[LETTERHEAD OF A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.]
February 7, 2005
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sirs:
Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, Underwriters of the above issue, hereby join in the request with Hiland Partners, LP that the effectiveness of the above-captioned Registration Statement be accelerated so that such Registration Statement will become effective by 1:00 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time), on February 9, 2005 or as soon thereafter as is practicable.
In accordance with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in connection with the foregoing, please note that the undersigned have effected from February 3, 2005 through the date hereof, approximately the following distribution of:
Preliminary Prospectus dated February 1, 2005
13,000 copies to prospective Underwriters, institutional investors, dealers and others.
The undersigned confirm that they have complied with and will continue to comply with, and that they have been informed by participating underwriters and dealers that they have complied with and will continue to comply with, Rule 15c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with the above-referenced issue.
| Very truly yours, | ||||
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC. RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION | ||||
By: | A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC. | |||
By: | /s/ T. FRANK MURPHY | |||
| Name: | T. Frank Murphy | |||
| Title: | Managing Director—Investment Banking | |||
