Energy Transfer Equity Reports Second Quarter Results

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE:ETE) (“ETE” or the “Partnership”) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was $335 million compared to $218 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $117 million. Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, per unit was $0.31 for the three months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 55% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2014. ETE’s net income attributable to partners was $298 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to $164 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $134 million.

Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, for the six months ended June 30, 2015 was $656 million compared to $417 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $239 million. Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, per unit was $0.61 for the six months ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 61% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2014. ETE’s net income attributable to partners was $582 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015 compared to $332 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, an increase of $250 million.

The Partnership’s recent key accomplishments and other developments include the following:

• In July 2015, ETE completed a two-for-one split of its outstanding common units. All unit and per-unit amounts reported herein have been adjusted to give effect to the split.
• In July 2015, ETE’s Board of Directors approved a $0.02 increase in its quarterly distribution to $0.265 per ETE common unit on a post-split basis for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015, an increase of 39% on an annualized basis compared to the second quarter of 2014 and an increase of 8% on an annualized basis compared to the first quarter of 2015. For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, ETE’s distribution coverage ratio is 1.19x.
• In July 2015, ETE entered into an exchange and repurchase agreement with Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (“ETP”), pursuant to which ETE will exchange 21.0 million ETP common units for 100% of the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of Sunoco LP. In addition, ETE agreed to provide ETP with a $35 million annual IDR subsidy for two years. This transaction is expected to close in August 2015.
• During the second quarter of 2015, ETE repurchased approximately $294 million of ETE common units under its current buyback program.
• During the second quarter of 2015, progress on Lake Charles LNG Export Company, LLC (“Lake Charles LNG”), an entity owned 60% by ETE and 40% by ETP, continued as we purchased the land for the project from Alcoa Inc. and as we received the draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) and filed the additional data and information requests required thereunder. We have also continued our work with the short-listed EPC contractors as we continue to refine the cost structure for the project. We expect to receive the final EIS next week on August 14th. The next milestone after that will be the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) authorization. With the expected emphasis on capital discipline and overall cost, we continue to believe that Lake Charles LNG is one of the most attractive pre-final investment decision (“FID”) projects for both Royal Dutch Shell plc and BG Group plc and that as a result, we remain on track to sanction FID of the project in 2016.
• In May 2015, ETE issued $1 billion aggregate principal amount of its 5.5% senior notes due 2027.
• As of June 30, 2015, ETE’s $1.5 billion revolving credit facility had $230 million of outstanding borrowings and its leverage ratio, as defined by the credit agreement, was 2.93x.

The Partnership has scheduled a conference call for 8:00 a.m. Central Time, Thursday, August 6, 2015 to discuss its second quarter 2015 results. The conference call will be broadcast live via an internet web cast, which can be accessed through www.energytransfer.com and will also be available for replay on the Partnership’s web site for a limited time.

The Partnership’s principal sources of cash flow are derived from distributions related to its direct and indirect investments in the limited and general partner interests in ETP, including 100% of ETP’s incentive distribution rights, ETP Common Units, ETP Class I Units, and, through ETP Class H Units, 90% of the underlying economics of the general partner interest and IDRs of Sunoco Logistics, as well as the Partnership’s ownership of Lake Charles LNG. Prior to ETP’s acquisition of Regency Energy Partners LP (“Regency”), the Partnership’s sources of cash flow were also derived from its direct and indirect investments in the limited and general partner of Regency. The Partnership’s primary cash requirements are for general and administrative expenses, debt service requirements and distributions to its partners.

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) is a master limited partnership which owns the general partner and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP), approximately 23.6 million ETP common units, and approximately 81.0 million ETP Class H Units, which track 90% of the underlying economics of the general partner interest and IDRs of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL). On a consolidated basis, ETE’s family of companies owns and operates approximately 71,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products, and crude oil pipelines. For more information, visit the Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. web site at www.energytransfer.com.

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP) is a master limited partnership owning and operating one of the largest and most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States. ETP’s subsidiaries include Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (the successor of Southern Union Company) and Lone Star NGL LLC, which owns and operates natural gas liquids storage, fractionation and transportation assets. In total, ETP currently owns and operates more than 62,000 miles of natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines. ETP also owns the general partner, 100% of the incentive distribution rights, and approximately 67.1 million common units in Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL), which operates a geographically diverse portfolio of crude oil and refined products pipelines, terminalling and crude oil acquisition and marketing assets. ETP owns 100% of Sunoco, Inc. Additionally, ETP owns the general partner, 100% of the incentive distribution rights and approximately 66% of the limited partner interests in Sunoco LP (formerly Susser Petroleum Partners LP) (NYSE: SUN), a wholesale fuel distributor and convenience store operator. ETP’s general partner is owned by ETE. For more information, visit the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. web site at www.energytransfer.com.

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (NYSE: SXL), headquartered in Philadelphia, is a master limited partnership that owns and operates a logistics business consisting of a geographically diverse portfolio of complementary crude oil, refined products, and natural gas liquids pipeline, terminalling and acquisition and marketing assets which are used to facilitate the purchase and sale of crude oil, refined products, and natural gas liquids. SXL’s general partner is owned by Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP). For more information, visit the Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. web site at www.sunocologistics.com.

Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) is a growth-oriented master limited partnership that primarily distributes motor fuel to convenience stores, independent dealers, commercial customers and distributors. Sunoco LP also operates more than 830 convenience stores and retail fuel sites. Sunoco LP conducts its business through wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as through its 31.58% interest in Sunoco LLC, in partnership with its parent company, ETP. Sunoco LP’s general partner is owned by Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ETP). For more information, visit the Sunoco LP web site at www.sunocolp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking statements as defined by federal law. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. An extensive list of factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Partnership’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information or events.

The information contained in this press release is available on our web site at www.energytransfer.com.

_________________

Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted. The Partnership defines Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, for a period as cash distributions expected to be received in respect of such period in connection with the Partnership’s investments in limited and general partner interests, net of the Partnership’s cash expenditures for general and administrative costs and interest expense. The Partnership’s definitions of Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, also include distributable cash flow from Lake Charles LNG to the Partnership. For Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, certain transaction-related expenses that are included in net income are excluded.

Distributable Cash Flow is a significant liquidity measure used by the Partnership’s senior management to compare net cash flows generated by the Partnership to the distributions the Partnership expects to pay its unitholders. Due to cash expenses incurred from time to time in connection with the Partnership’s merger and acquisition activities and other transactions, Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, is also a significant liquidity measure used by the Partnership’s senior management to compare net cash flows generated by the Partnership to the distributions the Partnership expects to pay its unitholders. Using these measures, the Partnership’s management can compute the coverage ratio of estimated cash flows for a period to planned cash distributions for such period.

Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, are also important non-GAAP financial measures for our limited partners since these indicate to investors whether the Partnership’s investments are generating cash flows at a level that can sustain or support an increase in quarterly cash distribution levels. Financial measures such as Distributable Cash Flow and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, are quantitative standards used by the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships because the value of a partnership unit is in part measured by its yield (which in turn is based on the amount of cash distributions a partnership can pay to a unitholder). The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Distributable Cash Flow, and Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, is net income for ETE on a stand-alone basis (the “Parent Company”).

Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, per Unit. The Partnership defines Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, per Unit for a period as the quotient of Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, divided by the weighted average number of units outstanding. For purposes of this calculation, the number of units outstanding represents the Partnership’s basic average common units outstanding plus Class D units outstanding and the general partner common unit equivalent.

Similar to Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, as described above, Distributable Cash Flow, as adjusted, per Unit is a significant liquidity measure used by the Partnership’s senior management to compare net cash flows generated by the Partnership to the distributions the Partnership expects to pay to its unitholders.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150805006764/en/