def14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
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the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
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Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P.
3738 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75219
November 21,
2008
To our common unitholders:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the
common unitholders of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (the
Partnership) to be held at The Warwick Melrose
Hotel, 3015 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, Texas 75219 on Tuesday,
December 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time.
The board of directors of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (the
Company), the general partner of Energy Transfer
Partners GP, L.P. (the General Partner), our general
partner, which we refer to as our board of directors, has called
the special meeting. At this important meeting, you will be
asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the terms
of the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (the 2008 Incentive Plan), which provides for
awards of options to purchase our common units, awards of our
restricted units, awards of our phantom units, awards of our
common units, awards of distribution equivalent rights, or DERs,
awards of common unit appreciation rights, and other unit-based
awards to employees of the Partnership, the Company, the General
Partner, a subsidiary or their affiliates, and the members of
our board of directors (the 2008 Incentive Plan
Proposal).
Our board of directors has unanimously approved the 2008
Incentive Plan Proposal and the reservation and issuance from
time to time of common units by us under the 2008 Incentive
Plan. Our board of directors believes that the 2008 Incentive
Plan Proposal is in the best interests of our unitholders and
the Partnership and unanimously recommends that the unitholders
approve the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal.
Our currently effective incentive plan, the Amended and Restated
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2004 Unit Plan (as amended and
restated as of June 27, 2007, the 2004 Plan),
permits us to issue a maximum of 1,800,000 of our common units.
As of October 15, 2008, awards for 1,456,607 common units
had been granted and 343,393 common units remained available for
issuance under our 2004 Plan. We expect substantially all of
these remaining common units available for grant will be awarded
in 2008 and are therefore seeking approval of awards under the
new plan to provide for additional common units for future
grants to employees of the Partnership, the Company, the General
Partner or their affiliates, and the members of our board of
directors. A copy of the form of 2008 Incentive Plan is attached
to this proxy statement as Exhibit A. The 2004 Plan
will continue in effect and will not be affected by the 2008
Incentive Plan.
Your vote is very important. Even if you plan
to attend the special meeting, we urge you to mark, sign and
date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly. You will
retain the right to revoke it at any time before the vote, or to
vote your common units personally if you attend the special
meeting. The form of proxy provides unitholders the opportunity
to vote on the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal.
The 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal will not be effective unless
approved by the unitholders. A quorum of more
than 50% of our outstanding common units present in person or by
proxy will permit us to conduct the proposed business at the
special meeting. Our partnership agreement does not require that
we present the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal to our unitholders
for approval. However, under the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange, the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal requires the approval
of a majority of the votes cast by our unitholders, provided
that the total votes cast on the proposal represents at least
50% of all common units entitled to vote.
I urge you to review carefully the attached proxy statement,
which contains a detailed description of the 2008 Incentive Plan
Proposal to be voted upon at the special meeting.
Sincerely,
KELCY L. WARREN
Chief Executive Officer of
Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
on behalf of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
ENERGY
TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
3738 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75219
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
COMMON UNITHOLDERS
To Be Held On
December 16, 2008
To our common unitholders:
A special meeting of our common unitholders will be held at The
Warwick Melrose Hotel, 3015 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas
75219 on December 16, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Dallas,
Texas time. At the meeting, our unitholders will act on a
proposal (the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal) to
approve the terms of the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Incentive Plan),
which provides for awards of options to purchase our common
units, awards of our restricted units, awards of our phantom
units, awards of our common units, awards of distribution
equivalent rights, or DERs, awards of common unit appreciation
rights, and other unit-based awards to employees of the
Partnership, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. (the
Company), Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. (the
General Partner), a subsidiary or their affiliates,
and the members of our board of directors. A copy of the form of
2008 Incentive Plan is attached to this proxy statement as
Exhibit A.
The form of proxy provides unitholders the opportunity to vote
on the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. However, the 2008 Incentive
Plan Proposal will not be effective unless approved by the
unitholders. A quorum of more than 50% of our outstanding common
units present in person or by proxy will permit us to conduct
the proposed business at the special meeting. Our partnership
agreement does not require that we submit the 2008 Incentive
Plan Proposal to unitholders for a vote. However, under the
rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the 2008 Incentive Plan
Proposal requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast
by our unitholders, provided that the total votes cast on the
proposal represent at least 50% of all common units entitled to
vote. We may adjourn the special meeting to a later date, if
necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are not
sufficient votes in favor of the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal.
We have set the close of business on November 21, 2008 as
the record date for determining which common unitholders are
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting
and any postponements or adjournments thereof. A list of common
unitholders entitled to vote is on file at our principal
offices, 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219, and will be
available for inspection by any unitholder during the meeting.
Your Vote is Very Important. If you cannot
attend the special meeting, you may vote by mailing the proxy
card in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. Any common
unitholder attending the meeting may vote in person, even though
he or she already has returned a proxy card.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.L.C.,
the general partner of ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS GP, L.P.,
the general partner of ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
THOMAS P. MASON
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.
Dallas, Texas
November 21, 2008
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT. WE HAVE NOT
AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DATED NOVEMBER 21, 2008. YOU SHOULD
ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS
ACCURATE AS OF THAT DATE ONLY. OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL
CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS MAY HAVE CHANGED
SINCE THAT DATE.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL
MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 16, 2008
The Notice of Special Meeting of Common Unitholders and the
Proxy Statement for
the Special Meeting of are available at
http://www.energytransfer.com.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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A-1
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ENERGY
TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75219
PROXY
STATEMENT
SPECIAL
MEETING OF COMMON UNITHOLDERS
DECEMBER 16, 2008
This proxy statement contains information related to the special
meeting of common unitholders of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
(the Partnership) and any postponements or
adjournments thereof. This proxy statement and the accompanying
form of proxy are first being mailed to our unitholders on or
about November 24, 2008.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
The following is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information contained in or incorporated by reference in this
proxy statement. Common unitholders are urged to read carefully
this proxy statement in its entirety. FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF
THIS PROXY STATEMENT OR PROXY CARDS, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING, CONTACT INNISFREE M&A
INCORPORATED AT 1-888-750-5834 OR 501 MADISON AVENUE, 20TH
FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022.
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Who is soliciting my proxy? |
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Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., our general partner (the
General Partner), is sending you this proxy
statement in connection with its solicitation of proxies for use
at our special meeting of common unitholders. Certain directors,
officers and employees of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., the
general partner of the General Partner, and Innisfree M&A
Incorporated (a proxy solicitor) may also solicit proxies on our
behalf by mail, phone, fax or in person. |
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How will my proxy be voted? |
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Unless you give other instructions on your proxy card, the
persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote all
executed proxy cards in accordance with the recommendations of
the board of directors of our general partner (which we refer to
as our board of directors), which is to vote FOR the proposal.
With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the
special meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by
the board of directors, or, if no recommendation is given, in
their own discretion. |
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When and where is the special meeting? |
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The special meeting will be held on December 16, 2008, at
10:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time at The Warwick Melrose
Hotel, 3015 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219. |
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The special meeting may be adjourned to another date and/or
place for any proper purposes (including, without limitation,
for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies). However, our
partnership agreement also provides that, in the absence of a
quorum, the special meeting may be adjourned from time to time
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding common
units represented either in person or by proxy. |
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What is the purpose of the special meeting? |
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At the special meeting, our unitholders will act upon a proposal
to approve the terms of the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Incentive Plan),
which provides for awards of options to purchase our common
units, awards of our restricted units, awards of our phantom
units, awards of common units, awards of distribution equivalent
rights, or DERs, awards of common unit appreciation rights, and
other unit-based awards to employees of the Partnership, the
Company, the General Partner, a subsidiary or their affiliates,
and the members of our board of directors (the 2008
Incentive Plan Proposal). A copy of the form of 2008
Incentive Plan is attached to this proxy statement as
Exhibit A. |
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Who is entitled to vote at the special meeting? |
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All common unitholders who owned our common units at the close
of business on the record date, November 21, 2008, are
entitled to receive notice of the special meeting and to vote
the common units that they held on the record date at the
special meeting, or any postponements or adjournments of the
special meeting. Each unitholder may be asked to present valid
picture identification, such as a drivers license or
passport. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic
devices will not be permitted at the special meeting. |
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How do I vote? |
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Mail your completed, signed and dated proxy card in the enclosed
postage-paid return envelope as soon as possible so that your
common units may be represented at the special meeting. You may
also attend the special meeting and vote your common units in
person. Holders whose common units are held in street
name through brokers or other nominees who wish to vote at
the special meeting will need to obtain a legal
proxy from the institution that holds their common units. Even
if you plan to attend the special meeting, your plans may
change, so it is a good idea to complete, sign and return your
proxy card in advance of the special meeting. |
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If my common units are held in street name by my
broker, will my broker or other nominee vote my common units for
me? |
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If you own your common units in street name through
a broker or nominee, your broker or nominee will not be
permitted to exercise voting discretion with respect to the
matters to be acted upon at the special meeting. Thus, if you do
not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your
common units will not be voted on the proposal. |
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What do I do if I want to change my vote? |
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To change your vote after you have submitted your proxy card,
send in a later-dated, signed proxy card to us or attend the
special meeting and vote in person. You may also revoke your
proxy by sending in a notice of revocation to us at the address
set forth in the notice. Please note that attendance at the
special meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted
proxy. If you have instructed your broker or other nominee to
vote your common units, you must follow the procedure your
broker or nominee provides to change those instructions. |
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What is the recommendation of the board of directors? |
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The board of directors recommends that you vote FOR the
2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. In addition, on November 11,
2008, our board of directors, including each of our directors
who meet the independence requirements of the New York Stock
Exchange (the NYSE), unanimously approved the
reservation and issuance from time to time of common units by us
under the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. |
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What effect will the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal have on the
Amended and Restated Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2004 Unit
Plan (the 2004 Plan)? |
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The 2004 Plan will continue in effect and will not be affected
by the 2008 Incentive Plan. The 2004 Plan permits us to issue a
maximum of 1,800,000 of our common units. As of October 15,
2008, awards for 1,456,607 common units had been granted and
343,393 common units remained available for issuance under the
2004 Plan. However, if any award is forfeited or otherwise
terminates or is cancelled without delivery of common units,
then the common units covered by such award, to the extent
forfeited, terminated or cancelled, are again common units with
respect to which awards may be granted. We expect substantially
all of these remaining common units available for grant will be
awarded in 2008 and are therefore seeking approval of awards
under the new plan to provide for additional common units for
future grants to employees of the Partnership, the Company, the
General Partner, a subsidiary and their affiliates, and the
members of our board of directors. |
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What constitutes a quorum? |
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If more than 50% of our outstanding common units on the record
date are present in person or by proxy at the special meeting,
such units will constitute a quorum and will permit us to
conduct the proposed business at the special meeting. Your
common units will be counted as present at the special meeting
if you: |
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are present and vote in person at the meeting; or
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have submitted a properly executed proxy card.
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Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be counted as
common units that are present and entitled to vote for purposes
of determining the presence of a quorum. If an executed proxy is
returned by a broker or other nominee holding common units in
street name indicating that the broker does not have
discretionary authority as to certain common units to vote on
the proposals (a broker non-vote), such common units
will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum but will not be considered
entitled to vote. |
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What vote is required to approve the proposal? |
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Under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual
(NYSE Manual), the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal
requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast by our
unitholders, provided that the total votes cast on the proposal
represent more than 50% of all common units entitled to vote.
Votes for and against and abstentions
count as votes cast, while broker non-votes do not count as
votes cast. Thus, the total sum of votes for, plus
votes against, plus abstentions in respect of the
proposal, which is referred to the NYSE Votes Cast,
must be greater than 50% of the total of our outstanding common
units. Once the NYSE Votes Cast requirement is satisfied, the
number of votes cast for the Incentive Plan Proposal
must represent a majority of the NYSE Votes Cast in respect of
such proposal in order to be approved. Thus, broker non-votes
can make it difficult to satisfy the NYSE Votes Cast
requirement, and abstentions have the effect of a vote against
the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. |
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The form of proxy provides unitholders the opportunity to vote
on the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. However, the 2008 Incentive
Plan Proposal will not be effective unless approved by the
unitholders. |
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A properly executed proxy submitted without voting instructions
will be voted (except to the extent that the authority to vote
has been withheld) FOR the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. |
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What are the federal income tax consequences of the 2008
Incentive Plan Proposal to unitholders? |
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The following is a general description of the federal income tax
consequences of options, restricted units, phantom units,
distribution equivalent rights and common unit appreciation
rights granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan. It is a general
summary only and does not discuss the applicability of the
income tax laws of any state or foreign country. Unitholders
will not recognize any gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes upon the effectiveness of the 2008 Incentive Plan. |
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Options granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan are non-statutory
options under the Internal Revenue Code. There are no federal
income tax consequences to participants or the partnership upon
the grant of an option under the 2008 Incentive Plan.
Thereafter, upon the exercise of options, participants will
recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common units
at the time of exercise over the purchase price of the option. |
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The recipient of a restricted unit award will not recognize
income at the time of the award, assuming the restrictions
applicable to such award constitute a substantial risk of
forfeiture for federal income tax purposes and the recipient
does not make an election to include the value of the common
units in his current income under Section 83(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code (an 83(b) election). If the
recipient of a restricted unit award makes an 83(b) election,
the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair
market value of the common units on the date the award is
granted and thereafter will be treated as a partner in the
partnership. If the recipient of a restricted unit award does
not make an 83(b) election, then, when the applicable forfeiture
restrictions lapse, the recipient will recognize compensation
taxable as |
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ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of
the common units on the date the forfeiture restrictions lapse. |
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The recipient of a phantom unit award will not recognize income
at the time of the award. Thereafter, when the applicable
forfeiture restrictions lapse and the phantom unit award becomes
vested, the recipient will recognize compensation taxable as
ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of
the common units on the date the forfeiture restrictions lapse. |
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The recipient of a common unit appreciation right award will not
recognize income at the time of the award. Thereafter, upon the
exercise of the common unit appreciation right, the recipient
will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an
amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
underlying common units at the date of exercise over the
purchase price for such common unit appreciation right. |
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The recipient of a common unit award will recognize income at
the time of the award in an amount equal to the fair market
value of the common units on the date of grant. |
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The recipient of any other unit-based award will not recognize
income at the time of the award, but, upon the lapse of
applicable forfeiture restrictions, will recognize compensation
taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value of the underlying common units on the date
the forfeiture restrictions lapse over the purchase price for
such other unit-based award, if any. |
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If the participant holds a phantom unit award with distribution
equivalent rights payable prior to the participant becoming a
partner, or holds unit distribution rights related to unvested
restricted units, the participant will recognize ordinary
compensation income when distribution equivalents are paid to
the participant. |
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The partnership generally will be entitled to a corresponding
federal income tax deduction for amounts recognized as ordinary
income by participants upon the settlement of awards granted
under the 2008 Incentive Plan. |
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Since our partnership is not a taxable entity, all
reimbursements made by us to the Company with respect to awards
under the 2008 Incentive Plan are treated as deductions that are
allocated among the partners of our partnership in accordance
with the partnership agreement. |
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Who can I contact for further information? |
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If you have questions about the proposals, please call our
Investor Relations Department at
(214) 981-0700. |
4
THE
PARTNERSHIP
We are a publicly traded limited partnership that owns and
operates a diversified portfolio of energy assets. Our natural
gas operations include intrastate natural gas gathering and
transportation pipelines, an interstate pipeline, natural gas
treating and processing assets located in Texas, New Mexico,
Arizona, Louisiana, Colorado and Utah, and three natural gas
storage facilities located in Texas. These assets include
approximately 14,500 miles of intrastate gas gathering and
transportation pipeline in service, with an additional
300 miles of intrastate pipeline under construction. In
addition, we own 2,450 miles of interstate pipelines in
service, with approximately 250 miles of interstate
pipeline under construction. Our intrastate and interstate
pipeline systems transport natural gas from several significant
natural gas producing areas, including the Barnett Shale in the
Fort Worth Basin, the Bossier Sands in east Texas, the
Permian Basin in west Texas, the San Juan Basin in New
Mexico and other producing areas in south Texas and central
Texas. Our gathering and processing operations are conducted in
many of these same producing areas as well as in the Piceance
and Uinta Basins in Colorado and Utah. We are also one of the
three largest retail marketers of propane in the United States,
serving more than one million customers across the country.
We are a limited partnership formed under the laws of the State
of Delaware. Our common units are listed on the NYSE under the
ticker symbol ETP. Our executive offices are located
at 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219. Our telephone
number is
(214) 981-0700.
We maintain a website at
http://www.energytransfer.com
that provides information about our business and operations.
As a limited partnership, we are managed by our general partner,
Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., which in turn is managed by
its general partner, Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. Energy
Transfer Partners, L.L.C. is ultimately responsible for the
business and operations of our general partner and conducts our
business and operations, and the board of directors and officers
of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. make decisions on our behalf.
5
THE 2008
INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL
Adoption
of the 2008 Incentive Plan
On November 11, 2008, our board of directors, subject to
the approval of our unitholders as required under the
NYSEs rules, ratified and approved the 2008 Incentive Plan
and authorized us to reserve and issue up to 5,000,000 common
units under the 2008 Incentive Plan.
Subject to the adjustment provided therein, the remaining number
of our common units with respect to which awards may be granted
under our 2004 Plan, is approximately 343,393. We expect most,
if not all, of the remaining common units to be granted in 2008.
Without the approval of the 2008 Incentive Plan, there would be
limited common units for future grants to employees of the
Partnership, the Company, the General Partner, a subsidiary or
their affiliates, and the members of our board of directors. The
2004 Plan will continue in effect and will not be affected by
the 2008 Incentive Plan.
Advantages
of the 2008 Incentive Plan
Our general partner believes that the 2008 Incentive Plan is in
the best interests of us and our unitholders and should be
approved for the following reasons:
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The adoption of the 2008 Incentive Plan will provide a means to
assist the Company in retaining the services of employees of the
Partnership, the Company, the General Partner, a subsidiary or
their affiliates, and the members of our board of directors by
providing incentive awards for such individuals to exert maximum
efforts for our success;
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The 2008 Incentive Plan is intended to provide a means whereby
employees of the Partnership, the Company, the General Partner,
a subsidiary or their affiliates, and the members of our board
of directors may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal
involvement in the development and financial success of our
partnership through the award of options to purchase common
units, awards of restricted common units, awards of phantom
common units, awards of common units, awards of DERs, awards of
common unit appreciation rights and other unit-based
awards; and
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The 2008 Incentive Plan is intended to enhance the ability of
the Partnership, the General Partner, the Company and their
affiliates to attract and retain the services of key individuals
who are essential for the growth and profitability of the
Partnership.
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Disadvantages
of the 2008 Incentive Plan
Our unitholders will be subject to dilution if additional common
units are issued pursuant to the 2008 Incentive Plan.
Description
of the 2008 Incentive Plan
The following is a brief description of the principal
features of the 2008 Incentive Plan. A copy of the 2008
Incentive Plan is attached to this proxy statement as
Exhibit A, and you should refer to the 2008
Incentive Plan for details regarding the awards that may be made
thereunder.
Restricted Units. Restricted common units are
common units granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan that are
subject to forfeiture provisions and restrictions on
transferability during the restricted period established by the
Compensation Committee of our board of directors. The 2008
Incentive Plan provides for certain automatic grants of
restricted units to the members of our board of directors.
Phantom Units. Phantom common units are
notional common units that can be granted under the 2008
Incentive Plan which, upon vesting, would entitle the holders to
receive common units or an amount of cash equal to the fair
market value of a common unit, as determined by the Compensation
Committee in its discretion. Participants who receive phantom
common units under the 2008 Incentive Plan will not have voting
rights or rights to receive distributions made by us until the
phantom common units become vested. However,
6
as described below, a contingent right to receive an amount of
cash equal to any cash distributions made on the underlying
common units could also be granted in tandem with the phantom
common units.
Common Unit Options. Common unit options are
rights to purchase common units at a specified price. Common
unit options may have such terms and conditions as our
Compensation Committee determines.
Distribution Equivalent Rights. Distribution
equivalent rights, or DERs, are rights to receive all or a
portion of the distributions otherwise payable on common units
during a specified time. DERs may be granted in tandem with a
specific phantom unit award.
Unit Distribution Rights. Unit distribution
rights, or UDRs, are distributions made by the Partnership with
respect to a restricted unit.
Common Unit Appreciation Rights. Common unit
appreciation rights, or UARs, are contingent rights to receive
the excess of the fair market value of a common unit on the
vesting date over the grant price established for such common
unit appreciation right. Such excess may be paid in cash
and/or in
common units as determined by the Compensation Committee in its
discretion.
Common Unit Awards. Common unit awards are
common units granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan that are not
subject to forfeiture provisions.
Other Unit-Based Awards. Other unit-based
awards are awards that can be granted under the 2008 Incentive
Plan that are denominated or payable in, valued in or otherwise
based on or related to common units, in whole or in part. The
Compensation Committee determines the terms and conditions of
other unit-based awards. Upon vesting, an other unit-based award
may be paid in cash, common units (including restricted units)
or any combination thereof as provided in the award agreement.
Administration. The 2008 Incentive Plan is
governed by the Compensation Committee of our board of
directors, whose significant powers include, but are not limited
to, (i) designating participants in the plan;
(ii) determining the type of equity award and the number of
common units to be covered by any equity award;
(iii) determining the terms and conditions, including
vesting conditions, of any equity award; (iv) determining,
whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances
participants may settle, exercise, cancel or forfeit any equity
award; (v) interpreting and administering the 2008
Incentive Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an
award made thereunder; and (vi) establishing, amending,
suspending, or waiving such rules and regulations and appointing
such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
administration of the 2008 Incentive Plan. Subject to applicable
law and any other limitations as the Compensation Committee may
impose, the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may
delegate its powers and duties under the plan to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company or the General Partner.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer may
not grant awards to, or take any action with respect to any
award previously granted to, a person who is an officer subject
to
Rule 16b-3
or any member of our Board of Directors. Subject to adjustment
as provided in the plan, the number of common units that may be
awarded to participants is 5,000,000. To the extent an award is
forfeited or otherwise terminates or is cancelled without
delivery of common units, the common units subject to such award
shall again become available for grant to the extent of the
forfeiture, cancellation or termination. In addition, common
units withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations will not
be considered to have been delivered to participants and will
again become available for awards. The common units to be
delivered pursuant to an award under this plan shall consist of
common units newly issued by the Partnership, common units
acquired in the open market, from our affiliates or from any
other person, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined
by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
Eligibility. Any member of our board of
directors or employee of the Partnership, the Company, the
General Partner, a subsidiary or any of their affiliates are
eligible to be designated as a participant in the plan by the
Compensation Committee. Awards under the plan may be granted
alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for
any other award granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan or awards
granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any of its
affiliates. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with
other option awards under the 2008 Incentive Plan or awards
granted under any other plan of the Partnership or any
7
of its affiliates may be granted either at the same time as or
at a different time from the grant of such other awards.
Awards. The exercise price per common unit
purchasable under an option or subject to a UAR awarded to
participants is determined by the Compensation Committee (at its
discretion) at the date of grant and may be no less than the
fair market value of the common units subject to the option
award or UAR as of the date of grant. The Compensation Committee
determines the exercise terms and the restricted period with
respect to an option or UAR grant, which may include, without
limitation, a provision for accelerated vesting upon death or
disability of the participant, the achievement of specified
performance goals or such other events as the Compensation
Committee may provide, and the method or methods by which any
payment of the exercise price with respect to an option may be
made or deemed to have been made, which may include cash,
withholding units from the award, or cashless-broker
transactions or other acceptable forms of payment. Awards may be
granted to participants under the 2008 Incentive Plan for such
consideration, including services, as the Compensation Committee
shall determine. In addition, to the extent provided by the
Compensation Committee, any restricted unit award or phantom
unit award may include a contingent right to receive an amount
in cash equal to any cash distributions made by us with respect
to the underlying common units during the period the award is
outstanding. Notwithstanding anything in the plan or any award
grant agreement to the contrary, delivery of common units
pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an award may be deferred
for any period during which, in the good faith determination of
the Compensation Committee, the Partnership is not reasonably
able to obtain common units to deliver pursuant to such award
without violating applicable law or NYSE rules. No common units
may be delivered pursuant to the 2008 Incentive Plan until we
have received full payment of any amount required to be paid
pursuant to the plan or pursuant to the award grant agreement.
The specific individuals who will be granted awards under the
2008 Incentive Plan and the type and amount of any such awards
will be based on the discretion of the Compensation Committee,
subject to annual limits on the maximum awards that may be
awarded to any individual as described above. Accordingly,
future awards to be received by or allocated to particular
individuals under the 2008 Incentive Plan are not presently
determinable.
Amendments. The 2008 Incentive Plan may be
amended or terminated at any time by our board of directors or
the Compensation Committee without the consent of any
participant or unitholder, including an amendment to increase
the number of common units available for awards under the plan;
however, under NYSE rules, any material amendment, such as a
change in the types of awards available under the plan, would
also require the approval of the unitholders.
Term. The 2008 Incentive Plan is effective
until the tenth anniversary of the date unitholders approve the
2008 Incentive Plan or, if earlier, at the time that all
available common units under the 2008 Incentive Plan have been
paid to participants or the time of termination of the plan by
our board of directors.
Tax
Effects of Awards Under the 2008 Incentive Plan
No federal income tax is imposed on the optionee upon the grant
of an option to purchase common units under the 2008 Incentive
Plan. Generally, upon the exercise of such option, the optionee
will be treated as receiving compensation taxable as ordinary
income in the year of exercise in an amount equal to the excess
of the fair market value of the common units on the date of
exercise over the option price paid for the common units. Upon
the sale of the common units acquired by the exercise of an
option, assuming the participant holds the common units as a
capital asset, the participant generally will have capital gain
or loss, which may which may be short- or long-term capital gain
or loss depending upon the length of time during which the
participant held the common units after exercising the option
and prior to the sale of such common units. The
participants adjusted tax basis in the common units will
be the purchase price plus the amount of ordinary income
recognized by the participant at the time of exercise of the
option, adjusted for intervening partnership gains, losses and
distributions.
The recipient of a restricted unit award will not recognize
income at the time of the award, assuming the restrictions
applicable to such award constitute a substantial risk of
forfeiture for federal income tax purposes
8
and the recipient does not make an election to include the value
of the common units in his current income under
Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (an 83(b)
election). If the recipient of a restricted unit award
makes an 83(b) election, the recipient will recognize ordinary
income equal to the fair market value of the common units on the
date the award is granted. If the recipient does not make an
83(b) election with respect to the restricted unit award, then,
when the applicable forfeiture restrictions lapse with respect
to the award, the recipient will recognize compensation taxable
as ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value
of the common units on the date the forfeiture restrictions
lapse. Upon the sale of the common units acquired by the
settlement of a restricted unit award, assuming the participant
holds the common units as a capital asset, the participant
generally will have capital gain or loss, which may which may be
short- or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the
length of time during which the participant held the common
units after the settlement of the restricted unit award and
prior to the sale of such common units. The participants
adjusted tax basis in the common units will be the amount of
ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time of
settlement of the restricted unit award, adjusted for
intervening partnership gains, losses and distributions.
The recipient of a phantom unit award will not recognize income
at the time of the award, but, upon the lapse of applicable
forfeiture restrictions, will recognize compensation taxable as
ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of
the underlying common units on the date of payment of the vested
phantom unit. In the event that a phantom unit award is settled
in common units, then, upon the sale of the common units
acquired by the settlement of a phantom unit award, assuming the
participant holds the common units as a capital asset, the
participant generally will have capital gain or loss, which may
which may be short- or long-term capital gain or loss depending
upon the length of time during which the participant held the
common units after the settlement of the phantom unit award and
prior to the sale of such common units. The participants
adjusted tax basis in the common units will be the amount of
ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time of
payment of the vested phantom unit award, adjusted for
intervening partnership gains, losses and distributions.
The recipient of a common unit appreciation right award will not
recognize income at the time of the award, but, upon the
exercise of the common unit appreciation right, will recognize
compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to
the excess of the fair market value of the underlying common
units at the date of exercise over the purchase price for such
common unit appreciation right. In the event that a common unit
appreciation right award is settled in common units, then, upon
the sale of the common units acquired by the exercise of a
common unit appreciation right award, assuming the participant
holds the common units as a capital asset, the participant
generally will have capital gain or loss, which may which may be
short- or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the
length of time during which the participant held the common
units after the settlement of the common unit appreciation right
award and prior to the sale of such common units. The
participants adjusted tax basis in the common units will
be the purchase price plus the amount of ordinary income
recognized by the participant at the time of exercise of the
common unit appreciation right, adjusted for intervening
partnership gains, losses and distributions.
The recipient of a common unit award will recognize income at
the time of the award in an amount equal to the fair market
value of the common units on the date of grant. Upon the sale of
the common units acquired by the grant of the common unit award,
assuming the participant holds the common units as a capital
asset, the participant generally will have capital gain or loss,
which may which may be short- or long-term capital gain or loss
depending upon the length of time during which the participant
held the common units after receiving the common unit award and
prior to the sale of such common units. The participants
adjusted tax basis in the common units is the amount of ordinary
income recognized by the participant at the date of grant,
adjusted for intervening partnership gains, losses and
distributions.
The recipient of any other unit-based award will not recognize
income at the time of the award, but, upon the lapse of
applicable forfeiture restrictions, will recognize compensation
taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value of the underlying common units on the date
the forfeiture restrictions lapse over the purchase price for
such other unit-based award, if any. In the event that an other
unit-based award is settled in common units, then, upon the sale
of the common units acquired by the settlement of an other
unit-based award, assuming the participant holds the common
units as a capital asset,
9
the participant generally will have capital gain or loss, which
may which may be short- or long-term capital gain or loss
depending upon the length of time during which the participant
held the common units after the settlement of the other
unit-based award and prior to the sale of such common units. The
participants adjusted tax basis in the common units will
be the purchase price, if any, plus the amount of ordinary
income recognized by the participant at the time of settlement
of the other unit-based award, adjusted for intervening
partnership gains, losses and distributions.
Since our partnership is not a taxable entity, all direct
payments made by us to participants and reimbursements made by
us to the Company with respect to awards under the 2008
Incentive Plan are treated as deductions that are allocated
among the partners of our partnership in accordance with the
partnership agreement.
Effect of
American Jobs Protection Act of 2004
On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004
(H.R. 4520) added a new Section 409A to the Internal
Revenue Code. Section 409A will generally provide that any
deferred compensation arrangement which does not meet specific
requirements regarding (i) timing of payouts,
(ii) advance election of deferrals and
(iii) restrictions on acceleration of payouts will result
in immediate taxation of any amounts deferred to the extent not
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. In addition, tax on
the amounts included in income as a result of not complying with
the new Section 409A will be increased by an interest
component as specified by statute, and the amount included in
income will also be subject to an additional 20% tax. In
general, to avoid a Section 409A violation, amounts
deferred may only be paid out on separation from service,
disability, death, a specified time, a change in control (as
defined by the Treasury department) or an unforeseen emergency.
Furthermore, the election to defer generally must be made in the
calendar year prior to performance of services, and any
provision for accelerated payout other than for reasons
specified by the Treasury may cause the amounts deferred to be
subject to early taxation and to the imposition of the
additional 20% tax.
Section 409A will be broadly applicable to any form of
deferred compensation other than tax-qualified retirement plans
and bona fide vacation, sick leave, compensatory time,
disability pay or death benefits, and may apply to certain
awards under the 2008 Incentive Plan. For example, phantom
common units, common unit appreciation rights and common unit
options may be classified as deferred compensation for this
purpose.
New Plan
Benefits
No common units have been issued through the date of this proxy
statement under the 2008 Incentive Plan. The number of such
common units to be issued under the 2008 Incentive Plan to the
individuals or groups of individuals eligible to receive awards
under the 2008 Incentive Plan, and the net values to be realized
upon such issuances, are not determinable.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THIS
PROPOSAL
INTEREST
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN THE
2008 INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL
Employees of the Partnership, the Company, the General Partner,
a subsidiary or any of their affiliates, and the members of our
board of directors will be eligible to receive awards under the
2008 Incentive Plan if it is approved. Accordingly, the members
of our board of directors and the executive officers of the
Company have a substantial interest in the passage of the 2008
Incentive Plan Proposal.
10
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
At the time of our initial public offering, the equity owners of
our General Partner adopted a Restricted Unit Plan, amended and
restated as of February 4, 2002 as the Partnerships
Second Amended and Restated Restricted Unit Plan (the
Restricted Unit Plan), which provided for the
awarding of common units to key employees. At the June 23,
2004 special meeting of our common unitholders, common
unitholders approved our 2004 Plan, which provides for awards of
common units and other rights to our employees, officers and
directors and the Restricted Unit Plan was terminated except for
our future obligation to issue common units that have not
previously vested.
The following table sets forth in tabular format, a summary of
our equity plan information as of October 1, 2008:
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Number of Securities
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Remaining Available for
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Number of Securities to
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Weighted-Average
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Future Issuance Under
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be Issued Upon Exercise
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Exercise Price of
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Equity Compensation Plans
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of Outstanding Options,
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Outstanding Options,
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(Excluding Securities
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Warrants and Rights
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Warrants and Rights
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Reflected in Column(a))
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Plan Category
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(a)
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(b)
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(c)
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Equity compensation plans approved by unitholders:
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Restricted Unit Plan
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1,610
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$
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61,583
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(1)
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2004 Plan
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834,995
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31,938,558
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(1)
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581,125
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Equity compensation plans not approved by unitholders:
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Total
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836,605
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$
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32,000,141
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581,125
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(1) |
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Valued as of October 1, 2008. Actual exercise price may
differ depending on the common unit price on the date such units
vest. |
11
The following table sets forth certain information as of
October 1, 2008, regarding the beneficial ownership of our
securities by certain beneficial owners, all directors and named
executive officers of the General Partner of our General
Partner, each of the named executive officers and all directors
and named executive officers of the General Partner of our
General Partner as a group, of our Common Units and Class E
Units. The General Partner knows of no other person not
disclosed herein who beneficially owns more than 5% of our
Common Units.
Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P. Units
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Title of Class
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
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Beneficially Owned(2)
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Percent of Class
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Common Units
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Kelcy L. Warren(3)
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18,500
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*
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Mackie McCrea(3)
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24,249
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*
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Martin Salinas
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*
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Jerry J. Langdon
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*
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Thomas P. Mason
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*
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Ray C. Davis(3)
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53,160
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*
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Bill W. Byrne
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160,936
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*
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David R. Albin(4)
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*
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Kenneth A. Hersh(4)
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*
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Paul E. Glaske
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71,505
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*
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Michael K. Grimm
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7,028
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*
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John D. Harkey, Jr.
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1,852
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*
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K. Rick Turner(4)
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10,622
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*
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Ted Collins, Jr.
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99,962
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|
*
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John W. McReynolds
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17,977
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*
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All Directors and Named Executive Officers as a Group
(15 persons)
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477,642
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*
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Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.(5)
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62,500,797
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41.173
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%
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Class E Units
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Heritage Holdings, Inc.(6)
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8,853,832
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100
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%
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* |
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Less than one percent (1%) |
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(1) |
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The address for Mr. Warren is 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas,
Texas 75219. The address for Heritage Holdings is
8801 S. Yale Avenue, Suite 310, Tulsa, Oklahoma
74137. The address for Messrs. Albin and Hersh is
125 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 600, Irving,
Texas 75062. The address for Mr. McCrea and
Mr. Salinas is 800 E. Sonterra Blvd.,
San Antonio, Texas 78258. The address for ETE and
Mr. McReynolds is 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas
75219. The address for Mr. Davis is 5950 Sherry Lane,
Suite 550, Dallas, Texas 75225. The address for
Messrs. Byrne, Grimm, Collins, Glaske, Harkey, and Turner
is 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219. |
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(2) |
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Beneficial ownership for the purposes of the foregoing table is
defined by
Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under that rule, a
person is generally considered to be the beneficial owner of a
security if he has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting thereof (Voting Power) or to dispose or
direct the disposition thereof (Investment Power) or
has the right to acquire either of those powers within sixty
(60) days. |
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(3) |
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Due to the ownership by Messrs. Warren, McCrea and Davis of
interests in Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (ETE),
they may be deemed to beneficially own the limited partnership
interests held by ETE, to the extent of their respective
interests therein. Any such deemed ownership is not reflected in
the table. |
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(4) |
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Each of Messrs. Albin, Hersh, and Turner are
representatives of or owners in entities owning interests in ETE
and may be deemed to beneficially own the limited partnership
interest held by ETE though any such deemed ownership is not
depicted in the table. |
12
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(5) |
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Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (ETE) owns all of the
member interests of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. and all of
the Class A limited partner interests and Class B
limited partner interests in Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C. is the General Partner of
Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. with a .01% General Partner
interest. LE GP, LLC, the General Partner of ETE may be deemed
to beneficially own the Common Units owned of record by ETE. The
sole members of LE GP, LLC include Ray C. Davis, Kelcy L.
Warren, Natural Gas Partners VI, L.P. (the NGP Fund)
and Enterprise GP Holdings, L.P. G.F.W. Energy VI L.P. is the
sole General Partner of the NGP Fund and G.F.W. VI, L.L.C. is
the sole General Partner of G.F.W. Energy VI L.P.
Messrs. Hersh and Albin, who constitute a majority of the
members of G.F.W. VI, L.L.C., may also be deemed to share power
to vote or to direct the vote and to dispose or to direct the
disposition of the Common Units held by ETE. |
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(6) |
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Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. indirectly owns 100% of the
common stock of Heritage Holdings, Inc. |
13
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Overview
As a limited partnership, we are managed by our general partner,
Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P. (ETP GP), which in
turn is managed by its general partner, Energy Transfer
Partners, L.L.C., which we refer to herein as our General
Partner. Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (ETE), a
publicly-traded limited partnership, currently owns 100% of our
General Partner and approximately 41% of our outstanding units.
All of our employees are employed by and receive employee
benefits from our subsidiary operating partnerships.
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Named
Executive Officers
We do not have officers or directors. Instead, we are managed by
the board of directors of our General Partner, and the executive
officers of our General Partner perform all of our management
functions. As a result, the executive officers of our General
Partner are essentially our executive officers, and their
compensation is administered by our General Partner. This
Compensation Discussion and Analysis is, therefore, focused on
the total compensation of the executive officers of our General
Partner as set forth below. The executive officers we refer to
in this discussion as our named executive officers
are the following officers of our General Partner:
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Kelcy L. Warren, Chief Executive Officer;
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Mackie McCrea, President and Chief Operating Officer;
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Jerry J. Langdon, Chief Administrative Officer; and
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
|
In addition, the following individuals were named
executive officers for the year ended August 31, 2007
but were no longer executive officers as of September 30,
2008:
|
|
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings, former Chief Financial Officer; and
|
|
|
|
R.C. Mills, former President Propane.
|
In addition to the named executive officers identified above,
the following individuals were executive officers of our General
Partner during the year ended August 31, 2007 but were no
longer executive officers as of August 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
Ray C. Davis, former Co-Chief Executive Officer; and
|
|
|
|
H. Michael Krimbill, former President and Chief Financial
Officer.
|
Our
General Partners Philosophy for Compensation of
Executives
In general, our General Partners philosophy for executive
compensation is based on the premise that a significant portion
of the executives compensation should be incentive-based
and that the base salary levels should be competitive in the
marketplace for executive talent and abilities. Our General
Partner also believes the incentives should be competitive in
the market place and balanced between short and long-term
performance. Our General Partner believes this balance is
achieved by the payment of annual cash bonuses based on the
achievement of financial performance objectives for a fiscal
year set at the beginning of such fiscal year, and the annual
grant of restricted unit awards under our 2004 Plan which is
intended to provide a longer term incentive to our key employees
to focus their efforts to increase the market price of our
publicly traded units and to increase the cash distribution we
pay to our Unitholders. Under the 2004 Plan, we have generally
issued restricted unit awards that vest over a three-year period
based on the achievement of annual performance objectives
relating to the total return of our units (defined as the
appreciation in market price for our units plus total amount of
cash distributions for our fiscal year) as compared to the total
return of a peer group of other publicly traded limited
partnerships determined by the compensation committee of our
General Partner (Compensation Committee). Our
General Partner believes that these incentive arrangements are
14
important in attracting and retaining our executives and key
employees as well as motivating these individuals to achieve our
business objectives. The incentive-based compensation also
reflects the importance of aligning the interests of the
executive officers with those of our Unitholders.
While we are responsible for the direct payment of the
compensation of our named executive officers as employees of us,
we do not participate or have any input in any decisions as to
the compensation policies of our General Partner or the
compensation levels of the executive officers of our General
Partner. As discussed below, we do not have a compensation
committee. The compensation committee of the board of directors
of our General Partner (the Compensation Committee)
is responsible for the approval of the compensation policies and
the compensation levels of these executive officers. We directly
incur the payment to these executive officers in lieu of
receiving an allocation of overhead related to executive
compensation from our General Partner. For the year ended
August 31, 2007, we paid 100% of the compensation of the
executive officers of our General Partner as we represent the
only business managed by our General Partner.
Our General Partner is ultimately controlled by the general
partner of Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., which general partner
entity is partially-owned by certain of our current and prior
named executive officers. We pay quarterly distributions to our
General Partner in accordance with our partnership agreement
with respect to its ownership of a 2% general partner interest
and the incentive distribution rights specified in our
partnership agreement. The amount of each quarterly distribution
that we must pay to our General Partner is based solely on the
provisions of our partnership agreement, which agreement
specifies the amount of cash we distribute to our General
Partner based on the amount of cash that we distribute to our
limited partners each quarter. Accordingly, the cash
distributions we make to our General Partner bear no
relationship to the level or components of compensation of our
General Partners executive officers. Our General
Partners distribution rights are described in detail in
Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements included in
our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007. Our named
executive officers also own directly and indirectly certain of
our limited partner interests and, accordingly, receive
quarterly distributions. Such per unit distributions equal the
per unit distributions made to all our limited partners and bear
no relationship to the level of compensation of the named
executive officers.
Compensation
Committee
We are a limited partnership and our units are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange, or NYSE. Although the rules of the NYSE do
not require publicly traded limited partnerships to have a
compensation committee, the board of directors of our General
Partner has established a Compensation Committee that is
composed of three directors of our General Partner. The members
of the Compensation Committee are Mr. Michael K. Grimm,
Mr. Bill W. Byrne and Mr. Ray C. Davis. Our General
Partner has determined that Messrs. Grimm and Byrne are
independent (as that term is defined in the
applicable NYSE rules and
Rule 10A-3
of the Exchange Act).
The Compensation Committees responsibilities include,
among other duties, the following:
|
|
|
|
|
annually review and approve goals and objectives relevant to
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, or the CEO;
|
|
|
|
annually evaluate the CEOs performance in light of these
goals and objectives, and make recommendations to the board of
directors of our General Partner with respect to the CEOs
compensation levels based on this evaluation;
|
|
|
|
based on input from, and discussion with, the CEO, make
recommendations to the board of directors of our General Partner
with respect to non-CEO executive officer compensation,
including incentive compensation and compensation under equity
based plans;
|
|
|
|
make determinations with respect to the grant of equity-based
awards to executive officers under the 2004 Plan;
|
|
|
|
periodically evaluate the terms and administration of ETPs
short-term and long-term incentive plans to assure that they are
structured and administered in a manner consistent with
ETPs goals and objectives;
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
periodically evaluate incentive compensation and equity-related
plans and consider amendments if appropriate;
|
|
|
|
periodically evaluate the compensation of the directors;
|
|
|
|
retain and terminate any compensation consultant to be used to
assist in the evaluation of director, CEO or executive officer
compensation; and
|
|
|
|
perform other duties as deemed appropriate by the board of
directors of our General Partner.
|
Compensation
Philosophy
Our compensation program is structured to provide the following
benefits:
|
|
|
|
|
attract, retain and reward talented executive officers and key
management employees, by providing total compensation
competitive with that of other executive officers and key
management employees employed by publicly traded limited
partnerships of similar size and in similar lines of business;
|
|
|
|
motivate executive officers and key employees to achieve strong
financial and operational performance;
|
|
|
|
emphasize performance-based compensation; and
|
|
|
|
reward individual performance.
|
Methodology
The Compensation Committee considers relevant data available to
it to assess the competitive position with respect to base
salary, annual short-term incentives and long-term incentive
compensation for our executive officers. The Compensation
Committee also considers individual performance, levels of
responsibility, skills and experience.
Components
of Executive Compensation
For the year ended August 31, 2007, the compensation paid
to our named executive officers consisted of the following
components:
|
|
|
|
|
annual base salary;
|
|
|
|
non-equity incentive plan compensation consisting solely of
discretionary cash bonuses;
|
|
|
|
vesting of previously issued equity-based unit awards issued
pursuant to our 2004 Plan;
|
|
|
|
compensation resulting from the vesting of equity issuances made
by an affiliate; and
|
|
|
|
401(k) contributions.
|
Base Salary. As discussed above, the base
salaries of our named executive officers for the fiscal year
ended August 31, 2007 were determined by the board of
directors of our General Partner based on recommendations from
the Compensation Committee which took into account the
recommendations of Mr. Warren and Mr. Davis, the
then-current Co-Chief Executive Officers of our General Partner.
For fiscal year 2008, the Compensation Committee has engaged a
consultant to assist in the determination of compensation levels.
Annual Bonus. In addition to base salary, we
award our named executive officers discretionary annual cash
bonuses that are paid in a lump sum following the end of the
fiscal year. The annual bonuses are awarded based upon our
achievement of financial performance objectives during the year
for which the bonuses are awarded and in part upon the
contribution of each individual to our profitability and success
during the year for which the bonuses are awarded. The
Compensation Committee considers the recommendation of
management in determining the financial performance objectives
for a particular fiscal year and the aggregate amount of cash
bonuses to be paid to the executives and key employees based on
satisfying these performance objectives at specified levels. The
CEO makes the determinations, based on recommendations from
other executives and key employees in charge of specific
business units, as to the specific bonus amounts for each
participant in this bonus plan. The Compensation Committee alone
determines the annual cash bonus amounts
16
for our Chief Executive Officer and our other named executive
officers except for those executives who participate in the
annual bonus plan (specifically, Mackie McCrea and R.C. Mills).
Equity Awards. Our 2004 Plan authorizes the
Compensation Committee, in its discretion, to grant awards of
restricted units, unit options and other rights related to our
units at such times and upon such terms and conditions as it may
determine in accordance with the 2004 Plan. The Compensation
Committee determined
and/or
approved the number of unit grants awarded to our named
executive officers and also the vesting structure of those unit
awards under our 2004 Plan. A description of the unit awards and
related vesting structure is contained in the Unit Awards Table
below. To date, the only awards under the 2004 Plan have
consisted of restricted unit awards. All of the awards of
restricted units granted to the named executive officers under
our 2004 Plan have required the achievement of performance
objectives such that up to one-third of the total number of
units subject to an award will vest each year based on the level
of achievement of the performance objectives for such year, with
100% of such one-third vesting if the total return for our units
for such year is in the top quartile as compared to a peer group
of energy-related publicly traded limited partnerships
determined by the Compensation Committee, 65% of such one-third
vesting if the total return of our units for such year is in the
second quartile as compared to such peer group companies, and
25% of such one-third vesting if the total return of our units
for such year is in the third quartile as compared to such peer
group companies. Total return is defined as the sum of the per
unit price appreciation in the market price of our units for the
year plus the aggregate per unit cash distributions received for
the year. For fiscal 2007, the peer group used to make the total
return comparison consisted of Suburban Propane Partners L.P.,
Plains
All-American
Pipeline L.P., NuStar Energy L.P., Sunoco Logistics Partners
L.P., Magellan Midstream Partners L.P., AmeriGas Partners L.P.,
ONEOK Partners L.P., Buckeye Partners L.P., Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners L.P., Enterprise Product Partners L.P., Teppco Partners
L.P., Enbridge Energy Partners L.P. and Ferrellgas Partners L.P.
No distributions are made on the unit awards prior to vesting.
The vesting of these awards is also subject to continued
employment with us or our General Partner as of the end of each
applicable year. Each of Messrs. Warren, McCrea, Mills,
Davis and Krimbill have received unit awards under the 2004
Plan, a portion of which vested during our 2007 fiscal year.
On October 2, 2007 the Compensation Committee of our
General Partner determined that based on our performance for the
year ended August 31, 2007, of the employee awards
scheduled to vest on September 1, 2007, 25% of the awards
vested and 75% of the awards were forfeited. The Compensation
Committee of our General Partner also approved a special
one-time grant of the number of awards that were forfeited. Such
awards are not subject to performance objectives but are subject
only to continued employment with us through the first
anniversary of the grant date of October 2, 2007. These
Compensation Committee actions affected all employee awards,
including awards granted to executive officers.
The issuance of Common Units pursuant to the 2004 Plan is
intended to serve as a means of incentive compensation,
therefore, no consideration will be payable by the plan
participants upon vesting and issuance of the Common Units.
Compensation expense is measured as the grant date market value
of our units, reduced by the present value of the distributions
that will not be received during the vesting period. We assumed
a weighted average risk-free interest rate of 4.45%, for the
year ended August 31, 2007 in estimating the present value
of the future cash flows of the distributions during the vesting
period on the measurement date of each employee grant. For the
employee awards outstanding during the year ended
August 31, 2007, the grant-date average per unit cash
distributions were estimated to be $5.50. Upon vesting, ETP
Common Units are issued.
The unit awards under our 2004 Plan generally require the
continued employment of the recipient during the vesting period.
The Compensation Committee has in the past and may in the
future, but is not required to, accelerate the vesting of
unvested unit awards in the event of the termination or
retirement of an executive officer. During the year ended
August 31, 2007, the Compensation Committee did not
accelerate the vesting of any unvested unit awards under the
2004 Plan granted to Mr. Davis at the time of his
retirement as Co-Chief Executive Officer of our General Partner.
Affiliate Equity Awards. During our year ended
August 31, 2007, certain of our named executive officers
received an award from a partnership, the general partner of
which is owned and controlled by the President
17
of the general partner of ETE, which awards granted these named
executive officers certain rights related to units of ETE
previously issued by ETE to the President of the general partner
of ETE. These rights include the economic benefits of ownership
of these units based on a
5-year
vesting schedule whereby the recipient will vest in the units at
a rate of 20% per year. These awards were, and any future awards
will be, made at the discretion of the President of the general
partner of ETE and we have no input in any such decision.
Neither we nor ETE pay any of the costs related to such awards.
Based on generally accepted accounting principles covering
related party transactions and unit-based compensation
arrangements, we are recognizing non-cash compensation expense
over the vesting period based on the grant date per unit market
value of the ETE units awarded the ETP employees assuming no
forfeitures. Awards granted for the year ended August 31,
2007 result in a total non-cash compensation expense of
approximately $23.5 million to be recognized over the
related vesting period. As these units were outstanding prior to
these awards, the awards do not represent an increase in the
number of outstanding units of either ETP or ETE and are not
dilutive to cash distributions per unit with respect to either
ETP or ETE. The recipients of the awards and the amount of
non-cash compensation expense recognized during fiscal year 2007
and to be recognized in future periods related to these awards
are as follows:
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|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended August 31,
|
|
Brian J. Jennings
|
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|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
2,387,910
|
|
|
$
|
324,614
|
|
|
$
|
2,478,593
|
|
|
$
|
5,191,117
|
|
2008
|
|
|
3,730,020
|
|
|
|
1,805,517
|
|
|
|
2,969,016
|
|
|
|
8,504,553
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2,161,321
|
|
|
|
1,023,600
|
|
|
|
1,716,843
|
|
|
|
4,901,764
|
|
2010
|
|
|
1,289,820
|
|
|
|
620,795
|
|
|
|
1,008,471
|
|
|
|
2,919,086
|
|
2011
|
|
|
679,770
|
|
|
|
348,310
|
|
|
|
507,754
|
|
|
|
1,535,834
|
|
2012
|
|
|
209,160
|
|
|
|
142,167
|
|
|
|
119,323
|
|
|
|
470,650
|
|
Qualified Retirement Plan Benefits. We have
established a defined contribution 401(k) plan which covers
substantially all of our employees including our named executive
officers. The plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Employees who have completed one hour of service and have
attained 21 years of age are eligible to participate.
Employees may elect to defer up to 100% of defined eligible
compensation after applicable taxes, as limited under the Code.
We may contribute to the plan on behalf of our employees under a
discretionary matching or a discretionary profit sharing
arrangement, both of which are based on a percentage of
compensation. Employee salary deferrals are always 100% vested.
Employer contributions vest upon completion of one year of
service. For the year ended August 31, 2007, the
Compensation Committee approved an employer matching
contribution of up to six percent.
Health and Welfare Benefits. All full-time
employees, including our executive officers, may participate in
our health and welfare benefit programs including medical
coverage and disability insurance.
Termination Benefits. Our named executive
officers do not have any employment agreements that call for
payments of termination or severance benefits or that provide
for any payments in the event of a change in control of our
General Partner. Our 2004 Plan provides for immediate vesting of
all unvested unit awards in the event of a change in control. A
change of control as defined under our 2004 Plan means any of
(i) the date on which Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P.
ceases to be the general partner of the Partnership;
(ii) the date that ETE ceases to own, directly or
indirectly through wholly-owned subsidiaries, in the aggregate
at least 51% of the capital stock or equity interests of Energy
Transfer Partners GP, L.P.; (iii) the sale of all or
substantially all of ETPs assets (other than to any
Affiliate of ETE); or (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of
ETP. No such accelerated vesting occurred during fiscal year
2007.
Deferred Compensation Arrangements. We do not
have any deferred compensation arrangements or defined benefit
pension plans or other post retirement benefits for our named
executive officers. Our named executive officers also do not
receive any payments that would represent a perquisite.
18
Director
Compensation
The Compensation Committee periodically reviews and makes
recommendations regarding the compensation of the directors of
our General Partner. On October 17, 2006, the Compensation
Committee recommended, following its receipt and review of an
independent third-party compensation study, and the Board of
Directors approved, an amendment to the 2004 Plan to provide
that annual grants of ETP Common Units to non-employee directors
of our General Partner will be equal to $25,000 divided by the
fair market value of Common Units on that date. All other annual
directors grants will be measured at September 1 of each
year.
Tax
and Accounting Implications of Equity-Based Compensation
Arrangements
Deductibility
of Executive Compensation
We are a limited partnership and not a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, we believe
that the compensation paid to the named executive officers is
generally fully deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Accounting
for Unit-Based Compensation
We account for our unit-based compensation arrangements,
including equity-based awards issued to certain of our named
executive officers by an affiliate (as discussed above), in
accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 123R over
the vesting period of the awards, as discussed further in
Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements included in
our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007.
Changes
to Our Executive Compensation Program for Fiscal Year
2008
In November 2007, our board of directors approved an amendment
to our partnership agreement which changed our fiscal year from
a year ending on August 31 to a year ending on December 31.
Our overall executive compensation philosophy has remained
unchanged for fiscal year 2008, however, certain changes have
been made to our executive compensation program since the end of
fiscal year 2007. These changes include adjustments to the base
salaries of certain of our named executive officers and the
adoption of a new midstream cash bonus plan. We also paid
cash bonuses and granted unit awards to certain of our named
executive officers in fiscal year 2008 for their service in
fiscal year 2007, as contemplated by our existing executive
compensation philosophy. In addition, we have experienced
changes in personnel at the executive management level during
fiscal year 2008. The compensation arrangements for these new
executives are described below.
Cash
Bonuses for Fiscal Year 2007
As we previously reported, on December 1, 2007, the
Compensation Committee determined the amount of discretionary
bonuses to be paid to five of our named executive officers
relating to fiscal year 2007. The payment of annual cash bonuses
is based on the achievement of financial performance objectives
for a fiscal
19
year set at the beginning of such fiscal year. The following
table provides information reflecting these bonus amounts.
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|
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|
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|
Change in
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
380,769
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
150,303
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,481
|
|
|
|
1,145,553
|
|
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.C. Mills
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
388,482
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
93,251
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,162
|
|
|
|
789,895
|
|
Former President Propane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings(4)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
189,231
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,387,910
|
|
|
|
2,877,141
|
|
Former Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon(5)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
53,846
|
|
|
|
62,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
324,614
|
|
|
|
440,960
|
|
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason(6)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
238,462
|
|
|
|
291,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,478,593
|
|
|
|
3,008,722
|
|
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The bonus amounts for our executive officers shown in this table
represent the discretionary bonus paid in December 2007 relating
to our fiscal year ended August 31, 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect the amount of compensation
expense recognized in our consolidated financial statements for
the year ended August 31, 2007, determined in accordance
with SFAS 123(R). The compensation expense for fiscal year 2007
is net of the impact of the cumulative adjustment of prior
period compensation expense resulting from the unit forfeiture
in 2007 due to the failure to achieve specified performance
conditions. |
|
(3) |
|
The amounts in this column include (a) the amount of
compensation expense recognized in our consolidated financial
statements for the year ended August 31, 2007 related to
equity-based awards of units in Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
owned by an affiliate to certain of our named executive
officers, as discussed further above and in Note 6 to our
consolidated financial statements, and (b) contributions to
the 401(k) plan made by us on behalf of the named executive
officers. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Jennings began employment on March 6, 2007 and
resigned effective June 16, 2008. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Langdon began employment on July 1, 2007. |
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Mason began employment on February 1, 2007. |
Equity
Awards for Fiscal Year 2007
On December 5, 2007, based on our performance for fiscal
year 2007, the Compensation Committee granted the unit awards
reflected in the table below to certain named executive
officers. These unit awards are
20
subject to vesting at 20% of the aggregate number of units on
each anniversary of the grant date, based on continued
employment with us on each such anniversary date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Unit
|
|
|
|
Awards Granted
|
|
|
|
for Fiscal
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
Year 2007
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings(1)
|
|
|
22,000
|
|
Former Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason
|
|
|
18,000
|
|
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
22,000
|
|
President and Chief Operating Officer
|
|
|
|
|
R.C. Mills(2)
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
Former President Propane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Jennings resigned effective June 16, 2008, and his
unit awards were forfeited upon his resignation. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Mills retired effective May 1, 2008. As of that
date, Mr. Mills had 19,917 unvested unit awards remaining
from prior grants. Effective upon his retirement, the
Compensation Committee accelerated the vesting of 10,583 of
those unit awards, while the remaining 9,334 unit awards
were forfeited. |
Base
Salaries for Fiscal Year 2008
For fiscal year 2008, the Compensation Committee made the
following adjustments to the base salaries of the following
named executive officers for fiscal year 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Base
|
|
|
New Base
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
Named Executive Officer
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(%)
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
325,000
|
(1)
|
|
|
334,750(2
|
)
|
|
|
3.0
|
|
Thomas P. Mason
|
|
|
400,000
|
(3)
|
|
|
420,000(4
|
)
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
380,000
|
|
|
|
500,000(4
|
)
|
|
|
32.0
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Langdon began employment on July 1, 2007,
therefore, he received a prorated amount of his base salary for
the months during which he was employed by us in fiscal year
2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Effective July 1, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Mason began employment on February 1, 2007,
therefore, he received a prorated amount of his base salary for
the months during which he was employed by us in fiscal year
2007. |
|
(4) |
|
Effective August 1, 2008. |
Midstream
Bonus Plan
On February 27, 2008, we adopted the Energy Transfer
Partners, L.P. Midstream Bonus Plan (the Midstream Bonus
Plan). This plan provides for annual cash awards to
eligible employees based on achievement of certain
pre-established performance goals during a specified performance
period (generally a one-year period commencing on January 1 and
concluding on December 31). Eligible employees include the
salaried employees of our midstream business segment. Currently,
Mr. McCrea, our President and Chief Operating Officer, is
the only named executive officer that participates in the
Midstream Bonus Plan. The Midstream Bonus Plan is administered
by the Compensation Committee. Bonus amounts to be paid pursuant
to the Midstream Bonus Plan for fiscal year 2008 have not yet
been determined.
21
Changes
in Management
On May 1, 2008, R.C. Mills retired as president of our
propane division. As a result of Mr. Mills
retirement, William G. (Bill) Powers was appointed to succeed
Mr. Mills as president of the propane division, effective
May 1, 2008. For fiscal year 2008, Mr. Powers will
receive an annual salary of $400,000 and a unit award under the
2004 Plan of 20,000 restricted common units, which will vest in
20% increments each year over the next five years based on his
continued employment with us.
On June 16, 2008, Brian J. Jennings resigned as Chief
Financial Officer. Martin Salinas was appointed as our new Chief
Financial Officer, effective June 16, 2008. For fiscal year
2008, Mr. Salinas will receive an annual base salary of
$350,000 and will be eligible for a discretionary cash bonus of
between 125% and 150% of his base salary. He also received a
one-time cash bonus of $14,500. Mr. Salinas continues to be
eligible to participate in the 2004 Plan and our other benefit
plans on terms consistent with those applicable to our other
executive officers.
In addition, pursuant to an equity award agreement between
Mr. Salinas and us dated July 22, 2008,
Mr. Salinas received 240,000 restricted common units
representing limited partner interests of Energy Transfer
Equity, L.P. (ETE). The ETE common units are subject
to vesting at 20% of the aggregate number of ETE common units on
each anniversary of July 1, 2008, based on
Mr. Salinas continued employment with us on each such
anniversary date. The unvested portion of the equity award will
become 100% vested upon a change of control of us. The agreement
also provides that we are obligated to make cash payments to
Mr. Salinas in the same amounts and at the same times as
the cash distributions ETE makes on a number of ETE common units
equal to the unvested portion of Mr. Salinas equity
award. A partnership controlled by John W. McReynolds, the
President of ETE, has entered into an agreement with us pursuant
to which this partnership has agreed to satisfy our obligations
under the equity award agreement between us and Mr. Salinas.
On June 16, 2008, Mackie McCrea was named President and
Chief Operating Officer. Mr. McCrea had previously served
as our President of the Midstream Operations. His compensation
arrangement did not change except as described under
Base Salaries for Fiscal Year 2008.
Report of
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee of the board of directors of our
General Partner has reviewed and discussed the section entitled
Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the
management of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. Based on this
review and discussion, we have recommended to the board of
directors of our General Partner that the Compensation
Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
of Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C., the general partner
of the Energy Transfer Partners GP, L.P., the general
partner of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
Michael K. Grimm
Bill W. Byrne
Ray C. Davis
The foregoing report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by
reference by any general statement or reference to this proxy
statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this
information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed
filed under those Acts.
22
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Kelcy L. Warren(4)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
$
|
750,000
|
|
|
$
|
209,998
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,473,998
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
380,769
|
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
150,303
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,481
|
|
|
|
1,045,553
|
|
President Midstream
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. C. Mills
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
388,482
|
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
93,251
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,162
|
|
|
|
789,895
|
|
President Propane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings(5)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
189,231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,387,910
|
|
|
|
2,577,141
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon(6)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
53,846
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
324,614
|
|
|
|
378,460
|
|
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason(7)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
238,462
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,478,593
|
|
|
|
2,717,055
|
|
General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray C. Davis(8)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
498,654
|
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
|
|
(126,762
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,768
|
|
|
|
1,131,660
|
|
Former Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Michael Krimbill(9)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
337,581
|
|
|
|
700,000
|
|
|
|
(117,895
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,705
|
|
|
|
928,391
|
|
Former President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The bonus amounts for the executive officers of ETP represent
the discretionary bonuses paid in December 2006 for fiscal year
2006. The annual bonus for such executive officers is approved
by the Compensation Committee and paid in December of each year.
The actual bonus to be paid for fiscal year 2007 has not yet
been determined. We have recorded accruals for the total bonus
estimated for all officers and employees at August 31,
2007, but at this time have not allocated the total bonus
pool to individuals. |
|
(2) |
|
The amounts in this column reflect the amount of compensation
expense recognized in our consolidated financial statements for
the year ended August 31, 2007, determined in accordance
with SFAS 123(R). The compensation expense for fiscal year
2007 is net of the impact of the cumulative adjustment of prior
period compensation expense resulting from the unit forfeiture
in 2007 due to the failure to achieve specified performance
conditions. |
|
|
|
The negative compensation expense reflected above for
Messrs. Davis and Krimbill is due to the reversal of
previously recorded compensation expense resulting from the
forfeiture of units upon their retirement or resignation. The
value of the units forfeited by Mr. Davis upon his
retirement was $1,338,120. The value of the units forfeited by
Mr. Krimbill upon his resignation was $1,291,966. |
|
(3) |
|
The amounts in this column include (a) the amount of
compensation expense recognized in our consolidated financial
statements for the year ended August 31, 2007 related to
equity-based awards of units in ETE owned by an affiliate to
certain of our named executive officers, as discussed further
above and in Note 6 to our consolidated financial
statements included in our annual report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, and
(b) contributions to the 401(k) plan made by ETP on behalf
of the named executive officers. |
|
(4) |
|
Mr. Warren has voluntarily determined that (a) his
salary subsequent to October 19, 2007 will be reduced to
$1.00 per year (plus an amount sufficient to cover his allocated
payroll deductions for health and welfare benefits) (b) he
will not accept a cash bonus related to our 2007 fiscal year and
(c) he will no longer accept any equity awards under the
Unit Plan. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Jennings began employment on March 6, 2007 and
resigned on June 16, 2008. |
23
|
|
|
(6) |
|
Mr. Langdon began employment on July 1, 2007. |
|
(7) |
|
Mr. Mason began employment on February 1, 2007. |
|
(8) |
|
Mr. Davis retired on August 15, 2007. |
|
(9) |
|
Mr. Krimbill resigned on January 15, 2007. |
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 ALL OTHER COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perquisites
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and Other
|
|
|
|
Life
|
|
Contributions
|
|
Severance
|
|
in Control
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal
|
|
Tax
|
|
Insurance
|
|
to Retirement and
|
|
Payments/
|
|
Payments/
|
|
Affiliate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefits
|
|
Reimbursements
|
|
Premiums
|
|
401(k) Plans
|
|
Accruals
|
|
Accruals
|
|
Equity
|
|
Total
|
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
($)(2)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
Awards(4)
|
|
($)
|
|
Kelcy L. Warren
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,000
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,000
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,481
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,481
|
|
President Midstream
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. C. Mills
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,162
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,162
|
|
President Propane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,387,910
|
|
|
|
2,387,910
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
324,614
|
|
|
|
324,614
|
|
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,478,593
|
|
|
|
2,478,593
|
|
General Counsel
and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray C. Davis
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,768
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,768
|
|
Former Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Michael Krimbill
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,705
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,705
|
|
Former President and
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
The executive officers life insurance premiums are paid by
the Partnership on the same basis as all other employees. Since
this represents non-discriminatory group life insurance
available to all salaried employees, the premiums paid are not
included in the table above. |
|
(2) |
|
Messrs. Jennings, Langdon and Mason receive a 401(k) match.
However, as of August 31, 2007, none of those executive
officers has vested in such contribution match. Vesting in the
401(k) matching contribution occurs upon the completion of one
year of service. |
|
(3) |
|
Does not include the value of unvested unit awards under the
2004 Plan that would fully vest upon a change of control as
defined in the 2004 Plan, which value was $1,222,940 for
Mr. Warren, $975,802 for Mr. McCrea, and $672,201 for
Mr. Mills based on the closing unit price per ETP Common
Unit on August 31, 2007. Unvested units with an
August 31, 2007 valuation of $546,420 for Mr. Warren,
$455,298 for Mr. McCrea and $325,250 for Mr. Mills
were forfeited on September 1, 2007 due to the failure to
achieve performance conditions. |
|
|
|
Also does not include the August 31, 2007 value of unvested
affiliate equity awards granted to Messrs. Jennings,
Langdon and Mason, that would fully vest upon a change of
control as defined in the affiliate equity awards, which value
was $11,025,000 for Mr. Jennings, $3,675,000 for
Mr. Langdon, and $10,106,250 for Mr. Mason, based on
the August 31, 2007 closing unit price per ETE Common Unit. |
|
(4) |
|
Consists of the amount accrued for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2007 even though no portion of the affiliate
equity awards had vested as of August 31, 2007. |
24
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Exercise or
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under
|
|
|
Unit Awards:
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Base Price
|
|
|
Date Fair
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
|
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
of Option
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Units
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Unit
|
|
Name
|
|
Date
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
|
Awards(3)
|
|
|
Kelcy L. Warren
|
|
|
11/01/06
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
406,490
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
11/01/06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
298,106
|
|
President Midstream
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. C. Mills
|
|
|
11/01/06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
189,682
|
|
President Propane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian J. Jennings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Administrative and
Compliance Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas P. Mason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Counsel and
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray C. Davis
|
|
|
11/01/06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former Co-Chief Executive
Officer(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Michael Krimbill(1)
|
|
|
11/01/06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former President and Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Mr. Krimbill forfeited 25,335 awards upon his resignation
on January 15, 2007 of which 14,000 were granted during
fiscal year 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Mr. Davis forfeited 27,000 awards upon his retirement on
August 15, 2007 of which 15,000 were granted during fiscal
year 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
We have computed the grant date fair value of unit awards in
accordance with SFAS 123(R), as further described above and
in Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements. |
The amounts above do not include the equity awards granted to
certain of ETPs named executive officers in equity of ETE
held by a partnership controlled by Mr. McReynolds. These
awards are not plan-based awards, and the final decision on such
awards is in the sole discretion of Mr. McReynolds. The
amount of compensation expense recognized during fiscal year
2007 and to be recognized in future periods for such awards is
detailed above by individual recipient.
25
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
TABLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan Awards:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Number of
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Plan Awards:
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
Securities
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units
|
|
Equity Incentive
|
|
Market or
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
Underlying
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
That
|
|
Plan Awards:
|
|
Payout Value
|
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
Units That
|
|
Have
|
|
Number of
|
|
of Units That
|
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
Options
|
|
Unearned
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Option
|
|
Have not
|
|
not
|
|
Units That Have
|
|
Have not
|
|
|
Award
|
|
(#)
|
|
(#)
|
|
Options
|
|
Price
|
|
Expiration
|
|
Vested
|
|
Vested
|
|
not Vested
|
|
Vested
|
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
(#)
|
|
($)
|
|
Date
|
|
(#)(1)
|
|
($)(1)
|
|
(#)(2)
|
|
($)(3)
|
|
Kelcy L. Warren
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
$
|
780,600
|
|
Chief Executive
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
312,240
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
312,240
|
|
Mackie McCrea
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,000
|
|
|
|
572,440
|
|
President
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,334
|
|
|
|
277,581
|
|
Midstream
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,333
|
|
|
|
277,529
|
|
R. C. Mills
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,000
|
|
|
|
364,280
|
|
President
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
208,160
|
|
Propane
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
208,160
|
|
Brian J. Jennings
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry J. Langdon
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Administrative and
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compliance Officer
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Thomas P. Mason
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2007
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General Counsel
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2006
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and Secretary
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2005
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Ray C. Davis
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2007
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Former Co-Chief
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2006
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Executive Officer
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2005
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H. Michael Krimbill
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2007
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Former President
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2006
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and Chief
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2005
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Financial Officer
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|
(1) |
|
The amounts above do not include the equity awards granted to
certain of ETPs named executive officers in equity of ETE
held by a partnership controlled by Mr. McReynolds. These
awards are not plan-based awards, and the final decision on such
awards is in the sole discretion of Mr. McReynolds. |
|
(2) |
|
For each named executive in the table, the unvested 2005 awards
are scheduled to vest September 1, 2007. The un-vested 2006
awards are scheduled to vest 1/2 on September 1, 2007 and
1/2 on September 1, 2008. The unvested 2007 awards are
scheduled to vest 1/3 on September 1, 2007; 1/3 on
September 1, 2008; and 1/3 on September 1, 2009. The
Compensation Committee of our General Partner determined that
performance criteria were not fully achieved as of
August 31, 2007 and as a result, 75% of the awards eligible
to vest September 1, 2007 were forfeited. |
|
(3) |
|
This market value was computed as the number of unvested awards
at August 31, 2007 multiplied by our Common Unit closing
per unit market price at August 31, 2007. |
26
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 OPTION EXERCISES AND UNITS VESTED TABLE
|
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Option Awards
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Unit Awards
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Number of Units
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Value Realized
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Number of Units
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Value Realized
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Acquired on Exercise
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on Exercise
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Acquired on Vesting
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on Vesting
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Name
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(#)
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($)
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(#)
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($)(1)
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Kelcy L. Warren
Chief Executive Officer
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$
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|
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9,000
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$
|
523,702
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Mackie McCrea
President Midstream
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7,999
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465,457
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R. C. Mills
President Propane
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|
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6,000
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321,043
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Brian J. Jennings
Chief Financial Officer
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Jerry J. Langdon
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
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Thomas P. Mason
General Counsel and Secretary
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Ray C. Davis
Former Co-Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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9,000
|
|
|
|
523,702
|
|
H. Michael Krimbill
Former President and Chief Financial Officer
|
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|
|
|
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8,499
|
|
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|
454,758
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This value represents the amount reported on the officers
W-2, which
value represents approximately 92% of the market value of the
units on the date of vesting. The value is discounted due to the
restrictions placed on the sale of the units for two years. |
Director
Compensation, including Unit Grants
As indicated below, we do not have our own board of directors.
We are managed by our General Partner. The directors identified
below represent the non-employee, independent directors of our
General Partner. For convenience purposes, we directly pay the
compensation to the directors rather than paying an allocation
from our General Partner since we represent only business
managed by our General Partner. Mr. Davis is presently a
non-employee director (resignation effective August 15,
2007) but he received no fees as a director during fiscal
year 2007.
The compensation paid to the non-employee, independent directors
of our General Partner is reflected in the following table. The
table excludes any board member who is either an employee of our
General Partner or is not considered to be independent,
specifically Messrs. Warren, Davis, Krimbill, Albin, and
Hersh.
27
FISCAL
YEAR 2007 NON-EMPLOYEE, INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
TABLE
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Fees
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Paid in
|
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|
Unit
|
|
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All Other
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|
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Cash
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
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Compensation
|
|
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Total
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
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|
|
($)
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|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
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Bill W. Byrne
|
|
$
|
68,000
|
|
|
$
|
19,003
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
87,003
|
|
Paul E. Glaske
|
|
|
66,150
|
|
|
|
22,207
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,357
|
|
K. Rick Turner
|
|
|
51,050
|
|
|
|
28,532
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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79,582
|
|
Ted Collins, Jr.
|
|
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40,000
|
|
|
|
25,874
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,874
|
|
John W. McReynolds(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,177
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,177
|
|
Michael Grimm
|
|
|
44,800
|
|
|
|
33,352
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,152
|
|
John D. Harkey, Jr.
|
|
|
55,300
|
|
|
|
33,352
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,652
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This relates to unit grants to Mr. McReynolds prior to his
employment with ETE. |
In fiscal year 2007, non-employee directors of our General
Partner received an annual fee of $40,000 plus $1,200 for each
committee meeting attended. Additionally, the Chairman of the
Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $15,000 and the
members of the audit committee receive an annual fee of $10,000.
The Chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an annual
fee of $7,500 and the members of the compensation committee
receive an annual fee of $5,000. Employee directors, including
Messrs. Warren, Davis (prior to August 15,
2007) and Krimbill (prior to January 15, 2007), do not
receive any fees for service as directors. The total amount of
director fees we paid during fiscal year 2007 to the directors
of our General Partner was $325,300.
In addition, the non-employee directors participate in our 2004
Plan. Each director who is not also (i) a shareholder or a
direct or indirect employee of any parent, or (ii) a direct
or indirect employee of ETP LLC, ETP, or a subsidiary
(Director Participant), who is elected or appointed
to the Board for the first time shall automatically receive, on
the date of his or her election or appointment, an award of up
to 2,000 ETP Common Units (the Initial Directors
Grant). Commencing on September 1, 2004 and each
September 1 thereafter that this Plan is in effect, each
Director Participant who is in office on such September 1,
shall automatically receive an award of Units equal to $25,000
($15,000 prior to October 17, 2006) divided by the
fair market value of a Common Units on such date (Annual
Directors Grant). Each grant of an award to a
Director Participant will vest at the rate of one third per
year, beginning on the first anniversary date of the Award;
provided however, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) all
awards to a Director Participant shall become fully vested upon
a change in control, as defined by the Plan, unless voluntarily
waived by such Director Participant, and (ii) all awards
which have not yet vested on the date a Director Participant
ceases to be a director shall vest on such terms as may be
determined by the Compensation Committee. No distributions are
paid until the unit awards vest.
Compensation expense is measured on the grant date fair value of
our units, reduced by the present value of the distributions
that will not be received during the vesting period. We assumed
a weighted average risk-free interest rate of 3.80% for the year
ended August 31, 2007, in estimating the present value of
the future cash flows of the distributions during the vesting
period on the measurement date of each director grant. For the
director awards granted during the year ended August 31,
2007, the grant-date average per unit cash distributions were
estimated to be $4.95.
On September 1, 2007, Annual Director Grants of
2,880 units were awarded and 5,220 director grants
vested and Common Units were issued.
On October 17, 2006, the Compensation Committee
recommended, following its receipt and review of an independent
third-party compensation study, and the Board of Directors
approved, an amendment to the 2004 Plan to provide that Annual
Directors Grants shall be equal to $25,000 divided by the
fair market value of Common Units on that date. All other Annual
Directors Grants shall be measured at September 1 of each
year. On October 17, 2006, 3,240 Annual Director Grants
were awarded.
28
The number of unit awards granted to non-employee, independent
directors during fiscal year 2007, units vested and issued
during fiscal year 2007, and unvested unit awards held by
non-employee directors as of August 31, 2007 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Unvested
|
|
|
|
Unit Awards in Fiscal
|
|
|
Units Vested and Issued
|
|
|
Units at August 31,
|
|
Name
|
|
Year 2007
|
|
|
in Fiscal Year 2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Bill W. Byrne
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
1,366
|
|
|
|
1,046
|
|
Paul E. Glaske
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
1,699
|
|
|
|
1,046
|
|
K. Rick Turner
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
1,699
|
|
|
|
2,380
|
|
Ted Collins, Jr.
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
1,699
|
|
|
|
2,380
|
|
John W. McReynolds(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,563
|
|
|
|
1,566
|
|
Michael Grimm
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
666
|
|
|
|
1,874
|
|
John D. Harkey, Jr.
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
|
666
|
|
|
|
1,874
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
This relates to unit grants to Mr. McReynolds prior to his
employment with ETE. |
29
THE
SPECIAL MEETING
Time and
Place
The special meeting will be held on December 16, 2008,
beginning at 10:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas time at The Warwick
Melrose Hotel, 3015 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219.
Purpose
At the special meeting, our unitholders will act upon a proposal
to approve the terms of the Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the 2008 Incentive Plan)
which provides for awards of options to purchase our common
units, awards of our restricted units, awards of our phantom
units, awards of our common units, awards of distribution
equivalent rights, or DERs awards of common unit appreciation
rights, and other unit-based awards to employees of Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P. (the Partnership), Energy
Transfer Partners GP, L.P., our general partner (the
General Partner), Energy Transfer Partners, L.L.C.,
the general partner of the General Partner (the
Company) and their affiliates, and the members of
the board of directors of the Company, which we refer to as our
board of directors.
Record
Date
Our general partner has fixed the close of business on
November 21, 2008 as the record date for the determination
of holders of common units entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the special meeting or any postponements or adjournments
thereof. Only holders of record of common units at the close of
business on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to
vote at, the special meeting. A complete list of such
unitholders will be available for inspection in our offices at
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219, during normal
business hours upon written demand by any holder of our common
units.
Holders
Entitled to Vote
All unitholders who owned our common units at the close of
business on the record date November 21, 2008, are entitled
to receive notice of the special meeting and to vote the common
units that they held on the record date at the special meeting,
or any postponements or adjournments of the special meeting.
Each unitholder is entitled to one vote for each common unit
owned on all matters to be considered. On October 15, 2008,
151,801,667 common units were issued and outstanding.
Vote
Required
Under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual
(NYSE Manual), the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal
requires the approval of a majority of the votes cast by our
unitholders, provided that the total votes cast on the proposal
represent more than 50% of all common units entitled to vote.
Votes for and against and abstentions
count as votes cast, while broker non-votes do not count as
votes cast. Thus, the total sum of votes for, plus
votes against, plus abstentions in respect of the
proposal, which is referred to as the NYSE Votes
Cast, must be greater than 50% of the total of our
outstanding common units. Once the NYSE Votes Cast requirement
is satisfied, the number of votes cast for the 2008
Incentive Plan Proposal must represent a majority of the NYSE
Votes Cast in respect of such proposal in order to be approved.
Thus, broker non-votes can make it difficult to satisfy the NYSE
Votes Cast requirement, and abstentions have the effect of a
vote against the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal.
The form of proxy provides unitholders the opportunity to vote
on the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal. However, the 2008 Incentive
Plan Proposal will not be effective unless approved by the
unitholders.
A properly executed proxy submitted without voting instructions
will be voted (except to the extent that the authority to vote
has been withheld) FOR the 2008 Incentive Plan Proposal.
30
Quorum
If more than 50% of our outstanding common units on the record
date are present in person or by proxy at the special meeting,
that will constitute a quorum and will permit us to conduct the
proposed business at the special meeting. Your common units will
be counted as present at the special meeting if you:
|
|
|
|
|
are present and vote in person at the meeting; or
|
|
|
|
have submitted a properly executed proxy card.
|
Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be counted as
common units that are present and entitled to vote for purposes
of determining the presence of a quorum. If an executed proxy is
returned by a broker or other nominee holding common units in
street name indicating that the broker does not have
discretionary authority as to certain common units to vote on
the proposals (a broker non-vote), such common units
will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum but will not be considered
entitled to vote.
Revocation
of Proxies
To change your vote after you have submitted your proxy card,
send in a later-dated, signed proxy card to us or attend the
special meeting and vote in person. You may also revoke your
proxy by sending in a notice of revocation to us at the address
set forth in the notice. Please note that attendance at the
special meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted
proxy. If you have instructed your broker or other nominee to
vote your common units, you must follow the procedure your
broker or nominee provides to change those instructions.
Solicitation
The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this proxy
statement and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne by us.
In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by
employees of the general partner, without additional
remuneration, by mail, phone, fax or in person. We will also
request brokerage firms, banks, nominees, custodians and
fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners
of our common units as of the record date and will provide
reimbursement for the cost of forwarding the proxy materials in
accordance with customary practice. Your cooperation in promptly
signing and returning the enclosed proxy card will help to avoid
additional expense.
Adjournment
We may adjourn the special meeting to another date
and/or place
for any proper purpose, including, without limitation, for the
purpose of soliciting additional proxies if there are not
sufficient votes in favor of one or more of the proposals. In
addition, our partnership agreement provides that, in the
absence of a quorum, the special meeting may be adjourned from
time to time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding common units represented either in person or by
proxy.
No
Unitholder Proposals
Your common units do not entitle you to make proposals at the
special meeting. Under our partnership agreement, only our
general partner can make a proposal at this meeting. Our
partnership agreement establishes a procedure for calling
meetings whereby limited partners owning 20% or more of the
outstanding common units of the class for which a meeting is
proposed may call a meeting. In any case, limited partners are
not allowed to vote on matters that would cause the limited
partners to be deemed to be taking part in the management and
control of the business and affairs of the partnership. Doing so
would jeopardize the limited partners limited liability
under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act
(Delaware Act) or the law of any other state in
which we are qualified to do business.
Dissenters
Rights
We were formed as a limited partnership under the laws of the
State of Delaware, including the Delaware Act. Under those laws,
dissenters rights are not available to our unitholders
with respect to the matters to be voted on at the special
meeting.
31
HOUSEHOLDING
MATTERS
Unitholders who share a single address will receive only one
proxy statement at that address unless we have received
instructions to the contrary from any unitholder at that
address. This practice, known as householding, is
designed to reduce our printing and postage costs. However, if a
unitholder of record residing at such an address wishes to
receive a separate copy of this proxy statement or of future
proxy statements (as applicable), he or she may contact our
Investor Relations Department at
(214) 981-0700
or write to Investor Relations, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.,
3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219. We will deliver
separate copies of this proxy statement promptly upon written or
oral request. If you are a unitholder of record receiving
multiple copies of our proxy statement, you can request
householding by contacting us in the same manner. If you own
your common units through a bank, broker or other unitholder of
record, you can request additional copies of this proxy
statement or request householding by contacting the unitholder
of record.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of these
documents at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the public reference room. Our
filings also are available to the public at the SECs
website at www.sec.gov. Our common units are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
ETP. Reports and other information concerning us may
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. You may also
request a copy of our filings by contacting our Investor
Relations Department at
(214) 981-0700
or write to us at 3738 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219,
Attention: Investor Relations. Our filings are also available on
our website at www.energytransfer.com.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL
MEETING TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 16, 2008
The Notice of Special Meeting of Common Unitholders and the
Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting of are available at
http://www.energytransfer.com.
32
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
2008 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
ENERGY
TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
2008 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Section
1. Purpose of the Plan.
The Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the Plan) has been adopted by Energy Transfer
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership). The Plan is intended to promote the
interests of the Partnership by providing to Employees and
Directors incentive compensation awards based on Units to
encourage superior performance. The Plan is also contemplated to
enhance the ability of the Partnership and its Affiliates and
Subsidiaries to attract and retain the services of individuals
who are essential for the growth and profitability of the
Partnership and to encourage them to devote their best efforts
to advancing the business of the Partnership.
Section
2. Definitions.
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person,
any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term
control means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
Award means an Option, Unit Appreciation
Right, Restricted Unit, Phantom Unit, Other Unit-Based Award, or
a Unit Award granted under the Plan, and includes any tandem
DERs granted with respect to a Phantom Unit.
Award Agreement means the written or
electronic agreement by which an Award shall be evidenced.
Board means the Board of Directors or
Managers, as the case may be, of the Company.
Change of Control means, and shall be deemed
to have occurred upon one or more of the following events:
(i) any person or group within the
meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than an Affiliate of the
Company, shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger,
consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of
50% or more of the combined voting power of the equity interests
in the Company;
(ii) the members of the Company approve, in one or a series
of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Company;
(iii) the sale or other disposition by the Company of all
or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions
to any Person other than the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company; or
(iv) a Person other than the Company, the General Partner
or an Affiliate of the Company or the General Partner becomes
the general partner of the Partnership.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an Award that is
subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, Change of Control shall mean a
change of control event as defined in the
regulations and guidance issued under Section 409A.
Committee means the Board, the Compensation
Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
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Company means Energy Transfer Partners,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and the general
partner of the General Partner.
DER means a contingent right, granted in
tandem with a specific Phantom Unit, to receive with respect to
each Phantom Unit subject to the Award an amount in cash, Units
and/or
Phantom Units equal in value to the distributions made by the
Partnership with respect to a Unit during the period such Award
is outstanding.
Director means a member of the board of
directors or managers of the Company.
Disability means, unless provided otherwise
in the Award grant agreement, an illness or injury that lasts at
least six continuous months, is expected to be permanent and
renders the Participant unable to carry out his or her duties to
the Board, the Company, the General Partner, the Partnership or
an Affiliate of the Company, the General Partner or the
Partnership.
Employee means an employee of the
Partnership, the Company, the General Partner, a Subsidiary or
an Affiliate of the Partnership, the Company, the General
Partner or a Subsidiary.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
Fair Market Value means the closing sales
price of a Unit on the principal national securities exchange or
other market in which trading in Units occurs on the applicable
date (or, if there is no trading in the Units on such date, on
the next preceding date on which there was trading) as reported
in The Wall Street Journal (or other reporting service
approved by the Committee). If Units are not traded on a
national securities exchange or other market at the time a
determination of fair market value is required to be made
hereunder, the determination of fair market value shall be made
in good faith by the Committee.
General Partner means Energy Transfer
Partners GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and the
general partner of the Partnership.
Option means an option to purchase Units
granted under the Plan.
Other Unit-Based Award means an Award granted
pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Plan.
Participant means an Employee or Director
granted an Award under the Plan.
Person means an individual or a corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
unincorporated organization, association, governmental agency or
political subdivision thereof or other entity.
Phantom Unit means a notional unit granted
under the Plan that upon vesting entitles the Participant to
receive a Unit or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market
Value of a Unit, as determined by the Committee in its
discretion.
Restricted Period means the period
established by the Committee with respect to an Award during
which the Award remains subject to forfeiture and is either not
exercisable by or payable to the Participant, as the case may be.
Restricted Unit means a Unit granted under
the Plan that is subject to a Restricted Period.
Rule 16b-3
means
Rule 16b-3
promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act or any successor
rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any successor thereto.
Subsidiary means any entity (i) in
which, at the relevant time, the Partnership, the General
Partner or the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly,
not less than 50% of the total combined voting power represented
by all classes of equity interests issued by such entity,
(ii) as to which, at the relevant time, the Partnership,
the General Partner or the Company has the right, directly or
indirectly, to appoint or designate, either independently or
jointly with another Person, 50% or more of the members of the
board of directors or (iii) as to which at the relevant
time, the Partnership, the General Partner or the Company,
directly or indirectly, (A) owns or controls, directly or
indirectly, not less than 50% of the total combined voting power
represented by classes of equity interests issued by the general
partner or managing member of such entity or
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(B) has the right, directly or indirectly, to appoint or
designate, either independently or jointly with another Person,
50% or more of the members of the board of directors of the
general partner or managing member thereof.
UDR means a distribution made by the
Partnership with respect to a Restricted Unit.
Unit means a Common Unit of the Partnership.
Unit Appreciation Right or UAR
means a contingent right that entitles the holder to receive
all or part of the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Unit on
the exercise date of the UAR over the exercise price of the UAR.
Such excess shall be paid in Units, cash or any combination
thereof, in the discretion of the Committee.
Unit Award means a grant of a Unit that is
not subject to a Restricted Period.
Section
3. Administration.
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of
the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the
members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof
at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by
the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of
the Committee. Subject to the following and applicable law, the
Committee, in it sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its
powers and duties under the Plan, including the power to grant
Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company or the General Partner, subject to such limitations on
such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose, if
any. Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the
Committee, other than in Section 7, shall be
deemed to include the Chief Executive Officer; provided,
however, that such delegation shall not limit the Chief
Executive Officers right to receive Awards under the Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer may
not grant Awards to, or take any action with respect to any
Award previously granted to, a person who is an officer subject
to
Rule 16b-3
or a member of the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and
applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and
authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the
Committee shall have full power and authority to:
(i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or
types of Awards to be granted to a Participant;
(iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by
Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any
Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under
what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled,
or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the Plan and
any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the
Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules
and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem
appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and
(viii) make any other determination and take any other
action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the
administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect
or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the
Plan or an Award Agreement in such manner and to such extent as
the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. Unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or
with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole
discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall
be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including
the Partnership, the Company, the General Partner, any
Affiliate, any Participant, and any beneficiary of any Award.
Section
4. Units.
(a) Limits on Units
Deliverable. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4(c), the number of Units that may be
delivered with respect to Awards under the Plan is 5,000,000;
provided, however, that Units withheld from an Award to either
satisfy the Partnerships or an Affiliates tax
withholding obligations with respect to the Award or pay the
exercise price of an Award shall not be considered to be Units
delivered under the Plan for this purpose. If any Award is
forfeited, cancelled, exercised, paid, or otherwise terminates
or expires without the actual delivery of Units pursuant to such
Award (the grant of Restricted Units is not a delivery of Units
for this purpose), the Units subject to such Award shall again
be available for Awards under the Plan. There shall not be any
limitation on the number of Awards that may be paid in cash.
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(b) Sources of Units Deliverable Under
Awards. Any Units delivered pursuant to an
Award shall consist, in whole or in part, of Units newly issued
by the Partnership, Units acquired in the open market, from any
Affiliate of the Partnership or from any other Person, or any
combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in
its discretion.
(c) Anti-dilution
Adjustments. With respect to any equity
restructuring event that could result in an additional
compensation expense to the Partnership pursuant to the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment
(FAS 123R), if adjustments to Awards with
respect to such event were discretionary, the Committee shall
equitably adjust the number and type of Units covered by each
outstanding Award and the terms and conditions, including the
exercise price and performance criteria (if any), of such Award
to equitably reflect such restructuring event and shall adjust
the number and type of Units (or other securities or property)
with respect to which Awards may be granted after such event.
With respect to any other similar event that would not result in
a FAS 123R accounting charge if the adjustment to Awards
with respect to such event were subject to discretionary action,
the Committee shall have complete discretion to adjust Awards in
such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other
event.
Section
5. Eligibility.
Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to be designated a
Participant by the Committee and receive an Award under the Plan.
Section
6. Awards.
(a) Options and UARs. The
Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees
and Directors to whom Options
and/or UARs
shall be granted, the number of Units to be covered by each
Option or UAR, the exercise price therefor, the Restricted
Period and other conditions and limitations applicable to the
exercise of the Option or UAR, including the following terms and
conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the
Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan.
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise
price per Unit purchasable under an Option or subject to a UAR
shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option or
UAR is granted but may not be less than the Fair Market Value of
a Unit as of the date of grant of the Option or UAR.
(ii) Time and Method of
Exercise. The Committee shall determine the
exercise terms and the Restricted Period with respect to an
Option or UAR grant, which may include, without limitation,
(A) a provision for accelerated vesting upon the death or
Disability of a Participant, the achievement of specified
performance goals or such other events as the Committee may
provide, and (B) the method or methods by which payment of
the exercise price with respect to an Option may be made or
deemed to have been made, which may include, without limitation,
cash, check acceptable to the Committee, withholding Units from
the Award, a cashless-broker exercise through
procedures approved by the Committee, or any combination of the
above methods, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date
equal to the relevant exercise price.
(iii) Forfeitures. Except as
otherwise provided in the terms of the Option or UAR grant, upon
termination of a Participants employment with or
consulting services to the Partnership and its Affiliates or
membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason
during the applicable Restricted Period, all unvested Options
and UARs shall be forfeited by the Participant. The Committee
may, in its discretion, waive in whole or in part such
forfeiture with respect to a Participants Options or UARs.
(b) Restricted Units and Phantom
Units. The Committee shall have the authority
to determine the Employees and Directors to whom Restricted
Units and Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of
Restricted Units or Phantom Units to be granted to each such
Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which
the Restricted Units or Phantom Units may become vested or
forfeited and such other terms and conditions as the Committee
may establish with respect to such Awards which may include,
without limitation,
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a provision for accelerated vesting upon the death or Disability
of a Participant, the achievement of specified performance goals
of such other events as the Committee may provide.
(i) DERs. To the extent provided
by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Phantom Units
may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs
shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a
bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion
of the Committee), be reinvested in Restricted Units
or additional Phantom Units and be subject to the same or
different vesting restrictions as the tandem Phantom Unit Award,
or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. Absent a contrary
provision in the Award Agreement, upon a distribution with
respect to a Unit, cash equal in value to such distribution
shall be paid promptly to the Participant without vesting
restrictions with respect to each Phantom Unit then held.
(ii) UDRs. To the extent provided
by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units
may provide that the distributions made by the Company with
respect to the Restricted Units shall be subject to the same
forfeiture and other restrictions as the Restricted Unit and, if
restricted, such distributions shall be held, without interest,
until the Restricted Unit vests or is forfeited with the UDR
being paid or forfeited at the same time, as the case may be. In
addition, the Committee may provide that such distributions be
used to acquire additional Restricted Units for the Participant.
Such additional Restricted Units may be subject to such vesting
and other terms as the Committee may proscribe. Absent such a
restriction on the UDRs in the Award Agreement, upon a
distribution with respect to the Restricted Unit, such
distribution shall be paid promptly to the holder of the
Restricted Unit without vesting restrictions.
(iii) Forfeitures. Except as
otherwise provided in the terms of the Restricted Units or
Phantom Units grant agreement, upon termination of a
Participants employment with or consulting services to the
Partnership and its Affiliates or membership on the Board,
whichever is applicable, for any reason during the applicable
Restricted Period, all outstanding, unvested Restricted Units
and Phantom Units awarded the Participant shall be automatically
forfeited on such termination. The Committee may, in its
discretion, waive in whole or in part such forfeiture with
respect to a Participants Restricted Units
and/or
Phantom Units.
(iv) Lapse of Restrictions.
(A) Phantom Units. Upon or as soon
as reasonably practical following the vesting of each Phantom
Unit, subject to the provisions of Section 8(b), the
Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one
Unit or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit, as
determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(B) Restricted Units. Upon or as
soon as reasonably practical following the vesting of each
Restricted Unit, subject to satisfying the tax withholding
obligations of Section 8(b), the Participant shall be
entitled to have the restrictions removed from his or her Unit
certificate so that the Participant then holds an unrestricted
Unit.
(c) Unit Awards. Unit Awards may
be granted under the Plan to such Employees
and/or
Directors and in such amounts as the Committee, in its
discretion, may select.
(d) Other Unit-Based Awards. Other
Unit-Based Awards may be granted under the Plan to such
Employees
and/or
Directors and in such amounts as the Committee, in its
discretion, may select. An Other Unit-Based Award shall be an
award denominated or payable in, valued in or otherwise based on
or related to Units, in whole or in part. The Committee shall
determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Unit-Based
Award. Upon vesting, an Other Unit-Based Award may be paid in
cash, Units (including Restricted Units) or any combination
thereof as provided in the Award Agreement.
(e) Director Automatic Grants.
(i) Each Director who is elected or appointed to the Board
for the first time after the Plans effective date shall
automatically receive, on the date of his or her election or
appointment, a grant of 2,500 Restricted Units.
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(ii) On each January 1 that this Plan continues in
effect, each individual who is a Director on such January 1
automatically shall receive a grant of that number of Restricted
Units equal to $50,000 divided by the Fair Market Value of a
Unit on such date, rounded up to the nearest increment of ten
Restricted Units.
(iii) Each grant of Restricted Units to a Director pursuant
to clause (i) of Paragraph (e) of this Section 6
and each automatic grant of Restricted Units to a Director
pursuant to clause (ii) of Paragraph (e) of this
Section 6, and the UDRs with respect thereto, will vest at
the rate of
331/3%
per year, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the
Award; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing
(1) all such Awards to a Director shall become fully vested
upon a Change of Control, unless voluntarily waived by such
Director, and (2) all Awards that have not yet vested on
the date a Director ceases to be a member of the Board shall be
forfeited except to the extent the Committee, in its discretion,
determines to vest all or part of such Award.
(iv) In the event that the number of Units available to be
awarded under this Plan is insufficient to make all grants to
Director as provided for in this Paragraph (e) on the
applicable date, all Directors who are entitled to receive an
automatic grant of an Award on such date shall share ratably in
the number of Units then available for award under this Plan and
thereafter shall have no right to receive any additional grants
under this Paragraph (e).
(v) Grants made pursuant to this Paragraph (e) shall
be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan;
however, if there is a conflict between the terms and conditions
of this Paragraph (d) and the terms and conditions of any
other provision hereof, then the terms and conditions of this
Paragraph (e) shall control. The Committee may not exercise
any discretion with respect to this Paragraph (e) that
would be inconsistent with the intent that this Plan meets the
requirements of
Rule 16b-3.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything in clauses (i) and
(ii) above, the number of Restricted Units automatically
granted hereunder shall be reduced by the number of such Unit
awards, if any, granted to the Director at the same time
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Energy Transfer Partners,
L.P. 2004 Unit Plan.
(f) General.
(i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or
Together. Awards may, in the discretion of
the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in
tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted
under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the
Partnership or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or
in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other
plan of the Partnership or any Affiliate may be granted either
at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of
such other Awards or awards.
(ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards.
(A) Except as provided in Paragraph (C) below, each
Option and Unit Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only by
the Participant during the Participants lifetime, or by
the person to whom the Participants rights shall pass by
will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(B) Except as provided in Paragraph (C) below, no
Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned,
alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or
encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment,
alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance
shall be void and unenforceable against the Partnership or any
Affiliate.
(C) To the extent specifically provided by the Committee
with respect to an Option or Unit Appreciation Right, an Option
or Unit Appreciation Right may be transferred by a Participant
without consideration to immediate family members or related
family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on
such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time
establish.
(iii) Term of Awards. The term of
each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the
Committee.
(iv) Unit Certificates. All
certificates for Units or other securities of the Partnership
delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise
thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan
or the rules, regulations, and other
A-6
requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such
Units or other securities are then listed, and any applicable
federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or
legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make
appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(v) Consideration for
Grants. Awards may be granted for such
consideration, including services, as the Committee shall
determine.
(vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and
Payment by Participant of
Consideration. Notwithstanding anything in
the Plan or any grant agreement to the contrary, delivery of
Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award may be
deferred for any period during which, in the good faith
determination of the Committee, the Partnership is not
reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such
Award without violating applicable law or the applicable rules
or regulations of any governmental agency or authority or
securities exchange. No Units or other securities shall be
delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any
amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the
applicable Award grant agreement (including, without limitation,
any exercise price or tax withholding) is received by the
Partnership.
Section
7. Amendment and Termination.
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:
(a) Amendments to the Plan. Except
as required by the rules of the principal securities exchange on
which the Units are traded and subject to Section 7(b)
below, the Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner, including
increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the
Plan, without the consent of any Participant, other holder or
beneficiary of an Award, or any other Person.
(b) Amendments to Awards. Subject
to Section 7(a), the Committee may waive any conditions or
rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore
granted, provided no change, other than pursuant to
Section 7(c), in any Award shall materially reduce the
rights or benefits of a Participant with respect to an Award
without the consent of such Participant.
(c) Actions Upon the Occurrence of Certain
Events. Upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control, any change in applicable law or regulation affecting
the Plan or Awards thereunder, or any change in accounting
principles affecting the financial statements of the Company,
the General Partner or the Partnership, the Committee, in its
sole discretion, without the consent of any Participant or
holder of the Award, and on such terms and conditions as it
deems appropriate, may take any one or more of the following
actions in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available
under the Plan or an outstanding Award:
(A) provide for either (i) the termination of any
Award in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the
amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such
Award or realization of the Participants rights (and, for
the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of
such transaction or event the Committee determines in good faith
that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of
such Award or realization of the Participants rights, then
such Award may be terminated by the Committee without payment)
or (ii) the replacement of such Award with other rights or
property selected by the Committee in its sole discretion;
(B) provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or
survivor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or be
exchanged for similar options, rights or awards covering the
equity of the successor or survivor, or a parent or subsidiary
thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind
of equity interests and prices;
(C) make adjustments in the number and type of Units (or
other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and
in the number and kind of outstanding Awards or in the terms and
conditions of (including the exercise price), and the vesting
and performance criteria included in, outstanding Awards, or
both;
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(D) provide that such Award shall be exercisable or
payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or
the applicable Award Agreement; and
(E) provide that the Award cannot be exercised or become
payable after such event, i.e., shall terminate upon such
event.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to an above event
that is an equity restructuring event that would be
subject to a compensation expense pursuant FAS 123R, the
provisions in Section 4(c) shall control to the extent they
are in conflict with the discretionary provisions of this
Section 7.
Section
8. General Provisions.
(a) No Rights to Award. No Person
shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and
there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of
Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the
same with respect to each recipient.
(b) Tax Withholding. Unless other
arrangements have been made that are acceptable to the
Committee, the Partnership or any Affiliate is authorized to
withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made
under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing
to a Participant the amount (in cash, Units, Units that would
otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of
any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant of an
Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any
payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take
such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the
Committee to satisfy the withholding obligations for the payment
of such taxes.
(c) No Right to Employment or
Services. The grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in
the employ of the Partnership or any Affiliate, continue
consulting services or to remain on the Board, as applicable.
Furthermore, the Partnership or an Affiliate may at any time
dismiss a Participant from employment free from any liability or
any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in
the Plan, any Award agreement or other agreement.
(d) Governing Law. The validity,
construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and
regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard
to its conflicts of laws principles.
(e) Severability. If any provision
of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to
any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award
under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision
shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the
applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended
without, in the determination of the Committee, materially
altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision
shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and
the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in
full force and effect.
(f) Other Laws. The Committee may
refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other consideration
under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that
the issuance or transfer of such Units or such other
consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation,
the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the
Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or an
Affiliate to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Partnership by a
Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the
exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the
relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.
(g) No Trust or
Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any
Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate
fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Partnership or any participating Affiliate and a Participant or
any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right
to receive payments from the Partnership or any participating
Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater
than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the
Partnership or any participating Affiliate.
(h) No Fractional Units. No
fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the
Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether
cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or
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transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such
fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled,
terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(i) Headings. Headings are given
to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a
convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be
deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or
interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
(j) Facility Payment. Any amounts
payable hereunder to any person under legal disability or who,
in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly
his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative
of such person, or may be applied for the benefit of such person
in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Partnership
shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such
amounts.
(k) Gender and Number. Words in
the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the
plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include
the plural.
Section
9. Term of the Plan.
The Plan shall be effective on the date it is approved by the
unitholders of the Partnership, if such approval is required by
the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the
Units are traded or, if such approval is not required, then on
the date the Plan is adopted by the General Partner and shall
continue until the earliest of (i) the date it is
terminated by the Board, (ii) all Units available under the
Plan have been paid to Participants, or (iii) the
10th anniversary of the date the Plan is approved as
provided above. However, any Award granted prior to such
termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to
amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any
such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such
Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.
A-9
PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE AND RETURN IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. PROXY CARD
For the Special Meeting of Unitholders To Be
Held On December 16, 2008
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.L.C.
The undersigned, whose signature appears on the reverse, hereby appoints Thomas P. Mason
and Sonia Aube or each of them, proxies with full power of substitution for and in the name of the
undersigned to vote all the common units of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. which the undersigned
would be entitled to vote if personally present at the special
meeting to be held on Tuesday,
December 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Dallas, Texas time, and at any and all adjournments thereof, on all
matters that may properly come before the special meeting.
Your common units will be voted as directed on this proxy. If this card is signed and no
direction is given for any item, it will be voted in favor of all items.
Please sign and date this card on the reverse, tear off at the perforation, and mail promptly
in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
If you have any comments or a change of address, mark the appropriate box on the reverse side
and use the following space:
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. BY RETURNING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY, YOU CAN AVOID THE INCONVENIENCE OF
RECEIVING FOLLOW-UP MAILINGS AND HELP ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. AVOID ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
SEE REVERSE SIDE
PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE AND RETURN IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED
ý PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.L.C., THE GENERAL PARTNER OF OUR GENERAL
PARTNER, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL:
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No. 1
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Approval of the
terms of the Energy
Transfer Partners,
L.P. 2008 Long-Term
Incentive Plan,
which provides for
awards of options
to purchase the
Partnerships
common units,
awards of the
Partnerships
restricted units,
awards of the
Partnerships
phantom units,
awards of the Partnerships common units, awards of
distribution
equivalent rights,
or DERs, awards
of common unit
appreciation rights, and other unit-based awards
to employees of the
Partnership, Energy
Transfer Partners
GP, L.P., Energy
Transfer Partners,
L.L.C. (the
Company), a
subsidiary or their
affiliates, and the
members of the
board of directors
of the Company.
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For
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Against
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Abstain
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MARK HERE FOR COMMENTS OR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE ON REVERSE SIDE o
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Signature:
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Signature:
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Date: |
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Note: Your signature should conform with your name as printed above. Please sign exactly as your
name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
The Notice of Special Meeting of Common Unitholders and the Proxy Statement for the
Special Meeting of are available at http://www.energytransfer.com.