UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
April 2, 2009
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Delaware   1-11727   73-1493906
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification Number)
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue,
Dallas, TX 75219

(Address of principal executive offices)
(214) 981-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
     On April 2, 2009, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (the “Partnership”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as joint book-running managers and representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the public offering by the Partnership of $350 million aggregate principal amount of 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 and $650 million aggregate principal amount of 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 (collectively, the “Notes”). The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-147990) of the Partnership, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement dated April 2, 2009 relating to the Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on April 3, 2009. Closing of the issuance and sale of the Notes is scheduled for April 7, 2009. A legal opinion related to the Notes is filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1.
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Notes are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and other customary conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to purchase all the Notes if they purchase any of the Notes. The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Partnership and customary conditions to closing. Additionally, the Partnership has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities. The summary of the Underwriting Agreement in this report does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to such agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
     The Prospectus Supplement provides that the Partnership will use net proceeds from the offering to repay all amounts outstanding under its revolving credit facility and for general partnership purposes. Affiliates of each of the Underwriters are agents and lenders under our revolving credit facility. Accordingly, each of the Underwriters will receive proceeds from the offering of the Notes. In addition, from time to time the Underwriters and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking and/or investment banking transactions with us and our affiliates for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
     The Notes are being issued under the Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Partnership, as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee, as amended and supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture thereto (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, with respect to the Notes. The terms of the Notes and the Supplemental Indenture are further described in the Prospectus Supplement under the captions “Description of Notes” and “Description of the Debt Securities,” which description is incorporated herein by reference and filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2. Such description does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, which are filed as exhibits hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
     On April 2, 2009, the Partnership issued a press release relating to the pricing of the public offering of the Notes contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in the attached Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.
     
1.1*
  Underwriting Agreement dated April 2, 2009, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

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4.1
  Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005 between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. filed January 19, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
   
4.2*
  Form of Eighth Supplemental Indenture by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee.
 
   
4.3
  Form of Notes (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
 
   
5.1*
  Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
 
   
23.1
  Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
   
99.1*
  Press Release dated April 2, 2009.
 
   
99.2*
  Description of Notes and Description of the Debt Securities.
 
*   Filed herewith.

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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 hereunto duly authorized.
         
  Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.

 
  By:  Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.,
General Partner
 
 
  By:  Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.,
General Partner

 
 
Date: April 6, 2009    
  /s/ Martin Salinas    
  Martin Salinas   
  Chief Financial Officer and officer duly
authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant 
 

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Exhibit Index
     
Exhibits    
 
   
1.1*
  Underwriting Agreement dated April 2, 2009, by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
 
   
4.1
  Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005 between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named therein, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. filed January 19, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
 
   
4.2*
  Form of Eighth Supplemental Indenture by and between Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee.
 
   
4.3
  Form of Notes (included in Exhibit 4.2 above).
 
   
5.1*
  Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
 
   
23.1
  Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
 
   
99.1*
  Press Release dated April 2, 2009.
 
   
99.2*
  Description of Notes and Description of the Debt Securities.
 
*   Filed herewith.

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Exhibit 1.1
Execution Copy
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
$350,000,000 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014
$650,000,000 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
April 2, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
   as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o     Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     1.  Introductory . Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Partnership ”), agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (“ Underwriters ”) to issue and sell to the several Underwriters $350,000,000 principal amount of its 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 (“ 2014 Notes ”), and $650,000,000 principal amount of its 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 (“ 2019 Notes ” and together with the 2014 Notes, “ Offered Securities ”), to be issued under an indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the guarantor parties named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as Trustee, as supplemented through the Closing Date (“ Indenture ”). Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ General Partner ”), is the general partner of the Partnership. Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, is the general partner of the General Partner (“ ETP LLC ”). The General Partner, ETP LLC and the Partnership are herein collectively called the “ Partnership Entities .”
     2.  Representations and Warranties of the Partnership . The Partnership represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
     (a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms . The Partnership has filed with the Commission an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) on Form S-3 (No. 333-147990), including a related prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the offer and sale of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act, which became effective upon filing with the Commission. “ Registration Statement ” at any particular time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to such registration statement, that in

 


 

any case has not been superseded or modified. “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Effective Date. For purposes of this definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B.
     For purposes of this Agreement:
     “ 430B Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(e) or retroactively deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(f).
     “ 430C Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430C.
     “ Applicable Time ” means 7:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
     “ Closing Date ” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.
     “ Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
     “ Effective Date ” of the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities means the time of the first contract of sale for the Offered Securities.
     “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     “ Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430B Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
     “ General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being so specified in Schedule B to this Agreement.
     “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Partnership’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
     “ Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
     “ Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.
     “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
     “ Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of

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“issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as applicable, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market (“ Exchange Rules ”).
     “ Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to any particular time means the prospectus relating to the Offered Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to the Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively.
     “ Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
     Any reference to the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein, including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such incorporated documents. Any reference herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ,” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of such Statutory Prospectus, such preliminary prospectus, the Final Prospectus or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “ rule ” is to the indicated rule under the Securities Act.
     (b) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements . (i) (A) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, (B) at the time of each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus), (C) on the Effective Date relating to the Offered Securities and (D) on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) (A) on its date, (B) at the time of filing the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

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     (c) Shelf Registration Statement . The date of this Agreement is not more than three years subsequent to the initial effective date of the Registration Statement. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Partnership will prior to that third anniversary file, if it has not already done so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after that third anniversary, and will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Offered Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new shelf registration statement.
     (d) Ineligible Issuer Status; Well-Known Seasoned Issuer . (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Partnership or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Offered Securities and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Partnership was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, including (x) the Partnership or any subsidiary of the Partnership in the preceding three years not having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 and (y) the Partnership in the preceding three years not having been the subject of a bankruptcy petition or insolvency or similar proceeding, not having had a registration statement be the subject of a proceeding under Section 8 of the Securities Act and not being the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, all as described in Rule 405. The Partnership has been since the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, and continues to be, a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405, including not having been an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 at any such time or date.
     (e) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated April 2, 2009, including the base prospectus, dated December 11, 2007 (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally), and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

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     (f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Partnership notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Partnership has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and (ii) the Partnership has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
     (g) No Stabilization Activities . None of the Partnership Entities has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
     (h) Formation and Qualification . Each of the Partnership Entities and each of the subsidiaries of the Partnership has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation with full corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership power and authority necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business and, in the case of the General Partner and ETP LLC, to act as general partner of the Partnership and the General Partner, respectively, in each case in all material respects as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership, as the case may be, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).
     (i) Ownership of Subsidiaries . All the outstanding shares of capital stock, limited liability company interests and partner interests of each of the subsidiaries of the Partnership, direct and indirect, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid (to the extent required under their respective partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Delaware LLC Act ”), Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “ Delaware LP Act ”), Section

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5.09 of the Texas Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Texas LLC Act ”) or Section 6.07 of the Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act (the “Texas LP Act”)); and, except (i) as provided in the Security Agreement dated June 28, 1996 among Heritage Holdings, Inc., Heritage Operating, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Heritage Operating Partnershi p”), and Wilmington Trust Company (the “ Security Agreement ”), (ii) for Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC (“ MEP ”) (in which the Partnership indirectly owns a 50% limited liability company interest) and (iii) as provided in the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of Heritage Operating, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Heritage Operating Partnership ”) dated as of August 31, 2006, as amended, the Partnership owns all of such shares and interests, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances. The Partnership, through its 100%-owned subsidiary Energy Transfer Interstate Holdings LLC, owns a 50% limited liability company interest in MEP; such limited liability company interest has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid (to the extent required under the limited liability company agreement of MEP) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Section 18-607 of the Delaware LLC Act); and, except as encumbered by the provisions of the Security Agreement, Energy Transfer Interstate Holdings LLC owns such limited liability company interest free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
     (j) No Omitted Descriptions . There is no agreement, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to any documents incorporated therein by reference, which is not described or filed as required; and the statements (i) in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Description of the Debt Securities,” “Description of Notes” and “Certain United Stated Federal Income Tax Considerations,” (ii) in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 under the captions “Business — Natural Gas Operations Segments — Regulation,” “Business — Environmental Matters,” “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — The FERC is pursuing legal action against us relating to certain natural gas trading and transportation activities, and related third party actions have been filed against us and ETE,” and “Legal Proceedings,” in each case, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, were accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings as of the date of each such document.
     (k) Due Authorization of this Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership.
     (l) Authority of Partnership . The Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to issue and deliver the Offered Securities in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Indenture, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Offered Securities.

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     (m) Enforceability of Indenture and Offered Securities . The execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Partnership of its obligations under, the Indenture have been duly and validly authorized by the Partnership, and the Indenture, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, when executed and delivered by the Partnership, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership and will constitute the valid and legally binding agreements of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms; provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The Offered Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters, and, when executed by the Partnership and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Partnership, and will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
     (n) No Conflicts . None of the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Offered Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Offered Securities by the Partnership, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or the fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof will conflict with, result in a breach, default or violation (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such breach, default or violation) or the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership pursuant to (i) the certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents of any of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which any of the Partnership Entities or any of the Partnership’s subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which any of their respective properties is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule or regulation or any judgment, order or decree applicable to any of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or the subsidiaries of the Partnership or any of their properties, which conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults or liens, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or could materially impair the ability of the Partnership to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Offered Securities.

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     (o) No Consents . No permit, consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, filing or qualification (“ consent ”) of or with any court, governmental agency or body is required in connection with the offering, issuance and sale by the Partnership of the Offered Securities in the manner contemplated herein and in the General Disclosure Package; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Offered Securities by the Partnership; or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except (i) for such consents as may be required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, (ii) for such consents that have been, or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained, and (iii) for such consents which, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (p) Investment Company . None of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership is now, nor after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
     (q) No Third Party Defaults . To the knowledge of the Partnership, no third party to any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Partnership or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership is a party or bound or to which their respective properties are subject, is in breach, default or violation under any such agreement (and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute such an event), which breach, default or violation would have a Material Adverse Effect.
     (r) Financial Statements . At December 31, 2008, the Partnership had on an actual basis, and would have had, after giving effect to the offering of the Offered Securities on the pro forma basis indicated in the General Disclosure Package, a capitalization as set forth therein. The historical financial statements and schedules and the related notes included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby on the basis stated therein as of the respective dates or for the respective periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (“ GAAP ”) throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). No other financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package pursuant to the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.
     (s) Material Change . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, subsequent to the date as of which such information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (i) none of the Partnership or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership has incurred any liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transactions not in the ordinary course of

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business that, singly or in the aggregate, is material to the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material change in the capitalization or material increase in the short-term or long-term debt of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and (iii) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving or which may reasonably be expected to involve, singly or in the aggregate, a prospective Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.
     (t) Material Proceedings . No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership or any of their respective property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Partnership of this Agreement, the Indenture or the Offered Securities or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
     (u) No Omitted Proceedings . There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Partnership, threatened, against any of the Partnership Entities or any of their subsidiaries, or to which any of the Partnership Entities or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership is a party, or to which any of their respective properties is subject, that are required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus but are not described as required.
     (v) Title to Property . The Partnership and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as being owned or to be owned by them, free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances except (i) as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (ii) pursuant to the Security Agreement, (iii) pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of the Heritage Operating Partnership dated August 31, 2006, as amended, and (iv) such as do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, including security interests, claims, liens and encumbrances pursuant to mortgage and/or security agreements given as security for certain non-compete agreements with the prior owners of certain businesses previously acquired by the Partnership and its subsidiaries; provided, that, with respect to title to pipeline rights-of-way, the Partnership represents only that (A) each applicable subsidiary has sufficient title to enable it to use and occupy the pipeline rights-of-way as they have been used and occupied in the past and are to be used and occupied in the future as described in the General Disclosure Package and (B) any lack of title to the pipeline rights-of-way will not have a Material Adverse Effect; and all real property and buildings held under lease by the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries are held under valid and subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use of such properties taken as a whole as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

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     (w) No Defaults . None of the Partnership Entities or the subsidiaries of the Partnership is in violation or default (and, to the knowledge of the Partnership, no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute such an event) of (i) any provision of its certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership Entities or such subsidiaries or any of their respective properties in any material respect, as applicable, which violation or default would, in the cases of clauses (ii) or (iii), have a Material Adverse Effect, or could materially impair the ability of the Partnership to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Offered Securities.
     (x) Independent Public Accountants Grant Thornton . Grant Thornton LLP, who have audited (i) the consolidated balance sheets of the Partnership and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, partners’ capital, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2008, for the four months ended December 31, 2007, and for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2007; (ii) the consolidated balance sheet of the General Partner as of December 31, 2008; and (iii) the consolidated balance sheet of ETP LLC as of December 31, 2008; are independent public accountants with respect to the Partnership, the General Partner, ETP LLC and their subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder.
     (y) Insurance . The Partnership and the subsidiaries of the Partnership maintain insurance covering their properties, operations, personnel and businesses against such losses and risks as are reasonably adequate to protect them and their businesses in a manner consistent with other businesses similarly situated. None of the Partnership or the subsidiaries of the Partnership has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance, and all such insurance is outstanding and duly in force on the date hereof and will be outstanding and duly in force on the Closing Date (except with respect to those policies for which the failure to be in effect would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect).
     (z) Permits . The Partnership and the subsidiaries of the Partnership possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate foreign, federal, state or local regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses in the manner described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and except for such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations the failure of which to have obtained would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Partnership or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership have received any notice of proceedings relating to the

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revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or other authorization which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
     (aa) Disclosure Controls and Procedures . The Partnership has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), which (i) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Partnership in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Partnership’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of December 31, 2008 and (iii) were effective, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the functions for which they were established.
     (bb) Internal Controls . The Partnership maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Partnership is not aware of (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Partnership’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Partnership’s internal controls.
     (cc) No Significant Changes in Internal Controls . Since December 31, 2008, the most recent date as of which the Partnership evaluated its disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15) or in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the Partnership’s internal controls.
     (dd) Environmental Compliance . The Partnership and the subsidiaries of the Partnership are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to

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conduct their respective businesses as they are currently being conducted and (iii) have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, none of the Partnership or any of the subsidiaries of the Partnership has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“ CERCLA ”).
     (ee) No Prohibition of Dividends or Distribution . No subsidiary of the Partnership is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Partnership, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or partnership or limited liability company interests, from repaying to the Partnership any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Partnership or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Partnership or any other subsidiary of the Partnership, except as described in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
     (ff) Registration Rights . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Partnership and any person granting such person the right to require the Partnership to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Partnership owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Partnership to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.
     3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Partnership agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Partnership, the respective principal amounts of the Offered Securities set forth opposite the names of each of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto at a purchase price of 99.396% of the principal amount thereof in the case of the 2014 Notes and 99.346% of the principal amount thereof in the case of the 2019 Notes, in each case, plus accrued interest from April 7, 2009 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined).
     The Partnership will deliver the Offered Securities to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives at the office of Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas, at 9:00 a.m., Houston time, on April 7, 2009, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Partnership determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ Closing Date .” For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds

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and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The Offered Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at the above office of Andrews Kurth LLP at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.
     4.  Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
     5.  Certain Agreements of the Partnership . The Partnership agrees with the several Underwriters that:
     (a) Filing of Prospectuses . The Partnership has filed or will file each Statutory Prospectus (including the Final Prospectus) pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (5)) not later than the second business day following the earlier of the date it is first used or the execution and delivery of this Agreement. The Partnership has complied and will comply with Rule 433.
     (b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests. Until the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities contemplated hereby, the Partnership will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus at any time and will offer the Representatives a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Partnership will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement, (ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Partnership will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
     (c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Partnership will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or

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omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.
     (d) Rule 158 . As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of this Agreement, the Partnership will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date of this Agreement and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158.
     (e) Furnishing of Prospectuses . The Partnership will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives reasonably request. The Partnership will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.
     (f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Partnership will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution; provided that in no event shall the Partnership be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified, to register or qualify as a dealer in securities or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in any jurisdiction, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Offered Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
     (g) Reporting Requirements . For so long as the Offered Securities remain outstanding, the Partnership will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to holders of its limited partnership units for such year; and the Partnership will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Partnership filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to holders of the Partnership’s limited partnership units, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Partnership as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Partnership is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.
     (h) Payment of Expenses . The Partnership will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to any filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and the preparation and printing of memoranda relating thereto, any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities, costs and expenses relating to investor

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presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Partnership’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Partnership including the chartering of airplanes, and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors.
     (i) Use of Proceeds . The Partnership will use the net proceeds received in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Partnership does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.
     (j) Absence of Manipulation . The Partnership will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
     (k) Restriction on Sale of Securities . The Partnership will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Partnership and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending 30 days after the Closing Date.
     6.  Free Writing Prospectuses .
     (a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Partnership represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Partnership and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Partnership and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Partnership represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
     (b) Term Sheets . The Partnership will prepare a final term sheet relating to the Offered Securities, containing only information that describes the final terms of the

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Offered Securities and otherwise in a form consented to by the Representatives, and will file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) following the date such final terms have been established for all classes of the offering of the Offered Securities. Any such final term sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement. The Partnership also consents to the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that contains only (i)(x) information describing the preliminary terms of the Offered Securities or their offering, (y) information permitted by Rule 134, or (z) information that describes the final terms of the Offered Securities or their offering and that is included in the final term sheet of the Partnership contemplated in the first sentence of this subsection or (ii) other information that is not “issuer information,” as defined in Rule 433, it being understood that any such free writing prospectus referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above shall not be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.
     7.  Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities on the Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Partnership herein (as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Partnership officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Partnership of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:
     (a) Accountants’ Comfort Letters . At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received from Grant Thornton LLP a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with public offerings of securities.
     With respect to the letter of Grant Thornton LLP referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Underwriters concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “ initial letter ”), the Partnership shall have furnished to the Underwriters a letter (the “ bring-down letter ”) of Grant Thornton LLP, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information

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and other matters covered by the initial letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the initial letter.
     (b) Filing of Prospectus . The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Partnership or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.
     (c) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Partnership and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Partnership by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Partnership (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Partnership on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.
     (d) Opinion of Counsel for Partnership . The Underwriters shall have received opinions, dated the Closing Date, of Vinson & Elkins LLP, counsel for the Partnership, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A .
     (e) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . The Underwriters shall have received from Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require, and the Partnership shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

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     (f) Officer’s Certificate . The Underwriters shall have received a certificate, dated Closing Date, of an executive officer of ETP LLC and a principal financial or accounting officer of ETP LLC in which such officers shall state that: (i) the representations and warranties of the Partnership in this Agreement are true and correct; (ii) the Partnership has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; (iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; and (iv) subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Partnership and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
The Partnership will furnish the Underwriters with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request. The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder.
     8.  Indemnification and Contribution .
     (a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus (which term includes any base prospectus and any preliminary prospectus supplement) as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however , that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by any Underwriter through the Representatives

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specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.
     (b) Indemnification of Partnership . Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus (which term includes any base prospectus and any preliminary prospectus supplement) as of any time, the Final Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Partnership by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: (i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and (ii) the information contained in the sixth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”
     (c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly

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notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
     (d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Partnership bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative

20


 

intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Offered Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Partnership and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).
     9.  Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on the Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Partnership for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Partnership for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Partnership, except as provided in Section 10. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
     10.  Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Partnership or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Partnership or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered

21


 

Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Partnership will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, and the respective obligations of the Partnership and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5(h) and 8 hereof shall remain in effect. In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect.
     11.  Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to the Representatives, c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010; Attention: LCD-IBD, Fax No. (212) 322-1904, or, if sent to the Partnership, will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to it at Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219, Attention: General Counsel, Fax No. (214) 981-0701; provided, however , that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, delivered or faxed and confirmed to such Underwriter.
     12.  Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
     13.  Representation of Underwriters . The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives will be binding upon all the Underwriters.
     14.  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
     15.  Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Partnership acknowledges and agrees that:
     (a) No Other Relationship . The Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Partnership and the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are advising the Partnership on other matters;
     (b) Arms’ Length Negotiations . The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Partnership following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives, and the Partnership is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
     (c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose . The Partnership has been advised that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which

22


 

may involve interests that differ from those of the Partnership and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Partnership by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and
     (d) Waiver . The Partnership waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Partnership in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Partnership, including unitholders, employees or creditors of the Partnership.
     16.  Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York .
     The Partnership hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Partnership irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(Reminder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)

23


 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Partnership and the several Underwriters.
         
  Very truly yours,

ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS GP, L.P.
        Its:  General Partner

By:  ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.L.C.
        Its:  General Partner
 
 
  By:   /s/ Thomas P. Mason    
    Name:   Thomas P. Mason   
    Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   
 

 


 

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
     Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters
         
 
By: CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
 
   
By:   /s/ Michael Cannon      
  Name:   Michael Cannon     
  Title:   Managing Director     
 
 
By: J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
 
   
By:   /s/ Robert Bottamedi      
  Name:   Robert Bottamedi     
  Title:   Vice President     
 
 
By: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
 
   
By:   /s/ Yurij Slyz      
  Name:   Yurij Slyz     
  Title:   Vice President     
 
 
By: GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
 
   
By:   /s/ Okwudiri Onyedum      
  Name:   Okwudiri Onyedum     
  Title:   Senior Vice President     
 

 


 

SCHEDULE A
                 
    Principal     Principal  
    Amount of     Amount of  
Underwriter   2014 Notes     2019 Notes  
                 
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
  $ 70,000,000     $ 130,000,000  
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
    70,000,000       130,000,000  
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
    70,000,000       130,000,000  
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
    70,000,000       130,000,000  
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
    35,000,000       65,000,000  
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
    35,000,000       65,000,000  
 
           
Total
  $ 350,000,000     $ 650,000,000  

 


 

SCHEDULE B
1. General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)
          “General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” includes the following document:
  1.   Final term sheet, dated April 2, 2009, for the Offered Securities.
2. Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package
          The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:
          None

 


 

EXHIBIT A
Form of Opinion of Vinson & Elkins LLP
April 7, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
     as Representatives of the several Underwriters
     
c/o
  Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     This opinion is provided to you pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, dated April 2, 2009 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and the underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), in connection with the offer and sale by the Partnership of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014, and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). Any capitalized term used in this opinion and not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Underwriting Agreement.
     We have acted as counsel to the Partnership in connection with the offer and sale by the Partnership of the Notes. In connection with the opinions expressed below, we have examined the following:
     (i) executed originals or counterparts of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, dated as of January 15, 2005 (the “Original Indenture”), by and among the Partnership, certain subsidiary guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) and the Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 7, 2009 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) and a global certificate representing the Notes;
     (ii) executed originals or counterparts of the organizational documents of the Partnership;
     (iii) a copy of the Certificate of Limited Partnership for the Partnership as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
     (iv) copies of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors and the Pricing Committee of Energy Transfer Partners, LLC (“ETP LLC”) as general partner of the general partner of the Partnership, certified as of the date hereof by the Secretary of ETP LLC;
     (v) the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus;

A-1


 

     (vi) evidence satisfactory to us of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the Act; and
     (vii) such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of the opinions expressed below.
     The Underwriting Agreement, the Original Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”.
     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
     1. The Partnership is validly existing in good standing as a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware with all requisite limited partnership power and authority under the laws of the State of Delaware to own or lease its properties and conduct its business, in each case in all material respects as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
     2. The Partnership has all requisite limited partnership power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Notes in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Documents, and to execute, deliver, incur and perform its respective obligations under the Transaction Documents.
     3. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Partnership.
     4. Each of the Original Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action, executed and delivered by the Partnership and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Partnership enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with its terms. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
     5. The Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action, executed and delivered by the Partnership and when authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture and delivered against payment therefor will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms, and are entitled to the benefits of the Original Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture.
     6. The execution and delivery by the Partnership of, and the incurrence and performance of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents (A) will not violate (i) any Federal, Texas or New York law (it being understood and agreed that in this paragraph 6, we express no opinion with respect to federal or state securities laws), (ii) the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act or the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or (iii) any applicable governmental order identified to us by the Partnership as being material to the Partnership, (B) will not violate the certificate of limited partnership and agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership, and (C) will not constitute a breach or violation of, or a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default), or result in

A-2


 

the creation of any security interest in, or lien upon, any of the property or assets of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries under any agreement listed as an exhibit to the Partnership’s (1) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, or (2) any Current Report on Form 8-K filed after December 31, 2008 and prior to the date hereof, except in the case of (A) or (C), for such matters that would not individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
     7. No consent, license, filing, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the issuance and sale of the Notes, the execution and delivery by the Partnership of, and the performance by the Partnership of its respective obligations under the Transaction Documents, except (i) as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, (ii) those consents, licenses, filings, authorizations, approvals, orders, exemptions and other actions that have been obtained or taken, and any filings that have been made, as of the date hereof, or (iii) where the failure to obtain, take or make such consent, approval, authorization, order, qualification, action or filing would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Partnership and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
     8. The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Description of the Notes” and “Description of the Debt Securities” insofar as such statements are summaries of the documents referred to therein, constitute accurate summaries in all material respects of the documents referred to therein, and the Notes and the Original Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Description of the Notes” and “Description of the Debt Securities”.
     9. Subject to the qualifications and limitations therein, the statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” insofar as such statements are a summary of the United States federal tax laws referred to therein, constitute accurate summaries in all material respects of the matters therein described.
     10. The Partnership is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
     11. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, the Final Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph (2) of Rule 424(b), the final term sheet dated December 18, 2008 described in Schedule B of the Underwriting Agreement was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 in accordance with Rule 433(d) and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities Act; The Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, and the Final Prospectus, as of its date and the date hereof, (except in such case for the financial statements and the notes and financial schedules and other financial, statistical and accounting data included therein, as to which we do not express an opinion)

A-3


 

appeared on their face to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.
     In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have:
     (a) relied, without independent investigation or verification, with respect to matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of ETP LLC and information obtained from public officials;
     (b) assumed that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to us conform to the originals thereof, and that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; and
     (c) assumed that each certificate from governmental officials reviewed by us is accurate, complete and authentic, and all official public records are accurate and complete.
     Because we have not conducted any independent investigation or verification with regard to the information set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus (except with respect to the opinions set forth in paragraphs (8) and (9) above), we are not (except as aforesaid) passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained therein. We have participated, however, in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Partnership, representatives of the independent public accountants of the Partnership and your representatives, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and related matters were discussed. Based on the foregoing participation (relying as to factual matters in respect of the determination of materiality to a significant extent upon the statements of fact made by officers and other representatives of the Partnership), no facts have come to our attention that lead us to believe that (a) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (b) the Final Prospectus, as of its date or as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (c) the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. We, however, express no opinion with respect to the financial statements and notes and related schedules and other related financial and accounting data included in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus or with respect to the Form T-1 of the Trustee.
     We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provisions of the Original Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes to the extent relating to: (i) any failure to comply with requirements concerning notices, relating to delay or omission to enforce rights or remedies or purporting to waive or affect rights, claims, defenses or other benefits to the extent that any of the same cannot be waived or so affected under applicable law; (ii) indemnification to the extent it relates to any violation of federal or state securities laws; (iii) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or

A-4


 

hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally; or (iv) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
     Our opinion is limited to matters governed by the federal laws of the United States of America to the extent specifically referred to herein, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of Texas and the laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to the law of any other jurisdiction. We do not express any opinion with respect to (i) state or local taxes or tax statutes to which any of the limited partners of the Partnership or the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries may be subject or (ii) state or federal anti-fraud laws or regulations. We also do not express any opinion with respect to laws relating to or promulgated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
     This opinion letter is furnished to you solely for your benefit pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement. This letter and the opinions expressed herein may not be used or relied upon by you for any other purpose and may not be used or relied upon for any purpose by any other person or entity without our prior written consent. This letter is not to be quoted or reproduced in whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any manner nor is it to be filed with any governmental agency or delivered to any other person without our prior written consent. This opinion speaks as of its date, and we undertake no (and hereby disclaim any) obligation to update this opinion.
Very truly yours,

A-5

Exhibit 4.2
 
 
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.,
as Issuer,
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(AS SUCCESSOR TO
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION),
as Trustee
EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of April 7, 2009
to
Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005
8.50% Senior Notes due 2014
9.00% Senior Notes due 2019
 
 

 


 

Table of Contents
         
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
    1  
SECTION 1.1 Generally
    1  
SECTION 1.2 Definition of Certain Terms
    2  
 
       
ARTICLE II GENERAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
    6  
SECTION 2.1 Form
    6  
SECTION 2.2 Title, Amount and Payment of Principal and Interest
    7  
SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange
    8  
 
       
ARTICLE III FUTURE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
    8  
SECTION 3.1 No Initial Guarantee of the Notes by Subsidiary Guarantors
    8  
SECTION 3.2 Future Subsidiary Guarantors
    8  
SECTION 3.3 Release of Guarantees
    9  
SECTION 3.4 Reinstatement of Guarantees
    9  
 
       
ARTICLE IV REDEMPTION
    9  
SECTION 4.1 Redemption
    9  
 
       
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
    10  
SECTION 5.1 Limitation on Liens
    10  
SECTION 5.2 Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks
    10  
 
       
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL EVENT OF DEFAULT
    11  
SECTION 6.1 Additional Event of Default
    11  
 
       
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
    11  
SECTION 7.1 Ratification of Base Indenture
    11  
SECTION 7.2 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals
    11  
SECTION 7.3 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
    12  
SECTION 7.4 Counterpart Originals
    12  
SECTION 7.5 Governing Law
    12  

i


 

     THIS EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of April 7, 2009 (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”), is among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
RECITALS:
     WHEREAS, the Partnership and certain Subsidiary Guarantors have executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated January 18, 2005 (the “Base Indenture” and as supplemented by this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Partnership from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (the “Debt Securities”);
     WHEREAS, the Partnership has duly authorized and desires to cause to be established pursuant to the Base Indenture and this Eighth Supplemental Indenture two new series of Debt Securities designated the “8.50% Senior Notes due 2014” (the “2014 Notes”) and the “9.00% Senior Notes due 2019” (the “2019 Notes” and together with the 2014 Notes, the “Notes”);
     WHEREAS, Sections 2.01 and 2.04 of the Base Indenture permit the execution of indentures supplemental thereto to establish the form and terms of Debt Securities of any series;
     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, the Partnership has requested that the Trustee join in the execution of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms of the Notes;
     WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Partnership and authenticated and delivered hereunder and under the Base Indenture and duly issued by the Partnership, the valid obligations of the Partnership, and to make this Eighth Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Partnership enforceable in accordance with its terms.
     NOW, THEREFORE, the Partnership and the Trustee hereby agree that the following provisions shall supplement the Base Indenture:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Generally .
     (a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Base Indenture.
     (b) The rules of interpretation set forth in the Base Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.

1


 

SECTION 1.2 Definition of Certain Terms .
     For all purposes of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
     “Attributable Indebtedness,” when used with respect to any Sale-Leaseback Transaction (as defined in Section 5.2 hereof), means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the amount determined assuming no such termination.
     “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed; provided, however , that if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for such Notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such United States Treasury security will be determined and the treasury rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis rounding to the nearest month.
     “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
     “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets of the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom:
     (1) all current liabilities (excluding (A) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than twelve months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (B) current maturities of long-term debt); and
     (2) the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets,

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all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the Partnership’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been filed with the SEC, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
     “Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2007, among the Partnership, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto and as further amended, restated, refinanced, replaced or refunded from time to time.
     “Indebtedness” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money or any guaranty thereof.
     “Independent Investment Banker” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (and their respective successors) or, if any such firm is not willing and able to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee and reasonably acceptable to the Partnership.
     “Permitted Liens” means:
     (1) liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;
     (2) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the properties encumbered thereby or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries;
     (3) rights reserved to or vested by any provision of law in any municipality or public authority to control or regulate any of the properties of the Partnership or any Subsidiary or the use thereof or the rights and interests of the Partnership or any Subsidiary therein, in any manner under any and all laws;
     (4) rights reserved to the grantors of any properties of the Partnership or any Subsidiary, and the restrictions, conditions, restrictive covenants and limitations, in respect thereto, pursuant to the terms, conditions and provisions of any rights-of-way agreements, contracts or other agreements therewith;
     (5) any statutory or governmental lien or lien arising by operation of law, or any mechanics’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’, carriers’, landlords’, warehousemen’s or similar lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not more than sixty (60) days past due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to construction, development, improvement or repair;

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     (6) any right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of, any property;
     (7) liens for taxes and assessments which are (a) for the then current year, (b) not at the time delinquent, or (c) delinquent but the validity or amount of which is being contested at the time by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
     (8) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases, other than capital leases;
     (9) any lien in favor of the Partnership or any Subsidiary;
     (10) any lien upon any property or assets of the Partnership or any Subsidiary in existence on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes;
     (11) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations;
     (12) liens in favor of any Person to secure obligations under provisions of any letters of credit, bank guarantees, bonds or surety obligations required or requested by any governmental authority in connection with any contract or statute, provided that such obligations do not constitute Indebtedness; or any lien upon or deposits of any assets to secure performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
     (13) any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or within one year after the date of such acquisition;
     (14) any lien upon any property or assets to secure all or part of the cost of construction, development, repair or improvements thereon or to secure Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction, development, repair or improvements or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later), to provide funds for any such purpose;
     (15) any lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries and any lien upon any property or assets of a Person existing thereon at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Partnership by acquisition, merger or otherwise; provided that, in each case, such lien only encumbers the property or assets so acquired or owned by such Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;
     (16) liens imposed by law or order as a result of any proceeding before any court or regulatory body that is being contested in good faith, and liens which secure a judgment or other

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court-ordered award or settlement as to which the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary has not exhausted its appellate rights;
     (17) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancing, refunding or replacements) of liens, in whole or in part, referred to in clauses (1) through (16) above; provided, however , that any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be limited to the property or assets covered by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and any expenses of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries (including any premium) incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement; or
     (18) any lien resulting from the deposit of moneys or evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries.
     “Principal Property” means, whether owned or leased on the date hereof or thereafter acquired:
     (1) any pipeline assets of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, including any related facilities employed in the gathering, transportation, distribution, storage or marketing of natural gas, refined petroleum products, natural gas liquids and petrochemicals, that are located in the United States of America or any territory or political subdivision thereof; and
     (2) any processing, compression, treating, blending or manufacturing plant or terminal owned or leased by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries that is located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof, except in the case of either of the preceding clauses (1) or (2):
     (a) any such assets consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles;
     (b) any such assets which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the General Partner are not material in relation to the activities of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and
     (c) any assets used primarily in the conduct of the retail propane marketing business conducted by Heritage Operating, L.P. and its Subsidiaries.
     “Reference Treasury Dealer” means (a) each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (or its relevant affiliate) and their respective successors, and (b) one other primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States selected by the Partnership (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”); provided, however , that if any of the foregoing shall resign as a Reference Treasury Dealer or cease to be a U.S. government securities dealer, the Partnership will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

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     “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date for the Notes, an average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes to be redeemed (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
     “Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary owning or leasing, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, any Principal Property.
     “Subsidiary Guarantor” means, with respect to the Notes and notwithstanding the definition thereof in the Base Indenture, each Subsidiary of the Partnership that guarantees the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, but only so long as such Subsidiary is a guarantor of the Notes on the terms provided in the Indenture.
     “Treasury Yield” means, with respect to any Redemption Date applicable to the Notes, (a) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; or (b) if the release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain these yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.1 Form .
     The 2014 Notes and the 2019 Notes and the Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively, to this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, which are hereby incorporated into this Eighth Supplemental Indenture. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture and to the extent applicable, the Partnership and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
     Each series of Notes shall be issued upon original issuance in whole in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “Book-Entry Notes”). Each Book-Entry Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.

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     The Partnership initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Book-Entry Notes.
SECTION 2.2 Title, Amount and Payment of Principal and Interest.
     (a) The 2014 Notes shall be entitled the “8.50% Senior Notes due 2014”. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (i) the 2014 Notes for original issue on the date hereof (the “Original 2014 Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000, and (ii) additional 2014 Notes for original issue from time to time after the date hereof in such principal amounts as may be specified in a Partnership Order described in this sentence, in each case upon a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of the other provisions of Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the 2014 Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of 2014 Notes is to be authenticated, and the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders. The aggregate principal amount of 2014 Notes that may be outstanding at any time may not exceed $350,000,000 plus such additional principal amounts as may be issued and authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (except as provided in Section 2.09 of the Indenture). The Original 2014 Notes and any additional 2014 Notes issued and authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph shall constitute a single series of Debt Securities for all purposes under the Indenture.
     The principal amount of each 2014 Note shall be payable on April 15, 2014. Each 2014 Note shall bear interest from the date of original issuance, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid, at the fixed rate of 8.50% per annum. The dates on which interest on the 2014 Notes shall be payable shall be April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2009 (the “2014 Interest Payment Dates”). The regular record date for interest payable on the 2014 Notes on any 2014 Interest Payment Date shall be April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, next preceding such 2014 Interest Payment Date.
     Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the 2014 Notes representing Book-Entry Notes on any 2014 Interest Payment Date or at maturity will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, unless such date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, in which case such payments will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next Business Day. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary.
     (b) The 2019 Notes shall be entitled the “9.00% Senior Notes due 2019”. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (i) the 2019 Notes for original issue on the date hereof (the “Original 2019 Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000, and (ii) additional 2019 Notes for original issue from time to time after the date hereof in such principal amounts as may be specified in a Partnership Order described in this sentence, in each case upon a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of the other provisions of Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the 2019 Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of 2019 Notes is to be authenticated, and the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders. The aggregate principal amount of 2019 Notes that may be outstanding at any time may not exceed $650,000,000 plus such additional principal amounts as may be issued and authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (except as provided in Section 2.09 of the Indenture). The Original 2019 Notes

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and any additional 2019 Notes issued and authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph shall constitute a single series of Debt Securities for all purposes under the Indenture.
     The principal amount of each 2019 Note shall be payable on April 15, 2019. Each 2019 Note shall bear interest from the date of original issuance, or the most recent date to which interest has been paid, at the fixed rate of 9.00% per annum. The dates on which interest on the 2014 Notes shall be payable shall be April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing October 15, 2009 (the “2019 Interest Payment Dates”). The regular record date for interest payable on the 2019 Notes on any 2019 Interest Payment Date shall be April 1 or October 1, as the case may be, next preceding such 2019 Interest Payment Date.
     Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the 2019 Notes representing Book-Entry Notes on any 2019 Interest Payment Date or at maturity will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, unless such date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, in which case such payments will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next Business Day. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary.
SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange .
     (a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of Book-Entry Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with Section 2.17 of the Base Indenture and Article II of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth therein and herein) and the rules and procedures of the Depositary therefor, which shall include restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth therein and herein to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ARTICLE III
FUTURE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEES
SECTION 3.1 No Initial Guarantee of the Notes by Subsidiary Guarantors .
     The Notes initially shall not be entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee contemplated by Article X of the Base Indenture.
SECTION 3.2 Future Subsidiary Guarantors .
     If any Subsidiary of the Partnership that is not then a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of the Partnership or any of its other Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then the Partnership shall cause such Subsidiary to promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, providing for the Guarantee by such Subsidiary of the Partnership’s obligations under the Notes in accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture.

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SECTION 3.3 Release of Guarantees .
     In addition to the provisions of Section 10.04(a) of the Base Indenture, the Guarantee of the Notes of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be unconditionally released and discharged, following delivery of written notice by the Partnership to the Trustee, upon the release and discharge of all guarantees or other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the obligations of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 3.4 Reinstatement of Guarantees .
     If at any time following any release of the Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.3 above, such Subsidiary Guarantor again guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then such Subsidiary Guarantor shall again guarantee the Partnership’s obligations under the Notes and the Partnership shall cause such Subsidiary Guarantor to promptly execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, providing for the Guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor of the Partnership’s obligations under the Notes in accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture.
ARTICLE IV
REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1 Redemption .
     The Partnership shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof.
     The 2014 Notes are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2014 Notes to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the Redemption Price) on the 2014 Notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
     The 2019 Notes are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2019 Notes to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the Redemption Price) on the 2019 Notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

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     The actual Redemption Price, calculated as provided above, shall be calculated and certified to the Trustee and the Partnership by the Independent Investment Banker.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
     In addition to the covenants set forth in the Base Indenture, the Notes shall be entitled to the benefit of the following covenants:
SECTION 5.1 Limitation on Liens .
     The Partnership shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance (“liens”) upon any Principal Property or upon any capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned on the date hereof or thereafter acquired, to secure any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any other Person (other than the Notes), without in any such case making effective provisions whereby all of the outstanding Notes are secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may, and may permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist without securing the Notes (a) any Permitted Lien, (b) any lien upon any Principal Property or capital stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of the Partnership or any other Person, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding secured by such lien and all similar liens under this clause (b), together with all Attributable Indebtedness from Sale-Leaseback Transactions (excluding Sale-Leaseback Transactions permitted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of Section 5.2 hereof), does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (c) any lien upon (i) any Principal Property that was not owned by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or (ii) the capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that owns no Principal Property that was owned by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries on the date hereof, in each case owned by a Subsidiary of the Partnership (an “Excluded Subsidiary”) that (A) is not, and is not required to be, a Subsidiary Guarantor and (B) has not granted any liens on any of its property securing Indebtedness with recourse to the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership other than such Excluded Subsidiary or any other Excluded Subsidiary.
SECTION 5.2 Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks .
     The Partnership will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in the sale or transfer by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries of any Principal Property to a Person (other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary) and the taking back by the Partnership or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property (a “Sale-Leaseback Transaction”), unless:
     (1) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date of completion of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of construction, development or substantial repair or improvement, or commencement of full operations on such Principal Property, whichever is later;

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     (2) the Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than three years;
     (3) the Partnership or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a lien on the Principal Property subject thereto in a principal amount equal to or exceeding the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or
     (4) the Partnership or such Subsidiary, within a one-year period after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction to (a) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement of any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries that is not subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee, or (b) the expenditure or expenditures for Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of Partnership or its Subsidiaries.
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may, and may permit any Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback Transaction that is not excepted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the preceding paragraph provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Notes) secured by liens other than Permitted Liens upon Principal Properties, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.1 Additional Event of Default .
     In addition to the Events of Default specified in Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture, the following shall be an Event of Default with respect to each series of the Notes: any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25,000,000.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.1 Ratification of Base Indenture .
     The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Eighth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Eighth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
SECTION 7.2 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals .
     The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except with respect to the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Partnership, and the Trustee

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assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.
SECTION 7.3 Table of Contents, Headings, etc .
     The table of contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 7.4 Counterpart Originals .
     The parties may sign any number of copies of this Eighth Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
SECTION 7.5 Governing Law .
     THIS EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(Signature Pages Follow)

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
         
  ISSUER:

ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
 
 
  By:   Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.,    
    Its: General Partner   
 
     
  By:   Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.    
    Its: General Partner   
 
     
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
 
  TRUSTEE:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
Signature Page of Eighth Supplemental Indenture

 


 

Exhibit A-1
FORM OF NOTE
[FACE OF SECURITY]
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10041) TO THE PARTNERSHIP OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]*
[TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN.]*
     
No.                        $                     
    CUSIP: 29273RAL3
    ISIN: US29273RAL33
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
8.50% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2014
     ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership,” which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co.* or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                      U.S. dollars ($                      ), [or such greater or lesser principal sum as is shown on the attached Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security] * , on April 15, 2014 in such coin and currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon at an annual rate of 8.50% payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year, to the person in whose name the Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the preceding April 1 or October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”), respectively, payable commencing on October 15, 2009, with interest accruing from April 7, 2009, or the most recent date to which interest shall have been paid.
 
*   To be included in a Book Entry Note.

A-1-1


 

     Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
     The statements in the legends set forth in this Security are an integral part of the terms of this Security and by acceptance hereof the Holder of this Security agrees to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions set forth in each such legend.
     This Security is issued in respect of a series of Debt Securities of an initial aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000 designated as the 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 of the Partnership and is governed by the Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 (the “Base Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Partnership, as issuer, to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 7, 2009, duly executed by the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”, and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as definitive Debt Securities under the Indenture.
     If and to the extent any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of the Indenture that is required to be included in the Indenture or is deemed applicable to the Indenture by virtue of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), such required provision shall control.
     This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture.

A-1-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has caused this instrument to be duly executed by its sole General Partner.
Dated:
         
  ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
 
 
  By:   Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.    
    Its: General Partner   
 
     
  By:   Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.    
    Its: General Partner   
 
     
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
     
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:
     This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
         
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,    
as Trustee    
 
       
By:
       
 
 
 
Authorized Signatory
   

A-1-3


 

[REVERSE OF SECURITY]
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
8.50% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2014
     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Partnership (the “Debt Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Partnership and the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture. This Security is one of a series designated as the 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 of the Partnership, in an initial aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000 (the “Securities”).
1. Interest .
     The Partnership promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 8.50% per annum.
     The Partnership will pay interest semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing October 15, 2009. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from April 7, 2009. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Partnership shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) and on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the same rate per annum, in each case to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment .
     The Partnership shall pay interest on the Securities (except Defaulted Interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) may be paid to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may then be listed if such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee, as more fully provided in the Indenture. The Partnership shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary. Payments in respect of Securities in definitive form (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made at the office or agency of the Partnership maintained for such purpose

A-1-4


 

within The City of New York, which initially will be at the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Mail Station: EX-NY-WALL, or, at the option of the Partnership, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders on the relevant record date at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar or at the option of the Holder, payment of interest on Securities in definitive form will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to any account maintained in the United States, provided such Holder has requested such method of payment and provided timely wire transfer instructions to the Paying Agent. The Holder must surrender this Security to a Paying Agent to collect payment of principal.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar .
     Initially, U.S. Bank National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Partnership may change any Paying Agent or Registrar at any time upon notice to the Trustee and the Holders. The Partnership may act as Paying Agent.
4. Indenture .
     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Partnership issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture.
     Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Base Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA, as in effect on the date of the Base Indenture, and those terms stated in the Eighth Supplemental Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Base Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. The Securities of this series are general unsecured obligations of the Partnership limited to an initial aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000; provided, however , that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased from time to time as provided in the Eighth Supplemental Indenture.
5. Redemption .
     The Securities are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the Redemption Price) on the Securities to be redeemed that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
     The actual Redemption Price, calculated as provided above, shall be calculated and certified to the Trustee and the Partnership by the Independent Investment Banker.
     Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

A-1-5


 

6. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange .
     The Securities are to be issued in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange, Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
7. Person Deemed Owners .
     The registered Holder of a Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
8. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver .
     Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended or supplemented, and any existing Event of Default or compliance with any provision may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected. Without consent of any Holder of a Security, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture to, among other things, cure any ambiguity or omission, to correct any defect or inconsistency, or to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Security. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Security and any Securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities.
9. Defaults and Remedies .
     Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default that will result in the principal amount of the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, becoming due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default. If any other Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, if at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Trustee, may rescind such declaration and annul its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court already rendered and if all Events of Default with respect to the Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest which has become due solely by such declaration acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity or security satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations,

A-1-6


 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
10. Trustee Dealings with Partnership .
     The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Partnership or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Partnership or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
11. Authentication .
     This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
12. Abbreviations and Defined Terms .
     Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (tenant in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (Custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
13. CUSIP Numbers .
     Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Partnership has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such number as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
14. Absolute Obligation .
     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Partnership, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
15. No Recourse .
     No director, officer, employee, limited partner or shareholder, as such, of the Partnership or the General Partner shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Partnership under the Securities, the Indenture or any Guarantee by reason of his, her or its status. Each Holder by accepting the Securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.
16. Governing Law .
     This Security shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

A-1-7


 

ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
     
TEN COM — as tenants in common
  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -
 
  (Cust.)
TEN ENT — as tenants by entireties
  Custodian for:
 
  (Minor)
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
  Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act of
 
  (State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
Please print or type name and address including postal zip code of assignee:
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing to transfer said Security on the books of the Partnership, with full power of substitution in the premises.
     
Dated
  Registered Holder

A-1-8


 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES
IN GLOBAL SECURITY*
     The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
                                 
                    Principal Amount of        
    Amount of Decrease     Amount of Increase     this Global Security        
    in Principal Amount     in Principal Amount     following such     Signature of  
    of this Global     of this Global     decrease (or     authorized officer of  
Date of Exchange   Security     Security     increase)     Trustee or Depositary  
 
                               
 
*   To be included in a Book-Entry Note.

A-1-9


 

Exhibit A-2
FORM OF NOTE
[FACE OF SECURITY]
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10041) TO THE PARTNERSHIP OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]*
[TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN.]*
 
No.                        $                     
    CUSIP: 29273RAM1
    ISIN: US29273RAM16
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
9.00% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019
     ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership,” which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co.* or its registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ U.S. dollars ($__________________), [or such greater or lesser principal sum as is shown on the attached Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security] * , on April 15, 2019 in such coin and currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon at an annual rate of 9.00% payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year, to the person in whose name the Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the preceding April 1 or October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”), respectively, payable commencing on October 15, 2009, with interest accruing from April 7, 2009, or the most recent date to which interest shall have been paid.
 
*   To be included in Book Entry Note.

A-2-1


 

     Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
     The statements in the legends set forth in this Security are an integral part of the terms of this Security and by acceptance hereof the Holder of this Security agrees to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions set forth in each such legend.
     This Security is issued in respect of a series of Debt Securities of an initial aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000 designated as the 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 of the Partnership and is governed by the Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 (the “Base Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Partnership, as issuer, to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 7, 2009, duly executed by the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association, (the “Eighth Supplemental Indenture”, and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as definitive Debt Securities under the Indenture.
     If and to the extent any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of the Indenture that is required to be included in the Indenture or is deemed applicable to the Indenture by virtue of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), such required provision shall control.
     This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture.

A-2-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has caused this instrument to be duly executed by its sole General Partner.
Dated:
         
  ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.

By: Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.
       Its: General Partner

By: Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
       Its: General Partner

 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
     
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:
     This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
         
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
 
   
By:        
  Authorized Signatory     
       

A-2-3


 

[REVERSE OF SECURITY]
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
9.00% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2019
     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Partnership (the “Debt Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Partnership and the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture. This Security is one of a series designated as the 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 of the Partnership, in an initial aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000 (the “Securities”).
1. Interest .
     The Partnership promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 9.00% per annum.
     The Partnership will pay interest semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing October 15, 2009. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from April 7, 2009. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Partnership shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) and on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the same rate per annum, in each case to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment .
     The Partnership shall pay interest on the Securities (except Defaulted Interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) may be paid to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may then be listed if such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee, as more fully provided in the Indenture. The Partnership shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary. Payments in respect of Securities in definitive form (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made at the office or agency of the Partnership maintained for such purpose

A-2-4


 

within The City of New York, which initially will be at the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Mail Station: EX-NY-WALL, or, at the option of the Partnership, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders on the relevant record date at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar or at the option of the Holder, payment of interest on Securities in definitive form will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to any account maintained in the United States, provided such Holder has requested such method of payment and provided timely wire transfer instructions to the Paying Agent. The Holder must surrender this Security to a Paying Agent to collect payment of principal.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar .
     Initially, U.S. Bank National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Partnership may change any Paying Agent or Registrar at any time upon notice to the Trustee and the Holders. The Partnership may act as Paying Agent.
4. Indenture .
     This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Partnership issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture.
     Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Base Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA, as in effect on the date of the Base Indenture, and those terms stated in the Eighth Supplemental Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Base Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. The Securities of this series are general unsecured obligations of the Partnership limited to an initial aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000; provided, however , that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased from time to time as provided in the Eighth Supplemental Indenture.
5. Redemption .
     The Securities are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the Redemption Price) on the Securities to be redeemed that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
     The actual Redemption Price, calculated as provided above, shall be calculated and certified to the Trustee and the Partnership by the Independent Investment Banker.
     Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

A-2-5


 

6. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange .
     The Securities are to be issued in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange, Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
7. Person Deemed Owners .
     The registered Holder of a Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
8. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver .
     Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended or supplemented, and any existing Event of Default or compliance with any provision may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected. Without consent of any Holder of a Security, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture to, among other things, cure any ambiguity or omission, to correct any defect or inconsistency, or to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Security. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Security and any Securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities.
9. Defaults and Remedies .
     Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default that will result in the principal amount of the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, becoming due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default. If any other Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, if at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Trustee, may rescind such declaration and annul its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court already rendered and if all Events of Default with respect to the Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest which has become due solely by such declaration acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity or security satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations,

A-2-6


 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
10. Trustee Dealings with Partnership .
     The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Partnership or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Partnership or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
11. Authentication .
     This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
12. Abbreviations and Defined Terms .
     Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (tenant in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (Custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
13. CUSIP Numbers .
     Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Partnership has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such number as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
14. Absolute Obligation .
     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Partnership, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
15. No Recourse .
     No director, officer, employee, limited partner or shareholder, as such, of the Partnership or the General Partner shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Partnership under the Securities, the Indenture or any Guarantee by reason of his, her or its status. Each Holder by accepting the Securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.
16. Governing Law .
     This Security shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

A-2-7


 

ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
     
TEN COM — as tenants in common
  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -
 
  (Cust.)
TEN ENT — as tenants by entireties
  Custodian for:
 
  (Minor)
JT TEN — as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
  Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act of
 
  (State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
Please print or type name and address including postal zip code of assignee:
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing to transfer said Security on the books of the Partnership, with full power of substitution in the premises.
     
Dated
  Registered Holder

A-2-8


 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES
IN GLOBAL SECURITY*
     The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
                                 
                    Principal Amount of        
    Amount of Decrease     Amount of Increase     this Global Security        
    in Principal Amount     in Principal Amount     following such     Signature of  
    of this Global     of this Global     decrease (or     authorized officer of  
Date of Exchange   Security     Security     increase)     Trustee or Depositary  
 
                               
 
*   To be included in a Book-Entry Note.

A-2-9

Exhibit 5.1
(VINSON&ELKINS LOGO)
Date:   April 6, 2009
To:   Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     We have acted as special counsel to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”) with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration by the Partnership under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) of the offer and sale by the Partnership from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “ Offering ”) of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.50% Senior Notes due 2014 and $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.00% Senior Notes due 2019 (collectively, the “ Notes ”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated April 2, 2009 by and among the Partnership and the underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).
     The Notes were offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated April 2, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) on April 6, 2008, to a prospectus dated December 11, 2007 (such prospectus, as amended and supplemented by the prospectus supplement, the “ Prospectus ”), included in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-147990) (as amended, the “ Registration Statement ”), which Registration Statement became effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
     The Notes are to be issued as securities pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005, by and between the Partnership and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as supplemented by the seventh supplemental indenture (the “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated April 7, 2009 (together, the “ Indenture ”) by and between the Partnership and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor trustee, the “ Trustee ”).
     We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the organizational certificates, bylaws, certificate of incorporation and the limited partnership or limited liability company agreements (as the case may be) of the Partnership, Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “ General Partner ”), which is the sole general partner of the Partnership, and Energy
     
Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law
  First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500
Abu Dhabi Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston
  Houston, TX 77002-6760
London Moscow New York Shanghai Tokyo Washington
  Tel 713.758.2222 Fax 713.758.2346 www.velaw.com

 


 

             
(V&E LOGO)
        (GRAPHIC)       April 6, 2009  Page 2
Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (“ ETP LLC ”), a Delaware limited liability company, which is the sole general partner of the General Partner, (ii) certain resolutions (the “ Resolutions ”) adopted by the Board of Managers of ETP LLC (the Board of Managers of ETP LLC, or to the extent permitted by Section 407 of the Limited Liability Company Act for the State of Delaware (the “ DLLCA ”), a duly constituted and acting committee thereof, being referred to herein as the “ Board ”) relating to the registration of the Notes and related matters, (iii) certain resolutions adopted by the Pricing Committee of the Board of Managers of ETP LLC, (iv) the Registration Statement, (v) the Prospectus, (vi) the Indenture, and (vii) such other certificates, instruments and documents as we considered appropriate for purposes of the opinion hereafter expressed. In addition, we reviewed such questions of law as we considered appropriate.
     As to any facts material to the opinion contained herein, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Partnership.
     In connection with rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and correct; (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine; (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents; (iv) each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so; (v) each person signing in a representative capacity any document reviewed by us had authority to sign in such capacity; and (vi) all Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.
     Based upon such examination and review and the foregoing assumptions, we are of the opinion that the Notes will, when they have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly purchased and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms.
     The foregoing opinion is qualified to the extent that the enforceability of any document, instrument or security may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable or public policy principles.

 


 

             
(V&E LOGO)
        (GRAPHIC)       April 6, 2009  Page 3
     We express no opinions concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indenture that purport to waive or not give effect to rights to notices, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law or (ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.
     The foregoing opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the DLLCA and the Limited Partnership Act for the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the laws of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof, and we undertake no duty to update or supplement the foregoing opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or to reflect any changes in any law that may hereafter occur or become effective. We do not express any opinions as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder.
         
     
  /s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.    
     
     
 

 

Exhibit 99.1
(ENERGY TRANSFER LOGO)
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS ANNOUNCES PRICING OF
$1.0 BILLION OF SENIOR NOTES
DALLAS, TEXAS — April 2, 2009 — Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) (“ETP”) announced the pricing of $350 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.50% senior notes due 2014 and $650 million aggregate principal amount of its 9.00% senior notes due 2019. The sale of the notes is expected to settle on April 7, 2009, subject to customary closing conditions. ETP intends to use the net proceeds of approximately $993 million from this offering to repay all amounts outstanding under its revolving credit facility and for general partnership purposes.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. In addition, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are co-managing underwriters. The offering is being made by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained from the following addresses:
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Attn: Prospectus Dept.
One Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: 1-800-221-1037
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Attn: High Grade Syndicate Desk
270 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 834-4533
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Attn: Prospectus Dept.
180 Varick Street, 2 nd Floor
New York, NY 10014
Email: prospectus@morganstanley.com
Telephone: 1-866-718-1649
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
600 Steamboat Road
Greenwich, CT 06830
Telephone: 1-866-884-2071
You may also obtain these documents for free when they are available by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The offering is made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and prospectus filed by ETP with the SEC.

 


 

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) is a publicly traded partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. ETP has pipeline operations in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Utah, and owns the largest intrastate pipeline system in Texas. ETP’s natural gas operations include gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and processing assets and three storage facilities located in Texas. ETP currently has more than 17,000 miles of pipeline in service with another 750 miles under construction. ETP is also one of the three largest retail marketers of propane in the United States, serving more than one million customers across the country.
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) is a publicly traded partnership, which owns the general partner of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and approximately 62.5 million ETP limited partner units.
Statements about the offering may be forward-looking statements as defined under federal law. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors, many of which are outside the control of ETP, and a variety of risks that could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of ETP. ETP undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time.
Contacts:
Investor Relations:
Brent Ratliff
Energy Transfer
214-981-0700 (office)
Media Relations:
Vicki Granado
Granado Communications Group
214.504.2260 (office)
214.498.9272 (cell)

 

 
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
 
Energy Transfer will issue the notes under an indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 among itself, the subsidiaries of Energy Transfer named therein and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor-by-merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture creating the notes (as so supplemented, the “indenture”). This description is a summary of the material provisions of the notes and the indenture. This description does not restate those agreements and instruments in their entirety. You should refer to the notes and the indenture, forms of which are available as set forth below under “Where You Can Find More Information,” for a complete description of our obligations and your rights.
 
You can find the definitions of various terms used in this description under “— Certain Definitions” below. In this description, the terms “Energy Transfer,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and not to any of its Subsidiaries.
 
General
 
The notes:
 
  •  will be general unsecured, senior obligations of Energy Transfer, ranking equally with all other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Energy Transfer;
 
  •  will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000 with respect to the 2014 notes and an aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000 with respect to the 2019 notes;
 
  •  will mature on April 15, 2014, with respect to the 2014 notes and April 15, 2019, with respect to the 2019 notes;
 
  •  will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;
 
  •  will bear interest at an annual rate of 8.50% with respect to the 2014 notes and an annual rate of 9.00% with respect to the 2019 notes; and
 
  •  will be redeemable at any time at our option at the redemption price described below under “— Optional Redemption.”
 
The 2014 notes and 2019 notes each constitute a separate series of debt securities under the indenture. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities we may issue under the indenture from time to time in one or more series. Currently, we have outstanding under the indenture $400 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.65% Senior Notes due 2012, $350 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.00% Senior Notes due 2013, $750 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015, $400 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.125% Senior Notes due 2017, $600 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.70% Senior Notes due 2018, $600 million aggregate principal amount of our 9.70% Senior Notes due 2019, $400 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.625% Senior Notes due 2036 and $550 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.50% Senior Notes due 2038. We may in the future issue additional debt securities under the indenture in addition to the notes.
 
Interest
 
Interest on the notes will accrue from and including April 7, 2009 or from and including the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for. We will pay interest in cash semiannually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning October 15, 2009. We will make interest payments to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on April 1 or October 1, as applicable, before the next interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day, and no interest will accrue on the amount of interest due on that interest payment date for the period from and after the interest payment date to the date of payment.


S-17


 

Further Issuances
 
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes having the same terms as either of the series of notes offered by this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, except for the issue price and in some cases, the first interest payment date. Additional notes issued in this manner will form a single series with the previously issued and outstanding notes of such series.
 
Optional Redemption
 
The notes will be redeemable, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to the greater of:
 
  •  100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or
 
  •  the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the interest rate in effect on the date of calculation of the redemption price) on the notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 50 basis points;
 
plus, in either case, accrued interest to the redemption date.
 
The actual redemption price, calculated as provided below, will be calculated and certified to the trustee and us by the Independent Investment Banker.
 
Notes called for redemption become due on the redemption date. Notices of redemption will be mailed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the notes will state, among other things, the amount of notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the method of calculating the redemption price and each place that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any notes that have been called for redemption on the redemption date. If less than all of the notes of a series are redeemed at any time, the trustee will select the notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis, by lot or by any other method the trustee deems fair and appropriate.
 
For purposes of determining the redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:
 
Treasury Yield ” means, with respect to any redemption date applicable to the notes, (a) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; or (b) if the release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain these yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
 
Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed; provided, however, that if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for such notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding


S-18


 

to such United States Treasury security will be determined and the treasury rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis rounding to the nearest month.
 
Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
 
Independent Investment Banker ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (and their respective successors) or, if any such firm is not willing and able to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the trustee and reasonably acceptable to Energy Transfer.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (a) each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. and their respective successors, and (b) one other primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States selected by Energy Transfer (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”); provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall resign as a Reference Treasury Dealer or cease to be a U.S. government securities dealer, Energy Transfer will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
 
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date for the notes, an average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the notes to be redeemed (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
 
Subsidiary Guarantees
 
The notes initially will not be guaranteed by any of our Subsidiaries. However, if at any time following the issuance of the notes, any Subsidiary of Energy Transfer guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of Energy Transfer or any of its other Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then Energy Transfer will cause such Subsidiary to promptly execute and deliver to the trustee a supplemental indenture in a form satisfactory to the trustee pursuant to which such Subsidiary guarantees Energy Transfer’s obligations with respect to the notes on the terms provided for in the indenture.
 
The guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released under certain circumstances. If we exercise our legal or covenant defeasance option with respect to the notes as described below under “— Defeasance and Discharge,” then any Subsidiary Guarantor will be released. Further, if no default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture, and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the indenture, a Subsidiary Guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from its guarantee:
 
  •  automatically upon any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise, to any Person that is not our affiliate, of all of our direct or indirect limited partnership or other equity interests in the Subsidiary Guarantor;
 
  •  automatically upon the merger of the Subsidiary Guarantor into us or any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of the Subsidiary Guarantor; or
 
  •  following delivery of a written notice by us to the trustee, upon the release of all guarantees or other obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the obligations of Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement.
 
If at any time following any release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from its guarantee of the notes pursuant to the third bullet point in the preceding paragraph, the Subsidiary Guarantor again guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of Energy Transfer or


S-19


 

any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then Energy Transfer will cause the Subsidiary Guarantor to again guarantee the notes in accordance with the indenture.
 
Ranking
 
The notes will be unsecured, unless we are required to secure them pursuant to the limitations on liens covenant described below under “— Certain Covenants — Limitations on Liens.” The notes will also be the unsubordinated obligations of Energy Transfer and will rank equally with all other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness of Energy Transfer. Each guarantee, if any, of the notes will be an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor and will rank equally with all other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantor. The notes and each guarantee, if any, will effectively rank junior to any future indebtedness of Energy Transfer and any Subsidiary Guarantor that is both secured and unsubordinated to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and the notes will effectively rank junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of Energy Transfer’s existing and future Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors.
 
As of December 31, 2008, after giving effect to this offering and our public offering of 6,900,000 common units in January 2009, and the use of net proceeds therefrom, Energy Transfer, excluding its Subsidiaries, would have had approximately $5.0 billion of indebtedness, all of which would have been unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness consisting entirely of the notes, Energy Transfer’s 5.65% Senior Notes due 2012, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2013, 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015, 6.125% Senior Notes due 2017, 6.70% Senior Notes due 2018, 9.70% Senior Notes due 2019, 6.625% Senior Notes due 2036 and 7.50% Senior Notes due 2038 and Energy Transfer’s obligations under the Credit Agreement. Initially, none of Energy Transfer’s Subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. Substantially all the assets of HOLP and its Subsidiaries are pledged to secure Indebtedness of HOLP and its Subsidiaries. Additionally, our subsidiary Transwestern has outstanding debt securities. As of December 31, 2008, the notes would have been effectively subordinated to approximately $724 million of indebtedness of our Subsidiaries. In addition, MEP, our unconsolidated joint venture with KMP, is a party to a $1.4 billion senior revolving credit facility ($1.3 billion net of lending commitments from affiliates of Lehman Brothers Inc.). As of December 31, 2008, there were $837.5 million of outstanding borrowings and $33.3 million of letters of credit issued under the MEP facility. We have guaranteed 50% of the obligations of MEP under this facility.
 
No Sinking Fund
 
We are not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.
 
Certain Covenants
 
Except as set forth below, neither Energy Transfer nor any of its Subsidiaries is restricted by the indenture from incurring any type of indebtedness or other obligation, from paying dividends or making distributions on its partnership or other equity interests or from purchasing or redeeming its partnership or other equity interests. The indenture does not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, the indenture does not contain any provisions that would require Energy Transfer to repurchase or redeem or otherwise modify the terms of the notes upon a change in control or other events involving Energy Transfer that could adversely affect the creditworthiness of Energy Transfer.
 
Limitations on Liens.   Energy Transfer will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance (“liens”) upon any Principal Property or upon any capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned on the date of the supplemental indenture creating the notes or thereafter acquired, to secure any Indebtedness of Energy Transfer or any other Person (other than the notes), without in any such case making effective provisions whereby all of the outstanding notes are secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the indenture, Energy Transfer may, and may permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist without securing the notes (a) any Permitted Lien,


S-20


 

(b) any lien upon any Principal Property or capital stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of Energy Transfer or any other Person, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding secured by such lien and all similar liens under this clause (b), together with all Attributable Indebtedness from Sale-Leaseback Transactions (excluding Sale-Leaseback Transactions permitted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the first paragraph of the restriction on sale-leasebacks covenant described below), does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (c) any lien upon (i) any Principal Property that was not owned by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of the supplemental indenture creating the notes or (ii) the capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that owns no Principal Property that was owned by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of the supplemental indenture creating the notes, in each case owned by a Subsidiary of Energy Transfer (an “Excluded Subsidiary”) that (A) is not, and is not required to be, a Subsidiary Guarantor and (B) has not granted any liens on any of its property securing Indebtedness with recourse to Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary of Energy Transfer other than such Excluded Subsidiary or any other Excluded Subsidiary.
 
Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks.   Energy Transfer will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in the sale or transfer by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries of any Principal Property to a Person (other than Energy Transfer or a Subsidiary) and the taking back by Energy Transfer or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property (a “Sale-Leaseback Transaction”), unless:
 
(1) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date of completion of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of construction, development or substantial repair or improvement, or commencement of full operations on such Principal Property, whichever is later;
 
(2) the Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than three years;
 
(3) Energy Transfer or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a lien on the Principal Property subject thereto in a principal amount equal to or exceeding the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction without equally and ratably securing the notes; or
 
(4) Energy Transfer or such Subsidiary, within a one-year period after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction to (a) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement of any Indebtedness of Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries that is not subordinated to the notes or any guarantee, or (b) the expenditure or expenditures for Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of Energy Transfer or its Subsidiaries.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Energy Transfer may, and may permit any Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback Transaction that is not excepted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the preceding paragraph provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness (other than the notes) secured by liens other than Permitted Liens upon Principal Properties, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
 
Reports.   So long as any notes are outstanding, Energy Transfer will:
 
  •  for as long as it is required to file information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, file with the trustee, within 15 days after it is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports which it is required to file with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act;
 
  •  if it is not required to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, file with the trustee, within 15 days after it would have been required to file with the SEC, financial statements (and with respect to annual reports, an auditors’ report by a firm of established national reputation) and a Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both comparable to what it would have been required to file with the SEC had it been subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act; and


S-21


 

 
  •  if it is required to furnish annual or quarterly reports to its equity holders pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will file these reports with the trustee.
 
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.   Energy Transfer shall not consolidate with or merge into any Person or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:
 
(1) the Person formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or to which such assets have been transferred (the “successor”) is Energy Transfer or expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of Energy Transfer’s obligations and liabilities under the indenture and the notes;
 
(2) the successor is organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia;
 
(3) immediately after giving effect to the transaction no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
 
(4) Energy Transfer has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer complies with the indenture.
 
The successor will be substituted for Energy Transfer in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. Thereafter, the successor may exercise the rights and powers of Energy Transfer under the indenture. If Energy Transfer conveys or transfers all or substantially all of its assets, it will be released from all liabilities and obligations under the indenture and under the notes except that no such release will occur in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of its assets.
 
Events of Default
 
Each of the following is an Event of Default under the indenture with respect to the notes of each series:
 
(1) a default in any payment of interest on such notes when due that continues for 30 days;
 
(2) a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on such notes when due at their stated maturity, upon redemption, upon declaration or otherwise;
 
(3) a failure by Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with its other covenants or agreements in the indenture for 60 days after written notice of default given by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes;
 
(4) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary Guarantor (the “bankruptcy provisions”);
 
(5) any guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect, is declared null and void or is found to be invalid in a judicial proceeding or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the indenture or its guarantee; or
 
(6) any Indebtedness of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary Guarantor is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25,000,000.
 
An Event of Default for the notes will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture, and an Event of Default for any such other series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any series of the notes. Further, an event of default under other indebtedness of Energy Transfer or its Subsidiaries will not necessarily constitute a Default or an Event of Default for the notes. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (4) above) with respect to the notes of any series occurs and is continuing, the trustee by notice to Energy Transfer, or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of such series by notice to Energy Transfer and the trustee, may, and the trustee at the request of such holders shall, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the notes of such series to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest will be due


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and payable immediately. The indenture provides that if an Event of Default described in clause (4) above occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on the notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration of acceleration, notice or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders. However, the effect of such provision may be limited by applicable law.
 
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series may, by written notice to the trustee, rescind any acceleration with respect to the notes of such series and annul its consequences if rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and all existing Events of Default with respect to the notes of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived.
 
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of notes, unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any cost, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, no holder of notes may pursue any remedy with respect to the indenture or the notes, unless:
 
(1) such holder has previously given the trustee notice that an Event of Default with respect to the notes is continuing;
 
(2) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series have requested in writing that the trustee pursue the remedy;
 
(3) such holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any cost, liability or expense;
 
(4) the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
 
(5) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series have not given the trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
 
Subject to certain restrictions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the notes of such series. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of notes or that would involve the trustee in personal liability.
 
The indenture provides that if a Default (that is, an event that is, or after notice or the passage of time would be, an Event of Default) with respect to the notes occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder of notes notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the notes, the trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the holders of notes. In addition, Energy Transfer is required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an officers’ certificate as to compliance with all covenants under the indenture and indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during the previous year. Energy Transfer also is required to deliver to the trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, an officers’ certificate specifying any Default or Event of Default, its status and what action Energy Transfer is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.
 
Amendments and Waivers
 
Amendments of the indenture may be made by Energy Transfer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of


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each affected series then outstanding under the indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for debt securities). However, without the consent of each holder of an affected note, no amendment may, among other things:
 
(1) reduce the percentage in principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment;
 
(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any note;
 
(3) reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any note;
 
(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any note as described above under “— Optional Redemption;”
 
(5) make any notes payable in money other than U.S. dollars;
 
(6) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s note or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s note;
 
(7) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions;
 
(8) release any security that may have been granted in respect of the notes other than in accordance with the indenture; or
 
(9) release the guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor other than in accordance with the indenture or modify its guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders.
 
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series may waive compliance by Energy Transfer with certain restrictive covenants on behalf of all holders of notes of such series, including those described under “— Certain Covenants — Limitations on Liens” and “— Certain Covenants — Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks.” The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series, on behalf of all such holders, may waive any past or existing Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes of such series (including any such waiver obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the notes), except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in respect of a provision that under the indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected. A waiver by the holders of notes of any series of compliance with a covenant, a Default or an Event of Default will not constitute a waiver of compliance with such covenant or such Default or Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture to which such covenant, Default or Event of Default applies.
 
Without the consent of any holder, Energy Transfer, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if any, and the trustee may amend the indenture to:
 
(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
 
(2) provide for the assumption by a successor of the obligations of Energy Transfer under the indenture;
 
(3) provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;
 
(4) provide for the addition of any Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor, or to reflect the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor, in either case as provided in the indenture;
 
(5) secure the notes or a guarantee;
 
(6) add to the covenants of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
 
(7) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights under the indenture of any holder;


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(8) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; and
 
(9) provide for a successor trustee.
 
The consent of the holders is not necessary under the indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment with the consent of the holders under the indenture becomes effective, Energy Transfer is required to mail to all holders of notes a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all such holders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.
 
Defeasance and Discharge
 
Energy Transfer at any time may terminate all its obligations under the indenture as they relate to the notes of any series (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer of or exchange the notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the notes.
 
Energy Transfer at any time may terminate its obligations under the covenants described under “— Certain Covenants” (other than “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”) and the bankruptcy provisions with respect to each Subsidiary Guarantor, the guarantee provision and the cross-acceleration provision described under “— Events of Default” above with respect to the notes of any series (“covenant defeasance”).
 
Energy Transfer may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If Energy Transfer exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the notes of the applicable series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If Energy Transfer exercises its covenant defeasance option for the notes, payment of the notes of the applicable series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (3), (4) (with respect only to a Subsidiary Guarantor), (5) or (6) under “— Events of Default” above. If Energy Transfer exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each guarantee will terminate with respect to the notes of the applicable series and any security that may have been granted with respect to the notes of the applicable series will be released.
 
In order to exercise either defeasance option, Energy Transfer must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the indenture) or a combination thereof for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes of the applicable series to redemption or stated maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel (subject to customary exceptions and exclusions) to the effect that holders of the notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable federal income tax law.
 
In the event of any legal defeasance, holders of the notes of the applicable series would be entitled to look only to the trust fund for payment of principal of and any premium and interest on their notes until maturity.
 
Although the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee would be intended to be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes at the time of their stated maturity, if Energy Transfer exercises its covenant defeasance option for the notes and the notes are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. Energy Transfer would remain liable for such payments, however.


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In addition, Energy Transfer may discharge all its obligations under the indenture with respect to the notes of any series, other than its obligation to register the transfer of and exchange notes, provided that either:
 
  •  it delivers all outstanding notes of such series to the trustee for cancellation; or
 
  •  all such notes not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point, it has deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such notes, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date.
 
Book-Entry System
 
We have obtained the information in this section concerning The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and its book-entry systems and procedures from DTC, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. In addition, the description in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC as they are currently in effect. DTC could change its rules and procedures at any time.
 
The notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC or any successor thereto and registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s nominee). You may hold your interests in the global notes through DTC either as a participant in DTC or indirectly through organizations which are participants in DTC.
 
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the global securities representing the notes, DTC or such nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the notes for all purposes of the notes and the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of DTC or its nominee and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of notes.
 
The Depository Trust Company.   DTC will act as securities depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is
 
  •  a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;
 
  •  a “banking organization” under the New York Banking Law;
 
  •  a member of the Federal Reserve System;
 
  •  a “clearing corporation” under the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and
 
  •  a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC facilitates the settlement among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in direct participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
 
Direct participants of DTC include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants. Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant.
 
If you are not a direct participant or an indirect participant and you wish to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in, notes, you must do so through a direct participant or an indirect


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participant. DTC agrees with and represents to DTC participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and by-laws and requirements of law. The SEC has on file a set of the rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants.
 
Purchases of notes under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each beneficial owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct participants and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct participants or indirect participants through which such beneficial owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
 
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
 
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
 
Book-Entry Format.   Under the book-entry format, the trustee will pay interest or principal payments to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC will forward the payment to the direct participants, who will then forward the payment to the indirect participants or to you as the beneficial owner. You may experience some delay in receiving your payments under this system. Neither we, the trustee under the indenture nor any paying agent has any direct responsibility or liability for the payment of principal or interest on the notes to owners of beneficial interests in the notes.
 
DTC is required to make book-entry transfers on behalf of its direct participants and is required to receive and transmit payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes. Any direct participant or indirect participant with which you have an account is similarly required to make book-entry transfers and to receive and transmit payments with respect to the notes on your behalf. We, the underwriters and the trustee under the indenture have no responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC or any of its direct or indirect participants. We, the underwriters and the trustee under the indenture have no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records kept by DTC or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. We also do not supervise these systems in any way.
 
The trustee will not recognize you as a holder under the indenture, and you can only exercise the rights of a holder indirectly through DTC and its direct participants. DTC has advised us that it will only take action regarding a note if one or more of the direct participants to whom the note is credited directs DTC to take such action and only in respect of the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which that participant or participants has or have given that direction. DTC can only act on behalf of its direct participants. Your ability to pledge notes to non-direct participants, and to take other actions, may be limited because you will not possess a physical certificate that represents your notes.
 
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).


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DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among its participants. However, DTC is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and may discontinue those procedures at any time.
 
Concerning the Trustee
 
The indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize for its own account on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in certain other transactions. However, if it acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate the conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign.
 
If an Event of Default occurs and is not cured or waived, the trustee is required to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will not be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of notes unless they have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities it may incur.
 
U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture and has been appointed by Energy Transfer as registrar and paying agent with regard to the notes. The trustee’s address is 5555 San Felipe, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77056. The trustee and its affiliates maintain commercial banking and other relationships with Energy Transfer. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information regarding these relationships.
 
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Limited Partners and Shareholders
 
The directors, officers, employees, limited partners and shareholders of Energy Transfer and the General Partner will not have any personal liability for our obligations under the indenture or the notes. Each holder of notes, by accepting a note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the notes.
 
Governing Law
 
The indenture and the notes are governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
 
Certain Definitions
 
“Attributable Indebtedness,” when used with respect to any Sale-Leaseback Transaction, means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the amount determined assuming no such termination.


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“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets of Energy Transfer and its consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom:
 
(1) all current liabilities (excluding (A) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than twelve months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (B) current maturities of long-term debt); and
 
(2) the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of Energy Transfer and its consolidated Subsidiaries for Energy Transfer’s most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been filed with the SEC, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
“Credit Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2007, among Energy Transfer, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto, and as further amended, restated, refinanced, replaced or refunded from time to time.
 
“General Partner” means Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors as general partner of Energy Transfer.
 
“Indebtedness” of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money or any guaranty thereof.
 
“Permitted Liens” means:
 
(1) liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;
 
(2) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the properties encumbered thereby or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of Energy Transfer and its Subsidiaries;
 
(3) rights reserved to or vested by any provision of law in any municipality or public authority to control or regulate any of the properties of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary or the use thereof or the rights and interests of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary therein, in any manner under any and all laws;
 
(4) rights reserved to the grantors of any properties of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary, and the restrictions, conditions, restrictive covenants and limitations, in respect thereto, pursuant to the terms, conditions and provisions of any rights-of-way agreements, contracts or other agreements therewith;
 
(5) any statutory or governmental lien or lien arising by operation of law, or any mechanics’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’, carriers’, landlords’, warehousemen’s or similar lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not more than sixty (60) days past due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to construction, development, improvement or repair;
 
(6) any right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of, any property;
 
(7) liens for taxes and assessments which are (a) for the then current year, (b) not at the time delinquent, or (c) delinquent but the validity or amount of which is being contested at the time by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
 
(8) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases, other than capital leases;
 
(9) any lien in favor of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary;


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(10) any lien upon any property or assets of Energy Transfer or any Subsidiary in existence on the date of the initial issuance of the notes;
 
(11) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations;
 
(12) liens in favor of any person to secure obligations under provisions of any letters of credit, bank guarantees, bonds or surety obligations required or requested by any governmental authority in connection with any contract or statute, provided that such obligations do not constitute Indebtedness; or any lien upon or deposits of any assets to secure performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
 
(13) any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or within one year after the date of such acquisition;
 
(14) any lien upon any property or assets to secure all or part of the cost of construction, development, repair or improvements thereon or to secure Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction, development, repair or improvements or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later), to provide funds for any such purpose;
 
(15) any lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries and any lien upon any property or assets of a Person existing thereon at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of Energy Transfer by acquisition, merger or otherwise; provided that, in each case, such lien only encumbers the property or assets so acquired or owned by such Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;
 
(16) liens imposed by law or order as a result of any proceeding before any court or regulatory body that is being contested in good faith, and liens which secure a judgment or other court-ordered award or settlement as to which Energy Transfer or the applicable Subsidiary has not exhausted its appellate rights;
 
(17) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancing, refunding or replacements) of liens, in whole or in part, referred to in clauses (1) through (16) above; provided, however, that any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be limited to the property or assets covered by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and any expenses of Energy Transfer or its Subsidiaries (including any premium) incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement; or
 
(18) any lien resulting from the deposit of moneys or evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
 
“Principal Property” means, whether owned or leased on the date of the initial issuance of the notes or thereafter acquired:
 
(1) any pipeline assets of Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries, including any related facilities employed in the gathering, transportation, distribution, storage or marketing of natural gas, refined


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petroleum products, natural gas liquids and petrochemicals, that are located in the United States of America or any territory or political subdivision thereof; and
 
(2) any processing, compression, treating, blending or manufacturing plant or terminal owned or leased by Energy Transfer or any of its Subsidiaries that is located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof, except in the case of either of the preceding clauses (1) or (2):
 
(a) any such assets consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles;
 
(b) any such assets which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the General Partner are not material in relation to the activities of Energy Transfer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and
 
(c) any assets used primarily in the conduct of the retail propane marketing business conducted by Heritage Operating, L.P. and its Subsidiaries.
 
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary owning or leasing, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, any Principal Property.
 
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof or any partnership of which more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests (considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class) is, in each case, at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof.
 
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of Energy Transfer that guarantees the notes pursuant to the terms of the indenture but only so long as such Subsidiary is a guarantor with respect to the notes on the terms provided for in the indenture.


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