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424B2 Filing
Energy Transfer (ET) 424B2Prospectus for primary offering
Filed: 12 Jan 24, 4:51pm
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-256668
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated June 1, 2021)
Energy Transfer LP
$800,000,000 8.000% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054
We are offering $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 8.000% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054 (the “notes”). The notes will bear interest (i) from and including the original issue date (as defined herein) to, but excluding, May 15, 2029 at the rate of 8.000% per annum and (ii) from and including May 15, 2029, during each Reset Period (as defined herein) at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate (as defined herein) as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date (as defined herein) plus a spread of 4.020%, to be reset on each Reset Date (as defined herein), and will mature on May 15, 2054. Interest on the notes will accrue from and including January 25, 2024 and will be payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2024.
So long as no event of default (as defined herein) with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, we may, at our option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods (as defined herein) each. During any deferral period, interest on the notes will continue to accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such deferral period in accordance with the terms of the notes) and, in addition, interest on deferred interest will accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such deferral period in accordance with the terms of the notes), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law. See “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments.”
At our option, we may redeem notes at the times and at the applicable redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein). The notes will rank equally in right of payment with our existing 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 and with any future unsecured indebtedness that we may incur from time to time if the terms of such indebtedness provide that it ranks equally with the notes in right of payment. None of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes.
Concurrently with this offering of the notes, under a separate prospectus supplement, we are offering $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2034 (the “2034 notes”) and $1.75 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2054 (collectively with the 2034 notes, the “senior notes”) in an underwritten public offering (the “concurrent offering”). The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the concurrent offering, and the closing of the concurrent offering is not conditioned on the closing of this offering, and we may sell the notes or the senior notes or both. In addition, we may sell more or fewer senior notes depending on market and other conditions.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for the quotation of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) 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.
Investing in the notes involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the accompanying base prospectus.
Per note | Total notes | |||||||
Public offering price(1) | 100.000 | % | $ | 800,000,000 | ||||
Underwriting discount | 1.000 | % | $ | 8,000,000 | ||||
Proceeds to Energy Transfer LP (before expenses) | 99.000 | % | $ | 792,000,000 |
(1) | Plus accrued interest from January 25, 2024, if any. |
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in registered book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank N.V./S.A., on or about January 25, 2024.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Citigroup | Credit Agricole CIB | Deutsche Bank Securities | PNC Capital Markets LLC | RBC Capital Markets | ||||
Barclays | BBVA | BMO Capital Markets | BofA Securities | CIBC Capital Markets | ||||
Fifth Third Securities | J.P. Morgan | Mizuho | Morgan Stanley | MUFG | ||||
Natixis | Regions Securities LLC | Scotiabank | SMBC Nikko | SOCIETE GENERALE | ||||
TD Securities | Truist Securities | US Bancorp | Wells Fargo Securities |
The date of this prospectus supplement is January 10, 2024.
Prospectus Supplement
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We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the closing date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the tenth business day following the date of this prospectus supplement. This settlement cycle is referred to as “T+10.” Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is two business days preceding the settlement date, will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle T+10, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of notes who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is two business days preceding the settlement date should consult their own advisors.
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This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference contain various forward-looking statements and information that are based on our beliefs and those of our general partner, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference, words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “believe,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we and our general partner believe that the expectations on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct bearing on our results of operations and financial condition are:
• | the ability of our subsidiaries to make cash distributions to us, which is dependent on their results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; |
• | the actual amount of cash distributions by our subsidiaries to us; |
• | the volumes transported on our subsidiaries’ pipelines and gathering systems; |
• | the level of throughput in our subsidiaries’ processing and treating facilities; |
• | the fees our subsidiaries charge and the margins they realize for their gathering, treating, processing, storage and transportation services; |
• | the prices and market demand for, and the relationship between, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”); |
• | energy prices generally; |
• | impacts of world health events; |
• | the possibility of cyber and malware attacks; |
• | the prices of natural gas and NGLs compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels; |
• | the general level of petroleum product demand and the availability and price of NGL supplies; |
• | the level of domestic oil, natural gas and NGL production; |
• | the availability of imported oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
• | actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations; |
• | the political and economic stability of petroleum producing nations; |
• | the effect of weather conditions on demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
• | availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
• | the continued ability to find and contract for new sources of natural gas supply; |
• | availability and marketing of competitive fuels; |
• | the impact of energy conservation efforts; |
• | energy efficiencies and technological trends; |
• | governmental regulation and taxation; |
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• | changes to, and the application of, regulation of tariff rates and operational requirements related to our subsidiaries’ interstate and intrastate pipelines; |
• | hazards or operating risks incidental to the gathering, treating, processing and transporting of natural gas and NGLs; |
• | competition from other midstream companies and interstate pipeline companies; |
• | loss of key personnel; |
• | loss of key natural gas producers or the providers of fractionation services; |
• | reductions in the capacity or allocations of third-party pipelines that connect with our subsidiaries’ pipelines and facilities; |
• | the effectiveness of risk-management policies and procedures and the ability of our subsidiaries’ liquids marketing counterparties to satisfy their financial commitments; |
• | the nonpayment or nonperformance by our subsidiaries’ customers; |
• | risks related to the development of new infrastructure projects or other growth projects, including failure to make sufficient progress to justify continued development, delays in obtaining customers, increased costs of financing and regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties that may affect the timing and cost of these projects; |
• | risks associated with the construction of new pipelines, treating and processing facilities or other facilities, or additions to our subsidiaries’ existing pipelines and their facilities, including difficulties in obtaining permits and rights-of-way or other regulatory approvals and the performance by third-party contractors; |
• | the availability and cost of capital and our subsidiaries’ ability to access certain capital sources; |
• | a deterioration of the credit and capital markets; |
• | risks associated with the assets and operations of entities in which our subsidiaries own a noncontrolling interest, including risks related to management actions at such entities that our subsidiaries may not be able to control or exert influence; |
• | the ability to successfully identify and consummate strategic acquisitions at purchase prices that are accretive to our financial results and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; |
• | changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, including tax, environmental, transportation and employment regulations or new interpretations by regulatory agencies concerning such laws and regulations; |
• | the costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings; and |
• | risks associated with a potential failure to successfully integrate our business with that of Crestwood (as defined under “Summary—Recent Developments—Crestwood Acquisition”). |
You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. When considering forward-looking statements, please review the risks described under “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 17, 2023, under “Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on August 3,2023, under “Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023 and under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying base prospectus. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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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 the entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference for a more complete understanding of this offering. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying base prospectus for more information about important risks that you should consider before investing in the notes.
When we refer to “Energy Transfer,” “ET,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Partnership” in this prospectus supplement, we mean Energy Transfer LP and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “our general partner,” we mean LE GP, LLC.
Energy Transfer LP
We are a publicly traded limited partnership that owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy assets. Our core operations include complementary natural gas midstream, intrastate and interstate transportation and storage assets; crude oil, NGLs and refined product transportation and terminalling assets; NGL storage and fractionation; and various acquisition and marketing assets. We also own Lake Charles LNG Company, as well as limited partner interests and the general partner interests of publicly traded master limited partnerships Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) and USA Compression Partners, LP (NYSE: USAC).
Concurrent Offering
Concurrently with this offering of the notes, under a separate prospectus supplement, we are offering $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2034 (the “2034 notes”) and $1.75 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2054 (collectively with the 2034 notes, the “senior notes”) in the concurrent offering. The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the concurrent offering, and the closing of the concurrent offering is not conditioned on the closing of this offering, and we may sell the notes or the senior notes, or both. In addition, we may sell more or fewer senior notes depending on market and other conditions.
The foregoing description and other information regarding the concurrent offering is included herein solely for informational purposes. Nothing in this prospectus supplement should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any new senior note, and no part of the concurrent offering is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Redemption of the Series C, D and E Preferred Units
Upon the pricing of this offering and, if priced, the concurrent offering, we intend to issue a notice of redemption with respect to all of our outstanding (i) Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “Series C preferred units”), (ii) Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “Series D preferred units”), and (iii) when redeemable on May 15, 2024, Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “Series E preferred units,” collectively with the Series C preferred units and the Series D preferred units, the “Series C, D and E preferred units”). If this offering or the concurrent offering is not successfully consummated, we may not redeem any of the Series C, D and E preferred units.
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This prospectus supplement does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to the Series C, D and E preferred units.
Recent Developments
Crestwood Acquisition
On November 3, 2023, we completed our previously announced merger (the “Crestwood Acquisition”) with Crestwood Equity Partners LP (“Crestwood”) in an all-equity transaction valued at signing at approximately $7.1 billion, including the assumption of approximately $3.3 billion of debt.
Our Principal Executive Offices
We are a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600, Dallas, Texas 75225, and our telephone number at that location is (214) 981-0700. We maintain a website at http://www.energytransfer.com that provides information about our business and operations. Information contained on this website, however, is not incorporated into or otherwise a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus.
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We provide the following summary solely for your convenience. This summary is not a complete description of the notes. You should read the full text of, and more specific details contained elsewhere in, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. For a more detailed description of the notes, please read the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement and the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying base prospectus.
Issuer | Energy Transfer LP |
Notes Offered | We are offering $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our 8.000% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054. |
Maturity Date | Unless redeemed prior to maturity as described below, the notes will mature on May 15, 2054. |
Interest Rate | The notes will bear interest (i) from and including January 25, 2024 to, but excluding, May 15, 2029 (the “First Reset Date”) at the rate of 8.000% per annum and (ii) from and including the First Reset Date, during each Reset Period at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date plus a spread of 4.020%, to be reset on each Reset Date. For the definitions of the terms “Reset Period,” “Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate,” “Reset Interest Determination Date” and “Reset Date” and for other important information concerning the calculation of interest on the notes, see “Description of the Notes—Interest Rate and Maturity” in this prospectus supplement. |
Interest Payment Dates | Subject to our right to defer interest payments as described under “Optional Interest Deferral” below, interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on May 15, 2024 (each, an “interest payment date”). |
Optional Interest Deferral | So long as no event of default with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, we may, at our option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods each (each such deferral period, commencing on the interest payment date on which the first such deferred interest payment otherwise would have been made, an “Optional Deferral Period”), except that no such Optional Deferral Period may extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date. In other words, we may declare at our discretion up to a ten-year interest payment moratorium on the notes and may choose to do that on one or more occasions. No interest will be due or payable on the notes during any such Optional Deferral Period unless we elect, at our option, to redeem notes during such Optional Deferral Period, in which case accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date will be due and payable on such redemption date only on the notes being redeemed, or unless the principal of and interest on the notes shall have been declared due and payable as the result of an event of default with respect to the notes, |
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in which case, all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes shall become due and payable. We may elect, at our option, to extend the length of any Optional Deferral Period that is shorter than 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods (so long as the entire Optional Deferral Period does not exceed 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods or extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes) and to shorten the length of any Optional Deferral Period. We cannot begin a new Optional Deferral Period until we have paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes from any previous Optional Deferral Period. During any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the notes will continue to accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes). In addition, during any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the deferred interest will accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law. For the definition of the term “event of default,” see “Description of the Notes—Events of Default” in this prospectus supplement, and for the definition of the term “Interest Payment Period” and other important information concerning our right to defer interest payments on the notes, see “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments” in this prospectus supplement. |
If we defer payments of interest on the notes, the notes will be treated at that time, solely for purposes of the original issue discount rules, as having been retired and reissued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes. This means that if you are subject to United States federal income taxation on a net income basis, you would be required to include in your gross income for United States federal income tax purposes the deferred interest payments on your notes before you receive any cash, regardless of your regular method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. For more information concerning the tax consequences you may have if payments of interest are deferred, see “Risk Factors—Holders of the notes subject to United States federal income taxation may have to pay taxes on interest before they receive payments from us” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Consequences to U.S. Holders—Exercise of Deferral Option” in this prospectus supplement. |
Certain Restrictions During an Optional Deferral Period | During an Optional Deferral Period, we may not do any of the following (subject to certain exceptions): |
• | declare or pay dividends or distributions on any Capital Stock (as defined in “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments”) of Energy Transfer; |
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• | redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to any Capital Stock of Energy Transfer; |
• | pay any principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any indebtedness of Energy Transfer that ranks equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment; or |
• | make any payments with respect to any guarantees by Energy Transfer of any indebtedness if such guarantees rank equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment. |
For further important information, including information concerning the exceptions referred to above, see “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments” below in this prospectus supplement. |
Ranking | The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness, to the extent and in the manner set forth under the caption “Description of the Notes—Subordination” in this prospectus supplement. For the definition of the term “Senior Indebtedness,” see “Description of the Notes—Subordination” in this prospectus supplement. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with our existing 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2066 and with any future unsecured indebtedness that we may incur from time to time if the terms of such indebtedness provide that it ranks equally with the notes in right of payment. For additional information, see “Risk Factors—Because we have a holding company structure in which our subsidiaries conduct our operations and own our operating assets, our ability to service our debt is largely dependent on our receipt of distributions or other payments from our subsidiaries,” “Risk Factors—The notes are subordinated or effectively subordinated to all of our indebtedness (other than any unsecured indebtedness we have incurred or may in the future incur that ranks junior to or pari passu with the notes, including our existing 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2066), and the indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur” and “Description of the Notes—Ranking” in this prospectus supplement. |
As of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth under “Use of Proceeds,” we would have had total senior debt of $50.6 billion, total junior subordinated debt of $1.4 billion, including the notes offered hereby, and we would have been able to incur an additional $5.0 billion of debt under our revolving credit facility. In addition, as of September 30, 2023, our subsidiaries had an aggregate of approximately $8.23 billion of indebtedness outstanding. |
We do not have any secured debt outstanding. |
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Mandatory Redemption | We will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the notes or to repurchase the notes at the option of the holders. |
Optional Redemption | At our option, we may redeem some or all of the notes, as applicable, before their maturity, as follows: |
• | in whole or from time to time in part, (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to the First Reset Date and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date and (ii) after the First Reset Date, on any applicable interest payment date at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in this prospectus supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date; |
• | in whole, but not in part, at any time within 120 days after the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Following a Tax Event” in this prospectus supplement) at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in this prospectus supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date; and |
• | in whole, but not in part, at any time during the continuance of and, in any event, within 120 days after the occurrence of, a Rating Agency Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Following a Rating Agency Event” in this prospectus supplement) at a redemption price in cash equal to 102% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” in this prospectus supplement, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date. |
Certain Covenants | The notes and the related indenture will not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may incur or the amount of other indebtedness or liabilities that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur, and do not contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants. |
Use of Proceeds | We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $792,000,000 from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering, and, if consummated, the concurrent offering, to refinance existing indebtedness, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, to redeem all of our outstanding Series C, D and E preferred units (in case of the Series E preferred units, when redeemable on May 15, 2024) at an aggregate liquidation preference |
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of $1.69 billion, and for general partnership purposes. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to, or an offer to purchase, any indebtedness or the Series C, D and E preferred units. |
Affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facility, and certain of the underwriters or their affiliates are holders of the Series C preferred units, Series D preferred units or Series E preferred units. In addition, each of the underwriters are acting as underwriters for the concurrent offering. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive underwriting commissions from the concurrent offering and each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent offering through any repayment of borrowings under such revolving credit facility or redemption of the Series C, D and E preferred units. See “Underwriting.” |
Trustee | U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (successor to U.S. Bank National Association). |
Governing Law | The notes and the indenture will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. |
Risk Factors | Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and on page 7 of the accompanying base prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in the notes. |
Concurrent Offering | Concurrently with this offering of the notes, under a separate prospectus supplement, we are offering $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2034 (the “2034 notes”) and $1.75 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2054 (collectively with the 2034 notes, the “senior notes”) in the concurrent offering. The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the concurrent offering, and the closing of the concurrent offering is not conditioned on the closing of this offering, and we may sell the notes or the senior notes, or both. In addition, we may sell more or fewer senior notes depending on market and other conditions. See “Summary—Recent Developments—Concurrent Offering” in this prospectus supplement. The proceeds from the offering of the senior notes, if any, are expected to be used to refinance existing indebtedness, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, to redeem all of our outstanding Series C, D and E preferred units (in case of the Series E preferred units, when redeemable on May 15, 2024) at an aggregate liquidation preference of $1.69 billion, and for general partnership purposes. |
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An investment in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider all of the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference as provided under “Incorporation by Reference,” including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, and the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” therein. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please read “Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the accompanying base prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operation could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to the Notes
The notes are subordinated or effectively subordinated to all of our and other indebtedness (other than any unsecured indebtedness we have incurred or may in the future incur that ranks junior to or pari passu with the notes, including our existing 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2066), and the indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur.
Pursuant to the terms of the indenture, the notes will be subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined under “Description of the Notes—Subordination”). This means that, in the event of (a) our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, (b) our failure to pay any interest, principal or other monetary amounts due on any of its Senior Indebtedness when due (and continuance of that default beyond any applicable grace period) or (c) acceleration of the maturity of any of our Senior Indebtedness as a result of a default, we will not be permitted to make any payments on the notes until, in the case of clause (a), all amounts due or to become due on all of its Senior Indebtedness have been paid in full, or, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), all amounts due on its Senior Indebtedness have been paid in full. For additional information about the subordination of the notes to our Senior Indebtedness, see “Description of the Notes—Subordination” in this prospectus supplement. As of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth under “Use of Proceeds,” we would have had total senior debt of $50.6 billion. Due to the subordination of the notes to our Senior Indebtedness if our assets are distributed upon its dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, holders of our Senior Indebtedness and any secured indebtedness would likely recover more, ratably, than the holders of the notes, and it is possible that no payments would be made to the holders of the notes.
As of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth under “Use of Proceeds,” we would have had total junior subordinated debt of $1.4 billion.
The notes will rank equally in right of payment with our outstanding 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2066 and with any future unsecured indebtedness that we may incur from time to time if the terms of such indebtedness provide that it ranks equally with the notes in right of payment. At September 30, 2023, we had $600 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes Due 2066.
The indenture does not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness or secured indebtedness that may be incurred by us or the amount of other indebtedness or liabilities that may be incurred by us or any of our subsidiaries. The incurrence by us or our subsidiaries of additional indebtedness, including the incurrence of additional Senior Indebtedness or secured indebtedness by us, may have adverse consequences for you as a
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holder of the notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy its obligations with respect to the notes, a loss of all or part of the trading value of your notes and a risk that one or more of the credit ratings of the notes could be lowered or withdrawn. Both we and our subsidiaries expect to incur substantial amounts of additional indebtedness, including Senior Indebtedness, in the future.
The interest rate on the notes will reset on the First Reset Date and each subsequent Reset Date and any interest payable after the First Reset Date may be based on a rate that is less than the initial or any other previous fixed interest rate.
The interest rate on the notes from their original issue date to, but excluding, the First Reset Date will be 8.000% per annum. Beginning on the First Reset Date, the interest rate on the notes for each Reset Period will equal the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date plus a spread of 4.020%, to be reset on each Reset Date. Therefore, the interest rate during any Interest Payment Period beginning on the First Reset Date or any subsequent Reset Date could be less than the fixed interest rate for the initial period from and including the original issue date of the notes to but excluding the First Reset Date or any previous Reset Period. We have no control over the factors that may affect U.S. Treasury rates, including geopolitical, economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial or other conditions or events.
The historical Five-year U.S. Treasury Rates are not an indication of future Five-year U.S. Treasury Rates.
As noted above, the annual interest rate on the notes for each Reset Period will be set by reference to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date. In the past, U.S. Treasury rates have experienced significant fluctuations. You should note that historical levels, fluctuations and trends of U.S. Treasury rates are not necessarily indicative of future levels. Any historical upward or downward trend in U.S. Treasury rates is not an indication that U.S. Treasury rates are more or less likely to increase or decrease at any time in the future and you should not take historical U.S. Treasury rates as an indication of future U.S. Treasury Rates.
We can defer interest payments on the notes for one or more Optional Deferral Periods of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods each. This may affect the market price of the notes.
So long as no event of default (as defined below under “Description of the Notes—Events of Default”) with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, we may, at our option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more Optional Deferral Periods of up to 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods each, except that no such Optional Deferral Period may extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date. In other words, we may declare at our discretion up to a ten-year interest payment moratorium on the notes and may choose to do that on one or more occasions. Moreover, following the end of any Optional Deferral Period, if all amounts then due on the notes are paid, we could immediately start a new Optional Deferral Period of up to 20 consecutive semi-annual Interest Payment Periods. No interest will be due or payable on the notes during any Optional Deferral Period unless we elect, at our option, to redeem notes during such Optional Deferral Period, in which case accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date will be due and payable on such redemption date only on the notes being redeemed, or unless the principal of and interest on the notes shall have been declared due and payable as a result of an event of default with respect to the notes, in which case all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes shall become due and payable. Instead, interest on the notes would be deferred but would continue to accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes). In addition, during any Optional Deferral Period interest on the deferred interest would accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law. If we exercise this interest deferral right, the notes may trade at a price that does not reflect the value of accrued and unpaid interest on the notes or that is otherwise substantially less than the price at which the notes would have traded if we had
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not exercised such deferral right. If we exercise this interest deferral right and you sell your notes during an Optional Deferral Period, you may not receive the same return on your investment as a holder that continues to hold its notes until we pay the deferred interest following the end of such Optional Deferral Period. In addition, as a result of our right to defer interest payments, the market price of the notes may be more volatile than other securities that do not have these rights.
Holders of the notes subject to United States federal income taxation may have to pay taxes on interest before they receive payments from us.
If we defer interest payments on the notes, a holder of the notes subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis will be required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax purposes in respect of such holder’s proportionate share of the accrued but unpaid interest on the notes, even if such holder normally reports income when received. As a result, a holder will be required to include the accrued interest in such holder’s gross income for United States federal income tax purposes even though such holder will not have received any cash. A holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be increased by such amounts that it was required to include in gross income. In addition, unpaid interest accrued on the notes during an Optional Deferral Period will be payable on the interest payment date immediately following the last day of such Optional Deferral Period. If a holder sells its notes on or before the record date for such interest payment date, then all of the interest accrued on such notes during the Optional Deferral Period will be paid to the person who is the registered owner of those notes at the close of business on such record date, and the holder who sold those notes will not receive from us any of the interest that accrued on those notes during the Optional Deferral Period and that such holder reported as income for tax purposes. Holders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in the notes. For more information regarding the U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the notes, see “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
Holders of the notes will have limited rights of acceleration.
Holders of the notes and the trustee under the indenture may accelerate payment of the principal and interest on the notes only upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events of default. Payment of principal and interest on the notes may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the indenture related to failure to pay interest within 30 days after it is due, failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the notes when due, and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization relating to the Partnership (but not its subsidiaries). Holders of the notes and the trustee will not have the right to accelerate payment of the principal or interest on the notes upon the breach of any other covenant in the indenture. See “Description of the Notes—Option to Defer Interest Payments,” “Description of the Notes—Events of Default” and “Description of the Notes—Limitation on Remedies.”
We will make only limited covenants in the indenture that will govern the notes and these limited covenants may not protect your investment.
The indenture that will govern the notes will not:
• | require us to maintain any financial ratios or specific levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flows, or liquidity and, accordingly, will not protect holders of the notes in the event that we experience significant adverse changes in our financial condition or results of operations; |
• | limit our subsidiaries’ ability to incur indebtedness which would structurally rank senior to the notes; |
• | limit our ability to incur indebtedness that is equal in right of payment to the notes; or |
• | restrict our ability to make investments or to pay distributions or make other payments in respect of our common units or other securities ranking junior to the notes. |
The indenture also will permit us and our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness, that could effectively rank senior to the notes, and to engage in leaseback arrangements, subject to
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certain limitations. Any of these actions could adversely affect our ability to make principal and interest payments on the notes.
We do not have the same flexibility as other types of organizations to accumulate cash, which may limit cash available to service the notes or to repay them at maturity.
Unlike a corporation, our partnership agreement requires us to distribute, on a quarterly basis, 100% of our Available Cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) to our unitholders of record and our general partner. Available Cash is generally all of our cash on hand as of the end of a quarter, adjusted for cash distributions and net changes to reserves. Our general partner will determine the amount and timing of such distributions and has broad discretion to establish and make additions to our reserves or the reserves of our operating subsidiaries in amounts it determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate:
• | to provide for the proper conduct of our business and the businesses of our operating subsidiaries (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for our anticipated future credit needs); |
• | to provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and our general partner for any one or more of the next four calendar quarters; or |
• | to comply with applicable law or any of our loan or other agreements. |
The notes have no established trading market or history, and liquidity of trading markets for the notes may be limited.
The notes will constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Although the underwriters have indicated that they intend to make a market in the notes, they are not obligated to do so and any of their market-making activities may be terminated or limited at any time. In addition, we do not intend to apply for a listing of the notes on any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system. As a result, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of markets that may develop for the notes, the ability of noteholders to sell their notes or the prices at which notes could be sold. The notes may trade at prices that are lower than their respective public offering price depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates and the markets for similar securities. The liquidity of trading markets for the notes may also be adversely affected by general declines or disruptions in the markets for debt securities. Those market declines or disruptions could adversely affect the liquidity of and market for the notes independent of our financial performance or prospects.
Because we have a holding company structure in which our subsidiaries conduct our operations and own our operating assets, our ability to service our debt is largely dependent on our receipt of distributions or other payments from our subsidiaries.
We are a partnership holding company, and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We do not have significant assets other than the ownership interests in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make required payments on the notes depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, credit instruments, applicable state business organization laws and other laws and regulations. If we are unable to obtain the funds necessary to pay all the principal and interest on the notes when due, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as a refinancing of the notes. We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance the notes on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.
We may be able to incur substantially more debt. This could exacerbate the risks associated with our indebtedness.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. If we incur any additional indebtedness, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, as such facility may be
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expanded over time, and issuances of additional notes, that rank equally with the notes, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of us. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.
The indenture governing the notes will permit us and our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, including in some cases secured indebtedness, that could effectively rank senior to the notes, and to engage in sale- leaseback arrangements, in each case, subject to certain limitations. Any of these actions could adversely affect our ability to make principal and interest payments on the notes.
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the market value of the notes.
The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to continue fluctuating into the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the notes. In general, as market interest rates rise, debt securities bearing interest at fixed rates of interest decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase notes bearing interest at fixed rates of interest and market interest rates increase, the market value of those notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
We may redeem the notes before they mature, which could occur when prevailing interest rates are relatively low.
We may redeem all or any portion of the notes at our option as described under “Description of the Notes - Optional Redemption.” Any such redemption may occur when prevailing interest rates are lower than the rates borne by the notes. These redemption rights may, depending on prevailing market conditions at the time, create reinvestment risk for the noteholders in that they may be unable to find a suitable replacement investment with a comparable return to those notes. If prevailing rates are lower at the time of redemption, noteholders may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the notes being redeemed. The redemption of the notes also may adversely affect noteholders’ ability to sell the notes if and at any time after the notes are called for partial or full redemption.
Changes in our credit rating or outlook or in the rating assigned by a rating agency to the notes could adversely affect the market price or liquidity of the notes.
Credit rating agencies continually revise their ratings and outlook for the companies that they follow, including us. The credit rating agencies also evaluate our industry as a whole and may change their credit ratings or outlook for us based on their overall view of our industry. We cannot be sure that credit rating agencies will maintain their ratings on the notes. A negative change in our ratings or outlook could have an adverse effect on the market value of the notes.
We expect that the notes will be rated by nationally recognized statistical rating agencies. We cannot assure you that any rating assigned will remain for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in that rating agency’s judgment, circumstances relating to the basis of the rating, such as adverse changes in our business, so warrant. Any lowering or withdrawal of a rating by a rating agency could reduce the liquidity or market value of the notes.
Rating agencies may change their practices for rating the notes, which change may affect the market price of the notes. In addition, we may redeem the notes if a rating agency makes certain changes in the equity credit methodology for securities such as the notes.
The rating agencies that currently or may in the future publish a rating for us, including Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, each of which is expected to initially publish a rating of the notes, may, from time to time in the future,
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change the way they analyze securities with features similar to the notes. This may include, for example, changes to the relationship between ratings assigned to an issuer’s senior securities and ratings assigned to subordinated securities with features similar to the notes. If any rating agencies change their practices for rating these types of securities in the future, and the ratings of the notes are subsequently lowered, the trading price of the notes could be negatively affected. In addition, we may redeem the notes, at our option, in whole but not in part, if a rating agency makes certain changes in the equity credit methodology for securities such as the notes. See “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Following a Rating Agency Event.”
The notes are subject to early redemption.
As described under “Description of the Notes—Redemption,” we may at our option redeem the notes in whole or in part at the times and the applicable redemption price described thereunder. Consequently, we may choose to redeem your notes at a time when prevailing interest rates are lower than the effective interest rate paid on your notes and at times when the trading price of your notes is above the redemption price. You may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in an investment with a return that is as high as the return you would have earned on the notes if they had not been redeemed and with a similar level of investment risk.
Investors should not expect us to redeem the notes on the first or any other date on which they are redeemable.
The notes may be redeemed by us at our option either in whole or in part, from time to time, (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to the First Reset Date and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date and (ii) after the First Reset Date, on any applicable interest payment date. In addition, the notes may be redeemed by us at our option, in whole but not in part, following the occurrence and during the continuance of either a Tax Event or a Rating Agency Event (as those terms are defined under “Description of the Notes—Redemption” in this prospectus supplement). Any decision we may make at any time to redeem the notes before their final maturity date will depend upon, among other things, the strength of our balance sheet, our results of operations, our access to the capital markets, interest rates, our growth strategy, and general market conditions at such time. Accordingly, while we may decide to do so, investors should not expect us to redeem the notes on the first or any other date on which they are redeemable.
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We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $792 million from the sale of the notes offered hereby after deducting the underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. If consummated, we estimate that the net proceeds from the concurrent offering will be approximately $2.96 billion, after deducting the underwriting discounts but before offering expenses. The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the concurrent offering, and the closing of the concurrent offering is not conditioned on the closing of this offering. There can be no assurance that the concurrent offering will be consummated on the terms described herein or at all. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering and, if consummated, the concurrent offering to refinance existing indebtedness, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, redeem all of our outstanding Series C, D and E preferred units (in case of the Series E preferred units, when redeemable on May 15, 2024) at an aggregate liquidation preference of $1.69 billion, and for general partnership purposes. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to, or an offer to purchase, any indebtedness or preferred units.
As of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth above, we would have had approximately $1.2 billion of outstanding borrowings at a weighted average interest rate of 5.82% under our revolving credit facility, all of which would have been commercial paper. Our revolving credit facility matures on April 11, 2027.
Affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facility, and certain of the underwriters or their affiliates are holders of the Series C preferred units, Series D preferred units or Series E preferred units. In addition, each of the underwriters are acting as underwriters for the concurrent offering. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive underwriting commissions from the concurrent offering and each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent offering through any repayment of borrowings under our revolving credit facility or redemption of the Series C, D and E preferred units. Please read “Underwriting.”
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The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and total capitalization as of September 30, 2023, on an:
• | actual basis; |
• | as adjusted basis to give effect to the consummation of the Crestwood Acquisition; and |
• | as further adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement, the concurrent offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom in the manner described under “Use of Proceeds.” |
The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the closing of the concurrent offering, and the closing of the concurrent offering is not conditioned on the closing of this offering, and we may sell the notes or the senior notes, or both. In addition, we may sell more or fewer senior notes depending on market and other conditions. See “Summary—Concurrent Offering” in this prospectus supplement.
This table should be read together with our historical financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
September 30, 2023 | ||||||||||||
Actual | As Adjusted | As Further Adjusted | ||||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 514 | $ | 248 | $ | 248 | ||||||
Debt: | ||||||||||||
Credit Facilities | ||||||||||||
Our revolving credit facility | 2,847 | 3,307 | 1,220 | |||||||||
Subsidiaries’ revolving credit facilities | 1,460 | 1,460 | 1,460 | |||||||||
Senior Notes and Other Debt | ||||||||||||
Our senior notes and other debt, including junior subordinated debt | 37,043 | 39,893 | 43,693 | |||||||||
Subsidiaries’ senior notes and other debt | 6,798 | 6,798 | 6,798 | |||||||||
Unamortized premiums, discounts and fair value adjustments, net | 145 | 143 | 130 | |||||||||
Deferred debt issuance costs | (212 | ) | $ | (212 | ) | (250 | ) | |||||
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Total debt | 48,081 | 51,389 | 53,051 | |||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interests | 498 | 765 | 765 | |||||||||
Equity: | ||||||||||||
Limited Partners | ||||||||||||
Series C Preferred Unitholders | 440 | 440 | 0 | |||||||||
Series D Preferred Unitholders | 436 | 436 | 0 | |||||||||
Series E Preferred Unitholders | 786 | 786 | 0 | |||||||||
Other Preferred Unitholders | 4,421 | 4,825 | 4,825 | |||||||||
Common Unitholders | 27,014 | 29,983 | 29,983 | |||||||||
General Partner | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 29 | 29 | 29 | |||||||||
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Total partners’ capital | 33,124 | 36,497 | 34,835 | |||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 7,437 | 7,437 | 7,437 | |||||||||
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Total equity | 40,561 | 43,934 | 42,272 | |||||||||
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Total capitalization | $ | 89,140 | $ | 96,088 | $ | 96,088 | ||||||
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Energy Transfer will issue the notes under a base indenture between itself and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (successor to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture creating the notes and setting forth the specific terms of the notes (as so supplemented, the “indenture”).
This description is a summary of the material provisions of the notes and the indenture. This description does not restate those agreements and instruments in their entirety. You should refer to the notes and the indenture, forms of which are available as set forth below under “Where You Can Find More Information,” for a complete description of our obligations and your rights.
In this description, the terms “Energy Transfer,” “the Partnership,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to Energy Transfer LP and not to any of its subsidiaries.
The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of the note for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the Indenture.
General
The notes will constitute a separate series of our subordinated debt securities under the indenture and will be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000 and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We may, from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes and any such additional notes shall form a single series under the indenture with the notes offered by this prospectus supplement. Any such additional notes shall have the same form and terms as the notes offered by this prospectus supplement (other than the offering price, the date of issuance and, if applicable, the date from which interest thereon shall begin to accrue and the first interest payment date, and except that the provisions of the notes specifying the rate of interest thereon to but excluding the First Reset Date (as defined below) shall not be applicable to any such additional notes whose date of original issuance is on or after the First Reset Date).
Maturity and Interest Rate
The notes will mature on May 15, 2054 (the “final maturity date”). The notes will be subject to redemption at our option as described below under “—Redemption.”
The notes will bear interest (i) from and including January 25, 2024 (the “original issue date”) to, but excluding, May 15, 2029 (the “First Reset Date”) at the rate of 8.000% per annum and (ii) from and including the First Reset Date, during each Reset Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate (as defined below) as of the most recent Reset Interest Determination Date (as defined below) plus a spread of 4.020%, to be reset on each Reset Date (as defined below). Interest on the notes will accrue from the original issue date and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 (each, an “interest payment date”) of each year, beginning on May 15, 2024, to the holders of record at the close of business on the immediately preceding May 1 and November 1, respectively (each, a “record date”), subject to our right to defer interest payments as described below under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments.” These record dates will apply regardless of whether a particular record date is a business day. In this section, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required bylaw or executive order to close. If an interest payment date is not a business day, payment of interest will be made on the next succeeding business day, without any interest, additional interest, or other payment in lieu of interest or additional interest accumulating with respect to this delay.
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The applicable interest rate for each Reset Period will be determined by the calculation agent (as defined below), as of the applicable Reset Interest Determination Date, in accordance with the following provisions:
“Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate” means, as of any Reset Interest Determination Date, as applicable, an interest rate (expressed as a decimal) determined to be the per annum rate (i) equal to the average of the yields on actively traded U.S. treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity, for five-year maturities, for the five business days immediately preceding the Reset Interest Determination Date appearing (or, if fewer than five business days appear, such number of business days appearing) under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” in the most recent H.15 (as defined herein) as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time); or (ii) if there are no such published yields on actively traded U.S. treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity, for five-year maturities, then the rate will be determined by interpolation between the average of the yields on actively traded U.S. treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity for two series of actively traded U.S. treasury securities, (A) one maturing as close as possible to, but earlier than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset Interest Determination Date and (B) the other maturing as close as possible to, but later than, the Reset Date following the next succeeding Reset Interest Determination Date, in each case for the five business days appearing (or, if fewer than five business days appear, such number of business days appearing) under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” in the most recent H.15 as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) as of any date of determination.
“H.15” means the statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System (or any successor thereto).
The “most recent H.15” means the H.15 published closest in time but prior to the close of business on the Reset Interest Determination Date.
“Reset Date” means the First Reset Date and May 15 of every fifth year after 2029.
“Reset Interest Determination Date” means, in respect of any Reset Period, the day that is two business days prior to the first day of such Reset Period.
“Reset Period” means the period from and including the First Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date and thereafter each period from and including a Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date.
If we, in our sole discretion, determine that the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate cannot be determined pursuant to the methods described above, we may, in our sole discretion, designate an unaffiliated agent or advisor, which may include an unaffiliated underwriter for the offering of the notes or any affiliate of any such underwriter, but shall not include the trustee (the “Designee”), to determine whether there is an industry-accepted successor rate to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate. If the Designee determines that there is such an industry-accepted successor rate, then the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate shall be such successor rate and, in that case, the Designee may adjust the spread and may determine and adjust the business day convention, the definition of a “business day” and the Reset Interest Determination Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for determining or otherwise calculating such successor rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such successor rate comparable to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate in each case, in a manner that is consistent with industry-accepted practices for the use of such successor rate. If we, in our sole discretion, do not designate a Designee or if the Designee determines that there is no industry-accepted successor rate, then the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate will be the same rate determined for the prior Reset Interest Determination Date or, if this sentence is applicable with respect to the first Reset Interest Determination Date, the applicable interest rate for the First Reset Period will be 8.000%.
The applicable interest rate for each Reset Period will be determined by the calculation agent, as of the applicable Reset Interest Determination Date. Promptly upon such determination, the calculation agent will notify us of the interest rate for the Reset Period. The calculation agent’s determination of any interest rate and its calculation of the amount of interest for any interest period (as defined herein) beginning on or after the First
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Reset Date will be on file at our principal offices, will be made available to any holder or beneficial owner of the notes upon request, and will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.
We will give notice of the relevant Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as soon as reasonably practicable following each Reset Interest Determination Date to the trustee and paying agent.
Interest accumulating or payable on the notes for any interest period (or portion thereof) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
If any interest payment date, redemption date or the maturity date of the notes is not a business day (as defined in the indenture) at any place of payment, then payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest may be made on the next business day at that place of payment. In that case, no interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the applicable interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be.
Calculation Agent
The “calculation agent” means any person or entity appointed by us and serving as such agent with respect to the notes at such time. Unless we have validly called the notes for redemption during the First Reset Period, we will appoint a calculation agent for the notes prior to the Reset Interest Determination Date preceding the First Reset Date. We may terminate any such appointment and may appoint a successor calculation agent at any time and from time to time. We may appoint ourselves or an affiliate of ours as calculation agent.
No Listing
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the listing or trading of the notes on any securities exchange or trading facility or for inclusion of the notes in any automated quotation system.
Open Market Purchases; No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund
We may at any time and from time to time purchase notes in the open market or otherwise, in each case, without any restriction under the indenture. We are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to any of the notes.
Ranking
The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will rank junior and subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below under “—Subordination”), to the extent and in the manner set forth under the caption “—Subordination” below. The notes will rank equally in right of payment with any future unsecured indebtedness that we may incur from time to time if the terms of such indebtedness provide that it ranks equally with the notes in right of payment. As of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth under “Use of Proceeds,” Energy Transfer would have had total senior debt of $50.6 billion, including the notes offered hereby, and we would have been able to incur an additional $5.0 billion of debt under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, as of September 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering, the concurrent offering (if consummated), the Crestwood Acquisition and the application of the net proceeds as set forth under “Use of Proceeds,” we and our Subsidiaries would have had total junior subordinated debt of $1.4 billion. Initially, none of Energy Transfer’s Subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. As of September 30, 2023, the notes would have been structurally subordinated to approximately $8.23 billion of indebtedness of Energy Transfer’s Subsidiaries. We do not expect any change to our subsidiaries’ indebtedness in connection with the planned use of proceeds from this offering and, if consummated, the concurrent offering.
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The indenture does not contain any restrictions on the amount of Senior Indebtedness or other indebtedness or liabilities that we may incur or the amount of indebtedness, preferred equity or other liabilities that may be incurred by our subsidiaries. For additional information, see “Risk Factors” above in this prospectus supplement.
Agreement by Holders to Tax Treatment
Each holder (and beneficial owner) of the notes will, by accepting any notes (or a beneficial interest therein), be deemed to have agreed that such holder (or beneficial owner) intends that the notes constitute indebtedness of Energy Transfer, and will treat the notes as indebtedness of Energy Transfer, for United States federal, state and local income tax purposes.
Subordination
The notes will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. This means that upon:
(a) | any payment by, or distribution of the assets of, Energy Transfer upon its dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings; or |
(b) | a failure to pay any interest, principal or other monetary amounts due on any of Energy Transfer’s Senior Indebtedness when due and continuance of that default beyond any applicable grace period; or |
(c) | acceleration of the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of Energy Transfer as a result of a default; the holders of all of Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive: |
• | in the case of clause (a) above, payment of all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Indebtedness; or |
• | in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above, payment of all amounts due on all Senior Indebtedness, |
before the holders of the notes are entitled to receive any payment. So long as any of the events in clauses (a), (b), or (c) above has occurred and is continuing, any amounts payable or assets distributable on the notes will instead be paid or distributed, as the case may be, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness to the extent necessary to pay, in the case of clause (a) above, all amounts due or to become due upon all such Senior Indebtedness, or, in the case of clauses (b) and (c) above, all amounts due on all such Senior Indebtedness, and, if any such payment or distribution is received by the trustee under the indenture or the holders of any of the notes before all Senior Indebtedness due and to become due or due, as applicable, is paid, such payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the unpaid Senior Indebtedness. Subject to paying the Senior Indebtedness due and to become due in the case of clause (a) or the Senior Indebtedness due in the case of clauses (b) and (c), the holders of the notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness to receive payments applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the notes are paid in full.
“Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the notes, (i) indebtedness of Energy Transfer, whether outstanding at the date of the indenture or incurred, created or assumed after such date, (a) in respect of money borrowed by Energy Transfer (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument, to the extent any such item is primarily a financing transaction) and (b) evidenced by debentures, bonds, notes, credit or loan agreements or other similar instruments or agreements issued or entered into by Energy Transfer; (ii) all finance lease obligations of Energy Transfer; (iii) all obligations of Energy Transfer issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of Energy Transfer and all obligations of Energy Transfer under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all obligations of Energy Transfer for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; and (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons
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for the payment of which Energy Transfer is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, except for any obligations, instruments or agreements of the type referred to in any of clauses (i) through (v) above that, by the terms of the instruments or agreements creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, are subordinated or equal in right of payment to the notes.
For purposes of the indenture and anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding, the notes shall rank equally in right of payment with the Other Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined below), the Other Junior Subordinated Notes shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the notes, and the notes shall not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Other Junior Subordinated Notes.
“Other Junior Subordinated Notes” means our 2006 Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066, which constitute a separate series of our debt securities under the base indenture and were originally issued on October 23, 2006, and any additional debt securities of the same series which may in the future be issued under the indenture upon any re-opening of such series and any future unsecured indebtedness that we may incur from time to time if the terms of such indebtedness provide that it ranks equally with the notes in right of payment.
Due to the subordination of the notes, if assets of Energy Transfer are distributed upon its dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, holders of its Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness and obligations that are not equal or junior to the notes in right of payment will likely recover more, ratably, than holders of the notes, and it is possible that no payments will be made to the holders of the notes. The subordination provisions described above will cease to apply in the event of defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the notes as described under “—Defeasance and Discharge,” respectively, below in this prospectus supplement.
The notes and the indenture do not limit our ability to incur Senior Indebtedness or our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to incur other secured and unsecured indebtedness, preferred equity or other liabilities. We expect that we and our subsidiaries will incur substantial additional amounts of indebtedness, including Senior Indebtedness, in the future.
Redemption
Optional Redemption
We may at our option redeem the notes, in whole or from time to time in part, (i) on any day in the period commencing on the date falling 90 days prior to the First Reset Date and ending on (and including) the First Reset Date (the “First Reset Period”) and (ii) after the First Reset Date, on any applicable interest payment date at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” below, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.
Redemption Following a Tax Event
We may at our option redeem the notes, in whole but not in part, at any time within 120 days after a Tax Event (as defined below) at a redemption price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” below, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.
A “Tax Event” means that we have received an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of:
• | any amendment to, clarification of, or change, including any announced prospective change, in the laws or treaties of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities, or any regulations under those laws or treaties; |
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• | an administrative action, which means any judicial decision or any official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to issue or adopt any administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation; |
• | any amendment to, clarification of, or change in the official position or the interpretation of any administrative action or judicial decision or any interpretation or pronouncement that provides for a position with respect to an administrative action or judicial decision that differs from the previously generally accepted position, in each case by any legislative body, court, governmental authority or regulatory body, regardless of the time or manner in which that amendment, clarification or change is introduced or made known; or |
• | a threatened challenge asserted in writing in connection with a tax audit of us or any of our subsidiaries, or a publicly-known threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the notes, |
which amendment, clarification or change is effective or the administrative action is taken or judicial decision, interpretation or pronouncement is issued or threatened challenge is asserted or becomes publicly-known after the date of this prospectus supplement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by us on the notes is not deductible, or within 90 days would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by us for United States federal income tax purposes.
Redemption Following a Rating Agency Event
We may at our option redeem the notes, in whole but not in part, at any time during the continuance of and, in any event, within 120 days after the occurrence of, a Rating Agency Event (as defined below) at a redemption price in cash equal to 102% of the principal amount of the notes, plus, subject to the terms described in the first paragraph under “—Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption” below, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but excluding, the redemption date.
“Rating Agency Event” means, as of any date, a change, clarification or amendment in the methodology published by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), that then publishes a rating for Energy Transfer (together with any successor thereto, a “rating agency”) in assigning equity credit to securities such as the notes, (a) as such methodology was in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement, in the case of any rating agency that published a rating for Energy Transfer as of the date of this prospectus supplement, or (b) as such methodology was in effect on the date such rating agency first published a rating for Energy Transfer, in the case of any rating agency that first publishes a rating for Energy Transfer after the date of this prospectus supplement (in the case of either clause (a) or (b), the “current methodology”), that results in (i) any shortening of the length of time for which a particular level of equity credit pertaining to the notes by such rating agency would have been in effect had the current methodology not been changed or (ii) a lower equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) being assigned by such rating agency to the notes as of the date of such change, clarification or amendment than the equity credit that would have been assigned to the notes by such rating agency had the current methodology not been changed.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.
Redemption Procedures; Cancellation of Redemption
Notwithstanding any statement under this caption “—Redemption” to the contrary, installments of interest on the notes that are due and payable on any interest payment date falling on or prior to a redemption date for the notes will be payable on that interest payment date to the registered holders thereof as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the terms of the notes and the indenture, except that, if the redemption date for any notes falls on any day during an Optional Deferral Period (as defined below under “—Option to Defer
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Interest Payments”), accrued and unpaid interest (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest (as defined below under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments”)) on such notes will be paid on such redemption date to the persons entitled to receive the redemption price of such notes. The interest payment date falling immediately after the last day of an Optional Deferral Period shall not be deemed to fall on a day during such Optional Deferral Period.
Notice of redemption will be mailed or otherwise delivered at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of the notes to be redeemed. Once notice of redemption is delivered, the notes called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date at the applicable redemption price, plus, subject to the terms described in the immediately preceding paragraph, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, and will be paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, unless (a) the notice of redemption provides that such redemption shall be subject to the condition described in the next succeeding paragraph and (b) such redemption shall have been canceled in accordance with the provisions of the next succeeding paragraph because such condition shall not have been satisfied. If only part of a note is redeemed, the trustee will issue in the name of the registered holder of the note and deliver to such holder a new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the principal of the note surrendered for redemption. If we elect to redeem all or a portion of the notes, then, unless otherwise provided in such notice of redemption as described in the next succeeding paragraph, the redemption will not be conditional upon receipt by the paying agent or the trustee of monies sufficient to pay the redemption price.
If, at the time a notice of redemption is given, (i) we have not effected satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of the notes as described under “—Defeasance and Discharge” below and (ii) such notice of redemption is not being given in connection with or in order to effect satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of the notes, then, if the notice of redemption so provides and at our option, the redemption may be subject to the condition that the trustee shall have received, on or before the applicable redemption date, monies in an amount sufficient to pay the redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest on the notes called for redemption to, but excluding, the redemption date. If monies in such amount are not received by the trustee on or before such redemption date, such notice of redemption shall be automatically canceled and of no force or effect, such proposed redemption shall be automatically canceled and we shall not be required to redeem the notes called for redemption on such redemption date. In the event that a redemption is canceled, we will, not later than the business day immediately following the proposed redemption date, deliver, or cause to be delivered, notice of such cancellation to the registered holders of the notes called for redemption (which notice will also indicate that any notes or portions thereof surrendered for redemption shall be returned to the applicable holders), and we will direct the trustee to, and the trustee will, promptly return any notes or portions thereof that have been surrendered for redemption to the applicable holders. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price or the proposed redemption is canceled in accordance with the provisions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
If less than all of the notes of a series are redeemed at any time, the trustee will select the notes or any portions thereof in integral multiples of $1,000 to be redeemed on a pro rata basis, by lot or by any other method the trustee deems fair and appropriate and, when the notes are in the form of global securities, in accordance with the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).
Option to Defer Interest Payments
So long as no event of default (as defined below under “—Events of Default”) with respect to the notes has occurred and is continuing, we may, at our option, defer interest payments on the notes, from time to time, for one or more deferral periods of up to 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods (as defined below) each (each such deferral period, commencing on the interest payment date on which the first such deferred interest payment otherwise would have been made, an “Optional Deferral Period”), except that no such Optional Deferral Period may extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes or end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date. During any Optional Deferral Period, interest on the notes will continue to accrue at the
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then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes). In addition, during any Optional Deferral Period interest on the deferred interest (“compound interest”) will accrue at the then-applicable interest rate on the notes (as reset from time to time on any Reset Date occurring during such Optional Deferral Period in accordance with the terms of the notes), compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
No interest will be due or payable on the notes during an Optional Deferral Period, except upon a redemption of any notes on any redemption date during such Optional Deferral Period (in which case all accrued and unpaid interest (including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest) on the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such redemption date will be due and payable on such redemption date), or unless the principal of and interest on the notes shall have been declared due and payable as the result of an event of default with respect to the notes (in which case all accrued and unpaid interest, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest, on the notes shall become due and payable). All references in the notes and, insofar as relates to the notes, the indenture, to “interest” on the notes shall be deemed to include any such deferred interest and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
Before the end of any Optional Deferral Period that is shorter than 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods, we may elect, at our option, to extend such Optional Deferral Period, so long as the entire Optional Deferral Period does not exceed 20 consecutive Interest Payment Periods or extend beyond the final maturity date of the notes. We may also elect, at our option, to shorten the length of any Optional Deferral Period. No Optional Deferral Period (including as extended or shortened) may end on a day other than the day immediately preceding an interest payment date. At the end of any Optional Deferral Period, if all amounts then due on the notes, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, without limitation and to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest), are paid, we may elect to begin a new Optional Deferral Period; provided, however, that, without limitation of the foregoing, we may not begin a new Optional Deferral Period unless we have paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the notes (including, without limitation and to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest) from any previous Optional Deferral Periods.
During any Optional Deferral Period, we (and our subsidiaries, as applicable) will not do any of the following (subject to the exceptions set forth in the next succeeding paragraph):
• | declare or pay any dividends or distributions on any Capital Stock (as defined below) of Energy Transfer; |
• | redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to any Capital Stock of Energy Transfer; |
• | pay any principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any indebtedness of Energy Transfer that ranks equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment; or |
• | make any payments with respect to any guarantees by Energy Transfer of any indebtedness if such guarantees rank equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment. |
However, during an Optional Deferral Period, we may (a) declare and pay dividends or distributions payable solely in our common units (together with cash in lieu of any fractional unit) or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase units of our common units, (b) declare and pay any dividend or distribution in connection with the implementation of a plan (a “Rights Plan”) providing for the issuance by us to all holders of our common units of rights entitling them to subscribe for or purchase common units or any class or series of our preferred equity, which rights (1) are deemed to be transferred with such common units, (2) are not exercisable until the occurrence of a specified event or events and (3) are also issued in respect of future issuances of our common units, (c) issue any of shares of our Capital Stock under any Rights Plan or redeem or repurchase any rights distributed pursuant to a Rights Plan, (d) reclassify our Capital Stock or exchange or convert one class or series of our Capital Stock for another class or series of our Capital Stock, (e) purchase fractional interests in
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shares of our Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Capital Stock or the security being converted or exchanged, and (f) purchase, acquire or withhold our common units related to the issuance of our common units or rights under any dividend reinvestment plan or related to any of our benefit plans for our directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors, including any employment contract.
We will give the holders of the notes and the trustee notice of our election of, or any shortening or extension of, an Optional Deferral Period at least 10 business days prior to the earlier of (1) the next succeeding interest payment date or (2) the date upon which we are required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of the notes of the next succeeding interest payment date or the record date therefor. The record date for the payment of deferred interest and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any compound interest payable on the interest payment date immediately following the last day of an Optional Deferral Period will be the regular record date with respect to such interest payment date.
“Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or shares; (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing person.
“Interest Payment Period” means the semi-annual period from and including an interest payment date to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date, except for the first Interest Payment Period which shall be the period from and including the original issue date to but excluding May 15, 2024.
Events of Default
An “event of default” occurs with respect to the notes if:
(a) | we do not pay any interest on any note when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for 30 days (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions applicable to the notes), except as the result of a deferral of interest payments in accordance with the provisions discussed above under “—Option to Defer Interest Payments”; |
(b) | we do not pay any principal of or premium, if any, on any note when it becomes due and payable (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions applicable to the notes); |
(c) | we remain in breach of any other covenant (excluding covenants solely applicable to one or more other series of debt securities issued under the indenture) in the indenture or the notes for 90 days after there has been given to us, by registered or certified mail, a written notice of default specifying such default or breach and requiring remedy of the default or breach; the notice must be sent by either the trustee or registered holders of at least 33% of the principal amount of the outstanding notes; or |
(d) | Energy Transfer files for bankruptcy or other specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization occur with respect to Energy Transfer. |
However, as discussed below under “—Remedies—Acceleration,” neither the trustee nor the holders of the notes will be entitled to declare the notes to be due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of an event of default described in clause (c) above.
No event of default with respect to the notes will necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any other series issued under the indenture, and no event of default with respect to any such other series of debt securities issued under the indenture will necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to the notes.
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Remedies
Acceleration
If an event of default, other than an event of default described in clause (c) under “—Events of Default” above, occurs and is continuing with respect to the notes, then either the indenture trustee or the registered holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the outstanding notes may declare the principal amount of all of the notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default described in clause (d) “— Events of Default” above occurs and is continuing with respect to the notes and the subordinated debt securities of any other series issued under the indenture, then either the indenture trustee or the registered holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of all outstanding subordinated debt securities may declare the principal amount of all outstanding subordinated debt securities, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately.
However, if an event of default described in clause (c) under “—Events of Default” above occurs and is continuing, neither the trustee nor the registered holders of the notes will be entitled to declare the principal of the notes, or accrued or unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately. See “Risk Factors—Holders of the notes will have limited rights of acceleration” above. However, they may exercise the other rights and remedies available under the indenture upon the occurrence of an event of default.
Rescission of Acceleration
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series may, by written notice to the trustee, rescind any acceleration with respect to the notes of such series and annul its consequences if rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and all existing Events of Default with respect to the notes of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived.
Control by Registered Holders; Limitations
Subject to the indenture, if an event of default with respect to the notes occurs and is continuing, the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes will have the right to:
• | direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee; or |
• | exercise any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee with respect to the notes. |
If an event of default is continuing with respect to all series of subordinated debt securities issued under the indenture, the registered holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of all the series, considered as one class, will have the right to make such direction, and not the registered holders of the notes of any one of the series. These rights of registered holders to make direction are subject to the following limitations:
• | the registered holders’ directions will not conflict with any law or the indenture; and |
• | the registered holders’ directions may be declined to be followed by the indenture trustee where the indenture trustee determines such directions would involve it in personal liability. |
The indenture trustee may also take any other action it deems proper which is consistent with the registered holders’ direction.
Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
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remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the notes of such series. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of notes or that would involve the trustee in personal liability.
Notice of Default
The indenture provides that if a Default (that is, an event that is, or after notice or the passage of time would be, an Event of Default) with respect to the notes occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must send to each holder of notes notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the notes, the trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of notes. In addition, Energy Transfer is required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an officers’ certificate as to compliance with all covenants under the indenture and indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during the previous year. Energy Transfer also is required to deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, an officers’ certificate specifying any Default or Event of Default, its status and what action Energy Transfer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.
Covenants
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.
Energy Transfer shall not, in a transaction or series of transactions, consolidate with or merge into any Person or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:
(1) the Person formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or to which such assets have been sold, leased, conveyed, transferred or otherwise disposed of (the “successor”) is Energy Transfer or expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of Energy Transfer’s obligations and liabilities under the indenture and the notes;
(2) the successor is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and
(3) immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under such indenture.
The successor will be substituted for Energy Transfer in such indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to such indenture. Thereafter, the successor may exercise the rights and powers of Energy Transfer under such indenture. Each of the indentures will provide that if Energy Transfer conveys or transfers all or substantially all of its assets, it will be released from all liabilities and obligations under such indenture and under the notes issued thereunder, except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
No Financial Covenants
The indenture contains no financial or other similar restrictive covenants with respect to the notes.
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Amendments and Waivers
Amendments of the indenture may be made by Energy Transfer and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes of the affected series (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for debt securities). However, without the consent of each holder of an affected note, no amendment may, among other things:
(1) reduce the percentage in principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment;
(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any note beyond the maximum time period for any permitted extension or deferral or to increase the maximum time period for any such interest extension or deferral or increase the maximum number of times we may extend or defer such interest payment;
(3) reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any note;
(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any note as described above under “—Redemption;”
(5) change any obligation of Energy Transfer to pay additional amounts with respect to any note;
(6) make any notes payable in money other than U.S. dollars;
(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s note or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s note;
(8) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal and premium, if any, and interest with respect to such holder’s note; or
(9) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series, on behalf of all such holders, may waive any past or existing default or Event of Default with respect to the notes of such series (including any such waiver obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the notes), except a default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in respect of a provision that under the indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected. A waiver by the holders of notes of any series of compliance with a covenant, a default or an Event of Default will not constitute a waiver of compliance with such covenant or such default or Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture to which such covenant, default or Event of Default applies.
Without the consent of any holder, Energy Transfer and the trustee may amend the indenture to:
(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(2) provide for the assumption by a successor of the obligations of Energy Transfer under the indenture;
(3) provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;
(4) secure the notes;
(5) comply with any requirement in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”);
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(6) add to the covenants of Energy Transfer for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon Energy Transfer;
(7) add any additional Events of Default;
(8) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights under the indenture of any holder;
(9) supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of notes pursuant to the terms of the indenture;
(10) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(11) conform the text of the indenture to any provision of this “Description of the Notes” to the extent that such text of the indenture was intended to reflect such provision of this “Description of the Notes;” and
(12) provide for a successor trustee.
The consent of the holders is not necessary under the indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment with the consent of the holders under the indenture becomes effective, Energy Transfer is required to send to all holders of notes a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all such holders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.
Defeasance and Discharge
Energy Transfer at any time may terminate all its obligations under the indenture as they relate to the notes of any series (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer of or exchange the notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the notes.
If Energy Transfer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the notes of the applicable series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default, and any security that may have been granted with respect to the notes will be released.
In order to exercise the defeasance option, Energy Transfer must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the indenture) or a combination thereof for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes to redemption or stated maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel (subject to customary exceptions and exclusions) to the effect that holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable United States federal income tax law.
In the event of any legal defeasance, holders of the notes would be entitled to look only to the defeasance trust for payment of principal of and any premium and interest on their notes until maturity.
In addition, Energy Transfer may discharge all its obligations under the indenture with respect to the notes, other than its obligation to register the transfer of and exchange notes, provided that either:
• | it delivers all outstanding notes of such series to the trustee for cancellation; or |
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• | all such notes not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point, it has deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such notes, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date. |
Book-Entry System
We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC and its book-entry systems and procedures from DTC, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. In addition, the description in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC as they are currently in effect. DTC could change its rules and procedures at any time.
Each series of the notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC or any successor thereto and registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s nominee). You may hold your interests in the global notes through DTC either as a participant in DTC or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global securities representing the notes, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the notes for all purposes of the notes and the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of DTC or its nominee and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of notes.
The Depository Trust Company. DTC will act as securities depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. DTC has advised us as follows: 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 Federal Reserve System; |
• | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
• | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC facilitates the settlement among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in direct participants��� accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Direct participants of DTC include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants. Access to the DTC system is also available to securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly.
If you are not a direct participant or an indirect participant and you wish to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in, notes, you must do so through a direct participant or an indirect
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participant. DTC agrees with and represents to DTC participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and by-laws and requirements of law. The SEC has on file a set of the rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants.
Purchases of notes under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, who will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each beneficial owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct participants and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct participants or indirect participants through which such beneficial owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. do not affect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Euroclear and Clearstream. If the depositary for a global debt security is DTC, you may hold interests in the global debt security through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank SA/ NV, as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” in each case, as a participant in DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold interests, in each case, on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Euroclear and Clearstream on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities in the depositaries’ names on DTC’s books. Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We have no control over those systems or their participants, and we take no responsibility for their activities. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, would also be subject to DTC’s rules and procedures. Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the debt securities through these systems and wish on a particular day, to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchase or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than transactions within one clearing system. We have obtained the foregoing information concerning Euroclear and Clearstream from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
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Book-Entry Format. Under the book-entry format, the trustee will pay interest or principal payments to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will forward the payment to the direct participants, who will then forward the payment to the indirect participants or to you as the beneficial owner. You may experience some delay in receiving your payments under this system. Neither we, the trustee under the indenture nor any paying agent has any direct responsibility or liability for the payment of principal or interest on the notes to owners of beneficial interests in the notes.
DTC is required to make book-entry transfers on behalf of its direct participants and is required to receive and transmit payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes. Any direct participant or indirect participant with which you have an account is similarly required to make book-entry transfers and to receive and transmit payments with respect to the notes on your behalf. We, the underwriters and the trustee under the indenture have no responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC or any of its direct or indirect participants. We, the underwriters and the trustee under the indenture have no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records kept by DTC or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. We also do not supervise these systems in any way.
The trustee will not recognize you as a holder under the indenture, and you can only exercise the rights of a holder indirectly through DTC and its direct participants. DTC has advised us that it will only take action regarding a note if one or more of the direct participants to whom the note is credited directs DTC to take such action and only in respect of the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which that participant or participants has or have given that direction. DTC can only act on behalf of its direct participants. Your ability to pledge notes to non-direct participants, and to take other actions, may be limited because you will not possess a physical certificate that represents your notes.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among its participants. However, DTC is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and may discontinue those procedures at any time.
Concerning the Trustee
The indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in certain other transactions. However, if it acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act after a default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate the conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign.
If an Event of Default occurs and is not cured or waived, the trustee is required to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will not be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of notes unless they have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities it may incur.
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (successor to U.S. Bank National Association) is the trustee under the indenture and has been appointed by Energy Transfer as registrar and paying agent with regard
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to the notes. The trustee’s address is 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77046. The trustee and its affiliates maintain commercial banking and other relationships with Energy Transfer.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Limited Partners and Members
The directors, officers, employees, limited partners and members of Energy Transfer and the General Partner will not have any personal liability for our obligations under the indenture or the notes. Each holder of notes, by accepting a note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the notes.
“General Partner” means LE GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors as general partner of Energy Transfer.
Governing Law
The indenture and the notes are governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated and proposed thereunder, Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rulings and pronouncements, and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change at any time. Any such change may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the notes. We cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal tax consequences of acquiring, holding or disposing of the notes.
This discussion is limited to persons purchasing the notes in this offering for cash at their initial “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of notes is sold to purchasers other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers) and holding the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). Moreover, the effects of other U.S. federal tax laws (such as estate and gift tax laws or the Medicare tax on investment income) and any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws are not discussed. In addition, this discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
• | dealers in securities or currencies; |
• | traders in securities, commodities or currencies; |
• | U.S. holders (as defined herein) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
• | persons holding the notes as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other risk reduction transaction; |
• | U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
• | banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions; |
• | regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts; |
• | persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; |
• | tax-exempt organizations; |
• | “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
• | persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the notes being taken into account in an applicable financial statement; |
• | partnerships, S corporations or other pass-through entities; and |
• | persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code. |
If a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the notes, the tax treatment of the partners in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the particular partner in question and the activities of the partnership. Such partners should consult their tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences to them of acquiring, holding and disposing of the notes.
Investors considering the purchase of notes should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the notes under U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, and the applicability and effect of state, local or foreign tax laws and tax treaties.
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Classification of the Notes
The determination of whether a security should be classified as indebtedness or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes requires a judgment based on all relevant facts and circumstances. There is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority that directly addresses the U.S. federal income tax treatment of securities similar to the notes. In the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, under current law and based on the facts contained in this prospectus supplement, the terms of the indenture and the notes, and certain assumptions stated in the opinion and representations relied upon in rendering the opinion, the notes should be classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as indebtedness of Energy Transfer (although there is no controlling authority directly on point). The opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP is not binding on the IRS or the courts. Moreover, no rulings have been or will be sought from the IRS with respect to the transactions described in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge the opinion described herein or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the IRS were to successfully challenge the classification of the notes as indebtedness, interest payments on the notes likely would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as guaranteed payments or cash distributions with respect to a preferred partnership interest of Energy Transfer. In such case, distributions by Energy Transfer to a holder generally will not be taxable to the holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds such holder’s tax basis in its partnership interest immediately before the distribution. Cash distributions in excess of a holder’s tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the partnership interest. In addition, such a determination would constitute a Tax Event that would entitle us to redeem the notes as described under “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Following a Tax Event.” We agree, and by acquiring an interest in a note, each beneficial owner of a note will agree, to treat the notes as indebtedness of Energy Transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes this treatment. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences that will arise if the notes are not treated as indebtedness of Energy Transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Consequences to U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that will apply to you if you are a “U.S. holder” of the notes. The term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note who or which is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
• | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation (or other entity that is taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
• | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
• | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more United States persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
Payments of Interest
We have the option under certain circumstances to defer payments of stated interest on the notes. Under the Treasury Regulations relating to original issue discount (“OID”), a debt instrument is deemed to be issued with OID if there is more than a “remote” contingency that periodic stated interest payments due on the instrument will not be timely paid. We believe the likelihood of our exercising the option to defer payment of stated interest on the notes is remote within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations in part because our exercise of the option to defer payments of stated interest on the notes would generally prevent us from:
• | declaring or paying any dividend or distribution on Capital Stock of Energy Transfer; |
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• | redeeming, purchasing, acquiring or making a liquidation payment with respect to any Capital Stock of Energy Transfer; |
• | paying any principal, interest or premium on, or repaying, repurchasing or redeeming, any indebtedness of Energy Transfer that ranks equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment; or |
• | making any payments with respect to any guarantees by Energy Transfer of any indebtedness if such guarantees rank equally with or junior to the notes in right of payment. |
Similarly, if certain circumstances occur (see “Description of the Notes—Redemption—Redemption Following a Rating Agency Event”), we will be obligated to pay amounts in excess of stated principal of the notes. Such excess payments will not affect the amount of interest income that a U.S. holder recognizes if there is only a remote likelihood that such payments will be made. We believe the likelihood that we will make any such payments is remote.
Based on these positions, you generally will be required to recognize any stated interest as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued on the notes in accordance with your regular method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. Our determination that these contingencies are remote is binding on you unless you disclose your contrary position in the manner required by applicable Treasury Regulations. Our determination is not, however, binding on the IRS. There can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with these positions. The meaning of the term “remote” in the Treasury Regulations has not yet been addressed in any rulings or other guidance by the IRS or any court. If the possibility of interest deferral were determined not to be remote, the notes would be treated as issued with OID and all stated interest would be treated as OID as long as the notes are outstanding. In that case, you would be required to accrue interest income on the notes using a constant yield method whether or not you receive any cash payment attributable to that interest, regardless of your regular method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. If the possibility of excess payments following a Rating Agency Event were determined not to be remote, the notes could be treated as “contingent payment debt instruments,” in which case you could be required to accrue interest income on the notes in excess of stated interest and would be required to treat as ordinary income rather than as capital gain any income realized on a taxable disposition of the notes. The notes will be treated as “variable rate debt instruments” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on the application of the Treasury Regulations applicable to variable rate debt instruments and the expected pricing terms of the notes, we also do not expect the pricing of the debentures to result in the notes as being treated as issued with OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes the notes will not be treated as issued with OID or as contingent payment debt instruments.
Exercise of Deferral Option
If we exercise our option to defer the payment of interest on the notes, pursuant to certain applicable Treasury Regulations, we expect to treat the notes as if they had been redeemed and reissued solely for OID purposes. Accordingly, all remaining interest payments on the notes (including interest on deferred interest) could be treated as OID, which you would be required to accrue and include in taxable income on a constant accrual basis over the remaining term of the notes, without regard to the time interest is actually paid on the notes and without regard to your regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The amount of OID income includible in your taxable income would be determined on the basis of a constant yield method over the remaining term of the notes, and the actual receipt of future payments of stated interest on the notes would no longer be separately reported as taxable income. The total amount of OID that would accrue during the deferral period would be approximately equal to the amount of the cash payment due immediately following the end of that period. Any OID included in income would increase your adjusted tax basis in your notes, and your actual receipt of cash interest payments would reduce that adjusted tax basis.
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Sale, Exchange or Disposition of Notes
You will recognize taxable gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note equal to the difference, if any, between:
• | the amount realized upon the disposition of the note (less any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest to the extent not already included in income); and |
• | your adjusted tax basis in the notes. |
Your adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the amount you paid for the note plus any amount that you were required to include in gross income as OID, minus any cash payments you received in respect of accrued OID. Any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition you have held the note for more than one year. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally will be subject to a reduced rate of tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
You may be subject to information reporting on payments of interest (including accrued OID) and principal on the notes and on the proceeds received upon the sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes, and backup withholding also may apply to payments of such amounts. Certain U.S. holders are generally not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. You will be subject to backup withholding if you are not otherwise exempt and:
• | you fail to furnish a taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), which, for an individual, is ordinarily his or her social security number; |
• | you furnish an incorrect TIN; |
• | the applicable withholding agent is notified by the IRS that you have failed to properly report payments of interest or dividends; or |
• | you fail to certify under penalties of perjury that you have furnished a correct TIN and that the IRS has not notified you that you are subject to backup withholding. |
U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and you may use amounts withheld as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or you may claim a refund if you timely provide certain information to the IRS.
Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that will apply to you if you are a “non-U.S. holder” of the notes. A “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a note that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder.
Payments of Interest
Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA withholding below, interest paid on a note (including any OID) to you that is not effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% (or a lower rate if so specified by an applicable income tax treaty) provided that:
• | you do not directly, indirectly or constructively, own 10% or more of our capital or profits interests; |
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• | you are not a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related to us through actual or constructive capital or profits interest ownership and you are not a bank that received such note on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of your trade or business; and |
• | either (1) you certify in a statement provided to the applicable withholding agent, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code and provide your name and address, (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the note on your behalf certifies to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and you, has received from you a statement, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person and you provide the applicable withholding agent with a copy of such statement, or (3) you hold your note directly through a “qualified intermediary” and certain conditions are satisfied. |
Even if the above conditions are not met, you may be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding tax on interest if you provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed (1) IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) claiming an exemption from or reduction of the withholding tax under the benefit of a tax treaty between the United States and your country of residence, or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI stating that interest paid on a note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.
If interest paid to you is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, you also maintain a U.S. permanent establishment to which such interest is attributable), then, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (provided you provide the appropriate certification), you generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest in the same manner as if you were a U.S. holder. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, such interest may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or lower applicable treaty rate.
Sale, Exchange, or Disposition of the Notes
Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, any gain realized by you on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other disposition of a note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (other than any amount allocable to accrued and unpaid interest, which generally will be taxable as interest and may be subject to the rules discussed above in “Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest”) unless:
• | the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is also attributable to your permanent establishment in the United States); or |
• | you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other requirements are met. |
If you recognize gain described in the first bullet point above, you will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale generally in the same manner as if you were a U.S. holder, and if you are a foreign corporation, you may also be required to pay an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate if so specified by an applicable income tax treaty). If you are a non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above, you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate if so specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition of the note, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses, even though you are not considered a resident of the United States.
You should consult your tax advisor regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
You generally will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to payments of interest on the notes if you have provided the statement described above under “Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—Payments of Interest” and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a “United States person,” within the meaning of the Code. In addition, you will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting with respect to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of a note (including a retirement or redemption of a note) within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers if the payor receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person or you otherwise establish an exemption. However, we may be required to report annually to the IRS and to you the amount of, and the tax withheld with respect to, any interest and OID paid to you, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which you reside.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. You generally will be entitled to credit any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or you may claim a refund provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts
Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on payments of interest on a note paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertakes to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA applies currently to payments of interest on a note. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations would eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.
Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to payments of interest on the notes.
The preceding discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information only and is not tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult their tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing of the notes, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.
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Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement by and among us and the underwriters named below, for whom Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC and RBC Capital Markets LLC are acting as representatives, we have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes indicated in the following table:
Underwriters | Principal Amount of the notes | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. | $ | 80,000,000 | ||
Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. | $ | 80,000,000 | ||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. | $ | 80,000,000 | ||
PNC Capital Markets LLC | $ | 80,000,000 | ||
RBC Capital Markets, LLC | $ | 80,000,000 | ||
Barclays Capital Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
BBVA Securities Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
BofA Securities, Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
CIBC World Markets Corp. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Fifth Third Securities, Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Mizuho Securities USA LLC | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
MUFG Securities Americas Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Natixis Securities Americas LLC | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Regions Securities LLC | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. | $ | 21,052,000 | ||
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
SG Americas Securities, LLC | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
TD Securities (USA) LLC | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
Truist Securities, Inc. | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | $ | 21,054,000 | ||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 800,000,000 | ||
|
|
Under the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, if the underwriters take any of the notes, then they are obligated to take and pay for all the notes. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated. The underwriters are offering the notes, 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 notes, 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.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market for the notes, but they have no obligation to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without providing any notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading market for the notes. Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
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prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the public offering price of up to 0.600% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not in excess of 0.400% of the principal amount of the notes. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the underwriters may change the offering price and other selling terms.
The following table summarizes the compensation to be paid by us to the underwriters:
Per note | Total notes | |||||||
Underwriting discount paid by us | 1.000 | % | $ | 8,000,000 |
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering to be paid by us, excluding the underwriting discounts, will be approximately $1.5 million.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any such liabilities.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
• | Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
• | Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. |
• | Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. |
• | Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the notes originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing transaction or a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
These stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the notes or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. As a result the price of the notes may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice.
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the closing date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the tenth business day following the date of this prospectus supplement. This settlement cycle is referred to as “T+10.” Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is two business days preceding the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle T+10, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of notes who wish to trade notes prior to the date that is two business days preceding the settlement date should consult their own advisors.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities.
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In the ordinary course of business, the underwriters and their respective affiliates have from time to time performed and may in the future perform various financial advisory, commercial banking, investment banking, asset leasing and treasury services for us and our affiliates, for which they received, or will continue to receive, customary fees or compensation. In particular, affiliates of each of the underwriters participating in this offering are lenders under our revolving credit facility, and certain of the underwriters or their affiliates are holders of the Series C preferred units, Series D preferred units or Series E preferred units. In addition, each of the underwriters are acting as underwriters for the concurrent offering. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive underwriting commissions from the concurrent offering and each of the underwriters and their affiliates may receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent offering through any repayment of borrowings under such revolving credit facility or redemption of the Series C, D and E preferred units. In addition, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., one of the underwriters, is an affiliate of the trustee under the indenture governing the notes.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective 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, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of ours or our respective subsidiaries. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge, and certain other underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters or their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our and our parent’s securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Selling Restrictions
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Member States of the European Economic Area
The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”). For these purposes a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of:
i. a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”);
ii. a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or
iii. not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded, the “Prospectus Regulation”).
Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.
This EEA selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out in this prospectus supplement.
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Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom (“UK”).
For these purposes a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of:
i. a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”);
ii. a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or
iii. not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK Prospectus Regulation”).
Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not a prospectus for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation or the FSMA.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters are not acting for anyone other than the issuer and will not be responsible to anyone other than the issuer for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in relation to the offering.
This document is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who qualify as investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”). The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) otherwise in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.
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Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
• | a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or |
• | a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired such notes pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except: |
(i) to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;
(ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or
(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law.
Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investments Products).
Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong
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Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan
The notes have not and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued, or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan that requires a registration or filing with or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized or will be authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the notes in Taiwan.
Notice to Prospective Investors in South Korea
The notes may not be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in South Korea or to any resident of South Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of South Korea, including the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and the decrees and regulations thereunder. The notes have not been registered with the Financial Services Commission of South Korea for public offering in South Korea. Furthermore, the notes may not be re-sold to South Korean residents unless the purchaser of the notes complies with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to government approval requirements under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law and its subordinate decrees and regulations) in connection with their purchase.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Arab Emirates
The notes have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws, regulations and rules of the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Dubai International Financial Centre) and is not intended to be a public offer. This prospectus has not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in those the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein, and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on
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their resale. Prospective purchasers of the notes offered should conduct their own due diligence on the notes. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Chile
The notes are not registered in the Securities Registry (Registro de Valores) or subject to the control of the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission (Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros de Chile). This prospectus supplement and other offering materials relating to the offer of the notes do not constitute a public offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, the notes in the Republic of Chile, other than to individually identified purchasers pursuant to a private offering within the meaning of Article 4 of the Chilean Securities Market Act (Ley de Mercado de Valores) (an offer that is not “addressed to the public at large or to a certain sector or specific group of the public”).
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Abu Dhabi Global Market
This prospectus supplement is for distribution only to persons who (a) are outside the Abu Dhabi Global Market, or (b) are Authorised Persons or Recognised Bodies (as such terms are defined in the Financial Services and Markets Regulations 2015 (“FSMR”)), or (c) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 18 of FSMR) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. This document relates to an “Exempt Offer” within the meaning of section 61(3)(a) of the FSMR and Rule 4.3.1 of the Market Rules of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority or otherwise in circumstances which do not require the publication of an “Approved Prospectus” (as defined in section 61(2) of the FSMR).
Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia
No placement document, offering memorandum, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.
Any offer in Australia of the notes may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the notes without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.
The notes applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.
Any person acquiring securities must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions. This prospectus supplement contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.
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The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by our counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters relating to the offering of the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas, which has from time to time provided, and may provide in the future, certain legal services to us and our affiliates.
The audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. Certain information is also incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement as described under “Incorporation by Reference.”
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at www.energytransfer.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, in each case filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC, free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after this material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website or web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at our website.
Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus or in a document to which we expressly have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement.
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The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it. This means that we can disclose information to you by referring you to those documents. The documents that have been incorporated by reference are an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and you should review that information carefully in order to understand the nature of any investment by you in the securities offered by this prospectus supplement. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and that is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update information previously filed with the SEC, and may update or replace information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC:
• | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2023; |
• | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, August 3, 2023 and November 2, 2023, respectively; and |
• | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 25, 2023, March 28, 2023, April 26, 2023, July 25, 2023, August 16, 2023, October 11, 2023, October 13, 2023, October 20, 2023, October 27, 2023 and November 6, 2023. |
All documents subsequently filed by us with SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and until the termination of this offering (excluding, in each case, any information deemed furnished rather than filed), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Upon request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. If you would like a copy of any of these documents, at no cost, please write or call us at:
Energy Transfer LP
8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75225
Attention: Investor Relations
Telephone: (214) 981-0795
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PROSPECTUS
ENERGY TRANSFER LP
Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Preferred Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ET.” Our 7.375% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25.00 per unit, are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ETprC.” Our 7.625% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25.00 per unit, are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ETprD.” Our 7.600% Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25.00 per unit, are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ETprE.”
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 7 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 1, 2021.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “ET,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Partnership” in this prospectus, we mean Energy Transfer LP and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “our general partner,” we mean LE GP, LLC. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our web site address is www.energytransfer.com. The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can 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, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
• | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021. |
• | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2021. |
• | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 6, 2021, January 6, 2021 (Form 8-K/A), January 12, 2021, February 17, 2021, March 5, 2021, April 2, 2021 and May 11, 2021. |
• | The description of our common units contained in the Registration Statement filed on Form 8-A, dated January 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on January 11, 2006, and any amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating the description. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
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You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Energy Transfer LP
8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600
Dallas, Texas 75225
Attn: Investor Relations
(214) 981-0795
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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This prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein contain various forward-looking statements and information that are based on our beliefs and those of our general partner, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are identified as any statement that does not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein, words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “believe,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although we and our general partner believe that the expectations on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key risk factors that may have a direct bearing on our results of operations and financial condition are:
• | the volumes transported on our pipelines and gathering systems; |
• | the level of throughput in our processing and treating facilities; |
• | the fees we charge and the margins they realize for their gathering, treating, processing, storage and transportation services; |
• | the prices and market demand for, and the relationship between, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”); |
• | energy prices generally; |
• | impacts of world health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic; |
• | the prices of natural gas and NGLs compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels; |
• | the general level of petroleum product demand and the availability and price of NGL supplies; |
• | the level of domestic oil, natural gas, and NGL production; |
• | the availability of imported oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
• | actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations; |
• | the political and economic stability of petroleum producing nations; |
• | the effect of weather conditions on demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs; |
• | availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
• | the continued ability to find and contract for new sources of natural gas supply; |
• | availability and marketing of competitive fuels; |
• | the impact of energy conservation efforts; |
• | energy efficiencies and technological trends; |
• | governmental regulation and taxation; |
• | changes to, and the application of, regulation of tariff rates and operational requirements related to our interstate and intrastate pipelines; |
• | hazards or operating risks incidental to the gathering, treating, processing and transporting of natural gas and NGLs; |
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• | competition from other midstream companies and interstate pipeline companies; |
• | loss of key personnel; |
• | loss of key natural gas producers or the providers of fractionation services; |
• | reductions in the capacity or allocations of third-party pipelines that connect with our pipelines and facilities; |
• | the effectiveness of risk-management policies and procedures and the ability of our liquids marketing counterparties to satisfy their financial commitments; |
• | the nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers; |
• | regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties that may affect the timing and cost of our internal growth projects, such as our construction of additional pipeline systems; |
• | risks associated with the construction of new pipelines and treating and processing facilities or additions to our existing pipelines and facilities, including difficulties in obtaining permits and rights-of-way or other regulatory approvals and the performance by third-party contractors; |
• | the availability and cost of capital and our ability to access certain capital sources; |
• | a deterioration of the credit and capital markets; |
• | risks associated with the assets and operations of entities in which we own less than a controlling interests, including risks related to management actions at such entities that we may not be able to control or exert influence; |
• | the ability to successfully identify and consummate strategic acquisitions at purchase prices that are accretive to our financial results and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; |
• | changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, including tax, environmental, transportation and employment regulations or new interpretations by regulatory agencies concerning such laws and regulations; and |
• | the costs and effects of legal and administrative proceedings. |
You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. When considering forward-looking statements, please review the risks described or referenced in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein. Each forward-looking statement made by us in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference herein or therein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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Energy Transfer LP is a publicly traded limited partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. Our core operations include complementary natural gas midstream, intrastate and interstate transportation and storage assets; crude oil, NGLs and refined product transportation and terminalling assets; NGL storage and fractionation; and various acquisition and marketing assets. We also own Lake Charles LNG Company, as well as limited partner interests and the general partner interests of publicly traded master limited partnerships Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) and USA Compression Partners, LP (NYSE: USAC).
The address of our principal executive office is 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600, Dallas, Texas 75225, and the telephone number at this address is (214) 981-0700.
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Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
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Common Units
Our common units represent limited partner interests that entitle the holders to participate in our cash distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as amended to date (our “partnership agreement”). For a description of the rights of holders of our common units to cash distributions, see the section in this prospectus entitled “Distribution Policy.” For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, see the section in this prospectus entitled “Our Partnership Agreement.” We urge you to read the partnership agreement, as the partnership agreement, and not this description, governs the rights of holders of our common units
Unitholder Approval
The following matters require the approval of the majority of our outstanding common units, including the common units owned by our general partner and its affiliates:
• | a merger of our partnership; |
• | a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | the election of a successor general partner in connection with the withdrawal or removal of our general partner; |
• | dissolution or reconstitution of our partnership upon dissolution; and |
• | certain amendments to the partnership agreement. |
The removal of our general partner requires the approval of not less than 66 2/3% of all outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Any removal is subject to the election of a successor general partner by the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates.
Listing
Our outstanding common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ET.” Any additional common units we issue also will be listed on the NYSE.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the common units is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Transfer of Common Units
Any transfers of a common unit will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by us unless the transferee executes and delivers a transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:
• | becomes the record holder of the common units and is an assignee until admitted as a substituted limited partner; |
• | automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner; |
• | agrees to comply with and be bound by and to have executed our partnership agreement; |
• | represents and warrants that such transferee has the right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity to enter into our partnership agreement; |
• | grants the powers of attorney set forth in our partnership agreement; and |
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• | gives the consents and approvals and makes the waivers contained in our partnership agreement. |
An assignee will become a substituted limited partner for the transferred common units upon the consent of our general partner and the recording of the name of the assignee on our books and records. Our general partner may withhold its consent in its sole discretion.
A transferee’s broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver a transfer application. We are entitled to 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 transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon admission as a substituted limited partner for the transferred common units, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application obtains only:
• | the right to assign the common units to a purchaser or other transferee; and |
• | the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner for the transferred common units. |
Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application:
• | will not receive cash distributions or federal income tax allocations, unless the common units are held in a nominee or “street name” account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application; and |
• | may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units. |
The transferor of common units has a duty to provide the transferee with all information that may be necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor does not have a duty to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and has no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer agent.
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the common unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
An assignee of a common unit, after executing and delivering a transfer application, but pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, 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. Our general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to any of our common units owned by an assignee that has not become a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee.
Transferees that do not execute and deliver a transfer application will not be treated as assignees or as record holders of our common units and will not receive cash distributions, federal income tax allocations or reports furnished to holders of our common units.
Capital Contributions
Except as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “—Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and the unitholders will not be required to make additional capital contributions to us.
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Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware Act”) and that it otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, the limited partner’s liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital such limited partner is obligated to contribute to us for its common units plus such limited partner’s share of any undistributed profits and assets and any funds wrongfully distributed to it as described below. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by our limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve certain amendments to our partnership agreement or to take any other action under our 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 our general partner. This liability would extend to persons who transact business with us who reasonably believe that a limited partner is a general partner based on such limited partner’s conduct. Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of our 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 limited 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 will 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 will be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution; provided, however, that such limited partner will have no liability for the amount of the distribution after the expiration of three years from the date of the distribution. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of its assignor to make contributions to the limited partnership, excluding any obligations of the assignor with respect to wrongful distributions, as described above, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to it at the time it became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the partnership agreement.
Our subsidiaries conduct business in multiple states. Maintenance of our limited liability as a limited partner or member of our subsidiaries formed as limited partnerships or limited liability companies, respectively, may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which such subsidiaries conduct business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there. Limitations on the liability of a limited partner or member for the obligations of a limited partnership or limited liability company, respectively, have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If it were determined that we were, by virtue of our limited partner interest or limited liability company interest in our subsidiaries or otherwise, 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 our limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve certain amendments to our partnership agreement or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted “participation in the control” of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then our limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general partner under the circumstances. We will operate in a manner that our general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
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 management. If at any time any person
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or group (other than our general partner or its affiliates) beneficially owns 20% or more of any outstanding partnership securities of any class then outstanding, all partnership securities owned by such person or group shall not be voted on any matter and shall not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of limited partners to vote on any matter (unless otherwise required by law), calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum or for other similar purposes under our partnership agreement. The foregoing limitation does not apply (i) to any person or group who acquired 20% or more of any outstanding partnership securities of any class then outstanding directly from our general partner or its affiliates, (ii) to any person or group who acquired 20% or more of any outstanding partnership securities of any class then outstanding directly or indirectly from a person or group described in clause (i) provided that our general partner has notified such person or group in writing that such limitation will not apply, or (iii) to any person or group who acquired 20% or more of any partnership securities issued by us with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “—Change of Management Provisions,” unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, will be voted by the general partner at the written direction of the record holder.
Absent direction of this kind, the units will not be voted, except that, in the case of units held by our general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, our general partner will distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.
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.
Special meetings of the unitholders may be called by the general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.
Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to its percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. However, if at any time any person or group, other than the general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of the 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. Units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instructions of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and its nominee provides otherwise.
Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent.
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Holders of common units have very limited voting rights and may vote on the following matters:
• | a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | the election of a successor general partner in connection with the withdrawal or removal of our general partner; |
• | dissolution or reconstitution of our partnership; |
• | a merger of our partnership; |
• | issuance of limited partner interests in some circumstances; and |
• | some amendments to the partnership agreement, including any amendment that would cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation. |
Removal of our general partner requires:
• | a 66 2/3% vote of all outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and affiliates; and |
• | the election of a successor general partner by the holders of a unit majority, including units held by our general partner and affiliates. |
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books and records with respect to our business at our principal offices. Our books are maintained, for both federal income tax and financial reporting purposes, on an accrual basis. For both federal income tax and financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year end is December 31.
We will furnish or make available to record holders of common units, no later than 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 registered public accounting firm. Except for the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, we will also furnish or make available unaudited financial statements no later than 90 days after the close of each quarter.
We will furnish each record holder with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Except as described below, each limited partner has the right, for a purpose reasonably related to such limited partner’s interest as a limited partner in our partnership, upon reasonable written demand and at such limited partner’s own expense:
• | to obtain true and full information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; |
• | promptly after becoming available, to obtain a copy of our federal, state and local income tax returns for each year; |
• | to have furnished to it a current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each partner; |
• | to have furnished to it a copy of our partnership agreement and our certificate of limited partnership and all amendments thereto, together with copies of all powers of attorney pursuant to which our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership and all amendments thereto have been executed; |
• | to obtain true and full information regarding the amount of cash and a description and statement of the net agreed value of any other capital contribution by each partner and that each partner has agreed to contribute in the future, and the date on which each became a partner; and |
• | to obtain such other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable. |
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The general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which the general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests, could damage the partnership group or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
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This description is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. The provisions of our partnership agreement relating to distributions of our available cash are described under “Distribution Policy.”
The description of our partnership agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of our Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated February 8, 2006, as amended. A copy of our partnership agreement is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2006, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 29, 2006, as amended by Amendment No. 2 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 13, 2007, as amended by Amendment No. 3 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 2, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 4 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 27, 2013, as amended by Amendment No. 5 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 6 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 19, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 7 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 8, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 8 to our partnership agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2021, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read our partnership agreement, as our partnership agreement, and not this description, governs our partnership interests.
Purpose
Under our partnership agreement, we are permitted to engage, directly or indirectly, in 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 may not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that our 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 unitholder, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder, by accepting the 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 the authority to amend, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.
Distributions
Pursuant to our partnership agreement, we make quarterly distributions of available cash to all unitholders and our general partner. Please see “Distribution Policy.”
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. Our general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.
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Issuance of Additional Partnership Securities; Preemptive Rights
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities and options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to the partnership securities for any partnership purpose at any time and from time to time to such persons, for such consideration and on such terms and conditions as our general partner determines, all without the approval of any limited partners.
It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity 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 partnership interests may dilute (i) the percentage interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets and (ii) the voting rights of the then-existing holders of common units under our partnership agreement.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities that have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled.
Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will have the right to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its then-current general partner interest in us; provided, however, that the capital contributions of our general partner will be offset to the extent contributions received by us in exchange for the issuance of additional partnership securities are used by us concurrently with such contributions to redeem or repurchase from any person outstanding partnership securities of the same class as the partnership securities that were issued. 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 its percentage interest, including its interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance.
The holders of our common units do not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.
As of May 10, 2021, we had 669,138,613 Class A units representing limited partner interests (the “Class A units”) outstanding. The Class A units vote together with our common units, as a single class, on any matter for which the holders of common units are entitled to vote, except as required by law. Additionally, for so long as Kelcy Warren is an officer or a director of our general partner, upon the issuance by us of additional common units or any securities that have voting rights that are pari passu with our common units, we will issue to the holder of Class A units a number of additional Class A units such that the holder maintains a voting interest in us that is identical to its voting interest in us prior to such issuance. The Class A units are not entitled to distributions and otherwise have no economic attributes, except that the Class A units in the aggregate will be entitled to an aggregate $100 distribution prior and in preference to any distribution of assets to the holders of any other classes or series of our securities upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Class A units are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, common units. In addition to the other voting rights of the Class A units, without the approval of 66 2/3% of the Class A units, we may not take any action that disproportionately or materially adversely affects the rights, preferences or privileges of the Class A units or amend the terms of the Class A units. Without the prior approval of a conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner, the Class A units may not be transferred to any person or entity, other than to Kelcy Warren, Ray Davis or to any trust, family partnership or family limited liability company the sole beneficiaries, partners or members of which are Kelcy Warren, Ray Davis or their respective relatives.
Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement
General
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. Our general partner has no duty or obligation to propose any amendment to our partnership agreement and may decline to do
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so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us, any limited partner or assignee and, in declining to propose an amendment, is not required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by our partnership agreement, any other agreement contemplated under our partnership agreement or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation. A proposed amendment will be effective upon its approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units (a “unit majority”), unless a greater or different percentage is required under our partnership agreement or by Delaware law. Each proposed amendment that requires the approval of the holders of a specified percentage of outstanding units will be set forth in a writing that contains the text of the proposed amendment. If such an amendment is proposed, our general partner will seek the written approval of the requisite percentage of outstanding units or call a meeting of the unitholders to consider and vote on such proposed amendment. Our general partner will notify all record holders upon final adoption of any such proposed amendments.
Restrictions on Certain Amendments
Our partnership agreement provides that:
(1) | no provision of our partnership agreement that establishes a percentage of outstanding units (including units deemed owned by our general partner) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of reducing such voting percentage unless such amendment is approved by the written consent or the affirmative vote of holders of outstanding units whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced; |
(2) | no amendment to our partnership agreement may (a) enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless such shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of an amendment approved pursuant to clause (3) below, (b) 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 to, our general partner or any of its affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld at its option, (c) change the provision of our partnership agreement providing for our dissolution upon an election to dissolve our partnership by our general partner that is approved by a unit majority (the “election to dissolve provision”), or (d) change the term of our partnership or, except as set forth in the election to dissolve provision, give any person the right to dissolve our partnership; |
(3) | except for mergers or consolidations approved pursuant to the partnership agreement, and without limitation of our general partner’s authority to adopt amendments to our partnership agreement described below under “—No Unitholder Approval,” any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any class of partnership interests in relation to other classes of partnership interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding partnership interests of the class affected; |
(4) | except for amendments described below under “—No Unitholder Approval” and except in connection with unitholder approval of a merger or consolidation, no amendments shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units voting as a single class unless we obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment will not affect the limited liability of any limited partner under applicable law; and |
(5) | except for amendments described below under “—No Unitholder Approval,” the provisions set forth in clauses (1) through (4) above may only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units. |
No Unitholder Approval
Our general partner, without the approval of any limited partner, may amend any provision of our partnership agreement to reflect:
(1) | a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our registered agent or our registered office; |
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(2) | admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement; |
(3) | a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to qualify or continue the qualification of our partnership 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 the members of the partnership group will not be treated as associations taxable as corporations or otherwise taxed as entities for federal income tax purposes; |
(4) | a change that our general partner determines (a) does not adversely affect the limited partners (including any particular class of partnership interests as compared to other classes of partnership interests) in any material respect, (b) to be necessary or appropriate to (i) 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 (including the Delaware Act) or (ii) facilitate the trading of our units (including the division of any class or classes of outstanding units into different classes to facilitate uniformity of tax consequences within such classes of units) or comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any national securities exchange on which the units are or will be listed for trading, (c) to be necessary or appropriate in connection with action taken by our general partner pursuant to the provisions of our partnership agreement governing distributions, subdivisions and combinations of partnership securities or (d) is required to effect the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or is otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement; |
(5) | a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and any other changes that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate as a result of a change in our fiscal year or taxable year, including, if our general partner shall so determine, a change in the definition of “Quarter” under our partnership agreement and the dates on which distributions are to be made by us; |
(6) | an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of counsel, to prevent us, or our general partner or its directors, officers, trustees or agents from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, regardless of whether such are substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed by the United States Department of Labor; |
(7) | subject to certain limitations, an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization of issuance of any class or series of partnership securities pursuant to our partnership agreement; |
(8) | any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone; |
(9) | an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement approved in accordance with the provisions of our partnership agreement; |
(10) | an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate to reflect and account for the formation by us of, or investment by us in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, in connection with the conduct by us of activities permitted by the terms of our partnership agreement; |
(11) | a merger or conveyance pursuant to which (a) our general partner has received an opinion of counsel that the conversion, merger or conveyance, as the case may be, would not result in the loss of the limited liability of any limited partner or any member of the partnership group or cause us or any member of the partnership group to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously treated as such), (b) the sole purpose of such conversion, merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in the legal form |
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of us into another limited liability entity and (c) the governing instruments of the new entity provide the limited partners and our general partner with the same rights and obligations as are contained in our partnership agreement; or |
(12) | any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing. |
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ notice to our unitholders, and that withdrawal will not constitute a breach of our partnership agreement. In addition, our 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.
If our general partner gives a notice of withdrawal, the holders of a unit majority, may, prior to the effective date of such withdrawal, elect a successor general partner. The person so elected as successor general partner will automatically become the successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the other members of the partnership group of which our general partner is a general partner or a managing member. If, prior to the effective date of our general partner’s withdrawal, a successor is not selected by our unitholders or we do not receive a withdrawal opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, our partnership will be dissolved in accordance with our partnership agreement.
Our general partner may be removed if such removal is approved by our unitholders holding at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units (including units held by our general partner and its affiliates). The right of the holders of outstanding units to remove our general partner may not be exercised unless we have received a withdrawal opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. The ownership of more than 33 1/3% of our outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give it the practical ability to prevent its removal.
We will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred in connection with the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for the benefit of us or the other members of the partnership group.
Transfer of General Partner Interest
Our general partner may transfer all or any of its general partner interest without unitholder approval. At any time, the members of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of their membership interests in our general partner to an affiliate or a third party without the approval of our unitholders.
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
We will continue as a limited partnership until dissolved under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:
• | the withdrawal, removal, bankruptcy or dissolution of our general partner, unless a successor general partner is elected prior to or on the effective date of such withdrawal, removal, bankruptcy or dissolution and a withdrawal opinion of counsel is received by us; |
• | an election to dissolve us by our general partner that is approved by the holders of a unit majority; |
• | the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of us pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act; or |
• | the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of the partnership group. |
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Upon (a) our dissolution following the withdrawal or removal of our general partner and the failure of the partners to select a successor general partner, then within 90 days thereafter, or (b) our dissolution upon the bankruptcy or dissolution of our general partner, then, to the maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a unit majority may elect to reconstitute us and continue our business on the same terms and conditions set forth in our partnership agreement by forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those set forth in our partnership agreement and having as the successor general partner a person approved by the holders of a unit majority. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above, we shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up our affairs.
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates hold more than 90% of the total limited partner interests of any class then outstanding, our general partner will then have the right, which right it may assign and transfer in whole or in part to us or any affiliate of our general partner, exercisable at its option, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such limited partner interests of such class then outstanding held by persons other than our general partner and its affiliates. As a consequence, a unitholder may be required to sell his common units at an undesirable time or price.
Indemnification
Section 17-108 of the Delaware Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever. Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons (each an “indemnitee”) to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an indemnitee:
• | our general partner; |
• | any departing general partner; |
• | any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner; |
• | any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, fiduciary or trustee of any member of the partnership group, our general partner or any departing partner or any affiliate of any member of the partnership group, our general partner or any departing partner; |
• | any person who is or was serving at the request of our general partner or any departing partner or any affiliate of our general partner or any departing partner as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another person (provided, that a person will not be an indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services); or |
• | any person that our general partner designates as an “indemnitee” for purposes of our partnership agreement. |
Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees in its sole discretion, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, such 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 the partnership agreement.
Under our partnership agreement, an indemnitee will not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to our partnership agreement, the
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indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
In the opinion of the SEC, indemnification provisions that purport to include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act are contrary to public policy and are, therefore, unenforceable.
Registration Rights
Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any 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. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
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General
We will distribute to our unitholders, within 50 days after the end of each quarter, all of our available cash in the manner described below.
Definition of Available Cash
Available cash generally means, for any calendar quarter, all cash on hand at the end of such quarter:
• | less the amount of cash that the general partner determines in good faith is necessary or appropriate to: |
• | provide for the proper conduct of business; |
• | satisfy general, administrative and other expenses and debt service requirements; |
• | comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements; |
• | provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters; or |
• | provide funds for distributions on our outstanding preferred units and Class B units; |
• | plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter. |
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation
If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called a liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors in the order of priority provided in the partnership agreement and by law, and, thereafter, we will distribute $100 to the holders of our Class A Units in the aggregate and any remaining proceeds to our other unitholders, including the holders of our common units and our general partner, in accordance with their respective positive capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
No unitholder will have any obligation to restore any negative balance in its capital account upon liquidation of us.
Distributions to Preferred Unitholders
Prior to making any distributions to the unitholders as described above, the holders of our preferred units are entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our general partner out of legally available funds for such purpose, cumulative quarterly cash distributions. Unless otherwise determined by our general partner, distributions on the ET preferred units are deemed to have been paid out of available cash with respect to the quarter ended immediately preceding the quarter in which the distribution is made.
Distributions on each class of ET preferred units are subject to an initial fixed distribution rate for a specified term, followed by a floating or reset distribution rate, as applicable, to extend thereafter until all outstanding ET preferred units of that class are redeemed.
The Series A preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 6.250% of the Series A liquidation preference of $1,000 per Series A preferred unit (the “Series A Liquidation Preference”) until February 14, 2023 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series A Liquidation Preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 4.028% per annum.
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The Series B preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 6.625% of the Series B liquidation preference of $1,000 per Series B preferred unit (the “Series B Liquidation Preference”) until February 14, 2028 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series B Liquidation Preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 4.155% per annum.
The Series C preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 7.375% of the Series C liquidation preference of $25.00 per Series C preferred unit (the “Series C Liquidation Preference”) until May 14, 2023 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series C Liquidation Preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 4.530% per annum.
The Series D preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 7.625% of the Series D liquidation preference of $25.00 per Series D preferred unit (the “Series D Liquidation Preference”) until August 14, 2023 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series D Liquidation Preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 4.738% per annum.
The Series E preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 7.600% of the Series E liquidation preference of $25.00 per Series E preferred unit (the “Series E Liquidation Preference”) until May 15, 2024 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series E Liquidation Preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 5.161% per annum.
The Series F preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 6.750% of the Series F liquidation preference of $1,000 per Series F preferred unit (the “Series F Liquidation Preference”) until May 15, 2025 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series D Liquidation Preference equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Series F Reset Distribution Determination Date plus a spread of 5.134% per annum.
The Series G preferred units have an initial distribution rate of 7.125% of the Series G liquidation preference of $1,000 per Series G preferred unit (the “Series G Liquidation Preference”) until May 15, 2030 and, thereafter, distributions will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the Series G Liquidation Preference equal to the Five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Series G Reset Distribution Determination Date plus a spread of 5.306% per annum.
Distributions to Other Units
Our partnership agreement provides that each Class B unit is entitled to a quarterly cash distribution in an amount equal to $0.35325 per Class B unit. If we are unable to pay the Class B unit quarterly distribution with respect to any quarter, (i) the amount of such accrued and unpaid distributions will accumulate until paid in full in cash and (ii) the balance of such accrued and unpaid distributions shall increase at a rate of 1.5% per annum, compounded quarterly, from the date such distribution was due until the date it is paid.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED UNITS
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities on the terms and conditions established by our general partner without the approval of any of our limited partners. In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may issue additional partnership interests that have special voting rights to which our common units are not entitled.
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any preferred units issued by us that may be offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus.
As of June 1, 2021, we had outstanding:
• | 950,000 6.250% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $1,000 per unit, representing a limited partner interest in ET (“Series A preferred units”); |
• | 550,000 6.625% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $1,000 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series B preferred units”); |
• | 18,000,000 7.375% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series C preferred units”); |
• | 17,800,000 7.625% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series D preferred units”); |
• | 32,000,000 7.600% Series E Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $25 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series E preferred units” and, together with the Series D preferred units and the Series E preferred units, the “retail preferred units”); |
• | 500,000 6.750% Series F Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $1,000 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series F preferred units”); and |
• | 1,100,000 7.125% Series G Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, liquidation preference $1,000 per unit, representing limited partner interests in ET (the “Series G preferred units” and, together with the Series A preferred units, the Series B preferred units and the Series F preferred units, the “institutional preferred units” and, together with the retail preferred units, the “existing preferred units”). |
We urge you to read our partnership agreement, as our partnership agreement, and not this description, governs our partnership interests.
Distributions
The holders of each series of existing preferred units are entitled to receive cumulative distributions as described under “Our Partnership Agreement—Distributions to Preferred Unitholders.”
Listing
The Series C preferred units, Series D preferred units and the Series E preferred units are listed on the NYSE under the symbols “ETprC,” “ETprD“ and “ETprE,” respectively. The institutional preferred units are not listed on any securities exchange.
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Ranking
Each series of existing preferred units, with respect to anticipated semi-annual or quarterly distributions and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of our affairs, ranks:
• | senior to any junior securities (including our common units and the general partner interest); |
• | pari passu with any parity securities (including each other series of our preferred units, including the existing preferred units); and |
• | junior to any senior securities. |
Each series of existing preferred units is subordinated to all of our and our subsidiaries’ existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including our senior notes, and any other senior securities we may issue in the future with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against us).
Under our partnership agreement, we may issue junior securities from time to time in one or more series without the consent of the holders of the existing preferred units. Our general partner has the authority to determine the designations, preferences, rights, powers, and duties of any such series before the issuance of any units of that series. Our general partner will also determine the number of units constituting each series of securities. Our ability to issue additional parity securities in certain circumstances or senior securities is limited as described below under “Voting Rights.”
Optional Redemption
Institutional Preferred Units
At any time on or after February 15, 2023, with respect to the Series A preferred units, the Series F preferred units and the Series G preferred units, or February 15, 2028, with respect to the Series B preferred units, we may redeem each series of institutional preferred units, in whole or in part, out of amounts legally available therefor, at a redemption price of $1,000 per unit plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption, whether or not declared. In addition, we may redeem each series of institutional preferred units, in whole but not in part, at a price of $1,020 per unit upon the occurrence of certain changes to the equity credit criteria attributed to the applicable series of institutional preferred units by any of ET’s rating agencies as further described in our partnership agreement. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and would be subject to compliance with the provisions of the instruments governing our outstanding indebtedness. With respect to the Series A preferred units and the Series B preferred units, we must provide not less than 15 days’ and not more than 60 days’ written notice of any such redemption. With respect to the Series F preferred units and the Series G preferred units, we must provide not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ written notice of any such redemption. We may undertake multiple partial redemptions with respect to each series of institutional preferred units.
Retail Preferred Units
At any time on or after May 15, 2023, with respect to the Series C preferred units, August 15, 2023, with respect to the Series D preferred units, and May 15, 2024, with respect to the Series E preferred units, we may redeem each series of retail preferred units, in whole or in part, out of amounts legally available therefor, at a redemption price of $25 per unit plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption, whether or not declared. In addition, we may redeem each series of retail preferred units, in whole but not in part, at a price of $25.50 per unit upon the occurrence of certain changes to the equity credit criteria attributed to the applicable series of retail preferred units by any of ET’s rating agencies as further described in our partnership agreement. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and would be subject to compliance with the provisions of the instruments governing our outstanding indebtedness. We must provide not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ written notice of any such redemption. We may undertake multiple partial redemptions with respect to each series of retail preferred units.
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Conversion Rights
The existing preferred units are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property at the option of the holder.
Liquidation Rights
If necessary, the holders of outstanding existing preferred units will first be specially allocated items of our gross income and gain in a manner designed to cause, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ET’s affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, a liquidation preference of $1,000 per unit with respect to the institutional preferred units and a liquidation preference of $25 per unit with respect to the retail preferred units.
If the amount of ET’s gross income and gain available to be specially allocated to the existing preferred units is not sufficient to cause the capital account of such existing preferred unit to equal the liquidation preference of the existing preferred unit, then the amount that a holder of such existing preferred unit would receive upon liquidation may be less than the liquidation preference of such existing preferred unit. Any accumulated and unpaid distributions on the existing preferred units and the parity securities will be paid prior to any distributions in liquidation made in accordance with capital account balances. The rights of holders of the existing preferred units to receive the liquidation preference will be subject to the rights of the holders of any senior securities and the proportional rights of holders of the parity securities. A consolidation or merger of ET with or into any other entity, individually or in a series of transactions, will not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ET’s affairs.
Voting Rights
Except as described below, holders of the existing preferred units generally have no voting rights.
Unless ET has received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding units of each series of existing preferred units, voting as a separate class, we may not adopt any amendment to our partnership agreement that would have a material adverse effect on the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of such series of existing preferred units.
In addition, unless we have received the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding existing preferred units, voting as a class together with holders of any other parity securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, we may not (i) create or issue any parity securities (including any additional existing preferred units) if the cumulative distributions payable on then outstanding existing preferred units (or parity securities, if applicable) are in arrears, or (ii) create or issue any senior securities.
On any matter on which the holders of the existing preferred units are entitled to vote as a class, such holders will be entitled to one vote per existing preferred unit.
Transfer of Units
There is no restriction on the transfer of the existing preferred units other than restrictions and conditions applicable to transfers of any limited partner interests under our partnership agreement.
Preemptive Rights
No holder of existing preferred units has any preemptive, preferential or other similar right with respect to the issuance of additional partnership securities under our partnership agreement.
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Rights Upon a Change of Control
The holders of existing preferred units do not have any specific rights or protections upon a change of control at ET.
Sinking Fund
The existing preferred units do not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us, as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (as amended or supplemented (the “indenture”). We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
• | the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions); |
• | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
• | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
• | the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable; |
• | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
• | the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered; |
• | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
• | any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within |
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which, the price or prices at which and in the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
• | the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
• | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
• | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
• | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
• | the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
• | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
• | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
• | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
• | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
• | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
• | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
• | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
• | the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange; |
• | any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; and |
• | whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. |
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The Subsidiary Guarantees
Our payment obligations under any series of debt securities may be jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by one or more Subsidiary Guarantors. If a series of debt securities are so guaranteed, the Subsidiary Guarantors will execute a notation of guarantee as further evidence of their guarantee. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors. If a series of debt securities is guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors and is designated as subordinate to our Senior Indebtedness, then the guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors will be subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors to substantially the same extent as the series is subordinated to our Senior Indebtedness. Please read “—Subordination.”
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Please see “Global Securities.”
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person unless:
• | either (i) we are the surviving person in the case of a merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving person is (a) a partnership, limited liability company or corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of Columbia and (b) expressly assumes by supplemental indenture our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; |
• | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; |
• | if we are not the surviving person, then any Subsidiary Guarantor, unless it is the person with which we have consummated a transaction under this provision, shall have confirmed that its guarantee of the notes shall continue to apply to the obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and |
• | we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, and if a supplemental indenture is required, the supplemental indenture, comply with the indenture. |
Thereafter, the surviving person will be substituted for us under the indenture. If we sell or otherwise dispose of (except by lease) all or substantially all of our assets and the above stated requirements are satisfied, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and the debt securities.
A series of debt securities may contain additional financial and other covenants. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of any such covenants that are added to the indenture specifically for the benefit of holders of a particular series.
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
Events of Default
“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
• | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
• | default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity; |
• | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us, or if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by any Subsidiary Guarantor, by such Subsidiary Guarantor, in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
• | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us, or, if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by any Subsidiary Guarantor, of such Subsidiary Guarantor; |
• | if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by any Subsidiary Guarantor, any of the subsidiary guarantees; |
• | ceases to be in full force and effect, except as otherwise provided in the indenture; |
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• | is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding; or |
• | any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the indenture or its guarantee; or |
• | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
• | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; |
• | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a |
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majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days; |
• | the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 90 calendar days of such notice; and |
• | during or prior to such 90-day period, the trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of such series a direction inconsistent with such request. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each holder of the debt securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
• | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
• | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”; |
• | to add any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the debt securities; |
• | to secure the debt securities and/or any guarantees; |
• | to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; |
• | to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series; |
• | to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture; |
• | to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series; |
• | to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary; |
• | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities; |
• | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
• | to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or |
• | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments.
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We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
• | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
• | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
• | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
• | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
• | waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
• | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
• | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
• | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall
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confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
• | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
• | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”). |
The conditions include:
• | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
• | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will provide that we may satisfy and discharge the indenture as it relates to any series of debt securities if the debt securities of such series have matured or will mature within one year by reason of a redemption or otherwise, if certain requirements set forth in the indenture are satisfied.
No Personal Liability
None of the past, present or future partners, incorporators, managers, members, directors, officers, employees, unitholders of us or our general partner, as such, will be liable for:
• | any of our obligations or the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantors under the debt securities, the indenture or the guarantees; or |
• | any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. |
By accepting a debt security, each holder will be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for our issuance of the debt securities. This waiver may not be effective, however, to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
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Conversion or Exchange Rights
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common units. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of common units to be received by holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.
Subordination
Debt securities of a series may be subordinated to our “Senior Indebtedness,” which we define generally to include any obligation created or assumed by us for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof, whether outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation, it is provided that such obligation is subordinate or not superior in right of payment to the debt securities or to other obligations that are pari passu with or subordinated to the debt securities. Subordinated debt securities and any related guarantees will be subordinate in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the indenture and the prospectus supplement relating to such series, to the prior payment of all of our indebtedness and that of, if applicable, any Subsidiary Guarantor that is designated as “Senior Indebtedness” with respect to the series.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the debt securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
The indenture will provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.
The indenture will provide that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture will further provide that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture will further provide that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
DTC has advised us that it 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 Federal Reserve System; |
• | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
• | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or 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. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
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So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and unless if otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
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As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:
• | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be; |
• | we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or |
• | an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities, |
we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
Euroclear and Clearstream
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.
Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.
Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
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Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
Other
The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any agent of ours will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.
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We may sell the offered securities from time to time:
• | through underwriters or dealers; |
• | through agents; |
• | directly to one or more purchasers; or |
• | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
This section is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective common unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to our general partner and us, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. A description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of preferred units and debt securities will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering of such units or securities. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the 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 “we”, “us” or “our” are references to Energy Transfer LP and our operating subsidiaries.
The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or our unitholders and does not describe the application of the alternative minimum tax that may be applicable to certain 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, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, trusts, nonresident aliens, U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons (including, without limitation, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and foreign persons eligible for the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty with the United States), individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate investment trusts (REITs) or mutual funds, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities, U.S. persons whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, persons holding their units as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction, persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to our common units being taken into account in an applicable financial statement and persons deemed to sell their units under the constructive sale provisions of the Code. In addition, the discussion only comments, to a limited extent, on state, local and foreign tax consequences. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult his own tax advisor in analyzing the state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of our common units and potential changes in applicable laws.
No ruling has been requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding our characterization as a partnership for tax purposes. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Latham & Watkins LLP. 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, including the prices at which our 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.
All statements as to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us and our general partner.
Notwithstanding the above, and for the reasons described below, Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (i) the treatment of a unitholder
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whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales”); (ii) whether all aspects of our monthly method for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “—Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); (and iii) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” and “—Uniformity of Units”).
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 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 Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income.” Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation and processing of certain minerals and natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas and other products of a type that are produced in a petroleum refinery or natural gas processing plant, the retail and wholesale marketing of propane, the transportation of propane and natural gas liquids, certain related hedging activities, certain activities that are intrinsic to other qualifying activities, and our allocable share of our subsidiaries’ income from these sources. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, real property rents, 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 3% 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 our general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Latham & Watkins LLP is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that is qualifying income may change from time to time.
The IRS has made no determination as to our status or the status of our operating subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP on such matters. It is the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP that, based upon the Code, the Treasury Regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below that:
• | we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; and |
• | each of our operating subsidiaries, except as otherwise identified to Latham & Watkins LLP, will be disregarded as an entity separate from us or will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. |
In rendering its opinion, Latham & Watkins LLP has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Latham & Watkins LLP has relied include:
• | neither we nor any of our partnership or limited liability company subsidiaries, other than those identified as such to Latham & Watkins LLP, have elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes; |
• | for each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of the type that Latham & Watkins LLP has opined or will opine is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and |
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• | each commodity 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 Latham & Watkins LLP has opined or will opine result in qualifying income. |
We believe that these representations have been true in the past, are true as of the date hereof and expect that these representations will continue to 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 our 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 taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current and 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 units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder’s tax basis in his 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 Latham & Watkins LLP’s opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders of Energy Transfer LP will be treated as partners of Energy Transfer 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 Energy Transfer LP for federal income tax purposes.
A beneficial owner of our common units whose common 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 read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales.”
Income, gains, losses or deductions would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of holding our units. The references to “unitholders” in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Energy Transfer LP for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income
Subject to the discussion below under “—Entity-Level Collections,” 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
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and deductions without regard to whether we make cash distributions to 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 the 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 read “—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,” each as defined in the Code, and collectively, “Section 751 Assets.” To that extent, a unitholder 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 a unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder’s tax basis (often zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Units
A unitholder’s initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount the unitholder paid for the common units plus the unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income, by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and, on the disposition of a common unit, by his share of certain items related to business interest not yet deductible by him due to applicable limitations. Please read “—Limitations on Interest Deductions.” 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, by his share of our excess business interest (generally, the excess of our business interest over the amount that is deductible) and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our general partner to the extent of the general partner’s “net value” as defined in Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 752 of the Code, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read “—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
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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 unitholder’s tax basis in his 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 a unitholder’s investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or the unitholder’s salary, active business or other 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.
An additional loss limitation may apply to certain of our unitholders for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026. A non-corporate unitholder will not be allowed to take a deduction for certain excess business losses in such taxable years. An excess business loss is the excess (if any) of a taxpayer’s aggregate deductions for the taxable year that are attributable to the trades or businesses of such taxpayer (determined without regard to the excess business loss limitation) over the aggregate gross income or gain of such taxpayer for the taxable year that is attributable to such trades or businesses plus a threshold amount. The threshold amount is equal to $262,000, or $524,000 for taxpayers filing a joint return. Any losses disallowed in a taxable year due to the excess business loss limitation may be used by the applicable unitholder in the following taxable year if certain conditions are met. Unitholders to which this excess business loss limitation applies will take their allocable share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction into account in determining this limitation. This excess business loss limitation will be applied to a non-corporate unitholder after the passive loss limitations and may limit such unitholders’ ability to utilize any losses we generate that are allocable to such unitholder and that are not otherwise limited by the basis, at-risk and passive loss limitations described above.
Limitations on Interest Deductions
Our ability to deduct interest paid or accrued on indebtedness properly allocable to a trade or business, “business interest,” may be limited in certain circumstances. Should our ability to deduct business interest be limited, the amount of taxable income allocated to our unitholders in the taxable year in which the limitation is in effect may increase. However, in certain circumstances, a unitholder may be able to utilize a portion of a
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business interest deduction subject to this limitation in future taxable years. Prospective unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of this business interest deduction limitation on an investment in our units.
In addition, 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 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 (if applicable) 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 were 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 unitholder 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 unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction
After giving effect to special allocation provisions with respect to our other classes of units, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the common unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated to all common unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts, as adjusted for certain items in accordance with applicable Treasury Regulations, and to our general partner in accordance with its percentage interest in us.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any property contributed to us that exists at the time of such contribution, 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 values 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 of our unitholders immediately prior to such issuance or other transactions to account for the difference between
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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 unitholder 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 (subject to certain adjustments), if negative capital accounts (subject to certain adjustments) nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such negative balance as quickly as possible.
An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the 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. |
Latham & Watkins LLP 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, deduction or loss 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 |
• | while not entirely free from doubt, all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income. |
Because there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on the issue relating to partnership interests, Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder whose units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their units. The IRS has previously announced that it is 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 on Sale.”
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Tax Rates
Currently, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is 37% 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 twelve months) of individuals is 20%. Such rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
In addition, a 3.8% Medicare tax (“NIIT”) is imposed on certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts. For these purposes, net 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 investment income or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins for such taxable year. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued Treasury Regulations that provide guidance regarding the NIIT. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of the NIIT on an investment in our units.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and ending on or before December 31, 2025, a non-corporate unitholder is entitled to a deduction equal to 20% of its “qualified business income” attributable to us, subject to certain limitations. For purposes of this deduction, a unitholder’s “qualified business income” attributable to us is equal to the sum of:
• | the net amount of such unitholder’s allocable share of certain of our items of income, gain, deduction and loss (generally excluding certain items related to our investment activities, including capital gains and dividends, which are subject to a federal income tax rate of 20%); and |
• | any gain recognized by such unitholder on the disposition of its units to the extent such gain is attributable to certain Section 751 assets, including depreciation recapture and “inventory items” we own. |
Prospective unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and availability of the deduction for qualified business income.
Section 754 Election
We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election generally permits us to adjust a common unit purchaser’s tax basis in our assets (“inside basis”) under Section 743(b) of the Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply with respect 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, the inside basis in our assets with respect to a unitholder will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of our tax basis in our assets (“common basis”) and (ii) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
We have adopted the remedial allocation method as to all our properties. Where the remedial allocation method is adopted, the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Code require a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery property that is subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the Code and 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 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. Under our partnership agreement, our 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. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.”
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We 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 that 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 read “—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 such 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 read “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss on Sale.” Latham & Watkins LLP is unable to opine as to whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable for property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Code or if we use an aggregate approach as described above, as there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing the validity of these positions. Moreover, 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.
Subject to certain limitations, a Section 743(b) adjustment may create additional depreciable basis that is eligible for bonus depreciation under Section 168(k) to the extent the adjustment is attributable to depreciable property and not to goodwill or real property. However, because we may not be able to determine whether transfers of our units satisfy all of the eligibility requirements and due to other limitations regarding administrability, we may elect out of the bonus depreciation provisions of Section 168(k) with respect to basis adjustments under Section 743(b).
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. 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. Generally, a built-in loss is substantial if (i) it exceeds $250,000 or (ii) the transferee would be allocated a net loss in excess of $250,000 on a hypothetical sale of our assets for their fair market value immediately after a transfer of the interest at issue. In addition, a basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is made if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. A substantial basis reduction exists if, on a liquidating distribution of property to a unitholder, there would be a negative basis adjustment to our assets in excess of $250,000 if a Section 754 election were in place.
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 Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the
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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 twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “—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 an offering will be borne by our unitholders holding interests in us prior to any such offering. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”
To the extent allowable, we may use the depreciation and cost recovery methods, including bonus depreciation to the extent available, that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to these allowances are placed in service. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.” Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the 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 read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss on Sale.”
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 U.S. 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. 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 determinations of 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.
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Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss on Sale
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 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 on our common units that in the aggregate were in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit and, therefore, 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 in the following paragraph, 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 the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains. Both ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of units may be subject to the NIIT in certain circumstances. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Tax Rates.”
A portion of the gain or loss with respect to our common units, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to “unrealized receivables,” including potential recapture items such as depreciation recapture, or to “inventory items” we own. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables and inventory items 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. 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. Ordinary income recognized by a unitholder on disposition of our common units may be reduced by such unitholder’s deduction for qualified business income.
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 Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of 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 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; |
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• | an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
• | a futures or forward contract; |
in each case, with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.
Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees
In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis in proportion to the number of days in each month and will be subsequently apportioned among our unitholders in proportion to the number of common 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 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 our 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.
The U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS have issued Treasury Regulations that permit publicly traded partnerships to use a monthly simplifying convention that is similar to ours, but they do not specifically authorize all aspects of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, Latham & Watkins LLP is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, 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.
A unitholder who owns common 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 through the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements
A unitholder who sells any of his common 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.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the common units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity,
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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 common units. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election.” We 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 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 read “—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 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. 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. In either case, and as stated above under “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election,” Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to these methods. Moreover, 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 read “—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss on Sale.”
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below to a limited extent, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a foreign 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 IRAs and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income.
Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) and will be taxable to it. Further, a tax-exempt organization with more than one unrelated trade or business (including by attribution from investments in a partnership, such as us, that is engaged in one or more unrelated trades or businesses) must compute its UBTI separately for each such trade or business, including for purposes for determining any net operating loss deductions. As a result, it may not be possible for tax-exempt organizations to use losses from an investment in us to offset taxable income from another unrelated trade or business.
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 guaranteed payments and pay U.S. federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover,
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under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, our distributions to foreign unitholders will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change these procedures.
In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular U.S. federal income tax, on its share of our earnings and profits, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity,” that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. 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 Code.
A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a 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. Gain on the sale or disposition of a common unit will be treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business to the extent that a foreign unitholder would recognize gain effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business upon the hypothetical sale of our assets at fair market value on the date of the sale or exchange of that unit. Such gain shall be reduced by certain amounts treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business attributable to certain real property interests, as set forth in the following paragraph.
Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign common unitholder (other than certain “qualified foreign pension funds” (or an entity all of the interests of which are held by such a qualified foreign pension fund), which generally are entities or arrangements that are established and regulated by foreign law to provide retirement or other pension benefits to employees, do not have a single participant or beneficiary that is entitled to more than 5% of the assets or income of the entity or arrangement and are subject to certain preferential tax treatment under the laws of the applicable foreign country) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a unit if (i) he owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of the applicable class 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 five-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 U.S. federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.
Upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of a common unit by a foreign unitholder, the transferee is generally required to withhold 10% of the amount realized on such sale, exchange or other disposition if any portion of the gain on such sale, exchange or other disposition would be treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have recently issued final regulations providing guidance on the application of these rules for transfers of certain publicly traded partnership interests, including transfers of our common units. Under these regulations, the “amount realized” on a transfer of our units will generally be the amount of gross proceeds paid to the broker effecting the applicable transfer on behalf of the transferor, and such broker will generally be responsible for the relevant withholding obligations. Distributions made to our unitholders may also be subject to withholding under these rules to the extent a portion of a distribution is attributable to an amount in excess of our cumulative net income that has not previously been distributed. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have provided that these rules will generally not apply to transfers of, or distributions on, our units occurring before January 1, 2022. Prospective foreign unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of these rules on an investment in our units.
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Additional withholding requirements may also affect certain foreign unitholders. Please read “—Administrative Matters—Additional Withholding Requirements.”
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 yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Latham & Watkins LLP can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.
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. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. Our partnership agreement names our general partner as our Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.
Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, it may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us. Similarly, for such taxable years, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to income tax returns filed by an entity in which we are a member or partner, it may assess and collect any taxes (including penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from such entity. Generally, we expect to elect to have our general partner and our unitholders take any such audit adjustment into account in accordance with their interests in us during the taxable year under audit, but there can be no assurance that such election will be effective in all circumstances. If we are unable to have our general partner and our unitholders take such audit adjustment into account in accordance
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with their interests in us during the tax year under audit, our current unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment, even if such unitholders did not own our units during the tax year under audit. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders might be substantially reduced.
Additionally, pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the Code will no longer require that we designate a Tax Matters Partner. Instead, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, we will be required to designate a partner, or other person, with a substantial presence in the United States as the partnership representative (“Partnership Representative”). The Partnership Representative will have the sole authority to act on our behalf for purposes of, among other things, U.S. federal income tax audits and judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS. If we do not make such a designation, the IRS can select any person as the Partnership Representative. We have designated our general partner as our Partnership Representative. Further, any actions taken by us or by the Partnership Representative on our behalf with respect to, among other things, U.S. federal income tax audits and judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS, will be binding on us and all of our unitholders.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” (as specially defined in the Code) and certain other foreign entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on interest, dividends and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income from sources within the United States (“FDAP Income”), or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any property of a type that can produce interest or dividends from sources within the United States (“Gross Proceeds”) paid to a foreign financial institution or to a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specially defined in the Code), unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to noncompliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing these requirements may be subject to different rules.
These rules generally apply to payments of FDAP Income currently and, while these rules generally would have applied to payments of relevant Gross Proceeds made on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate these withholding taxes on payments of Gross Proceeds entirely. Unitholders generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until the final Treasury Regulations are issued. Thus, to the extent we have FDAP Income that is not treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (please read “—Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors”), unitholders who are foreign financial institutions or certain other foreign entities, or persons that hold their common units through such foreign entities, may be subject to withholding on distributions they receive from us, or their distributive share of our income, pursuant to the rules described above.
Prospective unitholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of these withholding provisions to their investment in our units.
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; |
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• | whether the beneficial owner is: |
• | a person that is not a U.S. 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 dispositions. |
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 $280 per failure, up to a maximum of $3,426,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the 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
Certain penalties may be imposed on taxpayers as a result of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including: (i) negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, (ii) substantial understatements of income tax, (iii) substantial valuation misstatements and (iv) the disallowance of claimed tax benefits by reason of a transaction lacking economic substance or failing to meet the requirements of any similar rule of law. Except with respect to the disallowance of claimed tax benefits by reason of a transaction lacking economic substance or failing to meet the requirements of any similar rule of law, however, no penalty will be imposed for any portion of any such underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion.
With respect to substantial understatements of income tax, the amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced by that portion of the understatement which is attributable to a position adopted on the return: (A) for which there is, or was, “substantial authority”; or (B) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the relevant facts of that position are adequately 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 adequately disclose the relevant 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.
Recent Legislative Developments
The present federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of Congress and the President propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect the tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships.
Modifications to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Please read “—Partnership Status.” We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us, and any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.
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State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you will likely 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 owns property or in which you are a resident. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We currently own property or does business in many states. Several of these states impose a personal income tax on individuals; certain of these states also impose an income tax on corporations and other entities. We may also own property or do business in other jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or owns property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular 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 read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-Level Collections.” Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, our 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 states, localities and foreign jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each unitholder is urged to consult his own 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 U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Latham & Watkins LLP has not rendered an opinion on the state tax, local tax, alternative minimum tax or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.
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The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Houston, Texas. Latham & Watkins LLP 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.
The audited consolidated financial statements of Energy Transfer LP and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, incorporated by reference in this registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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Energy Transfer LP
$800,000,000 8.000% Fixed-to-Fixed Reset Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2054
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