Energy Transfer PartnersReports Quarterly Results for the Period Ended September 30th

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Mon Nov 9, 2009 4:20pm EST

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091109006548/en

DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) today reported EBITDA, as adjusted,
distributable cash flow, and net income for the quarter ended September 30,
2009. EBITDA, as adjusted, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 totaled
$281.8 million, a decrease of $51.0 million from the three months ended
September 30, 2008. Distributable cash flow for the three months ended September
30, 2009 totaled $155.6 million, a decrease of $54.3 million from the three
months ended September 30, 2008. Net income for the three months ended September
30, 2009 totaled $72.5 million, a decrease of $148.6 million from the three
months ended September 30, 2008. The decreases in these metrics between the
periods were primarily attributable to the impacts of lower natural gas prices
and weaker price differentials mainly across Texas. 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, EBITDA, as adjusted, totaled $1.03
billion, a decrease of $34.9 million from the nine months ended September 30,
2008. Distributable cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was
$731.7 million, a decrease of $77.5 million from the nine months ended September
30, 2008. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 totaled $530.4
million, a decrease of $184.7 million from the nine months ended September 30,
2008. 

ETP also announced that it has filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2009 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ETP has posted a copy of this Form 10-Q on its website at
www.energytransfer.com. The Partnership has scheduled a conference call for 9:00
a.m. Central Time, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 to discuss the third quarter
results. The conference call will be broadcast live via an internet web cast,
which can be accessed through www.energytransfer.com. The call will be available
for replay on the Partnership`s website for a limited time. 

EBITDA, as adjusted, and distributable cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures
used by industry analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies to assess the
financial performance and the operating results of the Partnership`s fundamental
business activities and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute
for net income, income from operations, cash flows from operating activities, or
other GAAP measures. A table reconciling EBITDA, as adjusted, and distributable
cash flow with appropriate GAAP financial measures is included in the summarized
financial information included in this release. 

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 intrastate gathering and transportation pipelines, treating and
processing assets, and three storage facilities located in Texas. ETP currently
has more than 17,500 miles of pipeline in service and has a 50% interest in
joint ventures that have approximately 500 miles of interstate pipeline in
service. 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 and approximately 62.5
million ETP limited partners units. 

The information contained in this press release is available on the
Partnership`s website at www.energytransfer.com.

                                                                                                                              
 ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                                                              
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                                                                                        
 (in thousands, except unit data)                                                                                             
 (unaudited)                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                September 30,                 December 31,                
                                                                       2009                        2008               
 ASSETS                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                          
 CURRENT ASSETS:                                                                                                          
 Cash and cash equivalents                                      $      50,059               $      91,902             
 Marketable securities                                                 12,682                      5,915              
 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts           352,838                     591,257            
 Accounts receivable from related companies                            35,972                      17,895             
 Inventories                                                           221,148                     272,348            
 Deposits paid to vendors                                              99,317                      78,237             
 Exchanges receivable                                                  15,434                      45,209             
 Price risk management assets                                          6,841                       5,423              
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets                             67,680                      75,215             
 Total current assets                                                  861,971                     1,183,401          
                                                                                                                          
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT                                         9,616,309                   8,996,911          
 ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION                                              (905,624    )               (700,826    )      
                                                                       8,710,685                   8,296,085          
                                                                                                                          
 ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES                             550,950                     10,110             
 GOODWILL                                                              736,347                     743,694            
 INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS, net                                     394,767                     394,199            
                                                                                                                          
 Total assets                                                   $      11,254,720           $      10,627,489         


                                                                                                                                                                                                                
 ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                                                                                                                                                
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                                                                                                                                                                          
 (in thousands, except unit data)                                                                                                                                                                               
 (unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                        September 30,                 December 31,          
                                                                                                                                                        2009                          2008                  
 LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 CURRENT LIABILITIES:                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Accounts payable                                                                                                                                       $      253,892              $        381,135     
 Accounts payable to related companies                                                                                                                         7,591                         34,547      
 Exchanges payable                                                                                                                                             22,400                        54,636      
 Customer advances and deposits                                                                                                                                101,258                       106,679     
 Accrued and other current liabilities                                                                                                                         247,466                       311,988     
 Price risk management liabilities                                                                                                                             18,279                        94,978      
 Interest payable                                                                                                                                              110,744                       106,259     
 Income taxes payable                                                                                                                                          5,481                         14,538      
 Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                         -                             589         
 Current maturities of long-term debt                                                                                                                          46,078                        45,198      
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                     813,189                       1,150,547   
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities                                                                                                                       6,166,083                     5,618,549   
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                                                                                                         105,156                       100,597     
 OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                                                                                                 21,076                        14,727      
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                               7,105,504                     6,884,420   
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 PARTNERS` CAPITAL:                                                                                                                                                                                         
 General Partner                                                                                                                                               169,038                       161,159     
 Limited Partners:                                                                                                                                                                                          
 Common Unitholders (168,834,045 and 152,102,471 units authorized, issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively)           3,994,530                     3,578,997   
 Class E Unitholders (8,853,832 units authorized, issued and outstanding - held by subsidiary and reported as treasury units)                                  -                             -           
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                                                 (14,352     )                 2,913       
 Total partners` capital                                                                                                                                       4,149,216                     3,743,069   
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 Total liabilities and partners` capital                                                                                                                $      11,254,720           $        10,627,489  


                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                                                                                                                                             
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                                                                                                                                                             
 (in thousands, except per unit and unit data)                                                                                                                                                               
 (unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                Three Months Ended September 30,                                     Nine Months Ended September 30,                                    
                                                                       2009                              2008                         2009                              2008                
 REVENUES:                                                                                                                                                                                          
 Natural gas operations                                         $      943,975                    $      1,938,586             $      3,004,163                  $      6,322,070           
 Retail propane                                                        162,224                           238,830                      829,901                           1,086,417           
 Other                                                                 23,397                            28,799                       77,449                            90,575              
 Total revenues                                                        1,129,596                         2,206,215                    3,911,513                         7,499,062           
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                                                                                                                                                                
 Cost of products sold - natural gas operations                        591,797                           1,435,308                    1,865,914                         4,965,145           
 Cost of products sold - retail propane                                80,232                            187,799                      378,524                           744,316             
 Cost of products sold - other                                         6,119                             10,347                       18,842                            27,783              
 Operating expenses                                                    158,883                           197,493                      517,337                           573,606             
 Depreciation and amortization                                         81,684                            70,508                       230,461                           191,757             
 Selling, general and administrative                                   33,534                            44,252                       143,015                           136,632             
 Total costs and expenses                                              952,249                           1,945,707                    3,154,093                         6,639,239           
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 OPERATING INCOME                                                      177,347                           260,508                      757,420                           859,823             
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):                                                                                                                                                                            
 Interest expense, net of interest capitalized                         (101,503     )                    (67,792      )               (284,228     )                    (191,757     )      
 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates                             9,581                             (654         )               11,751                            (749         )      
 Gains (losses) on disposal of assets                                  (1,088       )                    2,520                        (1,333       )                    1,584               
 Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives                (18,241      )                    394                          32,327                            149                 
 Allowance for equity funds used during construction                   30                                19,727                       18,618                            45,275              
 Other, net                                                            3,433                             (805         )               4,400                             9,486               
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)                            69,559                            213,898                      538,955                           723,811             
 Income tax expense (benefit)                                          (2,897       )                    (7,150       )               8,594                             8,754               
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 NET INCOME                                                            72,456                            221,048                      530,361                           715,057             
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 GENERAL PARTNER'S INTEREST IN NET INCOME                              88,927                            80,252                       266,396                           233,599             
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 LIMITED PARTNERS' INTEREST IN NET INCOME (LOSS)           (1)  $      (16,471      )             $      140,796               $      263,965                    $      481,458             
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 BASIC NET INCOME (LOSS) PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT          (2)  $      (0.10        )             $      0.94                  $      1.60                       $      3.32                
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING                             168,815,563                       149,839,499                  164,183,538                       145,160,079         
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT        (2)  $      (0.10        )             $      0.94                  $      1.59                       $      3.31                
                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING                           168,815,563                       150,248,194                  164,886,492                       145,615,088         


(1) Based on the declared distribution rate of $0.89375 per Common Unit,
distributions to be paid for the three months ended September 30, 2009, are
$249.5 million in total, which exceeds net income for the period by $177.0
million. Accordingly, the distributions to be paid to the General Partner,
including incentive distributions, further exceeded the net income for the three
months ended September 30, 2009, and as a result, a net loss was allocated to
the Limited Partners for the period. 

(2) Basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit amounts for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2008 have been restated to reflect the
retrospective adoption of certain accounting principles on January 1, 2009. See
our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 for a
more detailed discussion.

                                                                      Three Months Ended September 30,                             Nine Months Ended September 30,                                
 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:                                                   2009                          2008                     2009                            2008              
 (unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, as adjusted:                                                                                                                                         
 Net income                                                           $      72,456                 $      221,048           $      530,361                  $      715,057           
 Interest expense, net of interest capitalized                               101,503                       67,792                   284,228                         191,757           
 Income tax expense (benefit)                                                (2,897   )                    (7,150   )               8,594                           8,754             
 Depreciation and amortization                                               81,684                        70,508                   230,461                         191,757           
 Non-cash compensation expense                                               6,459                         2,378                    20,942                          14,338            
 (Gains) losses on disposal of assets                                        1,088                         (2,520   )               1,333                           (1,584     )      
 (Gains) losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives                      18,241                        (394     )               (32,327    )                    (149       )      
 Allowance for equity funds used during construction                         (30      )                    (19,727  )               (18,618    )                    (45,275    )      
 Proportionate share of joint ventures' interest, depreciation and                                                                                                                            
 allowance for equity funds used during construction                         6,698                         -                        9,651                           -                 
 Other, net                                                                  (3,433   )                    805                      (4,400     )                    (9,486     )      
 EBITDA, as adjusted (a)                                              $      281,769                $      332,740           $      1,030,225                $      1,065,169         
                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Reconciliation of net income to distributable cash flow:                                                                                                                                     
 Net income                                                           $      72,456                 $      221,048           $      530,361                  $      715,057           
 Amortization of finance costs charged to interest                           2,234                         1,665                    6,386                           4,240             
 Deferred income taxes                                                       (6,040   )                    (4,672   )               3,663                           (3,781     )      
 Depreciation and amortization                                               81,684                        70,508                   230,461                         191,757           
 Non-cash compensation expense                                               6,459                         2,378                    20,942                          14,338            
 (Gains) losses on disposal of assets                                        1,088                         (2,520   )               1,333                           (1,584     )      
 (Gains) losses on non-hedged interest rate derivatives                      18,241                        (394     )               (32,327    )                    (149       )      
 Allowance for equity funds used during construction                         (30      )                    (19,727  )               (18,618    )                    (45,275    )      
 Unrealized (gains) losses on commodity derivatives not                                                                                                                                       
 in fair value hedging relationships                                         (13,472  )                    (34,390  )               32,657                          5,838             
 Unrealized (gains) losses on commodity derivatives and related                                                                                                                               
 hedged inventory in fair value hedging relationships                        16,361                        -                        3,863                           -                 
 Inventory lower of cost or market adjustments                               9,408                         -                        54,029                          -                 
 Effect of previously recognized inventory hedging and lower of                                                                                                                               
 cost or market adjustments on margin during the period                      -                             -                        (23,551    )                    -                 
 Distributions over (under) equity in earnings, net                          (5,266   )                    1,414                    (5,696     )                    4,723             
 Maintenance capital expenditures                                            (27,483  )                    (25,357  )               (71,766    )                    (75,931    )      
 Distributable cash flow (a)                                          $      155,640                $      209,953           $      731,737                  $      809,233           


(a) The Partnership has disclosed in this press release EBITDA, as adjusted, and
distributable cash flow which are non-GAAP financial measures. Management
believes EBITDA, as adjusted, and distributable cash flow provide useful
information to investors as measure of comparison with peer companies, including
companies that may have different financing and capital structures. The
presentation of EBITDA, as adjusted, and distributable cash flow also allows
investors to view our performance in a manner similar to the methods used by
management and provides additional insight to our operating results. 

There are material limitations to using measures such as EBITDA, as adjusted,
and distributable cash flow, including the difficulty associated with using
either as the sole measure to compare the results of one company to another, and
the inability to analyze certain significant items that directly affect a
company`s net income or loss or cash flows. In addition, our calculations of
EBITDA, as adjusted, and distributable cash flow may not be consistent with
similarly titled measures of other companies and should be viewed in conjunction
with measurements that are computed in accordance with GAAP, such as gross
margin, operating income, net income, and cash flow from operating activities. 

Definition of EBITDA, as Adjusted

The Partnership defines EBITDA, as adjusted, as total partnership earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items,
such as compensation charges for unit issuances to employees and other expenses.
Non-cash compensation expense represents charges for the value of the grants
awarded under the Partnership`s compensation plans over the vesting terms of
those plans and are charges which do not, or will not, require cash settlement.
Non-cash income or loss such as the gain or loss arising from disposal of assets
is not included when determining EBITDA, as adjusted. 

EBITDA, as adjusted, is used by management to determine our operating
performance and, along with other data, as internal measures for setting annual
operating budgets, assessing financial performance of our numerous business
locations, as a measure for evaluating targeted businesses for acquisition and
as a measurement component of incentive compensation. 

Definition of Distributable Cash Flow

The Partnership defines distributable cash flow as total partnership earnings,
adjusted for certain non-cash amounts recorded in earnings, less maintenance
capital expenditures. Non-cash amounts recorded in earnings include depreciation
and amortization, deferred taxes, impairment losses, allowance for equity funds
used during construction, and certain realized and unrealized gains and losses.
Distributable cash flow also reflects earnings from affiliates on a cash basis. 

Distributable cash flow is used by management to evaluate our overall
performance. Our partnership agreement requires us to distribute all available
cash, and distributable cash flow is calculated to evaluate our ability to fund
distributions through cash generated by our operations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 REPORTABLE SEGMENTS (unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                           Three Months Ended September 30,                                   Nine Months Ended September 30,                                  
                                                                                  2009                             2008                        2009                             2008               
 Intrastate transportation and storage:                                                                                                                                                                    
 Natural gas MMBtu/d - transported                                                11,111,011                       11,613,933                  12,769,022                       10,515,132         
 Natural gas MMBtu/d - sold                                                       886,463                          1,409,348                   879,861                          1,556,524          
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Revenues (including intersegment)                                         $      466,713                   $      1,509,555            $      1,589,298                 $      4,862,641          
 Cost of products sold                                                            278,868                          1,150,799                   895,433                          3,965,931          
 Gross margin                                                                     187,845                          358,756                     693,865                          896,710            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Operating expenses                                                               45,053                           86,332                      155,461                          227,026            
 Depreciation and amortization                                                    27,188                           23,820                      78,080                           60,293             
 Selling, general and administrative                                              5,823                            18,683                      49,899                           55,251             
 Segment operating income                                                  $      109,781                   $      229,921              $      410,425                   $      554,140            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Interstate transportation:                                                                                                                                                                                
 Natural gas MMBtu/d - transported                                                1,688,388                        1,862,781                   1,706,199                        1,750,592          
 Natural gas MMBtu/d - sold                                                       19,060                           14,784                      19,481                           13,094             
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Revenues                                                                  $      71,415                    $      62,023               $      203,349                   $      176,663            
 Operating expenses                                                               13,718                           13,278                      46,427                           39,128             
 Depreciation and amortization                                                    12,521                           9,637                       36,017                           28,204             
 Selling, general and administrative                                              3,566                            5,410                       19,150                           17,917             
 Segment operating income                                                  $      41,610                    $      33,698               $      101,755                   $      91,414             
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Midstream:                                                                                                                                                                                                
 Natural gas MMBtu/d - sold                                                       1,021,963                        1,344,033                   1,009,547                        1,361,295          
 NGLs Bbls/d - sold                                                               39,486                           24,019                      40,345                           27,618             
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Revenues (including intersegment)                                         $      573,066                   $      1,435,157            $      1,750,466                 $      4,555,340          
 Cost of products sold                                                            480,746                          1,352,658                   1,510,030                        4,271,788          
 Gross margin                                                                     92,320                           82,499                      240,436                          283,552            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Operating expenses                                                               16,054                           16,661                      50,858                           50,792             
 Depreciation and amortization                                                    18,091                           16,669                      51,792                           44,004             
 Selling, general and administrative                                              14,761                           9,307                       41,183                           31,239             
 Segment operating income                                                  $      43,414                    $      39,862               $      96,603                    $      157,517            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Retail propane and other retail propane related:                                                                                                                                                          
 Retail propane gallons (in thousands)                                            87,569                           90,386                      398,202                          422,109            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Retail propane revenues                                                   $      162,224                   $      238,830              $      829,901                   $      1,086,417          
 Other retail propane related revenues                                            22,063                           24,736                      72,570                           76,524             
 Retail propane cost of products sold                                             80,232                           187,799                     378,524                          744,316            
 Other retail propane related cost of products sold                               4,796                            7,604                       14,495                           17,099             
 Gross margin                                                                     99,259                           68,163                      509,452                          401,526            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Operating expenses                                                               81,298                           79,843                      259,768                          253,193            
 Depreciation and amortization                                                    23,031                           20,255                      63,477                           58,828             
 Selling, general and administrative                                              11,480                           7,793                       34,128                           27,800             
 Segment operating income (loss)                                           $      (16,550     )             $      (39,728     )        $      152,079                   $      61,705             
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 All other                                                                 $      (3,021      )             $      (186        )        $      (4,803      )             $      (528        )      
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Selling, general and administrative expenses not allocated to segments           2,113                            (3,059      )               1,361                            (4,425      )      
 Total operating income                                                    $      177,347                   $      260,508              $      757,420                   $      859,823            
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 Other items not allocated by segment:                                                                                                                                                                     
 Interest expense, net of interest capitalized                             $      (101,503    )             $      (67,792     )        $      (284,228    )             $      (191,757    )      
 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates                                        9,581                            (654        )               11,751                           (749        )      
 Gains (losses) on disposal of assets                                             (1,088      )                    2,520                       (1,333      )                    1,584              
 Gains (losses) on non-hedged interest rate derivatives                           (18,241     )                    394                         32,327                           149                
 Allowance for equity funds used during construction                              30                               19,727                      18,618                           45,275             
 Other, net                                                                       3,433                            (805        )               4,400                            9,486              
 Income tax expense                                                               2,897                            7,150                       (8,594      )                    (8,754      )      
                                                                                  (104,891    )                    (39,460     )               (227,059    )                    (144,766    )      
 Net income                                                                $      72,456                    $      221,048              $      530,361                   $      715,057            


Investor Relations:
Energy Transfer
Brent Ratliff, 214-981-0700
or
Media Relations:
Granado Communications Group
Vicki Granado, 214-504-2260
214-498-9272 (cell) 

Copyright Business Wire 2009

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