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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] | Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2012
[ ] | Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 1-34831
Access Midstream Partners, L.P.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 80-0534394 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
900 NW 63rd Street Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 73118 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(405) 935-1500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
f/k/a Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P.
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [ ] Accelerated filer [X] Non-accelerated filer [ ] Smaller reporting company [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
As of August 3, 2012, the registrant had 78,922,488 common units outstanding.
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Explanatory Note
Effective July 24, 2012, our name changed from Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. to Access Midstream Partners, L.P. and our ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange changed from CHKM to ACMP.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2012
PART I. | ||||||
Financial Information | ||||||
Page | ||||||
Item 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited): | |||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 | 1 | |||||
2 | ||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 | 3 | |||||
4 | ||||||
5 | ||||||
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 14 | ||||
Item 3. | 34 | |||||
Item 4. | 35 | |||||
PART II. | ||||||
Other Information | ||||||
Item 1. | 36 | |||||
Item 1A. | 36 | |||||
Item 2. | 39 | |||||
Item 3. | 39 | |||||
Item 4. | 39 | |||||
Item 5. | 39 | |||||
Item 6. | 40 |
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
June 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 15,118 | $ | 22 | ||||
Accounts receivable, including $78,580 and $61,030 from related parties at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively | 102,608 | 81,297 | ||||||
Other current assets | 8,517 | 6,869 | ||||||
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Total current assets | 126,243 | 88,188 | ||||||
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Property, plant and equipment: | ||||||||
Gathering systems | 3,035,010 | 2,954,868 | ||||||
Other fixed assets | 62,052 | 53,611 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation | (519,590 | ) | (480,555 | ) | ||||
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Total property, plant and equipment, net | 2,577,472 | 2,527,924 | ||||||
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Investment in unconsolidated affiliates | 956,925 | 886,558 | ||||||
Intangible customer relationships, net | 152,970 | 158,621 | ||||||
Deferred loan costs, net | 33,202 | 21,947 | ||||||
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Total assets | $ | 3,846,812 | $ | 3,683,238 | ||||
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LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 4,814 | $ | 19,443 | ||||
Accrued liabilities, including $49,266 and $62,823 from related parties at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively | 130,692 | 123,651 | ||||||
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Total current liabilities | 135,506 | 143,094 | ||||||
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Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
Long-term debt | 1,248,700 | 1,062,900 | ||||||
Other liabilities | 5,073 | 4,099 | ||||||
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Total long-term liabilities | 1,253,773 | 1,066,999 | ||||||
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | ||||||||
Partners’ capital: | ||||||||
Common units (78,900,936 and 78,876,643 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively) | 1,553,514 | 1,561,504 | ||||||
Subordinated units (69,076,122 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011) | 861,256 | 869,241 | ||||||
General partner interest | 42,763 | 42,400 | ||||||
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Total partners’ capital | 2,457,533 | 2,473,145 | ||||||
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Total liabilities and partners’ capital | $ | 3,846,812 | $ | 3,683,238 | ||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per unit data) | ||||||||||||||||
Revenues, including revenues from related parties (Note 6) | $ | 149,332 | $ | 133,217 | $ | 304,006 | $ | 256,746 | ||||||||
Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses, including expenses from related parties (Note 7) | 44,731 | 44,284 | 93,413 | 86,845 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 40,722 | 32,747 | 79,160 | 63,685 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expense, including expenses from related parties (Note 7) | 11,565 | 9,659 | 23,043 | 18,605 | ||||||||||||
Other operating expense | 240 | 923 | 195 | 863 | ||||||||||||
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Total operating expenses | 97,258 | 87,613 | 195,811 | 169,998 | ||||||||||||
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Operating income | 52,074 | 45,604 | 108,195 | 86,748 | ||||||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 15,971 | — | 28,958 | — | ||||||||||||
Interest expense (Note 4) | (15,636 | ) | (3,837 | ) | (31,594 | ) | (5,277 | ) | ||||||||
Other income | 4 | 42 | 59 | 84 | ||||||||||||
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Income before income tax expense | 52,413 | 41,809 | 105,618 | 81,555 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 807 | 726 | 1,646 | 1,696 | ||||||||||||
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Net income | $ | 51,606 | $ | 41,083 | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | ||||||||
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Limited partner interest in net income | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 51,606 | $ | 41,083 | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | ||||||||
Less general partner interest in net income | (1,752 | ) | (820 | ) | (3,181 | ) | (1,596 | ) | ||||||||
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Limited partner interest in net income | $ | 49,854 | $ | 40,263 | $ | 100,791 | $ | 78,263 | ||||||||
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Net income per limited partner unit – basic and diluted | ||||||||||||||||
Common units | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||||
Subordinated units | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.56 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 79,160 | 63,685 | ||||||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | (28,958 | ) | — | |||||
Other non-cash items | 3,709 | 3,771 | ||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable | (27,017 | ) | 54,543 | |||||
(Increase) decrease in other assets | (1,649 | ) | 1,004 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable | (11,742 | ) | 4,129 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities | 18,923 | (1,003 | ) | |||||
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Net cash provided by operating activities | 136,398 | 205,988 | ||||||
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Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment | (140,921 | ) | (216,251 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of assets | 5,599 | 1,318 | ||||||
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates | (43,153 | ) | — | |||||
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Net cash used in investing activities | (178,475 | ) | (214,933 | ) | ||||
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Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings | 519,900 | 184,400 | ||||||
Payments on long-term debt borrowings | (1,084,100 | ) | (433,500 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes | 750,000 | 350,000 | ||||||
Debt issuance costs | (13,874 | ) | (9,583 | ) | ||||
Distributions to unit holders | (120,475 | ) | (96,921 | ) | ||||
Initial public offering costs | — | (1,280 | ) | |||||
Other adjustments | 5,722 | 4 | ||||||
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Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 57,173 | (6,880 | ) | |||||
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Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 15,096 | (15,825 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 22 | 17,816 | ||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 15,118 | $ | 1,991 | ||||
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Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities: | ||||||||
Changes in accounts payable and other liabilities related to purchases of property, plant and equipment | $ | 10,853 | $ | 13,169 | ||||
Changes in other liabilities related to asset retirement obligations | $ | 313 | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(Unaudited)
Limited Partners | General | |||||||||||||||
Common | Subordinated | Partner | Total | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2011 | $ | 1,561,504 | $ | 869,241 | $ | 42,400 | $ | 2,473,145 | ||||||||
Net income | 53,860 | 46,931 | 3,181 | 103,972 | ||||||||||||
Distribution to unitholders | (62,726 | ) | (54,916 | ) | (2,833 | ) | (120,475 | ) | ||||||||
Non-cash equity based compensation | 1,459 | — | — | 1,459 | ||||||||||||
Other Adjustments | (583 | ) | — | 15 | (568 | ) | ||||||||||
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Balance at June 30, 2012 | $ | 1,553,514 | $ | 861,256 | $ | 42,763 | $ | 2,457,533 | ||||||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. | Description of Business and Basis of Presentation |
Organization
Access Midstream Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”), a Delaware limited partnership formed in January 2010, is principally focused on natural gas gathering, the first segment of midstream energy infrastructure that connects natural gas produced at the wellhead to third-party takeaway pipelines. The Partnership’s assets are located in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Partnership provides gathering, treating and compression services to Chesapeake Energy Corporation (“Chesapeake”), Total Gas and Power North America, Inc. (“Total”), Statoil ASA (“Statoil”), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”) and other producers under long-term, fixed-fee contracts.
GIP Acquisition and ACMP Letter Agreement
During the second quarter of 2012, GIP II Eagle Holdings Partnership, L.P. (together with its affiliates, “GIP II”) acquired Chesapeake’s 50 percent interest in the Partnership’s general partner and all of the common units and subordinated units in the Partnership that were previously held by Chesapeake. The remaining 50 percent interest in the Partnership’s general partner continues to be owned by certain entities managed by Global Infrastructure Management, L.L.C. (the “GIP I Entities” and together with GIP II, “GIP”). As a result of the acquisition, GIP I Entities and GIP II now together own 100.0 percent of the Partnership’s general partner and 69.5 percent of the common and subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership. Concurrent with this acquisition, GIP II signed a letter agreement to acquire certain midstream assets from Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.P. (“CMD”), Chesapeake’s wholly owned midstream subsidiary, and the Partnership signed a letter agreement to acquire from Chesapeake certain Mid-Continent gathering and processing assets. Each of the proposed transactions is subject to a number of conditions, including completion of due diligence investigations, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and receipt of any regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that either transaction will be consummated.
Acquisition
On December 29, 2011, the Partnership acquired from CMD all of the issued and outstanding common units of Appalachia Midstream Services, L.L.C. (“Appalachia Midstream”) for total consideration of $879.3 million, consisting of 9,791,605 common units and $600.0 million in cash that was financed with a draw on the Partnership’s revolving credit facility. The Partnership operates 100 percent of and owns an interest in 11 gas gathering systems in the Marcellus Shale. The remaining interest in these assets is owned primarily by Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon Energy Ltd. (“Epsilon”) and Mitsui. The 100 percent fixed-fee gathering agreements include significant acreage dedications and annual fee redeterminations. In addition, CMD committed to pay the Partnership quarterly any shortfall between the actual EBITDA from these assets and specified quarterly targets, with the quarterly targets adding to a total of $100 million in 2012 and $150 million in 2013. Actual EBITDA exceeded the commitment in the first two quarters of 2012 and no payment was owed by CMD.
Holdings of Partnership Capital
At June 30, 2012, the Partnership had outstanding 78,900,936 common units, 69,076,122 subordinated units, a two percent general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”). IDRs entitle the holder to specified increasing percentages of cash distributions as the Partnership’s per-unit cash distributions increase above specified levels. Common units held by the public represented 30.5 percent of all outstanding limited partner interests, and the GIP I Entities and GIP II together held 69.5 percent of the remaining limited partner interests. The limited partners, collectively, hold a 98.0 percent limited partner interest in the Partnership and the general partner, which is indirectly owned and controlled together by the GIP I Entities and GIP II, holds a two percent general partner interest in the Partnership and all of the Partnership’s IDRs.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements and related notes present the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets of the Partnership as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. They also include the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six-month periods
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the Partnership for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, and the unaudited changes in partners’ capital of the Partnership for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. Certain footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been appropriately condensed or omitted in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”). Management believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This Form 10-Q should be read together with the Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
The results of operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, are not indicative of results that may be expected for the full fiscal year.
2. | Partnership Capital and Distributions |
The partnership agreement requires that, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, the Partnership distribute its available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date. During the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, the Partnership paid cash distributions to its unitholders of approximately $61.5 million and $120.5 million, respectively, representing a $0.39 per-unit distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 and a $0.405 per-unit distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. See also Note 10 — Subsequent Events, concerning distributions declared on July 27, 2012, for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012.
General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights
The general partner of the Partnership is currently entitled to two percent of all quarterly distributions that the Partnership makes. Upon the issuance of any equity by the Partnership, the general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to the Partnership to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner’s two percent interest in all cash distributions will be reduced if the Partnership issues additional units in the future and the general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to the Partnership to maintain its two percent interest.
The general partner holds IDRs that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50 percent, of Partnership cash distributions if any of the Partnership’s quarterly distributions exceed a specified threshold. The maximum distribution sharing percentage of 50 percent includes distributions paid to the general partner on its two percent general partner interest and assumes that the general partner maintains its general partner interest at two percent. The maximum distribution of 50 percent does not include any distributions that the general partner may receive on the limited partner units that it may acquire.
Subordinated Units
All subordinated units are held indirectly by the GIP I Entities and GIP II as of June 30, 2012. These units are considered subordinated because for a period of time (the “Subordination Period”), the subordinated units will not be entitled to receive any distributions until the common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.3375 per common unit plus any arrearages from prior quarters. Arrearages do not apply to and therefore will not be paid on the subordinated units. The effect of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that, during the Subordination Period, available cash is sufficient to fully fund cash distributions on the common units in an amount equal to or greater than the minimum quarterly distribution.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Subordination Period will lapse at such time when the Partnership has earned and paid at least the quarterly minimum distribution per quarter on each common unit, subordinated unit and general partner unit for any three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods ending on or after June 30, 2013. Also, if the Partnership has earned and paid at least 150 percent of the minimum quarterly distribution on each outstanding common unit, subordinated unit and general partner unit and the related distribution on the incentive distribution rights in a four-quarter period, the Subordination Period will terminate.
3. | Net Income per Limited Partner Unit |
The Partnership’s net income is allocated to the general partner and the limited partners, including any subordinated unitholders, in accordance with their respective ownership percentages, and, when applicable, giving effect to unvested units granted under the Chesapeake Midstream Long-Term Incentive Plan (name will be changed to Access Midstream Long-Term Incentive Plan) (the “LTIP”) and incentive distributions allocable to the general partner. The Partnership’s net income allocable to the limited partners is allocated between the common and subordinated unitholders by applying the provisions of the partnership agreement that govern actual cash distributions as if all earnings for the period had been distributed.
Basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit are calculated by dividing the limited partners’ interest in net income by the weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding during the period. The common units issued during the period are included on a weighted average basis for the days in which they were outstanding.
The following table illustrates the Partnership’s calculation of net income per unit for common and subordinated limited partner units (in thousands, except per-unit information):
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per unit data) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Access Midstream Partners, L.P. | $ | 51,606 | $ | 41,083 | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | ||||||||
Less general partner interest in net income | (1,752 | ) | (820 | ) | (3,181 | ) | (1,596 | ) | ||||||||
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Limited partner interest in net income | $ | 49,854 | $ | 40,263 | $ | 100,791 | $ | 78,263 | ||||||||
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Net income allocable to common units | $ | 26,641 | $ | 20,153 | $ | 53,860 | $ | 39,173 | ||||||||
Net income allocable to subordinated units | 23,213 | 20,110 | 46,931 | 39,090 | ||||||||||||
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Limited partner interest in net income | $ | 49,854 | $ | 40,263 | $ | 100,791 | $ | 78,263 | ||||||||
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Net income per limited partner unit – basic and diluted | ||||||||||||||||
Common units | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||||
Subordinated units | 0.34 | 0.29 | 0.68 | 0.56 | ||||||||||||
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Total | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.68 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||||
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Weighted average limited partner units outstanding used for basic and diluted net income per unit calculation | ||||||||||||||||
Common units | 79,277,661 | 69,224,146 | 79,277,046 | 69,221,678 | ||||||||||||
Subordinated units | 69,076,122 | 69,076,122 | 69,076,122 | 69,076,122 | ||||||||||||
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Total | 148,353,783 | 138,300,268 | 148,353,168 | 138,297,800 | ||||||||||||
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
4. | Long-Term Debt |
The following table presents the Partnership’s outstanding debt as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
June 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |||||||
Revolving credit facility | $ | 148,700 | $ | 712,900 | ||||
5.875 percent senior notes due April 2021 | 350,000 | 350,000 | ||||||
6.125 percent senior notes due July 2022 | 750,000 | — | ||||||
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Total long-term debt | $ | 1,248,700 | $ | 1,062,900 | ||||
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The following table presents the Partnership’s average interest rate and average debt balance for the three-months ended June 30, 2012:
Average Interest Rate | Average Balance | |||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||
Revolving credit facility | 2.010 | % | $ | 99,987 | ||||
5.875 percent senior notes due April 2021 | 5.875 | 350,000 | ||||||
6.125 percent senior notes due July 2022 | 6.125 | % | $ | 750,000 |
Revolving Credit Facility
On June 15, 2012, the Partnership amended its revolving credit facility. The amendment did not change the total borrowing capacity, which provides the Partnership up to $1 billion of borrowing capacity and includes a sub-limit up to $50 million for same-day swing line advances. The credit facility, as amended, includes a sub-limit up to $200 million for letters of credit, an increase of $150 million from the revolving credit facility agreement in effect prior to June 15, 2012. In addition, the credit facility contains an accordion feature that allows the Partnership to increase the available borrowing capacity under the facility up to $1.25 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the identification of lenders or proposed lenders that agree to satisfy the increased commitment amounts under the facility. The credit facility matures in June 2016.
Borrowings under the credit facility are available to fund working capital, finance capital expenditures and acquisitions, provide for the issuance of letters of credit and for general partnership purposes. The credit facility is secured by all of the Partnership’s assets, and loans thereunder (other than swing line loans) bear interest at the Partnership’s option at either (i) the greater of (a) the reference rate of Wells Fargo Bank, NA, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50 percent or (c) the Eurodollar rate which is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), plus 1.00 percent, each of which is subject to a margin that varies from 0.625 percent to 1.50 percent per annum, according to the Partnership’s leverage ratio (as defined in the agreement), or (ii) the Eurodollar rate plus a margin that varies from 1.625 percent to 2.50 percent per annum, according to the Partnership’s leverage ratio. If the Partnership reaches investment grade status, the Partnership will have the option to release the security under the credit facility and amounts borrowed will bear interest under a specified ratings-based pricing grid. The unused portion of the credit facility is subject to commitment fees of (a) 0.25 percent to 0.40 percent per annum while the Partnership is subject to the leverage-based pricing grid, according to the Partnership’s leverage ratio and (b) 0.20 percent to 0.35 percent per annum while the Partnership is subject to the ratings-based pricing grid, according to its senior unsecured long-term debt ratings.
Additionally, the credit facility contains various covenants and restrictive provisions which limit the Partnership and its subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, guarantees and/or liens; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets; make certain investments, acquisitions or other restricted payments; modify certain material agreements; engage in certain types of
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
transactions with affiliates; dispose of assets; and prepay certain indebtedness. If the Partnership fails to perform its obligations under these and other covenants, the revolving credit commitment could be terminated and any outstanding borrowings, together with accrued interest, under the credit facility could be declared immediately due and payable. The credit facility, as amended, also has cross default provisions that apply to any other indebtedness the Partnership may have with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50 million, an increase of $35 million from the credit facility agreement in effect prior to June 15, 2012.
The revolving credit facility agreement contains certain negative covenants that (i) limit the Partnership’s ability, as well as the ability of certain of its subsidiaries, among other things, to enter into hedging arrangements and create liens and (ii) require the Partnership to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio, and an EBITDA to interest expense ratio, in each case as described in the credit facility agreement. The revolving credit facility agreement also provides for the discontinuance of the requirement for the Partnership to maintain the EBITDA-to-interest-expense ratio if the Partnership reaches investment grade status. The Partnership was in compliance with all covenants under the agreement at June 30, 2012.
Senior Notes
On January 11, 2012, the Partnership and ACMP Finance Corp. (formerly known as CHKM Finance Corp.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Access MLP Operating, L.L.C. (formerly known as Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C.), completed a private placement of $750.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.125 percent senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The Partnership used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility and used the balance for general partnership purposes. Debt issuance costs of $13.8 million are being amortized over the life of the 2022 Notes.
On April 19, 2011, the Partnership and ACMP Finance Corp. completed a private placement of $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875 percent senior notes due 2021 ( the “2021 Notes”). The Partnership used a portion of the net proceeds to repay borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility and used the balance for general partnership purposes. Debt issuance costs of $8.2 million are being amortized over the life of the 2021 Notes.
The 2022 Notes will mature on July 15, 2022 and interest is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The 2021 Notes will mature on April 15, 2021 and interest is payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The Partnership has the option to redeem all or a portion of the notes at any time on or after January 15, 2017, in the case of the 2022 Notes and April 15, 2015, in the case of the 2021 Notes at the redemption prices specified in the applicable indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Partnership may also redeem the 2021 Notes, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price specified in the indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at any time prior to April 15, 2015. In addition, the Partnership may redeem up to 35 percent of the 2022 Notes and the 2021 Notes prior to January 15, 2015 and April 15, 2014, respectively, under certain circumstances with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings.
The 2022 Notes and the 2021 Notes indentures contain covenants that, among other things, limit the Partnership’s ability and the ability of certain of the Partnership’s subsidiaries to: (1) sell assets including equity interests in its subsidiaries; (2) pay distributions on, redeem or purchase the Partnership’s units, or redeem or purchase the Partnership’s subordinated debt; (3) make investments; (4) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred units; (5) create or incur certain liens; (6) enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from certain subsidiaries to the Partnership; (7) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Partnership’s or certain of the Partnership’s subsidiaries’ assets; (8) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (9) create unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications. If the 2022 Notes or the 2021 Notes achieve an investment grade rating from either of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and no default, as defined in the indentures, has occurred or is continuing, many of these covenants will terminate.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Partnership, as the parent company, has no independent assets or operations. The Partnership’s operations are conducted by its subsidiaries through its operating company subsidiary, Access MLP Operating, L.L.C. Each of Access MLP Operating, L.L.C. and the Partnership’s other subsidiaries is a guarantor, other than ACMP Finance Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership whose sole purpose is to act as co-issuer of any debt securities. Each guarantor is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership. The guarantees registered under the registration statement are full and unconditional and joint and several, subject to certain automatic customary releases, including sale, disposition, or transfer of the capital stock or substantially all of the assets of a subsidiary guarantor, exercise of legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option, and designation of a subsidiary guarantor as unrestricted in accordance with the Indenture. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Partnership or any guarantor to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan. None of the assets of the Partnership or a guarantor represent restricted net assets pursuant to Rule 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
Capitalized Interest
For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, interest expense was net of capitalized interest of $3.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, and $5.7 million and $4.7 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
5. | Equity-Based Compensation |
Certain employees of Chesapeake have been seconded to the Partnership pursuant to a secondment agreement to provide operating, routine maintenance and other services with respect to the business under the direction, supervision and control of the Partnership’s general partner. The term of the secondment agreement was extended until December 31, 2013, as part of GIP’s acquisition of Chesapeake’s ownership interests in the Partnership in June 2012. See Footnote 7 – Transactions with Related Parties for more information. A number of these employees receive equity-based compensation through Chesapeake’s equity-based compensation programs, which consist of restricted stock or restricted units issued to employees.
The fair value of the awards issued is determined based on the fair market value of the shares or units on the date of grant. For grants of Partnership units, expense is based on current fair value at the vest date and recognized over the vesting period. However, expense for Chesapeake stock grants is allocated based on the lesser of the value at grant date or vest date. This value is amortized over the vesting period. The vesting period for both types of awards is generally four or five years from the date of grant. To the extent compensation cost relates to employee activities directly involved in gathering or treating operations, such amounts are charged to the Partnership and are reflected as operating expenses. No expense was recorded in the three-month period ended June 30, 2012, due to a decrease in the ACMP unit price. Included in operating expenses is equity-based compensation of $1.0 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2011, and $0.7 million and $2.1 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively. To the extent compensation cost relates to employees indirectly involved in gathering or treating operations, such amounts are charged to the Partnership through an overhead allocation and are reflected as general and administrative expenses.
The LTIP provides for an aggregate of 3,500,000 common units to be awarded to employees, directors and consultants of the Partnership’s general partner and its affiliates through various award types, including unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights and other unit-based awards. The LTIP has been designed to promote the interests of the Partnership and its unitholders by strengthening its ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals to serve as employees, directors and consultants.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table summarizes LTIP award activity for the six months ended June 30, 2012:
Units | Value per Unit | |||||||
Restricted units unvested at beginning of period | 273,258 | $ | 28.50 | |||||
Granted | 147,512 | 29.17 | ||||||
Vested | (24,293 | ) | 28.51 | |||||
Forfeited | (19,697 | ) | 28.54 | |||||
|
| |||||||
Restricted units unvested at end of period | 376,780 | $ | 28.76 | |||||
|
|
6. | Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk |
Chesapeake Energy Marketing, Inc. (“CEMI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake, accounted for $120.5 million and $112.0 million of the Partnership’s revenues for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively, and $246.0 million and $215.3 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively. Total accounted for $21.7 million and $18.1 million of the Partnership’s revenues for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively, and $44.5 million and $34.5 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Partnership to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. On June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were invested in a non-interest bearing account and money market funds with investment grade ratings.
7. | Transactions with Related Parties |
Although Chesapeake has sold all of its interest in the Partnership and the Partnership’s general partner, the following is a description of the Partnership’s transactions with Chesapeake.
In the normal course of business, natural gas gathering and treating services are provided to Chesapeake and its affiliates. Revenues are derived primarily from Chesapeake, which includes volumes attributable to third-party interest owners that participate in Chesapeake’s operated wells.
Chesapeake and its affiliates provide certain services including legal, accounting, treasury, human resources, information technology and administration. The employees supporting these operations are employees of CEMI or Chesapeake. On June 15, 2012, in connection with the closing of the first portion of the GIP acquisition, the Partnership entered into a Letter Agreement with Chesapeake to continue the terms of these services until December 31, 2013. The condensed consolidated financial statements for the Partnership include costs allocated from Chesapeake and CEMI for centralized general and administrative services, as well as depreciation of assets utilized by Chesapeake’s centralized general and administrative functions. The Partnership is charged a general and administrative fee from Chesapeake based on the terms of the joint venture agreement. The established terms indicate corporate overhead costs are charged to the Partnership based on actual cost of the services provided, subject to a cap based on volumes of natural gas gathered. The cap is calculated as the lesser of $0.03065/Mcf gathered or actual corporate overhead costs, excluding those overhead costs that are billed directly to the Partnership. General and administrative charges of the Partnership were $6.1 million for both of the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, and $12.0 million and $11.8 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively.
Chesapeake and its affiliates also provide compression services to the Partnership. The Partnership is charged for compressor rentals based on long-term compressor rental agreements with MidCon Compression, LLC, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Chesapeake. For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, compressor rental charges from related parties were $15.8 million and $14.1 million, respectively, and $31.5 million and $28.3 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, respectively. These charges are included in operating expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
See also Note 6 — Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk, concerning revenues attributable to CEMI, a related party of the Partnership.
8. | Commitments and Contingencies |
Certain property, equipment and operating facilities are leased under various operating leases. Costs are also incurred associated with leased land, rights-of-way, permits and regulatory fees, the contracts for which generally extend beyond one year but can be cancelled at any time should they not be required for operations.
The Partnership is from time to time subject to various legal actions and claims incidental to its business, including those arising out of employment-related matters. Management believes that these routine legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Once information pertaining to a legal proceeding indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred, an accrual is established equal to the estimate of the likely exposure. There was not an accrual for legal contingencies as of June 30, 2012 or December 31, 2011.
9. | Fair Value Measures |
The fair-value-measurement standard defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard characterizes inputs used in determining fair value according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based upon the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 — inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs).
Level 3 — inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as management’s internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an estimate of future cash flows used in management’s internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies the fair value measurement).
Nonfinancial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value include third-party business combinations, impaired long-lived assets (asset groups), and initial recognition of asset retirement obligations.
The fair value of debt is the estimated amount the Partnership would have to pay to repurchase its debt, including any premium or discount attributable to the difference between the stated interest rate and market rate of interest at the balance sheet date. Fair values are based on quoted market prices or average valuations of similar debt instruments at the balance sheet date for those debt instruments for which quoted market prices are not available. Estimated fair values are determined by using available market information and valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The use of different market assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
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ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
June 30, 2012 | December 31, 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Carrying amount | Fair value (Level 2) | Carrying amount | Fair value (Level 2) | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Revolving credit facility | $ | 148,700 | $ | 148,700 | $ | 712,900 | $ | 712,900 | ||||||||
2021 Notes | 350,000 | 339,283 | 350,000 | 350,221 | ||||||||||||
2022 Notes | 750,000 | 732,660 | — | — |
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents (Level 1), accounts receivable and accounts payable reported on the balance sheet approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.
10. | Subsequent Events |
Distribution
On July 27, 2012, the board of directors of the Partnership’s general partner declared a cash distribution to the Partnership’s unitholders of $0.42 per unit, together with the corresponding distribution to the general partner. The cash distribution will be paid on August 14, 2012, to unitholders of record at the close of business on August 7, 2012, and to the general partner.
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ITEM 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this report to the “Partnership,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms, refer to Access Midstream Partners, L.P. (formerly named Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P.) and its subsidiaries. “GIP II” refers to GIP II Eagle Holdings Partnership, L.P. and its affiliates, the “GIP I Entities” refers to certain entities managed by Global Infrastructure Management, L.L.C. and “GIP” refers to the GIP I Entities and GIP II. “Chesapeake” refers to Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK). “Total”, when discussing the upstream joint venture with Chesapeake, refers to Total E&P USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT, FP: FP), and when discussing our gas gathering agreement and related matters, refers to Total E&P USA, Inc. and Total Gas & Power North America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A.
Overview
We are a growth-oriented publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed by Chesapeake and GIP to own, operate, develop and acquire natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil gathering systems and other midstream energy assets. We are principally focused on natural gas gathering, the first segment of midstream energy infrastructure that connects natural gas produced at the wellhead to third-party takeaway pipelines. We currently operate in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. We provide gathering, treating and compression services to Chesapeake, Total, Statoil ASA (“Statoil”), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (“Anadarko”) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”) and other producers under long-term, fixed-fee contracts.
Our gathering systems operate in our Barnett Shale region in north-central Texas, our Haynesville Shale region in northwest Louisiana, our Marcellus Shale region in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and our Mid-Continent region which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, Delaware and Permian Basins. We service approximately 2,348 wells in the core of the Barnett Shale region. Our Springridge gathering system services approximately 222 wells in one of the core areas of the Haynesville Shale. In the Marcellus Shale region, we own an equity interest in 11 gas gathering systems. In our Mid-Continent region, we have an enhanced focus on the unconventional resources located in the Colony Granite Wash and Texas Panhandle Granite Wash plays of the Anadarko Basin. For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012, our assets gathered approximately 2.868 billion cubic feet (“Bcf”) of natural gas per day, on a net basis. In total, we operate systems consisting of approximately 3,996 miles of gathering pipelines, servicing approximately 5,622 natural gas wells.
We generated approximately 66 percent of our revenues from our gathering systems in our Barnett Shale region, approximately 11 percent of our revenues from our gathering systems in our Haynesville Shale region and approximately 23 percent of our revenues from our gathering systems in our Mid-Continent region for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012. Revenues from the Marcellus Shale region are accounted for as part of our equity investment in these assets.
GIP Acquisition of Additional Ownership Interests
During the second quarter of 2012, GIP II acquired Chesapeake’s 50 percent interest in the Partnership’s general partner and all of the common units and subordinated units in the Partnership that were previously held by Chesapeake. As a result of the acquisition, GIP II and the GIP I Entities now together own 100.0 percent of our general partner and 69.5 percent of the common and subordinated units representing limited partner interests in us. Concurrent with this acquisition, GIP II signed a letter agreement to acquire certain midstream assets from Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.P. (“CMD”), Chesapeake’s wholly owned midstream subsidiary, and the Partnership signed a letter agreement to acquire from Chesapeake certain Mid-Continent gathering and processing assets. Each of the proposed transactions is subject to a number of conditions, including completion of due diligence investigations, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and receipt of any required regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that either transaction will be consummated.
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Acquisition
Marcellus Acquisition.On December 29, 2011, we acquired from CMD all of the issued and outstanding common units of Appalachia Midstream Services, L.L.C. (“Appalachia Midstream”) for total consideration of $879.3 million, consisting of 9,791,605 common units and $600.0 million in cash that was financed with a draw on our revolving credit facility. We operate 100 percent of and own an interest in 11 gas gathering systems in the Marcellus Shale. The remaining interest in these assets is owned primarily by Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon Energy Ltd. (“Epsilon”) and Mitsui. The gathering agreements include significant acreage dedications and annual fee redeterminations. In addition, CMD committed to pay us quarterly any shortfall between the actual EBITDA from these assets and specified quarterly targets, with the quarterly targets adding to a total of $100 million in 2012 and $150 million in 2013. Actual EBITDA exceeded the commitment in the first two quarters of 2012 and no payment was owed by CMD.
Our Gas Gathering Agreements
We generate substantially all of our revenues through long-term, fixed-fee natural gas gathering, treating and compression contracts that limit our direct commodity price exposure. We are party to (i) a 20-year gas gathering agreement with respect to the Barnett Shale and the Mid-Continent region with certain subsidiaries of Chesapeake that was entered into in connection with the creation of our predecessor in September 2009, (ii) a 20-year gas gathering agreement with respect to the Barnett Shale with Total that was entered into in connection with an upstream joint venture transaction between Chesapeake and Total E&P in January 2010, (iii) a 10-year gas gathering agreement with certain subsidiaries of Chesapeake that was entered into concurrent with the closing of our acquisition of the Springridge gas gathering system in the Haynesville Shale in December 2010 and (iv) through Appalachia Midstream, 15-year gas gathering agreements with certain subsidiaries of Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon, Mitsui and Chief Oil & Gas (“Chief”) that we acquired in connection with our acquisition of Appalachia Midstream in December 2011.
Future revenues under our gas gathering agreements will be derived pursuant to terms that will vary depending on the applicable operating region. The following outlines the key economic provisions of our gas gathering agreements by region.
Barnett Shale Region.Under our gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake and Total, we have agreed to provide the following services in our Barnett Shale region for the fees and obligations outlined below:
• | Gathering, Treating and Compression Services. We gather, treat and compress natural gas for Chesapeake and Total within the Barnett Shale region in exchange for specified fees per Mcf for natural gas gathered on our gathering systems that are based on the pressure at the various points where our gathering systems received our customers’ natural gas, which we refer to as the Barnett Shale fee. Our Barnett Shale fee is subject to an annual rate escalation of two percent at the beginning of each year. |
• | Acreage Dedication. Pursuant to our gas gathering agreements, subject to certain exceptions, each of Chesapeake and Total has agreed to dedicate all of the natural gas owned or controlled by it and produced from or attributable to existing and future wells located on natural gas and oil leases covering lands within an acreage dedication in our Barnett Shale region. |
• | Minimum Volume Commitments. Pursuant to our gas gathering agreements, Chesapeake and Total have agreed to minimum volume commitments for each year through December 31, 2018 and for the six-month period ending June 30, 2019. Approximately 75 percent of the aggregate minimum volume commitment is attributed to Chesapeake, and approximately 25 percent is attributed to Total. The minimum volume commitments increase, on average, approximately three percent per year. If either Chesapeake or Total does not meet its minimum volume commitment to us, as adjusted in certain instances, for any annual period (or six-month period in the case of the six months ending June 30, 2019) during the minimum volume commitment period, Chesapeake or Total, as applicable, will be obligated to pay us a fee equal to the Barnett Shale fee for each Mcf by which the applicable party’s minimum volume commitment for the year (or six-month period) exceeds the actual volumes gathered on our systems attributable to the applicable |
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party’s production. To the extent natural gas gathered on our systems from Chesapeake or Total, as applicable, during any annual period (or six-month period) exceeds such party’s minimum volume commitment for the period, Chesapeake or Total, as applicable, will be obligated to pay us the Barnett Shale fee for all volumes gathered, and the excess volumes will be credited first against the minimum volume commitments for the six months ending June 30, 2019, and then against the minimum volume commitments of each preceding year. If the minimum volume commitment for any period is credited in full, the minimum volume commitment period will be shortened to end on the final day of the immediately preceding period. |
• | Fee Redetermination.In May 2012, we entered into an agreement with Chesapeake and Total for the initial redetermination period. The agreement called for an upward adjustment of the Barnett Shale fee and was effective July 1, 2012. We and each of Chesapeake and Total, as applicable, have the right to request an additional redetermination of the Barnett Shale fee during a two-year period beginning on September 30, 2014. The fee redetermination mechanism is intended to support a return on our invested capital. If a fee redetermination is requested, we determine an adjustment (upward or downward) to our Barnett Shale fee with Chesapeake and Total based on the factors specified in our gas gathering agreements, including, but not limited to: (i) differences between our actual capital expenditures, compression expenses and revenues as of the redetermination date and the scheduled estimates of these amounts for the minimum volume commitment period made as of September 30, 2009 and (ii) differences between the revised estimates of our capital expenditures, compression expenses and revenues for the remainder of the minimum volume commitment period forecast as of the redetermination date and scheduled estimates thereof for the minimum volume commitment period made as of September 30, 2009. The cumulative upward or downward fee redetermination for the Barnett Shale region is capped at 27.5 percent of the initial weighted average Barnett Shale fee (as escalated) as specified in the gas gathering agreement. If we and Chesapeake or Total, as applicable, do not agree upon a redetermination of the Barnett Shale fee within 30 days of receipt of the request for the redetermination, an industry expert is selected to determine adjustments to the Barnett Shale fee. |
• | Well Connection Requirement. Subject to required notice by Chesapeake and Total and certain exceptions, we have generally agreed to connect new operated drilling pads and new operated wells within our Barnett Shale region acreage dedications as requested by Chesapeake and Total during the minimum volume commitment period. During the minimum volume period, if we fail to complete a connection in the acreage dedication by the required date, Chesapeake and Total, as their sole remedy for such delayed connection, are entitled to a delay in the minimum volume obligations for gas volumes that would have been produced from the delayed connection. |
• | Fuel and Lost and Unaccounted For Gas. We have agreed with Chesapeake and Total on caps on fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas on our systems, both on an individual basis and an aggregate basis, with respect to Chesapeake’s and Total’s volumes. These caps do not apply to certain of our gathering systems due to their historic performance relative to the caps. These systems will be reviewed annually to determine whether changes have occurred that would make them suitable for inclusion. If we exceed a permitted cap in any covered period, we may incur significant expenses to replace the natural gas used as fuel and lost or unaccounted for in excess of such cap based on then current natural gas prices. Accordingly, this replacement obligation will subject us to direct commodity price risk. |
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Haynesville Shale Region.Under our gas gathering agreement with Chesapeake, we have agreed to provide the following services in our Haynesville Shale region to Chesapeake for the fees and obligations outlined below:
• | Gathering, Treating and Compression Services.We gather, treat and compress natural gas in exchange for fees per Mcf for natural gas gathered and per Mcf for natural gas compressed, which we refer to as the Haynesville fees. The Haynesville fees for these systems are subject to an annual specified rate escalation at the beginning of each year. |
• | Minimum Volume Commitments. Pursuant to our gas gathering agreement, Chesapeake has agreed to minimum volume commitments for each year through December 31, 2013. In the event Chesapeake does not meet its minimum volume commitment to us, as adjusted in certain instances, for any annual period during the minimum volume commitment period, Chesapeake will be obligated to pay us a fee equal to the Haynesville fee for each Mcf by which the minimum volume commitment for the year exceeds the actual volumes gathered on our systems attributable to Chesapeake’s production. To the extent natural gas gathered on our systems from Chesapeake during any annual period exceeds Chesapeake’s minimum volume commitment for the period, Chesapeake will be obligated to pay us the Haynesville fee for all volumes gathered, and the excess volumes will be credited first against the minimum volume commitments for the year 2013, and then against the minimum volume commitments of each preceding year. In the event that the minimum volume commitment for any period is credited in full, the minimum volume commitment period will be shortened to end on the final day of the immediately preceding period. |
• | Acreage Dedication. Pursuant to our gas gathering agreement, subject to certain exceptions, Chesapeake has agreed to dedicate all of the natural gas owned or controlled by it and produced from or attributable to existing and future wells located on oil, natural gas and mineral leases within the Haynesville acreage dedication. |
• | Fee Redetermination. The Haynesville fees are subject to a redetermination mechanism. The first redetermination period will extend from December 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012, and subsequent redetermination periods will be the calendar years 2013 through 2020. We will determine an adjustment to fees for the gathering systems in the region with Chesapeake based on the factors specified in the gas gathering agreement, including, but not limited to, differences between our actual capital expenditures, compression expenses and revenues as of the redetermination date and the scheduled estimates of these amounts for the period ending December 31, 2020, referred to as the redetermination period, made as of November 30, 2010. The annual upward or downward fee adjustment for the Haynesville region is capped at 15 percent of the then current fees at the time of redetermination. |
• | Well Connection Requirement. We have certain connection obligations for new operated drilling pads and operated wells of Chesapeake in the acreage dedications. Chesapeake is required to provide us notice of new drilling pads and wells operated by Chesapeake in the acreage dedications. Subject to certain conditions specified in the gas gathering agreement, we are generally required to connect new operated drilling pads in the acreage dedication by the later of 30 days after the date the wells commence production or six months after the date of the connection notice. During the minimum volume period, if we fail to complete a connection in the Haynesville acreage dedication by the required date, Chesapeake, as its sole remedy for such delayed connection, is entitled to a delay in the minimum volume obligations for gas volumes that would have been produced from the delayed connection. After the minimum volume period, we are subject to a daily penalty for such delayed connections, up to a specified cap per delayed connection. Chesapeake also is required to notify us of its wells drilled in the acreage dedications that are operated by other parties and we have the option, but not the obligation, to connect non-operated wells to our gathering systems. If we decline to make a connection to a non-operated well, Chesapeake has certain rights to have the well released from the dedication under the gas gathering agreement. |
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• | Fuel and Lost and Unaccounted For Gas. We have agreed with Chesapeake on caps on fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas on our systems with respect to Chesapeake’s volumes. These caps do not apply to one of our compressor stations due to its historical performance relative to the caps. This station will be reviewed periodically to determine whether changes have occurred that would make it suitable for inclusion. If we exceed a permitted cap in any covered period, we may incur significant expenses to replace the natural gas used as fuel or lost and unaccounted for in excess of such cap based on then current natural gas prices. Accordingly, this replacement obligation may subject us to direct commodity price risk. |
Marcellus Shale Region.Under gas gathering agreements between Appalachia Midstream and certain subsidiaries of Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon, Mitsui and Chief, we have agreed to provide the following services in our Marcellus Shale region for our proportionate share (based on our ownership interest in the applicable systems) of the fees and obligations outlined below:
• | Gathering and Compression Services. We gather and compress natural gas in exchange for fees per million British thermal units (“MMBtu”) for natural gas gathered and per MMBtu for natural gas compressed. The gathering fees are redetermined annually, as described below. The compression fees escalate on January 1 of each year based on the consumer price index. In addition, CMD has committed to pay us quarterly any shortfall between the actual EBITDA from these assets and specified quarterly targets. The targets add to a total of $100 million in 2012 and $150 million in 2013. These amounts represent the minimum amount of EBITDA we will recognize in each year with the potential that throughput for these systems would generate EBITDA in excess of the guaranteed amounts. |
• | Acreage Dedication.Pursuant to our gas gathering agreements, subject to certain exceptions, the shippers and producers have agreed to dedicate all of the natural gas owned or controlled by them and produced from or attributable to existing and future wells with a surface location within the designated dedicated areas. |
• | Fee Redetermination.Each January 1, gathering fees for each gathering system under the gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui are redetermined and adjusted based on the factors specified in the gas gathering agreements, including our capital expenditures for the system, the total revenues and total expenses for the system and the targeted pre-income tax rate of return on capital invested. There is no cap on these fee adjustments. Each January 1, gathering fees for each gathering system under the gas gathering agreement with Chief are adjusted based on the applicable producer price index. The change in the amount of the gathering fees under the Chief agreement is not to exceed three percent in any one year. |
• | Well Connections.We have the option to connect to new wells within the dedicated acreage. If we elect not to connect to any new well within the dedicated acreage, the shipper for such well may elect to have such well, and any subsequent wells within a two-mile radius (in the case of Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui) or a one-mile radius (in the case of Chief) of the surface location of such well, permanently released from the dedication area, or the shipper may elect to construct, at the shipper’s expense, a gathering system to connect to such well (and wells within a one-mile radius of such well in the case of Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui), in which case the shipper would pay us a reduced gathering fee for natural gas we receive through the shipper-installed asset. Alternatively, the shipper may require us to enter into an agreement pursuant to which we would construct the gathering system to connect to the well in exchange for a reimbursement by the shipper of the costs we incur in connection therewith. The shipper may elect to connect wells outside the dedicated area at its sole expense and pay us a reduced gathering fee for natural gas we receive from such wells, but gas from such outside wells will not be afforded the same priority as gas produced from wells located within the dedicated area. |
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• | Fuel and Lost and Unaccounted For Gas. Under our gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake, Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui, we have agreed on caps on fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas on the systems. If we exceed a permitted cap in any covered period, we must provide a cost estimate for a remedy that is reasonably expected to prevent exceeding the permitted cap in the future. At the election of the shippers we may pay such costs (which costs would then be included in the gathering fee redetermination) or the shippers may pay the costs. If we exceed a permitted cap and do not provide a proposal to the shippers to prevent exceeding the cap in the future within the required time period, we may incur our proportionate share (based on our ownership interest in the applicable system) of significant fees in connection with the natural gas used as fuel or lost and unaccounted for in excess of such cap based on then current natural gas prices. Accordingly, this may subject us to direct commodity price risk. |
Under gas gathering agreements between Appalachia Midstream and certain subsidiaries of Chief, the shipper on each system is to furnish to us, at the shipper’s sole cost and expense, all necessary fuel gas to operate the system. Gas volumes lost solely due to our actions or inactions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct are our sole responsibility. Additionally, we will bear the cost of natural gas lost in excess of one percent due to our failure to maintain adequate corrosion protection. If we lose natural gas due to our gross negligence or willful misconduct or our failure to maintain an adequate corrosion protection system, we may incur significant expenses in connection with the cost of the lost natural gas. Our responsibility for the cost of the lost gas may subject us to direct commodity price risk.
Mid-Continent Region.Under our gas gathering agreement with Chesapeake, we have agreed to provide the following services in our Mid-Continent region to Chesapeake for the fees and obligations of Chesapeake outlined below:
• | Gathering, Treating and Compression Services.We gather, treat and compress natural gas in exchange for system-based services fees per Mcf for natural gas gathered and per Mcf for natural gas compressed. We refer to the fees collectively as the Mid-Continent fee. The Mid-Continent fees for these systems are subject to an annual two and a half percent rate escalation at the beginning of each year. |
• | Acreage Dedication.Pursuant to our gas gathering agreement, subject to certain exceptions, Chesapeake has agreed to dedicate all of the natural gas owned or controlled by it and produced from or attributable to existing and future wells located on oil, natural gas and mineral leases covering lands within the acreage dedication. |
• | Fee Redetermination. The Mid-Continent fees are redetermined at the beginning of each year through 2019. We and Chesapeake will determine an adjustment to fees for the gathering systems in the region with Chesapeake based on the factors specified in the gas gathering agreement, including, but not limited to, differences between our actual capital expenditures, compression expenses and revenues as of the redetermination date and the scheduled estimates of these amounts for the period ending June 30, 2019, referred to as the redetermination period, made as of September 30, 2009. The annual upward or downward fee adjustment for the Mid-Continent region is capped at 15 percent of the then current fees at the time of redetermination. |
• | Well Connection Requirement.Subject to required notice by Chesapeake and certain exceptions, we have generally agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to connect new operated drilling pads and new operated wells in our Mid-Continent region acreage dedications as requested by Chesapeake through June 30, 2019. |
• | Fuel and Lost and Unaccounted For Gas.We have agreed with Chesapeake on caps on fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas on our systems, both on an individual basis and an aggregate basis, with respect to Chesapeake’s volumes. These caps do not apply to certain of our gathering systems due to their historic performance relative to the caps. These systems will be reviewed annually to determine whether changes have occurred that would make them suitable for inclusion. If we exceed a permitted cap in any covered period, we may incur significant expenses to replace the natural gas used as fuel or lost or unaccounted for in excess of such cap based on then current natural gas prices. Accordingly, this replacement obligation will subject us to direct commodity price risk. |
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We believe the recent trend of producers moving drilling rigs from dry gas regions to liquids rich plays such as the Mid-Continent may present an opportunity for us to enter the market of gathering and transporting oil as we believe those services fit well with our current business model.
If one of the counterparties to the gas gathering agreements sells, transfers or otherwise disposes to a third party properties within the Partnership’s acreage dedications, it will be required to cause the third party to either enter into the existing gas gathering agreement or enter into a new gas gathering agreement with the Partnership on substantially similar terms to the existing gas gathering agreement with the applicable party.
Other Arrangements
Business Opportunities.Pursuant to our omnibus agreement with Chesapeake, Chesapeake has agreed to provide us a right of first offer with respect to three specified categories of transactions: (i) opportunities to develop or invest in midstream energy projects within five miles of our acreage dedications in the Barnett Shale and Mid-Continent regions, (ii) opportunities to succeed third parties in expiring midstream energy service contracts within five miles of the acreage dedications in the Barnett Shale and Mid-Continent regions and (iii) opportunities with respect to future midstream divestitures outside of the acreage dedications. The consummation, if any, and timing of any such future transactions will depend upon, among other things, our ability to reach an agreement with Chesapeake and our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Chesapeake is under no obligation to accept any offer made by us with respect to such opportunities. Although we will have certain rights with respect to the potential business opportunities, we are not under any contractual obligation to pursue any such transactions. The Conflicts Committee of our general partner’s board of directors approved the transfer to GIP of our right of first offer to acquire certain midstream assets of CMD.
In connection with the closing of the GIP acquisition, we entered into an amendment to our omnibus agreement to reflect GIP’s ownership of Access Midstream Ventures, L.L.C. (formerly known as Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C.) following the GIP acquisition.
Services Arrangements.Under our services agreement with Chesapeake, Chesapeake has agreed to provide us with certain general and administrative services and any additional services we may request. We reimburse Chesapeake for such general and administrative services in any given month subject to a cap equal to the lesser of $0.03065 per Mcf of natural gas that we gather, treat or compress or actual corporate overhead costs, excluding those overhead costs that are billed directly to us. The $0.03065 per Mcf cap is subject to an annual upward adjustment on October 1 of each year equal to 50 percent of any increase in the Consumer Price Index, and, subject to receipt of requisite approvals, such cap may be further adjusted to reflect changes in general and administrative services provided by Chesapeake relating to new laws or accounting rules that are implemented. The cap contained in the services agreement does not apply to our direct general and administrative expenses.
Additionally, pursuant to an employee secondment agreement, specified employees of Chesapeake are seconded to our general partner to provide operating, routine maintenance and other services with respect to our business under the direction, supervision and control of our general partner. Our general partner, subject to specified exceptions and limitations, reimburses Chesapeake on a monthly basis for substantially all costs and expenses it incurs relating to such seconded employees. Additionally, under our employee transfer agreement, we are required to maintain certain compensation standards for seconded employees to whom we make offers for hire.
On June 15, 2012, in connection with the closing of the first portion of the GIP acquisition, we entered into a letter agreement with Chesapeake regarding the terms on which Chesapeake will provide certain transition services to the Partnership and our general partner following the GIP acquisition. Among other things, the letter agreement provides for the continuation of our services agreement and secondment agreement with Chesapeake until December 31, 2013. On June 29, 2012, we entered into an amendment to the letter agreement amending certain terms relating to the insurance coverage to be provided under our services agreement and altering the workers’ compensation insurance endorsements for our general partner under our secondment agreement.
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How We Evaluate Our Operations
Our management relies on certain financial and operational metrics to analyze our performance. These metrics are significant factors in assessing our operating results and profitability and include (i) throughput volumes, (ii) revenues, (iii) operating expenses, (iv) Adjusted EBITDA and (v) distributable cash flow.
Throughput Volumes
Although Chesapeake’s and Total’s respective minimum volume commitments generally provide us with protection if throughput volumes from Chesapeake or Total in the Barnett Shale region and Chesapeake in the Haynesville Shale region do not meet certain levels, our management analyzes our performance based on the aggregate amount of throughput volumes on our gathering systems in our Barnett Shale, Haynesville Shale, Marcellus Shale and Mid-Continent regions in order to maintain or increase throughput volumes on our gathering systems as a whole. Our success in connecting additional wells is impacted by successful drilling activity on the acreage dedicated to our systems, our ability to secure volumes from new wells drilled on non-dedicated acreage, our ability to attract natural gas volumes currently gathered by our competitors and our ability to cost-effectively construct new infrastructure to connect new wells.
Revenues
Our revenues are driven primarily by our customers’ minimum volume commitments and the actual volumes of natural gas we gather, treat and compress. Our volumes are supported by the minimum volume commitments contained in our gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake and Total in the case of our Barnett Shale region and Chesapeake in the case of our Haynesville Shale region. We contract with producers to gather natural gas from individual wells located near our gathering systems. We connect wells to gathering pipelines through which natural gas is compressed and may be delivered to a treating facility, processing plant or an intrastate or interstate pipeline for delivery to market. We treat natural gas that we gather to the extent necessary to meet required specifications of third-party takeaway pipelines. For the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, Chesapeake accounted for approximately 80.8 percent and 85.0 percent, respectively, of the natural gas volumes on our gathering systems and 80.7 percent and 84.0 percent, respectively, of our revenues. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, Chesapeake accounted for approximately 81.0 percent and 85.0 percent, respectively, of the natural gas volumes on our gathering systems and 80.9 percent and 84.0 percent, respectively, of our revenues in our Barnett Shale, Haynesville Shale and Mid-Continent regions. In our Marcellus Shale region, Chesapeake accounted for approximately 52.7 percent and 53.3 percent of the natural gas volumes in our gathering systems for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Revenues from the Marcellus Shale region are accounted for as part of our equity investment in those assets. Across all operating regions, we earned approximately 75 percent of our fees from Chesapeake and 25 percent from other producer customers for both the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012.
Our revenues are impacted by other aspects of our contractual agreements, including rate redetermination, and our management constantly evaluates capital spending and its impact on future revenue generation.
Operating Expenses
Our management seeks to maximize the profitability of our operations by minimizing operating expenses without compromising environmental protection and employee safety. Operating expenses are comprised primarily of field operating costs (which include labor, treating and chemicals, and measurements services among other items), compression expense, ad valorem and taxes and other operating costs, some of which are independent of the volumes that flow through our systems but fluctuate depending on the scale of our operations during a specific period.
Chesapeake has extensive operational, commercial, technical and administrative personnel that we plan to utilize to enhance our operating efficiency and overall asset utilization. In some instances, these services are available to us at a low cost compared to the expense of developing these functions internally.
Adjusted EBITDA
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before income tax expense, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense and certain other items management believes affect the comparability of operating results.
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Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP supplemental financial measures that management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, may use to assess:
• | our operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy industry, without regard to capital structure, historical cost basis, or financing methods; |
• | our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; |
• | the ability of our assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to our unitholders; and |
• | the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities. |
We believe it is appropriate to exclude certain items from EBITDA because we believe these items affect the comparability of operating results. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA in this report provides information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net income.
Distributable Cash Flow
Our Partnership agreement defines Distributable Cash Flow (“DCF”) as Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the Partnership adjusted for:
• | Addition of interest income; |
• | Subtraction of net cash paid for interest expense; |
• | Subtraction of maintenance capital expenditures; and |
• | Subtraction of income taxes. |
DCF is an important non-GAAP financial measure for our limited partners since it serves as an indicator of our success in providing a cash return on investment. Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we are generating cash flows at a level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly cash distributions. DCF is also a quantitative standard used by the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships because the value of a partnership unit is in part measured by its yield, which is based on the amount of cash distributions a partnership can pay to a unitholder. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to DCF is net cash provided by operating activities.
Reconciliation to GAAP measures
We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provides useful information to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are presented because they are helpful to management, industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies and may be used to assess the financial performance and operating results of our fundamental business activities. The GAAP measures most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Our non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income or net cash provided by operating activities. Each of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow has important limitations as an analytical tool because it excludes some but not all items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. You should not consider either Adjusted EBITDA or distributable cash flow in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to the GAAP financial measures of net income and net cash provided by operating activities:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to net income: | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 51,606 | $ | 41,083 | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | ||||||||
Interest expense | 15,636 | 3,837 | 31,594 | 5,277 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 807 | 726 | 1,646 | 1,696 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 40,722 | 32,747 | 79,160 | 63,685 | ||||||||||||
Other | 240 | 923 | 195 | 863 | ||||||||||||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | (15,971 | ) | — | (28,958 | ) | — | ||||||||||
EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates(1) | 27,858 | — | 51,718 | — | ||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 120,898 | $ | 79,316 | $ | 239,327 | $ | 151,380 | ||||||||
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Maintenance capital expenditures | (18,500 | ) | (18,500 | ) | (37,000 | ) | (37,000 | ) | ||||||||
Cash portion of interest expense | (14,312 | ) | (2,120 | ) | (28,967 | ) | (2,740 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (807 | ) | (726 | ) | (1,646 | ) | (1,696 | ) | ||||||||
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Distributable cash flow | $ | 87,279 | $ | 57,970 | $ | 171,714 | $ | 109,944 | ||||||||
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2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||
Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 69,183 | $ | 68,719 | $ | 136,398 | $ | 205,988 | ||||||||
Changes in assets and liabilities | 8,951 | 7,878 | 21,485 | (58,673 | ) | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 15,636 | 3,837 | 31,594 | 5,277 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense | 807 | 726 | 1,646 | 1,696 | ||||||||||||
Other non-cash items | (1,537 | ) | (1,844 | ) | (3,514 | ) | (2,908 | ) | ||||||||
EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates(1) | 27,858 | — | 51,718 | — | ||||||||||||
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Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 120,898 | $ | 79,316 | $ | 239,327 | $ | 151,380 | ||||||||
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Maintenance capital expenditures | (18,500 | ) | (18,500 | ) | (37,000 | ) | (37,000 | ) | ||||||||
Cash portion of interest expense | (14,312 | ) | (2,120 | ) | (28,967 | ) | (2,740 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax expense | (807 | ) | (726 | ) | (1,646 | ) | (1,696 | ) | ||||||||
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Distributable cash flow | $ | 87,279 | $ | 57,970 | $ | 171,714 | $ | 109,944 | ||||||||
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(1) Marcellus’ Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as follows: | 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | 15,971 | $ | — | $ | 28,958 | $ | — | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 11,887 | — | 22,788 | — | ||||||||||||
Other | — | — | (28 | ) | — | |||||||||||
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EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates | $ | 27,858 | $ | — | $ | 51,718 | $ | — | ||||||||
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Results of Operations – Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 versus June 30, 2011
The following table sets forth certain information regarding revenues, operating expenses, other income and expenses, key performance metrics and operational data for the Partnership for the three months ended June 30, 2012 (the “Current Quarter”) and the three months ended June 30, 2011 (the “Prior Quarter”):
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | %(4) | ||||||||||
($ in thousands, except operational data) | ||||||||||||
Revenues(1) | $ | 149,332 | $ | 133,217 | 12.1 | % | ||||||
Operating expenses | 44,731 | 44,284 | 1.0 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 40,722 | 32,747 | 24.4 | |||||||||
General and administrative expense | 11,565 | 9,659 | 19.7 | |||||||||
Other operating expense | 240 | 923 | (74.0 | ) | ||||||||
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Total operating expenses | 97,258 | 87,613 | 11.0 | |||||||||
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Operating income | 52,074 | 45,604 | 14.2 | |||||||||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 15,971 | — | N.M. | |||||||||
Interest expense | (15,636 | ) | (3,837 | ) | N.M. | |||||||
Other income | 4 | 42 | (90.5 | ) | ||||||||
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Income before income tax expense | 52,413 | 41,809 | 25.4 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 807 | 726 | 11.2 | |||||||||
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Net income | $ | 51,606 | $ | 41,083 | 25.6 | |||||||
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Key Performance Metrics: | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 120,898 | $ | 79,316 | 52.4 | |||||||
Distributable cash flow(2) | $ | 87,279 | $ | 57,970 | 50.6 | |||||||
Operational Data(3): | ||||||||||||
Wells connected during period | 179 | 143 | 25.2 | |||||||||
Wells connected at end of period | 5,622 | 4,653 | 20.8 | |||||||||
Throughput, Bcf per day | 2.868 | 2.148 | 33.5 | |||||||||
Miles of pipe at end of period | 3,996 | 3,450 | 15.8 | |||||||||
Gas compression (horsepower) at end of period | 329,214 | 253,979 | 29.6 | % |
(1) | If either Chesapeake or Total does not meet its minimum volume commitment to the Partnership in the Barnett Shale region or Chesapeake does not meet its minimum volume commitment in the Haynesville Shale region under the relevant gas gathering agreement for specified annual periods, Chesapeake or Total is obligated to pay the Partnership a fee equal to the applicable fee for each thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”) by which the applicable party’s minimum volume commitment for the year exceeds the actual volumes gathered on the Partnership’s systems. Should payments be due under the minimum volume commitment with respect to any year, we recognize the associated revenues in the fourth quarter of that year. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are defined and reconciled to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP below under the captionHow We Evaluate Our Operations within this Part I, Item 2. |
(3) | Operational data includes the gross results for the Marcellus Shale region except for throughput which represents the net throughput allocated to the Partnership’s interest. |
(4) | N.M. - not meaningful |
Revenues.Our revenues are primarily attributable to the amount of throughput on our gathering systems and the rates charged for gathering such throughput. For the Current Quarter, revenues were $149.3 million compared to $133.2 million during the Prior Quarter, primarily as a result of increased throughput in our Barnett Shale region. Barnett Shale throughput increased 20.8 percent due to additional throughput from wells connected in 2011 and resulted in a 20.6 percent increase in revenues. Haynesville Shale throughput was down 38.1 percent as a result of decreased drilling activity and natural declines in this region. Revenues in the Haynesville Shale region were down 32.0 percent as a 2.5 percent annual fee escalation partially offset the volume decrease. Mid-Continent volume for the Current Quarter increased 6.9 percent as drilling activity has increased in this liquids-rich region. A 2.5 percent annual fee escalation and a 15 percent fee increase due to annual contractual fee redetermination contributed to a Mid-Continent revenue increase of 24.9 percent.
We have contractual minimum volume commitments from Chesapeake and Total in the Barnett Shale and from Chesapeake in the Haynesville Shale. The minimum volume commitments are measured annually and any associated revenues are recognized in the fourth quarter of each year. Throughput in these regions during the Current Quarter was above minimum volume commitment levels.
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The following table reflects the Partnership’s revenues and throughput by region for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (please note that Marcellus Shale throughput is excluded from the table below as the financial results of the Marcellus Shale are reported as an equity investment – see Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates in this Results of Operations section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis):
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Change | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages and throughput data) | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 99,411 | $ | 82,430 | 20.6 | % | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 16,122 | 23,719 | (32.0 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 33,799 | 27,068 | 24.9 | |||||||||
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$ | 149,332 | $ | 133,217 | 12.1 | % | |||||||
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Throughput (bcf): | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | 114.8 | 95.0 | 20.8 | % | ||||||||
Haynesville Shale | 31.7 | 51.2 | (38.1 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 52.7 | 49.3 | 6.9 | |||||||||
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199.2 | 195.5 | 1.9 | % | |||||||||
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Operating Expenses. For the Current Quarter, operating expenses were $0.22 per Mcf compared to $0.23 per Mcf during the Prior Quarter. In the Barnett Shale region, operating expenses have increased in order to generate additional throughput. We have reduced operating expense in the Haynesville Shale in response to the reduction in throughput in this region; however, we have fixed costs in this area causing the expense per Mcf to increase temporarily. In the Mid-Continent region, operating expenses have increased as we prepare for increased drilling activity in this liquids-rich region.
The following table reflects our operating expenses and operating expenses per Mcf of throughput by region for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (please note that Marcellus Shale expenses are excluded from the table below as the financial results of the Marcellus Shale are reported as an equity investment. See Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates in this Results of Operations section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis):
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Change | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages and per mcf data) | ||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 26,913 | $ | 26,146 | 2.9 | % | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 4,205 | 5,679 | (26.0 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 13,613 | 12,459 | 9.3 | |||||||||
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$ | 44,731 | $ | 44,284 | 1.0 | % | |||||||
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Expenses ($ per mcf): | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.28 | (17.9 | )% | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 0.13 | 0.11 | 18.2 | |||||||||
Mid-Continent | 0.26 | 0.25 | 4.0 | |||||||||
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$ | 0.22 | $ | 0.23 | (4.3 | )% | |||||||
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Depreciation and Amortization Expense.Depreciation expense for the Current Quarter was $37.9 million compared to $29.9 million during the Prior Quarter. Amortization expense for the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter was $2.8 million. The increase in depreciation expense is a result of capital expenditures made in 2011 and early 2012.
General and Administrative Expense. During the Current Quarter, general and administrative expenses were $11.6 million compared to $9.7 million during the Prior Quarter. This increase is primarily attributable to additional overhead expenses resulting from the acquisition of the Marcellus Shale assets in December 2011.
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Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates.In December 2011, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding common units of Appalachia Midstream. We operate 100 percent of and own an interest in 11 gas gathering systems in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The remaining interest in these assets is owned primarily by Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui. In the Current Quarter, we connected 47 new wells and our net throughput was 0.679 Bcf per day. Income from unconsolidated affiliates was $16.0 million for the Current Quarter. The following table summarizes the results of the Marcellus Shale assets (net to our interest) for the Current Quarter:
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 | ||||
Marcellus Shale: | ||||
Revenues ($ in thousands) | $ | 34,086 | ||
Throughput (Bcf) | 61.8 | |||
Operating expenses ($ in thousands) | $ | 3,756 | ||
Expenses ($ per Mcf) | 0.06 |
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $15.6 million for the Current Quarter compared to $3.8 million for the Prior Quarter. These amounts were net of $3.5 million and $2.7 million of capitalized interest during the Current Quarter and the Prior Quarter, respectively. The increase is related to interest expense on the senior notes issued in April 2011 and January 2012. We incur interest expense on borrowings under our revolving credit facility and senior notes. Interest expense also includes commitment fees on the unused portion of our credit facility and amortization of debt issuance costs.
Income Tax Expense.Income tax expense is attributable to franchise taxes in the state of Texas. The Partnership and its subsidiaries are pass-through entities for federal income tax purposes. For these entities, all income, expenses, gains, losses and tax credits generated flow through to their owners and, accordingly, do not result in a provision for income taxes in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, other than Texas Franchise Tax.
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Results of Operations – Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 versus June 30, 2011
The following table sets forth certain information regarding revenues, operating expenses, other income and expenses, key performance metrics and operational data for the Partnership for the six months ended June 30, 2012 (the “Current Period”) and the six months ended June 30, 2011 (the “Prior Period”):
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | %(4) | ||||||||||
($ in thousands, except operational data) | ||||||||||||
Revenues(1) | $ | 304,006 | $ | 256,746 | 18.4 | % | ||||||
Operating expenses | 93,413 | 86,845 | 7.6 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 79,160 | 63,685 | 24.3 | |||||||||
General and administrative expense | 23,043 | 18,605 | 23.9 | |||||||||
Other operating expense | 195 | 863 | (77.4 | ) | ||||||||
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Total operating expenses | 195,811 | 169,998 | 15.2 | |||||||||
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Operating income | 108,195 | 86,748 | 24.7 | |||||||||
Income from unconsolidated affiliates | 28,958 | — | N.M. | |||||||||
Interest expense | (31,594 | ) | (5,277 | ) | N.M. | |||||||
Other income | 59 | 84 | (29.8 | ) | ||||||||
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Income before income tax expense | 105,618 | 81,555 | 29.5 | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 1,646 | 1,696 | (2.9 | ) | ||||||||
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Net income | $ | 103,972 | $ | 79,859 | 30.2 | |||||||
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Key Performance Metrics: | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 239,327 | $ | 151,380 | 58.1 | |||||||
Distributable cash flow(2) | $ | 171,714 | $ | 109,944 | 56.2 | |||||||
Operational Data(3): | ||||||||||||
Wells connected during period | 376 | 298 | 26.2 | |||||||||
Wells connected at end of period | 5,622 | 4,653 | 20.8 | |||||||||
Throughput, Bcf per day | 2.836 | 2.078 | 36.5 | |||||||||
Miles of pipe at end of period | 3,996 | 3,450 | 15.8 | |||||||||
Gas compression (horsepower) at end of period | 329,214 | 253,979 | 29.6 | % |
(1) | If either Chesapeake or Total does not meet its minimum volume commitment to the Partnership in the Barnett Shale region or Chesapeake does not meet its minimum volume commitment in the Haynesville Shale region under the relevant gas gathering agreement for specified annual periods, Chesapeake or Total is obligated to pay the Partnership a fee equal to the applicable fee for each thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”) by which the applicable party’s minimum volume commitment for the year exceeds the actual volumes gathered on the Partnership’s systems. Should payments be due under the minimum volume commitment with respect to any year, we recognize the associated revenues in the fourth quarter of that year. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are defined and reconciled to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP below under the captionHow We Evaluate Our Operations within this Part I, Item 2. |
(3) | Operational data includes the gross results for the Marcellus Shale region except for throughput which represents the net throughput allocated to the Partnership’s interest. |
(4) | N.M. - not meaningful |
Revenues. Our revenues are primarily attributable to the amount of throughput on our gathering systems and the rates charged for gathering such throughput. For the Current Period, revenues were $304.0 million compared to $256.7 million during the Prior Period, primarily as a result of increased throughput in our Barnett Shale region. Barnett Shale throughput increased 26.9 percent due to additional throughput from wells connected in 2011 and the first half of 2012. The increase in Barnett Shale revenues was slightly higher at 28.0 percent as a result of a two percent annual fee escalation that took effect on January 1, 2012. Haynesville Shale throughput was down 27.2 percent as a result of decreased drilling activity and natural declines in this region. Revenues in the Haynesville Shale region were down 20.7 percent as a 2.5 percent annual fee escalation and some temporary third-party throughput at higher fees partially offset the volume decrease. Mid-Continent volume for the Current Period increased 3.2 percent as drilling activity has increased in this liquids-rich region. A 2.5 percent annual fee escalation and a 15 percent fee increase due to annual contractual fee redetermination helped Mid-Continent revenues increase more than 22.6 percent.
We have contractual minimum volume commitments from Chesapeake and Total in the Barnett Shale and from Chesapeake in the Haynesville Shale. The minimum volume commitments are measured annually and any associated revenues are recognized in the fourth quarter of each year. Throughput in these regions during the Current Period was above minimum volume commitment levels.
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The following table reflects the Partnership’s revenues and throughput by region for the six-months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (please note that Marcellus Shale throughput is excluded from the table below as the financial results of the Marcellus Shale are reported as an equity investment – see Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates in this Results of Operations section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis):
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Change | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages and throughput data) | ||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 202,843 | $ | 158,457 | 28.0 | % | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 35,379 | 44,634 | (20.7 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 65,784 | 53,655 | 22.6 | |||||||||
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$ | 304,006 | $ | 256,746 | 18.4 | % | |||||||
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Throughput (bcf): | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | 231.2 | 182.2 | 26.9 | % | ||||||||
Haynesville Shale | 69.7 | 95.7 | (27.2 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 101.3 | 98.2 | 3.2 | |||||||||
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402.2 | 376.1 | 6.9 | % | |||||||||
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Operating Expenses. For the Current Period, operating expenses were $0.23 per Mcf compared to $0.23 per Mcf during the Prior Period. In the Barnett Shale region, throughput has increased and operating expenses have increased in order to generate the additional throughput. We have reduced operating expense in the Haynesville Shale in response to the reduction in throughput in this region; however, we have fixed costs in this area causing the expense per Mcf to increase temporarily. In the Mid-Continent region, operating expenses have increased as we prepare for increased drilling activity in this liquids-rich region.
The following table reflects our operating expenses and operating expenses per Mcf of throughput by region for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 (please note that Marcellus Shale expenses are excluded from the table below as the financial results of the Marcellus Shale are reported as an equity investment. See Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates in this Results of Operations section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis):
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | % Change | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except percentages and per mcf data) | ||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 56,673 | $ | 49,831 | 13.7 | % | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 9,026 | 11,191 | (19.3 | ) | ||||||||
Mid-Continent | 27,714 | 25,823 | 7.3 | |||||||||
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$ | 93,413 | $ | 86,845 | 7.6 | % | |||||||
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Expenses ($ per mcf): | ||||||||||||
Barnett Shale | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.27 | (11.1 | )% | ||||||
Haynesville Shale | 0.13 | 0.12 | 8.3 | |||||||||
Mid-Continent | 0.27 | 0.26 | 3.8 | |||||||||
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$ | 0.23 | $ | 0.23 | — | % | |||||||
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Depreciation and Amortization Expense.Depreciation expense for the Current Period was $73.5 million compared to $58.0 million during the Prior Period. Amortization expense for the Current Period and Prior Period was $5.7 million. The increase is a result of capital expenditures made in 2011 and early 2012.
General and Administrative Expense. During the Current Period, general and administrative expenses were $23.0 million compared to $18.6 million during the Prior Period. This increase is primarily attributable to additional overhead expenses resulting from the acquisition of the Marcellus Shale assets in December 2011.
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Income from Unconsolidated Affiliates.In December 2011, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding common units of Appalachia Midstream. We operate 100 percent of and own an interest in 11 gas gathering systems in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The remaining interest in these assets is owned primarily by Statoil, Anadarko, Epsilon and Mitsui. In the Current Period, we connected 115 new wells and our net throughput was 0.626 Bcf per day. Income from unconsolidated affiliates was $29.0 million for the Current Period. The following table summarizes the results of the Marcellus Shale assets (net to our interest) for the Current Period:
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 | ||||
Marcellus Shale: | ||||
Revenues ($ in thousands) | $ | 63,345 | ||
Throughput (Bcf) | 114.0 | |||
Operating expenses ($ in thousands) | $ | 7,490 | ||
Expenses ($ per Mcf) | 0.07 |
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $31.6 million for the Current Period compared to $5.3 million for the Prior Period. These amounts were net of $5.7 million and $4.7 million of capitalized interest during the Current Period and the Prior Period, respectively. The increase is related to interest expense on the senior notes issued in April 2011 and January 2012. We incur interest expenses on borrowings under our revolving credit facility and senior notes. Interest expense also includes commitment fees on the unused portion of our credit facility and amortization of debt issuance costs.
Income Tax Expense.Income tax expense is attributable to franchise taxes in the state of Texas. The Partnership and its subsidiaries are pass-through entities for federal income tax purposes. For these entities, all income, expenses, gains, losses and tax credits generated flow through to their owners and, accordingly, do not result in a provision for income taxes in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, other than Texas Franchise Tax.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our ability to finance operations and fund capital expenditures will largely depend on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to cover these expenses as well as the availability of borrowings under our revolving credit facility and our access to the capital markets. Our ability to generate cash flow is subject to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. SeeRisk Factorsin our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
Working Capital (Deficit). Working capital is defined as the amount by which current assets exceed current liabilities and may indicate the potential need for short-term funding. As of June 30, 2012, we had a working capital deficit of $(9.3) million and as of December 31, 2011, we had a working capital deficit of $(54.9) million.
Cash Flows. Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities of the Partnership for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011, were as follows:
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||
Cash Flow Data: | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 136,398 | $ | 205,988 | ||||
Investing activities | $ | (178,475 | ) | $ | (214,933 | ) | ||
Financing activities | $ | 57,173 | $ | (6,880 | ) |
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Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $136.4 million for the Current Period compared to $206.0 million during the Prior Period. Changes in cash flow from operations are largely due to the same factors that affect our net income, excluding various non-cash items such as depreciation, amortization and gains or losses on the sales of fixed assets. See additional discussion in the Results of Operations section above in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities for the Current Period decreased $36.5 million compared to the Prior Period. Approximately $178.5 million was used in investing activities during 2012. This amount included approximately $140.9 million in additions to property, plant and equipment and $43.2 million in additions to our investment in unconsolidated affiliates.
Financing Activities. Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities increased $64.1 million for the Current Period as compared to the Prior Period. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in net borrowings.
Sources of Liquidity
At June 30, 2012, our potential sources of liquidity included:
• | cash on hand; |
• | cash generated from operations; |
• | borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility; and |
• | capital raised through debt and equity markets. |
We believe that cash generated from these sources will be sufficient to meet our short-term working capital requirements and long-term capital expenditure requirements and to fund our quarterly cash distributions to unitholders.
Cash flow from operations is a significant source of liquidity we use to fund capital expenditures, pay distributions and service debt. We have historically and expect in the future to use capacity on our credit facility and the capital markets to fund growth capital and acquire natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil gathering systems and other midstream energy assets, allowing us to execute our growth strategy.
Revolving Credit Facility
On June 15, 2012, we amended our revolving credit facility. The amendment did not change the total borrowing capacity, which provides us with up to $1 billion of borrowing capacity and includes a sub-limit up to $50 million for same-day swing line advances. The credit facility, as amended, includes a sub-limit up to $200 million for letters of credit, an increase of $150 million from the revolving credit facility agreement in effect prior to June 15, 2012. In addition, the credit facility contains an accordion feature that allows us to increase the available borrowing capacity under the facility up to $1.25 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the identification of lenders or proposed lenders that agree to satisfy the increased commitment amounts under the facility. The credit facility matures in June 2016. As of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, we had approximately $148.7 million and $712.9 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.
Borrowings under the credit facility are available to fund working capital, finance capital expenditures and acquisitions, provide for the issuance of letters of credit and for general partnership purposes. The credit facility is secured by all of our assets, and loans thereunder (other than swing line loans) bear interest at our option at either (i) the greater of (a) the reference rate of Wells Fargo Bank, NA, (b) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50 percent or (c) the Eurodollar rate which is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), plus 1.00 percent, each of which is subject to a margin that varies from 0.625 percent to 1.50 percent per annum, according to the Partnership’s leverage ratio (as defined in the agreement), or (ii) the Eurodollar rate plus a margin that varies from 1.625 percent to 2.50 percent per annum, according to our leverage ratio. If we reach investment grade status, we will have the option to release the security under the credit facility and amounts borrowed will bear interest under a specified ratings-based pricing grid. The unused portion of the credit facility is subject to commitment fees of (a) 0.25 percent to 0.40 percent per
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annum while we are subject to the leverage-based pricing grid, according to our leverage ratio and (b) 0.20 percent to 0.35 percent per annum while we are subject to the ratings-based pricing grid, according to our senior unsecured long-term debt ratings.
Our credit facility agreement requires maintenance of a consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the amended credit facility agreement), and an EBITDA-to-interest-expense ratio (as defined in the amended credit facility agreement). We are in compliance with all covenants under the agreement at June 30, 2012.
Additionally, the credit facility contains various covenants and restrictive provisions which limit us and our subsidiaries’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, guarantees and/or liens; consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; make certain investments, acquisitions or other restricted payments; modify certain material agreements; engage in certain types of transactions with affiliates; dispose of assets; and prepay certain indebtedness. If we fail to perform our obligations under these and other covenants, the revolving credit commitment could be terminated and any outstanding borrowings, together with accrued interest, under the credit facility could be declared immediately due and payable. The credit facility, as amended, also has cross default provisions that apply to any other indebtedness we may have with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $50 million, an increase of $35 million from the credit facility agreement in effect prior to June 15, 2012.
The revolving credit facility agreement contains certain negative covenants that (i) limit our ability, as well as the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, among other things, to enter into hedging arrangements and create liens and (ii) require us to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio, and an EBITDA-to-interest-expense ratio, in each case as described in the credit facility agreement. The revolving credit facility agreement also provides for the discontinuance of the requirement for us to maintain the EBITDA-to-interest-expense ratio if we reach investment grade status.
Senior Notes
On January 11, 2012, we and ACMP Finance Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Access MLP Operating, L.L.C., completed a private placement of $750.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.125 percent senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). We used a portion of the net proceeds to repay all borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility and used the balance for general partnership purposes. Debt issuance costs of $13.8 million are being amortized over the life of the 2022 Notes.
On April 19, 2011, we and ACMP Finance Corp. completed a private placement of $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.875 percent senior notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”). We used a portion of the net proceeds to repay borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility and used the balance for general partnership purposes. Debt issuance costs of $8.2 million are being amortized over the life of the 2021 Notes.
The 2022 Notes will mature on July 15, 2022 and interest is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The 2021 Notes will mature on April 15, 2021 and interest is payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year. We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 2022 and 2021 Notes at any time on or after January 15, 2017, in the case of the 2022 Notes and April 15, 2015, in the case of the 2021 Notes at the redemption prices specified in the applicable indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may also redeem the 2021 Notes, in whole or in part, at a “make-whole” redemption price specified in the indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, at any time prior to April 15, 2015. In addition, we may redeem up to 35 percent of the 2022 Notes and the 2021 Notes prior to January 15, 2015 and April 15, 2014, respectively, under certain circumstances with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings.
The 2022 Notes and the 2021 Notes indentures contain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to: (1) sell assets including equity interests in its subsidiaries; (2) pay distributions on, redeem or purchase our units, or redeem or purchase our subordinated debt; (3) make investments; (4) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue preferred units; (5) create or incur certain liens; (6) enter into agreements that restrict distributions or other payments from certain subsidiaries to us; (7) consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our or certain of our subsidiaries’ assets; (8) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (9) create unrestricted subsidiaries. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications. If the 2022 Notes or the 2021 Notes achieve an investment grade rating from either of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and no default, as defined in the indentures, has occurred or is continuing, many of these covenants will terminate.
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Capital Requirements
Our business is capital-intensive, requiring significant investment to grow our business as well as to maintain and improve existing assets. We categorize capital expenditures as either:
• | maintenance capital expenditures, which include those expenditures required to maintain our long-term operating capacity and/or operating income and service capability of our assets, including the replacement of system components and equipment that have suffered significant wear and tear, become obsolete or approached the end of their useful lives, those expenditures necessary to remain in compliance with regulatory legal requirements or those expenditures necessary to complete additional well connections to maintain existing system volumes and related cash flows; or |
• | expansion capital expenditures, which include those expenditures incurred in order to acquire additional assets to grow our business, expand and upgrade our systems and facilities, extend the useful lives of our assets, increase gathering, treating and compression throughput from current levels and reduce costs or increase revenues. |
For the Current Period, growth capital expenditures totaled $279.1 million and maintenance capital expenditures totaled $37.0 million. Our future capital expenditures may vary significantly from budgeted amounts and from period to period based on the investment opportunities that become available to us.
We continually review opportunities for both organic growth projects and acquisitions that will enhance our financial performance. Because our partnership agreement requires us to distribute most of the cash generated from operations to our unitholders and our general partner, we expect to fund future capital expenditures from cash and cash equivalents on hand, cash flow generated from our operations that is not distributed to our unitholders and general partner, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and future issuances of equity and debt securities.
Distributions
Declaration Date | Record Date | Distribution Date | Distribution Declared | Total Cash Distribution | ||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter | July 27, 2012 | August 7, 2012 | August 14, 2012 | $ | 0.4200 | $ | 64,164 | |||||||||||||
First quarter | April 27, 2012 | May 8, 2012 | May 15, 2012 | 0.4050 | 61,543 | |||||||||||||||
2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth quarter | January 27, 2012 | February 7, 2012 | February 14, 2012 | $ | 0.3900 | $ | 58,932 | |||||||||||||
Third quarter | October 28, 2011 | November 7, 2011 | November 14, 2011 | 0.3750 | 52,868 | |||||||||||||||
Second quarter | July 26, 2011 | August 5, 2011 | August 12, 2011 | 0.3625 | 51,106 | |||||||||||||||
First quarter | April 26, 2011 | May 6, 2011 | May 13, 2011 | 0.3500 | 49,343 |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosure of contingencies. We make significant estimates which impact depreciation and assumptions regarding future net cash flows. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from our estimates.
We consider depreciation and evaluation of long-lived assets for impairment to be critical policies and estimates. These policies and estimates are summarized in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
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Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q may constitute forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. All comments concerning our expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on our forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those summarized below:
• | dependence on Chesapeake, Total and other producers for a substantial majority of our revenues; |
• | the impact on our growth strategy and ability to increase cash distributions if Chesapeake, Total or other producers do not increase the volume of natural gas they provide to our gathering systems; |
• | oil and natural gas realized prices; |
• | the termination of our gas gathering agreements with Chesapeake, Total or other producers; |
• | the availability, terms and effects of acquisitions from Chesapeake; |
• | our potential inability to maintain existing distribution amounts or pay the minimum quarterly distribution to our unitholders; |
• | the limitations that Chesapeake’s and our own level of indebtedness may have on our financial flexibility; |
• | our ability to obtain new sources of natural gas, which is dependent on factors largely beyond our control; |
• | the availability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures and other contractual obligations, and our ability to access those resources through the debt or equity capital markets; |
• | competitive conditions; |
• | the unavailability of third-party pipelines interconnected to our gathering systems or the potential that the volumes we gather do not meet the quality requirement of such pipelines; |
• | new asset construction may not result in revenue increases and will be subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic risks; |
• | our exposure to direct commodity price risk may increase in the future; |
• | our ability to maintain and/or obtain rights to operate our assets on land owned by third parties; |
• | hazards and operational risks that may not be fully covered by insurance; |
• | our dependence on Chesapeake for substantially all of our compression capacity; |
• | our lack of industry diversification; and |
• | legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in environmental regulations, environmental risks, regulations by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and liability under federal and state environmental laws and regulations. |
Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results are described in (i) Part II, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report, (ii) Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, (iii) our reports and registration statements filed from time to time with the SEC and (iv) other announcements we make from time to time.
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Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ITEM 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are dependent on Chesapeake, Total and other producers for substantially all of our supply of natural gas volumes and are consequently subject to the risk of nonpayment or late payment by Chesapeake, Total or other producers of gathering, treating and compression fees. Chesapeake’s debt ratings for its senior notes are below investment grade, and they may remain below investment grade for the foreseeable future. Additionally, we are also subject to the risk that one or more of these customers default on its obligations under its gas gathering agreements with us. Not all of our counterparties under our gas gathering agreements are rated by credit rating agencies. Accordingly, this risk may be more difficult to evaluate than it would be with an investment grade or otherwise rated contract counterparty or with a more diversified group of customers, and unless and until we significantly increase our customer base, we expect to continue to be subject to significant and non-diversified risk of nonpayment or late payment of our fees.
Commodity Price Risk
We attempt to mitigate commodity price risk by contracting our operations on a long-term fixed-fee basis and through various provisions in our gas gathering agreements that are intended to support the stability of our cash flows. Natural gas prices are historically impacted by changes in the supply and demand of natural gas, as well as market uncertainty. However, an actual or anticipated prolonged reduction in natural gas prices or disparity in oil and natural gas pricing could result in reduced drilling in our areas of operations and, accordingly, in volumes of natural gas gathered by our systems. Notwithstanding the minimum volume commitments of Chesapeake and Total in our Barnett Shale region and Chesapeake in our Haynesville Shale region and the fee redetermination provisions under our gas gathering agreements, a reduction in volumes of natural gas gathered by our systems could adversely affect both our profitability and our cash flows. Adverse effects on our cash flows from reductions in natural gas prices could adversely affect our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
We have agreed with our producer customers on caps on fuel and lost and unaccounted for gas on certain of our gathering systems in our operating regions. If we exceed a permitted cap in any covered period, we may incur significant expenses to replace the natural gas used as fuel and lost or unaccounted for in excess of such cap based on then current natural gas prices. Accordingly, this replacement obligation will subject us to direct commodity price risk.
Additionally, an increase in commodity prices could result in increased costs of steel and other products that we use in the operation of our business, as well as the cost of obtaining rights-of-way for property on which our assets are located. Accordingly, our operating expenses and capital expenditures could increase as a result of an increase in commodity prices.
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ITEM 4.Controls and Procedures
As required by Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon the evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of our general partner have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of June 30, 2012.
During the three-month periods ended June 30, 2012, the Partnership implemented several modules of a new enterprise resource planning system (“ERP”), PeopleSoft Enterprise Financial and Supply Chain Management (“PeopleSoft”). PeopleSoft, coupled with streamlined business processes and other software solutions, will allow the Partnership to implement integrated processes and systems linking accounting, finance, supply chain, project management, data and people. This implementation was part of a focus on upgrading and enhancing the Partnership’s financial systems and was not in response to any internal control deficiencies. The Partnership is in the process of testing the internal controls over financial reporting to accommodate these modifications to the Partnership’s business processes.
With the exception of the ERP implementation described above, there has been no change in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2012, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.
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ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings |
We are not party to any legal proceeding other than legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are a party to various administrative and regulatory proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of our business. Management believes that there are no such proceedings for which final disposition could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
ITEM 1A. | Risk Factors |
In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the reader should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 with the exception of the items listed below that reflect changes in our ownership structure following the GIP acquisition discussed elsewhere in this report.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our right of first offer with respect to certain of Chesapeake’s future midstream divestitures as well as development and acquisition opportunities adjacent to certain of our existing areas of operation is subject to risks and uncertainty, and thus may not enhance our ability to grow our business.
Subject to certain exceptions, our omnibus agreement provides us with a right of first offer on future Chesapeake midstream divestitures as well as development and acquisition opportunities adjacent to our existing areas of operation in the Barnett Shale and Mid-Continent region. The consummation and timing of any future transactions pursuant to the exercise of our right of first offer with respect to any particular business opportunity will depend upon, among other things, our ability to negotiate definitive agreements with respect to such opportunities and our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms. We may not be able to successfully consummate future transactions pursuant to these rights. Additionally, Chesapeake is under no obligation to accept any offer made by us with respect to such opportunities. Furthermore, for a variety of reasons, we may decide not to exercise these rights when they become available, and our decision will not be subject to unitholder approval. In addition, first offer rights under the omnibus agreement may be terminated by Chesapeake at any time GIP holds less than half of the ownership interest it held in Access Midstream Ventures, L.L.C. (formerly known as Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C.) at the time of our initial public offering, the sole member of our general partner (“Access Midstream Ventures”).
If our services agreement with Chesapeake is terminated, or if Chesapeake fails to provide us with adequate services, we will have to obtain those services internally or through third-party arrangements.
We depend on Chesapeake to provide us certain general and administrative services and any additional services we may request pursuant to our services agreement. The term of the provision of general and administrative services by Chesapeake under the services agreement will continue until December 31, 2013, subject to certain conditions and limitations. Though Chesapeake will agree to perform such services using no less than a reasonable level of care in accordance with industry standards, if Chesapeake fails to provide us adequate services, or if the services agreement is terminated for any reason, we will have to obtain these services internally or through third-party arrangements which may result in increased costs to us.
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Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us
GIP, through its ownership of Access Midstream Ventures, indirectly owns and controls our general partner, which has sole responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. Our general partner and its affiliates, including GIP and Access Midstream Ventures, have conflicts of interest with us and limited fiduciary duties, and they may favor their own interests to the detriment of us and our common unitholders.
Access Midstream Ventures, which is owned and controlled by the GIP I Entities and GIP II, owns and controls our general partner and appoints all of the officers and directors of our general partner, some of whom are also officers and directors of GIP and/or Access Midstream Ventures. Although our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner that is beneficial to us and our unitholders, the directors and officers of our general partner have a fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a manner that is beneficial to its owner, Access Midstream Ventures. Conflicts of interest will arise between GIP, Access Midstream Ventures and our general partner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. In resolving these conflicts of interest, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of GIP and/or Access Midstream Ventures over our interests and the interests of our common unitholders. These conflicts include the following situations, among others:
• | Neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires GIP or Access Midstream Ventures to pursue a business strategy that favors us. |
• | Our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as GIP or Access Midstream Ventures, in resolving conflicts of interest. |
• | Our partnership agreement limits the liability of and reduces the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner, and also restricts the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without the limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. |
• | Except in limited circumstances, our general partner has the power and authority to conduct our business without unitholder approval. |
• | Our general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, borrowings, issuance of additional partnership securities and the creation, reduction or increase of reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to our unitholders. |
• | Our general partner determines the amount and timing of any capital expenditures and whether a capital expenditure is classified as a maintenance capital expenditure, which reduces operating surplus, or an expansion capital expenditure, which does not reduce operating surplus. This determination can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to our unitholders and to our general partner and the ability of the subordinated units to convert to common units. |
• | Our general partner determines which costs incurred by it are reimbursable by us. |
• | Our general partner may cause us to borrow funds in order to permit the payment of cash distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make a distribution on the subordinated units, to make incentive distributions or to accelerate the expiration of the subordination period. |
• | Our partnership agreement permits us to classify up to $120 million as operating surplus, even if it is generated from asset sales, non-working capital borrowings or other sources that would otherwise constitute capital surplus. This cash may be used to fund distributions on our subordinated units or to our general partner in respect of the general partner interest or the incentive distribution rights. |
• | Our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to us or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf. |
• | Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our contractual and other obligations. |
• | Our general partner may exercise its right to call and purchase all of the common units not owned by it and its affiliates if they own more than 80 percent of the common units. |
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• | Our general partner controls the enforcement of the obligations that it and its affiliates owe to us. |
• | Our general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us. |
• | Our general partner may elect to cause us to issue common units to it in connection with a resetting of the target distribution levels related to our general partner’s incentive distribution rights without the approval of the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner or our unitholders. This election may result in lower distributions to our common unitholders in certain situations. |
Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Unitholders have no right on an annual or ongoing basis to elect our general partner or its board of directors. The board of directors of our general partner consists of seven members, three of whom are independent. Access Midstream Ventures, which is owned and controlled by the GIP I Entities and GIP II, is the sole member of our general partner and has the right to appoint our general partner’s entire board of directors, including our three independent directors. If the unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they have little ability to remove our general partner. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units will trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
Even if holders of our common units are dissatisfied, they cannot remove our general partner currently without GIP’s consent.
Our unitholders are currently unable to remove our general partner because our general partner and its affiliates own sufficient units to prevent its removal. The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3 percent of all outstanding common and subordinated units voting together as a single class is required to remove our general partner. As of June 30, 2012, the GIP I Entities and GIP II together own approximately 69.5 percent of our outstanding common and subordinated units. Also, if our general partner is removed without cause during the subordination period and no units held by the holders of the subordinated units or their affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, all subordinated units held by our general partner and its affiliates will automatically be converted into common units. If no units held by any holder of subordinated units or its affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, all subordinated units will convert automatically into common units and any existing arrearages on the common units will be extinguished. A removal of our general partner under these circumstances would adversely affect our common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over our subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. Cause is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding our general partner liable for actual fraud or willful misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor management of the business.
GIP may sell units in the public or private markets, and such sales could have an adverse impact on the trading price of the common units.
As of June 30, 2012, the GIP I Entities and GIP II hold an aggregate of 33,704,666 common units and 69,076,122 subordinated units. All of the subordinated units will convert into common units at the end of the subordination period and may convert earlier under certain circumstances. Additionally, we have agreed to provide GIP with certain registration rights. The sale of these units in the public or private markets could have an adverse impact on the price of the common units or on any trading market that may develop.
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Our general partner has a 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 80 percent of the common units, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price that is not less than their then-current market price, as calculated pursuant to the terms of our partnership agreement. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return or a negative return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units. As of June 30, 2012, the GIP I Entities and GIP II together own approximately 42.7 percent (exclusive of subordinated units) of our outstanding common units. At the end of the subordination period, assuming no additional issuances of common units (other than upon the conversion of the subordinated units) or other events that affect any of the GIP I Entities or GIP II’s ownership, GIP will own an aggregate of approximately 69.5 percent of our outstanding common units.
ITEM 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. | Other Information |
Not applicable.
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The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:
Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
3.1 | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.1 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.2 | Composite Certificate of Limited Partnership of Access Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.2 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.3 | Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.3 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.4 | Composite Agreement of Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.4 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.5 | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation of Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.5 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.6 | Composite Certificate of Formation of Access Midstream Partners GP, L.L.C. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.6 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.7 | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated August 3, 2010. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.2 | 08/05/2010 | |||||||||
10.1 | Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., as the Borrower, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., as Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as Syndication Agent, Bank of Montreal, Compass Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents, and the other Lenders as parties thereto, dated as of June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.1 | 06/20/2012 |
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Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
10.2 | Letter Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Management, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P. and GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.2 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.3 | Investor Rights Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Holdings, L.L.C., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP II Eagle 1 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 3 Holding, L.P. and GIP II Eagle 4 Holding, L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 13D/A | 005-86017 | 1.3 | 06/19/2012 | |||||||||
10.4 | Management Rights Agreement by and among GIP II-B Eagle AIV 1, L.P., GIP II Eagle 1 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 3 Holding, L.P., Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. and Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.4 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.5 | Amendment to Omnibus Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Holdings, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C. and Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.5 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.6 | Amendment to Letter Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Management, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P. and GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., dated June 29, 2012 | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.1 | 07/06/2012 |
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Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
10.7 | Amended and Restated Management Rights Agreement by and among GIP II-B Eagle AIV 1, L.P., GIP II Eagle Holdings Partnership, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle Acquisition Holdings GP, LLC, Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. and Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated June 29, 2012 | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.2 | 07/06/2012 | |||||||||
31.1 | J. Mike Stice, Chief Executive Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
31.2 | David C. Shiels, Chief Financial Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
32.1 | J. Mike Stice, Chief Executive Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
32.2 | David C. Shiels, Chief Financial Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | X |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ACCESS MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, L.P. By: Access Midstream Partners GP, L.L.C., its general partner | ||||||
Date: August 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ J. MIKE STICE | ||||
J. Mike Stice | ||||||
Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
Date: August 8, 2012 | By: | /s/ DAVID C. SHIELS | ||||
David C. Shiels | ||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
3.1 | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.1 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.2 | Composite Certificate of Limited Partnership of Access Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.2 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.3 | Amendment No. 1 to the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.3 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.4 | Composite Agreement of Limited Partnership of Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.4 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.5 | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation of Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.5 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.6 | Composite Certificate of Formation of Access Midstream Partners GP, L.L.C. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.6 | 07/30/2012 | |||||||||
3.7 | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated August 3, 2010. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 3.2 | 08/05/2010 | |||||||||
10.1 | Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., as the Borrower, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., as Parent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as Syndication Agent, Bank of Montreal, Compass Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia, as Co-Documentation Agents, and the other Lenders as parties thereto, dated as of June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.1 | 06/20/2012 |
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Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
10.2 | Letter Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Management, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P. and GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.2 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.3 | Investor Rights Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Holdings, L.L.C., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP II Eagle 1 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 3 Holding, L.P. and GIP II Eagle 4 Holding, L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 13D/A | 005-86017 | 1.3 | 06/19/2012 | |||||||||
10.4 | Management Rights Agreement by and among GIP II-B Eagle AIV 1, L.P., GIP II Eagle 1 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle 3 Holding, L.P., Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. and Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.4 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.5 | Amendment to Omnibus Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream Holdings, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C. and Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., dated June 15, 2012. | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.5 | 06/20/2012 | |||||||||
10.6 | Amendment to Letter Agreement by and among Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P., Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Management, L.L.C., Chesapeake Operating, Inc., GIP-A Holding (CHK), L.P., GIP-B Holding (CHK), L.P. and GIP-C Holding (CHK), L.P., dated June 29, 2012 | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.1 | 07/06/2012 |
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Incorporated by Reference | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit | Exhibit Description | Form | SEC File Number | Exhibit | Filing Date | Filed Herewith | Furnished Herewith | |||||||
10.7 | Amended and Restated Management Rights Agreement by and among GIP II-B Eagle AIV 1, L.P., GIP II Eagle Holdings Partnership, L.P., GIP II Eagle 2 Holding, L.P., GIP II Eagle Acquisition Holdings GP, LLC, Chesapeake Midstream Ventures, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream GP, L.L.C., Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. and Chesapeake MLP Operating, L.L.C., dated June 29, 2012 | 8-K | 001-34831 | 10.2 | 07/06/2012 | |||||||||
31.1 | J. Mike Stice, Chief Executive Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
31.2 | David C. Shiels, Chief Financial Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
32.1 | J. Mike Stice, Chief Executive Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
32.2 | David C. Shiels, Chief Financial Officer, Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | X | ||||||||||||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document. | X | ||||||||||||
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | X |
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