8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 13, 2020

WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-35753	46-0967367
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 1201 Lake Robbins Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

(832) 636-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of exchange on which registered
Common units	WES	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).    Emerging growth company   ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 13, 2020 Western Midstream Operating, LP (“WES Operating”), a subsidiary of Western Midstream Partners, LP (”WES”), completed the public offering of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Floating Rate Notes”), $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.100% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), $1,200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.050% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2050 (the “2050 Notes” and, together with the Floating Rate Notes, the 2025 Notes and the 2030 Notes, the “Notes”).

The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture, dated as of May 18, 2011 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among WES Operating, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of January 13, 2020, by and between WES Operating and the Trustee, setting forth the specific terms applicable to the Notes (the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). Interest on the Floating Rate Notes will accrue from January 13, 2020, at a floating rate payable quarterly on January 13^th, April 13^th, July 13^th and October 13^th of each year, with the initial interest payment being due on April 13, 2020. Interest on the 2025 Notes, the 2030 Notes and the 2050 Notes will accrue from January 13, 2020, and will be payable semi-annually on February 1^st and August 1^st of each year, with the initial interest payment being due on August 1, 2020.

WES Operating may redeem all or some of the 2025 Notes, the 2030 Notes and the 2050 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to their maturity at the applicable redemption price as set forth in the Indenture. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of WES Operating’s existing and future senior indebtedness and senior to any subordinated indebtedness that WES Operating may incur.

The Indenture contains covenants that will limit the ability of WES Operating and certain of its subsidiaries to create liens on its principal properties, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, undergo certain types of changes in control, merge or consolidate with another entity or sell, lease or transfer substantially all of its properties or assets to another entity. Initially, the Notes will not be guaranteed by any of WES Operating’s subsidiaries. In the future, however, if any of WES Operating’s subsidiaries guarantees WES Operating’s obligations under its revolving credit facility, then that subsidiary will, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee WES Operating’s payment obligations under the Notes so long as such subsidiary has any guarantee obligation under WES Operating’s revolving credit facility.

The Indenture also contains customary events of default, including, among other things, (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise; (iii) failure by WES Operating for 60 days after notice to comply with any of the other agreements in the Indenture; and (iv) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to WES Operating. If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Notes, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such series of outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of such Notes and all accrued and unpaid interest to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal amount will become due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to WES Operating occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of such Notes outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders of such Notes.

Other material terms of the Notes, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture are described in the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes, dated January 9, 2020 as filed by WES Operating with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 2020. The foregoing description of the Supplemental Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such Supplemental Indenture, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 13, 2020, following the closing of the Offering (defined below), WES Operating repaid and terminated its $3.0 billion term loan Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2018, by and among WES Operating, Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (as amended, the “Term Loan Agreement”).

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Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information regarding the Notes and the Indenture set forth in Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 9, 2020 WES Operating, together with its general partner, Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC (“WES Operating GP”), the sole member of WES Operating GP, WES, and the general partner of WES, Western Midstream Holdings, LLC, entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC as representatives of the several underwriters, relating to the public offering (the “Offering”) of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes, $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes at a price to the public of 99.962% of their face value, $1.2 billion in aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes at a price to the public of 99.900% of their face value, and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of the 2050 Notes at a price to the public of 99.442% of their face value.

On January 13, 2020, WES Operating completed the Offering. WES Operating used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repay and terminate the Term Loan Agreement. WES Operating will use the remaining net proceeds for general partnership purposes, including repayment of borrowings under its revolving credit facility.

The Offering was made pursuant to WES Operating’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-231590-01)), which became effective on May 17, 2019.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements, conditions to closing, indemnification obligations, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, and termination provisions. The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Relationships

From time to time, certain of the underwriters and their related entities have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial and investment banking transactions with WES Operating in the ordinary course of their business. They have received, and expect to receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement for these commercial and investment banking transactions. In addition, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under WES Operating’s term loan credit facility and revolving credit facility and, as such, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the offering pursuant to the repayment of such indebtedness.

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
1.1	Underwriting Agreement, dated January 9, 2020, by and among Western Midstream Operating, LP, Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, Western Midstream Partners, LP, Western Midstream Holdings, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
4.1	Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 13, 2020, by and between Western Midstream Operating, LP, as Issuer, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
4.2	Form of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2023 (included as Exhibit A-1 to Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
4.3	Form of 3.100% Senior Notes due 2025 (included as Exhibit A-2 to Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
4.4	Form of 4.050% Senior Notes due 2030 (included as Exhibit A-3 to Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
4.5	Form of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2050 (included as Exhibit A-4 to Exhibit 4.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
5.1	Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).
23.1	Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 23.1) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 23.1 to Western Midstream Operating, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 2020, File No. 001-34046).

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SIGNATURES

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

		WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
		By:	Western Midstream Holdings, LLC, its general partner
Dated:	January 13, 2020	By:	/s/ Christopher B. Dial
			Christopher B. Dial Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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Cover Page	Jan. 13, 2020
Cover page.
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 13, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-35753
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-0967367
Entity Address, Address Line One	1201 Lake Robbins Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	The Woodlands
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77380
City Area Code	832
Local Phone Number	636-6000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common units
Trading Symbol	WES
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001423902
Amendment Flag	false