WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WGP) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

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WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WGP) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(b) On February 13, 2017, Mr. Donald R. Sinclair resigned from
his positions as President and Chief Executive Officer of our
general partner. Mr. Sinclair also resigned as a member of the
board of directors of our general partner. Mr. Sinclairs
resignation was not the result of any disagreement with us or our
general partner. He will continue to provide services to us and
our general partner in the future as a Senior Advisor.
(c) Also on February 13, 2017, the board of directors of our
general partner announced that it had appointed Mr. Benjamin M.
Fink to be President and Chief Executive Officer of our general
partner. In addition, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko)
announced that it has promoted Mr. Fink to Senior Vice President
for Anadarko. Mr. Fink has served as the Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of our general partner since
September 2012, and will continue to serve as the principal
financial and accounting officer of our general partner until a
successor is appointed. Mr. Fink was also appointed to the board
of directors of our general partner on February 13, 2017.
In addition, on February 13, 2017, the board of directors of our
general partner announced that Mr. Craig W. Collins had been
appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
our general partner. Anadarko also announced that Mr. Collins had
been appointed Vice President >Midstream for Anadarko. Mr.
Collins, age 44, previously served as Director, Midstream
Engineering for Anadarko from July 2016 to February 2017, during
which time he was responsible for the engineering and
construction of midstream infrastructure for Anadarko and Western
Gas Partners, LP (WES). He joined the Anadarko midstream
organization in November 2010, where he led commercial
development activities in the Eagleford shale, and was promoted
to General Manager in June 2013, with commercial responsibilities
for midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas,
Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. Since joining Anadarko in 2003, Mr.
Collins has also held positions of increasing responsibility in
Treasury and Corporate Development.
Also on February 13, 2017, the board of directors of our general
partner announced that Mr. Philip H. Peacock had been promoted to
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of
our general partner. All of the above officer and director
changes with respect to Messrs. Sinclair, Fink, Collins and
Peacock have also been made at the general partner of WES
effective February 13, 2017.
The expected portion of Mr. Finks compensation that will be
allocable to WES by Anadarko includes: (i) an annual base salary
of approximately $418,000; (ii) a bonus target opportunity under
Anadarkos annual incentive program equal to 80% of his base
salary; and (iii) a $675,000 equity award under Anadarkos 2012
Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the Omnibus Plan) based on
Anadarkos closing stock price on February 13, 2017, with such
value delivered 40% in performance units, 35% in stock options
and 25% in restricted stock units. Mr. Fink will receive no
additional compensation for serving on the board of directors of
our general partner. The expected portion of Mr. Collins
compensation that will be allocable to WES by Anadarko includes:
(i) an annual base salary of approximately $165,000; (ii) a bonus
target opportunity under Anadarkos annual incentive program equal
to 65% of his base salary; and (iii) a $500,000 equity award
under the Omnibus Plan based on Anadarkos closing stock price on
February 13, 2017, with such value delivered 40% in performance
units, 35% in stock options and 25% in restricted stock units. In
addition, in connection with his appointment as Anadarkos Vice
President >Midstream, Mr. Collins will enter into a key
employee change of control agreement with Anadarko that is
standard for similarly situated officers at Anadarko. The
performance period for Mr. Finks and Mr. Collins performance
units will be January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019. Mr.
Finks and Mr. Collins stock options and restricted stock units
will vest in one-third increments over three years, beginning on
February 13, 2018.
Messrs. Fink, Collins and Peacock will be eligible to receive
future equity awards under our and Anadarkos compensation
programs, as described under the heading Executive Compensation
>Compensation Discussion and Analysis >Elements of
compensation in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 25, 2016 (the 2015 Form 10-K). Messrs. Fink, Collins and
Peacock are also eligible to participate in Anadarkos other
benefits, including welfare and retirement benefits, severance
benefits and change of control benefits, compensation programs,
and other benefits on the same basis as other eligible Anadarko
employees, and WES will bear the expenses related to the portion
of such benefits allocable to WES. Other than as described
herein, there is no arrangement or understanding between Messrs.
Fink, Collins or Peacock and any other person to which he was
selected as an officer and director of our general partner.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 13, 2017, we and Western Gas Partners, LP issued a
press release regarding the matters referenced above. A copy of
this release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number
Description
99.1
Press Release of Western Gas Partners, LP and Western
Gas Equity Partners, LP issued February 13, 2017.


About WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WGP)

Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (WGP) is a limited partnership formed in to own approximately three types of partnership interests in Western Gas Partners, LP (WES). WES owns, operates, acquires and develops midstream energy assets. Through its subsidiary WES, the Company is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko). The types of partnership interests owned by WGP include the general partner interest in WES, held through Western Gas Holdings, LLC (WES GP); the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) in WES, which entitle WGP to receive increasing percentages, till approximately 48%, of any incremental cash distributed by WES as certain target distribution levels are reached in any quarter, and a limited partner interest in WES. WES’s assets are located in the Rocky Mountains, the Mid-Continent, North-central Pennsylvania and Texas.

WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WGP) Recent Trading Information

WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WGP) closed its last trading session down -0.42 at 47.01 with 150,018 shares trading hands.