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Energy Transfer Equity Reports Quarterly Results for the Period Ended September 30th

Mon Nov 9, 2009 4:18pm EST
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091109006546/en

DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE:ETE) today reported Distributable Cash of
$123.2 million and net income of $34.3 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2009. Distributable Cash is a "non-GAAP measure" as explained
below. 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, ETE`s Distributable Cash was
$123.2 million, an increase of $14.4 million over the three months ended
September 30, 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, ETE`s
Distributable Cash was $362.1 million, an increase of $56.9 million over the
nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Partnership`s principal sources of
cash flow are distributions it receives from its investments in the limited and
general partner interests in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. ("ETP"). ETE
currently has no operating activities apart from those conducted by ETP and its
operating subsidiaries. ETE`s principal uses of cash are for distributions to
its general and limited partners, expenses, debt service and, at ETE`s election,
capital contributions to ETP in respect of ETE`s general partner interest in
ETP. 

ETE`s net income attributable to its partners decreased $58.4 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2009 to $47.0 million as compared to $105.4
million for the three months ended September 30, 2008. Net income attributable
to its partners decreased $49.6 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2009 to $302.9 million as compared to $352.5 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. 

ETE also announced that it has filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
three months ended September 30, 2009 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. ETE 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. 

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and accompanying schedules include the non-generally accepted
accounting principle ("non-GAAP") financial measure of Distributable Cash. The
accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial
measure to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and
presented in accordance with GAAP. The Partnership`s Distributable Cash should
not be considered as an alternative to GAAP financial measures such as net
income, cash flow from operating activities or any other GAAP measure of
liquidity or financial performance. 

Distributable Cash. The Partnership defines Distributable Cash for a period as
cash distributions expected to be received from ETP in respect of such period in
connection with the Partnership`s investments in limited and general partner
interests of ETP, net of the Partnership`s expenditures for general and
administrative costs and debt service. Distributable Cash is a significant
liquidity measure used by the Partnership`s senior management to compare net
cash flows generated by the Partnership`s equity investments in ETP to the
distributions the Partnership expects to pay its unitholders. Using this
measure, the Partnership`s management can compute the coverage ratio of
estimated cash flows to planned cash distributions. 

Distributable Cash is an important non-GAAP financial measure for our limited
partners since it indicates to investors whether or not 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 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 measures
most directly comparable to Distributable Cash are net income and cash flow from
operating activities for ETE on a stand-alone basis ("Parent Company"). The
accompanying analysis of Distributable Cash is presented for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 for comparative purposes. 

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE:ETE) is a publicly traded partnership, which
owns the general partner of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and approximately
62.5 million ETP limited partner units. 

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 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. 

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

 ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, 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                                      $      50,192               $      92,023             
 Marketable securities                                                 12,682                      5,915              
 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts           352,838                     591,257            
 Accounts receivable from related companies                            30,807                      15,142             
 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                             69,152                      75,441             
 Total current assets                                                  858,411                     1,180,995          
                                                                                                                          
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT                                         10,051,273                  9,464,548          
 ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION                                              (943,305    )               (762,014    )      
                                                                       9,107,968                   8,702,534          
                                                                                                                          
 ADVANCES TO AND INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES                             550,950                     10,110             
 GOODWILL                                                              765,935                     773,283            
 INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS, net                                     401,244                     402,980            
                                                                                                                          
 Total assets                                                   $      11,684,508           $      11,069,902         


                                                                                                                                                                                           
 ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                                                                                                                               
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                                                                                                                                                      
 
(in thousands, except unit data)                                                                                                                                                           
 
(unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                         September 30,     December 31,  
                                                                                                                                                         2009              2008          
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 CURRENT LIABILITIES:                                                                                                                                                                    
 Accounts payable                                                                                                                                        $ 254,044         $ 381,933     
 Accounts payable to related companies                                                                                                                   7,265             34,495        
 Exchanges payable                                                                                                                                       22,400            54,636        
 Customer advances and deposits                                                                                                                          101,258           106,679       
 Accrued and other current liabilities                                                                                                                   247,919           313,140       
 Price risk management liabilities                                                                                                                       82,697            142,432       
 Interest payable                                                                                                                                        115,455           115,487       
 Income taxes payable                                                                                                                                    5,234             14,298        
 Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                   -                 589           
 Current maturities of long-term debt                                                                                                                    46,115            45,232        
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Total current liabilities                                                                                                                               882,387           1,208,921     
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 LONG-TERM DEBT, less current maturities                                                                                                                 7,740,135         7,190,357     
 LONG-TERM PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT LIABILITIES                                                                                                             89,990            121,710       
 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                                                                                                   197,257           194,871       
 OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                                                                                           21,076            14,727        
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                         8,930,845         8,730,586     
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 EQUITY:                                                                                                                                                                                 
 Partners' Capital (Deficit):                                                                                                                                                            
 General Partner                                                                                                                                         149               155           
 Limited Partners:                                                                                                                                                                       
 Common Unitholders (222,898,248 and 222,829,956 units authorized, issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively)     (17,399)          (15,762)      
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                                                    (67,257)          (67,825)      
 Total partners` deficit                                                                                                                                 (84,507)          (83,432)      
 Noncontrolling interest                                                                                                                                 2,838,170         2,422,748     
 Total equity                                                                                                                                            2,753,663         2,339,316     
                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Total liabilities and equity                                                                                                                            $ 11,684,508      $11,069,902   
                                                                                                                                                                                         


 ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, 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                                                            23,650                            28,674                        77,449                            90,199              
 Total revenues                                                   1,129,849                         2,206,090                     3,911,513                         7,498,686           
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 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                                    84,738                            73,563                        239,626                           200,922             
 Selling, general and administrative                              34,579                            45,316                        146,640                           140,781             
 Total costs and expenses                                         956,348                           1,949,826                     3,166,883                         6,652,553           
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 OPERATING INCOME                                                 173,501                           256,264                       744,630                           846,133             
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):                                                                                                                                                                          
 Interest expense, net of interest capitalized                    (120,100     )                    (90,300      )                (341,050     )                    (261,297     )      
 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           (35,589      )                    (9,152       )                24,373                            (13,610      )      
 Allowance for equity funds used during construction              30                                19,727                        18,618                            45,275              
 Other, net                                                       4,235                             (1,163       )                4,559                             8,356               
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)                       30,570                            177,242                       461,548                           625,692             
 Income tax expense (benefit)                                     (3,697       )                    (7,874       )                5,773                             6,600               
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 NET INCOME                                                       34,267                            185,116                       455,775                           619,092             
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 LESS: NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO                                                                                                                                                             
 NONCONTROLLING INTEREST                                          (12,704      )                    79,737                        152,893                           266,614             
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS                              46,971                            105,379                       302,882                           352,478             
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 GENERAL PARTNER'S INTEREST IN NET INCOME                         147                               326                           938                               1,091               
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 LIMITED PARTNERS' INTEREST IN NET INCOME                  $      46,824                     $      105,053                $      301,944                    $      351,387             
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 BASIC NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT                 $      0.21                       $      0.47                   $      1.35                       $      1.58                
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 BASIC AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING                        222,898,248                       222,829,956                   222,898,188                       222,829,956         
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 DILUTED NET INCOME PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT               $      0.21                       $      0.47                   $      1.35                       $      1.57                
                                                                                                                                                                                                
 DILUTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING                      222,898,248                       222,829,956                   222,898,188                       222,829,956         


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY, L.P.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 
DISTRIBUTABLE CASH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per unit)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 
(unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 The following table presents the calculation and reconciliation of Distributable Cash of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. with respect to the following periods:                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                              Three Months Ended September 30,                                Nine Months Ended September 30,                              
                                                                                                                                                                                     2009                           2008                       2009                           2008             
 Distributable Cash:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 Cash distributions expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. associated with:                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 General partner interest (1):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Standard distribution rights                                                                                                                                                 $      4,867                   $      4,384               $      14,588                  $      12,740           
 Incentive distribution rights                                                                                                                                                       87,498                         75,804                     255,808                        219,298          
 Less: Expected General Partner contribution to ETP to maintain its 2% interest                                                                                                      -                              -                          (3,354    )                    (13,098   )      
 Limited partner interest (1):                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 62,500,797 Common units                                                                                                                                                             55,860                         55,860                     167,580                        166,018          
 Total cash expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (1)                                                                                                                         148,225                        136,048                    434,622                        384,958          
 Deduct expenses of the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Parent Company-related expenses                                                                                                                                                     398                            (1,544    )                (2,205    )                    (5,600    )      
 Interest expense, net of amortization of financing costs, interest income, and realized gains and losses on interest rate derivatives                                               (25,454   )                    (25,762   )                (70,342   )                    (74,218   )      
 Distributable Cash                                                                                                                                                           $      123,169                 $      108,742             $      362,075                 $      305,140          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Cash distributions to be paid to the partners of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (2):                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Distribution per limited partner unit as of the end of the period                                                                                                            $      0.5350                  $      0.4800              $      0.5350                  $      0.4800           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Distributions to be paid to limited partners                                                                                                                                        119,250                        106,958                    355,523                        311,961          
 Distributions to be paid to general partner                                                                                                                                         370                            332                        1,104                          969              
 Total cash distributions to be paid by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. to its limited and general partners (2)                                                                  $      119,620                 $      107,290             $      356,627                 $      312,930          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP "Distributable Cash" to GAAP "Net Income" and GAAP "Net cash provided by operating activities" for the Parent Company on a stand-alone basis:                                                                                                                                   
 Net income attributable to partners                                                                                                                                          $      46,971                  $      105,379             $      302,882                 $      352,478          
 Adjustments to derive Distributable Cash:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates                                                                                                                                       (82,661   )                    (138,955  )                (370,195  )                    (441,299  )      
 Quarterly distribution expected to be received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.                                                                                                  148,225                        136,048                    434,622                        384,958          
 Amortization included in interest expense                                                                                                                                           1,074                          751                        5,236                          2,255            
 Other non-cash                                                                                                                                                                      138                            4                          415                            14               
 Unrealized gains and losses on non-hedged interest rate swaps                                                                                                                       9,422                          5,515                      (10,885   )                    6,734            
 Distributable Cash                                                                                                                                                                  123,169                        108,742                    362,075                        305,140          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 Adjustments to Distributable Cash to derive Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:                                                                                                                                                                                                                
 Quarterly distribution expected from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.                                                                                                                 (148,225  )                    (136,048  )                (434,622  )                    (384,958  )      
 Cash distribution received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (3)                                                                                                                  144,733                        122,831                    425,938                        399,295          
 Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                                               (76       )                    -                          (649      )                    -                
 Net changes in operating assets and liabilities                                                                                                                                     (846      )                    1,141                      (3,348    )                    9,673            
 Net cash provided by operating activities for Parent Company on a stand-alone basis                                                                                          $      118,755                 $      96,666              $      349,394                 $      329,150          


(1) For the three months ended September 30, 2009, cash distributions expected
to be received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. consists of cash
distributions in respect of the three months ended September 30, 2009 payable on
November 16, 2009 to holders of record on the close of business on November 9,
2009. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, cash distributions received
from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. consists of cash distributions paid on
November 14, 2008 for the three months ended September 30, 2008. 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, cash distributions received or
expected to be received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. consists of cash
distributions paid on May 15, 2009 in respect of the quarter ended March 31,
2009, cash distributions paid on August 14, 2009 in respect of the quarter ended
June 30, 2009 and cash distributions in respect of the three months ended
September 30, 2009 payable on November 16, 2009 to holders of record on the
close of business on November 9, 2009. For the nine months ended September 30,
2008, cash distributions received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. consists
of cash distributions paid on May 15, 2008 in respect of the quarter ended March
31, 2008, cash distributions paid on August 14, 2008 in respect of the quarter
ended June 30, 2008 and cash distributions in respect of the three months ended
September 30, 2008 paid on November 14, 2008. 

(2) For the three months ended September 30, 2009, cash distributions expected
to be paid from Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. consists of cash distributions in
respect of the three months ended September 30, 2009 payable on November 19,
2009 to holders of record on November 9, 2009. For the three months ended
September 30, 2008, cash distributions paid or expected to be paid from Energy
Transfer Equity, L.P. consists of cash distributions paid on November 19, 2008
for the three months ended September 30, 2008. 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, cash distributions paid or
expected to be paid by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. consist of cash
distributions paid on May 19, 2009 in respect of the quarter ended March 31,
2009, cash distributions paid on August 19, 2009 in respect of the quarter ended
June 30, 2009 and cash distributions in respect of the three months ended
September 30, 2009 payable on November 19, 2009 to holders of record on the
close of business on November 9, 2009. For the nine months ended September 30,
2008, cash distributions by Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. consist of cash
distributions paid on May 15, 2008 in respect of the quarter ended March 31,
2008, cash distributions paid on August 14, 2008 in respect of the quarter ended
June 30, 2008 and cash distributions in respect of the three months ended
September 30, 2008 paid on November 19, 2008. 

(3) Cash distributions received from Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. for the nine
months ended September 30, 2008 reflect a one-time distribution for the
four-month transition period related to Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.`s change
of its fiscal year from August 31 to December 31 during 2007.

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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