Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Revolving Credit Agreement
On October 29, 2009, Western Gas Partners, LP (the "Partnership") entered
into a three-year senior unsecured revolving credit agreement among the
Partnership as the borrower, Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as the
administrative agent and the lenders party thereto (the "Credit Agreement"). The
aggregate initial commitments of the lenders under the Credit Agreement are
$350,000,000 and are expandable to a maximum of $450,000,000. The Credit
Agreement matures on October 29, 2012 and bears interest at the applicable
London Interbank Offered Rate or LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from
2.375% to 3.250%, or an alternate base rate, based upon (i) the greater of the
Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5%, and LIBOR plus 0.5% plus (ii)
applicable margins ranging from 1.375% to 2.250%.
The Credit Agreement contains various covenants that limit, among other
things, the Partnership's, and certain of the Partnership's subsidiaries',
ability to incur indebtedness, grant liens, merge, consolidate or allow any
material change in the character of its business, sell all or substantially all
of the Partnership's assets, make certain transfers, enter into certain
affiliate transactions, make distributions or other payments other than
distributions of available cash under certain conditions and use proceeds other
than for partnership purposes (not to include the purchase or carrying of margin
stock). If the Partnership obtains two of the following three ratings: BBB- or
better by S&P, Baa3 or better by Moody's, or BBB- or better by Fitch (the date
of such rating being the "Investment Grade Rating Date"), then the Partnership
will no longer be required to comply with certain of the foregoing covenants.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including
(i) nonpayment of principal when due or nonpayment of interest or other amounts
within three business days of when due; (ii) bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Borrower or any material subsidiary; or (iii) a change of
control. All amounts due by the Partnership under the Credit Agreement are
unconditionally guaranteed by the Partnership's wholly-owned subsidiaries. The
guarantees of the subsidiary guarantors will terminate on the Investment Grade
Rating Date. On October 30, 2009, the Partnership used $100.0 million of its
capacity under the Credit Agreement to retire its $101.5 million, 7.00%
fixed-rate, three-year term loan agreement with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
("Anadarko") entered into in July 2009 to finance a portion of the consideration
paid for the acquisition of a 51% membership interest in Chipeta Processing LLC
and related assets from Anadarko.
The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete
terms of the Credit Agreement, which is attached to this Current Report on Form
8-K as Exhibit 10.1.
Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above relating to the term loan
agreement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD.
Furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference is a copy of a
press release issued by the Partnership announcing the closing of the
above-described revolving credit agreement.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number Description
10.1 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2009, among
Western Gas Partners, LP, Wells Fargo Bank National Association, as
the administrative agent and the lenders party thereto.
99.1 Western Gas Partners, LP Press release, dated October 29, 2009.
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