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
| August 19, 2016 | ||
| 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) |
| 8111 Westchester Drive, Suite 600 Dallas, Texas 75225 |
| (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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o 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 August 19, 2016, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) entered into a commercial paper program (the “Program”) pursuant to which the Partnership may issue short-term, unsecured commercial paper notes (the “Notes”) pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Amounts available under the Program may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed from time to time, with the aggregate face or principal amount of the Notes outstanding under the Program at any time not to exceed $3.750 billion. Borrowing limits under the Program are established by the Partnership’s revolving credit facility. The net proceeds of issuances of the Notes are expected to be used for general partnership purposes.
The maturities of the Notes will vary but may not exceed 397 days from the date of issue. The Notes will be sold under customary terms in the commercial paper market and will be issued at a discount from par, or, alternatively, will be sold at par and bear varying interest rates on a fixed or floating basis.
Four commercial paper dealers will each act as a dealer under the Program (each a “Dealer” and, collectively, the “Dealers”) pursuant to the terms and conditions of a commercial paper dealer agreement entered into between the Partnership and each Dealer (each, a “Dealer Agreement”). A national bank will act as issuing and paying agent under the Program.
Each Dealer Agreement provides the terms under which the respective Dealer will either purchase from the Partnership or arrange for the sale by the Partnership of the Notes pursuant to an exemption from federal and state securities laws. Each Dealer Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnification provisions. The Dealer Agreements are substantially identical in all material respects except as to the parties thereto and the notice provisions. A form of Dealer Agreement is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference as though it were fully set forth herein. The description above is a summary of the Program and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Program as set forth in the form of Dealer Agreement.
From time to time, one or more of the Dealers and certain of their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, commercial banking, investment banking and other financial advisory services to the Partnership and its affiliates for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws. The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information related to the short-term, unsecured commercial paper program described under Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated by reference under this Item 2.03.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |
| 99.1 | Form of Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as Issuer, and the Dealer party thereto. | |
SIGNATURE
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
By: /s/ Thomas E. Long
Name: Thomas E. Long
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Dated: August 22, 2016
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit Number | Description | |
| 99.1 | Form of Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as Issuer, and the Dealer party thereto. | |