Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

OR

 

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

Commission file number 001-32740

 

 

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   30-0108820

(state or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 981-0700

 

 

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

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

At May 7, 2009, the registrant had units outstanding as follows:

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.            222,898,248 Common Units

 

 

 


Table of Contents

FORM 10-Q

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Subsidiaries

 

          Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
    ITEM 1.   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets –
March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008

   1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations –
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and March  31, 2008

   3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income –
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008

   4

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity –
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009

   5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and March  31, 2008

   6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   7
    ITEM 2.   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  

37

    ITEM 3.   

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   49
    ITEM 4.   

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   50
PART II OTHER INFORMATION   
    ITEM 1.   

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   51
    ITEM 1A.   

RISK FACTORS

   51
    ITEM 2.   

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

   51
    ITEM 3.   

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

   51
    ITEM 4.   

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

   51
    ITEM 5.   

OTHER INFORMATION

   51
    ITEM 6.   

EXHIBITS

   51
SIGNATURES    59

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this report, excluding historical information, as well as some statements by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., (“Energy Transfer Equity” or “the Partnership”) in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Energy Transfer Equity officials during presentations about the Partnership, include certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “plan,” “continue,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “may,” “will,” or similar expressions help identify forward-looking statements. Although the Partnership believes such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and current expectations and projections about future events, no assurance can be given that every objective will be reached.

Actual results may differ materially from any results projected, forecasted, estimated or expressed in forward-looking statements since many of the factors that determine these results are subject to uncertainties and risks, difficult to predict, and beyond management’s control. For additional discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, see “Part II Other Information – Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as the Partnership’s Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009.

Definitions

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

 

/d    per day
Btu    British thermal unit, an energy measurement
Capacity    Capacity of a pipeline, processing plant or storage facility refers to the maximum capacity under normal operating conditions and, with respect to pipeline transportation capacity, is subject to multiple factors (including natural gas injections and withdrawals at various delivery points along the pipeline and the utilization of compression) which may reduce the throughput capacity from specified capacity levels.
Dth    Million British thermal units (“dekatherm”). A therm factor is used by gas companies to convert the volume of gas used to its heat equivalent, and thus calculate the actual energy used.
Mcf    thousand cubic feet
MMBtu    million British thermal unit
MMcf    million cubic feet
Bcf    billion cubic feet
NGL    natural gas liquid, such as propane, butane and natural gasoline
Tcf    trillion cubic feet
LIBOR    London Interbank Offered Rate
NYMEX    New York Mercantile Exchange
Reservoir    A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible natural gas and/or oil that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is separate from other reservoirs.

 

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PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008
ASSETS      

CURRENT ASSETS:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 106,438    $ 92,023

Marketable securities

     5,949      5,915

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     489,063      591,257

Accounts receivable from related companies

     29,089      15,142

Inventories

     144,607      272,348

Deposits paid to vendors

     38,468      78,237

Exchanges receivable

     23,900      45,209

Price risk management assets

     3,170      5,423

Prepaid expenses and other

     57,304      75,441
             

Total current assets

     897,988      1,180,995

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net

     8,836,373      8,702,534

ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

     129,840      10,110

GOODWILL

     764,538      773,283

INTANGIBLES AND OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS, net

     408,548      402,980
             

Total assets

   $ 11,037,287    $ 11,069,902
             

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

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 310,318     $ 381,933  

Accounts payable to related companies

     18,224       34,495  

Exchanges payable

     28,152       54,636  

Customer advances and deposits

     55,699       106,679  

Accrued wages and benefits

     59,922       65,754  

Accrued capital expenditures

     84,908       153,230  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     113,792       108,454  

Price risk management liabilities

     100,389       142,432  

Interest payable

     90,006       115,487  

Deferred income taxes

     258       589  

Current maturities of long-term debt

     44,530       45,232  
                

Total current liabilities

     906,198       1,208,921  

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities

     7,159,581       7,190,357  

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES

     117,076       121,710  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     202,072       194,871  

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

     14,540       14,727  
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 14)

    
     8,399,467       8,730,586  
                

EQUITY:

    

Partners’ Capital (Deficit):

    

General Partner

     319       155  

Limited Partners:

    

Common Unitholders (222,898,248 and 222,829,956 units authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively)

     37,291       (15,762 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (72,988 )     (67,825 )
                

Total partners’ deficit

     (35,378 )     (83,432 )

Noncontrolling interest

     2,673,198       2,422,748  
                

Total equity

     2,637,820       2,339,316  
                

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 11,037,287     $ 11,069,902  
                

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

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per unit data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

REVENUES:

    

Natural gas operations

   $ 1,111,955     $ 2,007,847  

Retail propane

     487,907       598,138  

Other

     30,112       33,260  
                

Total revenues

     1,629,974       2,639,245  
                

COSTS AND EXPENSES:

    

Cost of products sold, natural gas operations

     732,113       1,577,268  

Cost of products sold, retail propane

     220,222       392,555  

Cost of products sold, other

     6,804       9,895  

Operating expenses

     181,773       178,970  

Depreciation and amortization

     75,659       61,883  

Selling, general and administrative

     57,305       50,745  
                

Total costs and expenses

     1,273,876       2,271,316  
                

OPERATING INCOME

     356,098       367,929  

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

    

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (101,391 )     (80,454 )

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     497       74  

Loss on disposal of assets

     (426 )     (1,451 )

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     10,051       (31,636 )

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     20,427       9,888  

Other, net

     701       7,952  
                

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     285,957       272,302  

Income tax expense

     6,207       5,144  
                

NET INCOME

     279,750       267,158  

LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

     128,214       140,453  
                

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS

     151,536       126,705  

GENERAL PARTNER’S INTEREST IN NET INCOME

     469       392  
                

LIMITED PARTNERS’ INTEREST IN NET INCOME

   $ 151,067     $ 126,313  
                

BASIC NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.68     $ 0.57  
                

BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING

     222,898,065       222,829,956  
                

DILUTED NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.68     $ 0.57  
                

DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING

     222,898,065       222,829,956  
                

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

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Net income

   $ 279,750     $ 267,158  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

    

Reclassification adjustment for gains and losses on derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges included in net income

     (5,645 )     (20,869 )

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

     (6,587 )     (33,215 )

Change in value of available-for-sale securities

     51       (167 )
                
     (12,181 )     (54,251 )

Comprehensive income

     267,569       212,907  

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     121,196       124,488  
                

Comprehensive income attributable to partners

   $ 146,373     $ 88,419  
                

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

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     General
Partner
    Common
Unitholders
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total  

Balance, December 31, 2008

   $ 155     $ (15,762 )   $ (67,825 )   $ 2,422,748     $ 2,339,316  

Distributions to ETE partners

     (353 )     (113,678 )     —         —         (114,031 )

Subsidiary distributions

     —         —         —         (87,199 )     (87,199 )

Subsidiary issuance of units in public offering

     48       15,518       —         210,297       225,863  

Tax effect of remedial income allocation from tax amortization of goodwill

     —         —         —         (942 )     (942 )

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

     —         138       —         6,793       6,931  

Non-cash executive compensation expense

     —         8       —         305       313  

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

     —         —         (5,163 )     (7,018 )     (12,181 )

Net income

     469       151,067       —         128,214       279,750  
                                        

Balance, March 31, 2009

   $ 319     $ 37,291     $ (72,988 )   $ 2,673,198     $ 2,637,820  
                                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed consolidated financial statement.

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

NET CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   $ 317,828     $ 254,904  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (5,511 )     (40,753 )

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

     (255,876 )     (482,742 )

Contributions in aid of construction costs

     1,877       39,970  

(Advances to) repayments from affiliates, net

     (119,850 )     63,534  

Proceeds from the sale of assets

     2,925       10,433  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (376,435 )     (409,558 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from borrowings

     511,180       3,024,193  

Principal payments on debt

     (549,817 )     (2,688,437 )

Subsidiary equity offering net of issue costs

     225,863       34,984  

Distributions to partners

     (114,031 )     (122,937 )

Debt issuance costs

     (173 )     (19,039 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     73,022       228,764  
                

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     14,415       74,110  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

     92,023       56,557  
                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

   $ 106,438     $ 130,667  
                

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

 

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ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

(unaudited)

 

1. OPERATIONS AND ORGANIZATION:

The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim financial statements and notes thereto of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and subsidiaries (“the Partnership”, “ETE” or the “Parent Company”) as of March 31, 2009 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim consolidated financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. However, management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for a full year due to the seasonal nature of the operations, maintenance activities of the Partnership’s subsidiaries and the impact of forward natural gas prices and differentials on certain derivative financial instruments that are accounted for using mark-to-market accounting.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Partnership presented herein for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 include the results of operations of ETE, ETE’s controlled subsidiary, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a publicly-traded master limited partnership (“ETP”), and ETE’s wholly-owned subsidiaries: Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., the General Partner of ETP (“ETP GP”), and Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., the General Partner of ETP GP (“ETP LLC”). The results of operations for ETP in turn include the results of operations for ETP’s wholly-owned subsidiaries: La Grange Acquisition, L.P., which conducts business under the assumed name of Energy Transfer Company (“ETC OLP”); Energy Transfer Interstate Holdings, LLC (“ET Interstate”), the parent company of Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC (“Transwestern”) and ETC Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC (“ETC MEP”); Heritage Operating, L.P. (“HOLP”); Heritage Holdings, Inc. (“HHI”); and Titan Energy Partners, L.P. (“Titan”).

LE GP, LLC (“LE GP”), the general partner of ETE, is a Delaware limited liability company which is ultimately owned by the Chief Executive Officer of ETP, a director of ETE (Mr. Ray Davis) and Enterprise GP Holdings, L.P. (“Enterprise” or “EPE”).

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (all of which are normal and recurring) have been made that are necessary to fairly state the Partnership’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto presented in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on March 2, 2009.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2009 presentation. Other than the reclassifications related to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – An Amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”) (see Note 2), these reclassifications had no impact on net income or total equity.

Business Operations

Currently, the Parent Company’s business operations are conducted only though ETP’s subsidiary operating partnerships (collectively referred to as the “Operating Partnerships”). The Parent Company’s principal sources of cash flow are its direct and indirect investments in the limited and general partner interests in ETP.

The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements and distributions to its general and limited partners. The Parent Company-only assets and liabilities of ETE are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of ETP and its consolidated subsidiaries. In order to fully understand the financial condition of the Partnership on a stand-alone basis, see Note 18 for stand-alone financial information apart from that of the consolidated partnership information included herein.

 

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In order to simplify the obligations of the Partnership under the laws of several jurisdictions in which we conduct business, our activities are primarily conducted through ETP’s Operating Partnerships.

 

   

ETC OLP, a Texas limited partnership engaged in midstream and intrastate transportation and storage natural gas operations. ETC OLP owns and operates, through its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries, natural gas gathering systems, intrastate natural gas pipeline systems and gas processing plants and is engaged in the business of purchasing, gathering, transporting, processing, and marketing natural gas and NGLs in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Our intrastate transportation and storage operations focus on transporting natural gas through our Oasis pipeline, ET Fuel System, East Texas pipeline and HPL System. Our midstream operations focus on the gathering, compression, treating, conditioning, and processing of natural gas, primarily on or through our Southeast Texas System and North Texas System, and marketing activities. We also own and operate natural gas gathering pipelines and conditioning facilities in the Piceance-Uinta Basin of Colorado and Utah.

 

   

ET Interstate, the parent company of Transwestern and ETC MEP, all of which are Delaware limited liability companies engaged in interstate transportation of natural gas. Interstate revenues consist primarily of fees earned from natural gas transportation services and operational gas sales.

 

   

ETC Fayetteville Express Pipeline, LLC (“ETC FEP”), a Delaware limited liability company formed to engage in interstate transportation of natural gas.

 

   

ETC Tiger Pipeline, LLC (“ETC Tiger”), a Delaware limited liability company formed to engage in interstate transportation of natural gas.

 

   

HOLP, a Delaware limited partnership primarily engaged in retail propane operations. Our retail propane operations focus on sales of propane and propane-related products and services. The retail propane customer base includes residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers.

 

   

Titan, a Delaware limited partnership also engaged in retail propane operations.

The Partnership, the Operating Partnerships, and their subsidiaries are collectively referred to in this report as “we”, “us”, “ETE”, “ETP”, “Energy Transfer” or the “Partnership.” References to “the Parent Company” shall mean Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. on a stand-alone basis.

 

2. ESTIMATES, SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS:

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the accrual for and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

The natural gas industry conducts its business by processing actual transactions at the end of the month following the month of delivery. Consequently, the most current month’s financial results for the midstream and intrastate transportation and storage segments are estimated using volume estimates and market prices. Any differences between estimated results and actual results are recognized in the following month’s financial statements. Management believes that the operating results estimated for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 represent the actual results in all material respects.

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

 

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New Accounting Standards and Changes to Significant Accounting Policies

Certain adjustments have been made to prior period information to conform to current period presentation related to our adoption of SFAS 160, which is discussed more fully below.

SFAS 160. SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, SFAS 160 requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest (minority interest) as equity in the condensed consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity. The amount of net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest will be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. SFAS 160 clarifies that changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest. In addition, SFAS 160 requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. SFAS 160 also includes expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. The adoption of SFAS 160 on January 1, 2009 did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations. However, it did result in certain changes to our financial statement presentation, including the change in classification of noncontrolling interest (minority interest) from liabilities to equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Upon adoption of SFAS 160, we reclassified $2.42 billion from minority interest liability to noncontrolling interest as a separate component of equity in our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008. In addition, we reclassified $140.5 million of minority interest expense to net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Net income per limited partner unit has not been affected as a result of the adoption of SFAS 160.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (Revised 2007), Business Combinations, (“SFAS 141R”). On December 4, 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 141R, which significantly changes the accounting for business combinations. Under SFAS 141R, an acquiring entity is required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. Statement 141R changes the accounting treatment for certain specific items, including:

 

   

Acquisition costs are generally expensed as incurred;

 

   

Noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as “minority interests”) are valued at fair value at the acquisition date;

 

   

In-process research and development is recorded at fair value as an indefinite-lived intangible asset at the acquisition date;

 

   

Restructuring costs associated with a business combination are generally expensed subsequent to the acquisition date; and

 

   

Changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date are recorded in income taxes.

SFAS 141R also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS 141R is to be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141R has not been applied to any transactions presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements. Our adoption of SFAS 141R on January 1, 2009 did not have an immediate impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). Issued in March 2008, SFAS 161 changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS 133”) and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. SFAS 161 only affects disclosure requirements; therefore, our adoption of this statement effective January 1, 2009 did not impact our financial position or results of operations.

 

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EITF Issue No. 07-4, Application of the Two Class Method Under FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, to Master Limited Partnerships (“MLP”) (“EITF 07-4”). The FASB ratified the final consensus on EITF 07-4 on March 26, 2008. The key elements of the final consensus relate to: (a) the scope of the issue; (b) when Incentive Distribution Rights (“IDRs”) are considered participating securities under the two-class method for Earnings Per Share (“EPS”); (c) the calculation provisions; and (d) the transition and effective date. Our adoption of EITF 07-4 on January 1, 2009 did not have an impact on the calculation of ETE’s earnings per unit.

FASB Staff Position No. EITF 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”). FSP EITF 03-6-1 was issued by the FASB on June 16, 2008. FSP EITF 03-6-1 clarifies that unvested share-based payment awards constitute participating securities, if such awards include nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. Consequently, awards that are deemed to be participating securities must be allocated earnings in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. We adopted FSP EITF 03-6-1 effective January 1, 2009. Based on unvested unit awards outstanding at the time of adoption, application of FSP EITF 03-6-1 did not have a material impact on our computation of earnings per unit.

Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-6, Equity Method Investment Accounting Considerations (“EITF 08-6”). EITF 08-6 establishes the requirements for initial measurement of an equity method investment, including the accounting for contingent consideration related to the acquisition of an equity method investment. EITF 08-6 also clarifies the accounting for (1) an other-than-temporary impairment of an equity method investment and (2) changes in level of ownership or degree of influence with respect to an equity method investment. Our adoption of EITF 08-6 on January 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Staff Position (“FSP”) SFAS 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157 (“FSP 157-2”). FSP 157-2 deferred the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually), such as impaired nonfinancial assets and certain assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations. Our adoption of FSP 157-2 on January 1, 2009 did not impact our financial condition or results of operations.

 

3. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

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

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

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

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Net Income

   $ 279,750     $ 267,158  

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     75,659       61,883  

Amortization in interest expense

     4,732       1,825  

Provision for loss on accounts receivable

     1,312       1,204  

Loss on disposal of assets

     426       1,451  

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     (20,427 )     (9,888 )

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense

     6,939       8,099  

Non-cash executive compensation expense

     313       312  

Distribution in excess of earnings of affiliates, net

     328       1,651  

Deferred income taxes

     5,994       2,133  

Subsidiary distributions

     (87,199 )     (90,359 )

Other non-cash

     611       —    

 

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Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

    

Accounts receivable

     100,905       (248,114 )

Accounts receivable from related companies

     (13,947 )     (11,911 )

Inventories

     127,742       248,217  

Deposits paid to vendors

     39,769       (18,202 )

Exchanges receivable

     21,309       (6,885 )

Prepaid expenses and other

     18,136       (3,511 )

Intangibles and other long-term assets

     (6,673 )     (3,186 )

Accounts payable

     (59,795 )     114,983  

Accounts payable to related companies

     (16,271 )     (22,328 )

Exchanges payable

     (26,484 )     3,150  

Customer advances and deposits

     (51,126 )     (34,803 )

Accrued wages and benefits

     (5,840 )     (11,490 )

Accrued and other current liabilities

     5,921       14,840  

Interest payable

     (25,495 )     (22,362 )

Other non-current liabilities

     (187 )     1,667  

Price risk management liabilities, net

     (58,574 )     9,370  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 317,828     $ 254,904  
                

Non-cash investing and financing activities and supplemental cash flow information are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Investment in Calpine Corporation received in exchange for accounts receivable

   $ —       $ 10,816  
                

Capital expenditures accrued

   $ 84,908     $ 152,954  
                

Gain from subsidiary issuance of common units (recorded in partners’ capital)

   $ 15,567     $ 6,447  
                

NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Long-term debt assumed and non-compete agreement notes payable issued in acquisitions

   $ —       $ 2,693  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized

   $ 125,016     $ 109,956  
                

Cash received for income taxes

   $ (24 )   $ (346 )
                

 

4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:

Accounts receivable consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Midstream and intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 333,676     $ 415,507  

Interstate transportation

     30,469       29,309  

Propane

     133,480       155,191  

Less - allowance for doubtful accounts

     (8,562 )     (8,750 )
                

Total, net

   $ 489,063     $ 591,257  
                

 

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The activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the propane operations during the three months ended March 31, 2009 consisted of the following:

 

Balance, December 31, 2008

   $ 8,750  

Accounts receivable written off, net of recoveries

     (1,500 )

Provision for loss on accounts receivable

     1,312  
        

Balance, March 31, 2009

   $ 8,562  
        

 

5. INVENTORIES:

Inventories consist principally of natural gas held in storage valued at the lower of cost or market utilizing the weighted-average cost method. Propane inventories are also valued at the lower of cost or market utilizing the weighted-average cost of propane delivered to the customer service locations, including storage fees and inbound freight costs. The cost of appliances, parts and fittings is determined by the first-in, first-out method.

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Natural gas and NGLs, excluding propane

   $ 84,762    $ 184,727

Propane

     36,390      63,967

Appliances, parts and fittings and other

     23,455      23,654
             

Total inventories

   $ 144,607    $ 272,348
             

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we recorded a lower of cost or market adjustment of $44.6 million for natural gas inventory to reflect market values which were less than the weighted-average cost. No lower of cost or market adjustments were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 

6. GOODWILL, INTANGIBLES AND OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS:

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

 

     March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
     Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
 

Amortizable intangible assets:

          

Non-compete agreements (3 to 15 years)

   $ 40,301    $ (25,529 )   $ 40,301    $ (24,374 )

Customer lists (3 to 15 years)

     153,234      (43,224 )     144,337      (39,730 )

Contract rights (6 to 15 years)

     23,015      (4,217 )     23,015      (3,744 )

Other (10 years)

     2,677      (2,439 )     2,677      (2,244 )
                              

Total amortizable intangible assets

     219,227      (75,409 )     210,330      (70,092 )
                              

Non-amortizable intangible assets - Trademarks

     75,503      —         75,667      —    
                              

Total intangible assets

     294,730      (75,409 )     285,997      (70,092 )
                              

Other long-term assets:

          

Financing costs (3 to 15 years)

     74,784      (26,138 )     74,611      (23,508 )

Regulatory assets

     106,503      (6,823 )     98,560      (5,941 )

Other long-term assets

     40,901      —         43,353      —    
                              

Total intangibles and other long-term assets

   $ 516,918    $ (108,370 )   $ 502,521    $ (99,541 )
                              

Aggregate amortization expense of intangible and other long-term assets was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
     March 31,
2009
   March 31,
2008

Reported in depreciation and amortization

   $ 4,709    $ 4,299
             

Reported in interest expense

   $ 2,630    $ 2,034
             

 

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

 

Years Ending December 31:

    

2010

   $28,651

2011

   26,241

2012

   20,806

2013

   14,999

2014

   14,409

We review amortizable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If such a review should indicate that the carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets is not recoverable, we reduce the carrying amount of such assets to fair value. We review goodwill and non-amortizable intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances dictate. Our annual impairment test is performed as of December 31 for our interstate segment and as of August 31 for all others. No impairment of intangible assets was required for the three months ended March 31, 2009 or 2008. In December 2008, we recorded an impairment of the entire goodwill balance of $11.4 million related to the Canyon Gathering System. No goodwill impairments were recorded during the periods presented.

A decrease in goodwill of $8.7 million was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2009 in connection with purchase price allocation adjustments related to prior acquisitions of propane businesses by ETP.

 

7. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES:

Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC

ETP is party to an agreement with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (“KMP”) for a 50/50 joint development of Midcontinent Express pipeline (“MEP”), an approximately 500-mile interstate natural gas pipeline that will originate near Bennington, Oklahoma, be routed through Perryville, Louisiana, and terminate at an interconnect with Transco’s interstate natural gas pipeline in Butler, Alabama. The first phase of the pipeline was placed in interim service in April 2009 and the second phase of the pipeline is expected to be in service by the third quarter of 2009. In July 2008, MEP completed an open season with respect to a capacity expansion of MEP from the original planned capacity of 1.5 Bcf/d to a total capacity of 1.8 Bcf/d for the main segment of the pipeline from north Texas to a planned interconnect location with the Columbia Gas Transmission Pipeline near Waverly, Louisiana. The additional 300 MMcf/d of capacity was fully subscribed as a result of this open season. The planned expansion of capacity would be added through the installation of additional compression on this segment of the pipeline and is pending approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”).

On January 9, 2009, MEP filed an amended application to revise its initial transportation rates to reflect an increase in projected costs for the project; the amended application was approved by the FERC on March 25, 2009.

Fayetteville Express Pipeline LLC

ETP is party to an agreement with KMP for a 50/50 joint development of the Fayetteville Express pipeline, an approximately 187-mile natural gas pipeline that will originate in Conway County, Arkansas, continue eastward through White County, Arkansas and terminate at an interconnect with Trunkline Gas Company in Quitman County, Mississippi. FEP, the entity formed to own and operate this pipeline, initiated public review of the project pursuant to the FERC’s National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) pre-filing review process in November 2008. The pipeline is expected to have an initial capacity of 2.0 Bcf/d. Pending necessary regulatory approvals, the pipeline project is expected to be in service by early 2011. FEP has secured binding 10-year commitments for transportation of approximately 1.85 Bcf/d. The new pipeline will interconnect with Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (“NGPL”) in White County, Arkansas, Texas Gas Transmission in Coahoma County, Mississippi and ANR Pipeline Company in Quitman County, Mississippi. NGPL is operated and partially owned by Knight, Inc. Knight owns the general partner of KMP. Pursuant to our agreement with KMP related to this project, we and KMP are each obligated to fund 50% of the equity necessary to construct the project.

 

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Capital Contributions to Affiliates

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we contributed $119.9 million to our joint ventures ($111.0 million to MEP and $8.9 million to FEP). We expect that we will make capital contributions to MEP of between $345.0 million and $365.0 million and capital contributions to FEP of between $200.0 million and $220.0 million during the last nine months of 2009 to fund expenditures for the projects. If MEP obtains long-term financing in 2009 following completion of the base project, an additional capital contribution of $200.0 million to $250.0 million may be required.

 

8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The following table summarizes the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, based on inputs used to derive their fair values in accordance with SFAS 157:

 

           Fair Value Measurements at
March 31, 2009 Using
          Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2008 Using
 

Description

   Fair Value
Total
    Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets and
Liabilities

(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
    Fair Value
Total
    Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets and
Liabilities

(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
 

Assets

             

Marketable securities

   $ 5,949     $ 5,949     $ —       $ 5,915     $ 5,915    $ —    

Commodity derivatives

     3,211       1,046       2,165       111,513       106,090      5,423  

Interest rate swap derivatives

     1,005       —         1,005       —         —        —    

Liabilities

             

Commodity derivatives

     (20,565 )     (12,132 )     (8,433 )     (43,336 )     —        (43,336 )

Interest rate swap derivatives

     (209,033 )     —         (209,033 )     (220,806 )     —        (220,806 )
                                               

Total

   $ (219,433 )   $ (5,137 )   $ (214,296 )   $ (146,714 )   $ 112,005    $ (258,719 )
                                               

 

9. INCOME TAXES:

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

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Current expense (benefit):

    

Federal

   $ (4,626 )   $ (523 )

State

     3,492       3,279  
                

Total

     (1,134 )     2,756  

Deferred expense:

    

Federal

     6,666       2,109  

State

     675       279  
                

Total

     7,341       2,388  
                

Total tax expense

   $ 6,207     $ 5,144  
                

Effective tax rate

     2.2 %     1.9 %
                

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

 

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10. INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT:

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

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Basic Net Income per Limited Partner Unit:

    

Limited Partners’ interest in net income

   $ 151,067     $ 126,313  
                

Weighted average Limited Partner units

     222,898,065       222,829,956  
                

Basic net income per Limited Partner unit

   $ 0.68     $ 0.57  
                

Diluted Net Income per Limited Partner Unit:

    

Limited Partners’ interest in net income

   $ 151,067     $ 126,313  

Dilutive effect of Unit Grants

     (209 )     (338 )
                

Diluted net income available to Limited Partners

   $ 150,858     $ 125,975  
                

Weighted average Limited Partner units

     222,898,065       222,829,956  
                

Diluted net income per Limited Partner unit

   $ 0.68     $ 0.57  
                

 

11. DEBT OBLIGATIONS:

Revolving Credit Facilities and Term Loans

Parent Company Facilities

The Parent Company has a $1.45 billion Term Loan Facility and a Term Loan Maturity Date of November 1, 2012 (the “Parent Company Credit Agreement”). The Parent Company Credit Agreement also includes a $500.0 million Secured Revolving Credit Facility (the “Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility”) available through February 8, 2011. The Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility includes a Swingline loan option with a maximum borrowing of $10.0 million and a daily rate based on LIBOR.

The total outstanding amount borrowed under the Parent Company Credit Agreement and the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility as of March 31, 2009 was $1.57 billion. The total amount available under the Parent Company’s debt facilities as of March 31, 2009 was $378.5 million. The Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility also contains an accordion feature which will allow the Parent Company, subject to bank syndication’s approval, to expand the facility’s capacity up to an additional $100.0 million.

The maximum commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility is based on the applicable Leverage Ratio which is currently at Level III or 0.375%. Loans under the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at Parent Company’s option at either (a) the Eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin or (b) base rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margins are a function of the Parent Company’s leverage ratio that corresponds to levels set forth in the agreement. The applicable Term Loan bears interest at (a) the Eurodollar rate plus 1.75% per annum and (b) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, at Prime Rate plus 0.25% per annum. As of March 31, 2009, the weighted average interest rate was 2.97% for the amounts outstanding on the Parent Company Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility and the Parent Company $1.45 billion Senior Secured Term Loan Facility.

The Parent Company Credit Agreement is secured by a lien on all tangible and intangible assets of the Parent Company and its subsidiaries, including its ownership of 62,500,797 ETP Common Units, the Parent Company’s 100% interest in ETP LLC and ETP GP with indirect recourse to ETP GP’s 2% General Partner interest in ETP and 100% of ETP GP’s outstanding incentive distribution rights in ETP, which the Parent Company holds through its ownership of ETP GP.

ETP Credit Facility

The ETP Credit Facility provides for $2.0 billion of revolving credit capacity that is expandable to $3.0 billion (subject to obtaining the approval of the administrative agent and securing lender commitments for the increased borrowing capacity, under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The ETP Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2012, unless we elect the option of one-year extensions (subject to the approval of each such extension by the lenders holding a majority of the aggregate lending commitments). Amounts borrowed under the ETP Credit Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or a prime rate. The indebtedness under the ETP Credit Facility is prepayable at any time at the Partnership’s option without penalty. The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the ETP Credit Facility varies based on our credit rating and the fee is 0.11% based on our current rating with a maximum fee of 0.125%.

 

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As of March 31, 2009, there was a balance outstanding on the ETP Credit Facility of $882.0 million in revolving credit loans and approximately $60.0 million in letters of credit. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding at March 31, 2009, was 1.86%. The total amount available under the ETP Credit Facility, as of March 31, 2009 which is reduced by any letters of credit, was approximately $1.06 billion.

HOLP Credit Facility

HOLP has a $75.0 million Senior Revolving Facility (the “HOLP Credit Facility”) available to HOLP through June 30, 2011, which may be expanded to $150.0 million. Amounts borrowed under the HOLP Credit Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or a prime rate. The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the facility varies based on the Leverage Ratio, as defined, with a maximum fee of 0.50%. The agreement includes provisions that may require contingent prepayments in the event of dispositions, loss of assets, merger or change of control. All receivables, contracts, equipment, inventory, general intangibles, cash concentration accounts of HOLP, and the capital stock of HOLP’s subsidiaries secure the HOLP Credit Facility. At March 31, 2009, there was no outstanding balance in revolving credit loans and $1.0 million in outstanding letters of credit. The amount available as of March 31, 2009 was $74.0 million.

ETP Senior Notes

2009 ETP Notes

Subsequent to March 31, 2009, ETP completed a public offering of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 and $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 (collectively the “2009 ETP Notes”). The sale of the 2009 ETP Notes closed on April 7, 2009 and ETP used the net proceeds of approximately $993.6 million from the offering to repay all borrowings outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility and for general partnership purposes.

The 2009 ETP Notes are unsecured obligations of the Partnership and the obligation of the Partnership to repay the 2009 ETP Notes is not guaranteed by any of the Partnership’s subsidiaries. As a result, the 2009 ETP Notes effectively rank junior to any future indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries that is both secured and unsubordinated to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and the 2009 ETP Notes effectively rank junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our existing and future subsidiaries.

Covenants Related to Our Credit Agreements

We are in compliance with all requirements, tests, limitations, and covenants related to our debt agreements at March 31, 2009.

 

12. PARTNERS’ CAPITAL:

Under the terms of ETE’s partnership agreement, the limited partners’ potential liability is limited to their investment in the Partnership. The general partner of ETE manages and controls the business and affairs of the Partnership. The limited partners of ETE are not involved in the management and control of ETE.

Common Units

The change in Common Units during the three-month period ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Number of
Units

Balance, December 31, 2008

   222,829,956

Issuance of restricted Common Units under long-term incentive plan

   68,292
    

Balance, March 31, 2009

   222,898,248
    

 

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Sale of Common Units by Subsidiary

The Parent Company accounts for the difference between the carrying amount of its investment in ETP and the underlying book value arising from issuance of units by ETP (excluding unit issuances to the Parent Company) as a capital transaction. If ETP issues units at a price less than the Parent Company’s carrying value per unit, the Parent Company assesses whether the investment in ETP has been impaired, in which case a provision would be reflected in the statement of operations. The Parent Company did not recognize any impairment related to the issuance of ETP Units during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

On January 27, 2009, ETP closed a public offering of 6,900,000 Common Units at $34.05 per ETP Common Unit. Net proceeds of approximately $225.9 million from the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the ETP Credit Facility.

Subsequent to March 31, 2009, ETP closed a public offering of 8,500,000 ETP Common Units representing limited partner interests at $37.55 per ETP Common Unit. In connection with this public offering, ETP also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,275,000 additional ETP Common Units on the same terms. The offering closed on April 21, 2009 and the underwriters exercised their option to purchase additional ETP Common Units in full on April 24, 2009. Net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million from the offering will be used by ETP to fund capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint venture entities related to pipeline construction projects as well as for general partnership purposes. The units have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR.

The Parent Company recorded the difference of $15.6 million between the carrying amount of the Partnership’s investment in ETP and its share of the underlying book value after giving effect to the above January 27, 2009 transaction as a capital transaction based on the Partnership’s ownership in ETP’s limited partner interests being diluted from 41.09% to 39.31% during the three months ended March 31, 2009. The capital transaction is reflected in the Partnership’s condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2009 as an increase in limited partners’ capital. No deferred taxes were recorded and the transaction had no effect on the Partnership’s income.

Parent Company Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

Our distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our Partnership Agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly. The Parent Company’s only cash-generating assets currently consist of distributions from ETP related to limited and general partnership interests, including Incentive Distribution Rights in ETP. We currently have no independent operations outside of our interests in ETP.

On February 19, 2009, the Parent Company paid a cash distribution for the three months ended December 31, 2008 of $0.51 per Common Unit, or $2.04 annualized, an increase of $0.12 per Common Unit on an annualized basis to Unitholders of record at the close of business on February 6, 2009.

On April 28, 2009, the Parent Company announced the declaration of a cash distribution for the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $0.525 per Common Unit, or $2.10 annualized, an increase of $0.06 per Common Unit on an annualized basis. This distribution will be paid on May 19, 2009 to Unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2009.

ETP’s Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

ETP is required by its partnership agreement to distribute all cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less appropriate reserves determined by the board of directors of its general partner.

On February 13, 2009, ETP paid a per unit cash distribution related to the three months ended December 31, 2008 of $0.89375 per Common Unit ($3.575 per Limited Partner Unit annualized) to Unitholders of record at the close of business on February 6, 2009. ETP paid $83.9 million in the aggregate for ETP GP’s 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and its Incentive Distribution Rights for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

The total amount of distributions the Parent Company received from ETP during the three months ended March 31, 2009 relating to its limited partner interests, general partner interests and incentive distribution rights of ETP are as follows:

 

Limited Partner Interest

   $ 55,860

General Partner Interest

     4,582

Incentive Distribution Rights

     79,278
      

Total distributions received from ETP

   $ 139,720
      

 

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On April 28, 2009, ETP announced the declaration of a cash distribution for the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $0.89375 per Common Unit, or $3.575 annualized. This distribution will be paid on May 15, 2009 to Unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2009.

The total amount of ETP distributions declared related to the three months ended March 31, 2009 in the condensed consolidated financial statements are as follows (all from Available Cash from ETP’s operating surplus):

 

Limited Partners -

  

Common Units

   $ 150,853

Class E Units

     3,121

General Partner -

  

2% Ownership

     4,860

Incentive Distribution Rights

     84,146
      
   $ 242,980
      

Based on ETP’s current quarterly distributions of $0.89375 per unit the Parent Company would be entitled to receive a quarterly cash distribution of approximately $144.8 million (or $579.2 million on an annualized basis), which consists of $4.8 million from the indirect ownership of the 2% general partner interest in ETP, $84.1 million from the indirect ownership of the Incentive Distribution Rights in ETP and $55.9 million from the Common Units of ETP.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

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

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Net gain (loss) on commodity related hedges

   $ (3,128 )   $ 8,735  

Net loss on interest rate hedges

     (69,265 )     (68,896 )

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

     (5,932 )     (5,983 )

Noncontrolling interest

     5,337       (1,681 )
                

Total AOCI, net of tax

   $ (72,988 )   $ (67,825 )
                

 

13. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS:

We recognized non-cash compensation expense related to the unit-based compensation plans of ETP and ETE of $6.9 million and $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

ETE Long-Term Incentive Plan

As of March 31, 2009, a total of 65,000 unvested units are outstanding under the ETE Long-Term Incentive Plan to employees with vesting over a five-year period at 20%. These awards include rights to distributions paid on unvested units. The total grant-date fair value of $1.08 million will be recognized as compensation expense during the vesting period.

As of March 31, 2009, a total of 6,864 restricted units granted to ETE Directors are outstanding under the ETE Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

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ETP Unit-Based Compensation Plans

ETP Employee Grants

The following table shows the activity of the ETP awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2009:

 

     Three-Year
Performance Vesting (1)
   Five-Year
Service Vesting (2)
   Other (3)    Total
     Number of
Units
    Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Per Unit
   Number of
Units
    Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Per Unit
   Number of
Units
   Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Per Unit
   Number of
Units
    Weighted
Average
Fair Value
Per Unit

Unvested awards as of December 31, 2008

   150,852     $ 43.96    1,205,430     $ 35.87    8,976    $ 43.48    1,365,258     $ 36.81

Awards granted

   —         —      35,850       34.60    —        —      35,850       34.60

Awards vested

   —         —      (8,800 )     46.00    —        —      (8,800 )     46.00

Awards forfeited

   (834 )     40.69    (7,776 )     37.10    —        —      (8,610 )     37.45
                                                  

Unvested awards as of March 31, 2009

   150,018     $ 43.98    1,224,704     $ 35.75    8,976    $ 43.48    1,383,698     $ 36.69
                                  

 

  (1) Includes awards subject to performance objectives and continued employment.
  (2) Includes awards for which vesting is subject to continued employment.
  (3) Includes special grants and awards issued with other vesting conditions.

As of March 31, 2009, a total of 4,759,630 ETP Common Units remain available to be awarded under the ETP 2008 Incentive Plan.

ETP recognized non-cash compensation expense related to employee grants under its unit-based compensation plans of $6.8 million and $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The total expected non-cash compensation expense to be recognized related to the unvested employee awards as of March 31, 2009 is:

 

Year Ending December 31:

    

2009 (remainder)

   $ 14,501

2010

     10,516

2011

     6,176

2012

     3,235

2013

     1,056

ETP Director Grants

There were no new ETP Director Grants, or awards vested during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

ETP recognized non-cash compensation expense related to director grants under its unit-based compensation plans of $0.04 million for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.

Related Party Awards

During 2007 and 2008, a partnership (McReynolds Energy Partners, L.P.), the general partner of which is owned and controlled by our President, awarded to certain new officers of ETP certain rights related to units of ETE previously issued by ETE to such officer. As of March 31, 2009, rights related to 695,000 unvested ETE units remained outstanding. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, we recognized non-cash compensation expense, net of forfeitures, of $1.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

 

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

Regulatory Matters

On September 29, 2006, Transwestern filed revised tariff sheets under Section 4(e) of the Natural Gas Act (“NGA”) proposing a general rate increase to be effective on November 1, 2006. In April 2007, the FERC approved a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement that resolved the primary components of the rate case. Transwestern’s tariff rates and fuel charges are now final for the period of the settlement. Transwestern is not required to file a new rate case until October 1, 2011.

The Phoenix project, as filed with the FERC on September 15, 2006, includes the construction and operation of approximately 260 miles of 36-inch or larger diameter pipeline extending from Transwestern’s existing mainline in Yavapai County, Arizona to delivery points in the Phoenix, Arizona area and certain looping on Transwestern’s existing San Juan Lateral with approximately 25 miles of 36-inch diameter pipeline. On November 15, 2007, the FERC issued an order granting Transwestern its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“Order”). Pursuant to the Order, Transwestern filed its initial Implementation Plan on November 14, 2007 and accepted the Order on November 19, 2007. On December 17, 2007, two parties filed requests for rehearing of the Order and on December 20, 2007, one party filed a motion to stay the Order. On February 21, 2008, the FERC reaffirmed its decision in the Order; thus, Transwestern notified customers of the commencement of construction in January 2008. The San Juan Lateral portion of the project was placed in service effective July 2008 and the pipeline to the Phoenix area was placed in service in March 2009.

Guarantees

We have guaranteed 50% of the obligations of MEP under its $1.40 billion senior revolving credit facility (the “MEP Facility”), with the remaining 50% of MEP Facility obligations guaranteed by KMP. Subject to certain exceptions, our guarantee may be proportionately increased or decreased if our ownership percentage increases or decreases. The MEP Facility is unsecured and matures on February 28, 2011. The MEP Facility is syndicated among multiple financial institutions. As a result of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, the MEP Facility has effectively been reduced by the Lehman Brothers affiliate’s commitment of approximately $100.0 million. However, the MEP Facility is not in default, and the commitments of the other lending banks remain unchanged.

As of March 31, 2009, MEP had $1.22 billion of outstanding borrowings and $33.3 million of letters of credit issued under the MEP Facility. Our contingent obligations with respect to our 50% guarantee of MEP’s outstanding borrowings and letters of credit were $609.1 million and $16.7 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2009.

Commitments

In the normal course of our business, we purchase, process and sell natural gas pursuant to long-term contracts and enter into long-term transportation and storage agreements. Such contracts contain terms that are customary in the industry. We have also entered into several propane purchase and supply commitments which are typically one year agreements with varying terms as to quantities, prices and expiration dates. We also have a long-term purchase contract for approximately 79.0 million gallons of propane per year that contains a two year cancellation provision and a seven year contract to purchase not less than 90.0 million gallons per year. We believe that the terms of these agreements are commercially reasonable and will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

We have certain non-cancelable leases for property and equipment which require fixed monthly rental payments and expire at various dates through 2020. Rental expense under these operating leases has been included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements of operations and totaled approximately $6.0 million and $8.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Litigation and Contingencies

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

 

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FERC/CFTC and Related Matters. On July 26, 2007, the FERC issued to us an Order to Show Cause and Notice of Proposed Penalties (the “Order and Notice”) that contains allegations that ETP violated FERC rules and regulations. The FERC has alleged that ETP engaged in manipulative or improper trading activities in the Houston Ship Channel, primarily on two dates during the fall of 2005 following the occurrence of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as on eight other occasions from December 2003 through August 2005, in order to benefit financially from our commodities derivatives positions and from certain of our index-priced physical gas purchases in the Houston Ship Channel. The FERC has alleged that during these periods ETP violated the FERC’s then-effective Market Behavior Rule 2, an anti-market manipulation rule promulgated by the FERC under authority of the NGA. The FERC alleges that ETP violated this rule by artificially suppressing prices that were included in the Platts Inside FERC Houston Ship Channel index, published by McGraw-Hill Companies, on which the pricing of many physical natural gas contracts and financial derivatives are based. Additionally, the FERC has alleged that ETP manipulated daily prices at the Waha and Permian Hubs in west Texas on two dates. Finally, the FERC alleged that ETP’s Oasis pipeline, a pipeline that transports interstate natural gas pursuant to Natural Gas Policy Act (“NGPA”) Section 311 authority and is subject to the FERC-approved rates, terms and conditions of service, violated NGPA regulations from January 26, 2004 through June 30, 2006 by granting undue preference to its affiliates for interstate NGPA Section 311 pipeline service to the detriment of similarly situated non-affiliated shippers and by charging in excess of the FERC-approved maximum lawful rate for interstate NGPA Section 311 transportation. As discussed below, in January 2009 ETP entered into a settlement agreement with FERC Enforcement Staff pursuant to which all claims against Oasis were settled with no obligation for Oasis to pay any civil penalties to the FERC or make any other payment, and in February 2009, the FERC approved the terms of this settlement agreement in its entirety and without modification. The FERC also seeks to revoke, for a period of 12 months, ETP’s blanket marketing authority for sales of natural gas in interstate commerce at market-based prices, which activity accounted for less than 1.0% of ETP’s operating income for our 2008 year. If the FERC is successful in revoking ETP’s blanket marketing authority, ETP’s sales of natural gas at market-based prices would be limited to sales to retail customers (such as utilities and other end-users) and sales from its own production, and any other sales of natural gas by ETP would be required to be made at contract prices that would be subject to individual FERC approval.

In its Order and Notice, the FERC specified that it was seeking $54.6 million in disgorgement of profits, plus interest, and $97.5 million in civil penalties relating to its market manipulation claims. The FERC has taken the position that, once it receives ETP’s response, it has several options as to how to proceed, including issuing an order on the merits, requesting briefs, or setting specified issues for a trial-type hearing before an administrative law judge. On August 27, 2007, ETP filed a request for rehearing of the Order and Notice. On December 20, 2007, the FERC issued an order denying rehearing and directed the FERC Enforcement Staff to file a brief recommending disposition of issues by order or by evidentiary hearing. ETP filed its response to the Order and Notice with the FERC on October 9, 2007, which response refuted the FERC’s claims and requested a dismissal of the FERC proceeding. On February 14, 2008, the Enforcement Staff of the FERC filed a brief recommending that the FERC refer various matters relating to its market manipulation allegations for an evidentiary hearing before a FERC administrative law judge. The Enforcement Staff also recommended that the FERC pursue market manipulation claims related to ETP’s trading activities in October 2005 for November 2005 monthly deliveries, a period not previously covered by FERC’s allegations in the Order and Notice, and that ETP be assessed an additional civil penalty of $25.0 million and be required to disgorge approximately $7.3 million of alleged unjust profits related to this additional month. If the FERC pursues the claims related to this additional month, the total amount of civil penalties and disgorgement of profits sought by the FERC would be approximately $184.4 million. On March 31, 2008, ETP responded to the Enforcement Staff’s brief.

On May 15, 2008, the FERC ordered hearings to be conducted by FERC administrative law judges with respect to the FERC’s Oasis claims and market manipulation claims. The hearing related to the Oasis claims was scheduled to commence in December 2008 with the administrative law judge’s initial decisions due by May 11, 2009; however, as discussed below, ETP entered into a settlement agreement with FERC Enforcement Staff in January 2009, and that agreement was approved by the FERC in its entirety and without modification on February 27, 2009. The hearing related to the market manipulation claims is now scheduled to commence in June 2009 with the administrative law judge’s initial decision due by December 3, 2009. The FERC also ordered that, following the completion of the hearings, the administrative law judges make initial findings with respect to whether ETP engaged in market manipulation in violation of the NGA and FERC regulations. The FERC reserved for itself the issues of possible civil penalties, revocation of ETP’s blanket market certificate, and whether ETP would disgorge

 

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any unjust profits. Following the issuance of the administrative law judge’s initial decision related to the market manipulation claims, the FERC would then issue an order with respect to each of these matters. On May 23, 2008, ETP requested rehearing and stay of the FERC’s May 15, 2008 order establishing hearing, and ETP renewed those requests on June 26, 2008. On August 7, 2008, FERC denied rehearing of its May 15, 2008 order. On August 8, 2008, ETP filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to review and set aside FERC’s May 15 and August 7, 2008 orders on the grounds that ETP is entitled to adjudicate FERC’s claims in federal district court pursuant to the NGA and the NGPA. On August 28, 2008, ETP filed an amended petition seeking review of the Order and Notice and the December 20, 2007 order denying rehearing. On April 28, 2009, the Fifth Circuit issued an order dismissing our petition on the grounds that the issues presented in the petition are not ripe for adjudication at this time.

On November 18, 2008, the administrative law judge presiding over the Oasis claims granted ETP’s motion for summary disposition of the claim that Oasis unduly discriminated in favor of affiliates regarding the provision of Section 311(a)(2) interstate transportation service. ETP subsequently entered into an agreement with the Enforcement Staff to settle all of the claims related to Oasis. Pursuant to this agreement, Oasis will not pay any civil penalties to the FERC or make any other payments. On January 5, 2009, this agreement was submitted under seal to FERC by the presiding administrative law judge, for FERC’s approval as an uncontested settlement of all Oasis claims. On February 27, 2009, the settlement agreement was approved by the FERC in its entirety and without modification, and the terms of the settlement were made public. As no person sought rehearing of the order approving the settlement within 30 days of such order, the FERC’s order has become final and non-appealable. We believe the Oasis settlement, as approved by the FERC, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

It is our position that ETP’s trading and transportation activities during the periods at issue complied in all material aspects with applicable law and regulations, and we intend to contest these cases vigorously. However, the laws and regulations related to alleged market manipulation are vague, subject to broad interpretation, and offer little guiding precedent, while at the same time the FERC holds substantial enforcement authority. At this time, we are unable to predict the final outcome of these matters.

On July 26, 2007, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) filed suit in United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas alleging that we violated provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by attempting to manipulate natural gas prices in the Houston Ship Channel. On March 17, 2008, ETP entered into a consent order with the CFTC (the “Consent Order”). Pursuant to the Consent Order, ETP agreed to pay the CFTC $10.0 million and the CFTC agreed to release ETP and its affiliates, directors and employees from all claims or causes of action asserted by the CFTC in this proceeding. The Consent Order provides that ETP is permanently enjoined from attempting to manipulate the price of any commodity in interstate commerce in violation of the CEA. By consenting to the entry of the Consent Order, ETP neither admitted nor denied the allegations made by the CFTC in this proceeding. The settlement reduced our existing accrual and was paid from cash flow from operations in March 2008.

In addition to the FERC legal action, third parties have asserted claims and may assert additional claims against us and ETP for damages related to these matters. In this regard, several natural gas producers and a natural gas marketing company have initiated legal proceedings in Texas state courts against us and ETP for claims related to the FERC claims. These suits contain contract and tort claims relating to alleged manipulation of natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Channel and the Waha Hub in West Texas, as well as the natural gas price indices related to these markets and the Permian Basin natural gas price index during the period from December 2003 through December 2006, and seek unspecified direct, indirect, consequential and exemplary damages. One of the suits against us and ETP contains an additional allegation that we and ETP transported gas in a manner that favored our affiliates and discriminated against the plaintiff, and otherwise artificially affected the market price of gas to other parties in the market. We have moved to compel arbitration and/or contested subject-matter jurisdiction in some of these cases. One such case currently is on appeal before the Texas Supreme Court on, among other things, the issue of whether the dispute is arbitrable.

We have also been served with a complaint from an owner of royalty interests in natural gas producing properties, individually and on behalf of a putative class of similarly situated royalty owners, working interest owners and producer/operators, seeking arbitration to recover damages based on alleged manipulation of natural gas prices at the Houston Ship Channel. We filed an original action in Harris County state court seeking a stay of the arbitration on the ground that the action is not arbitrable, and the state court granted our motion for summary judgment on that issue. The claimants have filed a notice of appeal.

 

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A consolidated class action complaint has been filed against ETP in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. This action alleges that ETP engaged in intentional and unlawful manipulation of the price of natural gas futures and options contracts on the NYMEX in violation of the CEA. It is further alleged that during the class period December 29, 2003 to December 31, 2005, ETP had the market power to manipulate index prices, and that it used this market power to artificially depress the index prices at major natural gas trading hubs, including the Houston Ship Channel, in order to benefit its natural gas physical and financial trading positions, and that ETP intentionally submitted price and volume trade information to trade publications. This complaint also alleges that ETP violated the CEA by knowingly aiding and abetting violations of the CEA. The plaintiffs state that this allegedly unlawful depression of index prices by ETP manipulated the NYMEX prices for natural gas futures and options contracts to artificial levels during the class period, causing unspecified damages to the plaintiffs and all other members of the putative class who sold natural gas futures or who purchased and/or sold natural gas options contracts on NYMEX during the class period. The plaintiffs have requested certification of their suit as a class action and seek unspecified damages, court costs and other appropriate relief. On January 14, 2008, ETP filed a motion to dismiss this suit on the grounds of failure to allege facts sufficient to state a claim. On March 20, 2008, the plaintiffs filed a second consolidated class action complaint. In response to this new pleading, on May 5, 2008, ETP filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On June 19, 2008, the plaintiffs filed a response opposing ETP’s motion to dismiss. ETP filed a reply in support of its motion on July 9, 2008. On March 26, 2009, the court issued an order dismissing this complaint, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim. On April 9, 2009, the plaintiff filed with the court a motion for reconsideration of this decision. The court has not taken any action with respect to this motion.

On March 17, 2008, a second class action complaint was filed against ETP in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. This action alleges that ETP engaged in unlawful restraint of trade and intentional monopolization and attempted monopolization of the market for fixed-price natural gas baseload transactions at the Houston Ship Channel from December 2003 through December 2005 in violation of federal antitrust law. The complaint further alleges that during this period ETP exerted monopoly power to suppress the price for these transactions to non-competitive levels in order to benefit its own physical natural gas positions. The plaintiff has, individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated sellers of physical natural gas, requested certification of its suit as a class action and seeks unspecified treble damages, court costs and other appropriate relief. On May 19, 2008, ETP filed a motion to dismiss this complaint. On July 2, 2008 the plaintiffs filed a response opposing ETP’s motion to dismiss. ETP filed a reply in support of its motion on August 18, 2008. On March 26, 2009, the court issued an order dismissing this complaint for failure to state a claim in all causes of action and for failure to state an anti-trust injury but granted the plaintiffs leave to amend. On April 23, 2009, the plaintiff filed a motion with the court to seek permission to amend its petition in order to assert a claim for common law fraud. The court has not taken any action with respect to this motion.

We are expensing the legal fees, consultants’ fees and other expenses relating to these matters in the periods in which such expenses are incurred. In addition, our existing accruals for litigation and contingencies include an accrual related to these matters. At this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of these matters. However, it is possible that the amount we become obliged to pay as a result of the final resolution of these matters, whether on a negotiated settlement basis or otherwise, will exceed the amount of our existing accrual related to these matters. In accordance with applicable accounting standards, we will review the amount of our accrual related to these matters as developments related to these matters occur and we will adjust our accrual if we determine that it is probable that the amount we may ultimately become obliged to pay as a result of the final resolution of these matters is greater than the amount of our existing accrual for these matters. As our accrual amounts are non-cash, any cash payment of an amount in resolution of these matters would likely be made from cash from operations or borrowings, which payments would reduce our cash available to service our indebtedness either directly or as a result of increased principal and interest payments necessary to service any borrowings incurred to finance such payments. If these payments are substantial, we may experience a material adverse impact on our results of operations and our liquidity.

In re Natural Gas Royalties Qui Tam Litigation. MDL Docket No. 1293 (D. WY), Jack Grynberg, an individual, has filed actions against a number of companies, including Transwestern, now transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, for damages for mis-measurement of gas volumes and Btu content, resulting in lower royalties to mineral interest owners. On October 20, 2006, the District Judge adopted in part the earlier recommendation of the Special Master in the case and ordered the dismissal of the case against Transwestern. Transwestern believes that its measurement practices conformed to the terms of its FERC Gas Tariff, which were filed with and approved by the FERC. As a result, Transwestern believes that is has meritorious defenses to these

 

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lawsuits (including FERC-related affirmative defenses, such as the filed rate/tariff doctrine, the primary/exclusive jurisdiction of the FERC, and the defense that Transwestern complied with the terms of its tariffs) and will continue to vigorously defend against them, including any appeal which may be taken from the dismissal of the Grynberg case. A hearing was held on April 24, 2007 regarding Transwestern’s Supplemental Brief for Attorneys’ fees which was filed on January 8, 2007 and the issues are submitted and are awaiting a decision. Grynberg moved to have the cases he appealed remanded to the district court for consideration in light of a recently-issued Supreme Court case. The defendants/appellees opposed the motion. The Tenth Circuit motions panel referred the remand motion to the merits panel to be carried with the appeals. Grynberg’s opening brief was filed on or about July 31, 2007. Appellee’s opposition brief was filed on or about November 21, 2007. Appellee Transwestern filed its separate response brief on January 11, 2008 and Grynberg’s reply brief was filed in June 2008 and the hearing on all briefs was held in September 2008. On March 17, 2009, the Tenth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s dismissal. Transwestern does not believe the outcome of this case will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Houston Pipeline Cushion Gas Litigation. At the time of the HPL System acquisition, AEP Energy Services Gas Holding Company II, L.L.C., HPL Consolidation LP and its subsidiaries (the “HPL Entities”), their parent companies and American Electric Power Corporation (“AEP”), were engaged in ongoing litigation with Bank of America (“B of A”) that related to AEP’s acquisition of HPL in the Enron bankruptcy and B of A’s financing of cushion gas stored in the Bammel Storage Facility (“Cushion Gas”). This litigation is referred to as the “Cushion Gas Litigation”. Under the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the related Cushion Gas Litigation Agreement, AEP and its subsidiaries that were the sellers of the HPL Entities retained control of the Cushion Gas Litigation and have agreed to indemnify ETC OLP and the HPL Entities for any damages arising from the Cushion Gas Litigation and the loss of use of the Cushion Gas, up to a maximum of the amount paid by ETC OLP for the HPL Entities and the working gas inventory (approximately $1.00 billion in the aggregate). The Cushion Gas Litigation Agreement terminates upon final resolution of the Cushion Gas Litigation. In addition, under the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, AEP retained control of additional matters relating to ongoing litigation and environmental remediation and agreed to bear the costs of or indemnify ETC OLP and the HPL Entities for the costs related to such matters. On December 18, 2007, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York held that B of A is entitled to receive monetary damages from AEP and the HPL Entities of approximately $347.3 million less the monetary amount B of A would have incurred to remove 55 Bcf of natural gas from the Bammel Storage Facility. AEP is appealing the court decision. Based on the indemnification provisions of the Cushion Gas Litigation Agreement, ETP does not expect that it will be liable for any portion of this court award.

Other Matters. In addition to those matters described above, we or our subsidiaries are a party to various legal proceedings and/or regulatory proceedings incidental to our businesses. For each of these matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and the availability of insurance coverage. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome of a particular matter is probable, can be estimated and is not covered by insurance, we make an accrual for the matter. For matters that are covered by insurance, we accrue the related deductible. As new information becomes available, our estimates may change. The impact of these changes may have a significant effect on our results of operations in a single period.

The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty and it is possible that the outcome of a particular matter will result in the payment of an amount in excess of the amount accrued for the matter. As our accrual amounts are non-cash, any cash payment of an amount in resolution of a particular matter would likely be made from cash from operations or borrowings. If cash payments to resolve a particular matter substantially exceed our accrual for such matter, we may experience a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash available for distribution and our liquidity.

As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, accruals of $21.0 million and $20.8 million, respectively, were recorded as accrued and other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets for our contingencies and current litigation matters, excluding accruals related to environmental matters.

Environmental

Our operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations that require expenditures for remediation at operating facilities and waste disposal sites. Although we believe our operations

 

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are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, risks of additional costs and liabilities are inherent in the natural gas pipeline and processing business, and there can be no assurance that significant costs and liabilities will not be incurred. Moreover, it is possible that other developments, such as increasingly stringent environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies thereunder, and claims for damages to property or persons resulting from the operations, could result in substantial costs and liabilities. Accordingly, we have adopted policies, practices, and procedures in the areas of pollution control, product safety, occupational health, and the handling, storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials to prevent material environmental or other damage, and to limit the financial liability which could result from such events. However, some risk of environmental or other damage is inherent in the natural gas pipeline and processing business, as it is with other entities engaged in similar businesses.

Transwestern conducts soil and groundwater remediation at a number of its facilities. Some of the clean up activities include remediation of several compressor sites on the Transwestern system for contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) and the costs of this work are not eligible for recovery in rates. The total accrued future estimated cost of remediation activities expected to continue through 2018 is $9.0 million. Transwestern received FERC approval for rate recovery of projected soil and groundwater remediation costs not related to PCBs effective April 1, 2007.

Transwestern continues to incur certain costs related to PCBs that could migrate through its pipelines into customers’ facilities. Transwestern, as part of ongoing arrangements with customers, continues to incur costs associated with containing and removing the PCBs. Costs of these remediation activities totaled approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. There were no remediation costs incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Future costs cannot be reasonably estimated because remediation activities are undertaken as potential claims are made by customers and former customers, and accordingly, no accrual has been established for these costs at March 31, 2009. However, such future costs are not expected to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental regulations were recently modified for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (the “EPA”) Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (“SPCC”) program. We are currently reviewing the impact to our operations and expect to expend resources on tank integrity testing and any associated corrective actions as well as potential upgrades to containment structures. Costs associated with tank integrity testing and resulting corrective actions cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but we believe such costs will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2001, HOLP acquired a company that had previously received a request for information from the EPA regarding potential contribution to a widespread groundwater contamination problem in San Bernardino, California, known as the Newmark Groundwater Contamination. Although the EPA has indicated that the groundwater contamination may be attributable to releases of solvents from a former military base located within the subject area that occurred long before the facility acquired by HOLP was constructed, it is possible that the EPA may seek to recover all or a portion of groundwater remediation costs from private parties under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly called Superfund). We have not received any follow-up correspondence from the EPA on the matter since our acquisition of the predecessor company in 2001. Based upon information currently available to HOLP, it is believed that HOLP’s liability if such action were to be taken by the EPA would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

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

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

 

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As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, an accrual on an undiscounted basis of $13.1 million and $13.3 million, respectively, was recorded in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as accrued and other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities to cover environmental liabilities related to certain matters assumed in connection with the HPL acquisition, the Transwestern acquisition and the potential environmental liabilities for three sites that were formerly owned by Titan or its predecessors.

Based on information available at this time and reviews undertaken to identify potential exposure, we believe the amount reserved for all of the above environmental matters is adequate to cover the potential exposure for clean-up costs.

Our pipeline operations are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), pursuant to which the PHMSA has established requirements relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline facilities. Moreover, the PHMSA, through the Office of Pipeline Safety, has promulgated a rule (the “IMP Rule”) requiring pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs to comprehensively evaluate their pipelines, and take measures to protect pipeline segments located in what the rule refers to as “high consequence areas”. Activities under these integrity management programs involve the performance of internal pipeline inspections, pressure testing, or other effective means to assess the integrity of these regulated pipeline segments, and the regulations require prompt action to address integrity issues raised by the assessment and analysis. Through March 31, 2009, Transwestern did not incur any costs associated with the IMP Rule. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, $3.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of capital costs and $3.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of operating and maintenance costs have been incurred for pipeline integrity testing for our transportation assets other than Transwestern. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 $0.2 million of capital costs and $0.1 million of operating and maintenance costs have been incurred for pipeline integrity costs for Transwestern. No capital costs or operating and maintenance costs were incurred for pipeline integrity costs for Transwestern for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Integrity testing and assessment of all of these assets will continue, and the potential exists that results of such testing and assessment could cause us to incur even greater capital and operating expenditures for repairs or upgrades deemed necessary to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of its pipelines.

 

15. PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES:

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to the volatility of natural gas, NGL and propane prices. To manage the impact of volatility in these prices, we utilize various exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) commodity financial instrument contracts. These contracts consist primarily of futures and swaps and are recorded at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We have a risk management policy that specifies the manner in which derivative financial instruments are employed and monitored in connection with underlying asset, liability and/or anticipated transactions. Furthermore, on a bi-weekly basis, management reviews the creditworthiness of the derivative counterparties to manage against the risk of default.

The market prices used to value our financial derivatives and related transactions have been determined using independent third party prices, readily available market information, broker quotes and appropriate valuation techniques.

Non-trading Activities

If we designate a derivative financial instrument as a cash flow hedge and it qualifies for hedge accounting, a change in the fair value is deferred in AOCI until the underlying hedged transaction occurs. Any ineffective portion of a cash flow hedge’s change in fair value is recognized each period in earnings. Gains and losses deferred in AOCI related to cash flow hedges remain in AOCI until the underlying physical transaction occurs, unless it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter. For financial derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting, the change in fair value is recorded in cost of products sold in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

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We expect losses of $3.1 million related to commodity derivatives to be reclassified into earnings over the next twelve months related to amounts currently reported in AOCI. The amount ultimately realized, however, will differ as commodity prices change and the underlying physical transaction occurs.

We attempt to maintain balanced positions in our non-trading activities to protect ourselves from the volatility in the energy commodities markets; however, net unbalanced positions can exist. Long-term physical contracts are tied to index prices. System gas, which is also tied to index prices, is expected to provide most of the gas required by our long-term physical contracts. When third-party gas is required to supply long-term contracts, a hedge is put in place to protect the margin on the contract. Financial contracts, which are not tied to physical delivery, are expected to be offset with financial contracts to balance our positions. To the extent open commodity positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices can impact our financial position and results of operations, either favorably or unfavorably.

Trading Activities

As of July 2008, we no longer engage in the trading of commodity derivative instruments that are not substantially offset by physical or other commodity derivative positions. As a result, we no longer have any material exposure to market risk from such activities. The derivative contracts that were previously entered into for trading purposes were recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value, and changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of operations on a net basis. There were no gains or losses associated with trading activities during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Trading activities, including trading of physical gas and financial derivative instruments, resulted in net gains of approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

The following table details the outstanding commodity-related derivatives:

March 31, 2009

 

     Commodity    Notional
Volume
    Maturity

Mark to Market Derivatives

       

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    15,012,500     2009-2011

Swing Swaps IFERC (MMBtu)

   Gas    (37,565,000 )   2009-2010

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    (18,665,000 )   2009-2011

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

   Propane/Ethane    19,068,000     2009-2010

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

       

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    687,500     2009

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    687,500     2009

December 31, 2008

 

             Commodity            Notional
Volume
    Maturity

Mark to Market Derivatives

       

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    15,720,000     2009-2011

Swing Swaps IFERC (MMBtu)

   Gas    (58,045,000 )   2009

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    (20,880,000 )   2009-2010

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

   Propane    47,313,002     2009

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

       

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    (9,085,000 )   2009

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    (9,085,000 )   2009

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk for changes in interest rates. We manage a portion of our current and future interest rate exposures by utilizing interest rate swaps, certain of which are accounted for as cash flow hedges.

 

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We have the following interest rate swaps outstanding as of March 31, 2009:

 

   

Forward starting swaps with notional amounts of $100.0 million and $150.0 million to pay fixed rates of 2.96% and 2.97%, respectively, and receive floating rates with terms of August 2009 and September 2009, respectively;

 

   

Forward starting swaps with a notional amount of $500.0 million to pay a fixed rate of 3.99% and receive a floating rate with a term of December 2009;

 

   

Interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $300.0 million to pay a fixed rate of 5.20% and receive a floating rate with a term of May 2016;

 

   

Interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $500.0 million to pay a fixed rate of 4.57% and receive a floating rate with a term of November 2012 with a cancellable option in November 2010; and,

 

   

Interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $700.0 million to pay a fixed rate of 4.84% and receive a floating rate with a term of November 2012.

Subsequent to March 31, 2009, the Partnership terminated forward starting swaps with notional amounts of $100.0 million and $150.0 million for an insignificant amount.

Derivative Summary

The following table provides a balance sheet overview of the Partnership’s derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

          Fair Value of Derivative Instruments  
          Asset Derivatives    Liability Derivatives  
    

Balance Sheet Location

   March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008
   March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133:

 

Commodity Derivatives (margin deposits)

   Deposits Paid to Vendors    $ —      $ 10,665    $ (2,388 )   $ (1,504 )

Commodity Derivatives

   Price Risk Management Assets/Liabilities      32      918      (45 )     (119 )

Interest Rate Swap Derivatives

   Price Risk Management Assets/Liabilities      —        —        (73,330 )     (71,042 )
                                 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

   $ 32    $ 11,583    $ (75,763 )   $ (72,665 )
                                 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133:

 

Commodity Derivatives (margin deposits)

   Deposits Paid to Vendors    $ 211,402    $ 432,614    $ (220,100 )   $ (335,685 )

Commodity Derivatives

   Price Risk Management Assets/Liabilities      4,908      17,244      (11,162 )     (55,954 )

Interest Rate Swap Derivatives

   Price Risk Management Assets/Liabilities      1,004      —        (135,702 )     (149,765 )
                                 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

   $ 217,314    $ 449,858    $ (366,964 )   $ (541,404 )
                                 

Total derivatives

   $ 217,346    $ 461,441    $ (442,727 )   $ (614,069 )
                                 

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

We utilize master-netting agreements and have maintenance margin deposits with certain counterparties in the OTC market and with clearing brokers. Payments on margin deposits are required when the value of a derivative exceeds our pre-established credit limit with the counterparty. Margin deposits are returned to us on the settlement date for non-exchange traded derivatives. We exchange margin calls on a daily basis for exchange traded transactions. Since the margin calls are made daily with the exchange brokers, the fair value of the financial derivative instruments are deemed current and netted in deposits paid to vendor in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Partnership had net deposits with derivative counterparties of $38.5 million and $78.2 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, reflected as deposits paid to vendors in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

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The following table details the effect of the Partnership’s derivative assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented:

 

    

Location of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from AOCI

into Income (Effective

and Ineffective Portion)

   Change in Value
Recognized in OCI on
Derivatives (Effective
Portion)
    Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from AOCI
into Income (Effective
Portion)
    Amount of Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income on
Ineffective Portion of
Derivatives
 
          Three Months
Ended March 31,
    Three Months
Ended March 31,
    Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
          2009     2008     2009     2008     2009    2008  

Derivatives in SFAS 133 cash flow hedging relationships:

                

Commodity Derivatives

   Cost of Products Sold    $ (1,386 )   $ (6,261 )   $ 10,478     $ 30,871     $ —      $ (8,320 )

Interest Rate Swap Derivatives

   Interest Expense      (5,201 )     (26,995 )     (4,833 )     (1,538 )     —        2  
                                                  

Total

      $ (6,587 )   $ (33,256 )   $ 5,645     $ 29,333     $ —      $ (8,318 )
                                                  

 

    

Location of Gain/(Loss)

Recognized in Income on

Derivatives

   Amount of Gain/(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivatives
 
          Three Months Ended March 31,  
          2009    2008  

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under SFAS 133:

     

Commodity Derivatives

   Cost of Products Sold    $ 51,437    $ (44,845 )

Trading Commodity Derivatives

   Revenue      —        (716 )

Interest Rate Swap Derivatives

   Gains (Losses) on Non-hedged Interest Rate Derivatives      10,051      (31,636 )
                  

Total

      $ 61,488    $ (77,197 )
                  

Credit Risk

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

Our counterparties consist primarily of financial institutions, major energy companies and local distribution companies. This concentration of counterparties may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions. Based on our policies, exposures, credit and other reserves, management does not anticipate a material adverse effect on financial position or results of operations as a result of counterparty performance.

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

 

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16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

We made the following sales to and purchases from affiliates of Enterprise G.P. Holdings, L.P. (“Enterprise”):

 

Enterprise Transactions

  

Product

   Three Months Ended March 31,  
      2009     2008  
      Volumes
(in thousands)
   Dollars     Volumes
(in thousands)
   Dollars  

Propane Operations -

             

Sales

  

Propane (Gallons)

   9,030    $ 6,282     9,030    $ 13,190  
  

Derivative Activity

   —        —       —        1,923  

Purchases

  

Propane (Gallons)

   114,597    $ 101,926     141,122    $ 199,526  
  

Derivative Activity

   —        33,292     —        —    

Natural Gas Operations -

             

Sales

  

NGLs (Gallons)

   115,855    $ 66,185     7,386    $ 10,159  
  

Natural Gas (MMBtu)

   1,255      9,689     1,602      12,861  
  

Fees

   —        (1,391 )   —        1,672  

Purchases

  

Natural Gas Imbalances (MMBtu)

   1,521    $ 1,058     794    $ (4,688 )
  

Natural Gas (MMBtu)

   2,702      12,548     2,409      19,772  
  

Fees

   —        52     —        255  

Accounts receivable from and accounts payable to related companies as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 relate primarily to activities in the normal course of business.

Titan purchases substantially all of its propane requirements from Enterprise pursuant to an agreement that expires in 2010. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Titan had forward mark to market derivatives for approximately 18.6 million and 45.2 million gallons of propane at a fair value liability of $6.4 million and $40.1 million, respectively, with Enterprise.

ETC OLP and Enterprise transport natural gas on each other’s pipelines, share operating expenses on jointly-owned pipelines and ETC OLP sells natural gas to Enterprise. Our propane operations routinely buy and sell product with Enterprise. The following table summarizes the related party balances with Enterprise on our condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

     March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  

Natural Gas Operations:

    

Accounts receivable

   $ 25,429     $ 11,558  

Accounts payable

     780       567  

Imbalance payable

     (1,547 )     (547 )

Propane Operations:

    

Accounts receivable

   $ 1,932     $ 111  

Accounts payable

     16,358       33,308  

Accounts receivable from related companies excluding Enterprise consist of the following:

 

     March 31, 2009    December 31, 2008

LE GP

   $ 2    $ —  

MEP

     1,048      2,805

McReynolds Energy

     —        202

Energy Transfer Technologies, Ltd.

     17      16

Others

     661      450
             

Total accounts receivable from related companies excluding Enterprise

   $ 1,728    $ 3,473
             

The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of ETP’s General Partner, Mr. Kelcy Warren, voluntarily determined that after 2007, his salary would be reduced to $1.00 plus an amount sufficient to cover his allocated payroll deductions for health and welfare benefits. Mr. Warren also declined future cash bonuses and future equity awards. We recorded non-cash compensation expense and an offsetting capital contribution of $0.3 million ($0.1 million in salary and $0.2 million in accrued bonuses) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 as an estimate of the reasonable compensation level for the CEO position.

 

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17. REPORTABLE SEGMENTS:

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

 

   

natural gas operations:

 

   

intrastate transportation and storage

 

   

interstate transportation

 

   

midstream

 

   

retail propane and other retail propane related operations

Segments below the quantitative thresholds are classified as “other”. The components of the “other” classification have not met any of the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments. Management has included the wholesale propane operations in “other” for all periods presented in this report because such operations are not material.

Midstream and intrastate transportation and storage segment revenues and expenses include intersegment and intrasegment transactions, which are generally based on transactions made at market-related rates. Consolidated revenues and expenses reflect the elimination of all material intercompany transactions.

We evaluate the performance of our operating segments based on operating income exclusive of general partnership selling, general, administrative expenses, gain (loss) on disposal of assets, interest expense, equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates and income tax expense (benefit). Certain overhead costs relating to a reportable segment have been allocated for purposes of calculating operating income. We allocate administration expenses from the Partnership to our Operating Partnerships using the Modified Massachusetts Formula Calculation which is based on factors such as respective segments’ gross margins, employee costs and property and equipment.

The expenses subject to allocation are based on estimated amounts and take into consideration actual expenses from previous months and known trends. The difference between the allocation and actual costs is adjusted in the following month. The amounts allocated for the periods presented are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

Costs allocated from ETP to Operating Partnerships:

     

Midstream and intrastate transportation and storage operations

   $ 6,100    $ 3,897

Interstate operations

     1,898      1,154

Retail propane and other retail propane related operations

     4,654      2,550
             

Total

   $ 12,652    $ 7,601
             

Costs allocated from Operating Partnerships to ETP:

     

Midstream and intrastate transportation and storage operations

   $ 3,885    $ 1,373

Retail propane and other retail propane related operations

     445      600
             

Total

   $ 4,330    $ 1,973
             

 

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The following table presents the financial information by segment for the following periods:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Revenues:

    

Intrastate transportation and storage:

    

Revenues from external customers

   $ 455,803     $ 965,661  

Intersegment revenues

     172,848       515,181  
                
     628,651       1,480,842  

Interstate transportation - revenues from external customers

     61,349       55,416  

Midstream:

    

Revenues from external customers

     594,803       986,770  

Intersegment revenues

     36,829       258,993  
                
     631,632       1,245,763  

Retail propane and other retail propane related - revenues from external customers

     515,912       625,715  

All other - revenues from external customers

     2,107       5,683  

Eliminations

     (209,677 )     (774,174 )
                

Total revenues

   $ 1,629,974     $ 2,639,245  
                

Cost of products sold:

    

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 382,614     $ 1,200,473  

Midstream

     559,176       1,150,969  

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     225,105       397,730  

All other

     1,921       4,720  

Eliminations

     (209,677 )     (774,174 )
                

Total cost of products sold

   $ 959,139     $ 1,979,718  
                

Depreciation and amortization:

    

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 27,103     $ 18,522  

Interstate transportation

     10,659       9,300  

Midstream

     17,496       14,831  

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     20,272       19,086  

All other

     129       144  
                

Total depreciation and amortization

   $ 75,659     $ 61,883  
                

Operating income (loss):

    

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 141,645     $ 185,778  

Interstate transportation

     28,195       29,226  

Midstream

     24,153       51,401  

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     164,069       106,955  

All other

     (892 )     (131 )

Selling general and administrative expenses not allocated to segments

     (1,072 )     (5,300 )
                

Total operating income

   $ 356,098     $ 367,929  
                

Other items not allocated by segment:

    

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

   $ (101,391 )   $ (80,454 )

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     497       74  

Loss on disposal of assets

     (426 )     (1,451 )

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     10,051       (31,636 )

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     20,427       9,888  

Other, net

     701       7,952  

Income tax expense

     (6,207 )     (5,144 )
                
     (76,348 )     (100,771 )
                

Net income

   $ 279,750     $ 267,158  
                

 

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     As of
March 31,
2009
   As of
December 31,
2008

Total assets:

     

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 4,790,294    $ 4,911,770

Interstate transportation

     2,644,091      2,487,078

Midstream

     1,655,874      1,674,028

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     1,763,450      1,810,953

All other

     183,578      186,073
             

Total

   $ 11,037,287    $ 11,069,902
             
     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2009    2008

Additions to property, plant and equipment including acquisitions (accrual basis):

     

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 120,299    $ 158,464

Interstate transportation

     41,327      202,357

Midstream

     27,133      70,293

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     17,242      48,410

All other

     1,576      485
             

Total

   $ 207,577    $ 480,009
             

 

18. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION:

Following are the stand-alone financial statements of the Parent Company as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, which are included to provide additional information with respect to the Parent Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows on a stand-alone basis:

 

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BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 
ASSETS     

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 412     $ 62  

Accounts receivable from related companies

     404       459  

Prepaid expenses and other

     824       163  
                

Total current assets

     1,640       684  

ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATES

     1,709,655       1,662,074  

INTANGIBLES AND OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS, net

     7,829       8,581  
                

Total assets

   $ 1,719,124     $ 1,671,339  
                
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT     

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 717     $ 798  

Accounts payable to affiliates

     4,634       3,034  

Accrued interest

     6,352       9,222  

Accrued and other current liabilities

     37       912  

Price risk management liabilities

     54,186       47,453  
                

Total current liabilities

     65,926       61,419  

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities

     1,571,500       1,571,642  

LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES

     117,076       121,710  
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    
     1,754,502       1,754,771  

PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (DEFICIT):

    

General Partner

     319       155  

Limited Partner - Common Unitholders (222,898,248 and 222,829,956 units authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively)

     37,291       (15,762 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (72,988 )     (67,825 )
                

Total partners’ deficit

     (35,378 )     (83,432 )
                

Total liabilities and partners’ deficit

   $ 1,719,124     $ 1,671,339  
                

 

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STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

   $ (1,687 )   $ (2,502 )

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

    

Interest expense

     (19,342 )     (24,900 )

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     176,593       185,472  

Losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     (3,675 )     (31,037 )

Other, net

     (353 )     (321 )
                

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     151,536       126,712  

Income tax expense

     —         7  
                

NET INCOME

     151,536       126,705  

GENERAL PARTNER’S INTEREST IN NET INCOME

     469       392  
                

LIMITED PARTNERS’ INTEREST IN NET INCOME

   $ 151,067     $ 126,313  
                

 

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STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

NET CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   $ 114,604     $ 132,401  
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from borrowings

     23,792       28,789  

Principal payments on debt

     (24,015 )     (29,940 )

Distributions to Partners

     (114,031 )     (122,937 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (114,254 )     (124,088 )
                

INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     350       8,313  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

     62       42  
                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period

   $ 412     $ 8,355  
                

 

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

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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

The following is a discussion of our historical consolidated financial condition and results of operations, and should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our previous year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 2, 2009. Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from the statements we make in this section due to a number of factors that are discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in this report and in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008.

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

Overview

Currently, our business operations are conducted only through ETP’s Operating Partnerships (collectively referred to as the “Operating Partnerships”), which include ETC OLP, a Texas limited partnership engaged in midstream and intrastate transportation and natural gas storage operations, Energy Transfer Interstate Holdings, LLC (“ET Interstate”), the parent company of Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC (“Transwestern”), a Delaware limited liability company engaged in interstate transportation of natural gas, and ETC Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC (“ETC MEP”), a Delaware limited liability company engaged in interstate transportation of natural gas, and HOLP and Titan, both Delaware limited partnerships engaged in retail propane operations.

Parent Company – Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

The principal sources of cash flow for the Parent Company are distributions it receives from its direct and indirect investments in limited and general partner interests of ETP. The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service and distributions to its partners. The Parent Company-only assets and liabilities are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of ETP or the Operating Partnerships.

In order to fully understand the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis, we have included discussions of Parent Company matters apart from those of our consolidated group.

General

Our primary objective is to increase the level of our cash distributions to our partners over time by pursuing a business strategy that is currently focused on growing our natural gas midstream and intrastate transportation and storage businesses (including transportation, gathering, compression, treating, processing, storage and marketing) and our propane business through, among other things, pursuing certain construction and expansion opportunities relating to our existing infrastructure and acquiring certain additional businesses or assets. The actual amount of cash that we will have available for distribution will primarily depend on the amount of cash ETP generates from operations.

We have experienced substantial growth over the last five years through a combination of internal growth projects and strategic acquisitions.

During the past several years ETP has been successful in completing several acquisitions and business combinations, including the combination of the retail propane operations of Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. and the midstream and intrastate transportation and storage operations of ETC OLP in January 2004. Subsequent to this combination, we have made numerous significant acquisitions, with assets totaling $3.87 billion in our natural gas operations and $848.2 million in our propane operations.

In addition to ETP’s acquisitions, our internal growth projects consist primarily of the construction of natural gas transmission pipelines, both intrastate and interstate. From September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2009, we made growth capital expenditures, excluding capital contributions made in connection with the Midcontinent Express pipeline (“MEP”) project, of approximately

 

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$4.6 billion, of which more than $3.9 billion was related to natural gas transmission pipelines, and we anticipate growth capital expenditures of an additional $595.0 million to $655.0 million during the last nine months of 2009, excluding capital contributions expected to be made in connection with the Midcontinent Express pipeline and Fayetteville Express pipeline (“FEP”) joint ventures, which are expected to total $545.0 million to $585.0 million for the same period. If Midcontinent Express pipeline obtains long-term financing in 2009 following completion of the base project, an additional capital contribution of $200.0 million to $250.0 million may be required.

ETP’s Operations

Our principal operations are conducted in the following reportable segments (see Note 17 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements):

 

 

Intrastate transportation and storage - Revenue is typically generated from fees charged to customers to reserve firm capacity on or move gas through the pipeline on an interruptible basis. A monetary fee and/or fuel retention are also components of the fee structure. Excess fuel retained after consumption is typically valued based on the published market prices as of the first of the month and sold at market prices. The HPL System also generates revenue from the sale of natural gas to electric utilities, independent power plants, local distribution companies, industrial end-users and other marketing companies. The use of the Bammel storage reservoir allows us to purchase physical natural gas and then sell financial contracts at a price sufficient to cover its carrying costs and provide a gross profit margin, in addition to generating revenue from fee-based contracts to reserve firm storage capacity.

 

 

Interstate transportation - The revenues of this segment consist primarily of fees earned from natural gas transportation services and operational gas sales.

 

 

Midstream - Revenue is primarily generated by the volumes of natural gas gathered, compressed, treated, processed, transported, purchased and sold through our pipelines (excluding the transportation pipelines) and gathering systems as well as the level of natural gas and NGL prices.

 

 

Retail propane - Revenue is generated from the sale of propane and propane-related products and services.

Trends and Outlook

In light of the current conditions in the capital markets, and based on our projected growth capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint venture entities, we have taken significant steps to preserve our liquidity position including, but not limited to, reducing discretionary capital expenditures and continuing to appropriately manage operating and administrative costs. The available capacity under the ETP Credit Facility was recently increased by using approximately $225.9 million in net proceeds from ETP’s January 2009 Common Units offering and $993.6 million in net proceeds from a $1.0 billion ETP senior notes offering in April 2009 to repay all outstanding borrowings under the ETP Credit Facility. Additionally, in April 2009, ETP closed a 9,775,000 Common Units offering which provided net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million which we intend to use for funding capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint ventures related to pipeline construction projects. As of March 31, 2009, in addition to approximately $0.41 million of cash on hand, we had available capacity under the Parent Company’s debt facilities and the ETP Credit Facility of approximately $1.44 billion. On a pro forma basis, as of March 31, 2009, taking into account net proceeds of approximately $993.6 million from ETP’s April 2009 debt offering and net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million from ETP’s April 2009 Common Units offering, we had approximately $2.32 billion of available capacity under the Parent Company’s debt facilities and the ETP Credit Facility and cash on hand of approximately $570.4 million. Based on our current estimates, we expect to utilize these resources, along with cash from ETP’s operations, to fund our announced growth capital expenditures and working capital needs without us or ETP having to access the capital markets until the latter half of 2010.

As noted above and despite the economic challenges and volatile capital markets, ETP has successfully raised $1.57 billion in proceeds from the recent debt and equity offerings since December 2008. We believe that the size and scope of our operations, our stable asset base and cash flow profile and our investment grade status will be significant positive factors in our efforts to obtain new debt or equity funding; however, there is no assurance that we or ETP will continue to be successful in obtaining financing under any of the alternatives discussed above if capital markets deteriorate further from current conditions. Furthermore, the terms, size and cost of any one of these financing alternatives could be less favorable and could be impacted by the timing and magnitude of our funding requirements, market conditions, and other uncertainties.

Our natural gas transportation and midstream revenues are derived significantly from companies that engage in natural gas exploration and production activities. Prices for natural gas and NGLs have fallen dramatically since July 2008. Many of our customers have been negatively impacted by these recent declines in natural gas prices as well as current conditions in the capital markets, which factors have caused several of our customers to announce plans to decrease drilling levels and, in some cases, to shut in or consider shutting in natural gas production from some producing wells.

 

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In our intrastate and interstate natural gas operations, a significant portion of our revenue is derived from long-term fee-based arrangements pursuant to which our customers pay us capacity reservation charges regardless of the volume of natural gas transported; however, a portion of our revenue is derived from charges based on actual volumes transported in addition to the excess of fuel retention charged to our customers after consumption. As a result, our operating cash flows from our natural gas pipeline operations are not tied directly to changes in natural gas and NGL prices; however, the volumes of natural gas we transport may be adversely affected by reduced drilling activity of our customers as a result of lower natural gas prices. As a portion of our pipeline transportation revenue is based on volumes transported and fuel retention, lower volumes of natural gas transported and lower natural gas prices would result in lower revenue from our intrastate and interstate natural gas operations. Based on the significant level of revenue we receive from reservation capacity charges under long-term contracts and our review of the recent announcements of drilling plans by our customers, we do not expect the current level of natural gas prices to have a significant adverse effect on our operating results; however, there are no assurances that commodity prices will not decline further, which could result in a further reduction in drilling activities by our customers.

Since certain of our natural gas marketing operations and substantially all of our propane operations involve the purchase and resale of natural gas and NGLs, we expect our revenues and costs of products sold to be lower than prior periods if commodity prices remain at or fall below existing levels. However, we do not expect our margins from these activities to be significantly impacted as we typically purchase the commodity at a lower price than the sales price. Since the prices of natural gas and NGLs have been volatile, there are no assurances that we will ultimately sell the commodity for a profit.

Current economic conditions also indicate that many of our customers may encounter increased credit risk in the near term. We actively monitor the credit status of our counterparties, performing both quantitative and qualitative assessments based on their credit ratings and credit default swaps where applicable, and to date have not had any significant credit losses associated with our transactions. However, given the current volatility in the financial markets, we cannot be certain that we will not experience such losses in the future.

Results of Operations

Parent Company Results

The Parent Company currently has no separate operating activities apart from those conducted by ETP and its Operating Partnerships. The principal sources of cash flow for the Parent Company are its direct and indirect investments in the limited and general partner interests of ETP.

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

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,        
     2009     2008     Change  

Equity in earnings of affiliates

   $ 176,593     $ 185,472     $ (8,879 )

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (1,687 )     (2,502 )     815  

Interest expense

     (19,342 )     (24,900 )     5,558  

Losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     (3,675 )     (31,037 )     27,362  

Other, net

     (353 )     (321 )     (32 )

The following is a discussion of the highlights of the Parent Company’s stand-alone results of operations for the periods presented.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates. Equity in earnings of affiliates represents earnings of the Parent Company related to its investment in limited partner units of ETP, its ownership of ETP GP and its ownership of ETP LLC. The decrease in equity in earnings of affiliates was directly related to the changes in the ETP segment income described below.

Interest Expense. The Parent Company interest expense decreased primarily due to a decrease in the LIBOR rate between the periods.

 

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Losses on Non-Hedged Interest Rate Derivatives. The Parent Company has interest swaps that are not accounted for as hedges under SFAS 133. Changes in the fair value of these swaps are recorded directly in earnings. The variable portion of these swaps are based on the three month LIBOR and its corresponding forward curve. A decrease in these rates between the comparable periods resulted in decreases in the swaps’ fair value and settlement amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Consolidated Results

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,        
     2009     2008     Change  

Revenues

   $ 1,629,974     $ 2,639,245     $ (1,009,271 )

Cost of products sold

     959,139       1,979,718       (1,020,579 )
                        

Gross margin

     670,835       659,527       11,308  

Operating expenses

     181,773       178,970       2,803  

Depreciation and amortization

     75,659       61,883       13,776  

Selling, general and administrative

     57,305       50,745       6,560  
                        

Operating income

     356,098       367,929       (11,831 )

Interest expense, net of interest capitalized

     (101,391 )     (80,454 )     (20,937 )

Equity in earnings of affiliates

     497       74       423  

Loss on disposal of assets

     (426 )     (1,451 )     1,025  

Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives

     10,051       (31,636 )     41,687  

Allowance for equity funds used during construction

     20,427       9,888       10,539  

Other, net

     701       7,952       (7,251 )

Income tax expense

     (6,207 )     (5,144 )     (1,063 )
                        

Net income

   $ 279,750     $ 267,158     $ 12,592  
                        

See the detailed discussion of revenues, cost of products sold, margin and operating expense by operating segment below.

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased principally due to higher levels of borrowings which were used to finance growth capital expenditures in our intrastate transportation and storage and interstate transportation segments.

Gains (Losses) on Non-Hedged Interest Rate Derivatives. The change in unrealized loss on interest rate swaps is due to the factors discussed above for the Parent Company results. The three months ended March 31, 2008 reflect losses as a result of decreases in the relevant floating index rates during the period.

Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction. The increase in AFUDC on equity is due to the Phoenix project, which was completed in February 2009.

Other Income, Net. The decrease is primarily due to contributions in aid of construction which exceeded our project costs by $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Segment Operating Results

We evaluate segment performance based on operating income, which we believe is an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations. This measure represents the basis of our internal financial reporting and is one of the performance measures used by senior management in deciding how to allocate capital resources among business segments.

Detailed descriptions of our business and segments are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our previous fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2009.

 

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Operating income by segment is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,        
     2009     2008     Change  

Intrastate transportation and storage

   $ 141,645     $ 185,778     $ (44,133 )

Interstate transportation

     28,195       29,226       (1,031 )

Midstream

     24,153       51,401       (27,248 )

Retail propane and other retail propane related

     164,069       106,955       57,114  

Other

     (892 )     (131 )     (761 )

Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses

     (1,072 )     (5,300 )     4,228  
                        

Operating income

   $ 356,098     $ 367,929     $ (11,831 )
                        

Unallocated Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses are allocated monthly to the Operating Partnerships using the Modified Massachusetts Formula Calculation. The expenses subject to allocation are based on estimated amounts and take into consideration actual expenses from previous months and known trends. The difference between the allocation and actual costs is adjusted in the following month which results in over or under allocation of these costs due to timing differences.

Intrastate Transportation and Storage

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,       
     2009    2008    Change  

Natural gas MMBtu/d – transported

     13,623,212      9,521,181      4,102,031  

Natural gas MMBtu/d – sold

     1,351,600      1,696,912      (345,312 )

Revenues

   $ 628,651    $ 1,480,842    $ (852,191 )

Cost of products sold

     382,614      1,200,473      (817,859 )
                      

Gross margin

     246,037      280,369      (34,332 )

Operating expenses

     53,490      58,615      (5,125 )

Depreciation and amortization

     27,103      18,522      8,581  

Selling, general and administrative

     23,799      17,454      6,345  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 141,645    $ 185,778    $ (44,133 )
                      

Gross Margin. Intrastate transportation and storage gross margin decreased primarily due to the following factors:

 

 

Overall volumes on our transportation pipelines were higher due to the completion of several large diameter transportation pipeline expansion projects during 2008 due to the continued demand from our customers to transport natural gas through our intrastate pipeline system.

 

 

Transportation fees increased approximately $58.7 million due to increased volumes through our transportation pipelines as discussed above.

 

 

Our fuel retention revenues are directly impacted by changes in natural gas prices. Increases in natural gas prices increase our fuel retention revenues and decreases in natural gas prices decrease our fuel retention revenues. Natural gas prices for retained fuel decreased from a range of $8.00 to $9.00/MMBtu during the three months ended March 31, 2008 to $3.00 to $6.00/MMBtu during the three months ended March 31, 2009 resulting in a decrease to the retention margin of $44.3 million. This impact from changes in natural gas prices was offset by an increase in fuel retention revenue of $18.5 million resulting from the increased transportation volumes discussed above.

 

 

We also experienced a net decrease in storage margin of $49.6 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we withdrew approximately 11.3 Bcf of natural gas from our Bammel storage facility for a margin of $10.5 million, which included a $44.6 million non-cash lower of cost or market write-down of our natural gas inventory held at our Bammel facility. We recognized $52.8 million in margin during the three months ended March 31, 2008 from the sale of approximately 36.3 Bcf of natural gas.

 

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In addition to the above factors, the lower natural gas prices reduced our gross margin by $6.3 million due to changes in the value of our imbalances. We also experienced a decrease in margin of $10.3 million from our HPL System due to less favorable market conditions during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Operating Expenses. Intrastate transportation and storage operating expenses decreased primarily due to a decrease in consumption expense of $16.4 million, which was principally affected by natural gas price changes between periods. Offsetting the decrease was an increase in ad valorem taxes of $9.8 million, increased pipeline maintenance expenses of $0.7 million, and increased operational overhead expenses of $0.7 million.

Depreciation and Amortization. Intrastate transportation and storage depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to the completion of projects in connection with the continued expansion of our pipeline system.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Intrastate transportation and storage selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to increased allocated overhead expense of $4.2 million and increased professional fees of $4.0 million offset by a decrease in employee-related expenses of $1.5 million.

Interstate Transportation

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,       
     2009    2008    Change  

Natural gas MMBtu/d - transported

     1,747,560      1,619,358      128,202  

Natural gas MMBtu/d - sold

     20,600      11,084      9,516  

Revenues

   $ 61,349    $ 55,416    $ 5,933  

Operating expenses

     15,365      11,220      4,145  

Depreciation and amortization

     10,659      9,300      1,359  

Selling, general and administrative

     7,130      5,670      1,460  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 28,195    $ 29,226    $ (1,031 )
                      

Revenues. Interstate revenues increased primarily as a result of higher volumes transported by Transwestern following the completion of the San Juan lateral in July 2008 and the completion of the Phoenix project in February 2009.

Operating Expenses. Interstate operating expenses increased primarily due to higher electric usage required by the increased transportation volumes in addition to an increase in ad valorem taxes resulting from increased property values.

Depreciation and Amortization. Interstate depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to incremental depreciation associated with the completion of the Phoenix project.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Interstate selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to increased allocated overhead expenses.

 

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Midstream

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,       
     2009    2008    Change  

Natural gas MMBtu/d - sold

     1,091,391      1,236,396      (145,005 )

NGLs Bbls/d - sold

     40,218      32,124      8,094  

Revenues

   $ 631,632    $ 1,245,763    $ (614,131 )

Cost of products sold

     559,176      1,150,969      (591,793 )
                      

Gross margin

     72,456      94,794      (22,338 )

Operating expenses

     17,793      16,878      915  

Depreciation and amortization

     17,496      14,831      2,665  

Selling, general and administrative

     13,014      11,684      1,330  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 24,153    $ 51,401    $ (27,248 )
                      

Gross Margin. Midstream gross margin decreased primarily due to a decrease in processing margin of $37.3 million offset by an increase in fee-based revenue of $15.0 million from our gathering and processing assets. The decrease in processing margins was primarily due to lower NGL prices on our Southeast Texas system during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. Additional capacity to deliver NGL volumes at our Godley plant in January 2009 mitigated the less favorable market conditions.

Operating Expenses. Midstream operating expenses increased primarily due to an increase in ad valorem taxes of $1.9 million offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in other operating expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization. Midstream depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to incremental depreciation from the Canyon Gathering System and the continued expansion of our Godley plant.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Midstream selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to an increase in employee-related costs of $4.3 million and an increase in management fees of $1.5 million. These increases were offset by net decreases in other expenses, including allocated overhead, of $4.5 million.

Retail Propane and Other Retail Propane Related

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,       
     2009    2008    Change  

Retail propane gallons (in thousands)

     218,480      234,414      (15,934 )

Retail propane revenues

   $ 487,907    $ 598,138    $ (110,231 )

Other retail propane related revenues

     28,005      27,577      428  

Retail propane cost of products sold

     220,222      392,555      (172,333 )

Other retail propane related cost of products sold

     4,883      5,175      (292 )
                      

Gross margin

     290,807      227,985      62,822  

Operating expenses

     94,176      91,307      2,869  

Depreciation and amortization

     20,272      19,086      1,186  

Selling, general and administrative

     12,290      10,637      1,653  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 164,069    $ 106,955    $ 57,114  
                      

Volumes. Retail propane volumes decreased primarily due to the continued effects of customer conservation, by the impact of the economic recession and, to a lesser extent, the decline in new home construction. These factors outweighed the impact of weather that was approximately 2.4% colder than normal during the current period and the volume increase from acquisitions made since March 31, 2008.

 

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Gross Margin. Total gross margin increased primarily due to our ability to maintain a slower pace of decreasing selling prices despite a significant decrease in the wholesale market price of propane, and the impact of mark to market accounting of our financial instruments. Our average cost per gallon of propane was approximately 40.2% lower during the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2008. We entered into propane sales commitments with a portion of our retail customers that provide for a contracted price agreement for a specified period of time, typically no longer than one year. These commitments can expose the operations to product price risk if not offset by a propane purchase commitment. To hedge a significant portion of these sales commitments, we utilize financial instruments (swap agreements) as purchase commitments to lock in the margins. These financial instruments were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, and the change in market value was recorded in cost of products sold in the consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, our propane margins were positively impacted by sales made to retail customers with whom we had previously entered into sales commitments, while the settlement of swap agreements related to those sales resulted in the realization of $35.0 million of losses that had previously been recognized in 2008.

Operating Expenses. The primary factor that affected our operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was an increase in our operational employee incentive program of $6.1 million, due to more favorable results achieved during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the prior period, offset by a decrease of $3.0 million in the vehicle fuel used for delivery to customers due to the significant decline in fuel prices between the periods. Propane operating expenses also increased slightly due to the additional operating expenses from the acquisitions made since March 31, 2008; however, these increases were offset by cost control initiatives from our operations.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily related to assets and amortizable intangibles added through acquisitions made after March 31, 2008.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses between comparable periods was primarily due to increased administrative expense allocations of $2.3 million offset by the reduction in consulting and other costs incurred related to specific information technology initiatives during the quarter ended March 2008.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Parent Company Only

The Parent Company currently has no separate operating activities apart from those conducted by ETP and its Operating Partnerships. The principal sources of cash flow for the Parent Company are its direct and indirect investments in the limited and general partner interests of ETP. The amount of cash that ETP can distribute to its partners, including the Parent Company, each quarter is based on earnings from ETP’s business activities and the amount of available cash, as discussed below. The Parent Company also has a $500.0 million revolving credit facility that expires in February 2011 with available capacity of $378.5 million as of March 31, 2009 and currently has no capital requirements.

The Parent Company’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements and distributions to its general and limited partners. The Parent Company currently expects to fund its short-term needs for such items with its distributions from ETP.

ETP

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

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

 

 

growth capital expenditures for our midstream and intrastate transportation and storage segments primarily for the construction of new pipelines and compression for which we expect to spend between $290.0 million and $320.0 million during the remaining months of 2009;

 

 

growth capital expenditures for our interstate transportation segment, excluding capital contributions to the MEP and FEP projects as discussed below, for the construction of new pipelines and pipeline expansions for our interstate operations, for which we expect to spend between $280.0 million and $300.0 million during the remaining months of 2009;

 

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capital contributions to MEP and FEP;

 

   

With respect to MEP, capital expenditures were previously funded under a project financing facility; however, as of March 2009, we and KMP will each be required to make capital contributions until the project is completed. We expect that our capital contributions to MEP will be between $345.0 million and $365.0 million during the last nine months of 2009 to fund expenditures for the project. In addition, if MEP obtains long-term financing in 2009 following completion of the base project, an additional capital contribution of $200.0 million to $250.0 million may be required;

 

   

With respect to FEP, we expect that our capital contributions will be between $200.0 million and $220.0 million during the remaining months of 2009 to fund expenditures for the project. FEP intends to pursue project financing; however, the availability of such financing at agreeable terms remains uncertain;

 

 

growth capital expenditures for our retail propane segment of between $25.0 million and $35.0 million during the last nine months of 2009;

 

 

maintenance capital expenditures of between $100.0 million and $110.0 million during the last nine months of 2009; and

 

 

acquisitions, including the potential acquisition of new pipeline systems and propane operations.

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

In light of the current conditions in the capital markets, and based on our projected growth capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint venture entities, we and ETP have taken significant steps to preserve our liquidity position including, but not limited to, reducing discretionary capital expenditures and continuing to appropriately manage operating and administrative costs. ETP has also recently increased the available capacity under the ETP Credit Facility by using approximately $225.9 million in net proceeds from its January 2009 Common Units offering and $993.6 million in net proceeds from a $1.0 billion ETP senior notes offering in April 2009 to repay all outstanding borrowings under the ETP Credit Facility. Additionally, in April 2009, ETP closed a 9,775,000 Common Units offering which provided net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million which we intend to use for funding capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint ventures related to pipeline construction projects. As of March 31, 2009, in addition to approximately $106.4 million of combined cash on hand, we had available capacity under the Parent Company’s debt facilities and the ETP Credit Facility of approximately $1.44 billion. On a pro forma basis, as of March 31, 2009, taking into account net proceeds of approximately $993.6 million from ETP’s April 2009 debt offering and net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million from ETP’s April 2009 Common Units offering, we had approximately $2.32 billion of available capacity under the Parent Company’s debt facilities and the ETP Credit Facility and cash on hand of approximately $570.4 million. Based on our current estimates we expect to utilize these resources, along with cash from ETP’s operations, to fund our announced growth capital expenditures and working capital needs without us or ETP having to access the capital markets until the latter half of 2010.

The assets used in ETP’s natural gas operations, including pipelines, gathering systems and related facilities, are generally long-lived assets and do not require significant maintenance capital expenditures other than those expenditures necessary to maintain the service capacity of ETP’s existing assets. The assets utilized in ETP’s propane operations do not typically require lengthy manufacturing process time or complicated, high technology components. Accordingly, ETP does not have any significant financial commitments for maintenance capital expenditures in its businesses. From time to time ETP experiences increases in pipe costs due to a number of reasons, including but not limited to, replacing pipe caused by delays from mills, limited selection of mills capable of producing large diameter pipe timely, higher steel prices and other factors beyond our control. However, ETP includes these factors into its anticipated growth capital expenditures for each year.

Cash Flows

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

 

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Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2009, was $317.8 million as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $254.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The difference between net income and the net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 consisted of non-cash activity of $11.4 million (principally depreciation and amortization, non-cash compensation expense, deferred taxes, allowance for equity funds used during construction and subsidiary distributions) and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $49.4 million. Various components of operating assets and liabilities changed from the prior period due to various factors such as the timing of accounts receivable collections, payments on accounts payable, the timing of the purchase and sale of propane and natural gas inventories, and the timing of advances and deposits received from customers.

Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $376.4 million. Total capital expenditures (excluding the allowance for equity funds used during construction) were $255.9 million, including changes in accruals of $71.3 million. Growth capital expenditures, before changes in accruals were $136.5 million for our midstream and intrastate transportation and storage segments, $41.4 million for our interstate transportation segment (including the allowance for equity funds used during construction), and $12.3 million for our retail propane segment and all other. We also incurred $14.8 million of maintenance capital expenditures of which $8.3 million related to our midstream and intrastate transportation and storage segments and $6.5 million related to our retail propane segment. In addition, we made advances to our joint ventures of $119.9 million ($111.0 million to MEP and $8.9 million to FEP) during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Financing Activities. Cash provided in financing activities was $73.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. We received $225.9 million in net proceeds from an equity offering of ETP (see Note 12 to our condensed consolidated financial statements). Net proceeds from the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the ETP Credit Facility. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we had a net decrease in our debt level of $38.6 million and paid distributions of $114.0 million to our partners related to the three months ended December 31, 2008.

Financing and Sources of Liquidity

On January 27, 2009, ETP issued 6,900,000 Common Units representing limited partner interests at $34.05 per ETP Common Unit in a public offering. Net proceeds of approximately $225.9 million from the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the ETP Credit Facility.

On April 7, 2009, ETP completed the issuance of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.50% ETP Senior Notes due 2014 and $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.00% ETP Senior Notes due 2019. The net proceeds of approximately $993.6 million from the offering were used to repay all borrowings outstanding under the ETP Credit Facility and for general partnership purposes.

On April 21, 2009, ETP issued 8,500,000 Common Units representing limited partner interests at $37.55 per ETP Common Unit in a public offering. In connection with this public offering, ETP also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,275,000 additional Common Units on the same terms. The underwriters exercised this option in full on April 24, 2009. Net proceeds of approximately $352.4 million from the offering will be used to fund capital expenditures and capital contributions to joint venture entities related to pipeline construction projects as well as for general partnership purposes.

 

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Description of Indebtedness

Our outstanding indebtedness for the periods presented was as follows:

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Parent Company Indebtedness

    

Senior Secured Term Loan Facility

   $ 1,450,000     $ 1,450,000  

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility

     121,500       121,642  

ETP Indebtedness

    

ETP Senior Notes

     4,050,000       4,050,000  

Transwestern Senior Unsecured Notes

     520,000       520,000  

HOLP Senior Secured Notes

     181,411       181,410  

Revolving Credit Facilities

     882,000       912,000  

Other long-term debt

     12,509       14,014  

Unamortized discounts

     (13,309 )     (13,477 )
                

Total Debt

   $ 7,204,111     $ 7,235,589  
                

The terms of our indebtedness and that of our Operating Partnerships are described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009.

Revolving Credit and Short-Term Debt Facilities

The Parent Company has a $1.45 billion Term Loan Facility with a Term Loan Maturity Date of November 1, 2012 (the “Parent Company Credit Agreement”). The Parent Company Credit Agreement also includes a $500.0 million Secured Revolving Credit Facility (the “Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility”) available through February 8, 2011. The Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility includes a Swingline loan option with a maximum borrowing of $10.0 million and a daily rate based on LIBOR.

The total outstanding amount borrowed under the Parent Company Credit Agreement and the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility as of March 31, 2009 includes no outstanding balance in swingline loans. The total amount available under the Parent Company’s debt facilities as of March 31, 2009 was approximately $378.5 million. The Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility also contains an accordion feature which will allow the Parent Company, subject to lender approval, to expand the facility’s capacity up to an additional $100.0 million.

The maximum commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility is based on the applicable Leverage Ratio which is currently at Level III or 0.375%. Loans under the Parent Company Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at Parent Company’s option at either (a) the Eurodollar rate plus the applicable margin or (b) base rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margins are a function of the Parent Company’s leverage ratio that corresponds to levels set-forth in the agreement. The applicable Term Loan bears interest at (a) the Eurodollar rate plus 1.75% per annum and (b) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, at Prime Rate plus 0.25% per annum. At March 31, 2009, the weighted average interest rate was 2.97% for the amounts outstanding on the Parent Company Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility and the Parent Company $1.45 billion Senior Secured Term Loan Facility.

The Parent Company Credit Agreement is secured by a lien on all tangible and intangible assets of the Parent Company and its subsidiaries, including its ownership of 62,500,797 ETP Common Units, the Parent Company’s 100% interest in ETP LLC and ETP GP with indirect recourse to ETP GP’s 2% General Partner interest in ETP and 100% of ETP GP’s outstanding Incentive Distribution Rights in ETP, which the Parent Company holds through its ownership of ETP GP.

ETP Credit Facility

The ETP Credit Facility provides for $2.0 billion of revolving credit capacity that is expandable to $3.0 billion (subject to obtaining the approval of the administrative agent and securing lender commitments for the increased borrowing capacity, under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement). The ETP Credit Facility matures on July 20, 2012, unless we elect the option of one-year extensions (subject to the approval of each such extension by the lenders holding a majority of the aggregate lending commitments). Amounts borrowed under the ETP Credit Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or a prime rate. The indebtedness under the ETP Credit Facility is prepayable at any time at the Partnership’s option without penalty. The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the ETP Credit Facility varies based on our credit rating; the fee is 0.11% based on our current rating with a maximum fee of 0.125%.

 

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As of March 31, 2009, there was a balance outstanding on the ETP Credit Facility of $882.0 million in revolving credit loans and approximately $60.0 million in letters of credit. The weighted average interest rate on the total amount outstanding at March 31, 2009 was 1.86%. The total amount available under the ETP Credit Facility, as of March 31, 2009 was approximately $1.06 billion.

HOLP Credit Facility

HOLP has a $75.0 million Senior Revolving Facility (the “HOLP Credit Facility”) available to HOLP through June 30, 2011, which may be expanded to $150.0 million. Amounts borrowed under the HOLP Credit Facility bear interest at a rate based on either a Eurodollar rate or a prime rate. The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the facility varies based on the Leverage Ratio, as defined, with a maximum fee of 0.50%. The agreement includes provisions that may require contingent prepayments in the event of dispositions, loss of assets, merger or change of control. All receivables, contracts, equipment, inventory, general intangibles, cash concentration accounts of HOLP, and the capital stock of HOLP’s subsidiaries secure the HOLP Credit Facility. There were outstanding letters of credit of $1.0 million on the HOLP Credit Facility at March 31, 2009. The amount available as of March 31, 2009 was $74.0 million.

Other

We have guaranteed 50% of the obligations of MEP under its $1.40 billion senior revolving credit facility (the “MEP Facility”), with the remaining 50% of the MEP Facility obligations guaranteed by KMP. Subject to certain exceptions, our guarantee may be proportionately increased or decreased if our ownership percentage increases or decreases. The MEP Facility is unsecured and matures on February 28, 2011. The MEP Facility is syndicated among multiple financial institutions. As a result of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, the MEP Facility has effectively been reduced by the Lehman Brothers affiliate’s commitment of approximately $100.0 million. However, the MEP Facility is not in default, and the commitments of the other lending banks remain unchanged.

As of March 31, 2009, MEP had $1.22 billion of outstanding borrowings and $33.3 million of letters of credit issued under the MEP Facility. Our contingent obligations with respect to our 50% guarantee of MEP’s outstanding borrowings and letters of credit were $609.1 million and $16.7 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2009.

Cash Distributions

Cash Distributions Paid by the Parent Company

On February 19, 2009, the Parent Company paid a cash distribution for the three months ended December 31, 2008 of $0.51 per Common Unit, or $2.04 annualized, an increase of $0.12 per Common Unit on an annualized basis to Unitholders of record at the close of business on February 6, 2009.

On April 28, 2009 the Parent Company announced the declaration of a cash distribution for the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $0.525 per Common Unit, or $2.10 annualized, an increase of $0.06 per Common Unit on an annualized basis. This distribution will be paid on May 19, 2009 to Unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2009.

Cash Distributions Received by the Parent Company

Currently, the Parent Company’s only cash-generating assets are its direct and indirect partnership interests in ETP. These ETP interests consist of all of ETP’s 2% general partner interest, 100% of ETP’s Incentive Distribution Rights and 62,500,797 ETP Common Units held by the Parent Company.

The total amount of distributions the Parent Company received from ETP related to its limited partner interests, general partner interest and Incentive Distribution Rights during the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $55.9 million, $4.6 million and $79.3 million, respectively.

Cash Distributions Paid by ETP

On February 13, 2009, ETP paid a per unit cash distribution related to the three months ended December 31, 2008 of $0.89375 per Common Unit ($3.575 per Limited Partner Unit annualized) to Unitholders of record at the close of business on February 6, 2009. ETP paid $83.9 million in the aggregate for ETP GP’s 2% general partner interest in the Partnership and its Incentive Distribution Rights for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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On April 28, 2009, ETP announced the declaration of a cash distribution for the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $0.89375 per Common Unit, or $3.575 annualized. This distribution will be paid on May 15, 2009 to Unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2009.

New Accounting Standards

See Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information contained in Item 3 updates, and should be read in conjunction with, information set forth in Part II, Item 7A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, in addition to the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, accompanying notes and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations presented in Items 1 and 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are consistent with those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our commodity-related price risk management assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

     Commodity    Notional
Volume
    Maturity    Fair Value
Asset (Liability)
 

Mark to Market Derivatives

          

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    15,012,500     2009-2011    $ 2,977  

Swing Swaps IFERC (MMBtu)

   Gas    (37,565,000 )   2009-2010      2,426  

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    (18,665,000 )   2009-2011      (13,472 )

Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

   Propane/Ethane    19,068,000     2009-2010      (6,883 )

Cash Flow Hedging Derivatives

          

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   Gas    687,500     2009    $ (13 )

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   Gas    687,500     2009      (2,388 )

Credit Risk

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

Our counterparties consist primarily of financial institutions, major energy companies and local distribution companies (“LDCs”). This concentration of counterparties may impact our overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively in that the counterparties may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other conditions. For financial instruments, failure of a counterparty to perform on a contract could result in our inability to realize amounts that have been recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheet and recognized in net income or other comprehensive income. For additional discussion of our credit risks, see the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our previous fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

Sensitivity Analysis

The table below summarizes our commodity-related financial derivative instruments and fair values as of March 31, 2009, as well as the effect of an assumed hypothetical 10% change in the underlying price of the commodity.

 

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

Basis Swaps IFERC/NYMEX (MMBtu)

   15,700,000     $ 2,964     $ 864

Swing Swaps IFERC (MMBtu)

   (37,565,000 )     2,426       237

Fixed Swaps/Futures (MMBtu)

   (17,977,500 )     (15,860 )     8,235

Propane Forwards/Swaps (Gallons)

   19,068,000       (6,883 )     1,283

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

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk for increases in interest rates, primarily as a result of our variable rate debt and, in particular, our bank credit facilities. To the extent interest rates increase, our interest expense for our revolving credit facilities will also increase. At March 31, 2009, we had $2.45 billion of variable rate debt outstanding and we have $2.25 billion of interest rate swaps where we pay fixed and receive floating LIBOR. Interest swaps with a notional amount of $700.0 million are designated as hedges and changes in fair value are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Interest swaps with a notional amount of $1.55 million have their changes in fair value recorded in other, net on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. A hypothetical change of 100 basis points in the underlying interest rate and a corresponding parallel shift in the LIBOR yield curve would have a net effect of $80.8 million in interest expense and other income (expense), net, in the aggregate, on an annual basis.

We also have long-term debt instruments which are typically issued at fixed interest rates. Prior to or when these debt obligations mature, we may refinance all or a portion of such debt at then-existing market interest rates which may be more or less than the interest rates on the maturing debt. For further information, see Note 15 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

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

Under the supervision and with the participation of senior management, including the President (“Principal Executive Officer”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“Principal Financial Officer”) of our General Partner, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a–15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer of our General Partner concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2009 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act (1) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officers of our General Partner to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the three months ended March 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information regarding legal proceedings, see our Form 10-K for our previous year ended December 31, 2008 and Note 14—Regulatory Matters, Commitments, Contingencies, and Environmental Liabilities of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Subsidiaries included in this Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2009.

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our previous fiscal year ended December  31, 2008.

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

None.

ITEM 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

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

 

     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

2.1           

  

1-11727

(8-K/A)(9/26/08)

   2.1           Contribution Agreement dated as of September 22, 2008 by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and OGE Energy Corp.

 

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Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

3.1           

   333-128097    3.1           Certificate of Conversion of Energy Transfer Company, L.P.

3.2

   333-128097    3.2    Certificate of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

3.3

   333-128097    3.3    Third Amended Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

3.3.1

  

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

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

3.3.2

  

1-32740

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

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

3.4

   333-128097    3.4    Certificate of Conversion of LE GP, LLC.

3.5

   333-128097    3.5    Certificate of Formation of LE GP, LLC.

3.6

  

1-32740

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

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

3.7

   333-04018    3.1    Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.1

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/23/00)

   3.1.1    Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.2

  

1-11727

(10K) (8/31/01)

   3.1.2    Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.3

  

1-11727

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

   3.1.3    Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.4

  

1-11727

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

   3.1.4    Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.5

  

1-11727

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

   3.1.5    Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.6

  

1-11727

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

   3.1.6    Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.7

  

1-11727

(8-K) (3/16/05)

   3.1.7    Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (formerly named Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.)

3.7.8

  

1-11727

(8-K) (2/9/06)

   3.1.8    Amendment No. 8 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

3.7.9

  

1-11727

(8-K) (5/3/06)

   3.1.9    Amendment No. 9 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

3.7.10

  

1-11727

(8-K) (11/3/06)

   3.1.10    Amendment No. 10 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

 

52


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

3.7.11

  

1-11727

(8-K) (1/18/08)

   3.1.11    Amended and Restated Amendment No. 11 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

3.7.12

  

1-11727

(8-K) (4/24/08)

   4.1           Amendment No. 12 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

3.8           

   333-04018    3.2    Agreement of Limited Partnership of Heritage Operating, L.P.

3.8.1

  

1-11727

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

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

3.8.2

  

1-11727

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

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

3.8.3

  

1-11727

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

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

3.9

  

1-11727

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

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

3.10

  

1-11727

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

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

3.11

  

1-11727

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

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

3.12

  

1-11727

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

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

3.13

   333-128097    3.13    Certificate of Formation of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.

3.13.1

   333-128097    3.13.1    Certificate of Amendment of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.

3.14

   333-128097    3.14    Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.

4.1

  

1-11727

(8-K) (1/19/05)

   4.1    Indenture dated January 18, 2005 among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee.

4.2

  

1-11727

(8-K) (1/19/05)

   4.2    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.

4.3

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/05)

   10.45    Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 24, 2005 to Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005.

4.4

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/05)

   10.46    Notation of Guaranty.

4.5

  

1-11727

(8-K) (1/19/05)

   4.3    Registration Rights Agreement dated January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein and the initial purchasers party thereto.

4.6

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/05)

   10.39.1    Joinder to Registration Rights Agreement dated February 24, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee.

4.7

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/2/05)

   4.1    Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 29, 2005, to Indenture dated January 18, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

53


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

4.8           

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/2/05)

   4.2           Registration Rights Agreement dated July 29, 2005, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the subsidiary guarantors named therein, and the initial purchasers party thereto.

4.9

  

333-136429

(S-3) (8/9/06)

   4.11    Form of Senior Indenture of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

4.10

  

333-136429

(S-3) (8/9/06)

   4.12    Form of Subordinated Indenture of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

4.11

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   4.13    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.

4.12

  

1-11727

(8-K) (10/25/06)

   4.1    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.

4.13

  

1-11727

(8-K) (3/28/08)

   4.2    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.

10.2

   333-04018    10.2    Form of Note Purchase Agreement (June 25, 1996).

10.2.1

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (11/30/96)

   10.2.1    Amendment of Note Purchase Agreement (June 25, 1996) dated as of July 25, 1996.

10.2.2

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/97)

   10.2.1    Amendment of Note Purchase Agreement (June 25, 1996) dated as of March 11, 1997.

10.2.3

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/98)

   10.2.3    Amendment of Note Purchase Agreement (June 25, 1996) dated as of October 15, 1998.

10.2.4

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/99)

   10.2.4    Second Amendment Agreement dated September 1, 1999 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement.

10.2.5

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/00)

   10.16.3    Third Amendment Agreement dated May 31, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement and November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement.

10.2.6

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/23/00)

   10.2.6    Fourth Amendment Agreement dated August 10, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement and November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement.

10.2.7

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/01)

   10.2.7    Fifth Amendment Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement, November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement.

10.2.8

  

1-11727

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

   10.2.8    Sixth Amendment Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement, November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement.

 

54


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

10.4.1**

  

1-11727

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

   10.6.3    Heritage Propane Partners, L.P. (now known as Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.) Second Amended and Restated Restricted Unit Plan dated as of February 4, 2002.

10.4.2**

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (6/30/08)

   10.6.6    Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. Amended and Restated 2004 Unit Plan.

10.4.3**

  

1-11727

(8-K) (11/1/04)

   10.1    Form of Grant Agreement.

10.5         

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (11/30/97)

   10.16    Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P. dated as of November 19, 1997.

10.5.1

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/98)

   10.16.1    Amendment dated October 15, 1998 to November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.5.2

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/99)

   10.16.2    Second Amendment Agreement dated September 1, 1999 to November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.5.3

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/00)

   10.16.3    Third Amendment Agreement dated May 31, 2000 to November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.5.4

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/23/00)

   10.16.4    Fourth Amendment Agreement dated August 10, 2000 to November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.5.5

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (2/28/01)

   10.16.5    Fifth Amendment Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement, November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.5.6

  

1-11727

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

   10.16.6    Sixth Amendment Agreement dated as of November 18, 2003 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement, November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.8

  

1-11727

(8-K) (8/23/00)

   10.19    Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P. dated as of August 10, 2000.

10.8.2

  

1-11727

(10-Q) (5/31/01)

   10.19.2    First Supplemental Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 24, 2001 to August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.8.3

  

1-11727

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

   10.2.8    Sixth Amendment Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000 to June 25, 1996 Note Purchase Agreement, November 19, 1997 Note Purchase Agreement and August 10, 2000 Note Purchase Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P.

10.19

  

1-11727

(8-K) (2/1/05)

   10.1    Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 26, 2005, among HPL Storage, LP and AEP Energy Services Gas Holding Company II, L.L.C., as Sellers, and LaGrange Acquisition, L.P., as Buyer.

10.20

  

1-11727

(8-K) (2/1/05)

   10.2    Cushion Gas Litigation Agreement dated January 26, 2005, among AEP Energy Services Gas Holding Company II, L.L.C. and HPL Storage LP, as Sellers, and LaGrange Acquisition, L.P., as Buyer, and AEP Asset Holdings LP, AEP Leaseco LP, Houston Pipe Line Company, LP and HPL Resources Company LP, as Companies.

 

55


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

10.21**

  

1-11727

(8-K) (3/3/2008)

   10.1    Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. Midstream Bonus Plan.

10.21.1**

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.45    Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. Summary of Director Compensation.

10.22

  

1-11727

(8-K) (2/13/02)

   4.1    Registration Rights Agreement for Limited Partner Interests of Heritage Propane Partners, L.P.

10.23

  

1-11727

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

   4.2           Unitholder Rights Agreement dated January 20, 2004, among Heritage Propane Partners, L.P., Heritage Holdings, Inc., TAAP LP and LaGrange Energy, L.P.

10.24

   333-128097    10.24    Registration Rights Agreement for Limited Partnership Units of LaGrange Energy, L.P.

10.25**

   333-128097    10.25    Energy Transfer Equity Long-Term Incentive Plan.

10.26**

   333-128097    10.26    Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement.

10.27

  

1-11727

(8-K) (7/23/07)

   10.1    Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 20, 2007, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., the borrower and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, LC issuer and swingline lender, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as co-documentation agents and Citibank, N.A., Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., Morgan Stanley Bank, Suntrust Bank and UBS Securities, LLC as senior managing agents, and other lenders party hereto.

10.29

  

1-32740

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

   10.2    Credit Agreement dated February 8, 2006, between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, LC issuer and swingline lender, Bank of America, N.A. and Citicorp North America, Inc., as co-syndication agents, BNP Paribas and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc New York Branch, as co-documentation agents, Credit Suisse Cayman Islands Branch, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and UBS Loan Finance LLC, as senior managing agents, and Fortis Capital Corp, Suntrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as managing agents.

10.34

  

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.34    First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., as the borrower, Wachovia Bank, National Association as administrative agent, UBS Loan Finance LLC, as syndication agent, BNP Paribas, Citicorp North America, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as co-documentation agents, and UBS Securities LLC and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers.

10.35

  

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.35    Contribution and Conveyance Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., and Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

10.36

  

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.36    Contribution, Assumption and Conveyance Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., and Energy Transfer Investments, L.P.

 

56


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As
Exhibit

    

10.37

  

1-11727

(8-K) (11/3/06)

   3.1.10    Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.

10.38

  

1-32740

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.38    Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 1, 2006, between Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and Energy Transfer Investments, L.P.

10.39

  

1-11727

(8-K) (9/18/06)

   10.1    Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2006, among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and EFS-PA, LLC (a/k/a GE Energy Financial Services), CDPQ Investments (U.S.) Inc., Lake Bluff, Inc., Merrill Lynch Ventures, L.P. and Kings Road Holding I LLC.

10.40

  

1-11727

(8-K) (9/18/06)

   10.2    Redemption Agreement, dated September 14, 2006, between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and CCE Holdings, LLC.

10.41

  

1-11727

(8-K) (9/18/06)

   10.3    Letter Agreement, dated September 14, 2006, between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Southern Union Company.

10.42

  

1-11727

(10-K) (8/31/06)

   10.54    Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 31, 2006 between and among Heritage Operating L.P., as the Borrower, and the Banks now or hereafter signatory parties hereto, as lenders “Banks” and Bank of Oklahoma, National Association as administrative agent and joint lead arranger for the Banks, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent for the Banks, and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arranger for the Banks.

10.43

  

1-32740

(8-K)(11/30/06)

   99.1    Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 27, 2006, by and among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and certain investors named therein.

10.44**

  

1-32740

(8-K)(12/26/06)

   99.1    LE GP, LLC Outside Director Compensation Policy.

10.45

  

1-32740

(8-K)(3/5/07)

   99.1    Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 2, 2007, by and among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. and certain investors named therein.

10.46

  

1-32740

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

   10.45    Unitholder Rights and Restrictions Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2007, by and among Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Ray C. Davis, Natural Gas Partners VI, L.P. and Enterprise GP Holdings, L.P.

10.47

  

1-11727

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

   10.55    Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2004, by and among Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC and the Purchasers parties thereto.

10.47.1

  

1-11727

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

   10.55.1    Amendment No. 1 to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2007, by and among Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC and the Purchasers parties thereto.

10.48

  

1-11727

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

   10.56    Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2007, by and among Transwestern Pipeline Company, LLC and the Purchasers parties thereto.

10.49       

  

1-11727

(Sch. 14A)(11/21/08)

      Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

21.1

  

1-32740

(10-Q)( 2/28/07)

   21.1    List of Subsidiaries.

 

57


Table of Contents
     

Previously Filed *

    

Exhibit
Number

  

With File Number

(Form) (Period Ending or Date)

  

As

Exhibit

    

31.1         

         Certification of President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

         Certification of President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

* Incorporated herein by reference.
** Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

58


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

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

 

    ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.
    By:   LE GP, L.L.C., its General Partner
Date: May 11, 2009     By:  

/s/ John W. McReynolds

      John W. McReynolds
      President and Chief Financial Officer (duly authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant)

 

59

Section 302 President and CFO Certification

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John W. McReynolds, certify that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under my supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

 

  b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 11, 2009

 

/s/ John W. McReynolds

John W. McReynolds
President and Chief Financial Officer
Section 906 President and CFO Certification

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (the “Partnership”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John W. McReynolds, President and Chief Financial Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

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

 

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

Date: May 11, 2009

 

/s/ John W. McReynolds

John W. McReynolds
President and Chief Financial Officer

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