in the Plan on grounds of excessive joining and termination. This reservation is intended to minimize administrative expense and to encourage use of the Plan as a long-term investment service.
11. How will my common units be held under the Plan?
If you are a registered holder of our common units and you are directly participating in the Plan, the common units that you acquire under the Plan will be maintained in your Plan account in non-certificated form for safekeeping. Safekeeping protects your common units against physical loss, theft or accidental destruction and also provides a convenient way for you to keep track of your common units. Only common units held in safekeeping may be sold through the Plan.
If you own common units in certificated form, you may deposit your certificates for those common units that you own and that are registered in your name for safekeeping under the Plan with the Administrator, for a one-time fee of $7.50. This fee will be waived by the plan administrator if you are selling your certificated common units at the same time you are committing common units with the Administrator for safekeeping. The Administrator will credit the common units represented by the certificates to your account in “book-entry” form and will combine the common units with any whole and fractional units then held in your plan account. In addition
9
to protecting against the loss, theft or destruction of your certificates, this service is convenient if and when you sell common units through the Plan. Because you bear the risk of loss in sending certificates to the Administrator, you should send certificates by registered mail, return receipt requested, and properly insured to the address specified in Question 6 above.
No certificates will be issued to you for common units in the Plan unless you submit a written request to the Administrator or until your participation in the Plan is terminated. At any time, you may request the Administrator to send a certificate for some or all of the common units credited to your account. This request should be mailed to the Administrator at the address set forth in the answer to Question 6 or made via www.amstock.com. There is no fee for this service. Any remaining whole common units and any fraction of a common unit will remain credited to your plan account. Certificates for fractional common units will not be issued under any circumstances.
If you are a beneficial owner of our common units and you are participating in the Plan through your broker, the common units that are purchased on your behalf under the Plan will be maintained in your account with your broker.
12. How do I sell common units held under the Plan?
If you are a registered holder of our common units and you are directly participating in the Plan, you can sell your Plan common units at any time by contacting the Administrator. Your sale request will be processed, and your common units will, subject to market conditions and other facts, generally be sold within 24 hours of receipt and processing of your request. Please note that the Administrator cannot and does not guarantee the actual sale date or price, nor can it stop or cancel any outstanding sale or issuance requests. All requests are final. The Administrator will mail a check to you (less applicable sales fees) on the settlement date, which is three business days after your common units have been sold. Please allow an additional five to seven business days from the settlement date to receive your check.
Alternatively, you may choose to withdraw your common units from your Plan account and sell them through a broker of your choice, in which case you would have to request that the Administrator electronically transfer your common units to the broker through the Direct Registration System. Or, you may request a certificate for your common units from the Administrator for delivery to your broker prior to such sale.
If you are a beneficial owner of our common units and you are participating in the Plan through your broker, you should contact your broker to sell your common units.
13. How will I keep track of my investments?
If you are a registered holder of our common units and you are directly participating in the Plan, the Administrator will send you a transaction notice confirming the details of each transaction that you make and a quarterly statement of your account.
If you are a beneficial owner of our common units and you are participating in the Plan through your broker, the details of the reinvestment transactions will be maintained by your broker. You should contact your broker to determine how this information will be provided to you.
14. Can the Plan be suspended, modified or terminated?
We reserve the right to suspend, modify or terminate the Plan at any time. Participants will be notified of any suspension, modification or termination of the Plan. If you are a registered holder of our common units and you are directly participating in the Plan, upon our termination of the Plan, a certificate will be issued to you for the number of whole common units in your account. Any fractional common unit in your Plan account will be converted to cash and remitted to you by check.
15. What would be the effect of any unit splits, unit distributions or other distributions?
Any common units we distribute as a distribution on common units (including fractional common units) that are credited to your account under the Plan, or upon any split of such common units, will be fully credited to your account including common units held by you. In the event of a rights offering, your entitlement will be based upon your total holdings, including those credited to your account under the Plan. Rights applicable to common units credited to your account under the Plan will be sold by the Administrator and the proceeds will be credited to your account under the Plan and applied to the purchase of common units on the next investment date.
10
If you want to exercise, transfer or sell any portion of the rights applicable to the common units credited to your account under the Plan, you must request, at least two days prior to the record date for the issuance of any such rights, that a portion of the common units credited to your account be transferred from your account and registered in your name. Transaction processing may either be curtailed or suspended until the completion of any stock dividend, unit split or other corporate action.
Responsibilities Under the Plan
We, the Administrator and any agent will not be liable in administering the Plan for any act done in good faith, or for any omission to act in good faith with regards to purchasing and/or selling common units for participants and, including, without limitation, any claim of liability arising out of failure to terminate a participant’s account upon that participant’s death prior to the receipt of notice in writing of such death. Since we have delegated all responsibility for administering the Plan to the Administrator, we specifically disclaim any responsibility for any of its actions or inactions in connection with the administration of the Plan.
You should recognize that neither we, the Administrator, nor any agent can assure you of a profit or protect you against an economic loss on common units purchased under the Plan.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We do not know either the number of common units that will be purchased under the Plan or the prices at which common units will be sold to participants. In connection with purchases of authorized but unissued common units under the Plan, our general partner is entitled, but not obligated, to make a capital contribution in order to maintain its general partner interest in us, which is currently approximately 0.5%. The net proceeds we realize from sales of our common units pursuant to the Plan, including our general partner’s proportionate capital contribution, if any, will be used for general partnership purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As of November 16, 2015, there were approximately 520,000 separate common unitholders, which includes common units held in street name. Our common units represent limited partner interests in us that entitle the holders to the rights and privileges specified in our Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as amended.
Common Units, Class E Units, Class G Units, Class H Units, Class I Units, Series A Preferred Units and General Partner Interest
As of November 9, 2015, we had 501,945,249 common units outstanding, of which 499,373,554 were held by the public, including approximately 620,000 common units held by our officers and directors, and 2,571,695 common units were held by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (“ETE”). Our common units are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “ETP.” The common units are entitled to distributions of available cash as described below under “Cash Distribution Policy.”
There are currently 8,853,832 Class E units outstanding, all of which were issued in conjunction with our purchase of the capital stock of Heritage Holdings, Inc., or Heritage Holdings, in January 2004, and are owned by Heritage Holdings. The Class E units generally do not have any voting rights. These Class E units are entitled to aggregate cash distributions equal to 11.1% of the total amount of cash distributed to all unitholders, including the Class E unitholders, up to $1.41 per unit per year. Although no plans are currently in place, management may evaluate whether to retire some or all of the Class E units at a future date.
There are currently 90.7 million Class G units outstanding, all of which were issued in exchange for the Class F units that had been issued in connection with the merger of ETP and Sunoco, Inc. in 2012, and are owned by Sunoco, Inc. The Class G units generally do not have any voting rights. The Class G units are entitled to aggregate cash distributions equal to 35% of the total amount of cash generated by us and our subsidiaries, other than Holdco, and available for distribution, up to a maximum of $3.75 per Class G unit per year.
Pursuant to an Exchange and Redemption Agreement previously entered into between ETP, ETE and ETE Common Holdings, LLC, or ETE Holdings, ETP redeemed and cancelled 50.2 million of its common units representing limited partner interests owned by ETE Holdings on October 31, 2013 in exchange for the issuance by ETP to ETE Holdings of a new class of limited partner interest in ETP, the Class H units. Under this Exchange and Redemption Agreement and the accompanying amendments to the partnership agreement, the Class H units were generally entitled to (i) allocations of profits, losses and other items from ETP corresponding to 50.05% of the profits, losses, and other items allocated to ETP by Sunoco Partners LLC, or Sunoco Partners, with respect to the
incentive distribution rights, or incentive distribution rights, and general partner interest in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., or Sunoco Logistics, held by Sunoco Partners, (ii) distributions from available cash at ETP for each quarter equal to 50.05% of the cash distributed to ETP by Sunoco Partners with respect to the incentive distribution rights and general partner interest in Sunoco Logistics held by Sunoco Partners for such quarter and, to the extent not previously distributed to holders of the Class H units, for any previous quarters and (iii) incremental additional cash distributions in the aggregate amount of $329 million, to be payable by ETP to ETE Holdings over 15 quarters, commencing with the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and ending with the quarter ending March 31, 2017. The incremental cash distributions referred to in clause (iii) of the previous sentence are intended to offset a portion of the incentive distribution right subsidies previously granted by ETE to ETP in connection with the Citrus Merger, the Holdco Transaction and the Holdco Acquisition. In connection with the issuance of the Class H units, ETE and ETP also agreed to certain adjustments to the prior incentive distribution right subsidies to ensure that the incentive distribution right subsidies are fixed amounts for each quarter in which the incentive distribution right subsidies are in effect.
On December 23, 2014, ETE, ETE Holdings and ETP entered into an Exchange and Repurchase Agreement, (the “Repurchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement, on March 9, 2015, ETP repurchased 25,614,102 common units held by ETE as well as 5,226,967 common units held by ETE Holdings. Additionally, ETE transferred its 60% membership interest in each of Dakota Access Holdings LLC and ETCO Holdings LLC and paid ETP an amount in cash equal to $817 million. In exchange, ETP issued 5,226,967 Class H units to ETE Holdings. Additionally, ETP issued to ETE 25,614,102 Class H units and 100 units of the newly created Class I units representing limited partner interests of ETP.
Pursuant to Amendment No. 9 to the Partnership Agreement, or Amendment No. 9, the holders of Class H units are generally entitled to, pro rata in proportion to the number of Class H units of each such holder, (i) allocations of profits, losses and other items from ETP corresponding to 90.05% of the profits, losses and other items allocated to ETP by Sunoco Partners, with respect to the incentive distribution rights and general partner interest in Sunoco Logistics held by Sunoco Partners, and (ii) distributions from ETP for each quarter equal to 90.05% of the cash distributed to ETP by Sunoco Partners with respect to the incentive distribution rights and general partner interest in Sunoco Logistics held by Sunoco Partners for such quarter and, to the extent not previously distributed to holders of the Class H units, for any previous quarters. This increase became effective for quarters commencing after December 31, 2014.
Furthermore, pursuant to Amendment No. 9, the Class I units issued to ETE provide for additional cash distributions from ETP to ETE for the purpose of offsetting a portion of the incentive distribution subsidies previously agreed upon by ETE. In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Repurchase Agreement, ETP and ETE agreed to reduce incentive distribution subsidies from ETE to ETP by $55 million in 2015 and $30 million in 2016. Amendment No. 9 also provides that, without the consent of holders of a majority of the Class I units, ETP will not (i) amend or modify the provisions of the Partnership Agreement that set forth the terms of the Class I units or (ii) authorize the issuance of any class or series of equity securities in ETP that are senior to or on parity with the Class I units. The Class I units do not have voting rights.
In conjunction with the closing of the merger among ETP, ETP GP and Regency Energy Partners LP, or Regency, ETP GP amended the Partnership Agreement on April 30, 2015, or Amendment No. 10, to create a new class of preferred units, designated the Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units, or the Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units were issued to holders of Regency’s Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger among ETP, ETP GP, and Regency. Amendment No. 10 created a total of 1,912,569 Series A Preferred Units having the same rights and preferences and subject to the same duties and obligations as the common units except as set forth in Section 5.14 of the Partnership Agreement. The Series A Preferred Units are entitled to receive cumulative distributions before any other distribution pursuant to Sections 5.11(b)(iii)(C), 5.12(b)(iii)(B), 5.13(b)(iii)(B); 6.3(e)(ii), 6.4 or 6.5 of the Partnership Agreement as amended by Amendment No. 10, in cash in an amount equal to a fixed rate of $0.445 per Series A Preferred Unit, per quarter, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 5.14(b)(ii)(B) of the Partnership Agreement, which shall be payable quarterly on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units. The Series A Preferred Units are convertible into common units at the request of the holder. However, we are not obligated to honor a request for conversion unless holders of at least 375,000 Series A Preferred Units request such conversion in writing. The class of Series A Preferred Units were closed immediately following issuance on April 30, 2015, and thereafter no additional Series A Preferred Units shall be designated, created or issued. On September 2, 2029 all then-outstanding Series A Preferred Units shall be redeemed by the ETP for cash.
As of September 30, 2015, our general partner owned an approximate 0.5% general partner interest in us and the holders of common units, Class E units, Class G units and Class H units collectively owned an approximate 99.5% limited partner interest in us.
11
Issuance of Additional Securities
The Partnership Agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities and rights to buy partnership securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our general partner in its sole discretion, without the approval of the unitholders; provided that, the consent of the holders of a majority of the Class H and Class I units is required for the issuance of any partnership securities senior to, or on parity with, the respective class of units. Any such additional partnership securities may be senior to the common units.
It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and provisions of the Partnership Agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities that, in the sole discretion of the general partner, have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled.
Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner has the right to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its then-existing general partner interest in us. In the event that our general partner does not make its proportionate share of capital contributions to us based on its then-current general partner interest percentage, its general partner percentage will be proportionately reduced in the manner specified in the Partnership Agreement. Moreover, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its percentage interest, including its interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.
Unitholder Approval
The following matters require the approval of the majority of the outstanding common units, including the common units owned by the general partner and its affiliates:
• | a merger of our partnership; |
• | a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | dissolution or reconstitution of our partnership upon dissolution; |
• | certain amendments to the partnership agreement; and |
• | the transfer to another person of the incentive distribution rights at any time, except for transfers to affiliates of the general partner or transfers in connection with the general partner’s merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, another person. |
The removal of our general partner requires the approval of not less than 66 2/3% of all outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Any removal is subject to the election of a successor general partner by the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates.
Our general partner manages and directs all of our activities. The activities of our general partner are managed and directed by its general partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., or ETP LLC. Our officers and directors are officers and directors of ETP LLC. ETE, as the sole member of ETP LLC, is entitled under the limited liability company agreement of ETP LLC to appoint all directors of ETP LLC. Our unitholders do not have the ability to nominate directors or vote in the election of the directors of ETP LLC.
Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement
Amendments to the partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. Certain amendments require the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units, including common units owned by the general partner and its affiliates. Any amendment that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of any class of partnership interests in relation to other
12
classes of partnership interests will require the approval of at least a majority of the class of partnership interests so affected. Our partnership agreement also provides that, without the consent of holders of a majority of the Class H units, we will not (i) amend or modify provisions of the partnership agreement setting forth the terms of the Class H units or (ii) authorize the issuance of any class or series of equity securities in ETP that are senior to or on parity with the Class H units or that have allocation rights that are senior to or on parity with allocations with respect to “Net Termination Gain” as defined and provided for in the partnership agreement. Our partnership agreement also provides that, without the consent of holders of a majority of the Class I units, we will not (i) amend or modify the provisions of the Partnership Agreement that set forth the terms of the Class I units or (ii) authorize the issuance of any class or series of equity securities in ETP that are senior to or on parity with the Class I units. Our general partner may make amendments to the partnership agreement without unitholder approval to reflect:
Ù | a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business or our registered agent or office; |
Ù | the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners; |
Ù | a change to qualify or continue our qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability or to ensure that neither we nor our operating partnership will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes; |
Ù | a change that does not adversely affect our unitholders in any material respect; |
Ù | a change (i) that is necessary or advisable to (A) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute, or (B) facilitate the trading of common units or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any national securities exchange on which the common units are or will be listed for trading, (ii) that is necessary or advisable in connection with action taken by our general partner with respect to subdivision and combination of our securities or (iii) that is required to effect the intent expressed in the Partnership Agreement; |
Ù | a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and any changes that are necessary or advisable as a result of a change in our fiscal year or taxable year; |
Ù | an amendment that is necessary to prevent us, or our general partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; |
Ù | an amendment that is necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization or issuance of any class or series of our securities; |
Ù | any amendment expressly permitted in the partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone; |
Ù | an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement approved in accordance with the partnership agreement; |
Ù | an amendment that is necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and deal with appropriately our formation of, or investment in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity other than our operating partnership, in connection with our conduct of activities permitted by the partnership agreement; |
Ù | a merger or conveyance to effect a change in our legal form; or |
Ù | any other amendment substantially similar to the foregoing. |
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of the partnership agreement. In addition, our general partner may
13
withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days’ notice to our limited partners if at least 50% of our outstanding common units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general partner and its affiliates.
Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner, the holders of a majority of our outstanding common units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 90 days after that withdrawal, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner.
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of our outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. In addition, if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist, our general partner will have the right to receive cash in exchange for its partnership interest as a general partner in us, its partnership interest as the general partner of any member of the Energy Transfer partnership group and its incentive distribution rights. Cause is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding the general partner liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Any removal of this kind is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of the majority of our outstanding common units, including those held by our general partner and its affiliates.
While the partnership agreement limits the ability of our general partner to withdraw, it allows the general partner interest to be transferred if, among other things, the transferee assumes the rights and duties of our general partner, furnishes an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters and agrees to purchase all (or the appropriate portion thereof, if applicable) of our general partner’s general partner interest in us and any of our subsidiaries. In addition, the partnership agreement expressly permits the sale, in whole or in part, of the ownership of our general partner. Our general partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, any common units it owns.
Transfer of General Partner Interest
Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party without the consent of the unitholders. Furthermore, the general partner of our general partner may transfer its general partner interest in our general partner to a third party without the consent of the unitholders. Any new owner of the general partner or the general partner of the general partner would be in a position to replace the officers of the general partner with its own choices and to control the decisions taken by such officers.
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continue as a new limited partnership, the person authorized to wind up our affairs (the liquidator) will, acting with all the powers of our general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good faith judgment, liquidate our assets. The proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
• | first, towards the payment of all of our creditors and the creation of a reserve for contingent liabilities; and |
• | then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in their respective capital accounts. |
Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time. If the liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause a loss to our partners, our general partner may distribute assets in kind to our partners.
Limited Call Right
If at any time less than 20% of the total limited partner interests of any class are held by persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, our general partner will have the right to acquire all, but not less than all, of those common units at a price no less than their then-current market price. As a consequence, a unitholder may be required to sell his common units at an undesirable time or price. Our general partner may assign this purchase right to any of its affiliates or us.
14
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify our general partner, its affiliates and their officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims or damages any of them may suffer by reason of their status as general partner, officer or director, as long as the person seeking indemnity acted in good faith and in a manner believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Our general partner shall not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to effectuate any indemnification. We are authorized to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.
Listing
Our outstanding common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ETP.” Any additional common units we issue also will be listed on the NYSE.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the common units is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Transfer of Common Units
Each purchaser of common units offered by this prospectus must execute a transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the purchaser of common units:
• | becomes the record holder of the common units and is an assignee until admitted into our partnership as a substituted limited partner; |
• | automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership; |
• | agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and executes, our partnership agreement; |
• | represents that such person has the capacity, power and authority to enter into the partnership agreement; |
• | grants to our general partner the power of attorney to execute and file documents required for our existence and qualification as a limited partnership, the amendment of the partnership agreement, our dissolution and liquidation, the admission, withdrawal, removal or substitution of partners, the issuance of additional partnership securities and any merger or consolidation of the partnership; and |
• | makes the consents and waivers contained in the partnership agreement, including the waiver of the fiduciary duties of the general partner to unitholders as described in “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Conflicts of Interests — Our partnership agreement limits our General Partner’s fiduciary duties to our Unitholders and restricts the remedies available to Unitholders for actions taken by our General Partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. |
An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred common units upon the consent of our general partner and the recording of the name of the assignee on our books and records. Although the general partner has no current intention of doing so, it may withhold its consent in its sole discretion. An assignee who is not admitted as a limited partner will remain an assignee. An assignee is entitled to an interest equivalent to that of a limited partner for the right to share in allocations and distributions from us, including liquidating distributions. Furthermore, our general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee at the written direction of the assignee.
Transfer applications may be completed, executed and delivered by a purchaser’s broker, agent or nominee. We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holders’ rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.
15
Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired, the purchaser has the right to request admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the purchased common units. A purchaser of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application obtains only:
• | the right to assign the common unit to a purchaser or transferee; and |
• | the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the purchased common units. |
Thus, a purchaser of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application:
• | will not receive cash distributions or federal income tax allocations, unless the common units are held in a nominee or “street name” account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application; and |
• | may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units. |
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, may treat the record holder of the common unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or NYSE regulations.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
Except as described under “— Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and the unitholders will not be required to make additional capital contributions to us.
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act, and that he otherwise acts in conformity with provisions of the Partnership Agreement, his liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined, however, that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace the general partner, to approve some amendments to the Partnership Agreement, or to take other action under the Partnership Agreement, constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under Delaware law, to the same extent as the general partner. This liability would extend to persons who transact business with us and who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. Neither our Partnership Agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of the general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we have found no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if after the distribution all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of our partnership, exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to our partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and which could not be ascertained from the Partnership Agreement.
Our subsidiaries currently conduct business in more than 40 states. To maintain the limited liability of our limited partners, we may be required to comply with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which our subsidiaries conduct business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there. Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If it were determined that any of our subsidiaries were conducting
16
business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership statute, or that our rights with respect to any such subsidiary constituted “participation in the control” of any such subsidiary’s business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then we could be held personally liable for such subsidiary’s obligations under the law of that jurisdiction.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, shall be voted by our general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units held by our general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, our general partner shall distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.
Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. If authorized by our general partner, any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units as would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum shall be the greater percentage.
Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, owns, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the common units then outstanding, the person or group will lose voting rights on all of its common units and its common units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.
Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. Reporting for tax purposes is done on a calendar year basis.
We will furnish or make available to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of each quarter.
We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
• | a current list of the name and last known address of each partner; |
17
• | a copy of our tax returns; |
• | information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner; |
• | copies of our partnership agreement, the certificate of limited partnership of the partnership, related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been executed; |
• | information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and |
• | any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable. |
Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Following is a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of our common units in and to cash distributions.
Distributions of Available Cash
General. We will distribute all of our “available cash” to our unitholders and our general partner within 45 days following the end of each fiscal quarter.
Definition of Available Cash. Available cash is defined in our partnership agreement and generally means, with respect to any calendar quarter, all cash on hand at the end of such quarter:
• | less the amount of cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to: |
o | provide for the proper conduct of our business; |
o | comply with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for our future credit needs); or |
o | provide funds for distributions to unitholders and our general partner in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters; |
• | plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Working capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under our credit facilities and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners. |
Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
General. All cash distributed to unitholders will be characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus.
Definition of Operating Surplus. Operating surplus for any period generally means:
• | our cash balance on the closing date of our initial public offering in 1996; plus |
• | $10.0 million (as described below); plus |
• | all of our cash receipts since the closing of our initial public offering, excluding cash from interim capital transactions such as borrowings that are not working capital borrowings, sales of equity and debt securities and sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; plus |
18
• | our working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the date of determination of operating surplus for the quarter; plus |
• | the Regency Operating Surplus Amount (as defined in the Partnership Agreement, as amended); less |
• | all of our operating expenditures after the closing of our initial public offering, including the repayment of working capital borrowings, but not the repayment of other borrowings, and including maintenance capital expenditures; less |
• | the amount of our cash reserves that the general partner deems necessary or advisable to provide funds for future operating expenditures. |
Definition of Capital Surplus. Generally, capital surplus will be generated only by:
• | borrowings other than working capital borrowings; |
• | sales of debt and equity securities; and |
• | sales or other disposition of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part of normal retirements or replacements of assets. |
Characterization of Cash Distributions. We will treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We will treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. As reflected above, operating surplus includes $10.0 million in addition to our cash balance on the closing date of our initial public offering, cash receipts from our operations and cash from working capital borrowings. This amount does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. Rather, it is a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $10.0 million of cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities, and long-term borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. We have not made, and we anticipate that we will not make, any distributions from capital surplus.
Incentive Distribution Rights
Incentive distribution rights, or IDRs, represent the contractual right, pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement, to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution has been paid. Currently, the general partner owns all of the IDRs. Please read “— Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus” and “Incentive Distribution Right Subsidies” below.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
The terms of our partnership agreement require that we make cash distributions with respect to each calendar quarter within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter. For any quarter, we are required to make distributions of available cash from operating surplus initially to the Class H unitholders in an amount equal to 50.05% of all distributions to ETP by Sunoco Partners with respect to the IDRs and general partner interest in Sunoco Logistics, calculated on a cumulative basis beginning October 31, 2013. We are also required to make incremental cash distributions to the Class H unitholders in the aggregate amount of $329 million, subject to adjustment, over 15 quarters, commencing with the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and ending with the quarter ending March 31, 2017. We are required to make distributions of any remaining available cash from operating surplus for any quarter in the following manner:
• | First, 100% to all common unitholders, Class E unitholders, Class G unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their percentage interests, until each common unit has received $0.25 per unit for such quarter (the “minimum quarterly distribution”); |
• | Second, 100% to all common unitholders, Class E unitholders, Class G unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, until each common unit has received $0.275 per unit for such quarter (the “first target distribution”); |
19
• | Third, (i) to the general partner in accordance with its percentage interest, (ii) 13% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, and (iii) to all common unitholders, Class E unitholders and Class G unitholders, pro rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentages applicable to the general partner and holders of the IDRs, until each common unit has received $0.3175 per unit for such quarter (the “second target distribution”); |
• | Fourth, (i) to the general partner in accordance with its percentage interest, (ii) 23% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, and (iii) to all common unitholders, Class E unitholders and Class G unitholders, pro rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentages applicable to the general partner and holders of the IDRs, until each common unit has received $0.4125 per unit for such quarter (the “third target distribution”); and |
• | Fifth, thereafter, (i) to the general partner in accordance with its percentage interest, (ii) 48% to the holder of the IDRs, pro rata, and (iii) to all common unitholders, Class E unitholders and Class G unitholders, pro rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the percentages applicable to the general partner and holders of the IDRs. |
The allocation of distributions among the Common, Class E, Class G and Class H Unitholders and the General Partner is based on their respective interests as of the record date for such distributions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the distributions on each Class E unit may not exceed $1.41 per year and distributions on each Class G unit may not exceed $3.75 per year. In addition, the distributions to the holders of the IDRs will not exceed the amount the holders of the IDRs would otherwise receive if the available cash for distribution were reduced to the extent it constitutes amounts previously distributed with respect to the Class G units.
The incentive distributions described above do not reflect the impact of IDR subsidies previously agreed to by ETE in connection with previous transactions, as described below under “IDR Subsidies.”
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
We are required to make distributions of available cash from capital surplus initially to the Class H unitholders in a manner similar to the distributions of available cash from operating surplus, as described above. We will make distributions of any remaining available cash from capital surplus in the following manner:
• | First, to all of our unitholders and to our general partner, in accordance with their percentage interests, until we distribute for each common unit, an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to our initial public offering price; and |
• | Thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus. |
Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from the initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price per common unit less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the “unrecovered capital.”
If we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust our minimum quarterly distribution; our target cash distribution levels; and our unrecovered capital. For example, if a two-for-one split of our common units should occur, our unrecovered capital would be reduced to 50% of the initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of our issuance of additional units for cash or property.
In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that causes us to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to additional taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, under the terms of the partnership agreement, we can reduce our minimum quarterly distribution and the target cash distribution levels by multiplying the same by one minus the sum of the highest marginal federal corporate income tax rate that could apply and any increase in the effective overall state and local income tax rates.
20
IDR Subsidies
As described above, our partnership agreement requires certain incentive distributions to the holders of the IDRs. As the holder of the IDRs, ETE has previously agreed to incremental distribution relinquishments in connection with our acquisition of Citrus, LLC, formerly Citrus Corp., our and ETE’s formation of ETP Holdco Corporation and the subsequent contribution of ETE’s interest in ETP Holdco Corporation to us.
In addition, the incremental distributions on the Class H units, which are referred to in “Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus” above, were intended to offset a portion of the incremental distribution relinquishments previously granted by ETE to us. In connection with the issuance of the Class H units, ETE and ETP also agreed to certain adjustments to the incremental distributions on the Class H units in order to ensure that the net impact of the incremental distribution relinquishments (a portion of which is variable) and the incremental distributions on the Class H units are fixed amounts for each quarter for which the incremental distribution relinquishments and incremental distributions on the Class H units are in effect.
In addition to the amounts above, in connection with our transfer of Lake Charles LNG Company, LLC, formerly Trunkline LNG Company, LLC, to ETE in February 2014, ETE agreed to provide additional subsidies to us through its relinquishment of incentive distributions of $50 million, $50 million, $45 million and $35 million for the years ending December 31, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Furthermore, pursuant to Amendment No. 9, the Class I units issued to ETE provide for additional cash distributions from ETP to ETE for the purpose of offsetting a portion of the incentive distribution subsidies previously agreed upon by ETE. In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Repurchase Agreement, ETP and ETE agreed to reduce incentive distribution subsidies from ETE to ETP by $55 million in 2015 and $30 million in 2016.
As previously noted, in connection with the closing of the merger among ETP, ETP GP and Regency, ETP GP executed Amendment No. 10. Amendment No. 10 provides for a reduction of $20 million in quarterly distributions in respect of the IDRs in ETP for four consecutive quarters commencing with the quarter ended March 21, 2016. Additionally, Amendment No. 10 provides for a reduction of $15 million in quarterly distributions in respect of such right for 16 consecutive quarters thereafter. Amendment No. 10 also provides that ETP GP may adjust the amount and timing of both of these IDR reductions if the adjustment is approved by the holder of such IDRs and by Special Approval (as defined in the Partnership Agreement, as amended) and ETP GP deems the adjustment to be necessary or advisable in connection with a proposed transaction approved by Special Approval.
Moreover, in connection with our acquisition of Susser Holdings Corporation, ETE agreed to provide additional subsidies to ETP through its relinquishment of incentive distributions of $8.75 million per quarter for a period of 40 consecutive quarters beginning on the quarter commencing on July 1, 2014. On August 21, 2015 the $35 million relinquishments related to the acquisition of Susser Holdings Corporation ceased upon the agreement of an exchange between ETE and ETP of the general partner interest and the IDRs in Sunoco LP, and ETE agreed to provide ETP a $35 million annual IDR subsidy for two years beginning with the quarter ended September 30, 2015.
Following is a summary of the net amounts by which these incremental distribution relinquishments and incremental distributions on Class H and Class I units would reduce the total distributions that would potentially be made to ETE in future quarters (including amounts that have already been relinquished related to the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015):
Quarters Ending | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 31 | June 30 | September 30 | December 31 | Total Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | $ | 27.5 | $ | 27.5 | $ | 28.0 | $ | 28.0 | $ | 111.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 34.25 | 34.25 | 34.25 | 34.25 | 137.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 36.25 | 36.25 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 127.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | 26.25 | 26.25 | 26.25 | 26.25 | 105.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 23.75 | 23.75 | 23.75 | 23.75 | 95.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
21
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation
General. If we dissolve in accordance with the Partnership Agreement, as amended, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. Then, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of the Partnership available for distribution to unitholders, prior and in preference to any distribution of any assets of the Partnership to the holders of any other class or series of Partnership Securities, the positive value in each such holder’s Capital Account (as defined in the Partnership Agreement, as amended) in respect of such Series A Preferred Units. If such Capital Account is less than the Series A Preferred Liquidation Value, defined as the amount equal to the sum of (i) $18.30 per Series A Preferred Unit, plus (ii) all accrued and accumulated but unpaid distributions (which, as of April 30, 2015, are deemed to be $1.504), then items of gross income and gain shall be allocated to all holders of Series A Preferred Units, pro rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit then outstanding is equal to the Series A Preferred Liquidation Value. If any such holder’s Capital Account in respect of such Series A Preferred Units is less than the Series A Liquidation Value of such Series A Preferred Units after the application of the preceding sentence, then to the extent permitted by law, items of gross income and gain for any preceding taxable period(s) with respect to which Schedule K-1s have not been filed by the Partnership shall be reallocated to all holders of Series A Preferred Units, pro rata, until the Capital Account in respect of each Series A Preferred Unit then outstanding is equal to the Series A Liquidation Value. At the time of the dissolution of the Partnership, subject to Section 17-804 of the Delaware Act, the holders of the Series A Preferred Units shall become entitled to receive any accrued and unpaid distributions in respect of Series A Preferred Units, if any, and shall have the status of, and shall be entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of the Partnership and shall have priority over any entitlement of any other unitholder with respect to any distributions by the Partnership to such other unitholders.
We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
Any further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account the incentive distribution rights of the general partner.
Manner of Adjustments for Gain. After a special tracking allocation to the Class H unitholders attributable to the Sunoco Logistics interest, the manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in our partnership agreement in the following manner:
• | First, to the general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances; |
• | Second, 100% to the Class G unitholders until the capital account for each Class G unit is equal to its original issue price; |
• | Third, 100% to the common unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: |
o | the unrecovered capital; and |
o | the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our liquidation occurs; |
• | Fourth, 1% to the Class G unitholders, with the remainder being 100% to unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
o | the sum of the excess of the first target distribution per unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less |
o | the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that we distributed 100% to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their percentage interests, for each quarter of our existence; |
• | Fifth, 87% to the common unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, and 13% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
22
o | the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per unit over the first target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less |
o | the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that we distributed 87% to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their percentage interests, and 13% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, for each quarter of our existence; |
• | Sixth, 77% to the common unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, and 23% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
o | the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit over the second target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less |
o | the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the second target distribution per unit that we distributed 77% to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, and 23% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata, for each quarter of our existence; and |
• | Seventh, thereafter, 52% to the common unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their respective percentage interests, and 48% to the holders of the IDRs, pro rata. |
Manner of Adjustment for Losses. Upon our liquidation, we will generally allocate any loss to the general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:
• | First, 100% to the common unitholders, the Class G unitholders and the general partner in proportion to the positive balances in the common unitholders’ capital accounts and the general partner’s percentage interest, respectively, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders and the Class G unitholders have been reduced to zero; and |
• | Second, thereafter, 100% to the general partner. |
Adjustments to Capital Accounts upon the Issuance of Additional Units. We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and the general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the general partner’s capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.
23
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective Plan participants and is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in these authorities may cause the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a prospective unitholder to vary substantially from those described below, possibly on a retroactive basis. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we” or “us” are references to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and its subsidiaries.
Legal conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of representations made by us to them for this purpose. However, this section does not address all U.S. federal income tax matters that affect us or our unitholders and does not describe the application of the alternative minimum tax that may be applicable to certain unitholders. Furthermore, this section focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States (for U.S. federal income tax purposes), who have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, who use the calendar year as their taxable year, and who hold units as capital assets (generally, property that is held for investment). This section has limited applicability to corporations, partnerships (including entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes), estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, non-U.S. persons, individual retirement accounts, (“IRAs”), employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each unitholder to consult the unitholder’s own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences particular to that unitholder resulting from ownership or disposition of units and potential changes in applicable tax laws.
We are relying on opinions and advice of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters described herein. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or a court. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any such contest of the matters described herein may materially and adversely impact the market for units and the prices at which our units trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution. Furthermore, the tax consequences of an investment in us may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions, which may be retroactively applied.
For the reasons described below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following U.S. federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a short seller to cover a short sale of units) (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Securities Loans”); (2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “—Disposition of Units—Allocations between Transferors and Transferees”); and (3) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” and “—Uniformity of Units”).
Taxation of the Partnership
Partnership Status
We expect to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, generally will not be liable for entity-level U.S. federal income taxes. Instead, as described below, each of our unitholders will take into account its respective share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability as if the unitholder had earned such income directly, even if we make no cash distributions to the unitholder.
Section 7704 of the Code generally provides that publicly traded partnerships will be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, if 90% or more of a partnership’s gross income for every taxable year it is publicly traded consists of “qualifying income,” it may continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Qualifying Income Exception”). Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, storage, processing and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including the retail and wholesale marketing of propane, certain hedging activities and the transportation of propane and natural gas liquids, as well as other types of income such as interest (other than from a financial business) and dividends. We estimate that less than 6% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time.
24
Based upon factual representations made by us and our general partner, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that we will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied in rendering its opinion include, without limitation:
(a) Except for Aloha Petroleum, Ltd., Arguelles Pipeline SRL, Citrus, LLC, Energy Transfer Employee Management Company, Evergreen Assurance, LLC, Evergreen Capital Holdings, LLC, Evergreen Resources Group, LLC, Explorer Pipeline Company, Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC, Helios Assurance Company Limited, Lavan Petroleum Company, Libre Insurance Company, Ltd., Lugrasa, S.A., Mid-Valley Pipeline Company, Oasis Partner Company, Oasis Pipe Line Company, Oasis Pipe Line Finance Company, Oasis Pipe Line Management Company, Oil Casualty Insurance, Ltd., Oil Insurance Limited, SUGAir Aviation Company, Sun Atlantic Refining and Marketing Company, Sun International Limited, Sun Oil Company, Sun Oil Export Company, Sun Pipe Line Company, Sun Refining and Marketing Company, Sun Services Corporation, Sunoco de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., The New Claymont Investment Company, Susser Petroleum Property Company LLC, Venezoil, C.A., West Shore Pipe Line Company, West Texas Gulf Pipe Line Company, Wolverine Pipe Line Company and Yellowstone Pipe Line Company, neither we nor any of our partnership or limited liability company subsidiaries has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
(b) For each taxable year since and including the year of our initial public offering, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of a character that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and
(c) Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, natural gas, or products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine result in qualifying income.
We believe that these representations are true and will be true in the future.
If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as transferring all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation and then as distributing that stock to our unitholders in liquidation. This deemed contribution and liquidation should not result in the recognition of taxable income by our unitholders or us so long as our liabilities do not exceed the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative or legislative action or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the United States Congress and the President propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships, including the elimination of the Qualifying Income Exception upon which we rely for our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In addition, the IRS has issued proposed regulations regarding qualifying income under Section 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Code (the “Proposed Regulations”). We do not believe the Proposed Regulations affect our ability to qualify as a publicly traded partnership. However, there are no assurances that final regulations will not include changes that interpret Section 7704(d)(1)(E) in a manner that is contrary to the Proposed Regulations, which could modify the amount of our gross income that we are able to treat as qualifying income for the purposes of the Qualifying Income Exception. We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us and may be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.
If for any reason we are taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be taken into account by us in determining the amount of our liability for U.S. federal income tax, rather than being passed through to our unitholders. Our taxation as a corporation would materially reduce the distributable cash flow to unitholders and thus would likely substantially reduce the value of our units. Any distribution made to a unitholder at a time we are treated as a corporation would be (i) a taxable dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, then (ii) a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, and thereafter (iii) taxable capital gain.
The remainder of this discussion is based on the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that we will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
25
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. will be treated as partners of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. Also:
(a) | assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners, and |
(b) | unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units |
will be treated as partners of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing assignees of common units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion does not extend to these persons.
Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units. For a discussion related to the risks of losing partner status as a result of securities loans, please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership— Treatment of Securities Loans.” Unitholders who are not treated as partners of the partnership as described above are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their tax consequences of holding common units in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. The references to “unitholders” in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., for federal income tax purposes.
Flow-Through of Taxable Income
Subject to the discussion below under “—Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes” with respect to payments we may be required to make on behalf of our unitholders and the discussion under “—Entity-Level Taxation” with respect to the payment of tax by our corporate subsidiaries, we will not pay any U.S. federal income tax. Rather, each unitholder will be required to report on its U.S. federal income tax return each year its share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year or years ending with or within its taxable year. Plan participants will be allocated taxable income and loss in the same manner as all other common unitholders even if they elect to reinvest their entire cash distribution. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if that unitholder has not received a cash distribution.
Entity-Level Taxation
Even though we (as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, we have acquired one or more corporations and have elected to conduct some portion of our operations through corporate subsidiaries. The taxable income, if any, of subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is subject to corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes, which may reduce the cash available for distribution to us and, in turn, to our unitholders. Moreover, some of our subsidiaries and operations may be subject to income and other taxes in the jurisdictions in which they are organized or from which they receive income. If the IRS or other state or local jurisdictions were to successfully assert that these corporations have more tax liability than we anticipate or legislation was enacted that increased the corporate tax rate, the cash available for distribution could be further reduced.
Any distributions to us of cash or property with respect to our interest in a corporate subsidiary will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of such corporate subsidiary’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed such corporate subsidiary’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distributions will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of our tax basis in our interest in such corporate subsidiary, and thereafter as capital gain.
Basis of Units
A unitholder’s tax basis in its units initially will be the amount paid for those units (including any portion of a distribution from us that is reinvested pursuant to the Plan), increased by the unitholder’s initial allocable share of our liabilities. That basis generally will
26
be (i) increased by the unitholder’s share of our income and any increases in such unitholder’s share of our liabilities, and (ii) decreased, but not below zero, by the amount of all distributions to the unitholder, the unitholder’s share of our losses, and any decreases in the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all of those interests.
Treatment of Distributions
Distributions made by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder, unless such distributions exceed the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, in which case the unitholder generally will recognize gain taxable in the manner described below under “—Disposition of Units.”
If, and to the extent that, a unitholder participates in the Plan, such unitholder will receive common units in lieu of all or a portion of any cash distributions he would otherwise receive from us. The tax consequences of such participation are generally expected to be the same to the Plan participants as if they had received their cash distributions paid to the common unitholders and then used these cash distributions to purchase additional common units either from us or on the open market, depending on how we instruct the Plan administrator to reinvest the distributions subject to the Plan.
Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our “liabilities” will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units may decrease the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. For purposes of the foregoing, a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities (liabilities for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss) generally will be based upon that unitholder’s share of the unrealized appreciation (or depreciation) in our assets, to the extent thereof, with any excess liabilities allocated based on the unitholder’s share of our profits. Please read “—Disposition of Units.”
A non-pro rata distribution of money or property (including a deemed distribution as a result of the reallocation of our liabilities described above) may cause a unitholder to recognize ordinary income, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture and substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in Section 751 of the Code (“Section 751 Assets”). To the extent of such reduction, the unitholder would be deemed to receive its proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and exchange such assets with us in return for a portion of the non-pro rata distribution. This deemed exchange generally will result in the unitholder’s recognition of ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) in the Section 751 Assets deemed to be relinquished in the exchange.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses
A unitholder may not be entitled to deduct the full amount of loss we allocate to it because its share of our losses will be limited to the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, and (ii) in the case of a unitholder that is an individual, estate, trust or certain types of closely-held corporations, the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at-risk” with respect to our activities. In general, a unitholder will be at-risk to the extent of its tax basis in its units, reduced by (1) any portion of that basis attributable to the unitholder’s share of our liabilities, (2) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or similar arrangement, and (3) any amount of money the unitholder borrows to acquire or hold its units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to another unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder subject to the at-risk limitation must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions (including distributions deemed to result from a reduction in a unitholder’s share of nonrecourse liabilities) cause the unitholder’s at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year.
Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of the basis or at-risk limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction in a later year to the extent that the unitholder’s tax basis or at-risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon a taxable disposition of units, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but not losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of that gain can no longer be used and will not be available to offset a unitholder’s salary or active business income.
In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations, a passive activity loss limitation generally limits the deductibility of losses incurred by individuals, estates, trusts, some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations from “passive activities” (generally, trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate). The passive loss limitations are applied separately
27
with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will be available to offset only passive income generated by us. Passive losses that exceed a unitholder’s share of passive income we generate may be deducted in full when the unitholder disposes of all of its units in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss rules generally are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk and basis limitations.
Limitations on Interest Deductions
The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:
• | interest on indebtedness allocable to property held for investment; |
• | interest expense allocated against portfolio income; and |
• | the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent allocable against portfolio income. |
The computation of a unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses other than interest directly connected with the production of investment income. Net investment income generally does not include qualified dividend income or gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. A unitholder’s share of a publicly traded partnership’s portfolio income and, according to the IRS, net passive income will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest expense limitation.
Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes
If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax on behalf of any current or former unitholder, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution of cash to the relevant unitholder. Where the tax is payable on behalf of all unitholders or we cannot determine the specific unitholder on whose behalf the tax is payable, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of a unitholder, in which event the unitholder may be entitled to claim a refund of the overpayment amount. Unitholders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the consequences to them of any tax payment we make on their behalf.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction
Our items of income, gain, loss and deduction generally will be allocated among our unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the common units in excess of distributions to the subordinated units, or we make incentive distributions, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c) of the Code (or the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code) to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time such assets are contributed to us and at the time of any subsequent offering of our units (a “Book-Tax Disparity”). As a result, the U.S. federal income tax burden associated with any Book-Tax Disparity immediately prior to an offering generally will be borne by the unitholders holding interests in us prior to such offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be specially allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to that recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by other unitholders.
An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Code to eliminate a Book-Tax Disparity, will generally be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has “substantial economic effect.” In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of the partner’s interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including (i) the partner’s relative contributions to us, (ii) the interests of all the partners in profits and losses, (iii) the interest of all the partners in cash flow and (iv) the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “—Section 754 Election” and “—Disposition of Units
28
—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,” allocations of income, gain, loss or deduction under our partnership agreement will be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Treatment of Securities Loans
A unitholder whose units are loaned (for example, a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units) may be treated as having disposed of those units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period, (i) any of our income, gain, loss or deduction allocated to those units would not be reportable by the lending unitholder, and (ii) any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units may be treated as ordinary taxable income.
Due to a lack of controlling authority, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder that enters into a securities loan with respect to its units. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of income recognition from a loan of their units are urged to consult their own tax advisors and modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and lending their units. The IRS has announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”
Tax Rates
Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rates for individuals applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains (generally, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one year) are 39.6% and 20%, respectively. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
In addition, a 3.8% net investment income tax applies to certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates, and trusts. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if married filing separately) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is unmarried or in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.
Section 754 Election
We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code that permits us to adjust the tax bases in our assets as to specific purchasers of our units under Section 743(b) of the Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The Section 743(b) adjustment separately applies to each purchaser of units based upon the values and bases of our assets at the time of the relevant purchase, and the adjustment will reflect the purchase price paid. The Section 743(b) adjustment does not apply to a person who purchases units directly from us.
Under our partnership agreement, we are authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with applicable Treasury Regulations. A literal application of Treasury Regulations governing a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to properties depreciable under Section 167 of the Code may give rise to differences in the taxation of unitholders purchasing units from us and unitholders purchasing from other unitholders. If we have any such properties, we intend to adopt methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships to preserve the uniformity of units, even if inconsistent with existing Treasury Regulations, and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not opined on the validity of this approach. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.”
The IRS may challenge the positions we adopt with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of units due to lack of controlling authority. Because a unitholder’s tax basis in its units is reduced by its share of our items of deduction or loss, any position we take that understates deductions will overstate a unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.” If a challenge to such treatment were sustained, the gain from the sale of units may be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.
29
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment we allocated to our assets subject to depreciation to goodwill or non-depreciable assets. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure any unitholder that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS or that the resulting deductions will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different tax basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than it would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year
We will use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in its tax return its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for each taxable year ending within or with its taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of its units after December 31 but before the close of its taxable year must include its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for its taxable year, with the result that it will be required to include in income for its taxable year its share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization
The tax bases of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of those assets. If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation deductions previously taken, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of its interest in us. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”
The costs we incur in offering and selling our units (called “syndication expenses”) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. While there are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us, the underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses. Please read “Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values and the tax bases of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates and tax basis determinations ourselves. These estimates and determinations of tax basis may be subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deduction previously reported by unitholders could change, and unitholders could be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.
Disposition of Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss
A unitholder will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of units equal to the difference between the unitholder’s amount realized and tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property it receives plus its share of our liabilities with respect to the units sold. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.
30
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. However, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of units will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to Section 751 Assets, such as depreciation recapture and our “inventory items,” regardless of whether such inventory item is substantially appreciated in value. Ordinary income attributable to Section 751 Assets may exceed net taxable gain realized on the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital gain or loss upon a sale of units. Net capital loss may offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. Both ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of units may be subject to net investment income tax in certain circumstances. Please read, “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Tax Rates.”
For purposes of calculating gain or loss on the sale of units, the unitholder’s adjusted tax basis will be adjusted by its allocable share of our income or loss in respect of its units for the year of the sale. Furthermore, as described above, the IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all of those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in its entire interest in us as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s entire interest in us.
Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed in the preceding paragraph, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, it may designate specific units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of the units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of our units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.
Specific provisions of the Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an “appreciated” financial position, including a partnership interest with respect to which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, in the event the taxpayer or a related person enters into:
• | a short sale; |
• | an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
• | a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property. |
Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue Treasury Regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees
In general, our taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (the “Allocation Date”). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets or, in the discretion of the general partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which such income, gain, loss or deduction is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.
Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use
31
a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily basis. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferee and transferor unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the final Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses could be reallocated among our unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferee and transferor unitholders, as well as among unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who disposes of units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive a cash distribution for that period.
Notification Requirements
A unitholder who sells or purchases any of its units is generally required to notify us in writing of that transaction within 30 days after the transaction (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the transaction in the case of a seller). Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.
Constructive Termination
We will be considered to have “constructively” terminated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For such purposes, multiple sales of the same unit are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than the calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in such unitholder’s taxable income for the year of termination.
A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 generally would require that we file two tax returns for one fiscal year, thereby increasing our administration and tax preparation costs. However, pursuant to an IRS relief procedure the IRS may allow a constructively terminated partnership to provide a single Schedule K-1 for the calendar year in which a termination occurs. Following a constructive termination, we would be required to make new tax elections, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and the termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation and thus increase the taxable income allocable to unitholders. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination may either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination that would not otherwise have been applied to us as a continuing partnership as opposed to a terminating partnership.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units and for other reasons, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of U.S. federal income tax requirements. Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election.”
Our partnership agreement permits our general partner to take positions in filing our tax returns that preserve the uniformity of our units. These positions may include reducing the depreciation, amortization or loss deductions to which a unitholder would otherwise be entitled or reporting a slower amortization of Section 743(b) adjustments for some unitholders than that to which they would otherwise be entitled. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions.
A unitholder’s basis in units is reduced by its share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual income tax return) so that any position that we take that understates deductions will overstate the unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss” above and “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” above. The IRS may challenge one or more of any positions we take to preserve the uniformity of units. If such a challenge were sustained, the uniformity
32
of units might be affected, and, under some circumstances, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans and other tax-exempt organizations, as well as by non-resident alien individuals, non-U.S. corporations and other non-U.S. persons (collectively, “Non-U.S. Unitholders”) raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. Prospective unitholders that are tax-exempt entities or Non-U.S. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors before investing in our units. Employee benefit plans and most other tax-exempt organizations, including IRAs and other retirement plans, are subject to U.S. federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to a tax-exempt unitholder.
Non-U.S. Unitholders are taxed by the United States on income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (“effectively connected income”) and on certain types of U.S.-source non-effectively connected income (such as dividends), unless exempted or further limited by an income tax treaty, and will be treated as engaged in business in the United States because of their ownership of our units. Furthermore, it is probable that they will be deemed to conduct such activities through permanent establishments in the United States within the meaning of any applicable tax treaty. Consequently, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay U.S. federal income tax on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, distributions to Non-U.S. Unitholders are subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each Non-U.S. Unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes.
In addition, because a Non-U.S. Unitholder classified as a corporation will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular U.S. federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity” to the extent reflected in the corporation’s earnings and profits. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a “qualified resident.” In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.
A Non-U.S. Unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS interpreting the scope of “effectively connected income,” gain recognized by a non-U.S. person from the sale of its interest in a partnership that is engaged in a trade or business in the United States will be considered to be effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Thus, part or all of a Non-U.S. Unitholder’s gain from the sale or other disposition of its units may be treated as effectively connected with a unitholder’s indirect U.S. trade or business constituted by its investment in us. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a Non-U.S. Unitholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a unit if (i) it owned (directly or indirectly by constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business consisted of U.S. real property interests (which include U.S. real estate (including land, improvements, and certain associated personal property) and interests in certain entities holding U.S. real estate) at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the units or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition. More than 50% of our assets may consist of U.S. real property interests. Therefore, Non-U.S. Unitholders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures
We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure our unitholders
33
that those positions will yield a result that conforms to all of the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations, and administrative interpretations of the IRS.
The IRS may audit our U.S. federal income tax information returns. Neither we nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully challenge the positions we adopt, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of the units. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability and may result in an audit of the unitholder’s own return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments unrelated to our returns.
Publicly traded partnerships generally are treated as entities separate from their owners for purposes of U.S. federal income tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings of the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for purposes of these proceedings, and our partnership agreement designates our general partner as the Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review may go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate in that action.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on its U.S. federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.
Nominee Reporting
Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:
(1) | the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee; |
(2) | a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is: |
(a) | a non-U.S. person; |
(b) | a non-U.S. government, an international organization or any wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or |
(c) | a tax-exempt entity; |
(3) | the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and |
(4) | specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales. |
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.
Accuracy-Related Penalties
Certain penalties may be imposed as a result of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable
34
cause for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion. We do not anticipate that any accuracy-related penalties will be assessed against us.
State, Local and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangibles taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property now or in the future or in which the unitholder is a resident. We will initially conduct business (including through Cove Point) in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. Each of those states imposes an income tax on corporations and other entities. Each of those states also imposes a personal income tax on individuals. In addition, we may also own property or do business in other states in the future that impose income or similar taxes on nonresident individuals. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in us.
Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder’s income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of its investment in us. We strongly recommend that each prospective unitholder consult, and depend upon, its own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns that may be required of it. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local, alternative minimum tax or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in us.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Subject to the discussion below, we will distribute newly issued common units sold under the Plan. A registered broker/dealer that is an affiliate of the Administrator will assist in the identification of investors and other related services, but will not be acting as an underwriter with respect to common units sold under the Plan. You will pay no service fees or brokerage trading fees whether common units are newly issued or purchased in the open market. We will pay all brokerage trading fees or other charges on common units purchased through the Plan. However, if you are participating in the Plan through your broker, you may be charged a fee by your broker for participating in the Plan on your behalf. Additionally, if you request that your common units held by the Administrator be sold, you will receive the proceeds less a service fee of $15.00 and any brokerage trading fees. The common units are currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Persons who acquire common units through the Plan and resell them shortly after acquiring them, including coverage of short positions, under certain circumstances, may be participating in a distribution of securities that would require compliance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, and may be considered to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. We will not extend to any such person any rights or privileges other than those to which he, she or it would be entitled as a participant, nor will we enter into any agreement with any such person regarding the resale or distribution by any such person of the common units.
We have no arrangements or understandings, formal or informal, with any person relating to the sale of our common units to be received under the Plan. We reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible persons to eliminate practices that are inconsistent with the purposes of the Plan.
35
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will also render an opinion on the material U.S. federal income tax consequences regarding the securities.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Regency Energy Partners LP and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The reports of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and incorporated by reference in this registration statement and prospectus with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sunoco LP and Susser Holdings Corporation as of December 31, 2014 and for the period from September 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and incorporated by reference in this registration statement and prospectus with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. for the period from October 5, 2012 to December 31, 2012 (successor) and the period from January 1, 2012 to October 4, 2012 (predecessor), have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, included in Exhibit 99.3 of Regency Energy Partners LP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 have been so incorporated in this registration statement and prospectus in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 that registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.
In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website, at http://www.energytransfer.com, all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Additionally, you can obtain information about us through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common units are listed.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. These other documents contain important information about us, our financial condition and results of operations. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
36
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
• | our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014; |
• | our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015; |
• | our current reports on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A filed January 26, 2015 (three reports), January 30, 2015, February 2, 2015, February 5, 2015, February 17, 2015, February 19, 2015, February 25, 2015, March 2, 2015, March 10, 2015, March 11, 2015, March 12, 2015, March 13, 2015, March 23, 2015, March 27, 2015, April 1, 2015, April 20, 2015, April 21, 2015, April 28, 2015 (two reports), April 30, 2015, May 14, 2015, June 1, 2015, June 23, 2015, June 24, 2015, July 10, 2015, July 15, 2015, July 23, 2015, August 4, 2015, August 12, 2015, August 13, 2015, August 19, 2015, August 27, 2015, October 26, 2015, November 12, 2015 and November 19, 2015 (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any such current reports on Form 8-K); and |
• | all documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between the date of this prospectus and the termination of this offering. |
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at http://www.energytransfer.com, or by writing or calling us at the address set forth below. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus and is not a part of this prospectus.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75225
Attention: Thomas P. Mason
Telephone: (214) 981-0700
8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75225
Attention: Thomas P. Mason
Telephone: (214) 981-0700
37
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. With the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the amounts set forth below are estimates:
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ | 48,935 | |
Legal fees and expenses | 30,000 | ||
Accounting fees and expenses | 15,000 | ||
Printing and engraving expenses | 50,000 | ||
Miscellaneous | 6,065 | ||
Total | $ | 150,000 | |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. is a partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The partnership agreement of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. provides that the partnership will indemnify (i) its general partner, any departing partner (as defined therein), any person who is or was an affiliate of its general partner or any departing partner, (ii) any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of the partnership, (iii) any person who is or was an officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of its general partner or any departing partner or any affiliate of its general partner or any departing partner, or (iv) any person who is or was serving at the request of its general partner or any departing partner or any affiliate of its general partner or any departing partner as an officer, director, employee, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person (each, an “Indemnitee”), to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint and several), expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as any of the foregoing; provided that in each case the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that such Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the partnership and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of the assets of the partnership, and the general partner shall not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to each applicable partnership to enable it to effectuate, such indemnification. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. is authorized to purchase (or to reimburse the general partner or its affiliates for the cost of) insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with each of the partnerships activities, regardless of whether each of the applicable partnerships would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under the provisions described above.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed 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.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits
The exhibits required to be filed pursuant to the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K are set forth in the Exhibit Index accompanying this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and are incorporated herein by reference:
38
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment 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.
3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
4. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
5. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
39
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
6. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s 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 plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 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.
7. 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.
40
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, each of the signatories hereto certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas, on November 20, 2015.
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By: | Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. Its: General Partner | |||
By: | Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. Its: General Partner | |||
/s/ Thomas E. Long | ||||
By: | Thomas E. Long Chief Financial Officer | |||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Thomas E. Long and Thomas P. Mason, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power to act without the other, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any additional registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any national exchange or self regulatory agency, and to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in connection with the foregoing as fully as he might or could do in person hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated:
/s/ Kelcy L. Warren | Chief Executive Officer | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Kelcy L. Warren | and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
/s/ Thomas E. Long | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Thomas E. Long | ||||||
/s/ Matthew S. Ramsey | President, Chief Operating Officer and Director | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Matthew S. Ramsey | ||||||
/s/ A. Troy Sturrock | Vice President and Controller (Chief Accounting Officer) | November 20, 2015 | ||||
A. Troy Sturrock | ||||||
/s/ Jamie Welch | Director | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Jamie Welch | ||||||
/s/ David K. Skidmore | Director | November 20, 2015 | ||||
David K. Skidmore | ||||||
Director | November 20, 2015 | |||||
James R. Perry | ||||||
/s/ Ted Collins, Jr. | Director | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Ted Collins, Jr. | ||||||
/s/ Marshall S. McCrea III | Director | November 20, 2015 | ||||
Marshall S. McCrea III | ||||||
Director | November 20, 2015 | |||||
Michael K. Grimm | ||||||
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number | Description | |
2.1 | Purchase Agreement, dated March 22, 2011, among ETP-Regency Midstream Holdings, LLC, LDH Energy Asset Holdings LLC and Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy LLC, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP.(12) | |
2.2 | Contribution and Redemption Agreement by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Heritage ETC, L.P. and AmeriGas Partners, L.P. dated October 15, 2011.(15) | |
2.3 | Amendment No. 1, dated December 1, 2011, to the Contribution and Redemption Agreement by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Heritage ETC, L.P. and AmeriGas Partners, L.P. dated October 15, 2011. (16) | |
2.4 | Amendment No. 2, dated January 11, 2012, to the Contribution and Redemption Agreement by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Heritage ETC, L.P. and AmeriGas Partners, L.P. dated October 15, 2011. (18) | |
2.5 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 14, 2011, to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 19, 2011, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (14) | |
2.6 | Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 19, 2011, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Citrus ETP Acquisition, L.L.C., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. Southern Union Company and CrossCountry Energy, LLC. (17) | |
2.7 | Amendment No. 2, dated as of March 23, 2012, to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Citrus ETP Acquisition L.L.C., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Southern Union Company, and CrossCountry Energy, LLC dated July 19, 2011. (21) | |
2.8 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 29, 2012 by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Sam Acquisition Corporation, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Sunoco, Inc. and, for certain limited purposes set forth therein, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (22) | |
2.8.1 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of June 15, 2012, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 29, 2012, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Sam Acquisition Corporation, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Sunoco, Inc., and, for certain limited purposes set forth therein, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (24) | |
2.9 | Transaction Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2012, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Heritage Holdings, Inc., Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., ETE Sigma Holdco, LLC and ETE Holdco Corporation. (23) | |
2.10 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 27, 2014 by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 27, 2014 by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Drive Acquisition Corporation, Heritage Holdings, Inc., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Susser Holdings Corporation, and, for certain limited purposes set forth therein, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (36) | |
2.11 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 25, 2015, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners, GP, L.P., Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency GP LP and, solely for purposes of certain provisions therein, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (37) | |
2.12 | Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 18, 2015, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., Rendezvous I LLC, Rendezvous II LLC, Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency GP LP, ETE GP Acquirer LLC and, solely for purposes of certain provisions therein, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (38) | |
42
4.1 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 30, 2013, by and between Southern Union Company and Regency Energy Partners LP. (32) | |
4.2 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 30, 2013, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (33) | |
4.3 | Indenture dated January 18, 2005 among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee. (1) | |
4.4 | First Supplemental Indenture dated January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee. (2) | |
4.5 | Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 24, 2005 to Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee. (3) | |
4.6 | Form of Senior Indenture of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (4) | |
4.7 | Form of Subordinated Indenture of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (5) | |
4.8 | Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 29, 2006 to Indenture dated January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee. (8) | |
4.9 | Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 23, 2006 to Indenture dated January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee. (6) | |
4.10 | Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated March 28, 2008, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (7) | |
4.11 | Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated December 23, 2008, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (9) | |
4.11.1 | Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated April 7, 2009, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (10) | |
4.12 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (11) | |
4.13 | Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 12, 2011, to the Indenture dated January 18, 2005, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (13) | |
4.14 | Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 17, 2012, to the Indenture dated January 18, 2005, by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (19) | |
4.15 | Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 22, 2013 by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (20) | |
4.16 | Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 24, 2013 by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (34) | |
4.17 | Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 19, 2013 by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee. (35) | |
4.17.1 | Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 12, 2015 by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee (39) | |
4.18 | Indenture, dated as of March 31 2009, between Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. (25) | |
43
4.19 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2009, between Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, to the Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2009, relating to Sunoco’s 9.625% Senior Notes due 2015. (26) | |
4.20 | Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 5, 2012, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, to Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2009. (27) | |
4.21 | Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2000, between Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Citibank, N.A. (28) | |
4.22 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 5, 2012, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Citibank, N.A., to the Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2000. (29) | |
4.23 | Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1994, between Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Citibank, N.A., relating to Sunoco, Inc.’s 9.00% Debentures due 2024. (30) | |
4.24 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 5, 2012, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., Sunoco, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Citibank, N.A., to the Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1994. (31) | |
5.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities registered hereby. (*) | |
8.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to tax matters. (*) | |
23.1 | Consent of Grant Thornton LLP related to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (*) | |
23.2 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP related to Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (*) | |
23.3 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP related to Susser Holdings Corporation. (*) | |
23.4 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP related to Sunoco LP. (*) | |
23.5 | Consent of Grant Thornton LLP related to Regency Energy Partners LP. (*) | |
23.6 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP related to Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC. (*) | |
24.1 | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration statement). (*) | |
* | Filed herewith. |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January 19, 2005. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January 19, 2005. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2005. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 filed August 9, 2006. |
(5) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 filed August 9, 2006. |
(6) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 25, 2006. |
(7) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed March 31, 2008. |
(8) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed November 13, 2006. |
44
(9) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed December 23, 2008. |
(10) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed April 7, 2009. |
(11) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed November 3, 2006. |
(12) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K/A filed March 25, 2011. |
(13) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 12, 2011. |
(14) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed September 15, 2011. |
(15) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 18, 2011. |
(16) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed December 7, 2011. |
(17) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 20, 2011. |
(18) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2012. |
(19) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January 17, 2012. |
(20) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January 23, 2013. |
(21) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed March 28, 2012. |
(22) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 1, 2012. |
(23) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 20, 2012. |
(24) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 20, 2012. |
(25) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(26) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(27) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(28) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(29) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(30) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(31) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 5, 2012. |
(32) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 1, 2013. |
(33) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed May 1, 2013. |
(34) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 26, 2013. |
(35) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed September 19, 2013. |
45
(36) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2014. |
(37) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January 26, 2015 |
(38) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed February 19, 2015 |
(39) | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015 |
46