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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2011
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware
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16-1731691 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer |
Incorporation or Organization)
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Identification Number) |
2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 750-1771
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrants Principal
Executive Offices
Paul M. Jolas
Regency GP LLC
2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 750-1771
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Dan A. Fleckman
Mayer Brown LLP
700 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002-2730
(713) 238-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the
effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities
offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.
þ
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities
Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a
post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to
General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large
accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer þ
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Accelerated filer o
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Non accelerated filer o
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Smaller reporting company o
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Amount |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Proposed Maximum |
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Amount of |
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Title of Each Class of |
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to be |
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Offering |
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Aggregate |
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Registration |
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Securities to be Registered |
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Registered(1) |
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Price per Unit |
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Offering Price(2) |
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Fee |
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Common Units representing
limited partner interests |
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8,500,001 units |
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(3 |
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$ |
218,067,525.66 |
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$ |
25,317.64 |
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(1) |
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Pursuant to Rule 416(a), the number of common units being registered shall be adjusted to
include any additional common units that may become issuable as a result of any unit
distribution, split, combination or similar transaction. |
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(2) |
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Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c)
of the Securities Act on the basis of the average of the high and low sales prices of the
common units reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on May 25, 2011. |
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The proposed maximum offering price per common unit will be determined from time to time by
the selling unitholders in connection with, and at the time of, the sale by the selling
unitholders of the securities registered hereunder. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be
necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in
accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to
said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The
selling unitholders may not sell these securities until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This
prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 27, 2011
PROSPECTUS
8,500,001 Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
Regency Energy Partners LP
Up to 8,500,001 of our common units may be offered from time to time by the selling
unitholders named in this prospectus. The selling unitholders may sell the common units at various
times and in various types of transactions, including sales in the open market, sales in negotiated
transactions and sales by a combination of methods. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale
of common units by the selling unitholders.
Our common units are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RGNC.
Investing in our common units involves risks. Limited partnerships are inherently different
from corporations. You should carefully consider the factors described under Risk Factors
beginning on page 4 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2011.
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any
other information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should
not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any
date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus. You should not assume that the
information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as
of any date other than the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration
process, the selling unitholders may, over time, offer and sell up to 8,500,001 of our common
units. In connection with certain sales of securities hereunder, a prospectus supplement may
accompany this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information
contained in this prospectus. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this
prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information. To the extent information in this prospectus is inconsistent
with information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the
prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together
with additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information, and
any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.
As used in this prospectus, Regency Energy Partners, we, our, us or like terms mean
Regency Energy Partners LP, or the Partnership, and its subsidiaries. References to our general
partner or the General Partner refer to Regency GP LP, the general partner of the Partnership,
and its general partner, Regency GP LLC, which effectively manages the business and affairs of the
Partnership.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), that registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The
registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information
about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the
registration statement from this prospectus.
In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC.
You may read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the
operation of the SECs public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SECs web site
at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website, at
http://www.regencyenergy.com, all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our
annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16
reports and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we have filed with the SEC.
This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the
specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with
the SEC. These other documents contain important information about us, our financial condition and
results of operations. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace
information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the
SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the Exchange Act), excluding any information in those documents that is deemed by the rules of
the SEC to be furnished not filed, until the termination of the registration statement:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on
February 18, 2011; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed
on May 5, 2011; |
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A filed on January 6, 2011,
January 21, 2011, January 27, 2011, March 25, 2011, March 28, 2011, April 4, 2011, April
26, 2011, May 2, 2011, May 19, 2011, May 20, 2011 and May 26, 2011, each to the extent
filed and not furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act; and |
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the description of our common units contained in our registration statement on
Form 8-A filed on January 24, 2006, and including any other amendments or reports filed for
the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents filed by Regency Energy Partners under the Exchange Act after the date of the
initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall
also be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC
through the SECs website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any
document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents
specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet
website at http://www.regencyenergy.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:
Regency Energy Partners LP
Investor Relations
2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 750-1771
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain matters discussed in this prospectus include forward-looking statements, which include
any statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Statements using words
such as anticipate, believe, intend, project, plan, expect, continue, estimate,
goal, forecast, may or similar expressions help identify forward-looking statements. Although
we believe our forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and current
expectations and projections about future events, we cannot give assurances that such expectations
will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. These additional risks and uncertainties may include
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volatility in the price of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; |
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declines in the credit markets and the availability of credit for us as well as
for producers connected to our pipelines and our gathering and processing facilities, and
for customers of our contract compression and contract treating businesses; |
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the level of creditworthiness of, and performance by, our counterparties and
customers; |
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our access to capital to fund organic growth projects and acquisitions, and our
ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms; |
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our use of derivative financial instruments to hedge commodity and interest
rate risks; |
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the amount of collateral required to be posted from time-to-time in our
transactions; |
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changes in commodity prices, interest rates and demand for our services; |
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changes in laws and regulations impacting the midstream sector of the natural
gas industry, including those that relate to climate change and environmental protection; |
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weather and other natural phenomena; |
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industry changes including the impact of consolidations and changes in
competition; |
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regulation of transportation rates on our natural gas pipelines; |
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our ability to obtain indemnification for environmental cleanup liabilities and
to clean up any hazardous materials release on satisfactory terms; |
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our ability to obtain required approvals for construction or modernization of
our facilities and the timing of production from such facilities; and |
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the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting
standard setting boards. |
If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or
expected.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and we
undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
Other factors described herein or incorporated by reference, or factors that are unknown or
unpredictable, could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Please read Risk
Factors beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, the risk
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factors included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and those that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, as
well as risks described in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations and cautionary notes regarding forward-looking statements included or incorporated
by reference herein, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by
reference. Except as required by securities laws applicable to the documents incorporated by
reference, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and information.
REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP
We are a growth-oriented publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed in 2005 engaged
in the gathering and processing, contract compression, treating, transportation, fractionation and
storage of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). We focus on providing midstream services
in several of the most prolific shale plays and rich gas producing formations in the United States,
including the Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Barnett, Fayetteville and Marcellus shales, as well as the
Permian Delaware basin and mid-continent region.
We divide our operations into five business segments:
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Gathering and Processing. We provide wellhead-to-market services to
producers of natural gas, which include gathering raw natural gas from the wellhead through
gathering systems, processing raw natural gas to separate NGLs and selling or delivering
pipeline-quality natural gas and NGLs to various markets and pipeline systems. |
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Joint Ventures: We own a 49.99% general partner interest in RIGS Haynesville
Partnership Co., a general partnership, which owns Regency Intrastate Gas System, a
450-mile intrastate pipeline that delivers natural gas from northwest Louisiana to
downstream pipelines and markets. We own a 49.9% interest in Midcontinent Express Pipeline
LLC, which owns an interstate natural gas pipeline with approximately 500 miles stretching
from southeast Oklahoma through northeast Texas, northern Louisiana and central Mississippi
to an interconnect with the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line system in Butler, Alabama. We
also recently entered in to a joint venture with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (ETP) in
which we and ETP acquired a 30% interest and a 70% interest, respectively, in Lone Star NGL
LLC, an entity owning a diverse set of midstream energy assets including pipelines, storage
and processing facilities located in the states of Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. |
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Contract Compression: We own and operate a fleet of compressors used to
provide turn-key natural gas compression services for customer specific systems. |
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Contract Treating: We own and operate a fleet of equipment used to provide
treating services, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide removal, natural gas
cooling, dehydration and BTU management, to natural gas producers and midstream pipeline
companies. |
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Corporate and Others: Our Corporate and Others segment comprises a small
interstate pipeline and our corporate offices. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3700, Dallas, Texas
75201 and our phone number is (214) 750-1771.
For additional information as to our business, properties and financial condition, please
refer to the documents cited in Where You Can Find More Information.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the following
risk factors, together with the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2010, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2011, as well as all of the other information and documents included
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or incorporated by reference herein. If any of the described risks actually were to occur, our
business, financial condition or results of operations could be affected materially and adversely.
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., Regency LP Acquirer, L.P. and the selling unitholders may sell
units in the public or private markets, and these sales could have an adverse impact on the price
of our common units.
As of May 27, 2011, Regency LP Acquirer, L.P., or LP Acquirer, and Energy Transfer Equity,
L.P., or ETE, beneficially owned 15,277,106 and 26,266,791 of our common units, respectively. We
have agreed to provide to LP Acquirer and ETE the right to register for resale these common units.
The sale of these common units and the sale of the common units held by the selling unitholders in
the public or private markets could have an adverse impact on the price of our common units or on
the trading market for them.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common units by the selling unitholders.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS
The Common Units
The common units represent limited partner interests in Regency Energy Partners. The holders
of common units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights or
privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the
relative rights and preferences of holders of common units and our general partner in and to
partnership distributions, please read this section and How We Make Cash Distributions. For a
description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement,
including voting rights, please read The Partnership Agreement.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Duties. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company serves as registrar and transfer agent for
the common units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units
except the following that must be paid by unitholders:
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surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other
governmental charges; |
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special charges for services requested by a common unitholder; and |
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other similar fees or charges. |
There will be no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will
indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and
employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its
activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional
misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Resignation or Removal. The transfer agent may resign by notice to us or be removed by us.
The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a
successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has
been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or
removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is
appointed.
Transfer of Common Units
By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of
common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred
when such transfer and admission is reflected in our books and records. Each transferee:
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represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to become
bound by our partnership agreement; |
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automatically agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and is deemed
to have executed, our partnership agreement; and |
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gives the consents and approvals contained in our partnership agreement. |
A transferee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred
common units automatically upon the recording of the transfer on our books and records. Our general
partner will cause any transfers to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than
quarterly.
We may, at our discretion, treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In
that case, the beneficial holders rights are limited solely to those that it has against the
nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.
Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfers of
securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee
the right to become a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common
units.
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the
record holder of the common unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise
required by law or stock exchange regulations.
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. We will
provide prospective investors with a copy of this agreement upon request at no charge.
We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this
prospectus:
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with regard to distributions of available cash, please read How We Make Cash
Distributions; |
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with regard to the fiduciary duties of our general partner, you should read the
risk factors included in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and those that may be included in the applicable prospectus
supplement; |
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with regard to the transfer of common units, please read Description of the
Common Units Transfer of Common Units; and |
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with regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, please read
Material Income Tax Consequences. |
Organization and Duration
Our partnership was organized in September 2005 and will have a perpetual existence.
Purpose
Our purpose under the partnership agreement is to engage in any business activities that are
approved by our general partner. Our general partner, however, may not cause us to engage in any
business activities that it determines would cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes. Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts it determines
to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder, by accepting the
common unit, automatically grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power
of attorney, among other things, to execute
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and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of
attorney also grants our general partner the authority to amend, and to grant consents and waivers
on behalf of the limited partners under, our partnership agreement.
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described
below under Limited Liability.
Voting Rights
The following is a summary of the unitholder vote required for the matters specified below.
Matters requiring the approval of a unit majority require the approval of a majority of the
common units.
In voting their common units, our general partner and its affiliates have no fiduciary duty or
obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in
the best interests of us or the limited partners.
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Issuance of additional units
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No approval right. |
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Amendment of the partnership agreement
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Certain amendments may be made by the general partner
without the approval of the unitholders, and certain other
amendments that would adversely affect the holders of our
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units (as defined below)
require the approval of 75% of such holders. Other
amendments generally require the approval of a unit
majority. Please read Amendment of the Partnership
Agreement. |
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Merger of our partnership or the sale of
all or substantially all of our assets
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Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please read
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets. |
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Dissolution of our partnership
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Unit majority. Please read Termination and Dissolution. |
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Reconstitution of our partnership upon
dissolution
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Unit majority. Please read Termination and Dissolution. |
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Withdrawal of the general partner
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Under most circumstances, the approval of a majority of the
common units, excluding common units held by our general
partner and its affiliates, is required for the withdrawal
of our general partner prior to December 31, 2015 in a
manner that would cause a dissolution of our partnership.
Please read Withdrawal or Removal of the General
Partner. |
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Removal of the general partner
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Not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, including
units held by our general partner and its affiliates.
Please read Withdrawal or Removal of the General
Partner. |
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Transfer of the general partner interest
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Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than
all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote
of our unitholders to an affiliate or another person in
connection with its merger or consolidation with or into,
or sale of all or substantially all of its assets, to such
person. The approval of a majority of the common units,
excluding common units held by the general partner and its
affiliates, is required in other circumstances for a
transfer of the general partner interest to a third party
prior to December 31, 2015. See Transfer of General
Partner Interest. |
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Transfer of incentive distribution rights
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Except for transfers to an affiliate or another person as
part of our general partners merger or consolidation, sale
of all or substantially all of its assets or the sale of
all of the ownership interests in such holder, the approval
of a majority of the common units, excluding common units
held by the general partner and its affiliates, is required
in most circumstances for a transfer of the incentive
distribution rights to a third party prior to December 31,
2015. Please read Transfer of Incentive Distribution
Rights. |
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Transfer of ownership interests in our
general partner
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No approval required at any time. Please read Transfer
of Ownership Interests in the General Partner. |
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the
meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act, and that he
otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of the partnership agreement, his liability under
the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is
obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and
assets. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited
partners as a group:
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to remove or replace the general partner; |
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to approve some amendments to the partnership agreement; or |
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to take other action under the partnership agreement; |
constituted participation in the control of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act,
then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of
Delaware, to the same extent as the general partner. This liability would extend to persons who
transact business with us who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner.
Neither the partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse
against the general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault
of the general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal
recourse, we know of no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if,
after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to
partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of
creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the
assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a
limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability
for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited
partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse
liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at
the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be
liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the
Delaware Act, a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations
of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except that such person is not obligated
for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be
ascertained from the partnership agreement.
Our subsidiaries conduct business in a number of states. Maintenance of our limited liability
as a member of the operating company may require compliance with legal requirements in the
jurisdictions in which the operating company conducts business, including qualifying our
subsidiaries to do business there.
Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partner have
not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our ownership of our operating
partnership and its subsidiaries or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business
in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership
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or limited liability company statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the
limited partners as a group to remove or replace the general partner, to approve some amendments to
the partnership agreement, or to take other action under the partnership agreement constituted
participation in the control of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant
jurisdiction, the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the
law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as the general partner under the circumstances. We will
operate in a manner that the general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to
preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
Issuance of Additional Securities
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership
securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner
without the approval of the unitholders.
It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units
or other partnership securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled
to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available
cash. In addition, the issuance of additional common units or other partnership securities may
dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also
issue additional partnership securities that, as determined by our general partner, may have
special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled. Our partnership agreement
restricts our ability to issue any securities senior to or on parity with our Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units (as defined below) with respect to distributions on such securities and
distributions upon liquidation, except that we may issue parity securities up to an amount equal to
10% (at face value) of the lowest market capitalization of our common units as measured over the
trailing 30-day period prior to issuance. However, our partnership agreement does not prohibit the
issuance by us of equity securities that may effectively rank senior to the common units.
Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will be entitled, but
not required, to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 2%
general partner interest in us. Our general partners 2% interest in us will be reduced if we issue
additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount
of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest. Moreover, our general partner will
have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates,
to purchase common units or other partnership securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we
issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent
necessary to maintain the percentage interest of the general partner and its affiliates, including
such interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The
holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other
partnership securities.
On September 2, 2009, we issued 4,371,586 Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units (the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units). For so long as the Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Units remain outstanding, the holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will have a
preemptive right to purchase any securities junior to or on parity with our Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units with respect to distributions on such securities and distributions upon liquidation
(other than common units) issued by us to the extent necessary to maintain their proportionate
beneficial ownership of common units (on an as-converted basis) immediately before such issuance.
For a more complete description of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, please see our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009.
Amendment of the Partnership Agreement
General. Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent
of our general partner. Our general partner, however, will have no duty or obligation to propose
any amendment and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or
the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the
limited partners. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed
below, our general partner is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of
units required to approve the amendment or to call a meeting of the limited partners to consider
and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a
unit majority.
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Prohibited Amendments. No amendment may be made that would:
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enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless
approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so
affected; or |
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enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of,
or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable by us
to our general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of our general
partner, which consent may be given or withheld at its option. |
The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects
described in any of the clauses above can only be amended upon the approval of the holders of at
least 90% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class (including units owned by our
general partner and its affiliates).
No Unitholder Approval. Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership
agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect:
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a change in our name, the location of our principal place of our business,
our registered agent or our registered office; |
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the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in
accordance with our partnership agreement; |
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a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate
to qualify or continue our qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in
which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to
ensure that neither we nor the operating company nor any of its subsidiaries will be
treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for
federal income tax purposes; |
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an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent
us or our general partner or its directors, officers, agents or trustees from in any
manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or plan asset regulations adopted under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA, whether or not substantially similar
to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed; |
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an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or
appropriate for the authorization of additional partnership securities or rights to
acquire partnership securities; |
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any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made
by our general partner acting alone; |
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an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement
that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement; |
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any amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or
appropriate for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation,
partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement; |
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a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes; |
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mergers with or conveyances to another limited liability entity that is
newly formed and has no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of the merger or
conveyance other than those it receives by way of the merger or conveyance; or |
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any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described
in the clauses above. |
In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the
approval of any limited partner or transferee (subject to the voting rights of the Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units discussed below) in
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connection with a merger or consolidation approved in connection with our partnership
agreement, or if our general partner determines that those amendments:
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do not adversely affect the limited partners (or any particular class of
limited partners) in any material respect; |
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are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions or
guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any
federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state
statute; |
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are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of limited partner
interests or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any
securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed for
trading; |
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are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our general partner
relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our partnership
agreement; or |
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are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the
intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by
our partnership agreement. |
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval. Our general partner will not be required to
obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to
the limited partners or result in our being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes in
connection with any of the amendments described under No Unitholder Approval. No other
amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at
least 90% of the outstanding units voting as a single class unless we first obtain an opinion of
counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable law
of any of our limited partners.
In addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect
on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation to other classes
of units will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so
affected. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action is required
to be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units
constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced. The affirmative vote of
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, voting separately as a
class with one vote per Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit, is necessary on any matter
(including a merger, consolidation or business combination) that would adversely affect any of the
rights, preferences and privileges of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units in any respect.
Please read Meetings; Voting.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
A merger or consolidation of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. Our general
partner, however, will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation and may
decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners,
including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or the limited partners.
In addition, the partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner without the
prior approval of the holders of a unit majority, from causing us, among other things, to sell,
exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or
a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination,
or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of our subsidiaries. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or
grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our
general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other
realization upon those encumbrances without that approval. Finally, our general partner may
consummate any merger without the prior approval of our unitholders if we are the surviving entity
in the transaction, the transaction would not result in a material amendment to the partnership
agreement, and each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the
transaction.
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If the conditions specified in the partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner
may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or any of
our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of
that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited
liability entity. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters rights of appraisal under the
partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or
consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.
Termination and Dissolution
We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We
will dissolve upon:
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the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the
holders of units representing a unit majority; |
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there being no limited partners, unless we are continued without
dissolution in accordance with applicable Delaware law; |
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the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or |
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the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event that
results in its ceasing to be our general partner other than by reason of a transfer of
its general partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or withdrawal
or removal following approval and admission of a successor. |
Upon a dissolution under the last clause above, the holders of a unit majority, may also
elect, within specific time limitations, to reconstitute us and continue our business on the same
terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by forming a new limited partnership on
terms identical to those in our partnership agreement and having as general partner an entity
approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority, subject to our receipt of an opinion
of counsel to the effect that:
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the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited
partner; and |
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neither our partnership, the reconstituted limited partnership, our
operating company nor any of our other subsidiaries, would be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax
purposes upon the exercise of that right to continue. |
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership,
the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general
partner that are necessary or appropriate to liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the
liquidation as provided in How We Make Cash Distributions Distributions of Cash upon
Liquidation. The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable
period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be
impractical or would cause undue loss to our partners.
Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner
Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our
general partner prior to December 31, 2015 without obtaining the approval of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by the general
partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and
tax matters. On or after December 31, 2015, our general partner may withdraw as general partner
without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days written notice, and that
withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. Notwithstanding the
information above, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days
notice to the limited partners if at least 50% of the outstanding common units are held or
controlled by one person and its affiliates other than the general partner and its affiliates. In
addition, the partnership agreement permits
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our general partner in some instances to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner
interest in us without the approval of the unitholders. Please read Transfer of General
Partner Interest and Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.
Upon withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a
transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the holders
of a unit majority may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. If a successor is
not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters
cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within a specified period
after that withdrawal, the holders of a unit majority agree in writing to continue our business and
to appoint a successor general partner. Please read Termination and Dissolution.
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the
holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, voting together as a single class,
including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of
counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also
subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding common units, voting as separate classes. The
ownership of more than 33 1/3% of the
outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give them the practical ability
to prevent our general partners removal.
Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed as our general
partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by the general partner and
its affiliates are not voted in favor of that removal:
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any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on
the common units will be extinguished; and |
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our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner
interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in
exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of those interests at that
time. |
In the event of removal of a general partner under circumstances where cause exists or
withdrawal of a general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a
successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and
incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair
market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where a general partner withdraws or
is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require
the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest of the departing general
partner and its incentive distribution rights for fair market value. In each case, this fair market
value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor
general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other
independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general partner will
determine the fair market value. Or, if the departing general partner and the successor general
partner cannot agree upon an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by
each of them will determine the fair market value.
If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the
successor general partner, the departing general partners general partner interest and its
incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market
value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert
selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.
In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts
due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities,
including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the
departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.
Transfer of General Partner Interest
Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general
partner interest in our partnership to:
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an affiliate of our general partner (other than an individual); or |
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another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of our general
partner with or into another entity or the transfer by our general partner of all or
substantially all of its assets to another entity, |
our general partner may not transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in our
partnership to another person prior to December 31, 2015 without the approval of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general
partner and its affiliates. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must assume, among
other things, the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of
our partnership agreement, and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax
matters.
Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner
At any time, the owner of our General Partner, may sell or transfer all or part of its their
ownership interest in our General Partner to an affiliate or third party without the approval of
our unitholders.
Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights
Our general partner or its affiliates or a subsequent holder may transfer its incentive
distribution rights to an affiliate of the holder (other than an individual) or another entity as
part of the merger or consolidation of such holder with or into another entity, the sale of all of
the ownership interest of the holder or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, that
entity without the prior approval of the unitholders. Prior to December 31, 2015, other transfers
of incentive distribution rights will require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. On
or after December 31, 2015, the incentive distribution rights will be freely transferable.
Change of Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a
person or group from attempting to remove our general partner or otherwise change our management.
If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial
ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of
its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units
from our general partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group approved by
our general partner or to any person or group who acquires the units with the prior approval of our
general partner.
Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed under
circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates
are not voted in favor of that removal:
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any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on
the common units will be extinguished; and |
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our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner
interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in
exchange for those interests. |
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the then-issued and
outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right, which
it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less
than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a
record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days notice.
The purchase price in the event of this purchase is the greater of:
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the highest cash price paid by either of our general partner or any of its
affiliates for any partnership securities of the class purchased within the 90 days
preceding the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to
purchase those limited partner interests; and |
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the current market price as of the date three days before the date the
notice is mailed. |
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As a result of our general partners right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a
holder of partnership securities may have his partnership securities purchased at an undesirable
time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same
as a sale by that unitholder of his common units in the market. Please read Material Income Tax
Consequences Disposition of Common Units.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units
then outstanding, unitholders or transferees who are record holders of units on the record date
will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon
matters for which approvals may be solicited. In the case of common units held by our general
partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, our general partner will distribute the votes on those
common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.
Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the
foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be
taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing
the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take
that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by
unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is
proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority
of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called represented in
person or by proxy will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval
by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater
percentage.
Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us; however,
the holders of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units have special voting rights, and
additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read
Issuance of Additional Securities. The affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, voting separately as a class with one vote per Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units, is necessary on any matter (including a merger, consolidation or
business combination) that would adversely affect any of the rights, preferences and privileges of
the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units in any respect, including without limitation, the
following matters:
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any reduction in the distribution rate on the Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units, change in the form of payment of distributions on the Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units, deferral of the date from which distributions on the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will accrue and accumulate, cancellation of
accrued, accumulated and unpaid distributions on the on the Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units, change in the relative seniority rights of the holders of the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions in relation
to the holders of any other units, or amendment to Section 5.14 of our partnership
agreement (which sets forth the terms of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units),
except that the General Partner may amend Section 5.14 so long as the amendment does
not adversely affect the holders of Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units; |
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any reduction in the liquidation value or change in the form of payment
upon liquidation of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, or any change in the
relative seniority of the liquidation |
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preferences of the holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units to
the rights upon liquidation of the holders of any other units; |
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any matter that would accelerate the terms of our options to redeem or
convert the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units; and |
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any authorization, creation or issuance of any securities that would be
senior to or on parity with our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units with respect to
distributions on such securities and distributions upon liquidation, except that we may
issue parity securities up to an amount equal to 10% (at face value) of the lowest
market capitalization of the common units as measured over the trailing 30-day period
prior to issuance. |
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If at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, a
direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates or a person who
acquired the units with the prior approval of our general partner, acquires, in the aggregate,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group
will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will
not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating
required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes. Common units
held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance
with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner
and his nominee provides otherwise.
Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or
made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the
record holder by us or by the transfer agent.
Status as Limited Partner
By the transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee
of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred
when such transfer and admission is reflected in our books and records. Except as described under
Limited Liability, the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required
to make additional contributions.
Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If we are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the
reasonable determination of our general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or
forfeiture of any property that we have an interest in because of the nationality, citizenship or
other related status of any limited partner, we may redeem the units held by the limited partner at
their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, our general partner
may require each limited partner to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or
related status. If a limited partner fails to furnish information about his nationality,
citizenship or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information or our
general partner determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner is not an
eligible citizen, the limited partner may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. A non-citizen
assignee, is entitled to an interest equivalent to that of a limited partner for the right to share
in allocations and distributions from us, including liquidating distributions. A non-citizen
assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive
distributions in kind upon our liquidation.
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following
persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or
similar events:
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our general partner; |
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any departing general partner; |
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any person who is or was an affiliate of a general partner or any departing
general partner; |
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any person who is or was a director, officer, member, partner, fiduciary or
trustee of any entity set forth in the preceding three bullet points; |
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any person who is or was serving as director, officer, member, partner,
fiduciary or trustee of another person at the request of our general partner or any
departing general partner; and |
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any person designated by our general partner. |
Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise
agrees, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute
or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase
insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons
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for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person
against liabilities under our partnership agreement.
Reimbursement of Expenses
Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner for all direct and
indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on our behalf and all other expenses allocable to
us or otherwise incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business. These
expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who
perform services for us or on our behalf and expenses allocated to our general partner by its
affiliates. The general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are
allocable to us.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal
offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual
basis. For tax and financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.
We will furnish or make available to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the
close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on
those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we
will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of
each quarter.
We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax
reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is
expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of
partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend
on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will
receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his
federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably
related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have
furnished to him:
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a current list of the name and last known address of each partner; |
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a copy of our tax returns; |
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information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of
the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by
each partner and the date on which each partner became a partner; |
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copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited
partnership, related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been
executed; |
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information regarding the status of our business and financial condition;
and |
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any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable. |
Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade
secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is
not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to
keep confidential.
17
Registration Rights
Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws any common units or other partnership securities proposed
to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from
the registration requirements is not otherwise available. These registration rights continue for
two years following any withdrawal or removal of our general partner. We are obligated to pay all
expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
Overview
All cash distributed to unitholders will be characterized as either operating surplus or
capital surplus. We treat distributions of available cash from operating surplus differently than
distributions of available cash from capital surplus.
Characterization of Cash Distributions
We will treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of
all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the
most recent date of determination of available cash. We will treat any amount distributed in excess
of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we
will make any distributions from capital surplus.
Definition of Available Cash
Available cash generally means, for each fiscal quarter all cash on hand at the end of the
quarter:
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less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner: |
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to provide for the proper conduct of our business (including reserves for
future capital expenditures and for our anticipated credit needs); |
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to comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other
agreements; and |
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to provide funds for distribution to our unitholders and to our general
partner for any one or more of the next four quarters; |
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plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for
the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter
for which the determination is being made. Working capital borrowings are generally
borrowings that will be made under our credit facilities and in all cases are used
solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners. |
Definition of Operating Surplus
Operating surplus for any period generally means:
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our cash balance on the closing date of our initial public offering; plus |
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$20.0 million (as described below); plus |
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all of our cash receipts since the closing of our initial public offering,
excluding cash from (1) borrowings that are not working capital borrowings, (2) sales
of equity and debt securities and (3) sales or other dispositions of assets outside the
ordinary course of business; plus |
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working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the
date of determination of operating surplus for the quarter; less |
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operating expenses; less |
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the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner for future
operating expenditures. |
As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand at closing that is
available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, it includes a provision that will
enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $20.0 million of cash we receive
in the future from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities and
long-term borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus.
Definition of Capital Surplus
Capital surplus will generally be generated only by:
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borrowings other than working capital borrowings; |
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sales of debt and equity securities; and |
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sales or other disposition of assets for cash, other than inventory,
accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or
non-current assets sold as part of normal retirements or replacements of assets. |
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus in the following manner:
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First, to the holders of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units to the
extent of the distribution preference on the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, as
described below; |
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second, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly
distribution for that quarter; and |
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thereafter, in the manner described in Incentive Distribution Rights
below. |
The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2%
general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
The Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will receive distributions at a rate of $0.445 per
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit, payable quarterly on the same date as the distribution
payment date for the common units. The record date for the determination of holders entitled to
receive distributions of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will be the same as the record
date for determination of common unit holders entitled to receive quarterly distributions.
Distributions on the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will be accrued for the first two
quarters and will result in an increase in the number of common units issuable upon conversion of
the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units. If on any distribution payment date occurring with
respect to a quarter ending after December 31, 2009, we (x) fail to pay distributions on the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, (y) reduce the distributions on the common units to zero
($0.00) and (z) are prohibited by our material financing agreements from paying cash distributions,
then until the distributions that were to be paid on the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units on
such distribution date are paid in cash, such distributions shall automatically accrue and
accumulate. If we have failed to pay cash distributions in full for two quarters (whether or not
consecutive) from and including the quarter ending on March 31, 2010, then if we fail to pay cash
distributions on the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, all future distributions on the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units that are accrued rather than being paid in cash by us will
consist of the following: (i) $0.35375 per Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit per quarter, (ii)
$0.09125 per Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit per quarter (the
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Common Unit Distribution Amount), payable solely in common units, and (iii) $0.09125 per
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit per quarter (the PIK Distribution Additional Amount),
payable solely in common units. The total number of common units payable in connection with the
Common Unit Additional Amount or the PIK Distribution Additional Amount cannot exceed 1,600,000 in
any period of 20 consecutive fiscal quarters.
Upon our breach of certain covenants, or a Covenant Default, contained in our Indenture, dated
as of May 20, 2009, among us, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the Guarantors (as defined therein) and
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, or the Indenture, for as long as the Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units are outstanding (or until we receive an investment grade rating from either Moodys
or S&P on our 9 3/8% Senior Notes due 2016), the holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Units will be entitled to an increase of $0.1825 per quarterly distribution, payable solely in
common units, or the Covenant Default Additional Amount.
All accumulated and unpaid distributions will accrue interest (i) at a rate of 2.432% per
quarter, or (ii) if we have failed to pay all PIK Distribution Additional Amounts or Covenant
Default Additional Amounts or any Covenant Default has occurred and is continuing, at a rate of
3.429% per quarter while such failure to pay or such Covenant Default continues.
Additionally, the holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units are entitled to a
make-whole distribution and allocation equal to 60% of the tax cost of the rate differential
between ordinary income and long term capital gains with respect to any gross income allocation
resulting from a forced conversion of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, grossed up for
the additional tax due with respect to such make-whole allocation.
Incentive Distribution Rights
Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of
quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly
distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently
holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general
partner interest, subject to restrictions in the partnership agreement.
If for any quarter:
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we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common
unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution; |
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we have distributed available cash from operating surplus on outstanding
common units in an amount necessary to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment
of the minimum quarterly distribution; and |
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we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to the holders of
our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units to the extent of the distribution preference
on the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units; |
then, we will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter
among the unitholders and our general partner in the following manner:
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first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until each unitholder receives a total of $0.4025 per unit for that quarter (the first
target distribution); |
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second, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner,
until each unitholder receives a total of $0.4375 per unit for that quarter (the
second target distribution); |
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third, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner,
until each unitholder receives a total of $0.5250 per unit for that quarter (the third
target distribution); and |
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thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general
partner. |
In each case, the amount of the target distribution set forth above is exclusive of any
distributions to common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the
minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage
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interests set forth above for our general partner assume that our general partner maintains
its 2% general partner interest, that our general partner has not transferred the incentive
distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash
from operating surplus among the unitholders and our general partner up to the various target
distribution levels. The amounts set forth under Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions
are the percentage interests of the unitholders and our general partner in any available cash from
operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column Total
Quarterly Distribution Target Amount, until available cash from operating surplus we distribute
reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the
unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to
quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The
percentage interests set forth below for our general partner include its 2% general partner
interest and assume our general partner has contributed additional capital to maintain its 2%
general partner interest, that our general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution
rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
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Total Quarterly |
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Marginal Percentage |
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Distribution |
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Interest in Distributions |
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Target Amount |
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Unitholders |
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General Partners |
Minimum Quarterly Distribution
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$ |
0.3500 |
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98 |
% |
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2 |
% |
First Target Distribution
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up to $0.4025
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98 |
% |
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2 |
% |
Second Target Distribution
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above $0.4025 up to $0.4375
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85 |
% |
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15 |
% |
Third Target Distribution
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above $0.4375 up to $0.5250
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75 |
% |
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25 |
% |
Thereafter
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above $0.5250
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50 |
% |
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% |
Distributions from Capital Surplus
How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made
We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following
manner:
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first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we distribute for each outstanding common unit an amount of available cash from
capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price; |
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second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general
partner, until we distribute for each common unit, an amount of available cash from
capital surplus equal to any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly
distribution on the common units; and |
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thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital
surplus as if they were from operating surplus. |
The preceding discussion is based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2%
general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus
The partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the
initial unit price from the initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial
public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the
unrecovered initial unit price. Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum
quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as
the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price. Because distributions of capital
surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution, after any of these distributions are made,
it may be easier for the general partner to receive incentive distributions. Any distribution of
capital surplus before the unrecovered initial unit price is reduced to zero cannot be applied to
the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution or any arrearages.
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Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit
price, we will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to zero
and we will make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the
holders of units, and 50% to the general partner.
Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to
reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide
our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:
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the minimum quarterly distribution; |
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the target distribution levels; and |
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the unrecovered initial unit price; |
For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the minimum quarterly
distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be
reduced to 50% of its initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of
additional units for cash or property.
In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by a
governmental taxing authority so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to
taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we will reduce the minimum
quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter by multiplying each
distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter and the
denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus our general partners
estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such
legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the
estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent
quarters.
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation
Overview
If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose
of our assets in a process called liquidation. Upon dissolution, subject to Section 17-804 of the
Delaware Act, the holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units will be entitled to receive
any accrued and unpaid distributions in respect of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, if
any, and will have the status of, and will be entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of
the Partnership, and will have priority over any entitlement of any other unitholders with respect
to any distributions by us. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and our
general partner in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain
or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
Manner of Adjustments for Gain
The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in the partnership agreement. Upon
liquidation, we will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:
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First, to our general partner and the holders of units who have negative
balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative
balances; |
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second, to the holders of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, pro
rata, until the capital account for each Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit is equal
to the sum of: |
(1) the initial unit price for that Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit; and
(2) all accrued but unpaid distributions on that Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit;
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third, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general
partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: |
(1) the unrecovered initial unit price for that common unit; and
(2) the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our
liquidation occurs;
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fourth, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
(1) the sum of the excess of the first target distribution per unit over the minimum
quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less
(2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating
surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that we distributed 98% to
the unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, for each quarter of our existence;
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fifth, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner,
until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
(1) the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per unit over the first target
distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less
(2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating
surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that we distributed 85% to the
unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence;
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sixth, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner,
until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
(1) the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit over the second target
distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less
(2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating
surplus in excess of the second target distribution per unit that we distributed 75% to the
unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence; and
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thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general
partner. |
The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner assume that our general
partner maintains its 2% general partner interest, that our general partner has not transferred the
incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
Manner of Adjustments for Losses
Upon liquidation, we will generally allocate any loss to our general partner and the
unitholders in the following manner:
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first, 98% to the holders of common units, pro rata, and 2% to our general
partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to
zero; |
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second, 100% to the holders of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units,
pro rata, until the capital accounts of the holders of our Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units have been reduced to zero; and |
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thereafter, 100% to our general partner. |
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The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner assume that our general
partner maintains its 2% general partner interest, that our general partner has not transferred the
incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.
Adjustments to Capital Accounts
We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units (including
as a result of the conversion of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units into common units). In
doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss
resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and our general partner in the same manner as we
allocate gain or loss upon liquidation; provided, that for purposes of determining the amount of
such unrealized gain or loss, we will reduce the fair market value of our property (to the extent
of any unrealized income or gain in our property that has not previously been reflected in the
capital accounts) to reflect the incremental share of such fair market value that would be
attributable to the holders of our outstanding Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units if all of
such Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units were converted into common units as of such date. If we
make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will
allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of
additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in our
general partners capital account balance equaling the amount that it would have been if no earlier
positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.
Additionally, if in the year of liquidation, any holders capital account in respect of any
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units is less than an aggregate amount equal to the sum of (i)
$18.30 per Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit, plus (ii) all accrued and accumulated but unpaid
distributions on such Redeemable Preferred Units, or together the Preferred Liquidation Value, then
prior to any other allocation for that year and prior to any distribution to the holders of the
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit upon liquidation, items of gross income and gain will be
allocated to all holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit, pro rata, until the capital
account in respect of each Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit then outstanding is equal to the
Preferred Liquidation Value (and no other allocation will reverse the effect of this allocation).
If in the year of liquidation, any holders capital account in respect of any Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units is less than the aggregate Preferred Liquidation Value of such
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units after the application of the allocation described in the
paragraph immediately above, then to the extent permitted by law, items of gross income and gain
for any preceding taxable period(s) with respect to which Schedule K-1s have not been filed by us
will be reallocated to all holders of the Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units, pro rata, until
the capital account in respect of each Convertible Redeemable Preferred Unit then outstanding is
equal to the Preferred Liquidation Value (and no other allocation will reverse the effect of this
allocation).
MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
This section is a discussion of the material tax consequences that may be relevant to
prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and, unless
otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel to our
general partner and us, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of
United States federal income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), existing and proposed Treasury
regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the Treasury Regulations) and current
administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Later changes in
these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences
described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to us or we
are references to Regency Energy Partners LP and our operating company.
The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or
the unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts,
nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt
institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate investment trusts
(REITs) or mutual funds. Accordingly, we urge each prospective unitholder to consult, and depend
on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences
particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units.
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All statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions, but not as to factual matters,
contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Mayer Brown LLP and are based
on the accuracy of the representations made by us.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or
prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Mayer Brown LLP. Unlike a ruling, an
opinion of counsel represents only that counsels best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or
the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if
contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the
market for our common units and the prices at which common units trade. In addition, the costs of
any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a
reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and our general partner and thus
will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment
of us, or of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or
administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively
applied.
For the reasons described below, Mayer Brown LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to
the following specific federal income tax issues: (1) our method of allocating taxable income and
losses to take into account the conversion feature of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units
(please see Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction); (2) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to
cover a short sale of common units (please see Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Treatment
of Short Sales); (3) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is
permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please see Disposition of Common Units
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees); and (4) whether our method for depreciating
Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please see Tax Consequences of Unit
Ownership Section 754 Election).
Partnership Status
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead,
each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain,
loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of
whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a
partner are generally not taxable to the partnership or to the partner unless the amount of cash
distributed to him is in excess of the partners adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as
a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the Qualifying
Income Exception, exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the
gross income for every taxable year consists of qualifying income. Qualifying income includes
income and gains derived from the transportation, storage, processing and marketing of natural gas
and products thereof. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a
financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or
other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes
qualifying income. Based upon and subject to the factual representations made by us and the general
partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Mayer Brown LLP is of the opinion that at
least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that
is qualifying income may change from time to time.
No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to
our status or the status of the operating company for federal income tax purposes or whether our
operations generate qualifying income under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead,
we will rely on the opinion of Mayer Brown LLP on such matters. It is the opinion of Mayer Brown
LLP that, based upon the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, published revenue rulings and
court decisions and the representations described below, we will be classified as a partnership and
the operating company will be disregarded as an entity separate from us for federal income tax
purposes.
In rendering its opinion, Mayer Brown LLP has relied on factual representations made by us and
our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Mayer Brown
LLP has relied include:
(a) Neither we nor the operating company has elected or will elect to be treated as a
corporation; and
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(b) For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income
that Mayer Brown LLP has opined or will opine is qualifying income within the meaning of
Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by
the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case
the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other
amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to
a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying
Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the
unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation
should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in
excess of the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes.
If we were treated as an association taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a
result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income,
gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through
to the unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition, any
distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent
of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and profits, a
nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholders tax basis in his common units, or
taxable capital gain, after the unitholders tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero.
Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholders cash
flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of
the units.
The discussion below is based on Mayer Brown LLPs opinion that we will be classified as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of Regency Energy Partners LP will be treated as
partners of Regency Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes. Also, unitholders whose
common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee
in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be
treated as partners of Regency Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes.
A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to
complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for
federal income tax purposes. Please see Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Treatment of
Short Sales. Income, gain, losses or deductions would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder
who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a
unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully
taxable as ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect
to their tax consequences of holding common units in Regency Energy Partners LP. The references to
unitholders in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Regency
Energy Partners LP for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income. We will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each
unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his share of our income, gains,
losses and deductions without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by
him. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash
distribution. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our
income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year.
Our taxable year ends on December 31.
Treatment of Distributions. Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable
to the unitholder for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent the amount of any such cash
distribution exceeds his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Our
cash distributions in excess of a unitholders tax basis generally will be considered to be gain
from the sale or exchange of our common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under
Disposition of Common Units. Any reduction in a unitholders share of our liabilities for
which no partner, including
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the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as nonrecourse liabilities, will
be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a
unitholders at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must
recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please see Limitations on Deductibility of
Losses.
A decrease in a unitholders percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional
common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a
corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata
distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a
unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the
unitholders share of our unrealized receivables, including depreciation recapture and/or
substantially appreciated inventory items, both as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and
collectively, Section 751 Assets. To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed
his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in
return for the non-pro rata portion of the distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange
will generally result in the unitholders realization of ordinary income, which will equal the
excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholders tax basis
(generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units. A unitholders initial tax basis for his common units will be the
amount he paid for our common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will
be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the
unitholders share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and
by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not
required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our
general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse
liabilities. Please see Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses. The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our
losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual unitholder,
estate, trust, or corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholders
stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer individuals) or some tax-exempt
organizations, to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be at risk with respect to
our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A common unitholder subject to these
limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause
his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a
unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward as suspended losses
and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently
increased provided such losses do not exceed such common unitholders tax basis in his common
units. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by
losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses
suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in
excess of that gain would no longer be utilizable.
In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units,
excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities,
reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss
because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any amount of
money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an
interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A
unitholders at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholders units
increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or
decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.
In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the passive
loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held
corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are
generally trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only
to the extent of the taxpayers income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations
are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive
losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and
will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our
investments or investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business
income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholders share of income
we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully
taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss limitations are applied after other
applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.
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A unitholders share of our net income may be offset by any of our suspended passive losses,
but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities,
including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships.
Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayers
investment interest expense is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayers net investment
income. Investment interest expense includes:
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interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for
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our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and |
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the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest
in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income. |
The computation of a unitholders investment interest expense will take into account interest
on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment
income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio
income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly
connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains
attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or qualified dividend income. The
IRS has indicated that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be
treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholders share of our
portfolio income will be treated as investment income.
Entity-Level Collections. If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any
federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or our general partner or
any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made,
will be treated as a distribution of cash to the partner on whose behalf the payment was made. If
the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to
treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend our
partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax
characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these
distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our
partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above
could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual partner in which event the
partner would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. In general, if we have a net profit, our
items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the
unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive
distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the general
partner to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated
first to the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in
us to the extent of their positive capital accounts, second, to the holders of our Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Units, pro rata, to the extent of their positive capital accounts, and,
finally, to the general partner.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for the
difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time of an offering,
referred to in this discussion as Contributed Property. The effect of these allocations, referred
to as Section 704(c) Allocations, to a unitholder purchasing common units from us in an offering
will be essentially the same as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market
value at the time of such offering. In the event we issue additional common units (including as a
result of the conversion of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units into common units) or engage
in certain other transactions in the future, reverse Section 704(c) Allocations, similar to the
Section 704(c) Allocations described above, will be made to all holders of partnership interests
immediately prior to such other transactions to account for the difference between the book basis
for purposes of maintaining capital accounts and the fair market value of all property held by us
at the time of such issuance or future transaction. In addition, items of recapture income will be
allocated to the extent possible to the partner who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the
treatment of that item as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income
by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the
creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of
our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner as is needed to eliminate the
negative balance as quickly as possible.
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In connection with the issuance of additional common units (including as a result of the
conversion of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units into common units), we will adjust capital
accounts to reflect the fair market value of our property. In doing so, we will allocate any
unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the
unitholders and our general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon
liquidation; provided, that for purposes of determining the amount of such unrealized gain or loss,
we will reduce the fair market value of our property (to the extent of any unrealized income or
gain in our property that has not previously been reflected in the capital accounts) to reflect the
incremental share of such fair market value that would be attributable to the holders of our
outstanding Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units if all of such Convertible Redeemable Preferred
Units were converted into common units as of such date. Consequently, a holder of common units may
be allocated less unrealized gain (or more unrealized loss) in connection with an adjustment of the
capital accounts than such holder would have been allocated if there were no outstanding
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units. Following the conversion of our Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units into common units, items of gross income and gain (or gross loss and deduction)
will be specially allocated to the holders of such common units to reflect differences between the
capital accounts maintained with respect to such Convertible Redeemable Preferred Units and the
capital accounts maintained with respect to common units. This method of maintaining capital
accounts and allocating income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to the Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units is intended to comply with proposed Treasury Regulations under Section 704 of the
Internal Revenue Code. However, the proposed Treasury Regulations are not legally binding until
they are finalized. There can be no assurance that the proposed Treasury Regulations will ever be
finalized, or that they will not be finalized in a substantially different form. Consequently,
Mayer Brown LLP is unable to opine as to whether our method of allocating income and loss among our
unitholders to take into account the conversion feature of our Convertible Redeemable Preferred
will be given effect for federal income tax purposes. If our allocations are not respected, a
unitholder could be allocated more taxable income (or less taxable loss).
An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation
required by the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the difference between a partners book
capital account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property, and tax capital
account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property, referred to in this discussion as the
Book-Tax Disparity, will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining
a partners share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has
substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partners share of an item will be determined on
the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and
circumstances, including:
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his relative contributions to us; |
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the interests of all the partners in profits and losses; |
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the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and |
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the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon
liquidation. |
Mayer Brown LLP is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described above with
respect to allocations to take into account the conversion feature of our Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Units, in Section 754 Election and in Disposition of Common Units Allocations
Between Transferors and Transferees, allocations under our partnership agreement will be given
effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partners share of an item of income, gain,
loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose units are loaned to a short seller to cover a
short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer
be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan
and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:
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any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units
would not be reportable by the unitholder; |
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any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would
be fully taxable; and |
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all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income. |
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Mayer Brown LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder
whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore,
unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from
a loan to a short seller are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to
prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their units. The IRS has announced that it is
actively studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests.
Please also read Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Alternative Minimum Tax. Each unitholder will be required to take into account his
distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the
alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the
first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on
any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult
with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the
alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates. Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to
ordinary income of individuals is 35% and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate
applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more
than 12 months) of individuals is 15%. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates,
beginning January 1, 2013, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary
income and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively.
Moreover, these rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, is scheduled to impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on
certain investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts for taxable years beginning
after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, investment income generally includes a unitholders
allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case
of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholders net investment
income or (ii) the amount by which the unitholders modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000
(if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the
unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an
estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income,
or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax
bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.
Section 754 Election. We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal
Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election will
generally permit us to adjust a common unit purchasers tax basis in our assets (inside basis)
under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does
not apply to a person who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment
belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, a
unitholders inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of
our tax basis in our assets (common basis) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Where the remedial allocation method is adopted (which we have generally adopted as to all of
our properties), the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require a
portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery property subject to
depreciation under Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code whose book basis is in excess of its
tax basis to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the propertys unamortized
Book-Tax Disparity. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment
attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code,
rather than cost recovery deductions under Section 168, is generally required to be depreciated
using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. If we elect a method
other than the remedial method, the depreciation and amortization methods and useful lives
associated with the Section 743(b) adjustment, therefore, may differ from the methods and useful
lives generally used to depreciate the inside basis in such properties. Under our partnership
agreement, the general partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units
even if that position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury Regulations. If we elect
a method other than the remedial method with respect to a goodwill property, the common basis of
such property is not amortizable. Please see Uniformity of Units.
Although Mayer Brown LLP is unable to opine as to the validity of this approach because there
is no direct or indirect controlling authority on this issue, we intend to depreciate the portion
of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed
Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or
amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the
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propertys unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the
extent attributable to property which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the
methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion
of our assets. To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in
value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the
Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably
be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring
units in the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether attributable to common
basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased
a direct interest in our assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result in lower annual
depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders.
Please see Uniformity of Units. A unitholders tax basis for his common units is reduced by
his share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individuals income
tax return) so that any position we take that understates deductions will overstate the common
unitholders basis in his common units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or
overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please see Disposition of Common Units Recognition
of Gain or Loss. The IRS may challenge our position with respect to depreciating or amortizing the
Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of the units. If such a challenge were
sustained, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional
deductions.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferees tax basis in his units is higher
than the units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer.
In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater
amount of depreciation and depletion deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our
assets would be less. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferees tax
basis in his units is lower than those units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets
immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either
favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a
Section 754 election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a
substantial built-in loss immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a
substantial basis reduction. Generally a built-in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it
exceeds $250,000.
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the
basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the allocation
of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Internal
Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment
allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is
generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated
method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be
successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced
or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and
should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek
permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent
purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election
not been revoked.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year
and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be
required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable
year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year
ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of
our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of our income,
gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required
to include in income for his taxable year his share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss
and deduction. Please see Disposition of Common Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees.
Initial Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our assets will be used
for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss
on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference
between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to an offering
will be borne by our unitholders holding interests in us prior to any such offering. Please see
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.
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To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that
will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to these
allowances are placed in service. Because our general partner may determine not to adopt the
remedial method of allocation with respect to any difference between the tax basis and the fair
market value of goodwill immediately prior to any future offering, we may not be entitled to any
amortization deductions with respect to any goodwill conveyed to us on formation or held by us at
the time of any future offering. Please see Uniformity of Units. Property we subsequently
acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue
Code.
If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of
any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature
of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than
capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with
respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as
ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please see Tax Consequences of Unit
Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction and Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The costs we incur in selling our units (called syndication expenses) must be capitalized
and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties
regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and
as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The underwriting discounts and
commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties. The federal income tax consequences of the
ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market
values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with
professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market
value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and
will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are
later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions
previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their
tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the
difference between the amount realized and the unitholders tax basis for the units sold. A
unitholders amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of
other property received by him plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount
realized includes a unitholders share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the
sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.
Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that
decreased a unitholders tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if
the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholders tax basis in that common unit,
even if the price received is less than his original cost.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a dealer in
units, on the sale or exchange of a unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital
gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held for more than twelve months will
generally be taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15% through December 31, 2012 and
20% thereafter (absent new legislation extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a portion
of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as
ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable
to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other unrealized receivables or to inventory
items we own. The term unrealized receivables includes potential recapture items, including
depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and
depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be
recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder
may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Net capital losses may
offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and
may only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations.
The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate
transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of
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those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an
equitable apportionment method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the
interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partners tax basis in his
entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the
partners entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the
Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an
ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units
transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a common unitholder will be unable to
select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but,
according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific common units sold for purposes of
determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual
holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all
subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional
units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax
advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.
Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of some financial
products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an
appreciated partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned
or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:
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a short sale; |
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an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
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a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or
substantially identical property. |
Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional
principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the
taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then
acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the
Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into
transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as
having constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees. In general, our taxable income and losses
will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently
apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of
the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month, which we refer to in
this prospectus as the Allocation Date. However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other
disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the
unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a
result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized
after the date of transfer.
Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and most
publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be
permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, however, the Department of the Treasury
and the IRS issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a
publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items
among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily
basis. Existing publicly traded partnerships are entitled to rely on these proposed Treasury
Regulations; however, they are not binding on the IRS and are subject to change until final
Treasury Regulations are issued. Accordingly, Mayer Brown LLP is unable to opine on the validity of
this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If
this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less
than all of the unitholders interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the
unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee
unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a
method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the
record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income,
gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that
cash distribution.
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Notification Requirements. A unitholder who sells any of his units is generally required to
notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the
year following the sale). A purchaser of units who purchases units from another unitholder is also
generally required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon
receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish
specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in
some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply
to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or
exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.
Constructive Termination. We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if
there are sales or exchanges which, in the aggregate, constitute 50% or more of the total interests
in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of measuring whether the 50%
threshold is reached, multiple sales of the same interest are counted only once. A constructive
termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a
unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of
our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being
includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A constructive termination occurring
on a date other than December 31 will result in us filing two tax returns (and common unitholders
receiving two Schedules K-1) for one fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns
will be borne by all common unitholders. We would be required to make new tax elections after a
termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a
termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also
result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a
termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation
enacted before the termination. The IRS has announced recently that it plans to issue guidance
regarding the treatment of constructive terminations of publicly traded partnerships such as us.
Any such guidance may change the application of the rules discussed above and may affect the tax
treatment of a unitholder.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must maintain uniformity of
the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of
uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements,
both statutory and regulatory. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on
the value of the units. Please see Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Section 754 Election.
We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized
appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or
amortization method and useful life applied to the propertys unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or
treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property the common basis of
which is not amortizable, consistent with the regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue
Code, even though that position may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section
1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets, and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3). Please see Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Section 754 Election. To the extent that the Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to
appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules
described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position
cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and amortization position under which all
purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization
deductions, whether attributable to a common basis or Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the
same applicable methods and lives as if they had purchased a direct interest in our property. If
this position is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization deductions
than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the loss of depreciation and
amortization deductions not taken in the year that these deductions are otherwise allowable. This
position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and amortization
deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to utilize this
aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization method to preserve
the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not have a material
adverse effect on the unitholders. The IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section
743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were sustained, the uniformity of
units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit
of additional deductions. Please see Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or
Loss.
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Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident
aliens, foreign corporations and other non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to those investors
and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a
tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our
common units.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including
individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on
unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a
tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to it.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be
considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of the ownership of units. As a
consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income,
gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net
income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will withhold
at the highest applicable effective tax rate from cash distributions made quarterly to non-U.S.
unitholders. Each non-U.S. unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and
submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN or applicable substitute form in order to
obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change
these procedures.
In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a
United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the United States branch
profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income
and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporations U.S. net equity, which are
effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be
reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which
the foreign corporate unitholder is a qualified resident. In addition, this type of unitholder is
subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue
Code.
A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a common unit will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the
gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a
ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of effectively connected income, a foreign
unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. by virtue of the
U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholders gain would be effectively
connected with that unitholders indirect U.S. trade or business. Moreover, under the Foreign
Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign common unitholder generally will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a common unit if (i) he owned (directly or
constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our common units at any time
during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair
market value of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the
shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the common units or the 5-year period
ending on the date of disposition. Currently, more than 50% of our assets consist of U.S. real
property interests and we do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore,
foreign unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of
their units.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures. We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90
days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1,
which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year.
In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various
accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each
unitholders share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions
will in all cases yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code,
Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Mayer Brown LLP
can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those
positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the
units.
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The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an
IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior years tax liability, and possibly may
result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholders return could result in adjustments
not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits,
judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax
treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership
proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code
requires that one partner be designated as the Tax Matters Partner for these purposes. Our
partnership agreement names our general partner as our Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of
unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for
assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters
Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the
IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority
to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the
unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters
Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at
least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5%
interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each
unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his
federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return.
Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to
substantial penalties.
Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are
required to furnish to us:
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the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial
owner and the nominee; |
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whether the beneficial owner is: |
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a person that is not a United States person; |
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a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly
owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or |
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a tax-exempt entity; |
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the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the
beneficial owner; and |
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specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers,
means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the
amount of net proceeds from sales. |
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including
whether they are United States persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per
calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to
us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information
furnished to us.
Accuracy-Related Penalties. An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an
underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or
disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial
valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed,
however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for
that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.
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For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the
amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the
return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any
understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position
adopted on the return:
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for which there is, or was, substantial authority; or |
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as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that
position are disclosed on the return. |
If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of
unitholders might result in that kind of an understatement of income for which no substantial
authority exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a
reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on
their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid
liability for this penalty. More stringent rules apply to tax shelters, which we do not believe
includes us or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if (a) the value of any property, or the adjusted
basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined to be the
correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis. (b) the price for any property or services (or
for the use of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any transaction between persons
described in Internal Revenue Code Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount
determined under Section 482 to be the correct amount of such price, or (c) the net Internal
Revenue Code Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5
million or 10% of the taxpayers gross receipts. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the
underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most
corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation, the
penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.
Reportable Transactions. If we were to engage in a reportable transaction, we (and possibly
you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A
transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact
that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a listed
transaction or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S
corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any
combination of 6 successive tax years. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase
the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would
be audited by the IRS. Please see Information Returns and Audit Procedures.
Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to
avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following:
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accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower
exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at
Accuracy-Related Penalties; |
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for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax
deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any resulting tax liability; and |
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in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations. |
We do not expect to engage in any reportable transactions.
State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Consequences
In addition to federal income taxes, you likely will be subject to other taxes, such as state,
local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible
taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or
in which you are a resident. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here,
each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We
currently own property or do business in Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
Pennsylvania, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Colorado, and, except for Texas, each imposes
a personal income tax on individuals as well
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as an income tax on corporations and other entities. Texas imposes a margin tax (which is
based in part on net income) on corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies.
We may also own property or do business in other jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not
be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that
jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income
tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own
property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some
jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may not be
available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the jurisdictions may require us,
or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder
who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less
than a particular unitholders income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve
a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld will be
treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us.
Please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Entity-Level Collections. Based on current
law and our estimate of our future operations, the general partner anticipates that any amounts
required to be withheld will not be material.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences,
under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective
unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his tax counsel or other advisor with regard to
those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and
foreign, as well as United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Mayer Brown LLP
has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.
INVESTMENT IN REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
An investment in us by an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of ERISA is subject
to additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to the fiduciary
responsibility provisions of ERISA and the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code. For these purposes the term employee benefit plan includes, but is not
limited to, qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans, certain Keogh plans, certain
simplified employee pension plans, and tax deferred annuities or IRAs established or maintained by
an employer or employee organization. Among other things, consideration should be given to:
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whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA; |
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whether in making the investment, that plan will satisfy the diversification
requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA; |
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whether the investment is permitted under the terms of the applicable documents
governing the plan; |
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whether the investment will constitute a prohibited transaction under Section
406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (see below); |
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whether in making the investment, that plan will be considered to hold as plan
assets (1) only the investment in our partnership units or (2) an undivided interest in our
underlying assets (see below); and |
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whether the investment will result in recognition of unrelated business taxable
income by the plan and, if so, the potential after-tax investment return. Please see
Material Income Tax Consequences Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors. |
The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan,
often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in us is authorized by the
appropriate governing instrument and is a proper investment for the plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code prohibit employee benefit
plans, and also IRAs and certain other types of accounts that are not considered part of an ERISA
employee benefit plan, from engaging in specified prohibited transactions involving plan assets
with parties that are parties in interest under ERISA or disqualified persons under the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to the plan.
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In addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a prohibited transaction, a
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan should consider whether the plan will, by investing in us, be
deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our general partner would
become an ERISA fiduciary of the investing plan and that our operations would be subject to the
regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the
prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to whether the assets of an
entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity interests would be deemed plan assets under
some circumstances. Under these regulations, an entitys assets generally would not be considered
to be plan assets if, among other things:
(a) the equity interests acquired by employee benefit plans are publicly offered securities
i.e., the equity interests are part of a class of securities that is widely held by 100
or more investors independent of the issuer and each other, are freely transferable (as
defined in the Department of Labor regulations), and are either registered under certain
provisions of the federal securities laws or sold to the plan as part of a public offering
under certain conditions;
(b) the entity is an operating company, i.e., it is primarily engaged in the production
or sale of a product or service other than the investment of capital either directly or
through a majority-owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or
(c) there is no significant investment by benefit plan investors, which is defined to mean
that immediately after the most recent acquisition by a plan of any equity interest in the
entity, less than 25% of the value of each class of equity interest (disregarding interests
held by our general partner, its affiliates, and some other persons) is held by the employee
benefit plans that are subject to Title I of ERISA, plans that are subject to Section 4975
of the Internal Revenue Code and entities whose underlying assets include plan assets by
reason of a plans investment in the entity.
Our assets should not be considered plan assets under these regulations because our common
units should satisfy the requirements in (a) above.
Plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of our common units should consult with their own
counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code in light of the
serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other ERISA
violations. By acquiring a common unit, each purchaser and transferee that is subject to Title I of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (and its fiduciary) is deemed to represent and
warrant that the acquisition and holding of the common units (or interest therein) will not give
rise to a nonexempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Additionally, governmental plans, although not subject to the fiduciary and prohibited
transaction provisions of ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code, may be subject to similar
restrictions under applicable state, local or other law. By acquiring a common unit, each
purchaser and transferee that is a governmental plan (and its fiduciary, if applicable) is deemed
to represent and warrant that the acquisition and holding of the common units (or interest therein)
will not violate any such similar law.
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SELLING UNITHOLDERS
This prospectus covers the offering for resale of up to 8,500,001 common units by the selling
unitholders. Each of the selling unitholders acquired its common units in May 2011 in a private
placement exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4(2)
thereof. In connection with the sale of these common units, on May 2, 2011 we entered into a
registration rights agreement with the selling unitholders pursuant to which the selling
unitholders have the right to cause us to prepare and file a registration statement to permit the
resale of any common units held by the selling unitholders from time to time as permitted by Rule
415 promulgated under the Securities Act. We are registering the common units described in this
prospectus pursuant to this registration rights agreement.
No offer or sale may be made by a selling unitholder unless that selling unitholder is listed
in the table below or in a prospectus supplement. The selling unitholders may sell all, some or
none of the common units covered by this prospectus. Please read Plan of Distribution. We will
bear all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the common units
offered by this prospectus. Brokerage commissions and similar selling expenses, if any,
attributable to the sale of common units will be borne by the selling unitholders.
No such sales may occur unless the selling unitholder has notified us of his or her intention
to sell our common units and this prospectus has been declared effective by the SEC and remains
effective at the time such selling unitholder offers or sells such common units. We are required to
update this prospectus to reflect material developments in our business, financial position and
results of operations.
The following table sets forth the name of each selling unitholder, the number of common units
beneficially owned prior to the offering, the number of common units being offered for each selling
unitholders account and the amount to be owned and the percentage of common units outstanding
owned by each selling unitholder following the completion of the offering (assuming each selling
unitholder sells all of the common units covered by this prospectus). The percentages of common
units outstanding have been calculated based on 145,832,212 units outstanding as of May 27, 2011.
Unless otherwise indicated, the selling unitholders have held no position or office or had any
other material relationship with us or any of our affiliates or predecessors, other than as a
unitholder, during the past three years.
We have been advised, as noted below in the footnotes to the table, that 11 of the selling
unitholders are affiliates of broker-dealers. We have been advised that each of such selling
unitholders identified as an affiliate of a broker-dealer purchased our units in the ordinary
course of business, not for resale or distribution, and that none of such selling unitholders had,
at the time of purchase, any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person
to distribute the units.
We have prepared the table and the related notes based on information supplied to us by the
selling unitholders. We have not sought to verify such information. Additionally, some or all of
the selling unitholders may have sold or transferred some or all of the units listed below in
exempt or non-exempt transactions since the date on which the information was provided to us. Other
information about the selling unitholders may change over time.
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Units Owned |
|
|
|
Common Units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
After Offering |
|
Selling |
|
Owned Prior to |
|
|
Common Units |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Unitholder |
|
Offering |
|
|
Being Offered |
|
|
Units |
|
|
Percent |
|
Kanye Anderson MLP Invesment Company (1) |
|
|
5,646,058 |
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
|
3,646,058 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Energy Total Return Fund, Inc. (1) |
|
|
945,594 |
|
|
|
416,667 |
|
|
|
528,927 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Midstream/Energy Fund, Inc. (1) |
|
|
709,900 |
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
209,900 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Energy Development Company (1) |
|
|
391,533 |
|
|
|
208,333 |
|
|
|
183,200 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Capital Income Partners (QP), LP (1) |
|
|
155,937 |
|
|
|
41,667 |
|
|
|
114,270 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Midstream Institutional Fund, LP (1) |
|
|
162,233 |
|
|
|
83,333 |
|
|
|
78,900 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Kayne Anderson MLP Fund, LP (1) |
|
|
1,282,178 |
|
|
|
41,667 |
|
|
|
1,240,511 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
% |
Kayne Anderson Non-Traditional Investments, LP (1) |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
41,667 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Units Owned |
|
|
|
Common Units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
After Offering |
|
Selling |
|
Owned Prior to |
|
|
Common Units |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
Unitholder |
|
Offering |
|
|
Being Offered |
|
|
Units |
|
|
Percent |
|
Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (2) |
|
|
2,394,167 |
|
|
|
1,666,667 |
|
|
|
727,500 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
% |
Tortoise Energy Capital Corporation (2) |
|
|
1,615,667 |
|
|
|
666,667 |
|
|
|
949,000 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
% |
Tortoise North American Energy Corporation (2) |
|
|
349,700 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
|
144,700 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. (2) |
|
|
4,479,933 |
|
|
|
333,333 |
|
|
|
4,146,600 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
Tortoise Capital Resources Corporation (2) |
|
|
253,467 |
|
|
|
166,667 |
|
|
|
86,800 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund (3) |
|
|
2,109,133 |
|
|
|
958,333 |
|
|
|
1,150,800 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
% |
Nuveen Energy MLP Total Return Fund (4) |
|
|
1,414,555 |
|
|
|
625,000 |
|
|
|
789,155 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
% |
MLP & Strategic Equity Fund Inc. (4) |
|
|
803,813 |
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
428,813 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
% |
Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (5) |
|
|
567,506 |
|
|
|
125,000 |
|
|
|
442,506 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
% |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
KA Fund Advisors, LLC (KAFA) has investment power and voting power as manager of the
selling unitholder. Richard Kayne is the controlling owner of KAFA. The selling unitholder
is affiliated with KA Associates, Inc. (KAA), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, through
common ownership. The selling unitholder does not direct client transactions to KAA. |
|
(2) |
|
Tortoise Capital Advisors, LLC (TCA) serves as the investment advisor of this selling
unitholder. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement entered into with the selling
unitholder, TCA holds voting and dispositive power with respect to the units held by the
selling unitholder. The investment committee of TCA is responsible for the investment
management of the selling unitholders portfolio. The investment committee is comprised of
H. Kevin Birzer, Zachary A. Hamel, Kenneth P. Malvey, Terry Matlack and David Schulte. The
selling unitholder has the right to acquire investment and voting power through termination
of the Investment Advisory Agreement. |
|
(3) |
|
Fiduciary Asset Management Inc. (FAMCO) holds voting and investment power with respect
to the units held by the selling unitholder. Channel Capital Group LLC, Security
Distributors, Inc., Guggenheim Investors Services, LLC, Guggenheim Securities, LLC and Rydex
Distributors are affiliated broker-dealers of the selling unitholder. Piper Jaffray & Co.
is the affiliated broker-dealer of FAMCO, sub-advisor to the selling unitholder. |
|
(4) |
|
FAMCO holds voting and investment power with respect to the units held by the selling
unitholder. Nuveen Investments, LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. are affiliated
broker-dealers of the selling unitholder. Piper Jaffray & Co. is the affiliated
broker-dealer of FAMCO, sub-advisor to the selling unitholder. |
|
(5) |
|
FAMCO holds voting and investment power with respect to the units held by the selling
unitholders. |
Any prospectus supplement reflecting a sale of common units hereunder will, to the extent not
set forth herein, set forth, with respect to a selling unitholder:
|
|
|
the nature of the position, office or other material relationship which a
selling unitholder will have had within the prior three years with us or any of our
affiliates; |
|
|
|
|
the number of common units owned by a selling unitholder prior to the
offering; |
|
|
|
|
the amount of common units to be offered for a selling unitholders
account; and |
|
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|
|
the amount and (if one percent or more) the percentage of common units to
be owned by a selling unitholder after the completion of the offering. |
All expenses incurred with the registration of the common units owned by a selling unitholder
will be borne by us.
41
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the common units on behalf of the selling unitholders. As used in this
prospectus, selling unitholders includes donees and pledgees selling common units received from
the named selling unitholders after the date of this prospectus.
Under this prospectus, the selling unitholders intend to offer our securities to the public:
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through one or more broker-dealers; |
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|
through underwriters; or |
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|
|
directly to investors. |
The selling unitholders may price the common units offered from time to time:
|
|
|
at fixed prices; |
|
|
|
|
at market prices prevailing at the time of any sale under this registration
statement; |
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|
|
|
at prices related to market prices; or |
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|
|
at negotiated prices. |
We will pay the costs and expenses of the registration and offering of the common units
offered hereby. We will not pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable
to a selling unitholders sale of its common units, which will be paid by the selling unitholder.
Broker-dealers may act as agent or may purchase securities as principal and thereafter resell the
securities from time to time:
|
|
|
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the units may
be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
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|
in the over-the-counter market; |
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|
|
in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the
over-the-counter market; or |
|
|
|
|
through the writing of options. |
Broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts
or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act
as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the securities as principal, it may effect resales of the
securities from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other broker-dealers may
receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of securities
for whom they may act as agents.
To the extent required, the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in prospectus supplements. In that
event, the discounts and commissions we and the selling unitholders will allow or pay to the
underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to
dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be calculated from, the prospectus
supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the
securities may also engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in
the ordinary course of their businesses. We may indemnify underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents
against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
In addition, the selling unitholders have advised us that they may sell common units in
compliance with Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to other
available exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, rather than
pursuant to this prospectus.
42
The aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale
of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part
will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale.
Because FINRA views our common units as interests in a direct participation program, any
offering of common units under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part
will be made in compliance with FINRA Rule 2310.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to
describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in
respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus
supplement.
In connection with offerings under this shelf registration and in compliance with applicable
law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions which stabilize or maintain the
market price of the securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open
market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings,
creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a
syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or
dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market.
Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate
members or other brokers or dealers for distribution the securities in offerings may be reclaimed
by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to
cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize,
maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price
that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any
time.
The selling unitholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who participate in the
distribution of the common units may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the
Securities Act. To the extent any of the selling unitholders are broker-dealers, they are,
according to SEC interpretation, underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Underwriters are subject to the prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act. If the
selling unitholders are deemed to be underwriters, the selling unitholders may be subject to
certain statutory liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Mayer
Brown LLP, Houston, Texas. Mayer Brown LLP will also render an opinion on the material federal
income tax consequences regarding the securities. The selling unitholders counsel and the
underwriters own legal counsel will advise them about other issues relating to any offering in
which they participate.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Regency Energy Partners LP as of December 31, 2010
and 2009, and for the period from May 26, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the period from January 1,
2010 to May 25, 2010, and the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and managements assessment
of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, have
been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm, and, with respect to the Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC
financial statements, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firms as experts in accounting and
auditing.
The
audit report of KPMG LLP on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2010, contains an explanatory paragraph that states Regency Energy Partners LP
acquired Zephyr Gas Services LLC on September 1, 2010, and management excluded from its assessment
of the effectiveness of Regency Energy Partners LPs internal control over financial reporting as
of December 31, 2010, Zephyr Gas Services LLCs internal control over financial reporting
associated with total assets of $220,584,000 and total revenues of $13,662,000 included in the
consolidated financial statements of Regency Energy Partners LP and subsidiaries at December 31,
2010 and for the period from September 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. The audit of internal control
over financial reporting of Regency Energy Partners LP also excluded an evaluation of the internal
control over financial reporting of Zephyr Gas Services LLC.
43
The consolidated financial statements of RIGS Haynesville Partnership Co. as of December 31,
2010 and 2009, and for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the period from March 18, 2009 to
December 31, 2009, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG
LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements of Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC as of December 31, 2010 and for
the seven month period ended December 31, 2010, included in Exhibit 99.3 of Regency Energy Partners LPs Annual
Report on Form 10-K dated February 18, 2011, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of LDH Energy Asset Holdings LLC included in Exhibit
99.2 of Regency Energy Partners LPs Current Report on Form 8-K/A as of December 31, 2010 and 2009
and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and
incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
44
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected
to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered
hereby. With the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the amounts
set forth below are estimates.
|
|
|
|
|
SEC registration fee |
|
$ |
25,317.64 |
|
Legal fees and expenses |
|
|
35,000.00 |
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
|
|
62,500.00 |
|
Printing and engraving expenses |
|
|
5,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
127,817.64 |
|
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Members of Our Board of Directors.
The section of the prospectus entitled The Partnership Agreement Indemnification
discloses that we will generally indemnify officers, directors and affiliates of the general
partner to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against all losses, claims, damages or
similar events and is incorporated herein by this reference. Subject to any terms, conditions or
restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform
Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any
partner or other persons from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.
To the extent that the indemnification provisions of our partnership agreement purport to
include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, in the opinion of the
SEC, such indemnification is contrary to public policy and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
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(a) |
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Exhibits |
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|
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3.1
|
|
|
|
Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency Energy
Partners LP dated as of February 15, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed February 9, 2006). |
|
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed August 15, 2006). |
|
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|
|
|
3.3
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed September 22, 2006). |
|
|
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed January 8, 2008). |
|
|
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed January 16, 2008). |
II-1
|
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
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|
|
Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed August 28, 2008). |
|
|
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed March 2, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
|
|
Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed September 4, 2009). |
|
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4.1
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|
|
Form of Specimen Certificate Evidencing Units Representing Limited Partnership
Interests in Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.1 to our registration statement on Form S-1/A filed January 24, 2006, File No.
333-129623). |
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4.2
|
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|
|
Indenture for 9 3/8 percent Senior Notes due 2016, together with the global
notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our quarterly report on Form
10-Q filed August 10, 2009). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
|
|
First Supplemental Indenture dated October 26, 2010 among the Guaranteeing
Subsidiaries, Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp. and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.7 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed February 18, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture dated May 24, 2011 among the Guaranteeing
Subsidiaries, Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp. and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
Indenture dated October 27, 2010 among Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency
Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current
report on Form 8-K filed October 27, 2010). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.6
|
|
|
|
First Supplemental Indenture dated October 27, 2010 among Regency Energy
Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S.
Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2
to our current report on Form 8-K filed October 27, 2010). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.7
|
|
|
|
Second Supplemental Indenture dated May 24, 2011 among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.8
|
|
|
|
Third Supplemental Indenture dated May 26, 2011 among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.9
|
|
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated May 26, 2010 by and between Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.10
|
|
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated May 26, 2010 by and between Regency GP
Acquirer, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
|
|
|
|
|
4.11
|
|
|
|
Investor Rights Agreement dated as of May 26, 2010 by and among Regency LP
Acquirer LP, Regency GP LP and Regency GP LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
II-2
|
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
4.12
|
|
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated May 2, 2011 by and between Regency Energy
Partners LP and the purchasers set forth on Schedule I thereto (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 2, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
5.1*
|
|
|
|
Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered. |
|
|
|
|
|
8 .1*
|
|
|
|
Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP relating to tax matters. |
|
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
|
|
Common Unit Purchase Agreement dated March 23, 2011 by and between Regency
Energy Partners LP and the purchasers set forth in Exhibit A thereto
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K
filed March 28, 2011). |
|
|
|
|
|
23.1*
|
|
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
|
|
23.2*
|
|
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
|
|
23.3*
|
|
|
|
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. |
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23.4*
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. |
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23.5*
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Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
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23.6*
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Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1). |
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24.1*
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Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page). |
Item 17. Undertakings.
A. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
(a) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(b) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of
this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered
would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of the prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration
statement; and
(c) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to the
information in this registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (l)(a), (l)(b) and (1)(c) above do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement,
or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the
registration statement.
II-3
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each of
the post-effective amendments shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(a) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to
be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part
of and included in the registration statement; and
(b) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as
part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made
pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information
required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and
included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of
prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of
securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for
liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such
date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to
the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement
or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or
prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time
of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that
was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration
statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act
to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant
undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this
registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following
communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered
to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(a) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(b) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the
undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(c) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing
material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(d) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned
registrant to the purchaser.
B. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of its annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in
this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-4
C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the SEC that indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against any
liability (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by a director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and will be governed by the final adjudication of the issue.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas, on May 27, 2011.
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REGENCY ENERGY PARTNERS LP
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By: |
Regency GP LP,
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its General Partner |
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By: |
Regency GP LLC,
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its General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ Michael J. Bradley
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Name: |
Michael J. Bradley |
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Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes and appoints A. Troy Sturrock and Paul M. Jolas, and each of them, any of whom may act
without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution for him in any and all capacities, to sign any or all
amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, or any Registration
Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other
documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming
all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the dates indicated:
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ Michael J. Bradley
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President, Chief Executive
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May 27, 2011 |
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Officer
and Director (Principal
Executive Officer) |
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/s/ Thomas E. Long
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Executive Vice President and
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May 27, 2011 |
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Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) |
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/s/ A. Troy Sturrock
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Vice President, Controller
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May 27, 2011 |
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(Principal
Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ James W. Bryant
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Director
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May 27, 2011 |
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/s/ Rodney L. Gray
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Director
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May 27, 2011 |
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/s/ John D. Harkey, Jr.
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Chairman of the Board of Directors
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May 27, 2011 |
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II-6
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ John W. McReynolds
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Director
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May 27, 2011 |
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II-7
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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3.1
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Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Regency Energy
Partners LP dated as of February 15, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed February 9, 2006). |
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3.2
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Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed August 15, 2006). |
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3.3
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Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed September 22, 2006). |
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3.4
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Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed January 8, 2008). |
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3.5
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Amendment No. 4 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed January 16, 2008). |
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3.6
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Amendment No. 5 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed August 28, 2008). |
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3.7
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Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed March 2, 2009). |
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3.8
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Amendment No. 7 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our
current report on Form 8-K filed September 4, 2009). |
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4.1
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Form of Specimen Certificate Evidencing Units Representing Limited Partnership
Interests in Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.1 to our registration statement on Form S-1/A filed January 24, 2006, File No.
333-129623). |
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4.2
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Indenture for 9 3/8 percent Senior Notes due 2016, together with the global
notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our quarterly report on Form
10-Q filed August 10, 2009). |
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4.3
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First Supplemental Indenture dated October 26, 2010 among the Guaranteeing
Subsidiaries, Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp. and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.7 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed February 18, 2011). |
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4.4
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Second Supplemental Indenture dated May 24, 2011 among the Guaranteeing
Subsidiaries, Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp. and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.4 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2010). |
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4.5
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Indenture dated October 27, 2010 among Regency Energy Partners LP, Regency
Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current
report on Form 8-K filed October 27, 2010). |
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4.6
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First Supplemental Indenture dated October 27, 2010 among Regency Energy
Partners LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S.
Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2
to our current report on Form 8-K filed October 27, 2010). |
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4.7
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Second Supplemental Indenture dated May 24, 2011 among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011). |
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4.8
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Third Supplemental Indenture dated May 26, 2011 among Regency Energy Partners
LP, Regency Energy Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
our current report on Form 8-K filed May 26, 2011). |
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4.9
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Registration Rights Agreement dated May 26, 2010 by and between Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
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4.10
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Registration Rights Agreement dated May 26, 2010 by and between Regency GP
Acquirer, L.P. and Regency Energy Partners LP (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
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4.11
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Investor Rights Agreement dated as of May 26, 2010 by and among Regency LP
Acquirer LP, Regency GP LP and Regency GP LLC (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2010). |
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4.12
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Registration Rights Agreement dated May 2, 2011 by and between Regency Energy
Partners LP and the purchasers set forth on Schedule I thereto (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed May 2, 2011). |
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5.1*
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Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered. |
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8.1*
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Opinion of Mayer Brown LLP relating to tax matters. |
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10.1
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Common Unit Purchase Agreement dated March 23, 2011 by and between Regency
Energy Partners LP and the purchasers set forth in Exhibit A thereto
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K
filed March 28, 2011). |
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23.1*
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Consent of KPMG LLP. |
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23.2*
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Consent of KPMG LLP. |
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23.3*
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. |
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23.4*
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Consent of Ernst & Young LLP |
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23.5*
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Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
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23.6*
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Consent of Mayer Brown LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1). |
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24.1*
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Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page). |