UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2003
Commission File No. 1-13603
TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership
| Delaware (State of Incorporation or Organization) |
76-0329620 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2929 Allen Parkway
P.O. Box 2521
Houston, Texas 77252-2521
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(713) 759-3636
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No o
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
|||||
Item 1. Financial Statements |
|||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2003 (unaudited) and December 31, 2002 |
1 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2003
and 2002 (unaudited) |
2 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003
and 2002 (unaudited) |
3 | ||||
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) |
4 | ||||
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
13 | ||||
Forward-Looking Statements |
20 | ||||
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
21 | ||||
Item 4. Controls and Procedures |
22 | ||||
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION |
|||||
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K |
22 | ||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 267 | $ | 485 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, trade |
21,252 | 26,217 | ||||||||
Accounts receivable, related party |
11,501 | 5,125 | ||||||||
Inventories |
15,895 | 13,800 | ||||||||
Other |
8,029 | 11,939 | ||||||||
Total current assets |
56,944 | 57,566 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, at cost (net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization of $272,272 and $284,458) |
649,874 | 722,848 | ||||||||
Equity investments |
161,531 | 73,476 | ||||||||
Other assets |
27,903 | 29,560 | ||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 896,252 | $ | 883,450 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL |
||||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 14,653 | $ | 18,999 | ||||||
Accounts payable, related party |
14,333 | 5,685 | ||||||||
Accrued interest |
7,199 | 11,536 | ||||||||
Other accrued taxes |
5,392 | 6,732 | ||||||||
Other |
14,617 | 16,008 | ||||||||
Total current liabilities |
56,194 | 58,960 | ||||||||
Senior Notes |
402,152 | 403,428 | ||||||||
Note Payable, Parent Partnership |
183,949 | 154,093 | ||||||||
Other liabilities and deferred credits |
15,443 | 24,230 | ||||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||||
Partners capital: |
||||||||||
General partners interest |
2 | 2 | ||||||||
Limited partners interest |
238,512 | 242,737 | ||||||||
Total partners capital |
238,514 | 242,739 | ||||||||
Total liabilities and partners capital |
$ | 896,252 | $ | 883,450 | ||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
1
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | |||||||||
Operating revenues: |
||||||||||
Transportation Refined products |
$ | 26,894 | $ | 25,144 | ||||||
Transportation LPGs |
30,821 | 23,360 | ||||||||
Mont Belvieu operations |
| 4,506 | ||||||||
Other |
9,254 | 6,576 | ||||||||
Total operating revenues |
66,969 | 59,586 | ||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||||
Operating, general and administrative |
20,501 | 18,985 | ||||||||
Operating fuel and power |
8,178 | 7,111 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
7,008 | 6,831 | ||||||||
Taxes other than income taxes |
2,648 | 3,010 | ||||||||
Total costs and expenses |
38,335 | 35,937 | ||||||||
Operating income |
28,634 | 23,649 | ||||||||
Interest expense |
(7,193 | ) | (6,739 | ) | ||||||
Interest capitalized |
391 | 1,693 | ||||||||
Equity earnings |
(1,259 | ) | (796 | ) | ||||||
Other income net |
(6 | ) | 122 | |||||||
Income before discontinued operations |
20,567 | 17,929 | ||||||||
Income from discontinued operations |
| 402 | ||||||||
Net income |
$ | 20,567 | $ | 18,331 | ||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||
| March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||||||||||
Net income from continuing operations |
$ | 20,567 | $ | 17,929 | |||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations
to cash provided by operating activities: |
|||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
7,008 | 6,831 | |||||||||
Equity in loss of affiliate |
1,259 | 796 | |||||||||
Non-cash portion of interest expense |
8 | 8 | |||||||||
Decrease in accounts receivable |
4,965 | 4,873 | |||||||||
Increase in inventories |
(2,095 | ) | (732 | ) | |||||||
Decrease (increase) in other current assets |
3,910 | (2,371 | ) | ||||||||
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(11,413 | ) | (6,638 | ) | |||||||
Other |
1,024 | (3,578 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by continuing operations |
25,233 | 17,118 | |||||||||
Net cash provided by discontinued operations |
| (110 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
25,233 | 17,008 | |||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|||||||||||
Acquisition of additional interest in Centennial Pipeline LLC |
(20,000 | ) | | ||||||||
Investment in Centennial Pipeline LLC |
(1,000 | ) | (3,334 | ) | |||||||
Capital expenditures |
(9,514 | ) | (18,088 | ) | |||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(30,514 | ) | (21,422 | ) | |||||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|||||||||||
Proceeds from term loan |
35,356 | 161,099 | |||||||||
Repayments of term loan |
(5,500 | ) | (132,860 | ) | |||||||
Equity contribution Parent Partnership |
36 | | |||||||||
Distributions |
(24,829 | ) | (22,925 | ) | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
5,063 | 5,314 | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(218 | ) | 900 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
485 | 3,654 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ | 267 | $ | 4,554 | |||||||
Non-cash investing activities: |
|||||||||||
Net assets transferred to Mont Belvieu partnership |
$ | 69,459 | $ | | |||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows: |
|||||||||||
Interest paid during the period (net of capitalized interest) |
$ | 13,789 | $ | 11,268 | |||||||
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership (the Partnership), a Delaware limited partnership, was formed in March 1990. TEPPCO Partners, L.P. (the Parent Partnership) owns a 99.999% interest in us as the sole limited partner. TEPPCO GP, Inc. (TEPPCO GP or General Partner), a subsidiary of the Parent Partnership, holds a 0.001% general partner interest in us. Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC (the Company), a Delaware limited liability company, serves as the general partner of our Parent Partnership. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy Field Services, LLC (DEFS), a joint venture between Duke Energy Corporation (Duke Energy) and ConocoPhillips. Duke Energy holds an approximate 70% interest in DEFS and ConocoPhillips holds the remaining 30%. TEPPCO GP, as general partner, performs all of our management and operating functions required according to the Agreement of Limited Partnership of TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership (the Partnership Agreement). We reimburse our General Partner and the Company for all reasonable direct and indirect expenses that they incur in managing us.
As used in this Report, we, us, and our means TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are, in the opinion of the management of the Company, of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of March 31, 2003, and the results of our operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2003, are not necessarily indicative of results of our operations for the full year 2003. You should read the interim financial statements in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto presented in the TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2002. We have reclassified certain amounts from prior periods to conform with the current presentation.
We operate and report in one business segment: transportation and storage of refined products, liquefied petroleum gases (LPGs) and petrochemicals. Our interstate transportation operations, including rates charged to customers, are subject to regulations prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). We refer to refined products, LPGs and petrochemicals in this Report, collectively, as petroleum products or products.
Effective January 1, 2002, our Parent Partnership realigned its business segments to reflect its entry into the natural gas gathering business and the expanded scope if its natural gas liquids (NGLs) operations. As part of this realignment, on May 31, 2002, we transferred our investment in TEPPCO Colorado, LLC (TEPPCO Colorado), which fractionates NGLS, to TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P. (TEPPCO Midstream). As a result of the transfer, the results of operations of TEPPCO Colorado for the periods presented are reflected as discontinued operations (see Note 11. Discontinued Operations). We have reclassified prior periods presented to reflect the current presentation.
NOTE 2. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure. SFAS 148 amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosure in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on the reported results. The provisions of SFAS 148 are effective for financial statements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 148 did not affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
4
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46). FIN 46 requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. We are required to apply FIN 46 to all new variable interest entities created or acquired after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, we are required to apply FIN 46 on July 1, 2003. In connection with the adoption of FIN 46, we evaluated our investments in Centennial Pipeline LLC and Mont Belvieu Storage Partners, L.P. and determined that these entities are not variable interest entities as defined by FIN 46, and thus we have accounted for our investments in these entities as equity method investments (see Note 7. Equity Investments). The adoption of FIN 46 did not have an effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
NOTE 3. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. SFAS 143 requires us to record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which we incur a legal obligation for the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. A corresponding asset is also recorded and depreciated over the life of the asset. After the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the liability will be adjusted at the end of each reporting period to reflect changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. Determination of any amounts recognized upon adoption is based upon numerous estimates and assumptions, including future retirement costs, future inflation rates and the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates.
Our assets consist of a pipeline system and a series of storage facilities that originate along the upper Texas Gulf Coast and extend through the Midwest and northeastern United States. We transport refined products, LPGs and petrochemicals through the pipeline system. These products are primarily received in the south end of the system and stored and/or transported to various points along the system per customer nominations.
We have completed our assessment of SFAS 143, and we have determined that we are obligated by contractual or regulatory requirements to remove facilities or perform other remediation upon retirement of our assets. However, we are not able to determine the fair value of the asset retirement obligations for our trunk and interstate pipelines and our surface facilities as they cannot be reasonably estimated, since future dismantlement and removal dates are indeterminate. It is impossible to predict when demand for transportation of the related products will cease. Our rights-of-way agreements allow us to renew the rights-of-way rather than remove the pipe while we evaluate our trunk pipelines for alternative uses, which can be and have been found, should the need arise.
We will record such asset retirement obligations in the period in which more information becomes available for us to reasonably estimate the settlement dates of the retirement obligations. The adoption of SFAS 143 did not have an impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
NOTE 4. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
We account for our intangible assets under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which was issued by the FASB in July 2001. SFAS 142 prohibits the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, but instead should be tested for impairment at least annually. SFAS 142 requires that intangible assets with definite useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives. We will assess the useful lives and residual values of all intangible assets on an annual basis to determine if adjustments are required.
5
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
The following table reflects the components of amortized intangible assets, included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet (in thousands):
| March 31, 2003 | December 31, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross Carrying | Gross Carrying | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||
| Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Amount | Amortization | ||||||||||||||
Amortized intangible assets: |
|||||||||||||||||
Transportation agreements |
$ | 1,328 | $ | (144 | ) | $ | 1,328 | $ | (127 | ) | |||||||
Amortization expense on intangible assets was $16,603 and $12,500 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The following table sets forth the estimated amortization expense on intangible assets for the years ending December 31 (in thousands):
2003 |
$ | 66 | ||
2004 |
66 | |||
2005 |
66 | |||
2006 |
66 | |||
2007 |
66 |
NOTE 5. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
On October 4, 2001, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge our exposure to changes in the fair value of our fixed rate 7.51% Senior Notes due 2028. We have designated this swap agreement as a fair value hedge. The swap agreement has a notional amount of $210.0 million and matures in January 2028 to match the principal and maturity of the Senior Notes. Under the swap agreement, we pay a floating rate based on a three month U.S. Dollar LIBOR rate, plus a spread, and receive a fixed rate of interest of 7.51%. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, and 2002, we recognized reductions in interest expense of $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to the difference between the fixed rate and the floating rate of interest on the interest rate swap. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, we measured the hedge effectiveness of this interest rate swap and noted that no gain or loss from ineffectiveness was required to be recognized. The fair value of this interest rate swap agreement was a gain of approximately $12.3 million and $13.6 million at March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, respectively.
6
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
NOTE 6. INVENTORIES
Inventories are carried at the lower of cost (based on weighted average cost method) or market. The major components of inventories were as follows (in thousands):
| March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Gasolines |
$ | 4,580 | $ | 4,700 | |||||
Butanes |
3,415 | 1,991 | |||||||
Transmix |
1,934 | 2,526 | |||||||
Other products |
1,571 | 845 | |||||||
Materials and supplies |
4,395 | 3,738 | |||||||
Total |
$ | 15,895 | $ | 13,800 | |||||
The costs of inventories did not exceed market values at March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002.
NOTE 7. EQUITY INVESTMENTS
In August 2000, we entered into agreements with Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company (PEPL), a subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation, and Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (Marathon) to form Centennial Pipeline LLC (Centennial). Centennial owns an interstate refined petroleum products pipeline extending from the upper Texas Gulf Coast to Illinois. Through February 9, 2003, each participant owned a one-third interest in Centennial. On February 10, 2003, we and Marathon each acquired an additional interest in Centennial from PEPL for $20.0 million each, increasing our percentage ownerships in Centennial to 50% each. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, excluding the amount paid for the acquisition of the additional ownership interest, we contributed approximately $1.0 million for our investment in Centennial, which is included in the equity investment balance at March 31, 2003.
As of January 1, 2003, we and Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, L.P. (Louis Dreyfus) formed Mont Belvieu Storage Partners, L.P. (MB Storage). We and Louis Dreyfus each own a 50% ownership interest in MB Storage. The purpose of MB Storage is to expand services to the upper Texas Gulf Coast energy marketplace by increasing pipeline throughput and the mix of products handled through the existing system and establishing new receipt and delivery connections. MB Storage is a service-oriented, fee-based venture with no commodity trading activity. We continue to operate the facilities for MB Storage. Effective January 1, 2003, we contributed property and equipment with a net book value of $75.5 million to MB Storage. Additionally, as of the contribution date, Louis Dreyfus had invested $6.1 million for expansion projects for MB Storage that we were required to reimburse if the original joint development and marketing agreement was terminated by either party. This deferred liability was also contributed and converted to the capital of Louis Dreyfus in MB Storage.
We use the equity method of accounting for to account for our investment in Centennial and MB Storage. Summarized combined financial information for Centennial for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, and for the three months ended March 31, 2003, for MB Storage, is presented below (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Revenues |
$ | 9,043 | $ | | ||||
Net loss |
(3,189 | ) | (3,147 | ) | ||||
7
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
Summarized combined balance sheet data for Centennial as of March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, and for MB Storage as of March 31, 2003, is presented below (in thousands):
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Current assets |
$ | 12,758 | $ | 8,184 | ||||
Noncurrent assets |
358,648 | 285,885 | ||||||
Current liabilities |
25,248 | 19,949 | ||||||
Long-term debt |
140,000 | 140,000 | ||||||
Noncurrent liabilities |
13,758 | 14,875 | ||||||
Partners capital |
192,400 | 119,245 | ||||||
Our investment in Centennial at March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, includes an excess net investment amount of $33.1 million. Excess investment is the amount by which our investment balance exceeds our proportionate share of the net assets of the investment.
NOTE 8. LONG TERM DEBT
Senior Notes
On January 27, 1998, we completed the issuance of $180.0 million principal amount of 6.45% Senior Notes due 2008, and $210.0 million principal amount of 7.51% Senior Notes due 2028 (collectively the Senior Notes). The 6.45% Senior Notes were issued at a discount of $0.3 million and are being accreted to their face value over the term of the notes. The 6.45% Senior Notes due 2008 are not subject to redemption prior to January 15, 2008. The 7.51% Senior Notes due 2028, issued at par, may be redeemed at any time after January 15, 2008, at our option in whole or in part, at a premium.
The Senior Notes do not have sinking fund requirements. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Senior Notes are unsecured obligations and rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants, including, but not limited to, covenants limiting the creation of liens securing indebtedness and sale and leaseback transactions. However, the indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness. As of March 31, 2003, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Senior Notes.
We have entered into an interest rate swap agreement to hedge our exposure to changes in the fair value on a portion of the Senior Notes discussed above. See Note 5. Derivative Financial Instruments.
Other Long Term Debt and Credit Facilities
We currently utilize debt financing available from our Parent Partnership through intercompany notes. The terms of the intercompany notes generally match the principal and interest payment dates under the Parent Partnerships credit agreements. The interest rates charged by the Parent Partnership include the stated interest rate of the Parent Partnership, plus a premium to cover debt issuance costs. The interest rate is also decreased or increased to cover gains and losses, respectively, on any interest rate swaps that the Parent Partnership may have in place on its respective credit agreements. These credit facilities of the Parent Partnership are described below.
On April 6, 2001, our Parent Partnership entered into a $500.0 million revolving credit facility including the issuance of letters of credit of up to $20.0 million (Three Year Facility). The interest rate is based, at the
8
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
Parent Partnerships option, on either the lenders base rate plus a spread, or LIBOR plus a spread in effect at the time of the borrowings. The credit agreement for the Three Year Facility contains certain restrictive financial covenant ratios. During 2002, the Parent Partnerships borrowings under the Three Year Facility were used to finance the acquisitions of the Chaparral NGL system on March 1, 2002, and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company (Val Verde) on June 30, 2002. During 2002, the Parent Partnership made repayments on the Three Year Facility with proceeds from the issuance of the Parent Partnerships 7.625% Senior Notes, proceeds from the issuance of our Parent Partnerships units representing limited partnership interests (Limited Partner Units) and proceeds from the termination of interest rate swaps. During the first quarter of 2003, the Parent Partnership repaid $182.0 million of the outstanding balance of the Three Year Facility with proceeds from the issuance of its 6.125% Senior Notes on January 30, 2003. At March 31, 2003, $265.0 million was outstanding under the Three Year Facility.
On April 6, 2001, the Parent Partnership entered into a 364-day, $200.0 million revolving credit agreement (Short-term Revolver). The interest rate was based, at the Parent Partnerships option, on either the lenders base rate plus a spread, or LIBOR plus a spread in effect at the time of the borrowings. The credit agreement contained certain restrictive financial covenant ratios. On March 28, 2002, the Short-term Revolver was extended for an additional period of 364 days, ending in March 2003. During 2002, the Parent Partnerships borrowings under the Short-term Revolver were used to finance the acquisition of the Val Verde assets and for other purposes. During 2002, the Parent Partnership repaid the existing amounts outstanding under the Short-term Revolver with proceeds it received from the issuance of Limited Partner Units in 2002. The Short-term Revolver expired on March 27, 2003.
On February 20, 2002, the Parent Partnership issued $500.0 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2012. The 7.625% Senior Notes were issued at a discount of $2.2 million and are being accreted to their face value over the term of the notes. The Parent Partnership used the proceeds from the offering to reduce a portion of the outstanding balances of its credit facilities. The 7.625% Senior Notes may be redeemed at any time at the Parent Partnerships option with the payment of accrued interest and a make-whole premium determined by discounting remaining interest and principal payments using a discount rate equal to the rate of the United States Treasury securities of comparable remaining maturity plus 35 basis points. The indenture governing these 7.625% Senior Notes contains covenants, including, but not limited to, covenants limiting the creation of liens securing indebtedness and sale and leaseback transactions. However, the indenture does not limit the Parent Partnerships ability to incur additional indebtedness.
On January 30, 2003, the Parent Partnership issued $200.0 million principal amount of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2013. The 6.125% Senior Notes were issued at a discount of $1.4 million and are being accreted to their face value over the term of the notes. The Parent Partnership used $182.0 million of the proceeds from the offering to reduce the outstanding principal on the Three Year Facility to $250.0 million. The balance of the net proceeds received was used for general purposes. The 6.125% Senior Notes may be redeemed at any time at the Parent Partnerships option with the payment of accrued interest and a make-whole premium determined by discounting remaining interest and principal payments using a discount rate equal to the rate of the United States Treasury securities of comparable remaining maturity plus 35 basis points. The indenture governing the 6.125% Senior Notes contains covenants, including, but not limited to, covenants limiting the creation of liens securing indebtedness and sale and leaseback transactions. However, the indenture does not limit the Parent Partnerships ability to incur additional indebtedness.
As of March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, we had an intercompany note payable to our Parent Partnership of $183.9 million and $154.1 million, respectively, which represented borrowings under the Parent Partnerships Three Year Facility, 7.625% Senior Notes and 6.125% Senior Notes. The interest rate on the note payable to the Parent Partnership at March 31, 2003, was 2.1%. At March 31, 2003, accrued interest includes $3.9 million due to the Parent Partnership. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, interest costs incurred on the note payable to the Parent Partnership totaled $2.7 million.
9
TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Continued
(Unaudited)
NOTE 9. QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS OF AVAILABLE CASH
We make quarterly cash distributions of all of our available cash, generally defined as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash disbursements and cash reserves established by the General Partner in its sole discretion. We pay distributions of 99.999% to the Parent Partnership and 0.001% to the General Partner.
During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, we paid cash distributions totaling $24.8 million and $22.9 million, respectively. The distribution increase reflects our success in improving cash flow levels. On May 9, 2003, we will pay a cash distribution of $26.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003.
NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In the fall of 1999 and on December 1, 2000, the Company and the Partnership were named as defendants in two separate lawsuits in Jackson County Circuit Court, Jackson County, Indiana, in Ryan E. McCleery and Marcia S. McCleery, et. al. v. Texas Eastern Corporation, et. al. (including the Company and Partnership) and Gilbert Richards and Jean Richards v. Texas Eastern Corporation, et. al. (including the Company and Partnership). In both cases, the plaintiffs contend, among other things, that we and other defendants stored and disposed of toxic and hazardous substances and hazardous wastes in a manner that caused the materials to be released into the air, soil and water. They further contend that the release caused damages to the plaintiffs. In their complaints, the plaintiffs allege strict liability for both personal injury and property damage together with gross negligence, continuing nuisance, trespass, criminal mischief and loss of consortium. The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory, punitive and treble damages. We have filed an answer to both complaints, denying the allegations, as well as various other motions. These cases are not covered by insurance. Discovery is ongoing, and we are defending ourselves vigorously against the lawsuits. The plaintiffs have not stipulated the amount of damages that they are seeking in the suit. We cannot estimate the loss, if any, associated with these pending lawsuits.
On December 21, 2001, we were named as a defendant in a lawsuit in the 10th Judicial District, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, in Rebecca L. Grisham et. al. v. TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership. In this case, the plaintiffs contend that the defendants pipeline, which crosses the plaintiffs property, leaked toxic products onto the plaintiffs property. The plaintiffs further contend that this leak caused damages to the plaintiffs. We have filed an answer to the plaintiffs petition denying the allegations. The plaintiffs have not stipulated the amount of damages they are seeking in the suit. We are defending ourselves vigorously against the lawsuit. We cannot estimate the damages, if any, associated with this pending lawsuit; however, this case is covered by insurance.
In addition to the litigation discussed above, we have been, in the ordinary course of business, a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. We believe that the outcome of these lawsuits and other proceedings will not indiv