Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


Form 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): July 17, 2006

 


ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   001-32740   30-0108820

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS. Employer

Identification No.)

2828 Woodside Street

Dallas, Texas 75204

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

214-981-0700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On July 17, 2006, Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended May 31, 2006. A copy of this press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

99.1   Press release dated July 17, 2006, announcing financial results for the quarter ended May 31, 2006.


SIGNATURES

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

 

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
By: LE GP, LLC, its general partner

By:

 

/s/ John W. McReynolds

  John W. McReynolds,
  President and Chief Financial Officer

Dated: July 17, 2006

Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

PRESS RELEASE

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.

REPORTS THIRD QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

Dallas, Texas – July 17, 2006 – Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE:ETE) Reports Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Income Boosted by Record Income from Energy Transfer Partners.

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (“ETE” or “the Partnership”) reported a 77% increase in third quarter income from continuing operations. “We are very pleased with the financial results this quarter as we showed impressive growth in both our income from continuing operations and distributions to our Unitholders,” said John McReynolds, President and Chief Financial Officer. “We look forward to having a very successful first year as a public company.”

The Partnership’s financial statements reflect its ownership interests relating to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP). Consequently, both the three and nine-month periods benefited from the results of operations of the Houston Pipeline transportation and storage assets which were purchased in January, 2005 by ETP. There were also increased volumes and synergies realized by ETP from operating the pipeline assets as an integrated system.

ETE reported net income for the third quarter ended May 31, 2006 of $43.3 million, as compared to income from continuing operations of $24.4 million for the third quarter ended May 31, 2005, an increase of $18.9 million, or 77%.

For the nine months ended May 31, 2006, net income was $107.3 million as compared to income from continuing operations of $76.0 million for the nine months ended May 31, 2005, an increase of $31.3 million, or 41%.

For the three months ended May 31, 2006, the Partnership had Distributable Cash (a “non-GAAP measure,” as defined below) of $33.9 million and has declared a total distribution to its general and limited partners of $32.6 million, which will be paid on July 19, 2006. The current distribution of $0.2375 per unit (an annualized rate of $0.95 per unit) represents a 19% increase in the annualized unit distribution rate.

Net income was $79.8 million and $133.0 million for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2005, respectively, which includes income from discontinued operations of $55.4 million and $57.0 million, respectively (net of income taxes and minority interests).


Net income for the three and nine month periods ended May 31, 2006 was affected by a $33.4 million and $199.5 million increase, respectively, in minority interest expense. The minority interest expense primarily represents partnership interests in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. that ETE does not own. An increase in the net income of ETP results in a greater amount of income attributable to the partnership interests not owned by ETE, thereby increasing the minority interest expense on ETE’s books. Net income for the nine months ended May 31, 2006 was also affected by a non-cash expense of $52.9 million related to the issuance of the Partnership’s Class B Units at the time of the Partnership’s initial public offering in February 2006.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the ETE parent company on a stand-alone basis for the three months ended May 31, 2006 was $36.3 million. The Partnership’s principal sources of cash flow are distributions it receives from its investments in the limited and general partner interests in ETP. ETE currently has no other operating activities apart from those conducted by the operating subsidiaries within ETP.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and accompanying schedules include the non-generally accepted accounting principle (“non-GAAP”) financial measure of Distributable Cash. The accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Partnership’s non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP measures such as net income, cash flow from operating activities or any other GAAP measure of liquidity or financial performance.

Distributable Cash. The Partnerships defines Distributable Cash as cash distributions expected to be received from ETP in connection with the Partnership’s investments in limited and general partner interests of ETP, net of the Partnership’s expenditures for general and administrative costs and debt service. Distributable Cash is a significant liquidity measure used by the Partnership’s senior management to compare net cash flows generated by the Partnership’s equity investments in ETP to the distributions the Partnership expects to pay its unitholders. Using this measure, the Partnership’s management can quickly compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned cash distributions.

Distributable Cash is an important non-GAAP financial measure for our limited partners since it indicates to investors whether or not the Partnership’s investments are generating cash flows at a level that can sustain or support an increase in quarterly cash distribution levels. Financial measures such as Distributable Cash are quantitative standards used by the investment community with respect to publicly-traded partnerships because the value of a partnership unit is in part measured by its yield (which in turn is based on the amount of cash distributions a partnership can pay to a unitholder). The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Distributable Cash is cash flow from operating activities for ETE on a stand-alone basis (“Parent Company”).


The accompanying analysis of Distributable Cash is presented only for the three month period ended May 31, 2006. Prior period information is not comparable or meaningful due to ETE’s initial public offering in February 2006.

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. owns the general partner interests, 50% of the incentive distribution rights and approximately 33% of the outstanding limited partner interests of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP). Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. owns a diversified portfolio of energy assets, including natural gas operations consisting of approximately 11,700 miles of natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines, natural gas treating and processing assets located in Texas and Louisiana, and three natural gas storage facilities located in Texas. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. is also one of the three largest retail marketers of propane in the United States, serving more than one million customers from approximately 440 customer service locations in 40 states, extending from coast to coast and Alaska.

This press release may include certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Such forward-looking statements include the annualized cash distribution rate and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. An extensive list of factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Partnership’s prospectus dated February 3, 2006, and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information or events.

The information contained in this press release is available on the Partnership’s website at www.energytransfer.com.

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

John W. McReynolds,

214-981-0700

www.energytransfer.com


ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except unit data)

(unaudited)

 

    

May 31,

2006

  

August 31,

2005

 

ASSETS

     

CURRENT ASSETS:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 26,805    $ 33,459  

Marketable securities

     4,510      3,452  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     494,459      847,028  

Accounts receivable from related parties

     2,284      2,295  

Deposits paid to vendors

     85,177      65,034  

Inventories

     456,518      302,893  

Price risk management assets

     80,238      138,961  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     56,626      72,056  
               

Total current assets

     1,206,617      1,465,178  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

     3,341,855      2,887,750  

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSETS

     5,143      41,687  

INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATES

     36,985      37,353  

GOODWILL

     355,003      353,608  

INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS, net

     124,564      131,544  
               

Total assets

   $ 5,070,167    $ 4,917,120  
               

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (DEFICIT)

     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

     

Working capital facility

   $ —      $ 17,026  

Accounts payable

     513,189      818,810  

Accounts payable to related parties

     97      410  

Customer deposits

     13,374      88,038  

Price risk management liabilities

     33,388      104,772  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     181,919      170,157  

Accrued distribution payable

     32,589      —    

Accrued distribution payable of subsidiary

     61,382      —    

Accrued interest

     29,040      15,581  

Income taxes payable

     1,221      2,063  

Deferred income taxes

     4,061      —    

Current maturities of long-term debt

     39,737      39,376  
               

Total current liabilities

     909,997      1,256,233  

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities

     2,173,666      2,275,965  

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES

     363      30,517  

LONG-TERM AFFILIATED PAYABLE

     —        2,005  

NONCURRENT DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     210,501      215,118  

OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

     9,740      13,284  

MINORITY INTERESTS

     1,466,998      1,212,135  
               
     4,771,265      5,005,257  
               

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

     

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (DEFICIT):

     

General partner capital

     152      772  

Common Unitholders (134,003,277 and 0 units authorized, issued and outstanding at May 31, 2006 and August 31, 2005, respectively)

     225,953      —    

Class B Unitholders (2,521,570 and 0 units authorized, issued and outstanding at May 31, 2006 and August 31, 2005, respectively)

     53,133      —    

Limited partners’ deficit (0 and 116,503,277 limited partner units issued and outstanding at May 31, 2006 and August 31, 2005, respectively)

     —        (62,216 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     19,664      (26,693 )
               

Total partners’ capital (deficit)

     298,902      (88,137 )
               

Total liabilities and partners’ capital (deficit)

   $ 5,070,167    $ 4,917,120  
               


ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per unit and unit data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended May 31,     Nine Months Ended May 31,  
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

REVENUES:

        

Midstream and transportation and storage

   $ 1,211,549     $ 1,849,518     $ 5,503,385     $ 3,673,730  

Propane and other

     208,786       182,231       783,386       662,061  
                                

Total revenues

     1,420,335       2,031,749       6,286,771       4,335,791  
                                

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

        

Cost of products sold, midstream and transportation and storage

     1,020,692       1,708,917       4,765,113       3,359,391  

Cost of products sold, propane and other

     126,675       108,081       481,712       396,687  

Operating expenses

     102,969       90,372       305,336       224,122  

Depreciation and amortization

     31,205       28,429       93,242       76,874  

Selling, general and administrative

     23,417       20,524       134,412       43,813  
                                

Total costs and expenses

     1,304,958       1,956,323       5,779,815       4,100,887  
                                

OPERATING INCOME

     115,377       75,426       506,956       234,904  

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

        

Interest expense

     (11,786 )     (26,229 )     (90,025 )     (66,350 )

Equity in losses of affiliates

     (150 )     (307 )     (318 )     (161 )

Gain (loss) on disposal of assets

     22       (138 )     556       (665 )

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

     —         1,446       (5,060 )     (6,550 )

Interest income and other, net

     8,911       11,090       12,407       11,474  
                                

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE AND MINORITY INTERESTS

     112,374       61,288       424,516       172,652  

Income tax expense

     1,264       2,458       26,240       5,168  
                                

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE MINORITY INTERESTS

     111,110       58,830       398,276       167,484  

Minority interests

     (67,839 )     (34,386 )     (290,969 )     (91,439 )
                                

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     43,271       24,444       107,307       76,045  

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

        

Income from discontinued operations

     —         930       —         5,498  

Gain on the sale of discontinued operations, net of tax expense

     —         104,562       —         104,562  

Minority interest in income from discontinued operations

     —         (50,118 )     —         (53,060 )
                                

Total income from discontinued operations

     —         55,374       —         57,000  
                                

NET INCOME

     43,271       79,818       107,307       133,045  

GENERAL PARTNER’S INTEREST IN NET INCOME

     219       781       611       1,121  
                                

LIMITED PARTNERS’ INTEREST IN NET INCOME

   $ 43,052     $ 79,037     $ 106,696     $ 131,924  
                                

BASIC NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

        

Limited Partners’ income from continuing operations

   $ 0.32     $ 0.23     $ 0.86     $ 0.71  

Limited Partners’ income from discontinued operations

     —         0.52       —         0.54  
                                

NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.32     $ 0.75     $ 0.86     $ 1.25  
                                

BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF LIMITED PARTNER UNITS OUTSTANDING

     136,524,847       105,640,451       124,790,594       105,640,451  
                                

DILUTED NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

        

Limited Partners’ income from continuing operations

   $ 0.31     $ 0.18     $ 0.84     $ 0.57  

Limited Partners’ income from discontinued operations

     —         0.42       —         0.43  
                                

NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.31     $ 0.60     $ 0.84     $ 1.00  
                                

DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF LIMITED PARTNER UNITS OUTSTANDING

     136,524,847       132,072,452       124,790,594       132,072,452  
                                

VOLUMES SOLD THROUGH ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.:

        

Midstream

        

Natural gas MMBtu/d – sold

     1,216,424       1,499,978       1,423,410       1,376,179  

NGLs Bbls/d – sold

     10,902       13,711       10,224       13,914  

Transportation and storage

        

Natural gas MMBtu/d – transported

     4,797,307       3,487,769       4,500,308       3,214,842  

Natural gas MMBtu/d – sold

     1,303,033       1,546,728       1,572,223       1,660,567  

Propane operations (in gallons)

        

Retail propane

     91,514       94,025       346,010       346,156  

Wholesale

     19,299       15,690       67,143       59,707  


ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. - PARENT COMPANY

DISTRIBUTABLE CASH

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

The following table presents the calculation and reconciliation of Distributable Cash of the Parent Company with respect to the third quarter of fiscal 2006:

 

    

Three Months

Ended

May 31,

2006

 

Distributable Cash:

  

Cash distributions from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. associated with:

  

General partner interest:

  

Standard distribution rights

   $ 2,076  

Incentive distribution rights

     14,009  

Limited partner interest:

  

33,843,690 common units

     21,575  

2,570,150 class F units

     1,638  

Special distributions:

  

33,843,690 common units

     1,100  

2,570,150 class F units

     84  
        

Total cash expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

     40,482  

Deduct expenses of the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis:

  

General and administrative expenses, and other

     (460 )

Interest expense, net, and before the effects of unrealized gains on interest rate swaps

     (6,134 )
        

Distributable Cash

   $ 33,888  
        

Cash distributions to be paid to the limited partners of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.:

  

Distribution per limited partner unit

   $ 0.2375  
        

Distributions to be paid to public unitholders

     13,855  

Distributions to be paid to affiliates

     17,971  

Distributions to be paid to class B unitholders

     599  

Distributions to be paid to general partner of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

     164  
        

Total cash distributions to be paid by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. to its partners

   $ 32,589  
        

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP “Distributable Cash” to GAAP “Net Income” and GAAP “Net cash provided by operating activites” for the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis:

  

Net Income

   $ 43,271  

Adjustments to derive Distributable Cash:

  

Equity in income of subsidiaries

     (41,828 )

Quarterly distribution expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

     40,482  

Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps

     (8,037 )
        

Distributable Cash

     33,888  

Adjustments to Distributable Cash to derive Net Cash Provided by Operating Activites

  

Quarterly distribution expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

     (40,482 )

Cash distribution received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. in April 2006

     42,646  

Net effect of changes in operating accounts

     215  
        

Net cash provided by operating activites for Parent Company on stand-alone basis

   $ 36,267