424B2 1 d439345d424b2.htm 424B2 424B2
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-165959

 

The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated November 15, 2012

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated April 8, 2010)

 

LOGO

Targa Resources Partners LP

9,500,000 Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

 

We are selling 9,500,000 common units representing limited partner interests in Targa Resources Partners LP. Our common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGLS.” The last reported trading price of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on November 14, 2012 was $39.00 per common unit.

 

 

Investing in our common units involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page S-14 of this prospectus supplement and page 1 of the accompanying base prospectus.

 

    

Per Common Unit

  

Total

Public offering price

   $                          $          

Underwriting discount

   $                          $          

Proceeds to Targa Resources Partners LP (before expenses)

   $                          $          

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,425,000 common units from us on the same terms and conditions as set forth above if the underwriters sell more than 9,500,000 common units in this offering.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the common units on or about November     , 2012.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

BofA Merrill Lynch
  Barclays
    Citigroup
      J.P. Morgan
        Morgan Stanley
          UBS Investment Bank
            Wells Fargo Securities
              RBC Capital Markets

 

 

Co-Lead Managers

 

Deutsche Bank Securities    
  Goldman, Sachs & Co.  
    Raymond James

 

 

Co-Managers

 

 

Baird   Stifel Nicolaus Weisel

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is November     , 2012.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

     Page

About This Prospectus Supplement

    ii   

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    ii   

Summary

    S-1   

Risk Factors

    S-14   

Use of Proceeds

    S-16   

Capitalization

    S-17   

Price Range of Common Units and Distributions

    S-18   

Material Income Tax Considerations

    S-19   

Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)

    S-21   

Legal Matters

    S-26   

Experts

    S-26   

Available Information

    S-26   

Information Incorporated by Reference

    S-26   

Appendix A - Glossary of Terms

    A-1   

Prospectus

 

     Page

About This Prospectus

    i   

Targa Resources Partners LP

    ii   

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    iii   

Risk Factors

    1   

Use of Proceeds

    2   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

    3   

Description of Our Common Units

    4   

The Partnership Agreement

    5   

Cash Distribution Policy

    17   

Description of the Debt Securities

    23   

Material Income Tax Consequences

    31   

Selling Unitholders

    45   

Investment in Targa Resources Partners LP by Employee Benefit Plans

    46   

Plan of Distribution

    48   

Legal Matters

    49   

Experts

    49   

Where You Can Find More Information

    49   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of common units. The second part is the accompanying base prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering of common units. Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus,” we are referring to both parts combined. If the information about the common unit offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Please read “Information Incorporated by Reference” on page S-26 of this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us relating to this offering of common units. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are offering to sell the common units, and seeking offers to buy the common units, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the dates shown in these documents or that any information we have incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information included in this prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein contain “forward-looking” statements. All statements that are not statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and other similar words. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference.

These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 as well as the following risks and uncertainties:

 

   

our ability to access the debt and equity markets, which will depend on general market conditions and the credit ratings for our debt obligations;

 

   

the amount of collateral required to be posted from time to time in our transactions;

 

   

our success in risk management activities, including the use of derivative financial instruments to hedge commodity risks;

 

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the level of creditworthiness of counterparties to transactions;

 

   

changes in laws and regulations, particularly with regard to taxes, safety and protection of the environment;

 

   

the timing and extent of changes in natural gas, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and other commodity prices, interest rates and demand for our services;

 

   

weather and other natural phenomena;

 

   

industry changes, including the impact of consolidations and changes in competition;

 

   

our ability to obtain necessary licenses, permits and other approvals;

 

   

the level and success of oil and natural gas drilling around our assets, our success in connecting natural gas supplies to our gathering and processing systems and NGL supplies to our logistics and marketing facilities and our success in connecting our facilities to transportation and markets;

 

   

our ability to grow through acquisitions or internal growth projects and the successful integration and future performance of such assets;

 

   

general economic, market and business conditions; and

 

   

the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein.

You should read these forward-looking statements carefully because they discuss our expectations about our future performance, contain projections of our future operating results or our future financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information. Before you invest, you should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 could substantially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. It does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference for a more complete understanding of this offering of common units. Please read “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 for information regarding risks you should consider before investing in our common units. We include a glossary of some of the terms used in this prospectus supplement as Appendix A. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the information included in this prospectus supplement assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional common units.

Throughout this prospectus supplement, when we use the terms “we,” “us,” “our” or the “partnership,” we are referring either to Targa Resources Partners LP in its individual capacity or to Targa Resources Partners LP and its operating subsidiaries collectively, as the context requires. References in this prospectus supplement to our “general partner” refer to Targa Resources GP LLC.

Overview

Targa Resources Partners LP is a leading provider of midstream natural gas and NGL services in the United States and is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting and selling NGLs and NGL products; and storing and terminaling refined petroleum products and crude oil. We report our operations in two primary divisions: (i) Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, consisting of two reportable segments—(a) Field Gathering and Processing and (b) Coastal Gathering and Processing; and (ii) Logistics and Marketing, consisting of two reportable segments—(a) Logistics Assets and (b) Marketing and Distribution. The financial results of our hedging activities are reported in Other.

We currently own interests in or operate approximately 12,500 miles of natural gas pipelines and approximately 940 miles of NGL pipelines, with natural gas gathering systems covering approximately 21,900 square miles and 20 natural gas processing plants with access to natural gas supplies in the Permian Basin, the Fort Worth Basin, the onshore region of the Louisiana Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.

Additionally, our integrated Logistics and Marketing division, or “Downstream Business,” has net fractionation capacity of approximately 355 MBbl/d, 39 owned and operated storage wells that are in service with a net storage capacity of approximately 64 MMBbl, and 18 storage, marine, refined products and transport terminals with above ground storage capacity of approximately 5.8 MMBbl.

From the beginning of 2007 through September 30, 2012, we have invested over $1.1 billion in growth capital expenditures including third-party acquisitions. We believe that we are well positioned to continue the successful execution of our business strategies, including accretive acquisitions and expansion projects, and that our inventory of growth projects should help to sustain continued growth in cash distributions paid by us.

Based on our closing common unit price on November 14, 2012, we have an equity market capitalization of $3.5 billion. As of September 30, 2012, we had total assets of $3.77 billion.

Recent Developments

Pending Acquisition

On November 15, 2012, we announced the execution of a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of Saddle Butte Pipeline, LLC’s (“Saddle Butte”) Williston Basin crude oil pipeline and terminal system and natural gas

 

 

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gathering and processing operations for $950 million in cash (the “Saddle Butte Acquisition”). We currently expect to close the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2012, subject to our obtaining required regulatory approvals, including the pre-merger notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and other customary closing conditions. The purchase price is subject to customary post-closing adjustments as well as to a contingent payment of $50 million that is subject to aggregate crude oil gathering volumes exceeding certain thresholds by mid-2014.

The business to be acquired is located in the Bakken Shale Play in McKenzie, Dunn, and Mountrail counties, North Dakota and includes approximately 155 miles of crude oil pipelines. The business has combined crude oil operational storage capacity of 70,000 barrels, including the Johnson’s Corner Terminal with 20,000 barrels of storage capacity (expanding to 40,000 barrels) and the Alexander Terminal with storage capacity of 30,000 barrels. The business also includes approximately 95 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and a 20 MMcf/d natural gas processing plant with an expansion underway to increase capacity to 40 MMcf/d. The operations are backed by producer dedications under long-term contracts that include approximately 260,000 acres of crude oil production and over 100,000 acres of natural gas production. We expect that growth capital expenditures of over $250 million will be required in 2013 to support system expansions necessary to meet producer activity.

Upon completion of this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we expect that the remaining portion of the purchase price will be funded with borrowings under our senior secured credit facility or, subject to market conditions, proceeds from the issuance of private or public securities. Prior to funding the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we may use some or all of the net proceeds for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding borrowings under our senior secured credit facility. If we do not complete the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we will use the net proceeds from the offering to reduce borrowings outstanding under our senior secured credit facility, for general partnership purposes, including announced or potential growth capital expenditures, or for potential future acquisitions. See “Use of Proceeds.”

There can be no assurance that the Saddle Butte Acquisition will be completed in the anticipated time frame, or at all, or that the anticipated benefits of the Saddle Butte Acquisition will be realized. In addition, the closing of the acquisition is not conditioned on the closing of this offering, and this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the acquisition.

Amendment to Credit Agreement

On October 3, 2012, we executed an amendment (the “Amendment to the Credit Agreement”) to our previous $1.1 billion senior secured revolving credit facility to, among other things, increase the size of the facility to $1.2 billion, increase the term of the facility by approximately two years, allow us to request increases in commitments up to an additional $300 million and allow us to enter into a permitted accounts receivable securitization facility for up to $400 million. The new credit facility, which matures October 2017, amends and restates our former $1.1 billion senior secured revolving credit facility due July 2015.

5¼% Senior Notes

On October 25, 2012, we privately placed $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5¼% Senior Notes due May 2023 (the “5¼% Notes”) at 99.5% of par value. The 5¼% Notes resulted in approximately $398.0 million of gross proceeds ($393.5 million of net proceeds), which will be used to redeem our 8¼% Notes, reduce borrowings under our senior secured credit facility and for general partnership purposes.

 

 

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Redemption of 8 1/4% Senior Notes

On October 19, 2012, we issued a call notice for full redemption of our 8¼% Senior Unsecured Notes due July 2016 (the “8¼% Notes”) at a redemption price of 104.125% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest through the redemption date of November 19, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, the outstanding balance on the 8¼% Notes was $209.1 million.

Growth Drivers

We believe our near-term growth will be driven both by significant recently completed or pending projects as well as strong supply and demand fundamentals for our existing businesses. Over the longer-term, we expect our growth will be driven by the deployment of shale exploration and production technologies in liquids-rich natural gas and crude oil shale and other resource plays. These developments could lead to growth in both our Gathering and Processing division and Downstream Business, organic growth projects and potential strategic and other acquisitions related to our existing businesses.

Organic growth projects. We expect our near-term growth to be driven by a number of significant projects scheduled for completion in 2012 and 2013 many of which are supported by long-term, fee-based contracts. These projects include:

 

   

Cedar Bayou Fractionator expansion: We are currently constructing approximately 100 MBbl/d of additional fractionation capacity (“Train 4”) at our 88% owned Cedar Bayou Fractionator (“CBF”) in Mont Belvieu for an estimated gross cost of $360 million. The expected start-up of the Train 4 facilities is the early part of the second quarter of 2013.

 

   

North Texas processing plant: We have ordered a new 200 MMcf/d cryogenic processing plant for our North Texas System, with an expected completion in mid-2013, subject to regulatory approvals, and an estimated capital investment of approximately $150 million for the plant and associated projects.

 

   

Benzene treating project: A new treater was constructed which operates in conjunction with our existing low sulfur natural gasoline (“LSNG”) facility at Mont Belvieu and is designed to reduce benzene content of natural gasoline to meet new, more stringent environmental standards. The treater had an estimated gross cost of approximately $40 million and was completed in the first quarter of 2012.

 

   

Gulf Coast Fractionators expansion: In the second quarter of 2012, Gulf Coast Fractionators (“GCF”), a partnership with Phillips 66 and Devon Energy Corporation in which we own a 38.8% interest, completed an expansion to increase the capacity of its NGL fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu. The estimated gross cost is approximately $92 million for an estimated ultimate capacity of approximately 145 MBbl/d.

 

   

International Export Project: We have announced plans to expand our previously announced propane and butane export project. We will invest a total of approximately $480 million in connection with the expanded project, as opposed to the previously announced amount of approximately $250 million, to improve and expand our Mont Belvieu complex and existing import/export marine terminal at Galena Park to export international grade propane and butane. The anticipated completion date for the original project scope is in the third quarter of 2013, and we expect to complete the expanded portion of the project in the third quarter of 2014.

 

   

Petroleum Logistics Terminal Expansions: We have announced plans to invest approximately $105 million to expand the capacity and capability of the three refined products terminals that we acquired in 2011.

 

   

New Permian Basin Plant: We have announced plans to invest approximately $225 million in a new 200 MMcf/d cryogenic processing plant and related gathering and compression facilities at SAOU to meet increasing production and continued producer activity on the eastern side of the Permian Basin, with an anticipated completion date in mid-2014.

 

 

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We have successfully completed both large and small organic growth projects that are associated with our existing assets and expect to continue to do so in the future. These projects have involved growth capital expenditures of approximately $835 million from 2007 through September 30, 2012, and include an LSNG project, a 78,000 Bbl/d expansion of CBF, operations improvements and efficiency enhancements, opportunistic commercial development activities, and other enhancements.

Strong supply and demand fundamentals for our existing businesses. We believe that the current levels of oil, condensate and NGL prices and of forecast prices for these energy commodities has caused producers in and around our natural gas gathering and processing areas of operation to focus their drilling programs on regions rich in these forms of hydrocarbons. Liquids rich gas is prevalent from oil wells in the Wolfberry Trend, Cline and Canyon Sands plays, which are accessible by the SAOU processing business in the Permian Basin (known as “SAOU”), the oil wells in the Wolfberry and Bone Springs plays, which are accessible by the Sand Hills system, and from “oilier” portions of the Barnett Shale natural gas play, especially portions of Montague, Cooke, Clay and Wise counties, which are accessible by the North Texas System.

Producer activity in areas rich in oil, condensate and NGLs is currently generating high demand for our fractionation services at the Mont Belvieu market hub. As a result, fractionation volumes have recently increased to near existing capacity. Even as additional fractionation capacity comes on-line beginning in 2013, there has been limited incremental supply of fractionation services in the area. These strong supply and demand fundamentals have resulted in long-term, “take-or-pay” contracts for existing capacity and support the construction of new fractionation capacity, such as our CBF and GCF expansion projects. We are continuing to see rates for fractionation services increase. The higher volumes of fractionated NGLs should also result in increased demand for other related fee-based services provided by our Downstream Business.

Active drilling and production activity from liquids-rich natural gas shale plays and similar crude oil resource plays. We are actively pursuing natural gas gathering and processing and NGL fractionation opportunities associated with liquids-rich natural gas from shale and other resource plays, such as portions of the Barnett Shale and the Eagle Ford Shale, and with even richer casinghead gas opportunities from active crude oil resource plays, such as the Wolfberry (and other named variants of Wolfcamp/Spraberry/Dean/other geologic cross-section combinations) and the Bone Springs/Avalon Shale plays. We believe that our leadership position in the Downstream Business, which includes our fractionation services, provides us with a competitive advantage relative to other gathering and processing companies without these capabilities.

Potential third party acquisitions related to our existing businesses. While our growth through 2010 was partially driven by the implementation of a focused drop down strategy, our management team also has a record of successful third party acquisitions. Since our formation, our strategy has included approximately $4.2 billion in acquisitions and growth capital expenditures. We expect that third-party acquisitions will continue to be a significant focus of our growth strategy.

Headquarters

Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 4300, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number is (713) 584-1000. Our website is www.targaresources.com. We make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, (the “SEC” or the “Commission”), available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus when making a decision as to whether or not to invest in the common units.

 

 

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The diagram below depicts our organization and ownership prior to this offering.

Simplified Organizational Structure

Ownership of Targa Resources Partners LP

 

LOGO

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common units offered by us

9,500,000 common units.

 

  10,925,000 common units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase an additional 1,425,000 common units.

 

Common units outstanding before this offering

89,170,989 common units.

 

Common units outstanding after this offering

98,670,989 common units, or 100,095,989 common units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase the additional 1,425,000 common units.

 

Use of proceeds

We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $        million from the sale of 9,500,000 common units offered by this prospectus supplement, including our general partner’s proportionate capital contribution, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, including any net proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional common units, to fund a portion of the $950.0 million purchase price of the Saddle Butte Acquisition. Please read “Summary—Recent Developments—Pending Acquisition” for a description of the Saddle Butte Acquisition. Prior to funding the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we may use some or all of the net proceeds for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding borrowings under our senior secured credit facility. Please read “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Cash distributions

On October 11, 2012, we announced a quarterly cash distribution of $0.6625 per common unit, or $2.65 per common unit on an annualized basis, for the third quarter of 2012. This cash distribution was paid on November 14, 2012 on all outstanding common units of record as of the close of business on October 22, 2012. This distribution reflects an increase of approximately 3% over the previous quarter’s distribution and approximately 14% over the distribution for the third quarter of 2011.

 

  Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

 

  If cash distributions to our unitholders exceed $0.3881 per common unit in any quarter, our general partner will receive, in addition to distributions on its 2% general partner interest, increasing percentages, up to 48%, of the cash we distribute in excess of that amount. We refer to these distributions as “incentive distributions.” Because our cash distributions currently exceed $0.3881 per unit, our general partner is currently receiving its incentive distributions. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy” included in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

 

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Issuance of additional common units

We can issue an unlimited number of common units without the consent of our unitholders.

 

Voting rights

Our general partner manages and operates us. Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, you will have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. You will have no right to elect our general partner or its directors on an annual or other continuing basis. Our general partner may not be removed except by a vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, including any units owned by our general partner and its affiliates, voting together as a single class. Upon completion of this offering, our general partner and its affiliates will own an aggregate of approximately 13.1% of our common units. Please read “The Partnership Agreement — Voting Rights” included in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

Material tax consequences

For a discussion of other material federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States, please read “Material Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

New York Stock Exchange symbol

NGLS

 

Risk factors

You should read the risk factors found in the documents incorporated herein by reference, as well as the other cautionary statements throughout this prospectus supplement, to ensure you understand the risks associated with an investment in our common units.

 

 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

Our historical results are presented as entities under common control, with the San Angelo Operating Unit System located in the Permian Basin and the Louisiana Operating Unit System located in Southwest Louisiana (both acquired by Targa Resources Corp. effective April 16, 2004), serving as our predecessor entities after we acquired them from Targa Resources Corp. on October 24, 2007. Accordingly, our historical results for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2012 include (i) the historical results of our predecessor entities beginning April 16, 2004 and (ii) the historical results of the North Texas System located in the Fort Worth Basin (acquired by us in connection with our initial public offering on February 14, 2007), the Downstream Business (acquired by us effective September 24, 2009), the Permian and Straddle Business (acquired by us effective April 1, 2010), the Versado Business (acquired by us effective August 1, 2010) and the VESCO Business (acquired by us effective September 1, 2010), each beginning on November 1, 2005, the date they were acquired by Targa Resources Corp.

The information contained herein should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the historical combined financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2012, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, for a discussion of factors that affect the comparability of the information reflected in the summary consolidated financial and operating data.

The following table summarizes selected financial and operating data for the periods and as of the dates indicated.

 

                                                                                                        
     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
           2009                  2010                  2011                  2011                  2012        
     (In millions of dollars, except operating, per unit and price data)  

Statement of Operations Data:

  

Revenues

    $     4,510.2        $     5,467.0        $     6,987.1        $     5,053.8        $     4,356.8   

Product purchases

     3,799.3         4,695.7         6,039.0         4,364.5         3,611.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin (1)

     710.9         771.3         948.1         689.3         745.1   

Operating expenses

     234.4         258.6         287.0         214.1         227.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating margin (2)

     476.5         512.7         661.1         475.2         518.0   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     166.7         176.2         178.2         132.2         142.1   

General and administrative expense

     118.5         122.4         127.8         98.6         100.0   

Other

     (3.6)         (3.3)         0.2         (0.4)         18.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

     194.9         217.4         354.9         244.8         257.1   

Other income (expense):

              

Interest expense from affiliate

     (97.7)         (23.8)                           

Interest expense allocated from Parent

     (10.0)         (5.6)                           

Other interest income (expense), net

     (52.1)         (81.4)         (107.7)         (80.4)         (87.8)   

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment

     5.0         5.4         8.8         5.2         (0.3)   

Loss on debt repurchases

     (1.5)                                   

Gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivative instruments

     (30.9)         26.0         (5.0)         (5.0)           

Other

     0.7                 (1.2)         (0.8)         (1.6)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     8.4         138.0         249.8         163.8         167.4   

Income tax expense

     (1.2)         (4.0)         (4.3)         (5.2)         (2.7)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     7.2         134.0         245.5         158.6         164.7   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     19.3         24.9         41.0         29.6         23.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP

    $ (12.1)        $ 109.1        $ 204.5        $ 129.0        $ 141.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
           2009                  2010                  2011                  2011                  2012        
     (In millions of dollars, except operating, per unit and price data)  

Net income (loss) attributable to predecessor operations

    $ (66.7)        $ 25.8        $        $        $   

Net income attributable to general partner

     10.4         18.1         38.0         26.0         46.2   

Net income attributable to limited partners

     44.2         65.2         166.5         103.0         95.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP

    $ (12.1)        $ 109.1        $ 204.5        $ 129.0        $ 141.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per limited partner unit—basic and diluted

    $ 0.86        $ 0.92        $ 1.98        $ 1.23        $ 1.07   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average limited partner units outstanding—basic

    $ 51.2        $ 70.8        $ 84.1        $ 83.9        $ 88.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average limited partner units outstanding—diluted

    $ 51.2        $ 70.8        $ 84.2        $ 83.9        $ 88.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financial and Operating Data:

              

Financial data:

              

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

    $ 400.6        $ 396.1        $ 490.8        $ 344.6        $ 384.4   

Distributable cash flow (4)

     312.2         277.0         336.7         229.5         267.6   

Operating data:

              

Plant natural gas inlet, MMcf/d (5)(6)

     2,139.8         2,268.0         2,162.1         2,152.8         2,094.3   

Gross NGL production, MBbl/d

     118.3         121.2         123.9         122.2         126.6   

Natural gas sales, BBtu/d (6)

     598.8         685.8         779.3         746.6         924.4   

NGL sales, MBbl/d

     279.7         251.5         269.6         265.1         277.1   

Condensate sales, MBbl/d

     4.7         3.5         3.0         3.2         3.5   

Balance sheet data (at period end):

              

Property, plant and equipment, net

    $ 2,526.6        $ 2,495.2        $ 2,806.1        $ 2,603.3        $ 3,049.9   

Total assets

     3,152.7         3,186.4         3,658.0         3,622.0         3,770.9   

Long-term allocated debt

     151.8                                   

Long-term affiliate debt

     764.8                                   

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     908.4         1,445.4         1,477.7         1,514.1         1,661.7   

Total owner’s equity

     728.3         1,049.1         1,361.7         1,355.0         1,518.9   

Cash flow data:

              

Net cash provided by (used in):

              

Operating activities

    $ 422.9        $ 367.9        $ 400.9        $ 191.3        $ 315.5   

Investing activities

     (94.6)         (131.6)         (506.1)         (387.2)         (403.5)   

Financing activities

     (380.6)         (250.9)         84.5         188.5         121.3   

Cash dividends declared per unit

     2.07         2.13         2.31         1.71         1.93   

 

(1) Gross margin is revenues less purchases. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

(2) Operating margin is gross margin less operating expenses. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

(3) Adjusted EBITDA is net income attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gains or losses on debt repurchases and non-cash risk management activities related to derivative instruments. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

(4) Distributable Cash Flow is net income attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP plus depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes and amortization of debt issue costs included in interest expense, adjusted for non-cash losses (gains) on mark-to-market derivative contracts and debt repurchases, less maintenance capital expenditures (net of any reimbursements of project costs). See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

(5) Plant natural gas inlet represents the volume of natural gas passing through the meter located at the inlet of a natural gas processing plant.

 

(6) Plant natural gas inlet volumes include producer take-in-kind, while natural gas sales exclude producer take-in-kind volumes.

 

 

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Gross Margin. We define gross margin as revenues less purchases. It is impacted by volumes and commodity prices as well as by our contract mix and hedging program. We define Natural Gas Gathering and Processing gross margin as total operating revenues from the sale of natural gas and NGLs plus service fee revenues, less product purchases, which consist primarily of producer payments and other natural gas purchases. Natural gas and NGL sales revenue includes settlement gains and losses on commodity hedges. Logistics Assets gross margin consists primarily of service fee revenue. Gross margin for Marketing and Distribution equals total revenue from service fees and NGL sales, less cost of sales, which consists primarily of NGL purchases, transportation costs and changes in inventory valuation. The gross margin impact of cash flow hedge settlements are reported in Other.

Operating Margin. We define operating margin as gross margin less operating expenses.

The generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) measure most directly comparable to gross margin and operating margin is net income. Gross margin and operating margin are not alternatives to GAAP net income and have important limitations as analytical tools. Investors should not consider gross margin and operating margin in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because gross margin and operating margin exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income and are defined differently by different companies in our industry, our definition of gross margin and operating margin may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.

Management compensates for the limitations of gross margin and operating margin as analytical tools by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating these insights into its decision-making processes.

Management reviews business segment gross margin and operating margin monthly as a core internal management process. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that our management uses in evaluating our operating results. Gross margin and operating margin provide useful information to investors because they are used as supplemented financial measures by us and by external users of our financial statements, including investors and commercial banks, to assess:

 

   

the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

 

   

our operating performance and return on capital as compared to other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure; and

 

   

the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.

Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gains or losses on debt repurchases and non-cash risk management activities related to derivative instruments. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental financial measure by our management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, commercial banks and others.

The economic substance behind management’s use of Adjusted EBITDA is to measure the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs, support our indebtedness and make distributions to our investors.

The GAAP measures most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA are net cash provided by operating activities and net income. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net cash

 

 

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provided by operating activities or GAAP net income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and has important limitations as an analytical tool. Investors should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities and is defined differently by different companies in our industry, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating these insights into management’s decision-making processes.

Distributable Cash Flow. We define distributable cash flow as net income attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP plus depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes and amortization of debt issue costs included in interest expense, adjusted for non-cash losses (gains) on mark-to-market derivative contracts, debt repurchases and asset disposals, less maintenance capital expenditures (net of any reimbursements of projected costs). The measure includes any impact of noncontrolling interests. Distributable cash flow is a significant performance metric used by us and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts to compare basic cash flows generated by us (prior to the establishment of any retained cash reserves by the board of directors of our general partner) to the cash distributions we expect to pay our unitholders. Using this metric, management and external users of our financial statements can quickly compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows to planned cash distributions. Distributable cash flow is also an important financial measure for our unitholders since it serves as an indicator of our success in providing a cash return on investment. Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we are generating cash flow at a level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly distribution rates. Distributable cash flow is also a quantitative standard used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly-traded partnerships and limited liability companies because the value of a unit of such an entity is generally determined by the unit’s yield (which in turn is based on the amount of cash distributions the entity pays to a unitholder).

The economic substance behind our use of distributable cash flow is to measure the ability of our assets to generate cash flow sufficient to make distributions to our investors.

The GAAP measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow is net income attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP. Distributable cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP. Distributable cash flow is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and has important limitations as an analytical tool. Investors should not consider distributable cash flow in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because distributable cash flow excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and is defined differently by different companies in our industry, our definition of distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing its utility.

Management compensates for the limitations of distributable cash flow as an analytical tool by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between the measures and incorporating these insights into its decision making processes.

 

 

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     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009      2010      2011      2011      2012  
     (In millions)  

Reconciliation of gross margin and operating margin to net income (loss):

              

Gross margin

     $ 710.9         $ 771.3         $ 948.1         $ 689.3         $ 745.1   

Operating expenses

     (234.4)         (258.6)         (287.0)         (214.1)         (227.1)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating margin

     476.5         512.7         661.1         475.2         518.0   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     (166.7)         (176.2)         (178.2)         (132.2)         (142.1)   

General and administrative expense

     (118.5)         (122.4)         (127.8)         (98.6)         (100.0)   

Interest expense, net

     (159.8)         (110.8)         (107.7)         (80.4)         (87.8)   

Income tax expense

     (1.2)         (4.0)         (4.3)         (5.2)         (2.7)   

Loss on debt repurchases

     (1.5)                              

Gain (loss) related to mark-to-market derivative instruments

     (30.9)         26.0         (5.0)         (5.0)           

Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets

     3.6         3.3         (0.2)         0.4         (18.8)   

Other, net

     5.7         5.4         7.6         4.4         (1.9)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     $ 7.2         $ 134.0         $ 245.5         $ 158.6         $ 164.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009      2010      2011      2011      2012  
     (In millions)  

Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA

              

Net cash provided by operating activities

     $ 422.9         $ 367.9         $ 400.9         $ 191.3         $ 315.5   

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     (19.3)         (24.9)         (41.0)         (29.6)         (23.5)   

Interest expense, net (1)

     48.2         74.8         95.3         73.7         74.2   

Loss on debt repurchases

     (1.5)                                   

Termination of commodity derivatives

                                       

Current income tax expense

     0.3         2.8         3.5         4.6         1.5   

Other (2)

     (13.9)         (11.4)         7.9         10.8         (14.5)   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities which used (provided) cash:

              

Accounts receivable and other assets

     57.0         71.2         150.3         169.8         (166.1)   

Accounts payable and other liabilities

     (93.1)         (84.3)         (126.1)         (76.0)         197.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     $     400.6         $     396.1         $     490.8         $     344.6         $     384.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Net of amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and premium included in interest expense of: $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011; $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, and $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 and net of amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and premium included in interest expense of $13.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012; and $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Excludes affiliate and allocated interest expense.

 

(2) Includes non-controlling interest percentage of our consolidated investment’s depreciation, interest expense and maintenance capital expenditures, equity earnings from unconsolidated investments—net of distributions, accretion expense associated with asset retirement obligations, amortization of stock based compensation and gain (loss) on sale of assets.

 

 

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     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
         2009              2010              2011              2011              2012      
     (In millions)  

Reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP to Adjusted EBITDA:

              

Net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP

     $     (12.1)         $     109.1         $     204.5         $     129.0         $     141.2   

Add:

              

Interest expense, net (1)

     159.8         110.8         107.7         80.4         87.8   

Income tax expense

     1.2         4.0         4.3         5.2         2.7   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     166.7         176.2         178.2         132.2         142.1   

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

                                     15.5   

Risk management activities

     95.5         6.4         7.2         6.0         3.8   

Noncontrolling interest adjustment (2)

     (10.5)         (10.4)         (11.1)         (8.2)         (8.7)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

     $ 400.6         $ 396.1         $ 490.8         $ 344.6         $ 384.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes affiliate and allocated interest expense.

 

(2) Noncontrolling interest portion of depreciation and amortization

 

     Year Ended December 31,      Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
         2009              2010              2011              2011              2012      
     (In millions)  

Reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP to distributable cash flow:

              

Net income (loss) attributable to Targa Resources Partners LP

     $     (12.1)         $     109.1         $     204.5         $     129.0       $     141.2   

Add:

              

Allocated and affiliate interest expense

     107.7         29.4                           

Depreciation and amortization expense

     166.7         176.2         178.2         132.2         142.1   

Deferred income tax expense

     0.9         1.2         0.8         0.6         1.2   

Amortization in interest expense

     3.9         6.1         12.4         8.1         13.6   

Loss on debt repurchases

     1.5                                   

Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of assets

                                     15.5   

Risk management activities

     95.5         6.4         7.2         6.0         3.8   

Maintenance capital expenditures

     (44.5)         (50.4)         (81.8)         (57.2)         (48.0)   

Other (1)

     (7.4)         (1.0)         15.4         10.8         (1.8)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable cash flow

     $ 312.2         $ 277.0         $ 336.7         $ 229.5         $ 267.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Other includes reimbursements of certain environmental maintenance capital expenditures by Targa and the noncontrolling interest portion of maintenance capital expenditures and depreciation expense.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before making an investment in the common units offered hereby, you should carefully consider the risk factors included in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the value of the common units could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

We may not be able to consummate our pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, which could adversely affect our business operations and cash available for distribution.

The purchase agreement related to the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition contains customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. It is possible that one or more closing conditions may not be satisfied or, if not satisfied, that such condition may not be waived by the other party. If we were unable to consummate the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, we would not realize the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition, including, without limitation, an expected increase in our distributable cash flow.

In addition, the offering of common units contemplated by this prospectus supplement is not conditioned upon the closing of the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition. We intend to use the proceeds from this offering to fund the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition. However, there is no guarantee that we will be able to complete the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition. If we do not complete the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, we will use the net proceeds from the offering to reduce borrowings outstanding under our senior secured credit facility, for general partnership purposes including announced and potential growth capital expenditures or for potential future acquisitions.

Any acquisitions we complete, including the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, are subject to substantial risks that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and reduce our ability to make distributions to unitholders.

We may not achieve the expected results of the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, and any adverse conditions or developments related to the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition may have a negative impact on our operations and financial condition.

Saddle Butte operates its business in geographic regions in which we do not currently operate, including in the Bakken Shale Play. In order to operate effectively in these new regions, we will need to understand the local market and regulatory environment and identify and retain certain employees from Saddle Butte who are familiar with these markets. If we are not successful in retaining these employees or operating in these new geographic areas, we may not be able to compete effectively in the new markets or fully realize the expected benefits of the Saddle Butte Acquisition.

Further, even if we complete acquisitions such as the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition, which we expect will increase distributable cash flow over time, actual results may differ from our expectations and the impact of these acquisitions may actually result in a decrease in distributable cash flow. The Saddle Butte Acquisition, as well as any other acquisition, involves potential risks, including, among other things:

 

   

operating a significantly larger combined organization and adding new or expanded operations;

 

   

difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired businesses or growth projects, especially if the assets acquired are in a new business segment or geographic area;

 

   

the risk that natural gas or crude oil reserves expected to support the acquired assets may not be of the anticipated magnitude or may not be developed as anticipated;

 

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the failure to realize expected volumes, revenues, profitability or growth;

 

   

the failure to realize any expected synergies and cost savings;

 

   

coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities;

 

   

the assumption of unknown liabilities;

 

   

limitations on rights to indemnity from the seller in an acquisition or contractors and suppliers in growth projects;

 

   

inaccurate assumptions about the overall costs of equity or debt;

 

   

the diversion of management’s and employees’ attention from other business concerns; and

 

   

customer or key employee losses at the acquired businesses or to a competitor.

If these risks materialize, the acquired assets or growth project may inhibit our growth, fail to deliver expected benefits and add further unexpected costs. Challenges may arise whenever businesses with different operations or management are combined, and we may experience unanticipated delays in realizing the benefits of an acquisition or growth project. If we consummate the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition or any other future acquisition or growth project, its capitalization and results of operations may change significantly and you may not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial and other relevant information that we will consider in evaluating future acquisitions or growth projects.

Financing the Saddle Butte Acquisition may substantially increase our leverage.

We intend to finance a portion of the purchase price of the pending Saddle Butte Acquisition with the proceeds from this offering, and we expect that the remaining portion of the purchase price and related fees and expenses will be funded with borrowings under our senior secured credit facility or, subject to market conditions, proceeds from the issuance of private or public securities. This increase in our indebtedness may reduce our flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions or to fund capital expenditures or working capital needs.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will receive net proceeds of approximately $         million from the sale of 9,500,000 units offered by this prospectus supplement and our general partner’s proportionate capital contribution, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full, we will receive additional net proceeds of approximately $         million. We plan to use all of the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the $950.0 million purchase price of the Saddle Butte Acquisition. Please read “Summary—Recent Developments—Pending Acquisition” for a description of the Saddle Butte Acquisition. Prior to funding the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we may use some or all of the net proceeds for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding borrowings under our senior secured credit facility.

We expect to fund the remaining portion of the purchase price for the Saddle Butte Acquisition with borrowings under our senior secured credit facility or proceeds from the issuance of private or public debt securities, pending market conditions.

As of November 14, 2012, we had no borrowings outstanding under our $1.2 billion senior secured credit facility. Our senior secured credit facility matures in October 2017. Within the past year, we have used borrowings under our senior secured credit facility for general partnership purposes and to help fund the acquisitions of refined products terminals. Please read “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

The closing of this offering is not contingent upon the closing of the Saddle Butte Acquisition. Accordingly, if you decide to purchase our units, you should be willing to do so whether or not we complete the Saddle Butte Acquisition. If we do not complete the Saddle Butte Acquisition, we will use the net proceeds from the offering to reduce borrowings outstanding under our senior secured credit facility, for general partnership purposes including announced or potential growth capital expenditures or for potential future acquisitions.

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our senior secured credit facility, and as such, may receive a substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the repayment of borrowings under such facility. Please read “Underwriting.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of September 30, 2012 on:

 

   

a historical basis; and

 

   

as adjusted to reflect the issuance of $400 million principal amount of our 5 1/4% Notes, the redemption of our 8 1/4% Notes and the sale of common units in this offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom and our general partner’s proportionate capital contribution as described in “Use of Proceeds,” assuming that such net proceeds are used to fund a portion of the purchase price for the Pending Saddle Butte Acquisition.

You should read this table in conjunction with the “Use of Proceeds” portion of this prospectus supplement and our financial statements and notes that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus for additional information about our capital structure. The following table does not reflect any common units that may be sold to the underwriters upon exercise of their option to purchase additional common units.

 

     As of September 30, 2012  
     Historical      As Adjusted  
     (In millions of dollars)  

Cash and cash equivalents

       $ 88.9        $                  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

     

Senior Secured Credit Facility (1)

       $ 280.0         $     

8 1/4% Senior Notes due 2016

     209.1             

11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2017

     72.7           72.7    

Unamortized discounts, net of premium

     (2.6)          (2.6)   

7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2018

     250.0           250.0    

6 7/8% Senior Notes due 2021

     483.6           483.6    

Unamortized discounts, net of premium

     (31.1)          (31.1)   

6 3/8% Senior Notes due 2022

     400.0           400.0    

5 1/4% Senior Notes due 2023

             400.0    

Unamortized discounts, net of premium

             (2.0)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

     1,661.7        

Owners’ equity:

     

Common units

     1,316.5        

General partner interest

     34.5        

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     20.9           20.9    

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary

     147.0           147.0    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total owners’ equity

     1,518.9        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

       $   3,180.6        $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) As of November 14, 2012, we had no borrowings outstanding under our senior secured credit facility and approximately $46.3 million of outstanding letters of credit. As of November 14, 2012, we had available capacity under the new credit facility of $1,153.7 million.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON UNITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Our common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGLS.” Prior to January 25, 2010, our common units traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the same symbol. The following table shows the high and low sales prices per common unit, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange or The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, as applicable, and cash distributions paid per common unit for the periods indicated.

 

Quarter Ended

         High                    Low              Distribution Per
Common Unit
 

December 31, 2012 (1)

   $         44.50               $         39.58               $   (2) 

September 30, 2012

   $ 42.88               $ 36.54               $         0.6625   

June 30, 2012

   $ 45.31               $ 33.08               $ 0.6425   

March 31, 2012

   $ 39.84               $ 37.47               $ 0.6225   

December 31, 2011

   $ 39.47               $ 30.01               $ 0.6025   

September 30, 2011

   $ 36.40               $ 28.83               $ 0.5825   

June 30, 2011

   $ 35.64               $ 31.70               $ 0.5700   

March 31, 2011

   $ 35.25               $ 30.51               $ 0.5575   

December 31, 2010

   $ 34.56               $ 27.88               $ 0.5475   

September 30, 2010

   $ 28.10               $ 24.75               $ 0.5375   

June 30, 2010

   $ 28.87               $ 20.45               $ 0.5275   

March 31, 2010

   $ 27.00               $ 21.17               $ 0.5175   

 

(1) The high and low sales prices per common unit are reported through November 14, 2012.

 

(2) The distribution attributable to the quarter ending December 31, 2012 has not yet been declared or paid. We expect to declare and pay a cash distribution within 45 days following the end of a quarter.

The last reported sales price of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on November 14, 2012 was $39.00 per unit. As of November 13, 2012, there were approximately 66 record holders of our common units.

 

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MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The tax consequences to you of an investment in our common units will depend in part on your own tax circumstances. For a discussion of the material federal income tax considerations associated with our operations and the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common units, please read “Material Income Tax Consequences” in the accompanying base prospectus. Please also read “Item 1A. Risk Factors — Tax Risks to Common Unitholders” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a discussion of the tax risks related to purchasing and owning our common units. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor about the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences peculiar to your circumstances.

Tax Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

Ownership of common units by tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies and non-U.S. investors raises issues unique to such persons. Please read “Material Income Tax Consequences — Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors” in the accompanying base prospectus.

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, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one year) 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. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

A 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain investment income earned by certain individuals, estates and trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net income from all investments, and (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s adjusted gross income exceeds (A) $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), (B) $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or (C) $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) undistributed net investment income, or (2) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.

Nominee Reporting

Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

(1) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

(2) a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is:

(a) a non-U.S. person;

(b) a non-U.S. government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or

(c) a tax-exempt entity;

(3) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

(4) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.

 

 

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Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per calendar year, is imposed by the 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.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common units set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriters

   Number of
  Common  Units  
 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                       Incorporated

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

  

UBS Securities LLC

  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

  

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

  

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

  

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

  

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     9,500,000   
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the common units sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these common units are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the common units, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the units, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the common units to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per common unit. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

 

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The following table shows the underwriting fee to be paid to the underwriters by us in connection with this offering. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional common units.

 

    No Exercise        Full Exercise  

Per common unit

  $                      $                

Total

  $           $     

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $400,000 and are payable by us.

Option to Purchase Additional Common Units

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,425,000 additional common units at the offering price, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional common units proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

Lock-Up Agreements

We, certain of our affiliates and the directors and executive officers of our general partner have agreed that we and they will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any common units or enter into any derivative transaction with similar effect as a sale of common units for a period of 45 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. The restrictions described in this paragraph do not apply to, among other things, the issuance and sale of common units by us to the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated has informed us that it does not have a present intent or arrangement to release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements. The release of any lock-up will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Factors in deciding whether to release units may include the length of time before the lock-up expires, the number of units involved, the reason for the requested release, market conditions, the trading price of the common units, historical trading volumes of the common units and whether the person seeking the release is one of our officers, directors or affiliates.

Listing

Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGLS.”

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

Until the distribution of the common units is completed, Commission rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing the common units. However, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common units, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the common units in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of units than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional common units or purchasing units in the open market. In determining the source of the common units to close out the covered

 

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short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of the common units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase the common units through the option to purchase additional common units. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing the common units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of the common units made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common units. As a result, the price of the common units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common units. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Distribution

In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Conflicts of Interest

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our senior secured credit facility, and as such, may receive a substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the repayment of borrowings under such facility. In addition, Barclays Capital Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Saddle Butte in connection with the Saddle Butte Acquisition.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Because the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) views the common units offered hereby as interests in a direct participation program, the offering is being made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the FINRA Conduct Rules. Investor suitability with respect to the common units should be judged similarly to the suitability with respect to other securities that are listed for trading on a national securities exchange.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in the EEA

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), other than Germany, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

   

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

   

to fewer than 100 or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the Issuer for any such offer; or

 

   

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the relevant member state), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state. The expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

Our partnership may constitute a “collective investment scheme” as defined by section 235 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) that is not a “recognised collective investment scheme” for the purposes of FSMA (“CIS”) and that has not been authorised or otherwise approved. As an unregulated scheme, it cannot be marketed in the United Kingdom to the general public, except in accordance with FSMA. This prospectus is only being distributed in the United Kingdom to, and is only directed at:

(i) if our partnership is a CIS and is marketed by a person who is an authorised person under FSMA, (a) investment professionals falling within Article 14(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes) (Exemptions) Order 2001, as amended (the “CIS Promotion Order”) or (b) high net worth companies and other persons falling within Article 22(2)(a) to (d) of the CIS Promotion Order; or

(ii) otherwise, if marketed by a person who is not an authorised person under FSMA, (a) persons who fall within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”) or (b) Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order; and

 

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(iii) in both cases (i) and (ii) to any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made, (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Our common units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such common units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

An invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any common units which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to our partnership.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Germany

This prospectus has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements for a securities or sales prospectus under the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz), the German Capital Investment Act (Vermögensanlagengesetz), or the German Investment Act (Investmentgesetz). Neither the German Federal Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht - BaFin) nor any other German authority has been notified of the intention to distribute our common units in Germany. Consequently, our common units may not be distributed in Germany by way of public offering, public advertisement or in any similar manner and this prospectus and any other document relating to the offering, as well as information or statements contained therein, may not be supplied to the public in Germany or used in connection with any offer for subscription of our common units to the public in Germany or any other means of public marketing. Our common units are being offered and sold in Germany only to qualified investors which are referred to in Section 3, paragraph 2 no. 1, in connection with Section 2, no. 6, of the German Securities Prospectus Act, Section 2 no. 4 of the German Capital Investment Act, and in Section 2 paragraph 11 sentence 2 no.1 of the German Investment Act. This prospectus is strictly for use of the person who has received it. It may not be forwarded to other persons or published in Germany.

This offering of our common units does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy our common units in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Netherlands

Our common units may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the Netherlands, other than to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers) within the meaning of Article 1:1 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This prospectus is being communicated in Switzerland to a small number of selected investors only. Each copy of this prospectus is addressed to a specifically named recipient and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or passed on to third parties. Our common units are not being offered to the public in Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any other offering materials relating to our common units may be distributed in connection with any such public offering.

We have not been registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 120 of the Collective Investment Schemes Act of June 23, 2006 (“CISA”). Accordingly, our common units may not be offered to the public in or from Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any other offering materials relating to our common units may be made available through a public offering in or from Switzerland. Our common units may only be offered and this prospectus may only be distributed in or from Switzerland by way of private placement exclusively to qualified investors (as this term is defined in the CISA and its implementing ordinance).

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common units will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters in connection with the common units offered hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Baker Botts L.L.P., Dallas, Texas.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Targa Resources Partners LP for the year ended December 31, 2011, have been incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, which contains an explanatory paragraph on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting due to the exclusion from management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 of a business acquired by Targa Resources Partners LP during 2011, given on authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the Commission under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

We make available free of charge on our internet website at www.targaresources.com our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and you should not consider such information as part of this prospectus supplement.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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 supplement by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus supplement and information previously filed with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 on any current report on Form 8-K), including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and until the termination of this offering:

 

   

our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011;

 

   

our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012;

 

   

our current reports on Form 8-K filed January 19, 2012, January 23, 2012, January 26, 2012, January 31, 2012, May 25, 2012, August 24, 2012, October 9, 2012, October 26, 2012 and November 15, 2012; and

 

   

the description of our common units in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-33303) filed pursuant to the Exchange Act on January 21, 2010.

 

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You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.targaresources.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Targa Resources Partners LP

1000 Louisiana St., Suite 4300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (713) 584-1000

 

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APPENDIX A

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

As generally used in the energy industry and in this prospectus supplement, the identified terms have the following meanings:

 

Abbreviation

  

Term

Bbl

   Barrels (equal to 42 gallons)

BBtu

   Billion British thermal units

/d

   Per day

gal

   Gallons

MBbl

   Thousand barrels

MMBbl

   Million barrels

MMBtu

   Million British thermal units

MMcf

   Million cubic feet

NGL(s)

   Natural gas liquid(s)

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

TARGA RESOURCES PARTNERS LP

TARGA RESOURCES PARTNERS FINANCE CORPORATION

Common Units

Debt Securities

Targa Resources Partners LP or selling unitholders may, in one or more offerings, offer and sell common units representing limited partner interests in Targa Resources Partners LP. Targa Resources Partners LP’s common units are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGLS.”

Targa Resources Partners LP, together with Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation, may, in one or more offerings, offer and sell the debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more classes or series. We will provide information in a supplement to this prospectus for the trading market, if any, for any debt securities we may offer.

We or selling unitholders may offer and sell these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of our offerings. This prospectus describes only the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we or selling unitholders will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities that we or selling unitholders offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific manner in which we or selling unitholders will offer the securities, and also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We or selling unitholders will sell these securities through underwriters on a firm commitment basis. The names of any underwriters and the specific terms of a plan of distribution will be stated in the prospectus supplement. Selling unitholders that are affiliates of Targa Resources Partners LP may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and, as a result, may be deemed to be offering securities, indirectly, on our behalf. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the securities by selling unitholders.

Investing in our common units and the debt securities involves risks. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 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 of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 8, 2010.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     i   

Targa Resources Partners LP

     ii   

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

     iii   

Risk Factors

     1   

Use of Proceeds

     2   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     3   

Description of our Common Units

     4   

The Partnership Agreement

     5   

Cash Distribution Policy

     17   

Description of the Debt Securities

     23   

Material Income Tax Consequences

     31   

Selling Unitholders

     45   

Investment in Targa Resources Partners LP by Employee Benefit Plans

     46   

Plan of Distribution

     48   

Legal Matters

     49   

Experts

     49   

Where You Can Find More Information

     49   

In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. 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 or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents. You should not assume that the information contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement 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 on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings and selling unitholders may, from time to time, offer and sell common units of Targa Resources Partners LP in one or more offerings. This prospectus generally describes Targa Resources Partners LP and the securities. Each time we or selling unitholders offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information 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. All references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” the “Partnership” and “our” refer to Targa Resources Partners LP, together with its subsidiaries.

 

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TARGA RESOURCES PARTNERS LP

We are a Delaware limited partnership formed on October 26, 2006 by Targa Resources, Inc. (“Targa”), a leading provider of midstream natural gas and NGL services in the United States, to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. We are engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and selling natural gas and fractionating and selling natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and NGL products. Our gathering and processing assets are located in the Fort Worth Basin/Bend Arch in North Texas, the Permian Basin in West Texas and in Southwest Louisiana. Our NGL logistics and marketing assets are located primarily at Mont Belvieu and Galena Park near Houston, Texas and in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with terminals and transportation assets across the U.S.

We intend to leverage our relationship with Targa to acquire and construct additional midstream energy assets and to utilize the significant experience of Targa’s management team to execute our strategy

Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on May 23, 2008, is our wholly-owned subsidiary, and has no material assets or liabilities. Its activities will be limited to co-issuing debt securities and engaging in other activities incidental thereto.

Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 Louisiana St., Suite 4300, Houston, Texas 77002, and our telephone number at that location is (713) 584-1000.

For additional information as to our business, properties and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Our reports, filings and other public announcements may from time to time contain statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and other similar words.

All statements that are not statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth in “Risk Factors” as well as the following risks and uncertainties:

 

   

our ability to access the debt and equity markets, which will depend on general market conditions and the credit ratings for our debt obligations;

 

   

the amount of collateral required to be posted from time to time in our transactions;

 

   

our success in risk management activities, including the use of derivative financial instruments to hedge commodity and interest rate risks;

 

   

the level of creditworthiness of counterparties to transactions;

 

   

changes in laws and regulations, particularly with regard to taxes, safety and protection of the environment;

 

   

the timing and extent of changes in natural gas, NGLs and commodity prices, interest rates and demand for our services;

 

   

weather and other natural phenomena;

 

   

industry changes, including the impact of consolidations and changes in competition;

 

   

our ability to obtain necessary licenses, permits and other approvals;

 

   

the level and success of oil and natural gas drilling around our assets, and our success in connecting natural gas supplies to our gathering and processing systems, and NGL supplies to our logistics and marketing facilities;

 

   

our ability to grow through acquisitions or internal growth projects, and the successful integration and future performance of such assets;

 

   

general economic, market and business conditions; and

 

   

the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus.

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and, therefore, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Some of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements are more fully described under the heading Risk Factors in this prospectus. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or advise of any change in any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common units or debt securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, the acquisition of businesses, other capital expenditures and additions to working capital.

Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement.

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by selling unitholders.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     1.6     1.5     1.4     (1     1.4

 

 

  (1) For the year ended December 31, 2006, our ratio was less than 1:1. Additional earnings of $21.0 million would have been needed to achieve coverage of 1:1 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before equity in (earnings) loss from unconsolidated affiliates plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributions from equity investees less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized and the estimated interest component of rent expense.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS

The Common Units

The holders of our common units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the rights of holders of our common units to partnership distributions, please see this section and “Cash Distribution Policy.” For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please see “The Partnership Agreement.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Duties.    Computershare Investor Services, LLC serves as registrar and transfer agent for our common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units except the following that must be paid by unitholders:

 

   

surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges;

 

   

special charges for services requested by a common unitholder; and

 

   

other similar fees or charges.

There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We have indemnified 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:

 

   

represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to become bound by our partnership agreement;

 

   

automatically agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and is deemed to have executed, our partnership agreement; and

 

   

gives the consents and approvals contained in our partnership agreement, such as the approval of all transactions and agreements that we are entering into in connection with this offering.

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.

We may, at our discretion, treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder’s 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 unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

 

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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement.

We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:

 

   

with regard to distributions of available cash, please see “Cash Distribution Policy”;

 

   

with regard to the transfer of our common units, please see “Description of our Common Units — Transfer of Common Units”; and

 

   

with regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, please see “Material Income Tax Consequences.”

Organization and Duration

Our partnership was organized on October 23, 2006 and will have a perpetual existence unless terminated pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement.

Purpose

Our purpose under the partnership agreement is limited to any business activity that is approved by our general partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, that our general partner shall not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that the general partner determines would cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.

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 to, among other things, execute 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 make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.

Cash Distributions

Our partnership agreement specifies the manner in which we make cash distributions to holders of our common units and other partnership securities as well as to our general partner in respect of its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights. For a description of these cash distribution provisions, please see “Cash Distribution Policy.”

Capital Contributions

Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under “— Limited Liability.”

Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest if we issue additional units. Our general partner’s 2% interest, and the percentage of our cash distributions to which it is entitled, will be proportionately 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. Our general partner will be entitled to make a capital contribution in order to maintain its 2% general partner interest in the form of the contribution to us of common units based on the current market value of the contributed common units.

 

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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 our common units and Class B units, if any, voting as a class.

In voting their common units and Class B units, our general partner and its affiliates will 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.

 

Issuance of additional units

No approval right

 

Amendment of the partnership agreement

Certain amendments may be made by the general partner without the approval of the unitholders. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority. Please see “— Amendment of the Partnership Agreement.”

 

Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets

Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please see “— Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets.”

 

Dissolution of our partnership

Unit majority. Please see “— Termination and Dissolution.”

 

Continuation of our business upon dissolution

Unit majority. Please see “— Termination and Dissolution.”

 

Withdrawal of the general partner

Under most circumstances, the approval of a majority of our 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, 2016 in a manner that would cause a dissolution of our partnership. Please see “— Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner.”

 

Removal of the general partner

Not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please see “— Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner.”

 

Transfer of the general partner interest

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 our 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, 2016. See “— Transfer of General Partner Units.”

 

Transfer of incentive distribution rights

Except for transfers to an affiliate or another person as part of our general partner’s 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 our 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, 2016. Please see “— Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.”

 

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Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner

No approval required at any time. Please see “— 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 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:

 

   

to remove or replace the general partner;

 

   

to approve some amendments to the partnership agreement; or

 

   

to take other action under the partnership agreement,

constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under 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 Texas and Louisiana, as well as other states. Maintenance of our limited liability as a limited partner of Targa Resources Operating LP (the “Operating Partnership”), may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which the Operating Partnership 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 partnership interest in the Operating Partnership or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership 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, then 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.

 

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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 our common units are not entitled. In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit the issuance by our subsidiaries of equity securities, which may effectively rank senior to our common units.

Upon the 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 partner’s 2% interest in us will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future (other than the issuance of units issued in connection with a reset of the incentive distribution target levels relating to our general partner’s incentive distribution rights or the issuance of units upon conversion of outstanding partnership securities) 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.

Amendment of the Partnership Agreement

General.    Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our general partner. However, our general partner 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 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.

Prohibited Amendments.    No amendment may be made that would:

 

   

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

 

   

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 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:

 

   

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;

 

   

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 Partnership 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;

 

   

a change in our fiscal year and related changes;

 

   

an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our general partner or the directors, officers, agents or trustees of our general partner 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;

 

   

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, including any amendment that our general partner determines is necessary or appropriate in connection with:

 

   

the adjustments of the minimum quarterly distribution, first target distribution, second target distribution and third target distribution in connection with the reset of our general partner’s incentive distribution rights as described under “Cash Distribution Policy — General Partner’s Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels”;

 

   

the implementation of the provisions relating to our general partner’s right to reset its incentive distribution rights in exchange for Class B units; or

 

   

any modification of the incentive distribution rights made in connection with the issuance of additional partnership securities or rights to acquire partnership securities, provided that, any such modifications and related issuance of partnership securities have received approval by a majority of the members of the conflicts committee of our general partner;

 

   

any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;

 

   

an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;

 

   

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;

 

   

conversions into, 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 conversion, merger or conveyance other than those it receives by way of the conversion, merger or conveyance; or

 

   

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 if our general partner determines that those amendments:

 

   

do not adversely affect the limited partners (or any particular class of limited partners) in any material respect;

 

   

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;

 

   

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

 

   

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.    For amendments of the type not requiring 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 association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes in connection with any of the amendments. No amendments to our partnership agreement other than those described above under “— No Unitholder Approval” 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.

Merger, Consolidation, Conversion, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

A merger, consolidation or conversion of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger, consolidation or conversion 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 to, among other things, 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, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, the transaction would not result in a material amendment to the partnership agreement, each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the transaction, and the partnership securities to be issued do not exceed 20% of our outstanding partnership securities immediately prior to the transaction.

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 conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity, our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, and the governing instruments of the new entity provide the limited partners and the general partner with the same rights and obligations as contained in the partnership agreement. 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 similar transaction or event.

 

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Termination and Dissolution

We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:

 

   

the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority;

 

   

there being no limited partners, unless we are continued without dissolution in accordance with applicable Delaware law;

 

   

the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or

 

   

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 continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by appointing as a successor 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:

 

   

the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner; and

 

   

neither our partnership, the Operating Partnership 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 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, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in “Cash Distribution Policy — 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, 2016 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, 2016, 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 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 see “— Transfer of General Partner Units” 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, voting as separate classes, 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 see “— Termination and Dissolution.”

 

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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 and Class B units, if any, 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 partner’s 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 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 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 are 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 Units

Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner units to:

 

   

an affiliate of our general partner (other than an individual); or

 

   

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 of its general partner units to another person prior to December 31, 2016 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.

Our general partner and its affiliates may at any time, transfer units to one or more persons, without unitholder approval.

Transfer of Ownership Interests in the General Partner

At any time, Targa may sell or transfer all or part of their membership interests in our general partner to an affiliate or third party without the approval of our unitholders.

 

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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 in 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, 2016, 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, 2016, 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 the management of our general partner. 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 the board of directors of our general partner.

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 our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of that removal our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner units 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.

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 limited partner interests 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:

 

   

the highest price paid by either of our general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interests 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

 

   

the current market price as of the date three days before the date the notice is mailed.

As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have his limited partner interests purchased at a price that may be lower than market prices at various times prior to such purchase or lower than a unitholder may anticipate the market price to be in the future. 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 see “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, 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.

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

 

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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, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please see “— Issuance of Additional Securities.” However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates, 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 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:

 

   

our general partner;

 

   

any departing general partner;

 

   

any person who is or was an affiliate of a general partner or any departing general partner;

 

   

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;

 

   

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, any departing general partner, an affiliate of our general partner or an affiliate of any departing general partner; and

 

   

any person designated by our general partner.

 

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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 lend funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.

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 are maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and fiscal 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 will 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 written demand stating the purpose of such demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:

 

   

a current list of the name and last known address of each partner;

 

   

a copy of our tax returns;

 

   

information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each partner became a partner;

 

   

copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership, related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been executed;

 

   

information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and

 

   

any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable.

Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.

 

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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 a structuring fee.

 

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CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY

Distributions of Available Cash

General.    Our partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash from operating surplus for any quarter to unitholders of record on the applicable record date in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until we distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and

 

   

thereafter, in the manner described in “— General Partner Interest and 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.

Definition of Available Cash.    The term “available cash,” for any quarter, means all cash and cash equivalents on hand on the date of determination of available cash for that quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to:

 

   

provide for the proper conduct of our business;

 

   

comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements; or

 

   

provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters.

Minimum Quarterly Distribution.    We will distribute to the holders of common units on a quarterly basis at least the minimum quarterly distribution to the extent we have sufficient cash from our operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner. However, there is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. We will be prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit agreement.

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights.    Our general partner is currently entitled to 2% of all quarterly distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner’s 2% interest in these distributions may 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.

Our general partner also currently holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50%, of the cash we distribute from operating surplus (as defined below) in excess of $0.3881 per unit per quarter. The maximum distribution of 50% includes distributions paid to our general partner on its general partner interest and assumes that our general partner maintains its general partner interest at 2%. Please see “— General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights” for additional information.

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

General.    All cash distributed to unitholders will be characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus.

Operating Surplus.    Operating surplus consists of:

 

   

an amount equal to four times the amount needed for any one quarter for us to pay a distribution on all of our units (including the general partner units) and the incentive distribution rights at the same per-unit amount as was distributed in the immediately preceding quarter; plus

 

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all of our cash receipts, excluding cash from borrowings, sales of equity and debt securities, sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business, capital contributions or corporate reorganizations or restructurings (provided that cash receipts from the termination of a commodity hedge or interest rate swap prior to its specified termination date shall be included in operating surplus in equal quarterly installments over the scheduled life of such commodity hedge or interest rate swap); less

 

   

all of our operating expenditures, but excluding the repayment of borrowings, and including maintenance capital expenditures; less

 

   

the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to provide funds for future operating expenditures.

Maintenance capital expenditures represent capital expenditures made to replace partially or fully depreciated assets, to maintain the existing operating capacity of our assets and to extend their useful lives, or other capital expenditures that are incurred in maintaining existing system volumes and related cash flows. Expansion capital expenditures represent capital expenditures made to expand or to increase the efficiency of the existing operating capacity of our assets or to expand the operating capacity or revenues of existing or new assets, whether through construction or acquisition. Costs for repairs and minor renewals to maintain facilities in operating condition and that do not extend the useful life of existing assets will be treated as operating expenses as we incur them. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner determines how to allocate a capital expenditure for the acquisition or expansion of our assets between maintenance capital expenditures and expansion capital expenditures.

Capital Surplus.    Capital surplus generally consists of:

 

   

borrowings;

 

   

sales of our equity and debt securities;

 

   

sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part of normal retirement or replacement of assets;

 

   

capital contributions received; and

 

   

corporate restructurings.

Characterization of Cash Distributions.    Our partnership agreement requires that we 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. Our partnership agreement requires that we treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. As reflected above, operating surplus includes an amount equal to four times the amount needed for any one quarter for us to pay a distribution on all of our units (including the general partner units) and the incentive distribution rights at the same per-unit amount as was distributed in the immediately preceding quarter. This amount does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. Rather, it is a provision that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to this amount of cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities, and borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner is entitled to 2% of all distributions that we make prior to our liquidation as long as our general partner maintains its current 2% interest in us. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest if we issue additional units. Our general partner’s 2% interest, and the percentage of our cash distributions to which it is entitled, will be proportionately reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us in order to maintain its 2% general partner interest. Our general partner will be entitled to make a capital contribution in order to maintain its 2% general partner interest in the form of the contribution to us of common units that it may hold based on the current market value of the contributed common units.

 

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Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage (13%, 23% and 48%) 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.

The following discussion assumes that the general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and continues to own the incentive distribution rights.

If for any quarter we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution, then, our partnership agreement requires that we distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders and the general partner in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.3881 per unit for that quarter (the “first target distribution”);

 

   

second, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.4219 per unit for that quarter (the “second target distribution”);

 

   

third, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.50625 per unit for that quarter (the “third target distribution”); and

 

   

thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the general partner.

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner based on the specified target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Per Unit,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and the 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 any additional capital to maintain its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights.

 

    

Total Quarterly
Distribution per Unit

   Marginal Percentage
Interest in Distributions
 
    

Target Amount

   Unitholders     General
Partner
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   $0.3375      98     2

First Target Distribution

   up to $0.3881      98     2

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.3881 up to $0.4219      85     15

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.4219 up to $0.50625      75     25

Thereafter

   above $0.50625      50     50

General Partner’s Right to Reset Incentive Distribution Levels

Our general partner, as the holder of our incentive distribution rights, has the right under our partnership agreement to elect to relinquish the right to receive incentive distribution payments based on the initial cash target distribution levels and to reset, at higher levels, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and cash target distribution levels upon which the incentive distribution payments to our general partner would be set. Our general partner’s right to reset the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels upon which the incentive distributions payable to our general partner are based may be exercised, without approval of our unitholders or the conflicts committee of our general partner, at any time when we have made cash distributions to the holders of the incentive distribution rights at the highest level of incentive distribution for each of the prior four consecutive fiscal quarters. The reset minimum quarterly distribution amount and target

 

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distribution levels will be higher than the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels prior to the reset such that our general partner will not receive any incentive distributions under the reset target distribution levels until cash distributions per unit following this event increase as described below. We anticipate that our general partner would exercise this reset right in order to facilitate acquisitions or internal growth projects that would otherwise not be sufficiently accretive to cash distributions per common unit, taking into account the existing levels of incentive distribution payments being made to our general partner.

In connection with the resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels and the corresponding relinquishment by our general partner of incentive distribution payments based on the target cash distributions prior to the reset, our general partner will be entitled to receive a number of newly issued Class B units based on a predetermined formula described below that takes into account the “cash parity” value of the average cash distributions related to the incentive distribution rights received by our general partner for the two quarters prior to the reset event as compared to the average cash distributions per common unit during this period.

The number of Class B units that our general partner would be entitled to receive from us in connection with a resetting of the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution levels then in effect would be equal to (x) the average amount of cash distributions received by our general partner in respect of its incentive distribution rights during the two consecutive fiscal quarters ended immediately prior to the date of such reset election divided by (y) the average of the amount of cash distributed per common unit during each of these two quarters. Each Class B unit will be convertible into one common unit at the election of the holder of the Class B unit at any time following the first anniversary of the issuance of these Class B units. We will also issue an additional amount of general partner units in order to maintain the general partner’s ownership interest in us relative to the issuance of the Class B units.

Following a reset election by our general partner, the minimum quarterly distribution amount will be reset to an amount equal to the average cash distribution amount per common unit for the two fiscal quarters immediately preceding the reset election (such amount is referred to as the “reset minimum quarterly distribution”) and the target distribution levels will be reset to be correspondingly higher such that we would distribute all of our available cash from operating surplus for each quarter thereafter as follows:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount equal to 115% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter;

 

   

second, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount per unit equal to 125% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter;

 

   

third, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives an amount per unit equal to 150% of the reset minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and

 

   

thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the general partner.

Distributions from Capital Surplus

How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made.    Our partnership agreement requires that we make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until we distribute for each common unit an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price; and

 

   

thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.

Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus.    Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from the initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price 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

 

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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. However, 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.

Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit price, our partnership agreement specifies that the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced to zero. Our partnership agreement specifies that we then make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the holders of units and 50% to the general partner. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

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, our partnership agreement specifies that the following items will be proportionately adjusted:

 

   

the minimum quarterly distribution;

 

   

target distribution levels; and

 

   

the unrecovered initial unit price.

For example, if a two-for-one split of our 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. Our partnership agreement provides that we 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, our partnership agreement specifies that the general partner may 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 the general partner’s 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

General.    If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are intended, to the extent required, to permit common unitholders to receive their unrecovered initial unit price plus the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which liquidation occurs. However, there may not be sufficient gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts. Any further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account the incentive distribution rights of the general partner.

Manner of Adjustments for Gain.    The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in the partnership agreement. We will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:

 

   

first, to the general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances;

 

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second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: (1) the unrecovered initial unit price; and (2) the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our liquidation occurs;

 

   

third, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the 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 the general partner, for each quarter of our existence;

 

   

fourth, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the 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 the general partner for each quarter of our existence;

 

   

fifth, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the 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 the general partner for each quarter of our existence; and

 

   

thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the general partner.

The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

Manner of Adjustments for Losses.    After making allocations of loss to the general partner and the unitholders in a manner intended to offset in reverse order the allocations of gains that have previously been allocated, we will generally allocate any loss to the general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to the holders of common units in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2% to the general partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and

 

   

thereafter, 100% to the general partner.

Adjustments to Capital Accounts.    Our partnership agreement requires that we make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In this regard, our partnership agreement specifies that we allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and the general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, our partnership agreement requires that we allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the general partner’s capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

General

The debt securities will be:

 

   

our direct general obligations;

 

   

either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities; and

 

   

issued under separate indentures among us and a trustee.

Targa Resources Partners LP may issue debt securities in one or more series, and Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation may be a co-issuer of one or more series of debt securities. Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on May 23, 2008, is wholly-owned by Targa Resources Partners LP, and has no material assets or liabilities other than as a co-issuer of debt securities. Its activities will be limited to co-issuing debt securities and engaging in other activities incidental thereto. When used in this section, “Description of the Debt Securities,” the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “issuers” refer jointly to Targa Resources Partners LP and Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation, and the terms “Targa Resources Partners LP” and “Targa Resources Partners Finance” refer strictly to Targa Resources Partners LP and Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation, respectively.

If we offer senior debt securities, we will issue them under a senior indenture. If we issue subordinated debt securities, we will issue them under a subordinated indenture. The trustee under each indenture (the “Trustee”) will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. A form of each indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We have not restated either indenture in its entirety in this description. You should read the relevant indenture because it, and not this description, controls your rights as holders of the debt securities. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the indentures.

Specific Terms of Each Series of Debt Securities in the Prospectus Supplement

A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture or authorizing resolutions relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

   

whether Targa Resources Partners Finance will be a co-issuer of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the title of the debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the assets, if any, that are pledged as security for the payment of the debt securities;

 

   

whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder in registered form, or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depository on behalf of holders;

 

   

the prices at which we will issue the debt securities;

 

   

the portion of the principal amount that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

   

the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities will be payable, if not U.S. dollars;

 

   

the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the interest rate that the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

   

any conversion or exchange provisions;

 

   

any optional redemption provisions;

 

   

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

 

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any changes to or additional events of default or covenants; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities.

We may offer and sell debt securities, including original issue discount debt securities, at a substantial discount below their principal amount. The prospectus supplement will describe special U.S. federal income tax and any other considerations applicable to those securities. In addition, the prospectus supplement may describe certain special U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

Guarantees

None of our subsidiaries will guarantee our obligations under the debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale

Each indenture will, in general, allow us to consolidate or merge with or into another domestic entity. It will also allow each issuer to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to another domestic entity. If this happens, the remaining or acquiring entity must assume all of the issuer’s responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the issuer’s covenants in the indenture.

However, each indenture will impose certain requirements with respect to any consolidation or merger with or into an entity, or any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of an issuer’s assets, including:

 

   

the remaining or acquiring entity must be organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; provided that Targa Resources Partners Finance may not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into another entity other than a corporation satisfying such requirement for so long as Targa Resources Partners LP is not a corporation;

 

   

the remaining or acquiring entity must assume the issuer’s obligations under the indenture; and

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default (as defined under “— Events of Default and Remedies” below) may exist.

The remaining or acquiring entity will be substituted for the issuer in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture, and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets, the issuer will be relieved from any further obligations under the indenture.

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that protect the holders of the debt securities in the event of a change of control of us or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, whether or not such transaction results in a change of control of us.

Modification of Indentures

We may supplement or amend an indenture if the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under the indenture affected by the supplement or amendment consent to it. Further, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive past defaults under the indenture and compliance by us with our covenants with respect to the debt securities of that series only. Those holders may not, however, waive any default in any payment on any debt security of that series or compliance with a provision that cannot be supplemented or amended without the consent of each holder affected. Without the consent of each outstanding debt security affected, no modification of the indenture or waiver may:

 

   

reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

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reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security;

 

   

reduce or waive the premium payable upon redemption or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt securities (except as may be permitted in the case of a particular series of debt securities);

 

   

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any debt security;

 

   

waive a Default or an Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

   

except as otherwise permitted under the indenture, release any security that may have been granted with respect to the debt securities;

 

   

make any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt securities;

 

   

in the case of any subordinated debt security, make any change in the subordination provisions that adversely affects the rights of any holder under those provisions;

 

   

make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of debt securities to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities;

 

   

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security (except as may be permitted in the case of a particular series of debt securities); or

 

   

make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions (except to increase any percentage set forth therein).

We may supplement or amend an indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities in certain circumstances, including:

 

   

to establish the form of terms of any series of debt securities;

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

   

to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certified notes;

 

   

to provide for the assumption of an issuer’s obligations to holders of debt securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or disposition of all or substantially all of such issuer’s assets;

 

   

in the case of any subordinated debt security, to make any change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates the benefits applicable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness of Targa Resources Partners LP;

 

   

to make any changes that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that do not, taken as a whole, adversely affect the rights under the indenture of any holder of debt securities;

 

   

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

   

to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture of a successor Trustee;

 

   

to add any additional Events of Default; or

 

   

to secure the debt securities.

 

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Events of Default and Remedies

“Event of Default,” when used in an indenture, will mean any of the following with respect to the debt securities of any series:

 

   

failure to pay when due the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series;

 

   

failure to pay, within 30 days of the due date, interest on any debt security of that series;

 

   

failure to pay when due any sinking fund payment with respect to any debt securities of that series;

 

   

failure on the part of the issuers to comply with the covenant described under “— Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale”;

 

   

failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that continues for 60 days after written notice is given to the issuers;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of an issuer; or

 

   

any other Event of Default provided under the terms of the debt securities of that series.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

If an Event of Default described in the sixth bullet point above occurs, the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on, all debt securities then outstanding will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. If any other Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of, and accrued interest on, all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can rescind the declaration.

Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under either indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. If they provide this reasonable security or indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for that series of debt securities.

No Limit on Amount of Debt Securities

Neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue, unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement. Each indenture will allow us to issue debt securities of any series up to the aggregate principal amount that we authorize.

Registration of Notes

We will issue debt securities of a series only in registered form, without coupons, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.

Minimum Denominations

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the debt securities will be issued only in principal amounts of $1,000 each or integral multiples of $1,000.

 

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No Personal Liability

None of the past, present or future partners, incorporators, managers, members, directors, officers, employees, unitholders or stockholders of either issuer or the general partner of Targa Resources Partners LP will have any liability for the obligations of the issuers under either indenture or the debt securities or for any claim based on such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities by accepting a debt security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities. The waiver may not be effective under federal securities laws, however, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Payment and Transfer

The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar under each indenture. The issuers may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of debt securities, and the issuers or any of their subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

If a holder of debt securities has given wire transfer instructions to the issuers, the issuers will make all payments on the debt securities in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the debt securities will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, unless the issuers elect to make interest payments by check mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the debt security register.

The Trustee and any paying agent will repay to us upon request any funds held by them for payments on the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment as general creditors.

Exchange, Registration and Transfer

Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the indenture. Holders may present debt securities for exchange or registration of transfer at the office of the registrar. The registrar will effect the transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require the payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for that registration.

We will not be required:

 

   

to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange debt securities of a series either during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the selection of debt securities of that series for redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or repurchase, or between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date; or

 

   

to register the transfer of or exchange any debt security called for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security we are redeeming or repurchasing in part.

Provisions Relating only to the Senior Debt Securities

The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsubordinated debt. The senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated, however, to all of our secured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral for that debt. We will disclose the amount of our secured debt in the prospectus supplement.

Provisions Relating only to the Subordinated Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness

The subordinated debt securities will rank junior in right of payment to all of the Senior Indebtedness of Targa Resources Partners LP. “Senior Indebtedness” will be defined in a supplemental indenture or authorizing resolutions respecting any issuance of a series of subordinated debt securities, and the definition will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

 

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Payment Blockages

The subordinated indenture will provide that no payment of principal, interest and any premium on the subordinated debt securities may be made in the event:

 

   

we or our property is involved in any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy;

 

   

we fail to pay the principal, interest, any premium or any other amounts on any Senior Indebtedness of Targa Resources Partners LP within any applicable grace period or the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated following any other default, subject to certain limited exceptions set forth in the subordinated indenture; or

 

   

any other default on any Senior Indebtedness of Targa Resources Partners LP occurs that permits immediate acceleration of its maturity, in which case a payment blockage on the subordinated debt securities will be imposed for a maximum of 179 days at any one time.

No Limitation on Amount of Senior Debt

The subordinated indenture will not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that Targa Resources Partners LP may incur, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

The debt securities of a particular series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”) This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. Instead, one or more global debt securities will be issued to DTC, who will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the debt securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased the debt securities. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated debt security, a global debt security may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global debt security as a whole to one another.

Beneficial interests in global debt securities will be shown on, and transfers of global debt securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

DTC has provided us the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that work through a Direct Participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries.

We will wire all payments on the global debt securities to DTC’s nominee. We and the Trustee will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global debt securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global debt securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global debt securities.

 

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It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment on the global debt securities, to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global debt securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to Direct Participants whose accounts are credited with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global debt securities, and voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with debt securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” However, payments will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee or us.

Debt securities represented by a global debt security will be exchangeable for certificated debt securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law and in either event a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or

 

   

an Event of Default occurs and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange the global debt security for certificated debt securities.

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance

Each indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

(a) either:

(1) all outstanding debt securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2) all outstanding debt securities of that series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness of such debt securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities that have been due and payable) or the stated maturity or redemption date;

(b) we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture; and

(c) we have delivered an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

The debt securities of a particular series will be subject to legal or covenant defeasance to the extent, and upon the terms and conditions, set forth in the prospectus supplement.

Governing Law

Each indenture and all of the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

We will enter into the indentures with a Trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and with any other trustees chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of debt securities. We may maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with our trustee and one or more of its affiliates.

 

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Resignation or Removal of Trustee

If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the applicable indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such indenture.

The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.

Limitations on Trustee if it is Our Creditor

Each indenture will contain certain limitations on the right of the Trustee, in the event that it becomes a creditor of an issuer, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.

Annual Trustee Report to Holders of Debt Securities

The Trustee is required to submit an annual report to the holders of the debt securities regarding, among other things, the Trustee’s eligibility to serve as such, the priority of the Trustee’s claims regarding certain advances made by it, and any action taken by the Trustee materially affecting the debt securities.

Certificates and Opinions to be Furnished to Trustee

Each indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of the indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee shall be accompanied by a certificate of certain of our officers and an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.

 

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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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 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 Targa Resources Partners LP and the Operating Partnership.

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.

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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us.

No ruling has been or will be requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s 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, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (1) 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”); (2) 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 (3) 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 partner’s 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

 

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of “qualifying income.” Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, storage, processing and marketing of crude oil, 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. We estimate that less than 6% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual representations made by us and the general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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 Partnership as a partnership 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. on such matters. It is the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that, based upon the Internal Revenue Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below, we will be classified as a partnership and the Operating Partnership will be disregarded as an entity separate from us for federal income tax purposes.

In rendering its opinion, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied include:

(a) Neither we nor the Operating Partnership has elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation;

(b) For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(c) Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, gas, or products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine result in qualifying income.

We believe that these representations have been true in the past and expect that these representations will be true in the future.

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as 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 unitholder’s tax basis in his common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder’s 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

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Limited Partner Status

Unitholders who have become limited partners of Targa Resources Partners LP will be treated as partners of Targa Resources 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 Targa Resources 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, deductions or losses 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 Targa Resources Partners LP.

The references to “unitholders” in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Targa Resources 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 unitholder’s 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 unitholder’s share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as “nonrecourse liabilities,” will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder’s “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 unitholder’s 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 unitholder’s 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 actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

Basis of Common Units.    A unitholder’s 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 unitholder’s 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

 

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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 unitholder’s 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 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 unitholder’s at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder’s 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 taxpayer’s 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 unitholder’s 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.

A unitholder’s 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 taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:

 

   

interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;

 

   

our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and

 

   

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 unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross

 

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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 unitholder’s 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 recipients 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 and, second, to the general partner.

Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time of an offering and (ii) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any property contributed to us that exists at the time of such contribution, together, referred to in this discussion as the “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 bases of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of such offering. In the event we issue additional common units or engage in certain other transactions in the future, we will make “reverse Section 704(c) Allocations,” similar to the Section 704(c) Allocations described above, to all holders of partnership interests immediately prior to such issuance or 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 gain 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.

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 partner’s “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 partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

 

   

his relative contributions to us;

 

   

the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;

 

   

the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and

 

   

the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.

 

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Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “— Section 754 Election” and “— 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 partner’s 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:

 

   

any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be reportable by the unitholder;

 

   

any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully taxable; and

 

   

all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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 because there is no direct or indirect authority on the issue related to partnership interests and without such authority a legal opinion cannot be issued; 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, 2011, 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 will impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on certain investment income earned by individuals for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. The tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net income from all investments, and (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is unmarried).

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 purchaser’s tax basis in our assets (“inside basis”) under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price of units acquired from another unitholder. 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 unitholder’s 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

 

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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 property’s 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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 property’s 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 unitholder’s tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual’s income tax return) so that any position we take that understates deductions will overstate the common unitholder’s 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 transferee’s 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 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 transferee’s 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

 

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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.”

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 a primary offering of new units 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.”

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. We may not be entitled to amortization deductions with respect to certain goodwill conveyed to us in future transactions or held at the time of any future offering. 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 unitholder’s tax basis for the units sold. A unitholder’s 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

 

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our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s 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 unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s 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, 2010 and 20% thereafter (absent new legislation extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a portion, which will likely be substantial, of this gain or loss 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 those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s 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:

 

   

a short sale;

 

   

an offsetting notional principal contract; or

 

   

a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is 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.

 

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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. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. 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, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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 unitholder’s 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.

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 may receive 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 recently announced a relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests and the IRS grants special relief, among other things, the partnership will be required to provide only a single Schedule K-1 to a unitholder for the tax years in which the termination occurs.

 

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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 property’s 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. 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.”

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 less certain allowable deductions 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, distributions to non-U.S. unitholders are subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each non-U.S. unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN 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.

 

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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 corporation’s “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 unitholder’s gain would be effectively connected with that unitholder’s 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 unitholder’s 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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.

The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder’s 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.

 

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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:

 

   

the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

 

   

whether the beneficial owner is:

 

   

a person that is not a United States person;

 

   

a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or

 

   

a tax-exempt entity;

 

   

the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

 

   

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.

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:

 

   

for which there is, or was, “substantial authority”; or

 

   

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 tax 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 tax 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 taxpayer’s 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). The penalty is increased to 40% in the event of a gross valuation misstatement. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.

 

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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 six 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 provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004:

 

   

accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at “— Accuracy-Related Penalties”;

 

   

for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any resulting tax liability; and

 

   

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 may 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 and do business in Texas and Louisiana, as well as other states. Currently, Texas does not impose a personal income tax on individuals but Louisiana does. Moreover, both states impose entity level taxes on corporations and other entities. Current law may change. Moreover, 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 might be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in other jurisdictions in which we do business or own property, now or in the future, 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 jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder’s income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. Please see “— 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. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities.

 

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SELLING UNITHOLDERS

We are registering for resale an indeterminate number of our common units held by certain of our unitholders to be named in a prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement for any offering of our common units by a selling unitholder hereunder will include, among other things, the following information:

 

   

the name of the each selling unitholder;

 

   

the nature of any position, office or other material relationship which each selling unitholder has had within the last three years with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates;

 

   

the number of common units held by each selling unitholder prior to the offering;

 

   

the number of common units to be offered for each selling unitholder’s account; and

 

   

the number and (if one percent or more) the percentage of common units held by each of the selling unitholders after the offering.

 

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INVESTMENT IN TARGA RESOURCES PARTNERS LP BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

An investment in us by an employee benefit plan 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:

 

   

whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA;

 

   

whether in making the investment, that plan will satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA;

 

   

whether the investment is permitted under the terms of the applicable documents governing the plan;

 

   

whether the investment will constitute a “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (see below);

 

   

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

 

   

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.

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 entity’s 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

 

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some other persons) is held by the employee benefit plans referred to above, IRAs and certain other plans and accounts not subject to ERISA (including governmental plans), and entities whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of a plan’s investment in the entity.

Our assets should not be considered “plan assets” under these regulations because it is expected that any investment in us by an employee benefit plan will 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.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or selling unitholders will sell the securities being offered hereby through underwriters on a firm commitment basis.

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will set forth the terms of the offering, including: (i) the name or names of any underwriters; (ii) the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us and, if applicable, any selling unitholder from the sale; (iii) any underwriting discounts and commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; and (iv) any delayed delivery arrangements.

We and, if applicable, the selling unitholders will enter into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters at the time of sale to them. We will set forth the names of these underwriters and the terms of the transaction in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public. We and, if applicable, the selling unitholders may indemnify the underwriters under the relevant underwriting agreement against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The underwriters may also be our customers or may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will also render an opinion on the material federal income tax consequences regarding the securities. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed on by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Targa Resources Partners LP for the year ended December 31, 2009, the balance sheet of Targa Resources GP LLC as of December 31, 2009 included as Exhibit 99.1 of Targa Resources Partners LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 5, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports (which reports contain explanatory paragraphs relating to Targa Resources Partners LP’s and Targa Resources GP LLC’s significant transactions with related parties) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act that registers the offer and sale of the securities covered 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, Targa Resources Partners LP files annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website, at http://www.targaresources.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. You also can obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained expressly in this prospectus, and the information we file later with the SEC will automatically supersede this information. You should not assume that (i) the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective date of the documents incorporated by reference or (ii) the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other that the date on the front page of this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings made by Targa Resources Partners LP with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished and not filed pursuant to 2.02 or 7.01 on any current report on Form 8-K), until the termination of each offering under this prospectus:

 

   

our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009;

 

   

our current reports on Forms 8-K filed January 15, 2010, February 11, 2010, March 5, 2010 and April 1, 2010; and

 

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the description of our common units in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-33303) filed pursuant to the Exchange Act on January 21, 2010.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.targaresources.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Targa Resources Partners LP

1000 Louisiana St., Suite 4300

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (713) 584-1000

 

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LOGO

TARGA RESOURCES PARTNERS LP

9,500,000 Common Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

 

PROSPECTUS    SUPPLEMENT

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

Barclays

Citigroup

J.P. Morgan

Morgan Stanley

UBS Investment Bank

Wells Fargo Securities

RBC Capital Markets

Deutsche Bank Securities

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Raymond James

Baird

Stifel Nicolaus Weisel

November     , 2012