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Partners' Capital and Distributions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Partners’ Capital and Distributions [Abstract]  
Partners' Capital and Distributions
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Units Activity. The changes in common and Class F units were as follows:
 
Common
 
Class F
 
Balance - December 31, 2011
157,437,608

 

 
Common unit offerings, net of costs
12,650,000

 

 
Issuance of common units under the equity distribution agreement, net of cost
691,129

 

 
Issuance of common units under LTIP, net of forfeitures and tax withholding
172,720

 

 
Balance - December 31, 2012
170,951,457

 

 
Issuance of common units under LTIP, net of forfeitures and tax withholding
184,995

 

 
Issuance of common units under the equity distribution agreement, net of cost
5,712,138

 

 
Conversion of Series A preferred units for common units
2,629,223

 

 
Issuance of common units and Class F units in connection with SUGS Acquisition
31,372,419

(1) 
6,274,483

(2) 
Balance - December 31, 2013
210,850,232

 
6,274,483

 
Issuance of common units under LTIP, net of forfeitures and tax withholding
163,054

 

 
Issuance of common units under the equity distribution agreements
14,827,919

 

 
Issuance of common units in connection with Hoover Acquisition
4,040,471

 

 
Issuance of common units in connection with PVR Acquisition
140,388,382

 

 
Issuance of common units in connection with Eagle Rock Midstream Acquisition
8,245,859

 

 
Issuance of common units to ETE Common Holdings
30,890,565

 

 
Balance - December 31, 2014
409,406,482

 
6,274,483

 
(1)
ETE has agreed to forgo IDR payments on the Partnership common units issued with the SUGS Acquisition for twenty-four months post-transaction closing.
(2)
The Class F units are not entitled to participate in the Partnership’s distributions or earnings for twenty-four months post-transaction closing.
Equity Distribution Agreement. In June 2012, the Partnership entered into an equity distribution agreement with Citi under which the Partnership offered and sold common units for an aggregate offering price of $200 million, from time to time through Citi, as sales agent for the Partnership. Sales of these common units made from time to time under the equity distribution agreement were made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Partnership and Citi. The Partnership used the net proceeds from the sale of these common units for general partnership purposes. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Partnership received net proceeds of $34 million and $149 million, respectively, from common units sold pursuant to this equity distribution agreement. No amounts remain available to be issued under this agreement and it is no longer effective.
In May 2014, the Partnership entered into an equity distribution agreement with a group of banks and investment companies (the “Managers”) under which the Partnership offered and sold common units for an aggregate offering price of $400 million, from time to time through the Managers, as sales agent for the Partnership. Sales of these units made from time to time under the equity distribution agreement were made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Partnership and the Managers. The Partnership used the net proceeds from the sale of these units for general partnership purposes. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Partnership received net proceeds of $395 million from common units sold pursuant to this equity distribution agreement. No amounts remained available to be issues under this agreement and it is no longer effective.
In January 2015, the Partnership entered into an equity distribution agreement with another group of banks and investment companies (the "2015 Managers") under which the Partnership may offer and sell common units for an aggregate offering price of up to $1 billion, from time to time through the 2015 Managers, as sales agent for the Partnership. Sales of these common units made from time to time under the equity distribution agreement will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Partnership and the 2015 Managers. The Partnership may also sell common units to the 2015 Managers as principal for their own accounts at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. Any sale of common units to the 2015 Managers as principal would be pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement between the Partnership and the 2015 Managers. The Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of these common units for general partnership purposes.
Common Units Sold. In June 2014, the Partnership sold 14.4 million common units to ETE Common Holdings for proceeds of $400 million. Proceeds from the issuance were used to pay down borrowings on the Partnership’s revolving credit facility, to redeem certain senior notes of the Partnership and for general partnership purposes. In July 2014, the Partnership sold 16.5 million common units to ETE Common Holdings for proceeds of $400 million. Proceeds from the issuance were used to fund a portion of the cash consideration paid to Eagle Rock in connection with the Eagle Rock Midstream Acquisition.
Public Common Unit Offerings. In March 2012, the Partnership issued 12,650,000 common units representing limited partner interests in a public offering at a price of $24.47 per common unit, resulting in net proceeds of $297 million. In May 2012, the Partnership used the net proceeds from this offering to redeem 35%, or $88 million, in aggregate principal amounts of its outstanding senior notes due 2016; pay related premium, expenses and accrued interest; and repay outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility.
Beneficial Conversion Feature. The Partnership issued 6,274,483 Class F units in connection with the SUGS Acquisition. At the commitment date (February 27, 2013), the sales price of $23.91 per unit represented a $2.19 per unit discount from the fair value of the Partnership’s common units as of April 30, 2013. Under FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” the discount represents a beneficial conversion feature that is treated as a non-cash distribution for purposes of calculating earnings per unit. The beneficial conversion feature is reflected in income per unit using the effective yield method over the period the Class F units are outstanding, as indicated on the statement of operations in the line item entitled “beneficial conversion feature for Class F units.” The Class F units are convertible to common units on a one-for-one basis on May 8, 2015.
Noncontrolling Interest. The Partnership operates ELG, a gas gathering joint venture in south Texas in which other third party companies own a 40% interest, and ORS, a gathering joint venture in Ohio in which a third party company owns a 25% interest, which are reflected on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet as noncontrolling interest.
Distributions. The partnership agreement requires the distribution of all of the Partnership’s Available Cash (defined below) within 45 days after the end of each quarter to unitholders of record on the applicable record date, as determined by the General Partner.
Available Cash. Available Cash, for any quarter, generally consists of all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of that quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by the general partner to: (i) provide for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business; (ii) comply with applicable law, any debt instruments or other agreements; or (iii) provide funds for distributions to the unitholders and to the General Partner for any one or more of the next four quarters and plus, all cash on hand on that date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter for which the determination is being made.
General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights. The General Partner is entitled to its proportionate share of all quarterly distributions that the Partnership makes prior to its liquidation. The General Partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to the Partnership to maintain its current general partner interest. The General Partner’s initial 2% interest in these distributions has been reduced since the Partnership has issued additional units and the General Partner has not contributed a proportionate amount of capital to the Partnership to maintain its General Partner interest. The General Partner ownership interest as of December 31, 2014 was 0.69%. This General Partner interest is represented by 2,834,381 equivalent units as of December 31, 2014.
The IDRs held by the General Partner entitle it to receive an increasing share of Available Cash when pre-defined distribution targets are achieved. The General Partner’s IDRs are not reduced if the Partnership issues additional units in the future and the general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to the Partnership to maintain its general partner interest.
In connection with the SUGS Acquisition, ETE agreed to forgo IDR payments on the Partnership common units issued with this transaction for the twenty-four months post-transaction closing.
Distributions. The Partnership made the following cash distributions per unit during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
Distribution Date
 
Cash Distribution
(per common unit)
November 14, 2014
 
0.5025

August 14, 2014
 
0.490

May 15, 2014
 
0.480

February 14, 2014
 
0.475

 
 
 
November 14, 2013
 
$
0.470

August 14, 2013
 
0.465

May 13, 2013
 
0.460

February 14, 2013
 
0.460


The Partnership paid a cash distribution of $0.5025 per common unit on February 13, 2015.