WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WES) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
WES RCF Amendment
On December 19, 2018, Western Gas Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to its senior unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “WES RCF”), dated February 15, 2018, among itself, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto to provide for (a) subject to the consummation of the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated November 7, 2018, among Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and certain affiliates, including the Partnership and Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (“WGP”), an increase to the size of the facility from $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion, while leaving the $0.5 billion accordion feature of the WES RCF unexercised; and (b) effective on February 15, 2019, the exercise of one of the Partnership’s one-year extension options to extend the maturity date of the WES RCF to February 15, 2024.
As of December 19, 2018, there was $220.0 million outstanding on the WES RCF (with $4.6 million in outstanding letters of credit). The above summary of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
WES 364-day Facility
On December 19, 2018, the Partnership entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day senior unsecured credit agreement (the “364-day Facility”), the proceeds of which will be used to fund substantially all of the cash portion of the consideration under the Merger Agreement and the payment of related transaction costs. The 364-day Facility will mature on the day prior to the one-year anniversary of the consummation of the Transactions, and will bear interest at LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.000% to 1.625%, or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1%, in each case as defined in the 364-day Facility and plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.625%, based upon the Partnership’s senior unsecured debt rating. The Partnership is also required to pay a ticking fee of 0.175% on the commitment amount beginning 90 days after the effective date of the credit agreement through the date of funding under the 364-day Facility. The 364-day Facility contains covenants and customary events of default that are substantially similar to the WES RCF. Additionally, funding of the 364-day Facility is conditioned upon the consummation of the Transactions, and net cash proceeds received from future asset sales and debt or equity offerings of the Partnership must be used to repay amounts outstanding under the 364-day Facility.
The above summary of the 364-day Facility is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 364-day Facility, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Relationships
Certain of the lenders under the WES RCF and the 364-day Facility and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial and investment banking services for the Partnership, for which they received or may receive customary fees and expenses. Certain affiliates of such lenders have acted, and may in the future act, as underwriters of certain of the Partnership’s debt and equity issuances.
Item 1.01. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference.
Important Information for Investors and Unitholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.
In connection with the proposed Transactions, WGP filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a prospectus of WGP and a proxy statement of the Partnership. The Partnership and WGP also plan to file other documents with the Commission regarding the proposed Transactions. After the registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the unitholders of the Partnership. INVESTORS AND UNITHOLDERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER THAT HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSION CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and unitholders are able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about the Partnership and WGP at the time such documents were or are filed with the Commission, through the website maintained by the Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the Commission by the Partnership and WGP are available free of charge on their internet website at www.westerngas.com or by contacting their Investor Relations Department at 832-636-6000.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Partnership, WGP, their respective general partners and their respective general partners’ directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the unitholders of the Partnership in connection with the proposed Transactions. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Partnership is set forth in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the Commission on February 16, 2018. Information about the directors and executive officers of WGP is set forth in WGP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the Commission on February 16, 2018. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and will be contained in any other relevant materials to be filed with the Commission when they become available. Free copies of these documents can be obtained using the contact information above.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding future financial performance, future competitive positioning, future market demand, future benefits to unitholders, future economic and industry conditions, the proposed merger (including its benefits, results, effects and timing) and whether and when the proposed Transactions will be consummated, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The Partnership, WGP and their respective general partners believe that their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this communication. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the failure of the unitholders of the Partnership to approve the proposed merger; the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed Transactions are not satisfied; the risk that regulatory approvals required for the proposed Transactions are not obtained or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed Transactions; uncertainties as to the timing of the proposed Transactions; competitive responses to the proposed Transactions; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed Transactions; the outcome of pending or potential litigation; the inability to retain key personnel; uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the pro forma partnership following completion of the proposed Transactions; and any changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions.
The Partnership and WGP caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Partnership’s and WGP’s most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Commission filings, which are available at the Commission’s website, http://www.sec.gov. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Partnership, WGP, the proposed Transactions or other matters attributable to the Partnership and WGP or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. Except as required by law, the Partnership, WGP and their respective general partners undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Item 1.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number |
Description |
10.1 |
|
10.2 |
Western Gas Partners LP Exhibit
EX-10.1 2 wes20188-kxdecrcfxexh101.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 Exhibit EXHIBIT 10.1Execution CopyFIRST AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATEDREVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENTTHIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “First Amendment”),…
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About WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP (NYSE:WES)
Western Gas Partners, LP is a master limited partnership (MLP) that acquires, owns, develops and operates midstream energy assets. 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), as well as third-party producers and customers. It operates in the segment of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting Anadarko and third-party natural gas, condensate, NGLs and crude oil in the United States. Its operations and activities are managed by its general partner, which is indirectly controlled by Anadarko through Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (WGP). Anadarko is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. The Company’s assets and investments are located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma), North-central Pennsylvania and Texas.