UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
November 8, 2011
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 1-11727 | 73-1493906 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue,
Dallas, TX 75219
(Address of principal executive offices)
(214) 981-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On November 8, 2011, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and UBS Securities LLC as joint book-running managers and representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Partnership agreed to sell 13,250,000 common units (the “Units”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership at a price of $44.67 per Unit ($43.33 per Unit, net of underwriting discounts and commissions). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Partnership granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,987,500 Units on the same terms as those Units sold by the Partnership. The Units have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-171697) of the Partnership, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement dated November 8, 2011 relating to the Units, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on November 9, 2011. Legal opinions relating to the Units are included as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1 hereto.
The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Partnership, and customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Partnership and the Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The summary of the Underwriting Agreement in this report does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, and is incorporated herein by reference.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in financial advisory, commercial banking and/or investment banking transactions with the Partnership and its affiliates for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. In particular, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is a joint lead arranger and book runner for our amended and restated revolving credit facility. Additionally, affiliates of Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, UBS Securities LLC and other co-managers are lenders and agents under certain of our credit facilities for which they receive interest and fees as provided in the credit agreements related to these facilities.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On November 8, 2011, the Partnership issued a press release announcing that it had priced the offering of the Units. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in the attached Exhibit 99.1 is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number |
Description of the Exhibit | |
| 1.1 | Underwriting Agreement dated as of November 8, 2011 among the Partnership, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and UBS Securities LLC. | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. regarding legality of the Units. | |
| 8.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. relating to tax matters. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 8.1 hereto). | |
| 99.1 | Press release, dated November 8, 2011, announcing the pricing of the Units. | |
.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. | ||||||
| By: | Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., its general partner | |||||
| By: |
Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., its general partner | |||||
| Date: November 10, 2011 | ||||||
| /s/ Martin Salinas, Jr. | ||||||
| Martin Salinas, Jr. Chief Financial Officer | ||||||