As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2006
Registration No. 333-130999
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
Amendment No. 1 to FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | 1311 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) | 43-2094238 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
311 Rouser Road
Moon Township, PA 15108
(412) 262-2830
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Edward E. Cohen
311 Rouser Road
Moon Township, PA 15108
(412) 262-2830
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Alan P. Baden Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 666 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10103 (212) 237-0000 | Joshua Davidson Baker Botts L.L.P. 910 Louisiana Street Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 229-1234 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated March 15, 2006
PROSPECTUS
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
3,600,000 Common Units
Representing Limited Partner Interests
This is the initial public offering of our common units. We own a 2.0% general partner interest, all the incentive distribution rights and approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a midstream energy services provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas.
Before this offering, there has been no public market for our common units. We intend to apply to list the common units on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AHD.” We expect the initial public offering price to be between $ and $ per unit.
We will use substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering to make a cash distribution to Atlas America, Inc., our current owner. Please read “Use of Proceeds.”
Investing in our common units involves risks. Please read “Risk factors” beginning on page 16.
These risks include the following:
• | Our only cash generating assets are our interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., and our cash flow is therefore completely dependent upon the ability of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. to make distributions to its partners. |
• | You will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $24.29 per common unit in the pro forma net tangible book value of your common units. |
• | If we or Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or if we or Atlas were to become subject to entity-level taxation for federal or state income tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced. |
• | Our unitholders do not elect our general partner or vote on our general partner’s officers or directors, and the rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our units are further restricted under our partnership agreement. Following the completion of this offering, Atlas America, Inc. will own approximately 82.9% of our common units, a sufficient number to block any attempt to remove our general partner. |
• | The fiduciary duties of our general partner’s officers and directors may conflict with those of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, which is the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. |
• | You may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us. | |
Per Common Unit | Total | ||||||
Initial public offering price | $ | $ | |||||
Underwriting discount(1) | $ | $ | |||||
Proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | $ | |||||
(1) | Excludes structuring fee payable to Lehman Brothers Inc. of $ . |
We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 540,000 common units from us on the same terms and conditions as set forth above if the underwriters sell more than 3,600,000 common units in this offering.
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.
Lehman Brothers Inc., on behalf of the underwriters, expects to deliver the common units on or about , 2006.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
, 2006
We own and control Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (NYSE: APL), through which we own certain general partner interests, all the incentive distribution rights and 1,641,026 common units of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. We do not have any other assets. The map below identifies Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.’s operations and their location.
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. Operations |
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Until , 2006 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in the securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information from that contained in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, offering to sell our common units or seeking offers to buy our common units in any jurisdiction where offers or sales are not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the common units offered hereby.
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SUMMARY
This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the historical consolidated financial statements and pro forma financial statements and the notes to those financial statements. Furthermore, you should carefully read “Summary of Risk Factors” and “Risk Factors” for more information about important risks that you should consider before making a decision to purchase our common units.
Except as otherwise indicated, the information presented in this prospectus assumes (1) an initial public offering price of $24.00 per common unit and (2) that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional common units. All references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P., and unless the context requires otherwise, to Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. All references in this prospectus to “Atlas Pipeline GP” refer to Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC. All references in this prospectus to “Atlas” refer to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All references in this prospectus to “Atlas America” refer to Atlas America, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, excluding Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. and any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All references to our “partnership agreement” refer to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. to be adopted contemporaneously with the closing of this offering.
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
Our cash generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (NYSE: APL), a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership. Atlas is a midstream energy service provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions. Our interests in Atlas will initially consist of a 100% ownership interest in the general partner of Atlas, Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, which owns:
• | a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas, which entitles it to receive 2.0% of the cash distributed by Atlas; |
• | all of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, which entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per Atlas unit in any quarter; and |
• | 1,641,026 common units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. |
At Atlas’ current quarterly distribution rate of $0.83 per common unit, aggregate quarterly cash distributions to us on all our interests in Atlas would be approximately $5.0 million. Based on this distribution, we will make an initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per unit, or $0.90 per unit on an annualized basis, to the extent we have sufficient cash from operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses.
Our primary objective is to increase our cash distributions to our unitholders through growth at Atlas. Atlas has grown both through strategic acquisitions and internal growth projects. Since Atlas’ initial public offering in January 2000, it has completed five acquisitions at an aggregate cost of approximately $521.1 million. Atlas’ business strategy is to create capital-efficient growth in distributable cash flow to maximize its distributions to its unitholders by, among other things, (1) maximizing cash flows from its existing businesses through marketing of its services and facilities and controlling its operating costs; (2) continuing to increase the amount of its operating cash flow generated by long-term, fee-based contracts; (3) expanding its existing businesses through internal growth opportunities; (4) expanding its operations through strategic acquisitions; and (5) maintaining a
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flexible capital structure based on a strong balance sheet by financing its growth through a balanced combination of debt and equity.
We intend to support Atlas in implementing its business strategy by assisting it in identifying, evaluating, and pursuing growth opportunities. In the future, we may also support the growth of Atlas through the use of our capital resources, which could involve loans or capital contributions to Atlas to provide funding for the acquisition of a business or asset or for an internal growth project. We may also provide Atlas with other forms of credit support, such as guarantees related to financing a project or other types of support related to a merger or acquisition transaction.
Atlas is required by its partnership agreement to distribute all of its cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less reserves established by its general partner in its sole discretion to provide for the proper conduct of Atlas’ business or to provide for future distributions. Since January 1, 2003, Atlas increased the per unit quarterly cash distribution on its common units by approximately 48%, from the quarterly distribution of $0.56 per unit to $0.83 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2005. The following graph shows, for the period from the first quarter of 2003 through the fourth quarter of 2005: (i) Atlas’ quarterly distributions per unit and (ii) total distributions by Atlas to us.
While we, like Atlas, are structured as a limited partnership, our capital structure and cash distribution policy differ materially from those of Atlas. Most notably, our general partner does not have an economic interest in us and is not entitled to receive any distributions from us, and our capital structure does not include incentive distribution rights. Therefore, all of our distributions are made on our common units, which is our only class of security outstanding.
Our ownership of Atlas’ incentive distribution rights entitles us to receive an increasing percentage of cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels. The rights entitle us to receive the following:
• | 13.0% of all cash distributed in a quarter after each Atlas unit has received $0.42 for that quarter; |
• | 23.0% of all cash distributed after each Atlas unit has received $0.52 for that quarter; and |
• | 48.0% of all cash distributed after each Atlas unit has received $0.60 for that quarter. |
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For the quarter ended December 31, 2005, Atlas paid a distribution of $0.83 per unit, which means we would have received 48.0% of the $0.23 incremental cash distribution per unit in excess of the maximum target distribution level of $0.60 per unit. Because the incentive distribution rights currently participate at the maximum 48.0% target cash distribution level, future growth in distributions we receive from Atlas will not result from an increase in the target cash distribution level associated with the incentive distribution rights.
The graph set forth below demonstrates hypothetical cash distributions payable in respect of our interests in Atlas by showing the total cash allocated to us across an illustrative range of annualized cash distributions per unit made by Atlas. The graph illustrates the impact to us of Atlas’ raising or lowering its distribution from the most recent distribution of $0.83 per common unit ($3.32 on an annualized basis), which was paid on February 14, 2006. This information assumes:
• | Atlas has 12,549,266 total units outstanding, representing the number of units outstanding at December 31, 2005; and |
• | through Atlas Pipeline GP, we own (i) 1,641,026 Atlas common units, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas, (ii) a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and (iii) all the incentive distribution rights in Atlas. |
This information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a prediction of future performance and does not attempt to illustrate the impact of changes in our or Atlas’ business, including changes that may result from changes in natural gas, natural gas liquid (“NGL”) and condensate prices, changes in economic conditions, the impact of any future acquisitions or expansion projects or the issuance of additional units by Atlas. In addition, the level of cash distributions we receive may be affected by the various risks associated with an investment in us and the underlying business of Atlas. Please read “Risk Factors.”
We will pay to our unitholders, on a quarterly basis, distributions equal to the cash we receive from Atlas, less certain reserves for expenses and other uses of cash, including:
• | our general and administrative expenses, including expenses we will incur as the result of being a public company; |
• | capital contributions to maintain or increase our ownership interest in Atlas; and |
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• | reserves our general partner believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of our business or to provide for future distributions. |
Based on Atlas’ current quarterly distribution, the number of our units outstanding upon the closing of this offering and our expected level of expenses and reserves that our general partner believes prudent to maintain, any of which are subject to change, we will make an initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per common unit, or $0.90 per unit on an annualized basis. Due to our ownership of Atlas’ incentive distribution rights, our cash flows are impacted by changes in Atlas’ distributions to a greater extent than those of Atlas’ common unitholders.
If Atlas is successful in implementing its business strategy and increasing distributions to its unitholders, we would generally expect to increase distributions to our unitholders, although the timing and amount of any such increased distributions will not necessarily be comparable to the increased Atlas distributions. However, we cannot assure you that any distributions will be declared or paid. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.”
Executive Offices |
Our principal executive offices are located at 311 Rouser Road, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108, and our phone number is (412) 262-2830. Our website is located at www.atlaspipelineholdings.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
Our Limited Partnership Structure and Management
We were formed in December 2005, as a Delaware limited partnership. The chart on the following page depicts our organization and ownership upon completion of this offering, at which time:
• | our general partner will own a non-economic general partner interest in us; |
• | our public unitholders will own 3,600,000 of our common units, representing an approximate 17.1% limited partner interest in us; |
• | our current owner, Atlas America, will own 17,500,000 of our common units, representing an approximate 82.9% limited partner interest in us; and |
• | we will continue to own indirectly, through our ownership of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, 1,641,026 Atlas common units representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas, the 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and all the incentive distribution rights in Atlas. |
Our general partner, Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC, will manage our operations and activities, including, among other things, establishing the quarterly cash distribution levels for our common units and reserves it believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of our business or to provide for future distributions. Our general partner is entitled to reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses it incurs on our behalf, but it is not entitled to any other compensation, fees, profits or other benefits for acting in its capacity as our general partner. All of our executive officers and a majority of the directors of our general partner also serve as executive officers and directors of the general partner of Atlas. Atlas America will own all the membership interests in our general partner.
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Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.’s Ownership and
Organizational Chart
After This Offering
Aggregate ownership of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. after this offering: | ||||
Common Units: | ||||
Public Unitholders | 17.1 | % | ||
Atlas America and five of its wholly-owned subsidiaries(1) | 82.9 | % | ||
Total | 100.0 | % | ||
(1) | Atlas America, Inc. and five of its wholly-owned subsidiaries own, in the aggregate, an 82.9% limited partner interest in Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. See page 114 for percentage ownership interests of Atlas America and its five subsidiaries on a per-entity basis. |
(2) | The preferred unitholder owns 30,000 of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units which, assuming conversion at $41.00 per common unit, could be converted into 731,707 APL common units. All limited partner interest percentages for APL noted in this diagram assume the conversion of all preferred units at $41.00 per common unit. |
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The Offering
Common units offered to the public | 3,600,000 common units. |
4,140,000 common units, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional common units in full. |
Common units outstanding after this offering | 21,100,000 common units. |
Use of proceeds | We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $79.2 million from the sale of the common units, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering will be distributed to Atlas America. |
The net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units will be used to fund the redemption of an equal number of common units from Atlas America. Please read “Use of Proceeds.” |
Cash distributions | We will make an initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per common unit to the extent we have sufficient cash from operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.” We do not have any subordinated units and our general partner is not entitled to any distributions. Please read “Description of the Common Units” and “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.” |
We expect to pay you a prorated distribution for the first quarter during which we are a publicly traded partnership. Assuming that we become a publicly traded partnership before March 31, 2006, we will pay you a prorated distribution for the period from the first day our common units are publicly traded to and including March 31, 2006. We expect to pay this cash distribution in May 2006. |
The amount of pro forma available cash generated during the year ended December 31, 2005 would have been insufficient by approximately $11.0 million to pay the full initial distribution amount on all our common units during those periods. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.” We believe that we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay the distributions at the initial distribution rate of $0.225 per unit on all the outstanding common units for each quarter for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. See “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions—Assumptions and Considerations” for the specific assumptions underlying this belief. |
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Limited voting rights | Our general partner will manage and operate us. Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, you will have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. You will have no right to elect our general partner or its directors. Our general partner may not be removed except by a vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, including any units owned by our affiliates, voting together as a single class. Atlas America will own an aggregate of approximately 82.9% of our common units. This will give Atlas America the ability to prevent our general partner’s involuntary removal. Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.” |
Limited call right | If at any time our affiliates own more than 87.5% of our outstanding common units, our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all of the remaining common units at a price not less than the then current market price of the common units. At the completion of this offering, Atlas America will own an aggregate of approximately 82.9% of our common units. |
Estimated ratio of taxable income to distributions | We estimate that if you own the common units you purchase in this offering through the record date for distributions for the period ending , you will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be less than % of the cash distributed to you with respect to that cumulative period. For example, if you receive an annual distribution of $0.90 per unit, we estimate that your average allocable federal taxable income per year will be no more than $ per unit. This estimate is based on assumptions with respect to our operations, gross income, capital expenditures, cash flow and anticipated distributions. Our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will be much greater than the ratio applicable to the holders of common units in Atlas because remedial allocations of deductions to us from Atlas will be very limited and our ownership of incentive distribution rights will cause more taxable income to be allocated to us from Atlas. Further, if Atlas is successful in increasing its distributions over time, our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will increase. For the basis of this estimate, please read “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions.” |
Exchange listing | We intend to list the common units on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AHD.” |
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Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.
Atlas is a publicly-traded midstream energy services provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas. Atlas conducts its business through two operating segments: its Mid-Continent operations and its Appalachian operations.
Through its Mid-Continent operations, Atlas owns and operates:
• | a 75% interest in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”)-regulated, 565-mile interstate pipeline system, which we refer to as Ozark Gas Transmission, that extends from southeastern Oklahoma through Arkansas and into southeastern Missouri and which has throughput capacity of approximately 322 MMcf/d; |
• | two natural gas processing plants with aggregate capacity of approximately 230 MMcf/d and one treating facility with a capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d, all located in Oklahoma; and |
• | 1,765 miles of active natural gas gathering systems located in Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Texas and the Texas panhandle, which transport gas from wells and central delivery points in the Mid-Continent region to Atlas’ natural gas processing plants or Ozark Gas Transmission. |
Through its Appalachian operations, Atlas owns and operates 1,500 miles of intrastate natural gas gathering systems located in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. Through an omnibus agreement and other agreements between Atlas and Atlas America, the parent of Atlas’ general partner and our general partner and a leading sponsor of natural gas drilling investment partnerships in the Appalachian Basin, Atlas gathers substantially all of the natural gas for its Appalachian Basin operations from wells operated by Atlas America.
Since Atlas’ initial public offering in January 2000, Atlas has completed five acquisitions at an aggregate cost of approximately $521.1 million, including, most recently, the October 2005 acquisition of Atlas Arkansas Pipeline LLC, which we refer to as Atlas Arkansas, and the April 2005 acquisition of ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd, which we refer to as Elk City.
Atlas Arkansas owns a 75% interest in NOARK Pipeline System, Limited Partnership, which we refer to as NOARK, with the remaining 25% interest being owned by Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company, which we refer to as Southwestern, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN). The NOARK acquisition further expands Atlas’ activities in the Mid-Continent region and provides an additional source of fee-based cash flows from a FERC-regulated interstate pipeline system and an intrastate gas gathering system. NOARK’s geographic position relative to Atlas’ other businesses and interconnections with major interstate pipelines also provides it with internal growth opportunities. NOARK’s principal assets include:
• | The Ozark Gas Transmission system, which includes approximately 30 supply and delivery interconnections and two compressor stations; and |
• | The Ozark Gas Gathering system, a 365-mile intrastate natural gas gathering system. |
Ozark Gas Transmission transports natural gas from receipt points in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, including the Fayetteville Shale play, to interstate pipelines in northeastern and central Arkansas and to local distribution companies in Arkansas and Missouri. Ozark Gas Gathering gathers natural gas supplies in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas which are then transported through Ozark Gas Transmission. Ozark Gas Transmission’s revenue is comprised of FERC-regulated transmission fees that are based on firm transportation rates and, to the extent capacity is available following the reservation of firm system capacity, interruptible transportation rates. The Ozark transmission and gathering systems gathered and transported an average of 255.8 MMcf/d during the period from October 31, 2005, the date of acquisition, to December 31, 2005.
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Atlas recently completed three new gathering and compression projects in Elk City which have increased, and we believe will continue to increase, gathered volumes and total gross margin. Atlas also plans to complete construction of a new natural gas processing facility in Oklahoma near its Prentiss treating facility in the third quarter of 2006, which we refer to as the Sweetwater gas plant. Atlas anticipates that construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and associated gathering system will cost approximately $40.0 million, of which approximately $10.2 million has been spent through the fourth quarter of 2005, and, when the gas plant is fully operational, will generate cash flow of $8.0 million to $10.0 million annually.
On March 13, 2006, Atlas sold 30,000 of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units representing limited partner interests to Sunlight Capital Partners, LLC, an affiliate of Elliott & Associates, with aggregate proceeds of $30.0 million. Atlas intends to use these proceeds to fund its capital expenditures in 2006, including the construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and related gathering system. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Private Placement of Convertible Preferred Units.”
Atlas’ Principal Executive Offices and Internet Address
Atlas’ principal executive offices are located at 311 Rouser Road, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108, and its phone number is (412) 262-2830. Atlas maintains a website at www.atlaspipelinepartners.com that provides information about its business and operations. Information contained on this website, however, is not incorporated into or otherwise a part of this prospectus. Atlas also files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or Commission. Atlas’ Commission filings are available to the public at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document Atlas files at the Commission’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Commission’s public reference room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our common units involves risks associated with us and Atlas as well as tax characteristics associated with interests in publicly traded partnerships. You should consider carefully all the risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus before you invest in our units. The risks related to an investment in us, conflicts of interest, Atlas’ business and tax consequences to our unitholders are described under the caption “Risk Factors.” These risks include, but are not limited to, those described below:
Risks Inherent in An Investment in Us |
• | Our only cash generating assets are our interests in Atlas and our cash flow is therefore completely dependent upon the ability of Atlas to make distributions to its partners. |
• | Atlas’ debt levels and restrictions in Atlas’ credit facility, and in our proposed credit facility, could limit our ability to make distributions to our unitholders. |
• | In the future, we may not have sufficient cash to pay distributions at our estimated initial quarterly distribution level or to increase distributions. |
• | We are largely dependent on Atlas for our growth. As a result of the fiduciary obligations of Atlas’ general partner, which is our wholly owned subsidiary, to the unitholders of Atlas, our ability to pursue business opportunities independently will be limited. |
• | Our ability to sell our partnership interests in Atlas may be limited by securities laws restrictions and liquidity constraints. |
• | The market price of our common units could be adversely affected by sales of substantial amounts of our common units in the public markets, including sales by our existing unitholders. |
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• | Our unitholders do not elect our general partner or vote on our general partner’s officers or directors, and the rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our units are further restricted under our partnership agreement. Following the completion of this offering, Atlas America will own approximately 82.9% of our units, a sufficient number to block any attempt to remove our general partner. |
• | Atlas may issue additional common units, which may increase the risk of it not having sufficient available cash to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level. |
• | You will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $24.29 per common unit in the pro forma net tangible book value of your common units. |
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest |
• | Although we control Atlas through our ownership of its general partner, Atlas’ general partner owes fiduciary duties to Atlas and Atlas’ unitholders, which may conflict with our interests. |
• | The fiduciary duties of our general partner’s officers and directors may conflict with those of Atlas’ general partner’s officers and directors. |
• | Potential conflicts of interest may arise among our general partner, its affiliates and us. Our general partner and its affiliates have limited fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders, which may permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our unitholders. |
Risks Related to Atlas’ Business |
• | Atlas may be unsuccessful in integrating the operations from its recent acquisitions or any future acquisitions with its operations or in realizing all of the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions. |
• | The amount of natural gas Atlas transports, treats or processes will decline over time unless Atlas is able to attract new wells to connect to its gathering systems. |
• | The success of Atlas’ Appalachian operations depends upon Atlas America’s ability to drill and complete commercial producing wells. |
• | The failure of Atlas America to perform its obligations under Atlas’ natural gas gathering agreements may adversely affect Atlas’ business. |
• | The success of Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations depends upon its ability to continually find and contract for new sources of natural gas supply from unrelated third parties. |
• | Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations currently depend on certain key producers for their supply of natural gas, and the loss of any of these key producers could reduce Atlas’ revenue. |
• | The curtailment of operations at, or closure of, either of Atlas’ processing plants could harm its business. |
Tax Risks to Our Common Unitholders |
• | If we or Atlas were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or if we or Atlas were to become subject to entity-level taxation for federal or state income tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced. |
• | A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we, or Atlas, take may adversely affect the market for our common units or Atlas’ units, and the costs of any contest will reduce cash available for distribution to our unitholders. |
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Summary of Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Responsibilities
Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships among us, Atlas and our and their respective general partners and affiliates. Our general partner is controlled by Atlas America. Accordingly, Atlas America has the ability to elect, remove and replace the directors and officers of our general partner. Similarly, through its indirect control of the general partner of Atlas, Atlas America has the ability to elect, remove and replace the directors and officers of the general partner of Atlas.
Our general partner and its directors and officers have fiduciary duties to manage our business in a manner beneficial to us and our partners. At the same time, Atlas’ general partner and its directors and officers have fiduciary duties to manage Atlas’ business in a manner beneficial to Atlas and its partners, including us. Certain of the executive officers and non-independent directors of our general partner also serve as executive officers and directors of the general partner of Atlas. Consequently, these directors and officers may encounter situations in which their fiduciary obligations to Atlas, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, are in conflict.
The board of directors of Atlas’ general partner or its conflicts committee will resolve any conflict between us and Atlas. The board of directors of our general partner or its conflicts committee will resolve any conflict between us and the owners of our general partner and their affiliates. The resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our best interest or that of our unitholders. For a more detailed description of the conflicts of interest involving us and the resolution of these conflicts, please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
Our partnership agreement limits the liability and reduces the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner to our unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions that might otherwise constitute breaches of our general partner’s fiduciary duties owed to unitholders. By purchasing our units, you are treated as having consented to various actions contemplated in the partnership agreement and conflicts of interest that might otherwise be considered a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable state law. Please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties—Fiduciary Duties” for a description of the fiduciary duties imposed on our general partner by Delaware law, the material modifications of these duties contained in our partnership agreement and certain legal rights and remedies available to unitholders.
If a business opportunity in respect of any business activity in which Atlas is currently engaged is presented to us, our general partner or Atlas or its general partner, then Atlas will have the first right to pursue such opportunity. Pursuant to an omnibus agreement to be entered into in connection with the closing of this offering, we will agree to certain business opportunity arrangements to address potential conflicts that may arise between us and Atlas. For more information, please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
For a description of our other relationships with our affiliates, please read “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
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Summary Historical Consolidated and Pro Forma Financial Data
We were formed in December 2005 and therefore do not have any historical financial statements. Since we will own and control Atlas Pipeline GP, the general partner of Atlas, the historical financial statements presented below are of Atlas Pipeline GP, on a consolidated basis, including Atlas.
The historical financial data of Atlas Pipeline GP were derived from audited consolidated financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and at December 31, 2004 and 2005, which have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
We have also included unaudited pro forma financial data that reflects historical results of Atlas Pipeline GP as adjusted on a pro forma basis to give effect to, among other things, Atlas’ June 2005 and November 2005 offerings of common units, the December 2005 issuance of $250.0 million of Atlas’ 8.125% senior unsecured notes, the March 2006 issuance of Atlas’ 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units, the completion of the NOARK acquisition and the acquisition of Elk City, and this offering. Please see the Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page F-2.
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet and the pro forma statements of income were derived by adjusting the historical financial statements of Atlas Pipeline GP. However, we believe that the adjustments provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects of the transactions described above. The unaudited pro forma financial data presented are for informational purposes only and are based upon available information and assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. You should not construe the unaudited pro forma financial data as indicative of the combined financial position or results of operations that we, Atlas Pipeline GP, Atlas, Elk City and NOARK would have achieved had the transactions been consummated on the dates assumed. Moreover, they do not purport to represent our, Atlas Pipeline GP’s, Atlas’, Elk City’s or NOARK’s combined financial position or results of operations for any future date or period.
The financial data below should be read together with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, Atlas Pipeline GP’s historical consolidated and pro forma combined financial statements and the accompanying notes, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of Elk City and its predecessor and NOARK, each of which is set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro forma data are not necessarily reflective of what our results would actually have been had the transactions actually occurred on the indicated date, nor do they reflect what may actually occur in the future.
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Pro Forma | |||||||||||||
Years Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2003 | 2004(1) | 2005(2) | 2005 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Statement of income data: | |||||||||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | $ | — | $ | 72,109 | $ | 340,297 | $ | 423,391 | |||||
Transportation and compression | 15,651 | 18,800 | 30,309 | 45,438 | |||||||||
Interest income and other | 98 | 382 | 894 | 1,469 | |||||||||
Total revenue and other income | 15,749 | 91,291 | 371,500 | 470,298 | |||||||||
Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | — | 58,707 | 288,180 | 365,396 | |||||||||
Plant operating | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | 11,920 | |||||||||
Transportation and compression | 2,421 | 2,260 | 4,053 | 7,600 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 1,662 | 4,642 | 13,608 | 16,025 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | 20,080 | |||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | 138 | ||||||||
Interest | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | 26,456 | |||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas (3) | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | 10,303 | |||||||||
Minority interest in NOARK (4) | — | — | 1,083 | 1,523 | |||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 11,177 | 83,897 | 359,195 | 459,441 | |||||||||
Net income | 4,572 | 7,394 | 12,305 | 10,857 | |||||||||
Premium on preferred unit redemption | — | (400 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
Net income attributable to owners | $ | 4,572 | $ | 6,994 | $ | 12,305 | $ | 10,857 | |||||
Balance sheet data (at period end): | |||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 29,628 | $ | 175,259 | $ | 445,066 | $ | 445,066 | |||||
Total assets | 63,170 | 234,898 | 742,726 | 763,226 | |||||||||
Total debt, including current portion | — | 54,452 | 298,625 | 289,125 | |||||||||
Total owners’ equity (deficit) | 15,729 | 21,405 | (21,001 | ) | (21,001 | ) | |||||||
Cash flow data: | |||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 4,639 | $ | 11,311 | $ | 48,415 | |||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (9,154 | ) | (151,797 | ) | (411,004 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 17,734 | 143,622 | 378,612 | ||||||||||
Other financial data: | |||||||||||||
Gross margin (5) | $ | 15,651 | $ | 32,202 | $ | 80,516 | $ | 97,288 | |||||
EBITDA (6) | 11,666 | 25,107 | 53,146 | 63,669 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (6) | 11,666 | 24,350 | 57,956 | 68,479 | |||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures | $ | 3,109 | $ | 1,516 | $ | 1,922 | |||||||
Expansion capital expenditures | 4,526 | 8,527 | 50,576 | ||||||||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 7,635 | $ | 10,043 | $ | 52,498 | |||||||
Operating data: | |||||||||||||
Appalachia: | |||||||||||||
Average throughput volumes (Mcf/d) | 52,472 | 53,343 | 55,204 | 55,204 | |||||||||
Average transportation rate per Mcf | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.96 | $ | 1.21 | $ | 1.21 | |||||
Mid-Continent: | |||||||||||||
Velma system: | |||||||||||||
Gathered gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | 56,441 | 67,075 | 67,075 | |||||||||
Processed gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | 55,202 | 62,538 | 62,538 | |||||||||
Residue gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | 42,659 | 50,880 | 50,880 | |||||||||
NGL production (Bbl/d) | — | 5,799 | 6,643 | 6,643 | |||||||||
Condensate volume (Bbl/d) | — | 185 | 256 | 256 | |||||||||
Elk City system: | |||||||||||||
Gathered gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | 250,717 | 251,515 | |||||||||
Processed gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | 119,324 | 118,292 | |||||||||
Residue gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | 109,553 | 108,292 | |||||||||
NGL production (Bbl/d) | — | — | 5,303 | 5,329 | |||||||||
Condensate volume (Bbl/d) | — | — | 127 | 136 | |||||||||
NOARK system: | |||||||||||||
Average throughput volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | 255,777 | 182,937 |
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(1) | Includes Atlas’ acquisition of Spectrum on July 16, 2004, representing five and one-half months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
(2) | Includes Atlas’ acquisition of (i) Elk City on April 14, 2005, representing eight and one-half months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 and (ii) NOARK on October 31, 2005, representing two months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2005. |
(3) | Represents the minority interest in the net income of Atlas. |
(4) | Represents Southwestern’s 25% minority interest in NOARK, which was acquired on October 31, 2005. |
(5) | We define gross margin as revenue less purchased product costs. Purchased product costs include the cost of natural gas and NGLs that Atlas purchases from third parties. We view gross margin as an important performance measure of core profitability of our operations and as a key component of our internal financial reporting. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that our management uses. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to gross margin is net income. The following table reconciles our net income to gross margin (in thousands): |
Pro Forma | |||||||||||||
Years Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2005 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | $ | 10,857 | |||||
Plus (minus): | |||||||||||||
Interest income and other | (98 | ) | (382 | ) | (894 | ) | (1,469 | ) | |||||
Plant operating | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | 11,920 | |||||||||
Transportation and compression | 2,421 | 2,260 | 4,053 | 7,600 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 1,662 | 4,642 | 13,608 | 16,025 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | 20,080 | |||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | 138 | ||||||||
Interest | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | 26,456 | |||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | 10,303 | |||||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | — | — | 1,083 | 1,523 | |||||||||
Minority interest share of gross margin of NOARK | — | — | (1,910 | ) | (6,145 | ) | |||||||
Gross margin | $ | 15,651 | $ | 32,202 | $ | 80,516 | $ | 97,288 | |||||
(6) | EBITDA represents net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and minority interest in Atlas. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA other non-cash items such as compensation expenses associated with unit issuances to directors and employees. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flow and do not represent the measure of cash available for distribution. Our method of computing EBITDA may not be the same method used to compute similar measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA includes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement as a non-recurring item. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect approximately $0.8 million of additional general and administrative expenses we expect to incur in connection with our being a public company after this offering. |
Certain items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing an entity’s financial performance, such as their cost of capital and its tax structure, as well as historic costs of depreciable assets. We have included information concerning EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because they provide investors and management with additional information as to Atlas’ ability to pay its fixed charges and are presented solely as a supplemental financial measure. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with generally accepted |
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accounting principles or as indicators of Atlas’ operating performance or liquidity. The table below reconciles net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands): |
Pro Forma | |||||||||||||
Years Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2005 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | $ | 10,857 | |||||
Plus: | |||||||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | 10,303 | |||||||||
Interest expense | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | 26,456 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | 20,080 | |||||||||
Minority interest share of depreciation and amortization and interest expense for NOARK | — | — | (735 | ) | (4,027 | ) | |||||||
EBITDA | 11,666 | 25,107 | 53,146 | 63,669 | |||||||||
Adjustments: | |||||||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense | — | 700 | 4,672 | 4,672 | |||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | 138 | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 11,666 | $ | 24,350 | $ | 57,956 | $ | 68,479 | |||||
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RISK FACTORS
Partnership interests are inherently different from capital stock of a corporation, although many of the business risks to which we are subject are similar to those that would be faced by a corporation engaged in a similar business. You should consider carefully the following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus in evaluating an investment in our common units.
If any of the following risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we might not be able to pay the quarterly distribution on our common units, the trading price of our common units could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us
Our only cash generating assets are our interests in Atlas, and our cash flow is therefore completely dependent upon the ability of Atlas to make distributions to its partners.
The amounts of cash that Atlas generates may not be sufficient for it to pay distributions at the current or any other level of distribution. Atlas’ ability to make cash distributions depends primarily on its cash flow. Cash distributions do not depend directly on Atlas’ profitability, which is affected by non-cash items. Therefore, cash distributions may be made during periods when Atlas records losses and may not be made during periods when Atlas records profits. The actual amounts of cash Atlas generates will depend upon numerous factors relating to its business which may be beyond its control, including:
• | the demand for and price of its natural gas and NGLs; |
• | expiration of significant contracts; |
• | the volume of natural gas Atlas transports; |
• | continued development of wells for connection to Atlas’ gathering systems; |
• | the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
• | the expenses Atlas incurs in providing its gathering services; |
• | the cost of acquisitions and capital improvements; |
• | Atlas’ issuance of equity securities; |
• | required principal and interest payments on Atlas’ debt; |
• | fluctuations in working capital; |
• | prevailing economic conditions; |
• | fuel conservation measures; |
• | alternate fuel requirements; |
• | government regulation and taxation; and |
• | technical advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices. |
In addition, the actual amount of cash that Atlas will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, including:
• | the level of capital expenditures it makes; |
• | the sources of cash used to fund its acquisitions; |
• | its debt service requirements and requirements to pay dividends on its outstanding preferred units, and restrictions on distributions contained in its current or future debt agreements; and |
• | the amount of cash reserves established by Atlas’ general partner for the conduct of Atlas’ business. |
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Atlas is unable to borrow under its credit facility to pay distributions of available cash to unitholders because such borrowings would not constitute “working capital borrowings” under its partnership agreement. Because Atlas will be unable to borrow money to pay distributions unless it establishes a facility that meets the definition contained in its partnership agreement, Atlas’ ability to pay a distribution in any quarter is solely dependent on its ability to generate sufficient operating surplus with respect to that quarter.
Because of these factors, Atlas may not have sufficient available cash each quarter to pay the most recently paid distribution of $0.83 per quarter or any other amount. Please read “—Risks Relating to Atlas’ Business” for a discussion of risks affecting Atlas’ ability to generate distributable cash flow.
Atlas’ debt levels and restrictions in Atlas’ credit facility, and in our proposed credit facility, could limit our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Atlas has a significant amount of debt. Atlas will need a substantial portion of its cash flow to make principal and interest payments on its indebtedness, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions to its unitholders. If Atlas’ operating results are not sufficient to service its current or future indebtedness, it will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments and/or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing its indebtedness, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. Atlas may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms, or at all.
We intend to enter into a credit facility after the closing of this offering. Atlas’ credit facility, and any future credit facility we enter into, will contain covenants limiting the ability to incur indebtedness, grant liens, engage in transactions with affiliates and make distributions to unitholders. Atlas’ credit facility also contains covenants requiring Atlas to maintain certain financial ratios. In addition, Atlas is prohibited from making any distribution to unitholders if such distribution would cause an event of default or otherwise violate a covenant under this credit facility.
Our partnership interests in Atlas are pledged under Atlas America’s credit facility.
Atlas Pipeline GP has granted a security interest and pledged its limited partner and general partner interests in Atlas to Wachovia Bank pursuant to Atlas America’s credit facility. If Atlas America or another party to the credit facility causes an event of default, Wachovia Bank and the other lenders under Atlas America’s credit facility could foreclose on the pledged Atlas partnership interests, which could cause us to lose our ability to manage Atlas and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If distributions on our common units are not paid with respect to any fiscal quarter, including those at the anticipated initial distribution rate, our unitholders will not be entitled to receive such payments in the future.
Our distributions to our unitholders will not be cumulative. Consequently, if distributions on our common units are not paid with respect to any fiscal quarter, including those at the anticipated initial distribution rate, our unitholders will not be entitled to receive such payments in the future. Any distributions received by us from Atlas related to periods prior to the closing of this offering will be distributed entirely to Atlas America. In May 2006, we expect to pay a distribution to our unitholders equal to the initial quarterly distribution prorated for the portion of the quarter ending March 31, 2006 that we are a publicly traded partnership.
We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient available cash to pay our initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per unit for each quarter following the consummation of this offering.
The amount of available cash we need to pay our full initial quarterly distribution on the common units outstanding for the four quarters immediately following the completion of this offering is approximately $19.0 million. Our pro forma available cash for fiscal 2005 would have been approximately $8.0 million. This amount would have been insufficient by approximately $11.0 million to pay our full initial quarterly distribution amount on all of our outstanding common units. Please see “Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash” for a presentation of the amounts of available cash that we would have generated for fiscal 2005.
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In the future, we may not have sufficient cash to pay distributions at our estimated initial quarterly distribution level or to increase distributions.
The source of our earnings and cash flow will initially consist exclusively of cash distributions from Atlas. Therefore, the amount of distributions we are able to make to our unitholders may fluctuate based on the level of distributions Atlas makes to its partners. We cannot assure you that Atlas will continue to make quarterly distributions at its current level or increase its quarterly distributions in the future. In addition, while we would expect to increase or decrease distributions to our unitholders if Atlas increases or decreases distributions to us, the timing and amount of such increased or decreased distributions, if any, will not necessarily be comparable to the timing and amount of the increase or decrease in distributions made by Atlas to us.
Our ability to distribute cash received from Atlas to our unitholders is limited by a number of factors, including:
• | interest expense and principal payments on any current or future indebtedness; |
• | restrictions on distributions contained in any current or future debt agreements; |
• | our general and administrative expenses, including expenses we will incur as a result of being a public company; |
• | expenses of our subsidiaries other than Atlas, including tax liabilities of our corporate subsidiaries, if any; |
• | reserves necessary for us to make the necessary capital contributions to maintain our 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas as required by its partnership agreement upon the issuance of additional partnership securities by Atlas; and |
• | reserves our general partner believes prudent for us to maintain for the proper conduct of our business or to provide for future distributions. |
We cannot guarantee that in the future we will be able to pay distributions or that any distributions we do make will be at or above our estimated initial quarterly distribution. The actual amount of cash that is available for distribution to our unitholders will depend on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control or the control of our general partner. Our estimated cash available to pay distributions for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 approximately equals the amount of cash we need to pay the annual distribution of $0.90 per unit. Therefore, a reduction in the amount of cash distributed by Atlas per unit or on the incentive distribution rights, or an increase in our expenses, may result in our not being able to pay the annual distribution of $0.90 per unit. We do not have any subordinated units, which would have their distributions reduced before distributions to the common units are reduced.
Atlas’ general partner, with our consent, may limit or modify the incentive distributions we are entitled to receive in order to facilitate the growth strategy of Atlas. Our general partner’s board of directors can give this consent without a vote of our unitholders.
We own Atlas’ general partner, which owns the incentive distribution rights in Atlas that entitle us to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per unit in any quarter. A substantial portion of the cash flows we receive from Atlas is provided by these incentive distributions. Atlas’ board of directors may reduce the incentive distribution rights payable to us with our consent, which we may provide without the approval of our unitholders.
In order to facilitate acquisitions by Atlas, the general partner of Atlas may elect to limit the incentive distributions we are entitled to receive with respect to a particular acquisition or unit issuance contemplated by Atlas. This is because a potential acquisition might not be accretive to Atlas’ unitholders as a result of the significant portion of that acquisition’s cash flows which would be paid as incentive distributions to us. By limiting the level of incentive distributions in connection with a particular acquisition or issuance of units of Atlas, the cash flows associated with that acquisition could be accretive to Atlas’ unitholders as well as substantially beneficial to us. In doing so, the managing board of Atlas’ general partner would be required to
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consider both its fiduciary obligations to investors in Atlas as well as to us. Our partnership agreement specifically permits our general partner to authorize the general partner of Atlas to limit or modify the incentive distribution rights held by us if our general partner determines that such limitation or modification does not adversely affect our limited partners in any material respect.
A reduction in Atlas’ distributions will disproportionately affect the amount of cash distributions to which we are currently entitled.
Our ownership of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, through our ownership of equity interests in Atlas Pipeline GP, the holder of the incentive distribution rights, entitles us to receive our pro rata share of specified percentages of total cash distributions made by Atlas with respect to any particular quarter only in the event that Atlas distributes more than $0.42 per unit for such quarter. As a result, the holders of Atlas’ common units have a priority over the holders of Atlas’ incentive distribution rights to the extent of cash distributions by Atlas up to and including $0.42 per unit for any quarter.
Our incentive distribution rights entitle us to receive increasing percentages, up to 48%, of all cash distributed by Atlas. Because the incentive distribution rights currently participate at the maximum 48% target cash distribution level in all distributions made by Atlas above the current distribution level, future growth in distributions we receive from Atlas will not result from an increase in the target cash distribution level associated with the incentive distribution rights.
Furthermore, a decrease in the amount of distributions by Atlas to less than $0.60 per common unit per quarter would reduce Atlas Pipeline GP’s percentage of the incremental cash distributions above $0.52 per common unit per quarter from 48% to 23%. As a result, any such reduction in quarterly cash distributions from Atlas would have the effect of disproportionately reducing the amount of all distributions that we receive based on our ownership interest in the incentive distribution rights in Atlas as compared to cash distributions we receive on our 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and our Atlas common units.
Our ability to meet our financial needs may be adversely affected by our cash distribution policy and our lack of operational assets.
Our cash distribution policy, which is consistent with our partnership agreement, requires us to distribute all of our available cash quarterly. Our only cash generating assets are partnership interests, including incentive distribution rights, in Atlas, and we currently have no independent operations separate from those of Atlas. Moreover, a reduction in Atlas’ distributions will disproportionately affect the amount of cash distributions we receive. Given that our cash distribution policy is to distribute available cash and not retain it and that our only cash generating assets are partnership interests in Atlas, we may not have enough cash to meet our needs if any of the following events occur:
• | an increase in our operating expenses; |
• | an increase in general and administrative expenses; |
• | an increase in principal and interest payments on our outstanding debt; |
• | an increase in working capital requirements; or |
• | an increase in cash needs of Atlas or its subsidiaries that reduces Atlas’ distributions. |
There is no guarantee that our unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us.
While our cash distribution policy, which is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement, requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly, our cash distribution policy is subject to the following restrictions and limitations and may be changed at any time, including in the following ways:
• | We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to a number of factors, including increases in our general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on debt we may incur, tax expenses, working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs of us or Atlas and its subsidiaries. |
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• | Our cash distribution policy will be, and Atlas’ cash distribution policy is, subject to restrictions on distributions under our anticipated new credit facility and Atlas’ credit agreements, respectively, such as material financial tests and covenants and limitations on paying distributions during an event of default. |
• | Our general partner’s board of directors will have the authority under our partnership agreement to establish reserves for the prudent conduct of our business and for future cash distributions to our unitholders, and the managing board of Atlas’ general partner has the authority under Atlas’ partnership agreement to establish reserves for the prudent conduct of Atlas’ business and for future cash distributions to Atlas’ unitholders. The establishment of those reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions to you from levels we currently anticipate pursuant to our stated cash distribution policy. |
• | Our partnership agreement, including our cash distribution policy contained therein, may be amended by a vote of the holders of a majority of our common units. |
• | Even if our cash distribution policy is not amended, modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement, and the amount of distributions paid under Atlas’ cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution to its unitholders is at the discretion of Atlas’ general partner, taking into consideration the terms of its partnership agreement. |
• | Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, Atlas may not make a distribution to its partners if the distribution would cause its liabilities to exceed the fair value of its assets, and we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. |
Because of these restrictions and limitations on our cash distribution policy and our ability to change our cash distribution policy, we may not have available cash to distribute to our unitholders, and there is no guarantee that our unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us.
Our cash distribution policy limits our ability to grow.
Because we distribute all of our available cash, our growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. In fact, our growth initially will be completely dependent upon Atlas’ ability to increase its quarterly distribution per unit because currently our only cash-generating assets are partnership interests in Atlas, including incentive distribution rights. If we issue additional units or incur debt to fund acquisitions and capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units or interest on that debt could increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level.
Consistent with the terms of its partnership agreement, Atlas distributes to its partners its available cash each quarter. In determining the amount of cash available for distribution, Atlas sets aside cash reserves, including reserves it believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of its business or to provide for future distributions. Additionally, it has relied upon external financing sources, including commercial borrowings and other debt and equity issuances, to fund its acquisition capital expenditures. Accordingly, to the extent Atlas does not have sufficient cash reserves or is unable to finance growth externally, its cash distribution policy will significantly impair its ability to grow. In addition, to the extent Atlas issues additional units in connection with any acquisitions or capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that Atlas will be unable to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level, which in turn may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders. The incurrence of additional debt to finance its growth strategy would result in increased interest expense to Atlas, which in turn may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.
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The amount of cash distributions from Atlas that we will be able to distribute to you will be reduced by the costs associated with being a public company, other general and administrative expenses, and reserves that our general partner believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of our business and for future distributions.
Before we can pay distributions to our unitholders, we must first pay or reserve cash for our expenses, including the costs of being a public company and other operating expenses, and we may reserve cash for future distributions during periods of limited cash flows. Prior to this offering, we have been a private company and have not filed reports with the Commission. Following this offering, we will become subject to the public reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although we produce our financial statements in accordance with GAAP, our internal accounting controls may not currently meet all standards applicable to companies with publicly traded securities. For example, as we become subject to the requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, our auditors may identify weaknesses or deficiencies in the operational effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures and may advise us that these weaknesses or deficiencies could collectively constitute a significant deficiency that may rise to the level of a material weakness under Section 404. Similarly, Atlas is subject to Section 404 with the filing of its annual reports on Form 10-K, and its auditors may identify significant deficiencies and/or material weaknesses in its internal controls and procedures. In addition, the amount of cash distributions from Atlas that will be available for distribution to our unitholders will be reduced by the costs associated with us becoming a public company.
In addition, we may reserve funds to maintain our 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas by making a capital contribution to Atlas when it issues additional common units.
We are largely dependent on Atlas for our growth. As a result of the fiduciary obligations of Atlas’ general partner, which is our wholly owned subsidiary, to the unitholders of Atlas, our ability to pursue business opportunities independently will be limited.
We currently intend to grow primarily through the growth of Atlas. While we are not precluded from pursuing business opportunities independently of Atlas, our subsidiary, as the general partner of Atlas, has fiduciary duties to Atlas unitholders which would make it difficult for us to engage in any business activity that is competitive with Atlas. Those fiduciary duties are applicable to us because we control the general partner through our ability to elect all of its directors. While there may be circumstances in which these fiduciary duties may be satisfied while allowing us to pursue business opportunities independent of Atlas, we expect such opportunities to be limited. Accordingly, we may be unable to diversify our sources of revenue in order to increase cash distributions to you. See also “—Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest.”
Our ability to sell our partnership interests in Atlas may be limited by securities laws restrictions and liquidity constraints.
All of the 1,641,026 common units of Atlas that we own are unregistered, restricted securities, within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. Unless we exercise our registration rights with respect to these common units, we are limited to selling into the market in any three-month period an amount of Atlas common units that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the total number of common units outstanding or the average weekly reported trading volume of the common units for the four calendar weeks prior to the sale. We face contractual limitations on our ability to sell our general partner interest and incentive distribution rights and the market for such interests is illiquid.
The market price of our common units could be adversely affected by sales of substantial amounts of our common units in the public markets, including sales by our existing unitholders.
After this offering, we will have 21,100,000 common units outstanding, which includes the 3,600,000 common units we are selling in this offering that may be resold in the public market immediately. All of our common units that were outstanding prior to our initial public offering will be subject to resale restrictions under 180-day lock-up agreements with our underwriters. Each of the lock-up arrangements with the underwriters may be waived in the discretion of Lehman Brothers Inc. Sales by any of our existing unitholders of a substantial number of our common units in the public markets following this offering, or the perception that such sales might occur, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common units
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or could impair our ability to obtain capital through an offering of equity securities. In addition, our general partner has agreed to provide registration rights to these holders, subject to certain limitations. Please read “Units Eligible for Future Sale.”
The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party, and that party could replace our current management team, in each case without unitholder consent.
Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of our unitholders. Furthermore, there is no restriction in our limited partnership agreement on the ability of the owners of our general partner to transfer their ownership interest in our general partner to a third party. The owner of our general partner would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with its own choices and to control the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers.
Atlas’ unitholders have the right to remove Atlas’ general partner with the approval of the holders of 66 2/3% of all units, which would cause us to lose our general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in Atlas and the ability to manage Atlas.
We currently manage Atlas through Atlas Pipeline GP, Atlas’ general partner and our wholly-owned subsidiary. Atlas’ partnership agreement, however, gives unitholders of Atlas the right to remove the general partner of Atlas upon the affirmative vote of holders of 66 2/3% of Atlas’ outstanding units. If Atlas Pipeline GP were removed as general partner of Atlas, it would receive cash or common units in exchange for its 2.0% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights and would lose its ability to manage Atlas. While the common units or cash we would receive are intended under the terms of Atlas’ partnership agreement to fully compensate us in the event such an exchange is required, the value of these common units or investments we make with the cash over time may not be equivalent to the value of the general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights had we retained them.
If Atlas’ general partner is not fully reimbursed or indemnified for obligations and liabilities it incurs in managing the business and affairs of Atlas, its value, and therefore the value of our common units, could decline.
The general partner of Atlas may make expenditures on behalf of Atlas for which it will seek reimbursement from Atlas. In addition, under Delaware partnership law, the general partner, in its capacity as the general partner of Atlas, has unlimited liability for the obligations of Atlas, such as its debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations of Atlas that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. To the extent Atlas Pipeline GP incurs obligations on behalf of Atlas, it is entitled to be reimbursed or indemnified by Atlas. If Atlas is unable or unwilling to reimburse or indemnify its general partner, Atlas Pipeline GP may be unable to satisfy these liabilities or obligations, which would reduce its value and therefore the value of our common units.
Cost reimbursements due Atlas’ general partner may be substantial and will reduce the cash available for distributions to Atlas’ unitholders and thereby, our unitholders.
Atlas reimburses Atlas America, Atlas’ general partner and their affiliates, including officers and directors of Atlas America, for all expenses they occur on Atlas’ behalf. Atlas’ general partner has sole discretion to determine the amount of these expenses. In addition, Atlas America and its affiliates provide Atlas with services for which Atlas is charged reasonable fees as determined by Atlas America in its sole discretion. The reimbursement of expenses or payment of fees could adversely affect Atlas’ ability to make distributions to its unitholders and thereby, adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
The initial public offering price of our common units may not be indicative of the market price of our common units after this offering and, due in part to the nature of our assets, our unit price may be volatile. In addition, a trading market that will provide you with adequate liquidity may not develop.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for our common units. An active market for our common units may not develop or may not be sustained after this offering. The initial public offering price of our common units will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters based on numerous
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factors which we discuss in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus. This price may not be indicative of the market price for our common units after this initial public offering. The market price of our common units could be subject to significant fluctuations after this offering, and may decline below the initial public offering price. You may not be able to resell your common units at or above the initial public offering price. The following factors could affect our common unit price:
• | the amount of Atlas’ distributions to its partners, including us; |
• | Atlas’ operating and financial performance and prospects; |
• | quarterly variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such as distributable cash flow per common unit, net income and revenue; |
• | changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of research reports by analysts; |
• | speculation in the press or investment community; |
• | sales of our common units by our unitholders; |
• | announcements by Atlas or its competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, securities offerings or capital commitments; |
• | general market conditions; and |
• | domestic and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to Atlas’ performance. |
The stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies and partnerships. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common units. In addition, potential investors may be deterred from investing in our common units for various reasons, including the very limited number of publicly traded entities whose assets consist exclusively of partnership interests in a publicly traded limited partnership. Additionally, the lack of liquidity may contribute to significant fluctuations in the market price of our common units and limit the number of investors who are able to buy our common units.
Our common units and Atlas’ common units may not trade in simple relation or proportion to one another. Instead, while the trading prices of our common units and Atlas’ common units are likely to follow generally similar broad trends, the trading prices may diverge because, among other things:
• | Atlas’ cash distributions to its common unitholders have a priority over distributions on its incentive distribution rights; |
• | we participate in the distributions on our general partner interest in Atlas and the incentive distribution rights in Atlas while Atlas’ common unitholders do not; and |
• | we may enter into other businesses separate and apart from Atlas or any of its affiliates. |
Our unitholders do not elect our general partner or vote on our general partner’s officers or directors, and the rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our units are further restricted under our partnership agreement. Following the completion of this offering, Atlas America will own approximately 82.9% of our units, a sufficient number to block any attempt to remove our general partner.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, our unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Our unitholders did not elect our general partner or the officers or directors of our general partner and will have no right to elect our general partner or the officers and directors of our general partner on an annual or other continuing basis in the future. The board of directors of our general partner, including independent directors, is chosen by the members of our general partner.
Furthermore, if our unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they will have little ability to remove our general partner. Our general partner may not be removed except upon the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class. Because
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Atlas America owns approximately 82.9% of our outstanding units, our general partner may not be removed without the consent of Atlas America.
Our unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by the provision in our limited partnership agreement stating that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot be voted on any matter. In addition, our limited partnership agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of our unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting our unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of our management. As a result of these provisions, the price at which our common units will trade may be lower because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.
Atlas may issue additional units, which may increase the risk of it not having sufficient available cash to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level.
Atlas has wide discretion to issue additional units, including units that rank senior to its common units and the incentive distributions rights as to quarterly cash distributions, on the terms and conditions established by its general partner. The payment of distributions on these additional Atlas units may increase the risk of Atlas being unable to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level. To the extent these new Atlas units are senior to the Atlas common units and the incentive distribution rights, their issuance will increase the uncertainty of the payment of distributions on the common units and the incentive distribution rights. Neither the common units nor the incentive distribution rights are entitled to any arrearages from prior quarters.
We may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests without the consent of our unitholders, which will dilute your ownership interest in us and may increase the risk that we will not have sufficient available cash to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level.
We may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests of any type without the approval of our unitholders on terms and conditions established by our general partner at any time. The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:
• | our unitholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
• | the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit may decrease; |
• | the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished; |
• | the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase; and |
• | the market price of the common units may decline. |
Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.—Issuance of Additional Securities.”
If in the future we cease to manage and control Atlas through our ownership of its general partner interests, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
If we cease to manage and control Atlas and are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, we would either have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, obtain exemptive relief from the SEC or modify our organizational structure or our contract rights to fall outside the definition of an investment company. Registering as an investment company could, among other things, materially limit our ability to engage in transactions with affiliates, including the purchase and sale of certain securities or other property to or from our affiliates, restrict our ability to borrow funds or engage in other transactions involving leverage and require us to add additional directors who are independent of us or our affiliates.
You will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $24.29 per common unit in the pro forma net tangible book value of your common units.
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The offering price of our common units will be substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per common unit of the outstanding common units immediately after the offering. If you purchase common units in this offering you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the pro forma net tangible book value per common unit from the price you pay for the common units. Since the net tangible book value of a proposed common unit of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. is a negative number on a pro forma basis, the dilutive effect on such common unit will be an amount greater than the proposed offering price per common unit. This dilution results primarily because the assets contributed by our general partner and its affiliates are recorded in accordance with GAAP at their historical cost, and not their fair value.
Your liability as a limited partner may not be limited, and our unitholders may have to repay distributions or make additional contributions under certain circumstances.
Under Delaware law, you could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as our general partner if a court determined that the right or the exercise of the right by our unitholders as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to the limited partnership agreement or to take other action under our limited partnership agreement constituted participation in the “control” of our business.
Our general partner generally has unlimited liability for our obligations, such as our debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations that are expressly made without recourse to our general partner. Additionally, the limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions.
In addition, Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act provides that, under some circumstances, a unitholder may be liable to us for the amount of a distribution for a period of three years from the date of the distribution. Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.—Limited Liability” for a discussion of the implications of the limitations on liability to a unitholder.
An increase in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.
Like all equity investments, an investment in our common units is subject to certain risks. In exchange for accepting these risks, investors may expect to receive a higher rate of return than would otherwise be obtainable from lower-risk investments. Accordingly, as interest rates rise, the ability of investors to obtain higher risk-adjusted rates of return by purchasing government-backed debt securities may cause a corresponding decline in demand for riskier investments generally, including yield-based equity investments such as publicly-traded limited partnership interests. Reduced demand for our common units resulting from investors seeking other more favorable investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.
Risks Related to Conflicts of Interest
Although we control Atlas through our ownership of its general partner, Atlas’ general partner owes fiduciary duties to Atlas and Atlas’ unitholders, which may conflict with our interests.
Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships between us and our affiliates, including Atlas’ general partner, on the one hand, and Atlas and its limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of Atlas Pipeline GP have fiduciary duties to manage Atlas in a manner beneficial to us, its owner. At the same time, these directors and officers have a fiduciary duty to manage Atlas in a manner beneficial to Atlas and its limited partners. The managing board of Atlas or its conflicts committee will resolve any such conflict and has broad latitude to consider the interests of all parties to the conflict. The resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our best interest or that of our unitholders.
For example, conflicts of interest may arise in the following situations:
• | the allocation of shared overhead expenses to Atlas and us; |
• | the interpretation and enforcement of contractual obligations between us and our affiliates, on the one hand, and Atlas, on the other hand; |
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• | the determination and timing of the amount of cash to be distributed to Atlas’ partners and the amount of cash reserved for the future conduct of Atlas’ business; |
• | the decision as to whether Atlas should make acquisitions, and on what terms; and |
• | any decision we make in the future to engage in business activities independent of, or in competition with, Atlas. |
The fiduciary duties of our general partner’s officers and directors may conflict with those of Atlas’ general partner’s officers and directors.
Our general partner’s officers and directors have fiduciary duties to manage our business in a manner beneficial to us and our partners. However, all of our general partner’s executive officers and non-independent directors also serve as executive officers and directors of Atlas’ general partner, and, as a result, have fiduciary duties to manage the business of Atlas in a manner beneficial to Atlas and its partners. Consequently, these directors and officers may encounter situations in which their fiduciary obligations to Atlas, on one hand, and us, on the other hand, are in conflict. The resolution of these conflicts of interest may not always be in our best interest or that of our unitholders. For a more detailed description of the conflicts of interest involving our general partner, please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
If we are presented with certain business opportunities, Atlas will have the first right to pursue such opportunities.
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement to be entered into in connection with the closing of this offering, we will agree to certain business opportunity arrangements to address potential conflicts that may arise between us and Atlas. If a business opportunity in respect of any business activity in which Atlas is currently engaged is presented to us, our general partner or Atlas or its general partner, then Atlas will have the first right to pursue such business opportunity. The omnibus agreement will provide, among other things, that Atlas will be presumed to desire to acquire the assets until such time as it advises us that it has abandoned such pursuit, and we may not pursue the opportunity prior to that time. Please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
Atlas and affiliates of our general partner are not limited in their ability to compete with us, which could cause conflicts of interest and limit our ability to acquire additional assets or businesses which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Neither our partnership agreement nor the omnibus agreement between us, Atlas, Atlas Pipeline GP and Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC will prohibit Atlas or affiliates of our general partner from owning assets or engaging in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us or one another. In addition, Atlas and its affiliates or affiliates of our general partner, may acquire, construct or dispose of additional assets related to the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas, NGLs or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct any of those assets. As a result, competition among these entities could adversely impact Atlas’ or our results of operations and cash available for distribution. Please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
Potential conflicts of interest may arise among our general partner, its affiliates and us. Our general partner and its affiliates have limited fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders, which may permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our unitholders.
Following this offering, conflicts of interest may arise among our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates over the interests of our unitholders. These conflicts include, among others, the following:
• | Our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, including Atlas and its affiliates and any other businesses acquired in the future, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to our unitholders. |
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• | Our general partner has limited its liability and reduced its fiduciary duties under the terms of our partnership agreement, while also restricting the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without these limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duties. As a result of purchasing our units, unitholders consent to various actions and conflicts of interest that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable state law. |
• | Our general partner determines the amount and timing of our investment transactions, borrowings, issuances of additional partnership securities and reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is available for distribution to our unitholders. |
• | Our general partner determines which costs incurred by it and its affiliates are reimbursable by us. |
• | Our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered, or from entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf, so long as the terms of any such payments or additional contractual arrangements are fair and reasonable to us. |
• | Our general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by it and its affiliates. |
• | Our general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us. |
Please read “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”
Our general partner may not be fully reimbursed for the use of its officers and employees by Atlas’ general partner.
Our general partner shares officers and administrative personnel with Atlas’ general partner to operate both our business and Atlas’ business. In that case, our general partner’s officers, who are also the officers of Atlas’ general partner, will allocate, in their reasonable and sole discretion, the time its employees spend on our behalf and on behalf of Atlas. These allocations may not necessarily be the result of arms-length negotiations between Atlas’ general partner and our general partner. Although our general partner intends to be reimbursed by Atlas’ general partner for its employees’ activities, due to the nature of the allocations, this reimbursement may not exactly match the actual time and overhead spent.
Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to us and our unitholders and restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, our partnership agreement:
• | permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or any limited partner. Examples include the exercise of its limited call right, its voting rights with respect to the units it owns, its registration rights and its determination whether or not to consent to any merger or consolidation of our partnership or amendment to our partnership agreement; |
• | provides that our general partner will not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as a general partner so long as it acted in good faith, meaning it believed the decisions were in the best interests of our partnership; | |
• | generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the audit and conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be “fair and reasonable” to us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is “fair and reasonable,” our general partner may consider the |
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totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; |
• | provides that in resolving conflicts of interest, it will be presumed that in making its decision the general partner acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or us, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption; and |
• | provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or assignees for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the general partner or those other persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that such person’s conduct was criminal. |
In order to become a limited partner of our partnership, our unitholders are required to agree to be bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above. Please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties—Fiduciary Duties.”
Our general partner has a limited call right that may require you to sell your units at an undesirable time or price.
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 87.5% of our outstanding units, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price. As a result, you may be required to sell your units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units. At the completion of this offering, Atlas America will own approximately 82.9% of our units. Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.—Limited Call Right.”
Risks Relating to Atlas’ Business
Because our cash flow will initially consist exclusively of distributions from Atlas, risks to Atlas’ business are also risks to us. We have set forth below the material risks to Atlas’ business or results of operations, the occurrence of which could negatively impact Atlas’ financial performance and decrease the amount of cash it is able to distribute to us, thereby decreasing the amount of cash we have available for distribution to our unitholders.
Atlas may be unsuccessful in integrating the operations from its recent acquisitions or any future acquisitions with its operations or in realizing all of the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions.
Atlas acquired Elk City in April 2005 and completed the NOARK acquisition in October 2005 and is currently in the process of integrating their operations with its operations. Atlas also has an active, on-going program to identify other potential acquisitions. The integration of previously independent operations with Atlas can be a complex, costly and time-consuming process. The difficulties of combining Elk City and NOARK, as well as any operations Atlas may acquire in the future, with its existing operations include, among other things:
• | operating a significantly larger combined entity; |
• | the necessity of coordinating geographically disparate organizations, systems and facilities; |
• | integrating personnel with diverse business backgrounds and organizational cultures; |
• | consolidating operational and administrative functions; |
• | integrating internal controls, compliance under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other corporate governance matters; |
• | the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; |
• | customer or key employee loss from the acquired businesses; |
• | a significant increase in Atlas’ indebtedness; and |
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• | potential environmental or regulatory liabilities and title problems. |
The process of combining companies or the failure to integrate them successfully could harm Atlas’ business or future prospects, and result in significant decreases in Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows.
The acquisitions of the Velma, Elk City and NOARK operations have substantially changed Atlas’ business, making it difficult to evaluate Atlas’ business based upon its historical financial information.
The acquisitions of the Velma, Elk City and NOARK operations have significantly increased Atlas’ size and substantially redefined its business plan, expanded Atlas’ geographic market and resulted in large changes to its revenue and expenses. As a result of these acquisitions, and Atlas’ continued plan to acquire and integrate additional companies that it believes present attractive opportunities, Atlas’ financial results for any period or changes in its results across periods may continue to dramatically change. Atlas’ historical financial results, therefore, should not be relied upon to accurately predict its future operating results, thereby making the evaluation of its business more difficult.
Due to its lack of asset diversification, negative developments in Atlas’ operations would reduce its ability to make distributions to its unitholders.
Atlas relies exclusively on the revenue generated from its transportation, gathering and processing operations, and as a result, its financial condition depends upon prices of, and continued demand for, natural gas and NGLs. Due to Atlas’ lack of asset-type diversification, a negative development in one of these businesses would have a significantly greater impact on Atlas’ financial condition and results of operations than if it maintained more diverse assets.
Atlas’ construction of new assets may not result in revenue increases and is subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic risks, which could impair its results of operations and financial condition.
One of the ways Atlas may grow its business is through the construction of new assets. The construction of additions or modifications to Atlas’ existing systems and facilities, and the construction of new assets, involve numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties beyond Atlas’ control and require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital. Any projects Atlas undertakes may not be completed on schedule at the budgeted cost, or at all. Moreover, its revenue may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project. For instance, if Atlas expands a gathering system, the construction may occur over an extended period of time, and it will not receive any material increases in revenue until the project is completed. Moreover, Atlas may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in production in a region in which growth does not materialize. Since Atlas is not engaged in the exploration for and development of natural gas reserves, it often does not have access to estimates of potential reserves in an area before constructing facilities in the area. To the extent Atlas relies on estimates of future production in Atlas’ decision to construct additions to its systems, the estimates may prove to be inaccurate because there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of future production. As a result, new facilities may not be able to attract enough throughput to achieve Atlas’ expected investment return, which could impair Atlas’ results of operations and financial condition. In addition, Atlas’ actual revenue from a project could materially differ from expectations as a result of the price of natural gas, the NGL content of the natural gas processed and other economic factors described in this section.
Atlas is building a gas plant known as Sweetwater from which it expects to generate additional incremental cash flow. In addition to the risks discussed above, expected revenue from the Sweetwater gas plant could be reduced or delayed due to the following reasons:
• | difficulties in obtaining equity or debt financing for construction and operating costs; |
• | difficulties in obtaining permits or other regulatory or third party consents; |
• | construction and operating costs exceeding budget estimates; |
• | revenue being less than expected due to lower commodity prices or lower demand; |
• | difficulties in obtaining consistent supplies of natural gas; and |
• | terms in operating agreements that are not favorable to Atlas. |
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If Atlas is unable to obtain new rights-of-way or the cost of renewing existing rights-of-way increases, then it may be unable to fully execute its growth strategy and its cash flows could be reduced.
The construction of additions to Atlas’ existing gathering assets may require it to obtain new rights-of-way before constructing new pipelines. Atlas may be unable to obtain rights-of-way to connect new natural gas supplies to its existing gathering lines or capitalize on other attractive expansion opportunities. Additionally, it may become more expensive for Atlas to obtain new rights-of-way or to renew existing rights-of-way. If the cost of obtaining new rights-of-way or renewing existing rights-of-way increases, then Atlas’ cash flows could be reduced.
Atlas’ profitability is affected by the volatility of prices for natural gas and NGL products.
Atlas derives a majority of its revenue from percentage-of-proceeds contracts. As a result, Atlas’ income depends to a significant extent upon the prices at which the natural gas it transports and the NGLs it produces are sold. A 10% change in the average price of NGLs, natural gas and condensate Atlas processes and sells would result in a change to our 2005 consolidated net income, excluding the effect of minority interests in Atlas’ net income, of approximately $1.6 million. Additionally, changes in natural gas prices may indirectly impact Atlas’ profitability since prices can influence drilling activity and well operations and thus the volume of natural gas Atlas gathers and processes. Historically, the price of both natural gas and NGLs has been subject to significant volatility in response to relatively minor changes in the supply and demand for natural gas and NGL products, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors beyond Atlas’ control, including those described in “Our only cash generating assets are our partnership interests in Atlas, and our cash flow is therefore completely dependent upon the ability of Atlas to make distributions to its partners,” above. Atlas expects this volatility to continue. This volatility may cause Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows to vary widely from period to period. Atlas’ hedging strategies may not be sufficient to offset price volatility risk and, in any event, do not cover all of the throughput volumes subject to percentage of proceeds contracts. Moreover, hedges are subject to inherent risks, described in “—Atlas’ hedging strategies may fail to protect it and could reduce its gross margin and cash flow.”
The amount of natural gas Atlas transports will decline over time unless it is able to attract new wells to connect to its gathering systems.
Production of natural gas from a well generally declines over time until the well can no longer economically produce natural gas and is plugged and abandoned. Failure to connect new wells to Atlas’ gathering systems could, therefore, result in a substantial reduction of the amount of natural gas transported over time and could, upon exhaustion of the current wells, cause Atlas to abandon one or more of its gathering systems and, possibly, cease operations. The primary factors affecting Atlas’ ability to connect new supplies of natural gas to its gathering systems include its success in contracting for existing wells that are not committed to other systems, the level of drilling activity near its gathering systems and, in the Mid-Continent region, its ability to attract natural gas producers away from its competitors’ gathering systems. Fluctuations in energy prices can greatly affect production rates and investments by third parties in the development of new oil and natural gas reserves. Drilling activity generally decreases as oil and natural gas prices decrease. Atlas has no control over the level of drilling activity in its service areas, the amount of reserves underlying wells that connect to its systems and the rate at which production from a well will decline. In addition, Atlas has no control over producers or their production decisions, which are affected by, among other things, prevailing and projected energy prices, demand for hydrocarbons, the level of reserves, geological considerations, governmental regulation and the availability and cost of capital. Because Atlas’ operating costs are fixed to a significant degree, a reduction in the natural gas volumes it transports, treats or processes would result in a reduction in Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows.
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The success of Atlas’ Appalachian operations depends upon Atlas America’s ability to drill and complete commercial producing wells.
Substantially all of the wells Atlas connects to its gathering systems in its Appalachian service area are drilled and operated by Atlas America for drilling investment partnerships sponsored by Atlas America. As a result, Atlas’ Appalachian operations depend principally upon the success of Atlas America in sponsoring drilling investment partnerships and completing wells for these partnerships. Atlas America operates in a highly competitive environment for acquiring undeveloped leasehold acreage and attracting capital. Atlas America may not be able to compete successfully in the future in acquiring undeveloped leasehold acreage or in raising additional capital through its drilling investment partnerships. Furthermore, Atlas America is not required to connect wells for which it is not the operator to Atlas’ gathering systems. If Atlas America cannot or does not continue to sponsor drilling investment partnerships, if the amount of money raised by those partnerships decreases, or if the number of wells actually drilled and completed as commercially producing wells decreases, the amount of natural gas transported by Atlas’ Appalachian gathering systems would substantially decrease and could, upon exhaustion of the wells currently connected to its gathering systems, cause it to abandon one or more of its Appalachian gathering systems, thereby materially reducing its gross margin and cash flows.
The failure of Atlas America to perform its obligations under Atlas’ natural gas gathering agreements may adversely affect Atlas’ business.
Substantially all of Atlas’ Appalachian operating system revenue currently consists of the fees Atlas receives under the master natural gas gathering agreement and other transportation agreements it has with Atlas America. Atlas expects to derive a material portion of its gross margin from the services it provides under its contracts with Atlas America for the foreseeable future. Any factor or event adversely affecting Atlas America’s business or its ability to perform under its contracts with Atlas or any default or nonperformance by Atlas America of its contractual obligations to Atlas, could reduce Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows.
The success of Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations depends upon its ability to continually find and contract for new sources of natural gas supply from unrelated third parties.
Unlike its Appalachian operations, none of the drillers or operators in Atlas’ Mid-Continent service area is an affiliate of Atlas. Moreover, Atlas’ agreements with most of the drillers and operators with which its Mid-Continent operations do business do not require them to dedicate significant amounts of undeveloped acreage to Atlas’ systems. As a result, Atlas does not have assured sources to provide it with new wells to connect to its Mid-Continent gathering systems. Failure to connect new wells to its Mid-Continent operations will, as described in “—The amount of natural gas Atlas transports, treats or processes will decline over time unless it is able to attract new wells to connect to its gathering systems,” above, reduce its gross margin and cash flows.
Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations currently depend on certain key producers for their supply of natural gas; the loss of any of these key producers could reduce Atlas’ revenue.
During 2005, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, Burlington Resources Inc., St. Mary Land and Exploration Company and Samson Resources Co. supplied Atlas’ Mid-Continent system with a majority of its natural gas supply. If these producers reduce the volumes of natural gas that they supply to Atlas, Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows would be reduced unless it obtains comparable supplies of natural gas from other producers.
The curtailment of operations at, or closure of, either of Atlas’ processing plants could harm its business.
Atlas has one processing plant for its Elk City operation and one active processing plant for its Velma operation. If operations at either plant were to be curtailed, or closed, whether due to accident, natural catastrophe, environmental regulation or for any other reason, Atlas’ ability to process natural gas from the relevant gathering system and, as a result, its ability to extract and sell NGLs, would be harmed. If this curtailment or stoppage were to extend for more than a short period, Atlas’ gross margin and cash flows would be materially reduced.
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Atlas may face increased competition in the future in its Mid-Continent service areas.
Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations may face competition for well connections. Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, ONEOK, Inc., Carrera Gas Company, Cimmarron Transportation, LLC and Enogex, Inc. operate competing gathering systems and processing plants in Atlas’ Velma service area. In Atlas’ Elk City service area, ONEOK Field Services, Eagle Rock Midstream Resources, L.P., Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Enogex operate competing gathering systems and processing plants. CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s interstate system is the nearest direct competitor to Atlas’ Ozark Gas Transmission system. CenterPoint and Enogex Inc. operate competing gathering systems in Ozark Gas Gathering’s service area. Some of Atlas’ competitors have greater financial and other resources than Atlas does. If these companies become more active in its Mid-Continent service areas, Atlas may not be able to compete successfully with them in securing new well connections or retaining current well connections. If Atlas does not compete successfully, the amount of natural gas it transports, processes and treats will decrease, reducing its gross margin and cash flows.
The amount of natural gas Atlas transports, treats or processes may be reduced if the public utility and interstate pipelines to which it delivers gas cannot or will not accept the gas. |
Atlas’ gathering systems principally serve as intermediate transportation facilities between sales lines from wells connected to its systems and the public utility or interstate pipelines to which it delivers natural gas. If one or more of these pipelines has service interruptions, capacity limitations or otherwise does not accept the natural gas Atlas transports, and Atlas cannot arrange for delivery to other pipelines, local distribution companies or end users, the amount of natural gas it transports may be reduced. Since Atlas’ revenue depends upon the volumes of natural gas it transports, this could result in a material reduction in its gross margin and cash flows.
Before acquiring its Velma and Elk City operations, Atlas had no previous experience either in its Mid-Continent service area or in operating natural gas processing plants.
Atlas’ Mid-Continent gathering systems are located in Oklahoma and northern Texas, areas in which it has been involved only since July 2004 as a result of the Velma acquisition and, in April 2005, the Elk City acquisition. In addition, as a result of these acquisitions, Atlas began to operate natural gas processing plants, a business in which it had no prior operating experience. Atlas depends upon the experience, knowledge and business relationships that have been developed by the senior management of its Mid-Continent operations to operate successfully in the region. The loss of the services of one or more members of Atlas’ Mid-Continent senior management, in particular, Robert R. Firth, President, and David D. Hall, Chief Financial Officer, could limit its growth or ability to maintain its current level of operations in the Mid-Continent region.
Atlas may not be able to execute its growth strategy successfully.
Atlas’ strategy contemplates substantial growth through both the acquisition of other gathering systems and processing assets and the expansion of its existing gathering systems and processing assets. Atlas’ growth strategy involves numerous risks, including:
• | it may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates; |
• | it may not be able to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms for various reasons, including limitations on access to capital and increased competition for a limited pool of suitable assets; |
• | its costs in seeking to make acquisitions may be material, even if it cannot complete any acquisition it has pursued; |
• | irrespective of estimates at the time it makes an acquisition, the acquisition may prove to be dilutive to earnings and operating surplus; |
• | it may encounter difficulties in integrating operations and systems; and |
• | any additional debt it incurs to finance an acquisition may impair Atlas’ ability to service its existing debt. |
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Limitations on Atlas’ access to capital or the market for its common units will impair its ability to execute its growth strategy.
Atlas’ ability to raise capital for acquisitions and other capital expenditures depends upon ready access to the capital markets. Historically, Atlas has financed its acquisitions, and to a much lesser extent, expansions of its gathering systems, by bank credit facilities and the proceeds of public and private equity offerings of its common units and preferred units of its operating partnership. If Atlas is unable to access the capital markets, it may be unable to execute its strategy of growth through acquisitions.
Atlas’ hedging strategies may fail to protect it and could reduce its gross margin and cash flow.
Atlas pursues various hedging strategies to seek to reduce its exposure to losses from adverse changes in the prices for natural gas and NGLs. Atlas’ hedging activities will vary in scope based upon the level and volatility of natural gas and NGL prices and other changing market conditions. Atlas’ hedging activity may fail to protect or could harm it because, among other things:
• | hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of volatile prices; |
• | available hedges may not correspond directly with the risks against which it seeks protection; |
• | the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the risk against which it seeks protection; and |
• | the party owing money in the hedging transaction may default on its obligation to pay. |
Atlas’ midstream natural gas operations may incur significant costs and liabilities resulting from a failure to comply with new or existing environmental regulations or a release of hazardous substances into the environment.
The operations of Atlas’ gathering systems, plant and other facilities are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations can restrict or impact Atlas’ business activities in many ways, including restricting the manner in which it disposes of substances, requiring remedial action to remove or mitigate contamination, and requiring capital expenditures to comply with control requirements. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where substances and wastes have been disposed or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of substances or wastes into the environment.
There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in Atlas’ business due to its handling of natural gas and other petroleum products, air emissions related to its operations, historical industry operations including releases of substances into the environment, and waste disposal practices. For example, an accidental release from one of Atlas’ pipelines or processing facilities could subject it to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup, restoration costs and natural resource damages, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage, and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. Moreover, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase Atlas’ compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary. Atlas may not be able to recover some or any of these costs from insurance.
Litigation or governmental regulation relating to environmental protection and operational safety may result in substantial costs and liabilities.
Atlas’ operations are subject to federal and state environmental laws under which owners of natural gas pipelines can be liable for clean-up costs and fines in connection with any pollution caused by their pipelines. Atlas may also be held liable for clean-up costs resulting from pollution which occurred before our acquisition of the gathering systems. In addition, Atlas is subject to federal and state safety laws that dictate the type of pipeline, quality of pipe protection, depth, methods of welding and other construction-related
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standards. Any violation of environmental, construction or safety laws could impose substantial liabilities and costs on Atlas.
Atlas is also subject to the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, or OSHA, and comparable state statutes. Any violation of OSHA could impose substantial costs on Atlas.
Atlas cannot predict whether or in what form any new legislation or regulatory requirements might be enacted or adopted, nor can it predict its costs of compliance. In general, Atlas expects that new regulations would increase its operating costs and, possibly, require it to obtain additional capital to pay for improvements or other compliance action necessitated by those regulations.
Atlas is subject to operating and litigation risks that may not be covered by insurance.
Atlas’ operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks incidental to transporting and processing natural gas and NGLs. These hazards include:
• | damage to pipelines, plants, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by floods and other natural disasters; |
• | inadvertent damage from construction and farm equipment; |
• | leakage of natural gas, NGLs and other hydrocarbons; |
• | fires and explosions; |
• | other hazards, including those associated with high-sulfur content, or sour gas, that could also result in personal injury and loss of life, pollution and suspension of operations; and |
• | acts of terrorism directed at Atlas’ pipeline infrastructure, production facilities, transmission and distribution facilities and surrounding properties. |
As a result, Atlas may be a defendant in various legal proceedings and litigation arising from its operations. Atlas may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount it desires at reasonable rates. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for some of Atlas’ insurance policies have increased substantially, and could escalate further. In some instances, insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. For example, insurance carriers are now requiring broad exclusions for losses due to war risk and terrorist acts. If Atlas were to incur a significant liability for which it was not fully insured, its gross margin and cash flows would be materially reduced.
Regulation of Atlas’ gathering operations could increase its operating costs, decrease its revenue, or both.
Currently Atlas’ gathering of natural gas from wells is exempt from regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938. However, the implementation of new laws or policies, or interpretations of existing laws, could subject Atlas to regulation by FERC under the Natural Gas Act. Atlas expects that any such regulation would increase its costs, decrease its gross margin and cash flows, or both.
FERC regulation will still affect Atlas’ business and the market for its products. FERC’s policies and practices affect a range of Atlas’ natural gas pipeline activities, including, for example, its policies on open access transportation, ratemaking, capacity release, and market center promotion, which indirectly affect intrastate markets. In recent years, FERC has pursued pro-competitive policies in its regulation of interstate natural gas pipelines. However, Atlas cannot assure you that FERC will continue this approach as it considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to natural gas transportation capacity.
Other state and local regulations will also affect Atlas’ business. Matters subject to regulation include rates, service and safety. Atlas’ gathering lines are subject to ratable take and common purchaser statutes in Texas and Oklahoma. Ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or
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producer. These statutes restrict Atlas’ right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom it contracts to purchase or transport natural gas.
Federal law leaves any economic regulation of natural gas gathering to the states. Texas and Oklahoma have adopted complaint-based regulation of natural gas gathering activities, which allows natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve grievances relating to natural gas gathering access and, in Texas and Oklahoma, with respect to rate discrimination. Should a complaint be filed or regulation by the Texas Railroad Commission or Oklahoma Corporation Commission become more active, Atlas’ revenue could decrease.
Increased regulatory requirements relating to the integrity of the Ozark Gas Transmission pipeline will require it to spend additional money to comply with these requirements. Ozark Gas Transmission is subject to extensive laws and regulations related to pipeline integrity. For example, federal legislation signed into law in December 2002 includes guidelines for the U.S. Department of Transportation and pipeline companies in the areas of testing, education, training and communication. Compliance with existing and recently enacted regulations requires significant expenditures. Additional laws and regulations that may be enacted in the future, such as U.S. Department of Transportation implementation of additional hydrostatic testing requirements, could significantly increase the amount of these expenditures.
Ozark Gas Transmission is subject to FERC rate-making policies that could have an adverse impact on Atlas’ ability to establish rates that would allow it to recover the full cost of operating the pipeline.
Rate-making policies by FERC could affect Ozark Gas Transmission’s ability to establish rates, or to charge rates that would cover future increases in its costs, or even to continue to collect rates that cover current costs. Natural gas companies may not charge rates that have been determined not to be just and reasonable by FERC. The rates, terms and conditions of service provided by natural gas companies are required to be on file with FERC in FERC-approved tariffs. Pursuant to FERC’s jurisdiction over rates, existing rates may be challenged by complaint and proposed rate increases may be challenged by protest. We cannot assure you that FERC will continue to pursue its approach of pro-competitive policies as it considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to natural gas capacity and transportation facilities. Any successful complaint or protest against Ozark Gas Transmission’s rates could reduce Atlas’ revenue associated with providing transmission services. We cannot assure you that Atlas will be able to recover all of Ozark Gas Transmission’s costs through existing or future rates.
Ozark Gas Transmission is subject to regulation by FERC in addition to FERC rules and regulations related to the rates it can charge for its services.
FERC’s regulatory authority also extends to:
• | operating terms and conditions of service; |
• | the types of services Ozark Gas Transmission may offer to its customers; |
• | construction of new facilities; |
• | acquisition, extension or abandonment of services or facilities; |
• | accounts and records; and |
• | relationships with affiliated companies involved in all aspects of the natural gas and energy businesses. |
FERC action in any of these areas or modifications of its current regulations can impair Ozark Gas Transmission’s ability to compete for business, the costs it incurs in its operations, the construction of new facilities or its ability to recover the full cost of operating its pipeline. For example, the development of uniform interstate gas quality standards by FERC could create two distinct markets for natural gas—an interstate market subject to uniform minimum quality standards and an intrastate market with no uniform minimum quality standards. Such a bifurcation of markets could make it difficult for Atlas’ pipelines to compete in both markets or to attract certain gas supplies away from the intrastate market. The time FERC
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takes to approve the construction of new facilities could raise the costs of Atlas’ projects to the point where they are no longer economic.
FERC has authority to review pipeline contracts. If FERC determines that a term of any such contract deviates in a material manner from a pipeline’s tariff, FERC typically will order the pipeline to remove the term from the contract and execute and refile a new contract with FERC or, alternatively, to amend its tariff to include the deviating term, thereby offering it to all shippers. If FERC audits a pipeline’s contracts and finds deviations that appear to be unduly discriminatory, FERC could conduct a formal enforcement investigation, resulting in serious penalties and/or onerous ongoing compliance obligations.
Should Ozark Gas Transmission fail to comply with all applicable FERC administered statutes, rules, regulations and orders, it could be subject to substantial penalties and fines. Under the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005, FERC has civil penalty authority under the Natural Gas Act to impose penalties for current violations of up to $1,000,000 per day for each violation.
Finally, Atlas cannot give any assurance regarding the likely future regulations under which it will operate Ozark Gas Transmission or the effect such regulation could have on its business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make distributions to its unitholders.
Compliance with pipeline integrity regulations issued by the United States Department of Transportation and state agencies could result in substantial expenditures for testing, repairs and replacement.
United States Department of Transportation and state agency regulations require pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs for transportation pipelines located in “high consequence areas.” The regulations require operators to:
• | perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity; |
• | identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a high consequence area; |
• | improve data collection, integration and analysis; |
• | repair and remediate the pipeline as necessary; and |
• | implement preventative and mitigating actions. |
Atlas does not believe that the cost of implementing integrity management program testing along certain segments of its pipeline will have a material effect on its results of operations. This does not include the costs, if any, of any repair, remediation, preventative or mitigating actions that may be determined to be necessary as a result of the testing program, which costs could be substantial.
Tax Risks to Common Unitholders
For a discussion of the expected material federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of common units, see “Material Tax Consequences.”
If we or Atlas were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or if we or Atlas were to become subject to entity-level taxation for federal or state income tax purposes, then our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced.
The value of our investment in Atlas depends largely on it being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, which requires that 90% or more of Atlas’ gross income for every taxable year consist of qualifying income, as defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Atlas may not meet this requirement or current law may change so as to cause, in either event, Atlas to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject to federal income tax. Moreover, the anticipated after-tax benefit of an investment in our common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the IRS on this or any other matter affecting us.
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If Atlas were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, it would pay federal income tax on its taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%. Distributions to us would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses, deductions or credits would flow through to us. As a result, there would be a material reduction in our anticipated cash flow, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our units.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate. Distributions to you would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses, deductions or credits would flow through to you. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced. Thus, treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in our anticipated cash flow, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our units.
Current law may change, causing us or Atlas to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subjecting us or Atlas to entity level taxation. For example, because of widespread state budget deficits, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. If any state were to impose a tax upon us or Atlas as an entity, the cash available for distribution to you would be reduced.
A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we, or Atlas, take may adversely affect the market for our common units or Atlas’ units, and the costs of any contest will reduce cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter that affects us. Moreover, Atlas has not requested any ruling from the IRS with respect to its treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter that affects it. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we or Atlas take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we or Atlas take. A court may disagree with some or all of the positions we or Atlas take. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units or Atlas’ units and the price at which they trade. In addition, the cost of any contest between Atlas and the IRS will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to Atlas unitholders and thus indirectly by us, as a unitholder and as the owner of the general partner of Atlas. Moreover, the costs of any contest between us and the IRS will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders.
You may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us.
You will be required to pay any federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on your share of our taxable income, whether or not you receive cash distributions from us. You may not receive cash distributions from us equal to your share of our taxable income or even equal to the tax liability that results from the taxation of your share of our taxable income.
Our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will be much greater than the ratio applicable to holders of common units in Atlas.
Our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will be much greater than the ratio applicable to holders of common units in Atlas. Other holders of common units in Atlas will receive remedial allocations of deductions from Atlas. Although we will receive remedial allocations of deductions from Atlas, remedial allocations of deductions to us will be very limited. In addition, our ownership of Atlas incentive distribution rights will cause more taxable income to be allocated to us from Atlas than will be allocated to holders who hold only common units in Atlas. If Atlas is successful in increasing its distributions over time, our income allocations from our Atlas incentive distribution rights will increase, and, therefore, our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will increase. Because our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will be greater than the ratio applicable to holders of common units in Atlas, your allocable taxable income will be significantly greater than that of a holder of common units in Atlas who receives cash distributions from Atlas equal to the cash distributions you receive from us.
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Tax gain or loss on disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
If you sell your common units, you will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the adjusted tax basis in those common units. Prior distributions to you in excess of the total net taxable income allocated to you, which decreased the tax basis in your common units, will, in effect, become taxable income to you if the common units are sold at a price greater than your tax basis in those common units, even if the price is less than the original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income to you.
Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs) and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to such a unitholder. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes imposed at the highest effective applicable tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file United States federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.
We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we will adopt depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform with all aspects of existing Treasury regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to our unitholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain on the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audits of and adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns.
The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our or Atlas’ capital and profits interests within a 12-month period will result in the termination of our or Atlas’ partnership for federal income tax purposes.
We will be considered to have terminated our partnership for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. Likewise, Atlas will be considered to have terminated its partnership for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in Atlas’ capital and profits within a 12-month period. The termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our or Atlas’ taxable year for all unitholders and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income for the year in which the termination occurs. Thus, if this occurs, you will be allocated an increased amount of federal taxable income for the year in which we are considered to be terminated as a percentage of the cash distributed to you with respect to that period. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Constructive Termination” for a discussion of the consequences of our termination for federal income tax purposes.
Unitholders may be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements as a result of investing in our common units.
In addition to federal income taxes, our unitholders will likely be subject to other taxes, including foreign, state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we or Atlas do business or own property now or in the future, even if our unitholders do not reside in any of those jurisdictions. Our unitholders will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these jurisdictions. Further, unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. We and Atlas presently anticipate that substantially all of our income will be generated in the following states: Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. Each of those states, except Texas, currently impose a personal income tax. We or Atlas may do business or own property in other states in the future. It is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all United States federal, state and local tax returns that may be required of such unitholder. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in the common units.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $79.2 million from the sale of 3,600,000 common units offered by this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Our estimates assume an initial public offering price of $24.00 per common unit, the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units.
Substantially all of the net proceeds from this offering will be distributed to Atlas America. If the underwriters exercise all or any portion of their option to purchase additional common units, we will use all of the net proceeds from the sale of our common units sold pursuant to the exercise of that option to fund the redemption of an equal number of common units from Atlas America. The redemption price per common unit will be equal to the price per common unit (net of underwriting discounts) sold to the underwriters upon exercise of their option to purchase additional common units. Please read “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of December 31, 2005 on a consolidated historical basis for Atlas Pipeline GP, and on a pro forma basis to reflect the issuance of Atlas’ preferred units, this offering, and the application of the net proceeds as described in “Use of Proceeds.”
The historical financial data of Atlas Pipeline GP presented in the table below is derived from and should be read in conjunction with Atlas Pipeline GP’s historical financial statements, including the accompanying notes, included elsewhere in this prospectus.
As of December 31, 2005 | |||||||
Historical | Pro forma | ||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 34,237 | $ | 54,737 | |||
Debt: | |||||||
Atlas: | |||||||
Credit facility | $ | 9,500 | $ | — | |||
8.125% senior unsecured notes | 250,000 | 250,000 | |||||
NOARK 7.15% notes (1) | 39,000 | 39,000 | |||||
Other | 125 | 125 | |||||
Total debt | 298,625 | 289,125 | |||||
Minority interests in Atlas (2): | |||||||
Common units | 350,511 | 350,511 | |||||
Convertible preferred units | — | 30,000 | |||||
Total minority interests in Atlas | 350,511 | 380,511 | |||||
Equity: | |||||||
Owners’ equity | 9,074 | 9,074 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (30,075 | ) | (30,075 | ) | |||
Total owners’ deficit | (21,001 | ) | (21,001 | ) | |||
Total capitalization | $ | 628,135 | $ | 648,635 | |||
(1) | These notes are severally guaranteed by Southwestern and amounts paid on these notes are to be paid from amounts otherwise distributable by NOARK to Southwestern. If such amount is insufficient, Southwestern is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK for such insufficient amount. |
(2) | Represents Atlas limited partner interests owned by non-affiliated partners. |
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DILUTION
Dilution is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of common units sold in this offering will exceed the pro forma net tangible book value per unit after the offering. As of December 31, 2005, after giving effect to the offering of common units and the application of the related net proceeds, and assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is not exercised, our net tangible book value was $(6.2) million, or $(0.29) per common unit. Our net tangible net book value is the sum of our owners’ equity less our pro rata share of goodwill and other intangible assets and accumulated other comprehensive loss, based upon estimated ownership interest in those items. Purchasers of common units in this offering will experience substantial and immediate dilution in net tangible book value per common unit for financial accounting purposes, as illustrated in the following table:
Assumed initial public offering price per common unit | $ | 24.00 | |||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per common unit before the offering (1) | $ | (0.35 | ) | ||||
Increase in net tangible book value per common unit attributable to purchasers in the offering | 0.06 | ||||||
Less: Pro forma net tangible book value per common unit after the offering (2) | (0.29 | ) | |||||
Immediate dilution in tangible net book value per common unit to new investors | $ | 24.29 | |||||
(1) | Determined by dividing the total number of units (17,500,000) to be issued to Atlas America for its contribution of assets to us into our net tangible book value before this offering. |
(2) | Determined by dividing the total number of units to be outstanding after the offering (21,100,000) and the application of the related net proceeds into our pro forma net tangible book value, after giving effect to the application of the expected net proceeds of the offering. |
The following table sets forth the number of units that we will issue and the total consideration contributed to us by Atlas America in respect of its common units and by the purchasers of common units in this offering upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this prospectus:
Units Acquired | Total Consideration | ||||||||||
Number | Percent | Amount | |||||||||
General partner and affiliates (1) | 17,500,000 | 82.9 | % | $ | (85,361,000 | ) | |||||
New investors | 3,600,000 | 17.1 | % | 86,400,000 | |||||||
Total | 21,100,000 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,039,000 | ||||||
(1) | Upon the consummation of this offering, an aggregate 17,500,000 units will be issued to Atlas America. The assets contributed by Atlas America were recorded at historical cost in accordance with GAAP. Book value of the consideration provided by Atlas America is as follows: |
Atlas America | $(6,209,000 | ) | ||
Less: Payments to Atlas America from net proceeds of this offering | 79,152,000 | |||
Total consideration | $(85,361,000 | ) | ||
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CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS
You should read the following discussion of our cash distribution policy in conjunction with the specific assumptions included in this section. For more detailed information regarding the factors and assumptions upon which our cash distribution policy is based, please see “–Assumptions and Considerations” below. In addition, you should read “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for information regarding statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and certain risks inherent in our and Atlas’ business. Unless otherwise stated, the information presented in this section assumes that the underwriters will exercise their option to purchase additional units in full. Because the proceeds of any exercise of the underwriters’ option will be used to redeem a number of common units from our affiliates equal to the number of common units issued pursuant to the exercise of that option, the number of our common units will not change upon the exercise of the option but the relative percentages of common units owned by the public and our affiliates will change.
When discussing our operating results, we are referring to the operating results of Atlas Pipeline GP, our wholly-owned subsidiary, which are presented on a consolidated basis including Atlas. For additional information regarding our historical and pro forma operating results, you should refer to the historical financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and our unaudited pro forma financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005, included elsewhere in this prospectus.
General
Rationale for Our Cash Distribution Policy
Our cash distribution policy reflects a basic judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing our available cash rather than retaining it. It is important that you understand that our only cash-generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas from which we receive quarterly distributions. We currently have no independent operations separate from those of Atlas and do not currently intend to conduct operations separate from those of Atlas. Because we believe we will have low cash requirements for operating expenses and capital investments, we believe that our investors are best served by our distribution of all of our available cash as described below. Because we are not subject to an entity-level federal income tax, we have more cash to distribute to you than would be the case were we subject to tax. Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly.
Restrictions and Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy
There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. Our distribution policy is subject to certain restrictions and may be changed at any time, including:
• | Our cash distribution policy will be subject to restrictions on distributions under our anticipated new credit facility. Specifically, we anticipate that our new credit facility will contain certain material financial tests and covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions under our new credit facility, or if we otherwise default under our new credit facility, we would be prohibited from making a distribution to you notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy. |
• | Atlas’ cash distribution policy is subject to restrictions on distributions under its credit facility. Specifically, Atlas’ credit facility contains material financial tests and covenants that it must satisfy. These financial tests and covenants are described in the prospectus under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Debt Obligations—Atlas.” Should Atlas be unable to satisfy these restrictions under its credit facility, it would be prohibited from making cash distributions to us, which in turn would prevent us from making cash distributions to you notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy. |
• | Our general partner’s board of directors will have the authority under our partnership agreement to establish reserves for the prudent conduct of our business and for future cash distributions to our unitholders, and the establishment of those reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions to you from levels we currently anticipate pursuant to our stated cash distribution policy. |
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• | The managing board of Atlas’ general partner has the authority under Atlas’ partnership agreement to establish reserves for the prudent conduct of its business and for future cash distributions to its unitholders, and the establishment of those reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions we would otherwise anticipate receiving from Atlas, which in turn could result in a reduction in cash distributions to you from levels we currently anticipate pursuant to our stated cash distribution policy. |
• | While our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our partnership agreement, including our cash distribution policy contained therein, may be amended by a vote of the holders of a majority of our common units. Following completion of this offering and assuming the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units, Atlas America will own approximately 80.4% of our outstanding common units and will have the ability to amend our partnership agreement without the approval of any other unitholders. |
• | Even if our cash distribution policy is not amended, modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. |
• | The amount of distributions paid under Atlas’ cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution to its unitholders is at the discretion of Atlas’ general partner, taking into consideration the terms of its partnership agreement. |
• | Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, Atlas may not make a distribution to its partners if the distribution would cause its liabilities to exceed the fair value of its assets and we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. |
• | We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to a number of factors, including increases in general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on any current or future debt, tax expenses, working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs of us or Atlas and its subsidiaries. Please read “Risk Factors” for a discussion of these factors. |
Our Cash Distribution Policy Limits Our Ability to Grow
Because we distribute all of our available cash, our growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. In fact, since currently our only cash-generating assets are our interests in Atlas, our growth initially will be completely dependent upon Atlas’ ability to increase its quarterly distribution. If we issue additional interests or incur debt to fund acquisitions and growth capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units or interest on that debt could increase the risk that we will be unable to maintain or increase our per unit distribution level.
Atlas’ Ability to Grow is Dependent on its Ability to Access External Growth Capital
Consistent with the terms of its partnership agreement, Atlas distributes to its partners its available cash each quarter. In determining the amount of cash available for distribution, Atlas sets aside cash reserves, including reserves it believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of its business or to provide for future distributions. Additionally, it has relied upon external financing sources, including commercial borrowings and other debt and equity issuances, to fund its acquisition capital expenditures. Accordingly, to the extent Atlas does not have sufficient cash reserves or is unable to finance growth externally, its cash distribution policy will significantly impair its ability to grow. In addition, to the extent Atlas issues additional units in connection with any acquisitions or growth capital expenditures, the payment of distributions on those additional units may increase the risk that Atlas will be unable to maintain or increase its per unit distribution level, which in turn may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders. The incurrence of additional commercial or other debt to finance its growth strategy would result in increased interest expense to Atlas, which in turn may impact the available cash that we have to distribute to our unitholders.
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Our Initial Distribution Rate
Our Cash Distribution Policy
Upon completion of this offering, the board of directors of our general partner will adopt a cash distribution policy pursuant to which we will declare an initial distribution of $0.225 per unit per quarter, or $0.90 per unit per year, to be paid no later than 50 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. This equates to an aggregate cash distribution of approximately $4.7 million per quarter, or approximately $19.0 million per year, based on the common units outstanding immediately after completion of this offering.
The following table sets forth the assumed number of outstanding common units upon the closing of this offering, and the estimated per unit and aggregate distribution amounts payable on such common units during the year following the closing of this offering at our initial distribution rate of $0.225 per common unit per quarter ($0.90 per common unit on an annualized basis):
Distributions on Our Common Units | ||||||||||
Number of Common Units | One Quarter | Four Quarters | ||||||||
Estimated distributions on publicly held common units | 4,140,000 | $ | 931,500 | $ | 3,726,000 | |||||
Estimated distributions on common units held by Atlas America | 16,960,000 | 3,816,000 | 15,264,000 | |||||||
Total | 21,100,000 | $ | 4,747,500 | $ | 18,990,000 | |||||
These distributions will not be cumulative. Consequently, if distributions on our common units are not paid with respect to any fiscal quarter at the anticipated initial distribution rate, our unitholders will not be entitled to receive such payments in the future. We will pay our distributions on or about the 20th of each of February, May, August and November to holders of record on or about the 13th of each such month. If the distribution date does not fall on a business day, we will make the distribution on the business day immediately preceding the indicated distribution date. Any distributions received by us from Atlas related to periods prior to the closing of this offering will be distributed entirely to Atlas America. In May 2006, we expect to pay a distribution to our unitholders equal to the initial quarterly distribution prorated for the portion of the quarter ending March 31, 2006 that we are public.
Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly. Under our partnership agreement, available cash is defined to generally mean, for each fiscal quarter, cash generated from our business in excess of the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to, among other things:
• | provide for the proper conduct of our business; |
• | comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements; or |
• | provide funds for distributions to our unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters. |
Atlas’ Cash Distribution Policy
Like us, Atlas has adopted a cash distribution policy that requires it to distribute its available cash to its unitholders on a quarterly basis. Under Atlas’ partnership agreement, available cash is defined to generally mean, for each fiscal quarter, cash generated from Atlas’ business in excess of the amount its general partner reasonably determines is necessary or appropriate to provide for the conduct of its business, comply with applicable law, any of its debt instruments or other agreements or provide for future distributions to its unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters. Atlas’ determination of available cash takes into account the possibility of establishing cash reserves in some quarterly periods that it may use to pay cash distributions in other quarterly periods, thereby enabling it to maintain relatively consistent cash distribution levels even if its business experiences fluctuations in its cash from operations due to seasonal and cyclical factors. Atlas’ determination of available cash also allows it to maintain reserves to provide funding for its growth opportunities. Atlas makes its quarterly distributions from cash generated from its transmission, gathering and processing operations and those distributions have grown over time as its business has grown, as a
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result of a substantial acquisition program and internal growth projects that are funded through external financing sources.
The following table sets forth the amount of quarterly cash distributions Atlas declared on its ownership interests for the periods indicated. The actual cash distributions (i.e., payments to the partners of Atlas) occur within 45 days after the end of such quarter. Atlas has an established historical record of paying quarterly cash distributions to its partners.
Atlas Cash Distribution History | ||||||||||||||||
Distributions on L.P. Units | Distributions on 2.0% General Partner | Distributions on Incentive Distribution | Total Atlas Cash | |||||||||||||
Per Unit | Total | Interest | Rights | Distributions | ||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per unit) | ||||||||||||||||
2003 | ||||||||||||||||
1st Quarter | $ | 0.560 | $ | 1,827 | $ | 40 | $ | 95 | $ | 1,962 | ||||||
2nd Quarter | $ | 0.580 | $ | 2,526 | $ | 55 | $ | 155 | $ | 2,736 | ||||||
3rd Quarter | $ | 0.620 | $ | 2,700 | $ | 60 | $ | 269 | $ | 3,029 | ||||||
4th Quarter | $ | 0.625 | $ | 2,721 | $ | 62 | $ | 290 | $ | 3,073 | ||||||
2004 | ||||||||||||||||
1st Quarter | $ | 0.630 | $ | 2,743 | $ | 63 | $ | 311 | $ | 3,117 | ||||||
2nd Quarter | $ | 0.630 | $ | 3,216 | $ | 73 | $ | 365 | $ | 3,654 | ||||||
3rd Quarter | $ | 0.690 | $ | 4,971 | $ | 120 | $ | 939 | $ | 6,030 | ||||||
4th Quarter | $ | 0.720 | $ | 5,187 | $ | 130 | $ | 1,150 | $ | 6,467 | ||||||
2005 | ||||||||||||||||
1st Quarter | $ | 0.750 | $ | 5,404 | $ | 138 | $ | 1,362 | $ | 6,904 | ||||||
2nd Quarter | $ | 0.770 | $ | 7,319 | $ | 190 | $ | 1,983 | $ | 9,492 | ||||||
3rd Quarter | $ | 0.810 | $ | 7,711 | $ | 205 | $ | 2,360 | $ | 10,276 | ||||||
4th Quarter | $ | 0.830 | $ | 10,416 | $ | 282 | $ | 3,356 | $ | 14,054 |
In the sections that follow, we present in detail the basis for our belief that we will be able to fully fund our initial distribution rate of $0.225 per common unit per quarter through the quarter ending March 31, 2007. In those sections we present two tables, including:
• | Our “Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash,” in which we present the amount of pro forma available cash that we would have had available for distribution to our unitholders with respect to the year ended December 31, 2005. Our calculation of pro forma available cash in this table should only be viewed as a general indication of the amount of cash available that we might have generated had we been formed in an earlier period. |
• | Our “Estimated Cash Available for Distribution” in which we present our estimate of the minimum Adjusted EBITDA necessary for us to have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay distributions at the initial distribution rate on all the outstanding common units for each quarter for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. In “Assumptions and Considerations” below, we also present our assumptions underlying our belief that Atlas will generate this minimum Adjusted EBITDA. |
We do not as a matter of course make public projections as to future sales, earnings, or other results. However, we have prepared the prospective financial information set forth below to present the tables entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash” and “Estimated Cash Available for Distribution.” The accompanying prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward complying with the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with respect to prospective financial information, but, in our view, was prepared on a reasonable basis, reflects the best currently available estimates and judgments, and presents, to the best of management’s knowledge and belief, the assumptions on which we base our belief that Atlas can generate the minimum Adjusted EBITDA necessary for us to have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay a distribution on the common units at the initial distribution rate. However, this information is not fact and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future
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results, and readers of this prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the prospective financial information.
Neither our independent auditors, nor any other independent accountants, have compiled, examined, or performed any procedures with respect to the prospective financial information contained herein, nor have they expressed any opinion or any other form of assurance on such information or its achievability. Accordingly, they assume no responsibility for, and disclaim any association with, the prospective financial information.
Our pro forma available cash for the year ended December 31, 2005 would not have been sufficient to pay the initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per unit on the common units to be outstanding following the completion of this offering.
If we had completed the transactions contemplated in the prospectus on January 1, 2005, our pro forma available cash for the year ended December 31, 2005 would have been approximately $8.0 million. This amount would have been insufficient by approximately $11.0 million to pay the full initial distribution amount on all units.
We believe that we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay the full quarterly distributions at the initial distribution rate of $0.225 per unit on all the outstanding common units for each quarter for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. See “Assumptions and Considerations” below for the specific assumptions underlying this belief.
Pro forma cash available for distribution includes estimated incremental general and administrative expenses we will incur as a result of being a publicly traded limited partnership, such as costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor relations, registrar and transfer agent fees, director compensation, accounting and audit fees and incremental insurance costs, including director and officer liability and business interruption insurance. We expect these incremental general and administrative expenses initially to total approximately $0.8 million per year.
The pro forma financial statements, upon which pro forma cash available for distribution is based, do not purport to present our results of operations had the transactions contemplated in this prospectus actually been completed as of the dates indicated. Furthermore, cash available for distribution is a cash accounting concept, while our pro forma financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis. We derived the amounts of pro forma cash available for distribution shown above in the manner described in the table below. As a result, the amount of pro forma cash available for distribution should only be viewed as a general indication of the amount of cash available for distribution that we might have generated had we been formed in earlier periods.
The following table illustrates, on a pro forma basis, for the year ended December 31, 2005, the amount of available cash that would have been available for distributions to our unitholders, assuming in each case that this offering had been consummated at the beginning of such period. Each of the pro forma adjustments presented below is explained in the footnotes to such adjustments.
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Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
Year Ended December 31, 2005 | ||||
(in thousands, except per unit data and ratios) | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (1) | $ | 48,415 | ||
Plus (minus): | ||||
Cash interest expense | 11,545 | |||
Non-recurring gain on arbitration settlement, net (2) | 138 | |||
Net changes in working capital accounts, including net changes in price risk management assets and liabilities (3) | (2,142 | ) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA (4) | 57,956 | |||
Plus: Pro forma adjustments | 10,523 | |||
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA | 68,479 | |||
Less: | ||||
Pro forma cash interest expense (6) | (20,544 | ) | ||
Maintenance capital expenditures (7) | (1,922 | ) | ||
Expansion capital expenditures (8) | (50,576 | ) | ||
Estimated maintenance capital expenditures of acquisitions (9) | (531 | ) | ||
Pro forma distributions to non-affiliated owners of Atlas (10) | (36,747 | ) | ||
Estimated incremental general and administrative expense (11) | (750 | ) | ||
Plus: | ||||
Sources for expansion capital expenditures (12) | 50,576 | |||
Pro forma available cash at Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. | $ | 7,985 | ||
Expected Cash Distributions: (13) | ||||
Expected distribution per unit | $ | 0.90 | ||
Distributions to public common unitholders | $ | 3,726 | ||
Distributions to common units held by our affiliates | 15,264 | |||
Total distributions | $ | 18,990 | ||
Shortfall (14) | $ | (11,005 | ) | |
Debt Covenant Ratios: | ||||
Atlas | ||||
Funded Debt/EBITDA (15) | 3.8 | x | ||
EBITDA/Interest Expense (15) | 3.4 | x | ||
Senior Secured Debt/EBITDA (15) | 0.2 | x | ||
(1) | Reflects net cash provided by operating activities of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P., derived from Atlas Pipeline GP’s historical consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated without giving pro forma effect to the transactions described in footnote (5). |
(2) | Represents non-recurring costs incurred in connection with the fourth quarter 2004 settlement associated with Atlas’ terminated attempt to acquire Alaska Pipeline Company. Atlas settled the matter in the fourth quarter 2004 and received $5.5 million. |
(3) | Atlas utilizes its $225.0 million credit facility to satisfy its working capital needs, thereby allowing it to avoid using cash flow available for distribution to satisfy working capital requirements. Therefore, we do not reflect any adjustments to cash available for distributions as a result of these requirements. Atlas is unable to borrow under its credit facility to pay distributions of available cash to unitholders because such borrowings would not constitute “working capital borrowings” under its partnership agreement. |
(4) | EBITDA represents net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and minority interest in Atlas. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA other non-cash items such as compensation expenses associated with unit issuances to directors and employees. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flow and do not represent the |
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measure of cash available for distribution. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect approximately $0.8 million of additional general and administrative expense we expect to incur in connection with us being a public company after this offering. |
(5) | Reflects pro forma adjustments for Atlas’ acquisitions of NOARK in October 2005 and Elk City in April 2005. These acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the results of operations for these acquisitions are reflected in Atlas’ historical operating results beginning on the day it closed the transactions. We have included the results of these acquisitions in our results on a pro forma basis as if the operations were acquired on January 1, 2005. The financial information for these acquisitions was derived from audited financial statements and pro forma financial statements included in this prospectus. Our independent auditors have not examined, compiled, or otherwise applied procedures to our pro forma financial statements, and accordingly, do not express an opinion or any other assurance on the pro forma financial information set forth below. The pro forma financial data should not be considered indicative of the historical results we would have had or the future results that we will have after this offering. We have set forth below a summary of our pro forma adjustments to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands): |
Year Ended December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||
Historical | |||||||||||||
Pro Forma | |||||||||||||
Elk City | EAPC | Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||
Net income | $ | 1,226 | $ | 2,874 | $ | (5,548 | ) | $ | (1,448 | ) | |||
Minority interest in Atlas | — | — | (3,144 | ) | (3,144 | ) | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 628 | 2,475 | 3,023 | 6,126 | |||||||||
Interest expense | — | 3,654 | 8,627 | 12,281 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | — | 1,887 | (1,887 | ) | — | ||||||||
Total pro forma adjustments | 1,854 | 10,890 | 1,071 | 13,815 | |||||||||
Minority interest share in EAPC depreciation and amortization and interest expense | — | (2,811 | ) | (481 | ) | (3,292 | ) | ||||||
Pro forma acquisition adjustment to Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,854 | $ | 8,079 | $ | 590 | $ | 10,523 | |||||
(6) | Reflects an increase to interest expense of approximately $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as a result of interest expense principally related to Atlas’ issuance of $250.0 million of its 8.125% senior notes. This amount does not reflect interest expense on NOARK’s $39.6 million of 7.15% notes, for which our minority interest partner in NOARK is liable. Under the NOARK partnership agreement, payments on the NOARK notes will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to the minority interest partner and, if that amount is insufficient, the minority interest partner is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK. |
(7) | Reflects actual maintenance capital expenditures during the period. |
(8) | Expansion capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2005 were $50.6 million. The $50.6 million of expansion capital expenditures include expansions of the Velma and Elk City gathering systems and processing facilities to accommodate new wells drilled in their service areas, compressor upgrades and expansions of the Appalachian gathering system, and costs incurred related to the construction of the Sweetwater gas plant, a new natural gas processing plant expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2006. |
(9) | Includes estimated adjustments to maintenance capital expenditures of $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 to reflect pro forma maintenance capital expenditure activity for recently completed acquisitions. These estimated adjustments are derived based on Atlas’ experience in operating these assets as well as the specific characteristics of the businesses Atlas has acquired. |
(10) | Reflects the cash distributions from Atlas to its unitholders other than us based upon the most recent announced quarterly distribution of $0.83 per limited partner unit or $3.32 per limited partner unit on an annualized basis. |
(11) | Reflects approximately $0.8 million in incremental ongoing expenses associated with being a publicly-traded partnership, including, among other things, estimated incremental costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor |
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relations, registrar and transfer agent fees, director compensation, accounting and audit fees and incremental insurance costs, including director and officer liability and business interruption insurance. |
(12) | Reflects borrowings incurred under Atlas’ credit facility and utilization of cash on hand to finance its expansion capital expenditures. Because Atlas distributes substantially all of its available cash on a quarterly basis, Atlas has historically financed its growth capital expenditures through the use of cash on hand and external financing alternatives, including borrowings under its credit facility and the public capital markets. In the future, Atlas anticipates that it will continue to utilize these sources of financing to fund its acquisition growth strategy and expects to refinance all of its debt as it matures. |
(13) | The table below sets forth the assumed number of outstanding common units upon the closing of this offering, assuming the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units, and the estimated per unit and aggregate distribution amounts payable on such common units during the year following the closing of this offering at our initial distribution rate: |
Distributions on Our Common Units | ||||||||||
Number of Common Units | Per Unit | Aggregate | ||||||||
Estimated distributions on publicly held common units | 4,140,000 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 3,726,000 | |||||
Estimated distributions on common units held by our affiliates | 16,960,000 | $ | 0.90 | 15,264,000 | ||||||
Total | 21,100,000 | $ | 18,990,000 | |||||||
(14) | We believe that we will have sufficient cash available for distribution to pay the full quarterly distributions at the initial distribution rate of $0.225 per unit on all the outstanding common units for each quarter for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. See “Assumptions and Considerations” below for the specific assumptions we are making in projecting that we will have sufficient available cash for the four quarters in the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. |
(15) | Atlas’ credit facility requires it to maintain a ratio of senior secured debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA (as defined in the credit facility) of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006, 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006, and 4.0 to 1.0 on September 30, 2006; a funded debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA ratio of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006 and to 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006, and an interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit facility) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0, increasing to 3.0 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006. The credit facility defines EBITDA to include pro forma adjustments, acceptable to the administrator of the facility, following material acquisitions. The definition of EBITDA contained in the credit facility is substantially similar to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA used in this prospectus, except that: (1) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes net loss on arbitration settlement, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA excludes net loss on arbitration settlement as a non-recurring item, and (2) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes EBITDA of NOARK only to the extent of cash distributions from NOARK, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA includes Atlas’ percentage interest in NOARK’s EBITDA. The ratios described above include only the operations of Atlas and its subsidiaries, and exclude our operations and those of our subsidiaries that are not subsidiaries of Atlas. |
Estimated Cash Available for Distributions
In order to pay the quarterly distribution to our common unitholders at our initial distribution rate of $0.225 per unit per quarter for each quarter in the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, we estimate that Atlas must generate at least $79.1 million in Adjusted EBITDA during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. We refer to this amount as “Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA.” Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA is intended to be an indicator or benchmark of the amount management considers to be the lowest amount of Adjusted EBITDA necessary to generate sufficient available cash for us to make cash distributions to our common unitholders at our initial distribution rate of $0.225 per common unit per quarter (or $0.90 per common unit per year). The Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA should not be viewed as management’s projection of the actual Adjusted EBITDA that will be generated during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007.
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Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA of $79.1 million exceeds pro forma Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2005 by approximately $10.6 million. We believe that Atlas will generate the Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. In “—Assumptions and Considerations” below, we discuss the major assumptions underlying our belief that Atlas will be able to generate the Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA and we will have sufficient available cash to pay distributions at the initial distribution rate. We can give you no assurance that our assumptions will be realized or that Atlas will generate the Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA or the expected level of available cash, in which event we will not be able to pay the initial quarterly distribution on our common units. When considering how we calculate estimated cash available for distribution, please keep in mind all the risk factors and other cautionary statements under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the prospectus, which discuss factors that could cause cash available for distribution to vary significantly from our estimates.
As shown in the table below, we have also determined that if Atlas achieves the Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA, Atlas would be permitted under the terms of its credit facility to make its distributions to its unitholders. In addition, we expect that we will be permitted to make distributions at the initial distribution rate under any restricted payment covenants in our anticipated credit agreement. We anticipate that our credit agreement will limit our ability to pay distributions in the event we are not in compliance with its terms. We have not obtained a commitment letter from any potential lenders for the credit facility and, as such, cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain the facility on favorable terms as determined by management. We will provide further disclosure with respect to the terms of the credit facility when they are determined. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit Facility”.
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Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
Estimated Cash Available for Distribution
Four Fiscal Quarters Ending March 31, 2007 | ||||
(in thousands, except per unit data and ratios) | ||||
Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 79,116 | ||
Less: | ||||
Cash interest expense (2) | (20,201 | ) | ||
Maintenance capital expenditures (3) | (2,428 | ) | ||
Expansion capital expenditures (4) | (37,220 | ) | ||
Acquisition capital expenditures (5) | — | |||
Incremental general and administration expense (6) | (750 | ) | ||
Distributions to non-affiliated owners of Atlas (7) | (36,747 | ) | ||
Plus: | ||||
Sources for expansion capital expenditures (8) | 37,220 | |||
Estimated Available Cash at Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. | $ | 18,990 | ||
Expected Cash Distributions by Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. | ||||
Expected distribution per common unit | $ | 0.90 | ||
Distributions to our public common unitholders | $ | 3,726 | ||
Distributions to common units held by affiliates | 15,264 | |||
Total distributions paid to our common unitholders (9) | $ | 18,990 | ||
Debt Covenant Ratios | ||||
Atlas | ||||
Funded Debt / EBITDA (10) | 3.3 | x | ||
EBITDA / Interest Expense (10) | 4.0 | x | ||
Senior Secured Debt / EBITDA (10) | 0.1 | x | ||
(1) | Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA is approximately $10.6 million more than the pro forma Adjusted EBITDA Atlas generated for the year ended December 31, 2005. Please see “—Assumptions and Considerations” for a discussion of the assumptions underlying our belief that we will be able to generate sufficient available cash for us to make cash distributions to our common unitholders at our initial distribution rate. |
(2) | Our estimated cash interest expense is comprised of the following components: |
(i) | Approximately $20.3 million associated with Atlas’ $250.0 million of 8.125% senior unsecured notes; |
(ii) | Approximately $0.1 million attributable to borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility during the period at an estimated interest rate of 7% to fund capital expenditures. These borrowings during the period are expected to be fully repaid by March 31, 2007. The remaining portion of capital expenditures will be financed with cash on hand, including cash provided through Atlas’ issuance of $30.0 million of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units. Holders of these preferred units are not entitled to cash distributions during the twelve months ended March 31, 2007; however, they are entitled to receive dividends of 6.5% per annum commencing on March 13, 2007. |
(iii) | Approximately $0.3 million of expected annual commitment fees for the revolving credit facility we expect to enter into in connection with this offering. We have not yet obtained a commitment letter for this facility and, as such, cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain such a facility on favorable terms as determined by management. We do not currently anticipate to draw against this facility during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007; and |
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(iv) | Does not include approximately $0.5 million of capitalized interest related to the construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and associated gathering system, which amount has been included in expansion capital expenditures. |
(3) | We currently expect that our estimated maintenance capital expenditures will be approximately $2.4 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 in comparison to pro forma maintenance capital expenditures of $2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The decrease in the estimated maintenance capital expenditures for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 primarily reflects the completion of maintenance projects during the prior historical periods. |
(4) | This reflects our estimated expenditure of $37.2 million for expansion capital for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. Our estimated expansion capital expenditures of approximately $37.2 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 includes approximately $21.3 million associated with the construction of Atlas’ Sweetwater gas plant and associated gathering system and $15.9 million for well connections and other internal expansion projects relating to Atlas’ transmission, processing, and treatment operations. Our estimated $37.2 million of expansion capital expenditures for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 as compared to the expansion capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2005 represents a decrease of approximately $13.4 million. The decrease in future expansion capital expenditures is primarily a result of the completion in 2005 of several expansions of the Velma and Elk City gathering systems and processing facilities to accommodate new wells drilled in our service areas, partially offset by the expected construction of the Sweetwater gas plant during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 and an increase in well connections due to increased drilling activity in Atlas’ area of operations. |
(5) | Consistent with its acquisition strategy, Atlas is continuously pursuing strategic acquisitions that it expects to be accretive to its earnings. Since Atlas’ inception in January 2000 through November 2005, Atlas has consummated five acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $521.1 million. While Atlas expects to continue to pursue acquisitions in the next twelve months, because of the uncertain nature of the acquisition environment, we have not included an estimate of future acquisition capital expenditure requirements. If Atlas is successful in completing additional acquisitions, Atlas anticipates its primary source of consideration will be through commercial borrowings, other debt and common unit issuances. While the initial funding of its acquisitions may consist of debt financing, Atlas’ financial strategy is to finance acquisitions equally with equity and debt, and Atlas would expect to repay such debt with proceeds of equity issuances to achieve this relatively balanced financing ratio. If Atlas is unable to finance its growth through external sources or is unable to achieve its targeted debt/equity ratios, our cash available to pay distributions may be negatively impacted. |
(6) | Reflects approximately $0.8 million in incremental ongoing expenses associated with being a publicly-traded partnership, including, among other things, estimated incremental costs associated with annual and quarterly reports to unitholders, tax return and Schedule K-1 preparation and distribution, investor relations, registrar and transfer agent fees, director compensation, accounting and audit fees and incremental insurance costs, including director and officer liability and business interruption insurance. |
(7) | Reflects the cash distributions from Atlas to its unitholders other than us based upon the most recent quarterly distribution of $0.83 per limited partner unit or $3.32 per limited partner unit on an annualized basis. |
(8) | Reflects funding of our projected capital expenditures through Atlas’ issuance of $30.0 million of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units, $7.2 million of cash on hand and short-term borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility. Holders of these preferred units are not entitled to cash distributions during the twelve months ended March 31, 2007; however, they are entitled to receive dividends of 6.5% per annum commencing on March 13, 2007. |
(9) | Represents the amount required to fund distributions to our unitholders based upon the declared annualized distribution of $0.90 per unit and assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units has been exercised in full. |
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(10) | Atlas’ credit facility requires it to maintain a ratio of senior secured debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA (as defined in the credit facility) of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006, 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006 and 4.0 to 1.0 on September 30, 2006; a funded debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA ratio of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006 and to 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006, and an interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit facility) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0, increasing to 3.0 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006. The credit facility defines EBITDA to include pro forma adjustments, acceptable to the administrator of the facility, following material acquisitions. The definition of EBITDA contained in the credit facility is substantially similar to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA used in this prospectus, except that: (1) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA excludes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement as a non-recurring item, and (2) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes EBITDA of NOARK only to the extent of cash distributions from NOARK, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA includes Atlas’ percentage interest in NOARK’s EBITDA. The ratios described above include only the operations of Atlas and its subsidiaries, and exclude our operations and those of our subsidiaries that are not subsidiaries of Atlas. |
Assumptions and Considerations
While we believe that the following assumptions are generally consistent with the actual performance of Atlas since its acquisitions of Elk City and NOARK in 2005 and Spectrum in 2004, and are reasonable in light of our current beliefs concerning future events, the assumptions are inherently uncertain and are subject to significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those we anticipate. If our assumptions are not realized, the actual available cash that Atlas generates, and thus the available cash of Atlas Pipeline GP could be substantially less than that currently expected and could, therefore, be insufficient to permit us to make our initial quarterly and annual distributions on our units, in which event the market price of our units may decline materially. Consequently, the statement that we believe that we will have sufficient available cash to pay the initial distribution on our units for each quarter through March 31, 2007 should not be regarded as a representation by us or the underwriters or any other person that we will make such a distribution. When reading this section, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
We believe that our interests in Atlas will generate sufficient cash flow to enable us to pay our initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per unit on all of our units for the four quarters ending March 31, 2007. Our belief is based on a number of current assumptions that we believe to be reasonable over the next four quarters.
Distribution Rate of Atlas. Our estimate of cash distributions to be received from Atlas during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 assumes that Atlas will continue to pay its recently paid quarterly distribution of $0.83 per common unit over the next four quarters and that the amount of cash distributions we receive from Atlas will be sufficient to allow us to pay total distributions to our unitholders of approximately $19.0 million. While we have not projected any Atlas limited partner unit issuances for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, sales of additional Atlas common units would increase the total distributions to us, assuming Atlas maintains its quarterly distribution rate of $0.83 per common unit. We have assumed no conversion of Atlas’s preferred units.
Operating Performance of Atlas. The primary determinant of Adjusted EBITDA is cash flow generated by the operations of Atlas. In order for us to pay distributions at the initial distribution rate, we believe that Atlas must achieve Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA of $79.1 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. We believe that Atlas will be in compliance with its credit facility covenants for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 based upon its Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA of $79.1 million.
Our estimates of Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA are based on several general assumptions related to Atlas’s operating performance, including:
Commodity Prices. Our estimate of Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 assumes that there will not be any significant changes in the commodity prices Atlas received for natural gas, NGLs and condensate for the year ended December 31, 2005, taking into account Atlas’ hedge positions. We
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have assumed that for any hedges that expire during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, Atlas will realize the average prices it received during the year ended December 31, 2005, such average prices including the impact of hedge prices during that time.
In its Mid-Continent operations, for the year ended December 31, 2005, taking into account Atlas’ hedge positions during that period, Atlas realized average commodity prices of approximately $5.74 per Mcf of natural gas, approximately $0.75 per gallon of NGLs and approximately $46.85 per barrel of condensate in its Mid-Continent operations. Atlas has hedged portions of its Mid-Continent natural gas, NGL and condensate volumes for fixed prices for various periods through 2008. The following table summarizes Atlas’ hedge positions for its Mid-Continent volumes for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007:
Commodity | Average percentage of anticipated volumes hedged | Average fixed price | |||||
Natural gas | 53% | $6.78/MMbtu | |||||
NGLs | 57% | $0.72/gallon | |||||
Condensate | 62% | $55.23/Bbl |
In its Appalachian operations, Atlas is a party to natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America under which Atlas receives gathering fees generally equal to a percentage, typically 16%, of the selling price of the natural gas it transports. Atlas was paid gathering fees based on an average price of approximately $7.56 per Mcf of natural gas during the year ended December 31, 2005. Atlas is the beneficiary of, and consults with Atlas America with respect to, the hedging program Atlas America has established for its Appalachian natural gas production. Atlas America’s hedging program impacts the gathering fees Atlas earns under its natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America. We have assumed that Atlas will receive gathering fees based on an average price of $7.56 per Mcf on Atlas America’s unhedged natural gas production and $9.00 per Mcf on Atlas America’s hedged natural gas production for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007. We have also assumed that 75% of Atlas America’s natural gas production will be hedged for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007.
Volumes. Our estimate of Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 assumes that Atlas’ transportation, gathering and processing volumes will approximate those shown in the following table. For comparison purposes, we have shown the corresponding pro forma volumetric data for the year ended December 31, 2005:
Year Ended | Twelve Months Ending | ||||||
December 31, 2005 | March 31, 2007 | ||||||
Appalachia: | |||||||
Average Throughput Volume (Mcf/d) | 55,204 | 55,204 | |||||
Mid-Continent: | |||||||
Velma Residue Gas Volume (Mcf/d) | 50,880 | 50,880 | |||||
Velma NGL and Condensate Volume (Bbl/d) | 6,899 | 6,899 | |||||
Elk City Gathered Gas Volume (Mcf/d) (1) | 251,515 | 251,515 | |||||
Elk City NGL and Condensate Volume (Bbl/d) | 5,465 | 5,465 | |||||
NOARK Average Throughput (Mcf/d) | 182,937 | 225,000 |
(1) | Atlas gathered additional average daily volumes of 15,563 Mcf/d in the fourth quarter of 2005 in the Elk City area that are incremental to the 251,515 Mcf/d of Elk City gathered gas volumes. Atlas currently earns a gathering fee on this 15,563 Mcf/d but does not currently earn any processing fees due to the fact that the Elk City plant is currently processing at maximum capacity and is unable to process those volumes. |
Our estimate also assumes that Atlas’ gathering and transportation volumes related to NOARK will increase during the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 as a result of increased drilling activity by third parties in the Mid-Continent area, including in the Fayetteville Shale play in the Arkoma basin. NOARK volumes are also expected to increase as a result of a positive basis spread across the Ozark Gas
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Transmission system. Revenue associated with increased third party drilling activity will be slightly offset by increased operating costs.
Atlas anticipates that the Sweetwater gas plant will be operational beginning in the third quarter of 2006. However, for purposes of our estimate of Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, no assumption has been made with respect to increases in volumes from NGL and condensate production at the Sweetwater gas plant.
Other Assumptions Used in Determining Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA
• | Atlas will generate $110.7 million of gross margin for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007 through the operation of its Mid-Continent and Appalachia business segments, as compared to $97.3 million of pro forma gross margin for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
• | Atlas’ plant operating expenses are expected to be approximately $11.0 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, as compared to $11.9 million of pro forma plant operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
• | Atlas’ transportation and compression expenses are expected to be approximately $7.4 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, as compared to $7.6 million of pro forma transportation and compression expenses for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
• | Atlas’ general and administrative expenses are expected to be approximately $18.2 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007, as compared to $16.0 million of pro forma general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2005; |
• | Atlas’ maintenance capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $2.4 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007; |
• | Atlas’ growth capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $37.2 million for the twelve months ending March 31, 2007; |
• | based upon Atlas’ projected operating activity in determining its Estimated Minimum Adjusted EBITDA, Atlas is expected to use the net proceeds from its issuance of $30.0 million of convertible preferred units and cash on hand to fund growth capital expenditures and is not expected to have borrowings outstanding under its $225 million revolving credit facility at completion of the twelve months ending March 31, 2007; |
• | we and Atlas will remain in compliance with the restrictive financial covenants in our existing and future debt agreements such that our ability to pay distributions to our partners will not be encumbered; |
• | Atlas’ average interest rate related to its $250 million senior unsecured notes will be 8.125%; |
• | there will not be any new federal, state or local regulation of portions of the energy industry in which we and Atlas operate, or a new interpretation of existing regulation, that will be materially adverse to our or Atlas’ business; and |
• | market, regulatory, insurance and overall economic conditions will not change substantially. |
Our Sources of Distributable Cash
Our only cash-generating assets currently consist of our partnership interests in Atlas. Therefore, our cash flow and resulting ability to make distributions initially will be completely dependent upon the ability of Atlas to make distributions in respect of those interests and rights. The actual amount of cash that Atlas will have available for distribution will primarily depend on the amount of cash it generates from operations. The actual amount of this cash will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on certain factors, including:
• | the level of capital expenditures Atlas makes; |
• | the cost of capital used to fund acquisitions; |
• | debt service requirements; |
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• | fluctuations in cash flow generated by Atlas’ operating activities; |
• | prevailing economic conditions; |
• | fluctuations in working capital needs; |
• | restrictions on distributions contained in Atlas’ credit facility and senior notes; and |
• | the amount, if any, of cash reserves established by Atlas’ general partner in its discretion for the proper conduct of its business. |
As Atlas makes quarterly distributions to its partners, we receive our share of such distributions in proportion to our ownership interest in Atlas. Upon completion of this offering, we will own, directly or indirectly:
• | a 100% ownership interest in the general partner of Atlas, which owns: |
o | a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas, which entitles it to receive 2.0% of the cash distributed by Atlas; |
o | all of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, which entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per Atlas unit in any quarter; and |
o | 1,641,026 common units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. |
Our Incentive Distribution Rights Related to Atlas’ Cash Distributions. The incentive distribution rights we own in Atlas represent our right to receive an increasing percentage of Atlas’ quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after Atlas has made cash distributions in excess of its minimum quarterly distribution level. Atlas will distribute any available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among its unitholders and Atlas’ general partner in the following manner:
• | First, 98.0% to all unitholders of Atlas pro rata and 2.0% to the general partner, until Atlas has distributed $0.42 for each outstanding common unit; |
• | Second, 85.0% to all unitholders of Atlas, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 13.0% to us, until a hypothetical unitholder has received a total of $0.52 per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to Atlas’ common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units (“second target distribution”); |
• | Third, 75.0% to all unitholders of Atlas, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 23.0% to us, until each unitholder has received a total of $0.60 per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to Atlas’ common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units (“third target distribution”); and |
• | Thereafter, 50.0% to all unitholders of Atlas, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 48.0% to us. |
Hypothetical Allocations of Distributions to Our Unitholders and Atlas’ Unitholders. The table set forth below demonstrates the percentage allocations among (i) the owners of Atlas, other than us, and (ii) Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. as a result of certain assumed quarterly distribution payments per common units made by Atlas, including the target distribution levels contained in Atlas’ partnership agreement. This information assumes:
• | Atlas has 12,549,266 common units outstanding; and |
• | we own (i) 1,641,026 Atlas common units, comprising approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas, (ii) a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and (iii) the incentive distribution rights in Atlas. |
The percentage interests shown for us and the other Atlas unitholders for the minimum quarterly distribution amount are also applicable to distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The amounts presented below are intended to be illustrative of the way in which we are entitled
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to an increasing share of distributions from Atlas as total distributions from Atlas increase and are not intended to represent a prediction of future performance based upon 12,549,266 Atlas common units outstanding at December 31, 2005.
Distribution Level | Atlas Quarterly Distribution Per Unit | Distributions to Owners of Atlas Other than Us as a Percentage of Total Distributions | Distributions to Us as a Percentage of Total Distributions (1) | |||||||
Minimum Quarterly Distribution | $ | 0.42 | 85.2 | % | 14.8 | % | ||||
Second Target Distribution | $ | 0.52 | 82.6 | % | 17.4 | % | ||||
Third Target Distribution | $ | 0.60 | 79.6 | % | 20.4 | % | ||||
Current Distribution | $ | 0.83 | 64.4 | % | 35.6 | % | ||||
(1) | Includes distributions made with respect to our 2.0% general partner interest (aggregate), our ownership of approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas and our right to receive incentive distribution payments. |
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
We were formed in December 2005 and therefore do not have any historical financial statements. Since we will own and control Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Atlas, the selected financial and operating data statements presented below are of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC on a consolidated basis, including Atlas.
The following table sets forth selected financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The historical financial data of Atlas Pipeline GP were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and at December 31, 2004 and 2005, which have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. The historical financial data of Atlas Pipeline GP were derived from the consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus, for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 and at December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
The financial data below should be read together with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our historical consolidated combined financial statements and the accompanying notes, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of Elk City and NOARK, and its predecessor set forth elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004(1) | 2005(2) | ||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Statement of income data: | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 72,109 | $ | 340,297 | ||||||
Transportation and compression | 13,095 | 10,660 | 15,651 | 18,800 | 30,309 | |||||||||||
Interest income and other | 35 | 7 | 98 | 382 | 894 | |||||||||||
Total revenue and other income | 13,130 | 10,667 | 15,749 | 91,291 | 371,500 | |||||||||||
Costs and Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | — | — | — | 58,707 | 288,180 | |||||||||||
Plant operating | — | — | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | |||||||||||
Transportation and compression | 1,929 | 2,062 | 2,421 | 2,260 | 4,053 | |||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,114 | 1,482 | 1,662 | 4,642 | 13,608 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,356 | 1,475 | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | |||||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbritation settlement, net | — | — | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | ||||||||||
Interest | 176 | 250 | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | |||||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas(3) | 3,810 | 2,496 | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | |||||||||||
Minority interest in NOARK(4) | — | — | — | — | 1,083 | |||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 8,385 | 7,765 | 11,177 | 83,897 | 359,195 | |||||||||||
Net income | 4,745 | 2,902 | 4,572 | 7,394 | 12,305 | |||||||||||
Premium on preferred unit redemption | — | — | — | (400 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to owners | $ | 4,745 | $ | 2,902 | $ | 4,572 | $ | 6,994 | $ | 12,305 | ||||||
Balance sheet data (at period end): | ||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 20,009 | $ | 23,764 | $ | 29,628 | $ | 175,259 | $ | 445,066 | ||||||
Total assets | 31,603 | 38,151 | 63,170 | 234,898 | 742,726 | |||||||||||
Total debt, including current portion | 2,089 | 6,500 | — | 54,452 | 298,625 | |||||||||||
Total owners’ equity (deficit) | 8,255 | 11,157 | 15,729 | 21,405 | (21,001 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash flow data: | ||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 1,196 | $ | 577 | $ | 4,639 | $ | 11,311 | $ | 48,415 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (3,128 | ) | (5,230 | ) | (9,154 | ) | (151,797 | ) | (411,004 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 2,051 | 4,350 | 17,734 | 143,622 | 378,612 | |||||||||||
Other financial data: | ||||||||||||||||
Gross margin (5) | $ | 13,095 | $ | 10,660 | $ | 15,651 | $ | 32,202 | $ | 80,516 | ||||||
EBITDA (6) | 10,088 | 7,123 | 11,666 | 25,107 | 53,146 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (6) | 10,088 | 7,123 | 11,666 | 24,350 | 57,956 | |||||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures | $ | 159 | $ | 170 | $ | 3,109 | $ | 1,516 | $ | 1,922 | ||||||
Expansion capital expenditures | 1,569 | 5,060 | 4,526 | 8,527 | 50,576 | |||||||||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 1,728 | $ | 5,230 | $ | 7,635 | $ | 10,043 | $ | 52,498 | ||||||
Operating data: | ||||||||||||||||
Appalachia: | ||||||||||||||||
Average throughput volumes (Mcf/d) | 46,918 | 50,363 | 52,472 | 53,343 | 55,204 | |||||||||||
Average transportation rate per Mcf | $ | 0.76 | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.96 | $ | 1.21 | ||||||
Mid-Continent: | ||||||||||||||||
Velma system: | ||||||||||||||||
Gathered gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | 56,441 | 67,075 | |||||||||||
Processed gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | 55,202 | 62,538 | |||||||||||
Residue gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | 42,659 | 50,880 | |||||||||||
NGL production (Bbl/d) | — | — | — | 5,799 | 6,643 | |||||||||||
Condensate volume (Bbl/d) | — | — | — | 185 | 256 | |||||||||||
Elk City system: | ||||||||||||||||
Gathered gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | — | 250,717 | |||||||||||
Processed gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | — | 119,324 | |||||||||||
Residue gas volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | — | 109,553 | |||||||||||
NGL production (Bbl/d) | — | — | — | — | 5,303 | |||||||||||
Condensate volume (Bbl/d) | — | — | — | — | 127 | |||||||||||
NOARK system: | ||||||||||||||||
Average throughput volume (Mcf/d) | — | — | — | — | 255,777 | |||||||||||
(1) | Includes Atlas’ acquisition of Spectrum on July 16, 2004, representing five and one-half months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2004. |
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(2) | Includes Atlas’ acquisition of Elk City on April 14, 2005, representing eight and one-half months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2005, and NOARK on October 31, 2005, representing two months’ operations for the year ended December 31, 2005. |
(3) | Represents the minority interest in the net income of Atlas. |
(4) | Represents Southwestern’s 25% minority interest in NOARK, which was acquired on October 31, 2005. |
(5) | We define gross margin as revenue less purchased product costs. Purchased product costs include the cost of natural gas and NGLs that Atlas purchases from third parties. Our management views gross margin as an important performance measure of core profitability of our operations and as a key component of our internal financial reporting. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that our management uses. The following table reconciles our net income to gross margin (in thousands): |
Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 4,745 | $ | 2,902 | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | ||||||
Plus (minus): | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income and other | (35 | ) | (7 | ) | (98 | ) | (382 | ) | (894 | ) | ||||||
Plant operating | — | — | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | |||||||||||
Transportation and compression | 1,929 | 2,062 | 2,421 | 2,260 | 4,053 | |||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,114 | 1,482 | 1,662 | 4,642 | 13,608 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,356 | 1,475 | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | |||||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | — | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | ||||||||||
Interest | 176 | 250 | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | |||||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas | 3,810 | 2,496 | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | |||||||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | — | — | — | — | 1,083 | |||||||||||
Minority interest share of gross margin for NOARK | — | — | — | — | (1,910 | ) | ||||||||||
Gross margin | $ | 13,095 | $ | 10,660 | $ | 15,651 | $ | 32,202 | $ | 80,516 | ||||||
(6) | EBITDA represents net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and minority interest in Atlas. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA other non-cash items such as compensation expenses associated with unit issuances to directors and employees. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flow and do not represent the measure of cash available for distribution. Our method of computing EBITDA may not be the same method used to compute similar measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA excludes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement as a non-recurring item. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect approximately $0.8 million of additional general and administrative expense, we expect to incur in connection with our being a public company after this offering. |
Certain items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing an entity’s financial performance, such as their cost of capital and its tax structure, as well as historic costs of depreciable assets. We have included information concerning EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because they provide investors and management with additional information as to Atlas’ ability to pay its fixed charges and are presented solely as a supplemental financial measure. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as indicators of Atlas’ operating performance or liquidity. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands): |
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Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 4,745 | $ | 2,902 | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | ||||||
Plus: | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas | 3,810 | 2,496 | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 176 | 250 | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,356 | 1,475 | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | |||||||||||
Minority interest share of depreciation and amortization and interest expense for NOARK | — | — | — | — | (735 | ) | ||||||||||
EBITDA | 10,087 | 7,123 | 11,666 | 25,107 | 53,146 | |||||||||||
Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense | — | — | — | 700 | 4,672 | |||||||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | — | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 10,087 | $ | 7,123 | $ | 11,666 | $ | 24,350 | $ | 57,956 | ||||||
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the historical and pro forma financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. For more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information, you should read the notes to the historical and pro forma financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition, you should read “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for information regarding some of the risks inherent in our business.
Overview |
Financial Presentation |
We reflect our ownership interest in Atlas on a consolidated basis, which means that our financial results are combined with Atlas’ financial results. The non-controlling limited partner interests in Atlas will be reflected as an expense in our consolidated results of operations and as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet. We initially will have no separate operating activities apart from those conducted by Atlas, and our cash flows currently consist of distributions from Atlas on our partnership interests in it, including the incentive distribution rights that we own. Our historical consolidated results of operations reflect the results of operations of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Atlas. Throughout this discussion, when we refer to “our” consolidated results of operations, we are referring to the results of consolidated operations of Atlas Pipeline GP. Atlas Pipeline GP’s consolidated results of operations principally reflect the results of operations of Atlas adjusted for non-controlling partners’ interest in Atlas’ net income. Accordingly, the discussion of our financial position and results of operations in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” reflects the operating activities and results of operations of Atlas. The historical results of our operations do not reflect the incremental expenses we expect to incur as a result of being a publicly traded partnership.
General |
Our cash generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas, a publicly-traded Delaware limited partnership. Atlas is a midstream energy service provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions of the United States. Our interests in Atlas will initially consist of a 100% ownership interest in Atlas Pipeline GP, the general partner of Atlas, which owns:
• | a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas, which entitles it to receive 2.0% of the cash distributed by Atlas; |
• | all of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, which entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per unit in any quarter; and |
• | 1,641,026 common limited partner units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. |
At Atlas’ current annual distribution rate of $3.32 per common unit, aggregate annual cash distributions to us on all our interests in Atlas would be approximately $20.0 million. The following table sets forth the historical Atlas distributions paid to its general partner, Atlas Pipeline GP, our wholly-owned subsidiary, during the periods indicated:
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Atlas Cash Distributions to Atlas Pipeline GP
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||
Distributions on Atlas common units held by Atlas Pipeline GP | $ | 3,914 | $ | 4,382 | $ | 5,186 | ||||
Distributions from ownership interest in the Atlas general partner | 217 | 386 | 814 | |||||||
Distributions from Atlas incentive distribution rights held by Atlas Pipeline GP | 809 | 2,765 | 9,062 | |||||||
Total | $ | 4,940 | $ | 7,533 | $ | 15,062 | ||||
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. |
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. is a publicly-traded Delaware limited partnership whose common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “APL.” Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.’s business activities are primarily conducted through, and its assets are owned by, its subsidiary Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P. and its subsidiaries, which are collectively referred to in this prospectus as Atlas.
Overview of Atlas’ Operations |
Through its Mid-Continent operations, which began in July 2004, Atlas owns and operates:
• | a 75% interest in a FERC-regulated, 565-mile interstate pipeline system, that extends from southeastern Oklahoma through Arkansas and into southeastern Missouri and has throughput capacity of approximately 322 MMcf/d; |
• | two natural gas processing plants with aggregate capacity of approximately 230 MMcf/d and one treating facility with a capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d, all located in Oklahoma; and |
• | 1,765 miles of active natural gas gathering systems located in Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Texas and the Texas panhandle, which transport gas from wells and central delivery points in the Mid-Continent region to its natural gas processing plants or Ozark Gas Transmission. |
Through its Appalachian operations, Atlas owns and operates 1,500 miles of intrastate natural gas gathering systems located in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. Through an omnibus agreement and other agreements between Atlas and Atlas America, the parent of Atlas and our general partner and a leading sponsor of natural gas drilling investment partnerships in the Appalachian Basin, Atlas gathers substantially all of the natural gas for its Appalachian operations from wells operated by Atlas America.
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Significant Acquisitions |
Since Atlas’ initial public offering in January 2000 through December 2005, Atlas has completed five acquisitions at an aggregate cost of approximately $521.1 million, including, most recently:
• | In October 2005, Atlas acquired from Enogex, a wholly-owned subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., all of the outstanding equity of Atlas Arkansas, which owns a 75% interest in NOARK, for $163.0 million, plus $16.8 million for working capital adjustments and related transaction costs. NOARK’s principal assets include the Ozark Gas Transmission system, a 565-mile interstate natural gas pipeline, and Ozark Gas Gathering, a 365-mile natural gas gathering system. The remaining 25% interest in NOARK is owned by Southwestern. |
• | In April 2005, Atlas acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Elk City for $196.0 million, including related transaction costs. Elk City’s principal assets include approximately 300 miles of natural gas pipelines located in the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, a natural gas processing facility in Elk City, Oklahoma, with a total capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d and a gas treatment facility in Prentiss, Oklahoma, with a total capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d. |
• | In July 2004, Atlas acquired Spectrum for $141.6 million, including transaction costs and the payment of taxes due as a result of the transaction. Spectrum’s principal assets consist of 1,100 miles of active and 800 miles of inactive natural gas gathering pipelines in the Golden Trend area of Southern Oklahoma and the Barnett Shale area of North Texas and a natural gas processing facility in Stephens County, Oklahoma, with a total capacity of approximately 100 MMcf/d. |
Contractual Revenue Arrangements |
Atlas’ principal revenue is generated from the transportation and sale of natural gas and NGLs. Variables that affect Atlas’ revenue are:
• | the volumes of natural gas gathered, transported and processed by Atlas which, in turn, depend upon the number of wells connected to its gathering systems, the amount of natural gas they produce, and the demand for natural gas and NGLs; and |
• | the transportation and processing fees paid to Atlas which, in turn, depend upon the price of the natural gas and NGLs it transports and processes, which itself is a function of the relevant supply and demand in the mid-continent, mid-Atlantic and northeastern areas of the United States. |
In Appalachia, substantially all of the natural gas Atlas transports is for Atlas America under percentage of proceeds, or POP, contracts, as described below, where Atlas earns a fee equal to a percentage, generally 16%, of the selling price of the gas subject, in most cases, to a minimum of $0.35 or $0.40 per Mcf. Since Atlas’ inception in January 2000, its Appalachian transportation fee has always exceeded this minimum. The balance of the Appalachian gas Atlas transports is for third-party operators generally under fixed fee contracts.
Atlas’ revenue in the Mid-Continent region is determined primarily by the fees earned from its transmission, gathering and processing operations. Atlas either purchases natural gas from producers and moves it into receipt points on its pipeline systems, and then sells the natural gas, or produced NGLs, if any, off of delivery points on its systems, or Atlas transports natural gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the gas. Revenue associated with Atlas’ FERC-regulated transmission pipeline is comprised of firm transportation rates and, to the extent capacity is available following the reservation of firm system capacity, interruptible transportation rates; and is recognized at the time transportation services are provided. Revenue associated with the physical sale of natural gas is recognized upon physical delivery of the natural gas. In connection with its gathering and processing operations, Atlas enters into the following types of contractual relationships with its producers and shippers:
Fee-Based Contracts. These contracts provide for a set fee for gathering and processing raw natural gas. Atlas’ revenue is a function of the volume of gas that it gathers and processes and is not directly dependent on the value of the natural gas. |
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POP Contracts. These contracts provide for Atlas to retain a negotiated percentage of the sale proceeds from residue natural gas and NGLs it gathers and processes, with the remainder being remitted to the producer. In this situation, Atlas and the producer are directly dependent on the volume of the commodity and its value; Atlas owns a percentage of that commodity and is directly subject to its market value. |
Keep-Whole Contracts. These contracts require Atlas, as the processor, to bear the economic risk (the “processing margin risk”) that the aggregate proceeds from the sale of the processed natural gas and NGLs could be less than the amount that it paid for the unprocessed natural gas. However, since the gas received by the Elk City system, which is currently Atlas’ only gathering system with keep-whole contracts, is generally low in liquids content and meets downstream pipeline specifications without being processed, the gas can be bypassed around the Elk City processing plant and delivered directly into downstream pipelines during periods of margin risk. Therefore, the processing margin risk associated with such type of contracts is minimized. |
Recent Trends and Uncertainties |
As a result of Atlas’ POP and keep whole contracts, Atlas’ results of operations and financial condition substantially depend upon the price of natural gas and NGLs. Atlas believes that future natural gas prices will be influenced by supply deliverability, the severity of winter and summer weather and the level of United States economic growth. Based on historical trends, Atlas generally expects NGL prices to follow changes in crude oil prices over the long term, which it believes will in large part be determined by the level of production from major crude oil exporting countries and the demand generated by growth in the world economy. The number of active oil and gas rigs has increased in recent years, mainly due to recent significant increases in natural gas prices, which could result in sustained increases in drilling activity during the current and future periods. However, energy market uncertainty could negatively impact North American drilling activity in the short term. Lower drilling levels over a sustained period would have a negative effect on natural gas volumes gathered and processed.
Atlas closely monitors the risks associated with these commodity price changes on its future operations and, where appropriate, uses various commodity instruments such as natural gas, crude oil and NGL contracts to hedge a portion of the value of its assets and operations from such price risks. Atlas does not realize the full impact of commodity price changes because some of its sales volumes were previously hedged at prices different than actual market prices.
Results of Our Operations |
The results of operations discussed below principally reflect the activities of Atlas on and after January 1, 2002. Because our financial statements represent consolidated results of Atlas, our financial statements are substantially similar to Atlas’. The primary differences in our financial statements include the following adjustments:
• | Interest of non-controlling limited partners in Atlas’ net income and partners’ capital. We adjust our net income by excluding the income allocated to Atlas limited partner units that are not directly or indirectly owned by us. This allocation of Atlas’ income to non-controlling limited partners is reflected as minority interest expense in our consolidated statements of income. At the time of completion of the offering, we will own approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas and the non-affiliated unitholders will own approximately 86.9% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. Our consolidated balance sheet includes a minority interest liability which reflects the proportion of Atlas owned by its partners other than us. |
• | Our general and administrative expenses. We incur general and administrative expenses that are independent from Atlas’ operations and are not reflected on Atlas’ consolidated financial statements. |
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Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005 |
Revenue. Natural gas and liquids revenue was $340.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $268.2 million from $72.1 million for the prior year. The increase was attributable to revenue contributions from the NOARK system acquired in October 2005 of $14.6 million and from the Elk City system acquired in April 2005 of $122.5 million, and an increase in Velma natural gas and liquids revenue of $131.1 million due to a full year’s contribution after its acquisition in July 2004 and higher commodity prices. Gross natural gas gathered averaged 67.1 MMcf/d on the Velma system for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of 19% from the period from July, 2004, its date of acquisition, through December 31, 2004. Gross natural gas gathered on the Elk City system averaged 250.7 MMcf/d from its date of acquisition through December 31, 2005. For the NOARK system, average throughput volume was 255.8 MMcf/d from October 31, 2005, its date of acquisition, to December 31, 2005.
Transportation and compression revenue increased to $30.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $18.8 million for the prior year. This $11.5 million increase was primarily due to contributions from the transportation revenues associated with the NOARK system acquired in October 2005 of $5.5 million and increases in the Appalachia average transportation rate earned and volume of natural gas transported. Atlas’ average Appalachia transportation rate was $1.21 per Mcf for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared with $0.96 per Mcf for the prior year, an increase of $0.25 per Mcf. Atlas’ average Appalachia throughput volume was 55.2 MMcf/d for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared with 53.3 MMcf/d for the prior year, an increase of 1.9 MMcf/d. The increase in the Appalachia average daily throughput volume was principally due to new wells connected to Atlas’ gathering system and the completion of a capacity expansion project in 2005 on certain sections of its pipeline system during the current period.
Costs and Expenses. Natural gas and liquids cost of goods sold of $288.2 million and plant operating expenses of $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 represented increases of $229.5 million and $8.5 million, respectively, from the prior year amounts due primarily to contributions from the acquisitions and an increase in commodity prices. Transportation and compression expenses increased $1.8 million to $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 due mainly to NOARK system operating costs from its date of acquisition and higher Appalachia operating costs as a result of compressors added during 2005 in connection with Atlas’ capacity expansion project and higher maintenance expense as a result of additional wells connected to Atlas’ Appalachia gathering system.
General and administrative expenses, including amounts reimbursed to affiliates, increased $9.0 million to $13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared with $4.6 million for the prior year. This increase was mainly due to a $4.0 million increase in non-cash compensation expense related to vesting of phantom and common unit awards, $3.8 million of expenses associated with the acquisitions, and higher costs associated with managing Atlas’ business, including management time related to acquisitions and capital raising opportunities. Depreciation and amortization increased to $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared with $4.5 million for the prior year due principally to the increased asset base associated with the acquisitions.
Interest expense increased to $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared with $2.3 million for the prior year. This $11.9 million increase was primarily due to interest associated with borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility to finance its acquisitions and $1.0 million of accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs. This accelerated amortization was associated with the retirement of the term portion of Atlas’ credit facility in April 2005.
Net gain on arbitration settlement of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 is the result of a December 30, 2004 settlement agreement with SEMCO settling all issues and matters related to Atlas’ terminated acquisition of Alaska Pipeline Company from SEMCO. The gain reflects $5.5 million received from SEMCO, net of $4.0 million of associated costs.
Minority interest in Atlas’ net income, which represents the allocation of Atlas’ earnings to its non-affiliated limited partners, increased to $13.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared with $10.9 million for the prior year. This $2.5 million increase was primarily due to an increase in Atlas’
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overall net income and an increase in its outstanding limited partner units due to additional equity offerings in April 2004, July 2004, June 2005 and November 2005.
Minority interest in NOARK of $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 represents Southwestern’s 25% ownership interest in the net income of NOARK from Atlas’ date of acquisition through December 31, 2005. Our financial results include the consolidated financial statements of NOARK from the date of its acquisition.
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Revenue. Natural gas and liquids revenue of $72.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 was associated with the acquisition of Atlas’ Velma operations in July 2004 and reflect approximately five and one half months of operations at Velma in 2004. Appalachia transportation and compression revenue increased to $18.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $15.7 million for the prior year. This $3.1 million increase was primarily due to an increase in the average transportation rate earned and an increase in the volumes of natural gas transported. The average transportation rate was $0.96 per Mcf for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with $0.82 per Mcf for the prior year, an increase of $0.14 per Mcf. The average daily throughput volumes were 53.3 MMcf/d for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with 52.5 MMcf/d for the prior year, an increase of 0.8 MMcf/d. The increase in the average daily throughput volume was principally due to new wells connected to the Appalachia gathering system, partially offset by the natural decline in production volumes from existing wells connected to it.
Costs and Expenses. Natural gas and liquids cost of goods sold of $58.7 million and plant operating expenses of $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 were associated with the acquisition of Atlas’ Velma operations and reflect five and one half months of activity at Velma. Appalachian transportation and compression expenses decreased slightly to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with $2.4 million for the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in compressor expenses due to the purchase of several compressors that were previously leased at the end of 2003.
General and administrative expenses, including amounts reimbursed to affiliates, increased $3.0 million to $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared with $1.6 million for the prior year. This increase was mainly due to $1.1 million of general and administrative expenses associated with Atlas’ Velma operations, $0.8 million of expenses related to non-cash compensation expense for phantom units issued under our long-term incentive plan, a $0.5 million increase in allocations of compensation and benefits from Atlas America and its affiliates due to management time associated with acquisitions and public offerings, and $0.3 million of costs associated with the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley and the preparation and filing of two tax returns for 2003. The filing of two tax returns was a result of our percentage interest in Atlas being reduced below 50% as a result of Atlas’ offering of common units in May 2003, requiring a change in its tax year-end from September 30 to December 31. This necessitated the filing of an additional short year tax return. This expense is non-recurring.
Depreciation and amortization increased to $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 compared with $1.8 million for the prior year due principally to the increased asset base associated with the acquisition of the Velma operations and pipeline extensions and compressor upgrades in Appalachia.
Net gain on arbitration settlement of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 is the result of a December 30, 2004 settlement agreement with SEMCO settling all issues and matters related to the terminated acquisition of Alaska Pipeline Company by Atlas from SEMCO. The gain reflects $5.5 million received from SEMCO, net of $4.0 million of associated costs.
Interest expense increased to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with $0.3 million for the prior year. This $2.0 million increase was primarily due to interest associated with borrowings under the credit facility to finance the acquisition of the Velma operations.
Minority interest in Atlas net income increased to $10.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared with $5.1 million for the prior year. This $5.8 million increase was primarily due to an increase in Atlas’ overall net income and an increase in the number of outstanding limited partner units due to additional equity offerings in May 2003, April 2004 and July 2004.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources |
General |
Atlas’ primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and borrowings under its credit facility. Atlas’ primary cash requirements, in addition to normal operating expenses, are for debt service, capital expenditures and quarterly distributions to its unitholders and us, as general partner. In general, Atlas expects to fund:
• | cash distributions and maintenance capital expenditures through existing cash and cash flows from operating activities; |
• | expansion capital expenditures and working capital deficits through the retention of cash and additional borrowings; and |
• | debt principal payments through additional borrowings as they become due or by the issuance of additional common units. |
At December 31, 2005, Atlas had $9.5 million of outstanding borrowings under its credit facility and $11.1 million of outstanding letters of credit which are not reflected as borrowings on our consolidated balance sheet, with $204.4 million of remaining committed capacity under its $225.0 million credit facility, subject to covenant limitations (see “—Atlas’ Credit Facility”). In addition to the availability under the credit facility, Atlas has a universal shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows it to issue equity or debt securities (see “—Atlas’ Shelf Registration Statement”), of which $372.7 million remains available at December 31, 2005. At December 31, 2005, we had working capital of $16.8 million compared with working capital of $27.9 million at December 31, 2004. This decrease was primarily due to the settlement of accounts receivable from affiliates and an increase in the current portion of Atlas’ net hedge liability between periods and is reflected in the change in fair-market value of its derivative instruments based on the subsequent increases in the price of natural gas after Atlas entered into the hedges. These price increases will be reflected in our consolidated statements of income when the contracts settle. We believe that we and Atlas have sufficient combined liquid assets, cash from operations and borrowing capacity to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, unitholder distributions, contingencies and anticipated capital expenditures. However, we and Atlas are subject to business and operational risks that could adversely affect our combined cash flow. We may supplement our cash generation with proceeds from financing activities, including borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility and other borrowings and the issuance of additional common units.
Cash Flows |
Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2005. Net cash provided by operating activities of $48.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $37.1 million from $11.3 million for the prior year. The increase is derived principally from increases in cash provided by working capital of $27.4 million, net income of $5.3 million, minority interest in Atlas’ net income of $2.5 million, depreciation and amortization of $9.5 million, non-cash compensation expense of $4.0 million, and amortization of deferred financing costs of $1.7 million, partially offset by a $13.7 million increase in cash distributions to Atlas’ minority interest partners. The increase in cash provided by working capital between periods is mainly due to timing of settlement of accounts receivable due from affiliates. The increases in net income, minority interest and depreciation and amortization were principally due to the contribution from the acquisitions of Spectrum in July 2004, Elk City in April 2005, and NOARK in October 2005. The increase in cash distributions to Atlas minority interest partners was due to an increase in their limited partner units outstanding and the distribution amount per limited partner unit.
Net cash used in investing activities was $411.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $259.2 million from $151.8 million for the prior year. This increase was principally due to the acquisitions mentioned previously and a $42.5 million increase in capital expenditures. See further discussion of capital expenditures under “—Capital Requirements.”
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Net cash provided by financing activities was $378.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $235.0 million from $143.6 million for the prior year. This increase was principally due to the $243.1 million of net proceeds from the issuance of $250.0 million of 10-year, 8.125% senior unsecured notes in December 2005, which were primarily utilized to repay indebtedness incurred under Atlas’ credit facility to partially fund its acquisitions, and $119.6 million of additional net proceeds received from sales of common units. This increase was partially offset by $99.0 million of net reductions of borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility and a $26.0 million distribution to owners.
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2004. Net cash provided by operating activities of $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased $6.7 million from $4.6 million for the prior year. The increase is derived principally from increases in net income of $2.4 million, minority interest in Atlas net income of $5.9 million, depreciation and amortization of $2.7 million, and non-cash compensation expense of $0.7 million, partially offset by an increase in cash distributions to Atlas minority interest partners of $4.4 million. The increases in net income, minority interest and depreciation and amortization were principally due to the acquisition of the Velma operations in July 2004. The increase in cash distributions to Atlas minority interest partners was due to an increase in its limited partner units outstanding and its distribution amount per limited partner unit.
Net cash used in investing activities was $151.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $142.6 million from $9.2 million for the prior year. This increase was principally due to the acquisition of the Velma operations in July 2004 and a $2.4 million increase in capital expenditures. See further discussion of capital expenditures under “—Capital Requirements.”
Net cash provided by financing activities was $143.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $125.9 million from $17.7 million for the prior year. This increase was principally due to $67.9 million of additional net proceeds received from Atlas’ sales of its common units and $60.7 million of net borrowings under its credit facility, mainly to fund the acquisition of the Velma operations.
Capital Requirements |
Atlas’ operations require continual investment to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to ensure compliance with safety, operational, and environmental regulations. The capital requirements for Atlas’ operations consist primarily of:
• | maintenance capital expenditures to maintain equipment reliability and safety and to address environmental regulations; and |
• | expansion capital expenditures to acquire complementary assets and to expand the capacity of Atlas’ existing operations. |
The following table summarizes maintenance and expansion capital expenditures, excluding amounts paid for acquisitions, for the periods presented (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures | $ | 3,109 | $ | 1,516 | $ | 1,922 | ||||
Expansion capital expenditures | 4,526 | 8,527 | 50,576 | |||||||
Total capital expenditures | $ | 7,635 | $ | 10,043 | $ | 52,498 | ||||
Expansion capital expenditures increased to $50.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, due principally to expansions of the Velma and Elk City gathering systems and processing facilities to accommodate new wells drilled in Atlas’ service areas. Expansion capital expenditures for Atlas’ Mid-Continent region also include approximately $6.2 million of costs incurred related to the construction of the Sweetwater gas plant, a new natural gas processing plant in Oklahoma expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2006 (see “—Significant Announced Internal Growth Project”). In addition, expansion capital expenditures increased due to compressor upgrades and gathering system expansions in the Appalachian region. Maintenance capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2005 remained relatively
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consistent compared with the prior year period. As of December 31, 2005, Atlas is committed to expend approximately $19.7 million on pipeline extensions, compressor station upgrades and processing facility upgrades, including $10.8 million related to the Sweetwater gas plant.
Expansion capital expenditures were $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $4.0 million compared with $4.5 million for the prior year due principally to expansions of the Velma gathering system and processing facilities to accommodate new wells drilled in Atlas’ service areas and compressor upgrades and gathering system expansions in the Appalachian region. Maintenance capital expenditures were $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $1.6 million compared with $3.1 million for the prior year due principally to the purchase of Appalachian pipeline compressors in 2003 to replace units which were formerly leased.
Credit Facility |
We anticipate entering into a credit facility at the closing of this offering. The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our credit facility and any future financing agreements could adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities.
We anticipate that our credit facility will limit our ability to pay distributions in the event we are not in compliance with its terms. We have not obtained a commitment letter from any potential lenders for the credit facility. We will provide further disclosure with respect to the terms of the credit facility when they are determined.
Private Placement |
Please see “—Atlas’ Private Placement of Convertible Preferred Units” on page 72.
Atlas Partnership Distributions |
Atlas’ partnership agreement requires that Atlas distribute 100% of available cash to its partners within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Available cash consists generally of all of Atlas’ cash receipts, less cash disbursements and net additions to reserves, including any reserves required under debt instruments for future principal and interest payments.
Atlas Pipeline GP, as general partner, is granted discretion by Atlas’ partnership agreement to establish, maintain and adjust reserves for future operating expenses, debt service, maintenance capital expenditures, rate refunds and distributions for the next four quarters. These reserves are not restricted by magnitude, but only by type of future cash requirements with which they can be associated. When Atlas Pipeline GP determines Atlas’ quarterly distributions, it considers current and expected reserve needs along with current and expected cash flows to identify the appropriate sustainable distribution level.
Available cash is initially distributed 98% to Atlas’ limited partners and 2.0% to its general partner. These distribution percentages are modified to provide for incentive distributions to be paid to Atlas Pipeline GP if quarterly distributions to limited partners exceed specified targets. Incentive distributions are generally defined as all cash distributions paid to its general partner that are in excess of 2.0% of the aggregate amount of cash being distributed. Incentive distributions declared were $9.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005.
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Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments |
The following tables summarize Atlas’ contractual obligations and commercial commitments at December 31, 2005 (in thousands):
Payments due by period | ||||||||||||||||
Contractual cash obligations: | Total | Less than 1 year | 1 - 3 Years | 4 - 5 Years | After 5 years | |||||||||||
Total debt (1) | $ | 298,625 | $ | 1,263 | $ | 2,462 | $ | 11,900 | $ | 283,000 | ||||||
Operating leases | 3,828 | 1,769 | 1,679 | 380 | — | |||||||||||
Total contractual cash obligations | $ | 302,453 | $ | 3,032 | $ | 4,141 | $ | 12,280 | $ | 283,000 | ||||||
(1) | Not included in the table above are estimated interest payments calculated at the rates in effect at December 31, 2005: Less than one year – $21.3 million; 1 to 3 years – $42.6 million; 4 to 5 years – $42.1 million; and after 5 years – $95.6 million. |
The operating leases represent lease commitments for compressors, office space, and office equipment with varying expiration dates. These commitments are routine and were made in the normal course of Atlas’ business.
Amount of commitment expiration per period | ||||||||||||||||
Other commercial commitments: | Total | Less than 1 year | 1 – 3 Years | 4 – 5 Years | After 5 years | |||||||||||
Standby letters of credit | $ | 11,050 | $ | 11,025 | $ | 25 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Other commercial commitments | 19,665 | 19,665 | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Total commercial commitments | $ | 30,715 | $ | 30,690 | $ | 25 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
Other commercial commitments relate to commitments to install new compressors and sales lines for new well hookups, and expenditures for pipeline extensions.
Atlas’ Equity Offerings |
On November 28, 2005, Atlas sold 2,700,000 of its common units in a public offering for gross proceeds of $113.4 million. In addition, pursuant to an option granted to the underwriters of the offering, Atlas sold 330,000 common units on December 27, 2005 for gross proceeds of $13.9 million, or aggregate total gross proceeds of $127.3 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas’ previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $121.0 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas primarily utilized the net proceeds from the sale to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility. Subsequent to this equity offering, Atlas Pipeline GP’s ownership interest in Atlas was 14.8%, including its 2.0% general partner interest.
In June 2005, Atlas sold 2,300,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $96.5 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas’ previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $91.7 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas primarily utilized the net proceeds from the sale to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
In July 2004, Atlas sold 2,100,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $73.0 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas’ previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $67.9 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility and to redeem preferred units issued in connection with the acquisition of Spectrum Field Services, Inc. in July 2004 for $20.4 million.
In April 2004, Atlas sold 750,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $27.0 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas’ previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $25.2 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
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In May 2003, Atlas sold 1,092,500 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $27.3 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas’ previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $25.2 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
In March 2006, Atlas sold 30,000 convertible preferred units, as described below in “—Atlas’ Private Placement of Convertible Preferred Units.”
Atlas’ Shelf Registration Statement |
Atlas has an effective shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that permits it to periodically issue equity and debt securities for a total value of up to $500 million. As of December 31, 2005, $372.7 million remains available for issuance under the shelf registration statement. However, the amount, type and timing of any offerings will depend upon, among other things, the funding requirements of Atlas, prevailing market conditions, and compliance with Atlas’ credit facility covenants.
Atlas’ Private Placement of Convertible Preferred Units |
On March 13, 2006, Atlas sold 30,000 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units of limited partner interests to Sunlight Capital Partners, LLC, an affiliate of Elliott & Associates, with aggregate proceeds of $30.0 million. Atlas has the right, subject to specified conditions, before June 11, 2006, to require Sunlight Capital Partners to purchase an additional 10,000 preferred units on the same terms. The preferred units are entitled to receive dividends of 6.5% per annum commencing on March 13, 2007, which will accrue and be paid quarterly on the same date as the distribution payment date for Atlas’ common units. The preferred units are convertible, at the holder’s option, into Atlas’ common units commencing on the date immediately following the first record date after March 13, 2007 at a conversion price equal to the lesser of $41.00 or 95% of the market price of Atlas’ common units as of the date of the notice of conversion. Atlas may elect to pay cash rather than issue common units in satisfaction of a conversion request. Atlas has the right to call the preferred units at a specified premium. Atlas has agreed to file a registration statement to cover the resale of the common units underlying the preferred units. Atlas intends to use the proceeds from the issuance of the preferred units to fund a portion of its capital expenditures in 2006, including the construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and related gathering system.
Atlas’ Credit Facility |
Atlas has a $225.0 million credit facility with a syndicate of banks, which matures April 2010. In conjunction with the acquisition of Elk City in April 2005, Atlas entered into a new $270.0 million credit facility with a bank syndicate led by Wachovia Bank, National Association and Bank of America N.A. The facility consisted of a $225.0 million five-year revolving loan and a $45.0 million five-year term loan. Atlas repaid and retired the term loan in June 2005. In connection with the NOARK acquisition, the revolving credit facility was increased to a maximum of $400.0 million. The credit facility bears interest, at Atlas’ option, at either (i) adjusted LIBOR plus the applicable margin, as defined, or (ii) the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or the Wachovia Bank prime rate (each plus the applicable margin). The weighted average interest rate on the $9.5 million of outstanding credit facility borrowings at December 31, 2005 was 7.1%. Up to $50.0 million of the credit facility may be utilized for letters of credit, of which $11.1 million was outstanding at December 31, 2005. These outstanding letter of credit amounts were not reflected as borrowings on our consolidated balance sheet. Borrowings under the credit facility are secured by a lien on and security interest in all of Atlas’ property and that of its subsidiaries, and by the guaranty of each of Atlas’ wholly-owned subsidiaries. The credit facility contains customary covenants, including restrictions on Atlas’ ability to incur additional indebtedness; make certain acquisitions, loans or investments; make distribution payments to its unitholders if an event of default exists; or enter into a merger or sale of assets, including the sale or transfer of interests in its subsidiaries. Atlas was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2005.
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The events which constitute an event of default are also customary for loans of this size, including payment defaults, breaches of representations or covenants contained in the credit agreements, adverse judgments against Atlas in excess of a specified amount, and a change of control of Atlas’ general partner.
The credit facility requires Atlas to maintain a ratio of senior secured debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA (as defined in the credit facility) of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006, 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006, and 4.0 to 1.0 on September 30, 2006; a funded debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA ratio of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006 and to 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006; and an interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit facility) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0, increasing to 3.0 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006. The credit facility defines EBITDA to include pro forma adjustments, as acceptable to the administrator of the facility, following material acquisitions. The definition of EBITDA contained in the credit facility is substantially similar to the definition of Adjusted EBITDA used in this prospectus, except that: (1) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA excludes net gain or loss on arbitration settlement as a non-recurring item, and (2) the credit facility definition of EBITDA includes EBITDA of NOARK only to the extent of cash distributions from NOARK, while the definition of Adjusted EBITDA includes Atlas’ percentage interest in NOARK’s EBITDA. The ratios described above include only the operations of Atlas and its subsidiaries, and exclude our operations and those of our subsidiaries that are not subsidiaries of Atlas. As of December 31, 2005, Atlas’ ratio of senior secured debt to EBITDA was 0.3 to 1.0, its funded debt ratio was 3.9 to 1.0 and its interest coverage ratio was 4.9 to 1.0.
Atlas is unable to borrow under its credit facility to pay distributions of available cash to unitholders because such borrowings would not constitute “working capital borrowings” pursuant to its partnership agreement. Because Atlas will be unable to borrow money to pay distributions unless it establishes a facility that meets the definition contained in its partnership agreement, Atlas’ ability to pay a distribution in any quarter is solely dependent on its ability to generate sufficient operating surplus with respect to that quarter.
Atlas’ Senior Notes |
In December 2005, Atlas and its subsidiary, Atlas Pipeline Finance Corp., issued $250.0 million of 10-year, 8.125% senior unsecured notes (“Senior Notes”) in a private placement transaction pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 for net proceeds of $243.1 million, after the initial purchasers’ discount and other transaction costs. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, commencing on June 15, 2006. The Senior Notes are redeemable at any time on or after December 15, 2010 at stated redemption prices, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes are also redeemable at any time prior to December 15, 2010 at a make-whole redemption price. In addition, prior to December 15, 2008, Atlas may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a stated redemption price. The Senior Notes are also subject to repurchase by Atlas at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, upon a change of control or upon certain asset sales if Atlas does not reinvest the net proceeds within 360 days. The Senior Notes are junior in right of payment to Atlas’ secured debt, including its obligations under its credit facility.
The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants, including limitations of Atlas’ ability to: incur certain liens; engage in sale/leaseback transactions; incur additional indebtedness; declare or pay distributions if an event of default has occurred; redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests or subordinated indebtedness; make certain investments; or merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of its assets. Atlas was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2005.
In connection with a Senior Notes registration rights agreement entered into by Atlas, it agreed to (a) file an exchange offer registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Senior Notes by April 19, 2006, (b) cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission by July 18, 2006, and (c) cause the exchange offer to be consummated by August 17, 2006. If Atlas does not meet these deadlines, the Senior Notes will be subject to additional interest, up to 1% per annum, until such time that the deadlines have been met.
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NOARK Notes |
As of November 30, 2005, NOARK’s subsidiary, NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C., had outstanding $66.0 million in principal amount of 7.15% notes due in 2018. The notes are governed by an indenture dated June 1, 1998 for which UMB Bank, N.A. serves as trustee. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually, in cash, in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year. Liability under the notes was allocated severally 40% to Atlas Arkansas, as successor to Enogex, and 60% to Southwestern, and the parties are several guarantors for their respective allocations.
The notes are subject to a semi-annual redemption in installments of $1.0 million each at a redemption price of 100% of the principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Additionally, at the option of either Enogex or Southwestern, notes in an aggregate principal amount guaranteed by either company as of a particular payment date may be redeemed at such notes’ redemption price plus a make-whole premium and unpaid interest accrued to that date by giving the trustee at least 60 days notice. As part of the NOARK acquisition, Enogex agreed to redeem its portion of the notes as promptly as practicable after the closing, and at the closing it deposited cash sufficient to redeem the notes into an escrow account. The redemption of $26.4 million of the notes was completed on December 5, 2005. After the redemption, $39.6 million of notes remain outstanding, for which Southwestern remains liable. Under the partnership agreement, payments on the notes will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to Southwestern and, if that amount is insufficient, Southwestern is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK. NOARK distributes available cash to the partners in accordance with their ownership interests after deduction of their respective portions of the amounts payable on the notes.
Significant Announced Internal Growth Project |
On October 19, 2005, Atlas announced plans to complete construction of a new natural gas processing plant in Beckham County, Oklahoma near its Prentiss treating facility, in the third quarter of 2006. The new plant, to be known as the Sweetwater gas plant, will be scaled to 120 MMcf/d of processing capacity. The Sweetwater gas plant will be located west of Atlas’ Elk City gas plant, and is being built to further access natural gas production actively being developed in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. Along with the Sweetwater gas plant, Atlas will construct a gathering system to be located primarily in western Oklahoma and in the Texas panhandle, more specifically, Beckham and Roger Mills counties in Oklahoma and Hemphill County, Texas. Atlas anticipates that construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and associated gathering system will cost approximately $40.0 million and will generate cash flow of $8.0 million to $10.0 million annually.
Environmental Regulation |
Atlas’ operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing the release of regulated materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection or human health or safety. We believe that Atlas’ operations and facilities are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing some or all of our operations. Atlas has an ongoing environmental compliance program. However, risks of accidental leaks or spills are associated with the transportation of natural gas. There can be no assurance that Atlas will not incur significant costs and liabilities relating to claims for damages to property, the environment, natural resources, or persons resulting from the operation of its business. Moreover, it is possible that other developments, such as increasingly strict environmental laws and regulations and enforcement policies hereunder, could result in increased costs and liabilities to Atlas.
Environmental laws and regulations have changed substantially and rapidly over the last 25 years, and we anticipate that there will be continuing changes. One trend in environmental regulation is to increase reporting obligations and place more restrictions and limitations on activities, such as emissions of pollutants, generation and disposal of wastes and use, storage and handling of chemical substances, that may impact human health, the environment and/or endangered species. Increasingly strict environmental restrictions and
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limitations have resulted in increased operating costs for Atlas and other similar businesses throughout the United States. It is possible that the costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations may continue to increase. Atlas will attempt to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and to plan accordingly, but there can be no assurance that Atlas will identify and properly anticipate each such charge, or that its efforts will prevent material costs, if any, from arising.
Inflation and Changes in Prices |
Inflation affects the operating expenses of Atlas’ gathering systems. Increases in those expenses are not necessarily offset by increases in transportation fees that the gathering operations are able to charge. While we anticipate that inflation will affect Atlas’ future operating costs, we can not predict the timing or amounts of any such effects. In addition, the value of Atlas’ gathering systems has been and will continue to be affected by changes in natural gas prices. Natural gas prices are subject to fluctuations which we are unable to control or accurately predict.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates |
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of actual revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although we and Atlas believe our estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in these estimates could materially affect our and Atlas’ financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Key estimates used by Atlas’ management include estimates used to record revenue and expense accruals, depreciation and amortization, asset impairment and fair values of assets acquired. We summarize our and Atlas’ significant accounting policies in our consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus. The critical accounting policies that we have identified are discussed below.
Use of Estimates |
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of our consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Receivables |
In evaluating the realizability of accounts receivable, Atlas performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer’s current creditworthiness, as determined by its review of the customers’ credit information. Atlas extends credit on an unsecured basis to many of its energy customers. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, no allowance was recorded for uncollectible accounts receivable impairment.
Revenue Recognition |
Revenue in the Appalachian segment is recognized at the time the natural gas is transported through the gathering systems. Under the terms of its natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America and its affiliates, Atlas receives fees for gathering natural gas from wells owned by Atlas America, by drilling investment partnerships sponsored by Atlas America or by independent third parties. The fees received for the gathering services are generally the greater of 16% of the gross sales price for gas produced from the wells, or $0.35 or $0.40 per Mcf, depending on the ownership of the well. Substantially all gas gathering revenue is derived under this agreement. Fees for transportation services provided to independent third parties whose wells are connected to Atlas’s Appalachian gathering systems are at separately negotiated prices.
Atlas’ Mid-Continent segment revenue is determined primarily by the fees earned from its transmission, gathering and processing operations. Atlas either purchases gas from producers and moves it into receipt
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points on its pipeline systems, and then sells the natural gas, or NGLs, if any, off of delivery points on its systems, or Atlas transports natural gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the gas. Revenue associated with Atlas’ regulated transmission pipeline is recognized at the time the transportation service is provided. Revenue associated with the physical sale of natural gas is recognized upon physical delivery of the natural gas. The majority of the revenue associated with Atlas’ gathering and processing operations are based on percentage of proceeds (“POP”) and fixed-fee contracts. Under Atlas’ POP purchasing arrangements, it purchases natural gas at the wellhead, processes the natural gas by extracting NGLs and removing impurities and sells the residue gas and NGLs at market-based prices, remitting to producers a contractually-determined percentage of the sale proceeds.
Atlas accrues unbilled revenue due to timing differences between the delivery of natural gas, NGLs and oil and the receipt of a delivery statement. This revenue is recorded based upon volumetric data from its records and management estimates of the related transportation and compression fees which are, in turn, based upon applicable product prices (see Use of Estimates accounting policy for further description). Atlas had unbilled revenue at December 31, 2004 and 2005 of $15.3 million and $48.4 million, respectively, included in accounts receivable and accounts receivable-affiliates within our consolidated balance sheets.
Intangible Assets |
Atlas recorded intangible assets with finite lives in connection with certain consummated acquisitions. The following table reflects the components of intangible assets being amortized at December 31, 2005 (in thousands):
December 31, 2005 | Estimated Useful Lives in Years | |||||||||
Gross Carrying | Accumulated | |||||||||
Amount | Amortization | |||||||||
Amortized intangible assets: | ||||||||||
Customer contracts | $ | 23,990 | $ | (1,339 | ) | 8 | ||||
Customer relationships | 32,960 | (742 | ) | 20 | ||||||
$ | 56,950 | $ | (2,081 | ) | ||||||
Atlas did not recognize any such intangible assets at December 31, 2004. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”) requires that intangible assets with finite useful lives be amortized over their estimated useful lives. If an intangible asset has a finite useful life, but the precise length of that life is not known, that intangible asset must be amortized over the best estimate of its useful life. At a minimum, Atlas will assess the useful lives and residual values of all intangible assets on an annual basis to determine if adjustments are required. The estimated useful life for Atlas’ customer contract intangible assets is based upon the approximate average length of customer contracts in existence at the date of acquisition. The estimated useful life for Atlas’ customer relationship intangible assets is based upon the estimated average length of non-contracted customer relationships in existence at the date of acquisition. Customer contract and customer relationship intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense on intangible assets was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. There was no amortization expense on intangible assets recorded during the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. Amortization expense related to intangible assets is estimated to be $4.6 million for each of the next five calendar years commencing in 2006.
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Goodwill |
At December 31, 2004 and 2005, Atlas had $2.3 million and $111.4 million, respectively, of goodwill which was recorded in connection with consummated acquisitions. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Balance, beginning of year | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | ||||
Goodwill acquired – Elk City acquisition | — | — | 61,136 | |||||||
Goodwill acquired – NOARK acquisition | — | — | 49,088 | |||||||
Reduction in minority interest deficit acquired | — | — | (1,083 | ) | ||||||
Impairment losses | — | — | — | |||||||
Balance, end of year | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | $ | 111,446 | ||||
Atlas tests its goodwill for impairment at each year end by comparing enterprise fair values to carrying values. The evaluation of impairment under SFAS No. 142 requires the use of projections, estimates and assumptions as to the future performance of Atlas’ operations, including anticipated future revenues, expected future operating costs and the discount factor used. Actual results could differ from projections, resulting in revisions to Atlas’ assumptions and, if required, recognition of an impairment loss. Atlas’ test of goodwill at December 31, 2005 resulted in no impairment. Atlas will continue to evaluate its goodwill at least annually and additionally, if impairment indicators arise, and will reflect the impairment of goodwill, if any, within its consolidated statements of income in the period in which the impairment is indicated.
Depreciation and Amortization |
Atlas calculates its depreciation based on the estimated useful lives and salvage values of its assets. However, factors such as usage, equipment failure, competition, regulation or environmental matters could cause it to change its estimates, thus impacting the future calculation of depreciation and amortization.
Impairment of Assets |
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” Atlas reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Atlas determines if its long-lived assets are impaired by comparing the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets with the estimated undiscounted future cash flows associated with such asset or group of assets. If the carrying amount is greater than the estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying value to fair value. Atlas’ operations are subject to numerous factors which could affect future cash flows which we discuss in “Risk Factors.” Atlas continuously monitors these factors and pursue alternative strategies to maintain or enhance cash flows associated with these assets; however, we cannot assure you that Atlas can mitigate the effects, if any, on future cash flows related to any changes in these factors.
Fair Value of Derivative Commodity Contracts |
Atlas enters into certain financial swap and option instruments that are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133 to hedge its forecasted natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales against the variability in expected future cash flows attributable to changes in market prices. The swap instruments are contractual agreements between counterparties to exchange obligations of money as the underlying natural gas, NGLs and condensate is sold. Under these swap agreements, Atlas receives a fixed price and pays a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period.
Atlas formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and the items being hedged, including its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transactions. This includes matching the natural gas futures and options contracts to the forecasted transactions. Atlas assesses, both at
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the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives are effective in offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flow of hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be an effective hedge due to the loss of correlation between the hedging instrument and the underlying commodity, Atlas will discontinue hedge accounting for the derivative and subsequent changes in fair value for the derivative will be recognized immediately within its consolidated statements of income.
Atlas records derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet as assets or liabilities at fair value. For derivatives qualifying as hedges, Atlas recognizes the effective portion of changes in fair value in owners’ equity (deficit) as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassifies them to earnings as such transactions are settled. For non-qualifying derivatives and for the ineffective portion of qualifying derivatives, Atlas recognizes changes in fair value within the consolidated statements of income as they occur. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, Atlas reflected net hedging liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets of $2.6 million and $30.4 million, respectively. Of the $30.1 million net loss in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2005, if fair values of the instruments remain at current market values, Atlas will reclassify $12.2 million of losses to the consolidated statements of income over the next twelvemonth period as these contracts expire, and $17.9 million will be reclassified in later periods if the fair values of the instruments remain at current market values. Actual amounts that will be reclassified will vary as a result of future price changes. Ineffective hedge gains or losses are recorded within the consolidated statements of income while the hedge contract is open and may increase or decrease until settlement of the contract. Atlas recognized losses of $2,000 and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively, within the consolidated statements of income related to the settlement of qualifying hedge instruments. Atlas also recognized a loss of $0.3 million and a gain of $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, within the consolidated statements of income related to the change in market value of non-qualifying or ineffective hedges.
A portion of Atlas’ future natural gas sales is periodically hedged through the use of swaps and collar contracts. Realized gains and losses on the derivative instruments that are classified as effective hedges are reflected in the contract month being hedged as an adjustment to revenue.
Volume Measurement |
Atlas records amounts for natural gas gathering and transportation revenue, NGL transportation and processing revenue, natural gas sales and natural gas purchases, and the sale of production based on volume and energy measurements. Variances resulting from such calculations, while within recognized industry tolerances, are inherent in Atlas’ business.
New Accounting Standards |
In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“SFAS No. 154”). SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements for changes in accounting principle. It also requires that the new accounting principle be applied to the balances of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the earliest period for which retrospective application is practicable and that a corresponding adjustment be made to the opening balance of retained earnings for that period rather than being reported in an income statement. The statement will be effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The impact of SFAS No. 154 will depend on the nature and extent of any voluntary accounting changes and corrections of errors after the effective date, but we do not currently expect SFAS No. 154 to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), which will result in (a) more consistent recognition of liabilities relating to asset retirement obligations, (b) more information about expected future cash outflows associated with those obligations, and (c) more information about investments in long-lived assets because additional asset retirement costs will be recognized as part of the carrying amounts of the assets. FIN 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the
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entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method of settlement. Uncertainty about the timing and (or) method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information exists. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. Retrospective application of interim financial information is permitted but is not required. Early adoption of this interpretation is encouraged. Atlas adopted FIN 47 at December 31, 2005 and it had no material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our potential exposure to market risks. The term “market risk” refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates and natural gas, NGL and condensate prices. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonably possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures. All of our market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading.
All of Atlas’ assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars and, as a result, it does not have exposure to currency exchange risks.
Atlas is exposed to various market risks, principally fluctuating interest rates and changes in commodity prices. These risks can impact Atlas’ results of operations, cash flows and financial position. Atlas manages these risks through regular operating and financing activities and periodic use of derivative financial instruments. The following analysis presents the effect on Atlas’ results of operations, cash flows and financial position as if the hypothetical changes in market risk factors occurred on December 31, 2005. Only the potential impacts of hypothetical assumptions are analyzed. The analysis does not consider other possible effects that could impact Atlas’ business.
Interest Rate Risk. At December 31, 2005, Atlas had a $225.0 million revolving credit facility ($9.5 million outstanding) to fund the expansion of its existing gathering systems, acquire other natural gas gathering systems and fund working capital movements as needed. The weighted average interest rate for these borrowings was 7.1% at December 31, 2005. Holding all other variables constant, a 1% change in interest rates would change interest expense by $0.1 million.
Commodity Price Risk. Atlas is exposed to commodity prices as a result of being paid for certain services in the form of commodities rather than cash. For gathering services, Atlas receives fees for commodities from the producers to bring the raw natural gas from the wellhead to the processing plant. For processing services, Atlas either receives fees or commodities as payment for these services, based on the type of contractual agreement. Based on the current portfolio of gas supply contracts, Atlas is long condensate, NGL and natural gas positions. A 10% change in the average price of NGLs, natural gas and condensate Atlas processes and sells would result in a change to our 2005 consolidated annual income, excluding the effect of minority interests in Atlas net income, of approximately $1.6 million.
Atlas enters into certain financial swap and option instruments that are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133 to hedge its forecasted natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales against the variability in expected future cash flows attributable to changes in market prices. The swap instruments are contractual agreements between counterparties to exchange obligations of money as the underlying natural gas, NGLs and condensate is sold. Under these swap agreements, Atlas receives a fixed price and pays a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period.
Atlas formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and the items being hedged, including its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transactions. This includes matching the natural gas futures and options contracts to the forecasted transactions. Atlas assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives are effective in offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flow of hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not effective as a hedge or
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that it has ceased to be an effective hedge due to the loss of correlation between the hedging instrument and the underlying commodity, Atlas will discontinue hedge accounting for the derivative and subsequent changes in fair value for the derivative will be recognized immediately within our consolidated statements of income.
Derivatives are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as assets or liabilities at fair value. For derivatives qualifying as hedges, Atlas recognizes the effective portion of changes in fair value in owners’ equity (deficit) as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassifies them to earnings as such transactions are settled. For non-qualifying derivatives and for the ineffective portion of qualifying derivatives, Atlas recognizes changes in fair value within the consolidated statements of income as they occur. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, Atlas reflected net hedging liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets of $2.6 million and $30.4 million, respectively. Of the $30.1 million net loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at December 31, 2005, if fair values of the instruments remain at current market values, Atlas will reclassify $12.2 million of losses to its consolidated statements of income over the next twelve month period as these contracts expire, and $17.9 million will be reclassified in later periods if the fair values of the instruments remain at current market values. Actual amounts that will be reclassified will vary as a result of future price changes. Ineffective hedge gains or losses are recorded within Atlas’ consolidated statements of income while the hedge contract is open and may increase or decrease until settlement of the contract. Atlas recognized losses of $2,000 and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively, within our consolidated statements of income related to the settlement of qualifying hedge instruments. Atlas also recognized a loss of $0.3 million and a gain of $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively, within its consolidated statements of income related to the change in market value of non-qualifying or ineffective hedges.
A portion of Atlas’ future natural gas sales is periodically hedged through the use of swaps and collar contracts. Realized gains and losses on the derivative instruments that are classified as effective hedges are reflected in the contract month being hedged as an adjustment to revenue.
As of December 31, 2005, Atlas had the following NGLs, natural gas, and crude oil volumes hedged:
Natural Gas Liquids Fixed – Price Swaps |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
Volumes | Average fixed price | Fair value liability(1) | ||||||||
(gallons) | (per gallon) | (in thousands) | ||||||||
2006 | 40,068,000 | $ | 0.683 | $ | (12,119 | ) | ||||
2007 | 36,036,000 | 0.717 | (9,157 | ) | ||||||
2008 | 33,012,000 | 0.697 | (7,365 | ) | ||||||
$ | (28,641 | ) | ||||||||
Natural Gas Fixed – Price Swaps |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
Volumes | Average fixed price | Fair value liability(3) | ||||||||
(MMbtu)(2) | (per MMbtu) | (in thousands) | ||||||||
2006 | 3,192,500 | $ | 7.186 | $ | (110 | ) | ||||
2007 | 1,080,000 | 7.255 | (3,242 | ) | ||||||
2008 | 240,000 | 7.270 | (605 | ) | ||||||
$ | (3,957 | ) | ||||||||
Natural Gas Basis Swaps |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
Volumes | Average fixed price | Fair value asset(3) | ||||||||
(MMbtu)(2) | (per MMbtu) | (in thousands) | ||||||||
2006 | 3,527,500 | $ | (0.521 | ) | $ | (473 | ) | |||
2007 | 1,080,000 | (0.535 | ) | 3,580 | ||||||
2008 | 240,000 | (0.555 | ) | 808 | ||||||
$ | 3,915 | |||||||||
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Crude Oil Fixed – Price Swaps |
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
Volumes | Average fixed price | Fair value liability(3) | ||||||||
(Barrels) | (per Barrel) | (in thousands) | ||||||||
2006 | 77,600 | $ | 51.545 | $ | (881 | ) | ||||
2007 | 80,400 | 56.069 | (643 | ) | ||||||
2008 | 62,400 | 59.267 | (223 | ) | ||||||
$ | (1,747 | ) | ||||||||
Total net liability | $ | (30,430 | ) | |||||||
(1) | Fair value based upon management estimates, including forecasted forward NGL prices as a function of forward NYMEX natural gas and light crude prices. |
(2) | MMbtu represents million British Thermal Units. |
(3) | Fair value based on forward NYMEX natural gas and light crude prices, as applicable. |
In Atlas’ Appalachian operations, it is the beneficiary of natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America under which Atlas receives gathering fees generally equal to a percentage, typically 16% of the selling price, of the natural gas it transports. Atlas is the beneficiary of, and consults with Atlas America with respect to, the hedging program it has established for its Appalachian natural gas production that mitigates the risks of Atlas’ percentage of proceeds agreement with it. Atlas does not currently engage in any interest rate or foreign currency exchange rate transactions, and as a result, it does not have exposure to those types of derivative risks.
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BUSINESS
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. |
Our cash generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership. Atlas is a midstream energy service provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions. Our interests in Atlas will initially consist of a 100% ownership interest in the general partner of Atlas, Atlas Pipeline GP, which owns:
• | a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas, which entitles it to receive 2.0% of the cash distributed by Atlas; |
• | all of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, which entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per Atlas unit in any quarter; and |
• | 1,641,026 common units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. |
At Atlas’ current quarterly distribution rate of $0.83 per common unit, aggregate quarterly cash distributions to us on all our interests in Atlas would be approximately $5.0 million. Based on this distribution, we will make an initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per unit, or $0.90 per unit on an annualized basis to the extent we have sufficient cash from operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses.
Our primary objective is to increase our cash distributions to our unitholders through growth at Atlas. Atlas has grown through strategic acquisitions and internal growth projects. Since Atlas’ initial public offering in January 2000, it has completed five acquisitions at an aggregate cost of approximately $521.1 million. Atlas’ business strategy is to create capital-efficient growth in distributable cash flow to maximize its distribution to its unitholders by, among other things, (1) maximizing cash flows from its existing businesses through marketing of its services and facilities and controlling its operating costs; (2) continuing to increase the amount of its operating cash flow generated by long-term, fee-based contracts; (3) expanding its existing businesses through internal growth opportunities; (4) expanding its operations through strategic acquisitions; and (5) maintaining a flexible capital structure based on a strong balance sheet by financing its growth through a balanced combination of debt and equity.
We intend to support Atlas in implementing its business strategy by assisting it in identifying, evaluating, and pursuing growth opportunities. In the future, we may also support the growth of Atlas through the use of our capital resources, which could involve loans or capital contributions to Atlas to provide funding for the acquisition of a business or asset or for an internal growth project. We may also provide Atlas with other forms of credit support, such as guarantees related to financing a project or other types of support related to a merger or acquisition transaction.
Atlas is required by its partnership agreement to distribute all of its cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less reserves established by its general partner in its sole discretion to provide for the proper conduct of Atlas’ business or to provide for future distributions. Atlas has increased the per unit quarterly cash distribution on its common units by approximately 48%, from the quarterly distribution of $0.56 per unit declared for the first quarter of 2003 to $0.83 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2005. The following graph shows, for the period from the first quarter of 2003 through the fourth quarter of 2005: (i) Atlas’ quarterly distributions per unit and (ii) total distributions by Atlas to us.
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While we, like Atlas, are structured as a limited partnership, our capital structure and cash distribution policy differ materially from those of Atlas. Most notably, our general partner does not have an economic interest in us and is not entitled to receive any distributions from us, and our capital structure does not include incentive distribution rights. Therefore, all of our distributions are made on our common units, which is our only class of security outstanding.
Our ownership of Atlas’ incentive distribution rights entitles us to receive an increasing percentage of cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels. The rights entitle us to receive the following:
• | 13.0% of all cash distributed in a quarter after each Atlas unit has received $0.42 for that quarter; |
• | 23.0% of all cash distributed after each Atlas unit has received $0.52 for that quarter; and |
• | 48.0% of all cash distributed after each Atlas unit has received $0.60 for that quarter. |
For the quarter ended December 31, 2005, Atlas paid a distribution of $0.83 per unit, which means we would have received 48.0% of the $0.23 incremental cash distribution per unit in excess of the maximum target distribution level of $0.60 per unit. Because the incentive distribution rights currently participate at the maximum 48.0% target cash distribution level, future growth in distributions we receive from Atlas will not result from an increase in the target cash distribution level associated with the incentive distribution rights.
The graph set forth below demonstrates hypothetical cash distributions payable in respect of our interests in Atlas by showing the total cash allocated to us across an illustrative range of annualized cash distributions per unit made by Atlas. The graph illustrates the impact to us of Atlas raising or lowering its distribution from the most recent distribution of $0.83 per common unit ($3.32 on an annualized basis), which was paid on February 14, 2006. This information assumes:
• | Atlas has 12,549,266 total units outstanding, representing the number of units outstanding at December 31, 2005; and |
• | through Atlas Pipeline GP, we own (i) 1,641,026 Atlas common units, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas, (ii) a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and (iii) all the incentive distribution rights. |
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This information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a prediction of future performance and does not attempt to illustrate the impact of changes in our or Atlas’ business, including changes that may result from changes in natural gas, NGL and condensate prices, changes in economic conditions, the impact of any future acquisitions or expansion projects or the issuance of additional units by Atlas. In addition, the level of cash distributions we receive may be affected by the various risks associated with an investment in us and the underlying business of Atlas. Please read “Risk Factors.”
We will pay to our unitholders, on a quarterly basis, distributions equal to the cash we receive from Atlas, less certain reserves for expenses and other uses of cash, including:
• | our general and administrative expenses, including expenses we will incur as the result of being a public company; |
• | capital contributions to maintain or increase our ownership interest in Atlas; and |
• | reserves our general partner believes prudent to maintain for the proper conduct of our business or to provide for future distributions. |
Based on Atlas’ current quarterly distribution, the number of our units outstanding upon the closing of this offering and our expected level of expenses and reserves that our general partner believes prudent to maintain, any of which are subject to change, we will make an initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per common unit, or $0.90 per unit on an annualized basis. Due to our ownership of Atlas’ incentive distribution rights, our cash flows are impacted by changes in Atlas’ distributions to a greater extent than those of Atlas’ common unitholders.
If Atlas is successful in implementing its business strategy and increasing distributions to its unitholders, we would generally expect to increase distributions to our unitholders, although the timing and amount of any such increased distributions will not necessarily be comparable to the increased Atlas distributions. However, we cannot assure you that any distributions will be declared or paid. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.”
Our common units and Atlas’ common units are unlikely to trade in simple relation or proportion to one another. Instead, while the trading prices of our common units and Atlas’ common units are likely to follow generally similar broad trends, the trading prices may diverge because, among other things:
• | with respect to Atlas distributions, Atlas’ common unitholders have a priority over the incentive distribution rights; and |
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• | we participate in Atlas’ managing general partner’s distributions and the incentive distribution rights, and Atlas’ common unitholders do not; and |
• | we may in the future enter into other businesses separate from Atlas or any of its affiliates. |
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. |
Overview |
Atlas is a publicly-traded midstream energy services provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas. Atlas conducts its business through two operating segments: its Mid-Continent operations and its Appalachian operations.
Through its Mid-Continent operations, Atlas owns and operates:
• | a 75% interest in a FERC-regulated, 565-mile interstate pipeline system, which we refer to as Ozark Gas Transmission, that extends from southeastern Oklahoma through Arkansas and into southeastern Missouri and which has throughput capacity of approximately 322 MMcf/d; |
• | two natural gas processing plants with aggregate capacity of approximately 230 MMcf/d and one treating facility with a capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d, all located in Oklahoma; and |
• | 1,765 miles of active natural gas gathering systems located in Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Texas and the Texas panhandle, which transport gas from wells and central delivery points in the Mid-Continent region to Atlas’ natural gas processing plants or Ozark Gas Transmission. |
Through its Appalachian operations, Atlas owns and operates 1,500 miles of active natural gas gathering systems located in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. Through an omnibus agreement and other agreements between Atlas and Atlas America, the parent of Atlas’ general partner and our general partner and a leading sponsor of natural gas drilling investment partnerships in the Appalachian Basin, Atlas gathers substantially all of the natural gas for its Appalachian Basin operations from wells operated by Atlas America. Among other things, the omnibus agreement requires Atlas America to connect wells it operates to Atlas’ gathering systems that are located within 2,500 feet of Atlas’ gathering systems. Atlas is also party to natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America under which Atlas receives gathering fees generally equal to a percentage, typically 16%, of the selling price of the natural gas it transports. These agreements are continuing obligations and have no specified term except that they will terminate if Atlas’ general partner is removed without cause.
Since Atlas’ initial public offering in January 2000, Atlas has completed five acquisitions at an aggregate cost of approximately $521.1 million, including, most recently, the October 2005 acquisition of Atlas Arkansas Pipeline LLC, which owns a 75% interest in NOARK, and the April 2005 acquisition of Elk City.
Both Atlas’ Mid-Continent and Appalachian operations are located in areas of abundant and long-lived natural gas production and significant new drilling activity. The Ozark Gas Transmission system and Atlas’ gathering systems are connected to approximately 6,300 central delivery points or wells, giving Atlas significant scale in its service areas. Atlas provides gathering and processing services to the wells connected to its systems, primarily under long-term contracts. Atlas provides fee-based, FERC-regulated transmission services through Ozark Gas Transmission under both long-term and short-term contractual arrangements. Atlas intends to increase the portion of the transmission services provided under long-term contracts. As a result of the location and capacity of the Ozark Gas Transmission system and Atlas’ gathering and processing assets, Atlas believes that it is strategically positioned to capitalize on the significant increase in drilling activity in its service areas and the positive price differential across Ozark Gas Transmission, also known as basis spread. Atlas intends to continue to expand its business through strategic acquisitions and internal growth projects, including its plan to construct the Sweetwater gas plant, that increase distributable cash flow per unit.
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The following table shows the pro forma gross margin for our operating units for the periods indicated:
Pro forma Year Ended December 31, 2005 | |||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||
$ | % | ||||||
Mid-Continent: | |||||||
Velma and Elk City | $ | 54,425 | 56.0 | % | |||
NOARK | 18,434 | 18.9 | % | ||||
72,859 | 74.9 | % | |||||
Appalachia | 24,429 | 25.1 | % | ||||
$ | 97,288 | 100.0 | % | ||||
Please see “—Summary Historical Consolidated and Pro Forma Financial Data” for a definition of gross margin and a reconciliation of pro forma gross margin to our pro forma net income.
Recent Acquisitions |
Acquisition of Atlas Arkansas and Controlling Interest in NOARK |
On October 31, 2005, Atlas acquired from Enogex all of the outstanding equity of Atlas Arkansas for $163.0 million, plus $16.8 million for working capital adjustments and related transaction costs. Atlas Arkansas owns a 75% interest in NOARK, with the remaining 25% interest being owned by Southwestern. Before the closing of this acquisition, Atlas Arkansas converted from an Oklahoma corporation into an Oklahoma limited liability company and changed its name from Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Company. The NOARK acquisition further expands Atlas’ activities in the Mid-Continent region and provides an additional source of fee-based cash flows from a FERC-regulated interstate pipeline system and an intrastate gas gathering system. NOARK’s geographic position relative to Atlas’ other businesses and interconnections with major interstate pipelines also provides Atlas with internal growth opportunities. NOARK’s principal assets include:
• | The Ozark Gas Transmission system, a 565-mile FERC-regulated interstate pipeline system which extends from southeast Oklahoma through Arkansas and into southeast Missouri and has a throughout capacity of approximately 322 MMcf/d. The system includes approximately 30 supply and delivery interconnections and two compressor stations. |
• | The Ozark Gas Gathering system, a 365-mile intrastate natural gas gathering system. |
Atlas temporarily financed the acquisition by borrowing under its senior secured credit facility, and has since reduced those borrowings with proceeds from its November 2005 common unit offering and senior notes issuance. Atlas expects the NOARK acquisition to be immediately accretive to its distributable cash flow per unit.
Ozark Gas Transmission transports natural gas from receipt points in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, where the Arkoma Basin is located, to interstate pipelines in northeastern and central Arkansas and to local distribution companies in Arkansas and Missouri. Ozark Gas Gathering provides access to natural gas supplies that are then transported through Ozark Gas Transmission. Ozark Gas Transmission’s revenue is comprised of FERC-regulated transmission fees that are based on firm transportation rates and, to the extent capacity is available following the reservation of firm system capacity, interruptible transportation rates. The Ozark transmission and gathering systems transported an average of 182.9 MMcf/d on a pro forma basis during the year ended December 31, 2005 and 255.8 MMcf/d from October 31, 2005, the date of acquisition, to December 31, 2005.
Atlas’ gas supply strategy in the Mid-Continent region is to establish long-term, value-oriented relationships with its producing customers. Atlas has long-standing relationships with many of its Mid-Continent customers which account for a substantial majority of Atlas’ gathering and processing
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throughput. Atlas believes that the increased drilling activity in the Mid-Continent area, combined with the positive basis spread across Ozark Gas Transmission, will result in increasing volumes gathered and transported on the Ozark Gas Gathering and Ozark Gas Transmission systems.
As part of the acquisition, Enogex agreed to redeem the 40% portion of NOARK’s 7.15% notes due 2018 for which it is severally liable as guarantor as promptly as practicable after the closing. At the closing, Enogex deposited $32.2 million with UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent, in order to fulfill this redemption obligation. The redemption of $26.4 million was completed on December 5, 2005. After the redemption, $39.6 million of notes remain outstanding for which Southwestern, the other partner in NOARK, will remain liable. Under the NOARK partnership agreement, payments on the notes will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to Southwestern and, if that amount is insufficient, Southwestern is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK.
Acquisition of Elk City |
In April 2005, Atlas acquired all of the outstanding equity interests in Elk City for $196.0 million, including transaction costs. Elk City’s principal assets include approximately 300 miles of natural gas pipelines located in the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, a natural gas processing facility in Elk City, Oklahoma, with a total capacity of approximately 130 MMcf/d, and a gas treating facility in Prentiss, Oklahoma, with a total capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d. Gathered volumes averaged 250.7 MMcf/d for the year ended December 31, 2005. The system connects to over 300 receipt points. The acquisition expanded the scale of Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations and built upon its experience in processing and gathering. Atlas recently completed three new gathering and compression projects in Elk City which have increased, and Atlas believes will continue to increase, gathered volumes and total gross margin. Atlas also plans to complete construction of a new natural gas processing facility in Oklahoma near its Prentiss treating facility in the third quarter of 2006, which we refer to as the Sweetwater gas plant. The new plant will be scaled to 120 MMcf/d of processing capacity. Along with the Sweetwater gas plant, Atlas will construct a gathering system to be located primarily in western Oklahoma and in the Texas panhandle, more specifically, Beckham and Roger Mills counties in Oklahoma and Hemphill County, Texas. Atlas anticipates that construction of the Sweetwater gas plant and associated gathering system will cost approximately $40.0 million, of which approximately $10.2 million has been spent through the fourth quarter of 2005, and, when the gas plant is fully operational, will generate cash flow of $8.0 million to $10.0 million annually.
Business Strategy |
Atlas’ primary objective is to increase cash flow and achieve sustainable, profitable growth while maintaining a strong credit profile and financial flexibility by executing the following strategies:
• | Maximize cash flows from its existing businesses through efficient marketing of its services and facilities and control of its operating costs. Atlas intends to continue to control its operating costs by efficiently managing its existing and acquired businesses and achieving economies of scale. Atlas has additional capacity in its gathering systems and has, or can upgrade at minimal cost, the capacity at its processing and treating facilities. As a result Atlas can readily increase the amount of natural gas it transports and processes. |
• | Continuing to increase the amount of its operating cash flow generated by long-term, fee-based contracts. Atlas intends to continue to secure long-term, fee-based contracts both in its existing operations and through strategic acquisitions in order to further diversify its contract mix. |
• | Expanding existing businesses through organic growth opportunities. Atlas continually evaluates opportunities to expand its operations through the construction of pipeline extensions to connect additional wells and access additional reserves. In addition, Atlas plans to complete the Sweetwater gas plant, a 120 MMcf/d natural gas processing plant near its Prentiss treatment plant, by the third quarter of 2006. Atlas believes that its agreements with Atlas America present a favorable source of organic growth and that its competitive position and customer relationships in the Mid-Continent region will continue to yield additional expansion opportunities. |
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• | Expand operations through strategic acquisitions. Atlas’ recent acquisitions have provided geographic diversification and expanded the midstream services it provides. Atlas intends to continue to make accretive acquisitions of midstream energy assets such as natural gas gathering systems and natural gas and NGL transmission, processing and storage facilities. Atlas will seek strategic opportunities in its current areas of operation, as well as other regions of the United States with significant natural gas and oil reserves or with growing demand for natural gas and oil. Atlas believes that there will continue to be attractive acquisition opportunities in the midstream sector of the energy industry. |
• | Maintain a flexible capital structure based on a strong balance sheet by financing its growth through a balanced combination of debt and equity. To provide financial flexibility to fund future acquisition and expansion opportunities, Atlas intends to continue to opportunistically access the capital markets. Atlas intends to maintain a strong balance sheet by financing growth with a combination of long-term debt and equity. Including Atlas’ initial public offering in 2000, Atlas has accessed the equity markets six times, raising approximately $370.6 million in gross proceeds. Atlas expects to have unused capacity under its revolving credit facility to finance system expansions, acquisitions and working capital needs. Historically, because of its financial flexibility, Atlas has been able to take advantage of opportunities for expansion and optimization as they arise. |
Competitive Strengths |
Strategically positioned for internal growth. |
Atlas is a leading provider of natural gas gathering services in the Appalachian and Anadarko Basins and the Arkoma Basin, and the Golden Trend area of Oklahoma and the Appalachian Basin and of natural gas processing services in Oklahoma. These regions are characterized by long-lived wells and substantial developed and undeveloped natural gas reserves which Atlas believes will continue to promote significant drilling activity. Atlas provides gathering and processing services to over 6,300 wells and central delivery points. Atlas expects the breadth of its operations in its service areas, its customer focus and its relationship with Atlas America will allow Atlas to continue to connect new wells and capture new natural gas volumes quickly and cost effectively. Additionally, the NOARK acquisition increases its size and presence in the Mid-Continent region, including expanding Atlas’ operations east into the Arkoma Basin.
Diversified asset base. |
Atlas’ operations are divided between the active Mid-Continent Basin, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, southern Missouri, northern Texas and the Texas panhandle, where Atlas transports, gathers, processes and treats third-party gas volumes, and the Appalachian Basin, where Atlas accesses new volumes through long-term gathering agreements with Atlas America. In addition, Atlas’ revenue is generated under a variety of contract structures, including FERC-regulated transmission fees from Ozark Gas Transmission, fixed fees from Atlas’ gathering and treating businesses, percentage-of-proceeds contracts from Atlas’ gathering and processing businesses and, to a lesser extent, keep-whole contracts from Atlas’ Elk City processing plant, which Atlas may bypass during periods of unfavorable processing margins.
Stability from long-term contracts and strong customer relationships. |
Atlas’ gas supply strategy in the Mid-Continent region is to establish long-term, value-oriented relationships with its producing customers. Atlas has long-standing relationships with many of its Mid-Continent customers which account for a substantial majority of our gathering and processing throughput. Ozark Gas Transmission also has strong relationships with numerous shippers that contract for transmission services either on a short or long-term firm basis or interruptible basis. In addition, Atlas’ Appalachian operations generate substantially all of their volumes under a long-term omnibus agreement with Atlas America whereby Atlas America is required to commit to Atlas’ gathering system all wells it drills and operates that are within 2,500 feet of the system. Wells under this agreement are committed for the life of their respective leases, typically over 30 years.
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Relationship with Atlas America. |
As a result of Atlas’ agreements with Atlas America, Atlas believes that the growth in the number of wells drilled by Atlas America and its affiliates in the Appalachian Basin will serve as an engine for its growth in the region. Atlas connected 435 Atlas America wells to its Appalachian gathering system for the year ended December 31, 2005, and 1,603 Atlas America wells from its inception in January 2000 through December 31, 2005.
Efficient assets that offer low maintenance capital expenditure requirements, system flexibility and superior customer service. |
Atlas’ transmission, gathering and processing systems carry low maintenance capital expenditure needs. In addition, a significant portion of Atlas’ existing gathering systems and processing plants are new or have been recently expanded or replaced.
Favorable commercial agreements that reduce commodity price risk. |
Atlas derives substantially all of the operating income from its gathering and processing operations from fee-based and percentage-of-proceeds arrangements. Atlas has hedged a significant amount of its near-term equity natural gas production and equity NGL production from its processing operations, which it believes should reduce volatility in its operating income. Furthermore, Atlas can bypass its Elk City processing plant during periods of unfavorable processing margins. Substantially all of the operating income generated by NOARK’s transmission and gathering assets is generated under fixed-fee agreements. In its Appalachian operations, Atlas is the beneficiary of, and consults with Atlas America with respect to, the hedging program Atlas America has established for its Appalachian natural gas production that mitigates the risks of Atlas’ percentage-of-proceeds agreement with it.
Experienced management and engineering team. |
Through Atlas’ general partner, Atlas has significant management and technical expertise. Atlas’ senior management team averages approximately 20 years of experience in the oil and natural gas industry and currently manages 91 public and private drilling investment partnerships. Atlas’ operational and technical expertise has enabled it to identify assets that have not been fully utilized and to improve their performance upon integration into Atlas’ operations.
The Midstream Natural Gas Gathering, Processing and Transmission Industry |
The midstream natural gas gathering and processing industry is characterized by regional competition based on the proximity of gathering systems and processing plants to producing natural gas wells.
The natural gas gathering process begins with the drilling of wells into natural gas or oil bearing rock formations. Once a well has been completed, the well is connected to a gathering system. Gathering systems generally consist of a network of small diameter pipelines that collect natural gas from points near producing wells and transport it to larger pipelines for further transmission. Gathering systems are operated at design pressures that will maximize the total throughput from all connected wells.
While natural gas produced in some areas, such as the Appalachian Basin, does not require treatment or processing, natural gas produced in many other areas, such as Atlas’ Velma service area, is not suitable for long-haul pipeline transmission or commercial use and must be compressed, transported via pipeline to a central processing facility, and then processed to remove the heavier hydrocarbon components such as NGLs and other contaminants that would interfere with pipeline transmission or the end use of the gas. Natural gas processing plants generally treat (remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide) and remove the NGLs, enabling the treated, “dry” gas (stripped of liquids) to meet pipeline specification for long-haul transport to end users. After being separated from natural gas at the processing plant, the mixed NGL stream, commonly referred to as “y-grade” or “raw mix,” is typically transported on pipelines to a centralized facility for fractionation into discrete NGL purity products: ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline.
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Natural gas transmission pipelines receive natural gas from producers, other mainline transmission pipelines, shippers and gathering systems through system interconnects and redeliver the natural gas to processing facilities, local gas distribution companies, industrial end-users, utilities and other pipelines. Generally natural gas transmission agreements generate revenue for these systems based on a fee per unit of volume transported.
Mid-Continent Operations |
Atlas owns and operates a 565-mile interstate natural gas pipeline, approximately 2,565 miles of intrastate natural gas gathering systems, including approximately 800 miles of inactive pipeline, located in Oklahoma, Arkansas, southeast Missouri, northern Texas and the Texas panhandle, and two processing plants and one stand-alone treating facility in Oklahoma. The Mid-Continent operations were formed through Atlas’ acquisition of Spectrum in July 2004 and expanded through the Elk City acquisition in April 2005 and the NOARK acquisition in October 2005. Ozark Gas Transmission transports natural gas from receipt points in eastern Oklahoma, including major intrastate pipelines, and western Arkansas, where the Arkoma Basin is located, to local distribution companies in Arkansas and Missouri and to interstate pipelines in northeastern and central Arkansas. Ozark Gas Gathering provides access to natural gas supplies that are then transported through Ozark Gas Transmission. Atlas’ gathering and processing assets service long-lived natural gas basins that continue to experience an increase in drilling activity, including the Anadarko Basin and the Arkoma Basin and the Golden Trend area of Oklahoma. Atlas’ systems gather natural gas from oil and natural gas wells and process the raw natural gas into merchantable, or residue gas, by extracting NGLs and removing impurities. In the aggregate, the Mid-Continent systems have approximately 1,160 receipt points, consisting primarily of individual connections and, secondarily, of central delivery points which are linked to multiple wells. Atlas’ gathering systems currently connect with interstate and intrastate pipelines operated by Ozark Gas Transmission, ONEOK Gas Transportation, LLC, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc., Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP, Northern Natural Gas Company, CenterPoint Energy, Inc., ANR Pipeline Company, Texas Eastern, Mississippi River Transmission and Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America.
Mid-Continent Overview |
The heart of the Mid-Continent region is generally defined as running from Kansas through Oklahoma, branching into North and West Texas, southeast New Mexico as well as western Arkansas. The primary producing areas in the region include the Hugoton field in southwest Kansas, the Anadarko basin in western Oklahoma, the Permian basin in West Texas and the Arkoma basin in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.
FERC-Regulated Transmission System |
Atlas owns a 75% interest in NOARK, which owns a 565-mile FERC-regulated natural gas interstate pipeline extending from southeast Oklahoma through Arkansas and into southeast Missouri. Ozark Gas Transmission delivers natural gas via 30 supply and delivery interconnects with major intrastate and interstate pipelines, including Mississippi River Transmission Corp., Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Texas Eastern Transmission Corp., and receives natural gas from eight interconnects with intrastate pipelines, including Enogex, BP’s Vastar gathering system, Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation, Arkansas Western Gas Company and ONEOK Gas Transmission.
Mid-Continent Gathering Systems |
Velma. The Velma gathering system is located in the Golden Trend area of Southern Oklahoma and the Barnett Shale area of North Texas. As of December 31, 2005, the gathering system had approximately 1,100 miles of active pipeline with approximately 580 receipt points consisting primarily of individual connections and, secondarily, of central delivery points which are linked to multiple wells. The system includes approximately 800 miles of inactive pipeline, much of which can be returned to active status as local drilling activity warrants.
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Elk City. The Elk City gathering system includes approximately 300 miles of natural gas pipelines located in the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma. The Elk City gathering system connects to over 300 receipt points, with a majority of the western end of the system located in close proximity to areas of high drilling activity. Atlas recently completed three new gathering and compression projects which will increase gathered volumes and, Atlas believes, have a significant positive effect on our earnings.
Ozark Gas Gathering. NOARK owns Ozark Gas Gathering, 365 miles of intrastate natural gas gathering pipeline located in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, providing access to both the well-established Arkoma basin and the newly-exploited Fayetteville Shale. This system connects to approximately 250 receipt points and compresses and transports gas to interconnections with Ozark Gas Transmission.
Processing Plants |
Velma. The Velma processing plant, located in Stephens County, Oklahoma, is a single-train twin-expander cryogenic facility with a natural gas capacity of approximately 100 MMcf/d. The Velma plant is one of only two facilities in the area that is capable of treating both high-content hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gas. Atlas sells natural gas to purchasers at the tailgate of the Velma plant and sells NGL production to ONEOK Hydrocarbons Company. The Velma operations gather and process natural gas for approximately 150 producers. Atlas has made capital expenditures at the facility to improve its efficiency and competitiveness, including by implementing electric-powered compressors rather than higher-cost natural gas-powered compressors used by many of Atlas’ competitors, which results in higher revenue from higher efficiency and lower fuel costs.
Elk City. The Elk City processing plant, located in Beckham County, Oklahoma, is a twin-train cryogenic natural gas processing plant with a total capacity of approximately 130 MMcf/d. Atlas sells natural gas to purchasers at the tailgate of its Elk City processing plant and sells NGL production to ONEOK Hydrocarbons Company. The Prentiss treating facility, also located in Beckham County, is an amine treating facility with a total capacity of approximately 200 MMcf/d. Atlas’ Elk City operations gather and process gas for more than 135 producers.
Atlas plans to complete construction of the Sweetwater gas processing facility near its Prentiss treatment plant during the third quarter of 2006. The new plant will initially be scaled to 120 MMcf/d of processing capacity. Along with the plant, Atlas will construct a gathering system to be located primarily in Beckham and Roger Mills counties in Oklahoma and Hemphill County, Texas. Atlas anticipates that construction of the plant and associated gathering system will cost approximately $40.0 million and generate cash flow of $8.0 million to $10.0 million annually.
Enville. Atlas’ Enville, Oklahoma gas plant is currently inactive and is used as a field compression booster station.
NOARK Partnership |
NOARK is an Arkansas limited partnership in which Atlas Arkansas owns a 74% general partner interest and a 1% limited partner interest and Southwestern owns a 25% general partner interest. The current configuration of NOARK’s assets was completed in 1998 when Enogex acquired its interest in the partnership, which at that point owned Ozark Gas Gathering, and acquired Ozark Gas Transmission and certain Warren Petroleum gathering assets and contributed them to the partnership.
The partnership is managed by a five-member management committee comprised of the partnership’s project leader appointed by Atlas Arkansas, subject to Southwestern’s consent which cannot be unreasonably withheld, two members appointed by Atlas Arkansas and two members appointed by Southwestern. The management committee determines whether to distribute cash, may issue mandatory capital calls to the partners and may conduct expansion projects. An expansion to the system not included in an approved budget requires an 80% vote of the partners; if a partner does not consent to an expansion within 30 days, the other partner may fund the project and receive a cash distribution equal to all of the net operating income
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attributable to the project until it has received 200% of its capital contribution, before the non-consenting partner receives distributions attributable to the project.
Under the partnership agreement, day-to-day management of the partnership’s operations is the responsibility of the project leader, who will be an employee of Atlas America. Atlas Arkansas has the sole power to remove the project leader and, upon a vacancy in that position, to propose a new project leader, subject to the consent of Southwestern, not to be unreasonably withheld.
As described under “—Acquisition of Atlas Arkansas and Controlling Interest in NOARK,” NOARK’s subsidiary, NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C., has $39.0 million in principal amount of 7.15% notes due in 2018 at December 31, 2005. Liability under the notes is allocated 100% to Southwestern, but we and Southwestern are several guarantors for the remaining amount outstanding. Under the partnership agreement, interest and principal payments on the notes will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to Southwestern and, if that amount is insufficient, Southwestern is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK. NOARK distributes available cash to the partners in accordance with their ownership interests after deduction of their respective portion of amounts payable on the notes.
Natural Gas Supply |
In the Mid-Continent, Atlas has gas purchase, gathering and processing agreements with approximately 250 producers with terms ranging from one month to 15 years. These agreements provide for the purchase or gathering of gas under fixed-fee, percentage-of-proceeds or keep-whole arrangements. Most of the agreements provide for compression, treating, and/or low volume fees. Producers generally provide, in-kind, their proportionate share of compressor fuel required to gather the gas and to operate the Velma and Elk City processing plants. In addition, the producers generally bear their proportionate share of gathering system line loss and, except for keep-whole arrangements, bear gas plant “shrinkage,” or the gas consumed in the production of NGLs.
Atlas has enjoyed long-term relationships with the majority of its Mid-Continent producers. For instance, on the Velma system, where Atlas has producer relationships going back over 20 years, Atlas’ top four producers, which accounted for a significant portion of its Velma volumes for the year ended December 31, 2005, have recently executed renegotiated contracts with primary terms running into 2009 and 2010. At the end of the primary terms, most of the contracts with producers on Atlas’ gathering systems have evergreen term extensions.
Natural Gas and NGL Marketing |
Atlas sells natural gas to purchasers at the tailgate of both the Velma and Elk City plants and at various delivery points on Ozark Gas Gathering. During the year ended December 31, 2005, in its Velma operations, ONEOK Energy Marketing and Trading accounted for 31% of the residue natural gas sales and Tenaska Marketing Ventures accounted for 12% of such sales. Atlas currently sells the majority of its residue natural gas at the average of ONEOK Gas Transportation, LLC and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline first-of-month indices as published in Inside FERC. The Velma plant has access to ONEOK Gas Transportation, an intrastate pipeline, and Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, an interstate pipeline. In Atlas’ Elk City operations, Atlas sells substantially all of the residue gas to ONEOK Energy Marketing, at first-of-month index pricing. The Elk City plant has access to five major interstate and intrastate downstream pipelines: Natural Gas Pipe Line of America, Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co., CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company, Northern Natural Gas Company and Enogex. Ozark Gas Gathering gas prices are generally based on Texas Eastern “East LA” index as published in Inside FERC and have historically been sold to affiliates of Enogex and Southwestern.
Atlas sells its NGL production to ONEOK Hydrocarbons Company under two separate agreements. Under the Velma agreement, Atlas has the right to elect on a monthly basis until January 31, 2006 whether the NGLs are sold into the Mont Belvieu or Conway markets. After that, NGLs will be sold on a 50% Mont Belvieu/50% Conway combined price. NGLs are priced at the average monthly Oil Price Information Service, or OPIS, price for the selected market. The Velma agreement has an initial term expiring February 1, 2011.
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NGL production from Atlas’ Elk City plant is also sold to ONEOK Hydrocarbons Company based on Conway OPIS postings. The Elk City agreement has an initial term expiring October 1, 2008.
Condensate is collected at the Velma gas plant and around the Velma gathering system and sold for Atlas’ account to SemGroup, L.P. and EnerWest Trading while that collected at Elk City is sold to TEPPCO Crude Oil, L.P.
Natural Gas and NGL Hedging |
Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations are exposed to certain commodity price risks. These risks result from either taking title to natural gas and NGLs, including condensate, or being obligated to purchase natural gas to satisfy contractual obligations with certain producers. Atlas mitigates a portion of these risks through a comprehensive risk management program which employs a variety of hedging tools. The resulting combination of the underlying physical business and the financial risk management program is a conversion from a physical environment that consists of floating prices to a risk-managed environment that is characterized by fixed prices.
Atlas (a) purchases natural gas and subsequently sells processed natural gas and the resulting NGLs, (b) purchases natural gas and subsequently sells the unprocessed gas, or (c) transports and/or processes the natural gas for a fee without taking title to the commodities. Scenario (b) exposes Atlas to a generally neutral price risk (long sales approximate short purchases) while scenario (c) does not expose Atlas to any price risk; in both scenarios, risk management is not required.
Atlas is exposed to commodity price risks when natural gas is purchased for processing. The amount and character of this price risk is a function of Atlas’ contractual relationships with natural gas producers, or, alternatively, a function of cost of sales. Atlas is therefore exposed to price risk at a gross profit level rather than revenue level. These cost-of-sales or contractual relationships are generally of two types:
• | Percentage-of-proceeds: requires Atlas to pay a percentage of revenue to the producer. This results in Atlas being net long physical natural gas and NGLs. |
• | Keep-whole: requires Atlas to deliver the same quantity of natural gas at the delivery point as Atlas received at the receipt point; any resulting NGLs produced belong to Atlas. This results in Atlas being long physical NGLs and short physical natural gas. |
Atlas hedges a portion of these risks by using fixed-for-floating swaps, which result in a fixed price, or by utilizing the purchase or sale of options, which result in a range of fixed prices.
Atlas recognizes gains and losses from the settlement of its hedges in revenue when Atlas sells the associated physical residue natural gas or NGLs. Any gain or loss realized as a result of hedging is substantially offset in the market when Atlas sells the physical residue natural gas or NGLs. All of Atlas’ hedges are characterized as cash flow hedges as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Atlas determines gains or losses on open and closed hedging transactions as the difference between the hedge price and the physical price. This mark-to-market methodology uses daily closing NYMEX prices when applicable and an internally-generated algorithm for hedged commodities that are not traded on a market. To ensure that these financial instruments will be used solely for hedging price risks and not for speculative purposes, Atlas has established a hedging committee to review its hedges for compliance with Atlas’ hedging policies and procedures. In addition, Atlas does not enter into a hedge where it cannot offset the hedge with physical residue natural gas or NGL sales.
Appalachian Basin Operations |
Atlas owns and operates approximately 1,500 miles of intrastate gas gathering systems located in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. Atlas’ Appalachian operations serve approximately 5,150 wells with an average throughput of 55.2 MMcf/d of natural gas for the year ended December 31, 2005. Atlas’ gathering systems provide a means through which well owners and operators can transport the natural gas produced by their wells to interstate and public utility pipelines for delivery to customers. To a lesser extent, Atlas’ gathering systems transport natural gas directly to customers. These gathering systems connect
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with public utility pipelines operated by Peoples Natural Gas Company, National Fuel Gas Supply, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, National Fuel Gas Distribution Company, East Ohio Gas Company, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Consolidated Natural Gas Co., Texas Eastern Pipeline, Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., Equitrans Pipeline Company, Gatherco Incorporated and Equitable Utilities. These systems are strategically located in the Appalachian Basin, a region characterized by long-lived, predictable natural gas reserves that are close to major eastern U.S. markets.
Appalachian Basin Overview |
The Appalachian Basin includes the states of Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. It is the most mature oil and gas producing region in the United States, having established the first oil production in 1859. In addition, the Appalachian Basin is strategically located near the energy-consuming regions of the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States which has historically resulted in Appalachian producers selling their natural gas at a premium to the benchmark price for natural gas on the NYMEX.
Natural Gas Supply |
Substantially all of the natural gas Atlas transports in the Appalachian Basin is derived from wells operated by Atlas America, a leading sponsor of natural gas drilling investment partnerships in the Appalachian Basin. Atlas America is the corporate parent of Atlas’ general partner and our general partner. Atlas is party to an omnibus agreement with Atlas America which is intended to maximize the use and expansion of its gathering systems and the amount of natural gas which Atlas transports in the region. Among other things, the omnibus agreement requires Atlas America to connect to Atlas’ gathering systems wells it operates that are located within 2,500 feet of Atlas’ gathering systems. Atlas America can require Atlas to extend its lines to connect an Atlas America-operated well located more than 2,500 feet from Atlas’ gathering system if it extends a flow line to within 1,000 feet; for other Atlas America-operated wells located more than 2,500 feet from Atlas’ gathering systems, Atlas has a right to extend its lines. Atlas is also party to natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America under which Atlas receives gathering fees generally equal to a percentage, typically 16%, of the selling price of the natural gas Atlas transports. From the inception of Atlas’ operations in January 2000 through December 31, 2005, Atlas connected 2,135 new wells to its Appalachian gathering system, 433 of which were added through acquisitions of other gathering systems. For the three months ended December 31, 2005, Atlas connected 91 wells to its gathering system and for the 12 months ended December 31, 2005, Atlas connected 451 wells. Atlas’ ability to increase the flow of natural gas through its gathering systems and to offset the natural decline of the production already connected to its gathering systems will be determined primarily by the number of wells drilled by Atlas America and connected to Atlas’ gathering systems and by Atlas’ ability to acquire additional gathering assets.
Natural Gas Revenue |
Atlas’ Appalachian Basin revenue is determined primarily by the amount of natural gas flowing through its gathering systems and the price received for this natural gas. Atlas has an agreement with Atlas America under which Atlas America pays Atlas gathering fees generally equal to a percentage, typically 16%, of the gross or weighted average sales price of the natural gas Atlas transports subject, in most cases, to minimum prices of $0.35 or $0.40 per Mcf. During the year ended December 31, 2005, Atlas received gathering fees averaging $1.21 per Mcf. Atlas charges other operators fees negotiated at the time Atlas connects their wells to its gathering systems or, in a pipeline acquisition, that were established by the entity from which Atlas acquired the pipeline.
Because Atlas does not buy or sell gas in connection with its Appalachian operations, Atlas does not engage in hedging. Atlas America maintains a hedging program. Since Atlas receives transportation fees from Atlas America generally based on the selling price received by Atlas America, these physical hedges mitigate the risk of Atlas’ percentage-of-proceeds arrangements.
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Relationship with Atlas America |
Atlas began its operations in January 2000 by acquiring the gathering systems of Atlas America. Atlas America, through its interest in us, will own a limited partner interest and general partner interest in Atlas after this offering through its ownership of our general partner, Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC. Atlas America and its affiliates sponsor limited and general partnerships to raise funds from investors to explore for, develop and produce natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil from locations in eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania. Atlas’ gathering systems are connected to over 4,600 wells developed and operated by Atlas America in the Appalachian Basin. Through agreements between Atlas and Atlas America, Atlas gathers substantially all of the natural gas for its Appalachian Basin operations from wells operated by Atlas America.
Omnibus Agreement |
Under the omnibus agreement, Atlas America and its affiliates agreed to add wells to the gathering systems and provide consulting services when Atlas constructs new gathering systems or extends existing systems. The omnibus agreement also imposes conditions upon Atlas’ general partner’s disposition of its general partner interest in Atlas. The omnibus agreement is a continuing obligation, having no specified term or provisions regarding termination except for a provision terminating the agreement if Atlas’ general partner is removed as general partner without cause. The omnibus agreement may not be amended without the approval of the conflicts committee of the managing board of Atlas’ general partner if, in the reasonable discretion of Atlas’ general partner, such amendment will adversely affect the common unitholders. Unitholders do not have explicit rights to approve any termination or material modification of the omnibus agreement. We anticipate that the conflicts committee of Atlas would submit to the common unitholders for their approval any proposal to terminate or amend the omnibus agreement if Atlas’ general partner determines, in its reasonable discretion, that the termination or amendment would materially adversely affect Atlas’ common unitholders.
Well Connections. Under the omnibus agreement, with respect to any well Atlas America drills and operates for itself or an affiliate that is within 2,500 feet of one of our gathering systems, Atlas America must, at its sole cost and expense, construct small diameter (two inches or less) sales or flow lines from the wellhead of any such well to a point of connection to the gathering system. Where an Atlas America well is located more than 2,500 feet from one of Atlas’ gathering systems, but Atlas America has extended the flow line from the well to within 1,000 feet of the gathering system, Atlas America has the right to require Atlas, at its cost and expense, to extend its gathering system to connect to that well. With respect to other Atlas America wells that are more than 2,500 feet from Atlas’ gathering systems, Atlas has the right, at its cost and expense, to extend its gathering system to within 2,500 feet of the well and to require Atlas America, at its cost and expense, to construct up to 2,500 feet of flow line to connect to the gathering system extension. If Atlas elects not to exercise its right to extend its gathering systems, Atlas America may connect an Atlas America well to a natural gas gathering system owned by someone other than Atlas or one of Atlas’ subsidiaries or to any other delivery point; however, Atlas will have the right to assume the cost of construction of the necessary flow lines, which then become Atlas’ property and part of Atlas’ gathering systems. |
Consulting Services. The omnibus agreement requires Atlas America to assist Atlas in identifying existing gathering systems for possible acquisition and to provide consulting services to Atlas in evaluating and making a bid for these systems. Atlas America must give Atlas notice of identification by Atlas America or any of its affiliates of any gathering system as a potential acquisition candidate, and must provide Atlas with information about the gathering system, its seller and the proposed sales price, as well as any other information or analyses compiled by Atlas America with respect to the gathering system. Atlas will have 30 days to determine whether it wants to acquire the identified system and advise Atlas America of this intent. If Atlas intends to acquire the system, Atlas has an additional 60 days to complete the acquisition. If Atlas does not complete the acquisition, or advise Atlas America that it does not intend to acquire the system, then Atlas America may do so.
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Gathering System Construction. The omnibus agreement requires Atlas America to provide Atlas with construction management services if Atlas determines to expand one or more of its gathering systems. Atlas must reimburse Atlas America for its costs, including an allocable portion of employee salaries, in connection with Atlas America’s construction management services.
Disposition of Interest in Atlas Pipeline GP. Direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Atlas America act as the general partners, operators or managers of the drilling investment partnerships sponsored by Atlas America. Atlas’ general partner is a subsidiary of Atlas America. Under the omnibus agreement, those subsidiaries, that currently act as the general partners, operators or managers of partnerships sponsored by Atlas America must also act as the general partners, operators or managers for all new drilling investment partnerships sponsored by Atlas America. Atlas America and its affiliates may not divest their ownership of Atlas’ general partner entity without divesting their ownership of the other entities to the same acquirer, except that Atlas America is permitted to transfer its interest in Atlas’ general partner to a wholly- or majority-owned direct or indirect subsidiary as long as Atlas America continues to control the new entity. For these purposes, divestiture means a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of an entity, the disposition of more than 50% of the capital stock or equity interest of an entity, or a merger or consolidation that results in Atlas America and its affiliates, on a combined basis, owning, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of the entity’s capital stock or equity interest, but excludes pledges to a lender in connection with a secured funding arrangement. Atlas’ general partner has pledged its interests in Atlas as security for the revolving credit facility of Atlas America.
Natural Gas Gathering Agreements |
Under the master natural gas gathering agreement, Atlas receives a fee from Atlas America for gathering natural gas, determined as follows:
• | for natural gas from well interests allocable to Atlas America or its affiliates (excluding general or limited partnerships sponsored by them) that were connected to Atlas’ gathering systems at February 2, 2000, the greater of $0.40 per Mcf or 16% of the gross sales price of the natural gas transported; |
• | for (i) natural gas from well interests allocable to general and limited partnerships sponsored by Atlas America that drill wells on or after December 1, 1999 that are connected to Atlas’ gathering systems, (ii) natural gas from well interests allocable to Atlas America or its affiliates (excluding general or limited partnerships sponsored by them) that are connected to Atlas’ gathering systems after February 2, 2000, and (iii) well interests allocable to third parties in wells connected to Atlas’ gathering systems at February 2, 2000, the greater of $0.35 per Mcf or 16% of the gross sales price of the natural gas transported; and |
• | for natural gas from well interests operated by Atlas America and drilled after December 1, 1999 that are connected to a gathering system that is not owned by Atlas and for which Atlas assumes the cost of constructing the connection to that gathering system, an amount equal to the greater of $0.35 per Mcf or 16% of the gross sales price of the natural gas transported, less the gathering fee charged by the other gathering system. |
Atlas America receives gathering fees from contracts or other arrangements with third party owners of well interests connected to Atlas’ gathering systems. However, Atlas America must pay gathering fees owed to Atlas from its own resources regardless of whether Atlas America receives payment under those contracts or arrangements.
The master natural gas gathering agreement is a continuing obligation and, accordingly, has no specified term or provisions regarding termination. However, if Atlas’ general partner is removed as the general partner without cause, then no gathering fees will be due under the agreement with respect to new wells drilled by Atlas America.
The master natural gas gathering agreement may not be amended without the approval of the conflicts committee of the managing board of Atlas’ general partner if, in the reasonable discretion of Atlas’ general partner, such amendment will adversely affect the common unitholders. Unitholders do not have explicit rights to approve any termination or material modification of the master natural gas gathering agreement.
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Atlas anticipates that the conflicts committee would submit to the common unitholders for their approval any proposal to terminate or amend the master natural gas gathering agreement if Atlas’ general partner determines, in its reasonable discretion, that the termination or amendment would materially adversely affect Atlas’ common unitholders.
In addition to the master natural gas gathering agreement, Atlas has three other gas gathering agreements with subsidiaries of Atlas America. Under two of these agreements, relating to wells located in southeastern Ohio which Atlas America acquired from Kingston Oil Corporation and wells located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania which Atlas America acquired from American Refining and Exploration Company, Atlas receives a fee of $0.80 per Mcf. Under the third agreement, which covers wells owned by third parties unrelated to Atlas America or the investment partnerships it sponsors, Atlas receives fees that range between $0.20 to $0.29 per Mcf or between 10% to 16% of the weighted average sales price for the natural gas Atlas transports.
Atlas recently amended the gas gathering agreements with Atlas America to provide that the “gross sales price,” for purposes of the agreements, will mean the price that is actually received, adjusted to take into account proceeds received or payments made pursuant to financial hedging arrangements.
Competition |
Acquisitions |
Atlas has encountered competition in acquiring midstream assets owned by third parties. In several instances Atlas submitted bids in auction situations and in direct negotiations for the acquisition of such assets and was either outbid by others or was unwilling to meet the sellers’ expectations. In the future, Atlas expects to encounter equal if not greater competition for midstream assets because, as natural gas prices increase, the economic attractiveness of owning such assets increases.
Mid-Continent |
In Atlas’ Mid-Continent service area, Atlas competes for the acquisition of well connections with several other gathering/servicing operations. These operations include plants operated by Duke Energy Field Services, ONEOK Field Services, Eagle Rock Midstream Resources L.P., Enbridge, Carrera Gas Company, Cimmaron Transportation, LLC, CenterPoint Energy, Inc., and Enogex, Inc. Atlas believes that the principal factors upon which competition for new well connections is based are:
• | the price received by an operator for its production after deduction of allocable charges, principally the use of the natural gas to operate compressors; and |
• | responsiveness to a well operator’s needs, particularly the speed at which a new well is connected by the gatherer to its system. |
Atlas believes that its relationships with operators connected to its system are good and that Atlas presents an attractive alternative for producers. However, if Atlas cannot compete successfully, Atlas may be unable to obtain new well connections and, possibly, could lose wells already connected to its systems.
Being a regulated entity, Ozark Gas Transmission faces somewhat more indirect competition that is more regional or even national in character. CenterPoint Energy, Inc.’s interstate system is the nearest direct competitor.
Appalachian Basin |
Atlas’ Appalachian Basin operations do not encounter direct competition in their service areas since Atlas America controls the majority of the drillable acreage in each area. However, because Atlas’ Appalachian Basin operations principally serve wells drilled by Atlas America, Atlas is affected by competitive factors affecting Atlas America’s ability to obtain properties and drill wells, which affects its ability to expand its gathering systems and to maintain or increase the volume of natural gas it transports and, thus, its transportation revenue. Atlas America also may encounter competition in obtaining drilling services from third-party providers. Any competition it encounters could delay Atlas America in drilling wells for its
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sponsored partnerships, and thus delay the connection of wells to Atlas’ gathering systems. These delays would reduce the volume of gas Atlas otherwise would have transported, thus reducing Atlas’ potential transportation revenue.
As Atlas’ omnibus agreement with Atlas America generally requires it to connect wells it operates to Atlas’ system, Atlas does not expect any direct competition in connecting wells drilled and operated by Atlas America in the future. In addition, Atlas occasionally connects wells operated by third parties. During 2005, Atlas connected 16 third party wells.
Contracts and Customer Relationships |
In Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations, Atlas either purchases gas from producers, or intermediaries, into receipt points on its systems and then sells the gas, and produced NGLs, if any, off of delivery points on its systems, or Atlas transports gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the gas. Beyond the distinction of purchasing or transporting gas, Atlas has a variety of contractual relationships with its producers and shippers, including fixed-fee, percentage-of-proceeds and keep-whole. Ozark Gas Transmission’s revenue is comprised of FERC-regulated transmission fees that are based on firm transportation rates and, to the extent capacity is available following the reservation of firm system capacity, interruptible transportation rates. Under the fixed fee contracts, Atlas provides gathering, compression, treating and dehydration services to its customers for a flat fee. Gross margin from fee-based services depends solely on throughput volume and is not affected by changes in commodity prices. Under the percentage-of-proceeds contracts, Atlas purchases natural gas at the wellhead, processes the natural gas and sells the plant residue gas and NGLs at market-based prices, remitting to producers a percentage of the proceeds. Under keep-whole contracts, Atlas gathers natural gas from the producer, processes the natural gas and sells the resulting NGLs at market price. The extraction of the NGLs lowers the Btu content of the natural gas. Therefore, under keep-whole contracts, Atlas must replace these Btus by either purchasing natural gas at market prices or making a cash payment to the producer and Atlas’ profitability is dependent upon the spread between the price of natural gas, Atlas’ feedstock, and NGLs, Atlas’ “manufactured” product. The gross margin associated with each of these contractual arrangements can vary from period to period due to a variety of factors, including changing prices of natural gas and NGLs, producers’ optionality between contract types (e.g., percentage-of-proceeds and keep-whole), and producers’ optionality between transporting and selling gas.
Substantially all of the gas Atlas transports in its Appalachian operations is under a percentage-of-proceeds contract with Atlas America where Atlas calculates its transportation fee as a percentage of the price of the natural gas it transports. The natural gas Atlas transports in its Appalachian operations does not require processing.
Regulation |
Regulation by FERC of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines |
FERC regulates Atlas’ interstate natural gas pipeline interests. Through Atlas Arkansas, Atlas owns a 75% interest in NOARK, which owns Ozark Gas Transmission. Ozark Gas Transmission transports natural gas in interstate commerce. As a result, Ozark Gas Transmission qualifies as a “natural gas company” under the Natural Gas Act and is subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of FERC. In general, FERC has authority over natural gas companies that provide natural gas pipeline transportation services in interstate commerce, and its authority to regulate those services includes:
• | rate structures; |
• | rates of return on equity; |
• | recovery of costs; |
• | the services that our regulated assets are permitted to perform; |
• | the acquisition, construction and disposition of assets; and |
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• | to an extent, the level of competition in that regulated industry. |
Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC has authority to regulate natural gas companies that provide natural gas pipeline transportation services in interstate commerce. Its authority to regulate those services includes the rates charged for the services, terms and conditions of service, certification and construction of new facilities, the extension or abandonment of services and facilities, the maintenance of accounts and records, the acquisition and disposition of facilities, the initiation and discontinuation of services, and various other matters. Natural gas companies may not charge rates that have been determined not to be just and reasonable by FERC. In addition, FERC prohibits natural gas companies from unduly preferring or unreasonably discriminating against any person with respect to pipeline rates or terms and conditions of service.
The rates, terms and conditions of service provided by natural gas companies are required to be on file with FERC in FERC-approved tariffs. Pursuant to FERC’s jurisdiction over rates, existing rates may be challenged by complaint and proposed rate increases may be challenged by protest. We cannot assure you that FERC will continue to pursue its approach of pro-competitive policies as it considers matters such as pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to natural gas transportation capacity, transportation and storage facilities. Any successful complaint or protest against Ozark Gas Transmission’s FERC-approved rates could have an adverse impact on our revenue associated with providing transmission services.
Gathering Pipeline Regulation |
Section 1(b) of the Natural Gas Act exempts natural gas gathering facilities from the jurisdiction of the FERC. Atlas owns a number of intrastate natural gas pipelines in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma that Atlas believes would meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as a gatherer not subject to FERC jurisdiction. However, the distinction between the FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services is the subject of regular litigation, so the classification and regulation of some of Atlas’ gathering facilities may be subject to change based on future determinations by FERC and the courts.
In Ohio, a producer or gatherer of natural gas may file an application seeking exemption from regulation as a public utility, except for the continuing jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to inspect its gathering systems for public safety purposes. Atlas’ operating subsidiary has been granted an exemption by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for its Ohio facilities. The New York Public Service Commission imposes traditional public utility regulation on the transportation of natural gas by companies subject to its regulation. This regulation includes rates, services and siting authority for the construction of certain facilities. Atlas’ gas gathering operations currently are not subject to regulation by the New York Public Service Commission. Atlas’ operations in Pennsylvania currently are not subject to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s regulatory authority since they do not provide service to the public generally and, accordingly, do not constitute the operation of a public utility. Similarly, Atlas’ operations in Arkansas are not subject to regulatory oversight by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. In the event the Arkansas, Ohio, New York or Pennsylvania authorities seek to regulate our operations, Atlas believes that its operating costs could increase and Atlas’ transportation fees could be adversely affected, thereby reducing Atlas’ net revenue and ability to make distributions to unitholders.
Atlas is currently subject to state ratable take and common purchaser statutes in Texas and Oklahoma. The ratable take statutes generally require gatherers to take, without discrimination, natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require gatherers to purchase without discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes are designed to prohibit discrimination in favor of one producer over another producer or one source of supply over another source of supply. These statutes have the effect of restricting Atlas’ right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom it contracts to purchase or transport natural gas.
The state of Oklahoma has adopted a complaint-based statute that allows the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to resolve grievances relating to natural gas gathering access and to remedy discriminatory rates for providing gathering service where the parties are unable to agree. In a similar way, the Texas Railroad Commission sponsors a complaint procedure for resolving grievances about natural gas gathering access and
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rate discrimination. No such complaints have been made against Atlas’ Mid-Continent operations to date in Oklahoma or Texas.
Natural gas gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny at both the state and federal levels now that FERC has taken a less stringent approach to regulation of the gathering activities of interstate pipeline transmission companies and a number of such companies have transferred gathering facilities to unregulated affiliates. For example, the Texas Railroad Commission has approved changes to its regulations governing transportation and gathering services performed by intrastate pipelines and gatherers, which prohibit such entities from unduly discriminating in favor of one customer over another. Atlas’ gathering operations could be adversely affected should they be subject in the future to the application of state or federal regulation of rates and services.
Atlas’ gathering operations also may be or become subject to safety and operational regulations relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of gathering facilities. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to these matters are considered or adopted from time to time. Atlas cannot predict what effect, if any, such changes might have on its operations, but the industry could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased costs depending on future legislative and regulatory changes.
Sales of Natural Gas |
A portion of Atlas’ revenue is tied to the price of natural gas. The price of natural gas is not currently subject to federal regulation and, for the most part, is not subject to state regulation. Sales of natural gas are affected by the availability, terms and cost of pipeline transportation. As noted above, the price and terms of access to pipeline transportation are subject to extensive federal and state regulation. FERC is continually proposing and implementing new rules and regulations affecting those segments of the natural gas industry, most notably interstate natural gas transmission companies that remain subject to FERC’s jurisdiction. These initiatives also may affect the intrastate transportation of natural gas under certain circumstances. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to promote competition among the various sectors of the natural gas industry, and these initiatives generally reflect more light-handed regulation. Atlas cannot predict the ultimate impact of these regulatory changes to its operations, and we note that some of FERC’s more recent proposals may adversely affect the availability and reliability of interruptible transportation service on interstate pipelines. Atlas does not believe that it will be affected by any such FERC action materially differently than other companies with whom it competes.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 |
On August 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law. The Energy Policy Act contains numerous provisions relevant to the natural gas industry and to interstate pipelines in particular. Overall, the legislation attempts to increase supply sources by engaging in various studies of the overall resource base and attempting to advantage deep water production on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. However, the primary provisions of interest to Atlas’ interstate pipelines focus in two areas: (1) infrastructure development; and (2) market transparency and enhanced enforcement. Regarding infrastructure development, the Energy Policy Act includes provisions to clarify that FERC has exclusive jurisdiction over the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals; provides for market based rates for new storage facilities placed into service after the date of enactment; shortens depreciable life for gathering facilities; statutorily designates FERC as the lead agency for federal authorizations and permits; creates a consolidated record for all federal decisions relating to necessary authorizations and permits; and provides for expedited judicial review of any agency action and review by only the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals of any alleged failure of a federal agency to act by a deadline set by FERC as lead agency. Such provisions, however, do not apply to review and authorization under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Regarding market transparency and manipulation rules, the Natural Gas Act is amended to prohibit market manipulation and add provisions for FERC to prescribe rules designed to encourage the public provision of data and reports regarding the price of natural gas in wholesale markets. The Natural Gas Act and the Natural Gas Policy Act are also amended to increase monetary criminal penalties to $1,000,000 from current law at $5,000 and to add and increase civil penalty authority to be administered by FERC to $1,000,000 per day per violation without any limitation as to total amount.
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Environmental Matters |
The operation of pipelines, plant and other facilities for gathering, compressing, treating, processing, or transporting natural gas, natural gas liquids and other products is subject to stringent and complex laws and regulations pertaining to health, safety and the environment. As an owner or operator of these facilities, Atlas must comply with these laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. These laws and regulations can restrict or impact Atlas’ business activities in many ways, such as:
• | restricting the way Atlas can handle or dispose of its wastes; |
• | limiting or prohibiting construction and operating activities in sensitive areas such as wetlands, coastal regions, or areas inhabited by endangered species; |
• | requiring remedial action to mitigate pollution conditions caused by its operations or attributable to former operators; and |
• | enjoining some or all of the operations of facilities deemed in non-compliance with permits issued pursuant to such environmental laws and regulations. |
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations. Certain environmental statutes impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where substances or wastes have been disposed or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of substances or wastes into the environment.
Atlas believes that its operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that compliance with existing federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations will not have a material adverse effect on Atlas’ business, financial position or results of operations. Nevertheless, the trend in environmental regulation is to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment. As a result, there can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental compliance or remediation, and actual future expenditures may be different from the amounts Atlas currently anticipates. Moreover, Atlas cannot assure you that future events, such as changes in existing laws, the promulgation of new laws, or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions will not cause Atlas to incur significant costs.
Hazardous Waste |
Atlas’ operations generate wastes, including some hazardous wastes, that are subject to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, or RCRA, and comparable state laws, which impose detailed requirements for the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and solid waste. RCRA currently exempts many natural gas gathering and field processing wastes from classification as hazardous waste. Specifically, RCRA excludes from the definition of hazardous waste produced waters and other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil and natural gas. However, these oil and gas exploration and production wastes may still be regulated under state law or the less stringent solid waste requirements of RCRA. Moreover, ordinary industrial wastes such as paint wastes, waste solvents, laboratory wastes, and waste compressor oils may be regulated as hazardous waste. The transportation of natural gas in pipelines may also generate some hazardous wastes that are subject to RCRA or comparable state law requirements.
Site Remediation |
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or CERCLA, also known as “Superfund,” and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons responsible for the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Such classes of persons include the current and past owners or operators of sites where a hazardous substance was released, and companies that disposed or arranged for disposal of hazardous substances at offsite locations such as landfills. Although petroleum as well as natural gas is
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excluded from CERCLA’s definition of “hazardous substance,” in the course of Atlas’ ordinary operations it will generate wastes that may fall within the definition of a “hazardous substance.” CERCLA authorizes the EPA and, in some cases, third parties to take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes of persons the costs they incur. Under CERCLA, Atlas could be subject to joint and several, strict liability for the costs of cleaning up and restoring sites where hazardous substances have been released, for damages to natural resources, and for the costs of certain health studies.
Atlas currently owns or leases, and has in the past owned or leased, numerous properties that for many years have been used for the measurement, gathering, field compression and processing of natural gas. Although Atlas used operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, petroleum hydrocarbons or wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by Atlas or on or under other locations where such substances have been taken for disposal. In fact, there is evidence that petroleum spills or releases have occurred at some of the properties owned or leased by Atlas. In addition, some of these properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners whose treatment and disposal or release of petroleum hydrocarbons or wastes was not under Atlas’ control. These properties and the substances disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws, Atlas could be required to remove previously disposed wastes (including waste disposed of by prior owners or operators), remediate contaminated property (including groundwater contamination, whether from prior owners or operators or other historic activities or spills), or perform remedial closure operations to prevent future contamination.
Air Emissions |
Atlas’ operations are subject to the federal Clean Air Act, as amended, and comparable state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including processing plants and compressor stations, and also impose various monitoring and reporting requirements. Such laws and regulations may require that Atlas obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce air emissions or result in the increase of existing air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with air permits containing various emissions and operational limitations, or utilize specific emission control technologies to limit emissions. Atlas’ failure to comply with these requirements could subject Atlas to monetary penalties, injunctions, conditions or restrictions on operations, and potentially criminal enforcement actions. Atlas likely will be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the future for air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining and maintaining operating permits and approvals for air emissions. Atlas believes, however, that its operations will not be materially adversely affected by such requirements, and the requirements are not expected to be any more burdensome to Atlas than to any other similarly situated companies.
Water Discharges |
Atlas’ operations are subject to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended, also known as the Clean Water Act, and analogous state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations impose detailed requirements and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into state and federal waters. The discharge of pollutants is prohibited unless authorized by a permit or other agency approval. The Clean Water Act and regulations implemented thereunder also prohibit discharges of dredged and fill material in wetlands and other waters of the United States unless authorized by an appropriately issued permit. Any unpermitted release of pollutants from Atlas’ pipelines or facilities could result in administrative, civil and criminal penalties as well as significant remedial obligations.
Pipeline Safety |
Atlas’ pipelines are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation, or the DOT, under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as amended, or the NGPSA, pursuant to which the DOT has established requirements relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline facilities. The NGPSA covers the pipeline transportation of natural gas and other gases, and the transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas and requires any entity that owns or operates
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pipeline facilities to comply with the regulations under the NGPSA, to permit access to and allow copying of records and to make certain reports and provide information as required by the Secretary of Transportation. Atlas believes that its pipeline operations are in substantial compliance with existing NGPSA requirements; however, due to the possibility of new or amended laws and regulations or reinterpretation of existing laws and regulations, future compliance with the NGPSA could result in increased costs.
The DOT, through the Office of Pipeline Safety, recently finalized a series of rules intended to require pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs for gas transmission pipelines that, in the event of a failure, could affect “high consequence areas.” “High consequence areas” are currently defined as areas with specified population densities, buildings containing populations of limited mobility, and areas where people gather that are located along the route of a pipeline. The Texas Railroad Commission, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and other state agencies have adopted similar regulations applicable to intrastate gathering and transmission lines. Compliance with these existing rules has not had a material adverse effect on Atlas’ operations but there is no assurance that this trend will continue in the future.
Employee Health and Safety |
Atlas is subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended, referred to as OSHA, and comparable state laws that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard requires that information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in Atlas’ operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens.
Hydrogen Sulfide |
Exposure to gas containing high levels of hydrogen sulfide, referred to as sour gas, is harmful to humans, and prolonged exposure can result in death. The gas produced at Atlas’ Velma gas plant contains high levels of hydrogen sulfide, and Atlas employs numerous safety precautions at the system to ensure the safety of Atlas’ employees. There are various federal and state environmental and safety requirements for handling sour gas, and Atlas is in substantial compliance with all such requirements.
Employees |
As is commonly the case with publicly traded limited partnerships, Atlas does not directly employ any of the persons responsible for Atlas’ management or operations. In general, employees of Atlas America manage Atlas’ gathering systems and operate Atlas’ business. To carry out our and Atlas’ operations, Atlas America employed approximately 210 people at December 31, 2005 who provide direct support to our or Atlas’ operations. Our affiliates will conduct business and activities of their own in which Atlas will have no economic interest. If these separate activities are significantly greater than Atlas’ activities, there could be material competition between them, us and our affiliates for the time and effort of the officers and employees who provide services to us. Our officers who provide services to Atlas are not required to work full time on Atlas’ affairs. These officers may devote significant time to the affairs of our affiliates and be compensated by these affiliates for the services rendered to them. There may be significant conflicts between them and our affiliates regarding the availability of these officers to manage them.
Properties |
As of December 31, 2005, Atlas’ principal facilities in Appalachia include approximately 1,500 miles of 2 to 12 inch diameter pipeline. Atlas’ principal facilities in the Mid-Continent area consist of three natural gas processing plants, one treating facility, and approximately 3,130 miles of active and inactive 2-to-42 inch diameter pipeline. Substantially all of Atlas’ gathering systems are constructed within rights-of-way granted by property owners named in the appropriate land records. In a few cases, property for gathering system purposes was purchased in fee. All of Atlas’ compressor stations are located on property owned in fee or on property obtained via long-term leases or surface easements.
Atlas’ property or rights-of-way are subject to encumbrances, restrictions and other imperfections, although these imperfections have not interfered, and Atlas’ general partner does not expect that they will
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materially interfere with the conduct of Atlas’ business. In many instances, lands over which rights-of-way have been obtained are subject to prior liens which have not been subordinated to the right-of-way grants. In a few instances, Atlas’ rights-of-way are revocable at the election of the land owners. In some cases, not all of the owners named in the appropriate land records have joined in the right-of-way grants, but in substantially all such cases signatures of the owners of majority interests have been obtained. Substantially all permits have been obtained from public authorities to cross over or under, or to lay facilities in or along, water courses, county roads, municipal streets, and state highways, where necessary, although in some instances these permits are revocable at the election of the grantor. Substantially all permits have also been obtained from railroad companies to cross over or under lands or rights-of-way, many of which are also revocable at the grantor’s election.
Certain of Atlas’ rights to lay and maintain pipelines are derived from recorded gas well leases, for wells that are currently in production; however, the leases are subject to termination if the wells cease to produce. In some of these cases, the right to maintain existing pipelines continues in perpetuity, even if the well associated with the lease ceases to be productive. In addition, because many of these leases affect wells at the end of lines, these rights-of-way will not be used for any other purpose once the related wells cease to produce.
Legal Proceedings |
On March 9, 2004, the Oklahoma Tax Commission filed a petition against Spectrum alleging that Spectrum, prior to Atlas’ acquisition of its operations, underpaid gross production taxes beginning in June 2000. The OTC is seeking a settlement of $5.0 million plus interest and penalties. Atlas plans on defending itself vigorously. Atlas has asserted a claim for indemnification by Chevron under the provisions of Atlas’ contract with it. Chevron has acknowledged Atlas’ claim notice pursuant to which Chevron will be responsible for the payment of any underpayment of taxes, which would be the basis for any monetary judgment against them, but Chevron will reserve the issues of payment of penalties and reimbursement of Atlas’ attorneys fees and costs for determination by arbitration following the end of the litigation. In addition, under the terms of the Spectrum purchase agreement, $14.0 million has been placed in escrow to cover the costs of any adverse settlement resulting from the petition and other indemnification obligations of the purchase agreement. The case is pending in the Tulsa County District Court, Oklahoma.
Atlas is not subject to any other pending material legal proceedings.
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MANAGEMENT
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. |
Directors and Officers of Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC |
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers and members of the board of directors of our general partner, Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC. Executive officers and directors will serve until their successors are duly appointed or elected.
Name | Age | Position with general partner | |||
Edward E. Cohen | 66 | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Jonathan Z. Cohen | 35 | Vice Chairman of the Board | |||
Robert R. Firth | 51 | President, Chief Operating Officer and Director | |||
Matthew A. Jones | 44 | Chief Financial Officer and Director | |||
Lisa Washington | 38 | Chief Legal Officer and Secretary | |||
William G. Karis | 57 | Director | |||
Harvey G. Magarick | 66 | Director |
Edward E. Cohen has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of our general partner since its formation in January 2006. Mr. Cohen also has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas America since its formation in 2000 and of Atlas since its formation in 1999. Mr. Cohen has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Resource America, Inc. (NASDAQ: REXI), since 1990, and a director since 1988. Mr. Cohen served as Chief Executive Officer of Resource America from 1988 to 2004 and President of Resource America from 2000 to 2003. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brandywine Construction & Management, Inc., a property management company, and a director of TRM Corporation, a publicly traded consumer services company, Mr. Cohen is the father of Jonathan Z. Cohen.
Jonathan Z. Cohen has been the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner since January 2006. Mr. Cohen also has been the President of Resource America since 2003, Chief Executive Officer of Resource America since 2004 and a director since 2002. He was the Chief Operating Officer of Resource America from 2002 to 2004 and Executive Vice President of Resource America from 2001 until 2003. Before that, Mr. Cohen had been a Senior Vice President since 1999. Mr. Cohen has been Vice Chairman of Atlas America since its formation in 2000 and Vice Chairman of Atlas since its formation in 1999. Mr. Cohen has also served as Trustee and Secretary of RAIT Investment Trust, a publicly-traded real estate investment trust, since 1997, Vice Chairman of RAIT since 2003 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Richardson Company, a sales consulting company, since 1999. Mr. Cohen is a son of Edward E. Cohen.
Robert R. Firth has been a director of our general partner since February 2006, has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of our general partner since January 2006, and has been Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum (acquired by Atlas in July 2004 and now known as Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent LLC) since June 2002. From September 2001 to June 2002, Mr. Firth was Vice President of Business Development for CMS Field Services. From July 2000 to September 2001, Mr. Firth helped form ScissorTail Energy through the acquisition of Octagon Resources, where he served as Vice President of Operations and Commercial Services. In addition to the positions listed above, Mr. Firth has held positions with Northern Natural Gas, Panda Resources and Transok in his approximately 30 years in the midstream energy sector.
Matthew A. Jones has been a director of our general partner since February 2006 and has been the Chief Financial Officer of our general partner since January 2006. Mr. Jones also has been Chief Financial Officer of Atlas and Atlas America since March 2005. From 1996 to 2005, Mr. Jones worked in the Investment Banking group at Friedman Billings Ramsey, concluding as Managing Director. Mr. Jones worked in Friedman Billings Ramsey’s Energy Investment Banking Group from 1999 to 2005 and in Friedman Billings Ramsey’s Specialty Finance and Real Estate Group from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Jones is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
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Lisa Washington has been the Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of our general partner since January 2006. Ms. Washington is also the Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Atlas and Atlas America. From 1999 to 2005, Ms. Washington was an attorney in the business department of the law firm of Blank Rome LLP.
William G. Karis has been a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner since January 2006 and has been the principal of Karis and Associates, LLC, a consulting company that provides financial and consulting services to the coal industry, since 1997. Prior to that, Mr. Karis was President and CEO of CONSOL Inc. (now CONSOL Energy Company). Mr. Karis is a member of the Boards of Directors and is Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committees of Blue Danube Inc., PinnOak Resources, LLC (formerly US Steel Mining), and Greenbriar Minerals, LLC.
Harvey G. Magarick has been a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner since January 2006 and has maintained his own consulting practice since June 2004. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Magarick was a partner at BDO Seidman. Mr. Magarick is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hirtle Callaghan Trust, an investment fund, and has been the Chairman of its audit committee since 2004.
Other Significant Employees |
Sean P. McGrath, 34, has been the Chief Accounting Officer of our general partner since January 2006. Mr. McGrath also has been the Chief Accounting Officer of Atlas since May 2005. Mr. McGrath was the Chief Accounting Officer of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P., a publicly-traded partnership that transports, terminals and stores refined products and crude oil from 2002 to 2005. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. McGrath was Assistant Controller of Asplundh Tree Expert Co., a utility services and vegetation management company. Mr. McGrath is a Certified Public Accountant.
Daniel C. Herz, 29, has been the Vice President of Corporate Development of our general partner since January 2006. Mr. Herz also has been an employee of Atlas and Atlas America since January 2004 and has served as Vice President of Corporate Development since December 2004. Mr. Herz was an Associate Investment Banker with Banc of America Securities from 2002 to 2003 and an Analyst from 1999 to 2002.
Board Committees |
Audit Committee |
Our general partner’s board of directors will establish an audit committee to be effective upon the closing of this offering. The three independent members of our general partner’s board of directors will serve on the audit committee that will review our external financial reporting, maintain responsibility for engaging our independent auditors and review procedures for internal auditing and the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. In addition to satisfying certain other requirements, the members of the audit committee must meet the independence standards for an audit committee of a board of directors established by the NYSE. Upon completion of this offering, Messrs. Karis and Magarick will be the members of the Audit Committee. The New York Stock Exchange rules require our general partner’s board of directors to appoint an additional independent director within one year after the effectiveness of this registration statement.
Conflicts Committee |
Our general partner’s board of directors will establish a conflicts committee to be effective upon the closing of this offering. Ultimately, at least two members of our general partner’s board of directors will serve on the conflicts committee, which will be charged with reviewing specific matters that our general partner’s board of directors believes may involve conflicts of interest. The conflicts committee will determine if the resolution of any conflict of interest submitted to it is fair and reasonable to us. In addition to satisfying certain other requirements, the members of the conflicts committee must meet the independence standards for a conflicts committee of a board of directors established by the NYSE. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our unitholders, and not a breach by us of any duties we may owe to our unitholders.
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Compensation Committee |
Compensation for the officers of our general partner shall be determined by the independent directors constituting the compensation committee of Atlas America, the sole shareholder of our general partner and the employer of all of the officers. Charges to us (and hence indirectly compensation of officers attributable to, and payable by, us) will be cleared with the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner.
Executive Committee |
Our general partner’s board of directors will establish an executive committee of four directors to be effective upon the closing of this offering. The role of the executive committee, which will be chaired by the Vice Chairman of the Board of our general partner, is to exercise all powers of our general partner’s board of directors between board meetings when it is not practical or feasible for the full board to meet. Upon completion of this offering, Messrs. Edward E. Cohen, Jonathan Z. Cohen, Robert R. Firth and Matthew A. Jones will be the members of the Executive Committee.
Other Committees |
Our general partner’s board of directors may establish other committees from time to time to facilitate our management.
Election of Our Directors |
Our general partner’s limited liability company agreement establishes a board of directors that will be responsible for the oversight of our business and operations. Our general partner’s board of directors will be elected by a voting majority, as defined in the limited liability company agreement.
Governance Matters |
Independence of Board Members. Our general partner is committed to having at least three independent directors on its board of directors. Pursuant to the NYSE listing standards, a director will be considered independent if the board determines that he or she does not have a material relationship with our general partner or us (either directly or as a partner, unitholder or officer of an organization that has a material relationship with our general partner or us). The initial independent directors are William G. Karis and Harvey G. Magarick. The independent members of the board of directors of our general partner will serve as the initial members of the audit and conflicts and compensation committees.
Heightened Independence for Audit and Conflicts Committee Members. As required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Commission has adopted rules that direct national securities exchanges and associations to prohibit the listing of securities of a public company if members of its audit committee do not satisfy a heightened independence standard. In order to meet this standard, a member of an audit committee may not receive any consulting fee, advisory fee or other compensation from the public company other than fees for service as a director or committee member and may not be considered an affiliate of the public company. The board of directors of our general partner expects that all members of its audit and conflicts committee will satisfy this heightened independence requirement.
Audit Committee Financial Expert. An audit committee plays an important role in promoting effective corporate governance, and it is imperative that members of an audit committee have requisite financial literacy and expertise. As required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Commission rules require that a public company disclose whether or not its audit committee has an “audit committee financial expert” as a member. An “audit committee financial expert” is defined as a person who, based on his or her experience, possesses all of the following attributes:
• | An understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements; |
• | An ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals, and reserves; |
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• | Experience preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and level of complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by our financial statements, or experience actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities; |
• | An understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and |
• | An understanding of audit committee functions. |
The board of directors of our general partner expects that one of the independent directors will satisfy the definition of “audit committee financial expert.”
Code of Ethics. The board of directors of our general partner will adopt a code of ethics, the “Code of Ethical Conduct for Senior Financial Officers and Managers,” that applies to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer and senior financial and other managers. In addition to other matters, this code of ethics will establish policies to prevent wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct, including ethical handling of actual and apparent conflicts of interest, compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in public communications and prompt internal reporting violations of the code.
Web Access. We will provide access through our website to current information relating to governance, including a copy of the Code of Ethical Conduct for Senior Financial Officers and Managers and other matters impacting our governance principles. You will be able to contact our investor relations department for paper copies of these documents free of charge.
Compensation of Directors |
Our general partner does not contemplate paying additional remuneration to officers or employees of Atlas America who also serve on the board of directors of our general partner. Each non-employee director will receive an annual retainer of $35,000 in cash and an annual grant of phantom units with distribution equivalent rights in an amount equal to the lesser of 500 units or $15,000 worth of units (based upon the market price of our common units) pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Plan. Please see “—Atlas Pipeline Holdings Long-Term Incentive Plan” below. In addition, our general partner will reimburse each non-employee director for out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify our general partner’s board of directors for actions associated with serving as directors to the extent permitted under Delaware law.
Atlas Pipeline Holdings Long-Term Incentive Plan |
Prior to the closing of this offering, we will adopt the Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan for the employees, directors and consultants of our general partner and its affiliates, including Atlas, who perform services for us. The long-term incentive plan will consist of phantom units, unit options and tandem distribution equivalent rights with respect to phantom units. Units with respect to awards forfeited, terminated or paid without the delivery of units are available for delivery pursuant to other awards. The long-term incentive plan will be administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors of our general partner.
The board of directors of our general partner and the compensation committee of the board may terminate or amend the long-term incentive plan at any time with respect to any units for which a grant has not yet been made. Our board of directors and the compensation committee of the board also have the right to alter or amend the long-term incentive plan or any part of the long-term incentive plan from time to time, including increasing the number of units that may be granted, subject to unitholder approval as may be required by the exchange upon which the common units are listed at that time, if any. Subject to adjustment as provided in the long-term incentive plan documents, the aggregate number of our units that may be awarded to participants is 2,100,000. However, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially reduce the benefits of the participant without the consent of the participant. The long-term incentive plan will expire upon its termination by the board of directors or the compensation committee or, if earlier, when no units remain available under the long-term incentive plan for awards. Upon termination of the long-term incentive plan, awards then outstanding will continue pursuant to the terms of their grants.
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Phantom Units. A phantom unit entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon the vesting of the phantom unit or, in the discretion of the compensation committee, cash equivalent to the value of a common unit. In the future, the compensation committee may determine to make grants of phantom units under the plan to employees, consultants and directors containing such terms as the compensation committee determines. The compensation committee will determine the period over which phantom units granted to employees and members of our board will vest. The committee, in its discretion, may base its determination upon the achievement of specified financial objectives or other events. In addition, the phantom units will vest upon a change in control. If a grantee’s employment, consulting or membership on the board of directors terminates for any reason, the grantee’s phantom units will be automatically forfeited unless, and to the extent, the compensation committee or the terms of the award agreement provide otherwise.
Options. An option entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon payment of the exercise price for the option, which exercise price may be equal to or more than the fair market value of a common unit on the date of grant of the option. The compensation committee will determine the directors, employees and consultants to whom options are granted, the number of options, their vesting provisions, exercise price and other terms and conditions.
Common units to be delivered upon the vesting of phantom units or the exercise of options may be common units acquired by us in the open market, common units acquired by us from any other person or any combination of the foregoing. If we issue new common units upon vesting of the phantom units or the exercise of options, the total number of common units outstanding will increase.
We intend that the issuance of any common units upon vesting of the phantom units under the plan serve as a means of incentive compensation for performance and not primarily as an opportunity to participate in the equity appreciation of our common units. Therefore, plan participants will not pay any consideration for the common units they receive, and we will receive no remuneration for the units.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan. Generally, when phantom units or options are granted, there are no income tax consequences for the participant or us. Upon the payment to the participant of common units and/or cash in respect of the vesting of phantom units or DERs or the exercise of units, the participant recognizes compensation equal to the fair market value of the cash and/or units as of the date of payment.
On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (H.R. 4520) (the “AJCA”) was signed into law by the President. The AJCA added a new Section 409A to the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) which significantly alters the rules relating to the taxation of deferred compensation. Section 409A broadly applies to deferred compensation and potentially results in additional tax to participants. The Department of Treasury and IRS have issued guidance and proposed regulations under Section 409A, however further guidance is anticipated. Based on current guidance, the award of options to employees, consultants and directors of certain of our affiliates may be very limited in order to meet the requirements of Section 409A. However, we expect that we will be able to structure awards under the plan in a manner that complies with Section 409A. Because we expect additional guidance to be issued under Section 409A, we may be required to alter provisions of the plan and future awards.
DERs. A distribution equivalent right or DER is a right granted in the committee’s discretion with respect to a phantom unit that entitles the grantee to receive cash equal to the cash distributed on a common unit on such terms and conditions as the committee may proscribe.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
While certain of our executive officers and directors serve in such roles with Atlas America and the general partner of Atlas, none of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of our general partner.
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Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. |
Managing Board Members, Executive Officers and Other Significant Employees of Atlas Pipeline Partners |
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers and members of the managing board of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC. Executive officers and directors will serve until their successors are duly appointed or elected.
Name | Age | Position with general partner | Year in which service began | |||||||
Edward E. Cohen | 67 | Chairman of the Managing Board and Chief Executive Officer | 1999 | |||||||
Jonathan Z. Cohen | 35 | Vice Chairman of the Managing Board | 1999 | |||||||
Michael L. Staines | 56 | President, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Board Member | 1999 | |||||||
Matthew A. Jones | 44 | Chief Financial Officer | 2005 | |||||||
Tony C. Banks | 51 | Managing Board Member | 1999 | |||||||
Curtis D. Clifford | 63 | Managing Board Member | 2004 | |||||||
Gayle P.W. Jackson | 59 | Managing Board Member | 2005 | |||||||
Martin Rudolph | 59 | Managing Board Member | 2005 |
As described above, some of the managing board members, executive officers and other significant employees of our general partner, Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC, also serve as directors, executive officers and other significant employees of Atlas’ general partner. To the extent that we have described the business experience of these individuals above, we have not repeated that information below.
Michael L. Staines has been an Executive Vice President of Atlas America since 2000. Mr. Staines has also been the President and Chief Operating Officer of Atlas since its formation in 2000. Mr. Staines was Senior Vice President of Resource America from 1989 to 2004 and served as a director from 1989 through 2000 and Secretary from 1989 through 1998. Mr. Staines is a member of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Tony C. Banks has been Vice President of Business Development for FirstEnergy Corporation, a public utility, since December 2005. Mr. Banks joined FirstEnergy Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation, in August 2004 as Director of Marketing and in August 2005 became Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Before joining FirstEnergy, Mr. Banks was a consultant to utilities, energy service companies and energy technology firms. From 2000 through 2002, Mr. Banks was President of RAI Ventures, Inc. and Chairman of the Board of Optiron Corporation, which was an energy technology subsidiary of Atlas America until 2002. In addition, Mr. Banks served as President of Atlas Pipeline GP during 2000. He was Chief Executive Officer and President of Atlas America from 1998 through 2000.
Curtis D. Clifford has been the principal of CL4D CO, an energy consulting, marketing and reporting firm since 1998. Mr. Clifford has 39 years’ experience in the natural gas industry, from exploration, production and gathering to procurement, marketing and consulting. He has been president of Amity Manor, Inc. since 1988 when he founded the company to develop housing for low-income elderly using tax credit financing. Mr. Clifford is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania.
Gayle P.W. Jackson has been President of Energy Global, Inc., a consulting firm which specializes in corporate development, diversification and government relations strategies for energy companies, since 2004. From 2001 to 2004, Dr. Jackson served as Managing Director of FE Clean Energy Group, a global private equity management firm that invests in energy companies and projects in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia. From 1985 to 2001, Dr. Jackson was President of Gayle P.W. Jackson, Inc., a consulting firm that advised energy companies on corporate development and diversification strategies and also advised national and international governmental institutions on energy policy. Dr. Jackson was Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in 2004 and 2005 and was a member of the Federal Reserve Bank Board from 2000 to 2005. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Ameren Corporation, a publicly-traded public utility holding company.
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Martin Rudolph has been the Trustee of the AHP Settlement Trust, a $4 billion trust established to process litigation claims, since 2005. Before that, Mr. Rudolph was a director of tax planning, research and compliance for RSM McGladrey, Inc., a business services firm from 2001 to 2005. From 1990 to 2001, he was a Managing Partner of Rudolph, Palitz LLC, which was merged with RSM McGladrey. Mr. Rudolph is a certified public accountant.
Other Significant Employees |
David D. Hall, 48, has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Spectrum (acquired by Atlas in July 2004 and now known as Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent LLC) since 2002. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Hall served as a senior business analyst at ScissorTail Energy. Mr. Hall has more than 25 years experience as a financial executive in the energy industry. Mr. Hall is a Certified Public Accountant.
Thomas B. Williams, 54, has been Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations of Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent LLC since August 2004. From April 2003 to August 2004, Mr. Williams was Chief Executive Officer of Elkhorn Construction, a company which specializes in midstream energy sector construction. Between 1998 and 2003, Mr. Williams was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing Worldwide for Linde BOC Process Plants, Inc. (formerly known as The Pro-Quip Group). From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Williams was also President of Cryogenic Plants and Services. Mr. Williams has over 30 years in the energy industry.
Messrs. Firth, McGrath and Herz and Ms. Washington also are significant employees of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC.
Reimbursement of Expenses of Atlas’ General Partner and its Affiliates |
Atlas does not directly employ any persons to manage or operate its business. These functions are provided by Atlas’ general partner and employees of Atlas America. Atlas’ general partner does not receive a management fee in connection with its management of Atlas apart from its interest as general partner and its right to receive incentive distributions.
Atlas reimburses its general partner and its affiliates for compensation and benefits related to their executive officers, based upon an estimate of the time spent by such persons on activities for Atlas. Other indirect costs, such as rent for offices, are allocated to Atlas by Atlas America based on the number of Atlas America employees who devote substantially all of their time to activities on Atlas’ behalf. Atlas reimburses Atlas America at cost for direct costs incurred by them on Atlas’ behalf.
Atlas’ partnership agreement provides that its general partner will determine the costs and expenses that are allocable to Atlas in any reasonable manner determined by its general partner at its sole discretion. Atlas reimbursed its general partner and its affiliates $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 for compensation and benefits related to its executive officers. Direct reimbursements were $24.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, including certain costs that have been capitalized by Atlas. Atlas’ general partner believes that the method utilized in allocating costs to Atlas is reasonable.
Executive Officer Compensation |
The following table sets forth certain compensation information for the chief executive officer and president of Atlas’ general partner for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. No other executive officer of Atlas’ general partner received an allocation of aggregate salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 during the periods indicated. Atlas reimburses Atlas’ general partner and its affiliates for expenses incurred on Atlas’ behalf, including the cost of officer compensation allocable to Atlas. It is not currently anticipated that Atlas will pay additional annual cash or cash bonus compensation to the officers of our general partner for service to us, but that such officers will be compensated through the Long-Term Incentive Plan we are adopting concurrently with this offering.
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Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation | All Other | ||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary | Bonus(1) | Compensation(2) | |||||||||
Edward E. Cohen | 2005 | $ | 232,500 | $ | 310,000 | $ | 1,904,700 | ||||||
Chairman of the Managing Board | 2004 | 133,950 | 193,800 | 1,047,500 | |||||||||
and Chief Executive Officer | 2003 | 179,600 | 119,700 | — | |||||||||
Michael L. Staines | 2005 | $ | 225,000 | $ | 125,000 | $ | 492,720 | ||||||
President, Chief Operating Officer | 2004 | 219,400 | 45,600 | 335,200 | |||||||||
and Managing Board Member | 2003 | 133,300 | 10,000 | — | |||||||||
(1) | Bonuses in any fiscal year are generally based upon our performance in the prior fiscal year and the individual’s contribution to that performance. From time to time, Atlas’ general partner’s managing board may award bonuses in a fiscal year reflecting an individual’s performance during that fiscal year. |
(2) | Reflects grants in 2004 and 2005 of phantom units under the Atlas Long Term Incentive Plan, valued at the closing price of common units on the respective dates of grants. The phantom unit grants entitle the recipient, upon vesting, to receive one common unit and include distribution equivalent rights. The number of phantom units held and the value of those phantom units, valued at the closing market price of Atlas common units on December 31, 2005, are: Mr. Cohen — 38,750 phantom units ($1,573,250) and Mr. Staines — 10,000 phantom units ($406,000). |
Long-Term Incentive Plan |
Atlas’ general partner has adopted the Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan, referred to as the Plan, for employees of Atlas’ general partner and its affiliates who perform services for Atlas. Awards contemplated by the Plan include phantom units and unit options. The Plan currently permits the grant of phantom units and unit options covering an aggregate of 435,000 common units delivered upon vesting of such phantom units or unit options. The Plan is administered by a committee appointed by Atlas’ general partner’s managing board, which sets the terms of awards under the Plan. This committee may make awards of either phantom units or options for an aggregate of 435,000 common units, provided that the maximum number of phantom units that may be awarded in total to non-employee managing board members is 10,000.
Phantom Units. A phantom unit entitles the grantee to receive, upon the vesting of the phantom unit, a common unit (or cash equivalent, depending on the terms of the grant). As of December 31, 2005, grants of 110,128 unvested phantom units under the Plan remain outstanding to employees, officers, managing board members and consultants of Atlas’ general partner. The committee may, in the future, make additional grants under the plan to employees and managing board members containing such terms as such committee shall determine, including tandem distribution equivalent rights with respect to phantom units. As a result of the vesting of these awards, Atlas recognized an expense of $2.2 million during 2005.
The issuance of the common units upon vesting of phantom units is primarily intended to serve as a means of incentive compensation for performance. Therefore, no consideration is paid to Atlas by the plan participants upon receipt of the common units.
Atlas has 2,057 grants of unvested phantom units outstanding at December 31, 2005 to current non-employee managing board members of Atlas’ general partner, 1,399 of which were granted during 2005. These units vest and are payable in 25% increments. As a result of the partial vesting of these awards, Atlas recognized expense of approximately $37,400 during 2005.
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The following table shows the vesting of phantom units granted under the Plan during 2005 to the named executive officers.
Remaining Unvested Grants(1) |
Name | Total Units | Units | Value | |||||||
Edward E. Cohen | 20,000 | 20,000 | $ | 812,000 | ||||||
Michael L. Staines | 4,000 | 4,000 | $ | 162,400 | ||||||
(1) | As if vested on December 31, 2005, at a market closing price of $40.60 per unit. |
Compensation of Managing Board Members |
Atlas’ general partner does not pay additional remuneration to officers or employees of Atlas America who also serve as managing board members. In fiscal year 2005, each non-employee managing board member of Atlas’ general partner received an annual retainer of $20,000 in cash and an annual grant of phantom units with DERs in an amount equal to the lesser of 500 units or $15,000 worth of units (based upon the market price of our common units) pursuant to Atlas’ Long-Term Incentive Plan. In addition, Atlas’ general partner reimburses each non-employee board member for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of the board or committees. Atlas reimburses its general partner for these expenses and indemnifies its general partner’s managing board members for actions associated with serving as managing board members to the extent permitted under Delaware law.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT;
SELLING UNITHOLDERS
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common units prior to and as of the closing of this offering by:
• | each person who will beneficially own more than 5% of our common units; |
• | each of the named executive officers of our general partner; |
• | all of the directors of our general partner; and |
• | all directors and executive officers of our general partner as a group. |
All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the respective directors or officers, as the case may be.
Common Units Beneficially Owned After Offering | Common Units Beneficially Owned After Offering With Exercise of Additional Units(8) | ||||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) | Common Units | Percent | Common Units | Percent | |||||||||
Atlas America, Inc.(2) | 1,786,750 | 8.46 | % | 1,741,066 | 8.25 | % | |||||||
Atlas Resources, Inc.(3) | 864,500 | 4.94 | % | 837,824 | 3.97 | % | |||||||
AIC, Inc.(4) | 5,845,000 | 27.69 | % | 5,695,474 | 26.99 | % | |||||||
Viking Resources Corporation(5) | 4,123,000 | 19.53 | % | 4,017,538 | 19.04 | % | |||||||
Resource Energy, Inc.(6) | 3,542,000 | 16.78 | % | 3,451,388 | 16.36 | % | |||||||
REI-NY, Inc.(7) | 1,160,250 | 5.50 | % | 1,130,350 | 5.36 | % | |||||||
Edward E. Cohen | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
Jonathan Z. Cohen | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
Robert R. Firth | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
Matthew A. Jones | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
Lisa Washington | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
William G. Karis | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
Harvey G. Magarick | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
All directors and officers of our general partner as a group (7 persons) | — | * | — | * | |||||||||
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | The address for each person or entity listed is 311 Rouser Road, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108. |
(2) | Atlas America, Inc. is the ultimate parent company of Atlas Resources, Inc., AIC, Inc., Viking Resources Corporation, Resource Energy, Inc., and REI-NY, Inc., and may, therefore, be deemed to beneficially own the units held by Atlas Resources, Inc., AIC, Inc., Viking Resources Corporation, Resource Energy, Inc., and REI-NY, Inc. Atlas America, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “ATLS.” Atlas America, Inc. files information with or furnishes information to, the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
(3) | Atlas Resources, Inc. is 100% owned, indirectly, by Atlas America, Inc. |
(4) | AIC, Inc. is 100% owned by Atlas America, Inc. |
(5) | Viking Resources Corporation is 100% owned by Atlas America, Inc. |
(6) | Resource Energy, Inc. is 100% owned by Atlas America, Inc. |
(7) | REI-NY, Inc. is 100% owned, indirectly, by Atlas America, Inc. |
(8) | These columns assume the underwriters’ exercise of all 540,000 common units subject to their option to purchase additional common units, and our redemption of an equal number of units from Atlas America, Inc. and its five wholly-owned subsidiaries on a pro rata basis in proportion to their ownership interests in us after the offering. Each of Atlas America, Inc., Atlas Resources, Inc., AIC, Inc., Viking Resources Corporation, Resource Energy, Inc. and REI-NY, Inc. may be deemed to be a selling unitholder in the event of any such redemption, and therefore may be deemed to be an underwriter in this offering. |
Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.
The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2005 regarding beneficial ownership of Atlas’ common units by:
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• | each person known by Atlas Pipeline GP to beneficially own more than 5% of Atlas’ common units; |
• | each of the named executive officers of Atlas Pipeline GP; |
• | all of the directors of Atlas Pipeline GP; and |
• | all of the directors and executive officers of Atlas Pipeline GP as a group. |
All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the respective directors or officers, as the case may be. Each person has sole voting and dispositive power over the common units shown unless otherwise indicated below. Atlas has 12,549,266 common units outstanding at December 31, 2005. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of the beneficial owners in this table is 311 Rouser Road, Moon Township, Pennsylvania, 15108.
Common Units Beneficially Owned After Offering | |||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner | Common Units | Percent | |||||
Edward E. Cohen (1) | 15,350 | * | |||||
Jonathan Z. Cohen (2) | 10,852 | * | |||||
Michael L. Staines (3) | 2,000 | * | |||||
Matthew A. Jones (4) | 3,750 | * | |||||
Tony C. Banks | — | * | |||||
Curtis D. Clifford | 113 | * | |||||
Gayle P.W. Jackson (5) | 77 | * | |||||
Martin Rudolph (6) | 577 | * | |||||
All executive officers and managing board members as a group (8 persons) | 32,719 | * | |||||
Other Owners of more than 5% of Outstanding Units | |||||||
Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC (7) | 1,641,026 | 13.1 | % | ||||
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | This amount includes 5,000 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, convert into an equal number of our common units. |
(2) | This amount includes 3,125 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, convert into an equal number of our common units. |
(3) | This amount includes 1,000 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, convert into an equal number of our common units. |
(4) | This amount includes 3,750 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, convert into an equal number of our common units. |
(5) | This amount represents 77 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, may be converted into an equal number of our common units or into their then fair market value in cash. |
(6) | This amount includes 77 phantom units which vest in 60 days and which, upon vesting, may be converted into an equal number of our common units or into their then fair market value in cash. |
(7) | We own 100% of the interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC. |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Our Relationship with Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. |
Our cash generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership. Atlas is a midstream energy service provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions. Our interests in Atlas will initially consist of a 100% ownership interest in the general partner of Atlas, Atlas Pipeline GP, which owns:
• | a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas, which entitles it to receive 2.0% of the cash distributed by Atlas; |
• | all of the incentive distribution rights in Atlas, which entitle us to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.0%, of any cash distributed by Atlas as it reaches certain target distribution levels in excess of $0.42 per Atlas unit in any quarter; and |
• | 1,641,026 common units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas. |
Atlas is required by its partnership agreement to distribute all of its cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less reserves established by its general partner, in its sole discretion to provide for the proper conduct of Atlas’ business or to provide for future distributions. Our general partner will be reimbursed for direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf. Some of the non-independent directors of our general partner also serve as directors of Atlas’ general partner.
The Contribution Agreement |
Prior to the closing of this offering, the partnership interests we will own in Atlas, including the 2.0% general partner interest, the incentive distribution rights and 1,641,026 common units, are held, directly or indirectly, by Atlas America. In connection with this offering, Atlas America and its affiliates have entered into a Contribution Agreement pursuant to which, at closing, the 2% general partner interest, incentive distribution rights and 1,641,026 common units, each representing partnership interests in Atlas, will be contributed to us. As consideration for this contribution and in accordance with the terms of the Contribution Agreement, we will distribute substantially all of the proceeds we receive from this offering as well as 17,500,000 of our common units, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units.
Registration Rights |
Under our limited partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for sale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws (subject to certain limitations) any common units proposed to be sold by owners of Atlas’ general partner or any of its respective affiliates. These registration rights require us to file one registration statement. We have also agreed to include any securities held by the owners of Atlas’ general partner or any of its respective affiliates in any registration statement that we file to offer securities for cash, except that an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan and other similar exceptions. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. These registration rights are in addition to the registration rights that we have agreed to provide our general partner and its affiliates pursuant to our limited partnership agreement. Please read “Units Eligible for Future Sale.”
Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Under our limited partnership agreement and subject to specified limitations, we will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events any director or officer, or while serving as a director or officer, any person who is or was serving as a tax matters member or as a director, officer, tax matters member, employee, partner, manager, fiduciary or trustee of our company or any of our affiliates. Additionally, we will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law, from
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and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events any person who is or was an employee (other than an officer) or agent of our partnership at the time of the occurrence giving rise to the indemnity being sought.
Related Party Transactions Involving Atlas |
On June 30, 2005, Resource America, Inc. (RAI) distributed its 10.7 million shares of Atlas America to its shareholders. In connection with this distribution of Atlas America common stock to its shareholders, RAI and Atlas America entered into various agreements, including a shared services agreement and a tax matters agreement, which govern the ongoing relationship between the two companies. Atlas is dependent upon the resources and services provided by Atlas America, and through these agreements, RAI and its affiliates.
Under an agreement between Atlas and Atlas America, Atlas America must construct up to 2,500 feet of sales lines from its existing wells in the Appalachian region to a point of connection to Atlas’ gathering systems. Atlas must, at its own cost, extend its system to connect to any such lines within 1,000 feet of its gathering systems. With respect to wells to be drilled by Atlas America that will be more than 3,500 feet from Atlas’ gathering systems, Atlas has various options to connect those wells to its gathering systems at its own cost.
At December 31, 2005, Atlas’ general partner owned 1,641,026 common units constituting approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common units of Atlas.
Atlas’ omnibus agreement and the natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America and its affiliates were not the result of arms-length negotiations and, accordingly, Atlas cannot assure us that it could have obtained more favorable terms from independent third parties similarly situated. However, since these agreements principally involve the imposition of obligations on Atlas America and its affiliates, Atlas does not believe that it could obtain similar agreements from independent third parties.
In connection with the acquisition of Spectrum, Atlas entered into commitment agreements with Resource America and Atlas America for the purchase by them of up to $25.0 million of preferred units in Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P., Atlas’ subsidiary. In consideration for their commitments, upon the closing of the Spectrum acquisition and the purchase by each of $10.0 million preferred units, Atlas paid Resource America and Atlas America commitment fees of $750,000 and $500,000, respectively.
Until March 2005, Matthew A. Jones, our general partner’s Chief Financial Officer, was a Managing Director with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., which acted as an underwriter of Atlas’ April and July 2004 and June and November 2005 public offerings of common units. FBR provided advisory services to us in connection with our acquisition of Elk City in April 2005. In addition, FBR was an underwriter in connection with Atlas America’s initial public offering in May 2004.
Atlas does not currently directly employ any persons to manage or operate its business. These functions are provided by employees of Atlas America and/or its affiliates. Atlas’ general partner does not receive a management fee in connection with its management of Atlas apart from its interest as general partner and its right to receive incentive distributions.
Atlas reimburses its general partner, Atlas America and its affiliates for expenses they incur in managing its operations and for an allocation of the compensation paid to the executive officers of its general partner, based upon an estimate of the time spent by such persons on activities for Atlas. Other indirect costs, such as rent for offices, are allocated to Atlas by Atlas America based on the number of its employees who devote substantially all of their time to activities on Atlas’ behalf. Atlas reimburses Atlas America at cost for direct costs incurred by them on Atlas’ behalf. Atlas’ partnership agreement provides that its general partners will determine the costs and expenses that are allocable to Atlas in any reasonable manner determined by its general partner at its sole discretion.
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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES
Conflicts of Interest |
General. Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships among us, Atlas and our and its respective general partners and affiliates. The directors and officers of Atlas’ general partner have fiduciary duties to manage Atlas in a manner beneficial to us, its owner. At the same time, Atlas’ general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage Atlas in a manner beneficial to Atlas and its limited partners. The managing board or the conflicts committee of the managing board of Atlas will resolve any such conflict and has broad latitude to consider the interests of all parties to the conflict. The resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our best interest or that of our unitholders.
Conflicts Between Our General Partner and Its Affiliates and Our Partners. Whenever a conflict arises between our general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or any of our other partners, on the other hand, our general partner will resolve that conflict. Our partnership agreement contains provisions that modify and limit our general partner’s fiduciary duties to our unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of our general partner’s fiduciary duty to us.
Our general partner will not be in breach of its obligations under the partnership agreement or its duties to us or our unitholders if the resolution of the conflict is:
• | approved by the audit and conflicts committee, although our general partner is not obligated to seek such approval; |
• | approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our general partner or any of its affiliates; |
• | on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or |
• | fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us. |
Our general partner may, but is not required to, seek the approval of such resolution from the audit and conflicts committee of its board. If our general partner does not seek approval from the audit and conflicts committee and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the third and fourth bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the board of directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or us, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Unless the resolution of a conflict is specifically provided for in our partnership agreement, our general partner or the audit and conflicts committee may consider any factors it determines in good faith to consider when resolving a conflict. When our partnership agreement requires someone to act in good faith, it requires that person to believe that he is acting in the best interests of the partnership.
Conflicts of interest could arise in the situations described below, among others.
Actions taken by our general partner may affect the amount of cash available for distribution to our common unitholders. |
The amount of cash that is available for distribution to our common unitholders is affected by decisions of our general partner regarding such matters as:
• | amount and time of cash expenditures; |
• | asset sales or acquisitions; |
• | borrowings; |
• | the issuance of additional units; |
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• | the creation, reduction or increase of reserves in any quarter; and |
• | corporate opportunities. |
We will reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for expenses. |
We will reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for costs incurred in managing and operating us, including costs incurred in rendering corporate staff and support services to us. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine the expenses that are allocable to us in any reasonable manner determined by our general partner in its sole discretion. Please read “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our obligations. |
Our general partner intends to limit its liability under contractual arrangements so that the other party has recourse only to our assets, and not against our general partner or its assets. Our partnership agreement provides that any action taken by our general partner to limit its liability or our liability is not a breach of our general partner’s fiduciary duties, even if we could have obtained more favorable terms without the limitation on liability.
Common unitholders will have no right to enforce obligations of our general partner and its affiliates under agreements with us. |
Any agreements between us on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other, will not grant to the unitholders, separate and apart from us, the right to enforce the obligations of our general partner and its affiliates in our favor.
If we are presented with certain business opportunities, Atlas will have the first right to pursue such opportunities. |
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement to be entered into in connection with the closing of this offering, we will agree to certain business opportunity arrangements to address potential conflicts that may arise between us and Atlas. If a business opportunity in respect of any business activity in which Atlas is currently engaged is presented to us, our general partner or Atlas or its general partner, then Atlas will have the first right to pursue such business opportunity. The omnibus agreement will provide, among other things, that Atlas will be presumed to desire to acquire the assets until such time as it advises us that it has abandoned such pursuit, and we may not pursue the opportunity prior to that time.
Except in limited circumstances, our general partner has the power and authority to conduct our business without unitholder approval. |
Under our partnership agreement, our general partner has full power and authority to do all things, other than those items that require unitholder approval or with respect to which our general partner has sought conflicts committee approval, on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct our business including, but not limited to, the following:
• | the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into our securities, and the incurring of any other obligations; |
• | the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of our securities, or the issuance of additional options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to our securities; |
• | the mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of our assets; |
• | the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments; |
• | the distribution of our cash; |
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• | the selection and dismissal of employees and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring; |
• | the maintenance of insurance for our benefit and the benefit of our partners; |
• | the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, the contribution of property to, and the making of loans to, any limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships; |
• | the control of any matters affecting our rights and obligations, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation; |
• | the indemnification of any person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law; |
• | the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over our business or assets; and |
• | the entering into of agreements with any of its affiliates to render services to us or to itself in the discharge of its duties as our general partner. |
Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner must act in “good faith” when making decisions on our behalf, and our partnership agreement further provides that in order for a determination by our general partner to be made in “good faith,” our general partner must believe that the determination is in our best interests. Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.—No Unitholder Approval” and “—Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval” for information regarding matters that require unitholder approval.
Atlas and affiliates of our general partner are not limited in their ability to compete with us, which could cause conflicts of interest and limit our ability to acquire additional assets or businesses which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. |
Neither our partnership agreement nor the omnibus agreement between us, Atlas, Atlas Pipeline GP and Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC will prohibit Atlas or affiliates of our general partner from owning assets or engaging in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us or one another. In addition, Atlas and its affiliates or affiliates of our general partner, may acquire, construct or dispose of additional assets related to the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas, NGLs or other assets in the future, without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or construct any of those assets. As a result, competition among these entities could adversely impact Atlas’ or our results of operations and cash available for distribution.
Contracts between us, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other, will not be the result of arm’s-length negotiations. |
Our partnership agreement allows our general partner to determine, in good faith, any amounts to pay itself or its affiliates for any services rendered to us. Our general partner may also enter into additional contractual arrangements with any of its affiliates on our behalf. Neither the partnership agreement nor any of the other agreements, contracts and arrangements between us, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, on the other, are or will be the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
Our general partner will determine, in good faith, the terms of any of these transactions entered into after the sale of the common units offered in this offering.
Common units are subject to our general partner’s limited call right. |
Our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase common units as provided in our partnership agreement or assign this right to one of its affiliates or to us. Our general partner may use its own discretion, free of fiduciary duty restrictions, in determining whether to exercise this right. As a result, a
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common unitholder may have his common units purchased from him at an undesirable time or price. Please read “Description of Our Partnership Agreement—Limited Call Right.”
We may not choose to retain separate counsel for ourselves or for the holders of common units. |
The attorneys, independent accountants and others who have performed services for us regarding this offering have been retained by our general partner. Attorneys, independent accountants and others who will perform services for us are selected by our general partner or the conflicts committee, if established, and may perform services for our general partner and its affiliates. We may retain separate counsel for ourselves or the holders of our common units in the event of a conflict of interest between our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or the holders of our common units, on the other, depending on the nature of the conflict. We do not intend to do so in most cases.
Acquisitions of Competing Businesses; Potential Future Conflicts. From time to time, we or our affiliates may acquire entities whose businesses compete with us or Atlas. In addition, future conflicts of interest may arise among us and any entities whose general partner interests we or our affiliates acquire or between Atlas and such entities. It is not possible to predict the nature or extent of these potential future conflicts of interest at this time, nor is it possible to determine how we will address and resolve any such future conflicts of interest. However, the resolution of these conflicts may not always be in our best interest or those of our unitholders. We do not currently intend to take any action which would limit the ability of Atlas to pursue its business strategy.
Fiduciary Duties |
Our general partner is accountable to us and our unitholders as a fiduciary. Fiduciary duties owed to unitholders by our general partner are prescribed by law and our partnership agreement. The Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Delaware Act, provides that Delaware limited partnerships may, in their partnership agreements, modify, restrict or expand the fiduciary duties otherwise owed by a general partner to limited partners and the partnership.
Our partnership agreement contains various provisions modifying and restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise be owed by our general partner. We have adopted these restrictions to allow our general partner to take into account the interests of other parties in addition to our interests when resolving conflicts of interest. These modifications are detrimental to the common unitholders because they restrict the remedies available to unitholders for actions that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty, as described below. The following is a summary of the material restrictions of the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner to the unitholders:
State-law fiduciary duty standards | Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an obligation to act in good faith and with due care and loyalty. The duty of care, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally require a general partner to act for the partnership in the same manner as a prudent person would act on his own behalf. The duty of loyalty, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally prohibit a general partner of a Delaware limited partnership from taking any action or engaging in any transaction where a conflict of interest is present. |
The Delaware Act generally provides that a limited partner may institute legal action on behalf of the partnership to recover damages from a third party where a general partner has refused to institute the action or where an effort to cause a general partner to do so is not likely to succeed. In addition, the statutory or case law of some jurisdictions may permit a limited partner to institute legal action on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated limited partners to |
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recover damages from a general partner for violations of its fiduciary duties to the limited partners. |
Partnership agreement modified standards | Our partnership agreement contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by our general partner and its affiliates that might otherwise raise issues about compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law. For example, our partnership agreement provides that when our general partner is acting in its capacity as our general partner, as opposed to in its individual capacity, it must act in “good faith” and will not be subject to any other standard under applicable law. In addition, when our general partner is acting in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner, it may act without any fiduciary obligation to us or the unitholders whatsoever. These standards reduce the obligations to which our general partner would otherwise be held. |
In addition to the other more specific provisions limiting the obligations of our general partner, our partnership agreement further provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our unitholders or assignees for errors of judgment or for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the general partner or its officers and directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct, or in the case of a criminal matter, acted with the knowledge that such conduct was unlawful. |
Special provisions regarding affiliated transactions. Our partnership agreement generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not involving a vote of unitholders and that are not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner must be: |
• | on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or |
• | “fair and reasonable” to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us). |
If our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the board of directors, which may include board members affected by the conflict of interest, acted in good faith and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any unitholders or the partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. These standards reduce the obligations to which our general partner would otherwise be held. |
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Upon purchasing common units, each common unitholder automatically agrees to be bound by the provisions in our partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above. This is in accordance with the policy of the Delaware Act favoring the principle of freedom of contract and the enforceability of partnership agreements. The failure of a limited partner or assignee to sign a partnership agreement does not render the partnership agreement unenforceable against that person.
We must indemnify our general partner and its officers, directors, managers and certain other specified persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by our general partner or these other persons. We must provide this indemnification unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that these persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct. We must also provide this indemnification for criminal proceedings unless our general partner or these other persons acted with knowledge that their conduct was unlawful. Thus, our general partner could be indemnified for its negligent acts if it met the requirements set forth above. To the extent these provisions purport to include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is contrary to public policy and, therefore, unenforceable. Please read “Description of Our Partnership Agreement—Indemnification.”
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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS
The Units |
The common units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges available to unitholders under our partnership agreement. For a description of the rights and preferences of holders of common units in and to partnership distributions, please read this section and “Cash Distribution Policy.” For a description of the rights and privileges of unitholders under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar |
Duties |
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company will serve as registrar and transfer agent for the common units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units except the following that must be paid by unitholders:
• | surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges; |
• | special charges for services requested by a common unitholder; and |
• | other similar fees or charges. |
There will be no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Resignation or Removal |
The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.
Transfer of Common Units |
By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred when such transfer and admission is reflected in our books and records. Each transferee:
• | represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to become bound by our partnership agreement; |
• | automatically agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and is deemed to have executed, our partnership agreement; and |
• | gives the consents and approvals contained in our partnership agreement, such as the approval of all transactions and agreements that we are entering into in connection with our formation and this offering. |
A transferee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred common units automatically upon the recording of the transfer on our books and records. Our general partner will cause any transfers to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than quarterly.
We may, at our discretion, treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holders’ 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.
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Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfers of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to become a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.
Comparison of Rights of Holders of Our Common Units and Atlas’ Common Units
Our common units and Atlas’ common units are unlikely to trade in simple relation or proportion to one another. Instead, while the trading prices of our common units and Atlas’ common units are likely to follow generally similar broad trends, the trading prices may diverge because, among other things:
• | with respect to its distributions, Atlas’ common unitholders have a priority over our incentive distribution rights in Atlas; |
• | we participate in Atlas’ general partner’s distributions and the incentive distribution rights, and Atlas’ common unitholders do not; and |
• | we may in the future enter into other businesses separate from Atlas. |
The following table compares certain features of Atlas’ common units and our common units.
Atlas’ Common Units | Our Common Units | ||||||
Distributions and Incentive Distribution Rights | Atlas has historically made quarterly distributions to its partners of its cash, less certain reserves for expenses and other uses of cash, including reimbursement of expenses owed to its general partner. For a more detailed discussion, please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.—Cash Distribution Policy.” Atlas’ general partner owns the incentive distribution rights in Atlas. | We will pay our unitholders quarterly distributions equal to the cash we receive from our Atlas distributions, less certain reserves for expenses and other uses of cash. Our general partner is not entitled to any distributions. Therefore, our distributions are allocated exclusively to our common unitholders. | |||||
Taxation of Entity and Entity Owners | Atlas is a flow-through entity that is not subject to an entity-level federal income tax. | Similarly, we are a flow-through entity that is not subject to an entity-level federal income tax. | |||||
Atlas expects that holders of its common units will benefit for a period of time from tax basis adjustments and remedial allocations of deductions. | We also expect that holders of our common units will benefit for a period of time from tax basis adjustments and remedial allocations of deductions as a result of our ownership of common units of Atlas. However, incentive distribution rights do not benefit from such adjustments and allocations. Therefore, we expect the ratio of our taxable income to the distributions you will receive to be higher than the ratio of taxable income to the distributions received by the common unitholders of Atlas. Moreover, if Atlas is successful in increasing its distributable cash flow over time, we expect the ratio of our taxable income to distributions will increase. |
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Atlas’ Common Units | Our Common Units | ||||||
Atlas’ common unitholders will receive Schedule K-1s from Atlas reflecting the unitholders’ share of Atlas’ items of income, gain, loss and deduction at the end of each fiscal year. | Our common unitholders also will receive Schedule K-1s from us reflecting the unitholders’ share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction at the end of each fiscal year. | ||||||
Sources of Cash Flow | Atlas currently generates its cash flow from its natural gas transmission, gathering and processing operations. | Our only cash-generating assets consist of our interests in Atlas, and we currently have no independent operations. Accordingly, our financial performance and our ability to pay cash distributions to our unitholders is currently completely dependent upon the performance of Atlas. | |||||
Limitation on Issuance of Additional Units | Atlas may issue an unlimited number of additional partnership interests and other equity securities without obtaining unitholder approval. | We also may issue an unlimited number of additional partnership interests and other equity securities without obtaining unitholder approval. | |||||
Limited Call Right | Atlas’ general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all of the remaining outstanding common units of Atlas if at any time any of its affiliates own more than 80% of Atlas’ outstanding common units. The purchase price for these units is the greater of the then current market price and the highest price paid by Atlas’ general partner and its affiliates for Atlas common units over the past ninety-day period. | Our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase all of our remaining outstanding common units if at any time our affiliates own more than 87.5% of our outstanding common units. The purchase price for these units is a price not less than the then current market price of the common units. |
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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. The form of our partnership agreement is included as Appendix A in this prospectus.
We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:
• | with regard to distributions of available cash, please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions;” |
• | with regard to the fiduciary duties of our general partner, please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties;” |
• | with regard to rights of holders of units, please read “Description of the Common Units;” and |
• | with regard to allocations of taxable income, taxable loss and other matters, please read “Material Tax Consequences.” |
Organization and Duration
We were formed on December 15, 2005 and have a perpetual existence.
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 and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon us pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; provided, however, 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.
Although our general partner has the ability to cause us, our affiliates or our subsidiaries to engage in activities other than the ownership of partnership interests in Atlas, our general partner has no current plans to do so and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or our limited partners. Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business. For a further description of limits on our business, please read “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, 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. Please read “—Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement.”
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under “—Limited Liability.”
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Act and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, his liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group:
• | to remove or replace the general partner; |
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• | to approve some amendments to the partnership agreement; or |
• | to take other action under the partnership agreement; |
constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then our 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 and reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. 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 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 shall 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 shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except that such person is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the partnership agreement.
Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partner have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. While we currently have no operations distinct from Atlas, if in the future, by our ownership in an operating company or otherwise, it were determined that we were 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 the limited partners as a group to remove or replace the general partner, to approve some 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 the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as the general partner under the circumstances. We will operate in a manner that the general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
Voting Rights
The following is a summary of the unitholder vote required for the matters specified below. In voting their units, affiliates of our general partner will have no fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners.
Issuance of additional units | No approval right. |
Amendment of our partnership agreement | Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of our unitholders. Other amendments generally require the approval of a majority of our outstanding units. Please read “—Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement.” |
Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets | A majority of our outstanding units in certain circumstances. Please read “—Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets.” |
Dissolution of our partnership | A majority of our outstanding units. Please read “—Termination or Dissolution.” |
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Continuation of our business upon dissolution | A majority of our outstanding units. Please read “—Termination or Dissolution.” |
Withdrawal of our general partner | Under most circumstances, the approval of a majority of the units, excluding units held by our general partner and its affiliates, is required for the withdrawal of the general partner prior to December 30, 2015 in a manner that would cause a dissolution of our partnership. Please read “—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.” |
Removal of our general partner | Not less than 66 2/3 of the outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please read “—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.” |
Transfer of the general partner interest | Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our unitholders to (i) an affiliate (other than an individual) or (ii) another entity in connection with its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, such person. The approval of a majority of the units, excluding units held by the general partner and its affiliates, is required in other circumstances for a transfer of the general partner interest to a third party prior to December 31, 2015. Please read “—Transfer of General Partner Interest.” |
Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner | No approval required at any time. Please read “—Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner.” |
Issuance of Additional Securities |
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities on terms and conditions established by our general partner in its sole discretion without the approval of our unitholders.
It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of units in our cash distributions. In addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership interests that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, may have special voting rights to which units are not entitled.
Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement
General
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of our general partner. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. To adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner is required to seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the
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limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a majority of our outstanding units.
Prohibited Amendments
No amendment may be made that would:
(1) enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; or
(2) 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 by us to our general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of our general partner, which may be given or withheld at its option.
The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in clauses (1) or (2) above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units.
No Unitholder Approval
Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner to reflect:
(1) a change in the name of the partnership, the location of the partnership’s principal place of business, the partnership’s registered agent or its registered office;
(2) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;
(3) a change that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, is necessary or advisable for the partnership to qualify or to continue our qualification 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 partnership will not be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes;
(4) an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent the partnership or our general partner or its directors, officers, agents or trustees, from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed;
(5) an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization of additional partnership securities or rights to acquire partnership securities;
(6) any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;
(7) an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;
(8) any amendment that, in the discretion of our general partner, is necessary or advisable for the formation by the partnership of, or its investment in, any corporation, partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement;
(9) a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes;
(10) certain mergers or conveyances set forth in our partnership agreement; and
(11) any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in (1) through (9) above.
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In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee if our general partner determines, at its option, that those amendments:
(1) do not adversely affect our limited partners in any material respect;
(2) are necessary or appropriate to 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;
(3) are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed for trading;
(4) are necessary or advisable for any action taken by our general partner relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our partnership agreement; or
(5) are required to effect the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement.
Finally, our partnership agreement specifically permits our general partner to authorize the general partner of Atlas to limit or modify the incentive distribution rights held by us if our general partner determines that such limitation or modification does not adversely affect our limited partners in any material respect.
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval
Our general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or result in none of us, Atlas or Atlas’s intermediate or operating partnerships being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes in connection with any of the amendments described under “—No Unitholder Approval.” No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units unless we first obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable law of any of our limited partners. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners constituting not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
Our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of a majority of our outstanding units, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination, or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our subsidiaries. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval.
If conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of our assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.
Termination or Dissolution
We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:
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(1) the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding those units held by our general partner and its affiliates;
(2) there being no limited partners, unless we are continued without dissolution in accordance with applicable Delaware law;
(3) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or
(4) the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event that results in its ceasing to be our general partner other than by reason of a transfer of its general partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or withdrawal or removal following approval and admission of a successor.
Upon a dissolution under clause (4) above, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units excluding any units held by our general partner and its affiliates, may also elect, within specific time limitations, to continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by appointing a successor general partner an entity approved by the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding those units held by our general partner and its affiliates, subject to receipt by us of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:
• | the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner; and |
• | none of our partnership nor the reconstituted limited partnership would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of that right to continue. |
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all the powers of our general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good faith judgment, liquidate our assets. The proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
• | first, towards the payment of all of our creditors and the creation of a reserve for contingent liabilities; and |
• | then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in the respective capital accounts. |
Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time. If the liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause a loss to our partners, our general partner may distribute assets in kind to our partners.
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our general partner prior to December 31, 2015 without obtaining the approval of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding those held by our general partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. On or after December 31, 2015, our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. In addition, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days’ notice to our limited partners if at least 50% of our outstanding common units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general partner and its affiliates.
Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding the units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 90 days after that withdrawal, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding the units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner.
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Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by (i) the audit and conflicts committee of the general partner and (ii) not less than 66 2/3% of our outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by a majority of our outstanding units, including those held by our general partner and its affiliates. The ownership of more than 33 1/3% of the outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give it the practical ability to prevent its removal. Upon completion of this offering, Atlas America will own approximately 82.9% of the outstanding units, assuming no exercise of its underwriters’ option to purchase additional units.
In addition, 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 for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.
Transfer of General Partner Interest
Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us to:
• | an affiliate of the general partner (other than an individual); or |
• | another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of the general partner with or into another entity or the transfer by the general partner of all or substantially all of its assets to another entity, |
our general partner may not transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in us to another entity prior to December 31, 2015 without the approval of a majority of the common units outstanding, excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must assume the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of the partnership agreement, and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters.
Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner
At any time, Atlas America, Inc., as the sole member of our general partner, may sell or transfer all or part of its ownership interest in the general partner without the approval of our unitholders.
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 as general partner or otherwise change management. If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units from our general partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group approved by our general partner.
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates hold more than 87.5% of the outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least ten but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in the event of this purchase is the greater of:
• | the highest cash price paid by either our general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partners interests of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date our general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase the limited partner interests; and |
• | the current market price of the limited partner interests of the class as of the date three days prior to the date that notice is mailed. |
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As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have his limited partner interests purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his units in the market. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Units.”
Upon completion of this offering, Atlas America will own 17,500,000 of our common units, representing approximately 82.9% of our outstanding common units, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of units then outstanding, unitholders 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 non-citizen assignees will be voted by our general partner and our general partner will distribute the votes on those units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.
Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by our 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 as would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units, 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 his percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read “—Issuance of Additional Securities” above. However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our 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. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his 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.
Status as Limited Partner
By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the transferred units when such transfer and admission is reflected in our books and records. Except as described under “—Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.
Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If we are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the reasonable determination of our general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property that we have an interest in because of the nationality, citizenship or other related status of any limited partner, we may redeem the units held by the limited partner at their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, our general partner may require each limited partner to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or related status. If a limited partner fails to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information or our general partner determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner is not an eligible citizen, the
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limited partner may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. A non-citizen assignee 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. A non-citizen assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon our liquidation.
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:
(1) our general partner;
(2) any departing general partner;
(3) any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner;
(4) any person who is or was an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of any entity described in (1), (2) or (3) above;
(5) any person who is or was serving as an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another person at the request of the general partner or any departing general partner; and
(6) any person designated by our general partner.
Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, 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, 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.
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. The general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax reporting purposes, our fiscal year end is September 30. For fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.
We will furnish or make available to record holders of units, within 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 public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of each quarter.
We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.
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Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
A limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to the limited partner’s interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand stating the purpose of such demand and at his own expense, obtain:
• | a current list of the name and last known address of each partner; |
• | a copy of our tax returns; |
• | information as to the amount of cash and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner; |
• | copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership, amendments to either of them and powers of attorney which have been executed under our partnership agreement; |
• | information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and |
• | any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable. |
Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets and other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interest or which we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
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. Please read “Units Eligible for Future Sale.”
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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Organization and Duration
Atlas was formed in May 1999. Atlas will dissolve on December 31, 2098, unless sooner dissolved under the terms of Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Purpose
Atlas’ purpose under its partnership agreement is limited to serving as the limited partner of its operating partnership and engaging in any business activity that may be engaged in by its operating partnership or that is approved by Atlas’ general partner. The operating partnership agreement provides that Atlas’ operating partnership may, directly or indirectly, engage in:
• | operations as conducted on February 2, 2000, including the ownership and operation of Atlas’ gathering systems; |
• | any other activity approved by Atlas’ general partner, but only to the extent that the general partner reasonably determines that, as of the date of the acquisition or commencement of the activity, the activity generates “qualifying income” as that term is defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code; or |
• | any activity that enhances the operations described above. |
The Units
Atlas’ common units represent limited partner interests in Atlas. The holders of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Limited Voting Rights
Holders of Atlas’ units have limited voting rights and generally are entitled to vote only with respect to the following matters:
• | a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; |
• | our dissolution or reconstitution; |
• | our merger; and |
• | termination or material modification of the omnibus agreement or master natural gas gathering agreement. |
Removal of Atlas’ general partner requires a two-thirds vote of all outstanding common units, excluding those held by Atlas’ general partner and its affiliates. Atlas’ partnership agreement permits us generally to make amendments to it that do not materially adversely affect unitholders without the approval of any unitholders.
Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash
Atlas’ operating partnership is required by the operating partnership agreement to distribute to Atlas, within 45 days of the end of each fiscal quarter, all of its available cash for that quarter. Atlas, in turn, distributes to its partners all of the available cash received from its operating partnership for that quarter.
Available cash generally means, for any of Atlas’ fiscal quarters, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter less cash reserves that the general partner of Atlas determines are appropriate to provide for Atlas’ operating costs, including potential acquisitions, and to provide funds for distributions to the partners for any
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one or more of the next four quarters. Atlas generally makes distributions of all available cash within 45 days after the end of each quarter to holders of record on the applicable record date.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
Cash distributions are characterized as distributions from either operating surplus or capital surplus. This distinction affects the amounts distributed to unitholders relative to Atlas’ general partner.
Operating surplus means:
• | Atlas’ cash balance, excluding cash constituting capital surplus, less |
• | all of Atlas’ operating expenses, debt service payments, maintenance costs, capital expenditures and reserves established for future operations. |
Capital surplus means capital generated only by borrowings other than working capital borrowings, sales of debt and equity securities and sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business.
Atlas treats all available cash distributed from any source as distributed from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since Atlas began operations equals Atlas’ total operating surplus from the date Atlas began operations until the end of the quarter that immediately preceded the distribution. This method of cash distribution avoids the difficulty of trying to determine whether available cash is distributed from operating surplus or capital surplus. Atlas treats any excess available cash, irrespective of its source, as capital surplus, which would represent a return of capital, and Atlas’ general partner will distribute it accordingly. For a discussion of distributions from capital surplus, see “—Distributions from Capital Surplus” below.
Atlas distributes available cash from operating surplus for any quarter in the following manner:
• | first, 98% to all unitholders of Atlas, pro rata, and 2.0% to our subsidiary, Atlas Pipeline GP, as the general partner of Atlas, until Atlas has distributed $0.42 for each outstanding common unit; and |
• | after that, in the manner described in “—Incentive Distribution Rights” below. |
The 2.0% allocation of available cash from operating surplus to our subsidiary, as the general partner of Atlas, includes Atlas’ general partner’s percentage interest in distributions from Atlas and Atlas’ operating partnership on a combined basis.
Adjusted operating surplus for any period generally means operating surplus generated during that period, less:
• | any net increase in working capital borrowings during that period and |
• | any net reduction in cash reserves for operating expenditures during that period not relating to an operating expenditure made during that period, |
and plus:
• | any net decrease in working capital borrowings during that period and |
• | any net increase in cash reserves for operating expenditures during that period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium. |
Operating surplus generated during a period is equal to the difference between:
• | the operating surplus determined at the end of that period and |
• | the operating surplus determined at the beginning of that period. |
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Incentive Distribution Rights
By “incentive distribution rights” we mean our right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after Atlas has made the minimum quarterly distributions and Atlas has met specified target distribution levels, as described below. We may transfer our incentive distribution rights separately from our general partner interest without the consent of the unitholders.
Atlas makes incentive distributions to us for any quarter in which it has distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution. If this condition is satisfied, the remaining available cash will be distributed as follows:
• | first, 85.0% to all units, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 13.0% to us, until a hypothetical unitholder has received a total of $0.52 per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units; |
• | second, 75.0% to all units, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 23.0% to us until a hypothetical unitholder has received a total of $0.60 per unit for that quarter, in addition to any distributions to common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units; and |
• | after that, 50.0% to all units, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 48% to us. |
The distributions to us that exceed its aggregate 2.0% general partner interest represent the incentive distribution rights.
Distributions from Capital Surplus
Atlas distributes available cash from capital surplus in the following manner:
• | first, 98.0% to all units, pro rata, and 2.0% to the general partner, until each common unit issued in the initial public offering has received distributions equal to $13.00 per unit; and |
• | after that, Atlas will distribute all available cash from capital surplus, as if it were from operating surplus. |
When Atlas makes a distribution from capital surplus, Atlas will treat it as if it were a repayment of a limited partner’s investment in its common units. For these purposes, the partnership agreement deems the investment to be $13.00 per common unit, which is the unit price from Atlas’ initial public offering. To reflect this repayment, Atlas will reduce the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution and the distribution levels at which our incentive distribution rights begin, which we refer to in this prospectus as “target distribution levels,” by multiplying each amount by a fraction, determined as follows:
• | the numerator is $13.00 less all distributions from capital surplus including the distribution just made, and |
• | the denominator is $13.00 less all distributions from capital surplus excluding the distribution just made. |
The initial public offering price of $13.00 per common unit, less any distributions from capital surplus, is referred to as the “unrecovered unit price.”
After the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been reduced to zero, Atlas will treat all distributions of available cash from all sources as if they were from operating surplus. Because the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will have been reduced to zero, we will then be entitled to receive 48.0% of all distributions of available cash, in addition to any distributions to which we may be entitled as a holder of units.
Distributions from capital surplus will not reduce the minimum quarterly distribution or target distribution levels for the quarter in which they are distributed.
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Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
In addition to adjustments made upon a distribution of available cash from capital surplus, Atlas will proportionately adjust each of the following upward or downward, as appropriate, if any combination or subdivision of units occurs:
• | the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels, or the unrecovered unit price, |
• | the number of common units issuable upon conversion of the subordinated units, and |
• | other amounts calculated on a per unit basis. |
For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units occurs, Atlas will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price of the common units to 50% of their initial levels.
Atlas will not make any adjustment for the issuance of additional common units for cash or property.
Atlas may also adjust the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that causes Atlas or its operating partnership to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes. In this event, Atlas will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter after that time to amounts equal to the product of:
• | the minimum quarterly distribution and each of the target distribution levels multiplied by, |
• | one minus the sum of: |
• | the highest marginal federal income tax rate which could apply to the partnership that is taxed as a corporation plus: |
• | any increase in the effective overall state and local income tax rate that would have been applicable in the preceding calendar year as a result of the new imposition of the entity level tax, after taking into account the benefit of any deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes for the payment of state and local income taxes, but only to the extent of the increase in rates resulting from that legislation or interpretation. |
For example, assuming Atlas is not previously subject to state and local income tax, if Atlas became taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and subject to a maximum marginal federal, and effective state and local, income tax rate of 40%, then Atlas would reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to 60% of the amount immediately before the adjustment.
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation
When Atlas commences dissolution and liquidation, Atlas will sell or otherwise dispose of its assets and adjust the partners’ capital account balances to reflect any resulting gain or loss. Atlas will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors in the order of priority provided in Atlas’ partnership agreement and by law. After that, Atlas will distribute the proceeds to the unitholders and our general partner in accordance with their capital account balances, as so adjusted.
Atlas maintains capital accounts in order to ensure that the partnership’s allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction are respected under the Internal Revenue Code. The balance of a partner’s capital account also determines how much cash or other property the partner will receive on liquidation of the partnership. A partner’s capital account is credited with (increased by) the following items:
• | the amount of cash and fair market value of any property (net of liabilities) contributed by the partner to the partnership; and |
• | the partner’s share of “book” income and gain (including income and gain exempt from tax). |
A partner’s capital account is debited with (reduced by) the following items:
• | the amount of cash and fair market value (net of liabilities) of property distributed to the partner; and |
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• | the partner’s share of loss and deduction (including some items not deductible for tax purposes). |
Partners are entitled to liquidating distributions in accordance with their capital account balances.
Upon our liquidation, any gain, or unrealized gain attributable to assets distributed in kind, will be allocated to the partners in the following manner:
• | first, to the general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances; |
• | second, 98% to the common units, pro rata, and 2.0% to the general partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: |
the unrecovered unit price, and the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our liquidation occurs; |
• | third, 85% to all units, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 13.0% to us, until there has been allocated under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
the excess of the $0.52 target distribution per unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of Atlas’ existence less: |
the cumulative amount per unit of any distribution of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that was distributed 85.0% to the units, pro rata, and 15% to us for each quarter of our existence; |
• | fourth, 75.0% to all units, pro rata, 2.0% to the general partner and 23.0% to us, until there has been allocated under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
the excess of the $0.60 target distribution per unit over the $0.52 target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence less: |
the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that was distributed 75.0% to the units, pro rata, and 23.0% to us for each quarter of our existence; and |
• | after that, 50.0% to all units, pro rata, 48.0% to us and 2.0% to our general partner. |
Upon Atlas’ liquidation, any loss will generally be allocated to us and the unitholders in the following manner:
• | first, 98.0% to the holders of common units in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2.0% to us, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and |
• | after that, 100.0% to us. |
In addition, Atlas will make interim adjustments to the capital accounts at the time Atlas issues additional equity interests or makes distributions of property. Atlas will base these adjustments on the fair market value of the interests or the property distributed and Atlas will allocate any gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and us in the same manner as Atlas allocates gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that Atlas makes positive interim adjustments to the capital accounts, Atlas will allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional equity interests, Atlas’ distributions of property, or upon Atlas’ liquidation, in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the capital account balances of us equaling the amount which would have been our general partner’s capital account balances if we had not made any earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts.
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application, grants to the 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 and
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the amendment of Atlas’ partnership agreement, and to make consents and waivers under Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under “—Limited Liability.”
Limited Liability
So long as a limited partner does not participate in the control of Atlas’ business within the meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of Atlas’ partnership agreement, the limited partner’s liability under the Delaware Act will be limited to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined that a limited partner participated in the control of Atlas’ business, then the limited partner could be held personally liable for Atlas’ obligations under Delaware law to the same extent as the general partner. This liability would extend only to persons who transact business with Atlas who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. However, what constitutes participating in the control of a limited partnership’s business has not been clearly established in all states. If it were determined, for example, that the right, or exercise of a right, by the limited partners to:
• | remove Atlas’ general partner; |
• | approve some amendments to our partnership agreement; or |
• | take other action under our partnership agreement; |
constituted participation in the control of our business, then limited partners could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as the general partner.
Under the Delaware Act, Atlas cannot make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all its liabilities, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property, exceed the fair value of Atlas’ assets. 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 shall 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 is liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and which he could not ascertain from Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Atlas’ operating partnership currently conducts business in Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. The limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If it were determined that Atlas was, by virtue of its limited partner interest in its operating partnership or otherwise, conducting business in any state under the applicable limited partnership statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace the general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under Atlas’ partnership agreement constituted “participation in the control” of Atlas’ business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for Atlas’ obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as the general partner. Atlas operates in a manner we consider reasonable and appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company is our registrar and transfer agent for the common units. Atlas pays all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except that the following fees must be paid by unitholders:
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• | surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges; |
• | special charges for services requested by a holder of a common unit; and |
• | other similar fees or charges. |
There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of cash distributions.
Atlas will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their particular shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted in its capacity as Atlas’ transfer agent, except for any liability due to any negligence, gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Transfer of Common Units
The transfer agent will not record a transfer of common units, and Atlas will not recognize the transfer, unless the transferee executes and delivers a transfer application. The form of transfer application appears on the reverse side of the certificates representing the common units. 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 be bound by the terms and conditions of our partnership agreement; |
• | represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into Atlas’ partnership agreement; |
• | grants powers of attorney to officers of our general partner and our liquidator, as specified in Atlas’ partnership agreement; and |
• | makes the consents and waivers contained in Atlas’ partnership agreement. |
An assignee will become a substituted limited partner as to the transferred common units upon the consent of the general partner and the recordation of the name of the assignee on the general partner’s books and records. The general partner may withhold its consent in its sole discretion.
A transferee’s broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver the transfer applications. Atlas is 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 the rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission as a substituted limited partner. A purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application will have 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. |
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 federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units. |
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The transferor of common units must provide the transferee with all information necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor will not be required to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and will have no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer agent. See “—Status as Limited Partner or Assignee.”
Until a common unit has been transferred on Atlas’ books, Atlas and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations, even if Atlas or the transfer agent has notice of an attempted transfer.
Issuance of Additional Securities
Atlas’ partnership agreement authorizes it to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests, debt and other securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by the general partner in its sole discretion without the approval of any limited partners. Atlas has funded, and will likely continue to fund, acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units Atlas issues will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in Atlas’ distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of Atlas’ partnership agreement, Atlas may also issue additional partnership securities that, in the sole discretion of the general partner, may have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled.
Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, the general partner must make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its combined 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas and in Atlas’ operating partnership. We will be required to make corresponding capital contributions to the general partner. Moreover, the general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to us or to any of our affiliates, to purchase common units, subordinated units or other equity securities, whenever, and on the same terms that, Atlas issues those securities to persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its percentage interest that existed immediately before each issuance. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests.
Amendment of Atlas’ Partnership Agreement
Amendments to Atlas’ partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent of the general partner, which the general partner may withhold in its sole discretion. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed in “—No Unitholder Approval” below, the general partner must seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment.
Prohibited Amendments
No amendment may be made that would:
• | change the percentage of outstanding units required to take partnership action, unless approved by the affirmative vote of unitholders constituting at least the voting requirement sought to be reduced; |
• | enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; |
• | 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 the general partner or any of its affiliates without its consent, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion; |
• | change Atlas’ term; |
• | provide that Atlas is not dissolved upon the expiration of its term or upon an election to dissolve it by us as the general partner that is approved by holders of a majority of the units of each class; or |
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• | give any person the right to dissolve Atlas other than the general partner’s right to dissolve Atlas with the approval of holders of a majority of the units of each class. |
The provision of Atlas’ partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class.
No Unitholder Approval
The general partner may amend Atlas’ partnership agreement, without the approval of the unitholders, to:
• | change Atlas’ name, the location of its principal place of business, its registered agent or registered office; |
• | reflect the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with Atlas’ partnership agreement; |
• | qualify Atlas or continue its qualification as a limited partnership under the laws of any state or to ensure that neither Atlas nor its operating partnership will be taxed as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes; |
• | prevent Atlas or the general partner, or its directors, officers, agents or trustees, from being subject to the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; |
• | authorize additional limited or general partner interests; |
• | reflect changes required by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of Atlas’ partnership agreement; |
• | permit Atlas to form or invest in any entity, other than the operating partnership, permitted by its partnership agreement; |
• | change Atlas’ fiscal year or taxable year; and |
• | make other changes substantially similar to any of the matters described above. |
In addition, the general partner may amend Atlas’ partnership agreement, without the approval of the unitholders, if those amendments:
• | do not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect; |
• | are necessary to satisfy any requirements 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; |
• | are necessary to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or to comply with any rule or guideline of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed for trading; |
• | are necessary for any action taken by the general partner relating to splits or combinations of units; or |
• | are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the provisions of Atlas’ partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by Atlas’ partnership agreement. |
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval
Except in the case of the amendments described above under “—No Unitholder Approval,” amendments to Atlas’ partnership agreement will not become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the units unless Atlas obtains an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable law of any limited partner or cause Atlas or Atlas’ operating partnership to be taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously taxed as such). Subject to obtaining the opinion of counsel, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation
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to other classes of units will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets of Atlas
The general partner may not, without the prior approval of holders of a majority of the outstanding units of each class, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Atlas’ assets, including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination, or approve on behalf of Atlas the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Atlas’ operating partnership. However, the general partner may mortgage or otherwise grant a security interest in all or substantially all of its assets or sell all or substantially all of Atlas’ assets under a foreclosure without that approval. Furthermore, provided that conditions specified in Atlas’ partnership agreement are satisfied, the general partner may merge Atlas or any of its subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of Atlas’ and its subsidiaries assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance changes our legal form into another limited liability entity.
The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal in the event of a merger, consolidation, sale of substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.
Termination and Dissolution
Atlas will continue until December 31, 2098, unless terminated sooner upon:
• | the election of the general partner to dissolve Atlas, if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding units of each class; |
• | the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of Atlas’ assets and those of its operating partnership; |
• | the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of Atlas; or |
• | the withdrawal or removal of the general partner or any other event that results in Atlas Pipeline GP ceasing to be Atlas’ general partner other than the transfer of its general partner interest in accordance with Atlas’ partnership agreement or withdrawal or removal following approval and admission of a successor. |
Upon a dissolution under the last item above, the holders of a majority of the units of each class may also elect, within specific time limitations, to reconstitute Atlas by forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to those in Atlas’ partnership agreement and having as general partner an entity approved by the holders of a majority of the units of each class subject to Atlas’ receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:
• | the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner; and |
• | Atlas, the reconstituted limited partnership, and the operating partnership would not be taxed as a corporation or otherwise be taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of that right to continue. |
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Unless the general partner is reconstituted and continues as a new limited partnership, upon liquidation the liquidator will liquidate Atlas’ assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in “—Cash Distribution Policy—Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation.” The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of Atlas’ assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to the partners.
Withdrawal or Removal of Atlas’ General Partner
Atlas’ general partner may withdraw as Atlas’ general partner without first obtaining approval from the unitholders by giving 90 days’ written notice. Atlas’ general partner may also sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interests in Atlas without the approval of the unitholders as described below under “—Transfer of General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights.” Upon withdrawal, Atlas must
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reimburse the general partner for all expenses incurred by it on Atlas’ behalf or allocable to Atlas in connection with operating its business.
If the general partner withdraws, other than as a result of a transfer of all or a part of its general partner interests in Atlas, the holders of a majority of the units may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, Atlas will be dissolved and liquidated, unless within 180 days after that withdrawal the holders of a majority of the units agree in writing to continue Atlas’ business and to appoint a successor general partner.
The general partner may not be removed except by the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by the general partner and its affiliates, and Atlas receives an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the common units, excluding common units held by us as the general partner and our affiliates. If the general partner is removed under circumstances where cause does not exist and does not consent to that removal:
• | the agreement of Atlas America to connect wells to Atlas’ gathering systems will terminate; |
• | the master natural gas gathering agreement with Atlas America will not apply to any future wells drilled by Atlas America although it will continue as to wells connected to the gathering system at the time of removal; |
• | the obligations of Atlas America to provide assistance for the extension of Atlas’ gathering systems and in the identification and acquisition of gathering systems from third parties will terminate; and |
• | the general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interests and incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests from the successor general partner. |
Atlas’ partnership agreement defines “cause” as existing where a court has rendered a final, non-appealable judgment that the general partner has committed fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as general partner.
Withdrawal or removal of the general partner as Atlas’ general partner also constitutes withdrawal or removal as the general partner of Atlas’ operating partnership.
In the event of removal of the general partner under circumstances where cause exists or a withdrawal of the general partner that violates Atlas’ partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where the general partner withdraws or is removed, the departing general partner will have the option to require the successor general partner to purchase those interests for their fair market value. In each case, fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If they cannot reach an agreement, an independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. If the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree on an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of them will determine the fair market value. If the purchase option is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the general partner interests and incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market value of those interests. The successor general partner must indemnify the departing general partner (or its transferee) from all of Atlas’ debt and liability arising on or after the date on which the departing general partner becomes a common unitholder as a result of the conversion. Except for this limited indemnity right and the right of the departing general partner to receive distributions on its common units, no other payments will be made to Atlas’ general partner after withdrawal.
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Transfer of General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights |
Atlas’ general partner may transfer all or any part of its general partner interest without obtaining the consent of the unitholders. As a condition to the transfer of a general partner interest, the transferee must assume the rights and duties of the general partner to whose interest it has succeeded, furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters, agree to acquire all of the general partner’s interest in Atlas’ operating partnership and agree to be bound by the provisions of the partnership agreement of our operating partnership.
The general partner’s members may sell or transfer all or part of their interest in the general partner to an affiliate without the approval of the unitholders. Atlas America and its affiliates have agreed that they will not divest their interest in the general partner without also divesting to the same acquirer their ownership interest in subsidiaries which act as the general partner of oil and gas investment partnerships sponsored by them.
Atlas Pipeline GP or a later holder may transfer its incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or another person as part of its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets to, that person without the prior approval of the unitholders. However, the transferee must agree to be bound by the provisions of Atlas’ partnership agreement.
Change of Management Provisions
Atlas’ partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove Atlas’ general partner or otherwise change management. If any person or group other than Atlas Pipeline GP and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units will not be considered outstanding for the purposes of noticing meetings, determining the presence of a quorum, calculating required votes and other similar matters. In addition, the removal of the general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and the general partner does not consent to that removal has the adverse consequences described under “—Withdrawal or Removal of Atlas’ General Partner.”
Limited Call Right
If at any time not more than 20% of the outstanding limited partner interests of any class are held by persons other than the general partner and its affiliates, the general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to Atlas, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining limited partner interests of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date selected by the general partner on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price is the greater of:
• | the highest cash price paid by the general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interests of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which the general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase those limited partner interests; and |
• | the current market price as of the date three days before the date the notice is mailed. |
As a result of the general partner’s right to purchase outstanding limited partner interests, a holder of limited partner interests may have his limited partner interests purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his common units in the market.
Meetings; Voting
Except as described above under “—Change of Management Provisions,” unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on a record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of Atlas’ limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a substituted limited partner, will be voted by the general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units held by the general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, the 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.
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Any action 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 same number of units as would be necessary to take the action. 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.
Except as described above under “—Change of Management Provisions,” each record holder will have a vote in accordance with his percentage interest, although additional limited partner interests having different voting rights could be issued. See “—Issuance of Additional Securities.” Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner.
Atlas or the transfer agent will deliver any notice, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under Atlas’ partnership agreement to the record holder.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
The common units will be fully paid, and, except as described above under “—Limited Liability,” unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.
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 sharing in allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions. The general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee who has not become a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. See “—Meetings; Voting.” Atlas will not treat transferees who do not execute and deliver a transfer application as assignees or as record holders of common units, and they will not receive cash distributions, federal income tax allocations or reports furnished to record holders. See “—Transfer of Common Units.”
Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption
If Atlas is or becomes subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the reasonable determination of us as the general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which Atlas has an interest because of the nationality, citizenship or related status of any limited partner or assignee, Atlas may redeem the units held by the limited partner or assignee at their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, Atlas may require each limited partner or assignee to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or related status. If a limited partner or assignee fails to furnish this information within 30 days after a request for it, or Atlas determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner or assignee is not an eligible citizen, then the limited partner or assignee may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. In addition to other limitations on the rights of an assignee who is not a substituted limited partner, a non-citizen assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon Atlas’ liquidation.
Indemnification
Under the partnership agreement, Atlas will indemnify the following persons, by reason of their status as such, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims or damages arising out of or incurred in connection with Atlas’ business:
• | the general partner; |
• | any departing general partner; |
• | any person who is or was an affiliate of the general partner or any departing general partner; |
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• | any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of the general partner, any departing general partner or the operating partnership or any affiliate of a general partner, any departing general partner or the operating partnership; or |
• | any person who is or was serving at the request of a general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of a general partner or any departing general partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person. |
Atlas’ indemnification obligation arises only if the indemnified person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed to, Atlas’ best interests. With respect to criminal proceedings, the indemnified person must not have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.
Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of Atlas’ assets. Atlas’ general partner will not be personally liable for the indemnification obligations and will not have any obligation to contribute or loan funds to Atlas in connection with it. The partnership agreement permits Atlas to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for Atlas’ activities, regardless of whether Atlas would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under the partnership agreement.
Books and Reports
The general partner keeps appropriate books on Atlas’ business at Atlas’ principal offices. The books are maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax purposes, our fiscal year end is September 30. For financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.
Atlas furnishes or makes available to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by Atlas’ independent public accountants. Except for its fourth quarter, Atlas also furnishes or makes available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of each quarter.
Atlas furnishes each record holder information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. Atlas expects to furnish information in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Atlas’ ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders depends on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying it with specific information. Atlas will furnish every unitholder with information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies Atlas with information.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
Atlas’ partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
• | a current list of the name and last known address of each partner; |
• | a copy of Atlas’ tax returns; |
• | information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner; |
• | copies of Atlas’ partnership agreement, the certificate of limited partnership and related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been executed; |
• | information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and |
• | other information regarding our affairs that is just and reasonable. |
The general partner may keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which general partner believes in good faith is not in Atlas’ best interests or which Atlas is required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
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Registration Rights
Under the partnership agreement, Atlas has agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units, subordinated units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by the general partner or any of our affiliates if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. Atlas is obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
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UNITS ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
After the sale of the common units offered hereby, management of our general partner will hold an aggregate of 17,500,000 common units, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units. The sale of these units could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units or on any trading market that may develop.
The common units sold in the offering will generally be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except that any common units owned by an “affiliate” of ours may not be resold publicly except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or under an exemption under Rule 144 or otherwise. Rule 144 permits securities acquired by an affiliate of the issuer to be sold into the market in an amount that does not exceed, during any three-month period, the greater of:
• | 1% of the total number of the securities outstanding; or |
• | the average weekly reported trading volume of the common units for the four calendar weeks prior to the sale. |
Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to specific manner of sale provisions, holding period requirements, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us. A person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned his common units for at least two years, would be entitled to sell common units under Rule 144 without regard to the public information requirements, volume limitations, manner of sale provisions and notice requirements of Rule 144.
The partnership agreement does not restrict our ability to issue any partnership securities at any time. Any issuance of additional common units or other equity securities would result in a corresponding decrease in the proportionate ownership interest in us represented by, and could adversely affect the cash distributions to and market price of, common units then outstanding. Please read “The Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.—Issuance of Additional Securities.”
Under our partnership agreement, our general partner and its affiliates have the right to cause us to register under the Securities Act and state securities laws the offer and sale of any common units, subordinated units or other partnership securities that they hold. Subject to the terms and conditions of our partnership agreement, these registration rights allow our general partner and its affiliates or their assignees holding any units or other partnership securities to require registration of any of these units or other partnership securities and to include them in a registration by us of other units, including units offered by us or by any unitholder. Our general partner will continue to have these registration rights for two years following its withdrawal or removal as our general partner. In connection with any registration of this kind, we will indemnify each unitholder participating in the registration and its officers, directors and controlling persons from and against any liabilities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws arising from the registration statement or prospectus. We will bear all costs and expenses incidental to any registration, excluding any underwriting discounts and commissions. Except as described below, our general partner and its affiliates may sell their units or other partnership interests in private transactions at any time, subject to compliance with applicable laws.
Our partnership, our general partner and the directors and executive officers of our general partner, have agreed not to sell any common units they beneficially own for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus. For a description of these lock-up provisions, please read “Underwriting.”
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MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
This section is a discussion of the material tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., tax counsel to the general partner and us, insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed 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 “us” or “we” are references to Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or the 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, trusts, nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate investment trusts (REITs) or mutual funds. Accordingly, we urge each prospective unitholder to consult, and depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units.
All statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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 here 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 the common units and the prices at which 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.
For the reasons described below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales”); (2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “Material Tax Consequences —Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); and (3) whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election”).
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 unless the amount of cash distributed is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue 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
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transportation, storage, processing and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including our allocable share of such income from Atlas. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, 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 % of our current 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 the general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income.
No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to our status for federal income tax purposes or whether our operations generate “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Moreover, no ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to Atlas’ status for federal income tax purposes or whether its operations generate “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that, based upon the Internal Revenue Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below, we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
In rendering its opinion, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied are:
(a) | Neither we, nor Atlas will elect to be treated as a corporation; and |
(b) | For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income will be income that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
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, 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 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 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 the unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. Moreover, if Atlas were taxable as a corporation in any given year, our share of Atlas’ items of income, gain, loss and deduction would not be passed through to us, and Atlas would pay tax on its income at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current or 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 common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation of either us or Atlas 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion that we and Atlas will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. will be treated as partners of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. Also:
• | assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners; and |
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• | 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 Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. |
As there is no direct authority addressing assignees of units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion does not extend to those persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of units unless the units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those units.
A beneficial owner of common units whose 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Short Sales.”
Income, gain, deductions or losses 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 own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
The references to “unitholders” in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income
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 and deductions without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by 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 September 30.
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 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—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. 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,” both as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively, “Section 751 Assets.” To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and 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 the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which
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will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions
We estimate that a purchaser of common units in this offering who owns those common units from the date of closing of this offering through the record date for distributions for the period ending , will be allocated an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be % or less of the cash distributed with respect to that period. We anticipate that after the taxable year ending , the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash distributions to the unitholders will increase. Our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will be much greater than the ratio applicable to holders of common units of Atlas because remedial allocations of deductions to us from Atlas will be very limited and our ownership of incentive distribution rights will cause more taxable income to be allocated to us from Atlas. Moreover, if Atlas is successful in increasing distributable cash flow over time, our income allocations from incentive distribution rights will increase, and, therefore, our ratio of taxable income to cash distributions will further increase. These estimates are based upon the assumption that current rate of distributions from Atlas will approximate the amount required to make the initial quarterly distribution of $0.225 per common unit on all units and other assumptions with respect to capital expenditures, cash flow and anticipated cash distributions. These estimates and assumptions are subject to, among other things, numerous business, economic, regulatory, competitive and political uncertainties beyond our control. Further, the estimates are based on current tax law and tax reporting positions that we will adopt and with which the IRS could disagree. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that these estimates will prove to be correct. The actual ratio of taxable income could be higher or lower than our estimate of %, and any differences could be material and could materially affect the value of the common units. For example, the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash distributions to a purchaser of common units in this offering will be greater than % with respect to the period described above if:
• | Atlas’ gross income from operations exceeds the amount required to make the minimum quarterly distribution on all Atlas’ units, yet Atlas only distributes the minimum quarterly distribution on all its units; or |
• | Atlas makes a future offering of common units and uses the proceeds of the offering in a manner that does not produce substantial additional deductions during the period described above, such as to repay indebtedness outstanding at the time of this offering or to acquire property that is not eligible for depreciation or amortization for federal income tax purposes or that is depreciable or amortizable at a rate significantly slower than the rate applicable to Atlas’ assets at the time of this offering. |
Basis of Common Units
A unitholder’s initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. 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 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 the general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—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 or a corporate unitholder, if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder’s stock is owned directly or indirectly by 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 unitholder 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 of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses
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that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess loss above that gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis limitations is no longer 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 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.
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 corporate or partnership activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer’s income from those passive activities. As a general rule, the passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. However, the application of the passive loss limitations to tiered publicly traded partnerships is uncertain. We will take the position that any passive losses we generate that are reasonably allocable to our investment in Atlas will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future that is reasonably allocable to our investment in Atlas and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including other investments in private businesses or investments we may make in other publicly traded partnerships. Moreover, because the passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership, any passive losses we generate will not be available to offset your income from other passive activities or investments, including your investments in other publicly traded partnerships, such as Atlas, or salary or active business income. Further, your share of our net income may be offset by any suspended passive losses from your investment in us, but may not be offset by our current or carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships. 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 and Atlas in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party.
The IRS could take the position that for purposes of applying the passive loss limitation rules to tiered publicly traded partnerships, such as Atlas and us, the related entities are treated as one publicly traded partnership. In that case, any passive losses we generate would be available to offset income from your investments in Atlas. However, passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder’s share of income we generate would not be deductible in full until a unitholder disposes of his entire investment in both us and Atlas in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party.
The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.
Limitations on Interest Deductions
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. The IRS has indicated that net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as
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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 are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or the 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 partner 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 the 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 the 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 partner in which event the partner would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction
In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. If we have a net loss for the entire year, that loss will be allocated to the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to the general partner.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for the difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at time of this offering, referred to in this discussion as “Contributed Property.” The effect of these allocations to a unitholder purchasing common units in this offering will be essentially the same as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of this offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the partner 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, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in such amount and manner as is needed to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.
An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Internal Revenue 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. |
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—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.
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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, loss or deduction 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 |
• | all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income. |
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the treatment of a unitholder where common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common 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 modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units. The IRS has announced that it is actively studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read “Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”
Alternative Minimum Tax
Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates
In general, the highest effective United States federal income tax rate for individuals is currently 35.0% and the maximum United States federal income tax rate for net capital gains of an individual is currently 15.0% if the asset disposed of was held for more than 12 months at the time of disposition.
Section 754 Election
We will make the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election will generally permit us to adjust a common unit purchaser’s tax basis in our assets (“inside basis”) under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply 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, a unitholder’s inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets (“common basis”) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Treasury regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require, if the remedial allocation method is adopted (which we will adopt), a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to recovery property to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the Section 704(c) built-in gain. 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 Internal Revenue 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, the general partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with these Treasury Regulations. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—Uniformity of Units.”
Although Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of this approach because there is no controlling authority on this issue, we intend to 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
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Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the common basis of the property, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property the common basis of which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Uniformity of Units.”
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. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation and depletion deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our assets would be less. 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 or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. Generally, a built in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.
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 Internal Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets or the tangible assets owned by Atlas to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally 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 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 September 30 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 September 30 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 one year of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “Material Tax Consequences —Disposition of Common Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”
Initial Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization
The tax basis of our assets and Atlas’ 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 tax basis of our assets we own at the time of this offering will be greater to the extent such assets have been recently
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acquired. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and Atlas’ assets and their tax basis immediately prior to this offering will be borne by our existing unitholders. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”
To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets are placed in service. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.
If we or Atlas 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 or Atlas owns 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”
The costs incurred 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 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 and Atlas’ 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 ourselves. 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 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.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss
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 from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that 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 below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a “dealer” in units, on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than 12 months will generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. However, a portion of this gain or loss will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” we own or Atlas owns. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation
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recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture 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. Net 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.
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 Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the regulations, may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the regulations.
Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue 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; |
• | an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
• | a futures or forward contract 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 and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of 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 in this prospectus 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 the 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 use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations as there is no controlling authority on the issue. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of
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allocation between unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns 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 but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements
A unitholder who sells any of his units other than through a broker generally is 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 generally required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase, unless a broker or nominee will satisfy such requirement. 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.
Constructive Termination
We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending September 30, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, 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 units. Please read “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election.”
We intend to 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 common basis of that property, 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 Internal Revenue 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 “Material Tax Consequences—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 a common basis or Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our property. 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
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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. 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Common Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”
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, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts 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 and will be taxable to them.
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 pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will withhold at the highest applicable effective tax rate from cash distributions made quarterly to foreign unitholders. 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 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 United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the United States branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity,” which are effectively connected with the conduct of a United States 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 Internal Revenue Code.
Under a published ruling of the IRS, the IRS has taken a position that a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent that this gain is effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Because a foreign unitholder is considered to be engaged in business in the United States by virtue of the ownership of units, under this ruling a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit generally will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or disposition of units. Apart from the ruling, a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or subject to withholding upon the sale or disposition of a unit if he has owned less than 5% in value of the units during the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and if the units are regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of the sale or disposition.
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 in all cases yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations
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or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 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. The Internal Revenue Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. The partnership agreement names Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC as our Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner 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.
Nominee Reporting
Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:
(a) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee; |
(b) whether the beneficial owner is: |
1. a person that is not a United States person; |
2. a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or |
3. a tax-exempt entity; |
(c) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and |
(d) 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 sales. |
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are United States persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue 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
An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal
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Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.
For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion 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 pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return. |
If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders for a given year might result in an “understatement” of income for which no “substantial authority” exists, we must disclose the pertinent 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 penalties. More stringent rules apply to “tax shelters,” which we do not believe include us.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 200% or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 400% or more than the correct valuation, the penalty imposed increases to 40%.
Reportable Transactions
If we were to engage in a “reportable transaction,” we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a “listed transaction” or that it produces certain kinds of losses in excess of $2.0 million. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read “—Information Returns and Audit Procedures” above.
Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following provisions of the American Jobs Creation At of 2004:
• | accuracy related penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at “—Accuracy Related Penalties.” |
• | for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax deficiencies, nondeductability of interest on any resulting tax liability; and |
• | in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations. |
We do not expect to engage in any reportable transactions.
State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you likely will 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 or Atlas do business or own 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 or Atlas will initially own property or do business in Arkansas, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas, and each impose a personal income tax on individuals as well as an income tax on corporations and other entities, other than Texas. 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
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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 own 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 “Material Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Entity-Level Collections.” Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, the 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 jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his 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 United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.
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INVESTMENT IN ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P. BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
An investment in us by an employee benefit plan is subject to additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. For these purposes the term “employee benefit plan” includes, but is not limited to, qualified pension, profit-sharing and stock bonus plans, Keogh plans, simplified employee pension plans and tax deferred annuities or IRAs established or maintained by an employer or employee organization. Among other things, consideration should be given to:
• | whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA; |
• | whether in making the investment, that plan will satisfy the diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(1)(C) of ERISA; and |
• | whether the investment will result in recognition of unrelated business taxable income by the plan and, if so, the potential after-tax investment return. |
The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan, often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in us is authorized by the appropriate governing instrument and is a proper investment for the plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code prohibit employee benefit plans, and also IRAs that are not considered part of an employee benefit plan, from engaging in specified transactions involving “plan assets” with parties that are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the plan.
In addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a prohibited transaction, a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan should consider whether the plan will, by investing in us, be deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to whether the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity interests would be deemed “plan assets” under some circumstances. Under these regulations, an entity’s assets would not be considered to be “plan assets” if, among other things:
(a) the equity interests acquired by employee benefit plans are publicly offered securities—i.e., the equity interests are widely held by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and each other, freely transferable and registered under some provisions of the federal securities laws;
(b) the entity is an “operating company,”—i.e., it is primarily engaged in the production or sale of a product or service other than the investment of capital either directly or through a majority-owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or
(c) there is no significant investment by benefit plan investors, which is defined to mean that less than 25% of the value of each class of equity interest is held by the employee benefit plans referred to above, IRAs and other employee benefit plans not subject to ERISA, including governmental plans.
Our assets should not be considered “plan assets” under these regulations because it is expected that the investment will satisfy the requirements in (a) above.
Plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of common units should consult with their own counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code in light of the serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other violations.
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UNDERWRITING
Lehman Brothers Inc. is acting as sole book running manager. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the respective number of common units shown opposite its name below:
Underwriters | Number of common units | |||
Lehman Brothers Inc. | ||||
Total | 3,600,000 | |||
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters’ obligation to purchase common units depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement including:
• | the obligation to purchase all of the common units offered hereby, if any of the common units are purchased; |
• | the representations and warranties made by us to the underwriters are true; |
• | there is no material change in the financial markets; and |
• | we deliver customary closing documents to the underwriters. |
Commissions and Expenses
The following table summarizes the underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units. The underwriting fee is the difference between the initial price to the public and the amount the underwriters pay to us for the common units.
No exercise | Full exercise | ||||||
Per Unit | $ | $ | |||||
Total | $ | $ |
Lehman Brothers Inc. has advised us that the underwriters propose to offer the common units directly to the public at the public offering price on the cover of this prospectus and to selected dealers, which may include the underwriters, at such offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $ per unit. After the offering, Lehman Brothers Inc. may change the offering price and other selling terms.
The expenses of the offering that are payable by us are estimated to be $ (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions). In no event will the maximum amount of compensation to be paid to NASD members in connection with this offering exceed 10% plus 0.5% for bona fide due diligence.
We will pay a structuring fee equal to $ , or 0.25% of the gross proceeds of this offering, to Lehman Brothers Inc. in consideration of advice rendered related to the master limited partnership structure of this offering and the related transactions described in this prospectus.
Option to Purchase Additional Common Units
We have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of 540,000 common units at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions. This option may be exercised if the underwriters sell more than 3,600,000 common units in connection with this offering. To the extent that this option is exercised, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of these additional common units based on the underwriter’s percentage underwriting commitment in the offering as indicated in the table at the beginning of this Underwriting section. To the extent the underwriters purchase our common units pursuant to the exercise of this option, we will redeem an equal amount of common units from Atlas America.
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Lock-Up Agreements
We, our affiliates that own common units, and the directors and executive officers of our general partner have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers Inc., we and they will not directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell an option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any common units or any securities that may be converted into or exchanged for any common units, enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common units, make any demand for or exercise any right or file or cause to be filed a registration statement with respect to the registration of any common units or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into common units or any of our other securities or publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus other than permitted transfers.
The 180-day restricted period described in the preceding paragraph will be extended if:
• | during the last 17 days of the 180-day restricted period we issue an earnings release or announce material news or a material event; or |
• | prior to the expiration of the 180-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 180-day period, |
in which case the restrictions described in the preceding paragraph will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or material event.
Lehman Brothers Inc., in its sole discretion, may release the common units and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice. When determining whether or not to release common units and other securities from lock-up agreements, Lehman Brothers Inc. will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of common units and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.
Offering Price Determination
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common units. The initial public offering price will be negotiated between the representatives and us. In determining the initial public offering price of our common units, the representatives will consider:
• | the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete; |
• | our financial information; |
• | the ability of our management and our business potential and earning prospects; |
• | the prevailing securities markets at the time of this offering; and |
• | the recent market prices of, and the demand for, publicly traded common units of generally comparable companies. |
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.
Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
The underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the common units, in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
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• | Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
• | A short position involves a sale by the underwriters of common units in excess of the number of common units the underwriters are obligated to purchase in the offering, which creates the syndicate short position. This short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of common units involved in the sales made by the underwriters in excess of the number of common units they are obligated to purchase is not greater than the number of common units that they may purchase by exercising their option to purchase additional common units. In a naked short position, the number of common units involved is greater than the number of common units in their option to purchase additional common units. The underwriters may close out any short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional common units and/or purchasing common units in the open market. In determining the source of common units to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of common units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase common units through their option to purchase additional common units. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the common units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. |
• | Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the common units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. |
• | Penalty bids permit Lehman Brothers Inc. to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common units originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. |
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common units. As a result, the price of the common units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on The New York Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common units. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make representation that the underwriters will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Electronic Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of common units for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations.
Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s or selling group member’s web site and any information contained in any other web site maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.
NYSE
We intend to apply to list our common units on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AHD.”
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Discretionary Sales
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales to discretionary accounts that exceed 5% of the total number of common units offered by them.
Stamp Taxes
If you purchase common units offered in this prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.
Relationships
The underwriters may in the future perform investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they may in the future receive customary fees and expenses. The underwriters may, from time to time, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.
Lehman Brothers Inc. and its related entities have engaged and may engage in commercial and investment banking transactions with Atlas, Atlas America, its general partner and us in the ordinary course of their business. Lehman Brothers Inc. has received customary compensation and expenses for these commercial and investment banking transactions. Lehman Brothers Inc. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Energy Spectrum Capital Partners, which held a controlling interest in Spectrum, in the solicitation of proposals for a potential sale transaction of Spectrum. In addition, Lehman Brothers Inc. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to OGE Energy Corporation in the solicitation of proposals for a potential sale transaction of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation, which became Atlas Arkansas. Lehman Brothers Inc., acted as an underwriter in our follow-on offering in July 2004 and in November 2005.
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VALIDITY OF THE COMMON UNITS
The validity of the common units will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York, and for the underwriters by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005; the balance sheet of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. as of December 31, 2005; the balance sheet of Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC as of December 31, 2005; the financial statements of ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd. as of August 31, 2003 and 2004 and for the year ended August 31, 2004 and for the eleven month period ended August 31, 2003 have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, herein in reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2004, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon and included therein. Such consolidated financial statements are included herein in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, a registration statement on Form S-l regarding the common units. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and the common units offered by this prospectus, you may desire to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, filed under the Securities Act. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including its exhibits and schedules, may be inspected and copied at the public reference room maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E. Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the materials may also be obtained from the SEC at prescribed rates by writing to the public reference room maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the Commission at l-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Our registration statement, of which this prospectus constitutes a part, can be downloaded from the Commission’s web site.
We intend to furnish our unitholders annual reports containing our audited financial statements and furnish or make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each of our fiscal years.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the information in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” or other similar words. These statements discuss plans, strategies, events, future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information that we expect will or may occur in the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this prospectus. The risk factors and other factors noted throughout this prospectus could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
173
Specific factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to:
• | increased competition in natural gas and NGL markets and Atlas’ ability to respond to the competition; |
• | fluctuations in natural gas and NGL prices, which could adversely affect Atlas’ operating results and cash flows; |
• | decreased availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
• | increased expenses Atlas incurs in providing its gathering services; |
• | technical advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices; |
• | risks associated with the expansion of Atlas’s operations and properties; |
• | customer bankruptcies and/or cancellations or breaches of existing contracts; |
• | customer delays or defaults in making payments; |
• | fluctuations in natural gas and NGL demand, prices and availability due to labor and transportation costs and disruptions, equipment availability, governmental regulations and other factors; |
• | Atlas’ productivity levels and margins that Atlas earns on its coal sales; |
• | greater than expected shortage of skilled labor; |
• | any unanticipated increases in labor costs, adverse changes in work rules, or unexpected cash payments associated with workers’ compensation claims; |
• | any unanticipated increases in transportation costs and risk of transportation delays or interruptions; |
• | greater than expected environmental regulation, costs and liabilities; |
• | results of litigation; and |
• | difficulty obtaining commercial property insurance, and risks associated with Atlas’ participation (excluding any applicable deductible) in Atlas’ commercial insurance property program. |
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statement. When considering forward-looking statements, you should also keep in mind the risk factors described in “Risk Factors.” The risk factors could also cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to update the above list or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page | ||||
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. | ||||
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements: | ||||
Introduction | F-2 | |||
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2005 | F-4 | |||
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2005 | F-5 | |||
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements | F-6 | |||
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. | ||||
Audited Balance Sheet: | ||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-7 | |||
Balance Sheet at December 31, 2005 | F-8 | |||
Note to Balance Sheet | F-9 | |||
Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC | ||||
Audited Balance Sheet: | ||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-10 | |||
Balance Sheet at December 31, 2005 | F-11 | |||
Note to Balance Sheet | F-12 | |||
Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC | ||||
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements: | ||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-13 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2004 and 2005 | F-14 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 | F-15 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 | F-16 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Owner’s Equity (Deficit) | F-17 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 | F-18 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-19 | |||
Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation | ||||
Audited Financial Statements: | ||||
Report of Independent Auditors | F-41 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-42 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-44 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings (Deficit) for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-45 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-46 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-47 | |||
Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation | ||||
Unaudited Financial Statements: | ||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 | F-53 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 | F-55 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 | F-56 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | F-57 | |||
ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd. | ||||
Audited Financial Statements: | ||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-61 | |||
Balance Sheets as of August 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-62 | |||
Income Statements for the Twelve Months ended August 31, 2004 and the Eleven Months Ended August 31, 2003 | F-63 | |||
Statements of Partners’ Capital for the Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2004 and 2003 | F-64 | |||
Statement of Cash Flows for the Twelve Months Ended August 31, 2004 and the Eleven Months Ended August 31, 2003 | F-65 | |||
Notes to Financial Statements | F-66 |
F-1
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unless indicated otherwise, the terms “our,” “we,” “us,” “Atlas Holdings” and other similar language refer to Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. We own and control Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, which is the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a publicly traded limited partnership (“Atlas”). Since we own and control Atlas’ general partner, we reflect our ownership interest in Atlas on a consolidated basis and our financial results are combined with those of Atlas and its general partner.
The following unaudited pro forma financial statements reflect our historical results as adjusted on a pro forma basis to give effect to Atlas’ June 2005 and November 2005 offerings of common units, the December 2005 issuance of Atlas’ senior unsecured notes, the completion of the Elk City and NOARK acquisitions and this offering. The acquisition and other adjustments are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma financial statements. The unaudited pro forma financial statements and accompanying notes should be read together with “Selected Historical Financial and Operating Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” our historical financial statements and related notes and the historical financial statements and related notes of Elk City and its predecessor and Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation included in this registration statement.
We accounted for the NOARK and Elk City acquisitions in the unaudited pro forma financial statements using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the guidance of Statement of Financial Accounting standards No. 141, “Business Combinations.” For purposes of developing the unaudited pro forma financial information, we have allocated the purchase prices to Elk City’s and NOARK’s gas gathering, processing and/or transmission facilities based on their fair market value.
Our summary unaudited pro forma balance sheet information reflects this offering and the application of the net proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds” as if they occurred as of December 31, 2005.
The unaudited pro forma statement of income information for the year ended December 31, 2005 reflects the following transactions as if they occurred as of January 1, 2005:
• | the Elk City acquisition, which occurred in April 2005, for total consideration of $196.0 million, including related transaction costs; |
• | the closing of Atlas’ $225.0 million credit facility, which occurred in April 2005, and borrowings under it to finance the Elk City acquisition and repay amounts outstanding under Atlas’ previous credit facility; |
• | Atlas’ public offering of 2,300,000 common units, which was completed in June 2005, at a public offering price of $41.95 per common unit, the net proceeds of which were principally used to repay indebtedness incurred in connection with the Elk City acquisition; |
• | the NOARK acquisition, which occurred on October 31, 2005, for consideration of $163.0 million, plus $16.8 million for working capital adjustments and related transaction costs, and the redemption of the portion of the NOARK 7.15% notes severally guaranteed by Atlas Arkansas; |
• | the amendment of Atlas’ credit facility, which occurred on October 31, 2005, and borrowings under it to finance the NOARK acquisition; |
• | Atlas’ public offering of 2,700,000 common units, which was completed in November 2005, and 330,000 additional underwriter option units, which was completed in December 2005, each at a public offering price of $42.00 per common unit, the net proceeds of which were used principally to repay indebtedness incurred in connection with the NOARK acquisition; |
• | Atlas’ issuance of $250.0 million of 8.125% senior unsecured notes in a private placement on December 20, 2005, the net proceeds of which were used principally to repay indebtedness under its credit facility; | |
• | Atlas’ issuance of $30.0 million of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units, the net proceeds of which we have assumed will be used to repay Atlas’ pro forma credit facility indebtedness as of |
F-2
December 31, 2005, with the remainder to be reflected as cash on hand until utilized in 2006 to fund a portion of Atlas’ capital expenditures; and
• | this offering and the application of the net proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds.” |
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet and the pro forma statements of income were derived by adjusting historical financial statements of Atlas Pipeline GP. However, our management believes that the adjustments provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects of the transactions described above. The unaudited pro forma financial data presented are for informational purposes only and are based upon available information and assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. You should not construe the unaudited pro forma financial data as indicative of the combined financial position or results of operations that we, Atlas Pipeline GP, Atlas, Elk City and NOARK would have achieved had the transactions been consummated on the dates assumed. Moreover, they do not purport to represent our, Atlas’, Atlas Pipeline GP’s, Elk City’s or NOARK’s combined financial position or results of operations for any future date or period.
The financial data below should be read together with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, Atlas Pipeline GP’s historical consolidated and pro forma combined financial statements and the accompanying notes, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes of Elk City and its predecessor and Enogex Arkansas Pipeline, each of which is set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro forma data is not necessarily reflective of what our results would actually have been had the transactions actually occurred on the indicated date, nor do they reflect what may actually occur in the future.
F-3
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
DECEMBER 31, 2005
(in thousands)
Historical Atlas Pipeline GP | Atlas Convertible Preferred Unit Offering | Atlas Pipeline Holdings Equity Offering | Pro Forma | ||||||||||
ASSETS | |||||||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 34,237 | $ | 30,000 | (a) | $ | 79,152 | (b) | $ | 54,737 | |||
(9,500 | )(a) | (79,152 | )(b) | ||||||||||
Accounts receivable — affiliates | 4,649 | — | — | 4,649 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable | 57,528 | — | — | 57,528 | |||||||||
Current portion of hedge asset | 11,388 | — | — | 11,388 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,454 | — | — | 2,454 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 110,256 | 20,500 | — | 130,756 | |||||||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT | 468,745 | — | — | 468,745 | |||||||||
Less — accumulated depreciation | (23,679 | ) | — | — | (23,679 | ) | |||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | 445,066 | — | — | 445,066 | |||||||||
LONG-TERM HEDGE ASSET | 4,388 | — | — | 4,388 | |||||||||
INTANGIBLES, NET | 54,869 | — | — | 54,869 | |||||||||
GOODWILL | 111,446 | — | — | 111,446 | |||||||||
OTHER ASSETS | 16,701 | — | — | 16,701 | |||||||||
$ | 742,726 | $ | 20,500 | $ | — | $ | 763,226 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |||||||||||||
Current portion of NOARK long-term debt | $ | 1,200 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,200 | |||||
Current portion of other long-term debt | 63 | — | — | 63 | |||||||||
Accrued liabilities | 16,064 | — | — | 16,064 | |||||||||
Current portion of hedge liability | 23,796 | — | — | 23,796 | |||||||||
Accrued producer liabilities | 36,712 | — | — | 36,712 | |||||||||
Accounts payable | 15,609 | — | — | 15,609 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 93,444 | — | — | 93,444 | |||||||||
LONG-TERM HEDGE LIABILITY | 22,410 | — | — | 22,410 | |||||||||
NOARK LONG-TERM DEBT | 37,800 | — | — | 37,800 | |||||||||
SENIOR UNSECURED DEBT | 250,000 | — | — | 250,000 | |||||||||
SENIOR SECURED DEBT | 9,562 | (9,500 | )(a) | — | 62 | ||||||||
MINORITY INTERESTS IN ATLAS PIPELINE: | |||||||||||||
Common units | 350,511 | — | — | 350,511 | |||||||||
Convertible preferred units | — | 30,000 | (a) | — | 30,000 | ||||||||
350,511 | 30,000 | — | 380,511 | ||||||||||
OWNERS’ EQUITY: | |||||||||||||
Owners’ equity | 9,074 | — | 79,152 | (b) | 9,074 | ||||||||
(79,152 | )(b) | ||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (30,075 | ) | — | — | (30,075 | ) | |||||||
Total owners’ equity | (21,001 | ) | — | — | (21,001 | ) | |||||||
$ | 742,726 | $ | 20,500 | $ | — | $ | 763,226 | ||||||
F-4
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005
(in thousands, except per unit data)
Historical Atlas Pipeline GP | Historical Elk City | Historical NOARK | Adjustments | Atlas November 2005 Equity Offering Adjustments | Atlas Senior Notes Offering Adjustments | Atlas Convertible Preferred Unit Offering Adjustments | Pro Forma | ||||||||||||||||||
REVENUE: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids — third parties | $ | 340,297 | $ | 3,497 | $ | 237 | $ | 79,360 | (c) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 423,391 | ||||||||
Natural gas and liquids — affiliates | — | 37,235 | 42,125 | (79,360 | )(c) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Transportation and compression — third parties | 5,963 | — | 8,174 | 6,955 | (c) | — | — | — | 21,092 | ||||||||||||||||
Transportation and compression — affiliates | 24,346 | — | 6,955 | (6,955 | )(c) | — | — | — | 24,346 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income and other | 894 | — | 144 | — | — | — | 431 | (m) | 1,469 | ||||||||||||||||
Total revenue and other income | 371,500 | 40,732 | 57,635 | — | — | — | 431 | 470,298 | |||||||||||||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | 288,180 | 36,665 | 40,551 | — | — | — | — | 365,396 | |||||||||||||||||
Plant operating | 10,557 | 1,363 | — | — | — | — | — | 11,920 | |||||||||||||||||
Transportation and compression | 4,053 | — | 3,547 | — | — | — | — | 7,600 | |||||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 13,608 | 850 | 2,207 | (850 | )(d) | — | — | — | 16,025 | (n) | |||||||||||||||
210 | (d) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss on arbitration settlement, net | 138 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 138 | |||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 13,954 | 628 | 2,475 | (3,103 | )(e) | — | — | — | 20,080 | ||||||||||||||||
6,126 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minority interest in Atlas | 13,447 | — | — | (3,144 | )(f) | — | — | — | 10,303 | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | 1,083 | — | 440 | — | — | — | — | 1,523 | |||||||||||||||||
Interest | 14,175 | — | 3,654 | 10,268 | (g)(h) | (7,140 | ) (j) | 5,415 | (k) | (604 | ) (m) | 26,456 | |||||||||||||
688 | (l) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 359,195 | 39,506 | 52,874 | 9,507 | (7,140 | ) | 6,103 | (604 | ) | 459,441 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | 12,305 | 1,226 | 4,761 | (9,507 | ) | 7,140 | (6,103 | ) | 1,035 | 10,857 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes | — | — | (1,887 | ) | 1,887 | (i) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 12,305 | $ | 1,226 | $ | 2,874 | $ | (7,620 | ) | $ | 7,140 | $ | (6,103 | ) | $ | 1,035 | $ | 10,857 | |||||||
Net income per unit | �� | $ | 0.51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average units outstanding | 21,100 | (o) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
F-5
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
a. | To reflect net proceeds from Atlas’ issuance of $30.0 million of 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units, the net proceeds of which we have assumed to repay Atlas’ $9.5 million of pro forma credit facility indebtedness as of December 31, 2005, with the remainder to be reflected as cash on hand. |
b. | To reflect net proceeds from this offering of $79,152,000, after underwriting discount and estimated offering costs of $7,248,000, assuming 3,600,000 common units at a price of $24.00 per unit, which will be distributed to Atlas America. |
c. | To reclassify intercompany revenue with the former owners of acquired entities or assets to third-party revenue. |
d. | To reflect the elimination of the overhead allocated to Elk City by its parent and its replacement with an overhead allocation to be made by us in accordance with a new allocation agreement. |
e. | To reflect the adjustment to depreciation expense for Elk City and NOARK for the periods these entities were not included within our historical results based upon the cost of the acquired gas gathering and transmission facilities using depreciable lives ranging from 3 to 40 years and using the straight-line method. |
f. | To reflect adjustment of the minority interest in the net income of Atlas as a result of the net effect of the pro forma statement of income adjustments previously noted. The allocation of Atlas’ net income to minority interests is based upon the historical distributions received by its partners. It is impracticable to determine what the cash available would have been on a pro forma basis. Accordingly, the allocation of Atlas’ net income to the minority interest owners reflects historical distributions. |
g. | To reflect the adjustments to interest expense resulting from borrowings under Atlas’ credit facility to (a) finance the acquisitions of Elk City and NOARK, resulting in additional interest expense of $6,589,000, (b) reflect the net proceeds of the June 2005 offering of common units, resulting in a reduction of interest expense of $2,385,000, and (c) reflect the adjustment of the NOARK historical interest expense for the repayment of the portion of the NOARK notes severally guaranteed by Enogex, resulting in a reduction of interest expense of $1,294,000. |
h. | To reflect the amortization of deferred financing costs related to Atlas’ credit facility to finance the Elk City acquisition and the amendment to the credit facility to finance the NOARK acquisition. |
i. | To reflect the elimination of federal and state income taxes following the conversion of Atlas Arkansas, formerly a C-corporation, to a limited liability company concurrent with its acquisition by Atlas. |
j. | To reflect the adjustment to interest expense resulting from the repayment of amounts outstanding under Atlas’ credit facility with proceeds from its November 2005 equity offering. |
k. | To reflect the adjustment to interest expense resulting from the repayment of amounts outstanding under Atlas’ credit facility with proceeds from their December 2005 issuance of senior unsecured notes. |
l. | To reflect the amortization of deferred financing costs related to the issuance of Atlas’ senior unsecured notes. |
m. | To reflect the adjustment to interest income of $431,000 and interest expense of $604,000 resulting from the additional cash on hand and the repayment of amounts outstanding under Atlas’ credit facility with a portion of the net proceeds from its issuance of $30.0 million 6.5% cumulative convertible preferred units. |
n. | Does not include $0.8 million in incremental ongoing general and administrative costs as a result of being a public entity, including, among other things, estimated incremental accounting and audit fees, director fees, director and officer liability insurances expenses and other miscellaneous costs. |
o. | To reflect the adjustment of our outstanding limited partner units. |
F-6
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors
Atlas America, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2005. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. The Partnership is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. as of December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP |
Cleveland, Ohio
January 3, 2006
F-7
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2005
ASSETS | ||||
Cash | $ | 1,000 | ||
OWNERS’ EQUITY | ||||
Owners’ equity | $ | 1,000 | ||
See accompanying note to balance sheet
F-8
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.
NOTE TO BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2005
NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership formed on December 15, 2005 to become the sole member of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, which is the managing general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (“Atlas”), a publicly traded limited partnership. Atlas is a midstream energy service provider engaged in the transmission, gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions of the United States. Our assets will consist of the following partnership interests in Atlas to be contributed to us by Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC:
• | The 100% ownership interest in Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, which owns a 2.0% general partner interest in Atlas; |
• | The incentive distribution rights in Atlas associated with the general partner interest, which we hold through our ownership interests in Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC; and |
• | 1,641,026 common limited partner units of Atlas, representing approximately 13.1% of the outstanding common limited partner units of Atlas, or approximately 12.8% of Atlas’ partnership interests. |
F-9
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors
Atlas America, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC as of December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
January 3, 2006
F-10
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS GP, LLC
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2005
ASSETS | ||||
Cash | $ | 1,000 | ||
OWNERS’ EQUITY | ||||
Owners’ equity | $ | 1,000 | ||
See accompanying note to balance sheet
F-11
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS GP, LLC
NOTE TO BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2005
NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC (the “Company”) is a Delaware limited liability company formed on December 15, 2005 and is the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership that was formed on December 15, 2005 to own Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (“Atlas”) and owner of 1,641,026 of Atlas’ common limited partner units. Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC’s general partner interest is fixed without any requirement for capital contributions in connection with additional unit issuances by Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. because Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC has no economic interest in Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.
F-12
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC |
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2004 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), owners’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
March 3, 2006
F-13
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2005 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 18,214 | $ | 34,237 | |||
Accounts receivable – affiliates | 19,609 | 4,649 | |||||
Accounts receivable | 13,729 | 57,528 | |||||
Current portion of hedge asset | 40 | 11,388 | |||||
Prepaid expenses | 1,056 | 2,454 | |||||
Total current assets | 52,648 | 110,256 | |||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 175,259 | 445,066 | |||||
Long-term hedge asset | 14 | 4,388 | |||||
Intangible assets, net | — | 54,869 | |||||
Goodwill | 2,305 | 111,446 | |||||
Other assets, net | 4,672 | 16,701 | |||||
$ | 234,898 | $ | 742,726 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Current portion of long-term debt | $ | 2,303 | $ | 1,263 | |||
Accounts payable | 2,341 | 15,609 | |||||
Accrued liabilities | 3,144 | 16,064 | |||||
Current portion of hedge liability | 1,959 | 23,796 | |||||
Accrued producer liabilities | 10,996 | 36,712 | |||||
Distribution payable | 4,006 | — | |||||
Total current liabilities | 24,749 | 93,444 | |||||
Long-term hedge liability | 722 | 22,410 | |||||
Long-term debt, less current portion | 52,149 | 297,362 | |||||
Minority interest in Atlas Pipeline | 135,873 | 350,511 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
Owners’ equity (deficit): | |||||||
Owners’ equity | 22,723 | 9,074 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,318 | ) | (30,075 | ) | |||
Total owners’ equity (deficit) | 21,405 | (21,001 | ) | ||||
$ | 234,898 | $ | 742,726 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-14
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | $ | — | $ | 72,109 | $ | 340,297 | ||||
Transportation and compression – affiliates | 15,563 | 18,724 | 24,346 | |||||||
Transportation and compression – third parties | 88 | 76 | 5,963 | |||||||
Interest income and other | 98 | 382 | 894 | |||||||
Total revenue and other income | 15,749 | 91,291 | 371,500 | |||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | — | 58,707 | 288,180 | |||||||
Plant operating | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | |||||||
Transportation and compression | 2,421 | 2,260 | 4,053 | |||||||
General and administrative | 854 | 3,561 | 11,825 | |||||||
Compensation reimbursement – affiliates | 808 | 1,081 | 1,783 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | |||||||
Interest | 258 | 2,301 | 14,175 | |||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | — | — | 1,083 | |||||||
Minority interest in Atlas Pipeline | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | |||||||
Loss (gain) on arbitration settlement, net | — | (1,457 | ) | 138 | ||||||
Total costs and expenses | 11,177 | 83,897 | 359,195 | |||||||
Net income | 4,572 | 7,394 | 12,305 | |||||||
Premium on Atlas Pipeline preferred unit redemption | — | (400 | ) | — | ||||||
Net income attributable to owners | $ | 4,572 | $ | 6,994 | $ | 12,305 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-15
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | ||||
Premium on Atlas Pipeline preferred unit redemption | — | (400 | ) | — | ||||||
Net income attributable to owners | 4,572 | 6,994 | 12,305 | |||||||
Other comprehensive loss: | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative instruments accounted for as hedges | — | (1,320 | ) | (39,882 | ) | |||||
Add: reclassification adjustment for losses in net income | — | 2 | 11,125 | |||||||
— | (1,318 | ) | (28,757 | ) | ||||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 4,572 | $ | 5,676 | $ | (16,452 | ) | |||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-16
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OWNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(in thousands)
Accumulated | ||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||
Owners’ | Comprehensive | Total Owners’ | ||||||||
Equity | Loss | Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2003 | $ | 11,157 | $ | — | $ | 11,157 | ||||
Net income attributable to owners | 4,572 | — | 4,572 | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2003 | $ | 15,729 | $ | — | $ | 15,729 | ||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | (1,318 | ) | (1,318 | ) | |||||
Net income attributable to owners | 6,994 | — | 6,994 | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2004 | $ | 22,723 | $ | (1,318 | ) | $ | 21,405 | |||
Distribution to owners | (33,644 | ) | — | (33,644 | ) | |||||
Capital contribution from owners | 7,690 | — | 7,690 | |||||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | (28,757 | ) | (28,757 | ) | |||||
Net income attributable to owners | 12,305 | — | 12,305 | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005 | $ | 9,074 | $ | (30,075 | ) | $ | (21,001 | ) | ||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-17
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to owners | $ | 4,572 | $ | 6,994 | $ | 12,305 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to partners to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||
Minority interest in net income of Atlas Pipeline | 5,066 | 10,941 | 13,447 | |||||||
Distributions paid to minority interest limited partners in Atlas Pipeline | (5,040 | ) | (9,427 | ) | (23,076 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 4,471 | 13,954 | |||||||
Non-cash gain on derivative value | — | (210 | ) | (954 | ) | |||||
Non-cash compensation expense | — | 700 | 4,672 | |||||||
Amortization of deferred finance costs | 106 | 400 | 2,140 | |||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | — | — | 1,083 | |||||||
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions: | ||||||||||
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses | 827 | 5,444 | (27,823 | ) | ||||||
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued Liabilities | 413 | (3,264 | ) | 35,246 | ||||||
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable – affiliates | (3,075 | ) | (4,738 | ) | 17,421 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 4,639 | 11,311 | 48,415 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||
Net cash paid for acquisitions | — | (141,626 | ) | (358,831 | ) | |||||
Capital expenditures | (7,635 | ) | (10,043 | ) | (52,498 | ) | ||||
Other | (1,519 | ) | (128 | ) | 325 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (9,154 | ) | (151,797 | ) | (411,004 | ) | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of Atlas Pipeline debt | — | — | 243,102 | |||||||
Repayment of Atlas Pipeline debt | — | — | (677 | ) | ||||||
Borrowings under Atlas Pipeline credit facility | 2,000 | 110,000 | 463,500 | |||||||
Repayments under Atlas Pipeline credit facility | (8,500 | ) | (55,750 | ) | (508,250 | ) | ||||
Distribution to owners | — | — | (33,644 | ) | ||||||
Capital contribution from owners | — | — | 7,690 | |||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of Atlas Pipeline limited partner units | 25,182 | 93,119 | 212,700 | |||||||
Net proceeds from sale of Atlas Pipeline preferred units | — | 20,000 | — | |||||||
Redemption of Atlas Pipeline preferred units | — | (20,000 | ) | — | ||||||
Other | (948 | ) | (3,747 | ) | (5,809 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 17,734 | 143,622 | 378,612 | |||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 13,219 | 3,136 | 16,023 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 1,859 | 15,078 | 18,214 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 15,078 | $ | 18,214 | $ | 34,237 | ||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-18
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC (the “Company”) is a Delaware limited liability company formed in May 1999 to become the general partner of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (“Atlas Pipeline”). The Company is wholly-owned by Atlas America, Inc. and its affiliates (“Atlas America”), a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ATLS).
Atlas Pipeline is a Delaware limited partnership formed in May 1999 to acquire, own and operate natural gas gathering systems previously owned by Atlas America. Atlas Pipeline’s operations are conducted through subsidiary entities whose equity interests are owned by Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlas Pipeline. The Company, through its general partner interests in Atlas Pipeline and the Operating Partnership, owns a 2% general partner interest in the consolidated pipeline operations, through which it manages and effectively controls both Atlas Pipeline and the Operating Partnership. The remaining 98% ownership interest in the consolidated pipeline operations consists of limited partner interests in Atlas Pipeline. At December 31, 2004, Atlas Pipeline had 5,563,659 common and 1,641,026 subordinated limited partnership units outstanding. In January 2005, these subordinated units, which are owned by the Company, were converted to common units as Atlas Pipeline met stipulated tests under the terms of its partnership agreement allowing for such conversion. While the converted units are no longer subordinated to the rights of the common unitholders, these units have not yet been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, their resale in the public market is subject to restrictions under the Securities Act. At December 31, 2005, Atlas Pipeline had 12,549,266 common limited partnership units outstanding, including the 1,641,026 unregistered common units held by the Company.
The Company, as general partner, manages the operations and activities of Atlas Pipeline and owes a fiduciary duty to Atlas Pipeline’s unitholders. The Company is liable, as general partner, for all of Atlas Pipeline’s debts (to the extent not paid from Atlas Pipeline’s assets), except for indebtedness or other obligations that are made specifically nonrecourse to the general partner.
The Company does not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of Atlas Pipeline. The Company and its affiliates are reimbursed for expenses incurred on Atlas Pipeline’s behalf. These expenses include the costs of employee, officer, and managing board member compensation and benefits properly allocable to Atlas Pipeline and all other expenses necessary or appropriate to conduct the business of, and allocable to, Atlas Pipeline. The Atlas Pipeline partnership agreement provides that the Company, as general partner, will determine the expenses that are allocable to Atlas Pipeline in any reasonable manner in its sole discretion.
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Principles of Consolidation and Minority Interest |
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, Atlas Pipeline, the Operating Partnership and the Operating Partnership’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. Atlas Pipeline’s limited partner equity interests owned by third-parties at December 31, 2004 and 2005 are reflected as minority interests on the consolidated balance sheets. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The consolidated financial statements also include the financial statements of NOARK Pipeline System, Limited Partnership (“NOARK”), an entity in which Atlas Pipeline owns a 75% operating interest (see Note 7). The remaining 25% interest in NOARK is owned by Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company (“Southwestern”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN). Under the NOARK partnership agreement, Southwestern is responsible for the $39.0 million of outstanding long-term debt, including interest thereon, of NOARK at December 31, 2005 (see Note 9). Payments made upon the
F-19
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
long-term debt and related interest expense will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to Southwestern and, if that amount is insufficient, Southwestern will be required to make a capital contribution to NOARK.
The Company consolidates 100% of NOARK’s financial statements. The minority interest expense reflected on the Company’s consolidated statements of income represents Southwestern’s 25% ownership interest in NOARK’s net income before interest expense and its 100% ownership interest in interest expense related to NOARK’s long-term debt.
Use of Estimates |
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and costs and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash Equivalents |
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. These cash equivalents consist principally of temporary investments of cash in short-term money market instruments.
Receivables |
In evaluating the realizability of its accounts receivable, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customer’s current creditworthiness, as determined by the Company’s review of its customers’ credit information. The Company extends credit on an unsecured basis to many of its customers. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, the Company recorded no allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable impairment.
Property, Plant and Equipment |
Property and Equipment are stated at cost or, upon acquisition of a business, at the fair value of the assets acquired. Depreciation expense is recorded for each asset over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets |
The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an asset’s estimated future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the carrying amount for that asset to its estimated fair value if such carrying amount exceeds the fair value.
Capitalized Interest |
The Company capitalizes interest on borrowed funds related to capital projects only for periods that activities are in progress to bring these projects to their intended use. The weighted average rate used to capitalize interest on borrowed funds was 6.6% and the amount of interest capitalized was $0.1 million for
F-20
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
the year ended December 31, 2005. There were no amounts capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
For cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables, the carrying amounts approximate fair values because of the short maturities of these instruments. The fair values of these financial instruments are represented in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Derivative Instruments |
The Company applies the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 133”). SFAS No. 133 requires each derivative instrument to be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. Changes in a derivative instrument’s fair value are recognized currently in the Company’s consolidated statements of income unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.
Intangible Assets |
The Company has recorded intangible assets with finite lives in connection with certain consummated acquisitions (see Note 7). The following table reflects the components of intangible assets being amortized at December 31, 2005 (in thousands):
December 31, 2005 | ||||||||||
Amortized intangible assets: | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Estimated Useful Lives in Years | |||||||
Customer contracts | $ | 23,990 | $ | (1,339 | ) | 8 | ||||
Customer relationships | 32,960 | (742 | ) | 20 | ||||||
$ | 56,950 | $ | (2,081 | ) | ||||||
The Company did not recognize any intangible assets at December 31, 2004. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”) requires that intangible assets with finite useful lives be amortized over their estimated useful lives. If an intangible asset has a finite useful life, but the precise length of that life is not known, that intangible asset must be amortized over the best estimate of its useful life. At a minimum, the Company will assess the useful lives and residual values of all intangible assets on an annual basis to determine if adjustments are required. The estimated useful life for the Company’s customer contract intangible assets is based upon the approximate average length of customer contracts in existence at the date of acquisition. The estimated useful life for the Company’s customer relationship intangible assets is based upon the estimated average length of non-contracted customer relationships in existence at the date of acquisition. Customer contract and customer relationship intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense on intangible assets was $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. There was no amortization expense on intangible assets recorded during the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. Amortization expense related to intangible assets is estimated to be $4.6 million for each of the next five calendar years commencing in 2006.
Goodwill |
At December 31, 2004 and 2005, the Company had $2.3 million and $111.4 million, respectively, of goodwill which was recorded in connection with consummated acquisitions (see Note 7). The changes in
F-21
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Balance, beginning of year | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | ||||
Goodwill acquired – Elk City acquisition | — | — | 61,136 | |||||||
Goodwill acquired – NOARK acquisition | — | — | 49,088 | |||||||
Reduction in minority interest deficit acquired | — | — | (1,083 | ) | ||||||
Impairment losses | — | — | — | |||||||
Balance, end of year | $ | 2,305 | $ | 2,305 | $ | 111,446 | ||||
The Company tests its goodwill for impairment at each year end by comparing fair values to its carrying values. The evaluation of impairment under SFAS No. 142 requires the use of projections, estimates and assumptions as to the future performance of the Company’s operations, including anticipated future revenues, expected future operating costs and the discount factor used. Actual results could differ from projections, resulting in revisions to the Company’s assumptions and, if required, recognition of an impairment loss. The Company’s test of goodwill at December 31, 2005 resulted in no impairment. The Company will continue to evaluate its goodwill at least annually and if impairment indicators arise, will reflect the impairment of goodwill, if any, within the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the impairment is indicated.
Federal Income Taxes |
The Company is a limited liability corporation and Atlas Pipeline is a limited partnership. As a result, the Company’s and Atlas Pipeline’s income for federal income tax purposes is reportable on the tax returns of the individual owners and partners, respectively. Accordingly, no recognition has been given to income taxes in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Stock-Based Compensation |
The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” as revised (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), as of December 31, 2005. Generally, the approach to accounting in Statement 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company followed Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and its interpretations (“APB No. 25”), which SFAS No. 123(R) superseded. APB No. 25 allowed for valuation of share-based payments to employees at their intrinsic values. Under this methodology, the Company recognized compensation expense for phantom units granted only if the current market price of the underlying units exceeded the exercise price. Since the inception of its Long-Term Incentive Plan (see Note 13), the Company has only granted phantom units with no exercise price and, as such, recognized compensation expense based upon the market price of the Company’s limited partner units at the date of grant. Since the Company has historically recognized compensation expense for its share-based payments at their fair values, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
F-22
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Minority Interests in Atlas Pipeline |
The minority interests in Atlas Pipeline in the Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect the outside ownership interest in Atlas Pipeline, which were 76% and 85% at December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively. The minority interest in Atlas Pipeline in the Company’s consolidated net income is calculated quarterly by multiplying (i) the weighted average Atlas Pipeline limited partner units outstanding held by non-affiliated third-parties by (ii) the consolidated net income per Atlas Pipeline limited partner unit for the respective quarter. The net income per Atlas Pipeline limited partner unit is calculated by dividing the net income allocated to limited partners, after the allocation of net income to the Company as general partner in accordance with the terms of the Atlas Pipeline partnership agreement, by the total weighted average Atlas Pipeline limited partner units outstanding. The minority interest liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets principally reflects the sum of the allocation of Atlas Pipeline consolidated net income to the minority interest and the contributed capital of minority interests through the sale of limited partner units in Atlas Pipeline, partially offset by Atlas Pipeline quarterly cash distributions to the minority interest owners.
Environmental Matters |
The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. The Company has established procedures for the ongoing evaluation of its operations, to identify potential environmental exposures and to comply with regulatory policies and procedures. The Company accounts for environmental contingencies in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or clean-ups are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The Company maintains insurance which may cover in whole or in part certain environmental expenditures. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, the Company had no environmental matters requiring specific disclosure or requiring the recognition of a liability.
Segment Information |
The Company has two business segments: natural gas gathering and the transmission located in the Appalachia Basin area (“Appalachia”) and transmission, gathering and processing located in the Mid-Continent area (“Mid-Continent”). Appalachia revenues are, for the most part, based on contractual arrangements with Atlas America and its affiliates. Mid-Continent revenues are, for the most part, derived from the sale of residue gas and NGLs to purchasers at the tailgate of the processing plant.
Revenue Recognition |
Revenues in the Appalachia segment are recognized at the time the natural gas is transported through the gathering systems. Under the terms of its natural gas gathering agreements with Atlas America and its affiliates, the Company receives fees for gathering natural gas from wells owned by Atlas America, by drilling investment partnerships sponsored by Atlas America or by independent third parties. The fees received for the gathering services are generally the greater of 16% of the gross sales price for gas produced from the wells, or $0.35 or $0.40 per thousand cubic feet (“mcf”), depending on the ownership of the well. Substantially all gas gathering revenues are derived under this agreement. Fees for transportation services provided to independent third parties whose wells are connected to the Company’s Appalachia gathering systems are at separately negotiated prices.
F-23
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company’s Mid-Continent segment revenue is determined primarily by the fees earned from its transmission, gathering and processing operations. The Company either purchases gas from producers and moves it into receipt points on its pipeline systems, and then sells the natural gas, or produced natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), if any, off of delivery points on its systems, or the Company transports natural gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the gas. Revenue associated with the Company’s regulated transmission pipeline is recognized at the time the transportation service is provided. Revenue associated with the physical sale of natural gas is recognized upon physical delivery of the natural gas. The majority of the revenue associated with the Company’s gathering and processing operations are based on percentage of proceeds (“POP”) and fixed-fee contracts. Under its POP purchasing arrangements, the Company purchases natural gas at the wellhead, processes the natural gas by extracting NGLs and removing impurities and sells the residue gas and NGLs at market-based prices, remitting to producers a contractually-determined percentage of the sale proceeds.
The Company accrues unbilled revenue due to timing differences between the delivery of natural gas, NGLs, and oil and the receipt of a delivery statement. These revenues are recorded based upon volumetric data from the Company’s records and management estimates of the related transportation and compression fees which are, in turn, based upon applicable product prices (see Use of Estimates accounting policy for further description). The Company had unbilled revenues at December 31, 2004 and 2005 of $15.3 million and $48.4 million, respectively, included in accounts receivable and accounts receivable-affiliates within the consolidated balance sheets.
Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and all other changes in the equity of a business during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. These changes, other than net income, are referred to as “other comprehensive income (loss)” and for the Company include only changes in the fair value of unsettled hedge contracts.
New Accounting Standards |
In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“SFAS No. 154”). SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements for changes in accounting principle. It also requires that the new accounting principle be applied to the balances of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the earliest period for which retrospective application is practicable and that a corresponding adjustment be made to the opening balance of retained earnings for that period rather than being reported in an income statement. The statement will be effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The impact of SFAS No. 154 will depend on the nature and extent of any voluntary accounting changes and corrections of errors after the effective date, but the Company does not currently expect SFAS No. 154 to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FIN 47”), which will result in (a) more consistent recognition of liabilities relating to asset retirement obligations, (b) more information about expected future cash outflows associated with those obligations, and (c) more information about investments in long-lived assets because additional asset retirement costs will be recognized as part of the carrying amounts of the assets. FIN 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset retirement obligation as used in SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
the control of the entity. The obligation to perform the asset retirement activity is unconditional even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method of settlement. Uncertainty about the timing and (or) method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation should be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information exists. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. The Company adopted FIN 47 at December 31, 2005 and it had no material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3 — ATLAS PIPELINE EQUITY OFFERINGS |
On November 28, 2005, Atlas Pipeline sold 2,700,000 of its common units in a public offering for gross proceeds of $113.4 million. In addition, pursuant to an option granted to the underwriters of the offering, Atlas Pipeline sold 330,000 common units on December 27, 2005 for gross proceeds of $13.9 million, or aggregate total gross proceeds of $127.3 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas Pipeline’s previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $121.0 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas Pipeline primarily utilized the net proceeds from the sale to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility. As a result of equity offering, the Company’s ownership interest in Atlas Pipeline was 14.8%, including its 2.0% general partner interest.
In June 2005, Atlas Pipeline sold 2,300,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $96.5 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas Pipeline’s previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $91.7 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas Pipeline primarily utilized the net proceeds from the sale to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
In July 2004, Atlas Pipeline sold 2,100,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $73.0 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas Pipeline’s previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $67.9 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas Pipeline utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility and to redeem preferred units issued in connection with the acquisition of Spectrum Field Services, Inc. in July 2004 for $20.4 million (see Note 7).
In April 2004, Atlas Pipeline sold 750,000 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $27.0 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas Pipeline’s previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $25.2 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas Pipeline utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
In May 2003, Atlas Pipeline sold 1,092,500 common units in a public offering for total gross proceeds of $27.3 million. The units, which were issued under Atlas Pipeline’s previously filed shelf registration statement, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $25.2 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Atlas Pipeline utilized the net proceeds from the sale primarily to repay a portion of the amounts due under its credit facility.
NOTE 4 — ATLAS PIPELINE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS |
Atlas Pipeline is required to distribute, within 45 days of the end of each quarter, all of its available cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) for that quarter. If distributions in any quarter exceed specified target levels, the Company, as general partner, will receive between 15% and 50% of such
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
distributions in excess of the specified target levels. Distributions declared by Atlas Pipeline for the period from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005 were as follows:
Date Atlas Pipeline Cash Distribution Paid | For Quarter Ended | Atlas Pipeline Cash Distribution per Limited Partner Unit | Total Atlas Pipeline Cash Distribution To Limited Partners | ||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||
May 9, 2003 | March 31, 2003 | $ | 0.560 | $ | 908 | ||||||
August 8, 2003 | June 30, 2003 | $ | 0.580 | $ | 1,574 | ||||||
November 7, 2003 | September 30, 2003 | $ | 0.620 | $ | 1,682 | ||||||
February 6, 2004 | December 31, 2003 | $ | 0.625 | $ | 1,696 | ||||||
May 7, 2004 | March 31, 2004 | $ | 0.630 | $ | 1,710 | ||||||
August 6, 2004 | June 30, 2004 | $ | 0.630 | $ | 2,182 | ||||||
November 5, 2004 | September 30, 2004 | $ | 0.690 | $ | 3,839 | ||||||
February 11, 2005 | December 31, 2004 | $ | 0.720 | $ | 4,006 | ||||||
May 13, 2005 | March 31, 2005 | $ | 0.750 | $ | 4,173 | ||||||
August 5, 2005 | June 30, 2005 | $ | 0.770 | $ | 6,055 | ||||||
November 14, 2005 | September 30, 2005 | $ | 0.810 | $ | 6,382 |
On January 9, 2006, Atlas Pipeline declared a cash distribution of $0.83 per unit on its outstanding limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The $14.1 million distribution, including $3.6 million to the Company as general partner, was paid on February 14, 2006 to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2006.
At December 31, 2004, the Company held 1,641,026 subordinated limited partner units in Atlas Pipeline. In January 2005, these subordinated units were converted to common units as Atlas Pipeline met the tests under the terms of the partnership agreement. While the Company’s rights as the holder of the subordinated units are no longer subordinated to the rights of Atlas Pipeline’s common unitholders, these units have not yet been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, their resale in the public market is subject to restrictions under the Securities Act.
NOTE 5 — PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment (in thousands):
December 31, | Estimated Useful Lives in Years | |||||||||
2004 | 2005 | |||||||||
Pipelines, processing and compression facilities | $ | 168,932 | $ | 443,729 | 15 – 40 | |||||
Rights of way | 14,128 | 19,252 | 20 – 40 | |||||||
Buildings | 3,215 | 3,350 | 40 | |||||||
Furniture and equipment | 517 | 1,525 | 3 – 7 | |||||||
Other | 307 | 889 | 3 – 10 | |||||||
187,099 | 468,745 | |||||||||
Less – accumulated depreciation | (11,840 | ) | (23,679 | ) | ||||||
$ | 175,259 | $ | 445,066 | |||||||
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company completed the acquisitions of ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd. for approximately $196.0 million in April 2005 and a 75% interest in NOARK for approximately $179.8 million in October 2005 (see Note 7). Due to their recent dates of acquisition, the purchase price allocations are based upon estimated values determined by the Company, which are subject to adjustment and could change significantly as it continues to evaluate these allocations. At December 31, 2005, the portion of the purchase price allocated to property, plant and equipment for NOARK was included within pipelines, processing and compression facilities.
NOTE 6 — OTHER ASSETS |
The following is a summary of other assets (in thousands):
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2005 | ||||||
Deferred finance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $506 and $1,636 at December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively | $ | 3,316 | $ | 15,034 | |||
Security deposits | 1,356 | 1,599 | |||||
Other | — | 68 | |||||
$ | 4,672 | $ | 16,701 | ||||
Deferred finance costs are recorded at cost and amortized over the term of the respective debt agreement (see Note 9). In June 2005, the Company charged operations $1.0 million for accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs associated with the retirement of the term portion of Atlas Pipeline’s credit facility.
NOTE 7 — ACQUISITIONS |
NOARK |
In October 2005, the Company acquired from Enogex, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), all of the outstanding equity of Atlas Arkansas Pipeline, LLC, which owns a 75% interest in NOARK. NOARK’s assets included a FERC-regulated interstate pipeline and an unregulated natural gas gathering system. The remaining 25% interest in NOARK is owned by Southwestern, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN). Total consideration of $179.8 million, including $16.8 million for working capital adjustments and other related transaction costs, was funded through borrowings under Atlas Pipeline’s credit facility. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141”). The following table presents the preliminary purchase price allocation, including professional fees and other related acquisition costs, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their fair values at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 16,215 | ||
Accounts receivable | 11,091 | |||
Prepaid expenses | 497 | |||
Property, plant and equipment | 126,238 | |||
Other assets | 1,515 | |||
Intangible assets – customer contracts | 11,600 | |||
Intangible assets – customer relationships | 15,700 | |||
Goodwill | 49,088 | |||
Total assets acquired | 231,944 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (12,514 | ) | ||
Total debt | (39,600 | ) | ||
Total liabilities assumed | (52,114 | ) | ||
Net assets acquired | 179,830 | |||
Less: Cash and cash equivalents acquired | (16,215 | ) | ||
Net cash paid for acquisition | $ | 163,615 | ||
Due to its recent date of acquisition, the purchase price allocation for NOARK is based upon preliminary data that is subject to adjustment and could change significantly as the Company continues to evaluate this allocation. The Company recognized goodwill in connection with this acquisition as a result of NOARK’s significant cash flow and its strategic industry and geographic position. The results of the acquisition were included within the Company’s consolidated financial statements from its date of acquisition.
Elk City |
In April 2005, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity interests in ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd. (“Elk City”), a Texas limited partnership, for $196.0 million, including related transaction costs. Elk City’s principal assets included approximately 300 miles of natural gas pipelines located in the Anadarko Basin in western Oklahoma, a natural gas processing facility in Elk City, Oklahoma and a gas treatment facility in Prentiss, Oklahoma. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting under SFAS No. 141. The following table presents the preliminary purchase price allocation, including professional fees and other related acquisition costs, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their fair values at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
Accounts receivable | $ | 5,587 | ||
Other assets | 497 | |||
Property, plant and equipment | 104,106 | |||
Intangible assets – customer contracts | 12,390 | |||
Intangible assets – customer relationships | 17,260 | |||
Goodwill | 61,136 | |||
Total assets acquired | 200,976 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (4,970 | ) | ||
Net assets acquired | $ | 196,006 | ||
Due to its recent date of acquisition, the purchase price allocation for Elk City is based upon preliminary data that is subject to adjustment and could change significantly as the Company continues to evaluate this allocation. The Company recognized goodwill in connection with this acquisition as a result
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
of Elk City’s significant cash flow and its strategic industry position. The results of the acquisition were included within the Company’s consolidated financial statements from its date of acquisition.
Spectrum
In July 2004, the Company acquired Spectrum Field Services, Inc. (“Spectrum”), for approximately $141.6 million, including transaction costs and the payment of taxes due as a result of the transaction. Spectrum’s principal assets included 1,900 miles of natural gas pipelines and a natural gas processing facility in Velma, Oklahoma. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting under SFAS No. 141. The following table presents the purchase price allocation, including professional fees and other related acquisition costs, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their fair values at the date of acquisition (in thousands):
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 803 | ||
Accounts receivable | 18,505 | |||
Prepaid expenses | 649 | |||
Property, plant and equipment | 139,464 | |||
Other long-term assets | 1,054 | |||
Total assets acquired | 160,475 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (17,153 | ) | ||
Hedging liabilities | (1,519 | ) | ||
Long-term debt | (164 | ) | ||
Total liabilities assumed | (18,836 | ) | ||
Net assets acquired | 141,639 | |||
Less: Cash and cash equivalents acquired | (803 | ) | ||
Net cash paid for acquisition | $ | 140,836 | ||
The results of the acquisition are included within the Company’s consolidated financial statements from its date of acquisition. In connection with financing the acquisition of Spectrum, the Company issued preferred units to Resource America, Inc., an affiliate of Atlas America at the date of the transaction, and Atlas America for $20.0 million. These preferred units were subsequently redeemed for $20.4 million, including a $0.4 million premium, with the net proceeds from the Atlas Pipeline’s July 2004 equity offering (see Note 3).
The following data presents unaudited pro forma revenue and net income for the Company as if the acquisitions discussed above, the equity offerings in April 2004, July 2004, June 2005 and November 2005 (see Note 3) and the issuance of $250.0 million of 8.125% senior notes (see Note 9), the net proceeds of which were principally utilized to repay debt borrowed to finance the acquisitions, had occurred on January 1, 2004. The Company has prepared these unaudited pro forma financial results for comparative purposes only. These unaudited pro forma financial results may not be indicative of the results that would have occurred if the Company had completed these acquisitions at the beginning of the periods shown below or the results that will be attained in the future (in thousands, except per unit data):
Years Ended December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2005 | ||||||
Total revenue and other income | $ | 372,113 | $ | 469,867 | |||
Net income attributable to owners | $ | 4,084 | $ | 10,540 |
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 8 — DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS |
The Company enters into certain financial swap and option instruments that are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133 to hedge its forecasted natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales against the variability in expected future cash flows attributable to changes in market prices. The swap instruments are contractual agreements between counterparties to exchange obligations of money as the underlying natural gas, NGLs and condensate is sold. Under these swap agreements, the Company receives a fixed price and pays a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period.
The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and the items being hedged, including its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transactions. This includes matching the natural gas futures and options contracts to the forecasted transactions. The Company assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives are effective in offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flow of hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be an effective hedge due to the loss of correlation between the hedging instrument and the underlying commodity, the Company will discontinue hedge accounting for the derivative and subsequent changes in the derivative fair value, which is determined by the Company through the utilization of market data, will be recognized immediately within its consolidated statements of income.
Derivatives are recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as assets or liabilities at fair value. For derivatives qualifying as hedges, the Company recognizes the effective portion of changes in fair value in owners’ equity (deficit) as accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassifies them to natural gas and liquids revenue within the consolidated statements of income as the underlying transactions are settled. For non-qualifying derivatives and for the ineffective portion of qualifying derivatives, the Company recognizes changes in fair value within its consolidated statements of income as they occur. At December 31, 2004 and 2005, the Company reflected net hedging liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets of $2.6 million and $30.4 million, respectively. Of the $30.1 million of net loss in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2005, if the fair value of the instruments remain at current market values, the Company will reclassify $12.2 million of losses to its consolidated statements of income over the next twelve month period as these contracts expire, and $17.9 million will be reclassified in later periods. Actual amounts that will be reclassified will vary as a result of future price changes. Ineffective hedge gains or losses are recorded within natural gas and liquids revenue in the Company’s consolidated statements of income while the hedge contracts are open and may increase or decrease until settlement of the contract. The Company recognized losses of $2,000 and 11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively, within its consolidated statements of income related to the settlement of qualifying hedge instruments. The Company also recognized a loss of $0.3 million and a gain of $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively, within its consolidated statements of income related to the change in market value of non-qualifying or ineffective hedges.
A portion of the Company’s future natural gas sales is periodically hedged through the use of swaps and collar contracts. Realized gains and losses on the derivative instruments that are classified as effective hedges are reflected in the contract month being hedged as an adjustment to revenue.
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had the following NGLs, natural gas, and crude oil volumes hedged:
Natural Gas Liquids Fixed — Price Swaps |
Volumes | Average Fixed Price | Fair Value Liability(1) | |||||||||||
Production Period | |||||||||||||
Ended December 31, | (gallons) | (per gallon) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
2006 | 40,068,000 | $ | 0.683 | $ | (12,119 | ) | |||||||
2007 | 36,036,000 | 0.717 | (9,157 | ) | |||||||||
2008 | 33,012,000 | 0.697 | (7,365 | ) | |||||||||
$ | (28,641 | ) | |||||||||||
Natural Gas Fixed — Price Swaps
Volumes | Average Fixed Price | Fair Value Liability(3) | |||||||||||
Production Period | |||||||||||||
Ended December 31, | (MMBTU)(2) | (per MMBTU) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
2006 | 3,192,500 | $ | 7.186 | $ | (110 | ) | |||||||
2007 | 1,080,000 | 7.255 | (3,242 | ) | |||||||||
2008 | 240,000 | 7.270 | (605 | ) | |||||||||
$ | (3,957 | ) | |||||||||||
Natural Gas Basis Swaps
Volumes | Average Fixed Price | Fair Value Asset(3) | |||||||||||
Production Period | |||||||||||||
Ended December 31, | (MMBTU)(2) | (per MMBTU) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
2006 | 3,527,500 | $ | (0.521 | ) | $ | (473 | ) | ||||||
2007 | 1,080,000 | (0.535 | ) | 3,580 | |||||||||
2008 | 240,000 | (0.555 | ) | 808 | |||||||||
$ | 3,915 | ||||||||||||
Crude Oil Fixed — Price Swaps
Volumes | Average Strike Price | Fair Value Liability(3) | |||||||||||
Production Period | |||||||||||||
Ended December 31, | (barrels) | (per barrel) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
2006 | 77,600 | $ | 51.545 | $ | (881 | ) | |||||||
2007 | 80,400 | 56.069 | (643 | ) | |||||||||
2008 | 62,400 | 59.267 | (223 | ) | |||||||||
$ | (1,747 | ) | |||||||||||
Total net liability | $ | (30,430 | ) | ||||||||||
(1) | Fair value based upon management estimates, including forecasted forward NGL prices as a function of forward NYMEX natural gas and light crude prices. |
(2) | MMBTU represents million British Thermal Units. |
(3) | Fair value based on forward NYMEX natural gas and light crude prices, as applicable. |
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 9 — DEBT |
Total debt consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2005 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline Credit Facility: | |||||||
Revolving credit facility | $ | 10,000 | $ | 9,500 | |||
Term loan | 44,250 | — | |||||
Atlas Pipeline Senior Notes | — | 250,000 | |||||
NOARK Notes | — | 39,000 | |||||
Other debt | 202 | 125 | |||||
54,452 | 298,625 | ||||||
Less current maturities | (2,303 | ) | (1,263 | ) | |||
$ | 52,149 | $ | 297,362 | ||||
Atlas Pipeline Credit Facility
Atlas Pipeline has a $225.0 million credit facility with a syndicate of banks which matures in April 2010. The credit facility bears interest, at Atlas Pipeline’s option, at either (i) adjusted LIBOR plus the applicable margin, as defined, or (ii) the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5% or the Wachovia Bank prime rate (each plus the applicable margin). The weighted average interest rate on the $9.5 million of outstanding credit facility borrowings at December 31, 2005 was 7.1%. Up to $50.0 million of the credit facility may be utilized for letters of credit, of which $11.1 million was outstanding at December 31, 2005. These outstanding letter of credit amounts were not reflected as borrowings on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Borrowings under the credit facility are secured by a lien on and security interest in all of Atlas Pipeline’s property and that of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and by the guaranty of each of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The credit facility contains customary covenants, including restrictions on the Atlas Pipeline’s ability to incur additional indebtedness; make certain acquisitions, loans or investments; make distribution payments to its unitholders if an event of default exists; or enter into a merger or sale of assets, including the sale or transfer of interests in its subsidiaries. Atlas Pipeline is in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2005.
The events which constitute an event of default are also customary for loans of this size, including payment defaults, breaches of representations or covenants contained in the credit agreements, adverse judgments against Atlas Pipeline in excess of a specified amount, and a change of control of the Company, as general partner.
The credit facility requires Atlas Pipeline to maintain a ratio of senior secured debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA (as defined in the credit facility) of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006, 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006, and 4.0 to 1.0 on September 30, 2006; a funded debt (as defined in the credit facility) to EBITDA ratio of not more than 6.0 to 1.0, reducing to 5.75 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006 and to 4.5 to 1.0 on June 30, 2006; and an interest coverage ratio (as defined in the credit facility) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0, increasing to 3.0 to 1.0 on March 31, 2006. The credit facility defines EBITDA to include pro forma adjustments, acceptable to the administrator of the facility, following material acquisitions. As of December 31, 2005, Atlas Pipeline’s ratio of senior secured debt to EBITDA was 0.3 to 1.0, its funded debt ratio was 3.9 to 1.0 and its interest coverage ratio was 4.9 to 1.0.
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Atlas Pipeline is unable to borrow under the credit facility to pay distributions of available cash to unitholders because such borrowings would not constitute “working capital borrowings” pursuant to the partnership agreement.
Senior Notes |
In December 2005, Atlas Pipeline and its subsidiary, Atlas Pipeline Finance Corp., issued $250.0 million of 10-year, 8.125% senior unsecured notes (“Senior Notes”) in a private placement transaction pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 for net proceeds of $243.1 million, after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15, commencing on June 15, 2006. The Senior Notes are redeemable at any time on or after December 15, 2010 at certain redemption prices, together with accrued unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The Senior Notes are also redeemable at any time prior to December 15, 2010 at a make-whole redemption price. In addition, prior to December 15, 2008, Atlas Pipeline may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a stated redemption price. The Senior Notes are also subject to repurchase by Atlas Pipeline at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, upon a change of control or upon certain asset sales with which the net proceeds are not reinvested into Atlas Pipeline within 360 days. The Senior Notes are junior in right of payment to Atlas Pipeline’s secured debt, including Atlas Pipeline’s obligations under the credit facility.
The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants, including limitations of Atlas Pipeline’s ability to: incur certain liens; engage in sale/leaseback transactions; incur additional indebtedness; declare or pay distributions if an event of default has occurred; redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests or subordinated indebtedness; make certain investments; or merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of its assets. Atlas Pipeline is in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2005.
In connection with a Senior Notes registration rights agreements entered into by Atlas Pipeline, it agreed to (a) file an exchange offer registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Senior Notes by April 19, 2006, (b) cause the exchange offer registration statement to be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission by July 18, 2006, and (c) cause the exchange offer to be consummated by August 17, 2006. If Atlas Pipeline does not meet the aforementioned deadlines, the Senior Notes will be subject to additional interest, up to 1% per annum, until such time that the deadlines have been met.
NOARK Notes |
Upon the acquisition of the 75% interest in NOARK in October 2005, NOARK’s subsidiary, NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C., had $66.0 million in principal amount outstanding of 7.15% notes due in 2018. The notes are governed by an indenture dated June 1, 1998 for which UMB Bank, N.A. serves as trustee. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually, in cash, in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year. Liability under the notes was allocated severally 40% to Atlas Arkansas Pipeline LLC, Atlas Pipeline’s wholly-owned subsidiary, as successor to Enogex, and 60% to Southwestern, and the parties are several guarantors for their respective allocations. The notes are subject to a semi-annual redemption in installments at a redemption price of 100% of the principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Additionally, at the option of either Enogex or Southwestern, notes in an aggregate principal amount guaranteed by either company as of a particular payment date may be redeemed at such notes’ redemption price plus a make-whole premium and unpaid interest accrued to that date by giving the trustee at least 60 days notice. As part of Atlas Pipeline’s acquisition of the 75% interest in NOARK, Enogex agreed to redeem its 40% portion of the notes as promptly as practicable after the closing, and at
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ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
closing it deposited cash sufficient to redeem the notes into an escrow account. The redemption of $26.4 million of the notes was completed on December 5, 2005. At December 31, 2005, $39.0 million of notes remain outstanding and are presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, for which Southwestern remains liable. Subsequent to the redemption, the notes are subject to semi-annual redemption in installments of $0.6 million each. Under the partnership agreement, payments on the notes will be made from amounts otherwise distributable to Southwestern and, if that amount is insufficient, Southwestern is required to make a capital contribution to NOARK. NOARK distributes available cash to the partners in accordance with their percentage interests after deduction of their respective portion of amounts payable on the notes.
The aggregate amount of the Company’s debt maturities is as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31: | |||||
2006 | $ | 1,263 | |||
2007 | 1,262 | ||||
2008 | 1,200 | ||||
2009 | 1,200 | ||||
2010 | 10,700 | ||||
Thereafter | 283,000 | ||||
$ | 298,625 | ||||
Cash payments for interest related to debt were $0.2 million, $2.1 million, and $9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.
NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
The Company has noncancelable operating leases for equipment and office space. Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 was $1.0 million, $0.8 million, and $2.0 million, respectively. The aggregate amount of remaining future minimum annual lease payments as of December 31, 2005 is as follows (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31: | |||||
2006 | $ | 1,769 | |||
2007 | 853 | ||||
2008 | 826 | ||||
2009 | 373 | ||||
2010 | 7 | ||||
Thereafter | — | ||||
$ | 3,828 | ||||
The Company is a party to various routine legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its business. Management of the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
On March 9, 2004, the Oklahoma Tax Commission (“OTC”) filed a petition against Spectrum alleging that Spectrum, prior to its acquisition by Atlas Pipeline, underpaid gross production taxes beginning in June 2000. The OTC is seeking a settlement of $5.0 million plus interest and penalties. The Company plans on defending itself vigorously. In addition, under the terms of the Spectrum purchase agreement, $14.0
F-34
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
million has been placed in escrow to cover the costs of any adverse settlement resulting from the petition and other indemnification obligations of the purchase agreement.
As of December 31, 2005, the Company is committed to expend approximately $19.7 million on pipeline extensions, compressor station upgrades and processing facility upgrades, including $10.8 million related to the Sweetwater gas plant, a new cryogenic gas processing plant the Company is constructing in Beckham County, Oklahoma. The Company expects the plant to be completed in third quarter of 2006.
NOTE 11 — FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK |
The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined based upon the Company’s assessment of available market information and valuation methodologies. However, these estimates may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize upon the sale or refinancing of such financial instruments.
The Company’s current assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets are financial instruments. The estimated fair value of these instruments approximates their carrying amounts due to their short-term nature. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt at December 31, 2004 and 2005, which consists principally of Atlas Pipeline’s Senior Notes, the NOARK Notes, and borrowings under Atlas Pipeline’s credit facility, was $52.1 million and $295.3 million, respectively, compared with the carrying amount of $52.1 million and $297.4 million, respectively. Atlas Pipeline’s Senior Notes and the NOARK notes were valued based upon available market data for similar issues. The carrying value of outstanding borrowings under Atlas Pipeline’s credit facility, which bear interest at a variable interest rate, approximates their estimated fair value.
The Company sells natural gas and NGLs under contract to various purchasers in the normal course of business. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Mid-Continent segment had two customers that accounted for approximately 59% of the Company’s consolidated total revenues, and three customers that accounted for approximately 59% of the Company’s consolidated total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005. Additionally, the Mid-Continent segment had two customers that accounted for 70% and 47% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable at December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Substantially all of the Appalachian segment’s revenues are derived from a master gas gathering agreement with Atlas America.
The Company places its temporary cash investments in high quality short-term money market instruments and deposits with high quality financial institutions. At December 31, 2005, the Company and its subsidiaries had $34.4 million in deposits at banks, of which $33.8 million was over the insurance limit of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. No losses have been experienced on such investments.
NOTE 12 — LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN |
Long-Term Incentive Plan |
Atlas Pipeline has a Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) that was established in February 2004 in which officers, employees and non-employee managing board members of the Company and employees of the Company’s affiliates and consultants are eligible to participate. The Plan is administered by a committee (the “Committee”) appointed by the Company’s managing board. The Committee may make awards of either phantom units or unit options for an aggregate of 435,000 common units. Only phantom units have been granted under the LTIP through December 31, 2005.
A phantom unit entitles a grantee to receive a common unit upon vesting of the phantom unit or, at the discretion of the Committee, cash equivalent to the fair market value of a common unit. In addition,
F-35
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
the Committee may grant a participant a distribution equivalent right (“DER”), which is the right to receive cash per phantom unit in an amount equal to, and at the same time as, the cash distributions Atlas Pipeline makes on a common unit during the period the phantom unit is outstanding. A unit option entitles the grantee to purchase Atlas Pipeline’s common limited partner units at an exercise price determined by the Committee at its discretion. The Committee also has discretion to determine how the exercise price may be paid by the participant. Except for phantom units awarded to non-employee managing board members of the Company, the Committee will determine the vesting period for phantom units and the exercise period for options. Through December 31, 2005, phantom units granted under the LTIP generally had vesting periods of four years. The vesting period may also include the attainment of predetermined performance targets, which could increase or decrease the actual award settlement, as determined by the Committee. Phantom units awarded to non-employee managing board members will vest over a four year period. Awards will automatically vest upon a change of control, as defined in the LTIP. Of the units outstanding under the LTIP at December 31, 2005, 31,123 units will vest within the following twelve months.
The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” as revised (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), as of December 31, 2005. Generally, the approach to accounting in Statement 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company followed Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and its interpretations (“APB No. 25”), which SFAS No. 123(R) superseded. APB No. 25 allowed for valuation of share-based payments to employees at their intrinsic values. Under this methodology, the Company recognized compensation expense for phantom units granted only if the current market price of the underlying units exceeded the exercise price. Since the inception of the LTIP, Atlas Pipeline has only granted phantom units with no exercise price and, as such, recognized compensation expense based upon the market price of Atlas Pipeline’s limited partner units at the date of grant. Since the Company has historically recognized compensation expense for its share-based payments at their fair values, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
The following table sets forth the LTIP phantom unit activity for the periods indicated:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of year | — | — | 58,329 | |||||||
Granted(1) | — | 59,175 | 67,399 | |||||||
Matured | — | — | (14,581 | ) | ||||||
Forfeited | — | (846 | ) | (1,019 | ) | |||||
Outstanding, end of year | — | 58,329 | 110,128 | |||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized | ||||||||||
(in thousands) | $ | — | $ | 700 | $ | 2,201 | ||||
(1) | The weighted average price for phantom unit awards on the date of grant was $37.15 and $48.59 for awards granted for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively. There were no units awarded for the year ended December 31, 2003. |
At December 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $2.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested phantom units outstanding under the LTIP based upon current market values of the awards and management estimates in regard to performance factor adjustments.
F-36
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Incentive Compensation Agreements |
In connection with the acquisition of Spectrum in July 2004, Atlas Pipeline entered into incentive compensation agreements which granted awards to certain key employees retained from the former entity. These individuals are entitled to receive common units of Atlas Pipeline upon the vesting of the awards, which is dependent upon the achievement of certain predetermined performance targets. These performance targets include the accomplishment of specific financial goals for Spectrum through September 30, 2007 and the financial performance of previous and future consummated acquisitions, including Elk City and NOARK, through December 31, 2008. The awards associated with the performance targets of Spectrum will vest on September 30, 2007, and awards associated with performance targets of other acquisitions will vest on December 31, 2008.
For the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recognized compensation expense of $2.5 million related to the vesting of awards under these incentive compensation agreements, based upon a $34.00 grant date value and 209,960 common unit awards expected to be issued as of December 31, 2005, which is based upon management’s estimate of the probable outcome of the performance targets at that date. No expense was recognized for these awards for the year ended December 31, 2004 as management determined that the achievement of these performance targets was not probable at that time. At December 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $5.9 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of these awards based upon management’s estimate of performance target achievement. The Company follows SFAS No. 123(R) and recognized compensation expense related to these awards based upon the fair value method.
NOTE 13 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
On June 30, 2005, Resource America, Inc. (“RAI”) distributed its 10.7 million shares of Atlas America to its shareholders. In connection with this distribution of Atlas America common stock to its shareholders, RAI and Atlas America entered into various agreements, including shared services and a tax matters agreement, which govern the ongoing relationship between the two companies. Atlas Pipeline is dependent upon the resources and services provided by Atlas America, and through these agreements, RAI and its affiliates. Accounts receivable/payable – affiliates represents the net balance due from/to Atlas America for natural gas transported through the gathering systems, net of reimbursements Atlas Pipeline costs and expenses paid by Atlas America. Substantially Atlas Pipeline revenue in Appalachia is from Atlas America.
Atlas Pipeline does not directly employ any persons to manage or operate its business. These functions are provided by the Company as general partner and employees of Atlas America. The Company does not receive a management fee in connection with its management of Atlas Pipeline apart from its interest as general partner and its right to receive incentive distributions. Atlas Pipeline reimburses the Company and its affiliates for compensation and benefits related to their executive officers, based upon an estimate of the time spent by such persons on activities for Atlas Pipeline. Other indirect costs, such as rent for offices, are allocated to Atlas Pipeline by Atlas America based on the number of its employees who devote substantially all of their time to activities on Atlas Pipeline’s behalf. Atlas Pipeline reimburses Atlas America at cost for direct costs incurred by them on its behalf.
The partnership agreement provides that the Company, as general partner, will determine the costs and expenses that are allocable to Atlas Pipeline in any reasonable manner as it determines in its sole discretion. Atlas Pipeline reimbursed the Company and its affiliates $0.8 million, $1.1 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, for compensation and benefits related to their executive officers. For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, direct reimbursements were $10.9 million, $13.4 million and $24.8 million, respectively, including certain costs
F-37
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
that have been capitalized by the Company. The Company believes that the method utilized in allocating costs to Atlas Pipeline is reasonable.
Under an agreement between Atlas Pipeline and Atlas America, Atlas America must construct up to 2,500 feet of sales lines from its existing wells in the Appalachian region to a point of connection to Atlas Pipeline’s gathering systems. Atlas Pipeline must, at its own cost, extend its system to connect to any such lines within 1,000 feet of its gathering systems. With respect to wells to be drilled by Atlas America that will be more than 3,500 feet from its gathering systems, Atlas Pipeline has various options to connect those wells to its gathering systems at its own cost.
NOTE 14 — SETTLEMENT OF TERMINATED ALASKA PIPELINE ARBITRATION |
In September 2003, Atlas Pipeline entered into an agreement with SEMCO Energy, Inc. (“SEMCO”) to purchase all of the stock of Alaska Pipeline. In order to complete the acquisition, Atlas Pipeline needed the approval of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. The Regulatory Commission initially approved the transaction, but on June 4, 2004, it vacated its order of approval based upon a motion for clarification or reconsideration filed by SEMCO. On July 1, 2004, SEMCO sent Atlas Pipeline a notice purporting to terminate the transaction. Atlas Pipeline pursued its remedies under the acquisition agreement. In connection with the acquisition, subsequent termination and legal action, Atlas Pipeline incurred costs of approximately $4.0 million. On December 30, 2004, Atlas Pipeline entered into a settlement agreement with SEMCO settling all issues and matters related to SEMCO’s termination of the sale of Alaska Pipeline to Atlas Pipeline and SEMCO paid Atlas Pipeline $5.5 million. Atlas Pipeline recognized a gain of $1.5 million on this settlement which is shown as gain on arbitration settlement, net, on its consolidated statements of income.
NOTE 15 — OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION |
The Company has two business segments: natural gas gathering and transmission located in the Appalachian Basin area (“Appalachia”) of eastern Ohio, western New York and western Pennsylvania, and transmission, gathering and processing located in the Mid-Continent area (“Mid-Continent”) of primarily southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and Arkansas. Appalachia revenues are principally based on contractual arrangements with Atlas and its affiliates. Mid-Continent revenues are primarily derived from the sale of residue gas and NGLs and transport of natural gas. These operating segments reflect the way the Company manages its operations.
F-38
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following summarizes the Company’s operating segment data for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Mid-Continent: | ||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | $ | — | $ | 72,109 | $ | 340,297 | ||||
Transportation and compression | — | — | 5,880 | |||||||
Interest income and other | — | 60 | 513 | |||||||
Total revenues and other income | — | 72,169 | 346,690 | |||||||
Costs and expenses | ||||||||||
Natural gas and liquids | — | 58,707 | 288,180 | |||||||
Plant operating | — | 2,032 | 10,557 | |||||||
Transportation and compression | — | — | 952 | |||||||
General and administrative | — | 1,088 | 7,375 | |||||||
Minority interest in NOARK | — | — | 1,083 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | — | 2,408 | 11,307 | |||||||
Total costs and expenses | — | 64,235 | 319,454 | |||||||
Segment profit | $ | — | $ | 7,934 | $ | 27,236 | ||||
Appalachia: | ||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||
Transportation and compression – affiliates | $ | 15,563 | $ | 18,724 | $ | 24,346 | ||||
Transportation and compression – third parties | 88 | 76 | 83 | |||||||
Interest income and other | 98 | 322 | 381 | |||||||
Total revenues and other income | 15,749 | 19,122 | 24,810 | |||||||
Costs and expenses | ||||||||||
Transportation and compression | 2,421 | 2,260 | 3,101 | |||||||
General and administrative | 831 | 1,777 | 3,117 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,770 | 2,063 | 2,647 | |||||||
Total costs and expenses | 5,022 | 6,100 | 8,865 | |||||||
Segment profit | $ | 10,727 | $ | 13,022 | $ | 15,945 | ||||
Reconciliation of segment profit to net income: | ||||||||||
Segment profit | ||||||||||
Mid-Continent | $ | — | $ | 7,934 | $ | 27,236 | ||||
Appalachia | 10,727 | 13,022 | 15,945 | |||||||
Total segment profit | 10,727 | 20,956 | 43,181 | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | (831 | ) | (1,777 | ) | (3,116 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | (258 | ) | (2,301 | ) | (14,175 | ) | ||||
Gain (loss) on arbitration settlement, net | — | 1,457 | (138 | ) | ||||||
Minority interest in Atlas Pipeline | (5,066 | ) | (10,941 | ) | (13,447 | ) | ||||
Net income | $ | 4,572 | $ | 7,394 | $ | 12,305 | ||||
Capital Expenditures: | ||||||||||
Mid-Continent | $ | — | $ | 3,858 | $ | 35,263 | ||||
Appalachia | 7,635 | 6,185 | 17,235 | |||||||
$ | 7,635 | $ | 10,043 | $ | 52,498 | |||||
F-39
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2005 | ||||||
Balance sheet | |||||||
Total assets: | |||||||
Mid-Continent | $ | 157,675 | $ | 668,782 | |||
Appalachia | 39,400 | 43,428 | |||||
Corporate other | 19,710 | 30,516 | |||||
$ | 216,785 | $ | 742,726 | ||||
Goodwill: | |||||||
Mid-Continent | $ | — | $ | 109,141 | |||
Appalachia | 2,305 | 2,305 | |||||
$ | 2,305 | $ | 111,446 | ||||
The following tables summarize the Company’s total revenues by product or service for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | ||||||||
Natural gas and liquids: | ||||||||||
Natural gas | — | $ | 38,908 | $ | 200,597 | |||||
NGLs | — | 31,631 | 126,498 | |||||||
Condensate | — | 589 | 5,417 | |||||||
Other (1) | — | 981 | 7,785 | |||||||
Total | $ | — | $ | 72,109 | $ | 340,297 | ||||
Transportation and Compression: | ||||||||||
Affiliates | $ | 15,563 | $ | 18,724 | $ | 24,346 | ||||
Third parties | 88 | 76 | 5,963 | |||||||
Total | $ | 15,651 | $ | 18,800 | $ | 30,309 | ||||
(1) | Includes treatment, processing, and other revenue associated with the products noted. |
F-40
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors of
Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings (deficit), and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
October 31, 2005
F-41
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,156,938 | $ | 14,596,140 | |||
Accounts receivable | 1,046,153 | 501,635 | |||||
Accounts receivable — affiliates | 5,061,974 | 3,536,891 | |||||
Accounts receivable — affiliates for income taxes | — | 993,575 | |||||
Accounts receivable — Southwestern and affiliates | 2,112,338 | 1,610,235 | |||||
Prepayments and other | 124,201 | 65,082 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance | 197,884 | 1,089,421 | |||||
Total current assets | 11,699,488 | 22,392,979 | |||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT | |||||||
In service | 144,940,741 | 144,729,626 | |||||
Construction work in progress | 150,893 | 52,780 | |||||
Other | 2,034,072 | 2,034,072 | |||||
Total property, plant and equipment | 147,125,706 | 146,816,478 | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation | 18,798,507 | 15,725,853 | |||||
Net property, plant and equipment | 128,327,199 | 131,090,625 | |||||
Minority interest in NOARK | 3,799,917 | 6,350,495 | |||||
Other assets and deferred charges | 1,574,600 | 1,717,514 | |||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 145,401,204 | $ | 161,551,613 | |||
See accompanying notes.
F-42
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 5,393,537 | $ | 3,978,296 | |||
Accounts payable — affiliates for income taxes | 240,340 | — | |||||
Accounts payable — affiliates | 1,145,301 | 608,254 | |||||
Accrued taxes other than income | 858,717 | 842,325 | |||||
Accrued interest | 399,208 | 699,447 | |||||
Accrued other | 20,136 | 62,030 | |||||
Long-term debt due within one year | 800,000 | 1,065,147 | |||||
Non-recourse debt of joint venture | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance | 483,009 | 243,193 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 10,540,248 | 8,698,692 | |||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | |||||||
Notes payable | — | 7,950,108 | |||||
Long-term debt | 26,000,000 | 26,800,000 | |||||
Non-recourse debt of joint venture | 39,000,000 | 40,200,000 | |||||
Total long-term debt | 65,000,000 | 74,950,108 | |||||
DEFERRED LIABILITIES | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | 19,585,000 | 17,282,000 | |||||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities | 19,585,000 | 17,282,000 | |||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6) | |||||||
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |||||||
Common stock, $1 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||
Retained earnings (Deficit) | 2,118,152 | (1,310,565 | ) | ||||
Advances from parent | 48,156,804 | 61,930,378 | |||||
Total stockholder’s equity | 50,275,956 | 60,620,813 | |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | $ | 145,401,204 | $ | 161,551,613 | |||
See accompanying notes.
F-43
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
OPERATING REVENUE | |||||||
Gas transportation services | $ | 21,482,829 | $ | 20,142,212 | |||
Natural gas sales | 56,015,639 | 51,889,474 | |||||
Other revenue | 5,700 | 6,075 | |||||
Total operating revenue | 77,504,168 | 72,037,761 | |||||
COST OF GOODS SOLD | 55,018,930 | 54,785,414 | |||||
GROSS MARGIN | 22,485,238 | 17,252,347 | |||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | 3,755,849 | 3,904,945 | |||||
Operation and maintenance | 3,333,126 | 3,514,728 | |||||
Depreciation | 3,248,719 | 3,294,553 | |||||
Taxes other than income | 1,101,303 | 1,100,050 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 11,438,997 | 11,814,276 | |||||
OPERATING INCOME | 11,046,241 | 5,438,071 | |||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||
Gain on sale of assets | 8,424 | 5,894,700 | |||||
Other income | 3,530 | 14,247 | |||||
Minority interest | (491,979 | ) | (590,500 | ) | |||
Net other income (expense) | (480,025 | ) | 5,318,447 | ||||
INTEREST INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||
Interest income | 199,629 | 98,663 | |||||
Gain on retirement of debt | 111,361 | — | |||||
Interest on long-term debt and amortization | (4,998,590 | ) | (5,141,590 | ) | |||
Interest on short-term debt and other interest charges | (288,322 | ) | (556,945 | ) | |||
Net interest income (expense) | (4,975,922 | ) | (5,599,872 | ) | |||
INCOME BEFORE TAXES | 5,590,294 | 5,156,646 | |||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | 2,161,577 | 2,004,503 | |||||
NET INCOME | $ | 3,428,717 | $ | 3,152,143 | |||
See accompanying notes.
F-44
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT)
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | $ | (1,310,565 | ) | $ | (4,462,708 | ) | |
ADD: Net income | 3,428,717 | 3,152,143 | |||||
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 2,118,152 | $ | (1,310,565 | ) | ||
See accompanying notes.
F-45
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Net income | $ | 3,428,717 | $ | 3,152,143 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||
Minority interest in NOARK net income | 491,979 | 590,500 | |||||
Gain on sale of assets | (8,424 | ) | (5,894,700 | ) | |||
Net book value of retired assets | 4,319 | 38,542 | |||||
Depreciation | 3,248,719 | 3,294,553 | |||||
Amortization of debt and prepaid costs | 142,914 | 212,400 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,303,000 | 2,452,000 | |||||
Change in certain current assets and liabilities | |||||||
Accounts receivable | (544,518 | ) | (82,717 | ) | |||
Accounts receivable — affiliates | (1,033,613 | ) | (893,762 | ) | |||
Materials and supplies inventories | — | 50,000 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance assets | 891,537 | (248,449 | ) | ||||
Prepayments and other current assets | (59,119 | ) | (46,416 | ) | |||
Accounts payable | 1,415,241 | 156,849 | |||||
Accounts payable — affiliates | 777,387 | 608,254 | |||||
Other accrued liabilities | (25,502 | ) | (451,252 | ) | |||
Accrued interest | (300,239 | ) | 276,405 | ||||
Pipeline imbalance liabilities | 239,816 | (423,349 | ) | ||||
Other assets | — | 115,413 | |||||
Other liabilities | (20,945 | ) | 898,578 | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 10,951,269 | 3,804,992 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (571,614 | ) | (539,503 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 111,372 | 9,808,562 | |||||
Repayment of advances from parent | (24,000,000 | ) | (7,500,000 | ) | |||
Increase in advances from parent | 10,226,426 | 3,411,935 | |||||
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities | (14,233,816 | ) | 5,180,994 | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Retirement of long-term debt | (10,215,255 | ) | (2,000,000 | ) | |||
Contribution from (Distribution to) minority interest | 2,058,600 | (2,500,000 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | (8,156,655 | ) | (4,500,000 | ) | |||
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (11,439,202 | ) | 4,485,986 | ||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 14,596,140 | 10,110,154 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 3,156,938 | $ | 14,596,140 | |||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: | |||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 4,897,750 | $ | 5,040,750 |
See accompanying notes.
F-46
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Organization |
Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation (“Company”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Enogex Inc. (“Enogex”) which itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., owns an interest in the NOARK Pipeline System, Limited Partnership (“NOARK”), an Arkansas limited partnership. The Company’s ownership interest in NOARK with respect to assets, liabilities (exclusive of long-term debt), equity, income and expense is 75 percent. Under the partnership agreement and the NOARK Private Placement Memorandum, the Company is only responsible for 40 percent of the long-term debt of NOARK. At December 31, 2004, the general partners of NOARK consisted of the Company and Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company (Southwestern), a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company (SWN). The Company has a 75 percent interest (74 percent general partner interest and 1 percent limited partner interest) and Southwestern has a 25 percent interest in NOARK.
NOARK has four wholly owned subsidiaries consisting of Ozark Gas Transmission, L.L.C. (Ozark), NOARK Energy Services, L.L.C. (“NES”), Ozark Gas Gathering, L.L.C. (“OGG”), and NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C. (“Finance”). The operations of NOARK and its subsidiaries are organized into three activities including natural gas gathering, natural gas transportation and natural gas marketing. The operations of the gas transportation segment are conducted by Ozark, a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulated interstate pipeline that extends from Southeast Oklahoma through Arkansas to southeast Missouri. The natural gas gathering and marketing operations are conducted by OGG. NES had no significant operations during 2004 or 2003. Finance was created to hold and service the debt of the Partnership.
As more fully discussed in Note 5, a substantial portion of the activities of NOARK during 2004 and 2003 were conducted with its general partners and their affiliates.
Principles of Consolidation |
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts and operations of the Company, NOARK and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates |
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Changes to these assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable |
The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is calculated based on outstanding accounts receivable balances over 180 days old. In addition, other outstanding accounts receivable balances less than 180 days old are reserved on a case-by-case basis when the Company believes the required payment of specific amounts owed is unlikely to occur. There was no allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if customers fail to perform their contractual obligations. The Company maintains credit policies with regard to its customers that management believes
F-47
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
minimize overall credit risk. These policies include the evaluation of a potential customer’s financial condition (including credit rating) and collateral requirements under certain circumstances. The Company also monitors the financial condition of existing customers on an ongoing basis.
Property, Plant and Equipment |
All property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Newly constructed plant is added to plant balances at costs which include contracted services, direct labor, materials and overheads used during construction. Replacements of units of property are capitalized as plant. For group assets, the replaced plant is removed from plant balances and charged to accumulated depreciation. For non-group assets, the replaced plant is removed from plant balances with the related accumulated depreciation and the remaining balance is recorded as a loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Other Expense. Repair and removal costs are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Other Operation and Maintenance Expense.
The Company’s property, plant and equipment are divided into the following major classes at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Year ended December 31 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Transportation assets | $ | 139,178,829 | $ | 138,876,483 | |||
Gathering assets | 7,946,877 | 7,939,995 | |||||
Total property, plant and equipment | $ | 147,125,706 | $ | 146,816,478 | |||
Depreciation |
Depreciation and amortization of the Company’s assets are computed using the straight-line method using estimated useful lives of three to 50 years for transportation, three to 30 years for gathering.
Revenue Recognition |
The Company recognizes revenue from natural gas gathering and transportation services as the services are provided. Revenue associated with physical gas sales are recognized upon physical delivery of the gas.
Pipeline Imbalances |
Pipeline imbalances occur when the actual amounts of natural gas delivered from or received by the NOARK pipeline systems differ from the amounts scheduled to be delivered or received. Imbalances are due to or due from shippers and operators and can be settled in cash or made up in-kind. The Company values all imbalances at average market prices estimated to be in effect at the time the imbalance will be settled.
Minority Interest |
In consolidation, the equity interest of Southwestern in NOARK has been adjusted per the provisions of the NOARK partnership agreement, as amended (the “Agreement”) and is shown on the balance sheet of the Company as a minority interest asset. The liquidation provisions of the partnership agreement provide for the Company to receive a disproportionate share of the value of NOARK equity upon liquidation of NOARK. The minority interest asset value as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 is $3,799,917 and $6,350,495 respectively.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
According to the terms of the agreement, NOARK’s net income (loss) is split between partners in three steps. First, a special revenue allocation, as defined in the Agreement may be made to Southwestern. This special revenue allocation is effective through December 31, 2009, and is calculated annually from an agreed upon maximum base amount ranging from $1,045,300 for 2003 and decreasing annually to $672,900 in 2009. The base amount may be reduced based upon an agreed upon formula specified in the Agreement, not to be less than zero. There was not a special revenue allocation to Southwestern for 2004 or 2003 based on the agreed upon formula. Second, interest and debt amortization costs are split 60% to Southwestern and 40% to the Company. Third, the remaining net income (loss) is split 25% to Southwestern and 75% to the Company. In accordance with the Agreement, Southwestern and the Company are each required to fund their share of any NOARK cash flow deficiencies to the extent that they are not funded by NOARK’s operations.
2. | Asset Sale |
In 2002, Ozark entered into an Agreement of Sale and Purchase with Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission Co. to sell approximately 29 miles of transmission lines of the Ozark pipeline located in Pittsburg and Latimer counties in Oklahoma for approximately $10 million. Ozark received FERC approval for the sale on January 6, 2003. Ozark recognized approximately a $5.3 million gain in 2003 which is included in gain on sale of assets in the accompanying consolidated statement of income.
3. | Income Taxes |
The items comprising income tax expense are as follows:
Year ended December 31 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Benefit for Current Income Taxes | |||||||
Federal | $ | (119,266 | ) | $ | (397,800 | ) | |
State | (22,157 | ) | (49,697 | ) | |||
Total Benefit for Current Income Taxes | (141,423 | ) | (447,497 | ) | |||
Provision for Deferred Income Taxes | |||||||
Federal | 1,967,000 | 2,094,000 | |||||
State | 336,000 | 358,000 | |||||
Total Provision for Deferred Income Taxes | 2,303,000 | 2,452,000 | |||||
Total Income Tax Expense | $ | 2,161,577 | $ | 2,004,503 | |||
The following schedule reconciles the statutory federal tax rate to the effective income tax rate:
Year ended December 31 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||
Statutory federal tax rate | 35.0 | % | 35.0 | % | |||
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit | 3.7 | 3.9 | |||||
Effective income tax rate as reported | 38.7 | % | 38.9 | % | |||
The Company is a member of an affiliated group that files consolidated income tax returns. Income taxes are allocated to each company in the affiliated group based on its separate taxable income or loss. The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which uses an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes. Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
assets and liabilities using the enacted marginal tax rate. Deferred income tax expenses or benefits are based on the changes in the asset or liability from period to period.
The components of Accumulated Deferred Taxes at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, are as follows:
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Non-Current Accumulated Deferred Tax Liabilities | |||||||
Property | $ | 19,585,000 | $ | 17,267,000 | |||
Other | — | 15,000 | |||||
Total non-current tax liabilities | $ | 19,585,000 | $ | 17,282,000 | |||
4. | Long-Term Debt |
On June 15, 1998, NOARK issued $80 million of long-term notes in a private placement offering (the Notes) through Finance. The Notes mature on June 1, 2018, and require semi-annual principal payments of $1.0 million plus interest at a fixed rate of 7.15% with a final balloon payment of $40 million due at maturity. Enogex has guaranteed 40% of the Notes plus any accrued interest while SWN has guaranteed 60% of the Notes plus any accrued interest. In connection with the issuance of the Notes, NOARK incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $2.2 million, which are being amortized on a basis that closely approximates the effective interest method. In connection with the issuance of the Notes, NOARK entered into a forward interest rate swap contract to hedge exposure to changes in prevailing interest rates on the Notes described above. Due to changes in treasury note rates, NOARK paid $1,112,000 to settle the forward interest rate swap contract in 1998. The unamortized portion is included in other assets and deferred charges on the consolidated balance sheets and is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the Notes.
On July 15, 2004 the Company retired a note that had been issued to a former interest owner of NOARK in the amount of $7,839,000. This note would have matured on July 1, 2020; as a result of retiring this note early the Company recognized a gain of approximately $111,000.
Interest expense amounted to $4,885,833 and $5,028,833 in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Amortization of the deferred charges amounted to $112,757 in 2004 and 2003, and is included in interest on long-term debt in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
2005 | $ | 2,000,000 | ||
2006 | 2,000,000 | |||
2007 | 2,000,000 | |||
2008 | 2,000,000 | |||
2009 | 2,000,000 | |||
2010 and beyond | 57,000,000 | |||
Total long-term debt | $ | 67,000,000 | ||
The estimated fair value of the Notes is approximately $77.5 million and $93.9 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The fair value of these notes is based on management’s estimate of current rates available for similar issues with similar maturities.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. | Related Party Transactions |
Approximately $13,194,000 and $13,058,000 of gas sales, net of gathering services and fuel during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were generated with transactions from Southwestern and its affiliates. The Company also recorded approximately $6,976,000 and $7,037,000 in transmission revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively from Southwestern and its’ affiliates. These revenue from Southwestern and its affiliates represent approximately 26 percent and 28 percent of the Company’s total operating revenue for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Approximately $42,569,000 and $38,739,000 of the gas sales, net of gathering services and fuel during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were generated by transactions with Enogex and its affiliates. The Company also recorded $4,143,000 and $4,258,000 in transmission revenue from Enogex and its affiliates. This revenue from Enogex and its affiliates represents approximately 60 percent of the Company’s total operating revenue for both the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, approximately $5,062,000 and $3,537,000 of accounts receivable, respectively, were outstanding with Enogex and its affiliates and are included in accounts receivable – affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Also recorded in November 2004 was a favorable price adjustment in the amount of $2,507,000 for gas sales to an Enogex affiliate by NOARK from May 2002 through September 2004.
Enogex and its affiliates also perform administrative, accounting, engineering field operations, legal and financial services for the Company, as well as NOARK. In 2003, Enogex allocated overhead costs to the Company in accordance with a formula based on the pro-rata amounts of property, headcount and gross margin of each business segment. In 2004 Enogex began using a method which allocates overhead based on hours incurred in support of each business segment. Approximately $3,756,000 and $3,905,000 of these charges are included in general and administrative expenses in 2004 and 2003, respectively in the consolidated statements of income. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the entire balance of accounts payable – affiliates in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is due to Enogex and its affiliates. During 2004 and 2003, natural gas purchases of approximately $259,000 and $48,000, respectively, were made from an affiliate of Enogex.
The balance of advances from Parent was $48,156,804 and $61,930,378 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The advances originally consisted of assets contributed by Enogex to NOARK in 1998. During 2004 and 2003, the Company repaid $24,000,000 and $7,500,000 of these advances. The advances are non-interest bearing. Current transactions include administrative costs paid by the Parent on behalf of the Company and other costs allocated from the Parent to the Company, totaling $10,226,426 and $3,411,935 in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
6. | Commitments and Contingencies |
In the normal course of business, lawsuits and claims arise against the Company and its subsidiaries. Management of the Company, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that liabilities arising from currently pending or threatened lawsuits and claims would result in losses, which would materially affect the consolidated financial position of the Company or the results of its operations.
7. | Business Segments |
The Company manages its operations on a consolidated basis. The Company has no operations that would quality as a separate operating segment under Statement of Financial Standards (SFAS) No. 131 “Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. | Subsequent events |
On October 31, 2005, Enogex sold all of it’s ownership in EAPC to Atlas Pipeline Partner, L.P. pursuant to a stock purchase agreement dated September 21, 2005. As a condition of the sale, Enogex will continue to perform certain administrative functions for a period of time as required by the Transition Service Agreement.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2005 | 2004 | ||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 14,501,542 | $ | 3,156,938 | |||
Accounts receivable | 784,716 | 1,046,153 | |||||
Accounts receivable — affiliates | 5,145,094 | 5,061,974 | |||||
Accounts receivable — Southwestern and affiliates | 2,090,862 | 2,112,338 | |||||
Prepayments and other | 133,536 | 124,201 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance | 191,258 | 197,884 | |||||
Total current assets | 22,847,008 | 11,699,488 | |||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT | |||||||
In service | 144,415,825 | 144,940,741 | |||||
Construction work in progress | 58,742 | 150,893 | |||||
Other | 2,034,072 | 2,034,072 | |||||
Total property, plant and equipment | 146,508,639 | 147,125,706 | |||||
Less accumulated depreciation | 20,592,819 | 18,798,507 | |||||
Net property, plant and equipment | 125,915,820 | 128,327,199 | |||||
Minority interest in NOARK | 3,359,515 | 3,799,917 | |||||
Other assets and deferred charges | 1,531,702 | 1,574,600 | |||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 153,654,045 | $ | 145,401,204 | |||
See accompanying notes.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(unaudited)
September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2005 | 2004 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 6,467,924 | $ | 5,393,537 | |||
Accounts payable — affiliates | 1,040,658 | 1,145,301 | |||||
Accounts payable — affiliates for income taxes | 509,687 | 240,340 | |||||
Accrued taxes other than income | 756,945 | 858,717 | |||||
Accrued interest | 1,573,000 | 399,208 | |||||
Customer deposits | 65,000 | — | |||||
Accrued other | — | 20,136 | |||||
Long-term debt due within one year | 800,000 | 800,000 | |||||
Non-recourse debt of joint venture | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance | 643,067 | 483,009 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 13,056,281 | 10,540,248 | |||||
LONG-TERM DEBT | |||||||
Long-term debt | 25,600,000 | 26,000,000 | |||||
Non-recourse debt of joint venture | 38,400,000 | 39,000,000 | |||||
Total long-term debt | 64,000,000 | 65,000,000 | |||||
DEFERRED LIABILITIES | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | 21,893,000 | 19,585,000 | |||||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities | 21,893,000 | 19,585,000 | |||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 4) | |||||||
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |||||||
Common stock, $1 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding Common stock authorized, issued and outstanding | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||||
Retained earnings | 4,992,191 | 2,118,152 | |||||
Advances from parent | 49,711,573 | 48,156,804 | |||||
Total stockholder’s equity | 54,704,764 | 50,275,956 | |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | $ | 153,654,045 | $ | 145,401,204 | |||
See accompanying notes.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | ||||||
OPERATING REVENUE | |||||||
Gas transportation services | $ | 15,128,825 | $ | 15,556,731 | |||
Natural gas sales | 42,362,507 | 37,677,107 | |||||
Other revenue | 3,775 | 4,275 | |||||
Total operating revenue | 57,495,107 | 53,238,113 | |||||
COST OF GOODS SOLD | 40,551,222 | 40,327,285 | |||||
GROSS MARGIN | 16,943,885 | 12,910,828 | |||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||
General and administrative expenses | 2,206,424 | 2,613,129 | |||||
Operation and maintenance | 2,699,306 | 2,371,186 | |||||
Depreciation | 2,474,995 | 2,404,143 | |||||
Taxes other than income | 848,187 | 809,722 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 8,228,912 | 8,198,180 | |||||
OPERATING INCOME | 8,714,973 | 4,712,648 | |||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||
Other income (expense) | (54,586 | ) | 8,549 | ||||
Minority interest | (440,402 | ) | 609,670 | ||||
Net other income (expense) | (494,988 | ) | 618,219 | ||||
INTEREST INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||
Interest income | 194,920 | 121,041 | |||||
Gain on retirement of debt | — | 111,361 | |||||
Interest on long-term debt and amortization | (3,653,610 | ) | (3,760,860 | ) | |||
Interest on short-term debt and other interest charges | — | (288,322 | ) | ||||
Net interest expense | (3,458,690 | ) | (3,816,780 | ) | |||
INCOME BEFORE TAXES | 4,761,295 | 1,514,087 | |||||
INCOME TAX EXPENSE | 1,887,257 | 584,577 | |||||
NET INCOME | $ | 2,874,038 | $ | 929,510 | |||
See accompanying notes
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Net income | $ | 2,874,038 | $ | 929,510 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||
Minority interest in NOARK net income (loss) | 440,402 | (609,670 | ) | ||||
Gain on sale of assets | — | (8,424 | ) | ||||
Net book value of retired assets | 60,493 | — | |||||
Depreciation | 2,474,995 | 2,404,143 | |||||
Amortization | 133,286 | 96,293 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,308,000 | 2,132,000 | |||||
Change in certain current assets and liabilities | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 261,437 | (113,766 | ) | ||||
Accounts receivable — affiliates | (61,644 | ) | (916,436 | ) | |||
Pipeline imbalance assets | 6,626 | 868,306 | |||||
Prepayments and other current assets | (9,335 | ) | (22,173 | ) | |||
Accounts payable | 1,074,387 | (13,889 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable — affiliates | 164,704 | 325,101 | |||||
Other accrued liabilities | (56,908 | ) | (126,480 | ) | |||
Accrued interest | 1,173,792 | 921,220 | |||||
Pipeline imbalance liabilities | 160,058 | 417,576 | |||||
Other assets | (88,338 | ) | — | ||||
Other liabilities | — | (20,944 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | 10,915,993 | 6,262,367 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (126,158 | ) | (360,746 | ) | |||
Proceeds from sale of assets | — | 111,372 | |||||
Increase in advances from parent | 1,554,769 | 10,373,164 | |||||
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities | 1,428,611 | 10,123,790 | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |||||||
Retirement of long-term debt | (1,000,000 | ) | (9,215,255 | ) | |||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities | (1,000,000 | ) | (9,215,255 | ) | |||
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 11,344,604 | 7,170,902 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 3,156,938 | 14,596,140 | |||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 14,501,542 | $ | 21,767,042 | |||
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: | |||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 2,395,250 | $ | 2,466,750 |
See accompanying notes.
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ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Organization |
Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Corporation (“Company”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Enogex Inc. (“Enogex”) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of OGE Energy Corporation, owns an interest in the NOARK Pipeline System, Limited Partnership (“NOARK”), an Arkansas limited partnership. The Company’s ownership interest in NOARK with respect to assets, liabilities (exclusive of long-term debt), equity, income and expense is 75 percent. Under the partnership agreement and the NOARK Private Placement Memorandum, the Company is only responsible for 40 percent of the long-term debt of NOARK. At September 30, 2005, the general partners of NOARK consisted of the Company and Southwestern Energy Pipeline Company (Southwestern), a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Company (SWN). The Company has a 75 percent interest (74 percent general partner interest and 1 percent limited partner interest) and Southwestern has a 25 percent interest in NOARK.
NOARK has four wholly owned subsidiaries consisting of Ozark Gas Transmission, L.L.C. (Ozark), NOARK Energy Services, L.L.C. (“NES”), Ozark Gas Gathering, L.L.C. (“OGG”), and NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C. (“Finance”). The operations of NOARK and its subsidiaries are organized into two activities including natural gas gathering and natural gas transportation. The operations of the gas transportation segment are conducted by Ozark, a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulated interstate pipeline that extends from Southeast Oklahoma through Arkansas to southeast Missouri. The natural gas gathering and marketing operations are conducted by OGG. NES had no operations during 2005 or 2004. Finance was created to hold and service the debt of the Partnership.
As more fully discussed in Note 3, a substantial portion of the activities of NOARK during 2005 and 2004 were conducted with its general partners and their affiliates.
Principles of Consolidation |
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts and operations of the Company, NOARK and its subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Basis of Presentation |
The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Use of Estimates |
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Changes to these assumptions and estimates could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
F-57
ENOGEX ARKANSAS PIPELINE CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS