Summary
This 8-K filing from Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (ETE) on November 18, 2014, announces a significant transaction with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (ETP), valued at approximately $3.75 billion. The deal involves ETE transferring ETP common units and its stake in the Bakken pipeline project to ETP in exchange for newly issued Class H Units of ETP. These Class H Units will entitle ETE to approximately 40% of the economic attributes related to ETP's general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL). This strategic move aims to consolidate ETE's ownership and economic exposure to SXL's incentive distribution rights and general partner interests, projecting it to approximately 90% upon closing. The transaction is expected to be neutral to ETP's distributable cash flow per unit in 2015 and accretive thereafter, while being slightly dilutive to ETE in 2015 and accretive in 2016. ETP anticipates benefits from reduced unit count and improved ownership in the Bakken pipeline, while ETE reinforces its long-term strategy of controlling general partner interests and IDRs in its portfolio of master limited partnerships.
Key Highlights
- 1ETE and ETP announce a $3.75 billion transaction involving the exchange of ETP units and Bakken pipeline interest for ETP's Class H Units.
- 2ETE will increase its economic exposure to Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL) general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (IDRs) to approximately 90% upon transaction close.
- 3ETP will receive capital for growth projects, including its stake in the Bakken pipeline, and reduce its outstanding common units.
- 4The transaction is expected to be neutral to ETP's distributable cash flow per unit in 2015 and accretive thereafter.
- 5ETE anticipates the transaction to be slightly dilutive to its distributable cash flow per unit in 2015, becoming accretive in 2016 and beyond.
- 6The deal is expected to be credit neutral for both ETE and ETP.
- 7Transaction agreements are targeted for negotiation and execution by the end of 2014, with closing anticipated in Q1 2015, subject to board and conflicts committee approvals.